Innehållsförteckning för #316 16-01 från Just Bikes

Following their acquisition of electric motorcycle manufacturer Brammo in January, Polaris Industries has announced that the ‘Empulse R’ model produced under that brand will now be rebadged as the ‘Victory Empulse TT’ ahead of a US market release later this year. An investor in Brammo since 2011, the full acquisition of the Oregon-based electric motorcycle manufacturer and relaunch with a Victory badge is seen as Polaris’s response to the LiveWire electric bike project from Harley-Davidson. While Harley was the first to announce their electric bike, this development ensures Victory will be first to market – at least in the US. Brammo will still exist, in name, as a powertrain and battery developer (‘Brammo Power’) for this bike and future electric projects from Polaris Industries. While the bulk of the componentry…

A trio of Brough Superior motorcycles with an Australian connection are among the lots consigned for Bonhams ‘Stafford sale’ in the UK this October. Held in conjunction with the annual Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show in Staffordshire, the auction usually attracts a diverse range of bikes, as well as spares, ‘projects’ (incomplete or disassembled bikes) and associated memorabilia and collectables. The “Aussie” Broughs are a trio of projects from the collection of the late Gary Ross, and consist of a 1926 SS100 Alpine Grand Sport, the same model from 1927 and a 1931 OHV 680. All are incomplete, but have major components like frames, engines, transmissions, front forks, rims, etc. With Brough Superiors continuing to sell well at auction, the ex-Ross trio are expected to attract big money, with both the…

If the bike presented here looks a little familiar, it’s probably because you saw something very much like it about 18 months ago – and not a lot since! When Lotus’s C-01 concept dropped in February of 2014, it had a lot of motorcycle enthusiasts salivating. That hunger hasn’t been fed, though, so thankfully there’s folks out there like the crew at Smoked. Rather than whine about ‘when is it coming?’, they decided to make a machine inspired by the C-01 and make it a reality. Yep, what you’re looking at here is no mere rendering or computer model: it’s real metal, with a real engine, a real rider and able to be ridden on real roads. Smoked’s Shane Covill calls this beast the ‘Bronco Racer’, but a little more…

The Indianapolis and Brno rounds (10 and 11) were held after this issue went to press, with the following rounds still to come to conclude the 2015 championship. Rd12 – Octo British Grand Prix, Silverstone, August 30 Rd13 – Gran Premio TIM di San Marino, Misano, September 13 Rd14 – Gran Premio Movistar Aragon, Aragon (Spain), September 27 Rd15 – Motul Grand Prix of Japan, Motegi, October 11 Rd16 – Pramac Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, Phillip Island, October 18 Rd17 – Shell Malaysia M/C Grand Prix, Sepang, October 25 Rd18 – Gran Premio Motul de la Communitat Valenciana, Valencia (Spain), November 8 So, who will win the 2015 championship? At this stage, it’s a race of three – Rossi, Lorenzo and maybe Marquez. Poor early results and crashes from the…

KTM’s Dirt Days concept roars back into life this September and October, with events across five states over five days. Participants (aged 16+ years) will have the opportunity to sample the latest and greatest models from the KTM SX 2016 Range. With the focus this year on KTM’s SX and SX-F models, there will be five “stars of the show” at each Dirt Day - the two-stroke 125 SX and 250 SX, and four-stroke 250 SX-F, 350 SX-F and 450 SX-F models. To get involved, pre-register and pay a $50 fee at an authorised participating KTM dealership prior to the event (strictly no on-the-day regos). Sign the necessary paperwork from KTM Australia and Motorcycling Australia and you’re ready to roost. Customers who participate in KTM Dirt Days and go on…

