Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 163 i Australian Road Rider

Keyless ignitions, radar-controlled cruise control, Bluetooth-enabled dashboards, quickshifters, heated grips, tyre-pressure monitoring, C-ABS, cornering lights, electric windows, semi-active suspension… all coming to a motorcycle near you, if it hasn’t already. OK, I’m kidding about the electric windows, but my FJR has an electric screen, which is sort-kinda similar. On the one hand I’m enthusiastic about these developments, on the other the price of the bikes with all the bells and whistles, the cost of maintenance and the difficulty keeping it all working when these bikes get old is a concern in the back of my mind. Regular readers may remember how I had planned to replace the brake hoses on my FJR, only to discover the ABS system had added a heap of complexity and additional hoses compared to the…

KTM has redesigned its LAMS sportsbike, the RC 390, with MotoGP styling, better aerodynamics, improved heat management around the rider, better sports ergonomics, a larger tank, engine and electronics updates and more. The new frame is 1.5kg lighter than the previous model’s, the updated suspension is adjustable, the brakes are lighter and more powerful… but possibly the most impressive updates are to the electronics. Revised engine mapping has improved the torque figures from the 373cc single-cylinder engine and there’s a larger airbox feeding the powerplant. There’s a new Ride-by-Wire system, traction control and now an optional quickshifter. A slipper clutch is standard equipment, as is the Motorcycle Traction Control and cornering ABS. Connected to the engine is a new exhaust, with stainless-steel headers and a black aluminium muffler with a…

“…REVEL IN THE FLEXIBLE, DELIGHTFUL AND BARNSTORMING MID-RANGE” The Super Duke R is a naked sportsbike. Stupid fast (in a good way) with razor-sharp handling and an aggressive power delivery, it’s a bike that gets the adrenaline pumping and the smile widening. It’s also not particularly comfortable (especially at highway speeds) and isn’t very practical for carrying passengers or doing much else than having fun. So KTM built the GT. A little heavier, a little wider, more comfortable, just as aggressive. Alright, maybe not quite as aggressive, but it’s close. So it’s almost as much fun, but has a protective fairing and adjustable screen, wider seat, better pillion accommodation, and the optional luggage can be added quickly and easily. However, to pigeon-hole the bike as a sports-tourer is a bit…

The 19-inch front wheel and single front disc must have seemed like a good idea for the Bobber, but the switch to a fat front wheel and tyre combination plus the addition of a second disc has made the current Bobber much cooler. Add in increased engine performance and better forks, and Triumph’s addressed most of the issues owners had with the previous iteration of the bike while making it even more attractive to new bike buyers. UPGRADES The engine power is up and many other parts have been upgraded, but the biggest change is the new front end. The 19-inch wheel has gone – it’s now a 16-inch with a high-profile tyre fitted (this maintains a reasonable wheel diameter). The OEM Avon Cobras were specially designed for the Bobber…

When asked to test-ride the first edition of the Indian Roadmaster in 2015, I elected a 10-day South African adventure. And not simply because the rhino of a bike had a lion’s growl to its thumper engine and looks to induce a cheetah’s envy. The retro full-dress tourer seemed a fitting sophisticate for chic Cape Town and the old-world wine estates of the Cape Winelands. But I also wanted the “big game” experience of East Cape Province. I negotiated rutted tracks in Addo Elephant National Park, a pachyderm paradise with the world’s densest population of tuskers. In Bucklands Private Game Reserve, a sign reading WARNING! WILD ANIMALS! set my adrenaline coursing for the 3km, scree-covered, quasi-enduro run to the lodge. And in Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, I was escorted at…

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the story of Martin Harvey is already reaching its word count. What you’re looking at is a colourful Cockney man renowned for many things in motorcycling, depending on your age, where you’re from and what you’re into. The spirit behind all of Martin Harvey’s ventures, however, is a simple and inspirational can- and will-do attitude to everything in life. And the further outside the norms of convention, the better. We thought this story was going to be about the craft of self-taught leatherwork and a passion for Moto Guzzis, but we need only scratch the surface to learn there’s a helluva lot more to this irreverent Londoner. Frequent costume changes, rapid-fire zingers and pearls of wisdom, and bombshells randomly dropped about…

The motorcycle performance wars really ended with the start of the 21st century. Throughout the 20th, manufacturers were trying to build faster, higher-performing bikes, from the early days of land-speed records to the affordable, reliable and incredible machines of the late ’90s. Then we hit 300km/h in the form of Suzuki’s 1999 Hayabusa and time was called. Later models and those from other manufacturers were speed-limited to 300km/h and nobody really went chasing higher performance unless you want to count Kawasaki’s Supercharged H2 models, which we don’t — too track-focussed and too expensive. Honda and BMW dropped out of the big-bore high- performance game (Yamaha was never really in it), leaving Kawasaki and Suzuki to develop their bikes, which are still available today. In 2021 the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R and…

