Innehållsförteckning för #329 17-01 från Just Bikes

Victory ’s much-anticipated ‘Octane’ cruiser is now in Australia. The first-ever liquidcooled model to wear the Victory badge, the Octane is broadly comparable to Harley-Davidson’s V-Rod (both being liquid-cooled), but undercuts that model on price. If the Octane seems familiar, that may be because it’s been evolving through a number of well-publicised concepts for the past year, or perhaps because it shares general dimensions and a number of components with the Indian Scout. The two models were developed in tandem, and while the Scout feeds the retro market, the Octane is designed to appeal to a more modern (and probably younger) audience. MOST POWERFUL The Octane has a 1179cc capacity against the Indian Scout’s 1133cc thanks to a 5mm bore increase (to 101mm) on the v-twin engine, with other changes…

The latest version of Yamaha’s quarter-litre motocross weapon – the 2017 YZ250F – has arrived With the addition of an all-new reverse cylinder head on the 250cc DOHC 4-stroke single-cylinder engine, the MY17 YZ250F promises increased pulling power in the mid-to high-rpm range, with Yamaha claiming improved acceleration and an overall horsepower gain of around 15 per cent. The reverse head also means improved mass centralisation, thanks to the topmounted filter and underseat fuel tank on this design that’s already been applied to the YZ450F. To complement the new engine, the MY17 YZ250F also features a reworked transmission with wider teeth on second and third gears, plus modified dogs on first, third and fifth. A stronger clutch lever promises a more positive shift, while a redesigned clutch push lever, shift…

Moto2 rider Johann Zarco will step up to MotoGP Next year, after signing on with Tech3 Yamaha for the 2017-18 season. The 2015 Moto2 champion and contender for a second title this season had been rumoured for a move to MotoGP for some time, but confirmation of the French riders step up to the premier class was only confirmed on 14 July. Zarco will join Jonas Folger, also currently racing in Moto2, in an all-new rider lineup at Tech3 Yamaha for 2017, after both Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro are moving to KTM’s MotoGP campaign. “It goes without saying that I am very happy to join the MotoGP class with Tech3 and I am confident that we can form a solid partnership,” Zarco said. “It seems a logical step for…

A tidier and safer solution for soft luggage, Ventura’s soft pannier system and complementary Bonneville panniers suit a wide range of current model bikes. The specially-designed rack allows for easy slide-on, slide-off fitment of the Bonneville soft panniers, with a special sleeve that holds them firmly in place. Depending on the bike, they can also complement existing topbox-style luggage systems. Made from tough Codra fabric, each 430mm × 250mm × 140mm Bonneville pannier holds 12 litres and features a large zip opening, padded carry handles, quickrelease buckles, reflective piping and clever internal pockets for small items. When fitted to the Ventura rack, the panniers won’t flap in the wind or rub paintwork, either. Now available from Ventura gear stockists, the Bonneville pannier kit is priced from $349 RRP. Visit: kenma.com.au…

Men and their Sheds is a book by award-winning photographer Craig Wetjen that explores the special relationship Aussie men share with their sheds. Spending hours talking with and photographing each subject, Wetjen found that, from the tiniest cramped alcove to the biggest multi-car garage, the shed is an important part of an Aussie bloke’s life: a place to work; a place to relax; a place to think; a place where conversation can be shared with like-minded souls. While most of the sheds are “car” themed, motorcycles feature in this 224-page hardback, too. Johnny Gee, from JUST BIKES advertiser Antique Motorcycles, discusses the importance of his own “shed” space at Antique’s Cheltenham showroom, while others who build, restore or just tinker with bikes (everything from post-War British classics to modern Harleys)…

A handful of dramatic rounds – and an Aussie win – in the first half of this year’s MotoGP World Championship has set the scene for an intriguing second half of the season. WORDS Mike Ryan | PHOTOS MotoGP, Yamaha Racing, HRC, Michelin In its opening rounds, the 2016 FIM Motorcycle World Championship season looked to be “following the script”, with defending champion Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), his team mate Valentino Rossi and Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez all recording wins. Up until round 7, Lorenzo looked the strongest of the “aliens” with three wins and two more podiums, but a trio of poor and DNF results has opened the field for Marquez, who’s seemingly more measured and mature this year. Rossi, while popular as ever and still a race…

