Australian Motorcyclist Issue #91

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MEGA, HUGE, HUMONGOUS! OILS AND LUBRICANTS FEATURE!

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FREE I

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TR ORCYCLE T O M N IA

TRIUMPH

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GOOD. DIFFERENT.

YAMAHA

TMAX 560 SUPERBIKE SCOOTING

900 GT PRO

AV E L M A

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SEPTEM

BER 202

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SUZUKI

V-STROM 1050 NO MORE VANILLA!

Triple eat r t SPORT

TYRE TESTS

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340798 000228

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

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PUB OF THE MONTH: BOOROWA / COME OUT: BRISBANE / JOIN OUR PARADISE-BURT MUNRO TOUR IN NZ / PLANNING THAT TRIP / ADVENTURE BETTER PART 6 / MEMORIES OF BATHURST THE BEAR: WHAT ARE YEZ? / STUART: FINDING TIME / BORIS: LICKING WOUNDS 7/08/2020 2:17:30 AM

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CONTENTS SPECIAL FEATURE

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OILS AND LUBRICANTS Slippery, smooth goodness

TESTING

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“MY FORMULA FOR SUCCESS IS RISE EARLY, WORK LATE, AND STRIKE OIL.” J. Paul Getty

GOOD, DIFFERENT

TRIUMPH TIGER 900 GT PRO A change from tradition SUZUKI V-STROM 1050 Lose the vanilla… go tasty instead YAMAHA TMAX 560 Scooting… fast!

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BRIDGESTONE S22 TYRE Gripping stuff METZELER M9 RR TYRE Right Ripper CONTINENTAL SPORTATTACK 4 Keeps getting better and better

TRAVEL

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PUB OF THE MONTH Boorowa Hotel – a benchmark COME OUT Brisbane – it’s time to ride!

PLANNING Take your time AMM-PARADISE-BURT MUNRO TOUR Join us for a memorable experience ADVENTURE BETTER – PART 6 Capture and remember

30 A BENCHMARK PUB

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READER’S TRAVEL MEMORIES Bathurst Races 1980 – good times

TEAR-OUT MAP

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BUNG THIS ONE IN, DONNA! Nothing wrong with a quicky

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VANILLA NO MORE

EVENT

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Brisbane Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) Ready to open!

TECHNICAL

REMEMBERING THE GOOD TIMES

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COME ON! LET’S GO!

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BEAR’S WARES Klim Kodiak suit BEERS AND BIKES Send in your samples KAWASAKI Z900 RESTO Big ticket purchases!

USED & ABUSED Give them a right hammering

MORE GREATNESS

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EDITORIAL Finally found the time NEWS And lots of it WHAT SAY YOU? C’mon, speak your mind NEW BIKE PRICES Big changes BEAR FACED What are yez? Huh! BORIS Licking his wounds

Australian Motorcyclist

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Australian Motorcyclist Magazine

BUANG IN THIS ONE

Australian Motorcyclist Magazine

@AusMotrCyclist

Please enjoy Australian MOTORCYCLIST Magazine responsibly and add this issue to your collection.

MOST BACK ISSUES ARE STILL AVAILABLE; just visit the website www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au or drop us a line to contactus@ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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EDITORSPEAKS Editor Stuart Woodbury Contributing Editor J Peter Thoeming Sales Manager Ralph Leavsey-Moase ralph@ausmotorcyclist.com.au Designer Jacqueline Page Photographers Nick Wood Creative, Half-Light Photographic Contributors Jacqui Kennedy, Robert Lovas, Boris Mihailovic, Chris Pickett, The Possum, Colin Whelan, Bob Wozga Editorial contactus@ausmotorcyclist.com.au Subscription enquiries www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au info@ausmotorcyclist.com.au

Printer PRINTED IN AUSTRALIA Distributor Gordon and Gotch Australian Motorcyclist Magazine is published

by Australian Motorcyclist Magazine Pty Ltd. Suite 4b, Level 1, 11-13 Orion Rd, Lane Cove West NSW 2066 Phone 0412 220 680.

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

We encourage you to keep or recycle this magazine.

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Finding time

Y

OU KNOW, LIFE CAN be a busy old thing, before you know it years have flown by. In my case, I hadn’t been for a ride with some old work mates for what turns out to be over five years. It seemed every time there was a ride on it was either deadline or I was away somewhere. However, this all finally changed and a day I was free (and the weather was good) I jumped on the CB1300S and caught up with ‘the guys’.

It was a relatively short ride for this bunch of blokes as they normally punch out 400km day rides. On this one, being around 220km, we had plenty of time for coffee and plenty of BS over lunch.

The ride started from Thornleigh McDonalds and we rode through Galston Gorge, Windsor, Portland, Wisemans Ferry, Mangrove Mountain, the Old Pacific Highway and back through Galston Gorge, home. Normally nicknamed, “The Three Ferries”, as one was closed it was, “The Two Ferries” this time round.

I think this has been the most relaxed I’ve been on a ride in the recent past until we got to heading up the hill from Brooklyn Bridge on the ‘Old Pac’. There were some ‘Trophy Hunters’ out and what better fun than to teach them a lesson on how to ride. It really frustrates me – these riders think they are something special and prey on slower riders, passing them at crazy speeds and on occasion, causing all sorts of havoc when they crash. If they think they’re ‘all that’, they should go to track days and/or race and find out where they really sit in terms of speed.

As I mentioned in my last

editorial – bike shops have seen loads more activity lately and the recently released new bike sales backed that up with a 24.5% increase! How bloody good is that!

Where the last couple of years have been doom and gloom, it’s taken worldwide doom and gloom to make the motorcycle industry shine.

Stay Upright rider training has also seen a sharp increase in new riders coming through and obtaining their licence. This can all be good for the industry over the next few years.

Do you think I was right in thinking people have accessed their super and spent that ten grand on a new or second hand bike? Or do you think the spare time people had is the trigger to this big increase in bike sales? Email me your thoughts…

You’ll see in this issue I’ve got an update on my Z900 resto.

I’d finally saved up enough moolah to purchase the big ticket items – exhausts, engine side covers and a smattering of other bits and pieces.

I’ve also got the paintwork sent away.

I’m using Mark at Sydney Custom Spraypainting. He specialises in high quality, show winning and concourse paintwork. I wanted the best for this bike as I’ve gone all out to make it the best it can be, so having show quality paintwork is a must.

I’m sure my bank balance isn’t going to like the paintwork, but that’s life.

Enjoy!

Cheers, Stuart.

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FIND OUT MORE

ONLINE

Now with dynamic new styling, the new Ninja 1000SX marks the 4th generation of a successful sport touring platform that enables experienced riders to enjoy sporty riding and touring capability from a relaxed position.

Enjoy the same great performance now with cleaner emissions.

• KAWASAKI QUICK SHIFTER

• DIGITAL TFT COLOUR INSTRUMENTATION

• INCREASED SEAT COMFORT

• SMART PHONE CONNECTIVITY

• ELECTRONIC CRUISE CONTROL

• INTEGRATED RIDING MODES kawasakiaus

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@kawasakimotors

Available at your Kawasaki dealer:

www.kawasaki.com.au/dealers/find-a-dealer

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NEWS TIME TO TRAVEL

SCOOT ON YOUR ADVENTURES

PLAYING WITH APPLES

Indian Motorcycle has announced the integration of Apple CarPlay to its model year 2020 lineup of bikes equipped with the 7” Ride Command system.

That includes 2020 Chieftain, Roadmaster and Challenger models with navigation. All iPhone users can easily access Apple Music, Maps, send messages with Siri and more through the Ride Command 7” screen and a supported Bluetooth headset (not included) – all on a user-friendly interface that iPhone users will instantly recognise. This integration also increases global accessibility to navigation.

Apple CarPlay is just one of several improvements made to Indian Motorcycle’s leading Ride Command system. Riders can now expect improved navigation location management, improved boot time, audio muting and control improvements (including navigation audio), widget fixes and a new fuel economy widget, and improved search functionality within navigation.

Owners can stay up-to-date with the latest technology by accessing a simple, free software download at https:// ridecommand.indianmotorcycle.com/ en-us/not-found or through their local dealership which you can find on IndianMotorcycle.com.au 8

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Honda welcomes the ADV150 to its lineup, available for $5799. The adventure starts with class leading rugged, premium Showa telescopic front suspension and a pair of premium Showa shocks on the rear, with remote piggyback reservoirs and triple-rate springs that control 119mm of travel.

Add a proven liquid-cooled 149cc four-stroke OHC engine with PGMFI, and you’ll get great performance in all traffic conditions and there’s a two-position windscreen.

Great handling and rugged construction start with a solid chassis design, the ADV150 uses a duplexcradle steel-tube design rather than the more common “under bone” style.

The integrated 12-volt adaptor makes it easy to keep your personal electronics charged up when you’re on the go. It is inside the two-litre storage compartment up front on the left side.

The ADV150 also offers Honda SMART Key, plenty of under-seat storage, an automatic transmission and the ADV150’s tough, muscular styling. Perfect for a long commute and smooth enough for fun weekend riding, the new ADV150 proves that adventure truly comes in all sizes.

Available in three colours: Matte Gunpowder

Following the success of the V85 TT, Moto Guzzi presents the Travel version, ready to take to the road thanks to its complete dedicated range of equipment. Moto Guzzi has listened to the requests of Guzzisti, creating a V85 TT version that is prepared as standard with a selection of essential adventure touring accessories.

The Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel is due to arrive in dealerships in August with an RRP of $21,690 plus on-road costs.

Standard equipment for the Travel includes a higher Touring windshield, two lightweight “urban” style panniers with aluminium inserts specifically designed alongside the V85 TT itself 37 litres for the right-hand case and 27.5 litres for the left.

Also included as standard are heated hand grips with buttons already incorporated in the original left-hand switch block and a pair of additional LED lights. The range of special equipment is rounded out with Moto Guzzi MIA, the multimedia platform that allows the rider to connect a smartphone to the vehicle, extending the functions of the instrument cluster.

The Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel is offered in an exclusive “Sabbia Namib” colour: the grey frame is paired with the matte colour of the chassis, while the tank and side panels are enhanced with dedicated graphics. Michelin Anakee Adventure tyres underline the adventure touring attitude. See your local Guzzi dealer to place your order.

Black Metallic, Matte Meteorite Brown Metallic and Ross White, to find out more, see your local dealer or visit: motorcycles. honda.com.au/ Urban.Scooter/ ADV150

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NEWS ITALIAN TOURING

Ducati looks at the world of touring as a major part of its business and not just sport/racing. A vast range of accessories branded Ducati Performance is available for Diavel, Multistrada, Supersport and Monster families, to make each trip even more comfortable and pleasant. Side panniers, comfortable lowered seats, passenger backrests and many other Ducati Performance accessories designed and BE THE ENVY OF produced for those who love to travel, ALL DIRT RIDERS alone or with a passenger are on offer.

Lessons learned See your local dealer or ducati.com.au in the toughest motorcycle racing arena helped shape the new edition of the distinguished KTM 450 Rally Replica. The feedback collected from thousands of kilometres and numerous victories at the Dakar Rally EXPANDING and the FIM Cross-Country Rallies THEIR HORIZONS World Championship has defined the key upgrades for the 2021 model.

WP Suspension has only ever The fiery 450 cc SOHC fuelbeen seen on KTM and Husqvarna injection motor is wrapped in a motorcycles, and been associated competition-based chassis with with racing for many years under a series of finer details to denote the name White Power. WP is the exclusivity of this machine. expanding its horizons by producing Those specs include refined WP their Apex Pro components to XACT PRO closed cartridge other brand motorcycles. Keep suspension with sophisticated Cone up to date with what models are Valve technology and purposeful available at wp-suspension.com aerodynamics and ergonomics crafted for peerless handling across a wide

ON ITS WAY!

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After the great successes achieved with models having small and medium-sized displacement, Benelli returns to the medium-large naked segment with its new 752S. It is claimed to be a concrete, pragmatic, and engaging motorcycle, capable of winning over every rider from the first ride. Featuring a modern design with sporty and harmonic lines, the 752S is a compact and dynamic bike.

The tube trellis frame with steel plates houses the new Benelli four-stroke 754cc liquid-cooled twin-cylinder engine. Maximum power and torque are respectively 56kW at 8500rpm and 67Nm at 6500rpm. Double overhead camshaft timing,

breadth of terrain.

For 2021, KTM has honed the engine package with a brand-new gearbox and revised shift mechanism. The direct influence of PANKL Racing Systems materials inside the KTM Motorsport department meant technicians were able to further hike the bike’s excellent reliability, but also benefit the rider with a larger gear spread.

The 2021 KTM 450 Rally Replica is a highly sought-after, limited edition model restricted to 85 units worldwide. There is, however, no guarantee of supply due to this strictly limited availability. With a price tag of $55,995AUD, the MY21 model features full Australian ADR compliance. For more information and to enquire about placing a preorder, rush to your authorised KTM dealership or visit ktm.com 4 valves per cylinder and electronic fuel injection with double throttle body complete the engine’s technical specifications. The suspension consists of Marzocchi 50mm upside-down fork with 117mm travel. On the back there is a preload adjustable KYB monoshock with 45mm travel. Braking consists of double 320mm diameter discs on the front with four-piston floating calipers, and a 260mm diameter disc on the back with a single-piston floating caliper. As usual, it is equipped with ABS. The 17” aluminium alloy rims mount 120/70-17 and 180/5517 Pirelli Angel ST tyres. The tank holds 15 litres. Priced at $12,990 ride away, place your pre-order at https://benelli. com.au/order-online/?model-pid=1574

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FROM

$9790 RIDEAWAY @RoyalEnfieldAusNZ #ONEYEAROFPLAYTIME

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NEWS TAKE A SLASH

An event to celebrate all things BMW Slash 5 is being planned to take place in Blayney NSW (not far from Bathurst) for the weekend 17 - 18 October 2020.

The Slash 5 was a make or break effort by BMW when released in late 1969. If the bike did not achieve significant sales, BMW was going to cease production of motorcycles..

Fortunately, the variations in the line up sold well and formed the basis from which later success was built. A /5 was the first bike to carry ‘the Pudding’, first bike across the Gunbarrel Highway, used in the factory team at the ISDT and

punted across terrible roads to all corners of the globe (as much as a circle can have corners).

The patron of /5’s in Australia - Henning Jorgensen - is organising the event based around Blayney and starting with Registration at 9am at the Railway Station Car Park.

A ride to a lunch time destination will leave at 11am, and return to the Railway Station for a 3pm Show & Tell.

A dinner is planned at the Exchange Hotel Blayney (6.30pm for 7pm) on the evening of 17th October. There will

be Awards for Best in the various /5 categories, and Best Post and Pre /5 machines. Best GS and Peoples Choice are all so under consideration.

If you are a fan of the /5 or BMW’s in general, please contact Henning hpj333@gmail.com - to register interest and get more details.

40-YEARS YOUNG

New versions of BMW Motorrad’s renowned middle-class F series models, the F 750 GS, F 850 GS and F 850 GS Adventure, will arrive in Australia at the end of this year and into 2021. All three models feature a fresh aesthetic thanks to new colour schemes celebrating 40-years of GS models, while offering a more elevated GS experience with expanded standard equipment and new optional equipment. See your local dealer to order, or visit bmw-motorrad.com.au

SPLASH THE CASH

If you’ve got a great classic motorcycle, or the latest model, the missing finishing touch could be a set of black and white numerical number plates to set you apart from the others. Shannons has a selection of VIC and NSW numerical plates at its upcoming 2020 Winter Timed Online Auction from 19-26 August.

New South Wales motorcyclists have the tantalising opportunity to put the black and white Heritage plate ‘NSW 2’ on their favourite machine. One of only a small number of NSW motorcycle heritage plates which only rarely come on the open market, this will really make a statement.

Perfect for any one of the 13 restored classic motorcycles in the same auction, ‘2’ is expected to sell in the $170,000$200,000 range – more than four times the estimated top guiding price of $28,000 for the very rare 1974 Norton Commando ‘John Player’ 850cc motorcycle in the auction. Alternatively, the two-digit motorcycle plate ‘26’ for $40,000-$60,000 is an attractive option, without breaking the bank balance. Both plates last changed hands at Shannons 2007 Australian

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International Motor Show Auction, where ‘2’ made $120,000 and ‘26’ sold for $42,500. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, the demand for significant numerical number plates continues undiminished, with Shannons recording strong sales for the 21 black and white Heritage number plates on offer in its previous online auction.

The Sydney Auction showroom has reduced hours of 10am-4pm, Monday – Friday; the Melbourne Auction showroom is closed due to Stage 4 restrictions. For more details visit shannons.com.au . For further information, contact the Melbourne or Sydney auction teams on 13 4646 (Option 6), or by email on auctions@ shannons.com.au Alternatively, speak directly to individual Shannons Team members at: Melbourne: 03 85880809 (main auction number); Christophe 03 70254974; David 03 70254983; Kim 03 70254979; ‘Tiny’ Rodney 03 70254977; Ryan 03 70254984, or Lisa 03 70254971.

Sydney: (02) 8019 4119 (main auction number); Damien 02 79116012; Stuart 02 79116009 or John 02 79116005.

READY TO PROWL

The light, stable and incredibly versatile Ventura Aerodynamic Bike-Pack system is now available for the 2020 Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro and Rally Pro. The key to the Ventura system is the L-Bracket, which is made to measure to fit each model of bike and custom designed to complement the unique styling of each motorcycle. Once fitted with L-Brackets, the Tiger 900 will accommodate a range of luggage options via the Astro Top Box, Sport Rack, Pack Rack, Grab Handle or EVO Rack. The Ventura system allows up to 102 litres of luggage carrying capacity with two Aero-Spada’s zipped together all the way down to the 10 litre Sport-Pack. See your local bike shop or kenma. com.au D

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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ROCK(S) ‘N’ ROAD(S) Rock(s) ‘n’ road(s) is the celebration of an all-terrain philosophy that you’ll experience astride the V85 TT Travel. Whatever destination you choose on your Moto Guzzi will be an unforgettable trip. V85 TT Travel variation is the synthesis of two souls: a rock world made up of adventure and off road, inspired by the desire for freedom and exploration, and a road world represented by street travel, with urban and long distance routes, under the sign of minimalism and style.

V85 TT Travel

23,590*

$

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The V85 TT's adventurous spirit has now been extended with the new V85 TT Travel featuring additional dedicated equipment for your next adventure. Standard equipment includes a taller Touring Screen and molded side panniers featuring aluminium inserts. In addition, heated hand grips, LED fog lights also come as standard equipment and the Michelin Anakee Adventure tyres highlight the V85 TT Travel’s intrepid attitude. The Moto Guzzi MIA multimedia platform completes the V85 TT Travel, enabling you to connect your smart phone to the bike, extending the functions of the instrument cluster. The V85 TT Travel combines performance, technology and adventure capability with Moto Guzzi style and sophistication, so see your Moto Guzzi Dealer today.

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TEST

TRIUMPH TIGER 900 GT PRO r o f s e g n a h C ? r e t t the be WORDS STUART PHOTOS NICK WOOD CREATIVE

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TEST

W

HAT DOES CHANGE REALLY mean? Essentially, change should mean letting go of the old and encouraging something new to develop. Something will become something else. We do not end up where we started. The end result is very different or completely different from what we started with.

The reason I opened with this little definition of change is because when you jump on the new Tiger 900 it’s going to be totally different to what you’re used to with the outgoing Tiger 800 range. Is it for the better?

From a riding perspective, yes.

The engine is pretty much all-new, you might say. Yes, it is still a triple cylinder, but most of the internals are new and the main talking point is the new firing order. The 800 had a 120-degree firing order, whereas the 900 has a 180, 270, 270-degree firing order. This obviously means the crank looks very different and the pistons are not in-line through the stroke and result in number one cylinder firing first, then number three cylinder and then number two.

All of this jargon means the engine is far more tractable and has a new distinct engine note – very much like a V-twin.

For me, it has taken away the character I’ve become accustomed to – a Triumph triple cylinder.

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Triumphs including the Tiger range are renowned for that triple cylinder sound, to lose that takes a bit of the appeal away for me. Hence I started with what change really means – let go of the old and encourage the new.

The new engine design does work as Triumph expected – it is very tractable at low speeds with much more torque than the 800, and very powerful higher up in the rev range – the best of both worlds. Riding through technical dirt sections means it is easier for you to manage. An up and down quickshifter also makes riding easier, the upshifts are probably the best in the business, but the downshifts were smoother using the clutch.

To keep things cool, the 900 now features twin radiators which not only

keeps the engine cooler, but results in a smaller coolant volume being required. Triumph does claim there is less engine heat directed to the rider but this is not what I experienced.

The twin thermo fans (one each side) and their exiting holes direct hot air directly onto your knees, which is great in the winter, but I can only imagine how hot it will be on a 40-degree day.

I will admit, while wearing adventure pants with knee protection I couldn’t feel the heat, but wearing unprotected jeans it was very noticeable.

Handling has always been awesome with the Tiger 800 and Triumph sought to improve on this. Overall weight of the 900 is some five kilos less (depending on the model) and riding the GT Pro it does feel physically lighter than the 800, especially in technical dirt sections.

The front however feels a little lazy on the standard suspension settings as the rear sags quite a bit. There is an electronically adjustable shock and bumping the preload up to ‘rider and pillion with luggage’ and setting the damping to one step down from full Sport helped keep the rear from sagging.

I also found giving the forks two clicks of rebound helped them from springing up as quickly.

The Marzocchi suspension absorbs bumps well and gives the GT Pro

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TEST

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a comfy ride – a great touring package.

The settings for the shock include a great selection – Sport, Road, Rain, Off-Road and the personal setup of Rider mode. This also includes how you can setup things like Power modes, Traction control and ABS. Technology is jam-packed into the GT Pro. The first thing you’ll notice is the massive iPad-like instrument panel.

It really is huge! Direct sunlight does create a bit of glare making it harder to read at times, but for techno lovers there is so much you can do with this seven-inch panel you’ll be fizzing over it, months down the track. There are four styles of screen to be viewed with four colour options and a high contrast.

Through the My Triumph App you can connect to SMS messages, phone calls, Go Pro, navigation and music, and scroll through many other functions – trip meters, fuel consumption, and many other bits and pieces. Do allow yourself a bit of time to get used to it all.

Triumph has aimed to make the Tiger 900 a premium, high level motorcycle and the GT Pro offers many standard features like five riding modes, heated grips, heated rider and pillion seats, cruise control, fog lamps, adjustable screen, adjustable seat height, LED lighting, 12V and USB sockets with the GT Pro featuring a secure mobile phone pocket and charger under the seat. Tyre pressure monitoring is also standard and Triumph has looked at the details when producing the 900 with something as simple as right-angle valves being fitted. Not a big deal in the scheme of things but something that makes an owner’s life so much easier. And, as you can imagine, fit and finish on this bike is at a premium.

Other features include cornering ABS, 20-litre fuel tank, centre stand and handguards.

The latest radial mounted Brembo calipers up front give good stopping power and have the kind of bite that works well in the dirt and on the bitumen – not overly sharp – just right.

Ergonomics have changed from the 800. The handlebar is 10mm closer for more comfort, the front of the seat and rear of the tank are narrower for more control and the GT Pro features a 20mm adjustable seat height – 810-

Specs TRIUMPH TIGER 900 GT PRO PRICE: $21,950 (plus on-road costs) WARRANTY: Two years, unlimited distance SERVICING INTERVALS: Every 16,000km or 12 months ENGINE: 888cc liquid-cooled three cylinder, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder POWER: 70kW @ 8750rpm TORQUE: 87Nm @ 7250rpm TRANSMISSION: 6-speed, wet multi-plate clutch, chain final drive SUSPENSION: Front, 45mm inverted fork, adjustable compression and rebound, travel 180mm. Rear, monoshock, electronically adjustable,

830mm. Seat comfort is great and having the heated seat for rider and pillion keeps the boss very happy.

She did say the pillion seat comfort was, to quote, “amazing”. The screen is 50mm height adjustable with five positions. The test bike we rode featured the accessory “Trekker” inspiration kit, which features an aero lip bolted to the top and panniers and topbox, but I opted to ride without the boxes for this test.

Accessories are extensive as you’ve become used to with Triumph.

travel 170mm.

DIMENSIONS: Seat height 810-830mm, weight 198kg (dry), fuel capacity 20 litres, wheelbase 1556mm TYRES: Front, 100/90/19.

Rear, 150/70/R17 BRAKES: Front, twin 320mm discs with radial four-piston cornering ABS calipers. Rear, 255mm disc, single-piston cornering ABS caliper.

FUEL CONSUMPTION: 5.50 litres per 100km, premium unleaded THEORETICAL RANGE: 363km COLOURS: Korosi Red, Sapphire Black, Pure White VERDICT: Good, different.

You can get dedicated accessory packages to make things easier.

Triumph call them, “Inspiration Kits”.

As mentioned our test bike had the Trekker kit fitted, and the other kit is called the Expedition.

