Australian Motorcyclist Issue #30

30 us�r��i��

HERE IS HOW MUCH MONEY YOU CAN SAVE BY LOSING YOUR CAR

A

2

TURE & ADVEN D A O R , S N MAP USTRALIA A T U O R TEA

A ustralia ’s E: FREE INSID

LEADING MOTORCYCLE TRAVEL MAGAZINE

MAKE YOUR BIKE YOURS ALONE CUSTOMISE WITH STYLE SPECIAL FEATURE:

SHIP YOUR BIKE. HOW, WITH WHOM

SPECIAL FEATURE:

WHAT’S NEW WITH TYRES? YAMAHA R3 LAUNCH NEW CAT. WATCH OUT, PIGEONS! IS THIS THE CLASSIEST BMW EVER?

DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1200 DVT THIS DOES COMPUTE!

9

340798 000228

0 8

AUS $9.95 (Inc GST) NZ $10.95 (Inc GST)

015 AUGUST 2

IDE BEAR INS

AMM_August_OFC.indd 120

BALKANS BY BIKE THE BEAR V THE LAND MINES / OPEN NO HOURS THE BRIDLE TRACK, NSW / TEAR-OUT MAPS: WESTERN NSW & WESTERN AUSTRALIA / PUB OF THE MONTH TOOMPINE. WHERE? TESTING NEW PRODUCTS / TOP TOURING / POSTIE NOTES / BORIS,THE BEAR & LESTER 2/07/2015 11:52 am

AMM_August_layout.indd 3

23/06/2015 11:33 am

“THE WORTH OF A STATE, IN THE LONG RUN, IS THE WORTH OF THE INDIVIDUALS COMPOSING IT.”

JOHN STUART MILL, ON LIBERTY (1859)

CONTENTS SPECIAL FEATURES GETTIN’ TYRES What’s round, black and new?

SHIFT THAT BIKE From wherever to wherever

TESTING

DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1200 DVT Best yet. Absolutely. Check it out.

YAMAHA R3 LAUNCH How good can these things get?

TRAVELLING

BEAUTIFUL BLOODY BALKANS Grim past, stunning present ON THE BRIDLE TRACK Out of Sydney, out of this world POSTIE NOTES #8 That postie bike is still running!

TOP TOURS Oh, the things you’ll see PUB OF THE MONTH Toompine. Where? Toompine, Qld

TEAR-OUT MAPS ROAD RIDE MAP Hello, dolphins. And stromatolites ADVENTURE TIME MAP White Cliffs, red sand

EVENTS

ALPINE RALLY The Possum drinks cold, cold wine

67

52 46

76 16 46 24 40

80

57 72 80 50

64

98 62

SET YOUR DREAMS HIGH. PAGE 16

4

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 4

2/07/2015 1:54 pm

Love riding this winter, with ride away offers on selected models across the BMW Motorrad range. We have just the right bike to suit your riding desires, so see your BMW Motorrad dealer for a test ride today or find more information at bmwmotorrad.com.au

*Recommended Promotional Ride Away Price with no other optional extras (apart from those included, if any). Offer only includes motorcycles produced before 30 April 2015, ordered and delivered between 1 July 2015 and 30 September 2015. Offer only applies at participating BMW Motorrad dealers while stocks last and cannot be combined with any other offer. Not all stock is fitted with all options listed, so price will vary accordingly. Price will vary for special paint and/or model options. Price may also vary according to individual circumstances and may vary between BMW Motorrad dealers and states/territories. Stock may vary between BMW Motorrad dealers. Excludes fleet, government and rental buyers. Consult your participating BMW Motorrad dealer for further details. BMW Group Australia reserves the right to change or extend the offer.

AMM_August_layout.indd 5

29/06/2015 3:55 pm

CONTENTS TECHNICAL

52

KÜRYAKYN SPORTSTER 72 Customising? Do it with the best

64

CLASSIC BMW R7 There’s only one, folks. Can’t buy it

85

USED & REVIEWED If you read about it here, it’s good

99

LONG TERMERS What can we do next with these bikes?

AND THE REST

8

EDITORIAL Wispy motorcycling. What the?

10

GRIZZLING And boy does he know how to do it!

12

NEWS Something new under the sun

14

WHAT’S IN A SLOGAN? English, she’s-a hard

61

TOURATECH WEEKEND Hard-core travel lessons for all

90

IN THE SHOPS So many new things to drool over

96

BACK COPIES Missed a story? Get it now!

WHAT SAY YOU? Hey, send us some more jokes, ok?

PRICE LIST New prices for new bikes BORIS He’s mad at you now! Maybe not BEAR FACED Ah. memories – ADVERTISER LISTING Why do we print this?

Lots of people like it MOTOmania Technical secret in our comic strip

36

88

SURVIVE! GOOD IDEA, HUH? An expert tells you – us! – how

CLASSIC MORRIS Make way for Lester!

98 67

36

APRILIA VERSUS HOLDEN What does commuting cost? Really?

102 105 108 111 112 113 114

Australian Motorcyclist Magazine

Australian Motorcyclist Magazine

@AusMotrCyclist

NO GO? OR, GO GO? THE BRIDLE TRACK HAS MANY WONDERS. PAGE 40

PLEASE ENJOY AUSTRALIAN MOTORCYCLIST MAGAZINE RESPONSIBLY AND ADD THIS ISSUE TO YOUR COLLECTION. ALL BACK ISSUES ARE STILL AVAILABLE; JUST VISIT THE WEBSITE WWW.AUSMOTORCYCLIST. COM.AU OR DROP US A LINE TO CONTACTUS@AUSMOTORCYCLIST.COM.AU. AND HAVE FUN. 6

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 6

2/07/2015 1:55 pm

EDITOR SPEAKS what’s he blabbing on about now?

Editor Stuart Woodbury Editor Emeritus J Peter Thoeming Sales Manager Terri Dodd advertise@ausmotorcyclist.com.au Designer Amy Hale Photo Editor Nick Wood Photographers Cain Maitland, Nick Wood Contributors Emma Ayres, Elspeth Callender, Robert Crick, Joern Delfs, Phil Duncan, Mike Grant, Jim Green, Tony Hill, Robert Lovas, Phil Gadd, Ryan Lucas, Lester Morris, Brendan Nelson, The Possum, Dimitra Schonekas, Guy Stanford, Stuart Strickland, Michael Walley, Colin Whelan Editorial contactus@ausmotorcyclist.com.au Subscription enquiries www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au info@ausmotorcyclist.com.au 0412 220 680 or 0418 421 322 Printer Distributor Network Services Australian Motorcyclist Magazine is published by Australian Motorcyclist Magazine Pty Ltd. PO Box 2066, Boronia Park NSW 2111 Phone 0412 220 680 or 0418 421 322.

This publication is copyright. Other than for the purposes of research, study, criticism, review, parody or satire and subject to the conditions prescribed under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without the prior written permission of Australian Motorcyclist Magazine Pty Ltd. Opinions expressed within this publication do not necessarily represent those of Australian Motorcyclist Magazine Pty Ltd. No responsibility is accepted by Australian Motorcyclist Magazine Pty Ltd or the editor for the accuracy of any statement, opinion or advice contained in the text or advertisements. Readers should rely on their own enquiries in making decisions tailored to their own interest. *Recommended retail price Copyright © Australian Motorcyclist Magazine Pty Ltd ACN 161 432 506 ISSN 2201-5442

We encourage you to keep or recycle this magazine.

8

A

s much as everyone probably thinks that The Bear and I are riding bikes all the time, you’d be surprised to know that 90% of the time we are stuck in the office typing, just like I’m doing right now!

But I got out on the new Ducati Multistrada the other day and decided just to go for a ride, which I haven’t done other than for “work” purposes for quite some time.

The weather was magic – around nine degrees first thing in the morning, creeping up to a beautiful fifteen degrees by lunchtime. There were some wispy clouds in the sky, but otherwise it was clear as far as you could see. I rode a familiar route, one that I have done hundreds of times over the years, but when you’re riding a different bike (and a comfy one at that) from one you’re used to, it makes all the difference.

I got to my “usual” turn around point and was really enjoying the riding, so kept going, basically until I needed to fill up with fuel. This was some 300km, making it a 600km day.

At the end, I’d felt like I’d only done the first 300. My batteries were charged and I was feeling great – oh the joy of motorcycling! So if you’re feeling a bit crappy, take a day off and just enjoy the wonderful buzz you can only get on a motorcycle!

In this issue we have our transport and tyre special features. For a long time I used to wonder how to get my bike transported, or if I bought a classic bike from overseas (keep dreaming, says Alana), how would I get it here?

And, most importantly, would my pride and joy be looked after along the way? Well, we have just the people to do that for you in this issue.

As for tyres, many people don’t worry about them

until it’s time to have them replaced, but these round and black things are so, so important. They affect how your bike handles and how well it copes with varying conditions. So have a look at some of the new tyres that are being released and consider grabbing a set to fit to your ride.

And, I keep banging on about tyre pressures: they are extra important to get maximum life and the best possible handling from your machine.

I can usually feel a two pound drop, but I’ve ridden some bikes lately that have sat around, with the pressures dropping over this time and making the bikes ride like the wobbliest jelly you’ve ever experienced. While this is an extreme, please make sure you check your tyre pressures regularly.

Not only will you enjoy your riding more, your wallet will be covered in spider webs!

Sadly, this will be our last issue featuring the MOTOmania comic strip. We’ve used up all the ones that really make any sense and relate to motorcycling in general. The others are more German specific comedy and even The Bear struggles to understand them!

Anyone know how to draw and make people laugh?

Cheers, Stuart.

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 8

2/07/2015 10:36 am

motoguzziau

AMM_August_layout.indd 9

26/06/2015 11:13 am

FROM THE BEAR

This fairly standard pinup photo ran on one of our favourite motorcycle blogs, Cyril Huze Post (cyrilhuzeblog.com/). It attracted plenty of comment, too; almost all of which complained about the fact that the girl hides too much of the bike…

GRIZZLING WHAT CHANCE HAVE WE GOT?

“A

teenager narrowly escaped death after her car was hit by a tank in Germany,” reads a recent report. “Police say she pulled out in front of the tank to make a left turn… She apparently didn’t see the tank.”

I’ll say it again. What chance have we got when drivers can’t even see a Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank?

THERE’S A FIRE DOWN BELOW

Just in case you think that I’m picking on Triumphs in these stories here, I’ve got one about a BMW. I didn’t see this myself, but I heard about it from several people including some who are totally incapable of lying after the third bottle of Stone’s.

Apparently one of the tried and true methods of getting BMWs started on really cold rally mornings is to roll them over the fire so that the coals are below the sump. This warms the sluggish oil

“Well,” writes Karen Hill from Bathurst, “the construction quality of the sign and the competence of the signwriting would certainly make you feel good about getting welding or painting done here…”

10

and makes it easier – or even possible! – to start the bike.

Inevitably someone got too keen and didn’t just roll their bike over the coals; he stoked the fire instead and added a few more branches. Perhaps he was in a hurry; who knows? At any rate, the flames licked at the sump of his bike which, although he clearly did not know this, was made of magnesium.

Yes, it caught fire. Yes, it then dumped the by now pleasantly fluid oil all over the fire, raising the flames even more and making it impossible for him to roll the bike out of the way. It was left a burnt-out hulk, so I’m told. If anyone out there can confirm the name and date of the rally where this happened – I am hoping it only happened once! – I would be grateful.

THE MEANING OF BIKE

I’ve just returned from a two-week ride in the Balkans, visiting some places I remember and others I have never had the chance to visit. It’s a very beautiful place, and Adriatic Moto Tours (www. adriaticmototours.com – tell them The Bear sent you) took us on some amazing roads. You’ll read about it here, of course – maybe even in this issue – and I can only recommend it. The grin is

still plastered all over my face. Hmm, maybe it was fixed in place by the 100km/h winds on Hvar island…

PARK RIGHT HERE, MATE

Melbourne’s example of tolerance for bike parking is spreading, it seems.

Peter C, one of our Bear Army troopers, writes; “In Bendigo recently, en route to southern manoeuvres, I was told it’s ok to park on the footpath??”

How about sending in any examples you have of local councils taking a sensible attitude to motorcyclists and motorcycling? Email to thebear@ ausmotorcyclist.com.au, please, or snail mail to MOTORCYCLIST, PO Box 2066, Boronia Park NSW 2111. Let’s give credit where it’s due!

Peter ‘The Bear’ Thoeming

Karen also sent in this roadside image. She has some misgivings.

“If it’s really a good forest you wouldn’t need to emphasise it, would you?” she writes.

“If, on the other hand, it’s a dump…”

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 10

2/07/2015 10:35 am

www.touratech.com.au

JUST ENJOY THE ADVENTURE

YEARS

TOURATECH PREPARED Touratech offers the ultimate range of adventure-proven accessories, engineered to the highest quality, designed and made specifically to improve your adventure.

Our parts are tested not just in the lab, but throughout the world.

With thousands of accessories available, the Touratech team have the knowledge, experience and the products to make your next adventure the trip of a lifetime.

Touratech - made for adventure!

Order your free* 1924 page catalogue

Official Travel Partner

* Conditions apply, see website for details.

Ph: (03) 5729 5529 www.touratech.com.au AMM_August_layout.indd 11

24/06/2015 3:07 pm

NEWS

HOW DID THEY GO? Aussies at the 2015 IomTT bag of mixed results for the three Aussies who tackled the Isle of Man TT this year. The best was Dave Johnson who bagged a 10th in the Superbike race, an 11th and 10th in the two Supersport races, an awesome 6th in the Superstock race and a 9th place in the prestigious Senior TT. Popular Cam Donald on the Norton finished 18th in the Superbike race but didn’t finish in the Senior TT. Cam was also riding for Padgetts Honda in the two Supersport races, scoring 13th in both.

Alex Pickett had the worst luck ever, right from the word go at his team’s own private practice until his exit in the Superstock race, where his bike was playing up resulting in a crash.

Alex got a helicopter ride to Nobles Hospital, which he can’t remember, saying to Stuart, “One minute the bike was playing up, the next I woke up in hospital. I got a helicopter ride and can’t remember it, I’m spewing!”

At least he hasn’t lost his sense of humour. Good luck to all next year.

A

12

BURKE & WILLS EXPEDITION 150 years in the making On 20 August 2015 the Burke & Wills Expedition adventure ride will depart Melbourne, following in the footsteps of our brave pioneers. The ride north to the Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland will cover some 3600km over 10 days and is open to all makes of Adventure and Enduro motorcycles that are up to the challenge of covering this vast land.

Maschine is the company behind this grand adventure and they are well versed in staging supported group adventure rides of this scale, having managed the popular BMW Safari events over the past five years. Get along and be the envy of many. To get the full details on this grand adventure head to www.maschine. com.au or call +61 3 5428 8433.

AN AUSSIE FIRST BikeRoundOz The merging of three of Australia’s largest tour and rental operators means that ‘Down Under’ two-wheeled

explorers have a single source for pre-ride advice, rental bikes, tours and support no matter where they roam across Oz. BikeRoundOz has been serving the region for 14 years. By joining forces with the Australian division of worldwide tour operator Compass Expeditions and Bikescape, who are Sydney’s largest rental and tour company, the new organisation has a central booking office with collection and drop off depots in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Cairns and Adelaide. For more information visit www.bikeroundoz.com or e-mail

HOW MUCH, DID YOU SAY? Honda RC213V-S coming to Oz Being sold directly through Honda, the amazing RC213V-S is priced at $244,000 and you have to go through a customer qualifying process to purchase, with a lead time of 6 to 12 months before you get your bike.

Billed as a genuine MotoGP bike for the road, only those with enough moolah will ever get to experience such exclusivity. For those who like to dream, visit the global minisite www. rc213v-s.com 

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 12

2/07/2015 12:58 pm

ON THE BOARDWALK

™

VICTORY WEEKEND ESCAPE TEST RIDE We get it! You can’t make a commitment without some quality alone time. As the ultimate weekend escape and test ride with no obligation, Victory Motorcycles will loan you a bike for a night, throw in a room and a free tank of fuel and the rest is up to you. What better way is there to experience the Freedom 106ci V-Twin laid back cruiser?

Visit your Victory Dealer today and experience the ultimate Weekend Escape Test Ride.*

1300 721 360

www.victorymotorcycles.com.au

*Victory Weekend Escape Test Ride, conditions apply. *Overseas Boardwalk Model Shown. ^Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc. YouTube® is a registered trademark of Google Inc.

AMM_August_layout.indd 13

24/06/2015 12:06 pm

EVENTS

1

SIGNING

SEMIOTICS WITH YOUR BIKE, SIR?

O

ne of the things it’s hard to convey about the big international shows is the inadvertent humour you find, especially in signs and slogans. When you’re covering something like IFMA in Milan, your readers want to see the latest bikes – okay, and maybe some of the non-motorcycle models. They don’t really find funny photos all that appropriate if they replace a photo of a new bike!

So I’ve kept some of my photos of the show to give you a laugh (or maybe just a snicker) now. PT

1. I know, I know! It’s killed my emotion more than once. Not on a bike, though.

2. Better tell Gt to stop before he goes blind…

3. Right. All we have to do now is find some freeks to buy these.

4. Well, I should think so, too. Try to learn how to spell “orange” as well, would you?

5. A top bit of reasoning, here. Pity the product is a particularly ugly enclosed three wheeler.

6. And what does everyone else wear?

7. Umm, yeess… the leads, eh? More power to the leads, right!

8. EVERY single cell of your body?

9. Look, I’m not absolutely sure I want my road scratched. Then again…

14

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 14

29/06/2015 4:01 pm

AMM_June_LAYOUT.indd 11

7/05/2015 4:33 pm

BIKE TEST

16

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 16

2/07/2015 12:05 pm

Ducati Multistrada 1200 DVT Multi-ply the fun WORDS Stuart Woodbury PHOTOS Nick Wood

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 17

17 2/07/2015 12:05 pm

BIKE TEST

S

ince the Ducati Multistrada’s introduction a few years ago, Ducati has been spruiking its “4 bikes in 1” philosophy. That has now changed - in a big way. Technology has always been at the forefront of Ducati motorcycles, but with the introduction of features like DVT (Desmodromic Variable Timing) and Cornering ABS, the “4 bikes in 1” has become more than just “four” , at least in our eyes.

DVT is a big part of how much smoother the new Multistrada rides.

By independently varying the timing of the camshaft that controls the intake valves and the camshaft that controls the exhaust valves, the DVT optimises highrpm performance to provide maximum power. At low-to-medium rpm,, it instead smoothes operation, making power delivery more fluid and boosting torque.

This is where you notice the biggest difference over the previous model.

Before, just about anything under 3000rpm would have you bucking around like a jockey at the local rodeo, but now you can hold a higher gear and bring it down to around 2300rpm and still accelerate away smoothly. In practice, this is an engine that changes its characteristics as rpm varies while complying with Euro 4 specifications and giving good fuel economy.

When designing an engine one of the key performance parameters is intake and exhaust valve overlap. This is defined as the interval of crankshaft rotation, expressed in degrees, during which both valves remain open simultaneously.

“TECHNOLOGY HAS ALWAYS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF DUCATI MOTORCYCLES, BUT WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF FEATURES LIKE DVT (DESMODROMIC VARIABLE TIMING) AND CORNERING ABS, THE “4 BIKES IN 1” HAS BECOME MORE THAN JUST “FOUR”, AT LEAST IN OUR EYES”

18

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 18

2/07/2015 12:07 pm

142hp 106Nm 209kg

With the all-new GSX-S1000 the GSX line enters a bold new era. Made for the street, it’s designed to get your blood pumping and pulse racing. Be one of the first to ride the bike destined to become a legend.

ALL NEW

SMC475 GSX-S1000 Aust Motorcyclist 210 x 297.indd 1 AMM_August_layout.indd 19

Faired model arriving soon

TSP SMC475

Suzuki GSX-S1000

4/06/2015 12:41 pm 29/06/2015 5:14 pm

BIKE TEST

Overlap, which occurs between the end of the exhaust phase and the start of the intake phase, is usually a fixed parameter - but not with the DVT. The DVT system is divided into two parts: an external housing rigidly connected to the timing belt and an internal mechanism connected to the camshaft: the latter is coaxial to the former and can rotate in advance or delay with respect to the housing depending on the oil pressure in special chambers.

This oil pressure is adjusted by dedicated valves and the timing of each cam is controlled dynamically by a sensor in the cam covers. Overall it is a pretty smooth operation (although still noticeable), much smoother (for example) when

20

compared to the variable timing system fitted to the Honda VFR (VTEC).

The Testastretta DVT engine uses the Desmodromic valve actuation system that has made Ducati’s Bologna-built bikes famous worldwide, but we have never explained the technical features of what “Desmodromic” is. Forgive me if you already know.

This system closes the intake and exhaust valves mechanically, with the same precision as they are opened. The term desmodromic stems from the Greek words desmos (link) and dromos (stroke), and refers to mechanisms with one control to operate them in one direction (e.g. opening) and another to activate them in the other (closure or return).The

Stuart is wearing a Shark Speed R Carbon II helmet, BMW Streetguard jacket, Ixon Pro Contest HP 2 gloves, Draggin jeans and Sidi Vertigo boots. value of this system, used on all Ducati models, is demonstrated by its utilisation on Ducati Corse’s Superbikes and MotoGP bikes.

In the Testastretta DVT engine, Desmodromic valve actuation is claimed to provide an advantage over traditional valve springs; at low revs the system requires less force because there are no springs to be compressed. This makes it possible to keep the individual valve timing adjusters compact, which

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 20

2/07/2015 12:10 pm

AMM_August_layout2.indd 21 YMA9334_Wish_FOR_Road_FP_AMC_curves.indd 1

2/07/2015 2/07/2015 10:55 10:49 am am

BIKE TEST

minimises their weight and allows them to be integrated smoothly.

The next major feature fitted to the new Multi is Cornering ABS. Designed together with Bosch, this system is more for panic situations and providing maximum safety. For example, should you be riding at 60km/h around a corner and an animal is in your path, you smash on the front and rear brakes in a panic. Normally the bike would stand up straight and run you into the oncoming traffic, or into the awaiting bush or rock wall to mess you up.

With Cornering ABS, the system uses lean angle, wheel speed and all sorts of algorithms to apply the brake pressure required to let you steer the bike. I tried the system out on a wet road as I tipped into a slight bend (with plenty of room if things went bad!), grabbing a whole heap of front brake. While it felt strange, probably because I was trying to anticipate what the bike would do, it did work. A great technology advance that will help many riders in panic situations.

Handling is sublime with excellent leverage with the wide, upright bar. If you find the suspension needs some refinement for your riding style – it is fully adjustable front and rear.

Comfort was great on the previous model Multi, but Ducati has redesigned the seat to be a little narrower at the front allowing easier access to the ground for your feet, and made it 20mm longer for more room. You now also get 20mm of height adjustment and one thing that Ducati has thoughtfully supplied is a trim kit. When the seat is in the high (845mm) position, you don’t have any large gaps under it. But when the seat is on its low position (825mm), you simply fit the trim to the rear seat so there’s no unsightly gap there. Is this the Audi influence coming into play? Maybe.

Pillion comfort has also been revised on the Multi. The seat pad is more comfy and the grab rails are more ergonomically designed for comfort. I took Alana for a spin on the Multi and she loves it. She liked that she just felt relaxed and she even commented on the smoother engine over the previous model and how much happier she was on this one.

22

Adding to the comfort factor is cruise control as standard, which is operated via the backlit, very easy to use buttons on the left switch block. Scrolling and changing modes on the new Multi is much easier than on the previous model.

Ducati has added wheelie control to the Multi, alongside traction control and ABS modes. You also have the Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro modes, each individually set with power, traction, wheelie and ABS levels. I played with the modes quite a bit while riding the Multi and as much as I normally like traction, wheelie and ABS turned off, I liked the default settings in Sport mode which allowed maximum drive forward under hard acceleration. Much harder than with it all turned off, and still with that safety factor for a relaxing ride.

Riding the Multi at night also showed how good the new headlight is. It is very bright on low beam, with high beam adequate enough, but a set of fog/ driving lights would be of benefit for those extra dark country roads at night.

On the upcoming S model, you have headlights that “corner” with you, (can’t wait to try them out).

Four accessory packages are available for the Multi, and you can buy all sorts of other accessories from the Ducati range. The bike you see here has the Touring Pack: heated grips, panniers and centre stand (with its annoying arm that gets in the way of your left foot), but you can also get the Sport Pack: road-legal exhaust (homologated only for EU) Ducati Performance by Termignoni, carbon fibre front mudguard, machinedfrom-billet aluminium brake and clutch reservoir caps; the Urban Pack: top case, tank bag with lock and USB hub, or the Enduro Pack: supplementary lights and Ducati Performance components

by Touratech: engine protection bars, radiator guard, oil sump guard, bigger kickstand base and off-road footpegs.

As a touring motorcycle, which is no doubt what the majority of owners will use this bike for, the new Ducati Multistrada 1200 DVT is top shelf in terms of comfort, ease of use and safety. One thing that sealed the deal for me is that I just wanted to keep riding while on the new Multistrada, and so will you. 

SPECS

DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1200 DVT PRICE: $23,990 (plus on-road charges) WARRANTY: Two years, unlimited distance SERVICING INTERVALS: Every 15,000km or 12 months ENGINE: Liquid-cooled L-twin cylinder, 4-stroke, Desmodromic Variable Timing, 4 valves per cylinder BORE x STROKE: 106 x 67.9mm DISPLACEMENT: 1198.4cc COMPRESSION: 12.5:1 POWER: 117.7kW @ 9500rpm TORQUE: 136Nm @ 7500rpm TRANSMISSION: 6-speed, wet multi-plate slipper clutch, chain final drive SUSPENSION: Front, 48mm inverted fork, adjustable preload, compression and rebound, travel 170mm.

Rear, monoshock, adjustable preload, compression and rebound, travel 170mm.

