Sales Manager Ralph Leavsey-Moase ralph@ausmotorcyclist.com.au
Designer Amy Hale
Photo Editor Nick Wood
Photographers Nick Wood
Photography, Half-Light Photography
Contributors Robert Crick, Mike Grant, Jacqui Kennedy, Robert Lovas, Phil Gadd, Boris Mihailovic, Lester Morris, The Possum,Guy Stanford, Stuart Strickland, Michael Walley, Colin Whelan
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
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EDITORSPEAKS
what’s he blabbing on about now?
We’vehad a lot of comments about Boris’ column in the last issue (#44). I think all of you disagreed with what he had to say, expect for maybe The Bear. I certainly didn’t agree with what he had to say, but then again I know that Boris writes to get a reaction, and he certainly got one that time! So when you read his column remember that he writes to get you worked up. Sure, he might “play his violin” a little bit too much at times, but having a bit of controversy in the magazine makes it interesting. Doesn’t it… There’s also been a bit of controversy about the possible lowering of speed limits along the very popular Oxley Highway. As we went to the printer with this issue, the “powers that be” have put on hold their decision. However, have a hard, long think about this; will it really change the way you ride along there? I think not. What it will do is create slower traffic for all road users – a big pain in the backside and one that the governing bodies should get a big sized 13 up their ring holes for. Or wake up to, which they have done this time round.
No, that’s not my race bike!
As I write this, The Bear is over in Cologne for the Intermot motorcycle show. If you weren’t aware, we scored a big first for an Australian magazine –we were appointed as a media partner of the show, a first for an Australian magazine and great achievement for such a little country in the grand scheme of things. You’ll read all about what The Bear saw and enjoyed (mostly the promo girls, I think) in the next issue.
Are you a tinkerer like me? Do you like to look at the design of something on your bike and think you can make it better, or modify it to make it look or perform more smoothly? If you are, I’m sure you’ve stuffed something up along the line. So, yeah, well I need to give myself an uppercut. I
was in the garage fitting a manual cam chain tensioner to my race bike the other day and was warming the engine up when a flame spat out the exhaust and the engine started running rough. Yep, you know where I’m going, don’t you. Well, read on. I quickly turned the engine off, cursed quite a bit thinking that the cam chain had skipped a tooth and stuffed the engine. I tried to restart it, with no luck. I then went inside and told Alana that we’ll be up for a new engine and she said, “It sounds like it’s out of fuel”. Hang on! I think she’s right. I put some more fuel in it, switched the fuel tap to reserve and the engine came back to life with no problems. Yes, I can hear you laughing now, I can tell you I wasn’t at the time and it took me about an hour to calm back down after my heart must have skipped at least one beat, let me tell you! I continued adjusting the tensioner and thanking myself for the “mechanic in the kitchen” and her perfect diagnostic skills. Hahaha!
Enjoy.
Cheers, Stuart
GRIZZLING FROMTHEBEAR
HONESTLY…
Here is my contribution to the debate about banning comments that offend. Actually, it’s Thomas Paine’s contribution, but it expresses what I believe. “He who dares not offend cannot be honest,” the man said.
THOSE CRAZY SWEDES ARE AT IT AGAIN
Remember Vision Zero? The Swedish government is at it again, this time helping to develop a new weapon for stopping cars. The pulse gun was tested in Sweden, says a press report that’s hit my desk, and the tests were successful (they say). In fact, they were only successful in the way that getting the Hulk to stand in the roadway would be successful. Vision Zero is meant to reduce the road toll to, well, zero. This latest initiative might be headed the other way…
The Statens vag- och transportforskningsinstitut
(Government roads and transport
guys. Picture them dragging the fakirs off their beds and spreading those out on the road. But no more!
“The principle is to send short electromagnetic pulses in the microwave range, which some sensors in car engines are sensitive to. The result is that the engine stalls, or your radio station changes. No, sorry, kidding about that one. But are they thorough, or what!
“When I told you to freeze, I wasn’t kidding!”
research institute, VTI) , together with researchers from several countries, has worked out how to stop a car’s engine with the help of electronic signals in a project called Savelec.
The name Savelec stands for “Safe control of non cooperative vehicles through electromagnetic means.”
Despite untiring and imaginative promotion, Beta’s new motocross gloves simply weren’t catching on.
the response of the car itself? No engine power, no power steering, no power brakes. Whoops! Sorry, pulse gunner. And other vehicles in the line of the beam? Innocent bystanding pedestrians, once again with pacemakers etc?
Mattias has that covered. “The tests with the pulse gun were successful, but to be able to use the method professionally, there remains further development and research to carry out.”
“Based on collected knowledge, a prototype pulse gun was designed, and the VTI has tested it at home (they even take their work home) on a remotecontrolled car. One test was carried out with an electromagnetic signal from underneath the car standing still (that’s a likely scenario), one test with the signal coming from the front at an angle at the car while standing still (yes, we can see the point of that), and finally, a pulse from above at a moving car (at last, a sensible use for PolAir!). On all occasions, the engine stalled.
“One basic requirement in the project is that the vehicle should be stopped safely, which we have investigated from different angles, both human factors and safety as well as legal requirements”, says Mattias Hjort, manager of research at VTI.
Well, Matthias, there’s a bit more than just research and development. Who’s going to teach the police to use these guns, and how? No offence to the boys in blue, but electric guns and other ballistic technology don’t necessarily seem to be their strong point – see recent Taser use in Sydney, as one example.
“The idea is that pulse weapons would replace the beds of nails used by the police,” says the press release. See, I told you that the Swedes were wild and crazy
O-kay, but I can see a few problems here. What happens to Old Mate’s heart pacemaker when he’s hit by the death ray? Or his insulin pump? No testing has been done on that so far. What about
“The project has been financed by the EU by about 31 million Kronor (just over AU$ 4 million),”concludes the coverage I’ve seen. I suppose there are worse things they could be spending the money on. Hang about, let me think…
Peter ‘The Bear’ Thoeming
Are you ready to change position?
During November discover X, the intersection of two worlds where relaxed cruiser meets sports performance.
Your local authorised Ducati dealer will be hosting an event experience to introduce you to XDiavel. Contact them today for details.
WIN BIG!
Shannons Insurance
How does an eight day guided tour for two, driving some of the world’s best supercars through amazing European roads, and winning a terrific Victory Octane sound? Well, all you need to do is call Shannons to get a quote on your car, bike or home insurance and you’re in the draw! Every eligible quote gives you an extra chance to win the tour and the bike. If you take out a policy you get 5 chances for every eligible car, bike or home policy! To enter go to shannons. com.au/supercars or call 13 46 46 before 30 November 2016. Enter now and you and a friend could enjoy this once in a lifetime supercar experience.
ADVENTURE TIME
KTM Second Annual Adventure Rallye
inaugural event in March of this year, the 2017 KTM Australia Adventure Rallye will be held across five epic days from March 6th to March 10th 2017. The route will start in the iconic Blue Mountains, NSW then heading up into the Central West and New England regions, before hitting the Upper Hunter Valley and returning to the Blue Mountains. For all the information and to book your spot, visit www.ridektm. com.au/ktm-events/
WOW, BABY!
World on Wheels Tacos ‘n’ Tequila Tour
your horizons and help you regain perspective on what really matters in life? World On Wheels has a fabulous tour of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, with the Tacos ‘n’ Tequila safari
kicking off in November. You’ll be back home by mid-December with plenty of time to open your presents. Contact www.worldonwheels.tours or Ph: 02 9970 6370.
Carrying on from a highly successful
Looking for adventure and whatever comes your way? If you’re getting a bit overwhelmed with the pre-Xmas madness and 2016 has all been a bit demanding, how about a bit of adventure to clear the head, expand
SUMMER SNOW
The Snowy Ride 2016
Online registration for the sixteenth annual Honda Snowy Ride, organised by the Steven Walter Children’s Cancer Foundation, on Saturday 5 November 2016 is open for riders and pillions at www.snowyride.org.au.
Snowy Ride platinum sponsor, Honda MPE Australia, has provided two amazing bikes as prizes for this year’s ride. The winner will receive a 2016 model Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin,
“The Bear”, Editor of
and second prize is a 2016 model Honda CB500X, with a total value of $25,000.
CLASSIC OUTBACK
BMW Safari Enduro
From stark, wide-open expanses to the rugged gorges and rocky riverbeds of
draw to win a return trip for two people to take part in a Nevermind Adventures Motorcycle Tour. Tickets on sale now, at www.motoexpo.com.au
BE AWARE
Motorcycle Awareness Month
Arkaroola, this year’s BMW GS Safari Enduro had it all. Around 100 riders from all corners of the country, as well as several internationals, gathered
at the seaside town of Streaky Bay for a taste of classic Aussie outback adventure – to see a little video from the adventures: https://youtu.be/ WwvkaGeB8Io . The next BMW Safari is the GS Safari that will run from November 6 to 11 in South East Queensland. Bookings are already open and it’s filling up fast. For more information visit www. bmwsafari.com .
MOTORCYCLE HEAVEN
Moto Expo 2016
The 2016 Moto Expo Melbourne presented by Shannons Insurance is set to take place on November 25-27. Showcasing all that the motorcycle industry has to offer, including the latest and greatest motorcycles available, across 30,000sqm at the Melbourne Showgrounds, Moto Expo is Australia’s biggest motorcycle show. Come and say hello to us when you’re there. Win Big by purchasing tickets online. Moto Expo attendees will go in the
The Motorcycle Council of NSW is running its annual motorcycle road safety awareness campaign across the state with support from the Centre for Road Safety, NSW Police, NSW Ambulance and Transport for NSW. 2016 sees Motorcycle Awareness Week expanded to a month (this month!)
due to the broad range of events spread across NSW and the calendar. Visit www.mccofnsw.org.au and get along to an event near you. D
REAL POISE. REAL POWER. REAL PERFORMANCE. The breathtaking new Thruxton takes the legendary café racer back to its performance roots. With beautifully aggressive and authentic styling and the capability and performance of a truly modern sports classic, including ride-by-wire, slip assist clutch, traction control, ABS and 3 rider modes, the Thruxton truly lives up to its legendary name. Powered by the game-changing 1200cc ‘Thruxton spec’ engine, delivering a thrilling peak torque of 112Nm at a low 4950rpm — 62% more than its predecessor, combined with an all-new chassis and suspension for sharper handling and agility, the Thruxton is the café racer reborn. To find out more visit triumphaustralia.com.au
You know how there are Daffy Duck people and Donald Duck people? Ford and Holden people? When it comes to Harley-Davidson, I have usually been a Sportster person. Always liked the big bikes, but gone for a Sporty when I had the chance. I even own a Sportster 72. Well, at the risk of giving it all away right at the beginning of this story I suspect that I may be changing my allegiances. The reason, believe it or not, is not the new engine. The Milwaukee Eight, the ninth Big Twin (yes, I know, lots of numbers to remember) in the Motor Company’s history, is a knockout – see below. Hey, I liked and like the old 103 engines. I liked the “chunka” before they started, I liked the reassuring vibration and even the adequate power. But that’s not to say that I don’t like the new engines more. I rented a 2016 RoadGlide for a few days after I got to ride the 2017 bikes, and I sure noticed the difference.
The biggest news about the 107 and 114 Milwaukee-Eight engines (the larger is fitted to the special edition CVO bikes) is not actually that they are bigger. Anybody can bore or stroke an engine and extract more performance. The biggest news is that they are, well, new. All new. Alex Bosmoski, Chief Powertrain Engineer and leader of the Milwaukee Eight engine development team – and better known as Boz – made it clear just how much effort had gone into it.
“We started work on this engine the day the Twin Cam (the Eight’s predecessor) rolled out, back in 1999,” he said. And probably the most interesting thing about the work is that it was guided by owners and potential buyers of the bikes. Oh, I know everyone always says that, but most of the time it isn’t true – at least entirely. Motorcycle design, more than car design, is largely driven by internal forces within the companies; usually a combination of marketing and engineering. In some cases, marketing has the upper hand –
So comfy.
Take a look inside the heart.
LAUNCH
the almost hysterical launch of turbo-powered Japanese bikes. In others, it’s engineering – see BMW’s introduction of the servoassisted front brake which nobody actually wanted. Come to think of it, nobody much wanted the turbos either.
Harley-Davidson went to the real world and asked literally thousands of people all over the world what they wanted from a Hog, and then they went about incorporating those ideas in Boz’s baby, their new Big
Leviathan
Twin, over millions of hours and countless miles.
What did people ask for?
More Power
Frankly, I would have been happy with the existing performance, but you know how it is. As in certain aspects of both male and female physiology, it’s always nice to have a bit more. So Boz and his team gave the Eights larger displacement, 4-valve heads, extra intake and exhaust flow, and a higher
“Nothing on earth is its equal—a creature without fear”
Job 41:1 – 33
Other companies may – and indeed do – sell more motorcycles, but more than one commentator has noted that “nobody tattoos another motorcycle logo on their shoulder”. In a book called Radical Marketing, Sam Hill and Glenn Rifkin identify Harley Davidson as a brand which represents “a lifestyle, a work of art and an emotional connection to a widespread and unique community”.
Like other motorcycle manufacturers, Harley-Davidson has made mistakes and suffered near-catastrophic lows; but it has always bounced back stronger than before. The Motor Company was the only American bike builder to survive WW2 in any meaningful way. It even taught the Japanese how to build bikes on assembly lines… although, in Ringo Starr’s immortal word, “I bet yer sorry”. And at one point in the shemozzle that was the 2008 market crisis, Harley-Davidson was worth more than General Motors.
H-D was not always the creature without fear that it is today. The story of HarleyDavidson is worth reading; try to get hold of the book Well Made in America by Peter C Reid. And whoever has ‘borrowed’ my copy and never returned it – I would really like it back! Bastard.
What has all this to do with the launch of the 2017 touring range from Milwaukee*? Well, quite apart from the interest that any stir by Leviathan creates, these bikes are the first refinements of the Rushmore range of bikes which introduced liquid cooling to the traditional range of 45 degree vee twins for the first time. There are other brands which are seriously bidding for the Motor Company’s market, but they have a long way to go. It’s no exaggeration then to say that I went to Tacoma, Washington to take a long look at the future.
When I mentioned the word “future” to one of the Australian H-D executives after the ride, by the way, in the context of “Milwaukee-Eight engines in the rest of the range” he remained evasive, but he did get a faraway look in his eyes…
*This is a bit like writing “Munich” for BMW motorcycles. Milwaukee is Corporate Headquarters; most bikes are built in York, Pennsylvania and Kansas City, Missouri with engines from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Oh, and BMW motorcycles are built in Berlin.
compression ratio to produce 10% more torque. The bikes also have twin spark plus per head. Is all this noticeable? You bet your… er, you bet. See below.
Quicker AccelerAtion
The additional torque means that you get moving faster; that’s 2-3 bike lengths faster from 0-100 km/h and 1-2 bike lengths faster from 100130 km/h in top gear, according to the Motor Company. On the road it even seems a bit better than that. The torque is in the right place, too, so that you can wind on the throttle at 2000rpm in top gear and the bike will accelerate away happily without any sign of stumbling. That means less enforced gear changing, which is nice.
HeAt MAnAgeMent
Both riders and pillions wanted cooler runnings, and I can only agree big time. The new bikes offer much improved rider and (probably – I didn’t try it) passenger comfort, without the Hot Thighs that were once such a feature. According to Boz, this is “thanks to reduced heat absorption, increased heat rejection and redesigned exhaust system.” That’s somewhat, but only somewhat, due to the engines’ partial liquid cooling.
iMProved Fit
There are people for whom even Harleys are too tall, and to accommodate both them and the ones who just didn’t want to spread their legs quite so wide when riding (this is one reason why I’ve preferred Sporsters), the new engines are narrower and offer an “optimized air cleaner shape”. I’m all in favour of improved comfort, and this change really works – especially after a while on the road.
reduced vibrAtion
Tired of feeling and possibly looking like bobbleheads at the lights, owners asked for fewer vibes. To meet that request the engines have a new internal single counterbalancer.
LAUNCH
This means that they don’t jump around quite so much at the lights, and provide what H-D calls a “smoother, more refined feel at idle”. The counterbalance works at road speeds too, and smoothes the engines’ working.
RicheR exhaust Note
One of the things Harleys have always offered has been a distinctive and rich exhaust note, and riders wanted more. Sometimes of course that can become “a bit rich” but that’s with aftermarket pipes. In the case of the Milwaukee Eight, Boz’s engineers reduced mechanical powertrain noise to increase the relative sound level of exhaust.
That’s “more iconic V-Twin rumble due to lighter valves, optimized cover designs and driveline improvements” including a single camshaft without an overall increase in noise, which will be welcomed by many people. It won’t be enough for everyone, of course, but don’t get me started.
LoweR idLe speed
To address both the request for better sound and less heat, the idle speed has been reduced to 850rpm. Once upon a time a Harley engine would have stalled at that speed; today it just purrs like a big happy beast.
impRoved chaRgiNg Harley-Davidson owners like stuff. They buy substantially more of it, I suspect, than any other motorcycle brand’s devotees. And much of the stuff they buy, for both their bikes and for themselves, requires electricity. You don’t want to find that you lack the amps when you plug in your electric chaps (trouser-type) or light your cigar, and sometimes in the past this has happened. So Boz’s boys upped the engines’ electrical output by half. That should see most people through even the coldest winter and the most severe tobacco deprivation.
Ride ’em
Deep down, I am a thoroughly shallow person. As a result I jumped on the first bike in the lineup outside Tacoma’s Murano Hotel, a spectacularly painted red and black CVO (limited edition) 114 Street Glide. Identified by H-D as “the baddest dog on the block” it was actually a particularly pleasant machine. It has the remarkably accurate Boom! sound system, which I played for a while and then switched off out of consideration for the others on the ride. Not everyone was so thoughtful. I said,
Wot’s in a name?
I hear names, Kemosabe, many names… the 1745cc Milwaukee-Eight 107 comes with oil-cooled heads (in the Road King, Street Glide Special and Road Glide Special) and water-cooled heads as the Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight (in the Ultra Limited). The other Twin-Cooled bikes run the 1870cc Milwaukee-Eight 104 (the CVO Ultra Limited and CVO Street Glide). CVO means Custom Vehicle Operations, or translated into Australian “big bucks”.
Harley-Davidson engines have usually had nicknames. From the Flathead to the Knucklehead, Panhead to Shovelhead and then the, admittedly rather boring, Evo and Twin Cam (hardly nicknames at all), these have sorted out the sometimes rather confusing tangle of H-D model names. Current suggestions on various American websites for the MilwaukeeEights include “Bubblehead”, “Meathead”, “Hammerhead” and “M8” or “Mate”. One suggestion that really hurt was “The Yamaha”. That one’s not likely to get the nod… I suspect that the winner will be the one passed on to me by Boz Bosmoski, the man who oversaw the creation of the engines.
“One of the guys on the design team came up with ‘Bonehead’”, he chuckled. “Might catch on.”
not everyone was so… ”oh, what the hell. You know who you are… Tacoma has mixed quality roads, a good introduction to the new engine and the new suspension. The Street Glide was easy to ride, with the 1870cc twin making short work of any demands. Remembering that Boz had claimed that the engines would pull cleanly from 2000rpm I tried that, and found it perfectly true. I kept dropping the speed and eventually discovered that I could actually let it run all the way down to 1200rpm before getting a bit of
107 cubes, ya’ll!
bucking. Once we left the urban jungle (and it is) and found ourselves on the back roads leading up into the Olympic Peninsula I also gave the bike its head and found that the other end of the rev range is just as obliging.
I was going to write that someone wrenched the keys out of my hand after lunch, but of course these bikes don’t have keys. I was, instead, muscled aside by a sizeable Brazilian (bloke, that is) and found myself on a 107 Street Glide instead. Now I will quite cheerfully admit that the 114 has significantly more punch, but I would be quite happy with the smaller engine. It still provides more power, less vibration and a slicker riding experience than current bikes. H-D would, never be accused of hiding its light under a bushel, but I find it hard to pick an argument with the factory description of these engines.
“Their iconic look, distinctive sound and massive torque make them instantly recognizable, but the Milwaukee-Eight 107 and Milwaukee-Eight 114 engines take the Harley-Davidson V-Twin to a place it’s never been.”
“They’re the most powerful, coolest-running motors we’ve ever built. Smoother, stronger and more durable. With crisper throttle
response and truer, cleaner sound. Four valves per cylinder [hence, I presume the Milwaukee-Eight], single chain-driven cam, dual spark plugs, counterbalanced and rubber-mounted.”
In the end I rode all the new bikes except for the Freewheeler trike, which will be available in New Zealand. The reason was simple:
“ HARLEY-DAVIDSON WENT TO THE REAL WORLD AND ASKED LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD WHAT THEY WANTED FROM A HOG ”
I have a dud right shoulder at the moment, and I know how much leverage the trikes require - I’ve ridden them in Unzud. That’s not a criticism, except maybe of my shoulder…
In the end I loved the engines in all of the bikes.
But… but but but.
But… much as I like the new engines, and the work that has been done on the clutch (amazing) and the improvements to the seating positions, luggage with its terrific new fasteners and all (except for the rear speakers on one of the Road Kings
which looked like a Valkyrie, the Norse kind, had lost her bra) there was one thing that stood out even more.
As a touring rider, I have long admired Harley seats but have been disappointed by the suspension. No more. In line with the “all new” mantra, the bikes I rode were all equipped with completely overhauled suspenders. At the front, it’s Showa SDBV technology with “bending valves” – sounds weird, is actually quite simple and works exceptionally well. The rear shocks with emulsion technology (I promise to find out what this is before we test any of the bikes) offer 15 to 30 per cent more preload adjustment and don’t require any more than turning a knob.
The ride back the next day, through scenery just as lovely and on roads just as various, was broken by a lunch and photo stop at Lake Wassisssnameo where, true to my name, I discovered a bee hive in an old tree stump. Displaying a quite unexpected reticence, Adam Wright from HarleyDavidson Australia refused to insert his hand to feel if there was any honey in the hive.
I don’t suppose he needed to. The Motor Company has got itself a whole bunch of honeys with the new Milwaukee-Eight tourers. D
The view.