As much as I feel the new Triumph Tiger 900 has lost the triple cylinder uniqueness (or character) it was renowned for, it is a far improved motorcycle over the outgoing 800 model. I strongly suggest you check it out and have a good test ride to see what you think. D www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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PUBOFTHEMONTH

BOOROWA H o t k r a m h c n e b A

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HOTEL w o l l o f o

WORDS/PHOTOS COLIN WHELAN

RATED 5 OUT OF 5 HELMETS

Boorowa Hotel 37 Marsden St, Boorowa T: 02 6385 3000 E: Boorowa.pub@gmail.com W: www.boorowahotel.com.au www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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PUB OF THE MONTH

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O ANYWAY, IT MUST’VE been around 10.30 when the shots started. From memory the first ones were green.

Now, I don’t usually drink from thimbles, but I also don’t usually mix my drinks during a session.

I don’t tend to frequent themed hotels. And I sure don’t go to places of worship all that much.

But after an arvo spent in a Catholic church in central western NSW, followed by an evening in an ‘Irish’ pub drinking wine before switching to Guinness, I confess I continued chucking any semblance of usual behaviour and accepted an invite to knock back some ‘nobblers’ of various colours and constituents with a few lads.

Welcome to Burrowa as it was known to the first white settlers but which sometime around 1916, thanks to nasal twang and lazy lipped drawl, became, bereft of any statute, Boorowa.

I head in from the north-west, over the bridge, take a right around the Commercial Hotel and then another right at the information office and, as promised the doors of St Patrick’s church on my right are open.

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Above the main entry at the south end of the church is an impressive stained glass triptych. Each tall upper section features one of the three patron saints of Ireland.: St Columba, St Patrick and St Brigid.

Now for our few heathen readers who aren’t as up on their saints as they are on their spark plugs and tyre tread patterns, a quick(ish) word about this trio.

Columba, the bloke on the left is the Irish bloke (not the Spanish nun with the same moniker) who was born in 521 and who fled to the island of Iona with a dozen followers after a pitched battle between his family and mates against the king of Ireland.

He banned women and cows from the island claiming that “where there is a cow there is a woman, and where there is a woman there is mischief ”. All this making sense?

(I think there’s something wrong with this bloke – nothing wrong with a good woman and a juicy steak: Ed).

Anyway, as he was starting to build his mud and brick chapel, Columba heard voices from above telling him that it wouldn’t be sufficiently holy unless a living person were buried in

the foundations.

Trendsetter.

Conveniently, Columba’s mate Oran offered to take a big one for the team and become a foundation member of the building but Columba soon requested that the good sport be uncovered so he could bid him a final farewell. When the bloke was uncovered he was found to be still alive but “uttering such blasphemous descriptions of Heaven and Hell” that Columbus ordered that he be covered back up – and got a sainthood for his efforts.

The right panel is a memorial to St Brigid, who should be the patron saint of over-achievers. In addition to her joint patronage of Ireland, she’s also the patron saint of babies and blacksmiths and boatmen and cattle and chicken farmers and bastards and children with abusive fathers and children born into abusive unions and dairymaids and dairy workers and fugitives and infants and mariners and midwives and milk maids and nuns and poets

and the poor and poultry farmers and poultry raisers and printing presses and sailors and scholars and travellers and watermen. And also, more relevantly, of brewers.

Oh, and she’s also the patron saint of Florida where she’s doing some sterling work keeping the state wearing masks and Covid-free.

And that about exhausts my allocated word-count for her.

In the middle is a contemporary and allegedly close buddy of Brigid, St Patrick himself.

Pat’s most memorable effort was to rid Ireland of all its snakes, none of which had ever been mentioned in any previous writings, and he’s also is responsible for the symbolism of the www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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PUB OF THE MONTH shamrock to Ireland.

In his spare time he also raised 33 men from the dead. It’s not recorded if Colmuba’s mate, Oran, was one of them.

Now all that’s pretty regular fare for church windows – snake charmers, live body sacrificers and bastard patrons - but what sets this church in Boorowa apart from all others is a small panel at the foot of the central window featuring St Paddy.

It depicts the dignified head of a man over the words: “Pray for Daniel O’Connel liberator of Ireland” and below this: “Erected by the Burrowa O’Connell Centenary Committee August 1875”.

(I later ask the Church’s secretary about the missing ‘l’ in the first inscription and she tells me that in 25 years of attending mass at least once a week, she’d never noticed.)

It’s extremely rare for a non-beatified commoner to be represented in stained glass in a catholic church, but Daniel O’Connell was no ordinary commoner.

He was born in 1775 in County Kerry and in 1828, after almost a decade of agitating for Irish independence from England, he was elected to the English

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Parliament with the backing of the Catholic Church.

When he refused to take the Oath of Allegiance to the English crown, the English knew they had a problem and, faced with the threat of insurrection by O’Connell’s 6 million supporters, they backed down and granted Irish emancipation in 1829.

O’Connell, also known as “The Emancipator” became the first Catholic in modern history to take a seat in the English Parliament.

Whilst O’Connell was leading the fight in Ireland, two catholic cousins, ‘ticket-of-leave’ ex-convicts Rodger Corcoran and Ned Ryan headed southwest from Sydney and set up farms on a bend in a small river, known today as

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

7/08/2020 2:19:15 AM

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Scan here Overseas model is shown and specifications may vary for the local model. The model in this image may feature accessories and merchandise that are not supplied as standard. Always wear protective motorcycle clothing when riding and obey local road regulations. Do not attempt to recreate the riding scene depicted in this image. Contact your Authorised Ducati Dealer for more information.

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PUB OF THE MONTH

Boorowa River, in 1821. Twenty two years later the town was gazetted on the current site.

Corcoran and Ryan did better than okay down here and encouraged other Irish Catholics to join them.

Burrowa became the ‘most Irish town in inland Australia’.

Not all arrivals were Catholics and the father of my neighbor in Sydney, who lived in Boorowa for much of the second half of last century later tells me that the river running through the town was the demarcation line between the Catholics and the Protestants.

The placement of the Daniel O’Connell window which had been created back in Ireland and shipped out in 1881, was a real ‘Up Yours’ gesture by the “Green” Irish to the “Orangemen” across the creek.

Boorowa’s St Patrick’s is no ordinary church and it doesn’t take long to work out that its eponymous hotel is no ordinary Irish Pub. Mike, the owner, who, in his black and green corporate polo comes over to make mates very soon after I walk in after leaving Super Ten in the dedicated bike parking right out front, soon explains that the word is supposed to be Wiradjuri for the native plains turkey, otherwise known as the ‘Australian Bustard’.

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His mouth stretches and eyes glint: “The Australian Bustard’s supposed to be extinct but we still seem to get our fair share in here.”

Mike’s a Kiwi, been in the hotel game since he was 21 and arrived in Australia in early 2012 with his wife (“she’s Corinne and a bloody good cook”) looking for a pub to run.

They spent a year searching around Brisbane but couldn’t find a ‘good fit’ but then his brother in Moss Vale alerted him to his place.

“We drove down here and immediately fell in love with everything: the town, the people and the pub” but they had to return across the ditch for a couple of personal things and when the place went to auction they listened to it live on his brother’s phone but didn’t make a bid.

The wife of the bloke who bought it had a medical emergency the week after the auction and he was in a bind. Long story short, Mike pooled his cash, made an offer and bought the freehold.

They poured another couple of hundred grand into the place.

“It wasn’t an Irish pub when we got it but it just made such sense to us to theme it – the town’s history and all the descendants of the old settlers who are still here and the church just down there…. turns out it was one of my better ideas.”

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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18/5/20 3:50 pm 7/08/2020 2:19:24 AM

PUB OF THE MONTH

It’s a Thursday night in July and as the darkness comes down and the open fire gets a new load of hardwood, groups of hi-vizzed workers stream in for the warmth and the atmosphere. Suddenly the joint is jumping.

There’s a massive wind turbine farm getting built just down the road and 160 workers are based in Boorowa. They all get a living allowance and can choose their digs.

All the Irish ones are staying here, filling the 13 rooms upstairs from Mondays to Friday mornings.

And, as they all get fed and the Guinness (“it’s as good as back home”) flows, it’s easy to see they’re all very happy with their choice.

I go for the Guinness and beef pie – like most stuff on the menu, home made by Corinne - washed down with the only truly acceptable cleanser and it’s damn fine.

Not long after the workers have licked their plates and are settling into groups to share the day’s lies, distortions and exaggerations, the second wave arrives. Mike and Corinne sponsor the local rugby 28

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club who train twice a week. On Tuesdays Mike heads down to the field and cooks them a BBQ and chucks on some beers. Thursdays the players all front the pub where they get a gratis dish of the day – today it’s pasta in a white sauce.

Overflowing plates get wolfed down.

The groups, the locals and the contractors all mix and mingle and gee each other up. Mike’s constantly on the move, flowing from behind the taps to clearing tables, chatting and joking, entertaining and ensuring all is well on every front.

To watch him is to observe a master publican – a host with his heart in it – at work.

Sometime around then I realise there’s no gambling in the place – no TAB, no Keno and no pokies.

“We could’ve had it when we bought but we refused. We still get travellers coming knocking on our doors, their eyes glazed like heroin junkies wanting to know where the pokies are so they can get their fix,” explains the boss as he slides by one time before pointing to the heaving room. “And do you think any of

these people are missing it?”

I’ve been floating around the room, listening to the yarns and the endless praise, for the food, for the drink, for the pub and for the host and it’s as I curve back to a knuckle of contractors that the shots start.

First the green round and then I buy a blue set and then a dark one of Guinness and Baileys.

I soon understand I’m out of my league and as I’m settling my slate (see sidebar) the kitchen staff join us. I want to thank Corinne for a top pie but they don’t have any Corinne working there.

When I tackle Mike about it he blank-faces me. And then breaks up. “I didn’t say my wife is Corinne, I said she’s Korean you idiot!”

He reckons that’s worth a night cap so I have one more because if this evening’s taught me one thing it’s that if anyone’s riding west of the GDV and to the north of Goulburn, this place is sure worth a shot.

And another!

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7/08/2020 2:19:29 AM

Rule bender The atmosphere and hospitality of this place set a benchmark for others to follow. Without doubt one of the best nights I’ve spent in a pub in ages, inspired by a publican who invests in the welfare of his community and comfort of his guests.

The gambling-free bars are just the right size for relaxing and comfort. The dining-room, which doubles as a café each morning, is a refuge if you want a quieter dram.

Upstairs, the rooms are equipped with heaters and electric blankets.

(Mine had been turned on by a phantom hand sometime in the mid-evening). There’s good hooks for heavy riding gear and the hot water is immediate and arrives at pressure.

The common room with full fridge and makings for cereal, toast and brews is up there with the best.

But the balcony, lined with rows of old cinema seats and facing the

west is a brilliant place for a sunset deep breath.

The only issue for some will be the lack of any off-street and lock-up parking for bikes. I left mine out front in the designated spot and it was fine and there’s no issue parking on the side footpath under the awning if you so wish.

For atmosphere and character this place rated 5/5, for value, with schooners of light under 6 bucks and with single rooms at $65 and doubles just ten more, it rated 160 where 100 is decent. If we did half helmets, I’d give it 4.5 due to the lack of parking but, bugger it, I’m bending the rules and giving it the full five. The so many pluses make up for the single demerit.

Full Disclosure: Next morning I found that Mike’d not charged me for my room. This hasn’t affected any other the above, especially the bits about the saints! D

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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S P E C I A L F E A T U R E Oil & lubricants

‘OILS AIN’T OILS’it p e e K pery slip

COMPILED BY STUART

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7/08/2020 9:31:22 AM

K

EEPING A LOT OF parts on a motorcycle slippery is essential for proper running, longevity and performance. Routine maintenance is just the start of keeping your bike at its peak. As a complimentary extra, we have included some fork oils, brake fluids, chain lubes and even grease. No, don’t thank us, just subscribe. We sent the call out to the various oil and lubricant distributers and here’s what they want you to know about. Think about that when making your purchase.

YAMALUBE

Yamaha dealers or shopyamaha.com.au

RS4GP Full Synthetic (4 Stroke Engine Oil) – $33.25 (1L), $113.90 (4L)

High performance motor oil, developed for 4-stroke racing bikes using the same technology as in the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP oil. Suitable for both road and off-road racing this oil provides the best performance and protection under normal and extreme conditions. Available in 10W40.

Y4-S Semi Synthetic (4 Stroke Engine Oil) – $20.30 (1L), $66.55 (4L)

Provides enhanced engine protection with easy gear shifting that improves your gear’s life time. Ideal for oil immersed clutches, compatible with catalytic convertors, good detergency and dispersion. Provides anti-dispersion, anti-oxidizing, anti-foaming and anti-corrosion properties. Available in 10W-40 & 20W-50.

Y4-M Mineral (4 Stroke Engine Oil) – $15.55 (1L), $51.95 (4L)

Suitable for any 4-stroke engine used in normal conditions. Delivers the optimum mix of high performance and value, this oil is recommended for wet clutches. The synthetic base stocks provide outstanding lubricating properties and strong oil film that decrease friction and wear while increasing engine life. Available in 10W-40 & 15W-50.

Brake Fluid Premium – $20.22 (500ml)

A high performance, 100% synthetic brake fluid which exceeds the requirement of international standards. High boiling point makes this suitable for models used under extreme conditions such as racing and very sporty riding.

Fork Oil - $11.40 (500ml)

Specially formulated to meet Yamaha’s high standards and is reinforced with additives to provide consistent suspension protection for safer and precise handling. Compatible with conventional and upside-down forks. Available in 5W, 10W & 15W. www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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S P E C I A L F E AT U R E

Oil & lubricants

CASTROL

mcleodaccessories.com.au

POWER1 Racing 4T 10W-40 – $34.95 (1L), $84.95 (4L)

Full synthetic 4-stroke engine oil suitable for use in high performance and competition 4-stroke, Japanese and European motorcycle engines, including all high-performance multi-cylinder, multi-valve, V-Twin, air or water-cooled sports or race replica models. Power1 Racing 4T has a race proven formula that demonstrates outstanding clutch friction control, gear wear control, engine wear protection and cleanliness in competition applications.

POWER1 Racing 4T 10W-50 – $34.95 (1L), $99.95 (4L)

Castrol POWER1 Racing 4T 10W-50 is a fully synthetic engine oil for modern, high performance 4-stroke sports bikes that increases engine acceleration and power right up to maximum rpm. Castrol POWER1 Racing 4T, using ‘Race Derived Technology’ based on Castrol’s long and successful racing association, flows fast and stays strong, reducing internal engine friction even under the most arduous riding conditions. It has been tested and proven to deliver exceptional acceleration and power at the touch of the throttle. The added Castrol advantage of Trizone Technology ensures uncompromised performance protection -ultimate performance for extreme riding.

POWER1 4T 10w-40 – $24.95 (1L), $64.95 (4L)

Part synthetic, advanced premium 4-stroke engine oil for high performance bikes. Power1 4T 10W-40 exceeds the requirements of API SJ, SH, SG, SF and SE and is thus suitable for service use in the majority of Japanese and European machines including those fitted with turbochargers.

Activ 4T 15W-50 – $19.95 (1L), $49.95 (4L)

Modern high-quality engine oil specifically for 4-stroke engines. Developed with wear protection formula ensures continuous protection throughout the drain interval so that you can start and go in confidence.

Edge Titanium 25W-50 – $109.95 (5L)

Castrol EDGE 25W-50 with Fluid TITANIUM is a race bred oil specially formulated for modified engines, push-rod technology, street machines, big bore competition engines, naturally aspirated, supercharged or turbocharged. Castrol 32

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EDGE 25W-50 has demonstrated superior protection in certain highly loaded valve-train components and delivers optimal cam-wear protection for radical cam profiles.

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

7/08/2020 9:15:29 AM

Ventura - The evolutionary luggage system for motorcycles.

Photo by Barnabas Imre

Join the EVOlution

of the Ventura bike pack system with the new style flat EVO rack and EVO packs.

VENTURA is available from your favourite motorcycle store. For more information about VENTURA products visit www.kenma.com.au email: sales@kenma.com.au or phone 02 9484 0777.

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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S P E C I A L F E AT U R E

ECSTAR

suzukimotorcycles.com.au

R9000 Fully Synthetic Oil 10w40 – $27.95 (1L), $99.95 (4L) Premium Engine Oil for Suzuki Motorcycles, Scooters, and ATVs. Improves engine performance, throttle response, enhances shifting performance and reduces friction. Meets and exceeds all JASO MA2 requirements.

R7000 Semi Synthetic Oil 10w40 – $19.95 (1L), $69.95 (4L) A blend of high-performance synthetic lubricants and premium mineral oils engineered to protect your Suzuki. Helps protect the engine and gearbox whilst improving gear shift feeling.

Dot 4 Brake Fluid – 17.95 (0.5L)

Specifically formulated and recommended for use in all Suzuki motorcycles requiring DOT 4 brake fluid.

Super Long Life Coolant – $48.64 (2L)

Specially blended from a formula containing corrosion inhibitors, providing outstanding aluminium protection and designed for a longer service life.

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Oil & lubricants

MOTUL

linkint.com.au

300V – 5W30, 10W40, 15W50 – 100% Ester Core Synthetic – $39.90 (1L), $149.90 (4L) Motul’s fully synthetic racing motorcycle lubricant benefits from the latest Ester Core innovation to provide exceptional performance. Involved in racing for many years at the highest levels, Motul has developed specific racing motorcycle lubricants to satisfy demanding riders in terms of power, torque and clutch response during gear shifting. Motul 300V provides extra power by minimizing engine internal frictions without any compromise on clutch response.

API - ABOVE | JASO - T 904 Friction.

7100 – 5W40, 10W30, 10W40, 10W50, 10W60, 20W50 – 100% Synthetic – $29.90 (1L), $109.90 (4L)

100% Synthetic oil with Ester, using improved ester lubricant technology, improved oil film resistance at high temperatures and high revs, Ester technology minimises internal engine friction losses and provides improved performance, Ester with its anti-wear additives and improved shear resistance provides improved gear protection and gear life, JASO MA2 ensures optimal clutch performances at start-up, acceleration and constant speed, API SN provides improved high temp deposit protection and more stringent sludge control.

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

7/08/2020 9:15:39 AM

5100 – 10W30, 10W40, 10W50 – Ester Synthetic – $26.90 (1L), $44.90 (2L), $84.90 (4L)

Reinforced by Ester base stock which offers greater anti-wear properties and improved gear protection, this semisynthetic oil has improved oil film resistance at high temperatures for greater engine durability, JASO MA2 ensures optimal clutch performances at start-up, acceleration and constant speed and a low Phosphorus and Sulphur content.

3100 Gold – 15W50, 10W40 – Synthetic – $19.90 (1L), $69.90 (4L)

This semi-synthetic oil has excellent anti-oxidation, prevents premature oil thickening and ageing due to high temperature stress, high lubricating properties, decreases friction and wear and increases engine life, high detergent and dispersive properties and anti-corrosion and anti-foam properties.

Specially developed for antilock braking systems (ABS).

Brake Fluid – DOT 3&4 – $17.90 (500ml) 100% Synthetic - For all types of hydraulic brake systems - Meets DOT 3 and DOT 4 manufacturer’s recommendations.

Fork Oil Factory Line – 2.5W, 5W, 7.5W, 10W – $31.90 (1L) 100% Synthetic - Ester based - Hydraulic fluids for upside down, cartridge and standard forks.

Fork Oil Expert – 5W, 10W, 15W, 20W

– $21.90 (1L)

Synthetic - Hydraulic fluids for upside down, cartridge and standard forks.

Tech Grease – $19.90 (400g cartridge)

Multipurpose with high performance, Tech Grease has a wide range of uses.

Moto 4T – 10W50 $14.90 (1L), $44.90 (4L)

Motul Moto 4T is premium mineral oil. Designed to be used in a wide variety of 4 stroke motorcycles, quads and scooters. Mostly used by riders of daily commuters & weekenders who don’t require premium performance but are looking for the best value for money on an entry level product.

Brake Fluid – DOT 5.1 – $23.90 (500ml)

100% Synthetic - Long lasting www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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S P E C I A L F E AT U R E

Oil & lubricants

KAWASAKI

Kawasaki dealers or kawasaki.com.au

Mineral oil – $8.23 (946ml)

Kawasaki performance 4-Stroke engine oil provides outstanding engine and bearing wear protection.

Prolonged engine life through improved engine cleanliness and reduced oil volatility. Improved shift quality through enhanced transmission/ clutch performance and dependability.

Semi-synthetic oil – $13.99 (946ml)

Semi-Synthetic blend for superior performance.

Improved starting and oil flow at low temperatures.

Superior engine and bearing wear, protection and prolonged engine life through improved engine cleanliness and reduced oil volatility.

Fully synthetic oil – $21.90 (946ml)

Kawasaki Performance 4-Stroke Full Synthetic Oil is exclusively formulated 100% Synthetic. Improved starting and oil flow at low temperatures.

Ultimate protection & performance in extreme conditions including high RPM, high temperatures and severe cold. Ultimate engine and bearing wear protection.

Prolonged engine life from improved engine cleanliness, reduced oil volatility, ultimate thermal and oxidation stability.

Ultimate shift quality through enhanced transmission/ clutch performance and dependability.

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Brake fluid DOT 3-4 – $27.50 (236ml)

Performs consistently over a broad range of temperatures.

Meets all DOT 3, 4 specs for universal application.

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

7/08/2020 9:15:50 AM

Multi-Purpose Grease – $21.00 (454 grams)

Multi-purpose extreme pressure, lithium complex grease which imparts superior high and low temperature characteristics and chemical stability High tensile strength provides durability under heavy loads. Resists mechanical breakdown and water “wash-out”. Offers excellent rust & oxidation protection and is highly compatible with seals.

Showa fork oil – $49.61 (1L)

Sourced from SHOWA Japan as a direct replacement oil for your O.E SHOWA forks Formulated specifically to meet

the demands of today’s hi-performance forks, including SHOWA SFF (Separate Function Fork). Please see your owners/ service manual for proper fork oil weight/type. www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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S P E C I A L F E AT U R E

Oil & lubricants

PUTOLINE

whitesmoto.com.au

Formula V-Twin – $21.19 (1L), $80.40 (4L)

An advanced semi-synthetic oil specially developed for V-Twins. Featuring Putoline’s N-TECH additive providing excellent viscosity for maximum lubrication even at low temperatures, incredible wet clutch performance and smooth gear changes, minimal oil consumption & outstanding cleaning properties for optimum engine performance.

Available in 20W-50.

Sport 4R – $21.19 (1L), $69.80 (4L)

Sport 4R is a semi synthetic 4-stroke oil designed to provide ultimate performance in almost any application. Utilising the revolutionary N-TECH additive system Sport 4R offers industry leading cleaning and lubrication properties minimising engine and transmission wear even during cold starts. Available in 10W-40, 15W-50, 20W-50.

N-TECH PRO R+ – $28.11 (1L), $96.87 (4L)

N-TECH PRO R+ is the most advanced, fully synthetic 4-stroke engine oil ever produced by Putoline Oil, designed for motorcycles that perform under the most demanding conditions.

Offering unsurpassed wet clutch performance and grip, while providing the ultimate in engine and transmission performance.

Available in 5W-40, 10W-50, 15W-50.

Tech Chain – From $12.36

Tech Chain (Ceramic Wax) is a modern, highgrade chain lubricant. The product consists of a unique wax formula combined with sophisticated additives, including PTFE. Tech Chain provides optimal protection to the chain under all operating conditions. Suitable for sporting and professional use on both O-ring and MX chains.

Available in 100ML & 500ML.

HPX-R Fork Oil – From $22.80 (1L)

HPX-R is an advanced fork oil formulated from special, highly refined, synthetic base oils.

Providing Grand Prix level performance for every motorcycle rider. HPX-R prevents corrosion, oxidation, leaking seals and foaming.

Available in 2.5W, 5W, 7.5W, 10W, 15W & 20W.

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7/08/2020 9:15:53 AM

PART OF YOUR FREEDOM

LUGGAGE SOLUTIONS FOR ROAD BIKES

Panniers

Tank Bags

Rear Bags

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Luggage Racks

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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S P E C I A L F E AT U R E

Oil & lubricants

HONDA

Honda dealers or motorcycles. honda.com.au

HP4-MB – $27.65 (1L)

Mineral based, low friction Motorcycle oil specially formulated with highly refined paraffinic base stock for use in all Honda AT Motorcycles and Scooters.

HP4 10W30 – $82.09 (4L)

A semi synthetic based oil, HP4’s extraordinary additive package offers increased anti-foaming qualities, higher viscosity index for stability over a broader range of temperatures, and even greater shear stability than most other oils.

HP4S – $34.46 (1L)

Fully synthetic high-performance blend suited for even the most extreme of use.

DOT 4 Brake Fluid – $16.64 (354ml)

High-temperature formula for heavy-duty or racing applications.

Designed for use in all hydraulic brake and clutch systems requiring DOT 3 or DOT 4.

Marine Grease – $22.83

Excellent resistance to water washout, rust and corrosion under severe duty conditions.

