Innholdsfortegnelse for 180 i Australian Road Rider

“I DO LIKE THE PADDLE SHIFT MANUAL OVERRIDE …” I've been riding motorcycles for more than 40 years and I can't say I've ever really thought, “Gee, it would be great if I didn't have to change gear.” But then, partly because I became a rider trainer a few years back, a distant memory did intrude about when I was learning and the combination of changing down, indicating, getting my road position right… while it was never “too much”, it was a challenge. For learners, clutch control can be an issue… clutch, throttle, balance… it's easy for us experienced riders (and believe me, the vast majority of the people reading this article will be thinking “that's the easy stuff!”) but it's not easy for learners. And these days children don't…

With radical new styling, a 30-litre fuel tank and optional automatic gear shifting, the 2025 BMW R 1300 GS Adventure has been announced… and we suspect it'll be everything lovers of big, comfortable and capable globetrotting adventure touring bikes are expecting. Its styling will be polarising, with some boxy shapes, distinctive crashbars and the large tank making the bike look imposing. “Never before have seating comfort, ergonomics and wind and weather protection been so harmoniously combined with precise handling, exceptional suspension comfort and smooth running. The new BMW R 1300 GS Adventure has set itself the goal of becoming the benchmark for large adventure motorcycles,” says Christof Lischka, head of BMW Motorrad Development, in the press kit. Designed and built for the long haul, solo or two-up, the R 1300…

BACK ROADS NSW SOUTH COAST EDEN TO BERMAGUI There's something magical about coastal rides… the combination of lighting, water views, and the occasional ocean smell that gently massages the brain into relaxation mode. Unless there are corners… This journey starts at Eden (the first town after crossing into NSW from Victoria) and heads north. It's a coastal route, but not continually on the coast. There's a mix of forest, river, lake and beach vistas to take in, dotted with small towns and villages along the way, before it passes through Bermagui to finally rejoin the Princes Highway just south of Narooma. This whole area is hugely popular with Victorian and Canberran holiday makers, so the best riding is done during the off-season and/or mid-week. The scenic roads now have low…

Kawasaki Z650RS — $12,009 + ORC (under $14,000 ride away in most locations) Shorter, lighter and powered by a liquid-cooled engine, the Z650RS is a modern bike designed to look old, whereas the Shotgun is an older design, modernised. Dual discs, assist and slipper clutch, traction control and a single rear shock are all standard. Yamaha XSR700 — from $14,599 ride away Based on the popular MT-07, the XSR700 has retro styling wrapped around a sporty, capable modern machine. 270-degree crank for that V-twin feel, round digital LCD instruments, link-type single rear shock are all included. Triumph Trident 660 — from $14,420 ride away A three-cylinder liquid-cooled engine packaged in a modern chassis with retro styling. More power and torque with considerably less weight in a sportier package. Colour TFT…

ROAD RIDER TEST 2024 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Milwaukee-Eight 117. Air/liquid-cooled four-stroke V-twin with four valves per cylinder Capacity: 1923cc Compression ratio: 10.3:1 Engine management: Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) PERFORMANCE Claimed maximum power: 105hp (78kW) @ 4600rpm Claimed maximum torque: 176Nm @ 3250rpm TRANSMISSION Type: 6-speed final drive: Toothed Belt Clutch: Wet, slip & assist CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR Chassis: Mild steel; tubular frame; two-piece stamped and welded backbone; cast and forged junctions; twin downtubes; bolt-on rear frame with forged fender supports; MIG welded Front suspension: 49mm (1.9in) Dual Bending Valve Conventional Rear suspension: 3in (76.2mm) Dual Outboard Emulsion with Preload Adjustability Front brakes: 32mm (1.3in) 4-piston fixed axially mounted dual floating front discs rear Rear brake: Single fixed disc Tyres: F: 130/60B19 M/C 61H; R: 180/55B18 M/C 80H DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES Rake: 26° Trail: 170mm Claimed wet weight: 368kg…

ROAD RIDER TEST BMW R 1300 GS KTM 1290 Super Adventure S, from $34,095 ride away More power, less torque, same capacity, but in a V-twin configuration. A great bike and probably as big a driving force as anything for BMW to keep improving the GS. Triumph 1200 Adventure, from $30,790 ride away Three cylinders, good value, excellent on the road but a little top heavy at times. Honda Africa Twin, from $24,849 Honda's Africa Twin machines are well equipped, capable and affordable, although the 100hp motor is really only able to keep up in the dirt. Honourable mentions include the Yamaha Ténéré 1200 — a great bike but out of date; Suzuki V-Strom 1050 — it's so much cheaper it's diffi cult to say it competes directly, but another…