TRIUMPH THRUXTON
Whatdoes the word “Thruxton” mean to you? Sporty, rorty and downright naughty are the three words that come to my mind. The outgoing Thruxton didn’t really live up to what it should have been, it was just too civilised, but forget all that. The new Thruxton and Thruxton R pack a whole lot of punch. I made this happy discovery in Albury on the Australian
THRUMPY TRUMPY! WORDS STUART PHOTOS BEN GALLI & DEAN WALTERS
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media launch, riding country roads and giving the new Thruxtons a whirl around Murray Valley Training Centre’s 1.6km track.
The main focus of the launch was the truly exciting Thruxton R. The R offers a couple of major differences over the standard model, and I’m sure many buyers will go straight for it because of this added value. Oh, and because it is just a damn sexy motorcycle to look at!
Ohlins twin rear shocks are the first thing you’ll notice. They have a bucket load of clicks available for the compression. The best setup for the road seemed to be four clicks from full. I would recommend that you get the preload done before you take off, and this will have to be done by a mechanic or a very handy DIYer – it’s not your normal ring spanner jobby.
Up front are big piston Showa forks slotted into what has to be the sexiest top triple clamp on the market. Triumph has outdone itself and given the Thruxton a polished top triple clamp that has an old school appeal with too cool for school looks. The Showa forks work well on the standard settings on the road, but for more spirited riding, a click or two of preload would be handy. Overall, making the front and rear a little stiffer actually smoothed things out – hard to believe but that was the net result.
Brembo radial mounted front calipers on the R version lack a little initial bite, but Triumph set them up this way deliberately. They do have enormous amounts of power once you get them on and I doubt that anyone will really notice the lack of initial bite on the road. It was only when pushing hard around Murray Valley Training Centre that it was noticeable. For the standard Thruxton there is non-radial fourpiston caliper setup which is more relaxed compared to the Brembos. When you swing your leg over the Thruxton R you’ll notice a sweet looking brushed aluminium tank strap that runs up the centre of the slim styled petrol tank, bar-end mirrors that are standard fitment and the fuel cap. The fuel cap is a “Monza” style item that is a trick thing. You may wonder where the lock is? Well, push the Monza
Crazy good and crazy popular!
Ohlins! Mmm!
Amal carbies go alright.
Stuart is wearing a Shoei NXR helmet, Berik Defence one-piece suit, Held Chikara gloves and Sidi Vertigo boots.
cap open and underneath lies the locking fuel cap – great job Triumph!
After you’ve had enough of sitting on the Thruxton (and this took me some considerable time), grab a chair (and maybe a beer or two) to enjoy exploring the rest of what Triumph has wrought, with attention paid to every detail – it shows, the more and more you look at it. Take for instance the Amal carburettors. Um, er… I mean the fuel injection made to look like carburettors. The detail is sublime. One easy way to tell the Thruxton and R versions apart is by the clear anodised aluminium swingarm on the R. It is black on the standard model. This is of course if you hadn’t already picked the two apart by the different forks and front brakes. Polished aluminium spoked rims come standard on both models and really add to that high level of detail that Triumph has built into the Thruxton. The R version also gets a painted seat cowl and
red stitching on the seat as standard. Time to explore the 1200cc High Power (HP) 270 degree firing order parallel twin-cylinder heart of the bikes. Back in issue #41 you will have read The Bear’s launch report on the T120
which has the ‘HT’ High torque version of the 1200cc twin. The difference in the HP version is a lighter crank, high
The most stunning top triple clamp available.
compression head and unique airbox, along with specific exhausts. This translates into an engine that has less bottom-end grunt than the HT version, but much more oomph up high. A couple of the bikes on the launch had the accessory Vance & Hines slip-on mufflers fitted and this took away some torque resulting in a slower bike, but with an amazing parallel-twin orchestra. We were told the mapping mustn’t have been sorted on these two bikes. Electronics include three power modes thanks in part to the ride-by-wire throttle: Road, Rain or Sport, switchable ABS (On and Off) and switchable traction control (On and Off). I always had the bike in Sport mode as I found
the other two modes a bit of a waste, it’s not like there’s 130+ kilowatts sitting in the frame and on the road I had the ABS on; on the track, it was off and I always had traction off as it makes the bike feel more connected to you, not trying to override what you’re doing.
From the extensive range of Triumph accessories you can get a Performance Race Kit for the R model. This includes stainless steel De Cat ‘headers’, stainless steel ‘open’ silencers with removable DB killers and endcaps, race specification camshaft kit, race specification washable twin air filters and forged ‘clip on’ handlebars. This kit not only improves power and torque, but makes the Thruxton R lighter. I can only imagine that this would be a barrel of fun to have.
Of the other accessories Triumph has on offer, the biggest selling item would have to be the exquisite looking headlight fairing. We’ve heard that Triumph cannot get enough of them. I can understand that, just look at the pictures and tell me this isn’t a thing of beauty! If individual choices are all too hard, Triumph has two distinctive accessory kits, the “Track Racer” and the “Café Racer”.
Continuing with the attention to detail, Triumph has included an LED rear tail light, USB charging socket, new switchgear (which is easy to use) and feature packed stylish twin instrument clocks. This all adds up to a motorcycle that you will spend many hours just looking at.
Last but not least is the riding position. In ‘standard’ guise, the more upright handlebars give good leverage for the road, but when you fit the headlight fairing you’ll need the lower clip-ons which give that little more weight over the front wheel, but also on your wrists. Who cares, just look at it!
Triumph is calling the Thruxton the “Café Racer Reborn” and the Thruxton R, the “Ultimate Café Racer”. I think that no matter which version you choose, you’ve got one of the prettiest looking machines on the road that’s also a lot of fun to ride. D
BRAKES: Front, twin 310mm discs with radial mount four-piston ABS calipers (R version). Rear, 220mm disc, dual-piston ABS caliper.
FUEL CONSUMPTION: N/A
THEORETICAL RANGE: N/A
COLOURS: Pure White, Competition Green, Jet Black (Thruxton). Diablo Red, Silver Ice, Matt Black (Thruxton R).
VERDICT: Stunning machines
Stuart is wearing a Shoei NXR helmet, Segura Retro jacket, Dririder Stealth gloves, Draggin Next Gen jeans and Sidi Vertigo boots.
TRAVEL
Business Meets Leisure
This is one of our series of “bleisure” or business/leisure stories; they tell you how to fill the days off that some of you can get when you travel for work in Australia or overseas. Naturally, they involve motorcycling…
A DAY OVERSEAS IN…
Whatwould the Bear do if he had just one day in the Windy City?
I’m always tense when I’m in Wellington. I can’t help it. It isn’t for the same reason as in Auckland, where I am wary of eight-foot tall Maoris in t-shirts that say “I don’t care who wins, as long as Australia loses” peering at me suspiciously to see if I’m from the West Island. In fact I am in favour of Unzud taking over Australia. At least then we’d be able to win the Rugby.
No, my concern in Wello is caused by a somewhat less personal concern than Bro Rage. I worry that the Earth will shake itself and the entire city,
suburbs and all, will simply slip into Port Nicholson leaving nothing but mildly scarred hillsides and the seal colony at Sinclair Head. It looks as if the ground would only need to shake a little; the harbourside hills are steep and thickly settled. I hope it doesn’t happen. Wellington is a nice city with a pleasant brewery downtown, directly across from the Te Papa museum.
So what would I do if I had a day to myself there? Assuming that the weather is reasonable (wind strength under Gale Force 9, precipitation temperature above 273 degrees Kelvin) I would rent a bike and head for Southward.
You would, I hear you say? But there’s
WELLINGTON, NZ
nothing down there except the seal colony at Sinclair Head. Quite true. But note that “for Southwards”, not just plain southwards. The Southward Car Museum is actually northwards from Wellington, but it isn’t named for its cardinal direction from anywhere. It gets its name from the bloke who set it up, Sir Len Southward. Sir Len made a heap of money and then did something useful with it, unlike a lot of millionaires who marry showgirls and blow their dough that
Aargh… I can just see all this sliding into Port Nicholson. Hope it doesn’t.
way. He may have got his fascination for motor vehicles from his middle name, which sounds like a British car – the Bingley. Despite the name, the museum does not contain only cars; it has a few planes and a small and somewhat eclectic motorcycle collection which contains a couple of Kiwi bikes which you will not see anywhere else (because there’s only one of each) and, among other things, Marlene Dietrich’s 1934 Cadillac Town Cabriolet.
Southward Car Museum is open from 9am to 4.30pm every day. It is in Otaihanga Road, Paraparaumu but don’t worry, you can’t miss it from the highway. Surrounded by acres of beautiful landscaping it also holds a theatre of which our columnist Lester Morris speaks fondly. It has 474 seats and a Wurlitzer organ, and he’s played there.
Getting to Paraparaumu is probably faster than spelling it. Just take SH 1 northward to get to Southward, ha ha. It’s only an hour. But I have a better idea…
THE BETTER IDEA
Take SH 1, which is called the Urban Motorway, to Ngauranga and then continue straight along what has become SH 2 instead of turning left with SH 1. This is the Hutt Road which follows Port Nicholson and then continues north along the Hutt River. At Brown Owl (yes, yes) turn left onto the Akatarawa Road.
This is one of the few memorable bike roads around Wellington, but it’s a beauty. The road itself is narrow but it is fairly well surfaced and pure joy to ride. Corner piles on corner as it races ALONG the eponymous valley and the only concern for you is going to be the possibility of oncoming traffic. There is very little of that. There will be extra traffic during school holidays because of Staglands Wildlife Park, halfway along this road. It’s not a bad place for a coffee, sitting on the veranda looking at the greenery.
The northern end of this road is at Waikanae, where you turn left onto SH 1. The museum is about 7km to the south, on your right.
If you’ve been so captivated by the
museum that time is getting short, just slip back onto SH 1 and you’ll be back in Wellington in less than an hour. But if you have a little extra time, you can ride another memorable bike trip: along the the Paekakariki Hill Road. Take SH 1 sough, but turn off to the left over the railway line, just past Paekakariki town. You will have passed the Wellington Tramway Line and Museum a little way back. The road slices its way up the high coastal ridge and from the top you have some pretty panoramic views of Rauoterangi Channel and the nature reserve of Kapiti Island.
From here it’s a road that has almost as many whoopdies (steep little hills, in English) as corners and takes you through what looks like a seriously wealthy bit of country with well-maintained gardens to Pauatahanui, where you can take SR 58 to the right to reconnect with SH 1. Once you reach that, turn left and once again you’ll be back in Wellington before you know it. You can also turn left and return to Wellington by way of SH 2, the way you went up.
This is a good ride if you have a full day at your disposal. Any bike will make it easily, and the only real concern is the 40-odd kilometres without fuel on the Akatarawa Road.
Unlike most bike roads or rides suggestions, this is pretty much the only one out of Wellington. There are short local runs but it’s effectively impossible to link them together, and others require a lot of backtracking. If I’m wrong about this I’m sure one of our New Zealand readers will correct me, but take it as fact for the time being – and have a good time. I’m pretty sure you will.
HEY DUDE, WHERE’S MY RIDE?
Renting a bike in Wellington is not as easy as in Auckland or Christchurch, but it is quite possible. One company that actually has a base in Wellington is Motorent.nz at Motomart, 7
Rutherford St, Lower Hutt Wellington just off SH 2. Phone +64 4 981 0580 or see motorent.nz . We don’t know Motorent, but they look pretty substantial. Also try South Pacific Motorcycle Tours, www.motorbiketours.co.nz, and Paradise Motorcycle Tours, www. paradisemotorcycletours.co.nz. Neither of them have bases in Wellington (as far as I know) but may be able to help anyway. D
It’s good of them to warn you, but even a (big) bike will get through.
I can’t remember if this scooter was a native New Zealand design…
Akatarawa Road at speed on an H-D Road King. It doesn’t get much better.
WHEN: From Tuesday May 2 – Tuesday 11 July, 2017 (or longer by arrangement with Get Routed) CONTACT: Dave Milligan dave@getrouted.com.au 0412 689 849 and/or 03 5625 9080.
Cam Donald
Alex Pickett
The name is long but it’s worth remembering. Few mid-sized sports-touring models that can claim a bit of gravel ability are able to offer this much technology, this much exhilarating performance, looks and style. It’s enjoyable and fun enough to make you want to learn Italian ‘pronto’. It is difficult to work out how MV Agusta can offer so much, until you peek at the price-tag of this three-cylinder stick of dynamite. Nearly $25,000 onroad answers the question why there is electronically controlled semi-active suspension, a colour five-inch TFT screen dash and all of it wrapped it up in high quality bodywork and fittings.
The triple 798cc motor doesn’t look too imposing as it slips so neatly into the trellis frame, half hidden. The bike is tall and lean and the sensation of being perched up so high never disappears; the high and wide handlebar protected by hand shields and fronted with the indicators is always in view. An easily adjusted screen moves up for highway touring and down for city work. The high and wide look contrasts the rear which is dominated by the most unusual looking narrow tail you will ever see. It looks athletic and imposing. But why has MV installed the indicators so low and so close to the number plate bracket, which is at axle height?
One way to take the MV would be as if someone said, “just turn it on, click it into gear and don’t ask questions”. Do that and you will get an exceptionally fast and comfortable ride. You will feel in control, because it takes no mental effort to ride this bike. Everything falls readily to hand, as they used to say.
MV AGUSTA TURISMO VELOCE LUSSO 800
RALPH CAN’T QUITE COME TO TERMS WITH TECHNO-ITALY
WORDS RALPH LEAVSEY-MOASE
PHOTOS NICK WOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
Your eardrums are filled in a very sophisticated, modern and evocative way with the triple’s rasp. The engine loves to rev and when it does, those revs come with almost no resistance.
It’s safe, too, because there is just the right amount of everything in the right proportions, be it the abundantly powerful Brembo brakes, the unfussed comfort or the near-perfect handling. In some ways the bike is almost over-
specified for an old duffer like me. I didn’t even use the quick-shifter which works for up and down changes. I chose to stick with habit and use the light clutch.
The Varese factory has at its base setting plenty of entertainment and delight. And you never feel as if you are missing out on anything. MV Agusta knows how to make you feel as if you are riding something special.
They do that by making the engine the equivalent of a Star Wars movie. Make it visually stimulating and provide a sensory overload for the modern generation while tying in some neat historically references for the older folk. The triple guarantees all that out of the box. But it can be improved even further by pulling on latex gloves and a white coat.
All you need to do is play menu manager and delve into everything that is adjustable. The engine modes offer discernible changes in sport, touring or rain settings. The traction control and the ABS can both be programmed with different levels of intervention and can also be switched off. Play with the suspension via the dash and the mode button, or go diving into the sub-menu with your IPhone.
Yes, I was getting to that. Load your mobile phone with the MV App and your index finger can talk to every facet of the microbyte trickery. Your phone will even track your route, speed and distance averages and lean angle. The days of post-ride oneupmanship without evidence are over. Actually, I was more interested in the two trip meters and readouts and the speed limiter and cruise control which
Ralph is wearing an AGV K-3 SV helmet, Held Imola jacket, Held Air N Dry gloves, Draggin C-Evo jeans and Held boots.
are blessings, while the LED lights are the brightest around, especially on low beam.
The quick-shifter works exceptionally well during the up change. Yes, I did have a go. Don’t expect the same shift quality if you’re going back down through the six speeder while not running at a decent pace. If you are fanging, then the new MVICS 2.0 (Motor and Vehicle Integrated Control System) platform which controls everything electronic will blip and snick beautifully on the way down. After a while, it is the potential loss of license that cuts that short.
Two up, my pillion and I would still both prefer the use of the very light clutch, and rely on experience to take the jerkiness out of the system. It is rare to be fanging fast enough two up to justify the quick-shifter on the down change.
What was a first for me (I have played with this on pure sports-bikes) was dialling in the right amount of engine braking to improve the ride for both of us. A lot of trailing throttle results in not having to use the brakes much at all, but dialling in the
electronic control by pressing the lefthand mode button to reduce engine braking gave us a smoother roll down to the lights. After setting the throttle sensitivity and also the way the healthy 80Nm of torque is delivered, I could set the way the 800 responds precisely the way I wanted it.
So after a couple of weeks of dabbling, what impression did the Turismo make? It is easy to find the settings that work for your style of riding, be that solo and fast or two up, loaded and cruisey. My partner gave the Turismo a massive thumbs up for comfort and enjoyment. I think my perch was even better, especially with the heated handlebar grips and the two-way adjustable screen. The centre-stand is useful and I can say the Lusso just about has everything you would need or expect in a middle-weight tourer.
But you don’t see many of them. There is the quandary. It seems to me that the MV could or should be on a lot of people’s minds when it comes to enjoying their riding. Smooth, comfortable, exhilarating… and distinctly odd but good-looking.
Check out how sexy those triple exhausts are, along with the red trellis frame!
It looks busy, but it’s great to use.
It’s even sexy from the back!
SPECS
MV AGUSTA TURISMO VELOCE 800
PRICE: $23,499 (plus on-road charges)
WARRANTY: 2 years, unlimited distance
SERVICING INTERVALS: Every 6000km or 12 months
ENGINE: Liquid-cooled in-line three cylinder, DOHC, 4-valves per cylinder.
BORE x STROKE: 79mm x 54.3mm
DISPLACEMENT: 798cc
COMPRESSION RATIO: 12.21:1
POWER: 81kW @ 10,000rpm
TORQUE: 80Nm @ 8500rpm
Yet, I suspect because of its relatively unknown name and maybe the look the Turismo won’t even register on potential buyer’s radar.
Okay, the extra low-volume MV Lusso (luxury in Italian) 800 might be a little expensive especially if you opt for the colour-matched panniers at $2135 a set extra. But there’s always the base model Veloce without the Semi-Active suspension and other
Semi-active suspension. Worth the extra dough?
bits and pieces which offers a $3000 saving. That pushes the price a little closer to the Yamaha Tracer or a Triumph Tiger 1050 at $15,499 and $17,150 respectively. But if you can afford more, you will get more. Me? I’d use the spare change jar to buy coffee… D
Is it surprising that you only need to change one vowel to get from ‘summer’ to ‘simmer’? I don’t think so! There are many places in the world where summer is the ideal season for motorcycling, but Australia is sadly not one of them. There are exceptions, of course, such as Tasmania, but even there it can get hot enough to turn a motorcycle suit into a mobile sauna. The trouble is that balmy weather does not make gravel rash less painful, should you step off.
The answer to this is of course quite simple – don’t step off – but not always achievable. Fortunately, technology is our friend and has produced a lot of summer-weight clothing which combines safety with smart components and design. This is no longer just ventilated jackets and perforated gloves; some of the materials used are quite amazing. So enjoy your riding this summer but don’t forget about protection – see the following items for examples!
AND THE LIVING IS EASY
COMPILED BY STUART
BMW MOTORRAD – See your local dealer or www.bmwmotorrad.com.au
AIRFLOW SUIT - $850 jacket, $580 pants
As temperatures rise, so do the demands made on bikers’ suits, which have to be ultra-lightweight and provide outstanding ventilation. With its two-part summer touring AirFlow suit for ladies and men, BMW Motorrad shows how it’s done. Thanks to AirTex mesh lining in the chest, arm and upper thigh area, as well as eyelet lining, the AirFlow suit makes for a distinctly cool feeling when riding. Available in a variety of Ladies and Men’s sizes.
AIRFLOW BOOTS - $340 ($120 overboot)
The AirFlow is a lightweight ankleboot with excellent ventilation – the closest you can get to the feeling of wearing sandals in the saddle. Even when the air is hazy with the heat and sweat drops evaporate as soon as they hit the ground, the AirFlow 3 uses air circulation to keep feet cool and comfortable. And should a shower appear to help cool things down, then you have the best protection available from the AirFlow over boot with its waterproof and dirt-repellent design. Sizes 36-48 available.
AIRFLOW
GLOVES - $145
Summer glove with excellent ventilation, featuring free-breathing material mix of special Pittards leather and Schoeller AirTex, dual layers at potential impact points, Kerprotec layer beneath ball of the hand, thin foam layer on the backs of fingers, perforated for enhanced airflow, leather-coated hard knuckle shell with ventilation holes, inner foam layer, perfectly precurved form-fitting shape, palm is unlined to furnish a firm, direct grip on the handlebars and the thumb is in chamois. Available in sizes 6-12 ½
AIRSHELL -
$950
arms. There is neck adjustment, a wrist adjustment strap, waist adjustment and removable protectors. Available in both Men’s and Ladies sizes.
HONDA – see your local dealer or www.hondagenuine.com.au
WING CAP - $20
Curved peak, adjustable snapback and embroidered logo.
Keep things light and airy at the height of summer, and then warm and dry in spring and autumn: this lightweight jacket is versatile and ideal for city traffic with its neon colouring. The bright yellow material is a combination of two fabrics – polyamide provides excellent abrasion resistance, while polyester prevents discoloration. Available in a variety of Ladies and Men’s sizes.
DAINESE – www.cassons.com.au
AIR FLUX D1 JACKET - $299.95
The Air Flux D1 summer jacket is made from D-Stone fabric with large mesh sections on the front, back and
The Dainese Air Hero Gloves combine cowhide leather, a reinforced goatskin palm and polyurethane knuckle protection in a lightweight and fully ventilated summer glove that achieves a CE rating. For those riding in hot climates that need air flow without having to compromise on safety, the Air Hero Gloves have come to the rescue. Available in Men’s and Ladies sizes.
DRAKE SUPER AIR TEX PANTS$299.95
The Drake Super Air Tex Pants from Dainese are the perfect complement to any of Dainese's mesh warm weather jackets. Fully ventilated with large boomerang mesh panels on the thighs, shins and calves, the Super Air Tex Pants eliminate steamy moisture build up but keep your legs protected with Composite CE certified knee armour and the light yet durable Dainese Quick-dry fabric. Great for warm weather commuting or weekend rides, the Drake Super Air Tex Pants are ideal for any rider looking to keep cool.
RACING POLO - $50
Available in Men’s size S to 3XL and Women’s 8 to 16. Pique comfort fabric, moisture wicking properties to keep you cool and dry. With embroidered logos.
RACING T-SHIRT - $25
Available in Men’s size S to 3XL. A 100% cotton t-shirt with screen printed Honda Racing logo.
HRC T-SHIRT - $25
Available in Men’s size S to 3XL. A 100% cotton t-shirt with screen printed HRC logo.
