Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue#136 - May 2017 i Australian Road Rider

Looking at the giant current Thunderbird LT, it’s not surprising the name had its genesis in Las Vegas. That seems to be a mistake of history rather than long-term corporate design. For anyone who’s seen The Strip in the centre of town in recent years, it’s easy to imagine riding past the spectacular light and fountain show outside The Bellagio, late at night, with the T-bird’s own three-lamp lightset blazing as you cool down from the desert’s daytime heat. The current model is the complete opposite of the 1949 original; the latter would look as out of place there as a cello at a rapper gig. There’s the rub — though they share a name, the two machines are eons and worlds apart. This story came about after one of…

When I was a kid I had a yellow-with-black-speed-blocks RD250E, which is how all Yamahas should be painted, by law. Back then a two-stroke 250 would do over 100mph, which is 160km/h in new money, and at the ripe old age of 17, it felt like riding a rocket ship. I loved that bike very much, some might say too much, and clearly remember the first time I cogged it down into the meat of the power-band, catching my girlfriend’s feet under my armpits as the bike went into full warp-drive. I was hooked. Not only that but the thing actually went round corners in pretty reasonable fashion too, despite the crap tyres, and I seem to recall riding it as fast as it could go, all the time, everywhere,…

So, a reader (that’s you, for the confused among us) rightly wants to know what a bike is like. The pressure is on for us to get it right. After all, you may well be using some of the opinions you read twixt these glossy covers to decide just what mount is worthy of floor space in your shed. That’s a big responsibility, right there, and one that we take pretty seriously. If we give you dud advice, well, you are probably coming after us. Possibly armed, and no one is happy with that. It’s not an easy task to fully evaluate a bike over a two-week loan period and damned near impossible at a launch test. I like to refer to them as “lunch” tests, but that has got…

RUKKA ROUGHROAD Rukka maintains a long tradition of providing a special touring suit for the riders of travel enduros and adventure bikes. The most recent addition to this category is named “Roughroad”, which impresses with its top equipment and great versatility. A total of nine pockets, some of them waterproof, offer plenty of storage space, while numerous stretch inserts and width adjusters ensure a perfect fit. In the seat area, the trousers feature the climate regulating Rukka AirCushion System as well as Antiglide leather to prevent slippage on the seat. Long zippers on the legs allow wearing the trousers inside or out, even over off-road boots. Leather on the inside of the legs protects the trousers from hot parts of the motorcycle. Certified according to the latest CE standards, the…

New bike prices can go up and down like the stock market, so in every issue we’ll bring you the sticker prices. To be completely up to date with things like factory discounts and incentives, check the Road Rider website (www.roadrider.com.au) where we will bring you all the special deals, bonus offers and cashback promotions we can find. We have included the importers’ websites, which is the place to go if you’re looking for more information. You’ll see that we haven’t listed every bike on the market (yet) but we aim to get there with all of them. Sometimes even we struggle to find the details of the smaller, newer importers. Meanwhile, enjoy this most meaningful of Australian bike listings, covering the bikes you’re interested in. The prices are…

The recent Ténéré Tragic Tasmanian Devil Run saw a total of 75 Ténéré riders as they covered a lap of the island on dirt roads and byways. The five-day run spanned over 1800km and was completed on a range of machines — from the first 1983 XT600ZL Ténéré to the latest 1200 twins. “I stated at the welcome dinner that this year’s Tragics Run would be hard to top, and that’s just the way it played out,” enthused event organiser Andrew ‘Captain Tragic’ Clubb. “Conditions were perfect; there were no major incidents — just one bruised wrist and some none-too-serious panel damage — and every Tragic that started the run finished it.” MX legend Stephen Gall made his now annual run with the Tragics and kicked off event proceedings with…

I have always tried to add a degree of spontaneity when I go for a ride. I think it adds to the excitement. As long as my bike is in good order and I’ve got a couple of pineapples in my back pocket, I’m pretty much up for anything. Ride now, and figure out the details later. It’s not the smart way to go about things; in fact, it’s kinda hypocritical considering how often I speak of the importance of preparation. But at the same time, I’m not exactly traversing the Sahara any time soon, so I can usually afford to play things by ear. My recent trip into South Australia was decided on a whim. My close friend and fellow bike-nut Josh Wilson sent me a text: “Work’s a…

