Cycle Torque April 2012

APRIL 2012 5 BIKES TESTED + TOURING VIETNAM FEATURE CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 1

American Hot Rod 2013 VICTORY JUDGE

E N O N I W D L APRILIA RS4 U O C U O Y IBOY RACER D N

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KAWASAKI

KX250F TEST

S 1000 RR

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TOURING VIETNAM

55 QUAD TORQUE

30

BMW

56

LAUNCH

FEATU RES

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TC250

RS4 125

JUDGE LAUNCH

HUSQVARNA

APRILIA

VICTORY

78 AUSSIES AT WSBK

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REGU LARS 4 12 14 16 18 20 38 41 54 62

NEWS SMALL TORQUE EDITORIAL RACE TORQUE DIRTY TORQUE GUNTRIP BIKE STUFF USED & REVIEWED TORQUE BACK - LETTERS BOOK SHOP

COVER PHOTOS: JUDGE COURTESY VICTORY, RS4 BY NIGEL PATERSON

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 3 APRILIA’S NEW

Arriving soon, for more details see your Aprilia dealer or visit

aprilia.com.au

*Offer available until June 30th, 2012 or whilst stock last.

NEWS TORQUE

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 4

AUDICATI AUDI is currently in talks to buy Ducati, and has the right of refusal on purchasing the company until mid April.

By all accounts the price is around 850 million Euro but rumours suggest Audi would probably only have to hand over around 50 million Euro but take over Ducati’s debts as well which amount to the leftover amount of 800 Million Euro.

Buying Ducati would give the massive Audi parent company Volkswagon AG its first motorcycle brand which would join a number of car brands including Skoda, Lamborghini and truck brand Scania.

An iconic marque like Ducati would certainly compliment some of VW AG’s luxury brands, and you would have to think Ducati would appreciate the technical development clout such a huge company would posses.

You might get the impression that Ducati must be on the skids to be up for sale but this isn’t the case. The Italian company sold 42,000 motorcycles in 2011, posting a 39 per cent rise in earnings before tax.

Audi isn’t the only company interested in buying Ducati. Hero MotoCorp Ltd., India’s biggest motorcycle maker, said that Ducati is one of the assets it’s examining as it looks for acquisitions to expand overseas. n

It’s not where you’re going, It’s how you get there!

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NEWS TORQUE

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 5

2012 DORSODURO APRILIA’S new Dorsoduro has been updated with a plethora of technical wizadry, and a drop in weight.

When it comes to the big bore Supermoto class the 1200cc Dorsoduro surely must be the class leader.

Not only is the bike 3kg lighter than last year’s model, and boasting 130hp, it’s been equipped with ATC (Aprilia Traction Control), and ABS (Anti Lock Braking System).

Aprilia is a leading light in the traction control war between many of the major motorcycle manufacturers, as can be seen with its RSV4 APRC sports models.

Three levels of traction control are available and the system is tied in to the ABS system for maximum effect, whether you’re cranked over on a tight turn, commuting in the rain or checking out some dirt roads in the countryside.

The Dorsoduro 1200 ATC/ABS is expected to be available from dealers in June, in red or white, for a bargain price of only $17,990. n

NEWS TORQUE

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DIESEL DUCATI

Hotel California MOTO Guzzi dealers have released images of the new California 1400 without giving any details on specification.

News of the new model first broke after a recent European dealer meeting, and a similar scenario emerged when Moto Guzzi showed the bike at an American Moto Guzzi dealer gig.

NO, DUCATI isn’t building a new model powered by a diesel engine, it’s styled by Diesel Jeans.

The brand new customised model is an ‘urban military chic’ interpretation of Ducati’s Monster.

“The Monster Diesel, and the collection dedicated to it, reflect the ‘coolness’ of this iconic motorcycle and our brand in general,” said Gabriele Del Torchio, President of Ducati Motor Holding. “The collaboration with Diesel underlines our focus on the style and trends that shape the market and I am delighted to associate our world with that of fashion and, in particular, with Diesel. Both brands globally represent technology and innovation in pure Italian style.”

With Ducati’s Monster 1100EVO providing the canvas for the new motorcycle creation, Diesel’s founder Renzo Rosso and the Ducati Design Centre guided stylists to a military inspired theme.

It seems the bike will use the long-awaited all-new twin, in 1400cc air-cooled form (there are rumours that a watercooled version also exists) and the bike appears to be seriously long and low.

Set against the black treatment of Ducati’s Trellis frame, wheels, engine covers, exhaust system and forks, the exclusive ‘Diesel Brave Green matte’ livery delivers a rugged military vehicle feel, while front brake callipers are finished in shocking yellow.

More details should arise when the bike is publicly unveiled at the Milan show this year. n

The Monster Diesel will be available at Ducati stores around the world from late July onwards.

See www.ducati.com.au for more information. n

There’s also a comprehensive apparel range to go with the model release.

NEWS TORQUE

Manx Magic DON'T forget, Aussie based motorcycle touring and shipping company Get Routed still has some spots left on its Manx GP (Isle of Man) and England tour.

The Manx GP is run on the full TT circuit, only later in the year in the last half of August. One major drawcard it has over the TT in May/June is the classic races which are also run on the full 37.7 mile circuit.

For a bit of a run down on what's happening on the tour go to the Editorial column on page 16. There's full contact details there as well but Get Routed's website is www.getrouted.com.au.

But time is running out to get your bike shipped so get amongst it. You know you want to. n

Aprilia colours APRILIA’S ultra desirable RSV4 R has a new colour in the range. If you want to stand out then ‘Sunlit Yellow’ will be up your alley. It’s available alongside the existing colours Nero Aprilia Black and Bianco Glamour White.

The RSV4 Factory, whilst remaining technically the same, will receive new livery based off the 2012 World SBK racing team along with all the carbon fibre goodies, Ohlins suspension, and now ultra light gold rims.

Check one out at your local Aprilia dealer. n

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NEWS TORQUE Simmonds To Honda MOTOCROSS and Supercross superstar Tye Simmonds has spectacularly parted ways with KTM and will ride as a Honda supported privateer for the 2012 Australian MX Nationals.

“This is something I have been looking forward to, riding for myself and starting my own team. I look at what Chad has done on the Honda and I have been impressed by his results, particularly last year in Supercross where he was a full privateer. The Honda has been doing the business in Supercross and Motocross and I feel confident I can get straight on it and go fast,” Tye said.

Troy Tried To Race Troy Corser’s retirement from racing came very close to lasting all of nothing after he put his hand up to sub for the injured Leon Haslam at the opening round of the 2012 WSBK at Phillip Island.

Simmonds competing in the USA last year.