DIMENSIONS: Seat height 825-845mm, weight 232kg (wet), fuel capacity 20 litres, wheelbase 1529mm TYRES: Front, 120/70/ZR17.

Rear, 190/55/ZR17 FRAME: Tubular steel trellis BRAKES: Front, twin 320mm discs with radial mount four-piston cornering ABS calipers. Rear, 265mm disc, dual-piston cornering ABS caliper.

FUEL CONSUMPTION: 5.79 litres per 100km, premium unleaded THEORETICAL RANGE: 345km COLOURS: Red VERDICT: OH SO MULTIPLE.

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 22

2/07/2015 12:12 pm

CARDO_AD015 AM.indd 1 AMM_August_layout2.indd 23

1/07/2015 1:19:54 PM 2/07/2015 10:17 am

TRAVEL

BEAUTIFUL, BLOODY BALKANS THE WAR IS OVER; NATURE ABIDES WORDS THE BEAR PHOTOS THE BEAR & PRIMOŽ “PINEAPPLE”BRIC

H

var is not the place for boy racer games. So what was Claudio’s R 1200GSA’s front wheel doing trying to get the inside line into the next corner?

Not that he had a hope; I squirted the F 700 GS a little harder and leaned a lot further and the big Brazilian dropped back into my mirrors instead of my peripheral vision. By the time we left the neat little set of three corners he was far enough back so that even his overwhelming power advantage wasn’t necessarily going to let him catch me before the next lot of bends. If, that is, I really got on the gas – which I did, with the little BMW’s rear Metzeler squirming on the uneven tar…

What exactly is going on here? Isn’t this a story about a sedate motorcycle tour through the scenic beauties (and remembered terrors) of the Balkan countryside? And what is this about Hvar, a long, thin cigar of an Adriatic island? It isn’t that it’s exactly known for the quality of its roads, sorry, road, is it?

It’s true, it’s true, I shouldn’t really be writing about this. Let’s get a bit more responsible.

The one major road forms a kind of spine for the island, beginning in the east after the short ferry ride from the mainland and ending in the vineyards of the west. Hvar’s northern side, facing the mainland at an angle, is scoured down to the rock by the frequent strong katabatic winds that descend from the coastal range. The sheltered southern and western coasts produce high quality

24

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 24

2/07/2015 2:32 pm

Road closed in the Durmitor Range, pretty soon… www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 25

25 2/07/2015 2:33 pm

TRAVEL

wines, while the rest of the island is famous for its delicate sheep cheese flavoured by the herbs that grow in every nook and cranny of the limestone.

Wow! I got “nook and cranny” into a story! Been trying to do that for years…

But that road… The problem with it is that it has no runoff. None. Get a corner wrong and you’re either tangled in the downhill chain link fencing held up by star pickets – a metre above the vineyards - or shedding paint, bits of bike and body parts as you scrape along the craggy uphill limestone wall on the other side of the road.

Well, actually that’s not the only problem. Another one is that Croatian road engineers have not yet quite got their heads around the concepts of camber and drainage. As a result the roads feature puddles, or perhaps I should write “puddles” – they’re more like lakes - up to six inches deep, when it’s raining.

26

It was raining. Not hard. Not yet…

But perhaps I should start at the beginning, in Ljubljana. Adriatic Moto Tours picks you up from the airport, which not all tour operators do, and it’s a nice touch. They also put you up in one of the best hotels in town, the Hotel Lev. I was feeling fresh enough to take a walk around the city’s old quarter, and that was well worth it. Ljubljana is a lovely place.

You get a final chance to specify accessories at the Adriatic garage, where you pick up your bike. I managed to score a very handy tank bag. Our very personable guide Dušan warned us that we would be facing peak hour traffic when we left town for the first day’s ride, but it was a bit like peak hour in, say, Launceston. Nothing like Sydney, that’s for sure. Dušan set a brisk but by no means overly fast pace, and once we were off the motorway on our way south to the Plitvice Lakes it was easy to keep

up and to admire the countryside.

Spring is a wonderful time anywhere in Europe, but especially wherever there are deciduous trees. The brilliant, almost unbelievable green of their new leaves lights up the entire countryside.

The roads in Slovenia were generally good, although that changed a bit when we crossed the border into Croatia. It’s funny, actually- Dušan warned us about the quality of the roads both here and in a number of other places, but in fact they were generally better than many Australian roads… Things have changed politically since I was last in what was then Jugoslavia. It’s now several countries, and you keep running into borders. Fortunately the formalities are pretty laid-back.

Our last stop before the hotel at the lakes was Slunj, which despite the rather grunty name is a pretty little place with water flowing through it in several streams. Once at Plitvice, we

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 26

2/07/2015 2:33 pm

2

1 checked into the hotel, changed into walking gear (instructions in the guide book suggested that we “Wear snickers or other comfortable walking shoes”) and then caught a bus set up like a little toy train to the top of the chain of lakes. From here we walked down, following some of the well laid-out wooden and gravel trails.

I find it very hard to tell you how beautiful Plitvice Lakes are. I had seen them from the main road, and they had certainly looked intriguing with their calcium-rich water which forms travertine barriers. But that was nothing to being close up. We almost walked through some of the hundreds of waterfall which connect the lakes descending the hillside.

Our group dined together that night; evening meals on ride days are included in the cost. The guide and van driver, the redoubtable Primož (nicknamed ‘Pineapple’ by an American traveller on

3 a previous ride, because he couldn’t pronounce the name) ate with our mixed group of 13. This included George and Gertruida from South Africa, Mark and Amy as well as Philippe from the US, Hector and Sergio from Mexico, Claudio and Claudia plus Marcio and daughter Ana from Brazil and Peter and me from Australia. Despite our different backgrounds and languages we were all to get on well.

On the way back to our hotel, Peter and I stopped to have a drink in the bar (well, two – drinks, not bars) and got chatting to the barmaid. This was our first real encounter with the devastating civil war; she told us about arriving here as a refugee from over the border in Bosnia, a little girl with only her mother and brother but almost no possessions.

“We had nowhere even to lie down to sleep,” she said.

We crossed that border early next morning on our way to Sarajevo, where

1. Lakes and streams are everywhere.

2. Bear above Dubrovnik – good pose, eh?

3. I’ll have… meat for lunch, I think. we would learn a lot more of the story of that war. But it’s actually hard to dwell on the subject when you’re riding through beautiful mountain scenery, and encountering history at every revolution of your wheels. About a hundred kilometres down the road from our overnight stop, we turned off into the forest to go and see the train from which Tito ran the guerrilla campaign in World War II. It’s weird to see three small and badly neglected carriages and what looks like a toy locomotive, stuck in the forest.

Riding out we found a reminder of more recent hostilities: signs in the roadside trees warning of land mines.

History is so thick in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 27

27 2/07/2015 2:33 pm

TRAVEL

that you almost feel you have to push your way through it. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand here started WWI; we stood on the exact spot where it happened. Sarajevo is a major religious centre for Catholic and Orthodox Christians, Muslims and Jews.

That didn’t stop the horrendous siege that held the city in its iron grip for more than four years. The city was also an administrative centre for both the Ottoman Turks and the Austrians.

Our hotel was terrific, right on the wall of the old town – which now holds restaurants and markets – and across the road from the Hotel Europe, the best place in town. The Russian embassy held an afternoon gathering there, and I’ve never seen so many bad suits in my life.

On our first rest day, we took a tour of Sarajevo that included some of the highlights, if you can call them that, of the siege. You get to sample a few metres of the tunnel dug under the UN-held airport, to connect the city with the rest of Bosnia. That was fascinating. So was finding out about things like the Sarajevo Roses – gouges in the pavement that mark spots where three or more people were killed by a mortar or cannon shell.

Peter, Philippe and I were having a beer at an outdoor café when I decided that I wanted to take one of the glasses home.

I asked about a price, which sent the waiters into a huddle with the manager, accompanied by much gesturing and muttering. I finally said “I’ll give you two Euros” and had the glass packed in a plastic bag, in seconds. We had dinner that night in the beer hall attached to the brewery, an excellent choice.

Despite its cruel history, Sarajevo is a cheerful place. We were pretty cheerful, too, after sampling the various brews including an excellent brown ale.

4

5

4. Dušan’s morning briefing was always interesting and useful.

5. Sorry about the fuzzy shot, but I wanted to show you the Kotor road.

6. The Kotor road again, just one of the many hairpin bends.

6 28

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 28

2/07/2015 2:34 pm

THE WAIT IS OVER. THE STREET 500 IS HERE. ALL-NEW REVOLUTION X™ V-TWIN ENGINE. AUTHENTIC HARLEY-DAVIDSON BUILT FOR THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT. H-D.COM.AU/STREET © H-D 2015. Harley, Harley-Davidson and the Bar & Shield logo are among the trademarks of H-D U.S.A., LLC

AMM_August_layout2.indd 29 HARL10155_Street500_297x210_AM.indd 1

30/06/2015 6:01 PM pm 2/19/15 5:16

TRAVEL

Heading for Mostar the following day we had no less beautiful countryside (you can take this as a given in the Balkans, really) but we also needed to keep our eyes on the road a bit more to dodge fallen rocks, as well as flipping up tinted visors in the unlit road tunnels.

No big deal, but you don’t want to hit a rock and dent your wheel rim; that’s one of the few things that the (included) insurance doesn’t cover. We also had lovely weather, which made our stop at the Sutjeska WWII monument even more poignant. It was here that Tito’s partisans broke the German occupation, and the monument is appropriately brutal.

Lunch was wonderful. We turned off the main route to Blagaj, where an Ottoman (no, not that kind of ottoman) monastery hugs the 200 metre rock wall next to the gap through which the river Buna springs from the mountainside.

After crossing the river by a narrow stone pedestrian bridge, we had an outstanding seafood lunch right by the water. Mostar might have been an anticlimax after that, but in fact the town with its famous bridge offers pleasant walks in the Turkish quarter through little alleys and some relatively interesting souvenir shops.

After crossing the bridge on foot, quite an eerie experience, we ate at an outdoor restaurant with much hilarity and local wine and beer. It’s terrific being surrounded by so much Islamic history – but still being able to get a drink!

While Pineapple collected our bags from outside the rooms, a service he fulfilled every morning (as well as returning the bags to our rooms before we reached our hotel in the evening) Dušan emphasised at our morning briefing that we would probably find the next border crossing, into Montenegro, a slow one and that we should watch out for cows on the road. The former turned out to be true (although it was pleasant enough) but we saw no signs of the latter, except for copious droppings.

We took a detour this day, to avoid a pass that was apparently still snowed in. “They don’t clear the snow here,” said a resigned Dušan. “They wait for it to melt.” His caution paid off, because we rode up to the pass from the other

side just to check the snow, and found the warning well justified. Mind you, I for one didn’t mind the detour – we actually ended up riding more twisty and spectacularly scenic road than we would have if we’d gone the original way!

That night we stayed in a ski resort, quiet in the off season as many of them are, and Peter and I had an opportunity to sample some more local spirits and liqueurs. There was quite a range on offer… After riding through forests of four hundred year old black pine, we stopped at the bridge over Tara Canyon, apparently the secondlargest in the world after that one in America. In a display of the usual Balkan disregard for rules, we just parked in the middle of the bridge and took photos. As so often, the scenery just got better as we went along and I blessed the invention of the digital camera. If I’d had to shoot this trip on film I would have been broke before it ended.

Just before lunch we rode down into Kotor, along the modern version of the ancient mule path known as The Ladder of Cattaro. This is one of my nominees for the best bike roads in the world – it’s one hairpin after another, broken by various lengths of sort-of straight road, and with constant staggering views across to the Adriatic Sea. Mind you.

For maximum effect you should ride it up –not down.

More scenery on our ride up the coast to the old walled city of Dubrovnik, now with the Adriatic on one side and cliffs on the other. Our hotel was some way out of the walled town, further around the coast in a beautiful little bay. One of its attractions was an underground bar, where a natural limestone cave had been floored and fitted with electricity. Amazing.

7

8

7. Philippe carves up some corners along the coast.

8. Amy digs into one of the seafood platters.

9. When you’ve got lots of cartrice cases, make toys out of them…

9 30

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 30

2/07/2015 2:35 pm

B

201 ND BRA s e T v ES : Glo

4

! nning ars ru in 2014) e y 9 ants n for

Catego

ry

icip ate Unbe of 45,707 part (59.8 %

since 1946 Torno II · art. 6460 GORE-TEX® pants

Carese II · art. 6450 GORE-TEX® jacket

www.heldaustralia.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 31

Email: info@heldaustralia.com.au

2/07/2015 11:37 am

TRAVEL

11 are priceless.

We stopped for coffee in Mali Ston, a small town surrounded by a dizzying web of ancient stone walls, and I was treated to an explanation of the cooking style where coals and ashes are piled onto an inverted metal bowl, which cooks the food from above. Looked delicious, but it was too early for lunch.

We had returned to Croatia on the way to Dubrovnik, but now we passed through the 14km stretch of Bosnia Herzegovina which gives that country its access to the sea. Nobody at the customs or immigration posts seemed to care about us at all.

And then we took the ferry over to Hvar. Well, we tried to. The loadmaster thought the locals were more important than a dozen bikes, so he loaded them first – and filled the ferry.

Mind you, he promised to come right back for us, and he did keep his word.

And that is where you came in…

When we got to the hotel at the western end of the island, after our

10

The rest day in Dubrovnik went very quickly, with a walk (halfway) around the battlements, a look over the geometric web of streets and pathways, and a few quiet drinks at a small bar.

It was a strange experience for me; last time I was in Dubrovnik was before it was bombed and half destroyed, and here it had been completely restored; the only difference I could see was the new roof tiles everywhere. If you ever get the chance to visit, don’t miss Dubrovnik. I’ve been there half a dozen times now and I never get tired of it – even though it is a bit of a tourist trap.

We ate just outside the walls; better food, and cheaper than inside!

And then it was off to Hvar! The road along the coast is not always the best, but it would be worth riding if it was a mule track. The views along the road, of ocean and stony mountains and sky,

32

10. Plitvice Lakes are full of unexpected, beautiful little cameos.

11. Mostar’s internationally famous bridge, rebuilt like so much of the country. little island chase, I leaned over to Claudio as we parked our bikes.

“You have a big heart, my friend,” I said and patted him on the chest. He grinned, and his diminutive wife and pillion Claudia said, “What about me?”

“You too, Claudia,” I said, but refrained from patting her on the chest. The brotherhood of the road only goes so far…

Hvar was excellent, and I used the last of our rest days to ride around the place checking out old fortifications and the Španjola fortress above the town. Sadly, when I tried my usual habit of parking anywhere I damn well liked down in Hvar town I was sternly directed to the dedicated motorcycle parking, which charged. I rode off in a huff.

It was a longer ferry ride to Split in the morning, and then we mostly took small roads through remote valleys to the bridge that leads to Pag island. It’s only a short bridge, but we were to find that it would pose a problem, the next day…

In the meantime the weather finally decided that it had been nice to us for long enough. Horizontal rain

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 32

2/07/2015 2:36 pm

Bluetooth® Communication

Systems

MARKET LEADING SOUND QUALITY

R I D E R T O PA S S E N G E R I N T E R C O M

BIKE TO BIKE INTERCOM

M U LT I U S E R C O N F E R E N C E

ANY INTERCOM COMMUNICATION

ANY INTERCOM COMMUNICATION

ANY INTERCOM COMMUNICATION

MULTILINGUAL VOICE MENU

MULTILINGUAL VOICE MENU

MULTILINGUAL VOICE MENU

SONG SHARING

SONG SHARING

SONG SHARING

EASY PAIRING

EASY PAIRING

EASY PAIRING

RDS FM RADIO

RDS FM RADIO LONG DISTANCE

WWW.INTERPHONE.CELLULARLINE.COM

AMM_August_layout.indd 33

WWW.FICEDA.COM.AU

24/06/2015 1:57 pm

TRAVEL

accompanied us most of the way north-west to our hotel, and it was just as well that I had my BMW Comfort Shell suit on. My gloves and boots, unfortunately, did not fare quite so well – I had selected neither of them for waterproofness – so I was a little damp when we reached our hotel, a small and beautifully appointed place that had begun its life as a winery. We ate in – the weather just kept getting worse.

The next day we found that the ferries off Pag had been cancelled and even the short bridge we had crossed was closed due to the strong wind. We had to move hotels but the new one proved to be fine, and close to a small township where there was a choice of eateries.

Naturally most of us chose seafood, again! I took the opportunity to do a bit of photographing.

The enforced day of leisure meant we would not be able to stay a night in Rovinj in Istria as planned. To catch our various flights we had to return to Ljubljana directly. Once again (it’s amazing how this happens in the Balkans) we had the most wonderful ride through the mountains, broken by an excellent lunch of local goulash and pork medallions. Ah… The weather was pretty good too, and I suspect that everybody would have been happy enough if Dušan had opted to keep going instead of turning into the Adriatic garage…

A stylish dinner at the castle above Ljubljana’s old town concluded the ride.

Beautiful country, wonderful roads, top ride, excellent guide and van driver and flawless organisation from Adriatic Moto Tours. Congratulations to all concerned, including my fellow tourers.

12

The Bear took Adriatic Moto Tours’ Beautiful Balkans Adventure by courtesy of the company. Our next issue will feature a short piece about the gear he used. 

12. Turkish Town in Sarajevo, with handcrafted copper utensils.

13. The Tara River canyon.

14. My noble steed – I do like BMW F 700 GSs.

13 34

14

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 34

2/07/2015 2:37 pm

AMM_August_layout2.indd 35

2/07/2015 6:37 pm

COMMUTING

APRILIA V HOLDEN

TAKING IT TO THE REAL WORLD WORDS – STUART WOODBURY PHOTOS – THE BEAR

36

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 36

2/07/2015 12:47 pm

Facts PRICE OF 95 PREMIUM UNLEADED - $1.60.9 TOTAL WEEKLY KILOMETRES (5 DAYS X 64KM) – 320KM

2015 Aprilia Scarabeo 200 NEW PRICE - $4850 (+orc) AVERAGE FUEL USED PER 100KM – 3.72L/100km AVERAGE FUEL USED PER WEEK – 11.9 L - $19.14 AVERAGE WEEKLY RUNNING COSTS - $84.87 AVERAGE TIME EACH WAY – 34 minutes

2003 Holden Commodore S NEW PRICE - $36,995 (drive away) (Current second hand price - $7000) AVERAGE FUEL USED PER 100KM – 14.2L/100km AVERAGE FUEL USED PER WEEK – 45.44 L - $73.11 AVERAGE WEEKLY RUNNING COSTS - $240.75 (NRMA Motoring & Services) AVERAGE TIME EACH WAY – 1 hour and 6 minutes

Y

ou may have seen a number of commuting “tests” done over the years where a car is run against a push bike and/or public transport.

For some funny reason none of these “tests” include a motorcycle or scooter, so we decided to grab a reasonably priced scooter – an Aprilia Scarabeo 200 - and compare it against a run of the mill Holden Commodore from 2003, which would be priced on the market

just slightly more than the Aprilia. It’s a car that’s still highly popular with the general population.

The route was from north-west Sydney to the AMM office at Lane Cove West.

A 32km door to door route (each way) smack bang in the middle of peak hour traffic in both the morning and afternoon peaks. Our picture was taken right at the start of the afternoon peak as it was only just starting to build up.

The leader of the pack!

Despite having to brave the varying weather conditions when commuting on a motorcycle/scooter, you can never factor in the amount of fun it is to be on two wheels. No matter how good a car is, sitting in traffic is as boring as the proverbial and wasting hours away in traffic is only going to drive you mad.

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 37

37 2/07/2015 12:48 pm

COMMUTING

The 32km, each way commute was done over a period of two weeks for each vehicle so we could get a really good average time of the trip in varying traffic conditions which can obviously fluctuate on different days and different periods.

There always seems to be more traffic on a Monday, Tuesday; then the amount of vehicles on the road

seems to drop off on a Thursday and especially Fridays – everyone having a long weekend?

The Aprilia was very stable in its average time. Traffic never really made any difference, as lane filtering keeps things flowing, with the longest commute time being 37 minutes. The Holden on the other hand had a couple of really long commute times, the

longest being 1 hour and 41 minutes.

To put this into perspective, this is an average speed of just 19km/h!

Most people could ride a push bike faster than that!

The only “positive” thing an outsider might see as a bonus, driving a car, is that you don’t get wet, or more to the point, have to put all that wet weather gear on and have somewhere for it

Motorcycle Safaris!

ating

r Celeb

ars!

20 yoeunting and c

Inspiring Iceland

Dalmatian Delights Shining Shangri-La

Turkish Treasures

Royal Rajasthan

Himalayan Heights .com.au 38

Moroccan Magic Awesome Andes

Tacos & Tequila!

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 38

2/07/2015 12:48 pm

AMC_July15v:Print

6/1/15

8:35 PM

Page 1

Your ride. YOUR WAY. Is Now Even Better!

Get 2015 prices for 2016 Bookings* Enhanced Motorcycle Travel has been our motto since 2002.

Our service is legendary - the trip is YOURS, and we're here to help.

Every Rider or Driver receives our personal attention to the details bikes, roads, lodging, food and entertainment - that add up to make every day live on as a “Great American” day.

Hello? Stuart! You’re in there somewhere! to dry when you get to your destination; the one word is, convenience. Apart from that we cannot see any benefit to driving a car to commute in peak hour traffic. The Aprilia is much cheaper to run, has you on the road around half as much and is much more fun to be on.

As for running costs, this is where owning a scooter (or motorcycle for that matter) comes into its own. Roughly a quarter of the cost of a car, which is astounding. In monetary terms over the course a year, this equates to an $8105.76 saving!

The cost of fuel per week used for this commuting distance equates to $995.28 per year (assuming you work every week of the year) for the scooter and $3801.72 per year for the car.

A $2806.44 saving, just by riding the Aprilia. And that doesn’t include any charges for parking, which would favour the scooter enormously.

We used 95 Premium Unleaded from the same service station for each vehicle. As most people are aware, the price of fuel can vary from day to day, and if you’re at the right time of the cycle, 95 Premium Unleaded can be around 15 cents cheaper. We found the average at the time of this test was $1.60.9.

As for the amount of time saved per year by commuting, you’re looking at 177 hours and 20 minutes total riding the Aprilia and for the car, 276 hours total travel time (again, assuming you’re working every week of the year). The saving in travel time is 99 hours and 20 minutes. That’s a lot of time to be wasting away in the car and more time you could be relaxing at home, enjoying time with family, or tinkering on that special project you’ve got in the garage.

As I type out all of these facts, it becomes even more clear that commuting on a scooter (or motorcycle) has massive benefits. Sure, you might think your car is more convenient, but think about the convenience next time a scooter or motorcycle zips by while you’re stuck in traffic, and they’re sitting at home with a cold beer, feet up, relaxing! 

* Reserve a 2016 Guided Tour by 15 November, 2015.

If a price goes DOWN for 2016, you’ll get the lower cost.

2016 Guided Tours • The best "no worries" Holiday available!

Small groups, relaxed style and great roads every day. Guided Tours include motorcycle hire, unique lodging and many meals. There's a support vehicle for luggage, water, soft drinks, snacks and supplies. The personal attention of an experienced guide and support driver is all yours, 24/7.

Route 66

3-18 June

Start Chicago / End LA

14 Ride Days

Glacier / Canadian Rockies 22 June - 7 July Start / End Seattle WA

14 Ride Days

Pacific Coast - NORTH

8 - 16 July

Start Seattle / End San Fran.

7 Ride Days

Pacific Coast - SOUTH

16 - 24 July

Start San Fran. / End LA

7 Ride Days

Sturgis Bike Week

4 - 17 Aug

Start Las Vegas / End Denver

12 Ride Days

Best of the West

24 Aug - 4 Sept Start / End LA

14 Ride Days

Coast to Coast USA

9 Sept - 1 Oct

Start LA / End New York

21 Ride Days

Route 66 - Extended

14 Oct - 1 Nov

Start Chicago / End LA

17 Ride Days

Self-Guided Tours • Your adventure, our experience.

We’ve taken some of the Best Rides in North America - and you can too!

Motorcycle hire, hotels, maps, directions, GPS, suggested activities and dining options are all included. Many Guided Tours are available as SelfGuided adventures. We'll even create or modify a tour to meet your needs.

Road Trip Auto Tours • For non-riding Family & Friends Not everyone is a Rider? We'll still show you the best of North America in the rental car of your choice. Most guided or self-guided motorcycle tours including custom - are available as Road Trip Auto Tours.

Motorcycle Hire • Competitive rates, round trip or one-way.

Visit our website or email skip@gamct.com to learn more.

For a phone call or Skype (much friendlier than trading emails!) - just send a number and a good time to reach you.

Great American Touring

www.gamct.com 800.727.3390 00.1.349.1201 Int’l

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 39

39 2/07/2015 12:48 pm

READER’S RIDE

ON THE BRIDLE TRACK BEYOND BATHURST WORDS/PHOTOS BOB WOZGA

I

remember as a child on family holidays looking out the passenger window of our old Simca at groups of motorcycles overtaking us on country roads or parked along footpaths in front of weatherboard shops in whatever town we were passing through. I didn’t know if they were bikie gangs or just groups of friends going on a long ride. They never seemed menacing and would give a wink or smile when they caught you looking at their bikes.

40

There was always something adventurous about these people. With weathered looks, leather and canvas luggage strapped to their bikes, they had an air of purpose and a destination to reach. It’s almost as if they were on a personal quest to some far flung part of the country. They weren’t always young guns out to prove something, often they were to my eyes older people with nothing to prove. They were just

being themselves. Even as a young boy looking through that window I often thought, that would be great adventure.

The bikes were a far cry from the touring and adventure bikes we have today.

Even the riding gear was more in the line of “Whatever will keep me warm and dry shall do”.