ALPINESTARS TOUCAN ADVENTURE BOOTS If shoes maketh the man, then boots must harden him. Then there are hardcore adventure boots such as these beasts from Alpinestars, which will inspire you to head out to take on the fury of Mother Nature and won’t let you down. The Toucans pack more protection than your typical Texas home and provide more grip than a geeky gamer. They’re designed for long, hard and dirty days in the saddle. On the ’pegs you’ll have dry, happy feet in the Toucans thanks to a Gore-Tex waterproof and breathable liner, which really works a treat. We’ve subjected them to hours of heavy rain, mud, slippery slopes, deep puddles and they’ve conquered all. You can literally stand in a creek for an hour and you’ll still have…

“Rocking up on your Yamaha 250 Virago to a ride day takes a self-confidence that only a Kardashian has ever possessed” There has never been an industry more stereotyped than the motorcycle caper. Say the word “Biker” to Mr and Mrs Average and instantly an image leaps to mind of a bearded, leather-clad warrior astride his Harley-Davidson with a half-naked trollop hanging onto his love handles as he defies the long arm of the law to live his biker code with his brotherhood, causing havoc. In an attempt to rebrand the industry over the years, there have been stories of doctors and lawyers and upstanding citizens who were outfitted in leather. Tales of fundraising, saving kittens and rescuing orphans hit the news and the big scary biker myth had a…

Every year, tens of thousands of road riders head to their own motorcycle racing heaven at Phillip Island. Riders of all bike sizes and models come from near and far to experience the ride, catch up with friends and, of course, watch the racing. ARR caught up with some of them trackside at the 2017 World Superbikes, known to many simply as the “the supers”. THE GIXXER GIRL Sydney mother-of-two Tima Hraichie, 35, has been riding for six years and made her first journey to Phillip Island. Tima rode her new Suzuki GSX-R 1175km to Phillip Island over two days, with a stop at Eden. The wedding stylist said that riding on the road was easy compared with organising weddings. “I’m a Gixxer girl at heart. I just love this…

Anyone with any real interest in contemporary motorcycle history knows that Honda protects its model designations strongly. It understands, in a most non-typically Japanese way, that lineage of brand and heritage can sell motorcycles to a rusted-on audience, and bring conquest purchases to those who like the idea of being part of all that authenticity. In short, it’s gold for a producer. Get that wrong, though, and you can ruin a sure-fire showroom winner in one fell swoop. For a case in point, look no further than what Ford very nearly did when it waved its indifferent wand at the venerable Mustang in the ‘80s and ‘90s, producing woefully boring family blurters with the Pony grille badge in more of a weary trot than a wild gallop. The factory seems…

The tip? No, not the one where you dispose of refuse. It’s the one that is the northern-most point of Australia. The tip of Cape York. This is a bucket list ride. There is probably not a rider in the country who hasn’t dreamed of riding a motorcycle all the way to the very top of Australia. This story is about turning that dream into reality. After all, how hard could it be? It’s not that hard. Well, the planning part anyway. There are a handful of operators who will look after all of the logistics and guide you there. They are not all equal in terms of equipment, organisation and support, so choose carefully. Their websites say that you don’t need any off-road experience. Maybe you don’t, but it…

“Is it going to be hot, cold or both? I take beach wear wherever I go” What is this?” the gruff border guard asked as he started rifling through the largest of our panniers. Shirl, as quick as a flash and with that glare that can cut through stone, answered through gritted teeth, “It’s for women.” His demeanour changed immediately to one of shock. He dropped the funny little cylinder, closed the pannier lid and said, “You go.” For girls out there, it pays to pack your “She Wee” or “Go Girl” or whatever you use if you want to pee standing up, near the top of your bag — not just for convenience, but when crossing borders. For us blokes, well that’s a different story. Nothing deters them from…

“We felt very safe walking around at night, even in small alleys” In 2009, my wife Julie and I started planning a ride from Australia to England. We wanted to start in Vladivostok, but when I enquired about shipping the bike to Russia, I found the cost was prohibitive. I asked if there was a more cost-effective location to which we could ship the bike and was told it was easy and cheap to ship to Busan in South Korea. We had never heard of anyone visiting South Korea, let alone riding a motorbike through the country, so we started doing our homework, in particular on how we would then get the bike and us to Russia. Our research told us that South Korea was a very friendly country with…

RIDDEN We’ve got a bit of everything for you. Starting with the Royal Enfield Himalayan, which we tested in the very place it was designed for — the Himalayas. We also ride the MV Agusta Turismo Veloce Lusso, the BMW S 1000 XR, and we take a close look at the cultural phenomenon that is the Cafe Racer. ON THE ROAD We get tropical with a big trip through Timor, and an adventure in northern Thailand. AND ... Lots and lots of motorcycle stories to keep your mind in the right place while you’re not riding your own.…