Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue#118 i Australian Road Rider

The Austroads Road Design Task Force report analyses a wide range of rural road design theories, with a special section just for motorcycles. Some of the identified problems with rural roads that cause crashes include a lack of sealed shoulders, steep downhill grades combined with curves, roadsides with close hazards such as trees, and high-volume intersections. The report proposes many changes to Austroads' road design guidelines aimed at reducing the casualty crash risk on rural roads. This is a welcome departure for Austroads, the leading transport and traffic authority in Australia and New Zealand. They have previously shown scant regard for motorcycles in other reports. The report also identifies elements specific to motorcyclists and sources a 2010 study of more than 30,000 curves. The study identified four road design elements…

Three Australian companies have merged to form a nationwide motorcycle rental and tour company called BikeRoundOz. A company itself for 14 years, it has now joined forces with the Australian division of worldwide tour operator Compass Expeditions and Sydney rental and tour company Bikescape. The merger gives riders a single source for pre-ride advice, rental bikes, tours and support right across the nation. Managing director Selena Thurbon says the new organisation has a central booking office with collection and drop-off depots in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Cairns and Adelaide. “The key things that ensure fellow riders enjoy their time in Australia are high-quality advice from real people that have ridden the routes many times, expertly prepared bikes, attention to detail, and fast support no matter where you are in the…

Is the future of motorcycles up in the air rather than on two wheels? It seems so after two companies last year produced hover-bikes and one now has the mighty financial backing of the US Department of Defence. First there was the two-seater Aero-X hover bike and now UK company Malloy Aeronautics is building a solo-seater hover-bike. Californian company Aerofex plans to have its Aero-X hover-bike available for sale in 2017, costing about $US85,000 ($113,000). They are now taking deposits. The two-seater Aero-X is powered by a naturally aspirated three–rotor rotary engine. It will hover up to 3m above the ground and reach speeds of about 70km/h. The hover-bike takes off vertically with no need for a run-up or landing strip. Aerofex has been issued an international patent for its…

Two toy run organisers have received Order of Australia Medals in the annual Queen’s Birthday Honours. Barbara Maggs and partner Tony Jenner have organised the Cranbourne Ulysses Motorcycle Club Christmas Toy Run for 30 years. Barb, 81, is also a life member of the Motorcycle Riders of Australia and she and Tony received the prestigious Ulysses Club Dearnley Medal in 2005. The other OAM went to John Herbert Young, of New Lambton, NSW, for service to children and the community of Newcastle. He is the founder of Bikers for Kids Newcastle in 1990 and coordinator and organiser of the Newcastle Toy Run since 1978. He also promotes the Summer Blood Challenge for Australian Red Cross Blood Service in the Newcastle region and organises visits of motorcycle riders and their bikes…

As well as the $985 Traction Package covered in the main story, BMW Australia offers the F800R with two other ex-factory options. The Touring Package adds $250 and brings useful gear: a centre stand, a good luggage rack, a power socket and the mounts for panniers. The price goes up by $275 because of the Dynamic Package, which is aesthetic rather than truly dynamic: an LED taillight, stylish engine spoiler, and a pillion seat cowl. An alarm will cost you $505, and the metallic blue-based paint schemes come at a modest premium of $75. The taller Comfort seat option is $190, a lower seat is available at no charge, but you can’t have either in combination with the Dynamic Package thanks to the seat cowl; buy the seats as accessories…

The last time I rode any great distance on the R1200RT with a pillion was on the launch last year, when Anne joined me for an overnighter in Victoria. It was cool and rainy, and the panniers and top box were empty. This time, we loaded it up to gunwales and went touring. We spent five days on the road and it was sometimes warm, sometimes very cold and always dry. The speeds were higher, the roads more challenging and the load significant. It’s the toughest task I’ve thrown at the BMW to date. Some of you have given me stick for the mountains of bags bolted all over the BMW, and I’ve only made things worse by adding the tank bag, but after this week I stand by my…

