Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 4 i Australian Adventure Bike

1200 CC ENGINE Higher performance Bonneville twin with thrilling signature scrambler tune and hair-raising soundtrack. 110 NM PEAK TORQUE Game-changing capability with incredible torque delivered low down and a thrilling 90PS peak power output. 21” LACED FRONT WHEEL Class-leading road, off-road and scrambler capability delivered by the highest level of specification available. 80+ ACCESSORIES Enhance your brand-new custom classic Scrambler 1200’s finish with over 80 accessories. ENGINE High-power, high-performance, liquid-cooled 1200cc Bonneville engine with dedicated ‘scrambler’ tune. Low-inertia, 6-speed, 8-valve 270° crank angle parallel twin 90PS peak power at 7400rpm 110Nm peak torque at 3950rpm 7500rpm rev limit High service interval of 10,000 miles (16,000km) CHASSIS Brembo twin 320mm floating discs with Monobloc M50 front calipers Brembo 2-piston 255mm rear brake caliper High-specification side-laced wheels Dual-purpose Metzeler Tourance tubeless tyres…

Honda, in its intrinsically curious manner, has given the CB500X a makeover, shifting it to being more suitable for off-road and making the bike, in Honda’s own words, “adventure-ready”. The CB has been around for a while and it’s always been capable of taking on a decent dirt road, courtesy of the reasonable suspension travel and ground clearance. For 2019, Honda has gone further to make sure the bike itself can go further. Much of the bodywork has been re-shaped and more protection for the low-slung pipe has been added. The 471cc DOHC, four-valve, parallel-twin engine receives a new slipper clutch (same as the CBR1000RR), which lightens the feel by 45 per cent, as well as new intake tract and fuel injection nozzles, and improved cam timing. There’s also a…

If Bumblebee were an adventure bike, he would be the Suzuki V-Strom 1000 Desert Express. Hessler Motorsports has created the Desert Express Kit, completely upgrading the already versatile V-Strom 1000. The Suzuki is stripped of weight, the stock battery is replaced with a lithium-ion unit, a more streamlined sub-frame is fitted, a custom-made rally seat replaces the stock seat and a beefy Yoshimura R-77 slip-on muffler is In place of the standard exhaust. Once the mirrors are removed, the stock bike is over 13kg lighter than the standard model. The weight loss is just the start of this impressive build. The forks are replaced by custom forks fitted with Wilbers internals and the forks clamped with CNC upper and lower clamps. A Wilbers shock replaces the standard shock and features…

The flight schedule looked horrendous and let’s be honest, economy class is a device used to perpetuate class war while the airline pilot aids the subjugation of the masses by spreading mind control agents via chemtrails. OK, sorry... I just went down a YouTube rabbit hole. There is apparently a mile-wide alien spaceship under the Arctic, by the way. But just for the record, I don’t believe any of this shit, so I’ll back it down and get to the story at hand. The flight schedule. Ah yes, international flight from Australia is an inevitably long and boring affair but the chance to travel to Morocco to ride the long-awaited KTM 790 Adventure and Adventure R was far too good to pass up. After being home for a very short…

I am sitting in a six-by-three-foot stone hut. It is steaming hot and an old bloke is stoking a fire to heat it from the small room outside. I am at 3200 metres and the small room has four other sweaty people in it. It is getting cold outside. We pour water over our overheating heads and wonder at the amazing day that has led us to this place. Tash Rabat is known for its stone, 12th-century, Silk Road caravanserai that is still in remarkable condition for being at altitude and subject to the deepest Kyrgyzstan winters and burning summer sun. We have ridden from our very odd but comfortable lodgings in Naryn, about 200 kilometres away, via a couple of spectacular mountain passes on twisting dirt roads. The rest…

Yamaha’s Super Ténéré XT1200Z is a capable machine, but it got lost somewhat in the tsunami of competing model releases since it first appeared in 2010. Back then it was greeted with frothy anticipation as it came off the back of the release of its smaller cousin, the XT660Z, which sent folks into a veritable frenzy to think the Japanese were re-entering the adventure market with that familiar moniker. Since 2010, however, the market has grown larger than anyone could have predicted. There have been several excellent model updates from BMW, KTM, Honda and Triumph, as well as new entrants to the category from the likes of Ducati, Benelli and SWM. During this time the Ténéré... well, it hasn’t changed much. There have been suspension changes and a little extra…

Something about the look of a scrambler gives me the feels. If I look at it dryly, it’s an appreciation of the history behind that design and all that came from it, be that a modern motocross bike or a KTM 790 Adventure R. The scrambler is the granddaddy of all off-road motorcycles. To take a less specific tone, as I look over the Ducati Desert Sled in front of me, it makes me giddier than a puppy with two peckers. I’ve been riding new KTMs and new BMWs here, there and everywhere of late and I’ve been pushing buttons, twirling knobs and adjusting settings like I’m Han Solo, but finally I’m on a bike that’s all about the ride. When I look down I don’t see a TFT screen…