Photo KTM/Hoppenworld.

us to ride Honda I was excited to hear from him. We are dedicated to supporting riders General Manger of Honda Motorcycles on varying levels and we are glad to have Tye Tony Hinton appreciated Tye calling Honda; riding a Honda this year. We look forward to a “There is no doubting Tye’s ability, he has an successful relationship and seeing him on the impressive resume and when he contacted 2012 CRF450R”. n

Monster backs Australian MX Nationals

MONSTER Energy has been confirmed as the title sponsor of the 2012 Australian MX Nationals which will travel to five states over a period of five months to complete the 10-round series.

CCYYCCLLEE TTOORRQQUUEE AAP PR RII L 2 0 1 2 - 8

local level.”

Monster Energy Australasian manager, Adrian Hunter, outlined the importance of the American energy drink giant in Australian motocross. “For Monster Energy, motocross is where we really established ourselves as a brand,” Hunter explained. “The Monster Energy heritage has really come from moto, so for us it is really important to work with Kevin and take the sport to the next level in Australia.

Williams Event Management’s Kevin Williams welcomed Monster Energy’s support.

“We are very excited to welcome Monster Energy on board and are very encouraged by the growth in participation for 2012.

Collectively we will give away 30,000 free kids’ tickets during the series and also create “The sport is growing in Australia, we have further opportunities for fans to win tickets, international riders coming here, and I think as well as ‘money can’t buy’ experiences via that they will be pleasantly surprised with promotions. the series and the talent that Australia has “We have an improved Tag Heuer timing to offer on a domestic level. Monster Energy system with the broadcasting of live results is excited for the season to commence and online, and will be working closely with the help continue to drive the sport forward.” n clubs to further promote the series on a

The 40-year-old Aussie said he was raring to go on the factory BMW Motorrad Superbike after teamrider Haslam had his right leg inserted with two screws after a nasty turn 12 spill in the official WSBK test a week before the race.

points,” Corser said after Friday qualifying. “He can’t even walk, so to get on the bike and be competitive is a very big ask, which I don’t think is worth it. I have all my gear, my race The Brit struggled in early practice, prompting licence is still valid and I can qualify tomorrow Corser’s bid to race. “I’ve told Leon there was [Saturday].” no sense running around in 15th and risking For the record, Haslam qualified a brave 12th another crash for the sake of a couple of and carded a 12-8 finish.n

Honda’s new Trailie HONDA will be bringing the CRF250L to Australia.

The new bike will bring many of the technologies and performance of Honda’s enduro bikes to a more dualpurpose package, with an emphasis on inexpensive pricing, economic running and genuine road and offroad versatility.

Citing the legendary XL250S of the late 1990s as an example of Honda’s history of building great dual purpose machines, Honda believes there’s a market for something more road friendly than its hard-core enduro CRF range.

replaced by the fast but heavily dirt-oriented CRF250F and CRF450F.

Cycle Torque was surprised years ago when Availability and the XR range was gradually dropped and announced. n

pricing

haven’t

been

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CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 9

NEWS TORQUE GLOUCESTER MOTORCYCLE EXPO THE fourth annual motorcycle expo will be held at a new location, Gloucester Showground, at the north end of town, on May 12 and 13.

The gates open at 4pm on Friday, May 11 for display set-up and camping as the new location allows for overnight camping on-site with food stalls during the day and a licensed bar operating from 1pm Saturday.

An initiative of Gloucester Rotary Club the event will feature plenty of fun and activities for everyone including trade displays, vintage displays, show and shine, live bands, novelty events, lucky gate prize and a burnout pad for those who dare. There is even a “saleyard” to sell your bike.

Camping is free and show entry is $10 for adults and children under 16 are free.

For alternate accommodation, check with the Visitor Information Centre on 02 6558 1408.

For more information about the expo contact Sam de Witte on 0417 656 201 or email samandmegandewitte@bigpond.com or Peter Markey on 0418 633 060 or email peter@webbs. com.au. n INACCURACY CYCLE Torque was handed this little gem of information regarding vehicle speedometer accuracy. We thought it may enlighten a few of our readers.

Vehicle speedometer accuracy is covered by Australian Design Rule 18. Until July 2006 this rule specified an acceptable accuracy measurement of +/- 10 per cent of the vehicle’s true speed when the vehicle was travelling above 40km/h.

At a true vehicle speed of 100km/h the speedometer would be deemed ‘within tolerance’ if it indicated between 90km/h and 110km/h.

An odometer accuracy of +/- four per cent was also a requirement.

From 1 July 2006 newly introduced models of a vehicle available on the market must comply with ADR 18/03. Also, from 1 July 2007 any newly manufactured vehicle (excluding mopeds) must comply with this rule.

This new rule requires that the speedometer must not indicate a speed less than the vehicle’s true speed or a speed greater than the vehicle’s true speed by an amount more than 10 percent plus 4 km/h. Significantly, this change means that speedos must always read ‘safe’, meaning that the vehicle’s true speed must not be higher than the speed indicated by the speedo.

At an indicated speed of 100km/h, the vehicle’s true speed must be between 86 km/h and 100km/h. n EUROPE BECKONS THERE ARE still some places left for September and October for anyone planning to see Europe by motorcycle.

Ross Naylor, owner of European Motorcycle Adventures, still has a few spots left on his seven-day September and October tours.

You have a choice of Tuscany and Elba, the Dolomites in northern Italy, the Italian and French Alps, Croatia and Corsica.

Ross’s popular tours are well regarded and have been going for nine years. There is a choice of bikes available and prices start at about $3200 that includes the bike, eight days accommodation, Ross as the tour guide and tour organisation. Contact Ross on 0418 133 756. Email naylor.ross@ gmail.com. n

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 10

MOTOGP SUPER POLL CASEY TO WIN

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 11

Casey because who else can win? Main Rivals Carlos Checa, 2011 WSBK Champ - Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa. Can Rossi Casey because he’s the strongest. Main rival Jorge Lorenzo. Can Rossi win a race? He will be win a race? Yes, he will. stronger, closer.

Cycle Torque has conducted a poll amongst Hitoshi Aoyama, Honda WSBK Team & last WSBK paddock sages and other experts who 250 GP champion Troy Corser, two-time WSBK champ have overwhelmingly picked Casey Stoner Casey because he’s riding well on a bike he Casey because of where he’s at.

Main Rival 22 votes to two to successfully defend his likes. Main rivals - Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies. Can Rossi win a 2011 MotoGP with Repsol Honda.

Pedrosa. Can Rossi win a race? Depends on the race?

Yes. The only dissenting voices come from Aussie bike, I think he will.