Riding a foreign bike, on foreign roads and in a foreign country is never the easiest task for a rider. So I took the easy way out and jumped on the back. We were in Germany along with 70 other Touratech distributors from 34 countries. Our three-day conference was “interrupted” by a magnificent ride through the famed Black Forest. I was keen to sit on the back of the bike and take in the sights of a new country as this was my first time in Germany. The scene at Touratech headquarters in Niedereschach on a chilly morning was one of excitement and anticipation. Riders were in groups and allocated a Touratechsupplied bike, with a team leader, or guide, to lead us over the picturesque tarmac route to the north-west…

When you mention the Southern Tablelands to most people, they usually respond with a yawn and tell you with some authority that “it consists of Goulburn and Canberra. There is nothing to see or do there. That is why they built a bypass around both places so you can get to Melbourne quicker.” As they continue talking, you realise they had either slept all the way from Sydney, were in some other comatose state while there, or they simply haven’t been there. It does appear people hop in their car, turn on the Navman and take the most direct route. This is invariably the most mind-numbing path, following expressways, bypassing towns and directing you to twin servos where you are guided to Maccas. It has its place but is a…

OSPREY DAYLITE Osprey has a range of accessories designed to add comfort and practicality to your adventure, allowing you the freedom to embrace the open road. One of these is Osprey’s Waterproof Map Carrier. Places where smart phones and GPS devices won’t suffice will see you pulling a map in and out of your pack or jacket as you navigate your way along. Maps can get wet or rip all too easily and that can spell disaster. This rollout map carrier is watertight and compact enough to take anywhere. Price: $29.95 Visit: outdooragencies.com.au DUCATI MULTISTRADA RAD GUARDS Ever been stuck with a holed radiator or oil cooler in the middle of nowhere? If you haven’t, it’s not fun. There’s a way to prevent it by protecting your motorcycle’s oil…

Video of the 2015 BMW GS Safari Enduro has been released, showing some incredible skills in very tough conditions, proving the event is only for the brave and talented. BMW Safaris started 21 years ago and after a few years, it was split into a TS Safari for road bikes and GS safari for off-road bikes. However, with the advent of more GS models and calls by riders for tougher events, the GS Safari was split a few years ago into the standard Safari and the Enduro for highly skilled riders. The first Enduro event was held in the cold, wet Victorian high country in 2013 and the 2014 event was a contrast across the hot, dry north. The third GS Safari Enduro in May featured the toughest conditions yet.…

A British engineer hopes to break the 640km/h barrier, set a new world record and possibly go as high as 720km/h in his two-wheeled, helicopter-powered streamliner. Richard Brown, 50, of Oxfordshire will head to the Bonneville salt flats in Utah this month. There he will attempt to break the official FIM world two-wheeled land speed record, which now stands at 376.373mph (605.714km/h). However, they claim their Jet Reaction is designed to travel at speeds up to 720km/h, according to a Computational Fluid Dynamics study by Huddersfield University. The 6.1m-long Jet Reaction streamliner weighs 560kg and is driven by a helicopter gas turbine engine with an afterburner. It was tested on the Pendine sands of Wales, but because of the condition of the surface, uneven and soft sand reducing traction, no…

The biennial Perth Motorcycle and Scooter Show is back in 2015 and expected to attract about 20,000 people over the three days. In 2013, the event celebrated 20 years and moved to the new venue of Claremont Showgrounds, which proved successful, with ample exhibition space inside the pavilions and lots of room outdoors for stunts and activities. The show, presented and hosted by Premiere Events, will be held from October 30 to November 1 during Motorcycle Awareness Week and will feature a big range of displays, demonstrations and activities. Demonstrations include freestyle motocross, stunt riders and moto trials. Patrons will also be able to take part in the “come and try riding” on a dedicated track and a junior motocross track. Displays include a custom bike show, a show and…