Maintains superb consistency and adhesion under wide temperature ranges.

CO Special II Ultra – $28.47

Friction-modified formula specifically engineered for the latest in suspension technology from Showa and KYB forks.

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7/08/2020 9:16:00 AM

SILKOLENE cassons.com.au

Pro 4 XP (4 Stroke Engine Oil) – $31.95 (1L), $119.95 (4L)

Using 100% Synthetic Ester to provide increased power, optimum engine protection, ultimate performance and reliability. Proven formula developed in partnership with manufacturers and race teams. Available in 0W-20, 5W-40, 10W-40, 10W-50, 15W-50 & 10W-60.

Comp 4 XP (4 Stroke Engine Oil) – $19.95 (1L), $64.95 (4L)

Synthetic Ester based oil formulated to meet the needs of both air and water-cooled 4-stroke engines, Comp 4 XP is the recommended SAE grade for many motorcycle manufacturers.

Available in 10W-40 & 15W-50.

Super 4 (4 Stroke Engine Oil) – $14.95 (1L), $49.95 (4L) Semi Synthetic oil with MC-Syn Technology protects the engine and transmission with advanced additive chemistry from start to full power. Detergents, dispersants and load carrying agents are incorporated to give excellent engine cleanliness and minimum wear of moving parts. A balanced blend of inhibitors and anti-wear agents ensure correct operation of oil immersed clutches and other drive line components. Available in 10W-40 & 20W-50.

Brake and Clutch fluid – $11.95 (250ml), $18.95 (500ml)

Suitable for UK, US, European and Japanese motorcycles. Mixes safely with all fluids meeting the standards FMVSS116 DOT 5.1, DOT 4 and DOT 3, ISO 4925.

Pro RG2 Synthetic Racing Grease – $29.95 (500g)

An advanced, high melting point, synthetic racing grease, PRO RG2 is a multi-functional, high performance grease with exceptional heat resisting and water-proofing properties.

PRO RG2 has outstanding water repellence, excellent corrosion inhibition properties and high resistance to water wash-off, making it an ideal choice for rally and watercraft use. The simple

but effective dispensing follower plate in the 500g container makes application clean and easy while preventing product contamination.

Fork Oil – $21.95 (1L)

A race/road/track proven suspension fluid already in use and chosen by many of today’s market leading suspension manufacturer’s and currently already used as original equipment in many of today’s modern motorcycles. The high VI contained in the Fuchs Silkolene RSF range provides a consistent damping performance throughout the operating range due to the fact the viscosity changes less with increasing temperature. Available in 2.5W, 5W, 7.5W, 10W, 15W, 20W and 30W.

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S P E C I A L F E AT U R E

Oil & lubricants

IPONE

ficeda.com.au

Katana Off Road (4 Stroke Engine Oil) – $24.95 (1L), $49.95 (2L), $89.95 (4L)

Using 100% Synthetic with Ester formulation, the Speed & Easy Shift innovation will transform your riding experience. Providing better acceleration & smoother gear changes. Better response to the extreme stresses on the clutch during Off-road use.

Available in 10W-40 10W-50 & 10W-60.

Full Power Katana (4 Stroke Engine Oil) – $24.95 (1L), $49.95 (2L), $89.95 (4L)

100% Synthetic with Ester formulated for Road use. The Speed & Easy Shift innovation will transform your riding experience. Formulated to cope with high rpm engines, gear changes are fast and smooth. Available in 5W-40,10W-40, 10W-50, 10W-60 & 15W-50.

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R4000 RS (4 Stroke Engine Oil) – $19.95 (1L), $69.95 (4L)

R4000 RS is a high quality semisynthetic lubricant based on esters for 4-stroke motorcycles, intended for regular use. IPONE has selected

the best synthetic bases and additives to guarantee the best protection for your engine and exceptional shear strength. Available in 10W-30, 10W40, 10W-50 15W-50 & 20W-50.

www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

7/08/2020 9:28:19 AM

SAMOURAI (2 Stroke Engine Oil) – $29.95 (1L), Strawberry $34.95 (1L)

Samouraï Racing is the 100% synthetic ester-based lubricant for 2-stroke motorcycles, designed for sporty driving. Its formulation provides you with the best performance and optimal lubrication of the engine. Samouraï Racing is available with the optional strawberry scent.

100% Synthetic with Ester.

SMART. COMPACT. GENIUS! IN BAC ST K OC K

4

tools in one

X-TREME Chain Off-Road – $9.95 (100ml), $14.95 (250ml), $24.95 (750ml)

X-TREME chain offroad is a lubricant that allows the chain to be well lubricated while protecting it from corrosion. It has been developed for offroad motorcycles to limit projections and ensure long-lasting performance in intensive conditions.

Its multi-position diffuser allows you to combine the power of the jet with the precision of the spray.

R

5

AN

YEA

R2000 RS is a high quality semi-synthetic lubricant for 2-stroke motorcycles, intended for regular use.

IPONE has selected the best synthetic bases and additives to guarantee the best protection for your engine and an antismoke formulation. R2000 RS is available with the optional strawberry scent.

Synthetic plus, smoke-free formulation.

TY

R2000 RS (2 Stroke Engine Oil) – $19.95 (1L), Strawberry $24.95 (1L), $39.95 (2L)

WARR

Puncture Repair Tool Pliers, rasp, needle insertion tool, knife and 5 pre-glued plugs, all in a handy pouch.

1 Remove offending item from your tyre.

2 Use the rasp to clean out the hole.

3 Thread needle with plug, push into the hole,

twist 1 ½ times before pulling out.

4 Separate the knife from tool and cut the plug flush with the tyre.

The knife slides off the tool to easily cut the plug.

For further information on this and all our products, please check our website for details.

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S P E C I A L F E AT U R E

Oil & lubricants LIQUI MOLY ronangel.com.au

IPONE (cont.)

X-TREME Chain Road – $9.95 (100ml), $14.95 (250ml), $24.95 (750ml)

X-TREME chain road is a calcium sulfonate grease that lubricates the chain and protects it from corrosion. It has been developed for road motorcycles to limit projections and ensure long-lasting performance (800 km) in intensive conditions. Its multi-position diffuser allows you to combine the power of the jet with the precision of the spray.

4T SYNTH RACE – $110-$120 (4L) 4T Synth Race is a high performance Fully Synthetic oil, and is the official oil of Moto2 and Moto3 world championships. It ensures maximum performance, protection, and excellent clutch/gearbox feel.

Available in 5W40, 10W50, 10W60, 20W50 (HD).

Brake Dot 4 – $14.95 (500ml)

Brake Dot 4 Brake and clutch fluid is recommended for use in hydraulic motorcycle braking systems and is particularly suitable for vehicles equipped with ABS braking systems.

Dry boiling point 270°C, wet boiling point 160°C. Compatible DOT 3.

Fork Oil – $19.95 (1L)

Fork oil is a Synthetic plus low friction formulation designed to provide a comfortable rider experience and progressiveness of deprecation. Available in 5W, 10W, 15W & 20W.

BOX X-TREM – $24.95 (1L)

BOX X-TREM has been specially formulated for gearboxes with oil bath or dry clutch. It meets the requirements of gearboxes at very high loads and maintains its properties at very high temperatures. 100% Synthetic based on Ester. Formulated for competition use.

BOX 2 – $18.90 (1L)

Box 2 is a semi-synthetic ester-based lubricant for separate gearbox with wet clutch. IPONE has selected the best synthetic bases and additives to guarantee high protection of your gearbox and exceptional shear strength. Synthetic Plus with Ester. JASO MA2 – GL4.

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www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

7/08/2020 12:29:09 PM

The Riders Tour Paradise Motorcycle Tours in association with Australian Motorcyclist Magazine is heading back to the South Island for one of the best tours ever held.

Not only will you be seeing and riding all the best bits of the world-famous South Island, but you’ll be heading to Invercargill for the Burt Munro Challenge.

Four days of old school racing where you can literally touch the action flying past you.

Stuart and the Paradise crew are hanging for this tour, it will be one not to be missed.

TOUR DATES 8 – 21 February 2021

PART BOOK NOW! OF YOUR DO NOT MISS OUT! RIDE THE BEST ROADS. ADVENTU MAKE GREAT FRIENDS.

HAVE THE BEST TIME OF YOUR LIFE!

PROTECTION FOR YOUR ADVENTURE BIKE

CONTACT Paradise Motorcycle Tours, NOW! PHONE + 64 27 476 5035

BOOK THE T OUR AND RECEIVE T HESE ITEMS FRO M OUR FRIEN D S AT MO T ORRA D G A R AG E

Sliders

Engine Guards

EMAIL info@paradisemotorcycletours.co.nz

motorradg

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TRAVEL

OUT OF B WORDS THE BEAR PHOTOS LOU MARTIN / THE BEAR

Numinbah Road varies between

A

quite tight corners and lovely open curves like this one.

Q

UEENSLAND HAS DONE WELL to keep the coronavirus under control, but it’s still a pain – although by the time you read this, I hope it will be less so. But whatever the conditions, I suspect that even Brisbanites will be ready to let it rip on a good, long ride. Well here it is. Six and a half hours (admittedly not counting the wait at the border checkpoints if they still exist) and 420 kilometres, over an interesting variety of roads with only a little bit of motorway. Yes!

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Keep in mind that border controls may change. At the moment, as I understand it, you may just have to apply for a pass which you can do online. But check with Queensland Health before you head out; they have a reasonably good website. If you can’t, or don’t want to, enter NSW you can shorten the run by about half; more below.

Take the M3 south out of central Brisbane and continue along the M2 and M1 until you pass IKEA on your right. Take the Loganlea

Road, Highway 95 turnoff south and at the T intersection with Highway 94, turn left. Cross the Logan River and turn right onto Nerang Street. This turns into the Waterford/Tamborine Road but stays Highway 95. Through Logan Village, continue to Tamborine and stay on Highway 95 which is now Tamborine Mountain Road.

Continue across the mountain – the road has many names but you can’t really get lost – until you come to the T intersection with Highway 90. Turn left and follow that to

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F BRISBANEst a l b s y a d good ’

another T intersection, this time with Highway 97, the Nerang/ Murwillumbah Road, to the right.

Now you’re cooking. Past Advancetown and Advancetown Lake, along the road colloquially known as the Russ Hinze Memorial Raceway, you’re heading south towards the NSW border. On a really terrific run you pass the turnoff to the pretty little Natural Bridge and then, on up the hill along an occasionally narrow but well laid-out road, you’re at the watershed and therefore the border.

At this stage I can’t tell you what you’ll find there, unfortunately.

Or maybe fortunately…

Down the other side is just as enjoyable, although it depends on how recently the New South Welsh have done any maintenance work.

Through Numinbah, which is really just a name, on Highway 34 you’ll reach Chillingham with its little shop and servo. Good place for a hamburger.

Continue on a good, fast road to Murwillumbah and turn right onto Park Avenue. This will take you

down to another T intersection with Kyogle Road, where you turn right towards – you guessed – Kyogle on Highway 32. Cross the Tweed River and continue through Uki – the pub burned down some years ago but has been rebuilt -- on this road which does deteriorate a bit as you go, although it remains manageable.

The Cawongla Store is a good place for coffee or a meal, but after that the road does get seriously bumpy unless the local council has finally lived up to its word and fixed it.

Let me know. www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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T R AV E L Over the hill, Kyogle is a nice enough little place where you turn right onto the B91, Summerland Way. This is in somewhat better condition and has had a bit of State Government money spent on it.

Your next turn is into Gradys Creek Road, which is the southern part of the famous Lions Road back over the range to Queensland. The café Ripples on the Creek, on your right, may be open and if it is, has passable coffee.

Once you’re back in Border Ranges National Park (you left it near Numinbah) you’ll see a turnoff to the left to the Border Loop Lookout. This is where the railway line turns back over itself to gain height; a sight that depends on your interests for its interest. It’s good if there’s a train, mind you.

The border is next at Richmond Gap, Highway 16/13 in Rathdowney which is also the end of the national and then right onto the Boonah/ park. You’re back in Queensland.

Rathdowney Road, highway 93. This From here it’s a typical country takes you over some terrific country road that follows road to just outside “…GRADYS CREEK Boonah where you can Running Creek and is called – wait for it – ROAD, WHICH IS THE either continue north Running Creek Road or turn left to drop in SOUTHERN PART OF at Flavours Café with which takes you to Rathdowney on Mount THE FAMOUS LIONS its bits of motorcycle Lindesay Highway, memorabilia. Follow ROAD BACK OVER 93 north from here number 16/13. If you’re not interested in to the intersection THE RANGE TO this pleasant little town with the Cunningham QUEENSLAND.” you could continue Highway, number 15, straight ahead where and turn right. the road makes a left, on Innisplain The Cunningham Highway merges Road. This will also take you with the M2 at Riverview. Take the Mount Lindesay Highway left turn into the M7 and another for a shorter run back to left into the M5, and you’re on your Brisbane if you turn right way back to central Brissie by way of to head north.

Indooroopilly without doubling up on Still got the itch? any of the roads. Job done.

Turn left on I hope you enjoyed it. D

2 1. This is the Mount Lindesay Highway, just south of where you’ll cross it at Rathdowney.

2. Graham shows off one of his collection, oh motorcycle helmets at Flavours Café, Boonah.

3. Once over the border, the NSW roads have an

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opportunity to shine – which they do.

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7/08/2020 2:20:39 AM

Half a glass Assuming you can’t (or don’t want to) enter NSW and mix with the barbarians south of the border, you can more than halve the ride by turning right instead of left into Highway 90, the Beaudesert/ Nerang Road, where we’ve turned left.

Follow the Coomera River and pass through Canungra to Wonglepong. Turn left off the 90, staying on the Beaudesert/Nerang Road, and have a lot of fun to a T intersection where you turn left again. This is still the Beaudesert/Nerang Road, mind you. Eventually, after quite a bit more fun, this reaches Highway 90, which here is called the Beaudesert/Beenleigh Road to the right, and the Beaudesert/Nerang Road (still!) to the left. That’s the way you go until you reach Beaudesert itself, where you turn left and then right, staying on Highway 90.

After a brisk run along Wyaralong Dam, this meets Highway 93, the Ipswich/Boonah Road, at Coulson and you’re back on the main route. Turn right and go for it.

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TEAROUTMAP#91

BUNG THIS ONE IN Mount Donna Buang, VIC WORDS STUART

W

E KNOW YOU PROBABLY can’t do this right now, but there’s always the future, right?

HEALESVILLE

Healesville is home to some great galleries and studios, or hook up some tasty lunch at one of the al fresco cafes and popular pubs. Explore boutique shops, and stock up on fresh regional produce from the huge range of local growers and suppliers.

Healesville township is a ‘must do’ and you can even take a train ride on Yarra Valley Railway. Originally part of the old railway system, the Yarra Valley Railway offers short tourist rides across the Watts River, under the Donovan’s Road overbridge and through the historic tunnel near TarraWarra Estate. Open Sundays, public holidays and Wednesdays during school holidays. Trains depart on the hour between 10am-4pm. Explore three markets held each month in Healesville. Stock up on organic produce every Saturday morning between 9am-1pm at Coronation Park (behind Coles), or enjoy the wide range of options at the community markets held at River Street (first 50

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Sunday) or Coronation Park (third Sunday). Check with local Council if the markets are running at the time of your visit.

MOUNT TOOLEBEWONG

Just a landmark for this ride, but ‘Toolebewong’ is a Wurundjeri place name from the Woiwurrung language meaning ‘Where the raven sat on a tree’. The summit of the mountain is 750m above sea level.

DON GAP

Landmark for this ride.

BEN CAIRN LOOKOUT

Ten-minute walk that can be pretty

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VICTORIA

T

HIS IS A VERY short ride, but one that you can make part of a great loop around the Healesville, Marysville, Reefton area.

Start out of Healesville and head south on Don Road.

At Mount Toolebewong stay on the bitumen for Mount Donna Buang Road. If you continue straight on Don Road you’ll be on gravel and miss the fun. You’ll have a different kind of fun of course.

Follow Mount Donna Buang Road all the way to the end and turn right. Follow this road down into Warburton and pick one of the local cafes for a coffee.

Once finished, head back the way you came to ride the fun again.

Distance – roughly 40km Fuel – Healesville, Warburton Road conditions – check with parks.vic. gov.au as snow falls during winter.

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tough. Overall an average styled lookout but if you like to get some blood pumping through the veins, then the hike up to the lookout is worth it.

MOUNT DONNA BUANG OBSERVATION TOWER

The road into this great tower is signposted, “Mount Donna Buang Summit”. I highly recommend riding there and climbing the tower. At an elevation of 1245 metres, the lookout tower is 21 metres high and offers panoramic views over Melbourne, the Yarra Valley, Dandenong and Cathedral Ranges, Mount Baw Baw and the Alps.

The picnic area has gas barbecues, fireplaces, picnic tables and toilets.

However, when I researched the latest information for this ride, the tower is closed for the moment.

RAINFOREST GALLERY

At the end of Donna Buang Road you’ll notice a signpost for Rainforest Gallery. Park up the road a few metres and talk this walkway perched 17-metres above the forest floor, get a different perspective over the cool temperate rainforest that dominates the Yarra Ranges. Take in the beauty of the towering Mountain Ash and ancient Myrtle Beech trees, some of which are estimated to be over 400 years old.

For more info see parks.vic.gov.au

WARBURTON

Warburton is an attractive town on the Yarra River, the town’s main commercial centre is situated along the Warburton Highway and adjacent to the Yarra River. There’s a multitude of cafes and other eateries, many housed in buildings which date back to Warburton’s early days as a mountain escape for Melburnians in the early 1900s. The Visitor Information Centre is a prominent landmark in the main street, featuring a large replica of a water wheel used by the logging industry in the past.

The Yarra River through Warburton is lined with pretty parkland and the Yarra River Walk is an almost three-kilometre long pathway along the river through the town centre and past river crossings including the iconic swingbridge in Story Reserve. For coffee and a wine (in moderation, of course) head to Riverview Café and Wine Bar. D www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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TEST

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7/08/2020 2:20:54 AM

SUZUKI V-STROM 1050 XT ore m o N vanilla WORDS STUART PHOTOS NICK WOOD CREATIVE

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TEST

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7/08/2020 2:21:02 AM

A

REVISED SUZUKI V-STROM 1000 has been a long time coming but Suzuki has done it right – keeping the price relatively low ($20,990 ride away) and producing a very capable adventure machine that has also got rid of that ‘vanilla’ feeling of the outgoing model. The new V-Strom 1050 XT is a ripper!

Remember Dr Big? That awesome Dakar-inspired DR750 beast? Well Suzuki has given the new V-Strom 1050 a retro restyle to look similar to Dr Big, more power, an upgraded electronics package, a few more gadgets, a new seat and a new capacity in name only, but one that still makes this one of the cheaper big boy adventurers.

The decal on the side says, “1050” but this is only a name change from the outgoing ‘1000’. The engine capacity at 1037cc is unchanged from before.

Suzuki has just renamed it for marketing purposes. At best this is trivial; at worst it’s disingenuous – unless rounding 1037 up instead of down soothes your numerical OCD. Either way, Suzuki’s 90° DOHC 8v V-twin started out life a long time ago, as a 996cc unit in the half-faired TL1000S. Slow and steady increase over the years to its current 1037cc and for 2020 more power and torque to get rid of the lack of character from what was a good engine, but not one to get the juices flowing.

Retentions from the previous model include the same crankcases, transmission and gearing, clutch, crank, rods, pistons, cylinders and head. The valvetrain is largely the same as well – only cam timing has changed to meet Euro5, with shorter duration and less overlap (the moment in a four-stroke cycle when both intake and exhaust valves are open at the same time).

Suzuki claims to have added just over 5kW by increasing valve lift. The result, along with changes to ignition timing, a reprogrammed ECU, a re-plumbed exhaust system, larger catalyst and rideby-wire 49mm throttle bodies means the new motor has added power from around 5750rpm upwards, and shifted peak torque from 4000rpm to 6000rpm.

On the road, the big V-twin feels much the same as it did before at the bottom end – easy to use and very tractable.

But open the throttle around 4000rpm and the Strom gets Stromming (okay, www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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TEST

I won’t start writing one liners) and is an engine that pulls hard and is exciting to use. On semi-knobbies it was easy to light up the rear tyre and wheelstand as long as you like – not really what you associate with a V-Strom! This was with the traction control switched off of course.

The 1050 isn’t a big powered beast like some of its competition but there is more than enough for plenty of enjoyment on the bitumen and more than enough in the dirt.

The gearbox feels a bit old and a little clunky – an up quickshifter would be the thing to have on this bike, but that could raise the base price, although I don’t see many people worrying about a handful of dollars more for a slicker gearchange.

The retro styling for the XT model comes in two colour schemes orange/white (as you see here), or a more Suzuki traditional yellow/ blue; or black. I was unsure of the new looks when I first saw the 1050, but it quickly grew on me and I like the different look of the retro rectangle headlight.

Electronics are a big addition for the V-Strom, it has always been very basic in the past, but Suzuki now threw in the “Suzuki Intelligent Ride System” 56

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(S.I.R.S) which includes Motion Track Brake System, Hill Hold Control System, Slope Dependent Control System and Load Dependent Control System that assist in braking, the Cruise Control System, Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (SDMS), and Traction Control System.

All of this jargon means: Motion Track Brake System.

This combines information of the posture of the vehicle with the front and rear wheel speeds. This allows the ABS to activate not only in a straight line but also when the vehicle is leaning – essentially cornering ABS. Hill Hold Control System Automatically applies the rear brake when the motorcycle is stopped on an upward slope to prevent rollback when the brakes and clutch are released.

Slope Dependent Control Constantly monitors posture and if required controls brake pressure to prevent rear wheel lift during downhill braking.

Load Dependent Control Supports optimal braking by compensating for varying load conditions such as the difference between riding solo or with a pillion and loaded luggage vs unloaded.

Cruise Control System As you would expect.

Suzuki Drive Mode Selector Offers riders the choice of three difference output characteristic modes.

A-mode provides the sharpest throttle response, B-mode provides a slightly softer throttle response and C-mode provides the softest response of the three modes – forget all but A mode, the others lack feel.

Traction Control System Features three modes - Mode 1 is with minimal level of intervention. Mode 2 is ideal for commuting and regular riding conditions and Mode 3 is best suited for poorer riding conditions such as wet or cold roads as it offers the highest level of intervention. It can also be turned off, so you might like to call that four modes of traction.

A good-looking centralised LCD instrument panel houses all the info you could want and I like the almost dartboard looking tacho. The switchgear to operate the various functions is simple and not confusing as it is on many new bikes – good job

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7/08/2020 2:21:11 AM

Suzuki. A USB socket is located to the left of the dash and there’s also one under the seat.

Actual ergonomics are only a little different from the 1000 – the 1050 has the same riding position as previously, give or take. The now tapered handlebar is in the same position, the footpegs are the same with plenty of legroom, but the seat is now a stepped two-piece design, meaning more room because the rider’s seat is flatter at the back (it no longer has to taper upwards to the pillion seat). It’s also less deeply padded than before – but still very comfortable. The pillion might have a tad less legroom, but the boss said she was comfortable for the 100km ride we took for coffee.

The seat height is adjustable from 850mm to 870mm, using a rail and spacers located on the underside of the pillion pad, along with four extra

bolts. It’s a five-minute job to adjust, but it’s not as simple as re-clipping a seat in position (although once set, how often will you be changing it?).

The Strom isn’t one of your typically dauntingly tall adventure bikes to ride – the suspension isn’t tall and feels much more road-oriented (in set-up and travel) than off-road. The seat’s low, too (despite the stated figures) – my father jumped on (5’11 with short legs) and could easily get a foot on the ground. He mentioned he liked the low seat and was shocked when I told him the actual height. I did prefer the seat on the higher setting but rode 90% of the time on the lower setting.

A wide, fat, rigid screen is adjustable up-and-down through 5cm (it feels like more) using a large, stiff, alloy flip handle on the front of the bike.

Yes, there’s no way to adjust it on the move – a bit of a pain, but it’s a good screen – wind deflection is excellent

with no buffeting with my peaked adventure helmet.

Overall, the 1050 is a comfy bike – the seat is wide (but narrow at the front), handlebar is in the right place for a relaxed, natural stance. Hands aren’t as far apart as usual on an adventure machine and the 1050 feels much more conventionally laid out.

Plenty of leg room too (as mentioned) – and an added bonus is the engine bars are ideal for stretching out your legs and resting them on top. LOL! The V-Strom 1050 uses the same aluminium frame, subframe and swingarm as the previous Strom 1000, with approximately the same steering geometry and wheelbase.

Suspension is also identical, using 43mm KYB forks with compression, rebound and preload adjustment, and a KYB shock with rebound and preload – and the hydraulic adjuster sits on the left side of the bike so www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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Specs SUZUKI V-STROM 1050 XT with a bit of a reach-around you can adjust it while you’re riding. Internal settings are tweaked slightly with stiffer damping and springs but riding hard on some technical trails the forks would bottom out – as if they need a bit more oil or valving. This could be in part due to the 247kg weight of the 1050.

