Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 169 i Australian Road Rider

Adecade or so ago I was a guest of BRP, the parent company of Can-Am, in Montreal, Canada, to see new models of Spyder, ATV and Sea-Doo watercraft. A journalist I was travelling with was convinced we’d see a motorcycle, a new era of two-wheelers from a company which produced hot-shot off-road racers in the 1970s but had stopped production by 1987 as the market changed. She was wrong. Twenty years after stopping production, the Spyder launched — a non-leaning three-wheeled road trike with two front wheels and one rear, operated with motorcycle-like controls — handlebars and a rider’s saddle. In Montreal that year, a Can-Am engineer told me how an electric Spyder was being developed… but I never heard another word about it, the project sinking without a trace.…

SEDDO I scored my first gig as a freelance journalist with Bike Australia magazine, edited by Peter 'The Bear' Thoeming, in early 1982. His deputy was the affable and always entertaining Grant Roff. Up until that point, my only published work had been a series of biker fiction stories for Ozbike, edited by the legendary Bob Skol. They're all still around. The Bear went on to launch Australian Road Rider for Universal Media Co, then Universal Magazines, prior to Mick Matheson coming on board, and later Australian Motorcyclist with Stuart Woodbury. He also sketched the famous emblem of the Ulysses Club. Grant and his alter-ego Spannerman have had their hands in just about everything, including a stint as editor of Motorcycle Trader and his current role with Info Moto. He…

No article about EVs would be complete without considering battery and motor issues. This is an engineering issue, but it’s surprising how many people get emotional it. Currently, most EVs have a longer service life than their factory-fitted batteries. Therefore, considering battery durability before purchase is prudent. Electric drivetrains produce a lot of heat; high currents are required for sufficient power at the relatively low voltages found in EVs (compared to 240 and 415V AC motors). Managing this heat build-up is a primary design consideration in the battery, motor control electronics and the motor itself. Failure to do so dramatically shortens service life. In the worst case, it can end with a YouTube video… of firemen watching an EV suff ering China Syndrome (as the remaining electrical energy dissipates in…

ENGINE Type: Liquid-cooled, Permanent Magnet, Synchronous Motor Power: 31kW/42Hp at 4900rpm Torque: 60Nm at 1500rpm Maximum motor RPM: 12,500 TRANSMISSION Type: Single Stage Reduction to Belt Drive Wheel Final drive: Toothed Belt. Total Drive Reduction 10.5 Clutch: N/A BATTERY Voltage: 147.6V DC Capacity: 60.6 amp hours (8.9kW/h) Charge rate: 2.3kW/h from domestic GPO, 6.9kW/h from three-phase quick charger Charge time: Approx four hours with singlephase charger. Approx one hour with quick charger Range Claimed: 130km Practical Range Observed: Approx 110km (enthusiastic use in hilly terrain) CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR Chassis: Tubular steel Swingarm: Aluminium Front suspension: Single bridge, 35mm, conventional fork Rear suspension: Single cantilever shock, preload adjustable Front brakes: Radial-mount 4-piston callipers, dual discs, 265mm, ABS Rear brake: Single piston calliper, single disc, 265mm ABS Tyres: Front: 120/70 R15,…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Power: 93.9HP (70kW) at 9000rpm Torque: 77Nm at 7500rpm Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4-valve, 2-cylinder Capacity: 799cc Bore x stroke: 88 × 65.7mm Compression ratio: 12.7:1 Fuel system: Fuel injection Ignition: Digital TRANSMISSION Type: 6-speed Final drive: Chain Clutch: Wet multiplate, Assist and Slipper function CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR Chassis: Steel tube Swingarm: Aluminium Front suspension: KYB telescopic upsidedown 43mm fork, compression, rebound, spring preload adjustment, 160mm travel Rear suspension: KYB shock, with rebound and ring style preload adjustment, using cantilever arrangement mounted directly to swing arm, 150mm travel Front brakes: Radial-mount callipers, semi floating dual discs, 320mm, ABS Rear brake: Twin-piston calliper, 260mm single disc, ABS Tyres: Front: 110/8-19; Rear: 150/50-17 DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES Rake: Not given Trail: Not given Claimed dry weight: Not given Claimed wet weight:…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Type: Liquid cooled 4-stroke Parallel Twin. DOHC, 8 valves. Capacity: 649cc Compression ratio: 10.8:2 Engine management: EFI, digital ignition PERFORMANCE Claimed maximum power: 51hp (37.8kW) @ 8000rpm Claimed maximum torque: 59.0Nm @ 6500rpm TRANSMISSION Type: 6-speed Final drive: Chain Clutch: Wet multiplate, Assist & Slipper CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR Chassis: Trellis, high-tensile steel Front suspension: 41mm telescopic fork, non-adjustable Rear suspension: Horizontal Back-link, single-shock with adjustable spring preload Front brakes: Dual semi-floating ø300mm discs with dual piston calipers Rear brake: ø220mm disc with a single piston caliper Tyres: F: 120/70ZR17 R:160/60ZR17 DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES Rake: 24° Trail: 130mm Claimed wet weight: 188kg Seat height: 800mm Wheelbase: 1405mm Fuel capacity: 12L TECHNOLOGY Dual throttle valves, Economical Riding Indicator, Gear indicator, Back-link riding indicator, LCD+ Analog instruments ETCETERA Price: $12,059+ORC.…

