Innholdsfortegnelse for 177 i Australian Road Rider

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 BENELLI BKK300 Benelli has announced the BKK 300, a small dirt-road-capable adventure bike which is also at home commuting or being a fine mount for learners practising their skills. Thirty-odd horsepower is produced by the BKK’s single-cylinder engine, while the bike weighs in ready to go at just 165kg. The 13-litre tank and low fuel consumption point to good range (probably around 300km). There’s a generous 180mm of wheel travel at each end, a dirt-friendly 19-inch front wheel. Benelli decribes the bike thus: “Boasting a distinct and captivating styling that reflects the brand’s commitment to modern design. Developed at the Benelli Style Centre in Pesaro, Italy, the motorcycle features clean lines and refined aesthetics. The innovative headlamp assembly, with a modern Daytime Running Light (DRL) design at the front and…

Little more than a week after the new Himalayan 450 media launch ride in India, Royal Enfield sprung a complete surprise at the EICMA Milan Motorcycle Show in Italy by unveiling the brand's first-ever electric motorcycle, the prototype Him-E. While sharing some similarity to aspects of the new Himalayan — wheels, suspension, bodywork etc — the Him-E featured a mid-mounted electric motor and battery, however precise technical details and specifications have not been detailed. Royal Enfield says the bike is a test bed to develop future possible electric powertrain designs, and images showed the bike being extensively testridden in the Himalaya mountains. Interestingly, the Him-E appeared to feature a manual gearshifter, did not have a radiator, was running chain final drive and had a battery box that appeared to be…

ROAD RIDER TEST 2023 BMW M 1000 R I’m just going to say this straight up. This bike is bloody fast. Even by the lofty standards of litre nakeds… it’s bloody fast! Now we can move on. All the top naked bikes are fun and track capable, yet… they’re usually emancipated versions of their Supersport cousins. This makes them better and more affordable road bikes at the cost of genuinely quick lap times. The M 1000 R doesn’t follow that precedent. It’s a full-on bonkers effort… with a Superbike engine and chassis technology to use it. THE PLATFORM The M 1000 R is based on the S 1000 R platform and borrows a lot of parts from the M 1000 RR superbike, including the engine. It’s not quite identical, producing…

ROAD RIDER TEST HARLEY-DAVIDSON CVO ROAD GLIDE & STREET GLIDE While outwardly the changes seem relatively modest, when you ride the new CVO Road Glide or Street Glide, the changes made by Harley-Davidson with these new bikes make them so much better it’s not funny — it’s kinda tragic for those who own older models. The grunt and handling offered by the new bikes is all cliché — game-changer, next-level, night and day. I’ve been testing Harley-Davidson Grand American Tourers for decades and have appreciated how they have improved over the years, but these bikes? So, so much better than the earlier models in every aspect — except the price. These bikes come in at an eye-watering $62,495, ride away. NEW DESIGN, NEW MOTOR, NEW BEGINNINGS The two bikes here…

It was GP time again, and our long-term Transalp was nominated for the trip. It would be interesting as back in 1981, I owned the Transalp’s great grandfather, the XLV750. It was a great bike, way ahead of its time, only spoilt by an easily damaged and expensive fuel tank. I was keen to see if the Transalp was true to its ancestry. In Australia, there’s no better way to assess local condition suitability than a Phillip Island run from northern NSW. Over 10 days the bike was exposed to the full spectrum of conditions, from traversing the Harbour Bridge to backroads, flat boring stretches and mountain fire roads. There was even urban congestion in the mix. After all that, we think we’ve got this bike worked out. Before the…