This little detail is easy to ride around and overall handling is very stable with light and swift turn in – even on the semi-knobby tyres.

The 1050 certainly doesn’t feel as heavy as the specs seem to suggest.

The weight comes from a number of additions; a centre stand, engine bars that also run under the engine, up either side and around in front of the newshaped exhaust. The new motor also now has a water-cooled oil cooler, with added pipework driven from the water pump – maybe because the engine runs hotter, because it’s leaner to get through Euro5 – and a bigger radiator to cope.

And the new bike has steel foot pegs; the old version were alloy.

Wire wheels are great to have out in the bush and I love the design of the hub to rim spoke setup – they allow a tubeless tyre but how they are mounted at the hub is what looks trick.

The only thing that doesn’t feel right with the new 1050 are the flimsy handguards – they need to be ditched for Barkbusters, but I suspect 99% of owners will do this anyway.

You do get engine covers – a great thing to have. LED lighting, including the indicators give an air of quality. In fact, the headlight is 58

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PRICE: $20,990 (ride away) WARRANTY: Two years, unlimited distance SERVICING INTERVALS: Every 12,000km or 12 months ENGINE: 1037cc liquid-cooled V-twin cylinder, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder POWER: 73kW @ 8000rpm TORQUE: 103Nm @ 4000rpm

DIMENSIONS: Seat height 850870mm, weight 247kg (wet), fuel capacity 20 litres, wheelbase 1555mm TYRES: Front, 110/80/19.

Rear, 150/70/17 BRAKES: Front, twin 310mm discs with radial four-piston cornering ABS calipers. Rear, 260mm disc, single-piston cornering ABS caliper.

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed, wet multi-plate slipper clutch, chain final drive

FUEL CONSUMPTION: 4.85 litres per 100km, premium unleaded

SUSPENSION: Front, 43mm inverted fork, adjustable preload, compression and rebound, travel 160mm. Rear, monoshock, adjustable preload and rebound, travel 160mm.

COLOURS: Pearl Brilliant White/ Glass Blaze Orange, Champion Yellow No.2, Glass Sparkle Black

extremely good at night.

The same fuel tank capacity of 20-litres is retained and as the V-twin sips fuel at most I had the consumption sitting around 4.85L/100km most of the time.

This would be good for a theoretical range around 412km.

Braking is extremely strong with tons of bite, power and feel.

This means one finger front braking in the dirt and being the king of late brakers on the road – very impressive for an adventure bike.

Accessories are more than I have

THEORETICAL RANGE: 412km

VERDICT: No longer vanilla. come to expect from Suzuki, so good on them for realising this market.

You can get two packs – Voyager ($3699) or Trekker ($6299) plus loads more, including a bash plate which I reckon is essential to protect the exposed oil filter.

The 2020 V-Strom 1050 XT no longer looks plain jane, it performs well and as a touring/adventure package is one of the best available for the price tag. You could spend what you save on other big boy adventurers on suspension and the like and be far in front. D

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7/08/2020 2:21:15 AM

TRAVELGEAR

WHAT DOES THE BEAR WEAR?

It gets cold in Iceland,

If you use it a lot, it’s worth paying for

U

NTIL THE CORONAVIRUS CAME along, I earned my living travelling the world by motorcycle.

That meant spending lots of time on a bike, and believe me when you’re on the road as much as I am -- well, was but will be again -you need to be comfortable.

Enter Klim motorcycle clothing.

I haven’t TRIED gear from every major manufacturer, but of the stuff I have worn I like Klim best.

I have worn my Kodiak jacket and pants in places as different as Iceland and Hungary and in temperatures from below zero to 40 degrees Celsius, and they have performed exceptionally well.

For a start, Klim clothing comes in a large variety of sizes so I was able to get exactly the fit I needed.

Don’t underestimate that! It also has high-grade body armour. Then, it can be adjusted to that wide range of conditions with a Gore-Tex ProShell which keeps you dry and warm and a total of 10 vents in the jacket alone as well as what seems like an endless collection of pockets, and YKK zippers.

There’s obviously a limit to how

‘normal’ motorcycle clothing can look, but the Klim gear looks good even when you’re walking around off the bike; you don’t resemble the Michelin Man! Even though I’m far too, er, mature to be concerned about my effect on the opposite sex I still care about looking good, and the Kodiak outfit lets me do that.

On top of that, the gear lasts.

I’ve had it for three years, covered more kilometres than I can remember, put it through the washing machine a few times – and it still comes up looking smart.

Klim quality doesn’t come cheap.

The jacket retails for $1695, while the pants cost $1145. It’s probably out of your range if you just play around on the bike. But if you’re a serious rider, all I can say is that I’ve never worn, and really never seen, anything better.

Oh, and don’t let’s forget the

as the name suggests… but I was snug.

highly abrasionresistant material and the pads in vulnerable spots. You don’t just look good, you’re relatively safe in Klim as well.

One slight drawback is that all the protection makes the Kodiak suit quite bulky. It takes up a lot of room in your luggage. For me, though, that’s a problem worth facing.

The Australian Klim distributor is AdventureMoto, see adventuremoto. com.au or call 02 9651 (Sydney) or 07 3152 8299 (Brisbane). D

PT

“I STILL CARE ABOUT LOOKING GOOD, AND THE KODIAK OUTFIT LETS ME DO THAT”

At 40 degrees in Hungary

When you’re wearing Klim

I admit I unzipped the

you’ll even take on Arnold

jacket when we stopped.

Schwarzenegger’s robot. www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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TRAVEL

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A GOOD TIME FOR BIG PLANS Don’t jump at the first option – take your time WORDS/PHOTOS THE BEAR www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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T R AV E L

M

UCH OF THE HUMAN race has been educated to expect instant gratification.

This has made another significant part of the human race a lot of money. Take a look at the profit reports from buy-now-pay-later services. What, you may ask, is wrong with that? Well, not necessarily very much at all.

Many people are happy to be here for a good time not a long time – although when the good time come to an end they may change their minds – and they are perfectly entitled to that attitude.

There are, however, some problems with it. I’m not so much talking about people overcommitting themselves financially or filling their homes with so much crap that they can’t move.

That is the fate of those who are simply not smart enough.

No, there are other problems.

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Looking for instant gratification can very easily lead you into actions that are, as my friend George the investment banker says, ‘suboptimal’. He likes those kinds of decisions because they tend to make him a lot of money both when they are first acted upon and then again when they are fixed later. But he is an investment banker.

For you and me, a sub-optimal decision means, at its least damaging, spending money we could have spent better. At its most damaging it means spending money that is totally wasted, such as buying into a time share apartment scheme in Venezuela because it’s cheap and the local women (for the blokes reading this; the men for the sheilas) look really hot in the photos.

They probably are hot, because there isn’t any power to run the air conditioners, but that’s almost certainly not what you’re looking for.

Sub-optimal actions, then, are best avoided. That’s true by simple definition. But how do you avoid them?

Very simply, by taking your time.

You know how car salespersons always tell you that this special deal is only available today, and if you don’t put your John Hancock on the line right now you will lose out and pay more, and kick yourself forever?

Come on, you know that’s crap. If you fall for it you deserve what you get, and I’m sure you wouldn’t fall for it. You are too smart for that.

But what about other decisions in your life? I’m thinking especially of the activity that’s roughly the third-most expensive in your life.

After your house and your car, it’s your holidays.

We all know people who go to the same caravan park every year, get the same site surrounded by the same people and go fishing off the same

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T R AV E L beach. Don’t knock them.

They know they are going to get a good result because they’ve always had a good result, and they will return home happy and potentially with a freezer full of fat fish.

But we motorcyclists tend to go looking for something different on our breaks, and that’s where the problem arises. It’s far too easy to get caught up in the instant gratification trap. What we need to do is think about what we actually want. We are spending a lot of money and, even more importantly, a lot of time – on holidays a week is a lot of time, you might only get three of them each year – on something that looked pretty good.

Chances are it will be pretty good.

But it could have been brilliant.

So here’s my advice: think about it. What would you really like to do, and how much can you afford to make it a reality? Is it worth blowing a bit extra this year to get a really amazing experience, one you will be talking about for years, even if it means a staycation next year?

The coronavirus is remarkably helpful here. There are a lot of places you can’t go this year, and possibly even next year. So why don’t you plan to do something really amazing once you’re allowed back out of your hutch? I’ve given this considerable thought, and while

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I’m quite aware that my choice might not even come close to yours, I’m going to tell you about it.

Well, you know, try to stop me.

What I’m planning to do when the restrictions are lifted (God willin’ and the creek don’t rise) is ride the Faroe islands and Iceland. Noice? Different?

Unusual? Yes! Although I have been to Iceland, the closest I’ve come to the Faroes is seeing them below me when I was flying back to Frankfurt.

This trip will take a fair bit of planning. Before the break induced by the virus I probably would not have considered something that would require such an outrageous amount of planning. But hey… I have time if I have anything at all now.

Here is an outline of my plans.

Fly into London, despite the place probably being a hellhole of virus infections because Boris Johnson knows almost as much as Donald Trump about public health. Stay at

Heathrow, get a flight transferring to – probably – Hamburg. Pick up a rental bike, meet my friend and photographer Campbell on his rental bike and ride to Hirtshals in Denmark. Catch the MV Norrøna ferry to Torshavn in the Faroe Islands. Spend roughly a week riding around the islands, and then catch the same ferry on to Seyðisfjørður in Iceland.

Two weeks riding around Iceland, then catch the Norrøna again to Hirtshals. Ride back to wherever I rented the bike, return same, shake hands with Campbell and fly home.

Now here’s the crunch. Under normal circumstances, when I would just decide what to do and go and do it, I could not manage this trip.

Be prepared to be a little bored, but this is solid information that you will be able to use for your own travels if you decide on something a bit intricate.

What do I have to do before I go?

1. Organise the flights. Not such a big deal, but if I want the entire trip to slot together like a Lego building, I need to find the right timing. There are few things worse than sitting in the departure lounge at Heathrow for eight hours waiting for your connecting flight. Trust me, I’ve done it. Actually, waiting for any length of time at Leonardo da Vinci in Rome is even worse.

2. Book the ferry. This involves not only getting the right kind of cabin and space for the bikes, but making sure the ship actually goes where you want it to go when you want it to go there.

The good ship Norrøna does not always go Denmark-Faroes-Iceland and return. Part of the time it only goes Denmark-Faroes-Denmark.

Booking is not difficult, but it takes time and above all care.

adriaticmototours.com

Romania to Istanbul Adventure

HIGHLIGHTS Riding in Carpathian Mountains, Brasov, Sighisoara, Sibiu, Transfagarasan Road, Istanbul, Gallipoli, Transalpina, Black Sea

JUN 19 - JUL 4, 2021

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COUNTRIES Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey

DURATION 16 days / 14 riding days

ROUTE LENGTH 2.800 km (1.800 miles)

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T R AV E L

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3

3 Find and book accommodation in the Faroes. The islands are relatively small, so I expect we will be able to stay in the one place and head out for day trips. After all, the days in August, when we’re most likely to be there, are looong. But there is not a 4 lot of affordable accommodation in the Faroes, so it’s a challenge.

4 Find and book accommodation in Iceland.

This place not changes large Milton to Cromwell via Roxburgh reverse.

It’s amazing howisthat but perspective it is a lot bigger the Faroes, and Alexander. Cromwell to Tekapo your and than the scenery was so we will not wantbetter. to stay in one via Omarama. Tekapo to Geraldine just as good, if not place forunderrate the entirethe two weeks.

I will to Methven to Rangiora via the “Don’t North Island; needare to decide where exactly we North want Inland Scenic Route. Rangiora to there some great roads in the to go,Don’t what we want photograph Hanmer Springs and Reefton via island. miss the to East Cape road and what accommodation is nearby.

Lewis Pass. Reefton to Greymouth, from Gisborne to Opotiki via Hicks Fortunately, I’ve been there before to Westport and to Murchison via Bay, and the Coromandel Peninsular. so I have some idea, butNorth it still takes the mighty Buller Gorge. Murchison There are others, but the Island a lot of planning.

Perhaps youroads don’t to Tapawera to Motueka and on to has a bigger population, so the need ahead, but I suspect Collingwood over Takaka Hill. Back are nottosobook empty.” you theto lasthelp thing I want is any to Motueka, to Nelson and Picton via Davedoisand happy if you have to be stuck out in the Queen Charlotte Drive. Picton back questions by somewhere email at dave(at)getrouted. (very) cold with no hotel 9080 to stayand in. to Christchurch via Kaikoura, a great com.au or phone 03 5625 5 Research. into potential coastal ride not to be missed.

0412 689 849. Look The website is www.

“Five years ago I rode that route over getrouted.com.au and he’s on Facebook 10 days then went back and rode it in at www.facebook.com/getrouted. D

photo and writing opportunities while we’re in Iceland and fit them in with the accommodation and riding options.

6 Timings. Make sure that there is enough time to get back to wherever I’m flying out of, after 6 5 in Hirtshals arriving in Denmark on the way back.

I’m sureisthere other 1. Err… that allare going to fit into a considerations, but I do know panniers? thatpair weofare not going to have problems with paperwork formore either 2. Here’s a chance to add a few ourselves or the bikes. That’s a relief. stickers to the GS. What do you reckon? This three week trip actually a month 3. It looks–like it’s all stowed away.by the time you include the transfers – Excellent job. is going to cost a fortune. But it is4.exactly what I ready wantfortothe do,road.

Happy campers and I’m perfectly happy to let What aof niceyears’ clean bike. a couple holiday time and5.expense go by in order to do it.

No shortage of helpers loading Despite what Ian Fleming reckons, is it unloading?) you(oronly live once.bikes.

D 6. Relaxing after the ride.

Motorcycle Shipping To EuropE and nEw ZEaland & back

organise your next european or new zealand bike shipment with dave at get routed...

Your bike is our priority

Ship your motorcycle to new Zealand and don't miss out on the burt Munro challenge, the bEarS Sound of Thunder and classic racing at pukekohe and riding the best roads EVEr! www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au 6763 www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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T H E R I D E R‘ S T O U R

THE RIDER’S TOUR 2021 Join us for South Island & Burt Munro Challenge delights

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Book your spot.

Now!

PARADISE M

OTORCYC LETOURS INFO@PA .CO.NZ RADISEM OTORCYC LE TOURS.C O.NZ PH: +64 2 74 765 03 5

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THE RIDER’S TOUR

I

T HAS BEEN a couple of years since we held an Australian Motorcyclist Magazine Tour but our great association with Paradise Motorcycle Tours has got the brains – Stuart (AMM) and Mike (PMT) -together to come up with our next tour: The Rider’s Tour!

This is a tour that is NOT to be missed. It really is going to be that good. Not only will the tour be covering a lot of the best of the South Island, but the cream is we’ll be tying it in with the Burt Munro Challenge – four days of blow your mind racing events, motorcycles, and simply old fashioned motorcycling fun.

Before we get into the details, if the first paragraph had you saying,

Monday 8 February Arrive Christchurch Our accommodation is just 7 minutes from the Airport.

On arrival use the courtesy phone to inform the hotel you’ve arrived and they will collect you and bring you to the hotel.

Meet Stuart and his partner Lisa and the Paradise team that evening. Say hello to your motorcycle and complete the paperwork. Welcome drinks are on us tonight.

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“I’m in already!” well, do not delay and book your spot. Contact Mike or one of the fine crew at Paradise Motorcycle Tours now – jump onto paradisemotorcycletours.co.nz, email info@paradisemotorcycletours.co.nz or phone +64 274 765 035.

Due to Covid-19, Paradise Motorcycle Tours has a fully refundable deposit if restrictions are still in place and an extended time before full payment is due to allow this ever-changing pandemic to ease.

The Rider’s Tour will see you riding the best roads with the best guides, all on new/near new BMW motorcycles as Paradise Motorcycle Tours is an Official BMW Motorrad Partner. This means they have attained certification

by BMW Motorrad that they know

Tuesday 9 February Christchurch to Mount Cook Village 335km We’ll be away by 9am and three bends and three short straights and we’re out of Christchurch and into the countryside. Thankfully we’re not north of Christchurch and don’t have to put up with interminably brain numbing dead straight roads, you’ll be straight into it at the click of the fingers.

We’ll ride through The Canterbury Plains, across the Rakaia Gorge on the Inland Scenic Route, and onwards through Geraldine and Fairlie, Bukes Pass and

how to conduct a professional and exciting tour and offer you amazing motorcycles to ride. This really does make the experience all the more better. Paradise Motorcycle Tours isn’t a Trip Advisor ‘Hall of Famer’ for nothing.

Both AMM and Paradise are encouraging solo and two-up riders to attend this ripper tour. If your pillion feels like hitching a ride in the support van for a section of road to let you tear up some tyres or would like a whole day off the bike – cool.

They’ll just to put up with weird New Zealand jokes from the driver. LOL! The AMM Burt Munro Challenge Rider’s Tour 2021 in association with Paradise Motorcycle Tours NZ will include the following…

Tekapo, before arriving at our accommodation in Mount Cook Village.

We will have marvelled at the Blue Lakes of Tekapo and Pukaki and had our first taste of sweeping bends with views of magnificent mountains and very little traffic. A chance to take a helicopter trip around Mount Cook and land in the snow from Glentanner heliport near Mount Cook this afternoon, weather dependent. This is at additional cost and has to be booked in advance, we’ll talk about it with you after you have booked the tour. It’s the most popular activity on any NZ tour.

The ride into Mount Cook Village is one that will simply blow your mind out of the universe, if not for the view, but the awesome road.

Wednesday 10 February Mount Cook Village to Invercargill 430km An awesome ride through Central Otago today.

Fantastic roads, stunning scenery, the Lindis Pass, Cromwell, Alexandra and its moonscape, just wonderful riding all the way to Invercargill.

No State Highway 1 for us, only stunning roads.

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Thursday 11 February Start of BMC We’re at the Burt Munro Challenge for the next four days and exclusive to Paradise we aren’t going to miss a thing. First up is the Hill Climb this morning and then you have a choice of E Hayes and Sons, the most amazing hardware shop in the world, with its eclectic mix of all things combustion engine powered, as well as all the original Burt Munro Bikes, a film copy you can sit in for a photo, and lots of memorabilia.

You also have tickets to Motorcycle Mecca and Bill Richardson Transport World.

This evening we have the Drag Races to entertain us.

Friday 12 February

Today we can see where Burt learnt to race and ride a bike fast, we’re off to the Beach races. Don’t forget you should take the opportunity to ride through the Catlins when you get time, your guides will be only too happy to give you advice on routes. Live music tonight if you’re interested.

Saturday 13 February

Its Sprint races this morning and Speedway this afternoon and more live music tonight, and your last chance to go

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THE RIDER’S TOUR

see anything you didn’t have time to fit in before.

Sunday 14 February Invercargill to Te Anau 220km We have Street Races this morning, and then it’s time to bid a fond farewell to Invercargill as we avoid the crowds taking the obvious route to Queenstown, and take the road less travelled, the Southern Scenic route to Te Anau, our gateway to the unspoilt area of Fiordland, with its lakes and mountains and waterfalls.

Monday 15 February Te Anau-Milford Sound-Queenstown 392km An early start today as we ride 110kms to Milford Sound to arrive in time for our cruise on the Sound.

Henry Cole of “Worlds Greatest Motorcycle Rides” toured with us and after the Milford Ride said it was the best motorcycle day ride of his life. The ride up to The Homer Tunnel and the 72

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entry into a cathedral of mountains, snow, ice and waterfalls is awesome.

It might even snow (if you’re lucky) in the middle of summer!

Our Milford cruise is another example of not taking the obvious route.

We cruise in a small ship, far from the madding crowd that the other cruise ships have, which enables us to get far closer to all the points of interest in the Fiord – get wet if you want under one of the many waterfalls.

Our day continues after the cruise, we get to enjoy the spectacle and the road to Te Anau, and then after lunch we ride to Queenstown for the first of a two-night stop.

Tuesday 16 February Relax day - Explore Queenstown.

Take a ride to Glenorchy or Coronet Peak, explore Arrowtown, enjoy wine at Gibbston, throw yourself off something high attached to your life by elastic, or take a jet boat

ride: the opportunities are endless, and your guides and the hotel will help you arrange and book anything you’re interested in. Or just kick back and relax, take a stroll into town, enjoy the lake and mountain views and don’t do anything much.

Wednesday 17 February Queenstown to Franz Josef 350km It’s the Ice Run today, a wonderful ride up the Crown Range, the highest sealed road in New Zealand, and then onto Wanaka, alongside lakes and mountains to the Haast Pass, then the Salmon Farm, Bruces Bay, glorious rainforest, Fox Glacier Village and our home for the night, Franz Josef. You have another chance to take a helicopter trip this afternoon if you missed the first trip, and again tomorrow morning, the weather (mountains attract clouds) means we get up about 50% of the time. The riding today will be some of the best you could imagine.

Thursday 18 February Franz Josef to Punakaiki 220km Through the rainforest heading north on the west coast, our first stop is Hokitika, the centre of a Gold Rush in the 1800s, and its too grand buildings are memorials to its once wealthy heritage.

It’s the town the book The Luminaries was based on.

It’s now the centre of the greenstone or Pounamu industry and if you are interested in buying genuine and authentic greenstone ask your guides where to go to get the real thing at a reasonable price. Heading north again we ride through Greymouth, and then alongside the sea until we reach Punakaiki, and our hotel beside the sea for the night. Don’t forget the Pancake Rocks!

Friday 19 February Punakaiki to Hanmer Springs 290km We start the day riding

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beside the ocean heading north and then turn inland to the lower Buller Gorge.

We ride alongside the river following the twists and turns before heading inland to Reefton, the first town in New Zealand to get electric light. We’ll stop for a break and give you time to wander the interesting collection of shops in Main Street, maybe chat to the bearded miners, although there is speculation locally that they may not have mined anywhere, they’re certainly bearded.

Onward through the forest, we have left ‘rainforest’ behind at the ocean and now we are riding through beech forest, long sweeping bends through the forest until we reach Springs Junction.

A quick stretch and a comfort stop and we’re into the Lewis Pass, in our opinion one of the most scenic of the main passes and great riding. Hanmer Springs is our next stop staying at a new hotel just 10 minutes walk from town.

Saturday 20 February Hanmer Springs to Christchurch via Kaikoura 310km An early start for those who have asked for Whale

Watching out of Kaikoura (additional cost, must be pre-booked, weather dependent). For the rest it’s a lovely ride through the inland route to Kaikoura for an early lunch and then a ride beside the sea before heading inland and then onward to Christchurch.

It’s the end of your tour, but we won’t abandon you at the hotel, we will celebrate the tour with drinks and a farewell dinner as we look at all the photos people have taken during the tour, and tonight it’s all on us.

Sunday 21 February Departure

Tell ‘em the price, son…

Per person prices for the tour are in NZ$ BIKE CLASS

SINGLE RIDER OWN ROOM

COUPLE TOTAL PRICE

2 RIDERS, 2 BIKES, SHARE ROOM

BAND A

12,300

13,600

9,600

BAND B

13,200

14,400

10,500

BAND C

13,400

14,600

10,700

INCLUDED 14 day tour 13 nights’ accommodation

After breakfast it’s time to say our sad farewells.

Paradise hope to see you again, in New Zealand or maybe on one of their European Alps or Balkans tours, when we can travel to Europe again.

12 days’ riding including 4 at the Burt

Get excited! The time to book is now, this is going to be a trip of a lifetime. D

Farewell Dinner and celebration of the tour

9 breakfasts Welcome drinks Lead Rider Tour Guide Support Vehicle with 8 passenger seats and tour guide

Entry to all Burt Munro Challenge events including live music Turbo ticket to Motorcycle Mecca and Bill Richardson Transport World Milford Sound Cruise Paradise Cap Burt Munro Challenge commemorative T-shirt.

Not Included - anything not listed above.

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TEST

O

THERS HAVE TRIED BUT no one has come close to replicating the superbikelike scooter that is the Yamaha TMAX. It now has a greater capacity, more room and more awesomeness.

If you like to surprise people on two wheels, the TMAX is THE bike to do that on. Yamaha claims the new 560 is the fastest TMAX ever with maximum power up from 33.7kW @ 6750rpm to 35kW @ 7500rpm and peak torque up from 52.8Nm @ 5250rpm to 55.7Nm @ 5250rpm. The Euro 5 friendly Yamaha is claimed to be 5km/h faster and accelerate quicker. This is certainly the case in the 70km/h-120km/h range – the TMAX pulls a lot faster than you would think. Top speed is good enough to have you in lights at your local Police Station, so if you like being in the limelight, give it a whirl.

The TMAX feels nimble and there are two engine modes to choose from (which can be changed on the fly with a closed throttle) - Touring and Sport. Yamaha claims there is now a greater step between the two than before. There is a noticeable difference between the two modes but it’s not

huge which means you spend the majority of your time in one mode.

I spent 98% of the ride in Sport mode which felt just right. Personally, I’d prefer a larger differentiation between the two modes for riders who want a much softer throttle in Touring.

