Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2018 i Australian Motorcyclist

PRICE: $27,250 (plus on-road charges) WARRANTY:Two years, unlimited distance SERVICING INTERVALS: Every 10,000km or 12 months ENGINE:Air/Liquid-cooled flat twin cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder BORE x STROKE: 101mm x 73mm DISPLACEMENT: 1170cc COMPRESSION: 12.5:1 POWER: 92kW @ 7750rpm TORQUE: 125Nm @ 6500rpm TRANSMISSION: 6-speed, wet multi-plate clutch, shaft final drive SUSPENSION: Front, 37mm telelever fork, electronically-adjustable, travel 190mm. Rear, monoshock, electronically adjustable travel 200mm. DIMENSIONS: Seat height 890mm, weight 244kg (wet), fuel capacity 20 litres, wheelbase 1507mm TYRES: Front, 120/70/R19. Rear, 170/60/R17 FRAME:Tubular steel BRAKES: Front, twin 305mm discs with radial mount four piston ABS calipers. Rear, 276mm disc, two-piston ABS caliper. FUEL CONSUMPTION: 5.4 litres per 100km, premium unleaded THEORETICAL RANGE: 370km VERDICT:TOURING DE FORCE…

The Tourance NEXT has been with us since the introduction of the water-cooled 1200GS. I liked it then, especially for its road-scorching nature and I like it now. The NEXT is an awarding-winning tyre (the respected Motorrad magazine) made specially for the street/enduros as they call its market. Metzeler rates it as a street tyre first then 40% suitable for the trail and gravel roads. Our loop followed that proportion to a tee.The label said ‘brilliant wet weather ability and long life’ and I can say the brand is impressive on all fronts.We didn’t suffer a single puncture and for some video work we really pushed the tyres beyond their design brief. I didn’t have one ‘moment’ on or off the sealed road, and our first day had some awful…

It made sense to me as our Italian friends unpacked the contents of their excess baggage on the tarmac outside the warehouse at Cassons (the importers of the brand). Good looking guys require good looking riding kit (Grant and myself exempt of course) from top to bottom and one thing the iconic Italian brand is known for is the exceptional look of its garments. How the adventure touring suits stood up the cold and wet turned out to be a real test for the garments, even the water-proof two piece wets. Old Huey threw everything down at us and my Dainese gear, like the other guys’, held everything at bay.The major thing I noticed other than none of us complaining about the 3 degree temperatures was that the riders who…

Two of America’s great motorcycling rides are open or set to again after major roadworks. For nearly a year and a half, access to the scenic Highway 1 through Big Sur has been off limits. In the summer of 2016, a wildfire caused by an illegal campfire, ravaged through Big Sur burning a total of 132,127 acres of land. Soon thereafter, monumental winter rains poured over the Central Coast resulting in multiple land slides, causing Highway 1 to close in two separate sections of Big Sur.The highway officially opened on Wednesday July 18th. And it looks as if the Mojave Desert section of Route 66 will be reopening soon as well. Here’s the word from the, er, horse’s mouth:“San Bernardino County Public Works will be constructing two new bridges and…

PRICE: $37,990 (plus on-road charges) WARRANTY:Two years, unlimited distance SERVICING INTERVALS: Every 12,000km or 12 months ENGINE: Liquid-cooled V4 cylinder, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder BORE x STROKE: 81 x 53.5mm DISPLACEMENT: 1103cc COMPRESSION: 14.0:1 POWER: 157.5kW @ 13,000rpm TORQUE: 124Nm @ 10,000rpm TRANSMISSION: 6-speed, wet multi-plate slipper clutch, chain final drive SUSPENSION: Front, 43mm inverted fork, electronically adjustable, travel 120mm. Rear, monoshock, electronically adjustable, travel 130mm. DIMENSIONS: Seat height 830mm, weight 195kg (wet), fuel capacity 16 litres, wheelbase 1469mm TYRES: Front, 120/70/ZR17. Rear, 200/60/ZR17 FRAME:Aluminium alloy BRAKES: Front, twin 330mm discs with radial mount four-piston ABS calipers. Rear, 245mm disc, twin-piston ABS caliper. FUEL CONSUMPTION: 8.51 litres per 100km, premium unleaded THEORETICAL RANGE: 188km COLOURS: Ducati Red VERDICT: FASTER THAN FAST…