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE – see your local dealer or www.indianmotorcycle.com.au
SPRINGFIELD MESH JACKET - $395
You’ll enjoy coverage as well as cooling airflow. This jacket provides protection that is enhanced by
AIR HERO GLOVES - $139.95
removable armour. The mesh panels allow airflow that keeps a rider cool on the warmest days. The lightweight zip-in/out liner adds outstanding versatility, reliably blocking the chill when temperatures drop. 92% polyester and 8% leather shell.
RJAYS – www.rjays.com.au
BREEZE
JACKET -
$349.95
If you’d like to wear a full leather jacket in the warmer months look no further than the Breeze from Rjays. It’s made from heavy duty full leather with loads of perforations for airflow. There’s double stitching at the elbows and shoulders and brass zips and press studs. Sizes 38-54 are available.
JET STREAM III GLOVES$59.95
A short cuff glove made with a 100% leather palm and loads of ventilation on the top of the hand. It has a Velcro closure and it is available in both Men’s and Ladies sizes.
URBAN BOOT - $149.95
The Urban Boot has all the great features of its big brother the Tour-
Am in a shorter styled boot which can be of a benefit in the warmer
months. The urban is waterproof and breathable with internal dual ankle cup protection and reinforced toe and heal protection. Available in both Men’s and Ladies sizes.
TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES – see your local dealer or www.triumphmotorcycles.com.au
LOSAIL MESH GLOVES - $69
The Triumph Losail Gloves are a short cuff design ready for your next adventure. Mesh panels help ventilation while soft protection and leather palms give you comfort and durability. Available in both Men’s and Ladies sizes.
JEREZ JACKET - $250
The AirFlow mesh construction is perfect for keeping cool when the temperatures rise. This jacket also features a removable windproof liner to keep the early morning or late evening cooler temperatures at bay. Available in both black and a grey version.
PERFORMANCE
HYDRO 3
BACKPACK - $160
Quite simply the most comfortable hydration pack you can use, says Triumph, and the easiest reservoir to maintain. The wide harness aperture with straps angled away from your underarms enable the backpack to be easily slipped into whilst in your riding gear.
SCORPION – www.cassons.com.au
DAKOTA AIR GLOVES$49.95
100% leather construction with full perforation for maximum ventilation. These are a lightweight glove for supreme comfort and feel. Available in both Men’s and Ladies sizes.
SEDONA
SUMMER GLOVES - $49.95
100% A grade leather which is extremely soft for ultimate feel and maximum comfort. Stitching is external for even more comfort. Available in sizes XS – 3XL.
INDY JACKET$329.95
Combination of A grade leather and high strength mesh for protection and summer comfort.
Made for long hours, on and off the bike. The Urban II is designed to look like a trainer but with safety built in, featuring PU ankle, heel and toe protection, with a double layer shift pad. Colours: Black, Black/Red
FREESTYLE GLOVES - $89.95
The Freestyle has everything you want from a short sports glove. Alongside the carbon knuckle, you get pre-curved out-stitched fingers, a Powergrip palm, little finger PU protection, venting and a supremely comfortable neoprene wrist closure. Colours: Black, White, Red, Black/Flo Yellow.
ALPINESTARS – www.monzaimports.com.au
SP AIR LEATHER GLOVE - $179.95
Extremely comfortable and lightweight, the SP Air and Stella SP Air (ladies version) are constructed from strategically perforated full grain leather and 3D mesh top hand surface for a glove that is optimised for warm weather riding. With an advanced, race-derived polymer hard knuckle protector, palm slider and reinforced landing area, the ergonomic SP Air delivers class-leading protection on every ride. Men’s and Ladies sizes available.
SMX-1 R VENTED BOOT - $219.95
Durable, lightweight and incorporating extensive perforation in a low cut
road riding boot, the SMX-1 R vented boot (also available in a Ladies Stella non-perf version) is constructed from a highly abrasion resistant microfiber upper and is reinforced with strategically positioned TPU protectors. Alpinestars’ exclusive rubber compound sole offers comfort and excellent grip, both on and off the bike, while the accordion flex zones give support.
AMOK AIR
DRYSTAR
JACKET$399.95
The Amok Air is a versatile sport touring jacket constructed from an innovative poly-fabric main shell that is highly durable and incorporates extensive mesh panels for interior ventilation. Featuring an interchangeable Drystar waterproof liner and thermal jacket, the Amok Air can be worn in a variety of weather conditions.
SANTA
FE AIR
DRYSTAR
JACKET$449.95
liner plus an additional thermal jacket. With CE certified protection offering class-leading safety and the ability to upgrade with Alpinestars innovative and exclusive engineering.
SUZUKI MOTORCYCLES – see your local dealer or www.suzukimotorcycles.com.au
A versatile warm weather touring jacket that incorporates extensive mesh panels for cooling airflow, the Santa Fe Air features an innovative main construction that comes with an interchangeable Drystar waterproof
TEAM SUZUKI ECSTAR APPAREL
The latest range of official Team Suzuki Ecstar MotoGP is a high octane range which includes polo shirts, T-shirts and headwear, perfect for either the race track or in town. The exact same gear as worn by Team Suzuki Ecstar MotoGP riders and pit crew featuring alluring graphics and Suzuki, Ecstar, GSX-RR and team sponsor logos cap off the impressive line-up.
BIKIECHIC – www.bikiechic.com.au
ZOE T-SHIRT - $34.95
All about the bling - a great new Rhinestone heart design. Nice flattering t-shirt that’s a great ladies cut,
not too tight and a good length, 100% combed cotton with a ribbed neck band, holds it shape well. Sizes 8 – 24 and available in Purple and Pink.
KEVLAR ARMOURED LEGGINGS$229.95
GoGo Gear protective leggings can be used as a base layer under other garments for extra protection against abrasion. Like all GoGo Gear products, they are designed to look like regular fashion leggings but offer the protection of Dupont Kevlar abrasion resistant fibres and CE-approved removable and adjustable knee protectors.
SARTSO – www.ficeda.com.au
KSHIELD STRETCH JEANS - $169.95
SEGURA – www.ficeda.com.au
IRON JACKET - $679.95
IXON – www.ficeda.com.au
MATRIX AIR JACKET - $229.95
All-season jacket with a patched racing look. With a waterproof and breathable integrated membrane and a removable warm lining, Matrix features CE elbow and shoulder protectors, classic collar with press-stud, cuffs with strap, bottom tightening with buckle, 2 external pockets, 2 lining pockets + 1 mobile pocket, 2 internal pockets, 1 waterproof wallet pocket and a connection thanks to zip on back.
A regular cut straight leg jean which uses ‘4 second Kevlar panels’ in the knee and backside areas and features built in knee and hip armour pockets with a breathable liner. Triple stitched rear and outer seams and YKK zippers used in all jeans. Available in both Men’s and Ladies versions.
IXON – www.ficeda.com.au
RS GRIP GLOVES - $89.95
Mix of mesh, leather and neoprene with the palm reinforced in leather with slider on the external side. Also features an exclusive knuckle protector on backhand, Lycra between the fingers and a thin glued jersey lining for comfort.
Full CE certified jacket made from Buffalo leather with micro perforation. The Iron also features a fixed mesh lining, 4 external pockets, 3 internal pockets, adjustable cuff, ventilation system and waist adjustment.
HELD BIKER FASHION –www.heldaustralia.com.au
DESERT GLOVES
- $130
Highly abrasionresistant kangaroo (double) leather palm with a mesh fabric (100% polyester), leather detailed back, colourfast and sweat-proof lining, Velcro adjustment at cuffs, elasticated leather panels on back, thumb and fingers, perforated finger panels and sidewalls of fingers in lightweight mesh fabric. Available in Men’s and Ladies sizes.
AIR STREAM II MENS GLOVES - $175
Highly abrasion-resistant kangaroo (double) leather palm with a mesh fabric (100% polyester), leather detailed back, colourfast and sweatproof lining, Velcro adjustment at
INDY JACKET
• COMBINATION OF A GRADE LEATHER &
HIGH STRENGTH MESH
• CE APPROVED REMOVABLE SHOULDER, ELBOW & BACK PROTECTORS
• REMOVABLE WATERPROOF LINER
• ADJUSTABLE WAIST WITH ZIPPER AND BUTTON TABS
• 3 x EXTERNAL POCKETS
• 1 x LARGE INTERNAL POCKET
• 1x PHONE POCKET BIG ENOUGH FOR A SMART PHONE
• XS- 4XL
• $329.95 RRP INC GST
cuffs, Kevlar and DuPont Coolmax lined back, special step seam avoids pressure points on inner hand and enhances feel, perforated leather back, perforated finger panels and sidewalls of fingers in lightweight mesh fabric and a perforated hand for maximum ventilation, feel and comfort.
SAMBIA MENS SUMMER GLOVES
- $130
A summer/Enduro glove made from highly abrasionresistant and tactile kangaroo leather palm, spandex (95% polyamide, 5% elastane), leather detailed back with a colourfast and sweatproof lining, air-vents on fingers and perforated finger side walls. Available in four colour variations.
elbows. Available in 10 colours men’s sizes from XS – 8XL and in 3 colours Ladies sizes from 6 – 22.
APEX 4
AIR-FLOW
JACKET -
$249.95
A sports touring vented jacket which features an outer shell made from Maxtex polyester 600D, full flow mesh and1000D reinforced shoulders and elbows, a removable Reissa waterproof and breathable liner (8000mm/7000mm), CE armour with hi-density foam back pad, safety stitching with Coats thread, action stretch in shoulders and elbows, mesh comfort lining, dual arm, hip and waist adjusters for a tailored fit and 3 external pockets, 2 inner pockets and mobile pocket. Available in Men’s: Black/White/Grey S – 8XL, Grey/ White/Black S – 6XL and Ladies: Black/White/Grey 6 – 22.
NORDIC 3
DRIRIDER – www.dririder.com.au
AIR-RIDE 4 JACKET - $199.95
A sports touring vented jacket which features Maxtex 600D polyester and abrasion resistant mesh, Reissa waterproof and breathable removable liner, CE armour with hi-density back protector, mesh comfort liner and power stretch in shoulders, chest and
AIR-FLOW
JACKET$329.95
For those who like the protection of leather and the versatility of textile.
A ¾ length jacket with high flow mesh zones on the body and inner arms for summer riding comfort. All season versatility is provided by a removable waterproof liner and a thermal that can be easily inserted when the weather turns cooler. Plenty of storage pockets for touring and multiple adjusters and stretch panels for a comfortable fit and reflective print for night time visibility.
Available in Black Grey, Sizes S – 8XL.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON – see your local dealer or www.h-d.com.au
Don’t judge a book by its cover they say… This piece of gear might look warm at first sight, but this HarleyDavidson jacket is actually one of the most versatile, high performing riding apparel on the market. The patented H-D Triple Vent System allows riders to adjust to any weather conditions and temperatures. It features a multi liner system, strategically placed zip vents as well as removable switchback panels. In its hot weather configuration, outer panels zip off to create a mesh jacket with a polyester mesh body lining.
VENTED TEXTILE GLOVES
- $73.90
These Harley Davidson gloves provide unmatched fit, comfort and sensitivity that the riders want. 95% nylon and 5% spandex with polyester mesh fourchettes. Goat skin leather palm and fingertips. Neoprene cuff with adjustable wrist closure. These vented textile gloves are the perfect combination of fit, look and comfort for the warmer riding days.
DELTON SUNSHIELD HELMET - $179.95
Feel the wind in your face with this new Harley-Davidson 5/8 helmet. Harley-Davidson exclusive fiberglass shell with D-ring chin strap provides more coverage than a half helmet while still remaining lightweight. Removable, washable, antimicrobial and moisture-wicking liner. Pull down, retractable sun shield with 95% UV protection and antiscratch coating. Visor and forehead vents are integrated into the helmet lip for a streamlined appearance. Built in speaker pockets fit P&A communication headset speaker. Custom Harley-Davidson graphics. Weight 1240 grams.
SPIDI – www.motonational.com.au
JAB RR GLOVES$129.95
Spidi Jab RR
Gloves: short and aggressive, made of 0.8mm leather combined with highly resistant stretch fabric and microfibre inserts, ideal for summer use.
Increase air circulation thanks to its special Powertech vents (variable density polyurethane shield) with the additional function of shock absorption and anti-intrusion. Moreover, elastic neoprene details on the fingers enhance comfort while riding.
with EN 1621-1 certified protection on shoulders and elbows and ready to be equipped with EN 1621-2 Lev.1 or Lev.2 back protectors.
SCOOTERIA – www.scooteria.com.au
CAFÉ
JACKET$199
The 'Cafe' Jacket. Every woman should have a red jacket in her wardrobe and the Cafe jacket is a perfect addition. Beautifully styled, sleek and elegant, the Cafe is the lightweight, fully protective jacket you've been waiting for. CE approved removable armour in shoulders, elbows and back area, reflective piping, two-way zipper, exterior and interior pockets, mandarin collar, the 'look' of French cuffs. For use in mild to hot weather.
TOURATECH – www.touratech.com.au
COMPANERO HYDRATION SYSTEM$159.64
AIR NET SUMMER JACKET BLACK - $299
Summer jacket with large mesh panels highly resistance to abrasion on the chest, back and inner arms. Equipped
VESPA HELMETS - $400
A great, casual open face helmet for those warmer days and available in a variety of colours.
A lightweight pack that will prepare you for any challenge thanks to its 2 litre capacity source reservoir and mesh pockets. Easy to fill, clean and dry thanks to the wide opening. Ice cubes? No problem! Valve does not require a special bite position and delivers high flow with minimal bite pressure.
ALLROAD SERIES UNDERWEAR – from $68
The "Allroad" series is the perfect companion for your tours. The lightweight underwear provides optimal wicking and fast redrying. This supports the ventilation of your riding gear. The body temperature is maintained at the ideal temperature on hot days and has a cooling effect, and on cold days, a warming effect. Available in Ladies: S-L and Men’s: M-2XL.
ANDY STRAPZ – www.andystrapz.com
DROMEDARY BAGS - $65-$95
Completely collapsible for optimal packing efficiency, these burly medium-to-large capacity water storage and delivery systems are
perfect for everything from alpine to road warrior style expeditions.
Armed with incredibly tough 500 and 1000-denier Cordura exteriors and laminated with a BPA-Free and food-grade polyurethane lining, the Dromedary Bags can handle freezing and just about any kind of abuse you can imagine. Accessories like the Shower or Hydration Kits add do-all versatility. Available in 2, 4, 6 and 10 litres sizes.
SOCKZ - $15
A very well made, extremely robust and comfy pair of socks. Andy likes 'em because wool works in hot or cold, wet or dry.
DRAGGIN JEANS – www.dragginjeans.net
RACEY
JEANS - $299
Ladies! It’s time to get your Blue Jeans On… and Ride! The Racey are a stretch skinny leg jean and they are the answer to women riders wanting protective jeans that look just like their regular fashion jeans. You just have to look at regular jeans ads to know that the Racey are on trend right now. They have style, safety and comfort with the sports liner making them comfortable and more breathable all year round.
ROO HOODY - $199
The Roo Hoody is stylish, with street appeal and safety, includes a zip closure with an easy to use puller and the hood is adjustable and removable so it can be easily zipped off when you’re on your bike. Plus the DFFUSE CE approved armour is included making it great value for money.
ALICE TO THE TOP!
UP THE GUTS: PART TWO WORDS/PHOTOS COLIN WHELAN
If you’re a camping feral you’ll have no problems finding a place to throw your kit. A regular and very quiet option is on the access roads to the microwave repeater towers which regularly punctuate the ride. They usually have narrow bollards to stop caravans getting through but bikes are easy. Then it’s really up to you to deal with the fauna in any way you wish!
AILERON
An interesting artist township. Don’t just fill your fuel tank here, also fill your curiosity tank by chatting with
the locals and taking a wander around the sculptures. A surprising little cultural oasis.
BARROW CREEK
The Old Telegraph Station is worth a visit and you’ll long remember the signs on the servo and the attitude of the owner.
DEVILS MARBLES
One of the true highlights of this ride and you really should overnight here. The stars at night are amazing and the colours of the rocks in the evening and morning are almost unbelievable.
Plenty of camping and toilet facilities. Don’t ride past!
TENNANT CREEK
A couple of good cafes here doing their best and just north of the
Here at AMM we try to produce ride guides which equip riders to enjoy riding routes and tracks through the supply of relevant information.
I hope this guide will assist you folks wanting to take one of the classic touring rides that Australia has to offer: Up the Centre from Port Augusta to Darwin.
But I’ve gotta give you a caveat on this guide to the second part of the trip, the northern half from Alice to the top: Nothing you’ve experienced will prepare you for the widespread gouge pricing at venues which, due to the lack of business in the wet season, do their best to make twelve months’ money in the seven months they work. And nothing will prepare you for the infestation of untrained backpacker staff totally ignorant of their surrounds and its history and even the rudiments of what Australian country hospitality involves.
And if you’re not a nicotine addict, be prepared for a phalanx of publicans who just don’t give a damn about smoking regulations.
I once asked a fella in a pub in Darwin why the beer and fish ‘n’ chips were so exy and he mumbled about freight distances and costs. “Where’s the barra from?” I asked. “It’s local, mate,” he replied without any sense of irony.
In Pine Creek four times I asked the German cowboy magnet if they had white wine and four times she stammered that no, they didn’t have wifi.
In Adelaide River I asked every staff member why it was called the ‘303 Bar’. What was the significance of that rifle to the area and not a single one had a clue.
Ah, but the scenery’s amazing and the good places are memorable and this top half has far more fun options than the bottom section.
Station and in a couple of kilometres you’ll see the Tropic of Capricorn monument on your left and once you’ve taken the mandatory pic, you’re in the tropics!
Because it’s pretty straight (and straight forward), I’ll list the points in order as you leave Alice. The first figure is the distance from the last and the second is the cumulative distance from Alice Springs. The * signs signify places dealt with in the town notes and the last numbers are the grades of fuel available.
• 52km Start of Unrestricted Speed Zone
• 82km (134) Aileron Roadhouse* 91 95
• 154km (288) Barrow Creek * 91 95
• At around 380km from Alice you’ll come to the end of the unrestricted speed zone, just before the graceful rail bridge.
• 105km (393) Puma Fuel 91 95
• 9km (412) Devils Marbles*
• 95km (507)Tennant Creek* 91 95 98
• 26km (533) Three Ways Roadhouse. This is where the Barkly Highway from Nth Queensland joins from the east. 91 95
• 136km (669) Renner
• Springs Roadhouse 91
• 94km (663) Elliott 91 95
• 24km (687) Newcaslte Waters Turn*
• 78km (765) Dunmarra Roadhouse 91 95
• 44km (809) Daly Waters* 91 95
• 168km (977) Mataranka* 91
• 106km (1083) Katherine* 91 95 98
• 91km (1174) Pine Creek * 91 95
This is where you can turn north west to Jabiru and Kakadu if you have the time otherwise there’s not much to see here, but note that the Emerald Springs Roadhouse which shows as having fuel on most GPS units, is now closed. Fill up at Pine Creek!
• 55km (1229) Hayes Creek* 91
Here you have your first real option. Six kms north of Hayes Creek is the left turn for Douglas Daly Region Scenic Route. (Brown Signed). This detour is now fully sealed and will get you onto a beautiful Territory road and to Robin Falls, a great place to take a swim and refresh. Taking this detour adds just 16km to the trip to Adelaide River. CROC FREE!
• 57km (1286) Adelaide River* 91 95
Twenty one km north of Adelaide River is your next option. Buley Rockhole in the Litchfield National Park is superb, great for a refresh or an overnight stay in the camping area. If you don’t want to take on the two mild stretches of gravel, you can go in and out on sealed road. Take the left on Crater Lake road 21km north of Adelaide River and follow this for 4km when you turn left for Rum Jungle and now just follow this road for 48km before turning right on Florence Falls Drive signed Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole for the 3km ride into the park right beside the water. CROC FREE!
When you leave the waterhole, at the T back on Litchfield Park Road you’ll see Darwin in both directions. Left will take you back the way you came, right will take you on a much more enjoyable 116km ride looping back north via two stretches of mild gravel to join the Stuart at Livingstone.
• 82km (1368) Humpty Doo*
is just a few kilometres to the east of the Stuart on the Kakadu Rd. 91 95 98 And from here it’s just 40km to Darwin.
And as well as that, it’s pretty damn easy to get out of the Alice going north: if you’ve been near the river just head north until you hit Wills Terrace where you take a left and then right at the lights at the T and you’re on the Stuart heading north. Keep it easy, past the old Telegraph COLLECT THEM ALL
TEAR-OUT MAP #45
• 39kms (1427) Darwin * 91 95 98
A downloadable .gpx Garmin map is available on my site at www. motorbikenation.com
town is the Mary Anne Recreation Area which is very well maintained and campable.
NEWCASTLE WATERS
An historic and iconic old cattle station still working and with a number of well-maintained old buildings and a great little park. A top place for a break and a leg-stretching wander.
DALY WATERS
The Daly Waters pub is a bit off the highway and it manages to encapsulate all that is wrong with some ‘iconic’ country pubs. It’s expensive, clichéd, backpacker infested, a formula without a soul. Check it out if you must. Tourists may enjoy but travellers will want to vomit.
MATARANKA
Bitter Springs with its clear hot artesian water is extraordinary and a must-do! The camping ground is
ridiculously expensive with tiny cheek by jowl sites but feral camping is not advised around here. The pub is rough but real. Don’t leave loose stuff on your bike.
KATHERINE
A major hub town with some good nosh houses. If your ride is needing anything, the blokes at R&M Motorcycles on Giles St (T (08) 8972 2693) will be a good bet to fix it.
PINE CREEK
The BP Servo is the best on the highway and the pub is a contender for the worst. If you want to visit the old bomb shelters or trenches of WW2, try to track down Eddie Ah Toy who’ll likely be in his shop. He’s a third generation Creeker and in a sea of dreck, he is a shining beacon.
ADELAIDE RIVER
Another iconic pub staffed by ill-
trained transients using distance as justification for gouge prices and a ‘don’t care’ attitude. Leave it to the tourists who need safe experiences and head up to:
HUMPTY DOO
The pub has been a Pub of the Month and it’s full of real people, locals and travellers. You’ll enjoy this detour. Park your bike in the side street.