One of the most significant changes for 2020 is the 2mm increase in the bore, from 68mm to 70mm, which ups capacity from 530cc to 560cc.

But it wasn’t just a case of oversizing the engine, there is more to it than that. The intake valves have increased in size, and there are new connecting rods, a lighter crankshaft, new camshaft, and new aluminium forged pistons. As before, the twocylinders are balanced by an opposed ‘dummy’ piston.

The increase in power and capacity means heat generation has increased obliging Yamaha to improve the cooling system with a larger radiator and new air duct.

But, despite the larger radiator, coolant capacity is reduced due to shortened coolant routing.

The TMAX still uses a CVT transmission – automatic, ‘twist-and-

YAMAHA TMAX 560 oting

o c s e k i b r e p u S

WORDS STUART PHOTOS NICK WOOD CREATIVE

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TEST

go’ to me and you. However, the clutch engagement has reduced by 300rpm and gear ratios have been reduced, again to give a sportier feel and match the new engine performance.

To meet strict Euro 5 legislation Yamaha had to produce a new exhaust system with a twin catalytic converter with stronger materials allowing for a thinner exhaust and an overall reduction in weight. Air-filter, throttle body and fuelling are all new for 2020.

The twin-cylinder engine has always had a distinctive feel and exhaust tone but now sounds meatier than before with more character.

Despite its capacity increasing the overall bike is only 1kg heavier than previously, with some of this weight saved by the new exhaust.

Despite capacity and performance increases, Yamaha claims a 10% reduction in fuel consumption for the already light-sipping twin. A claimed 4.8 litres per 100km works out around 312km from the 15-litre fuel tank.

On test, I achieved considerably less than the claimed figure (5.76L/100km), but I did spend the majority of the time with the throttle wide open – sorry. However, I’ve ridden the now ‘old’ model extensively in the past and Yamaha’s claim is pretty close to reality.

When Yamaha revamped the TMAX three years or so ago they shaved off weight, reducing it by 9kg, moving the 76

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engine further forward in the chassis and by giving it a steeper head angle plus new suspension and a revised swing-arm. For 2020 the set-up changes aren’t as dramatic, but they have gone one step further, to make it sportier than before. The suspension has been ‘fine-tuned’ and the damping settings ‘revised’ with spring rates both front and rear also increased.

Simply put, the set-up feels firmer than before but still plush. On the motorway, the ride is smooth and effortless without jolting on bumps and road imperfections. Equally, the handling is impressive and still very ‘scooter-like’, easy to throw around considering the bike tips the scales at 218kg. Stability is also excellent, not what you would normally associate with a maxi-scooter on 15-inch wheels.

In the Blue Mountains on Bells Line of Road where our photographer lives, I was impressed enough to, on occasion, drag its centre stand though tight turns, and you could certainly embarrass a lot of ‘conventional’ bikes if you were in the mood. Don’t ever underestimate the handling of a well-ridden TMAX! It does, however, take you a little while to get used to not having a tank to grip between your thighs.

The brakes are unchanged for 2020 and do an excellent job of slowing proceedings. Front calipers are pinched off an old R1, but with a smaller disc size they won’t have you

pulling stoppies, but combined with the large rear disc you’ll be digging your heels into the forward foot position to keep you from going over the bars – great fun!

Still with the brakes you have the park brake on the left bar but you also now have a centre stand lock/brake.

A funny story…when I went to pick up the TMAX 560, the warehouse guy at Yamaha didn’t know about the lock and pushed the bike around twenty metres across the floor trying to get it off the centre stand. After a good laugh the button on the right side of the handlebar was pushed and he apologised for not knowing.

In fact, I’m glad it was he who was red faced as I wouldn’t have worked it out either. LOL! The seat is nearly identical to the previous model: comfortable with small lumbar support ahead of the pillion seat. It is quite wide at the front so those with short legs could find it a bit of a stretch at times to get a foot on the ground. The under seat storage is larger though. I could easily pack two nights away just with the under seat storage. The handlebar to me felt higher than previously, but I’m told it is the same and the rubber mounting helps absorb any unwanted jolts.

Traction control and ABS both come as standard. When the traction control kicks in it’s smooth, and it can be turned off if you so wish. ABS felt a little too intrusive for me under

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TEST

Specs YAMAHA TMAX 560 PRICE: $16,599 (ride away) WARRANTY: Two years, unlimited distance SERVICING INTERVALS: Every 10,000km or 12 months ENGINE: 562cc liquid-cooled twin cylinder, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder POWER: 35kW @ 7500rpm TORQUE: 55.7Nm @ 5250rpm TRANSMISSION: CVT automatic, belt final drive SUSPENSION: Front, 41mm inverted fork, non-adjustable, travel 120mm.

Rear, monoshock, adjustable preload, travel 117mm. heavy braking.

Virtually all the main body panels have undergone subtle yet significant changes. New design bodywork with integrated LED front flashers give a far more aggressive look. I love the new look instruments, featuring a monotone TFT instrument screen, a speedometer on the left side, and a tachometer on the right, each with an added touch of clear highlights (easiest way to describe them) for each 20km/h mark and 1000rpm. The central TFT display includes an odometer, two tripmeters, current fuel consumption and outside temperature, TCS (traction) and D-MODE (power mode) indicator.

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For security, Yamaha’s Smart Key keyless system allows you to start the engine, unlock the seat and other compartments, and also lock or release the main stand only if you are carrying the Smart Key. Accessories are sporty and would make the TMAX even more aggressive. Things like a sports seat, Akrapovic muffler, carbon screen and so on.

For 2020 Yamaha has upped the game again, the TMAX 560 now has more power, quicker response, a sportier chassis, and improved looks. It’s not a massive step over its predecessor, more of an evolution. If you’ve not tried one you really should – you’ll be impressed.

DIMENSIONS: Seat height 800mm, weight 218kg (wet), fuel capacity 15 litres, wheelbase 1575mm TYRES: Front, 120/70/R15. Rear, 160/60/R15 BRAKES: Front, twin 267mm discs with radial four-piston ABS calipers. Rear, 282mm disc, two-piston ABS caliper.

FUEL CONSUMPTION: 5.76 litres per 100km, premium unleaded THEORETICAL RANGE: 260km COLOURS: Sword Grey, Icon Grey VERDICT: Scoot like a superbike. D

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HISTORY

BEER & BIKES

Motorcycle-themed labels

A

N ENGLISH CLERGYMAN AND writer, Sydney Smith, once asked “What two ideas are more inseparable than beer and Britannia?”

Well, let me make my own bid for immortality with “beer and bikes” instead. And it seems that Sydney brewers (as opposed to Sydney smiths) agree with me. Take a look at these labels adorning containers of the amber fluid.

Young Henry’s Hoppy Porter is of course a fairly blunt claim to the association. Calling it “Motorcycle Oil” might be considered to be gilding the lily, but then again after a certain time in the evening, you do have to rub your point in or nobody understands it. If you know what I mean. No, seriously.

How often have I tried to discuss Carolingian infantry tactics late at night, only to be tripped up by

WORDS/PHOTOS/CONSUMPTION THE BEAR

the pronunciation of “single-edged sax sword”?

Wayward Brewing Co.’s “Camperdown 1” is considerably more subtle with the silhouette of a bobber-style single cylinder motorcycle of uncertain provenance.

I tried very hard to identify it, but will have to leave the task to those of you with sharper eyesight and greater ability to extract information from silhouettes.

I’m prepared to let the illustration on the bottle of Norton Lager go as, in fact, a Norton even though I’m not sure. The rider does not look like anyone I have ever seen associated with the brand; it’s certainly not ‘Pa’ Norton himself.

But that’s all right, perhaps it’s the brewmaster.

Nomad Brewing Co.’s “’Easy As’ IPA” features a delightful drawing of what appears to my eyes to be a BSA, all set up for some travelling in the old style. Terrific little illustration on an appropriate style of beer: after all, IPA was created to travel successfully.

And this is where the story really starts. I’d like you to send us photos of motorcycles used in packaging. It doesn’t have to be beer, although if it is we will be happy to accept samples of the unopened product.

What else is out there that draws on our recreation for its illustrations?

Send photos to thebear@ ausmotorcyclist.com. au and samples to Unit 4b, Level 1. 11-13 Orion Road, Lane Cove West NSW 2066. And cheers! D

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TYRETEST

BRIDGESTONE BATTLAX S22 r e d n u o r l l a The -

WORDS/PHOTOS STUART

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VER THE FOLLOWING PAGES you’ll read about three of the latest sports tyres available. As it turned out all three have a distinctly different construction feel, while all having mega amounts of grip. All three sets were tested on my Honda CB1300S and ridden around 1000km each set. Longevity is never going to be a consideration with a sport tyre so there’s no use punching up huge kays, but as a general rule you’ll be looking around 5000km for a road only (no track) ridden bike.

SW

First up is the Bridgestone S22.

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all-round tyre. As much as the S22 is listed as a sports tyre I reckon they are for the rider who wants ultimate grip no matter what they ride and aren’t overly fussed with high mileage.

The secret to the S22 is the increased grip through its revised tread design and structure that features a three-layer compound (3LC) design up front, and a five-layer compound (5LC) for the rear.

This doesn’t mean you get three separate layers. Instead, there are two up front with the same soft compounds on the outside, and three on the rear, with one hard compound on the centre (edge, wall, and middle).

Traction is good with a high silica molecule ratio. This means there is

more area of the sticky components of rubber on the ground for added traction.

Warm up is fast and the great thing about testing at this time of year (winter) is you really do feel if a tyre will slide or stick from pretty

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much out of the driveway.

My cold tyre ‘test’ route consists of two left handers into two right handers – smooth bitumen with the first of each being slightly off camber. This allows you to slide a tyre cold if it’s not

warm. No such sliding with the S22, which is excellent.

Turn in is in between neutral and fast with levels of feel you’ll be drooling over. Less groove material on the sidewalls, helps put more rubber down when turning, allowing you to turn quicker. This lighter handling also translates to corner exits. I was able to get the torque twisting CB1300S transitioned to the meatier part of the tyre with ease when exiting and accelerating out of corners.

Besides lighter handling, the S22 also has great stability and wet performance you wouldn’t expect from a sport tyre.

It performed exceptionally well in rainstorms and early morning damp conditions, so well that I really didn’t have to be

concerned about riding in the rain and sliding – just carry on and not wonder if you’re going to get through that puddle coming up.

Although I didn’t get to sample this tyre on the track I feel it would easily handle this duty well. There is enough grip for all but the most experienced riders and the bonus is you can ride to the track, do your sessions then ride home. You don’t need tyre warmers as this tyre will handle various heat cycles and remain consistent.

The Bridgestone S22 is stated to be a ‘Hypersport’ tyre but it has a wider range than Bridgestone claims.

It would be a great tyre for touring riders who want great grip and is perfect for sport touring riders who like to blast through the twisties.

The S22 is available in a good range of sizes from a 110-120 front and 140-200 rear. Pricing is also good at a recommended $209.95 for the 120/70/ZR/17 front and $299.95 for the 180/55/ZR17 rear the CB1300S takes.

Check them out at your local Bridgestone motorcycle dealer or visit mcleodaccessories.com.au/brands/ bridgestone for the full range. *Fitment courtesy of the legends at D Moto Motorcycle Engineering – 4/3-5 Harbord St, Clyde NSW 2142. Ph: 02 8677 9120. D

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TYRETEST

METZELER SPORTEC M9 RR !

y m h O WORDS/PHOTOS STUART

Oi! Who did the burnout on my new tyre?!

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M

ETZELER HAS BEEN ON a big push over the last handful of years to bring back what was once almost the only tyre to be on when another tyre brand took over the top step, namely their sister brand, Pirelli.

Metzeler recently produced the sport-touring leading Roadtec 01 and now it is the sport tyre segment they aim to conquer. Out goes the renowned M7 RR for the new, M9 RR and in a nutshell, it’s just simply awesome.

Designed for riders with a sporty riding style who use their bikes every day and in all weather conditions from the urban jungle to fast runs on the weekend, it sounds like it was made just for me!

The M9 RR is designed to deliver performance in challenging conditions: a wide range of asphalts and temperatures, dry or wet conditions.

The main benefits of the M9 RR are - a high level of grip thanks to the use of two-compound scheme using both Full Silica at the front and rear tyre.

The compounds work in combination with the central tread pattern to ensure

traction and directionality in a straight line.

Slick shoulders provide high levels of grip and lateral thrust at maximum lean angle on a wide spectrum of asphalts; excellent handling achieved thanks to an innovative structure that can improve the response of the tyre, depending on the use: comfort and riding pleasure at low speed, reactivity and precision at a higher speed; a high level of wet grip made possible by the characteristics of the Full Silica compounds and their construction scheme, which also ensure a quick warm-up even on wet and cold roads.

The structure is quite stiff and it felt like I’d put a set of uprated springs in the CB1300S. Metzeler states that the damping capacities improve the riding feeling, and while when riding at a higher pace the benefits of this structure are high thrust values and greater responsiveness and precision.

I can attest to that, I loved the precision the M9 RR offers.

I also love the fast turn in with an abundance of feel and so much grip if you see a big, chunky CB1300S blast past you you’ll know it’s me on the M9 RR. If you wanted, the M9 RR will handle track day work easily. No warmers needed – ride to the track, set new lap records and ride home.

Both the front and rear are equipped with Full Silica shoulder compounds derived from racing-rain technology, refined to stabilise their behaviour at high temperatures, and newly formulated Full Silica central compounds.

The rear tyre compounds are arranged using a Cap & Base scheme that consists in overlaying the two lateral bands in soft compound,

which ensure grip when cornering, to a layer of harder compound that ensures constant performance and thermal balance.

The latter compound also forms the central band of the tyre for about 50mm, equal to 25% of the entire section, to improve mileage.

The front tyre uses the same compounds as the rear to guarantee a homogeneous response and a perfect pairing between the two tyres.

The central compound makes up about 33% of the tread section.

Full Silica compounds are used to improve the warm-up time (which was near instant), the level of mechanical grip on a wide range of asphalts and the chemical grip in wet conditions, benefiting the use on roads with irregular asphalt and in any weather condition. Through my ‘test’ route I was just about scraping the pegs.

The tread design recognizes the features of the Pi - π - that, besides being distinctive of the Sportec product family, also have a functional purpose.

The grooves of the Greek Pi allow a certain degree of mobility to the portion of the tread they delimit, resulting in an improvement of the warm-up time even at low temperatures. They also serve to maximise the volume of water evacuated when riding in the wet.

Speaking of wet weather performance, the M9 RR is excellent, it feels like a tyre with more grooves than are actually there. Metzeler claim up 30-degrees of lean in the rain before you get to the more race-like smooth areas of the sides.

A good range of sizes is available – 110-120 front and 140-200 rear.

Pricing for the 120/70/ZR17 front is $229.95 and $309.95 for the 180/55/ZR17 rear.

I’m so impressed with the Metzeler M9 RR for feel, grip (dry and wet) and fast road useability, I’ll be looking at another set once this one wear out.

Check them out at your local Metzeler dealer or metzeler.com/ en-au/home *Fitment courtesy of the legends at D Moto Motorcycle Engineering – 4/3-5 Harbord St, Clyde NSW 2142. Ph: 02 8677 9120. D www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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TYRETEST

CONTINENTAL SPORTATTACK 4

s a s e m i t r Fou good

WORDS/PHOTOS STUART

T

HE FINAL TYRE I fitted to the mighty Honda CB1300S in this triple treat sport tyre test is the fourth generation of the Continental’s SportAttack tyre. I’ve ridden on all four versions now and each time I’ve been blown away with the improvements. The SportAttack 4 (SA4) is designed as a road tyre first and foremost, but will handle a track day without tyre warmers if you wish.

Again, as with the other two tyres you’ve just read about – ride to the track, have fun and ride home.

Construction feel of the SA4 is medium and one thing I’ve come to love with Continental’s Traction Skin, means there is no need to run

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them in – basically you can get on it from the get go.

A new profile design from the outgoing SA3 gives a larger footprint at big lean angles and more of Continental’s “Black Chilli” sport compound gives amazing levels of grip. Turn in is medium-fast and light with bucket loads of feel/precision.

So much feel in fact that you’ll forget about going round corners, you’ll just whip round them without knowing.

In the R&D laboratories of Continental Motorcycle Tires in Germany, the developers and engineers are obsessed with working on how to trick the conflicting goals of tyre development.

The rubber compound performance in a tyre is primarily determined by three interacting factors: dry-grip, wet-grip and mileage. The dilemma: If you improve any of them it can have a detrimental effect on at least one of the others. With Continental’s BlackChili Compounds, a tread compound is always based

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on the latest knowledge of polymers and raw material research, they are able to overcome these conflicting goals and fine-tune it to match the specific requirements, in this case the SA4. For BlackChili, they combine special synthetic rubbers to highperformance tread mixtures.

To these mixtures they then add elements, which are optimised for the different application areas.

The complex compound

technology is so sensitive that tyres with BlackChili Compounds are produced exclusively in their German Korbach plant. To put this into context, if you compare it against the outgoing SA3, the SA4 has far more grip, handling and gives better mileage, hard to believe with a tyre that offers so much grip, but I don’t doubt their claims. After the 1000km I quickly punched up on the SA4 they still look brand new. Continental states that they have introduced a “solid backbone” into the rear tyre, which is one of the reasons for better mileage. Apart from the structure of the tyre the centre compound is slightly harder as well.

Warm up is excellent and on my ‘test’ route I was over onto the edge of the tyre straight away, maybe this is because of the large footprint while leaned over.

Wet weather performance is top of the class. I really do get blown away by how good a sport tyre is on a wet road.

Not so long ago a ‘sport’ tyre would have

made the road feel slippery as ice, but not the SA4. There’s no wonder Continental’s sport tyres win many of the wet weather testing over in Europe. I did get to ride during the crazy east low Sydney had around the end of July and the day after the mega downpour with the roadway having many dry/part wet sections and the SA4 never budged while riding swiftly.

The new Continental SportAttack 4 will just have hit the shelves of your local Continental dealer as you read this, so be quick and grab a set and reap the benefits. It is a great tyre that I’ll enjoy until worn out.

Sizes available range from 120/17 – 130/16 (for old Fireblades) and 140-200 rears. Pricing for the 120/70/ ZR17 front is $240 and $320 for the 180/55/ZR17 rear. Jump onto ronangel.com.au for the full range or to find a dealer near you. *Fitment courtesy of the legends at D Moto Motorcycle Engineering – 4/3-5 Harbord St, Clyde NSW 2142. Ph: 02 8677 9120. D

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R E S T O R A T I O N Part 13

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TECHNICAL

provided engine and transmission, the R 50 donated the frame and running gear) turned out to be useful but never really ideal; for a start the Ural sidecar was too heavy. I didn’t build the perfect outfit until I matched a Yamaha Bolt to a replica Steib chair. Still, the Beemer outfit covered a lot of miles and was a lot of fun. I don’t seem to be able to find any photos, so you’ll have to settle for one of the Bolt.

1976 KAWASAKI Z900 A4teps forward

Expensive s

RALPH - KTM SUPERDUKE / BMW R 1200 GS

WORDS/PHOTOS STUART

W

ELL, AFTER SAVING, like a runner. I fitted up the carbs, connected SAVING, saving over the last the throttle cables and bolted the front few months I’ve finally been sprocket cover on, which also houses the able to afford some of the big purchases connection for the clutch cable. While I owned both in the late 2000s and forforthe Z900. These included the brandI was playing with cables I fitted up the these bikes meant different things new exhausts, engine side covers and tacho and speedo cables. brake calipers.

Shiny new engine side covers meant I The brake calipers turned out to be a could fit up the Dynatech electronic ignition, nightmare, but a surprise in the one package. making the Z900 more reliable and easier to As I’ve found with many parts on the A4, own versus the old and fiddly points ignition. there are a lot of one year only built parts, As I mentioned in my editorial, I have got which makes them even more rare than the tank, tail and side covers off for painting. bits for other bikes – the brake calipers are When I purchased this bike it had no side among these items. Trying to find a pair covers so I was lucky you can buy new ones for this twin disc setup had comments and one thing I did find out when purchasing made to me like, “Good luck finding them is you can get good ones and average them”, “hope you’ve got plenty of ones, so I’m glad I picked up the good ones! money”, and so it went on. Then I have commissioned Mark at Sydney I received two separate messages, Custom Spraypainting to be the man to give one from a guy in Tassie, the me the show quality paint I’m after. I have other in Qld. In short, I ended known Mark for a number of years now, up with two sets of front through the boys at D Moto. Mark does calipers for not much money their paintwork and having seen just how at all – one set in excellent good his work is, I was sold. It is costing me and mythe riding.

Both bikes aI boughtme a pretty penny and around 25% more condition, other needing without test riding, andthe placed full restoration.

I used goodan order than I could have got it done at other prior to their arriving in Australia.

It’s renowned motorcycle painters but ones and still gave them a full BMW R 1200 GS proof marketing hype works! Both resto and that the other set I’ll restore I wantSTUART perfection –and that costs. downrepresented the track and sell them on. sense -- By this Water-Cooled Magic time next month I hope to have freedom in every Beingperformance not far fromor completion, the bike down at D Moto to sort the wiring travel, wheelstanding or Baked goods every time chugging I put something Z900 and kick beauty intoBMW life. Ithave has been Letthis it be known, pretty throughon thethe countryside.

Both it now takeswere big leaps forwardininconsolidating looking a long much time coming can’t wait!new D bike always and heldI amazing instrumental their launches and the introduction of the brands in their respective markets.

Split Decision

The 2010s

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TRAVEL

I

MAGES AND VIDEO ARE the perfect way to remember your trip; the perfect way to put a smile on your face six months later when you’re sulking about being back home on the sofa. Here’s our guide to getting the best results.

Remember cameras with films in them? Remember those weird, oblong disposable cameras that always seemed to cut out half the people from the shot? What a pain in the behind it was running out of film mid trip. What a disappointment when you had the film developed only to find the pictures all trashed because you accidentally opened the back cover of the camera on day five. Sure, to get world-class images and video still requires decent kit and years of experience, but you can get some cracking shots with most modern cameras and a little bit of know how.

My phone has a camera, surely that will do the trick?

Adventure... better

onto. Battery life is simple to fix with ona thing or two when it comes to bike charging travelling on a motorcycle. In this via an adaptor series, they share that knowledge Well yes, to a lead or a power and experience to help you get point, and modern pack. There is, camera phones are however one the most from your next trip. getting increasingly very important capable. A highconsideration end smart phone with multiple lenses to make when using your phone can be used to get excellent quality as a camera on a big trip and that pictures and video. A welcome is safety. bonus is having everything stored on Your phone is the best lifeline your phone handy for a trip down you have for every situation from memory lane. The limitations of the trivial – where is the nearest using a phone, depending on where good restaurant - to the thoroughly you are in the world are primarily practical – how far is it to the storage and battery life, but both of nearest service station. If you’re these can be solved. constantly pulling said phone out You can upload photos to online to take pictures, balancing it on storage, network or Internet access walls to get group shots or filming permitting, or have a laptop handy the mountains as you ride along, to download your images and video the chances of it getting dropped, The guys at Motorrad Tours know

ADVENTURE B How to capture and remember your tour WORDS RICHARD MILLINGTON PICS MOTORRAD TOURS 88

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E BETTER: Part 6

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T R AV E L

damaged or removed from your person by a new-age Artful Dodger go up exponentially.

If you are already a keen photographer, then of course take your favourite kit and have a ball shooting fantastic shots throughout the trip. If you’re riding with a group though, make sure they’re as enthusiastic about great images as you are before you ask them to ride past the ‘Camel Crossing’ sign for the fifth time. If you aren’t a fully signedup member of camera nerds club, then keep your choice simple. Don’t blow a load of money on a massive fancy camera – stick to a good quality compact that fits in your riding jacket so it’s there for quick deployment when your riding buddy gets beached in a sandy parking lot.

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amazing. GoPro and Drift Innovations make some superb kit with features that big film companies paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for just a decade ago. When buying an action camera, features to look for are image stabilization and the ability to view the picture live either on screen or on your phone so you can line the shot up before you ride away. This saves you from hours of helmet cam footage of the top of your gas tank.

You’ll need a few memory cards and probably spare batteries to keep you going plus a few mounts to give a bit of variety in your on-bike shots. Chest mounts work really well when riding standing up, side of the helmet works well sat down. Be aware that mounting cameras on your helmet does have risks and may make your neck ache after 3 hours of wind drag pulling at the side-mounted camera. Likewise,

be smart about where you mount a camera on your bike – make sure it doesn’t interfere with the movement of the handlebars or the suspension.

It sounds obvious, but when you’re excited about getting a cool shot of the front forks going up and down on a bumpy road, it’s easy to be all creativity and zero logic.

How to shoot

Taking pictures well is as complicated as you want to make it, but there are a few simple guidelines that will help you get the best shot you can without needing to buy every photography book going. Of course, you can break any of the so-called rules and still come out with amazing images, but the point of the rules is to make you think about it first.