LITHGOW The locals have smartened this place up quite substantially in recent years, and it’s worth a stop. At the first set of lights as you come into town, turn right and the Tin Shed is immediately on your right again. If you’d like to park off the road they’ll open the gate for you. Not only are the people at the café motorcycle-friendly, they have good tucker as well. As you’re heading out of town on the way to the highway you’ll see signs to the Small Arms Factory Museum, which has some terrific displays. In my experience it’s not always open, but it’s worth the small detour to find out – call them on 6351 4452 if you want to make sure. The Lithgow Tourist Information bureau is…

No crap, this pub and its publican are too good to be doing it as tough as they are and they certainly need and deserve support of the riding community.The place’s secluded but central position beside the upper Murray makes it a perfect base for a weekend of riding any number of loops to Corryong, or even down to Falls Creek and Mount Beauty. Or take the dirt north of the river through Dora Dora and across to Tooma. It comfortably wears four helmets and the 40 bucks a night for a heated room with undercover bike parking, endless hot water in the showers makes its value for money rating over 160 where 100 is decent. Mick is as real a host as you’re ever going to hope find.The whole…

PRICE: $23,490 (plus on-road charges) WARRANTY:Two years, unlimited distance SERVICING INTERVALS: Every 10,000km or 12 months ENGINE: Liquid-cooled three cylinder, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder BORE x STROKE: 79 x 54.3mm DISPLACEMENT: 798cc COMPRESSION: 13.3:1 POWER: 103kW @ 12,300rpm TORQUE: 87Nm @ 10,100rpm TRANSMISSION: 6-speed, wet multi-plate slipper clutch, chain final drive SUSPENSION: Front, 43mm inverted fork, adjustable preload, compression and rebound, travel 125mm. Rear, monoshock, adjustable preload, compression and rebound, travel 124mm. DIMENSIONS: Seat height 830mm, weight 175kg (dry), fuel capacity 16.5 litres, wheelbase 1400mm TYRES: Front, 120/70/ZR17. Rear, 180/55/ZR17 FRAME: Steel trellis BRAKES: Front, twin 320mm discs with radial mount four-piston ABS calipers. Rear, 220mm disc, twin-piston ABS caliper. FUEL CONSUMPTION: 7.11 litres per 100km, premium unleaded THEORETICAL RANGE: 231km COLOURS: Pearl Shock Red/Pearl Ice White, Metallic…

The Italians have huge sway with suppliers and used it when it came to providing gear for our adventure ride. The southern hemisphere’s winter was a deliberate choice for them, as they were assessing the new kit for their upcoming winter season. Dainese was on board with appropriate kit in six styles.As you can see AGV threw the same adventure lids at us while the most necessary leveller for the objectivity of the comparison was fitting with the same hoops.The Metzeler Tourance NEXT suited the range of bikes (I was sceptical at first) and importantly matched the test route perfectly. Each of us scored a brilliant waterproof Amphibious 50L rear duffle bag to fit up to every bike.The flag dropped with great pubs to stay cosy overnight and our visitors…

PRICE: $29,300 (plus on-road charges) WARRANTY:Two years, unlimited distance SERVICING INTERVALS: Every 16,000km or 12 months ENGINE: Liquid-cooled in-line three cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder BORE x STROKE: 85 x 71.4mm DISPLACEMENT: 1215cc COMPRESSION: 11.0:1 POWER: 104.kW @ 9350rpm TORQUE: 122Nm @ 7600rpm TRANSMISSION: 6-speed, wet multi-plate assist/slipper clutch, shaft final drive SUSPENSION: Front, 48mm inverted fork, electronically adjustable, travel 190mm. Rear, monoshock, electronically adjustable, travel 193mm. DIMENSIONS: Seat height 835-855mm, weight 248kg (dry), fuel capacity 20 litres, wheelbase 1520mm TYRES: Front,120/70/R19. Rear, 170/60/R17 FRAME:Tubular steel trellis BRAKES: Front, twin 305mm discs with radial mount four-piston ABS calipers. Rear, 282mm disc, two-piston ABS caliper. FUEL CONSUMPTION: 5.8 litres per 100km, premium unleaded THEORETICAL RANGE: 344km VERDICT: SIZE DOES MATTER…

