Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 161 i Australian Road Rider

Not too many years ago, the idea a regional council would not just tolerate but actively promote a motorcycle rally was unthinkable. But it’s happening. The Tamworth Regional Council is behind the Thunder Rally 100 per cent. It’s not only supporting the event, it’s funding it, and it’s doing so even though it expects to lose money at least in the first year because it will bring the sorts of people to the town it wants to attract. Touring motorcyclists are awesome for the places we visit. Unlike so many grey nomads in RVs or towing caravans, we (usually) rent a room, we eat in the restaurants, we drink in the pubs and we fill up at the local servo. Those in RVs stay cheaply in caravan parks and often…

CFMOTO, which has quietly gone about making a name for itself building modern, exciting and reasonably priced LAMS bikes, will have a new 800cc Adventure bike on sale in Australia later this year. The company showed off 1250 and 1000cc machines at Chinese bike shows in 2020, but there’s no word on when we might see them. However the 800MT range – Sport and Touring variants – will be here in 2021. The bikes are powered by KTM engines, 799cc parallel twins that are closely related to the powerplants used in the 790 range. With 70kW (95hp) at 8000rpm and 88Nm at 6600rpm, there’s decent performance for a mid-range Adventure bike, while the equipment level is also impressive: slipper clutch, Bosch electronic fuel injection, ride-by-wire throttle with three riding modes:…

Chasing a bunch of other journos riding the new Triumph Trident up the twisty road to Mount Baw Baw, it certainly didn’t feel like the reduced horsepower from the international model was slowing me down. The bike we get here produces 54 horses, the full-power version (not being imported into Australia) produces 80. Driving up steep hills requires torque, and the Trident produces good midrange torque (peak output is just 60Nm), just when learners and less-experienced riders can make the most of it. Combine the good torque with the bike being reasonably lightweight (for a 660) and it’s easy to ride quickly and safely, despite the reduced maximum output. Australian LAMS laws are different from much of the rest of the world; we still have a capacity limit (660cc) but…

“If I see you kids riding your motorbikes on the road, I’ll book ya,” the local sergeant growled at us. “Now push your bikes down the road and get over in the common and ride there. And don’t kill yourselves.” It was the 1960s and life was motorbikes, footy, cricket, girls and school, pretty much in that order. We were just sitting on them, honest! Half a dozen early teenage boys gathered on a street corner with their pride and joys taking the piss out of each other’s choice. Jap crap, oil burners, old dunger. Beezas, Trumpies, and even a sloper Panther modified for the bush. We were the kings of our patch. We all dutifully dismounted and walked beside the bikes until the Divvy van disappeared. It was downhill…

The Coal Bunker Bar is a softly lit, well-presented place to relax. Unlike so many pubs these days, there aren’t screens showing the racing, Keno results or football. It’s a place for conversation and imbibing fine alcohol. You can choose a bar stool or a comfortable leather seat to enjoy your choice of drink. There’s a huge selection, from rare imported spirits to wines to beers and a long cocktail list. The quality feel of the Coal Bunker Bar, thanks to the friendly professional staff, fabulous decor and wide range of drinks choices, means it stands out as a place to enjoy some of the finer things in life. I had both dinner and breakfast at the Workshop Kitchen, a stylish restaurant where the kitchen takes centrestage. The menu features…

“…THE LOCALS ARE VERY FRIENDLY, ESPECIALLY TO AUSTRALIANS” It was where Forrest stopped running. The spires of Monument Valley had appeared in front of us, the classic Utah view. It was exactly the spot where Tom Hanks, playing Forrest Gump, had stopped. After three years running, he said, “I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll go home now” and turns around and starts walking back down the road into the same scene in which we were now riding. It was a time before COVID and there were four of us on two touring bikes visiting a bunch of states in the South-West of the US: California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Arizona before arriving back in San Francisco 8000km later. It was an immense ride, which…

DUCATI MULTISTRADA 950 — FROM $21,500 RIDE AWAY Tested in issue #159, this is a great-value, versatile and fun V-twin-powered sports Adventure machine. TRIUMPH TIGER 850 SPORT — FROM $17,890 RIDE AWAY Three cylinders, a little less tech and thousands of dollars cheaper, this is Britain’s take on what an inexpensive sports Adventure bike should look like. YAMAHA TRACER 9 GT — FROM $23,299 RIDE AWAY New for 2021, the latest version of Yamaha’s sports-tourer has 117hp, semi-active suspension and panniers at an affordable price.…