MotoGP track commentator Phil Harlum, and Kel Carruthers, 1969 World 250 Champ & six former 500cc privateer Mark Willis, who said, Stu Avant, former 500 GP privateer 500 GP titles as team manager “The easy answer of course would be Casey, Casey because of his ability and Honda’s Casey because he probably has the best bike. but I will say Dani Pedrosa because it will budget. Main rivals - Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Main rival Jorge Lorenzo.

Can Rossi win a probably be his last real chance at a title.”

Lorenzo. Can Rossi win a race? Ducati needs race? He has to, because everyone wants him “I think Lorenzo will win the title,” claims to and it is important for MotoGP that he does. external engineering assistance to enable a Harlum. “Casey is the world champion and has win at this stage. been fastest in testing so all the pressure is Jonathon Rea, Honda WSBK Team on him. Also, concerns over Honda’s engines Ron Haslam, former Honda GB, Elf Honda, Casey because he’s the right man right now. at the last Sepang test meant that no Honda Suzuki and Cagiva 500 GP rider Main rivals - Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo. riders did more than five or so laps at a time.”

Casey because he has bike confidence and he’s Can Rossi win a race? Of course he can.

The only two who opted not to respond to the as good as anyone. Main rival - Jorge Lorenzo. poll were former WSBK star Aaron Slight, and Can Rossi win a race? There’s a chance.

Broc Parkes, Ten Kate WSS Honda Max Biaggi who said, “I don’t watch MotoGP, I Casey because he’s in a good space and like watching World Superbike - I like watching confident. Main Rival - Jorge Lorenzo. Can Rob Phillis, Mr Post-Classic and WSBK runnerme.” Asked if Rossi can win a race, Max paused Rossi win a race? Only if it rains. up for effect and delivered a dry and pointed, “No Casey because he knows how to win. Main comment”.

Rival - Jorge Lorenzo. Can Rossi win a race? I Mark Aitchison, BMW Grillini WSBK hope so.

Casey because he will be much more relaxed Betting agency Sportsbet currently has about being at Honda, and the bike’s potential.

Stoner at $1.91 to win the title with Jorge Main rivals: Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies. Can Peter Goddard, former EWC champ, WSBK Lorenzo at $4.33 and Dani Pedrosa $5.00. and 500cc GP rider Rossi win a race? Of course, but only if Ducati In our last MotoGP poll in 2008, only Nori Casey because he can. Main Rivals - Jorge doesn’t confuse the situation too much.

Haga and Andrew Pitt chose eventual winner Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi. Can Rossi win a Valentino Rossi of the 20 respondents, while race? Yes. Andrew Pitt, two-time World Supersport Josh Brookes and Frank Pons opted for Dani Champion Pedrosa. The remaining 16 chose Stoner, Chris Pickett, Cycle Torque Editor proving once again that it ain’t over ‘til the fat Casey because he’s riding better than the Casey because he’s on fire at the moment. rest on a good package.

Main rivals Jorge lady sings.

Main rival - Jorge Lorenzo, I don’t see anyone Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and Ben Spies. Can else consistently pushing Casey. Can Rossi win Wayne Gardner, 1987 World 500cc Champion Rossi win a race? Don’t be surprised...yes. a race? Yes, at least I hope he can.

Casey because he has the might of Honda Warwick Nowland, two-time EWC champion behind him; Main Rival - Jorge Lorenzo will Nigel Paterson, Cycle Torque Managing Casey because Jorge is fragile, life is rosy for be his worst nightmare for the title. Can Rossi Editor win a race? As a rider I say yes, but no wins will Casey and he wants to win. Can Rossi win a Casey will win the title in a canter unless he is race?

Not if Casey, Dani and Jorge are okay. come his way because Ducati still has a lot of injured. Main rivals - Lorenzo and Pedrosa will work to do. win races and it’s about time Spies stepped-up Steve Martin, former EWC champion, WSBK to the plate. Can Rossi win a race? Only if the rider and now commentator

planets align and he can get under the skin of the younger, faster guys.

Don Cox, Australia’s leading race journalist and author Casey because Honda is still the best bike and he’s the best rider. Main rival - Jorge Lorenzo.

Can Rossi win a race? Yes. Mike Esdaile, former REVS editor and Kiwi Rider editor Casey because he’s the best rider. Main Rival - Jorge Lorenzo. Can Rossi win a race? Only if everyone lies down and goes home.

Kel Edge, veteran WSBK photo-journo Casey because he has the best bike/package.

Main Rival - Jorge Lorenzo. Can Rossi win a race? I hope so.

Imre Paulovits, Motorsport Aktuell MotoGP reporter Casey because he has a real good race package and he’s simply brilliant. Main Rivals - Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and Ben Spies.

Can Rossi win a race? I believe he can.

Paul Carruthers, son of Kel and editor of US Cycle News Casey because it’s the best possible combination of rider and bike. Main rival Jorge Lorenzo. Can Rossi win a race? Yes…a bit of rain, perhaps, or snow?

Peter McKay, veteran motorsport columnist Casey because he’s the most complete rider on a good all-round bike. Main rivals - Jorge Lorenzo, and the enemy within Dani Pedrosa.

Can Rossi win a race? He might collect a wetrace victory.

Man On The Hill Casey because he’s learned that consistency and race-craft are just as important as raw speed. Main Rival - Jorge Lorenzo. Can Rossi win a race? Only if he really believes the Ducati can win, so I doubt it.

– Darryl Flack

SMALL TORQUE WINTER WOOLLIES THE Winter Rally is on again, four kays south of Nerriga on the Nowra-Braidwood road.

Held by the United Tourers it’s a popular event with rally goers. Be prepared though, it gets very cold.

Phone Leon on 0409 814 547 or Don on 0438 053 064 for more info.

2012 SA MX TITLES PETER Stevens Motorcycles has been announced as the naming rights sponsors for the 2012 SA MX Title Series.

“Peter Stevens Motorcycles is a long established and very reputable company involved in the motorcycle industry, having them on board to support motocross this year is just phenomenal” says Chris McArdle, General Manager, Motorcycling SA. Peter Steven Motorcycles join other series sponsors; Iluka Resources, Revolution Timing, Shane Metcalfe Y-Aim and Matt Pedder Photography, to support what promises to be a great 2012 season for Motocross.

The ‘Peter Stevens Motorcycles 2012 SA MX Titles’ will be a four round series, with Round One having already been completed, Round Two at Renmark (May 26/27), Crystal Brook (June 16/17) and culminating with the final round at Murray Bridge on August 4/5.

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 12

HARD-BALL BUILT TO CROSS THE LINE

$26,495 RIDE AWAY

BABY BLADE HONDA has announced the released of its new CBR125R. Powered by a fuel injected and liquid-cooled 125cc four stroke single, the LAMS machine will be available in a Repsol racing colour scheme, the traditional Tri colour and the cool black.