Lots of us watch MotoGP or World Superbikes and gaze in awe at the speed, the lean angles and the bravery of the riders as they jockey for position. Knee down, elbow down and even head down! These guys are nudging shoulders at speeds over 330km/h. Looking back at the ’80s and the ’90s, we can still watch footage of Mick Doohan, Wayne Gardner, Eddie Lawson and Kevin Schwantz, to name just a few of the greats. All had massive spills on them scary 500cc two-stroke race bikes. I was lucky enough to spend some time with Mick and Wayne last year at Phillip Island, where they were both telling me how hard those bikes were to ride. Just one wrong twitch of the throttle, even on the straight, and…

After launching the XR and XRx, Triumph added an XRT to the range of newTigers. It’s equipped with all sorts of gear for long-haul riding. It’s based on the XRx and all of its features, and for its price of $17,890 (plus on-roads costs) you also receive: • A 650W alternator instead of the 476W one• Heated seats and grips• Fog lamps• A third 12V outlet• Racks on which to mount aluminium Expedition panniers, but you still have to buy the panniers• A GPS mounting kit, but not the GPS• A tyre-pressure monitoring system• An aluminium radiator guard and a machined brake reservoir…

QUICKSPECS Model: Kawasaki Vulcan S ABS Price: $9990 (+ORC) Colours: Pearl Crystal White or Metallic Royal Purple Warranty: 24 months, unlimited km Service intervals: 6000km Engine: Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, parallel twin Bore x Stroke: 83 x 60mm Displacement: 649cc Compression: 10.8:1 Power: 35kW @ 6600rpm Torque: 53Nm @ 5600rpm Transmission: 6-speed, chain drive Frame: High-tensile steel double pipe perimeter frame Dimensions: Seat height 705mm, weight 226kg (wet), fuel capacity 14 litres, wheelbase 1575mm, rake 31°, trail 180mm Suspension: Front, 41mm telescopic forks, 130mm travel. Rear, offset laydown single-shock, linkage-equipped, with adjustable preload, 80mm travel Brakes: Front, 300mm disc with dual piston caliper. Rear, 250mm disc with single-piston caliper. ABS. Tyres: 120/70R 18M/C 59H; 160/60R 17M/C 69H Fuel consumption: 4.9 l/100km Theoretical range: 285km Verdict: An ideal novice bike that will stay…

MOTO GUZZI V7 II We’ve just taken delivery of a Moto Guzzi V7 II for a long-term test, and this one’s going to be a lot of fun. Nigel Crowley will not just be putting it to the test as a commuter in Sydney’s cut-and-thrust traffic, he’ll be making constant changes to the little retro-bike. There’s so much you can do to customise these machines that we’re going to try to do it all. This means rolling through the various custom kits Moto Guzzi produces for the V7 II: Scrambler, Racer and more. Nigel’s almost frothing about it all because not only does he reckon the Guzzi is a sweetie, he is hanging out to see what each incarnation is like. We’ll outline more of the plan next issue, as…

In 1912, Carl Stearns Clancy, along with his mate Walter Storey, set off on a journey. Starting in New York, the pair headed for Ireland before going on to the UK. Parting ways in France, Clancy would continue through Europe before passing through North Africa, Sri Lanka, India and Japan. Eventually he completed a loop back to the US. The entire route was accomplished on a 934cc Henderson — an innovative in-line four-cylinder machine that pumped out a whopping 7hp (5.2kW). It was the first recorded round-the-world motorcycle journey. It came almost 10 years after George A. Wyman travelled from San Francisco to New York on a 90cc motorised bicycle. This trip was considered to be the precursor to all two-wheeled adventure riding. Although he couldn’t have known it at…

Don’t forget to write! We mean it. We love to hear from you and everyone else does too; these pages are among the most popular in the magazine. Preferably, keep letters under 300 words so we can fit more in, though we will allow the odd exception without taking to it with the editorial knife. Yes, we will chop ’em when we have to. Do include your real name and some contact details, just in case we need to clarify something. Please write to roadrider@universalmagazines.com.au or send mail to Road Rider, Unit 5, 6–8 Byfield Street, North Ryde NSW 2113 — Matho “My Father made this a couple of years ago. He scaled it off his Virago 250” WOOD STUFF It was good to see the wooden motorcycle in issue…