ARR DESTINATIONS RUTHERGLEN Who doesn't love a ride to a destination, sit down with mates and chew the fat, ogle over a few bikes and have a coffee or a beer? Nick and Meg Hawtin have created the perfect place in the heart of Rutherglen, Victoria. The front of house at the Main Street property is a coffee shop/bakery serving good wholesome fare. But Nick has indulged even further and opened the rear of the premises as a small museum of motorcycles and motorcycle memorabilia. Riding into Rutherglen you can't miss Caffeine N Machine, right on the roundabout with a café-raced bike sitting out the front. The central display in the shop is a beautifully restored 1934 Excelsior four-stroke used for racing. Only six of these small-capacity bikes were produced…

FEATURE TOURING TIPS PART 2 “MOST TOURING IN AUSTRALIA TAKES PLACE ALONG THE NORTH/SOUTH AXIS…” In last issue’s Part 1 of our touring tips, we argued that for the jaded, getting away on a long bike ride will re-invigorate the two-wheeled love affair. We also reckon it adds a new dimension for any rider, whether they prefer adventure riding, sport riding or cruising. As a suggestion: one way to kick off the touring life is to go to an interstate sporting event (MotoGP, WSBK or ASBK?). It provides something to build the trip around. Ideally, one spends a few days on the bike, has a break for the event, and back on the bike to get home. As we mentioned in Part 1, first-time touring sometimes fails to meet expectations…

STANLEY LITHIUM BOOSTER WHATZ NEW Consuming just a little more space than a decent-sized phone booster battery pack, Stanley’s new Lithium Booster 700A can also start your bike if the battery gets low. Incorporating two USB ports, a torch and the jump start outlet, the unit is about the size of a smartphone, although twice as thick. With 7200mAh capacity, it can charge a modern smartphone three times without becoming exhausted. For the electricians out there, it offers peak cranking current of 700A. For ARR readers, I can see carrying the jump start cable under the seat of your bike and the pack itself somewhere more convenient to charge tablets, GPS units and phones could be a primary function. Stanley's importers sent us a unit for testing and we're very…

DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1200 S & V4 S READER'S RIDE It's been said that to own three of something makes you a collector: for Glenn that's perfectly OK, he's thinking about adding one of the early Ducati Multistradas to the garage to add to the 2011 1200 S V-twin with touring pack and 2022 V4 S he currently owns. "I have thought of the 2003 Multistrada to add to the collection or maybe a Ducati Scrambler. At the moment I'm super happy with the bikes, although always looking to see what Ducati brings out next. One thing for certain is that I don't see myself buying anything other than a Ducati," he told Australian Road Rider. "I recently turned 60 and have been riding for about 20 years. I did not…

LOOKING BACK The 1980s started with a massive slump in the sales of motorcycles. Luckily it didn't last and manufacturers were able to bring out lots of great bikes, from the Honda VF750F to the Kawasaki GPz900R, Suzuki GSXR750 and Yamaha's FZ750. All sportsbikes. It was a time when sport reigned supreme, long before the adventure bike revolution, long before Harley-Davidson was selling every bike it could make months before it made them. We wanted to go fast… and kiddies, this was a time before Lidar, speed cameras and hoon laws. The sporting rider had lots of options then and they got better over time. Ducati released the 851 and proved Italy could still make and awesome sportsbike, and it didn't need four cylinders. The Japanese developed their bikes for…