Soichiro Honda moved a nation out of the ruins of WWII with his small and reliable motorbikes that got better and better through the following decades. The ‘60s and early ’70s saw the nicest people riding Hondas as the marque infiltrated the dominance of the British and American brands. Honda produced road bikes with nothing larger than the 450cc ”black bomber” until they rocked the world with the mighty CB750 in 1969. Hands up who hasn’t ridden a Honda? Just as I thought. Only a few diehards. In my young and stupid days, from bush bashing a beatenup 305cc Dream to graduating to my first road bike, a ’71 CB350 twin, the small-capacity Hondas hold fond memories. Yes, I still have one (make that three if you count the bits…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Type: Air/liquid-cooled 2-cylinder 4-stroke boxer engine with two overhead, chaindriven camshafts, a counterbalance shaft and variable intake camshaft control system BMW ShiftCam. 4 valves per cylinder Bore x stroke: 106.5 × 73mm Capacity: 1300cc Compression ratio: 13.3:1 Fuel injection: EFI, 95 RON PERFORMANCE Maximum power: 107kW(145hp) @ 7750rpm Maximum torque: 149NM @ 6500rpm TRANSMISSION Type: Claw-shift 6-speed gearbox Clutch: Wet clutch with anti-hopping function, hydraulically activated Final drive: Shaft CHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR Chassis: Two-section frame concept consisting of main frame with bolt-on rear frame, load-bearing engine Front suspension: EVO Telelever, central suspension strut, 180mm travel Rear suspension: Cast-aluminium singlesided swinging arm with BMW Motorrad EVO Paralever II, WAD spring strut, spring preload hydraulically infinitely adjustable, 200mm travel Optional equipment: DSA Front brake: Twin disc brake, semi-floating brake…

Three friends who kicked off a tour business, known as Slovenia Moto Tours, in their backyard have seen it grow to become one of the best-known and respected motorcycle tour companies in the world. Adriatic Moto Tours (AMT), as the company has been known since those first couple of European riding seasons, now runs numerous rides from its central European base offering guided, custom and self-guided tours, as well as rentals. Whether you wish to ride romantic Italy, mighty Alps, intriguing Balkans, amazing Adriatic coastline or royal European capitals, it’s all here. AMT will cover all the details and plan the tour for you, or you can book a rental and head out on your own. Clients can choose from the latest BMW motorcycles, Suzuki, Ducati, Yamaha and Honda bikes.…

Affordable, versatile, capable, reliable… not particularly exciting or collectable, simply a great bike to enjoy a good ride, no matter what the road surface, while also being useful as a commuter or day-to-day transport, Suzuki’s V-Strom 650 has earned the respect of thousands of riders over its near twodecade production run. Launched in 2004 at $9900, the current model is incredible value at $13,790 ride away… a very modest increase in price compared to the cost of living recently, but of course if you’re happy to buy used, you can spend half that amount and still get a great example of the breed. The first models had a big 22-litre tank, weighed in at under 200kg dry, had a dirt-road-friendly 19-inch front wheel and styling which… well, it wasn’t as…

LAST LOOK LOOKING BACK - A NEW BULLET Back in 2022 I did a tour of the Himalayas on a Royal Enfield Himalayan, and wasn’t the least bit surprised to see the small-bore single adventure bike was the most popular modern machine around… but I was a little shocked to see how many old Bullet 350s and 500s were still carting honeymooning couples around the high country. Turns out it is still something of a right of passage for many young lovers to fill up a set of saddlebags and mount up for some roughroad slow riding two-up adventures. The Bullet might be bulletproof, an adventure bike it’s not. Of course, the Bullet hails from a time before the adventure bike — or even dirt bikes — actually existed. They…

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 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…

ARR TRAVEL RIDING ARIZONA, USA The town marshal wandered over and said: “Howdy strangers.” With his hand resting on the Colt 45 six-shooter in his holster, he asked where we were from. When we replied Australia, he fixed us with a steely gaze and said very quietly, “Make sure you stay outta trouble in my town.” We were in Tombstone, Arizona, and had just been transported back to the Wild West in this town of historic buildings and re-enactors strolling around in period costume. Arizona is in the south-west of the USA, home to the Grand Canyon that we had visited previously. It’s a great motorcycle destination with good bike roads, lots of history, and excellent scenery ranging from rocky deserts to forests. In the remote south-east of the state,…