Repeat high-speed offenders are more likely to hold a motorcycle licence and have a criminal history, according to a Queensland University of Technology study. It also suggests more severe penalties for these offenders, including vehicle impoundment, speed-limiting devices and drink-driving-style sanctions. The Accident Analysis and Prevention study was compiled by researchers at the QUT Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety. Road safety researcher and co-author Dr Judy Fleiter says it is the first study of its kind to investigate the criminal history, personal characteristics, traffic offences and crash history of high-range speeding offenders. The study profiles offenders from 84,456 speeding offences in Queensland classified into three groups: once-only low-range offenders; repeat high-range offenders; and other offenders. It found 55.2 per cent of repeat high-range speeding offenders had a criminal…

New motorcycle riders may have to do more training off public roads, face a longer learner licence period and undergo tougher skills tests to move to unrestricted licences. These measures are part of a Queensland government scheme to improve motorcycle safety. The announcement was accompanied by an $8 million pledge to upgrade known motorcycle black spots, starting with more than $2.5 million to upgrade the scenic Captain Cook Highway north of Cairns. This will involve widening parts of the highway, installing guardrails and removing roadside hazards. Main roads and road safety minister Mark Bailey says the licensing measures and road works were to enhance safety for motorbike riders. “So far this year, we’ve had a spike in motorcycle fatalities with double the number of deaths compared to the same time…

A road-legal motorcycle powered by a Rolls Royce helicopter turbine engine and the successor to the famed Y2K has smashed three world speed records and one British record. Even with blinkers, horn, mirrors and road-legal tyres, the Madmax bike set the following record at the Straightliners Speed Record event in Elvington, UK, in May 2015: • World’s fastest Turbine Motorcycle — one mile (one way): 233.7mph (376.1km/h)• World’s fastest Streetfighter — one mile (one way): 231.6mph (372.7km/h)• World’s fastest flying quarter mile for Turbine Motorcycle: 3.91 sec• Britain’s fastest Naked Motorcycle (official ACU two-way average): 225.6mph (363.1km/h) Madmax is a continuation of the Y2K project built by Marine Turbine Technologies (MTT) in 1988. Y2K motorcycles were rare and highly sought-after. American talk show host Jay Leno has one and there was one in the…

QUICKSPECS Model: Ducati Scrambler Icon Price: $13,140 + orc (Red: $12,990 + orc) Colours: 62Yellow and Ducati Red Warranty: 24 months, unlimited km Servicing intervals: 12,000km Engine: Air-cooled, two valves per cylinder longitudinal 90-degree V-twin Bore x stroke: 88 x66mm Displacement: 803cc Compression: 11.0:1 Power: 55kW @ 8250rpm Torque: 68Nm @ 5750rpm Transmission: 6-speed gearbox, wet slipper clutch, chain drive Frame:Tubular steel trellis Dimensions: Seat height 790mm, weight 186kg (wet), fuel capacity 13.5L, wheelbase 1445mm, rake 24º, trail 112mm Suspension: Front, 41mm USD forks, Rear, monoshock with preload adjustment Brakes: Front, 330mm disc with four-piston radial-mounted caliper. Rear, 245mm disc with single piston caliper. ABS Tyres: Front, 110/80 ZR18. Rear, 180/55 ZR17 Fuel consumption: 5.3L/100km Theoretical range: 255km Verdict: Retro looks with modern performance I hate to start out negatively…