As realities of life take over, thoughts of adventures are put aside. Not forgotten nor discarded, just placed in

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 40

29/06/2015 12:05 pm

“I HAD A MEETING WITH MYSELF ON HOW TO TACKLE THIS URGE TO HAVE THE LONG AWAITED ADVENTURE AND CAME TO A SOLUTION. I WOULD NEED A BIKE”

the corner of the mind to be revisited at the right time. I found the right time was once the kids were older and no longer dependent on you for everything. And the fact that they began to get grumpy every time I stopped the car to take a photo of something that caught my eye. I had a meeting with myself on how to tackle this urge to have the long awaited adventure and came to the correct solution. I would need a bike. After extensive research, the best bike available to cater for my needs was the DR650. A couple of modifications, ie a larger tank, heavier springs in the front forks, windscreen, handguards and luggage rack, the bike will be perfect.

One of the roads I always wanted to travel on was the Bridle Track. This is a stretch of road built by convicts during the Gold Rush of the Central West, NSW. It starts at approximately 18km north of Bathurst on the Duramana Road and ends at Hill End. I had always heard stories about the treacherousness of this road. “It can only be done with a 4x4. It is only wide enough for one car at a time.

No one in their right mind would travel on it”. Having heard all that, it sounds like a road that should be investigated.

Research on the net indicates the road has been closed due to a landslide at Monaghan’s Bluff. Pictures show a boulder is blocking the road and part of

the road has subsided down the cliff.

It is still worth a visit to see what pictures I can get.

I planned a two day ride to make the trip comfortable with an overnight stay at one of the numerous camping grounds along the Macquarie River. The planned route is Lithgow via Katoomba, Bathurst via Tarana and O’Connell. I wanted to check out some trout fishing spots along the rivers. It is a waste of a ride if you go from A to B without seeing anything except white dots flashing on the bitumen. The road takes me over rolling hills, through hamlets with their stone buildings, pubs and general stores.

The ride on the Great Western Highway through the Blue Mountains isn’t as bad as some people make out. It has improved substantially over the years. If you are able to travel during the week, the traffic flows very smoothly. The only criticism I have is that the road now reminds me of travelling through a tunnel. High walls on either side block the scenery. In some respects, it reminds me of playing an arcade car game.

Coming into Medlow Bath, the Hydro Majestic glistens in the midmorning sun. Tradesmen are completing the final touches and should be open very soon.

Note to self – will have to bring my wife here for coffee sooner rather than later.

Cruising down Mt Victoria Pass, through Hartley and into South Bowenfels, the DR doesn’t miss a beat and the roadhouse beckons to stop for coffee and apple pie.

Taking the Lake Lyell turnoff, the sky opens to cloudless blue inviting you to just keep going over the next hill or bend to see what lies beyond. Depending on the time of day, the Tarana Pub is lined with motorcycles along the veranda; along the Fish River fishermen stand midstream casting their flies vying for that prized trout. At O’Connell, Grey

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 41

41 29/06/2015 12:05 pm

READER’S RIDE

Nomads drink tea and eat their sandwiches under the shade of a tree, enjoying their freedom.

Bathurst has grown since the last time I was there. New housing and industrial estates have sprung up and the town has a busy atmosphere. It is no longer just the town with the world’s greatest car race. 18 kilometres north of Bathurst along Duramana Road is a nondescript street sign indicating the Bridle Track. A little further along the lane is a larger sign, weathered, rusty and leaning to one side. The word WARNING has faded over time giving the feel that this is an ancient path that hasn’t been used since the early 1900’s. It states the Bridle Track starts 16km past this point and is unsuitable for buses, articulated vehicles and caravans. I’m waiting for someone to place a picture of Gandalf on the sign. The bitumen road runs up to the Box Range Road junction then changes to gravel climbing into the hills surrounded by drying grass dotted by grazing sheep. An abandoned car left in a paddock has become part of the landscape. Weathered by time, only its exoskeleton remains. Grass now grows in the boot and ghosts stare through the windscreen. A bright light appears on the dusty road, a lone rider approaches, wearing a bush hat and carrying what appears to be a pick and rake strapped to the front rack of his AG bike.

He pulls over to have a chat. It’s a funny thing about travelling on a bike. People are inquisitive and like to know where you have been, where you are going and where you have come from. The locals are a good source of information regarding road conditions, alternative routes and things to stop to see. He tells me that the road is blocked at Monaghan’s Bluff. You can get through on a thinner bike but you would want some help with manoeuvring past the bolder. It’s a long way down if you lose your footing.

Some chap was airlifted out of there about a year ago. The better campsites are also on the Hill End side of the blockage. The best route to Hill End from here is to go along Box Range Road.

It goes through two gates and then meets Turondale Road. It’s about 50 km to Hill End. Arriving at Hill End is a step back in time. The pub and general store look as they do in John Vander’s paintings.

Plaques of Brett Whitley’s painting of the town plan and Russel Drysdale’s painting of a church are on footpaths. With what is left of the town, it is hard to imagine this was a thriving town in the 1800s full of the noise of machines, the sound of miners in pubs and of horses clomping along the streets. The town has submitted a petition to have the Bridle Track repaired as it attracted 4x4s and thus tourists bringing money to the town. A new sign marks the beginning of the Bridle Track. It warns of poor road conditions and caution should be taken along the road.

The road is blocked 19km ahead.

Snaking down the mountain between gum trees, long shadows fall across the road making it harder to see potholes. Wild goats scamper off the road and into the brush. This land is only good for goats. Stopping to take in the view of the valley below, I have to admire the determination of the miners 100 years ago carrying their worldly possessions with a dream of making their fortune. The road is peaceful now. Back then it would have been alive with the noise of clanking metal pots, clomping of hooves and voices of miners telling stories of how they have a plan to “make it big”.

42

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 42

29/06/2015 12:06 pm

Y

EA

R WA R

R

A

1

N TY

WA R R A N

TY

g u

a

ra

nte

e

d

1999 8882 6 1 (0 )2 s o n s .c o m .a u + / F 900 .c a s 882 1 u W/www s L td .a (0 )2 8 e s s o ri e P / + 6 1 c a s s o n s .c o m td L rn A c c h a c c .c o .n z e ty h @ P rt s o s ie n N u ir D.n z s @ n o rt Casso E/enq EALAN E / s a le w .n o rt h e rn .c o A L IA NEW Z AUSTR W/ww

RJ_AD156 Luggage - TB10, TB11, TB12, TB13.indd 1 AMM_August_layout2.indd 43

2/07/2015 10:05:40 AM 2/07/2015 10:18 am

READER’S RIDE

Turon Crossing Reserve is the first camp ground along the river. A few campers are scattered along the river.

Tents are up, firewood collected and happy campers relax in their chairs watching the river for trout jumping out of the water to catch insects. One couple I spoke with tell me they come to the same spot every year. The fishing has always been good. Unfortunately, this year there seems to be more carp than trout in the river.

There are a number of camping grounds along the Bridle Track. It is a matter of having a look to see what looks comfortable. I settle on a site off the track, Mary Flynn Reserve, 10Km from Hill End. The river here is more like a series of large waterholes and the air is alive with sounds of birds and insects.

Sitting by the waterhole having a beer, I look for ripples and shadows in the water’s surface. An occasional splash is heard to the other end of the waterhole. I return with the rod and metal lure. After a few casts in the direction of the ripples, I get a solid bite and a flash of gold flies into the air. It is only a carp but it was a decent size and gave a reasonable fight.

Being a carp, it was duly disposed of.

As the sun begins to set behind the hills, I cook a meal and wash it down with a couple of beers that had been kept cool in the river. Travelling light, you can still camp with certain amount of comfort. There is a certain peacefulness you can get when camping in secluded spot. You become attuned to the sounds around you. The breeze rustling leaves, thumping of a kangaroo through the scrub, the sound of birds and insects in the air. Some people are afraid of being along and isolated. Maybe they have watched too many horror movies, maybe

44

they are afraid of their own thoughts or maybe they discover they have no thoughts. Regardless, it is relaxing watching the sky change colour and stars appear one by one until the heavens are a mass of sparkling dots. Travelling alone tests your independence, to rely solely on yourself for everything from repairing a flat tyre to keeping yourself company in the middle of nowhere can be a challenge for many people. For others, it is a preferred method of travel. It’s not anti-social, it’s just being self-reliant.

The morning rays light up the roof of the tent and I can hear feral goats close by. The sky is a clear blue and a slight breeze rustles leaves in the trees. Down at the waterhole, a platypus is spied duck diving on the opposite bank searching for its breakfast. I’m the only one camped here overnight and have the whole area to myself. It is very peaceful sitting on the bank eating breakfast without a radio squawking or voices from a TV telling you what tragedies had occurred overnight in whatever part of the world. Ahhh, the serenity. One of the things that struck me while exploring the campground was the lack of litter. There are a number of old campfires but no garbage bins and hardly any garbage left anywhere. It just goes to show, the people who come to these places respect the area and take their garbage with them. I wish this would happen closer to home.

Having packed up camp, the track beckons me. Following the Macquarie River, it narrows to just over a car and a half wide. When a 4x4 comes in the opposite direction, I realise this track is much easier to do on two wheels instead of four. The track is a combination of gravel, bits of sand, mud and occasionally littered with tennis ball sized

rocks to dodge. You would only tackle this track in the dry. There isn’t much margin for error due to the track hugging the cliff face, it’s a long way down if you are unfortunate. I find a second sign and a dirt mound and barricade at a clearing surrounded by a couple of dwellings.

The sign simply states – Use extreme caution, one lane only, sound horn on bends and no stopping. There is no Gandalf telling me not to pass, so I ride over the dirt mound and continue. The track is becoming overgrown and I have to duck under the occasional low lying branch. Rusty signs on the cliff face tell me where passing bays are and where to honk my horn. Erosion is beginning to take its toll on the track. In places, it is crumbling and covered with loose rocks. I keep close to the cliff wall as barricades have fallen off the road around some bends. Riding slowly, seeing how bends on the road have been held up by rocks all placed by hand , backfilled and compacted, you realise this was an engineering feat for the day. It was built through necessity and necessity found a way to build it. It’s doubtful if it would ever get funding to be build today.

At Monaghan’s Bluff, the track stops again at a dirt mound and a boulder near a bend a little further on. Part of the track has slid down the hillside. There is not much room between the cliff face and edge of the road. Seventy metres below, a wreck of a car lies on its roof near the river. There is only a narrow gap between the boulder and cliff face and my bike would not get through with its panniers.

Being on my own, I don’t want to chance getting through. Instead, it is time to brew a cup of tea and take in the view.

This really is a magnificent ride and not too far from Sydney.

I wonder if this was the place the bike riders I saw as a child, would ride along on their adventures with their dusty luggage and mud splattered bikes. I wonder if their adventures were the same, days in the saddle and nights under stars, learning of places that aren’t on a big map and listening to people’s stories.

I wonder if their quest wasn’t to find some mysterious crystal that will save the world, but to find themselves and discover what they are capable of and what the world has to offer. 

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 44

29/06/2015 12:07 pm

TURISMO VELOCE 800 Tradition reinterpreted. The in-line 3-cylinder Turismo Veloce engine powers the bike through time and space. Through the MV Agusta glory years. Through endless two-wheeled adventures.

Standard features such as the 5” TFT display, full LED headlights, excellent longrange 22 L tank, and slide-shift screen easily adjusted with one hand, ensures the Turismo Veloce will also take you down undiscovered roads in maximum comfort.

AMM_August_layout2.indd 45

2/07/2015 12:32 pm

Stuart is wearing a Shoei NXR helmet, Berik Force 2.0 suit, Alpinestars GP Tech gloves and Alpinestars Supertech R boots. www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 47

47 29/06/2015 9:26 am

BIKE LAUNCH

48

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 48

29/06/2015 9:27 am

SPECS YAMAHA YZF-R3

PRICE: $6099 (plus on-road charges) WARRANTY: Two years, unlimited distance SERVICING INTERVALS: Every 10,000km or 12 months ENGINE: Liquid-cooled parallel twin Surprisingly roomy for a small bike.

Revvy, strong and full of fun!

R6 looks will fool many.

cylinder, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder BORE x STROKE: 68 x 44.1mm

Pick an exhaust, any exhaust!

Pick a colour, any colour!

the R3 a tight and stable package with plenty of feel, and being very light weight (169kg wet), the R3 is a motorcycle that is very easy to ride and flicks from side to side through tight corners easily, while retaining stability.

Comfort is surprisingly good, even for tall riders. The reach to the bars is roomy and the seat to peg height is sporty but with enough “room” for long legs, and of course perfect for short riders.

Featuring a wide range of information, the multi-function instrument panel includes an analogue tachometer and digital speedometer – and to underline its strong R-series heritage the R3’s instruments feature a shift timing indicator lamp similar to the design used on the YZF-R1. There’s also a gear position indicator, fuel gauge, water temperature gauge as well as fuel economy information, clock, tripmeters and more.

A big part of the R3 is the line of accessories available. Three different

types of exhausts are in the shops – all from Akrapovic. For just $420 you can get a GP styled stainless steel slip-on.

It sounds the business too. Not too loud with just the right amount of bark to get the thumbs up from your mates.

Second is the carbon fibre slip-on for $649. Just a touch louder than the standard pipe, but also the one that produces a good power gain. Finally you can get a full system for only $849. It is quite loud, even with the baffle in, but I’m sure the young fellas who’ll be the main buyer of a system like this will love it.

Other accessories available are a colour coded rear seat cowl, frame sliders, sport screen, and some bling like the fork cap set, stem cover, pivot cover set and swingarm spools. You can get them in four different colours to match your bikes colour or preference.

If you’re going to use the R3 as a commuter, or to do a bit of travelling (which it will do quite nicely), Yamaha has a seat- and tank bag available, or you can fit the rear carrier and the 39 litre topbox.

The new Yamaha R3 has rocked on into the party at just the right time.

It’s turned the music up and is ready to dance. 

DISPLACEMENT: 321cc COMPRESSION: 11.2:1 POWER: 30.9kW @ 10,750rpm TORQUE: 29.6Nm @ 9000rpm TRANSMISSION: 6-speed, wet multi-plate clutch, chain final drive SUSPENSION: Front, 41mm telescopic fork, non-adjustable, travel 130mm.

Rear, monoshock, adjustable preload, travel 125mm.

DIMENSIONS: Seat height 780mm, weight 169kg (wet), fuel capacity 14 litres, wheelbase 1380mm TYRES: Front, 110/70/17.

Rear, 140/70/17 FRAME: Tubular steel BRAKES: Front, 298mm disc with dual-piston ABS caliper. Rear, 220mm disc, single-piston ABS caliper.

FUEL CONSUMPTION: N/A THEORETICAL RANGE: N/A COLOURS: Race Blu, Midnight Black, Racing Red VERDICT: JOIN THE R FAMILY

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 49

49 29/06/2015 9:27 am

TEAR OUT MAP #30

BY HOOK OR BY CROOK TRIPS OUT OF GERALDTON WORDS/PHOTOS THE BEAR

W

hether you travel by hook (via Kalbarri) or by crook (out to Denham) or even in a more or less straight line (to Mullewa), Geraldton’s surroundings have a lot to offer.

GERALDTON Founded as a sleepy outpost of the Swan River colony and later a port that relied mainly on shipping out the bounty of wheat produced by its hinterland, Geraldton is now quite a tourist centre, and is well worth a visit – especially if you’re heading up or down the Coastal Highway. The climate is mild in winter and hot in summer, when Geraldton also gets most of its rain. There are several museums in town worth seeing – check with the Visitor Centre at 246 Marine Terrace, call 1800visitgero

50

or email info@visitgeraldton.com.au.

There is plenty of accommodation of all kinds (although see next item below).

DONGARA/PORT DENISON My favourite memory of Dongara is of sitting in a canvas café chair in the shade of an enormous fig tree (I think) which was one of many lining the streets of the town and providing a welcome respite from the brilliant summer sun and broiling summer heat of the Coastal Highway. I can still taste the icy apple juice I used to cool my insides.

Dongara and Port Denison are pretty seaside towns, and the latter especially has a substantial range of accommodation at prices generally lower than Geraldton’s. The Visitor

Centre is at 9 Waldeck Street, call 08 9927 1404.

MULLEWA About 100km east of Geraldton along a good road, Mullewa is famous for two things: its wildflowers, especially the rare wreath flowers which grow in few other places, and the Church of Our Lady of Mt Carmel and the Holy Apostles St Peter and St Paul.

The latter was designed and built (often as a labourer) by Monsignor John Hawes, a remarkably talented and vigorous priest. It and Hawes’ house, which is now a museum, make a visit to Mullewa worthwhile even by themselves. And that’s from a non-Catholic! Late winter and spring are the best times for wildflowers.

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 50

29/06/2015 9:15 am

NORTHAMPTON There isn’t really much at Northampton, but the town has a bit of a nice arty-crafty vibe. The Geraldton to Northampton railway was the first government railway built in Western Australia, and the Mary Street Railway Precinct has all sorts of rolling stock and other railway bits and pieces. Call Bob or Mary on 08 9934 1118 if you want a guide, otherwise just wander around.

I like the way they’ve put the Visitor Centre in the old police station.

Call 08 9934 1488 or write to info@ northampton.com.au. Port Gregory and Horrocks are beach holiday spots nearby; the former lies on the road up to or back from Kalbarri.

KALBARRI Last time I was in Kalbarri, I stayed at the Murchison River Caravan Park, which faces the – you guessed it – Murchison River just before it flows into the sea. It

was exceptionally well located and pleasant. Kalbarri is a pleasant town all round, with two attractions that I’d consider outstanding. The remarkable Kalbarri National Park is accessible from the road that leads in from the highway, and Rainbow Jungle lies a little to the south of town. It’s a kind of artificial rainforest, and among other things is famous for breeding rare species of parrots. Worth a look.

HAMELIN Considering that hardly anyone lives there, it’s remarkable that Hamelin has two remarkable tourist attractions. One is the Old Telegraph Station, which is just what it says but has been turned into a fascinating museum. Well, fascinating to me – I love old technology and its stories.

The other attraction is the pool of stromatolites of Hamelin Bay. These look like rocks but are in fact the oldest “living fossils” on Earth. They

date from some 3.5 billion years ago and were instrumental in producing the oxygen that made it possible for animals, and eventually humans, to evolve. So don’t forget to go down there and say “thank you”.

You can stay at the caravan park or the homestead, but it isn’t far from Hamelin Bay to Denham and Monkey Mia.

DENHAM As the nearest town to Monkey Mia, famous for its dolphins, Denham sees a regular flow of tourists.

It is a bit of an attraction itself, especially for fishing and boating, With many of its buildings made of compressed seashells and a remarkable view of Australia’s most westerly islands, Denham makes a useful and pleasant package. The caravan park/resort at Monkey Mia is favoured by many people, but I quite like the additional choice of accommodation and eating that the town offers.

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 51

51 29/06/2015 9:16 am

TECHNICAL

LET IT GLEAM CUSTOM BUILD: KÜRYAKYN SPORTSTER 72

52

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 52

26/06/2015 2:39 pm

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 53

53 26/06/2015 2:40 pm

TECHNICAL

S

ome people say that Küryakyn means a small, treasured object that might become a gift. Others tell us that it means “the flight of the eagle” in Navajo. There were a couple of other definitions there, too, I’m sure. But we don’t care, nossir. To us, the many classy custom bits made by Küryakyn in the US mean a wonderful way to personalise your Harley (and a number of other brands); in this case, the Bear’s much-loved Sportster 72.

Like a lot of other owners customising their bikes, the Bear would prefer to make parts himself (a somewhat scary idea), or have them made to order for his bike. That way you can get a consistent look that’s entirely yours.

But who has time to actually do that?

Earning a living has to be fitted in there somewhere, and so does making enough money to pay for absolute custom builds.

Fortunately we found an alternative which still provided a consistent look, at a reasonable price – and that could be ordered from a catalogue. The Küryakyn catalogue. This American parts and accessories company offers its products for Harleys and a small handful of other brands. They are designed in such a way that they go together, and improve the look of whichever bike you fit them to as well as, in many cases, improving the bike’s usefulness.

A detailed look through the catalogue showed us that we could achieve a lot of the results we were after just

54

by ordering a range of products from Küryakyn. Below is a list, along with the recommended retail prices from Rollies Speed Shop, the Australian Küryakyn importer (www. rolliespeedshop.com). Rollies is at 10 Ross Street in Newstead, Brisbane (07 3252 5381) in case you feel like dropping in to take a look at all the goodies (take your credit card – you will want to use it) but your local bike shop can also order whatever you want in the Küryakyn range from them.

What we wanted to achieve was very simple. Firstly, it was a matter of making the bike look as light as possible. The easiest way to achieve that is to chrome the parts, but Küryakyn offers a more economical and no less attractive alternative with things like the Fork Skins. Secondly, we wanted to upgrade the overall look of the bike. Replacing the original and rather utilitarian handlebar grips and footpegs did a lot towards that, as did the very stylish Crusher exhausts.

Finally, we were after a safer ride.

The addition of spotlights certainly helped there.

The Küryakyn parts were fitted to the bike by the blokes at Iron Heads Custom Motorcycles, (03 9749 0379) at 3/180 Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing in Victoria (motorcycles. melbourne.com.au) who did a terrific job. Our thanks go to them, to Rollies and of course to Küryakyn in the US who supplied the parts. Their catalogue is a treasure house of ideas!

K7202 FORK SKINS $272 Quick and easy to install, the Fork Skins give us a chrome front end without all the work and costs associated with actually chroming the fork legs. It also adds a substantial and effective fork brace to the front end of the 72. You can’t beat the combination of good looks and extra stiffness; we will be looking at upgrading the insides of the forks and we have already fitted the Ikon shocks to the rear.

K7280 FUEL CAP$64 We have always been suckers for Art Deco design, and this fuel cap is one of the nicest we’ve seen. It replaces the rather plain original item and livens up the top of the tank.

K5013 DRIVING LIGHT KIT (PAIR) $408 Watch out, night-time traffic! You will definitely be able to see the Sportster coming with this tidy pair of spots that snuggle up next to the headlight, and the rider can see a lot further as well.

The spots are elegant enough so that they don’t add any extra visual weight to the front end, while providing an amazing amount of extra light.

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 54

26/06/2015 2:40 pm

K2507 Torpedo brake/ indicator lights (pair) $127

K6212 Handgrips (pair) $123

considered by Küryakyn, so that the shift peg is also styled in the ISO look.

It works well, for exactly the same reason.

If you thought the original H-D combined turn indicator/brake lights/ rear lights were a smart idea (which they were), wait until you see the same functionality in these much smaller and tidier, but just as bright, torpedo shapes.

K8885 Peg adapter mounts (pair) $37

K1499 Mirrors (pair) $259*

K7965 Footpegs (pair) $51

They look smart and do what all mirrors do – reflect – very well.

But they also have scalloped turn indicators incorporated in their rims, an idea that you see a lot on cars – but hardly with this kind of style! The only thing to keep in mind here is that these indicators really need to be run in conjunction with other, more traditional, blinkers.

What can we say – if you’re going to mount pegs, you need peg adapters.

Easy to use and smart looking.

These ISO (vibration dampening) grips look terrific with their strips of rubber contrasting with the chrome grip.

They work, too, and the Throttle Boss on the accelerator grip is handy (sorry) to say the least.

Also in the ISO design, the footpegs add to the integrated look of the bike

K8004 Shiftpeg $22 Even the small touches have been

and also reduce vibration. As well as that, the rubber grips your boot soles and holds them in place.

K1432 Power Point $101 To keep your phone charged or feed the GPS, a power point is priceless on any bike – not just a tourer. So we are going to add one to the Sportster, but for some reason it missed the date of this build. Never mind, something for the future.

K1699 Tech Connect Device $82 Want to be able to see the screen of

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 55

55 26/06/2015 2:42 pm

TECHNICAL

like the Bear, the sound is a bit too powerful. He wants to keep his neighbours on side, so even with the baffles installed in the pipes they are too loud. Not for the city, probably, but for the ‘burbs. We’re not quite sure what the answer is here.

We are certainly not criticising the pipes! It’s more that the Bear is a little… conservative.

your Smartphone or GPS? Here’s the way to do it, with this universal attachment for your handlebars.

The Bear will not be getting lost any more, and maybe he’ll answer his phone, too!

K596 MAVERICK 2-INTO-2 PIPES $843* The look of the pipes can often make or break a build. We looked at the headers-and-all Crushers with their black tips and we fell in love.

They went straight on and they look absolutely terrific, especially since their slim shape makes the whole bike look slimmer and more integrated.

K482 EXHAUST GASKETS $14 Hmm, yes. What can we say about gaskets? They work, folks.

56

*There are two items which did not work out quite as we had expected.

Neither were shortcomings on the factory’s part. Both were our problem.

The blinkers incorporated in the mirrors are not really powerful enough by themselves, and we will be augmenting them – probably with some more bullet indicators, or with ring indicators on the forks. We would have known that they are only suggested as additional, not as main, blinkers if we’d read the catalogue more carefully… d’oh.

The other items that didn’t quite turn out the way we’d expected are the Crusher pipes. They suit the bike exceptionally well and look superb, just as we had hoped, and their sound is powerful and deep. The only problem is that, for a suburbanite

Say What?

H

ere’s an extract of what Küryakyn says about its products and attitudes: “Küryakyn has been in the business of improving and beautifying motorcycles since before many of today’s riders “ran ‘er through the gears” for the first time... [offering] well thought out parts that work, fit, and most of all, look great! Each Küryakyn accessory is intended to look fantastic by itself, but is usually a member of group of parts that combine to create a “look”.

This allows each rider to add accessories a couple at a time, or go for the full complement all at once, without the end result looking like an arbitrary hodgepodge of parts that can leave you wondering if they were all supposed to go on the same bike.

“At Küryakyn we believe innovation is manufactured at the intersection of Performance and Style.” 

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 56

26/06/2015 2:43 pm

POSTIE NOTES 8

JACQUI & MO HEAD EAST PERTH TO… FOWLERS BAY?!

