Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol 73 Issue 07 i Australian Motorcycle News

WE ALREADY knew this was coming – QJMotor type-approved the SRK800RR a while ago in China but this was its first official showing. It’s powered by a 778cc inline four that’s unrelated to the Benelli-derived 600cc four used in some of the company’s other models. This engine is instead a reverse-engineered and upsized version of Honda’s CBR650R. It shares a very similar layout and has the same 67mm bore, albeit with a long 55mm stroke instead of the Honda’s 47mm to reach that 778cc size. Peak power is 75kW (100hp), reached at 10,000rpm, while torque maxes out at 78Nm at 8500rpm. The Honda-lookalike engine sits is a chassis that’s also very similar to the CBR650R’s, with near-identical shapes to the frame rails and the same wheelbase at 1450mm. At 207kg…

WHILE QJMOTOR, Voge and Zongshen are all names that might be familiar outside China, Vinto isn’t as well-known just yet. But its new GP660 sportsbike is intended to compete directly against the other four-cylinders launched by those companies. The limited specifications revealed so far suggest it’s very much on the same page as its competitors, with a kerb weight of 208kg that’s within a whisker of the rivals. The 1452mm wheelbase is just 2mm longer than the QJMotor (or a CBR650R) but the Vinto doesn’t use a copy of the Honda frame, instead featuring a much racier-looking alloy-beam chassis. Elsewhere, the combination of Brembo brakes, a single-sided swingarm and winglet-festooned bodywork ticks the same boxes as its competitors, but Vinto has gone slightly retro with a pair of under-seat exhausts…

Earlier this year (AMCN Vol 72 No 25) Suzuki applied for approval certification for a new entry-level version of the V-Strom 800. Now the application has been made in Australia and, for the first time, is accompanied by images showing what the new model looks like. It’s not a huge surprise, of course. The V-Strom 800DE’s wire wheels and 21-inch front rim are gone, replaced with cast alloys and a 19-inch front. It sits at the bottom of a different fork which looks to have slightly shorter travel. The Australian approval also shows that the street-oriented V-Strom 800 has radial four-pot front brake calipers instead of the axial-mounted ones of the DE. Other changes include the loss of the DE’s bash plate and handguards, something that’s reflected in the new…

1989, the 10th and final year of the 80s, and what a year it was, full of political upheaval from the fall of the Berlin Wall to Ol’ Hawkey admitting he’d been fooling around on Hazel, to the swearing in of US President George H.W. Bush and the shock death of Emperor Shōwa in Japan. The first GPS satellite was chucked up into orbit, the supreme leader of Iran issued a fatwa calling for the death of author Salman Rushdie, the firework, porn and drug capital of Australia took its first vote, and the Chinese government quashed a protest by simply running over its own citizens with a tank. In music news, the Fine Young Cannibals entered the charts in Australia with 'She Drives Me Crazy'. RIDDEN/TESTED ERA ADS Some…

AIR YOUR THOUGHTS OR VENT YOUR SPLEEN Access, AMCN, PO Box 6, Bittern, Vic, 3918 access@amcn.com.au LETTER OF THE ISSUE Clickety-split Another cop-out motorcycle comparison. Another road tester weaselling his way out by admitting to the possibility of ‘sitting on the fence’ and not taking advantage of the truly interesting possibilities involved in deeper thinking about the bikes he had the fabulously good fortune to ride. For years I have read motorcycle tests in the hope of finding a tester who truly understands their responsibility to their reader. For example, we get lots of wordage about electrickery, power and thrills on the road and track, but I’ve searched in vain for a tester who understands suspension and what many (most?) riders really want. Last month’s comparison test of the Ducati…

A FEW EXTRA kilograms when you’re riding on the road isn’t a big deal, as long as you’re not a novice or particularly short of stature. In fact, a slightly heavier bike can feel more planted and won’t get thrown around as much on bumpy roads. In the bush it’s a different story, where extra weight is always a penalty. I took both bikes along places that they weren’t really designed to go – walking pace, single-track stuff - and that is where the weight difference between the two came into stark relief. The Transalp’s claimed wet weight of 208kg is a significant 22kg lighter than the V-Strom’s 230kg claimed wet weight. On the plus side, the 800DE carries its weight lower than its 1050DE big brother and doesn’t feel…