In the last issue I wrote about how the discs on my FJR were worn out, so I was going to use the opportunity to upgrade the braking for the bike. Well, as they say, no plan survives first contact with the enemy… As I discussed in the previous issue, hydraulic discs brakes are usually fairly simple: pulling in the lever at your handlebars pumps fluid down a brake line to squeeze the brake pads inside your calipers against the discs, generating friction and heat, causing the wheel’s rotation to slow and stop. The quality of everything in the system can affect braking performance — from how well you can grip that lever to how clean your fluid is to what compound is in the pads and a whole lot…

Andy Strapz now has a lightweight pannier support system for the new Tiger 900s. Although the frame set accommodates most “throw-over” bags and all Andy Strapz pannier systems, the Avduro panniers are the bags recommended. Designed to support throw-over bags so the weight is taken on the seat, they are strong but light (just 2kg), built from mild steel, powder-coated satin black with stainless bolts. “We’ve carefully considered stress and impact areas, applying lessons learnt from 15 years of making our support frames here in Victoria,” the company reports. Fitted in minutes (some say it takes longer to unwrap them than fit them), frames can be removed when not travelling. “Add a set of our 35-litre-a-side Avduro panniers for a luggage system that weighs only 4kg, making one of the…

Since 2016, the Motocyc 4 kids ride has been running from Newcastle and has raised $130,000 for Camp Quality. This year’s event was nearly cancelled due to the raging weather along the east coast in March, with roads damaged and flooding, but the 1100km ride managed to go ahead and turned out to be very successful. This event is a road ride for motorcycle enthusiasts that raises money for children 0-15 years who are suffering from cancer. The money is used in many ways to improve the lives of these children, along with their parents and siblings, and stays in the Newcastle area. Twenty-three riders and two pillions joined the ride, which included a difference this year: an adventure component was added to entice more riders to participate. Some riders…

Harley-Davidson has announced the first of an ongoing series of new, limitededition bikes inspired by some of the most legendary machines made by the Motor Co – the Icons Collection. The 2021 Electra Glide Revival is the first, a reproduction of the 1969 single seat tourer. Unlike the original, the Revival features Harley’s RFDS safety technology, a Boom Box audio system and all the other mod cons you’ve come to expect in a modern Harley incorporated in a bike the public will believe is more than 50 years old. Moving forward there will be one or two Icons Collection machines each year, with a single production run for each model. Production of that model will never be resumed or repeated. Each Icons Collection motorcycle will be serialised and the purchaser…

More than 30 years ago Yamaha launched the YZF-R7, a limited-edition 750cc homologation special designed to win the Superbike World Championship with Noriyuki Haga at the handlebars. He didn’t quite succeed and Superbikes moved to 1000cc four-cylinder bikes, and the R7 is now considered one of those rare, special, street-legal race bikes. But the name has been re-born with the 2022 YZF-R7… and it’s a mid-capacity sportsbike. Apart from that, there are few similarities. It’s replacing the R6 in Yamaha’s line-up, which already has the internet in an uproar, because how could Yamaha replace a 116hp four with a 72hp twin? Here’s why: because Yamaha believes it will sell… and it actually fits into its current line-up much better than the R6 (which will continue as a track-only offering, which…

Yamaha MT-07, from $12,399 Ride Away. With both High Output and Learner Approved (LA) versions available, the twin-cylinder Yamaha rules the naked bike category for its class – but the Triumph, with three cylinders and being a touch cheaper, might win hearts. Ducati Monster 659, from $13,500 Ride Away. This delightful Italian V-twin is chock-full of character and soul and it performs pretty well too. Kawasaki Z650L SE, from $10,499 + ORC. This special edition in black and green features a parallel twin engine, Bluetooth connectivity, adjustable levers and lots more. Honda CB650R, $11,849 + ORC. Four cylinders wrapped in Neo Sports Cafe styling. Modern yet classical, innovative and interesting.…