ROAD RIDER TEST SUZUKI GSX-8R “THE BIKE COMES WITH WHAT'S NEEDED TO FULFIL THE ROLL OF A PRACTICAL SPORTSTER…” The GSX-8R is Suzuki's refreshingly different, road-focused sportsbike. There are a few competitors, but it's a small segment. However, once the word gets around, it's likely to grow. To fully explore the 8R's capabilities, I took it on Road Rider's overnight 1000km touring loop to Uralla (on the NSW New England tablelands). It consists of lengthy sections of every sealed road type, from motorways to rural highways and back roads; long straights and flowing, twisting curves climbing from 200 to 1200m elevation. It's perfect for showcasing a bike's strengths and revealing its limitations. That I'd even consider this on a bike with sporting pretensions is a nod to the Suzuki's broad…

ARR FEATURE YOUR FIRST BIKE Choosing a first motorcycle is tough… a lack of experience is a given if you've never had a bike before, and if you're reading Australian Road Rider, the chances are you're either on an L plate (in which case you've probably done some rider training) or a complete newbie (and will soon be doing the compulsory rider training required by most state governments). Either way, the best first bike for you is probably a complete mystery, one which we're going to try to solve… or at least help you on a path to enlightenment. LAMS The first thing to know is you're restricted in what you can ride — the Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme, or LAMS for short, dictates an approved motorcycle must produce less than…

BOOK – ULTIMATE MOTORCYCLE TOURS & INTERPHONE U-COM 7R WHATZ NEW ULTIMATE TOURS OF THE WORLD Well-known Aussie bike journo, Grant Roff, has produced a new book, Ultimate Motorcycle Tours, a detailed guide to riding many of the best touring routes in the world. I'd like to say that it's a great book full of excellent information and deep insight, but Grant's a mate of mine and he didn't invite me on these rides, so I'm just going to remain grumpy that he didn't take me with him. He makes the rides look like so much fun, dammit! So you'll have to make up your own mind about the book, because I suggest you buy it — there are articles on rides as far afield as Canada, numerous rides in…

Quad Lock has released new mounts to make your phone more accessible while on your bike … although there are now so many mounting solutions it can get confusing! The new mounts include the Mirror Stem Mount ($54.99) — an offset arm that positions your phone adjacent to your mirror stem. Simply unbolt your mirror, slip the Quad Lock mount between the mirror and bike, adjust the gimbal head to get the phone's position perfect and hit the road. If your bike has a non-standard thread on its mirror mount, you will probably also need the Mirror Stem Mount Kit ($15.99), which includes four steel-threaded adaptors, making the Mirror Stem Mount usable on nearly any bike or scooter with handlebar-mounted mirrors. Make sure there's full movement of the handlebars without…

LOOKING BACK 21 today, 21 today… well, not today, but I came to realise recently the first Ducati Mutistradas were launched 21 years ago, in 2003. I know a couple of people who owned them and they claimed to like them, but I don't know anyone who owns one of those early 1000cc models now. They were marketed as something of a touring bike — primarily because the engine was a lethargic two-valver producing 75-odd horsepower, so it could hardly be described as sporty — with a comfortable riding position ruined by an unpadded seat (there are rumours that there was only a thin strip of foam between the plastic base and the vinyl cover, but I'm not sure that's credible) and a fairing screen which generated crazy buffeting. But…

UPFRONT WALCHA RALLY Held on the third weekend in November (15-16 in 2024) every year, the Walcha Motorcycle Rally is fast becoming one of the “must do” bike events in Australia. For a start, there are awesome roads — sealed or dirt — just to get there. If that's not reason enough, it's a beautiful time in the mountains, Walcha being 1067m above sea level, and you're visiting a town which is actively encouraging motorcyclists to visit. There are organised rides, onsite camping, trade exhibitors, show & shine, postie bike events, enduro X, barrel racing, skills demos, Q&As, live music and more. It's a great opportunity to celebrate all things motorcycling in a relaxed rural setting, with like-minded people. This year's program includes attendance by several world record holders. Wendy…

