Innehållsförteckning för #322 16-07 från Just Bikes

After winning a prestigious ‘Red Dot Award’ for their 1199 Panigale in 2013, Ducati have scored the ultimate version of this worldwide design award for their new XDiavel S cruiser. A judging panel of 40 internationallyrenowned experts not only acknowledged the XDiavel S as the best motorcycle, but also the “Best of the Best” in the entire Product Design category for 2016. This means that the XDiavel S beat out more than 5,000 other products entered. “A prize such as the Red Dot Award rewards Ducati’s creativity and innovation as much as it repays our tenacity in facing new challenges and venturing along new roads,” said Andrea Ferraresi of the ‘Ducati Style Center’, the in-house design studio responsible for the look of the XDiavel S and other Ducati motorcycles. “[The…

For over ten years, BMW Motorrad has offered GS specific off-road training, led by the most experienced and highly qualified instructors in the country. This continues in 2016. Each two-day BMW Motorrad course sees participants cover fundamental offroad riding techniques like slow-speed maneuvering, braking, cornering, throttle and clutch control, body position, riding over obstacles, crossing water and more. Riders who have confidently exceeded the level 1 program can also take on a more advanced level 2 course. Riders on other brands of adventure motorcycles are welcome at all courses, while those who don’t have a bike of their own are able to rent a GS at selected courses. Courses are held in NSW, SA, Queensland and Victoria. Each 2-day course costs $695, with hire bikes (at selected courses only) an…

“ While the addition of electric starting to the WR will certainly be a boon to enduro racers, it’s sure to be welcomed by weekend riders, too.” It’s no secret that Aussies love their trailbikes, and over the past decade or more, Aussies have particularly loved Yamaha’s WR series. The game is constantly changing, though, so the WR has had to change with it. From 1998’s debut WR400F, the enduro machine has evolved slowly, but steadily, but the first 450F is now more than a decade old. Fuel injection came to the WR in 2012, with the ‘little brother’ WR250F given a major makeover for 2015. Now, for 2016, ‘big brother’ has been re-invented, too. The latest WR450F, which made its Aussie debut at last year’s MotoGP at Phillip Island…

The 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF has hit Aussie shores, with the high-performance sportsbike now available from authorised Aprilia dealers. Released last year, the new RSV4 RF is “designed for racers and built for riders”. With a 1,000cc V4 engine producing 148kW (201hp) at 13,000rpm and 115Nm at 10,500rpm, plus a 6-speed cassettetype transmission, the new version’s dry weight of just 180kg makes it the lightest, most compact and most powerful RSV4 ever. That power delivery is adjustable, too, thanks to a quartet of Marelli 48mm throttle bodies and multiple engine maps – Track, Sport or Race – that are rider-selectable. A new Ohlins shock absorber (as part of an Ohlins suspension package at both ends and Ohlins steering damper), forged aluminium 17-inch rims, ‘Superpole’ graphics and the V4-MP Multimedia platform…

Facelifted for 2016, Kymco’s Downtown 350i has been given a price drop, too. Now at $6,490 (plus on-road costs), the latest version of the ABS-equipped maxiscooter is $1,000 cheaper than its 2015 counterpart. Kymco says the price realignment comes as part of a significant update which includes a fresh 320cc engine, as well as a host of revised performance and safety features. The fuel-injected four-stroke engine has been re-mapped to deliver more responsive power across a lower rev range. The refreshed model also features restyled cowling and lighting, widened foot boards and smoother CVT automatic transmission configuration. “Downtown has long been a winning package for Kymco and our new entry-level price will further underline the formidable value that it represents,” said KYMCO Australia’s Michael Poynton. “A long list of new…

In his first competitive Enduro World Championship (EWC) hitout with Sherco, Australia’s Matt Phillips came away with the round win. Riding a Sherco 450 SEF-R for the factory-backed CH Racing team at the seasonopening GP of Agadir (Morocco) on 9-10 April, Phillips placed 2nd in the E2 class and 3rd outright on the first day of competition, then went on to win the E2 class and claim outright victory in the Enduro GP on the second day. “I started really well on day one, but I knew what I needed to do to improve on day two,” said Phillips. “I kept things smooth throughout day two and it worked great. I’m so pleased to give Sherco this first Enduro GP win.” As reported in JUST BIKES #321, Phillips re-joined CH…