By the time you read this, all versions of the $3,990 CBR125R will be available at Honda dealers nationwide.

REBELLIOUS REBELLO MOTO Morini will debut a new model dubbed ‘Rebello’ just under a year after the firm was rescued from bankruptcy by two Italian entrepreneurs.

No details have been released about the Rebello as yet, but dodgy spy pics show the bike appears to use the same V-twin seen in models such as the Corsaro and 1200 Sport which are still on sale. If that’s the case the Rebello will make around 130bhp.

Moto Morini went into administration in 2010 and was brought back from bankruptcy by two entrepreneurs who bought the firm at an auction arranged by the bankruptcy court.

BETA FACE ARE you a Beta motorcycle fan? If so then check out the new Facebook page for Beta enthusiasts. It’s at www.facebook.com/BetaEnduroMotorcyclesAustralia.

SCOOTER AWARENESS THE (VACC) and the newly formed Victorian Scooter Riders Association (VSRA) joined forces to voice scooter issues at the recent VACC Scooter Awareness Rally in Melbourne.

VACC’s Scooter Awareness Rally is an annual event which, this year, saw close to 200 riders meet at Luna Park, in St Kilda before riding through the City to Argyle Square in Lygon Street, Carlton.

“The past ten years has seen a huge growth in scooter riding in Victoria. Scooters are an economical, fun and practical means of transport. They play an important role in the commuter mix on our roads, help to ease congestion and are a more sustainable method of transport compared to cars and many other motorcycles. From now, the VSRA gives us our own voice,” Vespa Club of Melbourne, Vice President, Martin Wurt, said.

1300 721 360

www.victorymotorcycles.com.au

SMALL TORQUE

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 13

GOLDWINGS ON THE HAWKESBURY HAWKESBURY Honda is expanding its range to include the GL1800 Goldwing.

Joining the ranks of other premium Honda dealerships across Australia, Hawkesbury Honda is a sole Honda dealership with 35 years of experience in Sydney’s north-west.

Only premium Honda dealerships have the ability to become an authorised Goldwing dealer after satisfying select criteria. Hawkesbury Honda of course does sell other new Honda motorcycles, and second hand ones too, and was awarded Honda’s NSW State Dealer of the Year in 2010.

Honda’s 2012 Goldwing is available now and retails for $35,290.

INSUREMYRIDE GOES RACING INSUREMyRide has announced a new sponsorship of the Aark Racing Team, now the InsureMyRide Triumph Racing team.

“We’re not just motorbike insurance experts at InsureMyRide, we are also road racing enthusiasts, which is why we are thrilled to be supporting the team’s campaign this year,” said InsureMyRide Manager Luke Smith.

SIDECAR SERIES THE 2012 Australian Sidecar Road Racing F1 Championship and F2 Cup will be run over five rounds in five Australian states, having already started in New South Wales in March and concluding in South Australia in November.

R2 – May 5-6, Morgan Park raceway Qld. R3 – October 6-7, Phillip Island Vic. R4 – November 3-4, Barbagallo Raceway WA. R5 – November 10-11, Mallala Raceway SA. WORLD TRIALS TICKETS TICKETS for the Australian round of the 2012 World Trials Championship are now available from the event’s official web site, wtcaustralia.com.au.

At only $26 per adult and $16 per youth (10-16yo) for a pass to both days of the Championship the event will undoubtedly be the least expensive world championship motorport event on the Australian calendar. n

X -1 Z IN JA N

HART HELPS ATTEND a course at one of Honda Australia Rider Training’s (HART) Victorian locations on April 21, 2012 and your attendance will help a charity.

HART will donate $25 from every learner permit or licence course to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and will offer all students a 10 per cent discount on this day.

Courses included in the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia donations include two-day learner permit, one day learner permit, licence course and an off-road course.

Call HART and make your booking: (03) 9270 1377 or visit: hart.honda.com.au.

4

GOLD COAST ITALIANS MOTO Guzzi and Aprilia have a new home on Queensland’s Gold Coast (07 5596 6622).

Action Motorcycles have added the two iconic brands to its portfolio, celebrating the fact at the recent Gold Coast Motorcycle Show.

“The Action team led by Colin Duck and Chris Maindonald are highly experienced with European performance motorcycles and we are confident in their ability to support our customers in the future,” said Kris Matich, General Manager for John Sample Automotive.

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EDITORIAL

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 14

THE DREAM I DON’T know about all of you out there but when I was a young adult, life for me seemed to concentrate on getting through my apprenticeship and then finding a good career when my wife Kerrie and I decided to get married. The next thing I knew we were buying a house and raising a family.

I ALWAYS loved bikes and cars so there was lots of riding and mucking about with hot cars and the like but like a lot of young couples it was hard to get ahead financially. But when you look back you realise some of the stuff you’ve done was a bit special, not to anyone else, but to you. When our son Alex was a sick little toddler Kerrie and I built a pole home in the Blue Mountains, and we both put a lot into that house physically and mentally, something that we still talk about today. Our trip to Europe in 2006 with our two children was another special moment, especially going to the Isle Of Man TT races… more on that later.

What I’ve also realised is that you can’t wait to retire before getting out there and doing the stuff which makes your life special. I’ve often said to people that I didn’t want to be 55 and wonder what I’d done with my life.

I’m not talking about being famous or anything like that, I’m talking about doing the things that mean something to you personally, almost like having a bucket list of stuff you want to do.

Sure, people might say you’ve had

a great career or a nice house and that’s cool, but it’s not what floats my boat at this point in my life. I’ve also got a small collection of nice bikes and a couple of American cars but so what, how important is that to me right now?

I’ve recently done a few things which I’d long held as something special to do – diving with great white sharks, riding motorcycles through Vietnam, and going to Venice in Italy. There’s one unfulfilled dream which has dominated all the others though, and that’s to race at the Isle of Man, something that’s been in the back of my mind since I was a young man.

Joey Dunlop is my all-time sporting hero, so that should give you some clue to how much this means to me.

I did attempt to race in the TT some 15 years ago but Kerrie uttered the words, “you have one child and one

IMAGINE THE NERVES HERE…

on the way, wake up to yourself.” That’s the only time she’s said no to racing motorcycles.

want to do it.