Royal Enfield has taken its ugly duckling Himalayan and given it a make-over, introducing the far-better-looking and vastly less adventure-focussed Scram. The remodelling includes major changes to the styling — it looks far more like a retro scrambles machine — and a 19-inch front wheel. Losing the screen and rails around the headlight has seemingly made a big difference, although they have added some odd panels near the tank — at the launch journos were joking about the effectiveness of Royal Enfield's new "MotoGP-derived Winglets". So the new bike is a variant on the Himalayan, which was the first of the new-generation machines to come from the Indian manufacturer, and a very successful one at that. While I didn't like the styling, there weren't many options in the small-bore, inexpensive…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Type: Single-cylinder SOHC four-stroke Capacity: 411cc Compression ratio: 9.5:1 Engine management: EFI, digital ignition PERFORMANCE Claimed maximum power: 24.38hp (17.88kW) @ 6500rpm Claimed maximum torque: 32Nm @ ~4250rpm TRANSMISSION Type: 5-speed Final drive: Chain Clutch: Wet multiplate CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR Chassis: Half-duplex split cradle frame Front suspension: 41mm non-adjustable conventional forks, 190mm of wheel travel Rear suspension: Linkage monoshock, preload adjustable, 180mm of wheel travel Front brakes: 300mm disc, two-piston caliper Rear brake: 2540mm disc, single-piston caliper Tyres: F: 100/90-19, R: 120/90-17 DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES Rake: 26.5° Trail: N/A Claimed wet weight: 185kg (without fuel) Seat height: 795mm Wheelbase: 1455mm Fuel capacity: 15L ELECTRONIC RIDER AIDS & CONVENIENCE FEATURES ABS, Tripper navigation, LCD instruments ETCETERA Price: From $8240 Ride Away LAMS approved: Yes Colours: Graphite Yellow, Graphite…

FEATURE BUILDING A TRACK BIKE, PART 2 TYRES, BRAKES, BODYWORK, FUEL. We replace tyres, brake pads and fluids, add fuel to our bikes often: replacing bodywork not so much, and adding the racing bodywork to the statutory write-off Yamaha FZ6 was proving problematic. This story started a long time ago — part one is in issue 166 or online at roadrider.com.au — but the upshot is I'm trying to convert a street bike which was written off then built into a drag bike, into a ride day trackbike. I already owned a former Yamaha FZ6 Cup bike from back when they were new and there was a single-class racing series for the machines, including track bodywork, Öhlins suspension, rearsets and high performance brake lines, but that bike is now my…

KAWASAKI VULCAN AND Z650RS ROAD RIDER TESTS “…YOU BUY A CRUISER FOR THE STYLE, THE LOW SEAT, THE LOWSTRESS RIDE AND THE LOW-DOWN GRUNT…” Cracking the throttle open to overtake, Kawasaki's Vulcan surges forward, skipping from 80 to 120km/h in seconds, around the slow-moving van and back into my lane without any fuss. It was nice to be back on a full-power version of Kawasaki's 650 parallel twin, the company bringing the model back to the line-up for 2022. Minutes later I was aboard a new Jaffa: I was returning the Vulcan to Kawasaki and exchanging it for the Z650RS. One of Kawasaki’s 50th Anniversary machines to the legendary Z-series which started in 1972, the 650RS uses the same engine, although restricted to 150kW/ton so it’s LAMS approved, although this…

ARR FEATURE ALL ROAD TOURING IN A WORLD OF RAIN DAMAGED ROADS “…THE DIRT ROADS WERE IN BETTER CONDITION THAN THE SEALED ONES.” The gold anodised rim glinted in the sun, and that’s normally a source of satisfaction … but not this time. Closer inspection revealed the gleam was in fact a ding. Urgh … We’d spent the day dodging endless potholes that are the new normal on East Coast backroads. I’d missed them all so far, but pothole 7648 got me. It was lurking unseen in a shadow, waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting victim. I’d come whizzing through the fast, sweeping bend, carefully picking a line to avoid its mates, and Bang! It wasn’t a shocker, but the suspension bottomed, and I felt it jar through the ’bars.…