With more than 40,000 people calling Tamworth home, it’s hard to refer to it as a motorcycle-friendly “town”; this place is a city, but it still has the country town feel, hospitality and space we find outside of Australia’s capital cities. Located in the New England district of NSW, Tamworth is on the western side of the Great Dividing range, so if you’re based on the coast there’s likely to be some good roads to ride to get there. Indeed, the famous Oxley Highway, which I wrote about extensively in issue #159 in my article about Wauchope, passes through the town. That’s about three hours non-stop, but the twisty bits on the Oxley can be very tiring, so take some breaks if you’re going that way. From the South Coast…

There are many famous events where motorcyclists gather in large numbers around the world, from Daytona to the Isle of Man to Sturgis to World Ducati Week and many more. But here in Australia, where the population is spread thin across vast tracks of the country, it’s probably only the MotoGP and WSBK events that could be considered iconic, and they are both at the same location, tucked down in the bottom corner of the mainland. The National Thunder Rally might change that. Over the October long weekend the inaugural event will happen in Tamworth… which is closer to Melbourne than Phillip Island is to Brisbane, just a half day from Sydney and only an hour or so from some of the best roads not just in NSW, but in…

Cruise control can save your licence on any bike, but on a 200hp sports missile like the new fifth-generation Kawasaki ZX-10R, it could save you from being locked up. The bike’s ability to mask the speed you’re doing — 110km/h is so effortless for this bike you almost feel like you could get off and walk faster — that using the cruise control on highways and freeways makes so much sense. It’s crazy easy to find yourself 30 or more km/h over the speed you thought you were doing, and the penalties for doing so these days are harsh, so Kawasaki’s inclusion of a cruise control on this machine is a very smart move, and something I think owners will use a lot. Of course, the ZX-10R’s natural home isn’t…

Here are a few things we’d do to make the ZX-10R a better track bike without re-mortgaging the house. • The Kawasaki Race ECU isn’t appropriate for recreational riders. It’s very expensive and likely disables many street functions. However, aftermarket ECU re-flashing may be available in the near term. This will allow better race set-up using a dyno for any air intake, cam shaft and exhaust modifications. • The OEM tyres aren’t bad, but they will limit the bike for fast riders. For riders who’ve done less than 20 track days, they will be fine (just use warmers). For fast riders, we’d suggest something with more grip and less durability; fast riders will know this already. • Although the standard shock is fine for street work (it’s a good shock),…

You don’t need great punch out of turns if you have excellent corner speed. Watching Kawasaki’s Versys 650 tip into turns without the brake light coming on through the twisties of the Bylong Valley was really showing how capable a machine it is, with Suzuki’s middleweight V-Strom shadowing the green machine’s rear wheel. The two brands have taken different paths to the same destination – versatile middleweight allrounders which are economic, comfortable and capable. Suzuki uses a V-twin powerplant wrapped in Adventure bike styling with laced wheels, including a 19-inch front. Kawasaki’s Versys is more road bike focused, with a short wheelbase, 17-inch cast wheels and crossover styling that belies its street sports ability. The Suzuki has been around for decades, the Kawasaki for nearly a decade and a half.…

“EITHER WAY, NO ONE SURVIVED” Running 200km north-west from the Victorian border, South Australia’s Limestone Coast may be a long way from anywhere, but it’s an interesting place to tour and well suited to anyone travelling Melbourne to Adelaide or vice-versa. Of course, for South Australian locals like myself, it’s a somewhat easier destination, although it doesn’t start until you’re 300km south-east of Adelaide. It then stretches a further 200km all the way to the Victorian border. For me, the history, the landscape, the villages and riding were the big attractions. For others it might be the wineries, glamping, snorkelling and caves. For an area not far from the deserts of central Australia on sparsely populated and tough land, it offers more for the visitor than many expect. OUT OF…

Design and updates to the electronics are the core of the changes Suzuki’s building into the 2022 GSX-S1000. There’s a mix of convenience and performance upgrades, including Suzuki’s Intelligent Ride System, drive mode selector (including three user-definable modes), Easy Start System and Clutch Assist. The bike’s also scoring a stacked LED headlight, bi-directional quick-shifter, ride-by-wire throttle and LED indicators. For more range there’s a larger 19L tank. Design features include new logo styling and carbon fibre-like textured overlays and more. Pricing and availability will be announced soon – talk to your Suzuki dealer or visit www.suzukimotorcycles.com.au.…

