Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue#135 - April 2017 i Australian Road Rider

Local duo Josh Brookes and David Johnson have joined the factory Norton team for this year’s Isle of Man Senior and Superbike TTs. Both riders are set to compete on the all-new SG6, a hand-built bike derived from the recently launched V4 SS road bike. Former World Superbikes racer Josh Brookes is no stranger to the TT. He achieved fastest newcomer in 2013, and placed seventh with a 129.859mph lap the following year. After a two-year absence, Brookes is looking to build on his TT success for 2017. “Firstly I want to come back to the TT. After SMR said I couldn’t ride at the TT for the last two years I’ve been desperate to get back and race at the island. I like the history of the Norton and…

“Never, repeat, never, buy a bike with suspect safety gear. If it goes wrong once, it’s not going to be good” Bits for bikes. There’s a whole global industry that has grown up around improving and personalising a bike. A quick blast around the internet will throw up such a range of choices as to make your head spin. But a lot of it is untrue, the stuff ordinary and your quid is the target. What? Untruth on the internet? Noooo. Yep. The good news is there’s a massive global marketplace open to buyers who want to add options to their ride. Good stuff too. I’m a bit of a fan of touching and feeling the gear, but you can’t always do that. How about buying a bike with stuff…

It was one of those days when the sun simply obliterated the shade: 45 degrees according to the dash of the FJR. The rivers of sweat running down my back and arms were doing nothing to cool me, and peeking out from behind the FJ’s electronically adjustable screen was like sticking your head up a jet’s exhaust pipe. I was, however, feeling oddly serene as I glided along on Yamaha’s über sports tourer, the FJR1300A, to give it its full title. I had surrendered myself to the conditions and the big Yam was doing everything it could to make my trip as easy and stress-free as possible. With its luxurious saddle, relaxed riding position, low footpegs, loping engine and plush suspension, this is a bike that exudes all-day comfort from…

Here at Australian Road Rider, well, we get to ride a whole bunch of exotic things. And we get to ride some totally non-exotic things as well. That’s where the Royal Enfield Classic 350 comes in. It’s not what you’d call rapid, is built to a very reasonable price, and is dynamically left behind in this day and age — but it never claims to be anything different. Fact is, it’s an honest bike and there’s something more to the Enfield. Something that isn’t found in the mathematics. It’s in the poetry. The number-one attraction in our book is pretty simple: the thing is fun. Straight out fun. I love that people gaze at it; folks point at me when I ride it all while I get dragged off by…

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 gleech@universalmagazines.com.au or send mail to Road Rider, Unit 5, 6–8 Byfield Street, North Ryde NSW 2113 — SNAG BORN AGAIN I’ve been riding around Australia for the better part of two decades. Whenever I get the chance I’m out on my bike, sometimes for weeks at…

Now that KTM has officially entered the 2017 MotoGP season, the Austrian motorcycle brand plans to release a production version of its RC16 race bike to the public. Customers will be selected by KTM based on their riding ability and will be restricted to track-only use. The civilian RC16 will be limited to around 100 units, and the bike’s V4 engine will make around 240hp. Okay, that’s a little less than the MotoGP-spec machine’s 270hp, but still plenty enough to scare the living daylights out of most riders. “We want to build at least 100 pieces and also offer this product at a very affordable price,” said KTM CEO Stefan Pierer. “We want to be as close to the MotoGP bikes as possible.” As with most things regarding MotoGP, exact…

“Being on her bike and riding long distances gave her the space and time to start the healing process” It’s obvious to many of us that spending a day out riding a motorcycle can help clear the mind. Indeed, it can be a form of real-world meditation or relaxation. But could riding a bike actually have healing properties? Could it really be a form of therapy? For one incredible woman this is precisely the case. In fact, motorcycle riding became an essential part of healing many years of incredible trauma. Susan Berg’s life story is nothing short of remarkable. Throughout her life she has endured personal tragedies that many of us could barely comprehend. At the age of just 15 her life changed in an instant when the boat she…

OGIO RIG 9800 At 123 litres, this bag isn’t the biggest out there, but it sure is robust and clever. Then you start throwing your gear into it. Track gear, trail-bike gear, or your regular road gear plus plenty of post-ride attire and the Ogio Rig 9800 somehow swallows it all. Inside is one large compartment that’s partitioned by a piece of removable padding, which also doubles as a change mat when you’re on the trails. The padding is secured by Velcro fasteners to allow sufficient space for any helmet type, including a longer dirt bike lid or your finest road lid. The other side easily fits all your gear including bulky items such as big dirt-bike moon boots, armour or leathers. In short, whatever your ride discipline, the Ogio…