You can’t just do the TT like you would a local club round though. After contacting the event organisers we I had almost given up on the dream were told it would be best if Alex did until our son Alex started pushing us the Manx GP first, and after that they to do the TT. While there’s been some would give him lots of help to race in semi-heated conversations at the TT if he was keen. The Manx GP is a dinner table over the matter, Kerrie and I agreed we would rather help him more amateur event but it’s still held and do it as a family, something we’ve on the full TT circuit. Bikes are limited in capacity, so you can’t be a newbie always done in our racing, rather than and turn up on a ZX-10R, like Alex see him go off on his own, with us taking the so called moral high ground. races now. Novice IOM riders are also welcomed and get extra training by What could I expect, he’s grown up experienced TT riders, plus have their with me watching the TT on video for own races before they can contest many years, it’s only natural he might

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 15 the regular Manx GP races later in the week. If you don’t cut the mustard in the Newcomers races you don’t go any further. Fair enough.

but for the tour Get Routed is putting together. Depending on when you actually fly over you can head over to the continent and check out some of the GP racing, and later hook up with Dave After finding out all this it was then I who’s got a group doing the Sammy threw another spanner in the works, Miller Race Museum, the Beaulieu Motor deciding I would race at the Manx too.

Museum, London Motorcycle Museum, This went down like a lead balloon but Ace café plus extras like the British as I successfully argued, we were going War Museum, UK National Motorcycle anyway, it’s not much extra cost, and I Museum, Triumph factory tour at can keep an eye on him out on the track, Hinckley and Warwick castle. This is only pulling back the reigns a bit if need be. a guide though, there’s much more on the list. It’s worth giving Dave a call on We have talked a lot about the right 0412 689 849 or Maggie on 0423 289 attitude to have. The aim is to go and have a good time, finish the event safely, 573, or going to www.getrouted.com. au for more contact details. Remember and come home in one piece. Sure it’s though, this is a tour Get Routed has dangerous but so are lots of things we put together, once you send your bike do in our lives. It’s all about managed over you can do as much or as little as risk. Now begins 18 months of training you want. The pièce de résistance though and research. While Alex may be much quicker than me on the track he doesn’t is of course the Manx GP, with practice and race weeks loosely held in the last have the road knowledge I have from half of August, and a couple of days of nearly thirty years of road riding.

September. Time is running out if you The first step is to check out the Manx want to make the bike sailing date so get this August so we can get as much info on it pronto. Alex and I hope to do some as possible on what we need to do, what of the tour as well, time permitting. bikes to use etc in preparation for the It’s an exciting time for us both. This 2013 event, and of course do plenty column is way too short to tell you of laps ourselves to see if we really do want to race the course. Alex and I have about the reaction we’ve received from friends and family, both very positive hooked up with Aussie company Get and very negative. I am a big believer Routed, which does TT and Manx GP in living your life to the fullest though, tours each year, among lots of other something which is different for each stuff. Owner Dave Milligan is helping and every one of us, and that’s what this us get to the event, and without Get is all about.

Routed’s help it would be very difficult – Chris Pickett to organise. Get Routed already has a More info: www.cycletorque.com.au/ number of people sending their bikes more over not only for the Manx GP itself

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CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 16

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BIKE A HISTORIC conversation between Valentino Rossi and Jeremy Burgess must be whirring through the Italian superstar’s brain every day. Perhaps every hour of every day.

It happened after JB’s first encounter with the Yamaha M1 in November, 2003 at Sepang following the massive news that Rossi had defected from Honda to its arch-enemy. “I wasn’t allowed to be there in person, since Honda had not granted permission for me to test with another team until 1 January, 2004. We decided that I would stay home, but Jeremy flew out there to get better acquainted with the bike,” Rossi’s written in his autobiography, ‘What if I had never tried it?’. Rossi said he worried everyday during the test, and spoke to Burgess twice daily to get updates on the Yamaha, which he anxiously described as “not a winner.”

On the final day of the test, Burgess called a still very nervous Rossi. “Don’t worry, we’re fine,” JB assured him. “I can tell that Yamaha has what you need.”

ROSSI NOT GETTING ALONG WITH THE DUCATI.

what he says.’

It is easy to imagine Rossi reliving the momentous time that was crowned by his debut win on the Yamaha M1 in his clash-of-the-ages victory over Honda’s Max Biaggi at the opening round of 2004.

It’s easier to imagine Rossi replacing ‘Yamaha’ with “Great! Fantastic!” Rossi said. “Tell me more about the ‘Ducati’ in all of the above conversations, but the bike!” stark reality is that his nightmare at Bologna shows no sign of morphing into a Yamaha-like dream.

“Well, from what I can tell, and I do have to do some more research, the gas is on the right, the clutch is on the left, the front brake lever is on the right…”

Burgess deadpanned. “We both burst out laughing, me in London and him in Sepang,” Rossi wrote.

It is difficult to understand to what extent Ducati has listened to Rossi and Burgess, as Yamaha did so successfully. What we do know is that Ducati has built a conventional twin-spar chassis GP12 1000 that thus far has failed to solve a chronic frontThe Yamaha is just a bike; everything depends on who develops it and who rides it, JB concluded. One end problem that has bedevilled Rossi on every of the key messages JB had for the Yamaha engineers incarnation of Ducati he has ridden. Since 2003, the Ducati has been a fast but a difficult bike to ride, was ‘ignore Valentino Rossi at your peril. Listen to even for the brilliant Casey Stoner, which is the polar

opposite of the Ducati Superbikes that for almost 25 years have been hailed as exceptionally easy to go fast on.

It is no surprise that it has been by far the most successful bike in WSBK history. Despite being one of the slowest bikes through the speed trap, reigning WSBK champ Carlos Checa proved just how rideable the Ducati is with a great comeback win at Phillip Island 2012 in race two after a nasty fall in race one. Indeed, Checa recorded a best lap in race one of 1m31.955, just edging Rossi’s best race lap of 1m31.965 at last year’s Australian MotoGP. It is difficult, nary relevant, to compare the performances of a 1200cc Superbike to an 800cc MotoGP missile five months apart but the point is clear. The MotoGP bike is a nightmare to go fast on, the V-twin Superbike is a dream. Just why is something Ducati, Rossi or JB cannot answer.

IF IT CAN STOP A SHUTTLE FROM GETTING DAMAGED ON MARS...

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 17 It was very difficult and confounding, to watch Rossi struggle in 2011.

His plight played right into the hands of Stoner who has felt that the media, fans and some paddock sages have downplayed his success on the Ducati. You can add Rossi to the list, who now regrets his charge that Stoner wasn’t pushing the bike hard enough in 2010 when asked about the Ducati’s potential, after announcing his own move to the team in August of that year.

JEANS WITH LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMER (LCP) CONVERTED INTO A MICROFIBRE MORE THAN FIVE TIMES STRONGER THAN STEEL AND STRONGER THAN KEVLAR®

“I regret saying that, but from one point of view it is true,” Rossi told Mat Oxley. “Stoner had already signed with Honda in May, so he understood there was no way he could win the championship and it is normal that you wait for the next year.” In other words, Rossi believed that Stoner was running dead on the Ducati because he had signed with another team.