DARWIN
The city whose population has the lowest average age of any in the country and has all services, most of them expensive. An exception is NT Motorcycles, right on your left at Berrimah on the southern approaches to town. Twice I’ve had issues with my bike up there and twice they’ve stayed back and sorted it for me. They are THE bike shop in Darwin. (T 08 8939 0390) D
A COOL RIDE SOUTHWARDS
SOUTH OF MELBOURNE IN WINTER. REALLY WORDS & PICS: MAL JARRETT
Iwas going for a ride. “Are you mad?” enquired my dear wife when I informed her I was heading out to Gippsland in Victoria’s south, home of the world’s best race-track and Wilson’s Promontory, the southernmost tip of the mainland. She was questioning my sanity because we’re in one of Victoria’s coldest of cold-snaps in a very long time, and the mercury was struggling to hit double figures. Fear not, I quipped, for I have procured a BMW S 1000 XR with heated grips! Incidentally, if you are yet to experience the luxury of heated grips, do it, you’ll never go back to riding in winter without them, but more on that later.
I had also managed to squeeze a set of BMW StreetGuard pants and jacket out of the kind folk at BMW H/Q, and to complete the picture, a new GS Helmet. Well, at least I looked the part! I think they felt sorry for me. You can read more about the bike and the gear elsewhere in this story.
The route that I decided to take was a loop that saw me heading south from Melbourne through the town of Tooradin on the South Gippsland Hwy (M420), about an hour from the city (depending on which route you choose), through to Inverloch, then Mirboo North and back through Poowong to Koo Wee Rup and Pakenham and then home to Melbourne.
My first stop was to be the everpopular Pelican Café in Tooradin, a fairly nondescript little place, but one that always seems to attract the bikes on the way down to the Island. If donuts are in your meal plan, then just a couple of kays down the road is the Koo Wee Rup Observation Tower and Swamp Lookout with its resident donut van, which is not to be missed…
or so I’m told! Cough, cough.
After a quick coffee to get the blood pumping again, it was onward and downward towards Grantville. If you are heading straight for the Prom’, you’ll take the South Gippsland Hwy(A440), exit towards Korumburra & Leongatha, but as I was heading south to Wonthaggi, I continued along the Bass Hwy (M420), in the direction of Phillip Island.
Fuel is plentiful in these regions, so unless you are riding something with a peanut tank, there’s no real reason to plan your fuel stops ahead of time. There appears to be a town or petrol station strategically placed every 50k’s or so.
When you hit Grantville (another popular fuel-up and coffee stop), you’ll have the choice of continuing along the Bass Hwy or turning left onto the Grantville-Glen Alvie road, which is a short cut (of sorts) across to Wonthaggi. This is where you can finally start to have some fun, as the road is a great reprieve from the boring South Gippsland and Bass Highways. Simply follow this road until you intersect with the LochWonthaggi road, hang a right and this will take you to the Bass Hwy again, just before Wonthaggi. Bear in mind though that this route will bring you out past the Kilcunda Pub, which is a destination in itself, with awesome views over the Bass Strait. They also do a great counter lunch so keep this in mind.
Just as you hit Wonthaggi make sure that you follow the signs to Cape Patterson (C435). As mentioned in AMM issue # 41, there’s a great little road between Cape Patterson and Inverloch, it’s only 13.5km long, but it’s a cracker. The scenery is just spectacular as the road twists and
views to be seen.
winds its way across the clifftops. Once you are in Inverloch you can either head north to Leongatha in central
e Gear
The old adage of ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather if you’ve got the right gear’ definitely rang true in this particular instance! Although I was blessed with clear blue skies for ‘most’ of my ride, it was bitterly cold with single digits for most of the day. However, with the words of BMW Motorrad’s marketing manager Miles Davis ringing in my ears i.e. “I wear this gear to the snow”, I headed out in the BMW StreetGuard pants and jacket with nothing but a set of Skins underneath and I was warm as toast all day! My midweight Triumph gloves were ample when mated with the XR’s heated grips, and my Triumph/Alpine Stars T3 boots kept my feet warm and dry all day.
The GS Helmet, also loaned to me by BMW, was their latest Adventure helmet, which provides incredible comfort and protection with its lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced design. The helmet features an anti-fog inner visor, which virtually eliminates the common problem of fogging during the winter months. Another great addition is the accessory modular intercom system (purchased separately), allowing riders to pair their helmet with the BMW Navigator V, a phone/iPod, a pillion or another rider. The GS Helmet is available in three colours: Comp, Light White and Matt Black.
Stunning
TRAVEL
Gippsland as I did, or east on the Inverloch-Venus Bay road (C442) and across to Middle Tarwin, Fish Creek or Foster, the gateway to east Gippsland and Wilsons Prom’. If time is on your side, why not push on to Port Albert, stay overnight and then head north through the Tara Valley and up into
e Bike
BMW describe the S 1000 XR as an Adventure Sports Bike, or as Stuart described it in issue #32 “A sportsbike with a proper upright handlebar and proper touring capabilities”.
In true Adventure Bike fashion, the S 1000 XR is a big bike, there’s no getting away from it. Unfortunately for me, a low seat model wasn’t available at the time of my ride. A low seat of 820mm and an even lower suspension option of 790mm is available, as at only 174cm in my boots, the 840mm standard seat is a long way from terra firma when backing into parking spot or trying to manoeuvre the bike around, stopping at lights etc. This isn’t a criticism of the bike, just a warning to other vertically challenged riders to make sure you get a test ride, to ensure the right fit for yourself. The bike itself is an absolute purler… I’d read all the reviews and soaked up all the hype surrounding the model, but nothing could prepare me for the seamless power delivery and linear torque curve that just kept building. The sound emitted from the exhaust when you rev it out and click it up through the gears is just addictive, think F1 car. There’s a slight ‘buzz’ through the bars around the 115km/h mark, but nothing too much, probably accentuated by the number of revs that the bike is doing at cruising speed i.e. I kept finding myself looking for an extra gear as the engine is spinning over at approximately 4500- 4800rpm around the 100km/h mark. If it were mine, and I was to do regular long distances, I’d probably lose a tooth off the rear. But that’s just me.
The XR comes standard with two riding modes (rain & road), Automatic Stability Control (ASC), heated grips, hand guards and a centre stand.
Take the track less travelled.
However, the bike I rode had the following options (Stick with me here!)
Daytime Riding Light
TOURING PACKAGE:
Dynamic-ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment)
Preparation for GPS Device (I.E GPS mount, scroll ring on LH Grip)
Luggage grid
Pannier set
DYNAMIC PACKAGE:
Dynamic Traction Control
Gear shift assist Pro (Up-Down Quick shift)
Two additional riding modes – Dynamic & Dynamic Pro
ABS Pro (Cornering ABS)
Cruise Control
White LED Indicators
Still with me? In other words, the adjustability of the riding dynamics is just mind boggling. I had a bit of a play around with it, but settled for ‘Road’ mode for the majority of the time. Dynamic and Dynamic Pro just raises the bar into a zone that in my opinion only the most experienced of riders will get to use to their full ability.
Roughly translated into ‘Malisms’ I reckon Rain mode is for ‘medium to fast riding’, Road is for ‘fast to just plain silly’, Dynamic is for ‘you can’t be serious’ and Dynamic Pro is ‘go straight to jail, do not pass go!’
The screen can be manually adjusted into two positions on the go, I found the higher position best given the conditions. The tapered handlebar is wide and offers good leverage, the seat was comfortable enough for a full day in the saddle without any aches or pains worth mentioning. The heated grips
are in a word…sensational. The difference it makes to a winter ride is just phenomenal and they should be standard fitment on all bikes, as are heater/ demisters in cars. I reckon they could also be considered as a safety item, as your hands aren’t literally frozen stiff. The grips have two settings, warm or toasty.
The brakes, in the usual BMW way, are very strong, with great feel. The XR has a larger rear disc at 265mm than the S 1000 R and RR. Instrumentation tells you all you’ll need to know and the controls on the switch blocks are well laid out and fall to hand easily. The cruise control worked well, was easy to use and is quite intuitive. The GPS was also easy to use, with a ‘Scroll ring’ on the left handlebar grip for zooming in and out.
The centre-stand is well positioned and it was easy to hoist the bike up onto it. Fuel capacity is 20 litres which the digital read-out tells you provides a range of 250km. It stays that way until you have used at least a quarter of a tank, then it starts counting down proportionately. A warning light illuminates at around the 70km to empty mark. According to the spec sheet it has 4 litres in reserve, but I didn’t feel like testing it.
Suffice to say I had a ball on the big Bavarian blaster, unfortunately I couldn’t get the pillion in a million on board for a pillions perspective given the weather conditions. The accommodation for the passenger looks to be comfortable enough, but I guess I’ll have to leave that for next time.
As this isn’t intended to be a full bike test, please refer to issue #32 for Stuart’s in-depth review and specs.
north Gippsland which has a myriad of great riding roads to explore.
For me it was north to Leongatha on the Bass Hwy (B460), and onto the Strzelecki Hwy to Mirboo North, approximately 20mins (24km) away. The Strzelecki Hwy is another great ride. The temp’ can tend to drop a bit though as you head further north into central Gippsland, hills capturing clouds, roads cold and damp. Before you know it you’ll be in the township of Mirboo North, home of Inline 4 café and the ‘Blessing of the Bikes’, held each October to mark the
beginning of the riding season, and sponsored this year by Australian MOTORCYCLIST Magazine. Inline 4 Café is a bike themed café with years of road and race memorabilia on display, and the owners Marcel & Sabine will always make you welcome. Though during the winter months they are only open Fri-Sat-Sun…
Once you’ve had your fill at Inline 4, you can continue along the B460 and then left onto the B469, which will bring you out at Trafalgar, on the Princes Freeway (M1). However, the M1 isn’t exactly known for its
Oh yeah, that’d be right! Like a “Pelican” now, huh!
outstanding scenery or challenging corners, so double back to Leongatha and on to Korumburra. Just on the outskirts of Korumburra, on your right, look out for the signs to Warragul (C425). Head north on the C425 for about 10km then take the left turn onto the C432 through Poowong (Yes, that’s a place!), continue on the C432, which becomes the Lang Lang – Poowong road (C434) to Nyora, which joins up again with the South Gippsland Hwy.
Once back on the South Gippsland Hwy take the C422 through Koo Wee Rup and link up with the M1 for the run back to Melbourne.
This loop took me around 8 hours and is approximately 400k’s return from Melbourne. Bearing in mind that I made quite a few stops for coffee, donuts, photo op’s, lunch, the call of nature etc. you could probably knock a couple of hours off if you were on a promise or your leave pass didn’t extend to a full day. D
Ihavethis terrible feeling that I may have been wrong all along. Zapping Melbourne’s traffic on Piaggio’s latest scooter made me think – why don’t I do this all the time? I have a daily commute of six minutes either way; on a bad day, seven minutes. I do that on a motorcycle. Why? Even when my daily trip was 25 minutes, a few years ago, it would have been so much easier and almost certainly more enjoyable on something like the Medley. And admittedly it’s been decades since I last endured the kind of commute that most Australians face – either stuck in traffic at the mercy of… bloody MORONS and sleep-drivers yes, that light changed a geological age ago, fool… sorry, where was I? Oh yes, driving to work, ugh. I can’t decide whether that’s better or worse than standing in a train or a bus in a miasma of underarm odour or a mist of sweat exuded by that… hey, don’t you ever shower? What is the matter with you!? Ah, lost it again there for a moment. Sorry…
I’ve been out on a bike instead. Not a bicycle… what’s that pinhead doing? He’s opening his car door right in front of... KRANG!! No, a motorcycle. Much better than any of the other choices, and I recommend it to you.
But now I wonder whether I haven’t been missing the point, and ignoring
an even better way to get around in the traffic. Scooting is nothing new to me; I own a rare and exquisitely pretty Vespa 946. But mine, like all Vespas, is a traditional scooter with a wide shield at the front which makes filtering through traffic less attractive than it might be. The Medley, on the other hand, is slim and svelte and dodges through the narrowest of gaps. Keep the passenger foot pegs vertical if you want the slimmest possible silhouette.
With its brand-new snappy four valve 155.2cc i-GET four-stroke engine it is quick enough to evade the trajectory of those abovementioned sleep-drivers and to elude the revenge of the WRX drivers whom you’ve just outdistanced with the ease of a federal parliamentarian contradicting himself. Again.
One of the nice things about the Medley is that it does its job of delivering you to office, warehouse, factory or home with consummate ease. Another is that it looks good doing it. It has daytime LED running lights, just like a flash car. The spokes in the cast wheels (16 inch front, 14 inch rear and silver on the plain Medley, black on the ‘S’ version) look like some kind of serious beater arms, possibly intended to disarm (hah!) a James Bond villain. The Medley has twin disc brakes, and Bosch two
channel ABS. It’s also light at 132kg and the twin rear shocks, adjustable for preload, do a competent job. Riding the Medley on Melbourne’s increasingly broken-up roads was pleasant.
Piaggio makes these in Vietnam, and both build and paint quality are outstanding. The shut lines –that means the spaces between the panels, for those of you who are not compulsive automotive review readers – are tidy and even, the stitching of the seat is regular and the controls look and feel good and solid.
And on top of all that, the Medley is practical. Its cavernous underseat storage space takes two helmets (although, admittedly, not bulky full-face jobs) and it has a good lot of room in the ‘glove box’ behind its leg shield. There is room here because the liquid cooling system (better known as the ‘radiator’ to you and me) is at the back, on the opposite side to the engine. There is also a USB socket so you can charge your phone. You may need this to report the WRX driver who is still fuming on your tail.
An electronic immobiliser secures the scooter when you remove the ignition key.
Now not only will you not get anything like the storage capacity of the Medley on a motorcycle, except a brute like a Goldwing – and just try
LAUNCH
filtering on one of those! – but you also save on registration, insurance and fuel. Especially since the engine turns off while you’re waiting at traffic lights or wherever. And of course turns on again when you twist the grip. Claimed fuel consumption is 47.5km/l which will give you a range well over 300km, so you won’t be bugging your local service station and pulling out your wallet too often. While we’re on the subject of your wallet… the Medley is not as inexpensive as some other scooters of the same capacity. Unlike Piaggio’s Fly 150, which is Australia’s
best-selling scooter and aimed at the absolutely budget-conscious scooterist, it is a somewhat upmarket proposition. You can probably tell by the list of equipment that it offers. Based on the Beverly 350 and likewise equipped with big, almost motorcycle-like wheels, it costs $5290 plus on-roads. The ‘S’ version (in the photos) comes in at $100 more for a lot of black paint, red stitching and a badge.
All sorts of accessories are available for the Medley, including a sound system (yes!), windshield, top box and the Piaggio Multi Media
platform which is not a platform at all but a clever way of using your smart phone to monitor the scooter’s vitals.
So as I rolled into the parking lot at Uncle Rocco’s Barber Shop at the end of our short introductory ride, I thought – maybe I should be riding one of these to work instead of dragging out one of the bikes, whose exhaust systems don’t even have time to get really hot on the ride. Maybe I really was wrong all those years, and I should be on a Medley. I certainly can’t think of a reason why not… D
NORTON NEMESIS
NOMEN, AS THE ROMANS SAID, EST OMEN…
WORDS & PHOTOS THE BEAR
Ihaven’t been able to discover who thought of the names for the Norton bikes planned in the late 1990s. Considering that they were the “Manx” (reasonable enough, you might think, but a bit presumptuous), a 750cc inline four; the “Buffalo”, configuration unknown and perhaps just as well; the “Nirvana”, a 1500cc V twin cruiser; and the “Nemesis”, another 1500 but a V8, this is perhaps not surprising.
Supposedly the tooling for the Manx was complete when the enterprise went (spoiler alert) pear-shaped, but it seems to have disappeared. The only concrete example we have of the entire, ah, interesting range is a prototype of the Nemesis which may or may not ever have been ridden – the bike in these photos. Various dictionaries I consulted define nemesis as “something that a
person cannot… achieve”; “a source of harm or ruin” or (wait for this one) “retributive justice in its execution or outcome.” Pardon me if I suggest that this whole deal was questionable from the beginning.
I mean, truly: “Er, and what do you ride, mate?” – “A Buffalo.” – “No, seriously, what bike do you ride?”
So just because you launch your new bikes with a reception at the uber-flash Dorchester Hotel in London, which is what these people did, doesn’t mean that you’ve got all your bolts torqued down. I hope the invited members of the press managed to down a few drinks, because that’s all that was going to come out of the event. The announcement of “a stunning range of ultra-modern high performance machines” with the Nemesis as “the
proposed new Norton flagship” turned out to be… well, let’s say stunningly optimistic.
“When you study Norton carefully, you come away impressed,” wrote some benighted journo in 1999, “despite the clear mistake made by Norton when it promised delivery, for instance, of its V-8 Nemesis model last year. The Nemesis was not delivered in production form last year and, indeed, it is still a prototype to this day – with the promise of delivery either later this year or early in 2000… I think we can forgive Norton for its overzealousness, however, given the sheer brilliance of some of its design concepts, and the unbridled enthusiasm of its talented, proven designer, Al Melling, principal of England’s Melling Consultancy Design.”
This would be the Al Melling who
The Norton Nemesis prototype (?) on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.
TECHNICAL
“was involved in the fashion industry, and owned a company in London throughout the 1980s which designed ladies’ fashion garments. As owner he became interested in the whole lifecycle of garment production and learned how to make the garments himself,” right?
Who later noted that ‘he’s never messed much with the parts of them that stay cool and don’t go bang. ‘I’ve not really bothered about chassis and things’, he says. ‘They’re just there to carry my bloody engine.’”
Although the end of the quote raised some concerns about Norton’s chassis and suspension design, Melling “clearly has a reputation as a top-notch, cuttingedge engine designer. Indeed, his company makes considerable income trouble-shooting, and fixing, engine designs created by others. Melling’s firm has even created a Formula One racing engine. Formula One is generally considered the highest level of technological achievement in the combustion engine universe –the designs are as cuttingedge as it gets.
“Thus, Norton’s engines promise to be innovative, powerful and reliable. The power output figures for both the
Avert your eyes
“I don’t know about you, but I grew up looking at Norton motorcycles in magazines here in the United States – lusting after both the bikes and the beautiful women draped over them in Norton’s advertising.”
MotorcycleDaily suggesting that Norton’s advertising did work, after all – although it didn’t sell a bike to this particular, er, enthusiast.
That looks like a spectacular amount of weight on the front there; wonder how (and if) it handles?
The bike’s engine is an interesting sight. See if you can spot any of the 235 ponies…
the use of the Norton name and now the Nemesis is being built (apparently) by Melling under the name Melling, not Norton Nemesis. Well I never.
“We have made eight Melling bikes, costing £55,000 each,” says Al Melling today. “Two are owned by a Hollywood film star and one is owned by a big film-producer who lives in California. I can’t say either’s name due to client confidentially, but I will say the producer has a funny first name and a surname like Superman.” Could it really be that Devin Reeve has a Nemesis?
“It transpires that Melling can be contacted through www.mcdeng.co.uk if you are interested in buying a Melling. There is a four-and-a-half month waiting time on your new bike as each one is built to order, but if you have that much cash on hand to spend you could always pass the time booking your place on the
first passenger trip to Mars! Oh, and please. Please let us ride it should your Nemesis, sorry Melling, ever turn up...”
If eight bikes had been made in 2010, it seems odd that Melling is said in a YouTube video to have ridden the first one in 2013. Did they just deliver the other seven with strict instructions to not start them up, or were they left parked somewhere for three years?
In a sort of soft core Top Gear repeat in 2013, Men & Motors (umm…) enthused about one of its videos that “Jeff Stone is in Rochdale visiting the MCD plant where the development of Norton bikes are made (sic). Jeff speaks to Al Melling who tells how the Norton brand was saved by American
investors and now it’s looking to get back to the top with their new range of motorbike engines. Plus we get a sneak preview of what’s going to be on offer from Norton in the near future.”
That’s three years ago. Someone else has since got Norton to the point where it is actually making and selling bikes, albeit “tributes” to the models from the marque’s heyday. Keep an eye out for a Melling Motorcycles showroom, and let me know if you find one.
What do you mean you can’t follow this? I was relying on you to explain it to me
And then, just as I was considering closing off this story, it all started again. Simon Skinner, Executive Director and Head of Design at Norton, announced a supercharged 650cc parallel twin bike currently under development by the firm. He seems somewhat optimistic when he foresees “a bike weighing 150 kg with 170 bhp from a supercharged 650 twin.” He adds that such a bike “would go like stink as well as being environmentally friendly, and better on fuel and emissions.”
These claims were made just after the publication of a drawing of Norton’s new 1200 cc V4 superbike. Norton’s facebook page announced that:
“Norton today unveil their all new V4 bike, featuring the new Norton 1200cc engine and tubular aluminium chassis, all bikes are to be hand built at the Donington Hall factory.
“The bike will be publicly unveiled for the first time at the UK’s NEC Motorcycle Live show in Nov. 2016. With deliveries expected in mid 2017.
“Norton are (sic) now taking enquiries for the V4 which will launch with a 200 limited edition model. To place your interest please follow the link to the Norton website below; http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/.”
Yes, we wish Norton all the best. No, we will not be holding our breath.
(I know it’s usual to list all the sources of the quotes you use, but in this case I just couldn’t be bothered. Most are from Europe’s Auto Car magazine or from the MotorcycleDaily website, or are otherwise identified. D
Motorcycle rear end or undersea creature? The Nemesis looks oddly organic.
RATED 4 OUT OF 5 HELMETS
Majors Creek Hotel
George St, Majors Creek.
T: 02 4846 1145
W: www.majorscreek.org.au/ThePub
I’m in Braidwood where the main street has more ex-hotels than extant hotels and I’m in one of the brace of remaining ones seeking a warm bum and a single glass of red before returning to the chill of the winter afternoon and the ride back to the Bungendore.
The Braidwood Hotel is the one you don’t know about. It’s the one you go past on the way to the Royal Mail or the pie shop or café where you’ll likely to be seated between eccentric sub-temperate locals and geriatric tourists on day release from Canberra.
It’s a rare day in Braidwood when you don’t spot a few sets of socks and sandals. It’s all about comfort down here! This is a town where men tuck their singlets into their underpants.
The Braidwood Pub has good food cooked and prepared by an actual chef, cheerful local folks on both sides of the bar, a good selection of beers and local wines and, most important for me this winter arvo, about the best bloody log fires in each bar and room that you’re ever going to stand in front of.