QUICKSPECS Model:Triumph Tiger 800XRx Price: $16,590 (plus on-road charges) Colours: Crystal White, Phantom Black, Caspian Blue Warranty: 2 years, unlimited distance Servicing intervals: 6000km Engine: Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 12-valve, inline triple. Variable TC and throttle maps Bore x stroke: 74 x 61.9mm Displacement: 800cc Compression: 11.1:1 Power: 70kW @ 9250rpm Torque: 79Nm @ 7850rpm Transmission: Wet multiplate clutch, 6-speed gearbox, chain final drive Frame: Steel-tube perimeter Dimensions: Seat height 810–830mm, weight 188/213kg (dry/wet), fuel capacity 19L, wheelbase 1530mm, rake 23.9º, trail 92.4mm Suspension: Front, Showa 43mm USD fork, 180mm travel. Rear, Showa monoshock with adjustable preload, 170mm travel Brakes: Front, 2 x 308mm discs, 2-piston calipers. Rear, 225mm disc with 1-piston caliper. Variable ABS Tyres: Front, 110/90-19. Rear, 150/70R17 Fuel consumption: 5.8L/100km Theoretical range: 325km Verdict: Supremely capable adventure bike and…

QUICKSPECS Model: BMW F 800 R Price: $13,100 (plus on-road charges) As tested with options: $15,095+orc Colours: Light White, Light White/Black Satin Gloss, Racing Blue Metallic Matt/ Black Satin Gloss, Racing Blue Metallic Matt/Light White Warranty: 2 years, unlimited kilometres Servicing intervals: 10,000km Engine: Liquid-cooled, 8-valve, DHOC, parallel twin. Switchable TC Bore x stroke: 82 x 75.6mm Displacement: 798cc Compression: 12:1 Power: 66kW @ 8000rpm Torque: 86Nm @ 5800rpm Transmission: Wet multiplate clutch, 6-speed gearbox, chain drive Frame: Aluminium perimeter Dimensions: Seat height 790mm, weight 202kg (wet), fuel capacity 15L, wheelbase 1526mm, rake 26º, trail 100mm Suspension: Front, non-adjustable USD fork, 125mm travel. Rear, monoshock, manual preload and electronic compression damping adjustments, 125mm travel Brakes: Front, 2 x 320mm discs, 4-piston calipers. Rear, 265mm disc, 1-piston caliper. Switchable ABS Tyres:…

It’s 10.30am on a Thursday morning in mid-April, and I’m stranded on the side of the Oodnadatta Track in outback South Australia. Pick a compass point and the horizon bleeds out into scrub and red dirt, the wide, graded road a 620km stretch winding its way from Marree in the southeast to Marla in the north. Right now, I’m preparing to spend a long day in the sun with my crippled V-Strom, some stray cows and a dozen flies for company. I’m stranded because I’ve just utterly shredded my rear tyre, a near-new Heidenau K60 Scout that’s barely a week old. The sidewalls have a large, crooked smile etched into both sides, as though someone’s grabbed two steak knives and tried to scalp the tread. My riding partner Mike’s taken…

Cairns. Why would anyone want to be anywhere but here? You can come in on an international flight, you can ride here or ship your bike, or rent one. You can stay anywhere from a backpacker hostel to five-star luxury hotel. You can curl up with a morning coffee pool-side, or have a splash at the Cairns Lagoon. You can do swims, croc spotting (preferably not where you’re swimming), hang gliding, and there are too many photo opportunities. Or just throw a leg over and get going. In terms of distance (less than 100km), this first leg of the Cairns loop heads to Port Douglas and is really just over an hour’s ride. Which you could do, but you shouldn’t and you won’t. Heading up the Kennedy Highway north towards…

VERTIX RAPTOR-I BLUETOOTH INTERCOM REVIEW Singapore company Vertix is now offering a motorcycle Bluetooth intercom called the Raptor-i that features a handlebar remote control option, safe volume function and noise-cancelling technology. Vertix is distributed in Australia by Security Gear, which also sells radar detectors, breathalysers and GPS trackers. The Raptor-i is a little unusual as it is sold as separate items that you can mix and match. The basic non-FM controller is $225, the FM model costs $269 and the twin packs are $399 for non-FM and $449 with FM. You buy the speaker headsets separately and get exactly what you want, rather than having to buy them later as an extra-cost accessory. The Series 1 headset at $49.95 has two speakers and a boom or wired microphone for open…