At the time, I thought it was Rossi launching another mind missile to get under Stoner’s skin. I was wrong. When I relayed Rossi’s quote to former REVS editor and now Kiwi Rider editor Mike Esdaile, he replied, “Rossi must’ve thought that Stoner thinks like he does.” Rossi totally misread Stoner’s lion-hearted performances on the Ducati, and is paying for it.

Rossi gave another rare insight into his fragile state when he first jumped on the Ducati at Valencia following the final GP in 2010. “The first two days in Valencia were the most shocking. Well, actually the first three laps because I understood straight away that riding the Ducati was very difficult… this bike had some problems exactly in the best point in my riding style, braking and entering corners.”

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This was later exacerbated by what Rossi feels is an incompatibility between the front Bridgestone control tyres and the Ducati. He tried to copy Stoner’s style and ended up in the gravel 12 times in 2011, the most crashes he’s ever had in a season.

Mat Oxley asked Stoner a key question the answer to which Rossi may want to reflect on if he wants to challenge for podiums in 2012, as he has forecast. Asked to reveal his secret to riding the Ducati, Stoner at first demurred, then offered, “It’s difficult to say… it’s basically about being proud. It’s really hard to explain. Maybe I’ll tell you one day but it may be a bit condescending towards the other riders who haven’t done so well on it.”

Translation: It’s not about the bike, it’s about the man in the mirror.

– Darryl Flack

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CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 18

MAN UP, CRASHING IS YOUR FAULT! IF YOU have spent any time on a dirt bike you will have at one time or another had a spill. Some of these crashes can be small and pretty much a non-event while others can end in a fair bit of damage to the ol’ body. Now, let’s talk about why you crashed and whose fault it REALLY was?

USING myself as the obvious example, over the years I have blamed everything from rocks, mud, other riders, logs, mechanical faults, my dad, my mechanic, lack of sleep, slow Victorian riders, the trophy girl, the trophy girl’s mother (in later years), poor vision, no vision, poor track design, poor track marking, different tyre brands, Bundaberg Rum, tyre pressures, well, you get the drift…

Thankfully as I matured I started thinking a little more about it and now take full responsibility for my actions. I even use this ethos as part of my coaching program and is what I consider the best advice I can give another rider, to take responsibility for all of your actions on a motorcycle.

Actually, so that you understand my commitment to this ‘take responsibility’ movement I will give you an example of one of my recent crashes at the launch of the 2012 Yamaha WR450F hosted by the Detour crew who operate out of Coffs Harbour.

Now, we had journalists from most of the major Australian and New Zealand motorcycle publications, and we had Yamaha Australia’s GM Steve Cotterell joined by Yamaha New Zealand’s head honcho Peter Payne along for the ride as well.

Cotterell and Payne are both former national and state enduro champions from back in the ’70s so believe me, you don’t have to wait for these guys along the trails. Another notable ‘fellow rider’ on the two day test was Stephen Gall so we were in good

company.

Anyway, on the way to Dorrigo on the Monday I was riding along with Gally on a tar sealed section and as we approached a turn off onto the dirt I noticed the ‘corner man’ was one of the Kiwi guys by the name of Mark Whyte who I was having a great time riding with.

Whitey is one talented rider, and as I am prone to do sometimes I decided that I wanted to impress him with my riding skills, so instead of following Gally off to the right I decided to lock up the back brakes on the WR and slide up to the waiting Whytey.

Unfortunately I was travelling a little faster than I had judged and the WR spewed sideway a lot faster than I anticipated and before I knew it I ran out of talent…

I high-sided the WR straight onto the bitumen and before I could say ‘EFI’ I was sliding down the road in barely enough riding gear to protect me from falling over in the bath… boots, nylons, jersey, helmet, gloves and goggles (I don’t wear body armour at all).

Now, I jumped straight back up, hit the start button

and got back on the trail and really, in comparison to what could have happened all I did was take a bit of skin off here and there and break a small bone in my foot (the ride home on Tuesday was interesting and painful). The fact that there was no damage to the WR was also a bonus.

Later that evening Peter Payne asked me if I was OK. I played it down of course but then he got straight to the point with, “what happened?”

Well straight up I told Peter I was being a goose but being this honest can paint you into a corner because it gives a picture of someone doing something irresponsible or plain stupid, something you don’t want to get a reputation for among the motorcycle distributors for obvious reasons.

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 19 I could have plucked anything out of my head to lie, as most riders would, but I simply told the truth.

The fact that almost everyone had a crash or two that day, including Gally, meant nothing. The fact that I had crashed on the bitumen was really the talking point and although I’ve done it plenty of times without incident but when you ride motorcycles it’s not a matter of if you’ll crash, it’s when.

I will tell another story to back this up. Last year I joined a large group of riders for a day long jaunt through the hills on the north side of Brisbane.

One of my mates was on a KTM 530 and it was obvious that he was itching to do some ‘trail racing’ and came blasting past quite a few times but I didn’t take the bait and kept riding along at a steady ‘trail ride’ pace.

After a few hours of riding I was about third or fourth rider in the group when the lead rider stopped at a huge log that was across the track. A few more riders pulled up but we were well short of all the riders in the group.

Where were the rest of the riders? We waited and waited before one guy said, “I bet the big guy on the KTM has had a crash.” Most of the other riders nodded in agreement with a few comments thrown around about how fast he was riding considering he was new to the area.

Anyway, we finally heard riders approaching and sure enough my mate was slumped over the front of his bike looking very second hand.

Apparently he had pulled off the main track to blast by a few riders and clipped ‘something’ in the grass sending him cartwheeling through the air.

Now, my mate is one of the toughest men I know and the fact that he was still riding was a small miracle but he did try and justify his actions and made some remarks along the line of the whole scenario not really being his fault.

Well, here are the facts. If you hit a rock, root, log, rut, tree, fence, slippery patch, square edge, soft sand, a whoop, a g-out, other rider(s), basically any immovable object it is your fault! If you crash because your front tyre was bald, rear tyre was bald, chain came off, hand grip slipped off, skirt got caught in the sprocket etc it’s still your fault.

Now, come to think of it I think I may have hit a slippery patch of gravel when I high-sided on the tar. Maybe it wasn’t my fault then.

– Darren Smart

GUNTRIP

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 20

CONSEQUENCES AS OF last December, I’ve had my licence 45 years. It doesn’t really seem possible but the calendar is incapable of untruths, so they tell me.

THE FAMILY is now well into its fourth generation of riders, and while the most recent is guilty of the most reprehensible taste in its choice of motorcycles, youth, as we all know, is wasted on the young and no amount of sage advice from me or anyone else can shorten the tedious process of awakening. There are several ways to learn, but only one enjoys any popularity.