WORDS/PHOTOS JACQUI KENNEDY

A

fter a short break tucked up in Sydney whilst Mo, my trusty little postie bike has been languishing in Perth, I was anxious to get back on the road for the second half of my journey around Australia at 70km/h.

Having crossed the Nullarbor by plane heading east, I was now returning westward by train on the Indian Pacific. Four days to cover 4300 kilometres under the power of two locomotives pulling 26 carriages averaging 85 km/h – slightly faster than Mo. It was a magnificent trip with spectacular desert sunsets and gourmet meals but I was very disappointed to learn that they no longer take motorcycles on their vehicle carriages. No doubt some number-cruncher has disregarded the twowheeled tourist market concocting some lame excuse about insurance. I could probably have hidden Mo in a suitcase and smuggled him into my cabin.

My third crossing of the Nullarbor began a few weeks later with great anticipation. Was Mo up to it? How bored would I get on the endless ribbon of tarmac? How numb can one bum be?

I had been crossing paths with Linda Bootherstone on her Sherpa and after seeing her photographs of the unsealed Nullarbor in 1971 when she had tackled it on a BMW, I dismissed any lingering concerns that Mo wasn’t up to the task on today’s tar seal.

Linda and I spent a few days in Kalgoorlie, admiring the big hole in the ground and enjoying some miner hospitality. There are some excellent

“I COULD PROBABLY HAVE HIDDEN MO IN A SUITCASE AND SMUGGLED HIM INTO MY CABIN”

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 57

57 29/06/2015 9:24 am

POSTIE NOTES 8

58

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 58

29/06/2015 9:25 am

museums at both Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie including a splendid WWI exhibition.

A few days before departure I learned of the death of a young Australian rider while living the dream in America.

Alistair McFarland was a dear friend of my daughter and a little blanket of sadness accompanied me across the desert. He was a bright, joyous lad with an infectious optimism and his loss was felt deeply by all who had met him.

Norseman in WA to Ceduna in SA - 1201 kilometres with a handful of roadhouses to break up the journey.

With Mo’s long range fuel tank providing a 450km range, I was never concerned about petrol but always aware of distances between toilet stops.

I had allocated a week to make the crossing at a comfortable 250 or so kilometres a day. I was not interested in the Iron Butt challenge which many riders utilise the Nullarbor for – I wanted to experience it, absorb it, feel its moods and find its magic. I did not want to just tick it off a list – it deserves more respect than that.

So, headphones on, listening to an audiobook about early Australian explorers, with the wind behind me and a layer of clouds preventing the sun from burning out my eyeballs, Mo and I set forth to conquer the treeless plain.

The traffic was very light and just like the Stuart Highway up the centre, the road trains were perfectly well behaved and with vision for kilometres ahead,

there was never any problem when they were overtaking us.

Although I was keeping the fluids up, at Balladonia I thought I was hallucinating. There at the fuel pumps were two gyrocopters filling up. Two Spanish guys were doing a lap of Australia in these tiny machines with one change of clothes and the back seat full of petrol canisters. Some people are mad!

Merino Wool Thermalz – Topz and Pantz

Jetboil

Expedition Pannierz have had a makeover for their tenth birthday.

While the architecture of the Pannierz hasn’t changed, the way they secure to the support frames has. There are four added elements to achieve this. Take a closer look online.

Expedition Panniers

Bahco tools

Extra Length Sokz Adventure Boots

Waterproof Adventure boots from Forma

Trek 3 Sleeping Bag Reactor Thermal Sleeping Bag Liner

facebook.com/andy.strapz

Headliners, Balaclava, Nekz

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 59

59 29/06/2015 9:25 am

POSTIE NOTES 8

I spent the second night at Cocklebiddy where, with an audience of Patriot bikers, Mo decided to have a little lie down due to the strong crosswind. The third night at Eucla was just over half way. I stopped in to see the Old Telegraph Station but the old building was defaced with graffiti and not terribly interesting.

The next morning I crossed into South Australia and longitude stole 2.5 hours of my day. The road followed the cliffs

with regular glimpses of the Southern Ocean reaching the true Nullarbor, treeless plain, by lunchtime. Curiously, the iconic signs near the Nullarbor Roadhouse marking the western point and the eastern point of the Nullarbor Plain are just 20km apart, which must confuse the foreign tourists.

Averaging four hours in the saddle each day, with frequent photo stops, I was always off the road in ample time to enjoy the long afternoons, comparing

stories with fellow travellers and delighting in the glorious sunsets. At no time in the past five days was I ever bored with the scenery – it actually does change subtly if you keep an eye on it.

Although I’d only done about 300km easy riding each day, I still feel like I had “rushed” it and had missed experiencing the real Nullarbor. I had a weird desire to turn Mo around and go and do it all again.

After Nundroo I took a detour off the main drag to a tiny little hamlet called Fowlers Bay. Perched on the edge of the water with only 19 permanent residents, Fowlers Bay was pure delight. I stayed two days to prolong the inevitable, my return to civilisation.

The final leg of the Nullarbor Crossing was just 160km into Ceduna. I felt ridiculously proud that we had made it. I mean, it’s been done thousands of times before on big bikes, on small bikes, even bicycles, even before it was sealed... but this was the first time I had done it... me and Mo together what a team! www.postienotes.com.au 

TOUR

NEW ZEALAND WITH PARADISE

The only New Zealand based BMW Motorrad Approved Travel Partner

www.paradisemotorcycletours.co.nz All bikes less then 2 years old. Rentals, self guided and guided tours.

60

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 60

2/07/2015 10:06 am

EVENTS

1

2

3

4

TOURATECH TRAVEL CHARLIE DROPS IT IN WORDS/PHOTOS LANCE TURNLEY

W

hether you’re an experienced adventure rider or an absolute novice the annual Touratech Travel Event is for you. Billed as Touratech Australia’s main event of the year, the weekend in the Victorian alpine country town of Bright is a perfect mix of information and riding. It’s also the perfect base for day rides into the mountains.

After Friday registration there was the opportunity to test ride Triumph and KTM motorcycles or just relax and catch up with like-minded riders. Nearly all of the riders were from far away and happy to relax and chew the fat. After a smorgasbord dinner there was a first aid talk from paramedic and keen motorcyclist Ricardo Hafon, followed by a presentation by Brian Sommerville of GPS OZ in Sydney.

On Saturday there were two ride choices. Experienced riders could be led on an enduro ride that was navigated by

the corner man system. The trails were a little more technical than the average adventure rider would experience but there were many who were happy to raise the bar on their regular ride challenges.

For novice riders there was a rider training morning for those who wanted to hone their skills. Nick Selleck from BMW Safari, who is a skilled rider, demonstrated and drilled the attending riders in various techniques. As you would expect, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive where most riders overcame their fears and felt able to take on greater riding challenges in the future.

That night we were unexpectedly treated to a presentation by Charlie Boorman.

Charlie shared plenty of stories you won’t encounter on his shows or in his books.

His co-host and manager Billy Ward acted as the show mediator and between the two of them they provided an entertaining

1. The wide open spaces of the Omeo Valley.

2. Touratech consultant Evelin Ritchie.

3. World traveler Sherri Jo Wilkins with Glen Hough.

4. Shallow creek crossings were a welcome relief from the dust. show. It lasted over an hour and featured stories from tense, dangerous situations to dropping his phone into a steaming pit toilet.

The Sunday adventure ride was an all-in GPS navigation trip that took the riders along dirt and tarmac roads around the Alpine country. That night Sherri Jo Wilkins, who was a presenter last year, gave a detail talk and slide show of her time in Peru.

To find out more about the next Touratech Travel Event go to touratech. com.au and subscribe to their newsletter or phone 03 5729 5529. 

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 61

61 29/06/2015 9:14 am

EVENTS

1

4

2

5

46TH ALPINE RALLY THE POSSUM ELEVATES HIS HEART RATE

T

he promise of good weather on the June Long Weekend drew the faithful out for this year’s Alpine.

I left home with the temperature hovering at 16 degrees and by the time I was skirting Lake George it was down to 10!

After a pleasant night in Canberra with a mate, we launched for a leisurely run to Tumut for lunch at the bakery.

Up Talbingo Mountain and we started to see snow along the sides of the road. About a kilometre from the camp site I had a very close encounter with Skippy who seemed determined to end it all under my wheels.

Disaster was narrowly averted and we arrived with an elevated pulse rate at the rally site.

62

On arrival we were greeted by Henning who informed us that earlier that morning the site had been covered with snow, the last remnant was in the shade of a tree and being quickly burned off by the brilliant sunshine.

The rest of the day progressed at a lazy pace and the majority of the arrivals spent the evening around one fire watching the moonrise and solving the problems of the world.

The official temperature recorder announced on Saturday morning that we had an overnight low of - minus 8!

The thick frost supported that.

From about lunchtime, bikes started rolling in thick and fast. It was a multi-denominational roll up, with at least five Can-Am Spyders, three Laverdas, an assortment of Harleys,

large numbers of BMWs of all ages, and most encouragingly, a scattering of P Plates.

If anyone asks, there was NOT an excellent display of pyrotechnics Saturday evening.

Sunday morning and the official low was announced as minus 9!

Sunday morning also saw the badges handed out and all 160 disappeared quickly and a number of folk left money and addresses for the mailout of their badges later. As an effort to encourage younger riders, all those under 23 years of age got their badge free! Something other rally organises might consider.

The loads of wood Henning arranged for the camp site were appreciated by all and he also announced that any

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 62

2/07/2015 10:30 am

LEAVE HOME WITHOUT...

3

» Weighs only 570g » Inflate a low or flat tyre quickly

Ultra Compact Pocket Pump

and safely » Ideal for use on motorcycles, ATV’s and scooters

7

Tubeless Tyre Repair

4

GS

I

AI

ES

R PLU

» Made in the USA from billet 6061 aluminum » Lightweight. No reaming. No glue. » Store spare plugs in the end cap

Precision Noise Filtration

NEW GENERATION HEARING EARIN PROTECTION ESTE

E

FRE E

T D LY » Reduces wind & road noise » Enhances situation awareness SI L I C O N » Comfortable, washable & re-usable » Allows communication & intercom use CLINICAL

profits would go to the Snowy Helicopter Rescue Service.

As the temperature rose, so did the numbers of bikes leaving the site, a hardy few remained on to finish their rally on Monday and to feast on the foodstuffs and grog left by those departing on Sunday.

Another excellent rally, and next year the Alpine will be held at the Brindabella site for the final time as the property owner there has some health issues.

Will the Alpine then be permanently at Cottrells Cottage? Stay tuned .

U NCL D

REP

1. Claude is still riding the Matchless.

2. Ben rode all the way from Wales – the Old North Wales.

3. Bree from Holbrook – at home she rides a Postie bike.

4. The under 23s got their badges free. Top idea.

5. Bush furniture – it would be worth a fortune in Paddington.

6. Where did Skippy go?

7. A pleasant red at room temperature.

•

6

SEE THESE AND ALL NEW PRODUCTS ON OUR WEBSITE

And please note:

Please consider the BMWTCNSW rally at Tottenham in September (The Far Cairn Rally) and the BMWACT rally at Geehi in October (The Kosciusko Rally) . Will we be there? Does the Bear… =

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 63

63 2/07/2015 10:30 am

HISTORY

BMW R7 A

Cyclone board tracker sold recently at the Las Vegas bike auctions for three quarters of a million dollars - US. It failed to make the million, which some people had predicted it would reach, even though it had been owned

by Steve McQueen. Usually, previous ownership by McQueen adds at least a quarter to the value.

This bike, on the other hand, has never been owned by anyone other than the firm which built it – but I don’t think it would need any celebrity provenance to make that magic million bucks. There are many reasons, but they are basically simple. The bike is strictly one of a kind, it has serious significance both as a bike and a piece of industrial design, and… it’s beautiful.

The bike has been described as an Art Deco design, and that is probably appropriate. Certainly it was designed

ART DECO DREAM MACHINE WORDS THE BEAR PHOTOS FACTORY and built during the heyday of the Art Deco movement; but just what defined that movement is another matter. For one thing, the name only came into use in the 1960s. For another, very few people can agree on what it describes.

“To this day, opinions are divided between two main camps on the definition…”writes Alastair Duncan of the Art Deco Society of NY, “… whether it was the highly colorful and playful geometric style which ruled the Paris Salons in the immediate post-WWI years… or that of the crisp angular patterns, most with American modernistic impulses, including zig-zag, jazz-age, machine-age, and streamlined aesthetics, to which architects were drawn towards 1930.”

At the time, “Modern man’s imagination”, Duncan continues, “was stirred now by the enormous tensile

strength and brilliant sheen of steel, technology’s newest building aid.”

Just as well that technology’s newest building aid wasn’t, say, reinforced concrete… that would have made some rather heavy bikes, not to mention the difficulty of getting a smooth paint job…

But seriously, BMW design engineer Alfred Böning got it pretty right with this design. The bike has the traditional pressed-steel frame (which was to be the design’s downfall) and telescopic forks. It’s sometimes claimed that this was a first for motorcycles, but in fact British manufacturer Scott had telescopics back in 1924, when BMW had just started making motorcycles.

And if you mean hydraulic telescopic forks, Nimbus beat BMW into production by a year. The R7 doesn’t need spurious claims to make it special, anyway.

The R 7 shows off its clean design. That H-shaped gearchange gate is classic.

64

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 64

29/06/2015 9:19 am

The bike weighs 178kg and has a 790cc engine, a capacity often described as optimal for horizontally opposed boxer twins. It hangs from the pressedsteel bridge frame and is matched to a four-speed transmission with a hand gear change. It produced 35 horsepower which gave it a top speed of 145km/h.

The kick starter operates inline, rather than at right angles to the bike.

Leonhard Ischinger designed the engine for BMW. It had a forged, one piece crankshaft for extra strength, and the cylinders and cylinder heads were a single component, with hemispherical combustion chambers. This monobloc design eliminated the need for a head gasket, a weakness in engine technology at the time. The camshaft was under the crankshaft, so the cylinders were positioned relatively high which allowed effective valve positioning and even more ground clearance than its siblings.

The pair of chrome fishtail exhausts is a work of art in its own right.

The bike has a colour scheme which

was later to almost become standard for BMW motorcycles (for a while it was possible to order them in any colour that was being offered on cars).

So it has all black body panels with white pinstriping. The wire wheels are painted black to match the rest of the bike. The smooth lines of the bodywork and mudguards with their pierced valances give the bike an unmistakable appearance. The engine is hidden by sheets of formed metal to both aid its aerodynamics and add to the appearance. Unusually for BMW, the exposed cylinder heads are an aerodynamic dome shape as well.

The fuel tank is covered by the bodywork and the chromed top cover holds an oil pressure gauge. Electrics are hidden by side covers around the rider’s knees and alloy foot boards support the feet. The headlight cowling holds the speedometer. In a classic piece of industrial design, the lower covers and the smooth rocker covers taper down to the rear axle. The upper

“…SOMEONE OPENED THE R7’S DUSTY PACKING CRATE AND REALISED WHAT THE CONTENTS MEANT.” bodywork blends neatly into the rear mudguards.

The R7 was originally intended as a production model, but BMW was changing its emphasis to lighter, sportier models and tube frames suited that style better. With World War II approaching, nobody at the factory really knew what to do with this beautiful but rather pointless prototype.

It ended up in a crate, and was left alone. Well, except for occasionally being stripped for parts. It’s amazing that the crate survived the bombing during the war.

Finally, in June of 2005, someone opened the R7’s dusty packing crate

Wouldn’t you love that pipe for your bike? Not to mention the taillight. www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 65

65 29/06/2015 9:19 am

HISTORY

1 1. Let’s not forget present-day Art Deco bikes; Arlen Ness’ Smoothness is one of the best.

2. Hand-built bodywork covers a Henderson 4 in possibly the most beautiful Art Decom bike ever.

and realised what the contents meant.

Almost a third of the parts were gone and much of the rest was severely damaged by rust. Acid from a ruptured battery had caused corrosion damage; the mudguards were a rusty mess and the frame needed to be rebuilt. But that’s okay; BMW has the resources for this kind of thing at its Classic department.

The Bavarians stripped down the engine and found that some parts were available from other bikes of the time, but many others had to be made from scratch. Luckily, the original design drawings still existed. The gearbox was rebuilt, the electrical system replaced, and the metalwork in the body effectively recreated over some two years. It is now a runner and part of the BMW Group’s historic collection in Germany.

And just in case you’ve got an Art Deco motorcycle of some kind (or any object from the period) lying around in the shed, you might want to consider dragging it out. In 2009, a ‘Dragon’ Art Deco armchair from the estate of Yves Saint Laurent was hammered down for 20 million Euros. Rather makes the exSteve McQueen Cyclone board tracker which just sold for US$775,000 pale in comparison, doesn’t it? I wonder: would you pay more for something that Yves Saint Laurent or Steve McQueen had sat on? 

2 66

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 66

29/06/2015 9:19 am

Special Feature TYRES

ROUND, BLACK… AND NEW WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD OF TYRES? COMPILED BY STUART WOODBURY

W

hether they’re round and black, or square and white (eh?), everyone needs tyres. They are the things that keep you from ending up in a box sooner than you anticipated, so having the right ones for your needs is essential to maximise your motorcycling enjoyment.

Tyres are ever evolving. More and more we are seeing multi-compound treads in all types of road tyres,

where not too long ago a touring tyre (for example) would only feature one compound across the tyre.

We have compiled a list of some of the new tyres on the market recently, from the extensive range available from the great brands available in Australia. Unfortunately not all distributors got their information in on time before we went to the printers (hint!).

AVON

Avon has an extensive range of tyres to cover all types of riding, priced well within the market. Their road range includes the 3D

Ultra range, Storm 2 Ultra, Storm 3D X-M, Classic, Road Rider, Cobra and Venom. We’ve used a number of the Avon range for a wide variety of bikes and they have been excellent all-round.

Avon’s new adventure touring tyre, the Trailrider, is a 90% on-road, 10% off-road tyre that features a new super rich silica compound using the very latest technology to enhance wet grip. Multi-compound treads on radial rears enhance mileage and grip; interlocking three dimensional points hidden in the sipes improve stability and grip, limit tread flex and allow the tyre to warm up quickly; and a high tech carcass construction and next generation compounds deliver superb grip and handling. Check the entire range out at your local Avon dealer, or www.proaccessories.com.au .

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 67

67 29/06/2015 2:39 pm

TYRES Special Feature

SHINKO

Shinko is a brand that’s still expanding into new areas of motorcycling, but for cruiser riders the SR777 is an amazing tyre at a highly amazing price. We’ve used a set of these on The Bear’s H-D Sportster and loved them. Also new to the Shinko range is the sport touring Verge 2X and for adventure riders, the E804/805 and E705 range has you covered. To find your local dealer, visit www.bce.net.au .

HEIDENAU

This well-known brand from Germany offers some of the (claimed) best adventure touring tyres you can get.

The K60 Scout, which comes in different profiles and dimensions based on the size of the tyre, is a true 50/50 adventure touring tyre. The Heidenau K60 Scout brings a proven balance of performance on and off-road, with an improved tread and compound. To find your local dealer, visit www.bce.net.au

PIRELLI

Pirelli is a brand that we use over and over again. The consistency of feel and wear is what we love. Basically, we’ve used everything from their racing slicks to their adventure range and the latest in that particular range is the Scorpion Trail 2. Standard fitment on the new Ducati Multistrada 1200 DVT, we’ve ridden on them and love them. They are

68

more of a road biased adventure tyre over the normal Scorpion Trail, which gives the majority of adventure tourers

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 68

29/06/2015 2:40 pm

a tyre they’ll love. The ever popular Angel GT is now available in an “(A)” specification. This is suited for heavier road bikes and even some adventure touring bikes that won’t see any dirty stuff.

Pirelli’s range consists of the Supercorsa SP, Diablo Rosso Corsa, Diablo Rosso II, Angel GT, Angel ST, Diablo Strada, Sport Demon, City Demon, Night Dragon, MT66 Route, Scorpion Trail, Scorpion Trail 2, Scorpion MT 90, MT60, MT60 RS, MT21, Scorpion Rally and Diablo Scooter. So no matter what you ride and where you go, Pirelli has you covered.

are the TKC70 and the Road Attack 2 EVO. Conti’s new RA2 EVO combines the performance of a true sports tyre with the mileage of a sports/ tourer. The TKC70 is a specially developed tyre to fit where the majority of adventure tyres need it - with a 60/40 road/dirt

CONTINENTAL

Continental is a high end brand that offers a wide range of tyres. Their range consists of the Sport Attack 2, Road Attack 2 EVO, Road Attack 2, Conti Motion, Conti GO, Twist, LB & K62, Milestone, Trail Attack 2, TKC70 and the ever popular TKC80. New for Conti

NEW!!

$399+p/h

Fall off - the jack plug detaches - and an SOS message is sent Ridersmate, the world’s only dedicated GPS safety and tracking device, automatically texts your loved ones in the event of an accident.

Ridersmate attaches easily to any motorcycle and has a detachable jack plug that tethers to your belt loop or clothing.

Should you fall off, the jack plug will detach from the Ridersmate unit and send out an emergency text message to up to three chosen contacts if you don’t reattach it within 35 seconds.

With Ridersmate, you can relax, safe in the knowledge that your loved ones know exactly where you are, and that medical experts

USE A SIMCARD AND ASSIGN TO YOUR MOBILE ACCOUNT

will be able to respond as quickly as possible.

While not a GPS device, Ridersmate uses advanced GPS and GPRS technology.

It works a little like your mobile phone, with a SIM card inside, and uses the GPRS data service to send SMS messages when activated.

Multiple use: Motorcycles, bicycles, horses, mountain bikers and bushwalkers.

MESSAGES SENT TO YOUR NOMINATED MOBILES IN THE EVENT YOU FALL OFF

EASY USB OR MAINS RECHARGING

• Lightweight construction. • Simple set up. • Advanced rechargeable battery with 8+ hour life. • Easy USB recharging. • Rugged and durable housing. • Accurate location tracking to 1m2. • Worldwide GPS tracking. • Attaches quickly and easily. • Tracks your ride if you become separated. • Built-in data logger.

• Full Google Maps integration. • Share rides with other users on www.ridersmate.com.

Never be left stranded, injured and alone if you fall off your bike Order direct from Xenonoz: www.xenonoz.com, frank@xenonoz. com, 0417 008 461. Delivery available throughout the Asia Pacific region. Dealer enquiries welcome.

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 69

69 30/06/2015 6:12 pm

TYRES Special Feature

everything from “Racing Track, Racing Street, Hypersport, Sport/Touring, Cruiser, Custom/Retro, Adventure, Off-Road and Scooter/Commuter”.

So no matter what you ride, Bridgestone will have a tyre for you.

The new tyres just released are the T30 EVO sport/touring, RS10/RS10R, S20 EVO, BT-39, Accolade, A40 and BW-201/202.

We’ve ridden on many of the new tyres, but the ones we can’t wait to try are the new T30 EVOs. The normal T30 is a great tyre and the improvements for the EVO should be excellent.

Watch for a review soon within these pages.

focus, and thanks to Conti’s “Traction Skin”, they require no break in period.

See your local Continental tyre dealer or www.ronangel.com.au

BRIDGESTONE

Bridgestone has released quite a number of new tyres onto the market recently. The entire range covers

The RS10/Rs are high end sports tyres and both work very well, even as a track day tyre. The S20 EVO is a hypersports tyre with even more improvements over the previous S20. The BT-39s are for the smaller capacity bikes, like the Ninja 300 and R3. They give excellent grip wet and dry. For those custom and retro nuts, the Accolade range of old school looks with modern performance

70

is just the thing to have. For the adventure touring market, Bridgestone has two new tyres, the A40 – a road biased tyre for the big bore capacity bikes and the BW-201/202, an on-road tyre for smaller capacity adventure bikes.

Apologies for not featuring all brands, but our lead time must have been a bit short for other manufacturers. We’ll try to get them in next time. 

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 70

29/06/2015 2:42 pm

FOR LIFE’S GREAT ADVENTURES

TrailRider THE NEW ADVENTURE SPORT TYRE Winding coastal roads leading to open blue sea vistas. Snow capped mountains rising above oceans of evergreens. Imperious castles silhouetted against dazzling azure skies.

Let the world be your backdrop, the open road your stage and let Avon performance tyres race with your imagination to take you where you want to go.

ADVANCED TREAD ARC COMBINATION – TRI ARC PROFILE

SUPER RICH SILICA-COMPOUND

ENHANCED AQUA FLOW PATTERN

FORCE FOLLOWING GROOVES

• Manufactured in the UK • Typical fitments include BMW GS1200, Triumph Explorer, Yamaha XT1200 Tenere, Honda 1200 Cross Tourer • Enhanced wet grip with new super rich silica compound and latest compounding technology • Superb handling delivered by a high tech carcass construction

Avon. The great British tyre that’s taking on the world.

British tradition. World reputation.

British tradition. World reputation. www.avon-tyres.co.uk www.avon-tyres.co.uk

2015 Avon TrailRider Ad (Aus Motorcyclist)_210x297.indd 1 AMM_August_layout.indd 71

Visit www.proaccessories.com.au for the complete Avon tyre range Find us on Facebook

Facebook.com/proaccessoriesaustralia

1/06/2015 4:45 pm 18/06/2015 8:01 pm

TOP TOURS & TRAVEL

GO NOW YE ‘RE A LONG TIME DEID COMPILED BY THE BEAR

S

o the Scots say, and they are spot on. So if you’re hesitating over a trip, get over it and get going. And you don’t need to go far; you don’t even need to own the “right” kind of bike (if there is any such thing) as our first item this month will show you…

TOTO, I DON’T THINK WE’RE IN KANSAS… No, you’re in Australia, equipped

by Australia’s new nationwide motorcycle rental and tour company – BikeRoundOz. The merging of three of Australia’s largest tour and rental operators means that ‘Down Under’ two-wheeled explorers have a single source for preride advice, rental bikes, tours and

72

support no matter where they roam across Oz. BikeRoundOz has been serving the region for 14 years. By joining forces with the Australian division of worldwide tour operator Compass Expeditions and Bikescape, who are Sydney’s largest rental and tour company, the new organization has a central booking office with collection and drop off depots in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Cairns and Adelaide.