Rule one is about the edges of the shot. Think about what made you stop

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to take a photo, make sure all of that is in the frame and nothing else is randomly sticking into the viewfinder.

Try not to have random objects like branches or signposts halfway into the shot – they should be either in the image or out of it. If your bike is in the shot, close the panniers, take your jacket off the seat and move your helmet – these small changes can make an image look far more poster-worthy than an admin nightmare with luggage,

gear and paraphernalia sprawled around the scene.

Second rule is don’t be lazy. Get off your bike. Rolling up at the side of the road and randomly pointing your camera at the hills seldom delivers a shot you’d want above the fireplace.

Think about what it was about the view that grabbed your attention, then move around with your camera until the picture gives you that same impact. Go high, go low and try different things – the best thing about the digital camera is instant feedback and the ability to quickly delete all the garbage shots. A quick picture will remind you what you saw

on your trip; a well thought-out and executed shot will remind you what it felt like to be there.

Finally, think about where things are positioned within the frame, using the rule of thirds. The basic principle is to divide your frame into three both vertically and horizontally and then position your subject along these lines.

Often cameras have the option to show these gridlines in the viewfinder, helping you position things in the shot.

Video should be shot with the same amount of thought as we’ve talked about above for static images, however it is much easier to get the feeling across to the viewer. And with video

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comes sound that can either be a fantastic reminder of how it felt to be stood there, or an embarrassing sound bite of you that your family pick up on and taunt you with relentlessly. If the shot needs a commentary, remember you might want to watch it back at a later date in front of people.

On bike sound takes some skill to capture to avoid irritating wind noise or vibrations – an auxiliary mic can help this, positioned away from wind and isolated from vibration. When it comes to shooting on-bike video, try experimenting with different camera positions. Close to the ground gives a vivid feeling of speed, higher up shows the view better. Avoid sticking the camera on the top of your helmet – you’ll get lots of wobbly footage and it’s all too easy to catch it on overhead branches. To save you from spending days trawling through footage later on, avoid leaving your camera running all day on the off chance that it might catch something interesting.

Alternatively get a camera like the Drift Ghost that has a memory dump feature where it permanently records but only saves the last 30 seconds if you press the button.

Editing

You are back home, work has kicked off again and the memories of the trip feel a lifetime away. So what better way to cheer yourself up than by spending an evening going through your photos and videos?

Scan through duplicates, pick the best and bin the others; there’s no

need to keep five pictures of the same otter. If you want to be thorough, get some image editing software and have a play around with your favourite shots to make them really stand out.

And while photos on a hard drive are easy to access, nothing motivates the next trip like a stunning canvas print from your last adventure.

Do a good enough job of the shooting and you might even be allowed to hang it in the house.

When it comes to video editing, a bit of discipline at the camera end really pays off. Wading through three weeks’ worth of helmet cam footage is enough to make anyone eat their remaining memory cards to alleviate the boredom. Think about what you’re filming and then edit the footage into short clips – five seconds of flowing corners is plenty, forty seconds is too long. Switch from helmet cam to bike mount to handheld shots to keep the video interesting. Remember to show footage from off the bike too – people, cars, wildlife, waterfalls, anything that gives a feel for the place and breaks up the riding shots.

Conclusion

The video versus stills argument eventually boils down to personal preference and what you want to do with the footage/images. Pictures can be made into a book, printed on a canvas and enjoyed over a cuppa.

Video may not be so palpable, but with good sound it does a better job of putting you back in the place it was shot. www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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The most important thing to remember is not to become so wrapped up in your camera that you forget to look up and absorb the experience first hand. Don’t walk around, camera in hand, clicking away at everything that steps out in front of you. Experience the trip first hand, but have a camera ready to get some great shots of the bits that really took your breath away. D

Who is Motorrad Tours?

Richard Millington is the director of Motorrad Tours, with years and literally millions of miles of route planning and tour delivery under his belt. From the Highlands of Scotland to the rice paddies of Vietnam, Richard works tirelessly to put together impeccable tours that keep people coming back time and time again. So if the above sounds like a lot of effort to you, or if you want to see the best a country has to offer the adventurous motorcyclist, give Motorrad Tours a call on +44 (0)1622 776686 or log onto their website www.motorrad-tours.com to see where they are headed to next.

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USED&ABUSED STOPPING ON A DIME

SBS EVO Sinter brake pads – $76 a side I’ve used SBS brake pads on a wide variety of motorcycles and raced with their Dual Sinter and Carbon Tech pads. I find SBS to be the top of the game when it comes to braking and they’ve just released their new EVO Sinter pads for street bikes.

I chucked a set in the front of the CB1300S and gave them a work out.

Features of the new EVO Sinter include strong initial bite that gives instant brake feel, easy modulation and powerful in-stop performance, fade free under extreme conditions, consistent, reliable brake performance throughout product lifetime and durability with low disc wear.

The EVO Sinter pads are manufactured with advanced production

technology featuring conductive sintering (direct hot pressing), where the material is heated up by electrical current resulting in an excellent and homogeneous brake pad material.

The EVO Sinter brake pad also features advanced friction material bonding technology: The NRS system, which is a mechanical bonding method based on a matrix of steel hooks raised on the backing plate.

These mould into the

friction material creating an indestructible and corrosion safe mechanical bond without any use of adhesives.

The EVO Sinter pads do exactly as claimed – initial bite is simply awesome and the amount of stopping power the CB1300S now has is better than many new bikes.

Available for a wide range of bikes you have to get some for yours.

See your local bike shop or jump onto kenma.com.au SW

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USED & ABUSED

FEEL ME UP

Venhill Braided Brake Lines – $48.30 each (two fronts, one rear).

Banjos - $10.49 each.

Venhill braided brake lines are another item you should have on your bike. Chuck those crappy, swelling rubber lines in the bin and fit up Venhill lines which will give you consistent feel and better overall performance.

I fitted a set to the mighty CB1300S. I did have to measure the lines. I measured from centre of the banjo on each caliper to the centre of the

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banjo on the master cylinder for both front and rear, while allowing myself 20-30mm slack.

While Venhill has pre-made kits for a massive range of bikes, if yours isn’t available don’t be afraid to measure it up, give yourself some extra as mentioned and send the measurements to your local bike shop or the great folk at Kenma who can get the lines sorted for you.

You can get a two line setup like I did with the CB1300S, or set it up like standard with one line then spilt into two as per most factory setups. You can also get Venhill lines a wide range of colours and the banjos are available in either polished stainless or anodised black.

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

HANDY STUFF

Motopressor Digital Tyre Pressure and Depth Gauge – $26.95 Having handy tools in the toolkit simply makes life easier and that’s what we all want. The great folk at Rocky Creek Designs havc released their latest item – this handy digital tyre gauge, which also comes with the added benefits of a small LED light and depth gauge. Features include tyre pressure units in either PSI, BAR, kPa or kg/cm2, LCD backlit display, LED light (as mentioned), compact design and an

automatic 30-second shut off. A benefit of having a small gauge like this is while filing air at a servo, the gauge on the hose is usually inaccurate and can have you riding on well over- or underinflated tyres.

For use at home I have my expensive liquid filled tyre pressure gauge, but it’s too big to carry on trips, whereas this handy little gauge is perfect to chuck in the tank bag, or, if you didn’t have another gauge, as a good

all-rounder at home and while away.

Being small in size I was able to get it into most tight spaced tyre valves on the variety of bikes I tested it on and having the led light and LCD backlit display was a blessing at night.

Available at all good bike shops or Rocky Creek Designs and Pro Accessories – rockycreekdesigns. com.au SW

SWALLOW SMALL ANIMALS DNA Air Filter – $107 Part of what I wanted to do with the CB1300S is to give it a bit more performance. The first part of this was to fit a DNA air filter. DNA air filters have been a staple of just about every bike I’ve owned or had as a long termer, they

work to give smoother performance for the most part but my aim with the CB1300S was to combine it with a tuneable ECU for maximum power and torque. The bike already has a Staintune slip-on muffler.

One issue the

CB1300S has is there’s a flap in the snorkel of the inlet to the air filter, this is widely reported as making the bike surge slightly at various speeds, so I cut the snorkel off, remounted the air sensor and after this combination with the

DNA filter the torque monster has grown bigger legs. I can’t wait to fit up the ECU! DNA air filters are available for a massive range of bikes, see your local bike shop or kenma.com.au SW

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R E A D E R ‘ S T R A V E L Me mo ries

THE BATHURST EPIC To the ! g n i r t u n h g u o d

WORDS ‘KIM’ PHOTOS PHIL & VARIOUS

W

AY BACK IN TIME, when I was 19 years old, two mates and I decided to ride to Bathurst at Easter time. Obviously, this could only mean that we were intending to attend the annual bike race meeting and camp on the mountain. Yee-hah, bring it on!

This story is penned by one of those mates, a bloke called Kim (who now lives on Thursday Island).

Phil Salt mist veils the sleeping sea-side town of Lennox Head. Nothing disturbs the tranquil pre-dawn serenity except the soft burble of a red Honda 400/4 as it smoothly glides along the deserted main street, through the darkness of the sugar cane farms and into the hills as it makes its way to the appointed meeting at Alstonville. All the pre-tour feelings of excitement and apprehension are present as I direct my new (second hand) Honda through the corners with slight body movements. A gentle nudge with a knee, 98

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a small movement of my right wrist, I feel good.

The impudent crackle of Phil’s Hanco equipped Yamaha XS650B joins us at Alstonville and we wind our way to Lismore to meet up with Michael as the early morning sun flickers eerily through the fog in our mirrors. Michael stands on his dew damp driveway beside a mountain of gear.

“Why haven’t you packed your bike Michael?”

“I did ... yesterday. Then I gave it a test run to see how it would handle the load and it blew up on me!”

So, the Yamaha XT500 sits forlornly in the shed as we ockie strap the extra gear onto the 400/4. Two ton or so of it! Including a gas bottle, ring burner and enough tools to dismantle a bulldozer. All this is strapped on, Michael clambers onto the back of the XS and finally we are on our way.

Our first trip to Bathurst!

A narrow ribbon of rough bitumen stretches in front of us as Tenterfield

gradually draws closer. We play race through the mist shrouded ranges, climbing higher, sweeping around cliff bound corners, plummeting into densely forested gullies and catapulting out again. The rorty note of the howling Honda blends with the crisp mountain air. Smells, sights and feelings to produce a sense of euphoria. Onto the New England Highway and we meet many other bikes. Some we pass, some pass us. Hard chargers, cruisers, posers. Some alone, others in groups.

Most with Queensland rego plates.

Most heading south to the same place.

A fuel stop reveals 22km/l for the Honda and 23km/l for the Yammie.

Not bad considering the load they are both carrying and the climb up the range. I am impressed with the 400/4.

It was very second hand when I traded my Suzuki 250 on it three days ago.

I felt that the much-loved Hustler would be too small to easily cover the 1100km to Bathurst in a day. I know I have done the right thing now.

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Armidale is coming up.

It was great fun rounding up that SuperGlide at the Devils Pinch, despite the Honda’s wallowing rear end. Phil and Mick are a few meters in front. The Yam drones and pops through its two into one Hanco.

The glorious note floats back to me and complements the Honda’s howl.

A steep rise confronts us. I go back a gear, Phil twists his wrist and up we go.

Suddenly, the only engine I can hear is the Honda’s, no Yammie.

A glove clad hand is held out from the silently coasting bike ahead, giving the thumbs down.

“Something’s wrong with the electrics!”

“Get a Honda!”

“Get *#~!@!”

A couple of flails at the kick-starter and the 650 twin is grumbling to itself and eager to get on with the ride.

At an Armidale service-station, one dead-flat XS battery is re-charged.

Hours later it is re-installed and a

thoroughly sick of Armidale trio join the constant stream of south bound bikes. None of the lights work on the XS anymore but at least the engine runs and idles.

An immensely enjoyable blast through the Moonbies erases the disappointment of the long pit stop in Armidale. We stop in Tamworth to rearrange the load on the Yamaha.

It is ockied over a short plank of wood which sits on top of the taillight bracket.

Moves around a bit, but it was cheap and doubles as a side stand support when the bike is at rest. Clever huh?

I back the Honda down the steep street camber, rest the bike tyre against the curb, put the side stand down and climb off the seat while still holding the bars. The bike promptly performs a neat pirouette around the side stand and nearly falls. My two companions, laughing and making many unkind comments, help me to control the beast.

After parking the bike we collapse

under a small kerb side wattle for a rest.

“I can smell petrol!”

“Oh gosh,” (or something similar!)

Petrol pours out of the Honda’s carbie overflow tube. I turn off the fuel tap while the other two roll around hysterically in the cigarette butts and dog droppings that adorn the ground.

And so my little red 400/4 is christened, (because of its faded, powdery ex-red paint, torn re-stuffed seat, abundant rust and general ratty appearance), “ratbike”. The number plate is then spotted ...RG 986. RG...rats guts! More hysterical laughter from Heckle and Jeckle!

A group of riders pass as we calm down from our fit of hysteria. We’re quickly onto the bikes and off after them. Roar past them feeling pretty clever and settle into a comfortable 120 km/h cruise, side by side and canted over like yachts with a strong, cold cross wind. www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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ORE BUM, BORING ROAD, cold and hungry. Slip streaming helps break the monotony until the road tightens up and we go berserk as we flash down a hill and into Murrurundi, pulling into a roadhouse that is packed with bikes. Stuffing hamburgers into our faces and yacking to a bloke who complains about his third flat tyre for the day on his new DOHC CB750K is a nice break from the riding but we are already behind schedule and we are soon off again.

The pace picks up as we continue on the straight featureless road southwards.

Scone appears in front of us and I give Rats Guts (as my 400/4 is now known) one last blat and roar past the Yam. As I throttle off for the town a noise like a fan belt slipping pierces my helmet and assaults my ears. The clutch lever is whipped in instantly, just as the engine cuts out. Tyres crunch over gravel as the 400/4 quietly coasts into a closed service station. Phil and Mick pull up alongside with worried expressions on their faces.

“I think it’s seized,” says Phil as he perches his 13 stone self on the rigid kick-starter.

Petrol pours from the carbie over-flow once more and I broaden my vocabulary as I turn the fuel tap off. The oil level is way down so I sit on my sleeping bag roll waiting for the Rats Guts to cool off while Phil and Mick head off in search of oil. They return soon, both leaping off as Phil swings down the side stand and striding towards the stricken Honda.

As Mick opens the oil cap the resonating crash of the XS falling off its stand and smashing its spot-light echoes through the deserted service station. Phil is not impressed! After much hysteria, laughter and swearing, it is time to attempt re-starting the Honda. I grit my teeth.

Neutral, centre-stand, fuel on, engine cool, kick! Well at least the

Memories lever moved. Kick, boot, kick until the familiar growl from the rusty four into one caress my ears. Time to go!

Taking it gingerly now, left hand hovering over the clutch lever, we once again head south. The clutch has been slipping under load since Tenterfield and now every time the revs drop below 3000 the bike promptly stalls.

A quick stop for a route check.

“The way through Sandy Hollow and Sofala looks the shortest.

Buckley’s chance of making it to Bathurst tonight though.”

The Sandy Hollow sign beckons us and delivers quite a pleasant little road until the bitumen gives way to sand, six inches deep in places. No points for guessing what it is like riding an overloaded, clapped out 400/4 with a slipping clutch that will not run under 3000rpm and has stuffed original suspension both ends, on this type of road. The other two ride behind to give themselves a bit of a laugh and to pick up the pieces if I was to lose it, which I refuse to do despite Rats Guts best attempts to dump me on my ear.

It was all good luck though. Somehow, after a seemingly endless succession of stalling, kicking for ages, making a couple of km and stalling again, we make it to Sandy Hollow with the cold sun low on the beautiful western hills. I’ve never seen country like this, fantastic. We set up camp in the caravan park and proceed to dismantle the profusion of carbies that hide behind the 400cc four’s motor.

A foul grey-brown sludge clings in revoltingly viscous globs to each float bowl. After a thorough clean out, the various bit and pieces are screwed back together and we amuse ourselves replacing four carbie throats into a plastic air box that they must have originally grown out of! I pack the tools away and wander over in the direction that the others went. Two cheesy grins beam from the gently lapping water of the swimming pool.

“You should come in. Real warm, soothes away the aches of the day. Must be heated.”

They weren’t showing any signs of discomfort and

I could do with a soothing soak after the day we had been through.

“Arrrghh!!”

After hot showers and warm clothes we stop shivering. Some mongrels will endure anything to trap someone.

I do feel better for the swim though.

Tea time. Jaffles of course. The XS is put to use as the kitchen bench and Rats Guts is used as a towel rack for the wet swimming gear. Lugging that gas bottle all this way is worth it now with a fire ban in force and we are too stuffed to hunt up any firewood anyway.

“Hey Mick?”

“Yeah?”

“Your bloody gas bottle hasn’t got any gas in it!”

Half an hour later the park manager re-opens the shop and fills the gas bottle. Armed with the bottle we return to our humble camp and are soon devouring the most delicious canned beef, cheese and baked bean jaffles I’ve ever sunk a tooth into.

Next morning, after a top sleep, the Rats Guts churns itself into reluctant life while the XS stipulates, “If you want me to start this morning you’ve got to kick buster!”

April the fourth, Easter Saturday.

What a beaut morning! It’s cool but sunny. The road is well sealed and twists through open undulating grazing land.

It’s taking a long time to reach Denman though. Cassilis 30, the sign proclaims.

“Oh dear!”, (or something similar) I say to myself, “wrong way!”. Who cares, it’s all new country to me. Ivy Rock pops up, looking out of place in the gently rolling farmland. We climb the large split lump of displaced geology, taking a couple of photos amidst death and gravity defying feats.

B

ACK ON THE BIKES and cruising towards Mudgee we find the road is blocked with a herd of bastardised Harleys which are leaning insecurely on their spindly side stands while their neanderthal owners lay sleeping beneath a nearby eucalypt.

Gingerly, I slowly weave through the hogs as the yobbos sit up and glare disgustedly at me in my army disposal coat and especially at the little 400/4.

Hardly any of them seem to notice the rumbling XS behind me. Soon the Sofala road is rushing under our wheels. This gravel road is no problem. The steering

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is very light with the weight of the gear behind the back axle so to get around corners I simply crank the 400/4 over a bit, add some “body-english” and gas it.

I am having a ball on this roller coaster road and the scenery is magnificent.

The country levels off after Sofala and after a while, Phil and Mick who are in front pull over and stop. They are looking at something in the distance, of to the right. I slide to a halt besides them and together we silently gaze towards a large hill. The hill seems to glow in the morning sun of this crystal clear day. Snaking around the top of it, like a ribbon of mercury, something metal gleams at us. Following this gleaming metal ribbon are small flitting shadows that spring up on the left, flash along the ribbon and disappear...Mount Panorama...the magic mountain.

“Made it fellas!”

Two machines bellow in response to high revs and dumped clutches as the Yammie and Honda fish tail up the gravel road, racing each other to the bitumen. Rats Guts, which is amazingly quick off the mark surges ahead and the two bikes roar into the Mecca of Australian motorcycling. Rats Guts decides to conk out halfway up the steep gravel road leading to the top of the mountain. A couple of Harley Sportster

riders get irate at the inconvenience of having to ride around me and let loose with a few well-chosen comments about “Jap crap!” The last I see of them is their “made in Japan” emblazoned plastic taillight lenses.

I find my brothers R75/6 and lots of his friends who I’d met at various times over the years. About two hours later I find Steve too. He is not impressed with my “new” bike, but I lie and tell him it goes better than it looks.

Bathurst on Easter Saturday night is an amazing place. Everyone here is here because they are into bikes.

You can go up to anyone and yarn about your favourite topic (so long as it involves bikes) before drifting off to another campfire or group of people and yacking on again. It’s one of the few occasions where you could turn up alone and still never have a moment to yourself.

We wander around the mountain top, looking at the various bullrings.

There is never a dull moment!

Doughnuts, shoulder fights and lots of other relatively harmless madness. A bloke from WA, on an old 750/4 with knobbies and a winch does blind folded doughnuts and the boys (and girls) go wild. The guy then parks his bike up a tree, with the aid of the bike’s winch.

Further on, two of the latest superbikes, a CBX/6 and a Z1R, are drag racing each other over a hundred meters or so of loose gravel track. Neither of them stops fish-tailing before changing direction in a cloud of dust and gravel and then screaming back again in the direction they came from.

The beer can fight is a bit of a grin but does have the potential to hurt someone. A mob takes over the dunny roof while the rest take up siege positions below. The police, who are standing around in pairs, are enjoying it too. Phil and I are talking to a big ugly copper who seems to be a real nice bloke, who loves bikes and applied to be sent here for the weekend so he didn’t have to pay the entry fee.

While we’re yacking away and sympathising with this bloke about the demise of the Triumph 650 Bonneville, a full can of beer sails through the air and bounces off his mate’s forehead.

The second copper crumples to the ground in an unconscious heap while we hold our breath waiting for the reprisal from the big ugly copper.

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S

UNDAY. PETER, A MATE of Steve’s, pulls the carbies off the 400/4 and gives them a good clean up with his toothbrush! (It may have been his wife’s!) It runs much better now so the XS crew and myself go for a three-up spin around the mountain top. Phil rides, aiming at every pothole and puddle he can find, while Michael bounces along on the rack. We see some pretty amazing sights; people still asleep in all sorts of unlikely places, others staggering towards the loo with, “I shouldn’t have done it”, written all over their faces. The mountain top is a sea of dew-covered motorcycles with a flotsam of tents, fireplaces and people.

Further on, two large topless women are riding around the police compound on a clapped-out K2/4. Much to the delight of the boys in blue, the lady pillion is sitting backwards with one of her enormous breasts in each hand, moving them rhythmically and alternately up and down. A paddy wagon filled with coppers is also cruising around, with the occupants doing a lot of pointing and

Memories

laughing. The atmosphere is totally relaxed.

A good day at the races follows.

Walking down the steep slope that leads to Forrest Elbow is a real treat. The guys racing shoot over Skyline, seemingly into the air and charge through the steep, winding esses, scraping the underpinning of their bikes first on one side then the other as they fly down the mountain side before coming to the hard left hand hair-pin that is Forrest Elbow. The real highlight of watching from this section is experiencing the thrill of being so close to the action, especially when the big Dukes come around. The 900ss Ducati explodes over Skyline and booms through the esses, bathing the spectators in a glorious blanket of pure music as they go down through the gears and thunder into Forrest Elbow before scraping heavily all the way around the hair-pin and hurtling off down Conrod straight. Some of the Dukes make it, others run out of clearance, jack the rear wheel off the ground and slide along the course track in a shower of sparks, smashed perspex and fragmented Italian fibreglass. The racing is fantastic, with

lots of good close dicing and a few minor spills.

The three of us finish packing our gear onto the bikes as Steve and Peter return from the track with the upsetting account of Rob Moorehouse’s accident.

No one says much after that and we all quietly ride off towards Orange, but the mood starts to change as bikes start whizzing past. The group now consists of Steve on his BMW, and Peter and Di on their K7/4. We are heading for Wellington to stay at Peter’s friend’s place. This bloke isn’t expecting us and nobody actually knows him, so I wonder how he will react to his visitors.

Just riding along at about 5:30pm, day dreaming, when a high pitched, resonating and incredibly loud scream jolts me into startled reality as three big Z900’s, sporting four into ones wail past like banshees and vanish into the distance. About ten minutes later, as my pulse rate returns to normal, it happens again! The sound of a Kwaka nine on full song is really a thing of exhilarating beauty, but it can make you nearly foul your underwear when it sneaks up on you!

We arrive in the pleasant western town

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of Wellington and are told by a wideeyed Peter, of how he was ton up on his K7 when the XS650 went flying past him and took off ahead with arms and legs sticking out in all directions. The protruding appendages were apparently meant to emphasise the effortlessness of the overtaking manoeuvre. Phil has a thing about proving his pride and joy’s reputation as an ill handling, unreliable slug is totally unjustified. XS owners are like that, but I must say Phil’s bike didn’t seem like an ordinary XS650.

Our host in Wellington is a real nice bloke named Phil. He doesn’t mind us turning up for the night at all, even though he doesn’t know us. Soon afterwards more of the crowd from Bathurst start arriving. Lyle on his CX with its home-made fairing, and his sister Heather on her 400 Hawk, pull into the driveway as the sound of a pair of vertical twins rumbling up the street reach us. “Not more bloody XS’s”. Wrong. Two brand new Bonnie Specials, resplendent in their gold lined, black and chrome livery, grace us with their presence. There follow a few interesting comparisons. Phil has few gripes with his XS (dead battery not withstanding) while both Triumph riders are disappointed with their mounts, mainly because of poor quality control at the factory. My old daggy 400/4 is parked beside the new Honda 400 twin.

Everyone, except Heather who owns the twin, and Phil who lives there and doesn’t know the difference between a Vespa and a Laverda, thinks that Honda have really got their priorities twisted replacing the 400/4 with this poxy thing. I lap it up!