I’m not sure my dad’s thoughts were quite as generous towards me after I’d failed to keep my almighty Suzuki K10 upright for more than a dozen seconds at a go during my first day’s riding instruction all those long years back. It didn’t immediately get any better, either.

The unedifying tally after the first three months or so was two collisions and one single-vehicle crash, two visits to the local casualty department and a father who had no doubt started to wonder whether he and mum had come home from the maternity department with the wrong kid 16 years before.

And I’m not sure whether he decided it was worth my carrying on or if he’d just decided to wash his hands of the whole sorry mess and let me get on with it. But I’m happy to be able to tell you that he lived to see some improvement.

So now it’s kid brother’s turn to doing the worrying father bit, the rest of the family – self included – having failed to sire any male offspring. He has two. Both have powered two-wheeled devices but it is my unhappy duty to inform you that today’s youth seem to be picking up the alluring scent of the female even earlier than we did, the direct consequence to this discussion being that Chris’s younger boy has moved from scooter

to car with quite unseemly haste and no apparent shred of regret.

So that leaves one, who has swallowed at least some of the correct medicine. I’ve only been in the same room as him a couple of times since he passed his test, but young Charlie appears to bear no physical scars resulting from his affliction. Of course, he’s far too young to be suffering from hunched shoulders, a wind-battered countenance, middle-frequency hearing damage, helmet rub or any of the dozen more ailments that turn the young into the middle aged before their time, but neither are there abrasions, limps or lumps missing. So far, so good.

The one point that bothers me is his belief in his own immortality. I felt the same at his age, of course, being able to fly when others merely ran, clearing moderately sized garden fences at a single bound, etc etc. But I was fortunate to be without a bike when such attitudes might have caused lasting damage: at university I could barely afford to breathe, never mind run a motorcycle, and what little cash I occasionally acquired went towards the pursuit of the female. On foot.

Young Charlie’s situation is different. The formal part of his education is now complete, so after putting in a day’s toil at the panel shop he’s his own master.

And when the flat growl of his V4 rends the air at about seven o’clock of an evening, announcing his imminent departure for parts unknown in search of entertainment, it wouldn’t surprise me if his dad – and almost certainly his mum – felt a slight catch in the

WILL BUYING A SCOOTER HELP YOU PULL TALENT?

throat for fear of what the evening might hold, for Charlie and so for themselves. The combination of boundless self-confidence, motorcycles and, perhaps, alcohol can be truly frightening.

But I survived with at least an equivalent leavening of stupidity, so why shouldn’t he? Just as long as he stays away from the grog. The instinct for self-preservation is wonderful and powerful, and booze was the only thing I ever found to negate it, on motorcycles or off.

But you can’t help worrying, just the same. It would certainly aid the cause if he put in some solid riding, getting well beyond the 30km radius that constitutes his native turf. Perhaps even an international trip or two, because nothing concentrates the mind as much as unfamiliar riding conditions, particularly so if you’re going about your business on the ‘wrong’ side of the road. There’s no better way to learn anything than to get out and do it, so long as you’re prepared to take it easy and learn properly. Young Charlie is surrounded by people who have made the mistakes that he is poised to commit, and if he isn’t prepared to listen he just might be happy to follow. For the moment. I certainly hope so, for everybody’s sake.

– Bob Guntrip

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 21

RS4125 Giveaway final PRINT.indd 1

3/19/2012 4:40:32 PM

2013 Victory Judge

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 22

Launch CYCLE TORQUE REPORT

American Hot Rod

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 23

Judge sporty bike The is the most

Victory has

made to date.

2013 Victory Launch Judge

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 24

CYCLE TORQUE REPORT

American Hot Rod

n TEST BY CHRIS PICKETT PHOTOS SUPPLIED

BY VICTORY n RIDING GEAR: RHOK HELMET, CORTECH JACKET, MATADOR EQUIPMENT GLOVES, HORNEE JEANS, ALPINESTARS BOOTS.

WITH its muscle car good looks and Hot Rod performance, the 2013 Victory Judge will appeal to riders young and old. Big, tough and powerful, the Judge also has a riding position well suited to the open road, decent handling and is priced at a very cool $22,995 (+ORC). That’s one hell of a machine for the cash.

Lead up Victory’s Vegas is one of the most successful bikes for the company, so it’s no surprise that machine is the basis for the Judge – but there are lots of differences between the Vegas, which is a cruiser, and the Judge, which is less of a cruiser and more of a muscle bike. Don’t for a minute think the Judge is a re-styled Vegas.

While the designers finally decided on the muscle car look, there were many others considered, like the board tracker and high pipe street scrambler look. There were over 100 initial drawings submitted which were eventually narrowed down to just five, and then down to the bike you see here. Victory is targeting a different market sector than it normally does, with the Judge, aiming at the 30-50 age group, especially going for younger riders who are a bit sick of riding sportsbikes but who still want an aggressively styled bike.

And Victory is having a big go at increasing its market share, with some 23,000 demo rides in the USA alone last year. In 2012 the company expects to double that. It’s also running a funny set of ads for

all Victory models, with former soldier turned actor ‘Gunny’ R. Lee Ermey challenging riders to get off their backsides and test ride a Victory. Check them out, we’ve posted a link from www.cycletorque.com. au/more.

Style Chrome seems so last century, and the Judge has just about none on it, with stylists preferring the blacked out look. Perhaps the biggest styling cue are the 16 inch wheels, which resemble the shape of drag car wheels of the ’60s and ’70s, well at least that’s where the stylists got their inspiration. With raised white lettering, the Dunlop 491 Elite II tyres fit the muscle car/hot rod look. The deeply scalloped seat and side number plates also add to a ‘competition’ angle.

There’s 13 new specific accessories for the Judge,

including a single seat.

If you think you might have seen the fuel tank before you are almost right. Designers simply took a tank from the Cross Country, pie cut and pulled the rear of it in, giving it a much narrower profile at the front of the seat. Apparently loads of work went into getting the rear fender right too, and with the curved fender mounts and recessed LED taillight it looks spot on.

On the stand Victory now uses its Freedom 106 cubic inch V-twin (1737cc) right across the range. Victory doesn’t like to quote power figures for the bike but does freely nominates the torque at 113 ft-lbs, which is more than enough to make most riders happy.

As you would expect, the Judge isn’t exactly light,

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 25 tipping the scales at so close to 300 kilos it doesn’t matter. That said, it’s easy enough to ride at lower speeds because the weight is low, and the seat height is 658mm. No probs getting your foot to the ground if you need to.