“The key things that ensure fellow

riders enjoy their time in Australia are high quality advice from real people that have ridden the routes many times, expertly prepared bikes, attention to detail and fast support no matter where you are in the country,” says Selena Thurbon, the new MD of BikeRoundOz. “The country is vast and without good knowledgeable advice you can miss all the good stuff.

Our daily focus is to ensure clients make the most of their time here whether it’s a day trip from the city or a cross continent, gravel road epic!”

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 72

26/06/2015 2:28 pm

2

1 The merging of these experienced rental, self-guided and guided tour operators provides riders a seamless one stop shop no matter which part of Australia you are exploring and type of trip you’d like. Choose from a simple rental, on or off road, more than 60 self-guided tours and both sealed and enduro guided trips.

The extremely popular “Outback Ready” bikes will be available out of all depots and as the name suggests are equipped with everything you’ll need to venture into Australia’s iconic outback.

The national fleet is focused around BMWs and Harleys but Japanese bikes are on the list and even scooters for zipping around Sydney.

For more information visit www.bikeroundoz.com or e-mail mark@bikeroundoz.com , and say hello to Selena for us!

1. Have you ever seen the Red Centre?

Don’t you want to?

2. Lockhart, NSW, Australia – as worthwhile a travel target as anywhere else in the world.

And where else has the Big Corrugated Iron Kangaroo and Emu just outside town – eh?

Certainly nowhere in Kansas!

LOST AGAIN? NOT FOR A WHILE Riders of the Lost Trail in Spain is taking its regular summer break for the months of June, July & August. They do this for two reasons. Firstly, it is illegal to ride in the hills and mountains during the summer months due to the risk of fire. Secondly, it just isn’t any fun riding enduro bikes when it is 40 degrees plus.

They say they’ve had an extremely busy Winter/ Spring period and it looks like the Autumn/Winter

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 73

73 26/06/2015 2:28 pm

TOP TOURS & TRAVEL

season is going to be even busier.

They also want to clear a couple of things up.

“We are hearing increasing dissatisfaction from a growing number

WHERE TO, PRIJATELJ? In case you’re wondering, as we were, that means “friend” in Slovenian, and – what luck! – Slovenia is where Adriatic Moto Tours is based! They have just posted the dates for next year’s tours and we suggest that if

74

of riders who have been charged for breakages while riding with other companies here in Spain. We feel it important to state very clearly what our policy is on this topic: we pay for

you’re interested in visiting “the Balkans, Alps, Greece, Corsica, Krakow, Tuscany, Romania, Albania, Hungary, Prague, Austria, Sardinia, the Dolomites, Budapest, France, Vienna, Croatia, the French Riviera, Nice, Switzerland, Montenegro, St. Tropez, Slovenia, Turkey, Italy and much more” you should take a look at http://www.adriaticmototours.com/

all damage and breakages as long as riders are riding sensibly. This means that you, as our clients, can feel at ease.

If you fall and bikes are damaged, WE cover the cost - not you the rider.”

Peter Van Geuns from Toowoomba takes a corner high in the Bosnian hills on our Adriatic tour.

Guided-Tours/Calendar .

Adriatic does terrific tours, as you’ll be able to see from The Bear’s story in this issue. Make sure you tell them that you’re a friend of his… then again, prijateli, maybe not…

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 74

26/06/2015 2:28 pm

NORTH TO ALASKA “Being born and raised in Alaska has its advantages and disadvantages,” says Phil Freeman, the founder of MotoQuest.

“Sure, your stomping ground is one of the most sparsely populated regions on earth with limitless opportunities for outdoor activities. But there always is an element of separation between Alaska and the real world. We are like a large island and some joke we are the smallest town in the world. With the land size almost as big as Mexico, and a population of just 700,0000, we Alaskans have plenty of space to ourselves!

“I think the most noticeable differences in traveling Alaska than anywhere else are the open and friendly people and the unfathomable vastness of wilderness.

In a land where you are part of the food chain, the locals help one another. It’s hard to get stranded too long at the side of the road before someone lends a helping hand. Alaskans take care of one another.

“As for enjoying a pristine environment, you can be riding along on your motorcycle and stop just about anywhere and stand off to the side of the road. Chances are, you are the first person to ever have stood there.

“Anyone who comes up and rides Alaska for few days becomes mesmerized by the sheer enormity of this place. Add to it the element of solitude, endless

mountains, glaciers and rivers, and you have natural history as it should be. To explore Alaska is to explore, truly, the Last Frontier. To experience it by motorcycle can only be described as EPIC. “I encourage you to come up to Alaska on your own. If you don’t have a motorcycle, rent one and spend a week traveling from mountain range to mountain range with literally NO TRAFFIC at all. If you like the social element of touring on a motorcycle, and want to go with experienced guides and support, then I recommend the following tours: Light Adventure: Best of Alaska Adventure Sunday, Jun 28th 2015 Tuesday, Jul 7th 2015

Can you see yourself in this photo?

Medium Adventure: Northern Lights Adventure Saturday, Aug 29th 2015 Sunday, Sep 6th 2015 Heavy Adventure: Backcountry Explorer Friday, Jul 24th 2015 Saturday, Aug 1st 2015 “If you have any questions regarding our program here in Alaska, do not hesitate to ask me. I know a thing or two about Alaska. I even co-authored an award winning book about it: “The Adventurous Motorcyclist’s Guide to Alaska.” Feel free to call or write me about riding in the 49th state.

Phil Freeman, Founder, MotoQuest.

Email: phil@motoquest.com, Phone: 1(907) 441-1944.

VIETNAM ON THREE A little while ago, I asked David John, who lives in Hanoi, if he could put us in contact with someone who runs sidecar tours in Vietnam. He came through in spades.

“My friend Cuong has been restoring and repairing Ural sidecars in Hanoi for 12 years or more. He offers guided tours on Ural solo machines as well as on Ural sidecar outfits and on Minsks and some Honda trail bikes. Tours can be arranged for 2 or 3 days to 3 to 4 weeks and can be tailor made for the customer. On the guided tours, as well as a guide there is a mechanic to look after every engineering need.

“His website is Cuongs motorbike adventure.com , or You can send email to: info@cuongs-motorbike-adventure.com 

No, I said Vietnam on three… not four!

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 75

75 26/06/2015 2:29 pm

BIKE TRANSPORTATION Special Feature

SHIPPING MOVE THAT BIKE WORDS THE BEAR

1

W

e try to be like the Marines, here at MOTORCYCLIST, and leave no rider or bike behind. But it doesn’t always work out. A couple of times in my long moto journo life, test bikes have ‘failed to proceed’ and have had to be left behind. One was at Nullarbor Station, predictably enough in the middle of the Nullarbor Plain; the other was in Queenstown, Tasmania, down in the far south-west. In both cases, the distributors who had provided the bikes had to use non-specialist transport companies to get their bikes back. I’ve never seen bikes, other than ones that had been totalled in a crash, with so much damage.

Admittedly I didn’t see one other, almost legendary, pickup disaster: the Goldwing that had been dropped by a magazine I once edited (not when I was there), and had had its left side wiped out. When a flattop truck was sent to collect it, its crane broke and the bike

hit the edge of the truck with its right side… spectacular was hardly the word for it.

So it pays to get experts to shift your much-loved machine.

Fortunately, these days there are quite a few to choose from for local, interstate or international shipping.

We’ve divided the shipping tasks into four: Local will probably mean picking you up from the roadside after you’ve suffered some kind of mishap, or perhaps dropping your bike off at a workshop for maintenance or whatever.

Interstate would include things like getting your bike taken somewhere for a holiday (yours, not the bike’s) or having it sent home from somewhere to save time, or delivering a bike you’ve bought or sold from or to somewhere too far away to ride. International is

2 1. A Bikes Only semi, out on the Darwin run.

2. Lift platforms are fitted to all Just Bikes vehicles. essentially the holiday market, where you send your bike to New Zealand or Britain and follow by aircraft. Finally, buying internationally is just what it says – you’ve bought a bike and need it brought home, and perhaps compliance and so on.

We’ve given you examples of companies who do each of these jobs.

LOCAL This is actually probably the most difficult of all transport tasks to arrange.

Not that it takes any more than a phone call when it’s needed; but selecting whom you’re going to call is not so easy.

Why is that? Well, the operators who specialise in this kind of work are usually small, sometimes with only one van or even just a trailer. That doesn’t make them bad; if they’ve got their

A Sydney Motorbike Network van.

76

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 76

2/07/2015 3:13 pm

territory worked out and they can offer convenient and well-priced service, there is no reason why you shouldn’t use them.

Well, almost no reason.

There is a danger of encountering cowboys. That means primarily someone without adequate insurance and also covers people without appropriate experience and equipment or the inclination to take the kind of care of your bike that you know it deserves.

I’m not saying that there are a lot of

3

4

these people, and by their nature they come and go.

Obviously then what you want is someone who has adequate insurance, experience, equipment and attitude. We looked at Sydney Motorbike Network as an example of what you should look for when you’re getting your bike moved locally. Partly because Terri, our sales manager, has personal experience.

“When I needed to transport my precious MV Agusta back to Sydney from Gosford, I was a bag of nerves,” she says.

3. Bike strapped securely into a Bikes Only vehicle.

4. No, we don’t think they move guitars…

FROM $300/DAY

“I asked around, and Surfside Motorcycle Garage in Brookvale, which has to transport dozens of unique motorcycles, recommended Mark Travers at Sydney Motorbike Network. Mark went out of his way to make an unscheduled trip for me.

“Mark was a motorcycle courier and he loves bikes and is a motorcycle mechanic.

FROM $3 PER 00 DAY

JOIN US FOR THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE. SEE THE REAL VIETNAM

RIDE THE STUNNING CENTRAL HIGHLANDS & HCM TRAIL THAT OFFERS THE BEST MOTORCYCLING IN SE ASIA. VISIT REMOTE JUNGLE VILLAGES AND EXPERIENCE THIS AMAZING COUNTRY FIRST HAND. JOIN LIKE MINDED RIDERS ON OUR OPEN SPECIAL EVENT TOUR CALENDAR OR BOOK YOUR OWN PRIVATE GROUP TOUR. For more info email info@vietnammotorbiketours.com Our licensed Booking office 0359756333 or SMS a return call to 0468421353. VMT is a dedicated & licensed tour operator providing quality Tours designed by riders for riders wanting to see and ride the very best of the real Vietnam away from the busy tourist areas. Our fleet of 24 late model motorcycles are perfect for touring Vietnam. Great guides and support crew, quality overnight stays, fresh foods and cold Beer

www.vietnammotorbiketours.com

VMT IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF LOCAL CHARITIES AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS IN VIETNAM & CAMBODIA www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 77

77 2/07/2015 3:13 pm

BIKE TRANSPORTATION Special Feature

He can arrange transport from practically anywhere to everywhere at very reasonable rates, including interstate.

He also has an office in the Riverina that services the Western Plains, Broken Hill and the ACT. “Mark can arrange rescue and recovery if you’ve broken down, and has been authorised to attend motorcycle accident scenes so your bike won’t end up being dragged on its side onto the back of a truck (see Goldwing story above). “ We suggest that you keep SMN’s numbers in your wallet or preprogrammed into your phone – just in case of emergency. They are 1300 36 35 33 or 0414 509 323. You can also check SMN’s website for a quote (www. sydneymotorbikes.net.au).

INTERSTATE It’s not all that easy to pick an interstate transport company either, but once again we have personal experience. This time it’s me: I had to get our project Sportster from Iron Head Customs in Hoppers Crossing near Melbourne to Motorcyclist HQ in Sydney.

Like Terri, I asked around and the name that came up most often was Bikes Only.

I took a quick look at their website and then called them; they were able to give me a specific pickup and delivery date, which they kept scrupulously. I got a call on the day before they were due to deliver the bike to confirm arrangements.

Although I wasn’t able to be home when the bike was due, it arrived on schedule and in perfect condition, and they left it exactly where I’d asked for it to go.

Ray Callen, the National Operations Manager of Bikes Only, says “We have about $7 million’s worth of trucks, rigids and vans on the road. All of our vehicles have tailgate lifters, so there is never any danger of damage to bikes being collected or delivered. Transit insurance is included in freight costs.

“You can get a quick quote from our website, www.bikesonly.com.au and you can also pay on the website. Alternatively, you can ring 1300 735 468.

“We have set routes all across Australia.

Our trucks run on schedule; we do not consolidate, which makes a big difference because it means we are always

Love kes? motorbi

Buying or selling a bike? Relocating?

Want to do that dream ride? >

Door to Door Service

>

Set Runs – weekly, monthly

>

Australia Wide Service

>

Fly ride services

>

Specialist Motorcycle Transporter

>

Roll On Roll Off – No Crating

>

Tailgate Lifts for Easy Loading

Contact us today

1300 735 468

78

www.bikesonly.com.au info@bikesonly.com.au

punctual. Apart from the main capitals we ship to places like Cairns, Darwin, Perth and Hobart, as well as operating a regional network, and our depots in all States are fully secured. We’re also now the company of choice for Australia’s biggest internet sales operators, Bikesales and Bike Point.”

A very useful association Just Bikes has is with an escrow company, which ensures that you get paid when you sell a bike and send it to the new owner.

INTERNATIONAL Once again, while there are several companies shipping bikes overseas for holiday and, I suppose, other purposes, the one that comes up most frequently is Get Routed. And of coursed the destination that’s by far the most common is New Zealand. But geez, I don’t know – is Get Routed New Zealand really going to win any friends across the Tasman?

Where Australians are concerned, Kiwis notoriously lose their sense of humour.

Well, never mind. Clive McFadden

GET ROUTED NEW ZEALAND Shipping your motorcycle from Australia to New Zealand and return

Contact Clive on P: +61 431 840 127 E: clive@getroutednewzealand.com.au I: www.getroutednewzealand.com.au

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 78

2/07/2015 3:14 pm

PUB OF THE MONTH

JUST LIKE COMING HOME SOUTH WESTERN HOTEL, TOOMPINE QLD WORDS/PHOTOS COLIN WHELAN

80

RATED 3 OUT OF 5 HELMETS

I

’m pretty sure everyone knows that pubs are ‘pubs’ because they started out as public houses: houses which were open to the public. Often a married couple would simply set aside the largest room in their home, fit it out with seats around the walls for guests and set aside another back room where they’d keep the drinks, the glasses and any snacks.

The public would come to their house and so it became known as a ‘public house’ and soon this was contracted back to just a ‘pub’. Any workers were classified as ‘servants’ and the boss was the ‘host’.

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 80

26/06/2015 2:17 pm

This all changed in the mid-1800’s when pubs began installing barriers in the lounge between the guests and the stock. This enabled the drinks to be kept within easy reach and sped up the service, especially once the barriers came to be topped with a counter of sorts.

Just as ‘public house’ was contracted over time to its first three letters and became a ‘pub’ so too did this ‘barrier’ get slimmed down to ‘bar’ (and of course over time this name of establishments’ central locus came to be moniker for the entire place). A place with a bar was a ‘bar’ in the same way a room with a toilet is a ‘toilet’!

Bars didn’t just separate staff and clientele on the physical level, they also separated them in a more figurative and emotional sense. Guests became ‘customers’, servants became ‘barmaids’ and ‘barmen’, and the host became the ‘licensee’.

But now when I look at good pubs and think about what makes them great, one of the essentials is the blurring of this ‘us and them’ barrier. It’s the pubs which make me feel ‘at home’ or at the very least in the host’s home that rise above the good and become memorable.

It’s the pubs which are run by hosts who reach across the bar both literally

and figuratively to their guests that are the opals in the rock.

And if you find such a place at the end of a long or taxing day it seems to shine even more brightly. Few pubs have had a higher lux for me than the pub at Toompine between Thargomindah and Quilpie. Its official name is the South Western Hotel, but to every traveller who’s ever visited, it’s simply, “The Toompine Pub.” I’d come up the dirt road from Tharg.

The red dirt of the centre, of the outback. The red that magnifies every other colour: the sky, the clouds, the vegetation. Out here, every few hundred

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 81

81 26/06/2015 2:18 pm

PUB OF THE MONTH

kilometres or so I just pull over and switch off the engine. Clear the head of noise and fill it with the quiet. These are the roads where I can park the bike slap in the middle and spend 20 minutes shooting a panorama, confident no vehicle will be seen, heard or forced to go around.

Because it’s not just the colours that are magnified, it’s other stuff as well.

Physics tries to teach us that there is no such thing as darkness, only absence of light; no such thing as cold, only absence of heat and no such thing as quiet, only absence of sound.

Physics lies.

Out in the red heart, where the city has given way to the country, the country yielded to the bush and the bush surrendered to the outback, you will find a silence which is past quiet.

This is a silent which has its own density and mass.

This is The Silence. It is not the absence of anything. It is itself.

Stop the bike in the heat of the day, when even the flies are cowering on the dark side of leaves and twigs, and absorb the silence. If a crow or corella or magpie happens to cry out, it’s as though something tangible has been torn, ripped, damaged.

And it seems no co-incidence that excepting the dingo, not a single of our mammals or our reptiles has a loud call. They too respect the Silence.

Silence is the music of the harsh. I savour it several times on the ride north to Toompine.

When I come in from the Silence and the dust, Dogger meets me at the door of the pub. He reckons I look like I need a drink and he gets no argument.

The pub has no draft beer so I get a long cold water and a freezing stubby for a reasonable five bucks and Dogger joins me in the mid-arvo sun out front.

Blokes in utes drop by for a drink or some takeaways and all are up for a chat. Dogger’s real name is Glen but fewer people call him that than call the pub the ‘South Western.’ He’s the boss along with his wife Robyn.

With each arrival he jumps up, serves the fella then comes back outside to continue the yarn.

82

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 82

26/06/2015 2:20 pm

Pretty soon Bobbie wanders over from his caravan parked fifty metres away. He’s been here three days so he’s considered a local and he and Dogger reckon seeing as I’m doing nothing I might as well make myself useful and go down the creek with Bobbie to empty the yabbie traps and get some dinner.

Sounds a plan!

The Toompine Pub has what has to be Australia’s biggest beer garden… It’s on 8,500 acres and it’s cut through with creeks and waterholes. Pretty soon Bobbie and I are in his ute and headed down to a creek with still a decent bit of water. He’s already emptied the nets this morning and got a few dozen good ones.

We pull in half a dozen traps with maybe 20 blue claw all up and Bobbie reckons it’s about time to move the nets to a new billabong a bit further down.

We load the traps with pickled pork (“the buggers can’t resist this stuff,”), chuck ‘em into the brown waters, take the haul back to base and reunite ‘em in with their mates from the morning.

Tight squeeze in the kitchen as we all help pull tracts out of the yabbies before Bobbie turns them all orange in a boiling hot bath, loads them onto a massive platter and brings them all out front where a shady mob of usual suspects is gathered. There’s blokes from surrounding farms buggered after a hard day at it, a shearer on his was north to Adavale for just three days work with on a small mob, a truckie having a break on the way east to Dalby; all with stories and, in the fading light, great, character-filled faces.

One of them has the most genuine sweat and red dust stained hat I’ve ever seen and I tell them how a bushie mate of mine described Bob Katter with his pristine Akubra as, ‘all hat and no cattle’. They smile knowingly.

As the darkness takes over and the Silence seems a long way distant, we all hoe in and there’s plenty to go around.

Come to Toompine and you’re welcome to throw your nets into the creeks and have your efforts cooked up for free in the pub. You won’t be able to camp by the creeks but there’s plenty of space around the pub itself, including beside the pond right behind the pub. I

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 83

83 2/07/2015 10:28 am

PUB OF THE MONTH

camped right beside the front door.

If you’re not a camper, there’s a total of 7 rooms, all with air-con available for guests: 3 doubles and 4 singles at $70.00 and $50.00 respectively. If you want to throw a swag but prefer indoors there’s plenty of space in the pistol club hall about 80 metres from the pub.

All are welcome to use the toilet near the gun club but keep your eyes peel coz like so many country dunnies, the water attracts frogs and the frogs can attract snakes. The week before I got there a particularly keen blackie had to be forcibly removed!

There’s no TAB, no Keno, no ignorant, untrained backpacking staff and a prominent sign proclaims, No Cockheads.

There’s undercover parking in the shed around the back but if you’re there when it pours, get me a photo! And there’s as much need to lock up your bike as there is to hide it from the rain.

Robyn will cook you up a feed from a pretty decent menu any time you want.

“If the door’s open the kitchen’s open,” she tells me toward the end of the night.

She and Dogger have managed the pub for just under a year and are trying to

84

get the lease. Both are from out west, Dogger’s the older brother of Donna who, with husband Phil, runs the motel down in Tharg, the most hospitable licensed place down there. After a lifetime of shearing and running catering at places like the Roma Saleyards, they’re keen to make this their patch.

As we sit around chatting like you’d chat with friends who’re putting you up for the night, I see a couple of laminated typed sheets on the wall and it turns out they are a short history of the pub.

And there near the bottom of page two, it all becomes clear: The pub was built in 1893 by a Mr Power whose descendants still live in and around Tharg and Qulipie. It was built not as a pub but as ‘a homestead with five central rooms surrounded by a wide veranda and a separate kitchen block… over the years there have been alterations but in the main the appearance remains unchanged.’ And, I think to myself, if the writer had added, ‘character and feel’ to ‘appearance’ they’d have summed this place up perfectly. This is a ‘pub(lic house)’ with a bar but no barriers.

The season here stretches from Anzac Day to September, outside this it’s just too damn hot for most tourists so you’ve still got time to get out there this year.

It’s worth the effort.

It may be lacking in some amenities but the richness of its character and of its characters make it a truly iconic outback pub, and for me it even surpasses outback greats like Nindigully and Hebel.

It rates three helmets on our scale with a value rating of 122, neither of which reflects the sheer enjoyment and memorable experiences you’ll have when you drop in. Get there!

The South Western Hotel at Toompine Qld Street Address: Don’t worry, you’ll find it T: 07 4656 4863 Full Disclosure: Dogger reckoned I’d spent enough on refreshments (‘and besides you caught dinner’) so he waived any camping fee.

This didn’t influence any of my review or comments. 

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 84

2/07/2015 10:26 am

USED & REVIEWED

HOT RODS, STINGRAYS AND PUPPIES WHAT’S GOING ON THIS MONTH?

HOT ROD STU

Shoei NXR Cruise helmet Price - $849.95

I

love the fit and finish of Shoei helmets and I’ve been hanging out to get one as a track helmet. I now

have one – the Shoei NXR Cruise. The NXR is a sports touring helmet, but I love how well it fits and its stability at

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 85

85 2/07/2015 1:23 pm

USED & REVIEWED

high speed. I was more than happy to go with one. I’ve used an NXR on the road for a number of months and now getting one for the track means that I don’t have to readjust to the characteristics of a different helmet – I can just “get into it”.

Another plus with the NXR is that it comes standard with a Pinlock visor insert. Nothing is worse than barrelling down into a corner at well over 200km/h and not being able to see where you’re going – the Pinlock fixes this problem. Don’t have a Pinlock insert in your helmet? It is a MUST! I recently introduced a friend to the Pinlock and he said he wonders what he’d been doing all this time.

The Shoei NXR is compact, lightweight and aerodynamic. It is one of the lightest full face helmets available, which makes it comfortable to wear. It is also a quiet helmet and comes in an industry leading four

86

shell sizes to ensure a custom fit for heads between the sizes of XS-2XL. Sizing is bang on the money with other helmets, too.

Ventilation performance is excellent.

I run the NXR with the top three vents closed and only on the hottest days are they open.

The NXR’s QR-E base plate system facilitates quick visor changes and is very easy to use.

A dual layer, multi-density EPS liner not only improves impact absorption with varying densities of foam in key areas around your head, it is also designed to allow cool air to travel unrestricted through channels created in the EPS, further improving the NXR’s superior ventilation. In addition to enhanced impact absorption and ventilation, the precision placement of multi-density EPS liner material creates a more compact, lightweight design.

Emergency Quick Release System (EQRS), using technology borrowed from the X-12 helmet, allows emergency medical personnel to easily remove the cheek pads from an injured rider’s helmet. When the cheek pads have been removed, the helmet can be safely lifted from a rider’s head without creating unnecessary strain around the neck.

The helmet has a fully removable, washable, adjustable and replaceable 3D Max-Dry System II interior. The 3D centre pad is three-dimensionally shaped to match the contours of a rider’s head, allowing for an extremely comfortable fit while maintaining the firm hold necessary for distraction-free, high-speed riding.

Additionally, the NXR’s 3D-shaped cheek pads are available in multiple sizes for a customisable fit, and Shoei’s Max-Dry System II liner material absorbs and dissipates sweat

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 86

2/07/2015 1:24 pm

and moisture twice as fast as traditional Nylon helmet interiors.

Available in a wide range of plain colours and graphics, you need to try one on when next buying a helmet. See your local bike shop or www. mcleodaccessories.com.au SW

STEVE IRWIN’S REVENGE

Held Titan gloves Price - $300 (Special AMM Price!)

Have you ever seen a glove with stingray in it? Held has top level Titan gloves which offer what could be the highest level of protection from any glove on the market. I’ve seen what can happen to your hands if you use them as sliders along the bitumen, even if you’re wearing (cheap) gloves. This is why I’m a massive fan of the highest amount of protection money can buy and Held gives this to you with the Titan.

They’re made from 100% kangaroo leather and Kevlar, with stingray skin panels in vulnerable slide areas for maximum abrasion protection. Why stingray? Well, apparently Stingray offers the slipperiest surface with the least resistance of any product known.

Continue up the bottom of the hand onto the palm and you’ll find a small carbon fibre slider, and a huge patch of

stingray hide sewn in across the base of the palm to promote sliding in a wreck.