KTM 390 ADVENTURE, From $9195 Ride Away (Sydney) The Austrian firm’s entry-level ADV machine is sized and specced to suit on-and off-road riding. It delivers 44HP from a 373cc single-cylinder engine, and has 170mm wheel travel at each end, with 19/17-inch mag wheels and a 14.5-litre fuel tank. HONDA CRF450RL From $13,809 Ride Away (Sydney) Honda’s enduro-based 450cc dualsport is back in Australia, with the latest RL model scoring a major sharpening of the pencil and priced far cheaper than when originally released in Oz a few years ago. Clearly oriented to the offroad end of the ADV riding spectrum, the 450 RL is way more at home in Cape York or the Simpson Desert than on the cross-city commute. CFMOTO 450MT From $9495 Ride Away. Revealed at the EICMAShow…

HONDA XL750 TRANSALP ROAD RIDER TEST SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4-valve, parallel 2-cylinder Power: 67.5kW (90hp) @ 9500rpm Torque: 75Nm @ 7250rpm Capacity: 755cc Bore x stroke: 87 x 63.5mm Compression ratio: 11.0:1 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: 43mm upside-down fork, preload adjustment Rear suspension: Linkage, separated gas shock and preload adjustment Front brakes: Semi-floating 310mm dual discs, ABS Rear brake: Single-piston calliper, 256mm single disc, ABS Tyres: Front: 90/90-21inch, Rear: 150/70-18inch ELECTRONIC RIDER AIDS Brake control (ABS): Yes, on- and off-road modes Riding modes: 4 modes, 1 customisable (Rider) Engine power modes: 4 modes Traction control: Yes, 5 levels plus Off Engine braking…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Type: Air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke, 2 valves Capacity: 348cc Compression ratio: 9.5:1 Engine management: Digital with fuel injection PERFORMANCE Claimed maximum power: 15.5kW (20.8hp) Claimed maximum torque: 30Nm @ 3000rpm Fuel consumption: 44km/L (claimed) TRANSMISSION Type: 5-speed constant mesh Final drive: Chain Clutch: Slipper CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR Chassis: Steel cradle Front suspension: Conventional forks Rear suspension: Twin shocks Front brakes: Single 310mm disc with ABS Rear brake: Single 240mm disc with ABS Tyres: F: 100/90-19; R: 130/70-18 DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES Rake: N/A Trail: N/A Kerb weight: 181kg Seat height: 800mm Wheelbase: 1441mm Fuel capacity: 15 litres ETCETERA Price: $8041 (Ride Away, Sydney) Colours: Matt Pearl Morion Black, Matt Jeans Blue Metallic Test bike supplied by: Honda Australia URL: motorcycles.honda.com.au Warranty: 24 months…

ARR FEATURE AUSTRALIAN POSTIE BIKE GRAND PRIX A multi-bike pile-up just seconds into the main race, the defending champion having to ride through the pack, and crash corner living up to its name meant the action never stopped at Cessnock’s annual Australian Postie Bike Grand Prix last November. Despite a mandated and enforced maximum of 6.3 horsepower, multiple Australian motocross and supercross champion Craig Anderson describes the event as “the best race of the year”. It’s attracted superstars like Chad Reed, Kevin Curtain and Jeff Leisk to have a go and you can get closer to the action than any other motorcycle race I know of. The only road race run on public roads left in Australia, the PostieGP (as it’s commonly called) has been running for 10 years, surviving…

Honda’s brand new XL750 Transalp is set to arrive in Australia real soon and Motorrad Garage already has a full line up of new SW-Motech products designed to make the mid-size Honda even better prepared for outback battle. Check out www.motorradgarage.com.au to view a huge range of accessories for bikes of all kinds.…

Macna is best known for its quality riding gear, and now the European company is producing innovative and comfortable ways to carry a bit of extra stuff on a ride. The Hip Bag ($69.95, 35×9×14cm) features Ripstop/3D mesh and EVA materials and features a document pocket in addition to the main compartment well suited to phones, wallets, passports and more. The Leg Bag Basic becomes an exterior pocket for those items you need easy access to and when you don’t want to jam everything into the pockets of your riding jeans! It’s also $69.95, made from the same materials as the hip bag and has dimensions of 22×11×20cm. Check them out at https://links.roadrider.com.au/MacnaBags-177 MORE INFO MACNA LUGGAGE BAGS https://links.roadrider.com.au/MacnaBags-177…