Following their world debut at EICMA last year, Moto Guzzi’s California 1400 ‘Audace’ and ‘Eldorado’ editions have just arrived in Australia. Both the Audace and Eldorado feature Moto Guzzi’s highly acclaimed 1400cc engine, plus ride-by-wire throttle, switchable engine mapping, cruise control, ABS and traction control. Identified by its distinctive circular headlight, minimalist mirrors, alloy wheels and carbon mudguard mounted on a fork without any telescopic covering, the 1400 Audace stands apart from the other models as the ‘dark one’ in the California range. A short megaphone exhaust with die cast aluminium support flange features a new design that bumps up torque to 121Nm at 3,000RPM. A more sport-oriented seating position has been created for the rider with a redesigned saddle delivering a lower seating position, drag handlebars and forward foot…

Yamaha’s TW 125 is a rare beast in this country, with its big brother, the TW 200, only a little more common. Distributed to a number of markets from its release in 1987, the TW 200 is still available new in Canada, and while not officially sold through Yamaha dealerships here, can still be had, thanks to specialty importers like JUST BIKES advertisers, Sumoto (aka Motoink). The TW 125 is much rarer, though, only offered for about five years from 1999, and mainly to European markets. In factory guise, both versions of the TW followed the same template of trailbike looks (think TDR 250, but stripped back a bit), a basic single cylinder engine and 5-speed gearbox, plus lights and indicators to make it road legal. But the standout features…

Italian company Pramac have agreed to a deal with Dorna Sports SL to become the title sponsors for the 2015 Australian round of the MotoGP World Championship at Phillip Island. The one-year deal with the Italian generator and stationary engine manufacturer will see the Australian round, held at the Phillip Island circuit this October 16-18, branded as the Pramac Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. Pramac have been present on the MotoGP grid since 2002 with the Pramac Racing Team, were title sponsors of the 2008 Chinese Grand Prix, and also sponsor the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup. “The fact that this event at Phillip Island can attract international brands is testament to the global reach and visibility generated by Victoria’s iconic circuit and the international reach of MotoGP,” said Andrew Westacott,…

Before the 2015 MotoGP season kicked off, most pundits were confidently predicting that Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez would make it a three-peat of championships. There was certainly form for this, as in 2014, Marquez won the first 10 rounds of the champiopnship, on his way to a total of 13 victories and a comfortable win by 67 points in the championship over the Yamaha factory team’s Valentino Rossi. Rossi’s Yamaha team mate, Jorge Lorenzo,had a season to forget in 2014, cruelled by injury and only scoring two race wins, while Dani Pedrosa continued his perennial bridesmaid role, unable to equal the pace – or the audacity – of the other frontrunners. The pre-season testing revealed some improvements from the factory Ducati squad, while the return of Suzuki to the grid…

We’re looking for vintage, classic and newer bikes of all types to feature in future issues, covering restorations, custom bikes, choppers and original survivors. That includes scooters, mopeds, trikes and outfits, too. It’s not just road bikes we’re interested in, either: dirt bikes, trials and enduro bikes are also welcome. If you’ve a got a cool bike for sale, the additional exposure that an article in JUST BIKES provides can help in selling the bike, too. Do you have a collection of bikes, racing memorabilia, or other motorcycling-related collectables? Maybe you’ve undertaken an epic road trip, or just seen, built or done something of interest and relevance to JUST BIKES readers*. To have your story featured in JUST BIKES, email all the details - and be sure to include images…

THE 59 CLUB The official Australian Branch of The 59 Club, London. Membership open to anyone interested in classic bikes & cafe racers of any make. Regular rides, meetings. Contact: Shadow, PO Box 60 ,Healesville ,VIC,3777 Ph: 0490 185 536 or Em: the59clubaustralia@hotmail.com VIC A CHOPPERS AUSTRALIA An Australia-wide networking club and website, servicing, supporting, encouraging and helping chopper riders build their bikes, get together and share their love of the coolest bikes on the planet. Not a traditional motorcycle or outlaw club - no meeting, no committees, no minimum attendances, no back patches, no politics - just groups of friendly chopper enthusiasts in most states who keep in touch, help each other and ride together (no obligation) Our website and events are G rated, so wives, kids and grand…