1 2023 MOTOGP, Rd14, LIVE Fox Sports, Kayo and Videopass 30 SEPTEMBER-1 OCTOBER Check website and local guides MotoGP heads to Motegi for Round 14 but chances are a home-circuit advantage isn’t going to help Honda much this year. Don’t forget to put your clocks forward at 2am on Sunday so you don’t miss any of the action. 2 2023 WORLDSBK, Rd11, LIVE Fox Sports, Kayo and Videpass 30 SEPTEMBER-1 OCTOBER Check website and local guides The penultimate round of the 2023 WorldSBK season takes place at Portimao, and the 4.592km circuit always provides plenty of excitement. Check local guides for race times as it’s the start of daylight savings. 3 MISSION: UN-FINKEABLE Ducati Australia YouTube channel ON DEMAND www.youtube.com This short film follows Nick Selleck as he tackles the…

1 OCTOBER 2023 All Motorcycle Swap Meet and Bike Show, Balhannah Oval, Balhannah SA. Motorcycle only swap meet; no car parts or bric-a-brac. Open from 7am for traders and buyers. $15 per site including entry for 1 person (no booking required); buyers $5; under 12s free. Interstate traders welcome. Camping available for Saturday night. Catering on site. Hosted by the V&VMCCSA. For more information phone Michael Griffin on 0439 039 904 or email my997@iinet.net.au. 1-7 OCTOBER 2023 2023 Festival of Motorcycling, six days of guided and supported rides through the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley and Fleurieu Peninsula, SA. An evening at the Gillman Speedboat Club with motorcycle-related speakers including international trials and speedway champions, and world land-speed record contenders. Culminating in a Poker Run. All funds raised will be donated…

THERE WAS something about the build-up to the Indian Grand Prix which suggested this wasn’t going to be a regular weekend. So pronounced were visa-related difficulties getting the MotoGP paddock into the country, and fears over the safety of the Buddh International Circuit in the days leading up to the event, there were worries it might not even take place. Yet everyone was present when track action got underway on Friday morning. One turn aside, the track got widespread approval from across the grid. And aside from delays brought about by temperamental tropical weather and a lack of supplies for trackside marshals, the predicted chaos was largely left to the MotoGP field on Sunday. Not that you’d have known from watching the victor. As no one had an answer for…

WITH SEVEN OF the year’s 11 dry races decided by 0.095s or less, Moto3 is supposed to be the class which delivers epic victory fights week after week. Yet Jaume Masia (Leopard Honda) didn’t get the memo here, as he claimed an emphatic triumph by 5.4sec to draw level in the championship fight. The Spaniard had initially pulled clear with Ayumu Sasaki (IntactGP Husqvarna) in tow, while Matteo Bertelle (Snipers Honda), Kaito Toba (SIC58 Honda), Diogo Moreira (MSI KTM) and Collin Veijer (IntactGP Husqvarna) initially fought it out for third. But by the 11th lap, Sasaki was running into front-tyre woes. His pace slowed dramatically as a result, leaving Masia to coast to a second victory of the year. Sasaki’s afternoon would then get a good deal more complicated, as Veijer…

THE FIRST RACE was a first for WorldSSP300 in several ways, as we have never had such a short race. It was red flagged and then run over only five laps and full points were still scored. Loris Veneman’s first win on his MTM Kawasaki was a landmark moment for the 17-year-old rider in any case, but the fact he is the son of former racer Barry Veneman made it all the more noteworthy. He held his last-lap lead across the line, only just, from his teammate Jeffrey Buis and Daniel Mogeda (Kawasaki GP Project) for a Ninja clean sweep. Race 2 was equally close across the line, with this time Buis using all his experience to extend his championship lead, and also extend his record of race wins in this…