UPFRONT TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE T120 ELVIS PRESLEY LIMITED EDITION Fans of the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley, will be no doubt be proud to be able to show their respect for the man with Triumph's new Bonneville T120 Elvis Presley Limited Edition machines. Only 925 will be produced, each individually numbered. The bike is designed to celebrate Elvis and the fascinating tale of his “Memphis Mafia” Bonnevilles by taking styling cues from Elvis' most iconic '68 “Comeback Special” performance. Unmistakable ELVIS gold lettering, representing set lights, together with Elvis Presley's signature, feature prominently on the tank and side panels, while die-hard fans will find fascinating Elvis discoverables on the bike, including a discreet “Taking Care of Business in a Flash” emblem. This was a personal mantra that captured his…

BIKE LAUNCH ROYAL ENFIELD SHOTGUN SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Type: Parallel twin, 4 stroke, SOHC, air-oil cooled Capacity: 648cc Compression ratio: 9.5:1 Engine management: EFI PERFORMANCE Claimed maximum power: 47hp (34.6kW) @ 7250rpm Claimed maximum torque: 52.3Nm @ 5650rpm Fuel consumption: N/A TRANSMISSION Type: 6-Speed constant mesh Final drive: Chain Clutch: Wet multiplate CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR Chassis: Steel tubular spine frame Front suspension: Showa separate function big piston fork, USD, 120mm travel Rear suspension: Showa twin shock, 90mm travel Front brakes: Single 320mm disc, twin-piston floating caliper, ABS Rear brake: Single 300mm disc, twin-piston floating caliper, ABS Tyres: F: 100/90-18 M/C 56H tubeless, R: 150/70 R17 M/C 69H tubeless DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES Rake: 25.3° Trail: 101mm Claimed wet weight: 240kg Seat height: 795mm Wheelbase: 1466mm Fuel capacity: 13.8L ELECTRONICS, RIDER AIDS & CONVENIENCE FEATURES ABS, LED lighting, Tripper Navigator, combination digital/analogue instruments, USB-C charger, removable passenger seat/rack combination ETCETERA Price:…

ARR TRAVEL ISRAEL Normally, former secret service agent Raz Tsafir of Desert Road, the only motorcycle touring company in Israel, runs 10 to 12 guided tours every year. But since Israel started battling Hamas terrorists who butchered 1160 people in late 2023 (including 32 Americans), business has been a little slow. This year he's only had two tours. The first, in April, coincided with the April 14 attack by Hamas' sponsor Iran, which launched more than 330 missiles and drones at Israel. “That night we were sleeping in tents by the Dead Sea,” Raz recalls. “We had a nice dinner, sat by the fire and at about 11PM, went to bed. Two hours later I woke up to the sound of explosions. We all got out of our tents and…

Aprilia RS660: Tested in issue 166 (2022). Also a very capable all-round sporty. Honda CBR650R: We don't get the 85hp full-power version. Otherwise it would be in the mix. Ducati Supersport 950: Offers more of everything… for more money. Triumph Daytona 660: Looks promising but we've not ridden one, although we note the riding position is very sporty, placing enough weight on the wrists to possibly compromise longer-distance comfort. Yamaha R7: A different beast altogether. It's a track-focused machine with a number plate and isn't ideal for long trips.…

WHATZ NEW ANDY STRAPZ LUGGAGE RACKS — HONDA XL750 The crew at Andy Strapz have developed a light and simple throwover pannier support frame for Honda's 750 Transalp. Intended to support throw-over bags that have the weight taken on the seat, they are strong but light. Andy Strapz frames have carefully considered stress and impact areas, applying lessons learnt from 15 years of making support frames in Victoria. Although the frame set accommodates most “throw-over” bags and all Andy Strapz Pannier systems, Andy's Avduro Panniers are recommended. Fitted in minutes with an Allen key and 13mm socket, the frames can be removed when not travelling. Fit the cross straps over or under the seat. They are made from mild steel, powder-coated satin black with stainless bolts, with a net weight…