Ahead of its arrival in September, BMW Motorrad has confirmed Australian pricing for the R nineT Scrambler. The new member of BMW’s R nineT family will carry a list price of $19,150 (excluding ORCs). Standard features on the new Scrambler include ABS braking, heated handgrips and chromed exhaust headers, while options include wire-spoked wheels, traction control, LED indicators and off-road tyres. BMW Motorrad General Manager, Andreas Lundgren, is looking forward to the Scrambler’s arrival. “The R nineT Scrambler is a striking new addition to the line-up, and will appeal to many. It is a motorcycle that excites all the senses while being a delight to ride.” In related news, BMW’s LAMS-legal G 310R is due for Australian arrival in October/November, with pricing for the 313cc single-cylinder roadster listed at $5,790…

The third annual Postie Bikes Australia Nationals is just around the corner, with Maitland in NSW to once again host the gathering of postie bikes new, old, modified and restored from all over Australia. Last year’s Nationals saw 120 CT110s descend on Maitland, but this year’s event, scheduled for 9-11 September, is set to be even bigger, with a jam-packed programme across the three days. In addition to the show and shine (at Maitland Rally Grounds – aka Maitland Railway Station - on 10 Sep, which is open to the public), there are three separate cruises through the Hunter Valley and lots of activities for entrants to take part in, like postie bike soccer, a postie bike cook off (really!), wheelie comp and dyno shootout, to name a few, with…

Yamaha has won its second successive Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race, with the three-rider factory squad beating out the Team Green Kawasaki by 2m 17.883s after 218 laps. The Yamaha Factory Racing Team of Japanese Superbike champion Katsuyuki Nakasuga, MotoGP’s Pol Espargaro and WSBK rider Alex Lowes qualified on pole for the 31 July endurance event. In the race, The Yamaha squad were in front for the bulk of the eight hours, bar a brief period when Team Kagayama Suzuki (Ryuichi Kiyonari, Naomichi Uramoto and Yukio Kawayama) held the lead. However, a combination of an overlong pit stop and puncture saw the Suzuki squad lose the advantage. The Musashi RT HARC-PRO Honda outfit were also running strong and looked set for a podium finish before Nicky Hayden crashed out hard,…

The FIM MotoGP World Championship is set to reach new territory, with Dorna Sports announcing on 17 July that an agreement has been reached for Finland to join the schedule in 2018. While there is currently no Scandavian round in the FIM MotoGP World Championship, both Finland and Sweden have featured in the premier class in the past, with Finland last hosting a round in 1982 (at Imatra), and Sweden in 1990 (at Anderstorp - where Wayne Gardner won in 1987). No date has been set for the Finnish round, but it will take place at the ‘KymiRing’ track currently under construction in Iitti, which is approximately 100km north east of the Finnish capital, Helsinki. The FIM and Dorna working in close collaboration with all parties involved in the KymiRing…

Motherwell solo luggage racks to suit the new Indian Chief and Scout, as well as a variety of late model Harley-Davidsons, are now available from Zorro’s. Available in curved or flat styles to suit different back ends, these racks are made from solid, TIG-welded steel (1/2-inch tube outer, 3/8-inch tube inner in most instances), come with all mounting brackets and are available in a choice of chrome or black finish for most styles. A sissy bar rack (to suit H-D XL, FXD and Softail) is also available. Pricing starts from $229.95 RRP, excluding postage. Check the website or contact Zorro’s on 0433 106 669 for more details. Visit: zorros.net.au…