SHAD CLICK SYSTEM TANKBAGS WHATZ NEW Shad’s new range of compact, versatile and affordable “Click System” tankbags makes carrying a small amount of gear really convenient and simple, without risk of damage to your tank. You bolt a Click System ring to the fuel filler of your bike (inexpensive at $25.95) and then choose the tankbag to suit the job you need. The E03C (109.95) has a threelitre capacity with a double zip closure and Spanish style. The E091CL ($185) is a little bigger at five litres, attaches easily and has a convenient carry handle for when you’re off the bike. The E09C ($169) has a nine-litre capacity of larger items. The big daddy of the range is the Terra TR15, which is especially suited to adventure bikes. It has…

Wayne Gardner’s victory in the inaugural World Championship Australian 500 Grand Prix in April 1989 was a watershed moment, especially for me as a budding motorcycle journalist. The best riders in the world attracted some 92,000 spectators to Phillip Island to witness our Wayne ride out of his skin to win against the odds. It was huge news on TV and in the newspapers and Gardner became a national hero overnight. I was one of the 92,000, and I arrived back at Two Wheels’ Sydney office the following Wednesday, still abuzz from the weekend. The editor-in-chief called me to his office unexpectedly at lunchtime: he wanted a largeformat, 32-page special magazine on Wayne Gardner’s win and he wanted it by the end of the next day. It was a tall…

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…

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…

ROAD RIDER LAUNCH ROYAL ENFIELD HIMALAYAN When you’re facing more than 24 hours straight spent playing planes, trains and automobiles to get to a new bike launch, there’s plenty of time to replay the wise words of advice that friends and family are keen to offer on the eve of your departure. This would be my first-ever trip to India, to the foothills of the mighty Himalayas what’s more, and the advice had been coming thick and fast like an episode of The Amazing Race: ”Don’t drink the water, unless it’s out of a bottle, that YOU open.” “Don’t pat the dogs: if they bite you’ll get rabies.” “Don’t stop at the roundabouts: just power in and go with the flow.” ”Don’t forget the Gastro Stop pills … you’re gonna…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Type: Liquid cooled, single cylinder, DOHC, four valves Bore x stroke: 84 x 81.5mm Capacity: 452cc Compression ratio: 11.5:1 Starting: Electric Lubrication: Semi-dry sump Fuel injection: EFI, 42mm throttle body, rideby-wire PERFORMANCE Maximum power: 40HP @ 8000rpm Maximum torque: 40NM @ 5500rpm TRANSMISSION Type: Six-speed constant mesh Clutch: Wet multi-plate, Slip & Assist Final drive: Chain CHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR Chassis: Steel, twin-spar tubular frame Front suspension: Showa SFF 43mm USD fork, 200mm travel Rear suspension: Linkage-type single shock, 200mm travel Front brake: 320mm ventilated single disc with double-piston calliper Rear brake: 270mm ventilated disc with single-piston calliper Tyre sizes: 90/90x21 front, 140/80x17 rear DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES Wheelbase: 1510mm Ground clearance: 230mm Seat height: 825mm (adjustable to 845mm) Fuel capacity: 17 litres Dry weight: 181kg Kerb weight: 196kg…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Liquid-cooled, 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4-valve (titanium), variable intake cam control Power: 154kW (210hp) @ 13,750rpm Torque: 113Nm @ 11,100rpm Capacity: 999cc Bore x stroke: 80 × 49.7mm Compression ratio: 13.3:1 Fuel system: Digital fuel injection with throttle by wire Ignition: Digital TRANSMISSION Type: 6 speed Final drive: Chain Clutch: Wet multiplate, assist and slipper function CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR Chassis: Aluminium Swingarm: Aluminium Front suspension: 45mm upside-down fork, electronic compression and rebound, adjustable spring preload. 120mm travel Rear suspension: Linkage shock with electronic compression and rebound, adjustable spring preload. 117mm travel Front brakes: Radial-mount monobloc 4-piston callipers, semi-floating 320mm dual discs, ABS Rear brake: Single-piston calliper, 220mm single disc, ABS Tyres: Front: 120/70ZR17, Rear: 200/55ZR17M/C ELECTRONIC RIDER AIDS Brake control (ABS): Yes, lean angle sensitive Riding modes: 4…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Type: Milwaukee-Eight™ 121 VVT 45° V-twin, air-cooled with liquid-cooled heads Capacity: 1977cc Compression ratio: 11.4:1 Engine management: Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) PERFORMANCE Claimed maximum power: 115hp / 86kW @ 5020rpm Claimed maximum torque: 183nm @ 3500rpm Fuel consumption: 6L/100km TRANSMISSION Type: 6-speed, heel/toe shift lever Final drive: Belt Clutch: Wet multiplate CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR Chassis: Steel chassis and swingarm Front suspension: 47mm Showa inverted, non-adjustable Rear suspension: Dual adjustable emulsions suspension with remote preload adjustment on the left shock, and threaded preload on the right shock Front brakes: Dual floating 320mm discs with 4-piston Brembo radially mounted calipers Rear brake: Single disc Tyres: F: BW 130/60B19 61H, R: BW 180/55B18 80H DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES Rake: 26° Trail: 170mm Claimed wet weight: 375kg Seat height: 720mm…