After a good night at the local RSL club to celebrate Michael’s 20th birthday we all head back to the house. The back yard is full of bikes and tents, and the lounge room is carpeted with sleepingbags. It’s freezing. One of the Trumpy

riders named Kim only takes off his boots and helmet, going to bed in his leathers. If I was rich enough to afford leathers, I’d be doing the same.

It’s still very cold in the morning as we pack the bikes, say goodbye to a really great bunch of people and glide off through the quiet Wellington stillness and out onto the highway. Two bikes, three people and a long way to go.

C

OONABARABRAN SEES THE LITTLE Rats Guts gulp down over a litre of engine oil.

We sit on 140 or so. The day becomes long but quite pleasant. Tamworth then Armidale pass beneath our wheels. The sagged-out Honda seat becomes quite painful so I swap bikes with Phil and things improve (for me) with the large, well-padded XS seat. I like this bike. It’s a totally different feeling to the 400/4 with heaps more grunt and slower, more deliberate and stable handling. Outright performance seems similar though.

At a fuel stop a couple of desperadoes on an old Suzi water-bottle proudly display the sign they ripped off from the Bathurst drive in. Whatever you get your kicks from I suppose.

Tenterfield at last! I feel like we are back on home ground now, although it’s still well over 200kms until I get to a hot shower and warm bed. The sun is setting and we’re only too aware that the Bruxner Highway is bad for ‘roos at night, and the XS cannot run its lights due to that rotten battery.

Phil is now on the 400/4. Mick’s on the front of the XS and I am comfortably seated on the back of the XS taking it easy leaning back on the gear and listening to the steady beat of the lovely twin. What a fun ride it is down the range. Gees, Mick’s taking this bend a bit quick though!

Scrape...pick the bike up a little, scrap...scrape...The armco sits there like a magnet as the Yam runs wider and wider. Nearly in the gravel now and we’re still scraping.

I feel sick!

The corner finally opens up and we breathe sighs of relief.

One black mark for the Hancos, they are too low.

I contemplate

the things I’ve heard about XS650’s handling. Sure, it’s no Egli, but it is safe, steady and predictable. That’s high praise when you think about it.

It’s dark when we stop at Tabulum for fuel and a leak. I’ve done very little night riding and back on the road on the 400/4 I am finding it difficult to give Phil and Mick on the electrically defunct XS enough light. The pace is slow.

A car overtakes us and the XS is off after it. I can’t keep up. Night riding is a totally different experience, requiring new skills, altered perceptions and revised reactions to vastly different visual inputs. I have a lot to learn, so I cruise along through the gently twisting darkness, dodging potholes and animal carcases that throw themselves suddenly into my dimly lit yellow wedge of reality and just as quickly vanish.

I’ll catch up with the others at Casino.

The tighter Mallanganee Range section slows me even more as I strain my eyes for signs of imminent doom. Cresting a rise the silhouette of a figure beside the road looms from the darkness. It’s Michael. The first thing I notice are the holes in his gloves and prepare myself for the news that is bound to follow.

“Are you alright?” I ask.

“Yeah, I’m okay,” he replies in a puzzled voice.

They couldn’t keep up with the car and had stopped to wait for me. Michael’s had holes in his gloves for years!

Phil climbs aboard the Honda. I hop on the back of the Mick-ridden XS. The road straightens out, the moon comes up and we’re making good time.

Puttering through Casino we pass a pair of coppers who give the lightless Yamaha a casual glance from the comfort of their parked car but end up ignoring us. Some bloke in a panel van realises what’s going on and gets behind us, spotlights blazing and stays about 20 meters behind matching our speed.

In no time at all we are in Lismore.

Thanks, mate.

Mick gets off in Goonellabah. Phil and I ride off into the now rainy night.

A couple of horn blasts and a wave see Phil’s ever grinning face duck down to his instruments as he flattens the still lightless XS down the side street to where he lives. Another 20km of narrow, slippery, rain-soaked corners and I am home. D www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au 103

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EVENT

GET READY FOR ‘THE MOTORCYCLE’!

Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) set to reopen

F

ROM 7 AUGUST THE doors of Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art are set to reopen as preparations for the world exclusive exhibition ‘The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire’ rev up.

Director Chris Saines said thousands of visitors had returned to experience the permanent collection and exhibitions including ‘Mavis Ngallametta: Show Me the Way to Go Home’ since QAG reopened on 23 June.

‘Now, in line with the Queensland Government’s Roadmap to Recovery and our COVID-19 safety plan in place, we look forward to welcoming visitors back to our second site the Gallery of Modern Art as we prepare for our must-see summer exhibition, ‘The Motorcycle’.

‘From 28 November to 26 April, 2021, ‘The Motorcycle’ will feature more than 100 motorcycles from the 1870s to the present day, right across GOMA’s entire ground floor.

‘It will run the full design gamut from the earliest 19th century steam-powered motorcycle, the circa 1870 Perreaux Vélocipède à vapeur on loan from Paris, right through to new electric bikes heralding the future, such as the Savic C-Series Alpha, a 2020 release from Australian automotive designer Dennis Savic.

‘The exhibition will appeal not only to bike and motor sport enthusiasts but to anyone with an interest in social history, popular culture, design and technology,’ Mr Saines said.

‘The Motorcycle’ offers multiple interactive experiences for visitors of all ages and it includes a green screen motorcycle riding experience, a motorcycle design studio where you can build and customise your own virtual bike and a mobile companion site to help you navigate 150 years of

motorcycle design history and learn the stories behind each of the bikes on display.

Curated by distinguished USbased design curator and physicist Professor Charles M. Falco and writer and filmmaker Ultan Guilfoyle in collaboration with QAGOMA, the exhibition explores pioneering motorcycles and classic commuters, off-road bikes and speed machines, as well as custom creations and motorcycle designs of the future.

Among the many highlights in the exhibition will be: ● A rare 1906 Spencer, one of the very earliest Australian motorcycles designed and manufactured in Auchenflower, Brisbane; ● A 1920 Indian Scout

“Munro Special” created by the legendary NZ rider Burt Munro; ● A 1927 Harley-Davidson FHA 8-valve speedway racer with sidecar; ● The 1951 Vincent Black Lightning that set an Australian land speed record in its day and more recently a world record for the highest price paid at auction for a motorcycle; ● Impressive speed machines such as a 1916 Indian 8-valve board track racer, a 1974 Ducati 750SS and a 1994 Britten V1000, created by New Zealand design engineer, John Britten; ● The 2016 Dakar winning KTM Rally 450 motorcycle ridden by celebrated Australian motorsport champion Toby Price; Others will include sleek custom

objects of desire including the 2016 Black Knight designed by Max Hazan, Bandit 9’s 2016 Eve Mk II, Craig Rodsmith’s 2018 Corps Léger and the 2019 Fuller Moto ‘2029’.

During ‘The Motorcycle’, audiences can also experience ‘Full Face: Artists’ Helmets’, a showcase of some of Australia’s most acclaimed contemporary artists responding to the motorcycle helmet. Artists featured in ‘Full Face’ include Archie Moore, Brian Robinson, Callum McGrath, Eric Bridgeman, eX de Medici, Ghost Patrol, Guan Wei, Kate Beynon, Madeleine Kelly, Monika Behrens, Nell, Reko Rennie, Robert Moore, Shaun Gladwell and TextaQueen.

Accompanying the exhibition is a major film program screening in the Gallery’s Australian Cinémathèque that includes classics such as The Great Escape 1963 starring Steve McQueen and contemporary interpretations of motorcycle culture captured in films such as Akira 1988, The Motorcycle Diaries 2004 and Finke: There and Back 2018.

‘The Motorcycle’ is accompanied by a hardcover 320 page book co-published with Phaidon. Celebrating the history and future of the motorcycle, the book includes images of the motorcycles featured in the exhibition and essays from the exhibition cocurators. Purchase at GOMA store or online at qagoma.store.

Tickets to ‘The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire’ are now on sale at qagoma.qld.gov.au/motorcycle.

‘The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire’ is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar. D

104 www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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PUB OF THE MONTH: BOOROWA / COME OUT: BRISBANE / JOIN OUR PARADISE-BURT MUNRO TOUR IN NZ / PLANNING THAT TRIP / ADVENTURE BETTER PART 6 / MEMORIES OF BATHURST THE BEAR: WHAT ARE YEZ? / STUART: FINDING TIME / BORIS: LICKING WOUNDS

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The judging will take place at the Promoter’s premises, Suite 4b, Level 1, 11-13 Orion Rd, Lane Cove West NSW. The winner will be drawn by the Editor of Australian Motorcyclist Magazine on Thursday 17 September, 2020 and will be notified by telephone or email. One entry per person will be permitted during the promotional period. The winner will be drawn105 at random www.ausmotorcyclist.com.au

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WHATSAYYOU?

W

E LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, the letters are among the most keenly read parts of the magazine.

Please try and keep letters down to no more than 300 words. Then you can read many, not just a couple.

We do reserve the right to cut them and, unless you identify yourself and at least your town or suburb and state, we will print your email address instead. Please address letters to contactus@ausmotorcyclist.com.au or Australian Motorcyclist Magazine, Suite 4b, Level 1, 11-13 Orion Rd, Lane Cove West NSW 2066.

All opinions published here are those of the writers and we do not vouch for their accuracy or even their sanity.

LETTER OF THE MONTH

W

ELL, IN RESPONSE TO my last editorial regarding whether people have taken some of their super and bought a bike, Joe has let us know he is one of them. For his efforts to tell us about it, he’s won the shirt and backpack from the fine folk at Nelson-Rigg – nelsonrigg.com.au SW

SPEND UP!

FIRE UP

Hi Stuart, Just read the letter about the new Tiger 900 firing order is 132 for when putting together or timing a engine you work off TDC on cylinder 1 so 1 always comes first in the firing order.

Regards, Bruce Shand.

Hi Bruce, So correct you are, mate.

Cheers, Stuart.

WHAT’S THE LATEST?

Tour date 8-21 Feb 2021, do you have any details or updates on this tour?

Regards, Trevor Barnes Hi Trevor, All is go at this stage as we hope an Aus/NZ travel bubble opens up soon.

Best thing to do is contact the guys at Paradise and discuss the tour as they’re the ones running it.

Hope to see you there.

Cheers, Stuart.

WAKE UP

Boris, Your drivel from issue 90 is you only writing to get a reaction. Well, you know, I distinctly remember flying past you on the Putty Road and you carrying on once you finally caught up to me while I was already having a coffee at Grey Gums. If you want

Stuart, Your editorial in number 90 got me to writing this response…

I am one of those that has had a bit of a wake up call with all this covid bullshit going on. I did take ten large out of my superannuation and treated myself to a new bike.

I bought myself a bike I’ve long dreamed of, an MV Agusta. Yep, one of those fine works of art.

I thought to myself, stuff hanging onto all this cash I’ve got stored up in my super. It goes up and down all the time and at the time of taking ten large out it had regained to carry on to the lovely readers of this magazine, how about you learn how to ride properly first before banging on to others about how shit they are or whatever. You really are a joke living in your own fantasy land bubble. And, when you do learn how to ride properly, come and see me.

Regards, John Flaherty, Newcastle, NSW

DAMN!

G’day Stu & Bear, I live in Mexico, well, Victoria to you and everyone else. I’m really disappointed that our state got shut down again, as I’d only just started getting out enjoying riding again. I can only hope this latest round of lock downs doesn’t last too long and the main thing I’m worried about is all those small businesses that have

just about all that was lost since all this covid crap started. In fact, since taking my ten out it has regained about three, so that’s only really cost me seven large. Not bad for a new MV! Of course I did have to sell my current bike before lobbing into my local MV dealer and riding away, so that made up the majority of the cost. So, if you see me riding up the Old Pac on a shiny pearl white MV, it’s not only my pearly whites smiling, but that glorious paintwork on my new piece of art.

Keep up the great work you blokes do, I love reading this book every month.

Regards, Joe, Vineyard, NSW to endure more loss. I am lucky in my field of work for the government that I won’t lose my job but those small businesses really do need all the help we can give them. So, what I’m asking everyone reading this fine publication is to head to their local café, corner store, restaurant, bike shop, accessory shop etc etc and spend a bit of what you can. Every bit can make a difference. Even if you are in lock down, order some takeaway or something from that place you love, otherwise it might not be there once things open up soon.

Cheers, Simon, Melbourne, VIC Hi Simon, Great idea, one which I mentioned a while ago, but should still be in the focus of everyone. It’s quite a lot like what our Pub of the Month legend, Colin Whelan does

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to improve my biceps to improve my biceps improve my biceps Hito Harry, I’m Harry, sure fine to the Hi foryour pubslegs in look the country – heones that Hi Harry, care…your family.

As for your bike notthat being a I’m sure your legs look fi ne to the ones encourages us all to get out there sure your legs look fi ne to the ones that veryI’m good exercise machine, you better get an a care…your family.

As for your bike not and spend a bit of hard earned being care…your family.

As for your bike not adventure bike and do some hillclimbs, that will a very good exercise machine, you better get anbeing to keep these places going. very good exercise machine, you better get an get the Cheers, muscles burning!

- Cheers, Stuart. adventure bikeStuart. and do some hillclimbs, that will and do- some hillclimbs, get adventure the musclesbike burning!

Cheers, Stuart.that will get the muscles burning! - Cheers, Stuart.

STROM

Braidwood. Purpose to ride, have a social get together Purpose and havetosome Braidwood. ride,food have whilst a social Braidwood.

Purpose to ride, have a social out.together Now, noand such trips. get have some food whilst get together and have some food whilst I know there out.

Now, no has suchbeen trips.panic in terms of out.

Now, nohas such trips.panic up of products like loo Ibuying know there been in paper, terms of I know there has been panic in paper, terms of tissues, up hand canned buying of sanitizer, productspasta, like loo buyinghand upand ofsanitizer, products like loo paper, tomatoes other products.

This panic tissues, pasta, canned tissues, hand sanitizer, pasta, canned buying hasand been ridiculous in my tomatoes other products.

Thisopinion panic tomatoes other products.

This panic and created a problem of store supply buying hasand been ridiculous in my opinion buyingthere has been ridiculous instockpile my opinion where no need and created awas problem of to store supply and created a problem of store supply Hi1Stuart, COVID goods there at home. note thattothe news where wasIno need stockpile where there was no need to stockpile IStuart, saw Dear reports that aI note smallthat supermarket COVID 1 a post on your goods atsay home. the news COVID 1 goods at home. I note that the news Facebook page that you ClearlyStuart, there is a lot of economic group Drake’s has refused to buy back Dear reports say that a small supermarket Dear reports say that a small supermarket hadStuart, the new 1050 Strom downturn as a result of COVID19 and it 150 x 32 roll packs of toilet paper and Clearly there is a lot of economic group Drake’s has refused to back Clearly there is a lot of economic group Drake’s has refused to buy buy back in for review.

What’s it is further impacting on car sales and I 1 ltr sanitizer.

I am GLAD they downturn as a result of COVID19 and it 150 x 32 roll packs of toilet paper and downturn a result COVID19 and it 150 x 32 roll packs of toilet paper and like andaswhen canofwe would think motorcycle sales (which I refused a refund as the individual is further impacting on car sales and I 150 x 1 ltr sanitizer.

I am GLAD they is further impacting 150 x 1 ltr sanitizer. I am GLAD they read about it? on car sales and I think have been down anyway pre concerned was having 20 people would think motorcycle sales (which I refused as individual Thanks, Mark. would think motorcycle sales (which I refusedaarefund refund as the theabout individual Covid19). chase thesewas products then20 think have been down concerned having about people think have been downanyway anywaypre pre concerned was havingand about 20hepeople There is nobody much on the roads in attempted to re-sell on E-Bay. Serve Covid19). chase these products and then he sincethese theyproducts came out.

Hi Mark, Covid19). chase andAnd thennot he onlythe theThere ACT except those who by necessity bugger right for being a scungy There is nobody much on the roads in attempted to re-sell on E-Bay. Serve the did you get a CB1300S, butServe you got It just so happens to beon in the this roads issue. LOL! is nobody much in attempted to re-sell on E-Bay. the have to go out for work or food and individual! the ACT except those who by necessity bugger right for being a scungy the awesome the red frame. a great bike.those who by necessity theIt’s ACT except bugger right for one beingwith a scungy You But,your you’re such aofgood Cheers, Stuart. essentials.

All that bastard! said, I think quoting have to gogo out forforwork individual! have to out workororfood foodand and individual! bloke atthe the sameyour time.

If daily you of want I have been managing to use the bike for fiAll gures thatquoting die from essentials.

All that said, IIpeople think essentials. thatof said, think your YOU BASTARD! to sell put my name down forfrom it. trips within the confi nes of the cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mozzies Iessential have been managing toto use for of people that daily from I have been managing usethe thebike bike for fi figures gures ofit,the the people that die Stuart, Cheers, Ron, Sunnybank, QLD ACT border but that is a big change from and murders is an unfair comparison!

Yes essential trips within the confi nes of the cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mozzies essential trips within the confines of the cancer, heart disease, diabetes, You must have kissed on the you ourACT weekly ride group where we would to date the total numbers of COVID19 ACT border but that is a big change from and murders is an unfair comparison!

Yes border but that is a big change from and murders is an unfair Yes know what.

How bloody lucky of Hi Ron, usually ride ride out of the where ACT to, say, deaths Wide wouldofbeCOVID19 exceeded by our weekly group wewe would to the numbers our weekly ride group where would todate dateWorld thetotal total numbers COVID19 a bastard are you to have got that LOL! worth You’re or suchless a funny bastard!

Can I Goulburn orout Boorowa orACT Yass adeaths week’s perhaps of the usually ride ofofthetheACT to,to,or say, deaths World Wide would be exceeded by usually ride out say, World Wide would by amazing looking Honda CB1300S. call you that? Well, I guess you sort of called Goulburn or BoorowaororYass Yassoror aweek’s week’sworth worthor or less less perhaps of the Goulburn or Boorowa a I have lusted over one of them ever me that. I will put your name down for it, if

reasons for the daily figures of these deaths, however this fipandemic of COVID reasons for the daily gures of these reasons for the daily fi gures of these 19 is nothowever normal this andpandemic as you would know deaths, of COVID deaths, however this pandemic of COVID hasisthe potential for totally overwhelming 19 not normal and as you would know I ever sell my amazing CB1300S 19 notpotential normal and as you would know theishospital and medical resources of all has the for totally overwhelming but it won’t be cheap. has the potential for totally overwhelming countries.

ICheers, am aware of any cancers the hospital andnot medical resources of all Stuart. the medical resources of all etc hospital you canI and catch from shaking countries. am not aware of anysomeone’s cancers countries.

IRIDE am notfrom awareshaking of any cancers ON hand orcan touching contaminated surfaces. etc you catch someone’s etc catch from shaking someone’s Hi Bear, So,you comparing normal worldwide deaths to hand orcan touching contaminated surfaces. hand or touching contaminated surfaces.

I deaths amnormal saddened to hear COVID19 is likeworldwide trying to compare So, comparing deaths to So, comparing normal worldwide deaths to Compass apples andoforanges.

COVID19 deaths is likeExpeditions trying to compare COVID19 closing deaths isitslike tryingI to compare doors. didas a Iapples felt your across andeditorial oranges.came apples and tour oranges. with them a couple of dismissive of the seriousness of asCovid19 feltyour youreditorial editorial cameacross across IIfelt came as years ago and had probably and smacked bit of self-centredness in dismissive of athe seriousness Covid19 dismissive of seriousness ofofCovid19 thethe best time of my life. highlighting the inconvenience it has and smacked a bit of self-centredness and smacked a bit don’t of self-centredness Please tell my wife, inin caused you.

I like bikes and riding too, but highlighting the inconvenience has highlightingbut theitinconvenience it ithas was even better than many people have had to alter travel plans causedyou. you.our like bikesand andriding too, but wedding day.

Iriding know caused IIlike bikes too, but etc for the greater good. many people have had to alter travel plans you write alltravel sorts plans many people have hadabout to alter Iofthink that all thegood. media reporting etc forthe the greater good. tour companies but who do youthough etc for greater worrisome peoplethough as it is think thatallallIfor the media reporting though goAustralian with now?

IIisrecommend think that the media reporting repeated and repeated and like the is worrisome for Australian people Jack, Coffs Harbour, isRegards, worrisome for Australian people NSW asasit itis is bushfiresand yourepeated do not get alike break repeated and repeated and likethe thefrom it. repeated and Hi Jack, and yes, itnot wasget a great shame thatit.atit.

Every time you on T.V, look bushfi res you doturn not get abreak break from bushfi res you do athe from they had to close Ithe can’t Facebook, listen todoors. the radio itreally islook in your Every time youthe turn onthe T.V, Every time you turn on T.V, look atat recommend a tour operator without knowing face or ears.

Facebook, listen to the radio it is in your Facebook, listen to the radio it is in your want tomy go,listening/reading/ and what sort of trip Iwhere tryor toyou reduce face or ears. face ears. you want it to be.

Write to us again to once orlistening/reading/ twice a day and to keep up tryto toreduce reduce mylistening/reading/ IIwatching try my I’ll try to put something together for you with developments -twice more than that is upup watching onceorortwice day keep watching totoonce a aday toto keep and others who are no doubt wondering with developments - -more than that is is with developments more than that the same thing – The Bear

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107

30/4/20 9:37 pmpm 30/4/20 9:37 7/08/2020 2:25:06 AM

W H AT S AY Y O U GOOD TIMES

Gents, All this time I’ve been spending at home has got me thinking of the great times I’ve had riding motorcycles.

I thought I might share with you just one of those great memories.

It was a ride me and my mates had planned for a couple of months.

We’d all leave on a Friday morning, head for our accommodation and enjoy some drinks. We were setting off from just west of Sydney in Merrylands. We rode up Bells Line of Road to Lithgow, Rylstone, to Denman for our overnight stay at the pub. Sounds like any other ride you might do with your mates, huh?

Well, the excitement came when my mate hit some loose gravel around a left hander. He luckily kept it upright but shot off through a barbed wire fence into the adjacent paddock.

He suffered some small cuts and so on and was okay to keep riding but the wire somehow tangled itself throughout the bike in a way you could never have even dreamed.

The four of us tried with all we could to get the bike untangled but

it was lodged solid around the discs and front wheel. The rear wheel wasn’t too bad and took about ten minutes to unwind as the chain had cut the wire nicely.

But that front wheel took us about an hour before we decided to send two of the boys off for a farmer or someone who might have had something to help prop up the bike.

Twenty or so later the boys came back with a bloke in his ute. He had a hydraulic jack, but that sunk into the soft paddock dirt. It did end up stopping in the dirt enough for us to get the front wheel in the air and we attempted to get the front wheel out.

A couple of hours had now past and the taste of cold beer and bourbon were not looking like happening, but long story short we got the front wheel out, the bloke in the ute had some wire cutters and we got the wheel back in and off we went. We arrived at Denman just in time for dinner and our planned late afternoon of drinks and tall stories were quashed.

Our second day’s riding was from Denman, Wallabadah, Tamworth, Walcha, Port Macquarie and back

to Sydney. A big day’s riding and it bucketed down but we escaped any dramas. It’s funny how we always remember the cock ups from rides and not the ones that go perfectly.

I have attached a mocked up drawing of what the front wheel looked like. I got my three year old niece to draw it. Ha! Cheers, Sam. Hi Sam, Yep, I’ve always said how it’s the rides that don’t go to plan that are the most memorable.

I also feel the most memorable trips are the ones when you stay in some dingy old pub in the middle of nowhere and you run out of water or have to cook your own food versus living it up first class make travelling by motorcycle with great mates lifetime memories.

Cheers, Stuart. D

TOUR OPERATOR The guide to the stars DIRECTORY

The who’s who in the zoo of motorcycle travel worldwide is what you’ll find here.

We’ve travelled with many of them and know them all, so they come highly recommended. In alphabetical order, they are:

ADRIATIC MOTO TOURS – Europe www.adriaticmototours.com info@adriaticmototours.com

MAGIC MOTORCYCLING – Thailand and Croatia www.magicmotorcycling.com tour@magicmotorcycling.com

CENTRAL OTAGO MOTORCYCLE HIRE AND TOURS – New Zealand www.comotorcyclehire.co.nz info@comotorcyclehire.co.nz

MOTORADD TOURS – Worldwide office@motoradd-tours.com www.motoradd-tours.com

SOUTH PACIFIC MOTORCYCLE TOURS – New Zealand www.motorbiketours.co.nz office@motorbiketours.co.nz

EDELWEISS BIKE TRAVEL – Worldwide tours* *Guided, Self-Guided + Rental www.edelweissbike.com

PARADISE MOTORCYCLE TOURS – New Zealand & European Alps www.paradisemotorcycletours.co.nz

TEWAIPOUNAMU MOTORCYCLE TOURS – New Zealand www.motorcycle-hire.co.nz nzbike@motorcycle-hire.co.nz

IMTBIKE TOURS & RENTALS – Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Europe and Thailand www.imtbike.com tours@imtbike.com

RIDE THE WORLD MOTORCYCLE TOURS www.ridetheworldmotorcycletours.com david@rtwmotorcycletours.com

WORLD ON WHEELS – Europe, Iceland, South America, India, Asia, Mexico, Africa & Himalaya www.worldonwheels.tours Adventure@WorldOnWheels.Tours

ROMANIA MOTORCYCLE TOURS – Europe www.romaniamotorcycletours.com office@romaniamotorcycletours.com

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NEWBIKEPRICES

M

ost prices exclude dealer and on road costs and some are ride away prices – ask your local dealer for the best possible price!