Abad day on a bike is better than the best day at work. We’ve all heard it, most of us have said it once or twice. But, let’s face it, some rides are better than others. Some are seared into your memory for all the wrong reasons. This one was back in May 1977… I’d thrown my beloved “Black Widow” K2 750 Honda down the road after flipping it over an EH Holden at highway speeds. Luckily the racing leathers saved me from a lot of damage. I was sans bike, I didn’t own a car, so it was shanks pony for a while. I was working in Melbourne and my family, mates and girlfriend were all in Mildura. The overnight red rattler (yes, there was a train service back…

Designed to suit the latest-model KTM 1290 Adventure S and R, Rad Guard’s new radiator guards are Australian-made protection for your radiator. Built in Australia for the hard-core adventure rider, these lightweight 6060 T1-T5 aluminium guards are said to be easy to fit, are lightweight, won’t restrict airflow and look fantastic. PRICE: RRP $346. On special for $279 AVAILABLE FROM: Rad Guard COLOURS: Black, Polished Alloy, and Orange & Black PHONE: (02) 6658 0060 MORE INFO RAD GUARD links.roadrider.com.au/163Radguard…

LOOKING BACK It was sports and tourers that had newbike buyers excited in 2001, with Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 setting the lap times and the GL1800 Gold Wing eating miles. Both bikes continue today, the updates making them still very competitive. The GSX-R didn’t have it all its own way though, with an update to the Yamaha R1, Kawasaki ZX-9R and Honda CBR900RR making the early 2000s still very much a sporting time. Rather than go head-to-head with the Gold Wing, Yamaha introduced the FJR1300, another bike that has survived through to today. Aussies were winning on the world stage, with Andrew Pitt taking the World Supersport crown, Matt Mladin winning in the USA, and Chad Reed finishing second in the World 250cc motocross championship. LOOKING FORWARD This issue was supposed to…

INDIAN FTR, FROM $19,995 It has a similar retro performance theme and price to the Bobber, with better dynamic ability. Pretty as it is, we don’t think it nails the “Old School Cool” styling quite as well as the Bobber. HARLEY SPORTSTER, FROM $26,495 We’ve not ridden it, however the new one looks promising. It matches the Bobber with a cool low look, strong engine and limited suspension travel. BMW R 18, FROM $27,206 In some ways it’s like the Bobber with its pre-WWII styling. It offers more of a traditional cruiser experience and handles surprisingly well for its weight and low style.…

So many of the things that made fighting a war difficult for Western forces make Vietnam a wonderful place to visit — the mountains, the jungles, the weather, the food and the culture. For motorcycle travellers, the experience of riding small-capacity bikes in this gem of South-East Asia is delightful on many levels; the locals like tourists and are welcoming and friendly, the food is fresh and fabulous, the scenery is spectacular and very different from Australia. Millions of people live on the coast and almost all tours will start there (even if it’s just flying in to Ho Chi Minh City [the old Saigon] or Hanoi). There’s the typical hustle and bustle of many Asian cities, with families of four often seen on a single scooter, controlled chaos on…

Starting my 1981 Moto Guzzi when the temperature was close to freezing was always a hit-and-miss affair. As a teenager I thought the problem was always down to the battery’s ability to cope with the cold, but it turns out engine oils of the 1980s didn’t help, becoming extra thick in the cold and making it that much harder to start. We’d fire up our bikes on those cold mornings using lots of choke to increase the fuel-to-air mix, and the 850 would often take a few stabs at the starter before it would burst into life. No doubt the poor overworked starter motor was needing a rest between attempts at getting the oil moving. Modern multigrade oils barely suffer from this problem, remaining viscous (runny) even when cold, reducing…

“AS TO RIDING, PALM SPRINGS’ FABULOUS WINTER WEATHER SPELLS NIRVANA” In winter the summer never dies in Palm Springs, where the architecture is retro-cool and the spirit as invigorating as an iced martini. Where else can you golf in the morning, go snowshoeing in the afternoon, and enjoy a cocktail alfresco by the pool in the evening? As to riding, Palm Springs’ fabulous winter weather spells Nirvana. There’s no better climate in the USA, which explains why the resident population almost doubles and Greater Palm Springs & Desert Resorts is California’s #1 draw among winter visitors. And did I mention Palm Springs’ physical setting? Out of this world! Majestic mountains soar on three sides, glistening with snow in the winter sunshine. In fact, the surrounding scenery is far more diverse…