The crazy Frenchman had so much luggage I couldn’t tell what kind of motorcycle he was riding. He said he’d come from Ushuaia, the very tip of South America, 2,000 kilometre as the crow flies from our location in Osorno in the south of Chile, so I assumed he was riding a big bore — at least 750cc. But to my surprise, it was a Honda CB125. “I love this little bike. I ride all around South America and it never gives me any problems,” he told me over a few beers that evening. My meeting with the crazy Frenchman proved serendipitous. The following morning I’d arranged to pick up a rental from Motoaventura, a BMW Motorrad dealer and tour company in Osorno. But it was midsummer, the peak of…

The Australian distributor for the Rebel X Sports Yamaha Rally Kits is Centretune Motorcycles. Phone: 0746580800. Email: centretune@tpg.com.au Web: www. centretunemotorcycles.com.au 15-litre fuel tank capacity Full instruments tower (Dakar ready) New plug and play tower system (No drilling) 2 USB charging ports Voltmeter GPS antennas bracket GPS bracket for Garmin Montana/276CX LED lights Full fairing Fairing quick release Rally reinforced wheels with rear cush drive and CNC machined hubs Selle Dalla Valle Factory Rally seat Full exhaust system by Spark Rally ECU mapping Lithium battery Factory chain slider kit Crystal graphic kit Stainless-steel limited edition plate…

The Airoh Commander Carbon Adventure Helmet would be in the running for one of the best-looking adventure helmets on the market. An impressive shape and design is partnered with trick paint jobs and features to match. The versatile helmet can be used with the peak and visor for adventure riding, or remove the peak for on-road action. The extra-wide visor allows for great vision on the trail, while the three-point ventilation system keeps the head cool in the warmer months. This helmet is impressive and bursting with features. FEATURES MATERIAL: HPC (High-performance composite) WEIGHT: From 1430g VENTILATION: Chin vent, front vent, top vent VISOR: Extra-wide vision, scratch resistant, UV resistant SUNSCREEN VISOR: Yes INNER LINING: Removable and washable inner lining RETENTION SYSTEM: DD ring…

Me (being Damo) and a heap of other journos spent a week on the NSW South Coast riding a range of BMWs for the 2019 media launch. We covered about 1500 kilometres, drank many beers and ate some great meals. I left for the launch about 12 hours after returning from the KTM 690 Enduro R launch in Portugal (covered in this issue). While the effects of international travel were well and truly evident in that I was even more dopey that usual, nothing perks a man up like a great trail and a quality bike with some good company — and BMW Australia served-up exactly that in massive doses. The bikes have seen a change that has altered the ride experience in a massive way, with the introduction of…

The modest Suzuki DR650 is a popular touring bike in Australia and well thought of in parts of Europe and the US. Some Aussie long-distance adventure riders have clocked up close to 200,000 kilometres on their DRs, or ‘Dr Bigs’, and we’re told one guy has ridden his twice across Russia. The DR650 is esteemed for several reasons but three in particular: It’s dirt cheap. The recommended retail price in Australia right now is $8000. It’s reliable. That’s how they get 200,000 kilometres out of it. And it’s simple. There are no Moto GP genes in the DR650. If you took yours to a GP track it wouldn’t recognise the other bikes as relatives. There’s another good thing about the DR: it’s versatile. So rich is the aftermarket potential for…

Cessnock’s Potters Brewery was all hands to the pump as 80 Ténéré Tragics congregated for the start of their annual ride in honour of the legendary Dakar Rally-bred adventure bike. The five-day adventure ride staged last week took riders and crew through Bathurst, Goulburn, Tumut and Cooma to end at the Alpine Hotel in the NSW Snowy Mountains resort town of Thredbo. Participants were treated to a Yamaha bLU cRU ADV Skills Session with Yamaha legend Stephen Gall, staged near Cessnock the day before the run started. Twenty-three Tragics gained riding instruction that was put to good use over the next five days riding a range of Ténéré models, from original 600s right through to new XTZ1200 Super Ténérés. FACTORY CDR CHIEF TECHNICIAN AND LONG-TIME TÉNÉRÉ ADVENTURE RIDER GARY BENN…

Just weeks before the start of the 2019 Dakar, Aussie Toby Price broke his wrist. He didn’t think much of it at first — he’s no stranger to pain — but as it turns out he’d done a good job. He'd even broken the scaphoid, which is not a bone you want to mess about with. For the record, I broke my wrist in the same place at about the same time and I whinged like a bitch. “I PLAY ENOUGH TENNIS DURING THE YEAR, I'M SICK OF IT BY THE TIME I GET HOME.” NICK KYRGIOS “I’VE ACHIEVED WHAT I’VE ACHIEVED SOMETIMES AT 100 PER CENT (EFFORT), BUT MAYBE (OVERALL) AT 50 PER CENT … HAVEN’T TRIED.” BERNARD TOMIC “PRETTY MUCH ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT IT FEELS…