There’s also another carbon fibre slider at the base of the thumb. None of which get in the way when using the controls.

Other features include shock absorbing memory foam in the wrist/ cuff, Kevlar lining in vulnerable areas, ring and pinkie finger bridges reinforced with Kevlar ceramic polymermatrix coating and carbon and titanium knuckle protection.

Sizing is as per your normal size. I went with the size 11 (2XL). They were a touch tight when I first put them on, but after wearing them only twice, they are starting to mould just nicely to my hands – exactly what you want. For so much protection you think it’d be cumbersome, but they are anything but. In the end, these offer the best protection I’ve ever seen out of any glove. Grab a pair, or check out the entire Held range at www.heldaustralia. com.au SW

FIRM AND SQUEEZY

Grip Puppies Price - $29 + postage.

We tested the Grip Puppy comfort handlebar grips on a Suzuki DRZ-400E fitted with knobby tyres, which vibrates quite a lot.

Installation was easy. There’s no need to remove anything (but you have to undo the hand guard stem if you have one). You lather up some ordinary soap in your hands and rub the lather onto the existing handgrips. Then simply slid the Grip Puppies over the slippery surface and you’re done.

As a test to see how good the Grip Puppies are, Rob fitted one Grip Puppy onto the left hand grip only, leaving the stock hand grip alone on the throttle hand. His experiment lasted about three hours on a mix of sealed roads: suburban back streets, 60km/h arterial roads with traffic light stops, expressways and country highways. The result - a noticeable benefit. He says it wasn’t as if one hand felt better or worse than the other while riding; but he did notice that at the end of ride, his left hand did not have the post-ride tingles while his right hand did. So it definitely does make a difference and helps in reducing rider fatigue. Grab a pair from our good mate, Andy at Andy Strapz - www.andystrapz. com Ph: 03 9770 2207, or email: info@andystrapz.com 

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 87

87 2/07/2015 2:53 pm

TECHNICAL

TEN TIPS FOR SURVIVAL RIDE TO LIVE

WORDS MARK MCVEIGH PHOTOS COLIN WHELAN

It is not necessary to change.

Survival is not mandatory.

W. Edwards Deming

U

always buy the best protective clothing and helmet you can afford.

2

SORT OUT YOUR ATTITUDE

nfortunately for riders it’s more perilous than ever riding a motorcycle these days. Congestion, drivers using mobile phones, tailgating, poor road surface and just a general disregard for fellow human beings by aggressive drivers is making riding a motorcycle around Australian cities just not as much fun as it should be. Here are ten tips to help you ride to live – and incidentally to have fun as well. You don’t have to do this, of course. As Professor Deming says, survival is not mandatory…

It’s not fair that drivers use their mobile phone or tailgate. Sure.

But it’s important for riders to take responsibility for spotting these hazards. We are the ones who get hurt if it all goes wrong.

1

You should always be scanning for hazards looking forward and in your mirrors, whether it is road conditions, blind spots, texting drivers and so on. Make sure you are looking far enough ahead, too.

WEAR GOOD GEAR

Good riding gear is a must and can help hugely in reducing injury should the worst happen. There is a lot of cheap rubbish out there so

88

3

COVER THE BRAKES

Sometimes you need to react quickly and having your fingers on your brake lever reduces the time you’ll take trying to find it in an emergency.

4

SCAN

5

GET SOME TRAINING

As a trainer I see huge student skill gains after even one day of advanced training. Motorcycles are a lifelong journey and you should get regular training to keep your skills sharp. It’s a lot of fun too.

6

PRACTICE EMERGENCY BRAKING

Emergency braking should be intuitive and therefore practiced regularly. Start with using only the front brake and practice your way to including the rear plus changing down into first gear - just in case you have to make a hasty getaway from the tailgating cagers.

Start off by finding a quiet area with a slight uphill and make sure no one is behind you. Think of braking in two stages. First setup; with light pressure, this will make the bike pitch forward, transferring vertical load onto the front tyre which increases grip. Then squeeze the brake lever

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 88

26/06/2015 2:26 pm

2

1 progressively, until you come to a complete stop. Never snatch at the brakes as this can cause the tyre to skid. If the tyre begins to skid quickly release the brake and reapply.

Fifteen percent of motoDNA students have the throttle on when they first practice emergency braking. We recommend you also pull the clutch in when you apply the brake, which overcomes this common issue.

7

POSITION YOURSELF ON THE ROAD

Your road position is dynamic which means it should change depending on the risk around you.

Imagine you are at the centre of a safety bubble, the dimensions of which change in relation to the proximity of other road users, junctions and the condition and width of the road. This creates a buffer zone between you and hazards, giving you more time to see, be seen and react.

Resist pressure to get pushed along

3 by cars following too closely behind you. It’s important that you keep that 3-second gap to the car in front so you can react in time to any hazards. This also makes you more visible to other traffic users and you can see more clearly around the car in front.

8

GET TO THE FRONT

Bikes are lighter, narrower and more manoeuvrable than other vehicles, which is great for lane filtering. Getting to the front of the traffic at the lights means you can zoom away from the cars and get some space. [This may not be legal in your State… - Ed]

9

NEVER TRUST A GREEN LIGHT

When you approach any junction you should be scanning for hazards. Never accelerate through the junction, cover your brakes, adjust your road position and scan that a

1. Scanning is vital, even if it isn’t always easy.

Skippy could be waiting to surprise you.

2. Roadside hazards can get tricky, like here in Quilpie…

3. On the open road, stock is not your friend. car is not going to run their red light or stop sign and come out in front of you.

10

WATCH YOUR SPEED

If you are fanging around the city in a rush it’s not going to end well for you. Chill out and reduce your risk by watching your speed.

THE AUTHOR: Mark McVeigh is a Moto Journo and Director of Coaching at motoDNA Motorcycle Academy.

Read more of Mark’s work on the motoDNA blog, or follow motoDNA on Twitter and Facebook. 

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 89

89 26/06/2015 2:26 pm

black or white. Promoto’s Oggy Knobbs take the brunt of impacts and road surface abrasion and can significantly reduce repair costs after a fall. Only the strongest, most resilient materials are used to ensure strength, performance and appearance. We’ve used Oggy Knobbs numerous times and love the high quality fit and finish. We’ve also seen

the result after a crash (not ours) and they really do reduce the amount of damage – a lot!

See your local bike shop or www.kenma.com.au

SPORTIER OUTFIT

Ural cT The Ural factory has tweaked its outfits to get an even better ride

from a well proven design and released the “cT” model. The factory has made a small compromise in ground clearance and lowered the whole outfit a little by running 18” wheels all round. Then they have used the retro sidecar suspension to bring the chair itself down a couple more centimetres. All this lowers the centre of gravity to increase stability and cornering ability.

Still suitable for road or adventure riding, there is more to the mods. The mounting brackets have been expanded to push the wheel track wider. A wider wheel track has created more stability and less inclination to lift the chair when on fast or off-camber turns. Ural Australia has landed the new “cT” with 2015 specs in Gloss Grey, Terracotta or Yellow. Supplies are limited and you can find out more from www.imz-ural.com.au or 02 6778 7436.

Confidence building, road riding courses ‘Getting to know your bike’ courses (New) Group rides (e.g. Uluru, Tasmania)

Learn from motorcycle paramedic experience Private sessions– $75/hour (less with up to two friends) Group sessions (max. 10 people) at Kart Tracks- $380

Group courses arranged for clubs, a few mates (minimum 6), even work groups.

Call, email or visit the

Private sessions now available at Picton Kart track– you could have the track all to yourself!

P: 0414 974 815

website for course details

E: admin@skillmaster.com.au W: www.skillmaster.com.au

We can even pick you and your bike up if required* (*additional cost for transport usually around $150) www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 91

91 2/07/2015 1:41 pm

NEW IN THE SHOPS

NO SLOW, IN THE COLD

MAKE IT REAL

Carbon Barkbusters – Ducati Scrambler Price - $121.95 The Barkbusters handguards are a perfect complement to the Scrambler’s wide, upswept one piece handlebar.

With the wide variety of Barkbusters guard options the final look of the Scrambler can be tailored to suit the

needs of every rider; from the sleek look of Carbon to the greater wind protection offered by Storm, with the Jet and VPS also giving you plenty of other options to tailor to your needs. Visit your local bike shop to grab a set, or visit www. barkbusters.net

Andy Strapz Thermalz Price - $85 top, $93 pants Keeping warm is not about bulk but efficient layers and the best first layer is superfine Merino.

Andy Strapz Thermalz have been a staple of the Aussie bike scene for over a decade.

As Andy’s design drive is to always improve and refine his gear, the fabric has been changed from a hollow fibre poly knit to a superfine, itch free, Merino.

The fabric is very stable, extremely resistant to pilling and machine washable.

Andy’s Thermalz are unisex for him or her.

Contact Andy on Ph: 03 9770 2207, email: info@andystrapz.com Visit: HQ at 16F New St, Frankston,

11

years

Ride roads less travelled

Greece Tour

OctOber 5 - 18

COLD BEER! GREAT FOOD and GOOD TIMES! Modern rooms, fabulous food and friendly welcome at this real Aussie Bush Pub.Weekday Special discount. Ride the winding Oxley and stay in comfort.

Guided & Self-Guided tours I bMW Motorcycles & rentals

www.adriaticmototours.com

SHORT ADELAIDE TOURS ON NEW BENELLIS Don’t have much time? We lead one-day or shorter tours on some of the best roads in the Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula.

Hire exciting BN600R Benellis.

APSLEY ARMS HOTEL, WALCHA

33N Derby Street, Walcha 2354 026 777 2502 www.apsleyarms.com.au

92

Visit www.radtours.com.au and click on the TOUR LOCATIONS button.

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 92

1/07/2015 11:24 am

3199 or visit the website: www.andystrapz.com

ITALIAN PROTECTION AND STYLE Gaerne GP1 boots Price - $499.95 Want some of the best protection for your feet and ankles? Grab a pair of the latest from Gaerne – the GP1 boots. Featuring a unique Gaerne floating system made of carbon composite, which allows the foot to move naturally and prevents ankle twisting without compromising flexibility; a shock absorbing heel cup; adjustable calf closing system; fully washable and removable inner sole and available in 3 colours (Black, Red or White) you will enjoy high levels of protection with comfort. See your local bike shop or visit www.cassons.com.au

Want Pro photos of you & your bike? ...By Australian Motorcyclist photographer, Nick Wood

www.nickwood.smugmug.com nick@ausmotorcyclist.com.au 0417 057 227 or (02) 4567 0586

Still portraits, road shots or racetrack pics

Affordable packages • photo or video options • Gift Vouchers available • event & general photography available as well www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 93

93 1/07/2015 11:25 am

estimated 7.14 horsepower gain to the 950cc Bolt. As with all K&N filters, this unit is washable, reusable, pre-oiled and ready for installation.

See your local bike shop or visit www.ctaaustralia.com.au

STRYKING Yamaha Stryker Bullet Cowl The new Yamaha Stryker Bullet Cowl brings a tougher look and excellent wind protection to the popular 1300 liquid cooled V-twin.

The look reinterprets classic custom chopper styling for an aggressive feel. On sale now for $15,599 (+orc), see your local Yamaha dealer. 

- Fits Most Bikes Over 600cc - Easy to Install - Easy to Use - Road and Off Road Bikes - 5 Year Functional Guarantee Distributed in Australia by Cruising Bikers Dealer enquiries welcome

(02) 9651 3380

www.crusingbikers.com.au 91_5x135_SUSAD_VMX.indd 1

AMM_August_layout2.indd 95

26/9/12 11:05:07 PM

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

95 1/07/2015 11:26 am

TEAR-OUT MAP #15

OUTBACK NSW NOT ONLY FOR THE MAD

WORDS STUART WOODBURY PHOTOS CAIN MAITLAND

BROKEN HILL

T

his month’s adventure map takes you to see some pretty and stunningly vast countryside. Just for the sheer excitement value, I recommend basing yourself at White Cliffs, at the Underground Motel.

But, depending on where you’re coming from you can base yourself in Wilcannia, Menindee or Broken Hill.

WHITE CLIFFS

White Cliffs is an opal-mining town in which residents mainly live underground to escape the heat. It’s 98km from Wilcannia in Outback NSW and set in bizarre moonscapelike country comprising thousands of hillocks of earth dug and discarded in the quest for opals. When visiting the White Cliffs area, stay in unique caveand station-style accommodation for an authentic outback experience.

Fuel, including Premium, is available, along with most essentials. A great place to use as a touring base.

WILCANNIA

Wilcannia is a historic Darling River port town, 200km east of Broken Hill

98

and part of the White Cliffs area.

The town’s role in the prosperous riverboat era is evident today in the many heritage buildings built from sandstone quarried locally. The Darling River, which cuts through the town, softens the surrounding semi-arid landscape. Stay in unique nearby accommodation, including underground caves, stations, caravan parks and even an old train compartment. Just be wary of the locals, they can be a bit rough. Fuel is available, and so are most essentials.

MENINDEE

Menindee is the gateway to Kinchega National Park, where the Darling forms a chain of natural lakes. Make sure you see this amazing sight as the sun sets over the dead river gums in the lakes. Or, as I have done, watch the sunrise with the thousands of birds flying around the lakes.

A very pretty place to experience.

Menindee has fuel, accommodation and basic essentials. I’ve stayed at Maidens Hotel and eaten breakfast at the Redsands Take Away.

Broken Hill was built on the world’s largest silver, lead and zinc mine run

by Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, now BHP Billiton, one of the world’s largest mining companies.

These days, Broken Hill offers much more than mining tours and museums. More than 30 art galleries exhibit work by artists inspired by the Broken Hill and its surrounding landscapes. It is a major outback town, so you can get all you’ll need in Broken Hill.

SILVERTON

Only 25km from Broken Hill, Silverton has for decades attracted filmmakers. The famous Silverton Hotel, circa 1880, and its surrounds have featured in Australian productions including Mad Max 2, A Town Like Alice and Dirty Deeds.

Drink in the atmosphere at the hotel with its exhibition of film and television memorabilia. Make sure you visit the Mad Max Museum and you’ll be passing the famous Mundi Mundi lookout, great for those Mad Max fans. No fuel is available, but you can stay at a couple of places in Silverton or camp if you don’t want to stay in Broken Hill. 

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 98

29/06/2015 9:21 am

LONG TERMERS

MAGICAL IMPROVEMENTS AND ONE SAYS GOODBYE

T

he Suzuki Wee Strom has gone to a good home in the country, where it can enjoy some long and challenging dirt rides instead of constantly being dragged out onto the tarmac in the city. We’re going to miss it – it was just so convenient and user-friendly.

All of us are happy to suggest it to anyone who might be looking for

a medium-sized, versatile bike that won’t let them down.

But to move on.

You will find a special “Long Termers” story elsewhere in the magazine with details of the Kuryakyn bits we fitted to our H-D Sportster 72.

It looks the goods, let me tell you, and the Crusher exhaust certainly makes

sure that it and its rider get respect on the road!

Meanwhile the Ducati Scrambler Icon is taking over the Suzuki’s duties! We hadn’t expected that, and it is a little awkward at this stage because we haven’t yet got the Ducati accessories, including the luggage, that we asked for – but it is also proving to be

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 99

99 1/07/2015 11:11 am

LONG TERMERS

amazingly versatile. So keep an eye out for that one.

Most of this month’s article is taken up by Stuart raving about the MT-07.

One of the nicest things about the Big Fella is how enthusiastic he gets about bikes and other stuff – he just loves motorcycling, so anything that improves the experience for him tends to get big ups. This time that’s taken him maybe just a little bit further than he expected – we doubt very much that he will be able to give the Yamaha MT-07 back! Alana actually has her eyes on it, so it will probably become a member of the family.

Anyway, enough from me – enjoy what we’ve enjoyed! PT

YAMAHA MT-07 COMFORT SEATS Price - $343.71 Standard, the MT-07 riders seat is not too comfy. It is okay for short distances, but anything more and you suffer. The genuine Yamaha accessory Comfort seat was a top priority with our MT-07 and not only has it improved the looks, but comfort is much improved. Another added bonus is it has made the seat height about 5mm taller. Great for my long legs!

When you buy the Comfort seat, it also comes with matching pillion seat.

Both have a suede type finish, with red stitching and the front edge of the pillion seat has an etched “MT-07” logo.

Fitment is simple and took about five minutes. Yamaha has a range of Comfort seats for a number of models. Visit https://yshop.yamahamotor.com.au/ or your local Yamaha dealer. SW

RIZOMA MAGIC ELISSE MIRRORS Price - $124.17 Euro ($182.60 Aus) each. Mirror adaptor - $7.92 Euro Have you seen Rizoma awesomeness in the flesh? If you have you know that Rizoma is the bee’s knees when it comes to aftermarket accessories.

We have received a box full of Rizoma

100

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 100

1/07/2015 11:12 am

awesomeness to fit to our MT-07 and we thought we’d start off by showing the amazing Elisse mirrors.

This particular mirror is made from billet aluminium and has 3D machining for an exquisite look. The glass features an amber coloured antiglare mirror, which is also highly water repellent, making it much easier to see things behind you when raining. Fitment is supreme, as you would expect from such a high quality product. For the MT-07, it required mirror adaptors and setting them up is easy.

As a mirror, the Elisse is very stable and it’s easy to see what’s in the mirror. The antiglare works a treat and looks like it’s been gold plated.

If you want the best from aftermarket accessories, look no further than Rizoma. There are a number of Australian dealers.We had a Rizoma ad in the last issue showing them with all their details. Alternatively, you can visit the Rizoma website to find a dealer – www.rizoma.com SW

terms of comfort. The GT was a perfectly normal midsized naked bike, with an upright riding position and a seat that accommodated my (somewhat less demanding, at the time) backside well and ergonomics which were certainly not perfect, but not bad either. Um, well, there was the clutch, which gave my hand more exercise than it really wanted – but so what.

In a way, the Scrambler is a modern version of the GT but with a much nicer – also wet - clutch.

In fact, everything is much nicer on this smaller reincarnation. The bike is almost supernaturally easy to ride with a near-perfect upright riding position, even nearer perfect ergonomics and a reassuringly aggressive (if also mechanically a little loud) engine. The bike is smaller than the GT and the engine is larger, which is fine by me.

In fact the whole bike is fine by me – so fine that it has turned from an interesting project bike to my daily transport. We’re currently waiting for some genuine Ducati parts and accessories to play with, so keep an eye on this department for more Scrambler talk. PT 

DUCATI SCRAMBLER ICON THE GOFER I owned a GT750 Ducati for a while, and I’m still kicking myself for getting rid of it. Then again, I did trade it in for a round case 750SS, so I didn’t exactly go backwards – except in

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 101

101 1/07/2015 11:12 am

CLASSIC MORRIS

THE 50 KLICK DUKE DID YOU KNOW THAT DUCATIS WERE FIRST IMPORTED INTO AUSTRALIA BY A HARDWARE SHOP? WORDS LESTER MORRIS

P

eople who live in the many nations remote from the Great South Land might be very surprised to discover that the ‘Island/Nation/ Continent’, or ‘Down Under’ – as Australia is so often called - is not only by far the biggest island in the world, but that its area is almost exactly the same as the land mass of the United States of America, if one excludes Alaska. It’s true, because it is almost the same distance from Darwin, in the Northern Territory, to Adelaide in South Australia as it is from America’s Great Lakes to New Orleans. It is also nearly the same distance from Perth in Western Australia to the Nation’s most populous city, Sydney, in New South Wales, as it is from New York to Los Angeles.

But there the comparison ends, because America has a population of some 350-odd million, while Oz has a population of just over 23 million people, most of whom are living almost in the water on the Nation’s east coast, with a few settlements a little further inland. On the other side of the huge Island, Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, sits almost alone as the most isolated major capital city on earth.

In pointing out these facts, I am reminded of the executive from the small, newly-established Ducati motorcycle factory in Italy who arrived in Australia in the early fifties with the all-new 65cc Cucciolo ‘Turismo’ ultra-lightweight motorcycle with a plan to ride from Sydney to Melbourne on the miniscule device as some sort of publicity stunt to help promote the machine.

It was clear from his statements to the Press at the time that the Ducati

102

factory executive had no blind idea of just how huge our land mass was, or how far he had to ride the little bike on his long journey from Sydney to Melbourne. He could also have had no idea how long it would take at the little biker’s stated 44mph (50Km/h!) top speed – downhill?- when he announced his intention to introduce his new, ultra-lightweight machine to the Australian public.

This was of course in the very, very early history of Ducati in this country, for it had crept into Australia, as it did into other countries, without publicity or fanfare. The company had been formed as far back as 1924, but had originally been involved in the manufacture of radio parts; the new lightweight Cucciolo machine was its first serious foray into the manufacture of motorcycles.

Ducati had arrived in Australia in early 1948 with the announcement that its new, bolt-on engine called the Cucciolo (‘Little Pup’, or ‘Puppy’, depending on who you were talking to at the time, and named after its ‘yapping’ exhaust note) was imported into NSW by Nock and Kirby, which was then the biggest hardware store in the country. Nock and Kirby was looking to diversifying its interests and was spreading its wings into new territory with the adoption of this new engine kit for pushbikes as well as a number of inboard marine and outboard engines imported from England.

The little Ducati engine was a 48cc four-stroke with exposed overhead valves operated by pull-rods, not pushrods, a one-piece cylinder head and barrel, a large, external flywheel behind which its magneto lurked,

a two-speed gearbox, and its spark plug pointing directly ahead, waiting to be doused by road spray in wet weather. The neat little power-plant was intended to be clamped to your ordinary pushbike where the pedal cranks were, to provide a miniscule power source. There was a set of pedals fitted to the engine which could be used to start the device and then they were held in different positions to change from the low first gear to the (not much) higher second gear. I rode one of these things back then, which was quite an experience, but I cannot remember exactly where the pedals were supposed to be. I think they were at quarter-to-three when you took off, and at quarter-past-nine for the higher gear, or it might have been at six o’clock for one gear and half-pasttwelve for the other, but I must say I can’t remember if this is right or not.

But what I do remember was the stern admonition to never turn the pedalcranks backwards, but I am not sure why: I suspect it might have confused the gear-change mechanism.

If I don’t know the exact position of the bicycle pedals in selecting one gear or another, what I do know is that any English Vicar’s obese and elderly maiden aunt could probably blow one of these ‘powered’ pushbikes into the weeds while normally seated on a Raleigh pushbike with ‘situp-and-beg’ handlebars, and do so without raising a sweat.

It has been suggested that the little engine - which was designed in 1945

by Aldo Farinelli and built by Ducati from 1947 onwards, after its original manufacturer S.I.A.T.A couldn’t keep up with demand - was said to be a surprise package in its performance,

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 102

1/07/2015 11:09 am

and perhaps the ‘Little Pup’ might beat pedalling your steed everywhere you went. But not by much, I suggest, because I remember you still had to stand on the pedals to provide much needed assistance to the engine on most ‘reasonable’ gradients. You would probably have to leap off and trot alongside your pushbike in low gear on anything steeper.

In the normal process of evolution there was – God help us! - a 60cc road-race version of the Cucciolo engine fitted into its own frame, but without pedals, and it in fact won quite a number of races – including a nine-day ( 9 DAY!!) event held in Italy. I don’t know what these pocket rockets were actually racing against, but it’s a fair bet the things were not overly endowed with anything from great speed to even greater handling or brakes, though fuel consumption (which was said to be an astounding 225 mpg!) was probably not much of a concern.

A larger, 55cc version of the little 48cc Ducati engine shortly appeared as a complete machine with a slightly heavier frame, drum brakes, pedals and lightweight front forks. It is said that somewhat more than 200,000 Cuccioli were sold by 1950, I assume as bolt-on kits just prior to the introduction of complete machines. This would have greatly helped the Ducati coffers, and almost certainly established the factory as a serious manufacturer of lightweight motorcycles. The success of the little engine may have provided the reason for the Italian’s executive’s promotional visit to Sydney.

Further into the Cucciolo’s evolution, the 65cc upgrade in 1950, which the Italian visitor rode, had the bigger engine mounted into a ‘proper’ lightweight frame, and it was fitted with a modern looking swing-arm rear suspension and slightly heavier telescopic front forks. Though not far removed from a heavy pushbike, it was nonetheless built as an ultra-light motorcycle, with a power output from the ‘larger’ engine of some 2 (that’s TWO) horsepower. Valve gear was now enclosed, the cylinder head detachable, with the bicycle pedals removed and a three-speed gearbox incorporated.

This is the machine our earnest Italian was going to ride from Sydney to Melbourne, poor bugger. If he had no idea how far this distance was, then he was soon to find out as he was pointed in the right direction one morning and waved away from Sydney’s GPO, replete with floppy, black felt hat and large overcoat, a photo of the event carried in one of Sydney’s morning newspapers. Quite some time later – probably three or four days! - he arrived in Goulburn, and asked one of the friendly natives if this was indeed Melbourne! According to legend, he was told that he had just covered less than one fifth of the journey, but there is no record of how he felt about that, or what he did.

I cannot recall hearing any more about this brave soul, but can only assume he may have managed to get a lift back to Sydney, with his bike either flung savagely into the roadside bushes or tucked underneath his arm.

For all I know he may still be on the

Lots of accessories on

www.imz-ural.com.au

p: 02 6778 7436

road somewhere between both cities, a bit like a precursor to Forrest Gump, who, if you remember the film, started running one day and didn’t know how to stop again for some considerable time.

If this was the case, by now the hapless Italian may well be heavily bearded and unkempt, his large felt hat bleached by the sun to an ugly grey and stiff as an ironing board, his large, flapping coat tattered and filthy with age. He would by then have every right to be twitching and muttering to himself, the while still searching the horizon with bloodshot, red-rimmed eyes, aching for his first glimpse of this Great Southern Metropolis.

He may also have the shards of many an overtaking semi-trailer’s mirrors adorning his garments, or even the powdered rubber of numerous shredded tyres glued to his face.