Stylish, practical, affordable … pretty cool. That’s what people would think about good-looking roadsters back in the day, and it’s what I think of Royal Enfield’s latest bike, the 350 Hunter. The world launch of the bike was run in Bangkok, with many Hunters tearing up the streets of Thailand’s capital as the world’s motorcycle press descended on the city of 14 million to experience the new bike. It was launched with a night ride, when the heat and humidity was lower, when the traffic wasn’t as chaotic, when the stylish good looks of the Hunter would stand out. Which explains how I found myself doing stupid speeds between large vehicles, getting airborne over bridges built more like motocross tabletop jumps, and wishing for a slipper clutch as we charged…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Type: Long stroke 349cc air/oil cooled single Capacity: 349cc Compression ratio: 9.5:1 Engine management: EFI, digital ignition PERFORMANCE Claimed maximum power: 20.2hp @ 6100rpm Claimed maximum torque: 27Nm @ 4000rpm TRANSMISSION Type: 5-speed Final drive: Chain Clutch: Wet CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR Chassis: Semi-twin downtube steel backbone. Engine as stressed member. Front suspension: 41mm conventional nonadjustable forks. Rear suspension: 6-way preload adjustable emulsion twin shocks Front brakes: Single 300mm disc with twin piston floating caliper. ABS Rear brake: Single 270mm disc with single piston floating caliper. ABS Tyres: F: 110/70-17, R:140/70-17 DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES Rake: 25° Trail: 96.4mm Claimed wet weight: 181kg Seat height: 790mm Wheelbase: 1370mm Fuel capacity: 13L ELECTRONICS, RIDER AIDS & CONVENIENCE FEATURES Optional Tripper navigation. Dual channel non-switchable ABS. ETCETERA Price: TBA Colours: Rebel…

Practical, comfortable, versatile and yet still offering the protection of a motorcycle boot — these were TCX’s targets for its Rush 2 Air boot. Safety tech includes reinforced and padded ankle support, reinforced toe and heel protection and a shift pad. The shape and flexibility of the sole facilitates comfortable walking, yet it is stiff enough to provide foot protection, easily surpassing that of a typical walking shoe. TCX claims the boots are water-resistant and this is true to an extent, but water will make it to the rider’s foot via the gap between the tongue and the upper if rain exposure is long enough. Conversely, given the Rush 2 Air’s are summer boots with good ventilation (almost like punched leather), the level of water resistance they provide is very…

BMW’s RT touring bikes are comfortable machines. Riders of all sizes find them a fine place to spend a day in the saddle. That said, taller or shorter riders often find they’re not perfect, and lack of bar adjustment is one of the chinks in the RT’s ergonomic armour. German company Wunderlich has a well-engineered solution to this with its bar rise kit. The kit lifts the bars approximately 40mm up and 20mm back. There’s a bit of wiggle room in those figures as they can be rotated slightly to suit the rider’s preference. There are cheaper alternatives (that look similar), but we’d offer a note of caution before going down that path. What makes the Wunderlich risers better than most is they appear to use a slightly tapered shaft…

UPFRONT AN ELECTRIC SPEED TRIPLE Triumph’s prototype electric motorcycle, the innovatively named TE-1, was built to have the ergonomics, geometry and weight distribution of a Speed Triple with the throttle and torque delivery map equivalent to a Speed Triple 1200 RS. The company claims the experimental machine met its design criteria, so we’re going to see one one on showroom floors Real Soon Now, right? Yeah, Nah. Not for a while yet. Don't put off buying the Speed Triple just yet. For a start, you don’t want a bike which runs out of charge in just 160km … well maybe you won’t mind if they can really build this bike with a recharge time of just 20 minutes (to 80 per cent). We do like the idea of the 220kg…

Suzuki has see the writing on the wall and it spells adventure, so it is adding a new version of the V-Strom to its line-up, the DL1050DE - equipped with a 21-inch laced front wheel, rear wheel switchable ABS, a new gravel traction control mode, more ground clearance and other tweaks all aimed at making it a better bike away from the bitumen. A less expensive more road-oriented version, simply named the DL1050 V-Strom, with cast wheels, will also be available after disappearing from the line-up in recent years. With the adventure bike market being one of the success stories of the 21st Century, Suzuki has decided to offer a pair of machines to cater for a wider range of riders. For those serious about getting off the beaten track…

BENELLI LEONCINO TRAIL, $10,390 RIDE AWAY More power and torque, less weight. Not quite as much suspension travel, but USD forks. Taller seat and a little more money, but 47hp is a good feature… BMW G 310 GS, FROM $8775 RIDE AWAY Surprisingly close to the Seram's power, torque and weight, despite the smaller capacity. USD forks, cast wheels are standard on the smallest GS. Modern style rather than retro. KAWASAKI VERSYS X-300 SE, FROM $8454 RIDE AWAY Probably as capable off-road as the Scram, although with its plastic bodywork not as "crashable". More power, less torque, similar weight — but a smoother twin-pot engine.…

ROAD RIDER TEST 2022 BMW CE-04 "THE SPECIFICATIONS GIVE NO CLUE TO HOW WELL THE MACHINE EXECUTES ITS DESIGN BRIEF" From rampaging tradie trucks to mentally challenged bubble car drivers to corporate-funded speed cameras, hubcap-free Commodores unable to decide if they’re in a funeral procession or qualifying for Bathurst… it’s the rich tapestry of Australian Urban Traffic — and the place that can be conquered by BMW’s electric scooter, the premium CE 04. The premium description isn’t just about price. It comes with a lot of high-end features seen elsewhere in the brand. The CE 04 is about making a statement, not about saving money on gas (although it does that). For most ARR readers, efficient urban mobility isn’t something on their mind before they go to sleep. For the…