“FOLLOW THE TWISTS AND TURNS TO THE SUMMIT OF MT ALEXANDER…”” If you’re the type of rider who likes a varied riding experience and to explore different locations, central Victoria has plenty to offer. The best place to start is Castlemaine. A little over an hour of freeway riding from Melbourne will have you in the heart of this quaint but vibrant town established after the discovery of gold in 1851. The buildings show signs of a rich, bygone era, with sites of those heady times a short ride from the town in all directions. Castlemaine is also known as the “Hot Rod Capital of Australia”. “Hot” Rod Hadfield’s museum on the Pyrenees Highway at Chewton is a must for petrol heads if you’ve got the time. It’s easy to…

GoPro has again upped the ante with its premier action camera, now up to version 10. If you’ve got an action camera more than a few years old, this thing will blow it into the weeds. Driving the new GoPro is a new “engine”; what they mean is a faster chip for smoother scrolling of the touchscreen, faster startup and even better slow motion. It can shoot at double the frame rate of last year’s Hero9, which means better slow-motion replays. It’ll do 23MP still photos, which is more than the pro cameras we use to shoot the images in ARR. You can extract high-resolution stills from the video frames. With 5.3K video capture, HyperSmooth shake reduction, waterproofing and improved low-light capabilities, the Hero10 looks like a ripper of a…

Modular helmets are awesome in summer, allowing you to pop the chin piece up and out of your way — and some, like the new RXT Safari, have dual certification so they can be used open or closed. Adventure helmets are awesome on the road in summer because the peak will often keep the sun out of your eyes (although this can sometimes be more important in winter when the sun is lower in the sky). With the RXT Safari, you get both features at an incredibly affordable $189-$199. Not only that, but there’s an integrated sun visor, ventilation, dual shell sizes, quick-release strap, Pinlocks, washable lining, breathguard, and a full neck curtain. RXT gave ARR a Safari to test and so far we’re very impressed with the build, design…

Iblame a young, brash racer named Valentino Rossi for my admiration for Italian motorcycle company Aprilia. I was watching the young gun romp to victory in the 250cc class of the MotoGP in 1999 that prompted me to find out more about the iconic company. As we all know, Rossi went on to achieve greatness after leaving Aprilia, but my fascination with the brand never wavered. It’s an obsession I’m glad to say I still have more than two decades later. I’ve been fortunate enough to own several Aprilia models and currently have three in my stable – a 2004 SL 1000 Falco, a 2007 Tuono (both V-twins) and a V4 Tuono Factory 1100. All are different but amazing machines that put a huge smile on my face every time…

It’s only taken Triumph a quarter century or so, but you can at last have a Speed Triple with a fairing – and it’s the most powerful, beautiful, best-handling and sporty Speed Triple ever, too. At least we’re hopeful all those superlatives are justified, because we’re Speed Triple tragics here at ARR. So 2021 brought us the R model, with some significant updates to what’s been one of the most popular high-performance nakeds since the model launched in the 1990s. The RR, however, takes it to a new level. ONE LETTER, A HOST OF CHANGES So the “cockpit” fairing – a Rickman-style frame-mounted half fairing with a round headlight – gives the bike a neo-modern style. Of course we’ve only seen pictures so far, but it looks stunning in those.…

Triumph will release an all-new Tiger Sport 660 (based on the Trident) and multiple all-new Tiger 1200s in 2022. While the official announcements hadn’t been made prior to this issue’s deadline, ARR’s sources indicate the Tiger Sport 660 will be a versatile, more road-oriented adventurestyle sports tourer, like the Tiger 850 Sport, while the new 1200s are designed to take an even bigger slice out of BMW’s dominant big-bore GS models. TIGER 660 Utilising the engine from the highly successful Trident in a chassis and suspension designed to take on battered back-road dirt roads as well as bitumen all day, the new Tiger Sport 660 is aimed at bikes like the Kawasaki Versys 650 and Suzuki V-Strom. With the breakout success of the Trident, the new model is hoped to…

BMW R 1250 RS – FROM $24,995 RIDE AWAY. With a touring rather than sports bias, the BMW R 1250 RS is still capable on a winding road. A centrestand is available but not as required because the shaft drive means no chain maintenance anyway. Closer to the KTM in price with optional specifications. SUZUKI GSX-S1000GT We don’t know much about this new model yet, but we expect it to try to take on the KTM at a much lower price. KAWASAKI NINJA 1000 SX – FROM $34,717 RIDE AWAY. A long, fast missile, Kawasaki’s supercharged sports-tourer is an incredible ride. Longer and heavier with an engine every rider should experience. Kawasaki also has the affordable and capable Ninja 1000.…

