FIRST WORD ROSS MACKAY
SUMMER? BRING IT ON!
What a couple of months eh? In KR this month we cover the RoadCraft Junior World Championship meeting in Taupo, feature a first ride impression (sort of thing) about Aprilia’s stunning new RSV4 sportsbike and lead the magazine with a test of KTM’s much improved RC8 R. In the dirt section Ollie finds lots to like about Honda’s CRF450X enduro bike and guest rider/writer Mark ‘Cabin’ Leishman looks at three different off-road events (which he rode on a Kawasaki KX-F250) from the perspective of a pro mountain biker. In between we’ve got all sorts of inspirational stories, one about getting back on a bike after a long break and using an epic ride to reacquaint yourself with some of the best parts of our beautiful country, another about how a group of bike riding workmates got together to raise money for an ailing colleague. In each case the link is a motorcycle, or – in the case of Racing Dave and his cohorts at Air New Zealand – a bunch of scooters. That’s the great thing about bikes and bike people. While there’s a strong individual streak in all of us we like nothing better than getting together to share our passion. Yes I know you can say the same – to a point – about any group with a PUBLISHED BY: McStannic Publishing Ltd POSTAL ADDRESS: P.O. Box 299, Kumeu, Auckland COURIER ADDRESS: 127 Moire Rd, West Harbour, Auckland PHONE: 09 416 5307 Fax: 09 416 5308 PUBLISHER: Pete McPhee Office: 09 416 5307 Email: pete@kiwirider.co.nz SALES AND MARKETING Ian Ferguson Office: 09 416 5307 Mobile 021 446 164 ian@kiwirider.co.nz BIKE MART ADVERTISING: Todd Sutherland: 021 709 989 or Alan Duff: 027 264 3383
6 KIWI RIDER
shared interest. But by their very nature and availability bikes transcend all sorts of seen and unseen social boundaries and barriers. We’ve got a rich heritage of activity and achievement in this country as well, as Robert Cochrane has been uncovering in his series building up to the South Canterbury Motorcycle Club’s 100 year anniversary. Road, off-road, MX, Speedway, Trials, Road-Racing, it doesn’t seem to matter. If there are two wheels and an engine involved Kiwis will be in the thick of it, here or overseas. Spring, of course, is a great time of the year if you’re involved in bikes with year-rounders finally able to zip out those thermal liners and pack away those winter gloves, and their fairweather brethren returning to our roads and our tracks/events/bike parks, often with a new bike either underneath them or on the trailer they’re towing behind the SUV. Here at KR we’re gearing up for the summer Adventure Riding season with plans for staff members to do the Yamaha Safari and KTM Big Sky Adventure. Between now and then there will of course be some recce and general ‘getting-ready-for- it’ rides, which could include Publisher Pete and Stretch on Pete’s recently purchased two-wheel-
It’s been an epic couple of months alright. But if anything, it looks like the riding’s going to be even better in the next six! drive (ponder that for a second!) Ural sidecar! Speaking of other big events on the horizon, S & M (that’s sales & marketing……) man Ian Ferguson is off to the USA (literally as I write this) to check out Can-Am’s new Spyder touring model (complete with trailer!), Big Dave and columnist Nash have already cordoned off the last weekend in November to attend this year’s Burt Munro Rally down Invercargill way and Racing Dave has alerted me to the fact that early in the New Year there will be a story coming from him on the 2010 Dusty Butt endurance/adventure ride. It’s been an epic couple of months alright. But if anything it looks like the riding’s going to be even better in the next six! To which all I can say is; ‘bring it on!’ KR
EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Ross MacKay editor@kiwirider.co.nz
PROOFREADING: Linda Glasswell
DESIGN/LAYOUT: design@kiwirider.co.nz or set.up@clear.net.nz
DISTRIBUTION: Gordon & Gotch Ltd, McStannic Publishing Ltd.
PHOTOGRAPHER: Geoff Osborne Ph 415 2555 ospics1@xtra.co.nz
OPINIONS: Opinions expressed in Kiwi Rider are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the publishers accept no liability for any error or omissions contained herein. COPYRIGHT: This magazine is copyright in its entirety. Material may not be printed without the written permission of the publishers.ISSN 1177-0023
REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Roger Moroney, Andy McGechan, Mike Nash, Ben Townley, Josh Coppins, Michael Esdaile, Big Dave, Racing Dave, Ollie Sharp and Andy Lyver DIRT EDITOR: Ollie Sharp ON-LINE EDITOR: David Cohen
PRINTERS: GEON GROUP, Auckland