What an absurd scenario I hear you groan, as the highly-steamed Editor of this odd piece has assuredly done – and not for the first time.

On the other hand, of course, our hero probably told us all to get stuffed and simply flew back home again. In the first available DC3 aircraft!

If he had waited two years until 1953 he could have given the new Ducati Cruiser motor scooter a squirt and enjoyed a somewhat quicker, and certainly more comfortable, ride. The smart looking new scooter employed a 175cc, 12BHP, four-stroke engine, with electric starter and automatic transmission. It was amongst the best of its time, and would have been amongst the fastest as well, but was too expensive to compete with the

SMART & EASY WAY TO POWER UP FAST - WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST!

Able to jump start your Motorbike, Car in a flash and charge any USB device.

To buy go to: www.smartmotorcycleaccessories.com.au www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 103

103 1/07/2015 11:09 am

CLASSIC MORRIS

biggest selling machines, the Vespa and the infinitely better Lambretta, both of which also hailed from Italy.

Ducati managed to manufacture just 2000 of their fine scooters, the other two Italian scooters accounting for many millions between them.

Vespa, of course, survives to this day, while Lambretta, made under licence in Germany for years as the NSU Prima, and in nearly a score of other countries including India, is currently in limbo, with vague promises of someday re-appearing in all its glory.

As a postscript to this story, Lambretta once announced a worldwide competition for the longest single ride on one of its scooters, and offered several million lira (which was probably worth about Twenty Five Pounds ( $50 then, but about $1000 in today’s money) to the stalwart who could manage to achieve this feat. A local lad, who must have been at once desperate and should have known better, decided the simplest way to achieve his fortune was to ride his little scooter half-way around Australia, which he then proceeded to do.

It wasn’t too bad, he said, (I suggest it wasn’t too good, either) when riding along sealed roads but the device must have been more than a handful on the unsealed road across the Nullarbor Plains back in the early fifties, where potholes hidden in loose bulldust and long stretches of corrugations were a challenge to the skateboard-sized 8” wheels and short-travel, rudimentary damped suspension system.

Again, he would have had nothing to grip with his knees, other than his wedding tackle – which he probably gripped by hand every now and again for a swift, relieving massage, particularly after negotiating several potholes and numerous other irregularities into which the little scooter’s wheels would surely have

104

plunged. Perhaps he carried a tengallon fuel tank on the machine’s footboard to ensure he managed to cross the forbidding stretch of track without running out of fuel. He could certainly grip that with his knees, but at what cost to the little bike’s handling?

I (exceedingly) dimly recall reading something about the bloke’s ordeal, in which he related, as he was just near the end of the Nullarbor Plain at the first sighting of some foothills near Kalgoorlie, that he spotted a small cloud of dust which seemed to be descending a small hillock in the middle distance. As the cloud approached it proved to be a pack of wild dogs: not dingoes, he said, but previously domestic canines which were probably wild because someone had dumped them on the side of the road and then driven off. They were barking like crazy and looking not only mean but lean as well.

With the throttle wide open and the little bike gyrating underneath him like a Mallee bull with a flank strap attached, he ploughed – why put a pun in at this stage of the drama, you might ask? – through the dirt ahead, hoping against hope that one of the three most likely things that could happen wouldn’t happen. He could (a) fall off the bloody thing, and be consumed on the spot; (b) the engine could overheat and seize or have the spark plug conk out; (c) the spark plug could grow a whisker across its terminals and conk out anyway; (d) he could run out of petrol; or (e) be overtaken by the swiftest of the meateaters and be plucked from his scooter.

That’s five I know, but (f) he said he was about half-a-mile an hour quicker than the fastest of the pursuers, and was just able to keep them at bay, though I am sure he would not have looked over his shoulder to see how far behind they were!

He rode that thing as far and as fast as he could before pulling up for a rest to void his loins or to throw up his lunch at the side of the road, and there can be no doubt he was mightily relieved (Please, not another pun!) to find no sight, or sound, of his erstwhile pursuers.

To traverse this large Island Continent from one side to the other, or one end to the other on two wheels has always been a daunting task, but to have attempted the feat on a small, softly-sprung, mini-wheeled, under-powered scooter over a mostly unmade, pot-holed, corrugated and dust covered ‘road’ more than sixty years ago? That would have to have been an act of either supreme courage, or the act of a hare-brained crackpot, for it was said at the time that there was no support vehicle of any type to accompany the youth.

Quite apart from the distinct possibility of being gleefully consumed by a pack of ravenous wild dogs at some point of that long and perilous journey, it remains a wonder that he managed to survive to tell the tale.

Happily, the Island Continent of Australia is not peopled by predatory animals like lions, tigers, leopards, bears or other dangerous man-eating critters, while the inquisitive Dingo or large (herbivorous) kangaroo can be shooed away fairly easily, but there are sometimes small packs of ‘wild’ dogs to be seen which can be quite menacing. It was probably quite a surprise to our enterprising youth to have come across such a small pack of ravenous creatures which were camped just outside that first glimpse of civilisation at Kalgoorlie, but it might have been a different matter had they crept up to his flickering camp fire in the dead of night to descend savagely upon him! 

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 104

1/07/2015 11:07 am

WHAT SAY YOU?

W

E LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, the letters are among the most keenly read parts of the magazine. Please try and keep letters down to no more than 300 words. Then you can read many, not just a couple. We do reserve the right to cut them and, unless you identify yourself and at least your town or suburb and state, we will print your email address instead. Please address letters to thebear@ausmotorcyclist.com.au or Australian Motorcyclist Magazine, PO Box 2066, Boronia Park NSW 2111. All opinions published here are those of the writers and we do not vouch for their accuracy or even their sanity!

only I could get that through to some of our parliamentarians… Here’s a secret: Boris sometimes gets my blood boiling, too. But that’s fine; in fact, it doesn’t boil nearly often enough. PT

THE WINNER IS…

T

his month’s winner is Eoin Peters, who learned a lesson from something as humble as one of our neck tubes. We hope he learns something from one of Andy Strapz’ excellent Shoulda Bagz as well. We have one of these and it gets a lot of use both as a kind of courier bag and for trips into the country, when it holds a cut lunch and a small thermos.

Perfect! And don’t worry, Eoin, they’re not woosy “manbags”…

Another letter we quite liked was the one from Philip Shaw from Mount Crosby in Queensland. Phil wrote to us in something of a minor rage, but then cooled down after Stu wrote back to him. Not that he didn’t have the right to get angry. We all have the right to object to things people say and write. If

HEY,WOOSE! COLD, ISN’T IT? G’day Bear, I recently renewed my subscription to Australian Motorcyclist & received one of the Neck Tubes in the mail shortly thereafter. When this thing arrived, I thought to myself, “What a woosy thing to wear. Why, in heaven’s name would someone ever wear something like that?”

Having thought all those things, I put the neck tube into my tank bag.

Last week, a mate & I had some time to kill, so we decided to go for a ride. I really enjoy touring in the winter months. The heated grips keep my hands lovely & warm & the heated seat, well, what can I say. There is nothing more pleasant then feeling your ass being warmed, unless of course it is someone else, doing the warming. In addition to these two items, I also ride behind an acre of plastic, which diverts the cold air away. However, riding in the summer heat can become very challenging. I ride a BMW R1200RT & find that this bike does everything I want from a tourer.

Anyway, I digress, we rode to Canberra,

then Jindabyne, Mallacoota & finally Bermagui before returning home to the Illawarra. At Jindabyne, I then pulled on a fleecy throat coat & did the collar of my jacket right up. I thought this might stop the irritation I felt as the jacket collar was rubbing against my throat.

This worked, but it was very restrictive, so I took it off.

I put the throat cover in my tank bag & saw the neck tube looking out at me. I pulled it on, did up my jacket, put my helmet back on & continued riding. I have to eat my words; this is the best thing ever. Thin enough to not be restrictive at all, easily tucks into the collar of my jacket & really comfortable.

So, I just wanted to thank you for this free gift. I have no doubt that it will make my hours touring much more pleasant.

Enjoy the mag, keep up the great work.

Yours Sincerely, Eoin Peters Hi Eoin, would you think we’d give you a “gimmick”? LOL! Wait until you wash it with some fabric softener, it gets even better! Enjoy your riding, mate! Cheers, Stuart.

Iron on medium heat, Eoin, or maybe you could just dry it on your heated seat! – The Bear

Replacement and Custom Cruiser screens DISCOVER AMERICA’S

WILD WEST

From $140 www.eaglescreens.com.au

Enjoy First-class Rental Service at Dubbelju

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 105

105 1/07/2015 11:05 am

WHAT SAY YOU?

BOILING ABOUT BORIS Dear Stuart, I read issue 27 which got the blood boiling, re motorcyclists not being part of a fraternity.

I usually give or receive a nod from a few other two-wheeled users on the road, apart from scooter riders and cruiser riders who usually don’t nod nor acknowledge. I don’t wish to stop and hug them and swap life histories; it is merely a quick and painless acknowledgment that someone shares my love of riding.

However, now I find that Boris doesn’t like some of us who indulge in this weird behavior. If someone doesn’t like me I won’t hang around to be told twice. I’ll walk away. Please cancel my subscription and refund the balance.

Kind Regards, Philip Shaw Mount Crosby Qld TO WHICH STU REPLIED: Hi Philip, Think about what you’re saying here.

You want to cancel your subscription just because of Boris? He writes columns like this just to stir people up – most of the time he doesn’t mean it.

Are you also saying you don’t enjoy the rest of the magazine?

Let me know.

Cheers, Stuart AND PHIL WROTE BACK: Hi Stuart, I love the rest of the magazine, and congratulations on your expanded role. (Love your informative bike tests.)

I followed the Bear over from his last magazine when he set up this one. I have written to Bear and had letters

published, and came and said g’day at the Brisbane motorcycle show last year. I don’t make it a habit of writing to magazines, but this one has, dare I say it, a more mature feel about it. I’m 60, so I no longer buy the bike magazines that interested me twenty years ago.

The funny thing is; I emailed re Boris’ previous article about speeding, as I fully agreed. Sometimes we have to speed up to avoid danger, or ride quicker than the surrounding traffic so as not to stay in a blind spot. Apart from that having a good fang is good therapy, as is just riding a bike daily.

(CBF1000; can’t afford a Beamer or Guzzi as mentioned in Boris’ article).

Which is why no doubt I’ve blown Boris’ comments out of proportion this time. Having been clinically diagnosed with the black dog but refusing to take medication any more it’s the little things that get me through. If I’ve had a shit day, having someone give me a nod while riding toward me is enough to give me a lift. So that’s why I was fired up at Boris’ latest article.

Um, OK. I’ve finished sooking. Don’t cancel my subscription.

Thanks for taking the time to email me back, Stuart.

Kind Regards, Philip Shaw Mount Crosby Qld Actually, Philip and Stuart, Boris usually does mean it. And we actually need to be reminded of the things he writes about. You certainly don’t need to agree with him – we’d be a pretty poor excuse for a magazine if we only published stuff that everyone agrees with – but it pays to read his column, and to think about it – The Bear

MOTORCYCLE TOURS WITH EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURES – SINCE 2003!

Self Guided Tours arranged for anytime you prefer in 2015 and 2016, or on specific dates to join other riders (April, May and June 2016) – Italy, France, Spain, Croatia, Switzerland, the Dolomites and the Alps, Corsica, the Stelvio and many other areas.

All hotels, bikes, tour routes and GPS well researched and organised for you – you just turn up! From only $800 per rider! This is the way to go! We have 12 years experience operating tours in Europe for Australians. Call Ross now on 0418 133 756 for a chat or email naylor.ross@europeanmotorcycleadventures.com More details on our website www.europeanmotorcycleadventures.com

MANY OLD MEN Hi, Bear.

I had to laugh. There in the Ulysses magazine was a letter from some bloke who has a cap from the Happy Birthday Australia Rally in 1988.

He was wondering if the logo on it was the first appearance of the Ulysses Old Man. Now, for a start he is five years out, because the club was formed in 1983 and I seem to remember that you designed the Old Man even before there was a club.

But also he seems to think that everything revolves around the club.

If I remember correctly (and I was at the HBAR) the logo had nothing to do with Ulysses?

The Old(ish) Man Broken Hill, NSW True, true. I did that drawing and it is in my style, as is the real Ulysses Old Man, but it is by no means a copy. If you look long enough you’ll find other badges and such that I’ve designed that look a bit like the Old Man (think of the Dumb Bikers Run), but they’re all original – The Bear BAZ GOES POSTAL As AustPost declines and profits drop, in its wisdom, it is becoming very strict with postal etiquette and procedures.

For instance, I needed the correct address of a local resident who had a private box; so fronting up to the counter, I asked if I could have the box number.

“We are not allowed to divulge that type of information,” came the curt reply from the other side of the counter.

HOTEL GRANYA

A great place to have a break and a burger when enjoying the riding around Granya in Victoria's High Country.

NO MATTER WHAT YOUR CHOICE OF BIKE TO RIDE, HOTEL GRANYA IS A GREAT PLACE TO STOP!

3100 Murray River Road Granya Vic 3701 PH: 0260729548 Mobile: 0403072566 Email: mfabik@skymesh.com.au

106

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 106

2/07/2015 6:34 pm

“So! If I post this letter to a private box without the actual box number on it, you will return the letter as incorrectly addressed?” I asked.

“Yes,” came the immediate reply.

“No wonder you’re going broke,” I retorted, “AustPost and the Police Station are the only institutions where the customer is always wrong,” I cried triumphally.

The Postal Person back pedalled slightly. ”If you hand the letter to me personally, I will place it in the correct box.”

I handed the Postal Pierrot the letter and left totally convinced the inmates are accelerating their demise faster than Cockey Hockey can smoke a cigar.

Barrie Hayman Somewhere, Vic This has nothing to do with bikes, but Barrie is an old mate (and performer of one of the most spectacular delayed action motorcycle crash injuries ever – I’ve written about it) and the letter is about an all-too-familiar experience… - The Bear GETTING HIGH PAINLESSLY Hi there, There’s a problem which traditionally only affects short guys and girls, and then there’s Adventure bikes: the seat height of their preferred motorcycle creates issues when doing anything other than riding the bike.

Particularly when: • Parking at the edge of a road which curves steeply into the gutter.

• Getting the bike back off its side stand when you’ve parked in

such a place.

Waiting at the lights when there’s strong cross winds.

• Holding the bike while a pillion climbs on or off.

The accepted solutions are to reduce suspension preload to increase sag; or slide the forks up through the triple tree and fit alternate length drop/ drag links; or sell the bike and buy something smaller so you don’t have to ruin the handling of your pride & joy.

So I came up with my own based on an inflatable bladder installed inside the seat foam which effectively gave me the option of sinking down to the plastic seat base when I need to, so getting my feet 2” closer to the ground. Then once riding again the seat re-acquires its comfort factor by inflating the bladder to my chosen level of firmness – an unexpected bonus on longer trips when I can change the seat’s firmness to give my backside a rest.

I also had to come up with an automatic deflation system so that my feet reached the ground even if I forgot to deploy it. So it works well as a solution which doesn’t affect handling, but is very model-specific in terms of installation (placement of components and electrical connections) and so not an easy retro fit. But it is possible on most bikes which start out with sufficiently padded seats; so I put it on youtube and got a few hits and then thought maybe that level of interest might convince you to consider a short article on the issue.

This is the address I use: https://youtu.be/isIYwP7d8QA •

and this is what is displayed once there: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=isIYwP7d8QA&feature =youtu.be The only fly in the ointment from an article perspective might be my location: Auckland, New Zealand.

The reason I’m writing to you: I just got a copy of Australian Motorcyclist Magazine.

Kind regards, Tim Masterbikes Auckland, NZ Well thank you for thinking of us for the introduction of your invention, Tim. You know many things that are hidden… sorry, just a little Monty Python joke.

So, I suspect that there are several people among our readers who would be interested in this, and if you’d like us to ride your prototype and report on it next time we’re in Auckland, we’ll do our best to do just that – The Bear LOOPY LOOP Just read letters June issue. Yes you are mistaken: the Devil’s Elbow is not a loop. It’s a very tight downhill left hander that’s very good at catching out new players especially when cold & wet. Uphill wasn’t as bad, but still.

It is part of the old road you used to come around that and line up for the right hander that used to be Readymix Corner, that section’s gone now, though, with the new road.

Craig Baxter Adelaide SA The Chief agrees, Craig, and so do I on reflection. Well picked – The Bear 

COMMERCIAL HOTEL, WALCHA UNDER N MANAG EW EMENT

Settle in and relax in an iconic Australian Hotel with comfortable rooms, great food, cold drinks and a friendly atmosphere. Rooms are $85 with queen bed or $110 queen plus single. Call Kristian (02) 6777 2667. www.commercialhotelwalcha.com.au COMMERCIAL HOTEL CNR MERIDIAN STREET/COMMERCIAL LANE, WALCHA, NSW 2354 www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 107

107 1/07/2015 11:06 am

NEW BIKE PRICES

N

ew motorcycle prices go up, they go down. It can be hard to keep track of all the changes. Australian Motorcyclist Magazine supplies you with all the latest up to date prices

APRILIA

www.aprilia.com.au ROAD RS4 125 RS4 125 SBK Shiver Sport 750 ABS Dorsoduro 750 ABS Dorsoduro Factory ABS Mana 850 Automatic Tuono V4 1100 RR Tuono V4 1100 Factory RSV4 RR RSV4 RR Race Pack RSV4 RF LE Dorsoduro 1200 ABS ADV SPORT Caponord 1200 ABS Caponord 1200 Rally SCOOTERS Sportcity One 125 SR MT 125 Mojito 125 Scarabeo 200 ie Sportcity Cube 300 Sportcity 300 Street Scarabeo 300 ie SR Max 300 Scarabeo 500 ie SRV850

$5100 $6250 $12,990 $11,990 $15,690 $15,990 $23,000 $25,000 $25,000 $31,000 $31,000 $13,990 $21,490 $24,000 $2990 $3290 $4990 $4850 $6290 $6290 $6490 $6490 $8490 $14,990

BENELLI

$5590 $8990 $8990 $8990 $8990 $9990 $9990 $16,990 $22,690 $18,490 $19,690

BIMOTA

www.bimotaaustralia.com.au ROAD DB5R DB10 DB9 DB9 S Tesi 3D Naked DB11 BB3 DB8 OroNero

$37,990 $37,290 $44,990 $46,990 $55,990 $56,990 $72,888 $84,990

BMW

www.bmwmotorrad.com.au ROAD F 800 R F 800 GT S 1000 R S 1000 RR R Nine T R 1200 R R 1200 R Sport R 1200 R Exclusive R 1200 RS R 1200 RS Exclusive R 1200 RT K 1300 R K 1300 S K 1300 S Motorsport K 1600 GT K 1600 GT Sport K 1600 GTL K 1600 GTL Exclusive ADV SPORT S 1000 XR ADV TOURING G 650 GS G 650 GS Sertao F 700 GS F 700 GS Low Susp F 800 GS F 800 GS Low Susp F 800 GSA

108

R 1200 GS R 1200 GSA SCOOTER C 600 Sport C 600 Sport SE C 650 GT C 650 GT SE C 650 GT SE LS

$21,950 $24,550 $13,990 $15,090 $14,990 $16,665 $16,465

BRAAAP

www.braaapmotorcycles.com ROAD Street Superlite 125 Mercury

$2999 $3999

CAN-AM (BRP) *All prices are ride away ROAD Spyder RS SM5 Spyder RS S Red SE5 Spyder RS S Wht SE5 Spyder ST S SE5 Spyder ST Ltd SE5 Spyder RT SM6 Spyder RT S SE6 Spyder RT Ltd SE6

$19,990 $23,990 $23,990 $25,490 $28,990 $31,490 $39,990 $41,990

$13,100 $16,300 $19,290 $22,990 $21,250 $21,950 $22,350 $22,350 $22,950 $23,250 $30,790 $21,990 $23,990 $28,990 $35,990 $36,490 $37,590 $42,500 $22,190 $9990 $10,990 $12,890 $13,140 $16,690 $16,940 $18,650

$2690 $2190 $5990 $7990 $3990 $4190

CONFEDERATE MOTORCYCLES

www.confederate.com.au ROAD X132 Hellcat X132 Hellcat Combat X132 Hellcat Speedster R131 Fighter R135 Wraith Combat

$79,990 $94,990 $POA $POA $POA

DAELIM

www.daelim.com.au ROAD VJF250 SCOOTER Bbone Besbi S1

$4490 $3490 $2190 $3290

DERBI

www.derbinoz.com.au SCOOTER GP1 250

$6299

DUCATI

www.ducati.com.au ROAD Monster 659 ABS Scrambler Icon (Red) Scrambler Icon (Yellow) Scrambler Classic Scrambler Urban Enduro Scrambler Full Throttle Hypermotard Red Hypermotard Black Hyperstrada Monster 821 Dark Monster 821 Red Monster 821 White Monster 821 Stripes Streetfighter 848 Panigale 899 Red Panigale 899 White Hypermotard SP

$19,990 $24,290 $24,490 $25,490 $24,490 $24,990 $30,290 $30,290 $39,990 $27,990 $34,990 $45,990 $23,990 $27,990 $28,490

www.erikbuellracing.com.au

CF MOTO ROAD V-Night 150 Leader 650NK 650TK CRUISER V5 SCOOTER Jetmax 250

Monster 1200 Monster 1200 S Red Monster 1200 S White Monster 1200 Stripes Diavel Diavel Red Diavel Carbon Red Diavel Carbon White Diavel Titanium Panigale 1299 Panigale 1299 S Panigale R ADV TOURING Multistrada 1200 DVT Multistrada 1200 S DVT R Multistrada 1200 S DVT W

ERIK BUELL RACING

www.brp.com

www.cf-moto.com.au

www.benelli.com.au ROAD BN 302 BN600i BN600S BN600GT BN600GTS BN600R BN600RS TnT 899 TnT 1130 R Tre-K 1130 ADV TOURING Tre-K Amazonas

all prices (unless indicated) exclude dealer and on road costs and some prices may have changed at the last minute as we went to the printer.

from all the manufacturers currently in the country.