APRILIA

www.aprilia.com.au ROAD Shiver 900 ABS Dorsoduro 900 ABS Tuono V4 1100 RR Tuono V4 1100 Factory RSV4 1100 Factory SCOOTER SR MT 125 Scarabeo 200 ie

$15,190 $15,790 $22,490 $27,190 $33,990 $3390 $5190

BENELLI

www.benelli.com.au

*All Benelli prices are ride away ROAD TnT 125 $4390 402 S $TBA 502 C $9990 Imperiale $TBA Leoncino $9390 Leoncino Trail $9890 Leoncino Sport $TBA 752 S $12,990 ADV TOURING TRK 502 TRK 502 X

$9390 $9890

BMW

www.bmwmotorrad.com.au ROAD G 310 R F 800 R F 800 GT S 1000 R S 1000 R Sport S 1000 RR S 1000 RR Sport S 1000 RR Race R nineT R nineT Pure R nineT Scrambler R nineT Racer R nineT Urban G/S R 1250 R R 1250 R HP R 1250 R Exclusive R 1250 R Spezial R 1250 R R 1250 RS Sport R 1250 RS Exclusive R 1250 R Spezial R 1250 RT R 1250 RT Sport R 1250 RT Elegance R 1250 R Spezial K 1600 B K 1600 GT

K 1600 GT Sport K 1600 GTL K 1600 GTL Elegance

$36,990 $37,990 $40,490

ADV SPORT S 1000 XR

$22,190

ADV TOURING G 310 GS F 750 GS F 750 GS Tour F 750 GS Low Susp F 750 GS Tour LS F 850 GS F 850 GS Rallye F 850 GS Rallye X F 850 GS Tour F 850 GS Low Susp F 850 GS Rallye Low Susp F 850 GS Tour Low Susp F 850 GSA R 1250 GS R 1250 GS Rallye R 1250 GS Rallye X R 1250 GS Exclusive R 1250 GS Spezial R 1250 GSA R 1250 GSA Rallye R 1250 GSA Rallye X R 1250 GSA Exclusive R 1250 GSA Spezial

$8090 $13,590 $17,305 $13,840 $17,005 $17,990 $18,390 $22,305 $21,805 $18,240 $18,640 $21,505 $TBA $23,490 $24,940 $29,890 $28,140 $31,390 $25,490 $26,390 $31,590 $30,790 $30,540

SCOOTER C 650 Sport C 650 GT

$14,150 $14,990

CAN-AM (BRP) www.brp.com

Spyder F3 Spyder F3-S Spyder F3-T Spyder F3 Limited Spyder RT Spyder RT Limited

$TBA $TBA $TBA $TBA $TBA $TBA

$20,990 $23,490 $23,790 $23,750 $23,990 $26,490 $31,190 $31,390 $33,190 $38,490 $31,990 $32,190 $34,690 $34,890

www.harley-davidson.com

www.cf-moto.com.au ROAD 150NK $3290 250NK $3990 650NK $6490 650TK $7990 650MT $7990 650GT $7990

DUCATI

www.ducati.com.au

*All Ducati prices are ride away ROAD Scrambler Sixty2 Scrambler Icon Scrambler Full Throttle Scrambler Café Racer Scrambler Desert Sled Scrambler 1100 Scrambler 1100 Special Scrambler 1100 Sport Monster 659 Monster 797 Monster 821 Monster 821 Stealth

ADV TOURING Multistrada 950 Red Multistrada 950 S Red Multistrada 950 S Grey Multistrada 950 S Red Spokes Multistrada 950 S Grey Spokes Multistrada 1260 Red Multistrada 1260 S Red Multistrada 1260 S White/Grey Multistrada 1260 S T-Pack Multistrada 1260 S Pikes Peak Multistrada 1260 Enduro Red Multistrada 1260 Enduro Sand Multistrada 1260 Enduro Red T-Pack Multistrada 1260 Enduro Sand T-Pack

HARLEY-DAVIDSON

CF MOTO $5790 $12,990 $16,300 $19,390 $21,690 $21,990 $23,990 $25,690 $22,490 $17,690 $18,750 $19,150 $18,750 $21,240 $27,040 $26,065 $26,765 $22,540 $28,215 $27,215 $28,065 $32,290 $33,190 $33,465 $34,215 $36,490 $36,490

Hypermotard $20,790 Hypermotard SP $25,990 Supersport $17,790 Supersport S $20,250 Panigale 959 Red $22,490 Panigale 959 White $22,990 Panigale 959 Corse $25,990 Monster 1200 $22,990 Monster 1200 S Red $26,990 Monster 1200 S Grey $27,190 Monster 1200 R Red $30,190 Diavel 1260 $29,790 Diavel 1260 S $34,890 X Diavel $30,190 X Diavel S Black $35,490 X Diavel S White $35,790 Streetfighter V4 $29,800 Streetfighter V4 S $33,900 Panigale V4 $31,390 Panigale V4 S $39,990 Panigale V4 S GP $42,790 Panigale V4 Speciale $63,190 Panigale V4 Speciale Magnesium Wheel $68,190 Panigale V4 R $63,190 Panigale V4 R Superleggera $150,000

$13,490 $13,990 $17,540 $18,990 $19,290 $16,990 $18,990 $19,990 $12,490 $13,490 $17,500 $18,590

* All Harley-Davidson prices are ride away CRUISER Street 500 $9995 Street Rod $12,995 SuperLow 883 $15,495 Iron 883 $15,495 Iron 1200 $16,495 Forty-Eight $18,995 Forty-Eight Special $18,995 Custom 1200 $19,250 Roadster $19,495 Street Bob $23,495 Low Rider $24,250 Slim $26,250 Fat Bob $27,495 Fat Bob 114 $30,250 Sport Glide $27,750 Deluxe $29,495 Fat Boy $30,995 Fat Boy 114 $33,995 Breakout $31,250 Breakout 114 $33,995 FXDR 114 $35,495 Heritage Classic $31,750 Heritage Classic 114 $33,995 Road King $34,250

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NEW BIKE PRICES Road King Special $35,250 Road Glide $36,495 Road Glide Special $37,495 Street Glide $36,495 Street Glide Special $37,495 Ultra Limited $39,995 Freewheeler $40,250 Tri Glide Ultra $50,995 CVO Street Glide 117 Road Glide 117 Ultra Limited 117

$49,750 $49,995 $52,995

HONDA

www.honda.com.au ROAD Grom $3490 Monkey $5399 CB125E $2399 CB300R $5999 CB500F $7599 CBR500R $7699 CBR600RR $14,999 CB650F $9799 CB650R $9999 CBR650F $9999 CBR650R $10,299 CB1000R $16,799 CBR1000RR Fireblade $18,086 CBR1000RR Fireblade SP $28,499 Goldwing DCT $35,999 Goldwing Tour $41,999 Goldwing Tour Premium $42,999 CRUISER CMX $8099 ADV TOURING CRF250R Rally $7299 CB500X $7999 NC750XA $9999 Africa Twin $17,499 Africa Twin Adventure Sports $19,699 Africa Twin Adventure Sport DCT $19,999 VFR1200X Crosstourer $18,299 SCOOTER NSC110 Dio $2799 MW110 Benly $3349 C125 Super Cub $5199 SH150 $4999 PCX150 $4599 NSS300A Forza $7999

HUSQVARNA

www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com/au ROAD Vitpilen 401 Svartpilen 401 Vitpilen 701

$11,592 $11,592 $18,337

INDIAN

www.indianmotorcycles.com.au

*All Indian Motorcycle prices are ride away CRUISER Scout Bobber $18,995 Scout $19,495 FTR1200 $20,995 FTR1200S $22,995 FTR1200S Race Rep $24,995 Chief Dark Horse $28,995

Chief Vintage $32,995 Springfield $33,995 Springfield Dark Horse $34,995 Chieftain Dark Horse $35,995 Chieftain Limited $36,995 Roadmaster $40,995 Roadmaster Elite $49,995

KAWASAKI

www.kawasaki.com.au ROAD Z125 Pro KRT $4249 Z400 $6499 Ninja 400 $6699 Ninja 400 KRT $6949 Ninja 400 SE $6949 Z650L $10,499 Ninja 650/L $10,699 Ninja 650/L KRT $10,999 Ninja ZX-6R 636 $14,999 Ninja ZX-6R 636 KRT $13,999 W800 Café $13,999 W800 SE Black Edition $11,999 W800 Street $12,999 Z900 $12,699 Z900RS $16,499 Z900RS Café $16,499 Z1000 $15,999 Ninja 1000 SX $16,999 ZX-10R $20,999 ZX-10R KRT $23,900 ZX-10R SE $26,999 ZX-10RR $35,500 ZX-14R Brembo Ohlins $22,099 Z H2 $23,000 H2 SX SE+ $33,000 H2 Carbon $41,900 H2 R $65,400 CRUISER Vulcan S Vulcan S SE Vulcan S Café Vulcan 900 Classic Vulcan 900 Custom

$9999 $10,199 $10,499 $12,499 $12,599

ADV TOURING Versys X 300 SE $6599 Versys 650/L $10,799 KLR650 $8199 Versys 1000 SE $22,499

KTM

www.ktm.com.au ROAD 390 Duke 790 Duke 790 Duke R 1290 Super Duke R 1290 Super Duke GT

$7295 $14,995 $15,495 $25,995 $29,695

ADV TOURING 690 Enduro R 790 Adventure 790 Adventure R 1090 Adventure R 1290 Super Adv S 1290 Super Adv R

$17,595 $21,195 $22,695 $24,295 $28,395 $29,195

KYMCO

kymco.com.au ROAD CK 125

$2095

CRUISER Venox 250

$5295

SCOOTER Super 8 125 Like 125 Espresso 150 Like 200 Downtown 300i ABS

$2595 $2995 $2799 $3395 $7495

LAMBRETTA

www.lambrettaaustralia.com.au V125 Special Fix V125 Special Flex V200 Special Fix V200 Special Flex

$4290 $4290 $4990 $4990

MOTO GUZZI

www.motoguzzi.com.au ROAD V7 III Stone V7 III Special V7 III Racer V7 III Anniversario V9 Bobber V9 Roamer

$12,990 $13,990 $16,490 $16,990 $15,190 $15,190

CRUISER Cali Audace Carbon $23,990 Cali 1400 Eldorado $23,990 Cali 1400 Touring SE $25,990 MGX-21 $35,000

MV AGUSTA

www.mvagusta.com.au ROAD F3 675 $20,490 F3 675 RC $26,990 Brutale 800 $20,490 Brutale 800 RR $23,490 Brutale 800 RR Pirelli $28,990 Brutale 800 RR America $26,990 Brutale 800 RR RC $30,880 Brutale 800 Dragster RR $26,390 Brutale 800 Dragster RC $30,880 Brutale 800 RR Hamilton $36,880 RVS #1 $49,990 F3 800 $22,490 F3 800 RC $28,990 Superveloce 800 $49,990 Turismo Veloce $22,490 Turismo Veloce Lusso $25,990 Turismo Veloce RC $29,880 Turismo Velo Lusso SCS $29,990 Turismo Veloce Lusso RC SCS $33,990 Brutale 1090 $21,490 Brutale 1090 RR $24,990 F4 $26,990 F4 RR $36,990 F4 RC $58,880 F4 Lewis Hamilton $89,880

PIAGGIO

www.piaggio.com.au

*Some Piaggio prices are ride away SCOOTER Typhoon 125 Fly 150 3V Liberty S 150 3V Medley 150

$2790 $3490 $3790 $5290

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Yourban 300 BV 350 Sport Touring X10 350 X10 500

$9790 $8190 $9490 $9,990

PEUGEOT

www.peugeotmotorcycles.com.au *All Peugeot prices are ride away SCOOTER Tweet 125 Tweet 125 Pro Django 150 Belville 200 Metropolis 400

$4290 $4390 $5290 $5590 $14,790

ROYAL ENFIELD

www.royalenfieldaustralia.com

*All Royal Enfield prices are ride away ROAD Classic 350 Classic 350 Redditch Bullet 500 Classic 500 Classic 500 Redditch Classic Chrome Bullet 500 Trials 650 Interceptor Classic 650 Interceptor Custom 650 Interceptor Chrome 650 Continental GT Classic 650 Continental GT Custom 650 Continental GT Chrome

$6490 $6490 $8690 $8990 $8990 $9190 $9190 $9790 $9990 $10,290 $9990 $10,190 $10,490

ADV TOURING Himalayan $7490

SUPER SOCO

www.supersoco.com.au

*All Super Soco prices are ride away ROAD TS Sport $4790 TC Café Racer $5490 TC Max alloy wheel $7990 TC Max wire wheel $8290 CUX $4990 CUX Special Edition Ducati $5490

Boulevard M109R

$19,490

ADV TOURING V-Strom 250 $6190 DR650SE $8090 V-Strom 650 $10,990 V-Strom 650 XT $11,990 V-Strom 1000 XT $16,490 SCOOTER Address Burgman 200 Burgman 400

$2490 $5490 $10,490

SWM

www.swmmotorcycles.com.au ROAD Gran Turismo Silver Vase 440 Gran Milano 440 SM 500 R SM 650 R

$7490 $7490 $7990 $8990 $9490

ADV TOURING Superdual

$9990

TRIUMPH

VESPA

www.vespa.com.au SCOOTER Primavera 125 3V $5590 Primavera 150 3V $6290 Sprint 150 3V $6390 Sprint 150 3V SE $6490 GTS 150 3V $6290 PX150 $6490 PX150 Touring $6790 946 Bellissima $12,490 946 Armani $14,990 GTS250ie FL $7890 GTS300 Super $9190 GTS300 Super Sport $9490

YAMAHA

www.w-motor.com.au

ROAD Street Triple S 660 $14,900 Street Triple RS $19,800 Street Twin $15,890 Street Scrambler $17,990 Bonneville T100 $17,300 Bonneville T100 Black $17,300 Bobber $20,590 Bonneville Bobber Black $22,100 Bonneville T120 $19,990 Bonneville T120 Black $19,990 Speedmaster $22,100 Thruxton $21,100 Thruxton R $23,990 Thruxton RS $25,390 Speed Twin $20,350 Daytona Moto2 765 $28,990 Tiger Sport $19,800 Speed Triple RS $25,290

ROAD YZF-R15 $4299 MT-03 $5799 R3 $6299 R3 SP $6399 YZF-R6 $17,499 MT-07 LA $9999 MT-07 HO $10,699 XSR700 LA $10,999 MT-07 Tracer $12,299 MT-09 $12,299 MT-09 SP $13,999 XSR900 $12,999 MT-09 Tracer $15,499 MT-09 Tracer GT $18,199 Niken $21,999 Niken GT $23,999 MT-10 $18,999 MT-10SP $21,999 YZF-R1 $23,999 YZF-R1M $31,999 FJR1300AE $27,999

ROAD GSX-S125 $3390 GSX-R125 $3490 TU250X $5990 DR-Z400SM $8990 GSX-R600 $14,990 SV650 $8990 SV650X $9490 GSX-S750 $11,490 GSX-R750 $15,990 GSX-S1000 $15,190 GSX-S1000F $15,990 GSX-S1000 Katana $18,990 GSX-R1000 $21,990 GSX-R1000R $25,490 GSX1300R Hayabusa $19,290

ADV TOURING Scrambler 1200 XC Scrambler 1200 XE Tiger 900 GT & GT Low Tiger 900 Rally Tiger 900 GT Pro Tiger 900 Rally Pro Tiger 1200 XRx Tiger 1200 XCx Tiger 1200 XRt Tiger 1200 XCa

$22,500 $23,990 $20,950 $21,990 $24,150 $24,750 $26,600 $28,200 $29,990 $31,990

CRUISER Boulevard S40 Boulevard C50T Boulevard C90

ROAD Thruxton TFC Bobber TFC Rocket 3 TFC

$7990 $10,990 $15,490

ROAD cT $23,290 Ranger $26,490 Ranger Sportsman LE $29,690 Ranger Sahara LE $29,990

*All Triumph prices are ride away

$29,990 $30,900

www.suzukimotorcycles.com.au

www.imz-ural.com.au

www.triumphmotorcycles.com.au

CRUISER Rocket 3 R Rocket 3 GT

SUZUKI

URAL

TRIUMPH FACTORY CUSTOM (TFC) www.triumphmotorcycles.com.au *All TFC prices are ride away

$33,990 $29,990 $38,990

CRUISER Virago $6799 V Star 650 Custom $8799 V Star 650A Classic $9299 Star Bolt C-Spec Cafe $8699 Star Bolt R-Spec $11,999 V Star 950 $13,999 XVS1300 Stryker $15,499 ADV TOURING XT250 $6299 Tenere 700 $15,499 Super Tenere $19,999 Super Tenere ESP $21,999 SCOOTER D’elight 125 NMAX 150 Tricity 150 XMAX 300 TMAX 560

$3399 $3999 $5099 $6999 $16,599

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BEARFACED

ARE YEZ TOURISTS OR ARE YEZ TRAVELLERS?

A

FTER PAYING OUR RESPECTS at the Guinness brewery in Dublin, halfway through our around-the-world ride, Charlie and I rode down to the docks and filled in the time before our ferry back to England sailed with dinner and a few more drinks at a wharfside pub.

When we came out, the bikes were surrounded by a tough and aggressivelooking bunch of a dozen or so kids.

They might have been only about 12 or 13, but they looked like they could go a round or two with the average mugger.

One of them pointed at us and asked: “Are yez Catlick or are yez Proddies?”

Thinking quickly as we mounted the bikes ready for a getaway, Charlie pointed to the flag stickers on the bikes and said: “We’re neither.

We’re Australians.” While they were thinking about that we rode off to the ferry. Whoo.

While that question probably doesn’t arise so much these days, the question of tourist via traveller never seems to die.

I’m not really smart enough to tell the difference between travellers and tourists like G. K. Chesterton who though that “The traveller sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.” I can understand the argument, but doesn’t it just discourage you from doing a little research before you go? Usually it’s better if I check out a place online or in a guidebook before I get on the bike, or the plane and then on the bike.

One of the things I have started doing in recent years is parking the bike and taking a sightseeing bus when I arrive in a new city for a few days.

Advantages include not having to deal with traffic on the bike in strange cities; not having to find parking spots everywhere; and not worrying about theft. As well, this gives me a mental map of the city and an overview of the places worth returning to, on my bike. But – doesn’t that make me a tourist, if even for the duration of the bus ride? Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.

I suspect that the main objection people who think of themselves as travellers have to people whom they think of as tourists is that there are so many of them. That’s something that I do agree with, although I would find myself just as annoyed by a crowd of travellers as one of tourists if they were blocking my view of the sunset or the Taj Mahal or both.

This is where motorcycles come in.

They give you options that are not available to tourists.

Bikes allow you to do something in the big wide world that you already do at home as a matter of course, but that most tourist-type people find near impossible: they allow you to timeshift. You are not stuck with limited access, crowds, established schedules and routes of tour operators, and above all just the time of the year.

It is worth remembering that out of season implies a cause; this may be the weather or, quite often, school holiday times. Best check this in advance. Rainy seasons are often quite predictable and worth paying attention to. Mind you, with the way the climate is changing in so many places, you’re probably on your own with the seasons. Until recently I would have encouraged motorcyclists to visit my home town, Sydney, in summer. I’m not so sure now, not

with the 40 degree plus days we’ve been having.

Riding a motorcycle, you can go pretty much where you like (up oneway streets the wrong way in Rome, for instance) and along mountain tracks or down to tiny beaches that could never see tourist coaches.

On a motorcycle you will find it easy to change travel plans, which means that you can pick up on suggestions by other travellers. Rumi, that bottomless fount of advice on travel, said “When you’re traveling, ask the traveler for advice, not someone whose lameness keeps him in one place.” Cruel but fair.

Tourist or traveller? Who cares?

It’s the motorcycle that makes the difference. D

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AVAILABLE AT ZINIO FOR YOUR APPLE OR ANDROID TABLET. SEARCH FOR US ON THE ZINIO WEBSITE OR VIA THE LINK ON OUR WEBSITE.

ADVERTISERS LISTING IFC,3 – Paradise Motorcycle Tours

45 – Paradise Motorcycle Tours

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63 – IMTBIKE Tours & Rentals

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9 – MC Spares

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11- Royal Enfield

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BORIS

WORDS BORIS MIHAILOVIC

LICKING MY WOUNDS I

N THE WAKE OF Marc Marquez’s spectacular broken humerus, I spent some time comparing our respective injuries.

I think anyone who’s put a few million kilometres under his wheels over almost five decades of riding is nursing something somewhere.

I’m luckier than most. I have all my fingers and toes, and I don’t limp.

My left arm is a bit munted, but it still mostly works. In fact, I’m a lot less busted up than many of my compatriots.

I think that’s because I have a huge aversion to getting injured. Having been injured a number of times, once or twice rather badly, it’s perfectly natural to have this aversion – and ride accordingly.

Getting injured sucks. Like, it really sucks.

The pain can be dealt with.

There are great drugs available to get you through. Sure, you will certainly become addicted to Oxycontin and then have to wean yourself off, but on a positive note, you can watch the same episode of The Simpsons over and over as you fade in and out of the wondrous pain-free stupor that hillbilly heroin provides.

What really bothers me about getting injured is a combination of the massive, life-altering inconvenience it is for both you and the poor person who has to look after you, and the ongoing issues that will invariably follow on from a significant injury.

If it’s significant enough – and mine was – then it will haunt you the rest of your life. You will never be the same again.

In my case, I broke my neck (stable fracture – thankfully – of the odontoid process), managed to compound fracture my radius and ulna, separated my shoulder, and did something weird to my elbow

so I can never straighten it again.

But I can still ride, so big success, huh?

As I get older – and I’m almost 60 now – the injuries I’m carrying play a significant role in my riding, both mentally and physically.

The physical shit I deal with by going to gym, lifting weights and making myself as strong as possible /to compensate for the weakness those injuries cause. Yes, it’s hard.

Weights are heavy. But, if you have a choice, why would anyone choose weakness over strength?

The mental thing is always a work in progress.

I have almost always ridden with a margin for error – mine or someone else’s. But, as I get older and face my inevitable mortality every day, that error margin has gotten wider. Sure, I’ll still throw caution to the wind now and again, and push on probably harder than I really should, but that kinda stuff is rarer and rarer.

I guess because the consequences, if it goes bad, are pretty dire.

I’ve never been a very fast rider.

I imagine myself to be competent, and faster than most, though slower than some. And I’m good with that. Now. I never used to be, and if you’d have known me in my twenties and thirties, you’d be amazed I actually made it to my forties, never mind the milestone 60 I’m looking at next year. Hell, I’m amazed myself.

Back then, injuries and diabolical behaviour were my normal. I shrugged it all off, and doubled down at every opportunity. You spend ten years with an outlaw club and shit really happens all the time.

But eventually you realise you just shouldn’t do that anymore. It’s not that you can’t. It’s that you shouldn’t.

There’s a difference. And knowing when you should or shouldn’t do

something comes with age, I guess.

Because age does not bring wisdom.

It just brings perspective.

And the perspective I have now, in terms of what the consequences are of me spearing off a cliff at 200km/h, is very different to the one I had when I was 25.

I’m not going to just shrug off the next big oopsie I have. My body lacks the resilience of youth, and the blood thinners I’m on will ensure I bleed out long before an ambulance can get to me.

That understanding is always present in my mind when I go riding. It’s not at the forefront, but it’s not tucked away all that deep. My skills have been honed over many years and miles, and they are solid and I have faith in them.

But the body is a treacherous bugger.

It will betray you time and again. Your reflexes will slow down. Your vision will get worse. You can mitigate much of this by keeping your skills sharp, but at the end of the day, it’s going to be what it’s going to be, and it’s going to go in the general direction of down.

Marquez will doubtlessly be back on a 350km/h race-bike by the time you read this. He’s in his twenties and being paid millions to do that.

It is to be expected of him.

Me? Well, I guess I’ll just keep on chugging along for as long as I can.

And now and again, when I judge the time and place is right, I’m gonna visit the speed-monsters again.

While I still can. * If you’re interested, my new book, The Wisdom Of The Road Gods, can be bought on-line at www.shocknawe.com.au D

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AMM SEPTEMBER 2020

TRIUMPH TIGER 900 / SUZUKI V-STROM 1050 / YAMAHA TMAX 560 / SF: OILS / 3 X SPORT TYRES / POTM: BOOROWA / MAP: VICTORIA

ISSUE #7, VOL 8