PRICE (Australia) SUZUKI $15,790 HONDA $19,499 YAMAHA $21,999 KTM $23,995 BMW $27,250 DUCATI $28,990 TRIUMPH $29,300 POWER KTM - POWER: 118kW @ 8750rpm TORQUE: 140Nm @ 6750rpm DUCATI - POWER: 116.2 kW @ 9500rpm TORQUE: 129.5Nm @ 7500rpm TRIUMPH - POWER: 104.kW @ 9350rpm TORQUE: 122Nm @ 7600rpm BMW - POWER: 92kW @ 7750rpm TORQUE: 125Nm @ 6500rpm YAMAHA - POWER: 82.4kW @ 7250rpm TORQUE: 117Nm @ 6000rpm SUZUKI - POWER: 74kW @ 8000rpm TORQUE: 101Nm @ 4000rpm HONDA - POWER: 70kW @ 7500rpm TORQUE: 98Nm @ 6000rpm THE SCORES The six riders filled out an extensive scoresheet based on the riding and route. (Grant as a BMW-contracted person necessarily opted out of the survey.) Group standings: Honda – 251.4 BMW – 250.7 KTM – 237 Triumph – 232 Suzuki…

The guide to the stars - The who’s who in the zoo of motorcycle travel worldwide is what you’ll find here.These companies want to make your motorcycle travel the best it can be.We’ve travelled with many of them and know them all, so they come highly recommended. In alphabetical order, they are: ADRIATIC MOTO TOURS – Europe & Asia www.adriaticmototours.cominfo@adriaticmototours.com ASIAN EXPERIENCE MOTORBIKE TOURS - Asia www.asianexperience.com.au BIKE TOUR ASIA - Thailand, Laos, Cambodia,Vietnam, China & Myanmar. www.biketourasia.cominfo@biketourasia.com BLUE STRADA MOTORCYCLE TOURS – North Carolina USA www.bluestradatours.combillk@bluestradatours.com CENTRAL OTAGO MOTORCYCLE HIRE AND TOURS – New Zealand www.comotorcyclehire.co.nzInfo@comotorcyclehire.co.nz COMPASS EXPEDITIONS - North and South America, Europe,Asia, Australia and Africa www.compassexpeditions.com EDELWEISS BIKE TRAVEL – Worldwide tours www.edelweissbike.com EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURES – Italy & French Alps www.europeanmotorcycleadventures.comnaylor.ross@gmail.com GET ROUTED – Isle of…

AT ONE TIME OR another it was thought that there were more sheep than people down in the depths of Southland in New Zealand’s South Island. It is the place made famous by none other than Burt Munro, the World’s Fastest Kiwi On An Indian, and can be home to some insane weather. Invercargill is where I’m talking about and venturing to see Southland is a must on any South Island NZ trip. My wife Alana and I made our way to the Burt Munro Challenge earlier in the year, and aside from the racing we both wanted to explore the sights and sounds of this spectacularly wild part of the world. Wild as in the weather, but when the wind isn’t blowing and the rain isn’t trying to pierce…

This was our second trip through Africa with MotoAventures. Su and John really know how to lay on a fantastic trip. Our first trip in 2010 took us from the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, through Namibia, into South Africa and ended in Cape Town. Five years after that trip we were still talking about our first holiday with as much enthusiasm as the day the trip finished. Sixteen days of the most spectacular roads through equally spectacular country, each day filled with wonderful surprises. A holiday of a lifetime! So we approached our second trip with a little trepidation. How the hell are they going to better the last trip? In fact how could it possibly be any better? As you can see, it could!…

If you’re a Sydneysider you will have ridden parts of this route before, but have you ever put it together quite like this? And even if you have, we’ve got a couple of alternatives for you. Start by heading out to Windsor, and on to Richmond. Opposite the RAAF base you’ll find the tourist information centre and Pies on the Go, which opens at 7am and makes a good place to meet if you have riders coming from all over Sydney. The coffee is drinkable. From here it’s a trip across the mountains by Bells Line of Road; stop in Lithgow where the coffee at the Tin Shed is somewhat better. If you have lots of time, check out the Small Arms Museum, which is interesting for people who aren’t…