Things like special deals, cashbacks, factory discounts and bonuses are what you’ll find. Bear in mind

$12,990 $12,990 $13,140 $14,990 $14,990 $14,990 $16,990 $17,290 $17,990 $16,290 $16,790 $16,990 $17,990 $17,490 $19,990 $20,490 $21,490

ROAD 1190RX 1190SX 1190RS Carbon

$26,490 $23,490 $56,990

HARLEY-DAVIDSON www.harley-davidson.com

* All Harley-Davidson prices are ride away CRUISER Street 500 $9995 XL883L SuperLow $14,750 XL883N Iron 883 $14,995 XL1200C Custom $18,750 XL1200V Seventy-Two $18,495 XL1200X Forty-Eight $18,995 XL1200T SuperLow $19,250 FXDB Street Bob $22,495 FXDB Street Bob Special $23,995 FXDL Low Rider $23,495 FXDWG Wide Glide $24,995 FXDF Fat Bob $25,495 FLD Switchback $26,250 FLS Softail Slim $26,250 FXST Softail Standard $27,250 FXSB Softail Breakout $29,495 FLSTF Fat Boy $28,995 FLSTFB Fat Boy Lo $28,750 FLSTN Softail Deluxe $28,995 FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic $29,995 FLHRC Road King Classic $32,495 FLHXS Street Glide Special $34,995 FLTRXS Road Glide Special $34,495 FLHTK Ultra Limited $37,995 VRSC Night Rod Special $27,250 VRSC Muscle $26,995 CVO Softail Deluxe $44,995 Street Glide $46,995 Road Glide Ultra $48,995 Ultra Limited $50,995

HONDA

http://motorcycles.honda.com.au ROAD CB125E CB300F CBR300R CBR300R ABS CBR300R SE CBR300R ABS SE CB400 CB400A ABS CB500F CBR500R CBR500R ABS CBR600RR CB650F ABS CBR650F ABS NC700SA ABS CTX700A ABS CTX700D ABS DCT NC750SA ABS VFR800F CBR1000RR CBR1000RR ABS CBR1000RR SP CBR1000RR SP Marquez VFR1200F ABS CTX1300 Goldwing F6B GL1800 Goldwing Luxury

$2099 $5699 $5699 $5999 $5799 $6099 $10,099 $11,199 $7499 $7499 $7799 $14,390 $9999 $10,599 $8550 $7399 $10,899 $8799 $14,599 $16,899 $17,899 $22,499 $TBA $16,999 $18,499 $25,199 $35,799

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 108

26/06/2015 11:28 am

NEW BIKE PRICES CRUISER VL250 Intruder VL650 S40 VL800 C50T VZ800 M50 VZ1500 C90T VLR1800T C109RT VZR1800 M109R VZR1800 M109R Blk VZR1800Z M109R SE ADV TOURING DR200S DR650SE DL650 V-Strom DL650 V-Strom LAMS DL650 V-Strom XT DL1000 V-Strom SCOOTER AN200A Burgman ABS AN650A Burgman ABS

$6690 $7990 $12,990 $10,990 $17,490 $18,990 $18,990 $19,490 $19,490 $4990 $8090 $10,290 $11,290 $11,490 $15,490 $5490 $13,590

SYM

www.scoota.com.au SCOOTER Orbit 125 Classic 125 VS 150 Symphony 150 HD Evo 200 CityCom 300i Firenze 300

$2499 $2499 $2999 $2999 $4699 $5999 $6299

TGB

$13,090 $13,090 $18,490 $18,490 $20,990 $21,990 $TBA $21,490 $21,990 $23,490 $23,990 $22,490 $TBA $23,990 $15,090 $16,590 $17,890 $16,590 $17,690 $19,390 $20,490 $20,990

www.imz-ural.com.au

SCOOTER X-Race 150 Bullet 150 BellaVita 300i Xmotion 250

$3690 $3990 $6390 $6390

TORINO

www.torinomotorcycles.com.au CRUISER Veloce 250 Titan 250 SCOOTER Famosa 125 Famosa 150 Galetta Retro Messina Classic

$4695 $6995 $2590 $2990 $2695 $3995

TRIUMPH

www.triumphmotorcycles.com.au $12,490 $12,990 $13,990 $14,990 $13,390 $14,990 $16,990 $12,490 $12,990 $14,250 $13,990 $12,490 $13,990 $14,490 $12,990 $14,390 $14,990 $14,390

and guesthouse

ROAD T cT ADV TOURING Tourist Ranger Retro

26 E FITZROY STREET,WALCHA (02) 67771117 ROYALCAF@BIGPOND.NET.AU

$20,340 $20,340 $22,250 $23,420 $23,410

VESPA

www.vespa.com.au SCOOTER LX125ie S 150ie LX150ie PX150 946 GTS250ie GTS300 Super GTS300 Super Sport GTV300

$5290 $5990 $5990 $5990 $11,990 $6990 $7990 $8290 $9490

VICTORY

www.victorymotorcycles.com.au *All Victory prices are ride away CRUISER Vegas 8 Ball Gunner Highball Highball Flame Judge Hammer 8 Ball Boardwalk Boardwalk Red Hammer S Hammer S LE Jackpot Red Jackpot Orange Cross Roads Classic Cross Country Cross Country Ness

PERFECTLY POSITIONED IN SUPREME RIDING COUNTRY Intersecting the Oxley Hwy & Thunderbolts Way, we're the perfect spot for a quick bite or overnight, group celebrations.  Great Dining  Licensed

110

$14,990 $15,990 $15,990 $15,990 $16,990 $19,990 $TBA $TBA $20,490 $27,490

URAL

www.tgbscooters.com.au

*Some Triumph prices are ride away ROAD Street Triple 660 Street Triple Street Triple R Street Triple RX Daytona 675 Daytona 675 ABS Daytona 675R Bonneville Std Bonneville Std TT Bonneville T100 Bonneville T100 SE Bonneville T100 Black Bonneville T100 Spirit Bonneville T214 Land Spd Bonneville Newchurch Scrambler Scrambler TT Thruxton

Thruxton Ace Sprint GT SE Tiger Sport ABS Speed Triple Speed Triple ABS Speed Triple R ABS Speed 94 Speed 94 R Trophy Std Trophy SE CRUISER America Speedmaster Thunderbird ABS Thunderbird ABS TT Thunderbird Storm ABS Thunderbird Storm Haze Thunderbird Nightstorm Thunderbird Commander Thunderbird Comm TT Thunderbird Comm LT Thunderbird Comm LT TT Rocket III Roadster ABS Rocket III X Rocket III Touring ABS ADV TOURING Tiger 800 XR Tiger 800 XRx Tiger 800 XRt Tiger 800XC Tiger 800XCx Tiger 800 XCa Explorer 1200 ABS Explorer 1200 Wire Wheel

Cafe  Licensed Bar  Drying Room  Function Room  Cosy Fire & Lounge  Secure Lock-up Shed

$19,995 $19,995 $19,495 $20,495 $20,995 $20,995 $22,495 $22,995 $22,995 $23,495 $23,995 $24,995 $24,995 $26,495 $29,995

Cross Country Tour Cross Country Tour 2-Tone Magnum Vision Tour

$28,495 $28,995 $29.995 $30,495

VIPER MOTORCYCLES www.vipermotors.com.au ROAD Black Diamond Diamond Back

$54,990 $54,990

YAMAHA

www.yamaha-motor.com.au ROAD YZF-R15 R3 SR400 XJ6NL XJ6NL SE FZ6R FZ6R SE YZF-R6 MT-03 MT-07 MT-07 Moto Cage FZ8N FZ8S MT-09 MT-09 ABS MT-09 Sport Tracker MT-09 Tracer TDM900 FZ1N FZ1S YZF-R1 YZF-R1M FJR1300AT FJR1300A FJR1300AE VMAX CRUISER XV250 Virago XVS650 Custom XVS650A Classic Bolt Bolt R-Spec Bolt C-Spec XVS950A XVS1300 Stryker – Black XVS1300 Stryker - Grey XVS1300A XVS1300AT Tourer XV1900A Roadliner XV1900AT Star Tourer ADV TOURING XT660R XT660Z Tenere XT1200Z Super Tenere XTZ1200OE Super Tenere XTZ1200ZE Elec Susp SCOOTER XC125 Vity BeeWee 125 Tricity XP530 TMAX ABS

$4299 $6099 $8999 $9799 $9999 $9999 $10,499 $15,999 $9999 $8999 $TBA $12,990 $13,990 $11,290 $11,799 $TBA $14,999 $13,599 $15,699 $16,499 $23,499 $29,990 $23,999 $24,999 $26,999 $31,299 $6499 $10,499 $10,990 $11,999 $12,499 $12,699 $13,999 $14,999 $15,299 $15,999 $18,299 $21,499 $24,099 $11,499 $13,999 $19,990 $21,890 $21,999 $2699 $3399 $4299 $13,499

ZERO

www.zeromotorcycles.com.au ROAD * All Zero prices are ride away SR S 8.5 S 11.4 DS 11.4 FX 5.7

$24,990 $20,490 $23,490 $23,490 $19,490

We’ll ship yo ur bike to the U SA & EUROP E If it's good enough for The Bear, it's good enough for you! Safe containers, Customs clearance, Quarantine Inspection and full insurance.

Contact us for more information: 03 5625 9080 dave@getrouted.com.au

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 110

1/07/2015 10:58 am

BORIS

LIFE’S A PARADE E

veryone loves a parade.

Such displays have been part of human history and social cohesion since the first whip opened the first slave’s back.

And there are parades which are meaningful, or poignant, or redolent with grandeur. You only have to see how the Russians mark their victory over the Nazis each year in Red Square to understand how all three of those qualities are best displayed.

So I quite like a parade myself. But it has to have meaning. There has to be some kind of point to it. Are we commemorating something worthy of remembering, or are we celebrating something of cultural or social import?

Because if we’re just trundling along with flags flapping, engines revving, and heads nodding, all we’re doing is advertising a circus.

Circuses used to parade their wares down the main streets of towns to advise the citizens that there’s a show on – a show full of trained beasts, freaks, mummers, acrobats and clowns, which the townsfolk could come to see that very evening.

But traditional circuses have declined in recent times.

Seems like people don’t really want to see animals being tortured, which was

always one of the main drawcards.

So I’m good with that.

But what I’m not good with is the replacement for the travelling freakshow that sectors of the motorcycling community have seen fit to provide. The circus and its marketing procession, it seems, is alive and well.

A big chunk of motorcyclists have become just that – a self-indulgent pseudo-spectacle of self-absorbed strobbers who imagine their form of transport is somehow worthy of a parade.

These parades take place every weekend.

I know this because they impede, albeit briefly, my progress upon on the Queen’s byways when I come across them.

I like to go for a ride with my friends just as much as the next bloke. But these are rides. Death is cheated, brakes are overheated, corners are carved and world-land speed records are set between bends or on long straights – sure, not constantly, but it’s pretty much how it ends up most of the time. It is the stuff of life. It is what motorcycling is all about.

What motorcycling is not about, and never has been about (until apparently quite recently) is trundling along at or just below the speed limit in shameful pelotons of selfindulgence.

What are you? Pushbike riders?

Do you clowns have mirrors? Do you somehow fail to see (or hear) the race-piped clot of lunatics behind you, gearing madly down to avoid skittling you all like so many shining ten-pins? Are you deaf as well as arrogant? Or have you wired yourself for sound? Is that it? Is your hamplanet pillion jabbering complaints about her swollen bladder into your blue-tooth-fed ears? Is that why you do not move over?

Or is it, and I hope it’s not, some insipid self-righteousness that causes you to ride like a clueless, skill-free idiot?

Yes, I understand that objects in the mirror do not matter and that it is indeed my job as the losing rider (I’m losing because I am behind you) to pass you. That’s in the rules.

And pass you I will. As will my friends. If our passing you means we have to slice through your dawdling assemblage like a sword through the neck of some godless Saracen, then that’s just what’s going to happen.

And then you’ll be in my mirrors and you will no longer matter. You are of course free to purse your lips in condemnation if my passing upsets your parade formation. Just as you are free to take it up with me at the next service station I’m fuelling up at.

For my part, I promise not to run into you no matter how abysmal your riding is. I understand you’re in a parade because your lack of motorcycleoperating skills prevent you from actually going for a ride. I am fully aware that you will not see me (until I pass you), and that you are every bit as blind and dangerous as the car driver you really are. I get that you do this motorcycle thing as a kind of sunny-day, weekend-thing, and that you actually believe that speed kills and that the more speed cameras there are, the safer all the little children will be.

And because I get this, I do not kick you off your bike as I ride past. Nor do I brake-check you into the rock-wall, or reach out and slap the back of your microphone-equipped helmet with my mailed fist. Because I could and would do that if I wasn’t such a cheerilydisposed individual…

“And how did you come to be in this table-drain with your spine peeking out of your torso, sir?”

“I lost control of my bike when this hooligan, travelling well in excess of the posted speed limit, slapped the back of my helmet in passing.”

“Why did he do that, sir?”

“It’s because he hates parades, officer.” 

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 111

111 26/06/2015 11:27 am

FROM THE CAVE

BEAR FACED AND THE GOOD NEWS IS…

I

have had some gentle chiding (for a given value of gentle) about the subject matter of some of these columns. Apparently they focus a little too much on crashes and other experiences seen as negatives. “How are you even alive?” asked one friend. Well, okay. I don’t know the answer to that.

But I can only remember three, maybe four times when the message “you’re gone” flashed up on my mental screen like the destination in a suburban train; and obviously I was wrong each time. Unless this is the afterlife…

The trouble is that good news is not nearly as interesting as bad news. You doubt this?

Last November, a Russian news website called The City Reporter lost two-thirds of its readers after deciding to publish only good news for just one day. “Do you feel like you are surrounded by negative information?

You don’t want to read the news in the morning?” the website had asked its readers. “Do you think good news is a myth? We’ll try to prove the opposite tomorrow!” On 1 December, as promised, the website carried only positive headlines like “No disruption on the roads despite snow.” The good news stories sent readership numbers plummeting.

Of course wonderful and positive things have happened to me in my motorcycling life. Let me think here, err... right, just give me a sec…

One kind of good news that’s always available to me is reporting on good roads. I am deeply grateful, for example, that my work has allowed me to ride the likes of the Jebel Hafeet road in Abu Dhabi and the Col du Turini in France. And describing

112

the ride over these and any number of other roads is enjoyable all by itself.

The trouble is you can really only do that once, while telling the story of a spectacular crash or even a near miss allows repeat performances (and inevitably slight exaggeration).

Likewise, I seem to run out of superlatives for roads I have enjoyed, while there’s never a shortage of another descriptive adjective to accompany sliding down the road or catapulting into “the tulies” as a Canadian mate used to say. In fact I learn new words at quite an impressive rate whenever I fall off.

But I’m going to try the good news route, just to see if I lose two thirds of my readers the way the Russians did.

Recently I rode from Perth to Darwin to complete a circumnavigation of Australia; I hadn’t travelled the stretch between the Overlander Roadhouse and the Purnululu turnoff. When the rain finally gave out, between Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek, I found myself in a magic land that seemed to go on forever. I wanted it to go on forever, too (well, you know what I mean) because the singing of the tyres on the blacktop and the everchanging sight of vividly yellow grass, smoothly rounded brown hills and more and more exoticallyshaped trees seemed to give me a strong feeling for what Aboriginal people call “country”. Quite unlike the equally impressive but much more forbidding deserts of the Centre, this Top End countryside seems to speak of fruitfulness and variety.

It’s hard to explain, actually. Maybe that’s why good news is less popular than bad? At any

rate, if you have a chance to ride the Great Northern Highway up there, take it. And here’s a tip – ride it by yourself. The effect will be all the stronger, I think.

Another wonderful road, and one that I don’t think I’ve written about for a while, is the Swampy Plains Road which connects Kiandra and Khancoban. This can be a lot of fun with someone else, partly because it’s fascinating watching the panic braking – The Frog once arrived behind me at Tooma Dam with the brake pads on his Suzuki GR650 literally smoking – and partly because you’re riding through a scenic wonderland. Oh, and remember the wildlife. More than one of my friends has had an encounter of the Third Kind along here. How’s the leg now, Hamish?

And how’s this for good news? I haven’t had a mechanical breakdown or even a flat tyre for longer than I can remember. Seeing that I’m still incompetent as a mechanic, the former has to be due to improved bike engineering. The second is clearly due to better tyres.

Well, maybe. These days I quite often go to the markets in Glebe, an inner Sydney suburb, on Saturday mornings.

Quite apart from the excellent coffee dispensed there, some of the stalls have unique and clever ware. To get there, I take a street that has mixed memories for me: a long-ago girlfriend lived there, but almost every time I visited her I got a flat tyre. All right, all right, no ribald comments. The reason was simple: the gummint was refurbishing the rundown terraces of The Glebe and used, bent nails were raining down on the road from the roof repairs. I still automatically worry about getting a flat there.

So, how was that? Have I still got any readers despite the – mainly - good news above?

Peter “The Bear” Thoeming 

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout2.indd 112

2/07/2015 3:02 pm

MOTOmania

…AND IT‛S THE LAST LAP OF THE MOTO GP RACE… LORENZO‛S IN FRONT… IS ROSSI MAKING A BID…?

YES! YES!

ROSSI‛S COMINR AROUND THE OUTSIDE… CHRZZ-FFFFT-FFFFFAND…CHRZZZFFZ!

AHH! IT‛S BACK!

OLD PIECE OF…!!

THE SLIPPER TRICK ALWAYS WORKS! …AND NOW THERE‛S JUST ONE CHANCE, IN THE LAST CORNER…

!!

…AND AFTER THE RACE, A QUICK LAP OF THE FAVOURITE ROAD: WHOOPS! WHAT‛S GOING ON?

I‛VE GOT NO IDEA! IT‛S THE ELECTRONICS… RIDE BY WIRE AND SO ON… IT‛S ALL VERY WELL UNTIL SOMETHING GOES WRONG! IT WILL HAVE TO GO TO THE DEALER!

2

THAT‛LL BE $820!

RIGHT! IT‛S RUNNING AGAIN!

D A Y S

GULP!

L A T E R

I SUPPOSE IT‛S A MATTER OF HAVING THE DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS AND THE TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW TO SOLVE A PROBLEM!

THAT‛S IT!

Taken from MOTOmania Vol 6 by Holger Aue © Lappan Verlag GmbH, Oldenburg Germany 2000

114

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

AMM_August_layout.indd 114

26/06/2015 11:29 am

SUBSCRIBE NOW PRINT . ONLINE . SOCIAL MEDIA . DIGITAL

PROTECT ONE OF YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSETS WITH AN AMM WATERPROOF SMARTPHONE COVER. SUBSCRIBE OR RESUBSCRIBE TO GET YOURS FREE!

27 Aus DE: INSI FREE

2

� �i� �r�

IDE: 44

& AD , RO APS NM ALIA STR T AU ROU TEA

M THIS

BEAR

URE ENT ADV

ROVEDSAKI A ER APP LEARNFROM KAW BIKES

6

URE ER L FEAT T SPECIA L WIN E

COOR GUID GEA

A us MAY

5 TOP TOURERS COMPARED / OUR 2 TOP BIKE TOURS

ia’s tr a l ia

DE: FREE INSI

E GAZIN EL MA TRAV

2

URE D & ADVENT MAPS, ROA AUSTRALIAN TEAROUT

SPECIAL FEATURE: OUR BE GOOD TO H SOUT NDYOUR BIKE ISLA ST FE FUN FINAHAPPY L AS – THE A HOG IN TAMWORTH H-D OWNERS GO COUNTRY

KI SUZU200 N Y GMA BUR ACTICALL T PR PERFEC AUS $9.95

BEAR INSIDE

BIKE B

OUR

ETTE R PIREL LI TYRE TEST

A ustralia ’s )

8

98 0

0022

WE FIN TRAVELL D THE REAL ING TH PUB W AN E TOP ITH NO OF OZ WOR BE , AUCT ION, OL LD, MASTER VICTORIA, NS ER, W CLAS D IRON S, CL WITH PLUS STYL ASSIC BO pm BANDAGED BEAR AND BURBLINGS FROM BORIS, THE BEAR & LESTER MORRIS RI 2:01 E S, LE /2015 AMM 3407

D THE LEADING MOTORCYCLE TRAVEL MAGAZINE 9

340798 000228

JULY 2015

APRIL C IA RALLYAPONOR D BEST YET SPECIA L FE AT MAKE U Y RE:

(Inc GST

0 6

000 798 340 9

DGET A GA ECT INSP

9

0 5

228 FC.indd

_May_O

AMM

00 RNREW KIN TH / BORIS / THE S 10H MON THE T E B OF / PU

FREE INSIDE: 2 TEARO UT AUSTRALIAN MAPS, ROAD & ADVEN YAMAHA MT-09 TURE BIKE SPORT TRACKER VICTOS TESTED FIRST AUSSIE TEST! : RY

TT HEROES

AUS $9.9 5 (Inc GST NZ $10 ) .95

DERN R: MO : R 1200 LE / F 800 ROER LG USC MWs EW B ING MHERE’S A REA LESTER MORRIS N P / 3 TO : RID G BEAR

GST)

JUNE 2015

SUZUKI V-STROM 650 XT ON AND OFF THE ROAD, IN THE RAIN, IN OZ

(Inc GST)

NZ $10.95 (Inc GST)

5 (Inc AUS $9.9 (Inc GST) .95 NZ $10

LE OF MAN

BEATEN AT THE BAZZA LOSING IT AT THE BARRY SHEENE FESTIVAL OF SPEED

GPS ONS IZ HOR ON ED IMITYOUR UNL G ETHER O PHONE GET-T

KI SUZU EE XT W M STROHE ON T OPEN ROAD

AUSSIE IS

E BEAR INSID

TRIUM MAGNU M, TIGER PH ON THE YAMAHXRx, BO ROUTE 66LT C-SAPE H C ONDA , YOU DON’T KNOW VALKYR IE OFF THE ROAD AGAIN TRIUMPH’S LATEST TIGER BITES

DESTINATION: WALCHA

RE ENTU ADV STIVAL FILM FE

Aus�r��i��

DE INSI

2015

YCLE TORC ING MO LEAD

29 HUGE PULLOUT POSTER: WE SALUTE

28Aus�r��i��

WINTER

0 7

HUGE GU

R YO WAYS FO

AY WAR U TO ST

1/04

_July_OFC

.indd

AMM_June_OFC.indd 120

STER

120

7/05/2015 10:48 pm

MOR

RIS, TH

A u s tr

a li a’s

LEADIN G MO TORC YCLE TRAV EL MA GAZIN E AN

E BEAR

D LOTS

OF N

EW ST

UFF

5/06/2015

120

10:04

am

1 YEAR (12 ISSUES) $94.95 (2 FREE ISSUES) 2 YEARS (24 ISSUES) $184.95 (5 FREE ISSUES) If you would like to subscribe to Australian Motorcyclist please email us at contactus@ausmotorcyclist.com.au and/or visit our website www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

OR fill out these details and send them to us:

o12 Month Subscription - $94.95 o 24 Month Subscription - $184.95 Name _______________________Phone Number ____________________________ Address _________________________________________________________________ Contact Email Address __________________________________________________ Card Number:

oooo

oooo

oooo

oooo

Expiry Date ___ / ___ CCV ___________Amount to be debited: _______ Card Type: MasterCard Visa (Circle) Cardholder’s Name __________________Cardholder’s Signature _____________

AMM_June2015_subsad.indd 120

26/06/2015 10:30 am

The new Multistrada 1200 takes riding beyond all the barriers of compromise. Unbeatable on tarmac, perfect and comfortable for long distance travelling, agile through town and fun off the road.

Frontline technologies include the new ground-breaking Testastretta DVT engine instantly providing optimal power and torque, cutting edge

electronics including Cruise Control, Backlit handlebar switches and Ducati Safety Pack with cornering ABS, Traction and Wheelie Control.

Experience the new Multistrada 1200 and 1200 S, book a test ride at your local Authorised Ducati Dealer today.

Ducati Skyhook Suspension (DSS) Evo and refined

Multistrada 1200 S model shown

AMM_August_layout.indd 2

23/06/2015 11:33 am

www.hemamaps.com.au

AMM_August_map.indd 1

29/06/2015 9:17 am

BY HOOK OR BY CROOK – TRIPS OUT OF GERALDTON

T

he area around Geraldton is remarkably rich. Whether it’s the bounty of the land – mainly wheat – or the wealth of seafood pulled from the ocean by the town’s fleet of trawlers, it has made Geraldton a rich place too. But these days it also has a lot to offer its holidaymaker visitors.

Beaches, impressive rock formations like those in Kalbarri National Park, historic buildings and machinery, the beautiful though quirky church out at Mullewa – and of course the staggering variety of wildflowers all combine to make this a place worth visiting.

Perth residents know this already, and many of them holiday up here every year. Interstate visitors deserve a slice of all this as well!

MONKEY MIA (GREEN)

This is mainly a long haul up the highway, but there aren’t all that many connecting roads up here and I have kept to sealed roads for all of these rides. Leaving Geraldton, just stick to Highway 1, here called the NW Coastal Highway. There’s fuel at Northampton, Binnu, Billabong Roadhouse and then at Overlander Roadhouse, right at the turnoff to Denham. There’s fuel at Denham and

Monkey Mia, as well, and at Nanga Station on the way. You’re not likely to run out. But then, you never know…

Road surface in general is very good, with the main exception of the driveway into the Old Telegraph Station and the stromatolite pool.

KALBARRI (BLUE)

A worthwhile loop off the main road, the Kalbarri route takes you past Kalbarri National Park first off, if you’re coming from the north. One oddity of the turnoff is that there is no roadhouse or town there, as there is at most other connecting roads. You still can’t miss it, signposting in WA is very good – unless you’re asleep at the handlebar, which is never a good idea anyway. Check out Window Rock and the other rock formations in the National Park. Kalbarri itself doesn’t really offer much beyond a selection of accommodation and some shops, but it is a nice town and worth an overnight stay.

The road running south via Red Bluff is also an interesting ride, following as it does the cliffs and beaches of the Indian Ocean coast. It connects back to the highway at Northampton.

Port Gregory, along the way, is a typical beach resort.

MULLEWA (RED)

You want the Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road for this ride. Its 100km can seem a little dull, but only outside wildflower season. If the flowers are out, in late winter and spring, you will find yourself riding through an enormous painter’s palette alive with all the colours of the rainbow. The little township itself has not only the church but also a museum and a few other historic attractions worth seeing. Keep an eye on your fuel – it’s 100km each way, and there is fuel only at the ends of the ride.

DONGARA (YELLOW)

Two choices here: straight down the Brand Highway or a little more inland along Geraldton Walkaway Road, before joining the Brand Highway at South Greenough. Both roads are pretty much the usual up here, running more or less straight on flat land through paddocks and fields, with occasional stands of stunted trees. Doesn’t sound very interesting? In fact it is; it’s so typical that it will give you a good impression of what much of Australia is like. If you don’t get the feeling for our Big Country up here, you probably never will.

But okay, I’ve mainly included this because it leads to the shady streets of Dongara… 

TEAR-OUT MAP #30 COLLECT THEM ALL AMM_August_map.indd 2

29/06/2015 9:18 am

AMM_August_Dirt_map.indd 1

29/06/2015 9:22 am

OUTBACK NSW

TOTAL DISTANCE – 785KM Assuming you based yourself at the underground Motel in White Cliffs, head back out to Keraro Road and turn right, heading east. Follow this all the way to the end and turn right onto WilcanniaWanaaring Road, which takes you past some amazing inland lakes. Once you roll on into Wilcannia, make sure you check your fuel levels, you’ve got another 150km to Menindee.

Head South out of Wilcannia on the Barrier Hwy about 8km. You’ll see a sign “Menindee 151”, take this right turn and follow it all the way into Menindee making sure you enjoy the view of the various large inland lakes around this area.

Once you’ve had a good look around Menindee, head north on Menindee-Broken Hill Road, into Broken Hill. I suggest staying overnight at Broken Hill or out at Silverton as this ride is not far off 800km.

Look at your fuel and top up to the brim and depending on your bike’s fuel range, carry ten litres of spare fuel with you. You’ve got no fuel stops now until you get back into White Cliffs and it’s a fair distance to travel – 420 odd kilometres!

Take the Silverton Road out of Broken Hill and it’s not long until you’ll arrive in Silverton.

Make sure you have a good look around at this great Outback town, then follow the road north out of Silverton toward the famous Mundi Mundi lookout.

Basically you follow this road (Wilangee Road) for over 150km until you get to Mount Woowoolahra Road and turn right. This takes you over to Corona Road where you need to veer right and follow Corona Road all the way to the Silver City Hwy. Turn left and follow the Silver City Hwy North around 23km and turn right onto Broken Hill-White Cliffs Road, which you need to follow all the way to the end, keeping an Easterly course. Veer right onto Kayrunnera-White Cliffs Road which will take you back into White Cliffs and time for an icy cold beer, or two!

ROAD CONDITIONS Checking the road conditions is paramount in these areas. A bit of rain can turn a really enjoyable ride into a muddy slop. Here are the various places to check – Road Condition Broadcast (Recorded Message) 08 8082 6660 RMS - 08 8082 6699 24hr Road Report – 08 8091 5155 www.cobar.nsw.gov.au/engineering/roads www.centraldarling.nsw.gov.au/ category-descriptions/road-conditionreport-centraldarling 

ADV TEAR-OUT MAP #15 COLLECT THEM ALL AMM_August_Dirt_map.indd 2

29/06/2015 9:23 am

30

AMM

AUGUST 2015

DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1200 DVT / RIDING THE BALKANS / APRILIA V HOLDEN

I S S U E # 6 , VO L 3