KRIEGA ROAM PACKS WHATZ NEW Meet the ROAM Collection, a collaboration by Roland Sands Design X Kriega. Forged by countless miles on the highway, trails and canyon roads, this new collection of rider bags and accessory products perfectly blend classic and modern materials, technical construction and functionality. The ROAM Collection features materials unique to each brand, and together allow for truly amazing products. Including RSD's proprietary heavy-duty waxed cotton and Kriega's QUADLOC-Lite harness system, the ROAM collection was created to offer bag and accessory solutions to riders who appreciate design aesthetic and branding that are subdued, clean and timeless. ROAM 34 BACKPACK - $439 The Roland Sands Design X Kriega Roam 34 Backpack is constructed from RSD's proprietary wax cotton together with 1000D Cordura and combined with Kriega's groundbreaking Quadloc-Lite…

Riding to Phillip Island last October on my newly acquired Triumph Thruxton (ARR 176), my long-time riding buddy Steve took great delight in telling everyone along the way that I was riding his bike. That I stole it from under his nose. And he was right, kind of. It's lucky we're mates. Steve and I have been riding together since we co-founded the Ku-ring-gai College of Advanced Education Motorcycle Club in 1981. Our sole purpose at the time was to scam some cash from the students' union to attend a “national motorcycling cultural event” — aka the Hells Angels outdoor rock concert — at Broadford in Victoria at the end of the year. Somehow, the grants committee saw through our ruse in a minute but on the plus side, a…

With the new Street Glide now commanding a price of well over 40 grand, I thought we should have a look at the option of a secondhand version — you could save 20 thousand dollars with good buying, yet still have a machine that is pretty close to the new model. I'm restricting myself to the 2017 and later models here because, as I keep harping on, motorcycles over 10 years old are for the enthusiasts and the idiots (I fall into both categories, with three of my four motorcycles being older than 10 years). Although it's one of Harley's Grand American Tourers, the Street Glide is also a custom-styled cruiser, with the style of the machine one of its most important sales features… but that means the “slammed” rear…

Get the Full Story. Follow the link to read about he 2023 event. https://links.roadrider.com.au/PostieGP23 The Australian Postie Bike Grand Prix is back for its ninth running, Sunday October 27, around the houses in Cessnock, New South Wales. Six horsepower has never been so much fun. Unlike a similarly named GP event in Victoria a week earlier, this one is free, you can park your bike within metres of the track, and it's easy to get a spot by the fence! The racing itself is based around a 90-minute race at the end of the day, with 70-odd teams of two riders expected to sign up for the day. Around half will make it through to the final after qualifying and the heat races, while those who don't make the final…

BIKE LAUNCH ROYAL ENFIELD SHOTGUN The bar end mirrors, blacked-out engine, alloy headlight nacelle and solo seat really had me looking at the new Royal Enfield Shotgun and thinking this bike was actually very different to anything the company had produced in the past. Although a retro roadster at first glance, it had some bobber style, too. A machine difficult to categorise. I like that. Unfortunately, some of the parts giving the bike that appeal are actually accessories, the mirrors in particular. But that said, the bike is built to be customised, it's built to be changed, it's built to be made into a bike for the individual. And in that sense, the new Shotgun is a very, very interesting bike. It's another 650 twin from Royal Enfield, joining the…

ROAD RIDER TEST 2024 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE “We're going on a trip!” Kirrily said as soon as she saw the Sundowner Seat, Tour Pack and King Tour Pack Backrest Pad Harley-Davidson had fitted to the Street Glide test bike, her enthusiasm for going motorcycle touring piqued by the availability of a comfortable machine. Never mind it was the last week of autumn and the weather had been crap; she was keen to go riding! In the last issue of Australian Road Rider, I wrote about how the launch of the new Harley-Davidson Grand American Tourers had been quite a lot of fun up on the Gold Coast, but this bike was going to be quite different in its feel because of the increased luggage capacity, more comfortable seat and, in…

ROAD RIDER TEST BMW R 1300 GS BMW's R 1300 GS is the bike that can do it all. At least, it comes closer than just about anything to being the bike which can do it all. I suppose learners are excluded from the equation, but just about anything else can be covered — the bike is capable of traversing any type of road going anywhere, it can do it solo or two-up, it can carry your luggage… you could take it around a race track if you wanted to. Of course there are better bikes for those jobs, individually, but as a bike to fill as many roles as possible, the new GS — like its predecessors — can Do It All. When the GS arrived at Australian Road…