PRICE: $15,790 (plus on-road charges) WARRANTY:Two years, unlimited distance SERVICING INTERVALS: Every 10,000km or 12 months ENGINE: Liquid-cooled V-twin cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder BORE x STROKE: 100 x 66mm DISPLACEMENT: 1037cc COMPRESSION: 11.3:1 POWER: 74kW @ 8000rpm TORQUE: 101Nm @ 4000rpm TRANSMISSION: 6-speed, wet multi-plate assist clutch, chain final drive SUSPENSION: Front, 43mm inverted fork, adjustable preload, compression and rebound, travel 160mm. Rear, monoshock, adjustable preload and rebound, travel 160mm. DIMENSIONS: Seat height 850mm, weigh 223kg (wet), fuel capacity 20 litres, wheelbase 1555mm TYRES: Front, 110/80 R19. Rear, 150/70 R17 FRAME:Aluminium twin-spar BRAKES: Front, twin 310mm discs with radial mount four-piston ABS calipers. Rear, 260mm disc, single-piston ABS caliper. FUEL CONSUMPTION: 5.7 litres per 100km, premium unleaded THEORETICAL RANGE: 350km VERDICT: SENSIBLE STROM-TROOPER…

PRICE: $21,999 (plus on-road charges) WARRANTY:Two years, unlimited distance SERVICING INTERVALS: Every 10,000km or 12 months ENGINE: Liquid-cooled parallel twin cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder BORE x STROKE: 98 x 79.5mm DISPLACEMENT: 1199cc COMPRESSION: 11.0:1 POWER: 82.4kW @ 7750rpm TORQUE: 114Nm @ 6000rpm TRANSMISSION: 6-speed, wet multi-plate clutch, shaft final drive SUSPENSION: Front, 43mm inverted fork, electronically adjustable, travel 190mm. Rear, monoshock, electronically adjustable, travel 190mm. DIMENSIONS: Seat height 845mm, weight 265kg (wet), fuel capacity 23 litres, wheelbase 1540mm TYRES: Front,110/80/R19. Rear, 150/70/R17 FRAME:Tubular steel BRAKES: Front, twin 310mm discs with four-piston ABS calipers. Rear, 282mm disc, two-piston caliper. FUEL CONSUMPTION: 5.4 litres per 100km, premium unleaded THEORETICAL RANGE: 425km VERDICT:TRUSTY TEN…

TO THE END OF THE WORLD IS WHERE EXMO TOURS will take you for Christmas or for New Year’s Eve or maybe for both, in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. “Since Exmo Tours was founded our New Year’s Eve Patagonia & Tierra del Fuego motorbike tour has been the most requested,” says the company. “This year we’ve met many of our customers at expositions and bike events and decided to listen to their suggestions about a more intense version of our top destination. For this reason we embraced the Ride True Adventures philosophy and commit to a greater challenge by making this tour longer and by giving you the chance to join us on your favourite date. You can join us either on December the 20th in Santiago, or on…

I RECKON IT WAS A GIMME that BMW would produce a GS version with the baby 310 engine, and here it is in the G 310 GS. It is a versatile platform and changing it up to suit a bit of dirt road riding should also see it as being a great all-rounder for those riders just wanting a smaller machine. The G 310 GS shares the R’s frame, 310cc liquid-cooled single, and ABS-moderated single discs front and rear. Differences include the GS’s bodywork, longer-travel suspension (180mm front and rear on the GS compared to 140mm front and 131mm rear for the R), 19-inch front wheel, and switchable ABS for those who want to ride off road sans intervention. On the road at speeds under 80km/h the G 310 GS…

KAWASAKI 750 TURBO KLEVER KIWIS Ventura EVO-10 Sports-kit, A$399. Bag alone $109. Ventura EVO-40 Sports Touring-kit, A$489. Bag alone A$199. THE KIWIS CLAIM not to like Australians. You can see it in little jokes like, “Did you know that a New Zealand engineer has developed a camera sensor so fast that you can get a photo of an Australian with his mouth shut?”. But they belie that attitude with the way they send us so much beautifully made stuff; take the wonderful frames from Ken McIntosh. Whenever I order something made in Unzud, it’s always at least rugged and useful, and at best brilliant. But it’s not just the products; it’s the service, too. You may have noticed that a Kawasaki E1 Turbo has joined the long term fleet here…

EVERY NOW AND THEN, someone asks where I would most like to go back to. Presumably this question is generated by the knowledge that I’ve ridden bikes on all but one of the continents - the exception being Antarctica. But it presupposes that somehow I’ve been to all the places worth visiting, so I must be interested in going back to some of them. And of course I am. There are many places I wouldn’t mind revisiting. I mean, take Tahiti; I rented a Velosolex when I was there many years ago, and I would love to go back. But much as I’d like to make a return visit – this time without the spectacular crash into a sanitation trench – there is something that attracts me a lot more.…