Our philosophy on helmets has been pretty unshakeable for many years and after the last big concussion: don’t wear rubbish just because it saves you money. In fact, it’s not just because of the potential damage but also the fact that the comfort levels are often diabolically bad in low-cost helmets. So it’s with a little surprise that we’ve come to appreciate the Bell Moto 9 Adventure MIPS, which at around $300 is certainly not an expensive lid. And I say little because we’ve worn Bell motocross helmets before and we’ve always liked them, but we have different expectations for comfort in an adventure helmet. We are coming off using a far more expensive brand for many years, and we utterly rejoiced in the fact that the padding in the…

THE CB HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE AND IT’S ALWAYS BEEN CAPABLE OF TAKING ON A DECENT DIRT ROAD, COURTESY OF THE REASONABLE SUSPENSION TRAVEL AND GROUND CLEARANCE. FOR 2019, HONDA HAS GONE FURTHER TO MAKE SURE THE BIKE ITSELF CAN GO FURTHER While a 125cc adventure bike may not be on the shopping list of a large range of Australian adventure riders, you can’t deny that Honda has created an intriguing and very trick-looking concept. A modern machine oozing adventure style and boasting the Honda logo would look great in the line-up next to the Africa Twin 1000. A 125? Not for the Australian market. Base this off the Honda CRF450L engine and you could have a very exciting and capable adventure bike for Australia. If this concept…

Yamaha Motor Australia has announced the pricing and release date for the long-awaited Ténéré 700. Available in Ceramic Ice, Competition White and Power Black, the Ténéré will hit the dealers in December at a somewhat surprisingly low $15,499 RRP inc GST. “This news will come as a great relief for a large number of adventure bike customers who have been in contact asking about this model’s release date,” says YMA sales and marketing manager Matt Ferry. “That’s because the Ténéré 700 is a supremely off-road capable adventure bike that will suit Australian conditions to a tee. We have ordered some pre-production units to arrive in June so that potential customers can see the Ténéré 700 in the flesh — look out for one at key events soon.”…

Our Benelli TRK 502X keeps rolling on without any dramas and we remain impressed by the bike’s sweet 500cc engine. The Shinko tyres have allowed us to go even further on the bike and we recommend any owner look into re-shoeing their 502X. We’ve also replaced the brake pads and that’s the sum total of all urgent maintenance needed. So far it’s proving to be a solid and reliable bike that needs little effort to keep in good shape. For less than $10,000, it continues to demonstrate excellent value for money. STILL HAPPY WITH: 1. The fantastic engine 2. Clutch feel 3. Good fuel economy 4. No blasting through oil, chain or tyres 5. Good amount of luggage space 6. Shinko tyre performance 7. Comfort level NOT ON: 1. Overall…

most scenic road in all of South America but certainly one of the least known, the Carratera Austral (or Ruta 7), which offers an overload of scenic wonders. It is a spectacular ride through towering snow-capped peaks, perfect conical volcanoes, hanging glaciers, rare pristine forests, mighty fjords and a vastness virtually unmatched anywhere else on the planet. We believe it is one of the best road trips on Earth. Further to this, the tour will also be riding sections of the famous Ruta 40, which is part of the Trans American Highway and the mind-blowing Seven Lakes Ride. We visit Petrohue on the shores of Lago Todos los Santos; amazing Futaleufú, home to the finest white-water rafting on earth; Queulat National Park with its hanging glacier; Las Cavernas Marmoles and…

The KTM 690 Enduro R is a curious bike. In a lot of ways it defies easy categorisation and I suspect that’s because it’s not a simple fit for the Australian market. On one hand we have a country that adores the big bore — the 500s and 300s continue to sell well year after year, so you’d not be far off the mark assuming that bumping the CCs up to 690 and calling it an Enduro would draw a crowd. But the 690 weighs some 40kg more than a 500 EXC-F and produces only around 10 horsepower extra, so on paper alone it isn’t clear that it should be considered alongside what we call enduro. Is it an adventure bike? Well, almost, except that the fuel range is limited…

Imagine a dealer trying this sales pitch on you: “This bike right here is perfect for you. It’s got an air-cooled engine, ancient suspension, an outdated chassis, an analogue speedo and a metal fuel tank. It isn’t particularly attractive and the seat's not very comfortable either. What more could you want?” It sounds vaguely insulting, doesn’t it? It’s like being pointed towards the lonely Leyland P76 sitting in the corner of a Porsche dealership. Then how is it that this loosely sums up one of the most trusted and beloved bikes ever built? Suzuki’s DR650 is at the same time the subject of hurtful jibes from those that don’t get it, and a deep love from those who do. But surely we must all admire it. You see, in a…

It was always going to be a feat to top last year’s Southern Alps Rallye, yet trading epic mountains for breathtaking coastline — and throwing in an Ultimate Race challenge for added entertainment — resulted in a truly remarkable week of adventure for the 2018 KTM New Zealand Adventure Rallye riders. For six days and more than 1700km, 101 KTM adventure riders, three pillions and 25 staff were treated to the best tracks the Northland and Coromandel regions had to offer. They were led by expert local route coordinators Barry Reiher, Mike Johansen, Shaun Prescott and KTM Adventure Ambassador Chris Birch — who just so happens to be a Coromandel local. Throw in special guests like V8 Supercars legend Greg Murphy, five-time American National Enduro Champion Russell Bobbitt and riders…