Although Yamaha’s Massive Torque range has been with us since 2005, it wasn’t until 2013 and the launch of the MT-09 that it really took off. When the inline-triplepowered naked dropped at $12,000 (on the road), sales took off here and around the world – but most especially in Europe, where it topped sales charts and continues to do well. The original was revamped in 2017 and for 2021 we have what’s effectively an allnew bike in both standard and SP versions. THE LAUNCH Post COVID-19 lockdowns, Yamaha Australia is selling all the MT-09s it can get from the factory. The new model is proving so successful that the marketing department was limited to one standard and one SP version, so instead of a conventional launch, we got to ride…

Situated just 65km from the heart of Melbourne on the Maroondah Highway, Healesville is an easy ride through the ‘burbs and wine country. The Yarra Ranges are right there in front of you to ride to your heart’s content. For the touring motorcyclist visiting Victoria, Healesville is on the “correct” side of Melbourne to access Phillip Island – so it’s great place to visit on a pilgrimage to the track. Saturday and Sunday mornings see the main street come alive to the sound of motorcycles of all descriptions. Local cafes and business houses are happy and cater well for the boys and girls out on their bikes. The local Grand Hotel on the main street puts on a good feed, but if there are a few of you, book because…

The Powerhouse Hotel Tamworth by Rydges is a major step up in terms of quality than what you’ll generally find away from a capital city and the coast. With five-star standard rooms, bars, restaurants and facilities, re-charging your personal batteries at the Powerhouse is a pleasure. Built on the grounds of Tamworth’s old electrical power station (which was known as the Powerhouse), the hotel is easy to find on the New England Highway; it’s about a 10-minute walk into the CBD or three minutes on a bike and right next door to the Powerhouse Motorcycle Museum, which is supported by the hotel. Long and narrow, the Powerhouse is laid out more like a motel. I was able to park the GS almost outside my door, but unlike most motels there’s…

“WHAT MAKES THIS BIKE SPECIAL IS THE WAY IT ALL COMES TOGETHER” BMW describe the F 900 XR as a sports adventure machine, with “an uncompromising mix of sportiness and touring capability”, which makes it a sportstourer in my book. But the big difference between this bike and previous sports-tourers is the heritage. This bike has been developed from the GS Adventure bikes, not sportsbikes or touring machines, so it has an upright riding position, long travel suspension and a modified version of the parallel twin we first saw in the F 850 GS, although enlarged to 895cc and now producing 99hp for the Australian model. At 219kg wet weight, we’ve got a classic formula of around 100 horses pushing 200kg of dry weight, easy to handle yet offering plenty…

Well, I did get my Ducati 900SS tank back from the repairers and immediately set about rebuilding its innards. The days were still warm in late autumn and for the most part dry, and I was keen as mustard to get in my first ride in a very long time before the rain and cold returned. What a great idea it was to put a fuel pump and fuel filter inside the fuel tank, accessible only via an opening in the top barely big enough to get a single hand through. There are so many simple things that work well on air-cooled, belt-drive Ducatis; I can only assume the engineers chose the internal filter and pump over an external option to highlight just how welldesigned and logical everything else was.…

Kangaroo leather is much stronger, weight for weight, than any other leather in the world. That makes it awesome for protecting your skin, which is why some of the best racing leathers, and the new BMW 2-in-1 gloves, feature kangaroo leather. The 2-in-1 name comes from the dual chambers built in; slide your hand in the lower “Grip” chamber and you’ve got an unlined glove that offers excellent feel at the controls, with armour protection and ventilation. The upper “Proof” chamber has a waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex liner for increased warmth and weather protection. BMW gave each journo at a recent launch a set of 2-in-1 gloves to review, and I must say I’m very impressed. They are about as bulky as a modern pair of winter gloves, but the…

If you have a high-performance engine and want to keep it that way, it pays to use a high-quality oil. Ipone’s Full Power Katana is a 100 per cent synthetic with Ester 4-stroke oil intended for sporty riding on the road. It guarantees optimum lubrication to exploit the full performance of a high-revving engine. Formulated with esters and high-performance additives, revs are quicker and the engine protection is ensured, even at full power. Additionally, the Speed & Easy Shift innovation transforms your gear changes, making them faster and more precise. The gearbox is smoother, more pleasant and mechanical noise is significantly reduced. It’s also easier to find neutral. AVAILABLE GRADES: 10W40-10W50 1L — $26.90 RRP 4L — $99.90 RRP MORE INFO: iponeoils.com.au Available from Ipone stockists Australia-wide…