If you know Ducati, you’ll know about the new Ducati Scrambler. And if you know the new Ducati Scrambler, you’ll also know the “Land of Joy” tagline that’s been used to promote the reborn street-smart commuter. Unlike other Ducati models, marketing for the Scrambler has been pushing a lifestyle as much as the actual metal, with Scrambler-specific apparel and casual wear, a heavy social media campaign, Scrambler-specific events and lots of unconventional marketing activities: there was even a Scrambler app - to find cool eateries - recently added for the European market. This approach has worked, though. Aided by sharp pricing, the Scrambler was far-and-away Ducati’s top-selling model last year, so expanding the formula makes sense. That’s exactly what Ducati has done with a smaller take on the Scrambler –…

Want a Harley for just $100? A brand new Harley-Davidson Softail Breakout could be yours for just $100 in this year’s Central Coast American Motorcycle Club (CCAMC) raffle. Valued at $32,000 (RRP, excl. ORCs), the bike is the main prize in a raffle that also includes a $3,000 travel voucher from italk travel and $1,000 Harley merchandise voucher as second and third prizes. Only 1,000 tickets are released, at $100 each, with proceeds supporting the Salvation Army, Coast Shelter and Alzheimer’s Australia. Winners will be drawn on 20 November, 2016, in conjunction with the CCAMC’s annual Salvation Army Food, Blanket and Toy Run. See the ad in this issue for ticket ordering information (payment by cheque or money order), or write to: American Motorcycle Club, PO Box 6242, Kincumber, NSW,…

A pair of Barry Sheene’s race-winning Suzukis were recently shipped from the late star’s Australian home for a series of events in the UK. The bikes, RG500s from Sheene’s championship-winning years of 1976 and 1977*, arrived at Suzuki GB headquarters at the end of June for a series of events celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Sheene’s first 500cc world title. On the ’76 RG500, entered under the Texaco Heron Team Suzuki squad backed by Suzuki’s UK distributor (there was no works team in ’76), Sheene had competition from the likes of Giacomo Agostini (the 1975 world champion), Phil Read (’73 and ’74 World Champion), Australian Jack Findlay and 500cc newcomer Johnny Cecotto. After winning five races of the 1976 season on the RG500, Sheene had such a lead that he…

Urs “Grizzly” Pedraita, has set a new record for circumnavigation of the world by motorcycle, when he covered five continents in 119 days and 21 hours on his Victory Cross Country Tour. The record accounts for travel time between continents, as well as time on the bike, and also includes crossing all continents via their longest axis. The breakdown of this saw Pedraita spend 72 days and 13 hours on the bike, with 47 days and 8 hours in transit. Pedraita’s ‘riding time’ eclipses the previous record - 120 days and 2 hours – by 47 days and 13 hours. The Swiss endurance rider started his journey on 11 March at Daytona in Florida and completed the round-the-world adventure on 10 July. THE JOURNEY – NORTH AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA, AUSTRALIA…

The full ‘Vale’ experience in a game – that’s what Valentino Rossi The Game promises. Available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC/Steam formats, the game allows players to trace Rossi’s career from the beginning, take on the full grid for the entire 2016 MotoGP World Championship season, go flat tracking or even drive a rally car, just like The Doctor does! Fifteen different game modes include Time Attack, Career Mode (where riders progress from Moto3 through to MotoGP), VR46 Academy, Master Show, Rally Show (at Misano and Monza), Drift, Flat Track Americana and the intriguing Beat the Doctor mode, as well as standard GP and World Championship modes. There are 291 riders (including the full 2016 Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP roster, as well as riders from the 2015…

Down & Out Café Racers may not be a name familiar to us Aussies, but in their base in the UK, they’re a big deal and recognised as one of the best café racer builders in Europe. Looking at their creations that have featured on bikeexif.com, Down & Out certainly have the runs on the board when it comes to cool, café-styled customs. FULL HOUSE. Located in Barnsley, just north of the former English steel hub of Sheffield, Down & Out are something of a full-service shop when it comes to café racers and other custom builds. They can build a bike from scratch (including bespoke frames) to customer specs, or modify a donor machine to differing degrees. Of the latter, Triumphs and BMWs have made up the bulk of…