AUSTRALIA WILL have another young hopeful to cheer in 2024 after it was confirmed Jacob Roulstone will step up to the Moto3 World Championship with Tech3 KTM, where he will partner current title contender Dani Holgado. Roulstone has caught the eye this year with a string of exceptional performances in Junior GP, where he sits fourth in the standings with three races to play, and the Red Bull Rookies, where he ended the season fifth. “They are a very experienced and professional team that have brought through many great riders,” Roulstone said. “Stepping up from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and FIM JuniorGP won’t be easy but with the team, the people around me as well as my own determination, I believe we can have a decent rookie season. Team…

MICK KIRKNESS (Husqvarna) has emerged from the double-header Aussie Flat Track Nationals rounds held at North Brisbane over 16-17 September as points leader of the premier Pro 450 class, despite strong opposition from Billy Van Eerde (KTM) and Daniel Wicks (KTM). “That was a great weekend with some really clean, fast racing, but I’m surprised I got the overall win because I really thought this would be a tough track for me,” Kirkness said. Van Eerde stunned the field on the oval layout on Saturday by taking three race wins with Reid Battye (KTM) and Wicks also recording strong results. With the switch to the newly built TT layout on Sunday, Van Eerde was once again in form, sharing wins with Wicks and Kirkness. Brisbane also saw the introduction of the…

WITH THE FINAL two ASBK rounds drawing closer, rumours are beginning to swirl about the possibility of end of year cameos. A Ducati team from the UK is a slight possibility while other BSB-based Aussies are all but confirmed for a trip home to race at Phillip Island and The Bend. At the recent Victorian Road Race Championships round at Phillip Island, Tom Bramich made the step up to ride a Superbike prepared by MotoGO Yamaha. It’s not known yet where he will be competing next year but the times and results were very encouraging. In BSB news, with the tension increasing between PBM teammates Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell in the wake of the passing of Paul Bird, it’s been reported that the team will still continue. Bird’s two…

PERFECT WEATHER also greeted Western Australian riders for the third round of their state titles held on 17 September at Collie. In the Superbike class, Sam Clarke (Suzuki GSX-R1000) stole the show with three wins from three starts, leaving the Yamaha YZF-R1-mounted Stronach brothers Cameron and Ben to battle it out for the remaining podium places ahead of Bronson Pickett (Yamaha YZF-R1) in fourth place. Clarke leads the championship with 192 points, ahead of Cameron (156) and Ben (155) Stronach. Jordan White (Yamaha YZF-R6) took the Supersport round win to move into second in the championship behind Lachlan Hickey, who finished second overall just five points in arrears of White. William Wasley (Yamaha YZF-R6) was third and moves into fourth place in the championship with two rounds remaining. Hickey leads…

Australian Motorcycle News road test photographs are posed for by skilled, professional riders under controlled circumstances. Attempting to imitate their actions may be dangerous. Australian Motorcycle News supports and endorses rider training and wearing protective riding gear… especially if you were one of the officers at passport control at Delhi Airport copping what must have been some frustrated abuse from anyone related to MotoGP. But in their defence, we’ve all known for 12 months MotoGP was heading to India last week. And even we know from experience that’s more than enough time to get a bloody visa sorted……

To read more about Yamaha’s current challenges in MotoGP, read our exclusive feature starting on page 60 “He’s under contract with us until the end of next year but we’d like to retain him for much longer”Yamaha’s Managing Director Lin Jarvis will have everything crossed it can produce a YZR-M1 next season that is capable of winning over struggling 2021 world champ Fabio Quartararo. WILTSHIRE WINNER Glenn Allerton has won the 70th edition of the Harvey Wiltshire Trophy, a 10-lap feature race run as part of the third round of the Victorian Road Racing Championship on 17 September. Allerton and his GT Racing-prepared BMW M 1000 RR prevailed in a final lap clash by 0.16sec from fellow ASBK series regulars Troy Herfoss and Mike Jones. In Supersport, Cameron Dunker grabbed…