It’s not quite Pub of the Month material but it’s a great rest point and
when I yarn with Maddy behind the bar she tells me I’ve gotta get myself down to Majors Creek where the pub, owned by Kate who also owns the Braidy, is pretty damn special.
Apparently there’s bugger all else in the town: the pub’s also the post office and apart from a couple of handfuls of locals, there’s just big doses of quiet and roos.
Nothing else I really need to do today, so I finish my merlot and point right instead of left and in less than 30 minutes, with the low sun in my eyes, I’m crossing the bridge over a minor
creek which is Majors Creek at the north-east end of the township.
Majors Creek’s named after Major William Sandys Elrington, a veteran of the Peninsular War, a seven year battle which had a couple of claims to fame: the defeat of the poncey bloke with his hand in his own blouse, Napper, and the real invention of guerilla warfare.
With the outbreak of peace, Britain had more surplus and unusable military officers than they could point a riding crop at so they pensioned them off, dangled the promise of a thousand or so free acres of (allegedly) arable land in
the antipodes and sent them sailing.
Elrington left Plymouth on the “Elizabeth” on November 25th 1826 along with his, er, housekeeper and son. They shared the voyage with three other families, a lone doctor, 60 sheep, a cow, oh, and 32 steerage passengers who tastefully stayed below decks and out of sight.
Four and a half months later they got to Sydney and Elrington P&O’d south for his 2500 acres on the Shoalhaven.
Now, just as the Creek ain’t a major creek, so too Major Elrington wasn’t what you’d call a major major. When he cashed in his commission, he was less decorated than a Christmas tree in July, but when it came to bastardry, seems this bloke was a true major!
About the first thing he did was issue dire warnings to anyone thinking of driving cattle or otherwise crossing his land and his treatment of his convict
P ition and Attitude!
This pub’s got a hell of a lot going for it. It’s in the midst of some of the great gravel mountain roads in coastal southern NSW. (The ride down to Moruya via Araluen is a classic must-do.)
There’s no passing traffic and the range of accommodation from the pub rooms, the railway carriage to the free swagging make it an ideal weekend base for group rides of all sizes.
A lot of the locals ride bikes and those that don’t either did once “back in the day” or wish they did and all warmly welcome riders.
You only really need to check the prices of a bed and a schooner to realize this is a real no-rip-off joint that’ll treat you well and honestly.
On our value scale it rated over 200, twice the plimsoll line and it just snuck into our four helmet category , bolstered by the little things like strong hooks for gear, undercover parking and the free swagging for riders.
slaves soon had him known as the ‘flogging major’.
Obviously not a great bloke to work for and the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the infestation of bushrangers in the area had, ‘been increased by several runaway convicts from the estate of Major Elrington’.
His personal nadir came in 1838. He’d had this Irish convict, Peter Neil working for him since 1827 and in those days if a convict worked for one master for 8 years and maintained good behavior, he was granted a Ticket of Leave, effectively parole and freedom.
Neil worked out the 8 years but Elrington refused to sign the papers.
Peter Neil sucked it up and worked for another 3 years when he again sought release. The boss had him arrested and charged and on June 6th 1838 Neil was sentenced at Braidwood to 75 lashes for insolence and neglect.
The convict appealed successfully and was granted his Ticket of Leave that October. The thoughts of the minor major are not recorded.
No wonder the pub prefers to be known as the Majors Creek Pub rather than the Erlington Hotel…a bit like re-naming the Belanglo Forest ‘Milat Meadows’.
Anyway the next year he suddenly resigned as a Commissioner of the Peace and refused to ever explain the reasons although the press reckoned it was connected with his mistreatment and refusal to sign the ticket of leave of another servant.
In 1847, realising he wasn’t going to get medals for being a dickhead, he took his bat and returned to England leaving the district to some much nicer folks.
And heading into town you soon get the sense that this is still a place of good folks.
Between the bridge and the CBD are two separate roadside resting areas, both well maintained with resting seats positioned to take in the view over the creek and the afternoon sun. I later find out that they are completely funded by Friday and Saturday raffles at the pub. So don’t be a tightarse and splash for a heeler’s worth not just your bar change!
Anyway, I rock up at the pub and park Super-Ten out front, return the g’days of a couple of blokes having a fag on the church pews on the deck and head into the combustion heater powered warmth of the bar.
Linda’s behind the bar and yes there’s a spare room, and yes you can park your bike under cover and yes you can get a feed later and what’d you like to drink?
A young baby is being passed around for a cuddle from everyone, a pair of retired locals are yarning at one end and a group of blokes in work gear is hogging the fire. They’re happy to move aside and let me thaw as we jaw before I duck out to get a couple of sun-going-down images and the nip in the air has turned into a double with ice!
When I get back the blokes have gone but my keys, wallet and phone are still on the bar and Linda has a bit more time to fill in some gaps about the pub. There’s four rooms in the pub itself plus room for ten in an old railway carriage out the back with a good variety of single and double beds. It’s forty bucks a head including tea, coffee and cereal in the morning.
Now uniquely, the pub owns three non-contiguous bits of land: the block the pub and the railway carriage are on, a smooth grassed area complete with BBQ, picnic tables and wishing well across the road facing the ‘randah, and a block of rougher country across the road on the creek side.
Riders are welcome to swag for free on either non-pub block but your best bet is the first one. Just five bucks for a shower but you might want to put it off. There’s no mains water in Majors Creek and so H2O is at a premium. Don’t flush the toilets if there’s (how do I put this?) only fluid in the bowl, and if you’re showering, keep it brief and preferably do it with at least one mate!
This lack of water is reflected in no tap water available at the bar, but there’s Lashes, Carlton Dry, VB, XXXX and Resches from the keg and a schooner of XXXX is just $5.10.
There’s no gambling but there’s darts and pool and a good jukebox and
the restaurant’s open Friday nights, Saturday lunch and dinner and Sunday lunches. I was there on a Monday but Linda rustled me up a top lasagne and salad.
If you want food during the week, ring ahead and it’ll be sorted.
The rooms are basic and comfortable and when I get to mine, Linda’s already put the heater on and it’s toasty. All rooms have heaters but no cooling systems. The barflies all reckon there’s no need.
As the evening develops the bar fills. It’s Bruce’s 60th and it’s party time. A couple of locals tell me long yarns which they don’t want repeated and they ask not to be photographed.
The fire rages and the jukebox volume goes up and then Mick and Nick rock up after their gig on 94.5 FM, Braidwood’s community radio station.
The party mood cranks up another notch: bottles are bought, glasses are filled, toasts are made, songs are sung, laughs are had, logs are added to the fire. Repeat!
The pub closes when Linda or whoever’s working reckons it’s not worth staying open, so if you have a big and thirsty group, you could be in for a long night but most folks here have work in the morning so we wrap it up around 11pm.
Good pubs in the country have never been their town’s drinking centre, they’ve always been the community’s social locus. Folks don’t go there ‘to drink’, they go there to celebrate and communicate, to socialise and organise, to catch up and to wind down. And to maybe have a drink or two while they’re at it.
The Majors Creek Hotel is such a pub and it’s in some very nice riding country. The rides from Braidwood to Moruya via Araluen and to Cooma via Captains Flat are a couple of the most enjoyable NSW South Coast rides. If you’re doing them, an overnight at Majors Creek can only double your enjoyment.
Full Disclosure: Contrary to standard industry practice, I neither sought nor was offered any discount, special deal, overseas junket or free gear from any person or business mentioned in this article D
HigHly-Strung Stallion
Words
Stuart Photos n ick Wood p H otograp H y
Stuart is wearing an Rjays CFK-1
Carbon helmet, Segura Retro jacket, Dririder Stealth gloves, Draggin jeans, Dririder iRide 2 boots and a Harley-Davidson shoulder bag.
Ducati’s Hypermotard has always been an excitable machine to ride. It doesn’t like to be ridden slowly. Instead, it likes to have the throttle cracked wide open and the rear end sliding. So how does this bigger engine 939 model transfer those characteristics into the real-world? We gave it a whirl to find out - obviously, otherwise you would be reading about some other bike!
The new 937cc Ducati Testastretta 11° engine has more power, but more importantly a 10% increase in torque compared to the 821, the previous version. It feels very much the way Ducatis used to feel like, say, ten or
so years ago. Under 3000rpm it is cranky and feels like a bucking bronco. This didn’t change when I switched between the three power modes. But get it over the 3000rpm mark and this stallion comes alive and feels like it will rip the bitumen from the roadway. Obviously, the most exhilarating way to experience this is in High power mode, but to make the Hypermotard a little easier to handle in traffic, I’d suggest Medium power mode for normal use.
Handling is adequate for urban riding; the bike is extremely agile and easy to get in and out of the tin tops, but when the pace hotted up
the front forks felt cheap to me. They lack damping and have way too much stiction. It feels as if the oil cannot flow smoothly through the internal valves. You could be sitting at a set of traffic lights for a couple of minutes and then suddenly the forks will drop. This also has to do with the front springs which are way too soft. Sure, this might help the sideways gang, but like most other bikes, day-to-day riding is what it will mostly do. The rear monoshock on the other hand is set up nicely for most riding. It could even be that it overpowers the front forks at times, exacerbating the problem. Ergonomics are a mixed bag. I like
All is silent, ready to unleash itself at the crack of the throttle.
the bar height and width, as well as the seat to peg height, but the seat is uncomfortable. It puts you in a weird position, so don’t expect to ride this bike more than a couple of hundred kilometres at a time. But remember, this is a highly-strung motorcycle and likes to be ridden that way – not pottered around. As well, you can get an accessory Ducati comfort seat which has 20mm of extra padding, which would no doubt help the situation.
A Brembo braking package is fitted to the 939 and works well, in fact the front radial mounted calipers overpower the forks, so think about
getting heavier front springs. You do get two levels of ABS to choose from, along with Ducati Traction Control with its eight levels plus off, so you can dial in exactly what you require.
Rider modes – Sport, Touring and Urban - can each be tailored to the way you like them set up. So depending on how you feel, or the road conditions you face, just select the appropriate mode and maximise the fun.
The Ducati Hypermotard 939 is a niche motorcycle that just loves to have its inner hooligan unleashed. From that niche, I think this would be an ideal second/weekend play bike to have in the garage. D
WARRANTY: Two years, unlimited distance
SERVICING INTERVALS: Every 15,000km or 12 months
ENGINE: Liquid-cooled L-twin cylinder, 4-stroke, Desmodromic, 4 valves per cylinder
BRAKES: Front, twin 320mm discs with radial mount four-piston ABS calipers. Rear, 245mm disc, dual-piston ABS caliper.
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 7.90 litres per 100km, premium unleaded
THEORETICAL RANGE: 202km
COLOURS: Ducati Red, Star White Silk
VERDICT: URBAN HOON
‘939’ means more torque!
TRAVEL
139 PLACES TO LAY YOUR HEAD
STEELY’S BEEN THERE
The mass of men, said Henry David Thoreau, lead lives of quiet desperation. He was right, too, and one of the causes of this desperation is, to this day, the difficulty of finding decent, motorcycle-friendly accommodation when the weather closes in and the light thickens, and there are no convenient bridges to sleep under. But don’t despair. The Bear Army, in the shape of Trooper #3 Rex ‘Steely’ Steel, is riding to the rescue.
“Hi General Bear,” he writes, “at the last Northern Manoeuvres in Walcha I was mumbling to you over a glass or two of red about compiling a list of biker friendly accommodation and sending it to you. Well I’ve finally done it.
“This list has been put together by just me and is based on places I have actually stayed at during my
bike riding travels around the place. The places are of various standards of luxury from basic (very) to pretty good but all provide safe motorcycle shelter, mostly undercover.
“As far as possible I have tried to keep the information up-to-date (for future travels) but some places might have a changed a bit. Burning down seems to be a fairly frequent occurrence with old country pubs.
“The list is not all encompassing and is confined mainly to the SE part of Oz but it may be something others could build on. As you can see I have only included the name of the place, its locality and phone number. The list may be of use to someone.”
May be of use, Steely? I haven’t even printed it and I’ve already used it twice! So here it is, and with it comes a challenge: can we fill it
and yes, I know it’s fuzzy. That adds to the feeling] There’s nothing quite like it – a warm, welcoming spot on a crackingly cold night.
in for the rest of Australia, or even make it denser for the south-east? Give it a go, and tell us of other accommodation that meets Steely’s requirements. Do it now, and we’ll publish whatever suggestions you make. Well, suggestions for places to stay, anyway. Other suggestions… we shall consider on their merits, so to speak. Here we go, with 139 accommodation options!
AAPOLLO BAY (Vic)
Apollo Bay Hotel/ Motel (03) 5237 6250
ALSTONVILLE (NSW)
Settlers Motel (02) 6628 5285
ARMIDALE (NSW)
Tattersalls Hotel (02) 6772 2247
BBAIRNSDALE (Vic)
Grand Terminus
Motel (03) 5152 4040
BALLARAT (Vic)
Mid City Motel (03) 5327 7588
BARHAM (Vic)
Colonial Motel (03) 5453 3099
BATEMAN’S BAY (NSW)
Hanging Rock Motel (02) 4472 4466
BENDEMEER (NSW)
Bendemeer Hotel (02) 6769 6550
BERRIDALE (NSW)
Sierra Villa Lodge (02) 64567 3878
BINGARA (NSW)
Imperial Hotel (02) 6724 1629
BLYTH (SA)
Blyth Hotel (08) 8844 5004
BOMBALA (NSW) Maneroo Motel (02) 6458 3500
BOORHAMAN (Vic) Boorhaman Hotel (03) 5726 9215
BOOROWA (NSW)
Boorowa Hotel (02) 6385 3000
Court House Hotel (02) 6385 3005
Ram & Stallion Hotel (02) 6385 3576
Blue Metal Motel (02) 6385 3186
BOURKE (NSW)
Back o’ Bourke Hotel (02 6872 2544
BOWRAVILLE (NSW)
Bowra Hotel (02)65674 7041
BRIGHT (Vic)
Bogong View Motor Inn (03) 5755 1422
Alpine Hotel/Motel (03) 5755 1366
BUNGENDORE (NSW)
Royal Hotel (02) 6238 1219
BYROCK (NSW)
Mulga Creek Hotel (02) 6874 7311
CCAPERTEE (NSW)
Royal Hotel (02) 6359 0172
CARCOAR (NSW)
Royal Hotel (02) 6367 3009
CESSNOCK (NSW)
Australia Hotel (02) 4990 1256
CLARENDON (NSW)
Hawkesbury Race Club Motel (02) 4560 4300
COFFS HARBOUR (NSW)
Bentleigh Motor Inn (02) 6652 2566
Big Windmill Motor Lodge (02) 6652 2933
COOLAMON (NSW)
Coolamon Hotel (02) 6927 3028
COOMA (NSW)
Alpine Hotel (02) 6452 1466
COOYAH (Qld)
Royal Hotel (07) 4692 6185
COROWA (NSW)
Greenacres Motel (02) 6033 2288
CORRYONG (Vic)
Court House Hotel/Motel (02) 6076 1711
Corryong Hotel/Motel (02) 6076 1004
Mountain View Motel (02) 6076 1766
COWELL (SA)
Franklin Harbour Hotel 1800 303 449
CROOKWELL (NSW)
Crookwell Hotel/Motel (02) 4832 1016
CULCAIRN (NSW)
Culcairn Hotel (02) 6029 8501
DDARGO (Vic)
Dargo Hotel (Cabins) (03) 5140 1231
DENILIQUIN (NSW)
Caro-Tel Caravan Park (Cabins) (03) 5881 1732
DORRIGO (NSW)
Tallawalla Retreat (02) 6657 2315
Some motorcycle friendly places are pretty easy to spot.
DRAKE (NSW)
Lunatic Hotel (02) 6737 6757
EELLALONG (NSW)
Ellalong Hotel (02) 4998 1217
EMMAVILLE (NSW)
Club Hotel (02) 6734 7304
Tatts Hotel (02) 6734 7309
ENSAY (Vic)
Little River Inn (03) 5157 3311
ESK (Qld)
Esk Grand Hotel (07) 5424 1141
ESKDALE (Vic)
Eskdale Hotel (03) 6072 0404
EUROA (Vic)
Castle Creek Motel (03) 5795 2506
FFINLEY (NSW)
Finley Motel (03) 5883 1088
GGLENCOE (NSW)
Red Lion Tavern (02) 6733 3271
GLEN INNES (NSW)
Great Central Hotel (02) 6732 1966
Clansman Motel (02) 6732 2044
GLOUCESTER (NSW)
Roundabout Inn (02) 6558 1816
GOOLWA (SA)
Goolwa Hotel (08) 8555 2012
GOONDIWINDI (Qld)
Border Motel (07) 4671 1688
GRAFTON (NSW)
Crown Hotel (02) 6642 4000
HHALLS GAP (Vic)
Grampian View Units (03) 5356 4444
HAMILTON (Vic)
Commercial Hotel (03) 5572 4119
George Hotel/Motel (03) 5572 1844
Grand Central Hotel (03) 5572 2899
HARRINGTON (NSW)
Harrington Hotel (02) 6556 1205
HEBEL (Qld)
Hebel Hotel (07) 4625 0923
HORSHAM (Vic)
Smerdon Lodge Motel (03) 5382 3122
IINGHAM (Qld)
Lee’s Hotel/Motel (07) 4776 1577
INVERELL (NSW)
Inverell Terrace Motor Lodge (02) 6722 5100
KKANDOS (NSW)
Kandos Hotel (02) 6379 4030
KARUAH (NSW)
Karuah Jetty Village (02) 4997 5520
KINGAROY (Qld)
Kingaroy Motel (07) 4162 1966
KINGSCLIFFE (NSW)
Blue Waters Motel (02) 6674 2999
KYOGLE (NSW)
Commercial Hotel (02) 6632 1017
Exchange Hotel (02) 6632 1026
Kyogle Motel (02) 6622 1070
LLEONGATHA (Vic) Bairs
Otago Hotel (03) 5662 2017
LONG JETTY (NSW) Paradise Park
Cabins (02) 4334 5555
MMACKSVILLE (NSW)
Belle-Vue Riverside
Motel (02) 6568 1363
Star Hotel (02) 6568 1008
MACLEAN (NSW)
Maclean Hotel (02) 6645 2412
MALLACOOTA (Vic)
Mallacoota Hotel/ Motel (03) 5158 0455
MANGOPLAH (NSW)
Mangoplah Hotel (02) 6928 5702
MANSFIELD (Vic)
Delatite Hotel (02) 5775 2004
MAYFIELD (NSW)
Comfort Inn (02) 4967 1977
MENINGIE (SA)
Waterfront Motel (08) 8575 1152
Lake Albert Motel (08) 8575 1077
MERIMBULA (NSW)
Pelican Motor Inn (02) 6495 1933
MIRROOL (NSW)
Royal Hotel (02) 6974 1237
MOONIE (Qld)
Moonie Hotel/Motel (07) 4665 0200
MOUNT BEAUTY (Vic)
Allama Motel (03) 5754 4365
MOUNT GAMBIER (SA)
Federal Hotel/Motel (08) 8724 9111
MOYHU (Vic)
Moyhu Hotel (03) 5727 9333
MURWILLUMBAH (NSW)
Murwillumbah Motor Inn (02) 6672 2022
NNARRABRI (NSW)
Tommo’s Motor Lodge (02) 6792 1922
NEATH (NSW)
Neath Hotel (02) 4930 4270
NINDIGULLY (Qld) (07) 4625 9637
NOWA NOWA (Vic)
Nowa Nowa Hotel/ Motel (03) 5155 7297
OOMEO (Vic)
Golden Age Hotel/ Motel (03) 5159 1344
OUYEN (Vic)
Victoria Hotel (03) 5092 1550)
PPAXTON (NSW)
Paxton Hotel (02) 4998 1226
PORTLAND (NSW)
Coronation Hotel (02) 6355 5307
QQUINALOW (Qld)
Quinalow Hotel (08) 4692 1167
RRYLSTONE (NSW)
Globe Hotel (02) 6379 1048
SSALE (Vic)
Mid Town Motel (07) 5144 1444
STANTHORPE (Qld)
O’Mara’s Hotel (07) 4681 1044
ST. GEORGE (QLD)
Balonne River Motel (07) 4625 5155
STREAKY BAY (SA)
Streaky Bay Hotel/ Motel (08) 8626 1008
SWIFTS CREEK (Vic)
Albion Hotel (03) 5159 4211
• guided and self guided tours
• late model BMW fleet
• scenic destinations and impeccable service
• 2017 tour calendar out now
• book before November 30th for 10% discount www.scenicwheels.com.au
TTABULAM (NSW)
Riders Rest (02) 6666 1307
TALBINGO (NSW)
Talbingo Country Club (02) 6949 5260
TALLANGATTA (Vic)
Victoria Hotel (02) 6071 2672
Tallangatta Hotel (02) 6071 2513
TARAGO (NSW)
The Loaded Dog Hotel (02) 4849 4499
TARALGON (NSW)
Argyle Inn (02) 4840 2003
TAYLORS ARM (NSW)
Pub With No Beer (02)6564 2100
TEA GARDENS (NSW)
Tea Gardens Hotel/Motel (02) 4997 0203
TEMORA (NSW)
Shamrock Hotel/ Motel (02) 6977 2016
Terminus Hotel (02) 6978 0968
Railway Hotel (02) 6977 1320
TENTERFIELD (NSW)
The Royal Hotel (02) 6736 1833
Jumbuck Motor Inn (02) 6736 2055
TEXAS (Qld)
Stockman Hotel (07) 4653 1310
Texas Motel (07) 4653 1300
TIARO (Qld) Tiaro District Motor Inn (07) 4193 9363
Hideaway Hotel (07) 4129 2153
TIN CAN BAY (Qld) Sleepy Lagoon
Hotel/Motel (07) 5486 4124
TINTALDRA (Vic)
Tintaldra Hotel (02) 6077 9261
TOOBEAH (Qld)
Coronation Hotel (07) 4677 5144
TUMBARUMBA (NSW)
Union Hotel (02) 6948 2013
TUMUT (NSW)
Amaroo Motel (02) 1800 262 766
Tumut Motor inn (02) 6947 4523
UUKI (NSW)
Mt. Warning Hotel (02) 6679 5111
URALLA (NSW)
Top Pub (02) 6778 4110
URANA (NSW)
Hotel Urana (02) 6920 8049
VVictor Harbour (SA)
Grosvenor Hotel (08) 8852 1011
WWALCHA (NSW)
New England Hotel/ Motel (02) 6777 2532
Commercial Hotel (02) 6777 2551
Pub food may surprise you… sometimes even in a good way. Just kidding!