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Type: Air/liquid-cooled 2-cylinder 4-stroke boxer engine with two overhead, chain-driven camshafts, a counterbalance shaft and variable intake camshaft control system BMW ShiftCam (variable valve timing) Capacity: 1300cc Compression ratio: 13.3:1 Engine management: BMS-O PERFORMANCE Claimed maximum power: 107kW/145hp @ 7750rpm Claimed maximum torque: 149Nm @ 6500rpm Fuel consumption: 4.8L/100km TRANSMISSION Type: Claw-shift 6-speed gearbox Final drive: Cardan shaft Clutch: Wet clutch with anti-hopping function, hydraulically activated CHASSIS AND 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, 190mm wheel travel Rear suspension: Cast-aluminium single-sided swinging arm with BMW Motorrad EVO Paralever II, WAD spring strut, spring preload hydraulically infinitely adjustable. Optional equipment: DSA. 200mm wheel travel Front brakes: Twin 310mm, semi-floating brake discs, 4-piston…

ENGINE Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4-valve, parallel 2-cylinder, 270° crank Power: 60kW (82hp) @ 8500rpm  Torque: 78Nm @ 6800rpm Capacity: 776cc Bore x stroke: 84 × 70mm Compression ratio: 12.8:1 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 Swingarm: Steel Front suspension: Upside-down fork,130mm travel Rear suspension: Linkage shock with preload adjustment, 130mm travel Front brakes: Radial-mount 4-piston callipers, semi-floating 310mm dual discs, ABS Rear brake: Single-piston calliper, 240mm single disc, ABS Tyres: Front: 120/70-ZR17, Rear: 180/55-ZR17 ELECTRONIC RIDER AIDS Cornering ABS, 4 standard plus 1 custom riding modes, 2 engine power modes, traction control, IMU, bi-directional quickshifter DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES Rake: 25° Trail: 104mm Claimed wet weight: 205kg Ground clearance: 145mm Seat height: 810mm Wheelbase: 1465mm Fuel capacity: 14L ETCETERA Price: $ 14,990 RA Colours: Metallic Triton Blue, Metallic Sword Silver, Pearl Ignite…

ROAD RIDER FEATURE ROAD RIDER TEST 40 YEARS OF THE SOFTAIL Harley-Davidson has been building Softail-equipped machines now for 40 years, and in many ways the design was largely responsible for saving the manufacturer from bankruptcy. Go back a few more years and Harley-Davidson was owned by AMF, American Machine and Foundry, better known for making bowling balls. AMF bought the company in 1969 and then proceeded to reduce the quality of the machines coming out of the Harley-Davidson factories, at the same time as when the Japanese, in particular, were making bikes better and better. By 1981, the company was really struggling. Willie G. Davidson and a group of staff and investors bought the company from AMF in a management buy-out, then proceeded to develop both the Softail rear…

There's a new model of TCX Dartwood WP boot now available, in light-brown grain leather. TCX boots are made for riders, so even though these boots are perfectly suitable for many social and work environments, they're designed and built to be comfortable, safe and long-lasting for motorcycle use. Although they look and feel like a conventional boot you can get in a shoe shop, TCX incorporates protection and technology which makes them so much better for bike riders. There are D3O inserts on the toe and heel, a midsole with a ZPlate shank to provide transverse rigidity while maintaining front flexibility, and there's a T-Dry liner for waterproofing. Other features include a side zip in addition to the laces and elastic band to store the laces, OrthoLite footbed and a…

AGV K6S WHATZ NEW AGV has evolved its sports helmet, upgrading the old K6 to become the K6S. Billed as a very lightweight helmet great for punching through the breeze at high speeds, the K6S focusses on having the features sports riders need rather than trying to cover every base. I appreciate that lightness, coming from the carbon-aramid construction. Those with subpar neck strength will find it a godsend on long rides. Lightness also may mitigate neck damage in the event of a crash, in comparison to heavier lids. The visor is a super-premium item; we couldn't fault it as far as optical quality goes. When it's clean, there's so little distortion or internal reflection it is hard to tell if it's up or down. That changes if the included…

Travelling on long extended trips in other countries while applying our etiquette of living can be downright rude. While some things are different, some remain the same, particularly among motorcyclists. In any country, on long, lonely highways it's just not right not to wave, or at least acknowledge, a fellow biker. If you see a fellow two-wheeler on the side of the road, never leave them stranded without checking on their welfare. Riding up to an event in the Victorian Alps, I came across a lone rider on the side of the road. I stopped to make sure everything was alright; the lady rider got snotty with me for stopping while she was adjusting her luggage roll, but hey, I will always make sure a fellow traveller is okay. On…