CERTAIN 2018-2023 H-D SOFTAILS How many 3676 Issue The rear shock adjuster mounting bolt may break; the adjuster could loosen and contact the rear tyre. Hazard The rear tyre could lose pressure while riding. 2017-2020 DUCATI X DIAVEL How many 129 Issue The sidestand mounting bracket spring retaining pin may break causing the stand to open. Hazard The stand sensor may switch off the engine while riding. 2020-2023 TRIUMPH TRIDENT 660 AND TIGER SPORT 660 How many 1558 Issue The hose leading to the manifold air pressure sensor may become obstructed. Hazard A loss of motive power while riding.…

I have a habit of wanting to revisit the past, looking back fondly through rose-coloured glasses at the bikes I enjoyed many eons ago and wondering if they would be as much fun now as they were back then. About 12 years ago, when I was the Deputy Editor of AMCN, I joined then-Editor Sam Maclachlan, then-Sports Editor Rennie Scaysbrook and three-time Australian Superbike champion Shawn Giles on a four-bike comparison test between the Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory, the BMW K 1300 R, the Ducati Streetfighter and the MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR. We tested the bikes on private and public roads, and I remember it being one of the most enjoyable shootouts I’d been on. All four bikes were a friggin’ riot, and I would’ve been happy with any of…

This year the Isle of Man TT released a new documentary called No Room For Error, which is probably the best of the many films made about the jaw-dropping event. The four-part doco goes deep into the risks and the emotional stresses suffered by riders and their loved ones, so it’s not your usual macho TT nonsense. The stars of the show are supposed to be the TT’s men of the moment: lap-record-holder Peter Hickman, Michael Dunlop, Dean Harrison and John McGuinness, the most successful living exponent of “wall dodging”, as Harrison calls his job. And yet the real star of the show isn’t any of these riders, it’s Lee Johnston, a one-time TT winner and former BSB Superstock 600 champion. What makes Johnston the star is his sense of…

1 ROBO-TOP Cassons Australia $1199.95 (02) 8882 1900 cassonsmedia.com The Arai Quantic full-face helmet is now available in Robotik Black. It features a handmade shell with a smooth, round shape and an aerodynamic profile, a removable interior with a Facial Contour System (FCS) and neck roll wire pocket, Emergency Release System (ERS), Pinlock and loads of ventilation. Sizes XS-XL. 2 ELITE FEET Moto National $649.95 1300 885 355 falcoboots.com.au The Falco Elite GP features a Micro-Synth upper, Air-Tech ventilated lining, removable inner bootie and D3O ankle cups. There are PU moulded dual-compound shin plates, heel cups and calf protectors, a micro-adjustable metal ratchet closure, and Vibram rubber sole with integrated high-resistance replaceable nylon slider. 3 LONG TEA Andy Strapz $87 (plus freight) (03) 9786 3445 andystrapz.com The Andy Strapz Allrounder long-sleeve T-shirt is…

BUT FOR THE first corner, this weekend would have been a Bezzecchi clean sweep. First lap chaos defined a Sprint race for the fourth time this year as Marini clipped his teammate from behind entering the tight Turn 1, taking himself out and his teammate off track. Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda) also tagged Pol Espargaro (Tech3 GASGAS), with both men crashing out. Martin’s path was clear to dominate, leading every lap with Bagnaia taking a safe second, 1.3sec behind. Third was where the action lay, as Marquez valiantly clung to third place after Mir’s fourth-lap mistake and crash. Binder was never more than 0.9sec away, but the Honda man “took massive risks in the last five laps” to claim a first top three appearance since the year’s first Sprint in…

HAD ALVARO Bautista (Aruba Ducati) won Race 1 at Motorland Aragon instead of falling off he would have left with three race wins and one hand firmly on the championship trophy for a second consecutive season. But another niggly no-score leaves things not quite as wrapped up in Ducati-red robes as they ought to be. A resurgent Jonathan Rea (KRT) was a thorn in the side of both Bautista and Razgatlioglu in the races, but before that he showed he had the sharpest lance, steed and jousting skills when he had the grip of a fresh and sticky tyre in Superpole qualifying. In delivering one of his Superpole specials, Rea secured his 42nd career pole position, thanks to a new track best of 1m47.973s. Despite the windy conditions he was…