WALHALLA (Vic)
Star Hotel (03) 5165 6262
WANGARATTA (Vic)
Pinsent Hotel (03) 5721 2183
WARIALDA (NSW)
Royal Hotel (02) 6729 1444
WARILLA (NSW)
Warilla Hotel/Motel (02) 4295 1287
WARRNAMBOOL (Vic)
The Cally Hotel (03) 5561 3932
WEE WAA (NSW)
Imperial Hotel (02) 6795 4125
WEST WYALONG (NSW)
Tatts Family Hotel (02) 6972 2030
WINDSOR (NSW)
Windsor Motel (02) 4577 3626
WINGEN (NSW)
Durham Hotel (02) 6545 0351
WINTON (Qld)
North Gregory Hotel/ Motel (07) 4657 1375
YYARRAM (Vic)
Club Hotel/ Motel (03) 5182 5027 D
Technical FUELS AIN’T FUELS
Or are they?
Words Stuart.
Doyou really know what you’re putting into your fuel tank? Are you aware that using certain types of fuels might do your engine good… or they might actually do it harm?
Years ago when I was racing twostrokes, competitors were subjected to regular fuel testing at national and state titles, especially if you got a place at the pointy end. You had to use a certain type of fuel from one service station and bowser number depending on the meeting. This obviously made it a nightmare for everyone trying to get fuel at the one time! But I digress. In the course of all this I got to understand the data surrounding different fuels, fuel condition and even
how temperature can affect an engine’s performance. For this article I spoke with a fuel expert from BP to pick his brains on the background to the current fuel situation.
The fuel we use in our vehicles can take between 9-18 weeks to get to our local bowsers.
It could be that you tell your mate, “My bike runs best on Caltex” and he might say, “Oh, but mine runs best on BP”. You could both be right. It all really depends on how fresh the fuel is. So if you go to a service station that has a high turnover, you have more of a chance of getting fresher, better fuel to look after your engine and of course also give you better performance.
There are only six refineries in Australia, producing all of the unleaded fuel that we use. BP and Caltex have refineries in Queensland, Caltex has one in NSW, Mobil and Shell have them in Victoria and BP has another one in Western Australia.
You might think if you filled up at a Mobil (7 Eleven) service station in Queensland that you will get fuel from the Mobil refinery in Victoria. Nope. What you will get is fuel refined in Queensland, but the refinery will use specific additives as per Mobil’s requirements. The same procedure applies with other brands in the other States.
Do not fill up here. Not unless you have no choice and you’re beginning to hear the banjo.
Generally it is recommended that you run most bikes on premium unleaded fuel of 95 octane plus. It’s pretty hard to go wrong with this, but I suggest
you refer to your owner’s manual or the manufacturer itself about the best fuel. You could find that running 98 octane makes your bike run worse due
to the fuel’s higher density – in other words, the engine needs a bigger spark to explode/burn the fuel at the correct level to produce the most power.
I know I’m talking about a bike with a bit of age on it, but my Pre Modern F1 CBR900RR race bike produces the most power using 91 octane (not E10). Using 95 octane is okay, but only if the weather’s hot. With 98 octane the engine cannot burn the fuel efficiently and the bike tends to run like a pig mid-corner.
Keep in mind that bikes run at high RPM and have small cylinders with short flame paths. This actually reduces the octane requirement.
However, most people just fill up with a particular fuel because one of their mates told them it is the best fuel, when I am sure that those mates probably don’t fully understand the fuel themselves.
In terms of particular brands – BP, Shell, Mobil or Caltex - it doesn’t really matter. Each will say their fuel is better in one way over the other and to some extent this can be correct – it’s the additives each brand puts into their fuels that can make the difference to keep your fuel system clean, for instance. So if you use premium fuels (except maybe Shell V-Power in some bikes, see below), they not only emit a cleaner gas, but can be better for your engine because they have special cleaning detergents (additives). Confused now? A cleaner fuel system can result in better performance and better fuel consumption for most motorcycles. So, while I say that 98 might not run as well as 95, the special attention paid to the additives put
NEWINTHESHOPS
THANKS, MIKE
Dainese Mike Pelle jacket
Price - $749.95
The style of this jacket is a unique and fashionable urban style jacket made entirely from (Waxy) pure aniline vat dyed leather. The Mike Pelle leather jacket, under its super-soft exterior, features superb technical characteristics. Active safety is provided by certified removable Pro-Shape protectors at the shoulders and elbows while the interior is lined with innovative TechFrame and 3D-Bubble fabrics. The Mike Pelle leather jacket has a pocket for a G1/G2 back protector while adjustments at the neck and sides and loops for fastening the pants complete the technical specifications of the jacket. The only hard part is whether to pick the black or brown version! Available in both men’s and ladies versions. See your local bike shop or www.cassons.com.au
released all sorts of goodies recently, like a new series of Hero5 cameras and clever sharing apps and software, but the big news is Karma. GoPro now has a high quality drone for all those great angles that only a drone can get. Karma features a compact, fits in a small backpack design and includes an image stabilisation grip that can be handheld or mounted to vehicles, gear and more. Karma makes it easy for anyone to capture amazingly smooth, stabilised video during almost any activity. For more information, visit www.GoPro.com
IT’S KARMA I TELL YOU
GoPro drone released
Price - $1195.95 (with Hero5
Black - $1649.95)
Those clever folk at GoPro have
to go anywhere, and Segura’s Nomad will do just that. Giving the classic look of waxed cotton while utilising modern technology, the Nomad is both waterproof and breathable. A removable thermo aluminium winter liner makes long rides through adverse weather conditions great and this textile/leather combination jacket gives you full CE certified protection and serious style, ensuring that you’re the best-looking rider every time you hit the road. See your local bike shop or visit www.ficeda.com.au .
TIE ME DOWN
Tie-down supports for Indian Motorcycle - Price - $59.99 US
TIME TO VENTURA
Ducati and Triumph bags released Ventura has designed its Bike-Pack and luggage systems to fit the recently released Ducati X Diavel and Panigale 959, as well as Triumph Street Twin and Thruxton models. Now you can tour with delight, packing all you’ll need into a Ventura bag. See your local bike shop or visit www.kenma.com.au
As much as most riders hate to admit it, sometimes trailering a motorcycle simply can’t be avoided. The new custom tie-down brackets from Kuryakyn save time and worry by providing a discreet easy-to-access mounting point to securely strap in Indian Chieftain and Roadmaster models for safe, stress-free transport. Brackets are coming soon for Chief and Springfield models. See www.kuryakyn.com to purchase.
TIME TO STYLE UP
Segura
Nomad jacket
Price - $599.95
A motorcycle jacket should give you the freedom
BURST OUT!
Held Cloudburst pants
Price - $135 plus postage. Really good overpants are so much
NEWINTHESHOPS
better when you can get into the bloody things before you get soaked! Full length side zips on Held’s Cloudburst pants help you get them on before you get drenched. Sizes XS to 6XL in black are available through Andy Strapz – Ph: 03 9786 3445, email: info@andystrapz.com or jump onto the website: www.andystrapz.com
IT’S ALL IN THE DETAIL Rizoma accessory line for Triumph Bonnies
After the Street Twin prelude, Rizoma now presents the brand new accessory lines for Bonneville T120 and Thruxton R. Designed with Rizoma’s outstanding style and attention to detail (yep, we use it ourselves) the Triumph Classic Triad is complete. Rizoma uses the latest technology which doesn’t in the least detract from the most authentic riding experience. The accessories are completely in harmony with the soul of these three English Classics, with their balanced British charm. A cafe racer heart for the Thruxton R and Street Twin lines and, noble spirit for the Bonneville T120 accessory line. Rizoma, feel the passion. Visit www.rizoma. com to view their extensive range.
AGAINST THE SUN
Wunderlich Glare Shield
Price - $29.90 EU Motorcyclists are happy when the sun shines. But if the sun shines on your navi, then the happiness is often over pretty fast. Motorcycle accessory specialist Wunderlich now offers the www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au
solution for the new TomTom 410 and its predecessor the 400, as well the BMW Navigator V and IV and the Garmin Zumo 660. It’s a high-quality glare shield made of impact-resistant ABS plastic that simply goes over the navi. It has a shake-proof hold and guarantees display readability. The navigator retains full mobility and operability in the process. There is also a portrait format version for the TomTom 410. Comes with a five-year guarantee and is of course “Made in Germany”. For more, visit www.wunderlich.de or your Wunderlich dealer.
TIME TO DANCE
GoGo Kevlar Leggings
Price - $229.95
The new GoGo Gear Kevlar Leggings for women include 200% protection for the lower body when riding. Unlike some Kevlar jeans that only provide partial protection. The Kevlar leggings include CE-approved adjustable and removable knee armour, are breathable and machine washable as well as include decorative details at the knee area to disguise the knee protectors and an extra wide waistband with belt loops and two front pockets. Hip protector pockets are located inside (protectors not included). To purchase, visit www.bikiechic.com.au or ring Diane 0409 421 594 or Selena 9569 4111. D
Mini Pump
» Select pressure, switch ON and the pump automatically switches OFF when the pressure is reached
» Displays in PSI, BAR or KPA
» Pumps to 50 PSI
» Actual Pump size: 13 x 17 x 5.5cm
» Light weight and portable - weighs only 497g
The Kit includes the MotoPressor Mini Pump with Digital Pressure Gauge and all the power leads and connectors to run from your motorcycle battery or a mini jump starter, packed neatly into a sturdy carry case.
ASK FOR IT AT YOUR LOCAL DEALER OR BUY ONLINE
travel
Whether you’ve been following their life on the road in these pages or not, I suspect you’ll find this story memorable…
Ibegan my second year on the road with my second attendance at the Adventure Travel Film Festival in Bright Victoria. It seemed a good way to reignite the adrenalin and hunger for
adventure, setting me on a meandering path north to Queensland.
My indestructible postie bike Mo was sporting a raft of new stickers and looking more like a seasoned traveller reminiscent of the hippy era.
Joining us on the next leg was a little bandaged bear from the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. We named him
MO AND JACQUI
HEAD NORTH
WORDS/PHOTOS JACQUI KENNEDY
Tumbarumba’s trout is still the biggest; Mo is one of the smallest.
Sprocket and after his adventure, he will be adopted by a sick child in the hospital. During our first year on the road we had visited over 100 Big Things around Australia and I mapped a route through the Snowy region and country Victoria
to add a few more to the list. The Big Trout at Adaminaby was our first stop. The steep mountain passes were always a challenge for my underpowered little mate and even after all this time I had still not learned the minimalist ways of the nomad.
Springtime in Bright can’t be beaten – except perhaps by autumn in Bright. This pocket of glorious beauty put on a lovely golden show of flora tempered with warm still evenings. The outdoor Moonlight screening of Ed March’s C90 Adventures movie was the perfect scenario for our next leg north.
NORTHWARDS HO!
I had not visited Queensland (beyond Brisbane) for 30 years and was allocating
a whole eight months to exploring its delights. The romantic concept of taking a Postie bike solo along the sand tracks 1000km to the tip of Cape York was working away in my brain; the attitude surrounding it seesawing between anguish and terror. Even after 40,000km around Australia, I was still not a confident off-road rider.
The well-worn path of the coast road up through northern NSW, with its familiar escarpment climbs and meandering rivers, enabled Mo and me to once again settle into a healthy rhythm of bush camping and truck dodging.
Mo’s reputation was preceding us and many invites flowed our way from fellow motorcyclists and travel writers offering a real bed and a break from roadhouse grub. There is nothing better than sharing stories with other travellers who “get” why you chose a life on the road. Mo, particularly when dressed in all his livery, is a magnet for curious eyes. Every rest stop elicits the same curious bystanders, stunned into silence when they see Mo’s map of conquered routes. He’s like all vehicles, which as long as they are well maintained should last the distance. We just do it slower.
21 days:
0022 + years Life is a DARING ADVENTURE or nothing at all!
Kashmir, Taj Mahal, World’s Highest Road Himalayan Heights
formerly Ferris Wheels Safaris
Yes; it certainly is!
Juan’s Café has changed hands since Mo and Jacqui visited.
Camping out is still one of the best ways to travel; and it’s cheap.
Exploring the secluded pockets of the Great Dividing Range offers riches to the two-wheeled nomad. Although Mo could not be described as svelte through the twisties, we do enjoy the lush rainforest tracks with tall timbers shadowing the road. After the mandatory stop at Juan’s Café in Dorrigo, the smallest motorcycling museum in the world (which has since changed hands – Ed), we continued to follow the ridgeline through Nymboida and into the Northern Rivers region. A quick detour to see the Big Prawn in Ballina and the Big Joint at Nimbin and then, accompanied by my mate Jason on his W800, up the Lion’s Road into Queensland. One of the purest moments of Aussie delectation is listening to the bellbirds at the Border Loop lookout.
GREY HEADS AND WHITE VANS
The overnight camp at Darlington was my first glimpse of the mass migration of grey nomads with neat rows of well-equipped white vans topped with satellite dishes.
I have learned that grey nomads fall into two classes. Those who are spending their retirement years (and the kids’ inheritance) permanently exploring our great land, and those who are simply escaping the colder climes and carting all their goods and chattels with them, settling in just one or two places over the
winter months. Having spent a winter in the frigid Southern Highlands, I could see the appeal.
Our first taste of Queensland was Lamington National Park on the ridge above the Gold Coast. It had been a favourite of my parents, both now deceased, and so it was on a sort of pilgrimage that I found myself staying at O’Reilly’s resort. Tucked away deep in the rainforest, the O’Reilly family has a long and interesting history in this landscape; Bernard O’Reilly is famous for his rescue of survivors when a Stinson plane came down in bad weather in 1937. He trekked through the wilderness for two days, searching in his “back yard” while authorities were concentrating their efforts elsewhere.
O’Reilly’s maintains its 1950s charm which so beguiled my mother and continues traditions like dawn bird walks and proper afternoon tea.
After a weekend immersed in nature and not wishing to play truck tango, Mo and I skirted Brisbane up through Somerset Dam emerging at Woodford and hitting the coast at Caboolture. We could not go past One Ten Motorcycles where Mo had started his touring life. Dan the mechanic immediately set about fixing and tweaking, lubing and polishing all Mo’s innards, making him feisty and frisky again. Joe was thrilled to see Mo reaching his full travelling potential and was amazed that he was in
such good condition. The walls of One Ten are adorned with photos of Nathan Millward, who first set the standard for CT110 travel when he took Dorothy back to London in 2009. Also represented were Taka Suzuki from Japan and the Post100 salt lake racing team of Don and Mike with their bike, also named Dorothy. Now Mo could take his rightful place amongst the elite of Postie Bikes…
There will be more of Mo and Jacqui’s adventures in these pages. This instalment took a long time to hit print because it was lost in Jacqui’s draft folder, according to an exasperated Mo. D
The full disaster: Jacqui and Mo on the road. (Photo Pete Gailey)
Sprocket is somewhat bemused by Nimbin’s media outlet.
CHANGE YOUR UNDERWEAR
Unisex Draggin K-Shirt & K-Legs
$279 (legs) $249 (shirt)
Hroad. Show me the ordinary long underwear which will save you from anything other than the cold!
If the K-Legs I have been wearing are anything to go by, the new undies will keep you warm as well, but fortunately not too warm. Draggin says they have ‘climate control’; I’m not sure what that is, but the effect is soft and comfortable. I found that pretty quickly I actually forgot about the K-Legs I was wearing.
Do keep in mind, though, that they are a little bulky. I wouldn’t try to wear them with skin-tight jeans. But then I wouldn’t wear skin-tight jeans anyway. I presume I do not have to tell you why.
ave you ever wanted to go riding in a dinner suit? You can, now, and stay safe from abrasions at the same time. Draggin, long known for its abrasion-resistant
pants and other outerwear, now makes underwear as well. Both top and pants are lined in selected areas with the famous Draggin RooMoto which is fi ve times stronger than steel – eat your heart out, Iron Man! The K-Shirt and K-Legs resemble long underwear but will protect you if you should fi nd yourself sliding down the
So there you are, you can now wear whatever you like on top when you go riding; if you match it with K-Shirt and K-Legs underneath you’ll be abrasionresistant. Available at your favourite motorcycle shop, ring 03 9646 0377 or drop warehouse@dragginjeans. net an email. PT
DRIER THAN THE ATACAMA Bagster Swamp backpack
Price - $219.95
Be prepared, as the Scouts say. If you commute every day, or like to
use a backpack on tour, the last thing you want is for any of the contents to get wet in the rain! Trust me, I’ve had backpacks in the past that have leaked in heavy rain and it is one of the biggest pains in the rear that you could imagine – especially with expensive electronic items! This is where the Bagster Swamp backpack comes in. It is 100% waterproof from my experience wearing it over the past month and a half, which has included a number of rainy days with varying levels of rainfall. It’s also a good size at 25 litres capacity – not too big and not too small, so that you can carry all sorts of goodies depending on the day and whatever running around that needs doing.
The Swamp backpack is also fitted with a removable extra bag for transporting a computer and an inside pocket accessible by two zips on the front of the bag – again, extremely handy for day-to-day living and especially life on a motorcycle. The Swamp comes with a grip
handle, back and comfort strapswhich I might add are very comfy for all-day riding - straps on the chest and waist for support. Seeing that I don’t like chest straps, I removed the ones on my backpack. For small items which need to be easy to access, there are pockets on the waist strap on both sides – just right for holding loose change and keys. But the main thing with any backpack that gets used and abused every day is that it’s waterproof.
The Bagster Swamp backpack definitely keeps the swamp on the outside and as far as I can see is the perfect choice. Grab yourself one and see what I mean. See your local bike shop or visit www.ctaaustralia.com.au SW
WHAT TO TAKE?
Equipment for a motorcycle launch - Various prices
As you might expect there is a good selection of motorcycle clothing
hanging on the walls and perching on the shelves of the Bear garage. I’m lucky because that means I can choose just the right gear for the expected conditions whenever I head off to furrin parts. Unfortunately, because the offers change so fast in the motorcycle accessory business, I can’t always review the stuff –some of it is simply no longer available, and both the prices and specifications of the rest may well have changed.
So… umm, well, so what? So when I was packing for my recent trip to Seattle for the H-D Touring bike launch, I thought I’d make a note of the gear I chose and why I chose it despite the fact that it may no longer be available. Chances are that something similar will be. From the top:
Helmet, Nolan N44 Evo Light and comfortable as well as reasonably quiet, the N44 also has a huge cutout so that my peripheral
vision is excellent and I can take photos without taking off the helmet. That was one reason I chose it for this ride; the other was that rain seemed likely, and open face helmets are simply not as comfortable in the wet. A click stop well off ‘closed’ allows fresh air in at low speeds. The shell is also reasonably small, so it’s easy to fi t into my bag. Please note that while the N44 is a full face helmet, the chin piece is removable.
Neck Tube, Australian MOTORCYCLIST Magazine
Comfy and soft, protective in the cold and (when soaked with water) cooling in the heat. A must-carry accessory at all times.
Suit, Tiger Angel Guardian
I have had this suit for a very long time, and have not worn it as much as I might have liked to – there was always gear to test, so the Guardian went to the back of the rack. I
pulled it out this time because it was time it got another go, and because it looks good (for photos) and is rain resistant (we were expecting wet weather). The legs are wide enough to go over boots, too. One reason for both of those characteristics is that it’s made from nubbuk leather which looks a bit like suede but is much tougher. Its fl exible crash padding also makes it easier to pack than many other suits.
Gloves, Ixon
I cannot for the life of me remember what these gloves a re called, I’ve had them so long, but they are still in excellent shape and remain rain resistant. They are fi nished in a textile material but have hard knuckle protectors under that. They can go over or under sleeves.
Boots, Aerostich Combat Lites
Love these boots. They are fairly bulky, but that’s their only drawback as far as I can see. Their triple
closure (clip, laces, Velcro) makes them snug on your feet without being complicated and they’re comfortable enough to walk reasonable distances – which is one major reason I chose to take them. The bulk also means that they should be highly protective – I have not yet tried them out while sliding on the road. The length is just right, too, because clothing doesn’t ride up over them.
Wet Weather Suit, Rjays Tempest
A one piece suit that rolls down very small and works like a charm. This is fairly new and I reviewed it a couple of issues back. Rain suits are best when they’re relatively new because even really good ones lose their waterproofing eventually. The Tempest definitely works, I have discovered that on other rides. This time I was glad to have it with me even if I didn’t need it; the heaviest rain was a drizzle and the Guardian coped with it. So there we go. That’s what I use. PT D
IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU!
• Helite airbag technology – the future of motorcycle safety is here today!
• European designed/CE approved Helite vests and jackets all with airbag built in
• For the price of a helmet, Helite protects your neck, vertebrae, chest, hips, abdomen, internal organs and tailbone – a helmet for your body
See these and other products at www.motosmart.com.au or FB at Facebook.com/MotoSmartOz. Email wayne@motosmart.com.au or call 08 8339 6781
AIRBAG VEST Also in black
HELITE TOURING AIRBAG JACKET - Also in black
HELITE LEATHER AIRBAG JACKET - Also in black
finish. I hate to ask Nigel just how many hours he spent on these parts alone because I know how hard it is to polish parts like this to a perfect shine.
The Z1 had a five speed gearbox operated by a left foot gear lever in a one down, four up pattern. Final drive was by chain. A drive chain lubrication system was used. This comprised an oil tank behind the left side panel and an oil pump on the left side of the gearbox by the clutch adjuster. As with many of these types of bikes, the oil tank and associated pieces to lubricate the chain were missing. Luckily Nigel was able to find NOS (New Old Stock) replacement items. The original chain needed replacing too, and Nigel found an original.
The rider’s footrests on US models were of the folding type. They were fixed on UK (Aus) models.
US models had a circular orange reflector at the top of the fork leg on both sides of the motorcycle. The reflectors were replaced by aluminium discs on the UK (Aus) model.
US models had a circular red reflector fastened to the upper part of the rear shock absorber, again on both sides of the motorcycle. The UK (Aus) model did not have the reflectors.
bodies because it is a ’73 model.