The annual Verona Motor Bike Expo may not be as well-known as the Intermot show in Milan, but the 2016 event, held this past January, presented a number of new bikes, as well as custom creations and special builds. Ducati used the Verona show to present a bunch of special custom builds, the standout being a drag bike interpretation of the new XDiavel. Described by Ducati as a new addition to their XDiavel cruiser world, the all-new draXter is a concept bike that gives a sports slant to the XDiavel. Making its world debut at Verona, the draXter project was developed by the Ducati Design Center's Advanced Design area, which is dedicated to exploring the future style and design concepts of Ducati motorcycles. The Design Center’s ideas and sketches were…

No discussion on the merits of the new WR450F would be complete without including the racing perspective as well. With so much of the 2016 WR450F’s componentry based on the championship-winning YZ450F, the new model certainly has the foundation to be a championship winner. For a race team’s viewpoint, JUST BIKES spoke to Brad McAlpine, crew chief with the CDR Off Road Team, for his insights on the new model and how it has slotted in with riders Chris Hollis and Tom McCormack, as well as the rest of the team. JUST BIKES: What are the major improvements on the 2016 model WR over the 2015 model? BRAD McALPINE: The key factors are a little bit ‘softer’ engine management, and the electric start – that was a major factor and…

MV Agusta has confirmed the limited edition F3 ‘Solar Beam’ collaboration with Mercedes-AMG will arrive in Australia and New Zealand in July. Identified by AMG graphics and the same Solar Beam paint as the AMG GT performance cars, this special version of the F3 800 debuted at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Following its reception at that show, MV Agusta confirmed a limited production run, 40 units of which have been confirmed for the Oceania region. Aside from the paint and graphics, other features on the special editions include a race-style fuel cap, and Ergal levers and pegs. Orders are now being taken for the limited edition Solar Beam, with pricing listed at $26,990 ride-away ($28,990 for New Zealand), which includes a two-year unlimited kilometre warranty and two-year roadside assist.…

Combining retro and modern styling cues, Yamaha’s ‘04GEN’ scooter concept was unveiled at the first ever Vietnam Motorcycle Show in March. A development of the previous RUN-WAY concept, the 04GEN follows on from the previous explorations of Yamaha’s ‘Refined Dynamism’ design philosophy. 01GEN, released in 2014, was a sportsstyle concept bike with dual front wheels, while 02GEN was a design for a powerassisted wheelchair. Last year’s pair of 03GEN concepts explored materials, colours and finishes for Yamaha’s TRICITY trike scooter. Also using a scooter as a base, 04GEN is a machine that “evokes the image of a woman with an air of dignified elegance”, according to Yamaha. The main feature of the concept is a frame covered in semi-transparent panels, designed to show the “beautifully-engineered” interior structure, which gives the…

The first FPM (Factory Performance Machines) Expo held at Victoria’s Royal Exhibition Building in April, also marked the first of many celebratory events for the Ducati Owners Club of Victoria (DOCV). Celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2016, the DOCV assembled a sea of red (and a few non-red!) machines at the FPM Expo. With the expo’s emphasis on more recent performance machinery, the display comprised the latest Panigale and Scrambler, as well as Diavel cruisers and Monsters, with everyone’s favourite modern classic – the 916 - part of the mix, too. While JUST BIKES liked these and others that comprised the DOCV’s display, the highlight was the super-rare Desmosedici RR. As the DOCV now boasts over 500 members, future displays and events should see a broader range of Ducati machinery…

While it’s a certainty that Vincent motorcycles were modified and customised back in the day (look no further than Rollie Free’s stripped-down ‘bathing suit’ bike for proof of that), but today, to see one turned into a café racer, or anything else for that matter, is a true rarity. That made the recent appearance of this Vincent-based custom a true attention-grabber. FROM LARRY TO SASAKI  Keinosuke “Keino” Sasaki followed the path of many in the custom motorcycle game - a keen interest in motorcycles and motorcycle engineering was later translated into a business. In Sasaki’s case, the initial inspiration came from his artisan father, who was skilled in woodworking, silversmithing and stained glass work. Sasaki junior’s skills were first developed during a part-time job at a custom bike shop in…