QUEENSLANDER KEYNAN Rew has finished fourth in the FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship coming up agonisingly short of a medal as the SGP2 series wrapped up at Vojens, Denmark on 15 September. Rew was equal second going in to the third and final round, and at one point in the meeting he could still have been champion. Polish rider Mateusz Cierniak had won the first two rounds but when he was excluded in the semi-final at Vojens it left the door open for both Rew and another Pole Bartlomiej Kowalski had they gone on to win the meeting – but both bowed out with third placings in their semis. Another Polish rider Damian Ratajczak won the meeting ahead of Sweden’s Casper Henriksson, Dane William Drejer and Francis Gusts of Latvia. Cierniak became the…

GRENFELL GETS IT Victorian road racer Angus Grenfell has been awarded a $2500 scholarship by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. GEE PRIX! Ducati is hosting an official three-course dinner on the eve of the Oz GP giving attendees the chance to meet its MotoGP riders. Cost is $325. KTM TRAGEDY The seventh KTM Australia Adventure Rallye was cancelled following “a critical incident” on the opening day of the five-day event. VALE PHIL AYNSLEY Legendary photographer and AMCN contributor Phil Aynsley died on Friday 22 September after complications following a heart attack. AMCN extends its condolences to Phil’s family and friends.…

THE RETRO V7 range is the entry-level step into Moto Guzzi ownership and the Stone is the least-expensive version of all. Now the addition of a headlight cowl and windscreen, along with a few other minor tweaks, has added a new level of appeal to the upcoming V7 Stone Corsa. Accompanied by two-tone paint, ’bar-end mirrors, a black anodised fuel cap and an optional hard cover for the tail turning the Corsa into a single-seater, it’s a change that gives the Stone a substantially new look with the minimum in terms of mechanical updates or R&D expense. Despite the nose cowl, the Corsa doesn’t get dropped ’bars like the old V7 Racer, so remains as comfortable a day-to-day machine as the Stone it’s based on. Initially, at least, Moto Guzzi is only…

“His contribution was incalculable – achieved through determination and sheer guts. Safety is what he really stood for, and then conditions in the paddock. He’d been a successful rider, and he understood the business side of things, and he had logic and fairness. And he was very, very persistent.”– Garry Taylor, former Suzuki team manager and IRTA founder member “The key thing was being the prime mover in safety. A previous racer himself, he had good commercial experience, and he had a good positive – not to say aggressive – attitude towards the organisers, and he did a tremendous job.”– Paul Butler, IRTA founder member and then Race Director “Mike worked first for safety then to defend the riders and teams. In the beginning for Dorna in the 1990s it…

Rarely do you come across a comparison where the two bikes going head-to-head are so closely matched, at least on paper. Honda’s XL750 Transalp and Suzuki’s V-Strom 800DE are very closely matched when you peruse the specs sheet, as are the Hornet and GSX-8S which are built around the same platform. Our comparison of the Hornet and GSX-8S against Yamaha’s MT-07 received a great reception (AMCN Vol 73 No 04) and, judging by the talk around the campfire, this is an even more highly anticipated match-up. I’ve been stinging to get these two together since we first broke the news of their existence well before anything official was released. I attended the launches of both these models, put plenty of road miles under my belt and formed a clear idea…

“Nah sorry mate. Your bike failed quarantine. We found some grass on it,” said the officer at the Melbourne shipping depot. Failing quarantine is like failing a roadworthy at a remote garage thousands of kays away from home. It means the inspection officer found some dirt, you’re going to have to pay through the nose for them to re-clean and re-inspect it and who knows when they’ll do it… “Nah, There was no way they found a morsel of dirt on our bike after we spent Christmas Eve at a carwash in Bali (AMCN Vol 72 No 25) with three people cleaning it four times over with acid-dripping toothbrushes. “No chance. Our Yamaha is immaculate… ” “Oh!” he interrupted. “Yours is the Yammy? Yeah, no worries, she’s a beaut.” We…