I've been in Montenegro for less than five minutes and already I'm in trouble with the law. The incident happens only a few hundred metres past a border crossing with Albania where a long line of cars sit nearly motionless in 34°C heat. Throwing caution to the wind, I jump the single white line and overtake about 100 stupid cars. "All too easy," I say to myself, quoting Darth Vader. But as Admiral Ackbar, another Star Wars icon, famously said, "It's a trap!", because there were two coppers waiting at the first bend in the road, strategically positioned to catch impatient bastards like me. One of the coppers signals for me to pull over. The other asks for my documents and informs me I have to face a judge in…

We were too far in to turn back, but the road ahead was awful. Despite not making it into the list of badly damaged or impassable roads, we were faced with a dilemma — go around with the certainty of another night away from home — and possibly running out of fuel — or try to take numerous adventure tourers through mud and slush we would have been nervous riding enduro bikes through. It's not an adventure if nothing goes wrong through, so we ploughed on in, pushing the CFmoto 800MT Touring and its companions into terrain beyond the design brief. And came out smiling. Others might have been covered in mud, but not the 800MT. For CFmoto, this is its first foray into mainstream large bikes… a landmark motorcycle…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Type: Liquid cooled 4-stroke Parallel Twin. DOHC, 8 valves Capacity: 649cc Compression ratio: 10.8:1 Engine management: EFI, digital ignition PERFORMANCE Claimed maximum power: 61hp (45kW) @ 7500rpm Claimed maximum torque: 63Nm @ 6600rpm TRANSMISSION Type: 6-speed Final drive: Chain Clutch: Wet multiplate CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR Chassis: Perimeter, high-tensile steel Front suspension: 41mm telescopic fork, non-adjustable Rear suspension: Offset laydown single-shock, linkage equipped, with adjustable preload Front brakes: Single ø300mm disc, dual piston caliper Rear brake: Single ø250mm disc, single piston caliper Tyres: F: 120/70R18 R:160/60R17 DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES Rake: 31° Trail: 120mm Claimed wet weight: 226kg Seat height: 705mm Wheelbase: 1575mm Fuel capacity: 14L TECHNOLOGY ABS, Ergo-Fit, Optional rear seat & footpegs, LCD+ Analog instruments, Dual throttle valves, Economical Riding Indicator, Gear Indicator. ETCETERA Price: $10,259+ORC. $11,647…

RIXY'S RIDE Like other humans, riders come in all shapes, sizes, colours and levels of intelligence. Human nature and societal norms dictate that the inner self only comes out now and then. But riders, well, we're different beasts. Our personality is on display for all to see, either in what we wear, the bike we ride or the way we ride. Here are a few that might resonate with you or someone you know. Mad Max — The solo rider who loves nothing better than ruling the highways and byways and lording it over anyone who gets in their way. You know the type; the head shake at some other road user's indiscretion. They are frustrated highway patrol wannabees. Go on, admit it. There's a bit of Mad Max in…

Stretchy, tough, extremely breathable, hydrophobic and with integrated armour, Klim’s Marrakesh jacket is excellent in warm conditions — and maybe even warm, wet conditions. Supplied to me for the launch of the Royal Enfield 350 Hunter in Bangkok, the Marrakesh is made from 1000D Cordura and is supplied with level 1 elbow, shoulder and back armour. Crash protection of a CE AA rating means it meets the second-highest level available — basically you want track leathers meeting the higher AAA rating; AA is excellent for streetwear. The armour itself is light and doesn’t get in the way, which is what I want in road riding gear. The material is obviously tough but also has some stretch to it, making it feel great while moving around on the bike in the…

THROW YOUR LEG OVER WHATZ NEW With books, a website, social media and memberships, Throw Your Leg Over offers comprehensive advice, destinations, routes and lots more about touring Australia and Europe. Currently on Edition 2 of South East Queensland and Northern NSW (quick blats, day rides and weekends away) and the first edition of Tasmania (the ultimate touring guide) softcover printed books, Throw Your Leg Over also has a massive 1000-page interactive guide to riding Europe. Each book has tips about how to get ready for a motorcycle tour, including a checklist of what to take and how to prepare for the conditions you expect. Then it’s into the rides, which vary in length and conditions… while there might be some dirt roads, they are almost always good, easy-to-ride dirt…