The sign at Nullarbor Roadhouse warned of kangaroos, wombats and camels on the road ahead. That’s right, camels. I was last here in 1975 when I drove from Sydney to Perth and the Eyre Highway across the Nullarbor was unsealed for 400km from near Ceduna in South Australia to the Western Australia border. It was a rough gravel road with potholes, horrible corrugations and sharp limestone rock edges that destroyed tyres. There were only a couple of widely spaced fuel stops, so you needed to carry fuel and water. These days the Eyre Highway is a wide, two-lane road with an excellent bitumen surface all the way. However, having just ridden two-up for 2000km from Perth to get here, and having the same distance to go to Sydney, we appreciated…

A visit to Greece is a history lesson, taking you back in time. Riding from the Dalmatian coast into Greece, a visit to the monasteries of Meteora transports you back to another age and is an essential experience. The Mediterranean coast is like a magnet and will draw you to ride the coastal roads. In western Greece, Lefkada is a natural overnight stay popular with English tourists and locals eager to cater to them. Exploring back mountain passes such as Vikos Gorge, goat herders can be a traffic hazard, while a lack of guard rails means sailing off into oblivion is a distinct possibility. The Greek Islands are worth a visit for some great riding. Ferries leave from Piraeus, a short suburban ride out of Athens. Take a day ferry…

Responding to modern demands, Kabuto has developed its new Hikari helmet to provide what riders really want. There’s an integrated sunvisor, of course, but Kabuto has made it wider, so there’s no vision loss. There’s an integrated intercom attachment space to make it easier to add communications. The cheek pads are glasses-friendly and the clear visor is pinlock-equipped, ready for the latest wide-type Pinlock. Other features of the helmet include a wind shutter, breath guard and double-action micro ratchet buckle. The Hikari also features excellent ventilation and Kabuto’s famous wake stabiliser for reduced buffeting. PRICE: RRP $375 COLOURS: Matt Black Fluro, Matt Black White, Matt Black SIZES: XS-XXL MORE INFO KOBUTO HAKARI links.roadrider.com.au/163Hakari…

Kriega’s Trail 18 Adventure may have been designed for trail and adventure riding, but we think there are heaps of features that will appeal to road riders as well — especially hydration. There’s a seven-litre rear compartment which can accept an (optional) hydration reservoir at the back that combines with a small internal waterproof pocket — perfect for your phone and wallet — while the main roll-top body of the bag is there for the bulk of your gear. There’s also a Hypalon net, perfect for a spare pair of gloves, a jacket lining or some lightweight wet weather gear. Kriega gear is really well made. The Trail 18 uses ultra-durable 420D Cordura with an air mesh back panel combined with the famous Quad-Lok harness to hold it all in…

Designed for sportsbikes from nakeds to trackdays, Pirelli’s new Diablo Rosso IV has a bunch of new features thanks to feedback from riders and Superbike World Championship experience. The Rosso IV boasts a silica-enriched multi compound in both the front and rear tyres, combined with WSBK-derived structures and contours. It offers superb grip under braking, acceleration in extreme lean angles and brilliant traction when powering out of corners. The Diablo Rosso IV tread pattern is developed around the Flash icon, which is synonymous with all Pirelli sport tyres. Flash features two prominent centre grooves providing directional stability and ensuring wear stability. They also provide water drainage from the centre out for the contact patch when upright. Flash tails of varying lengths are distributed around the centre design, outlining the mid-lean…

One of the great anthems of my baby boomer youth was “My Generation” by The Who, with its immortal line, “I hope I die before I get old”. It perfectly summed up the times. Imagine being square like your parents or (shudder) your grandparents. The notion was too awful for rebellious 1960s teenagers to contemplate. This attitude also informed our generation’s approach to risk. Drive the quickest car, ride the fastest bike, surf the biggest wave. It was as if we were immortal and if we weren’t, who cares, we won’t be here to worry about it. These days I’m happy to get old before I die. Too many mates didn’t have the choice and I’ve been thinking about them recently. One was the legendary motorcycle writer and columnist Peter…

EMAIL YOUR BIKE PHOTOS TO ROADRIDER@UMCO.COM.AU MOTUL CARE PACK WINNER WIN THIS Every issue we’re giving away this beaut pack of Motul cleaning gear worth $49.95. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is send us a pick of your shining steed and we’ll pick what we think is the best shot and comment and the top blokes at Motul will fire out this pack to whoever wrote it. Simple. Pack includes some of the best washing and detailing products on the market: • Wash & Wax, a waterless cleaner that leaves a wax coating • Moto Wash, good for all surfaces • Scratch Remover, a micro-abrasive cream for painted surfaces • Helmet & Visor Clean, to keep your lid and your view pristine.…