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TESTED VOL 67 NO 17 BIKE SPOTLIGHT KAWASAKI Z900RS ENGINE 948cc inline-four POWER 82kW at 8500rpm TORQUE 98.5Nm at 6500rpm WEIGHT 215kg (kerb, claimed) PRICE $16,778 (plus on-roads) “That engine is as close to a perfect roadbike engine as you can get” TESTED VOL 70 NO 07 BIKE SPOTLIGHT HUSQVARNA 701 SUPERMOTO ENGINE 692cc single POWER 55kW at 8000rpm TORQUE 73.5Nm at 6500rpm WEIGHT 147kg (fluids, no fuel) PRICE $20,400 (ride away) “Capable of some incredible corner speeds and in no way lacks power” WEB HOT! Check out the website for the latest reviews at amcn.com.au…

FOR A SECOND race weekend in succession Pedro Acosta (Ajo Kalex) gave the impression his winning of this year’s Moto2 World Championship is a mere formality. The 19-year old was comfortably in a class of his own, winning his sixth race of the season, leading every lap before coming home 3.5sec clear of Tony Arbolino (Marc VDS Kalex). Admittedly there was a mild hint of luck about the start. Acosta was beaten up at Turns 1 and 3 by pole sitter Jake Dixon (Aspar Kalex), and was soon relegated to fifth. But a red flag was shown due to a first-corner pile up, caused by Jeremy Alcoba (Gresini Kalex), who took out Somkiat Chantra (HTA Kalex), Marcos Ramirez (AR Kalex), Celestino Vietti (Fantic Kalex) and Taiga Hada (SAG Kalex). Dixon…

NICOLO BULEGA secured another race win in the 18-lap opener with no-one for company but the noise of his V-twin Ducati. In second place Marcel Shroetter’s MV Agusta had a late dust-up with Stefano Manzi’s Yamaha, which saw the only rider with a hope of catching Bulega run off onto the gravel, to rejoin and finish 11th. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Ducati) took the last podium place on offer. Six Italian bikes filled the top six places, with the Ducatis of Federico Caricasulo and Raffaele De Rosa fourth and fifth and the MV Agusta of Bahattin Sofuoglu sixth. Race 2 saw Bulega check out again to a two-second win from Manzi. Caricasulo was third, for his first podium since Donington in July. The second race was red flagged when Nikki Tuuli…

REIGNING SUNRAYSIA Safari titleholder Toby Hederics lost 90 seconds to Jacob Smith on the first day of the rally, never quite recovering over the ensuing three days and finishing 35 seconds in arrears. A distant third went to Luke Hayes who was never on the pace set by the leading duo. Post-race, Smith announced his retirement from the pro ranks after a career spanning more than 20 years of cross-country rallying. At the same time, Hederics confirmed he will contest Division 2 at the final round of the 2023 World Rally Raid Championship in Morocco next month as the initial step in preparation for the 2025 Dakar in Saudi Arabia.…

JARRED BROOK is still well in contention for the Flat Track World Championship after three of the five rounds have been staged. The second round at Debrecen, Hungary saw Brook equal topscorer in the heats with three wins and a second but he fell in the Final and was credited with tenth place dropping to seventh in the standings. Moving to Boves, Italy for the third round Brook was again good in the heats with two wins, a second and a third to be equal second best and then finished third in the Final. That lifted him to fifth overall and five points closer to the championship leader, Czech rider Ervin Krajčovič.…

FAVOURABLE WEATHER and track conditions led to many riders recording PB laps during the third round of the Tasmanian Road Race Championships at Symmons Plains. Despite suffering some clutch problems in practice and qualifying third as a result, Brett Simmonds (Honda CBR1000RR) extended his advantage in the Superbike class by taking the round win ahead of Scott Campbell (Yamaha YZF-R1) and Jason Spencer (Honda CBR1000RR), the latter riding injured and on his spare bike after a crash earlier in the weekend. There was heart-stopping racing in the Supersport class, with Lachie Curtis (Suzuki GSX-R600) taking the win from Mitch Hawksley (Yamaha YZF-R6) from Marcus Delaney (Yamaha YZF-R6). Dale Madden took the overall win in the hotly contested Formula 3 class from fellow SV650 riders Rob Scott and James Abey. A small…