ACROSS AUSTRALIA SYDNEY TO THE GOLD COAST & RETURN “Hey, I like your bike!” I click the fuel cap back into place and turn to see a girl, around eight years old, head poking out from the back seat of her dad’s 4×4, grinning at me and my Honda CB500X. “Thanks! I’ve ridden it from Sydney,” I wave and reply as I head inside to pay, her eyes following me. As I return outside, her dad is filling up some gas tanks and her beaming smile is now sticking out from the other passenger window. Her dad, sharing the same smile, tells me: “She was just asking last week why she never sees girls riding motorbikes.” It’s early, it’s chilly, and I’m hyped with excitement to be taking my first…

The new BMW R 1300 GS is lighter, more compact, more powerful, and more capable than its predecessor — despite being larger in engine capacity. And it nearly didn’t happen. Five years ago in May 2018, when Markus Schramm took over as CEO of BMW Motorrad, one of his first acts was to cancel the projected update of the company’s biggestselling model, the R 1250 GS, in its entirety, ordering his engineers to start all over again. “It was too big, too derivative, and not sufficiently innovative compared to what we’d been making for the past decade or more,” he told me before his recent retirement. “I wanted a much bigger step forward than what they were planning.” The result is the new clean-screen (design-wise!) 2024 R 1300 GS unveiled…

ACROSS AUSTRALLA WALCHA MOTO RCYCLE RALL There are permanent signs leading into the small town of Walcha letting everyone know its Motorcycle Rally happens on the third weekend of November each year. It’s rare to see any signs related to motorcycling in Australian country towns, and one which encourages a visit would be rarer still, but Waicha is a motorcycle town. On the Saturday of the rally a few months back, hundreds of bikes participated in the parade through town, looping around from the local showgrounds where participants can camp and lots of the activities of the event are held. I particularly liked the Postie Bike Derby, with young and old belting around the beautiful New England grass which more commonly sees prize farm stock paraded around for the local…

WHATZ NEW GARMIN ZUMO XT2 Navigation units for motorcyclists have had a bad rap over the years, often deservedly so. More than one rider has told me they simply aren’t worth the trouble, and with smartphone apps offering lots of the essential functionality of a GPS device, their popularity has waned further. So let me start this review with a recommendation you don’t buy a Garmin XT2 (or any other dedicated GPS navigator) if all you want it to do is tell you the fastest way to your Tinder date’s house. Just use your phone, mounted securely to your bike. However, for touring riders, for adventurers, for groups and for anyone wanting to track their ride, record their ride and find a better way between points A and B, a…

When they come into your life, they’re all shiny, new, exciting and a bit scary. But you mould together and ride through life’s challenges taking the good with the bad. You get to know their nuances and what makes them tick. You each learn what buttons to push and where the boundaries lie. Push too hard and it can be painful. Get it just right and it’s a joy. Sooner or later, it’s time they left the nest. Depending on your relationship over the years, it’s either sad or a relief. Before you think I’e completely lost the plot, I’m talking about the kids I keep in the shed. The fleet, bikes. The two wheels that I’e ridden through life over the years. I’m a self-confessed hoarder of motorcycles. I…