Travelling alone on a motorcycle has always taken on an almost sacred significance for me. You are out there somewhere, with just yourself, your bike and the road for company. The price, however, is that if something does go wrong, you have to take care of it yourself. You need to be totally self-reliant and prepared for whatever the road throws your way. For this article, I wanted to explore the positive and negative aspects of riding long distances alone, and head out myself for a ride through Western Australia’s stunning Denmark region. This would involve a 1000km round trip on my newly purchased Kawasaki Vulcan, from my home in Freo, over a weekend. First, it is vital to be very self-reliant when going solo, and that comes through finding…

The contrast hits you immediately when you walk into the new Ducati Museum after doing the tour through the company’s factory in Bologna, Italy. You’ve just come from the unstoppable rush of a colourful, industrial complex to the subdued hush and stark decor of a gallery — a gallery full of motorcycles as art. It stops you in your tracks, and when you get moving again you’re slower and more thoughtful. The museum features road and race bikes from the company’s earliest days, as well as relics of its very first years when it established itself making radio parts more than 90 years ago. After strolling into the reception area and past the desk, you go through a doorway and see an apparently endless series of race bikes disappearing out…

RIDDEN Yamaha’s MT-09 offers budget blasting, but is it as sophisticated a ride as the good folk at Yamaha would have you believe? Leechy thrashes the innards out of one, both on the track and in the Victorian high country. Also, the long-awaited Africa Twin test lands, all guns blazing. They reckon this one can be a BMW beater. We find out, once and for all… An old Thunderbird takes on a newie. Triumph knows how important that moniker is for the brand, so we found a pristine original Triumph Thunderbird and grabbed a newie as well. The lineage is there for all to see. ON THE ROAD Spencer Leech takes us from Melbourne to Adelaide the fun way, and we head to one of the world’s most intriguing motorcycle…

We live in a time where motorcycles are in abundance. We’re spoiled for choice really. Nowadays, bike makers seem to release a new motorcycle every other month, but where did it all start? We’ve rounded up six of the most prolific bike manufacturers in the game to have a look at the first time they decided to slap an engine onto a bike frame and call it their own. DUCATI In many circles, the word Ducati represents the cutting-edge of motorcycle manufacturing, both on-track and on the road, but it took a fair bit of work to earn that reputation. The first bike to ever wear a Ducati badge was built in 1946, and was known as the Cucciolo. The bike featured a 48cc four-stroke engine, two-speed gearing and produced…

“It’s one of things you might dream about in a steam-punk movie” Swinging through the bends in the hills north-east of home in sunny Melbourne, early morning, with the easy beat of a giant V-twin, comfortably settled in the leather seat, enjoying the cool morning air. It’s a pretty good place to be. The bike is brand-new. You can feel the engine clearing its throat and the gearshift action easing as the miles build up. There’s a way to go — another 10–15,000km should see it run-in. The owners might want it back before then. Polaris’s Indian Chief Vintage was, from the day of its launch nearly three years ago, the most popular, if not the most capable, model and you can see the appeal. Much is visual. Put it…

It’s a story that has been told before, but it bears repeating as it’s a significant part of 20th-century industrial history. This is about how Honda and the mighty CB750-Four dispatched the British motorcycle industry. For those of you who can, cast your mind back to 1968. If you lived in Australia and wanted a big motorcycle, you bought a twin, most likely with Norton, Triumph or BSA emblazoned on the tank. None had electric start (that was reserved for cars and Harley tourers), and we’re talking about motors where pushrods ruled the roost. Triumph and BSA had just put a hesitant toe in the water with their T150 and Rocket 3 models — inline triples with pushrod valve actuation, four-speed transmissions and drum brakes. Just four weeks later, Honda…

“Nowadays, any motorcycle is capable of covering big distances without too much trouble” If I had a dollar for every time I’ve been asked “what’s the best bike to take on a ’round the world trip?” I’d have 10 more bikes in the fleet. In reality, the answer is simple. It’s the bike you feel comfortable with. And how do you get it ready for the big trip? That’s pretty simple too. Nowadays, any motorcycle is capable of covering big distances without too much trouble. I’ve seen everything from a Yamaha R1 to scooters and even Ed March’s postie bike ridden across the world. Granted, Ed is a dab hand at rebuilding postie bike engines. During his presentation on his adventures, he often takes out an engine, strips it and…

RJAYS WATERPROOF OVERMITTS When you’re out in the torrential stuff, just about any glove is going to let the water through eventually. One of the easiest ways to prevent getting completely soaked, and retaining some comfort, is to throw on a pair of these overmitts from Rjays. There’s not much to them, and they may not be very glamorous, but for under $20 you can’t go wrong. These mitts, which slide over your regular gloves, are made of PVC-backed nylon, have tape-welded seams and include a carry pouch. Sizes: SM/MD–LG/XL Price: $19.95 Visit: www.mcas.com.au UGLY FISH CRUIZE GOGGLES Take a ride and protect your peepers from the sun’s glare and harsh conditions in a pair of Ugly Fish multi-functional motorcycle goggles. These stylish-looking goggles are the perfect combination of…