The alternator cover on the left side of the engine, and the ignition points cover on the right side were both finished in polished alloy. Both had the legend ‘DOHC’ in silver lettering with a black background.
The large clutch plate cover on the right hand side was also finished in polished alloy, as was the outer front sprocket cover on the left hand side. Also in polished alloy were the top half of the camshaft end caps and the top covers and float bowls of the outer two carburettors.
All of these parts required countless hours of repair, sanding and then polishing to bring them up to a mirror
The four into four exhaust system was an artistic masterpiece and was one of the Z1’s most striking features. Each silencer was welded to its relevant downpipe before being chrome plated. As you can imagine, finding original NOS exhausts is damn near impossible, but Nigel found a set! You’d near choke on your own spit if you knew what he paid for them.
interesting facts that set apart a lot of
Okay, that’s about it for this instalment of our concourse build, but here’s some interesting facts that set apart a lot of the Z1s you might see being ridden around.
The seat pattern on US models was the same as that on the UK (Aus) model, however the UK (Aus) model also featured a strap across the midpoint of the seat.
Twin discs were offered as a factory option. D
Engine condition is pretty poor, which is understandable considering the age.
Bare engine block after vapour blasting.
Fall in love with Zip Lock bags!
Motorcycling
There was a time when you didn’t have any choice regarding coffee or food stops, even on major roads between capital cities and more especially at night or in the early hours. There might be one place open in any one town or out on the open road, but there were never going to be any more. You paid your money and … well, you took what you were given. In far too many instances that applied even in daylight hours.
I know what you’re going to say: it still applies everywhere, at night and during daylight - on major highways. Since these are bypassing the towns along the way more and more, we’re having to rely on the likes of freeway service centres. When I write “likes” I have my tongue firmly in my cheek. I have yet to find one of these places that I actually like…
It’s different from the ‘60s and ‘70s when, for example, I loved and hated places like the Mount Lambie Roadhouse in equal measures. I hated it for the appalling place in which it was located, with rain, sleet and fog even on the clearest nights (it was invariably a night stop), for the awful coffee (I actually drank the tea, which wasn’t quite as bad), for the distinctly ordinary and clearly aged food and for the gruff women running it. I loved the fact that there was something in this appalling place at all, for the warmth of its café with the steamed-up windows and the cholesterol hit you took every time you breathed the fat-rich air, and for the fact that the woman behind the counter was prepared to wait for your teeth to stop chattering while you tried to order.
The Mount Lambie Roadhouse has been replaced by an antiseptic modern service centre, which is not capable of inspiring either love or hate.
Anyway, here we go with a few suggestions for stops that offer both less (clingwrap, for example, and massproduced coffee) and more (fresh baking and cooking along with custom-made java). We will take you only a little way, if at all, off the highway or freeway. This story starts with places mainly along the Hume Freeway, but you’ll find a few others at the end of the list including a 24 hour bakery. In Queensland! We’ll be compiling more suggestions, and we will happily accept some from you. Send ‘em to The Bear, PO Box 2066 Boronia Park NSW 2111 or thebear@ausmotorcyclist.com.au .
Meridian Café, 85 George St, Marulan NSW 02 4841 1126
Closed Tuesday & Wednesday, 8am–3pm every other day
There are several gobble-and-go service centres on the freeway at Marulan, which would take most of the business from passing trade. But the town is fighting for its life and one of its weapons is the Meridian. It’s a bit on the expensive side but the atmosphere is good and the chance to get off the superslab for a while makes it worth it.
Trappers Bakery, 4 Sowerby St, Goulburn NSW 02 4821 4477 5.30am-8pm Friday & Sunday, 5.30am7pm every other day
Keith, the boss, started baking out in the bush in a camp oven and hasn’t stopped since. The place is recommended by the Possum, which is significant if you’re ever seen our marsupial mate. He didn’t get to be that size by skimping! They
formerly Ferris Wheels Safaris
Mid-morning or –afternoon snacks will stave off hunger pains on the road.
have a pie of the month, and claim to serve the best coffee in NSW. Forgive the old bloke his Rabbitohs jumper, and remember that Goulburn can be something of a desert for motorcyclists seeking sustenance.
Old Hume Café , 78 Yass St, Gunn ing NSW 02 4845 1034 7am–4p m every day
Another recommendation from the Possum, who says that it does fine meals. He adds that the place can be a little crowded on weekends when the Canberrans are let out of their cubicles to infest the surrounding countryside with cries of “Chardonnay! Chardonnay!” The coffee at the Old Hume is good. All in all I like the place too, and in fact I like all of Gunning which is a bit of an oasis not far off the freeway. It looks more prosperous now than it did when all of the SydneyMelbourne traffic thundered down the main street.
Closed Tuesday & Wednesday, 8.30am-4pm every other day
Recommended by both the Possum and the Ghost, the slab huts with their rusty roofs look a little like a local history museum. They are a bit, too, with staff in period costume and a general rustic air. Despite that, the food and coffee are good and portions tend to the generous. There’s a horse to pat out the back. Parking is on gravel, but it’s pretty well compacted and not much of a danger to even the least experienced rider. It’s very close to the freeway; make sure you take the northern exit to Bowning. Take the southern one and you may never be seen again…
Closed Tuesday & Wednesday, 9am4pm every other day
“Good selection of tucker, just off the highway and a nice RTA rest stop nearby,” says the Possum. The place has acquired a bit of a reputation as a coffee Mecca, so if you’re a fan of the black stuff, make a point of giving it a try. With its techno air, it sounds a bit like it should be in Brunswick or Newtown, actually, rather than out in the country. Intriguing.
Holbrook Bakery & Coffee Shop , Central Bakery, 126 Albury St, Holbrook NSW 02 6036 2049 6am-7pm Monday to Thursday, 6am8pm Friday, 8am-7pm weekends and public holidays
There are two bakeries in Holbrook, both owned by the same people. Try to avoid the southern one which is designed to attend to the needs of coaches and other large carriers of people. The one in the middle of town is where the baking is done, and you can sit outside and watch the busy streetscape of Germantown, er, Holbrook (it was renamed, after a British submarine commander, when Australia was having one of its periodic unpleasantnesses with the Krauts). The shell of an Australian sub rests in a park to the north and makes a terrific photo background.
Glenrowan, Vic
No specific recommendation, but the Possum notes that it has a “couple of crafty shops and cafes cashing in on the notoriety of a thieving murderer who terrorised the town in 1880.” His spirit is still terrorising the visitors in this town, mainly by way of prices. Glenrowan offers
The Grey Gum Café is actually not just off a “main” road, but it is right on the (main-ish) Putty Road north of Sydney, so it gets a mention here as well – especially since there can be few cafés more motorcycle-friendly than the GG! There is always a good chance that you’ll see us there, mainly during the week but occasionally on the weekend.
Once a butter factory, Flavours Café now sells the stuff in smaller quantities –like on your toast! Breakfast is available all day, meals are home-cooked.
food and drink but without any place that stands out in particular. I give it a miss these days.
Bindoon Bakehaus & Café Bakery, 27 Binda Pl, Bindoon WA 08 9576 0069 7am–5pm every day
Rated by Google as the best of 1 restaurant in Bindoon (sometimes those ratings are pretty funny) the Bakehaus has been going for 15 years. It’s a big, rather flash place that obviously caters to large groups, and you’ll probably find yourself queuing for your selection but the quality is good and the outdoor seating is nice.
Heatherbrae’s Pies, corner Pacific Hwy & Masonite Rd, Heatherbrae NSW 02 4987 5561 6am–8pm every day
Inside and out, this looks like a franchise joint like Maccas, but I’ve never seen
another one like it anywhere. The food and the coffee are reasonable and well-priced, and there is both outside seating and close-by parking on a solid base to make you feel secure. The best thing about it is its location, effectively between two stretches of freeway, so it makes it a good place for a break.
Moo Moo Roadhouse, Café, 5885 Tweed Valley Way, Mooball NSW 02 6677 0057 7am-7pm every day
Painted to look like a Jersey cow and filled with old motorcycles and memorabilia, the Moo Moo is almost a compulsory stop off the freeway south of the Qld border. Watch for the giant motorcycle by the side of the road; as if you could miss the roadhouse! Add the famous Burringbar Esses on the Tweed Valley Way just to the north (watch the speed camera) and it’s irresistible. The burgers get a very good wrap, as does the breakfast. Full report next time I get up there; in the meantime, don’t miss it.
Yes, but what is it? Most signposting is better than this.
This one was suggested by Michael Ketly from Hawker in the ACT, who seems to know his way around SE Queensland pretty well. Caboolture is not far off the Bruce Highway. I don’t know the place personally, but Michael vouches for it and they’ve been in business for nearly a quarter century. They reckon they have something for everyone. Counter service only means that prices stay low.
Flavours Café, 8 Railway Street, Boonah QLD 07 5463 2699 7am-4pm weekends, 8am-4pm every other day
If you’re coming up the Cunningham Highway, possibly having just joined it from the Mt Lindesay Highway, you will pass not far from Boonah. In fact, taking the route through Boonah will make for a more interesting ride into Brisbane, either by way of Beaudesert or the back road to Ipswich. And Flavours Café is just the place to take a break, for some of their excellent coffee or for a meal. It was more or less my headquarters during my recent visit to the Horizons Unlimited meeting in Boonah, and not only for the cool collection of old racing helmets, either. Highly recommended for both indoor and outdoor facilities in this pretty little town. D
LONGTERMERS
YAMAHA MT-09 TRACER
INCREASING THE CAPACITY
Coocase Wizard Luxury 36L topbox - Price - $265
Increasing the luggage capacity is something that comes naturally when you’re making the best sports touring motorcycle and the release of the fabulous Coocase topbox range couldn’t have come at a better time. As soon as they were available I whipped the Tracer over to our good friends at Kenma to have the (perfect for this bike) Wizard Luxury 36 litre box and baseplate fitted up. I also got the great little LED brake lights wired up that supplement the normal brake light perfectly.
Yamaha does not recommend that a topbox be fitted when using the standard panniers, but so long as you don’t ride
The appearance of the Coocase topbox matches the Yamaha’s very nicely.
like a madman and risk going to gaol for going over 180km/h you should be fine.
The Coocase Wizard Luxury 36 litre holds a full face helmet with ease – and that is a size Large full face helmet, not an extra-small. The box will also hold my size Large peaked adventure helmet, which is excellent!
The main features of the Wizard Luxury are the LED brake lights, keyless entry via remote control and a built-in theft-deterring alarm system, setting the Coocase well above other topboxes. I just love pulling up somewhere and locking the box via the remote and seeing the facial reactions
Does my Coocase look big like this? Don’t worry, it doesn’t really bulge this much.
from onlookers wondering how a bike like the Tracer has a remote control. It’s hilarious! And don’t stress. Should you lose the remote, you do get keys to
go with the box. The added bonus of the remote locking is that it doubles as an alarm when the box is locked. Go up to the bike and give it a good knock and you’ll get “beeped” at, continue by moving the bike and you’ll get “screamed” at! A cheap and convenient way of adding an alarm to your motorcycle without having to tap into the wiring harness again.
The closing of the Coocase is a nice and easy snick and opening the topbox there is no mucking around, just press the top red button and it opens. You do need to watch how you pack things inside the case though, due to the electronics, but once you know about them you’ll see there is an abundance of room.
Fitting the Coocase to the Tracer was easy. I had already fitted the genuine Yamaha rear rack (available from Yamaha for $224.27) and it was a simple case of bolting up the Coocase baseplate and clicking the box into position. To wire up the brake lights was quite simple also – so long as you have basic wiring skills. A big bonus here is that it is the baseplate that’s wired in, not the box itself, so you can easily remove the box at any time.
The final added bonus of the Coocase Wizard is that you can get a number of different coloured tops (we chose the black metallic), along with three coloured lens kits (clear, dark smoke and red). You can also get the accessory backrest and the wetsuit-like interior, which really adds to that luxury feel. I’ve taken Alana for a spin and she finds the backrest to be in a comfy position and of a good width.
Living with the Coocase Wizard Luxury 36 litre topbox for commuting has been awesome to say the least. When it comes time to fit the Yamaha panniers and pack for a getaway, Alana loves the fact that the Tracer has an abundance of luggage capacity so she can take all the things that the ladies love to take away with them.
If you want a topbox I can strongly suggest the Coocase range – they’re excellent and available in a variety of sizes. See your local bike shop, or contact our friends at Kenma – www.kenma. com.au Ph: 02 9484 0777. SW D
The electrics do rob some room inside of the case, but it still fits an adventure helmet easily!
TAKE 30 HANDS…
WORDS LESTER MORRIS
Just prior to WW2 Edward Turner designed the 500cc OHV verticaltwin Speed Twin, a machine which was to turn the establishment upside down and become one of the most legendary of all Triumph motorcycles. It was also among the earliest motorcycles to adopt that design, and it paved the way for very many similar designs which were to follow post-war from many other motorcycle manufacturers. It has to be said that the French manufacturer Peugeot built a DOHC verticaltwin 500cc racing motorcycle back in 1922(!), but it was a very rare machine and a very rare design. Many factories in Britain and Europe faithfully copied this ‘new’ Triumph twin at war’s end, which clearly was not really a new design at all, to be followed shortly thereafter by the OHV Indian vertical twins of similar capacity (and appearance) from America.
There were many twin-cylinder machines being made before the war in England, and on the Continent as well, but almost all of them were of vee-twin design, but the Speed Twin was not the first vertical-twin from Triumph. Turner’s predecessor Valentine (Val) Page designed a
650cc twin Triumph – the 6/1, intended as a sidecar machine – in early 1933, and left it in Turner’s hands when Page moved to BSA before the war. Page had been Turner’s boss at Ariel some years earlier, which irked the latter for most of his life thereafter.
The new vertical twin was not a success – one wonders why? - for only about 100 or so were ever made, but It could be argued that the 6/1 provided Turner with the impetus to design the 500cc Speed Twin which, initially, was more nuisance than it was worth. Page’s 650 twin had the base of the cylinder barrel bolted to the crankcase by eight studs, whereas the new Speed Twin had only six. This highlystressed area often resulted in the six studs loosening, or sometimes pulling right out of the top of the alloy crankcase casting. This forced Turner to redesign the base flange in 1938 to incorporate the eight-stud design which Page had originally used. As far as I know, no-one has ever recorded what Turner thought of that embarrassing design flaw!
In 1939 an exciting, all-silver, 500cc sports version of the Speed Twin called the Tiger 100 was built with
slightly larger carburettor and higher compression ratio. Shafting the very potent 500cc single-cylinder Tiger 90 in the process, the new engine slotting perfectly into the frame of the great Page-designed big single. The five-hundred Triumph single started life as the more pedestrian 5H, but it used Page’s expertise in the design of the all-conquering Speedway JAP engine, because the cylinder head’s port sizes, shapes and angularity were very similar to the high-performance Speedway engine, so ‘gas flow’ must have been very efficient.
War was imminent in 1939, so the factory began to seriously look at the machines it was likely to design, or modify, for the use of despatch riders. Following the success of the 500cc twins, an all-new 350cc engine called the Tiger 85 was designed for the Army, the bike presented to the War Ministry. The engine proved to be a little too ‘peaky’ for the job and the bike too heavy, so the donk was de-tuned and fitted with an all-alloy head and barrel. The bike was ahead of Triumph’s later designs by more than 10 years, for it also featured unit-construction instead of the usual separate engine and gearbox.
Instead of the barrel being bolted to the top of the crankcase, it was of the thru-bolt design, with long stud emerging from the crankcase, with nuts bolted atop them at the cylinder head, very much like many racing engines of the period.
The 3TW three-fi fty twin was also ahead of the game in another area, for it was not only the fi rst Triumph, but the fi rst motorcycle anywhere on earth to be fi tted with an alternator electrical generating system. The fi rst post-war Triumph to be fi tted with an alternator was the Speed Twin in 1953, Triumph’s fi rst unitconstruction engine - if we make the exception of the unit-construction single-cylinder 350cc side-vale Triumph made in the early twentieswas designed and made in 1962; more than 20 years later.
Fifty of the new 3TW machines intended for Army use stood on the assembly line in Coventry on the night the factory was fl attened by German bombs in November 1940, the Army issue 350cc twin never
seeing the light of day again, for the bikes which were later to be supplied by Triumph for the war effort were 350cc single-cylinder machines in side-valve or OHV design.
It has been said by contemporary observes and journalists, and with some accuracy, that the Germans did the industry a huge favour in blowing up those unfortunate bikes, for the 350 twin was a seriously fl awed design.
It was still fl awed when a 350cc twin, the ‘3T De-Luxe’, re-appeared in Australia in 1947, along with its larger 500cc Speed Twin and Tiger 100 siblings, the three-fi fty now with cast-iron head and barrel but still with the thru-bolt design. Later models employed the more standard fl anged base on the barrel, held in place by short studs and nuts. The bike was never a success, and it was withdrawn from the catalogues in 1951.
Unlike the larger 500cc and - from 1950 on, the 650cc - twins which employed alloy connecting-rods rods
with detachable steel end- caps, the 3T used one-piece steel con-rods with a fl ash of white-metal in the big-end eye as a bearing material, the slightly off-set rods, each of which was marked ‘fl ywheel side’, then slid over the crankpins with the central fl ywheel bolted agriculturally in positon by long, kick-starter-like cotter pins and sleeve-nuts. The separate cranks were a very tight, press-fi tted into the large fl ywheel, their ends butting neatly together. It was really very ordinary engineering, for a crankshaft re-grind, should it become necessary, would then need to employ a new fl ywheel – with a correspondingly smaller hole in its centre to allow for the nighmicroscopically thinner crankpinsto be a tight press fi t. I must say I cannot remember any of the special fl ywheels being available from any spare parts facility for that eventuality, which may have been no surprise!
This was bad enough, but the engine’s major design fl aw was in the
CLASSICMORRIS
casting of the cylinder head, which had its rocker-boxes cast in situ , instead of them being detached, and thus far more easily serviced and replaced, as (it was not, but should have been!) in the design of the larger twins. In a word, it was a shocker of a job to replace the head and its attendant rocker control gear if ever one had the misfortune to have to remove the cylinder head.
I know that is a few more than just one word, but it had to be said, and now enlarged upon, when one reads the following sad tale of woe: thank Gawd, the story at last I hear most of you wail, and quite rightly so.
Triumph used two camshafts in the design of the vertical-twins from 1937, the inlet at the rear of the engine, driven by gear from the timing case on the engine’s right side, the exhaust camshaft at the front of the cylinder, also driven by gear. Cam follower blocks located the four followers, the blocks secured into the base of the barrel by short grubscrews.
Picture this, if you can:- when replacing the cylinder head after service, you hold the head with the four pushrods contained within their separate chromed, tubular covers, the top of this tube pushed to the base of the head and locating its oil-sealing gasket, the four pushrods located against their four mating rocker arms in the head; you then invert the head and - assuming the pushrods haven’t fallen out, or their covering tubes haven’t dropped off and disturbed the top gasket in doing so, and that the four rods still bear upon the rocker arms - you attempt to align the whole mess with the cam follower blocks at each end of the base of the cylinder barrel and line the lower pushrod ends against the followers contained therein.
Breathless? Hey, we haven’t fi nished yet – in fact we have only just started!
There are rubber O-rings or fi bre washers on each cam follower block to seal the bottom of the pushrod tubes, and they must be closely
aligned as you struggle to slip everything into place, remembering the four pushrods, which must be located at each end without disturbing anything as you slip the head gently down and watch in horror as, for the umpteenth time everything you’ve tried so hard to hold together, suddenly falls apart. There is always at least one pushrod which slips out of place on either a cam follower or two, or more likely, a rocker arm or two, and you are forever trying to poke the things back on again with either your third, or your fourth, hand. Well, they aren’t your hands, of course, they belong to willing helpers. Oh, yes, and those accursed push rod tubes won’t stay in place either, mainly because you can’t hold them while most of your fi ngers are trying to hold the pushrods in place as you turn the head over and attempt to fi t the thing in place!
It may – I say may – have been easier to have driven the close-fi tting rocker-arm spindles out of the cast-
in rocker box, but that may not have worked either, and I don’t know of anyone who would want to do such a thing in case an oil leak might manifest itself once the spindles were driven back in place again. What a grim dissertation! But it must be said that the Triumph factory’s Service Manager, a Mr. A. St John Masters, in his book on ‘Servicing Triumph Twins’ wrote, and I quote only from memory, though I swear this is correct “... extreme (extreme, you may note!)… extreme manual dexterity is required when replacing the 3T cylinder head after service.” A classic example of British understatement if ever there was one!
As a kid I have seen, with my own eyes, three grown men in the Triumph importer’s workshop - all mechanics - kicking and elbowing each other, tears of utter frustration running down their cheeks and dripping off their respective chins, striving to replace one of these 3T cylinder heads within the appointed
time. They had thirty fi ngers, several screwdrivers, lengths of string, rubber bands, a small wad of chewing gum and a clock-watching foreman all working for, and against, them… and all at full blast!
One of the men, as I recall ( it may well have been the foreman) was clearly of a more religious bent than the others, for he often turned his eyes Heavenwards and either savagely abused his Saviour or told his God all about it.
During its very short existence, the smaller, 350cc Triumph twin endured an all-black paint job, as if in mourning for itself, as it stood lonely, unsold and mostly ignored, on many a showroom fl oor as its larger siblings, in a variety of engine capacities and colours, fl ew out of the same showrooms by the boat-load as quickly as they arrived; virtually all of them pre-sold. The long gone 350cc engine capacity was always an odd one, and was the fi rst to be dispensed with in World Championship races, for the bikes
were never as quick as their 150cc larger siblings, cost only a little less to purchase, and certainly no less to service.
The Triumph ‘3T De-Luxe’ was always referred to by owners of larger capacity Triumphs as ‘The Gutless Wonder’, which was an unfortunate nickname because it was always quicker than its singlecylinder 350cc rivals in the late forties: machines like the Matchless G3L; AJS Model 16; MAC Velocette; B31 BSA; Royal Enfi eld Bullet and Panther 75. The only other British 350cc motorcycle of any note was the fl at-twin Douglas, which was a shade quicker than the shy little Triumph, and a great deal more comfortable as well.
During the less sophisticated ‘Good Old Days’ prior to WW2, and much more so today, Triumph built some very fi ne machines which were always the envy of many other marques: I suggest, with great respect, the 350cc 3T De-Luxe was not amongst them. D
WHATSAYYOU
WE
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!
