Australian Road Rider 177

Even if the world doesn’t move to an entirely electric-driven motorcycling future, I feel the clutch is doomed. On page 18 you can read about the Honda E-Clutch, an innovative way to eliminate the need to use the clutch on an otherwise standard motorcycle… the clutch is still there but it’s designed to be managed by the computer, not the rider, who still must change gears manually. The E-Clutch is just another innovation chipping away at the clutch and its role in our lives… for experienced riders, it’s conceivable we’ve pulled that lever in a million times. For learners, it’s a nightmare device. I was a child when I first used a clutch and it was very much hit-and-miss, with no real instruction on hand. I stalled the bike many,…

UPFRONT DUCATIHYPERMOTARD With 35 per cent of the vote, the new single-cylinder Ducati Hypermotard 698 Mono RVE is the “Moto più bella” (Most beautiful bike) of EICMA 2023, the big European bike show in Milan. More than 25,500 votes were cast either at the show or online, with the new Ducati single taking out the honours. The RVE model is the premium version of the two 698 models Ducati is offering in 2024 — the Australian Road Rider crew is hoping the engine pops up in a scrambler-styled bike too, for our Supermotard days are behind our weary bones — but we’re a little envious of those still happy to have fun sliding around, popping wheelies on a whim and generally giving motorcyclists a bad name. Developed to make city…

UPFRONT 2024 TRIUMPH DAYTONA 660 Triumph has announced a new Daytona. The latest machine to carry the legendary name is a street-focussed middleweight sportsbike, and it’ll be here in March. With 95hp (70kW) and 69Nm of torque, the Daytona 660 will comprehensively outperform its stablemates while taking it to the best in the new breed of street — rather than track — focussed middleweight sportsbikes like the Yamaha R7 and Aprilia RS660. In Australia there will also be a LAMSapproved version, as well as a race kit for track-day riders and racers. The Supersport class was booming a couple of decades ago, but the bikes which came from the racing class were highrevving racers that are often hard to get the best out of and uncomfortable to ride on public…

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION Type: Liquid cooled, inline 3-cylinder, 12 valve, DOHC, 240° firing order Capacity: 660cc Bore: 74.04mm Stroke: 51.1mm Compression: 12.05:1 Maximum power: 70kW (95PS) at 11,250rpm / LAMS: 41.9kW (57hp) at 6750rpm Maximum torque: 69Nm at 8250rpm / LAMS: 62Nm at 6250rpm Fuel system: Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection with electronic throttle control Exhaust: Stainless-steel 3-into-1 header system with low single sided stainlesssteel silencer Final drive: X-ring chain Clutch: Wet, multi-plate, slip & assist Gearbox: 6 speed CHASSIS Frame: Tubular steel perimeter frame Swingarm: Twin-sided, fabricated steel Front wheel: Cast aluminium alloy 5 spoke, 17 × 3.5 in Rear wheel: Cast aluminium alloy 5 spoke, 17 × 5.5 in Front tyre: 120/70 ZR 17 Rear tyre 180/55 ZR 17 Front suspension: Showa 41mm upsidedown separate function big piston…

UPFRONT CFMOTO PAPIO Your minimoto options just expanded thanks to the new CFMOTO XO Papio machines being launched in Australia. There are two models to choose from: the XO Papio Racer or Trail. With styling from the 20th century, the Papio Racer will appeal not just to youngsters who love retro, but older riders looking for something lightweight and cool. There’s a quarter-fairing, clip-on ‘bars, belly-pan and twin round headlights. The Trail model is a retro scrambler that is equally at home in the city or country. BUILT AROUND PLAY CFMOTO has designed these bikes to appeal to the gaming generation, the “XO” moniker being borrowed from gaming consoles and the bikes built to make a connection between the activities of youth (gaming) and the fun of riding. At just…

UPFRONT HONDA E-CLUTCH Honda’s Dual-Clutch (DCT) systems have been available fora few years now and are proving to be the first technology motorcyclists have really been willing to embrace which eliminate the clutch lever and adopt automatic shifting. Now the company is introducing the Honda E-Clutch, an electrically activated clutch. It’ll be available on the sporty commuter CBR650R and CB650R in 2024 as an option… the E-Clutch will provide “slick shifting up and down the gears, plus super-smooth starting and stopping without the need to use the clutch lever”, according to Honda’s information. The system uses knowledge gathered from manual, quickshifter and DCT systems to offer a “next level” riding experience. In operation, E-Clutch requires no operation: it will simply control the clutch according to the inputs of the rider…