Innehållsförteckning för #327 16-12 från Just Bikes

BMW’s presentation of special concepts at the Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este in Italy has become a keenly anticipated annual event. While past reveals have included concepts influenced by BMW’s more recent history, this year’s creation – in BMW’s 100th Anniversary year - went back much further. The ‘R 5 Hommage’ was inspired by the original R 5 from 1936, which was itself developed from BMW’s factory race bikes of the 1930s. “At its debut, the R 5 was not only a masterpiece of engineering, the clarity of its lines and the elegance of its proportions made it stand out clearly from the masses,” says Edgar Heinrich, Head of Design BMW Motorrad. Ola Stenegard, Head of Vehicle Design and Creative Director Heritage BMW Motorrad, is a fan, too: “In today’s…

Following the April announcement of Jorge Lorenzo’s move from the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team to Ducati next year, the MotoGP silly season kicked off in earnest. Here’s a rundown of the main movements revealed so far. VINALES TO YAMAHA Ecstar Suzuki’s Maverick Vinales confirmed on 19th May that he’ll be leaving Suzuki for the factory Yamaha squad for 2017 and 2018. The 21-year-old, who only stepped up to the premier class in 2015, scored his first podium at this year’s Le Mans round, which was also Suzuki’s first since their return to MotoGP. Suzuki reportedly fought hard to keep Vinales, but it seems the lure of one of the elite teams in MotoGP proved too great. IANNONE FROM DUCATI TO SUZUKI As soon as Lorenzo announced his move to Ducati,…

It’s fair to say there’s an element of “fashion” to the custom motorcycle scene at the moment. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though, as it’s exposed a lot of people to motorcycles and motorcycling who may otherwise have not given the two-wheel world a second thought. And while there are a few who have cranked out custom bikes because it’s the “in thing” to do, there are others who see crafting bespoke custom motorcycles as much more than a trend; those like the Berneron brothers in France that operate under the name of ‘Praëm’. FRENCH BRED 27-year-old Sylvain Berneron is the elder of the two brothers who make up the business. After graduating from university with a masters degree in transportation design, Berneron spent five years as a designer…

Due for local release in July, Piaggio’s new Medley 150 i-GET scooter promises something fresh in the tall-wheel, midsized scooter category. Underneath its all-new, modern styling, the Medley features a new lightweight chassis and debuts Piaggio’s ‘i-GET’ engine (Italian Green Experience Technology); a fuel-efficient and Euro 4 emissions compliant 155cc single that’s also capable of 100+km/h highway speeds. Advanced electronic technology in this liquid-cooled 11kW/14.4Nm powerplant includes a new ‘stop-start’ feature like that used in cars. When the scooter is stationary, the engine turns itself off, but restarts instantly at the twist of the throttle. ABS braking, electronic anti-theft immobiliser, LED front and rear lighting, electric seat release, tilt sensor and detailed instrumentation are other standard features. Styling of the Medley 150 i-GET takes elements from Piaggio’s larger Beverly 350,…

Triumph Australia has announced a range of ride away offers and finance deals across selected MY15 and MY16 models, with savings of up to $4,600 on offer. Valid while stocks last, or until 31 July, 2016, the ‘Amazing Triumph Rideaway Offers’ start with the Bonneville 865 at $11,990 – a saving of $2,200, while the Daytona 675 ABS is now priced at $14,990 – a saving of $1,700. Pricing for the Street Triple range – 675, 675 R and 660 (LAMS) - has been cut by $1,000 across the board and includes a bonus Style Pack consisting of a colourmatched fly screen, belly pan and seat cowl worth over $1,000. The Speed Triple 94 is now $16,990 (reduced $2,250) and the Speed Triple R 94 is $19,490 (down $2,300). On…