GOT TO HAND IT TO YOU…
Tours will have to take a look at the Andy Strapz website to work out his size and then drop Andy a line at info@andystrapz.com to claim the gloves. Please quote your full address to show that you are the person entitled to claim the gloves. And then – ride dry, ride warm!
WE HAVE A SYSTEM…
Hi Stuart,
The Andy Strapz Rain Off Overgloves are our prize for the letter of the month. They’re amazing. Despite being designed for (or by) the Creature from the Black Lagoon (they only have two fingers and a thumb) they work beautifully even for non-monsters. The gloves are waterproof and have welded seams and elastic forearm closures. They won’t just keep your hands dry, they’ll also keep them warm and even preserve leather gloves worn under them. Warm hands in the cold are priceless, and Andy says that they even make heated grips work better. The gloves come in five sizes, so John from Asian Experience Motor Bike
LUXURY IN LUXEMBOURG
Stuart & Peter, please pass on this link: MotorBike Hotels in Europe, to Kevin Breen ACT, after his letter titled ‘Alpenhorny’ in issue #43. My partner & I used this site for bookings in Europe a few years ago, the hotels are clean, cheap, friendly and have lock up parking for your bikes. I can personally recommend the Hotel Le Postillon in Esch-sur-Sure, Luxembourg. There is a translation to English option on the web site and it is easy to book.
Graeme Fitzpatrick
I’ve just had a look, Graeme. What a winner for all of $135 for two per night! – The Bear
As you know I occasionally have an ad in your mag. In issue #43 you asked for “craziness in service stations”. I take tours to a variety of countries... and most of them have crazy rules regarding refuelling... but I think the craziest is in Tibet (China ). In Lhasa (Capital of Tibet ) the system is this:
1. Enter servo but park at least 25 m from pump.
2. Each rider takes his International Drivers Licence into the office.
3. The office writes down all the IDL particulars and gives a receipt to the rider.
4. The rider takes the receipt and gives it to the pump attendant.
5. The pump attendant looks at it and
BETTER LATE THAN SLURRY
Sorry Peter,
When I typed the info about Karumba last month (What Say You, September) I couldn’t remember exactly what was in the slurry (you had to be there). Reading September AMM just now I found you’d printed my comment and asked specifically what the ore was. So I looked it up… not given in my 2006 journal but it’s zinc and lead. The slurry was dried at Karumba then transferred to larger ships out in the Gulf by shallow draught vessels. The slurry pipe (about 300mm diameter) is over 300km long.
Barry S
then puts fuel into a jerry can.
6. The rider, not the attendant, then empties the jerry can into the bike. If more is needed, the rider gives the jerry can to the attendant to fill and so on...
7. The above process goes on for however many bikes are on the tour.
8. The pump attendant writes the total cost of all the bikes’ fuel onto a piece of paper and gives to me.
9. I take this piece of paper and all the riders IDL receipts into the office and pay. All of this paperwork is stapled together and put into drawer.
As nobody speaks English... all of the above is explained by the local tour guide.
It can’t get any crazier or dumber than the above!
And what’s scary....China is a supposed to be a “Superpower”
See ya, John
Asian Experience Motor Bike Tours
If you feel like sampling this system yourself, take a look at John’s website www.asianexperience.com.au – The Bear
The things you discover when you travel, eh? – The Bear
BEAR’S EASTER TOUR OF NZ
I’m a bit keen on this tour. Going to look into it. Will keep you all posted.
Rex Trooper #3, Bear Army
It is going to be a fantastic tour, and will visit some amazing places. There is an ad for the tour in this issue, so book now and start saving those Unzud 20c pieces that the Kiwis keep trying to pass off as Australian money… you won’t believe the
Omaka WW1 air museum! There are limited places; get in quick - The Bear
DUNCAN’S MY MATE
I went to the (Omaka) museum last year and it is really really good. The dioramas are superb and a great range of planes and other things. Missed the airshow though. BUT flew in the twin seat Spitfire flying out of Ardmore near Auckland. THAT was absolutely fabulous!!
Duncan Trooper #51 Bear Army
PETER’S BEEN EVERYWHERE
For anyone considering this tour, I have to say, you will not be disappointed. After 41 trips to New Zealand, I am absolutely convinced that the South Island is simply the best place in the world for motorcycle touring. Other places have magic scenery too but the unique thing about New Zealand’s South Island is that it is relatively undiscovered. So you can enjoy
the roads and scenery without the crowds and associated hassles. I have not travelled as much as our fearless leader, but I have toured the US and Canada twenty times, Alaska Highway twice, Africa twice, Norway to the top, Alpine Europe, Mexico, Chile/Peru, and Japan. All have been wonderful, but have only reinforced my aforementioned opinion of New Zealand. Other places tick some boxes, but New Zealand is the only one that ticks ALL the boxes. It’s a bargain. It’s obvious that many of the Bear Army are incurable travellers. Not letting the side down, we’re off to the US in a few weeks where our friends have planned a ride to the top Of 14000ft Mt Evans in Colorado. I hope to see everyone in Cooma on 24th September.
Peter
Trooper #20 Bear Army
Actually, I suspect that Peter has travelled more than I have. I’ve only been
to the South Island six or seven times, for instance… - The Bear
MERRY CHRISTMAS, AARON G’day,
Very nice Stuart on the cover page, it gives it a real ‘world view’ of motorcycling and one more location for my bucket list when the time comes to venture overseas for a ride or many. My list continues to grow with the USA, New Zealand and Vietnam being the three most likely to be accomplished by 2020. After that I have pencilled in South America to include Peru and Machu Picchu and at least once an IOM TT motorcycle tour.
Advertise your products and services to passionate travelling motorcyclists!
TO ADVERTISE CONTACT RALPH
ralph@ausmotorcyclist.com.au 0497 046 064
Mt Evans, Colorado – the highest paved road in the US.
WHATSAYYOU
The CBR900RR looks fast and a lot of fun. Best of luck for both Saturday and Sunday’s racing. If you have not done so already, might I suggest an article for how an enthusiast could enter the world of racing or at least enjoy track days without breaking the bank? We have Sydney Motorsport Park but as you know the costs can be a bit restrictive for someone just wanting to enjoy a day out for a few laps in a ‘safe’ environment. I eagerly await the mods planned for the MT-09 Tracer as I have been looking keenly at this bike as a replacement to my trusty ol’ Bandit 1250S which is about to hit 100,000kms, although I have also considered keeping the beast and seeing just how many k’s she can clock up before lying down to rest (not literally).
To both you and The Bear, keep up the good work, I always feel like a kid at Christmas when the next issue is due to hit the letterbox.
Regards,
Aaron Hayes Trooper #15 Bear Army
Come along on our IoM TT tour next year, Aaron! – The Bear
The beep is noT enough Dear Bear, Saturday 27 Feb 16 was a perfect day for riding if you were anywhere around the NSW South Coast. Cold air, crystal clear sky with brilliant sunshine and not too much traffic. All was so right with the world, until I came up on ‘old mate’ (make that ‘young mate’ green P plater in beat-up 4x4) from the rear.
Now, this guy was swerving from one side of the single lane to the other, wildly varying speed and his head was bobbing and weaving in every direction except in front, or his rear vision mirror.
‘Got a live one here, Tim’ I say to myself, ‘keep a close eye on this turkey’. Just to make sure, I put myself in his rear mirror, swerved a bit to make it more obvious, moved to the right to let him see me in his right hand mirror… pretty much everything I could do to make myself visible. When the overtaking lane opened up, so did I, but then my friend became lonesome, and decided to rapidly join me in my lane just as I was drawing up alongside his driver door.
We know these thing happen quickly, so I jump on the throttle hard to because it was quicker to get ahead than try and drop back, and at the same time I move to the right to buy distance, all the time trying to press the plastic horn button through the steel handlebar to get his attention… I think I nearly succeeded on that last one! I say nearly, because the stock horn on my Tiger 800 is pathetic… like most stock horns are. Nevertheless, the driver’s reaction was what I needed – get out of my lane –and I think he will also have needed a change of pants, given how far he dropped back and became rock steady behind the wheel.
Reflecting on this incident, I was amazed how sanguine I was. I just got on with the business of having a great ride on a great day. We have, most of us, become desensitised to incidents like this I guess. I was also reasonably sure that, although I did everything we all tell each other to do to gain the attention of the driver in front, not sit in blind spots etc, there will always be that one goat.
We have ABS, traction control and all sorts of advanced rider aids these days… what about the humble horn? How hard can it be? From this lesson, the next mod to the Tiger is definitely going to be to upgrade that blousy horn to something a tad more effective. A 180 dba low frequency job would be great… any ideas?
Cheers and all the best for your Washington trip; I can’t wait to read about it!
Tim Standen Worigee NSW
I know what you mean, Tim, and I suspect so do all experienced riders. I’m about to fix the problem on my Ducati Scrambler, I just haven’t found the right item. You could just go with a twin Fiamm horn, they’re good value and they work – The Bear
graham’s found The secreT Hi Bear,
Since retiring I have regained my motorcycle licence after 40 years of not riding. I went back to basics and retrained through a METAL course and then finished with an advanced course.
I now ride a 2008 Suzuki Boulevarde 800cc. It had 24,000km on the clock when I bought it 18 months ago and now it has 54,000km. I go for rides twice a week: Wednesdays and Sundays are my ride days.
This year at 75 years of age I joined the NT leg of the Black Dog ride, a total of 3,500km from the Centre (Alice Springs ) to the sea (Darwin), and we rode to Alice to start the ride. We averaged 500km a day. It was an enjoyable and worthwhile ride as we spoke to school and community groups talking about depression and suicide, raising much needed funds and leaving a message of hope. Your magazine is a great read and I enjoy the information provided. I was given the subscription as a present but look forward to renewing it again.
Graham Renshaw
Darwin NT
news from niesy
Hi Stuart and Peter, Thanks for the continuing Great Magazine and the email updates. When time allows, and I learn how, I will send you a story or 3 of rides thru
some lovely parts of Australia with my m8 on his Honda Transalp, or as I call it “The Two Wheel Caravan”. (Wait for photos) Anyway, thanks again and “ Stay Upright’.
Regards
Michael... (Niesy)
AUS POST SCORES!
Hi Stuart, Bear,
Just letting you know that my missing magazine turned up and was waiting for me when I got back from the US. The ride in Oregon was from Portland over to the coast and then down highway 101 into Northern California.
The coastline for the most part was a great ride. We got to visit some awesome Redwood forests. On the return trip we jet boated the Rogue River, visited Crater Lake, and cruised through the forested flanks of Mt Hood. We drank too much and spent quality time with some great friends. No I didn’t manage to get Caroline to try being a pillion. Something about her back, but I suspect, more about my stories of putting bikes down in car parks. The closest she came was to sit on the back in a car park! Brave girl.
The rental Harley Heritage Softail was a genuine mile eater with heaps of grunt. Brand new in the US for $18,000. Makes your eyes leak.
Murray Coppins
LITTLE BOXES
Hi Stuart,
Thought you might like to see this. I was in Gent Belgium last month and came across a great idea for motorcycle parking there. In a parking station they not only
RIDE NEW ZEALAND RIDE NEW ZEALAND
We might pass this picture on to some of the more motorcycle-friendly councils.
provided the rider with a space but also a security chain and a locker for their helmet and gear.
Don’t know what the fee was but an idea that should be taken up over here (unless it already has been).
Cheers, Neal
Hi Neal, we’ve seen similar lockers before, but in Australia they were only for bicycles. I also don’t see any of our Governments (if you can call them that?) taking up this idea. We can but dream my friend - Cheers, Stuart. D
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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
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.
F3 675
$18,699
F3 675 RC $20,999
Brutale 800
Brutale 800 RR
Brutale 800 Dragster
$18,699
$19,999
$20,499
Brutale 800 Dragster RR $23,499
F3 800
F3 800 RC
Stradale 800
Turismo Veloce 800
Turismo Veloce Lusso 800.
Brutale 1090
Brutale 1090 RR
Brutale 1090 Corsa
F4
F4 RR
F4 RC
$19,999
$23,490
$19,999
$20,499
$23,499
$19,999
$22,999
$27,999
$24,499
$33,999
$55,880
NORTON MOTORCYCLeS
www.frasermotorcycles.com.au
Commando 961 Sport
Commando 961 Café
Commander 961 SF
PGO
www.pgo-scooter.com
sCooTer
Ligero 150
X Hot 150
PIAGGIO
www.piaggio.com.au
*Some Piaggio prices are ride away sCooTer
Typhoon 125
Fly 150 3V
Liberty S 150 3V
www.mvagusta.com.au
ROYAL
$29,990
$33,990
$35,990
TORINO
www.torinomotorcycles.com.au
URAL
www.imz-ural.com.au
Road
TRIUMPH
www.triumphmotorcycles.com.au
VESPA
www.vespa.com.au
SCootER
Primavera 125 3V
Primavera
$5590
GTS250ie FL
GTS300 Super
GTS300 Super Sport
VICTORY
www.victorymotorcycles.com.au
*All Victory prices are ride away CRUISER Octane $18,995
8 Ball $21,995
VIPER MOTORCYCLES
adv toURIng
Tiger 800 XR $14,090
Tiger 800 XRX/L
Tiger 800 XRT
Tiger 800 XC
Tiger
BEARFACED
Istarted my career as a “professional motorcyclist” in a big way. I’d been ‘let go’ from my job as a graphic artist in a North Sydney printery which was running short on work, and I dropped around to Johnno’s to have a cup of tea and a bit of a break from worrying where the next tank full for the WLA was going to come from.
Johnno’s, officially Redfern Motorcycle Spares, was unique. In a back alley in Redfern, it consisted of a group of rusty corrugated iron sheds filled – and I mean filled – with Harley-Davidson parts, mostly for WLAs. The place was run by Jack Johnson with the assistance of a friendly and cheerful woman whose name I’ve forgotten and who made the tea. This, incidentally, could have been used as rust remover but was usually so sweet that you could taste only incipient diabetes. Jack was commonly said to have bought all the Army’s spares for their WLAs, to the tune of 14 semitrailers’ worth, and I don’t doubt it. He certainly had other warehouses all over Redfern which held some interesting machines like a horizontallyopposed XA.
Any actual work was done by John Johnson, Jack’s son, who was commonly known as Johnno. At the time, my mate Doug was employed in helping Johnno. The work consisted mainly of assembling complete WLAs from the many parts that threatened daily to tumble down and crush anyone in the small open workshop area at the front of the “shop”. When that wasn’t too urgent, Johnno’s also
STARTING BIG
serviced, repaired and rebuilt Harleys, sometimes even older or newer ones than the ubiquitous WLAs. I had bought mine there, of course, paying $400 and getting the colour of my choice; the olive green originals were repainted by some associate of Jack’s. I got a black one, naturally, with a buddy seat to accommodate the many young women whom I proposed to attract with my daredevil look.
Predictably enough that didn’t work very often. If a girl was drunk enough to contemplate riding behind me on the Harley she was usually also too drunk to hold on properly. It looks bad if you lose one off the back, and it was to be another five years or so before helmets were made mandatory in NSW. So here I was in the Redfern Motorcycle Spares shop, bemoaning my unemployed status. Johnno, as usual immaculate – well, visible – in his white overalls, said “Look here…” Now ordinarily that would have been the beginning of a conversation in which Jack, Johnno, Doug and I, plus any other hangers-on, would have soundly berated “them” for buggering everything up. “They” were never identified but could be anyone from the Electricity Board to the RTA to the State Government to the Commonwealth Government and on to the United Nations; we invariably knew better and were not reluctant to say so, greeted by a chorus of “yer not wrong, mate” and sober nods. It might have been a suburban theatre group staging of “Said Hanrahan”.
But this time was different. Johnno was pointing to the outfit he was servicing. This consisted of a solid and clearly staggeringly heavy wooden box with a removable lid, fixed firmly to a WLA which bore a single leather-covered tractor seat. The outfit was neatly painted in maroon and white, and signwriting on the box said “Wallace & Knox, Typesetters”.
Everybody does their own typesetting these days, I know, usually very badly but
nevertheless free on their computer and printer. At the time I’m writing about, in the late sixties, you would just as soon have done your own brain surgery as set your own type. The work was specified and sent off to one of the many professional typesetters around Sydney. These blokes (always blokes) provided Linotype and Ludlow machines as well as hand-set large type, and they would turn your specifications into a reverseimage collection of lead strips. The writing was on the wall or perhaps I should say the typewriter even then with the IBM Golfball, but that’s another story.
One of the reasons why it was so hard to envisage any change was because the typesetting machines, especially the linotypes, were so staggeringly complex. The fact that the inventor, Ottmar Mergenthaler, was a watchmaker will give you some idea. Linos, as they were known, were as tall as a short man and maybe three by four feet in footprint, and they cast entire lines of words from molten lead or “printers’ metal”, which was even more poisonous than lead. Those lines, accompanied by bigger hand-set text cast by Ludlow machines and “blocks”, leaden images of drawings or photos, were delivered to newspapers and printers. Sometimes “pulls” would be taken from the metal, that is proofs, which then went to advertising agencies or the like where they were cut up and used to create designs.
This transport was done by one of Wallace & Knox’s pair of WLA outfits, or by the sole Mini van. We took the stuff out, and in the case of metal delivered to newspapers and printers we also went to get it back. Printers’ metal, not to mention the steel “forms” in which the type was locked, were worth a lot of money.
Johnno recommended me to Vince, the foreman at Wallace & Knox, and I got the job sight unseen. There was only one little problem. I had never ridden, or even ridden in, an outfit… D
BORIS
STAYING CONNECTED
I’m sure many of you have noticed lumps of plastic sprouting from helmets of late.
These lumps of plastic are all the rage and they do ever so many things. All of which are demonstrably shit.
Some of them fi lm the most boring ride-footage ever uploaded to YouTube. Hours of some dweeb’s point-of-view tedium as he negotiates traffi c at a snail’s pace, or wobbles along some deserted road at the speed limit. It’s great stuff for insomniacs or people who like to punch their computer screens in impotent rage at the sheer vapidity of the clown who fi lmed the rubbish.
Other lumps of plastic enable the rider to remain ‘connected’. He can make and receive phone calls, chat to his pillion, or even exchange viewpoints with fellow riders who are ‘connected’ to his particular blue teeth, or whatever the shit that stuff is called.
I have always been one to embrace new motorcycle technology. Eventually. After a dignifi ed period of looking at it askance.
I scoffed at heated handgrips until I got to a certain age and now I love them and want them on every bike. I mocked ABS until it saved my hide, and now I am a believer and
testifi er to its glory. Likewise I was a bit slow in welcoming the advent of traction control and lean-angle sensors, until I realised that this is the kind of stuff that makes me faster on the road. And I will take all the help I can get there.
But this talking-to-others-as-youride bullshit? I will never embrace or welcome this gimmicky crap. It is counter-intuitive and a blasphemy to all that is unique and precious about motorcycle riding.
Firstly, if I want to talk to my pillion, I’ll drive her around in a car. You get on the back of a bike with me, be quiet. We have nothing at all to talk about. The only time you want to open your mouth is to tell me your panties are wet with desire, and make sure I can hear you over the roar of the wind, so keep it brief, loud and to the point. At all other times you need to be paying attention to being a pillion, not fl apping your gums about coffee, croissants or camembert. Your pee-stops are of no concern to me, nor is your discomfort, terror, or the fact that a bird has just hit you in the face. You don’t like those rules? Go ride with someone else.
Secondly, if I want to speak to any of the people I am riding with, I’ll do it before we start, or when we have pulled over. While we are riding, I can communicate whatever simple needs I have without sound. Tapping my petrol tank indicates I need fuel, jerking my thumb at my mouth tells them I need beer, and pulling over to the side of the road advises them I need to pull over onto the side of the road. Thirdly, I sure as shit don’t need to be making or taking phone calls while I ride. No-one does. You’re just not that important.
All you or me ever need to be doing while riding a motorcycle is to ride the bloody motorcycle. Every second
of every ride, you need to be paying attention to what you’re doing. You are not paying attention if you’re talking to someone, are you?
You’re not paying attention if you’re cycling through your collection of ’70s chart-toppers, are you? You’re not paying attention if you’re chatting to your mate about how he managed not to crash on those last bends.
And may weasels eat your squinty yellow eyes if you’re following radio protocol and saying “Over” at the end of each statement. There’s a special place in Hell’s sewer for people like you to drown in.
But what about those long, straight stretches out in the bush? Surely, one can have a chat to the wife then?
No. Stop it. It’s bad enough that you’re probably listening to music and not listening to what your motorcycle is doing or saying to you. You don’t need to compound the problem by discussing the children’s bad behaviour, or why her car is making that “grrrggh” noise while you’re 1000km from home.
Ear-plugs that tone down the wind-roar are fi ne. Ear-plugs that pump Pink Floyd, or your wife’s shrill screeching into your brain, not so much.
Oh, and about the fi lm-yourselfriding stuff. If you’re not doing something interesting at speeds that cause puppies to die, just cut it out. You’re boring. But I can forgive that.
But you’re making motorcycling look boring. And that’s not forgivable.
I’m all about electronic rider aids. They are, after all, aids. They help you to ride faster, better, and smoother.
That bullshit you’re attaching to the side of your helmet so you can stay ‘connected’ is not an aid.
Except maybe for me.
It helps me to identify precisely the kind of dickhead I need to pass on the road as quickly as possible. D
Shannons and Ultimate Driving Tours are offering motoring enthusiasts the chance to win an exclusive tour driving the world’s best supercars on some of Europe’s most amazing roads, from 28th July to 5th August 2017.
The eight-day guided tour travels through Switzerland, France, Monaco and Italy. Experience driving a selection of supercars1 from Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Audi and Mercedes over four days. Stay at luxury hotels, castles and stunning chateaus, while enjoying fantastic dining experiences, including dinner with F1 world champion, Alain Prost. Plus, visit the Ferrari and Lamborghini museums in Maranello and the infamous Imola circuit. You can also hit the shops in Europe with $1,000 spending money, or $5,000 if you’re an eligible Shannons Club member^
The winner will also receive an all new 2016 Victory Octane Motorcycle in Matte Super Steel Grey. To enter go to shannons.com.au/supercars or call 13 46 46 and obtain an eligible quote on your Car, Bike or Home Insurance* by 30 November 2016.