BMW Motorrad’s popular GS Experience test ride program is back for 2016, offering an opportunity to ride and enjoy BMW’s GS range. Conducted over a combination of bitumen and light off-road trails, the test rides are designed to showcase the dynamic qualities of the GS in real-world conditions, and covers the full range – from the F 700GS to the R 1200 GS Adventure. Each test ride includes a briefing and product demonstration that will take riders through the features on the GS range, like ABS, Traction Control, ASC Riding Modes, ESA, Quick Shift and other technologies, with BMW Motorrad staff on-hand to answer questions and offer advice. Each event will also have a special VIP guest. 2016 BMW GS Experience locations: NSW Wisemans Ferry Aug 10 and 11 QLD…

Before the 2016 Motul World Superbike Championship got underway, there was much discussion about whether new arrivals like Nicky Hayden, returning manufacturers like Yamaha, or format changes like the two-day race weekend would impact on the series. With seven rounds of 13 completed at time of writing, the 2016 championship has a familiar “green” tinge to it, with Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jonathan Rea leading the way. But last year’s champion certainly hasn’t had it all his own way; other riders have stepped up, newcomers have surprised and changeable weather has mixed up the results, too. Here’s a round-by-round wrap of how the 2016 season has unfolded so far. ROUND 1 – Phillip Island, Australia – February 27-28 The debut of WSBK’s new two-day race format (with each race on separate…

The 2017 iteration of Suzuki’s fun-sized ATV, the QuadSport Z50, is now available. Identified by a new Champion Yellow colour scheme (inspired by Suzuki’s RM-Z motocrossers), the latest Quadsport Z50 remains an ideal machine for youngsters to learn the fundamentals of riding and develop their skills before moving on to two wheels. The Z50 features a quiet and smooth 49cc four-stroke electric-start engine and easyto-use CVT automatic transmission. Engine power can be controlled to suit rider experience via the adjustable throttle limiter and there’s also a tether-type remote engine-stop switch that kills the engine instantly when required. Furthermore, a keyed ignition provides maximum parental control. Plush, independent front and swingarm rear suspension, large footboards and a wide, comfy seat are other features. The 2017 Suzuki QuadSport Z50 is priced at…

Suzuki’s latest SV650 has arrived and it comes with a special introductory price. To celebrate the return of the v-twin commuter, the all-new version will be available for just $9,990 ride away for a limited time. LAMS legal, Suzuki believes the SV650’s 645cc v-twin (unique in the large capacity LAMS market) is ideal for this segment thanks to its linear power delivery through the rev range. With over 60 redesigned components, the 35kW/56.5Nm DOHC liquid-cooled engine delivers strong torque in the low-to-mid rpm range, smooth running in the high rpm range and better fuel economy. Suzuki says these characteristics make the engine extremely versatile for a wide range of riding conditions. Also new is a ‘Low RPM Assist’ function which automatically raises engine rpm for launching or low rpm riding…

After a brief absence from Harley-Davidson’s premium CVO lineup, a Softail is back, in the form of the MY16.5 Pro Street Breakout. Compared to previous iterations of the Breakout, this latest version takes the Softail-based performance model in a different design direction – drag bike inspired, as the Pro Street name suggests. THE STYLE On first viewing, it must be said that the Breakout looks awesome. Continuing the blackout trend started by Harley-Davidson, there’s barely a piece of shiny chrome to be seen on the Breakout, but rather than just an abyss of black, there are a number of lighter-toned styling touches, some of which make their H-D debut on this model. The first of these is ‘smoke satin chrome’. Applied to the exhaust pipes, oil lines, pushrod covers, lower…

REA IN FRONT After Round 7 at Donington, Rea leads the rider’s championship on 293 points, followed by Tom Sykes 56 points back on 237 and Chaz Davies on 231. Compared to last year, when Rea’s lead was a whopping 124 points after seven rounds, that 56 point gap is certainly catchable (two and a bit race wins), but can either Sykes or Davies do it? This time last season, Rea had won 10 of 14 races, but in 2016, his victory tally so far is “only” seven. Tellingly, Rea hasn’t won a race since Assen in April (the Misano round occurred after press), nor has he been dominating race weekends like last year. The Ulsterman has still been ultra-consistent, though, finishing no worse than third across all races contested…