Tyre sizes are 130/90-16 on the front and a barely bigger 140/90-16 on the rear. Victory has fitted a single 300mm disc on the front and relied on a fourpiston caliper to stop it. At the rear there’s also a 300mm disc but with a two-piston caliper.

Most cruiser type machines suffer from a lack of suspension travel, and the Judge has 75mm standard which is sort of par for the course. If you need more – we would – you can go for the optional shock which gives you 25mm more.

On the road The Judge is quite a comfortable bike to ride.

We particularly liked the scalloped seat and the footpeg position which is pretty much inline with the crankshaft of the engine, giving your lower back an easier time than you would have with forward controls. Likewise with the drag ’bars which give you just the right reach for the controls. We’d call the riding position something like a sports cruiser.

Firing the big engine up is easy and the bike’s reliability and build quality can’t be questioned.

Getting off the line quickly is easy because of the good torque on offer. It does accelerate quite well, as good as most bikes of its type. Top speed would be somewhere in the region of 200km/h, which is also comparable to most of the competition. Pitch it against a Suzuki M109R and it would be outclassed on power but so would every other bike in that class.

Realistically though, most riders will be happy with the performance level, and the ease at which the bike can pull out of corners without going up and down the gears. Six gears are inside the cases, and

sixth is very much an overdrive. Much of the time we saw only third or fourth in the twisties, only slotting into sixth on the freeway. The bike will pull top gear at much lower speeds if you want because of the torque but it’s happier if you don’t. Victory has got the gearbox as slick as possible and overall there are no complaints on the way it shifted from us.

Most of our test roads were pretty smooth and the rear shock coped with the road conditions without complaint. If we were to buy one in Australia we would definitely go for the one inch longer suspension travel. Well done Victory for offering this option. You can only adjust pre-load on the rear shock and it’s a bit of a hassle getting to the adjustment, but it’s worthwhile taking the time, or at least getting your service agent to play with the pre-load.

The non adjustable cartridge forks also worked well enough on the test route.

Even when pushed hard we could find no real issues with the front or rear suspension but there’s no doubt Australia’s average roads would test them more.

One area which garnered a few minor complaints from launch journos was the front brake. When used by itself the front brake required a big squeeze to pull it up from speed but the back brake worked a treat. Bikes like this really do need to have both brakes used and when you do it will pull up well, with the bike pushing both tyres into the road pretty much equally. Don’t expect the front end to dive hard under brakes, it doesn’t work that way on the Judge. Once you understand this and ride the bike accordingly you can punt the Judge quite quickly.

You might expect the big 130 front tyre to hamper

steering but the bike turns in nicely, especially with a dab of counter-steer. And because the rear tyre is only a 140 handling is neutral and the bike holds its line well even when encountering a decent bump.

We are glad Victory fitted the Judge with some realistically sized tyres, the handling is much better for it.

The last word Victory has done a great job on the Judge. It deserves to sell well not just because it’s keenly priced but because it really is a very good motorcycle. If you are in the market for a sports cruiser you must ride this bike before making a decision. Not sure why Victory decided to call it a 2013 model but dealers are expected to have stock

by May. n

SPECIFICATIONS: n ENGINE TYPE: AIR/OIL-COOLED V-TWIN n CAPACITY: 1731CC n TRANSMISSION: 6-SPEED n FUEL CAPACITY: 17 LITRES n FRAME TYPE: TUBULAR STEEL n SEAT HEIGHT: 658MM n DRY WEIGHT: 299 KG n FRONT SUSPENSION: CONVENTIONAL TELESCOPIC n REAR SUSPENSION: SINGLE SHOCK n BRAKES: SINGLE DISC FRONT AND REAR n TYRES: 130/90-16, 140/90-16

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CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 28

VEHICLE STABILITY SYSTEM (VSS) Integrated traction and stability control with anti-lock braking for peace-of-mind riding.

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www.five-gloves.com Untitled-3 1

2/27/2012 9:30:01 AM

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 29

Test ride at your local dealership today

CYCLE TORQUE TEST

APRILIA RS4

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 30

S exy sibling

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It’s just like the

RSV4, only smaller

CYCLE TORQUE TEST

APRILIA RS4

CCYYCCLLEE TTOORRQQUUEE AAP PR RII L 2 0 1 2 - 3 2

S exy sibling

n TEST BY DENIS PENZO PHOTOS BY NIGEL PATERSON. n RIDING GEAR: ZEUS HELMET, MATADOR EQUIPMENT JACKET AND GLOVES, HORNEE JEANS, JOE ROCKET BOOTS.

SHARING the genetic makeup of your handsome but macho and firebreathing big brother is no bad thing.

APRILIA’S RSV4 has a sexy sibling in the RS4 125 entry-level sportsbike and it’s sure to turn heads.

The learner-legal, four-stroke, single-cylinder Aprilia RS4 125 even shares some of the bodywork of its potent litre class RSV4 big brother.

In the Middle At the heart of Aprilia’s pocket rocket is an all-new, fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine with four valves operated by dual overhead cams and a six-speed box.

This beating heart is set within an advanced die cast-aluminium twin-spar perimeter frame that was developed through the experience the marque has gleaned in the cut and thrust of the Superbike World Championship. A twin-spar alloy chassis for a 125cc four-stroke? It almost seems like overkill, but aluminium is light and it certainly looks the part, so we’re not gonna complain.

We loved the underslung exhaust which looks very neat and tidy tucked away in the fairing’s lower belly on the right-hand side. It looks great and also helps keep the weight low.

In the Saddle The RS4 is a very nimble bike and offers confidenceinspiring riding with a not-overly aggressive riding position whether around town or on the freeway.

It likes the revs high but thankfully this doesn’t translate into vibration so a high speed run on a motorway isn’t going to be a nuisance.

Being at the short end of the size chart I found it a very comfortable riding posture with nice cockpit

ergonomics and a not intimidating seat height of 820mm. It’s a small bike but surprisingly roomy so it’s not out of the question for larger riders, but it does suit people with compact dimensions.

I liked the positioning of the mirrors and they are actually very functional - you’re not going to see just your elbows reflected back at you.

Instrumentation features a digital speedo and analogue tacho as well as all the warning lights and functions that you’d expect to see and is generally easy to read.

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 33

Young learner riders are going to love this bike, looking as it does like a fullblown sports bike. In fact if you saw Big Brother and this Sexy Sibling parked alongside each other you’d almost certainly do a double-take as the resemblance between them is quite surprising. It looks so sharp - and the Alitalia Racing Max Biaggi Replica looks even slicker.

Upside down 41mm front forks, a full sportsbike fairing, elegant tapered LED tailight, triple headlights set above gaping air intakes, shapely fuel tank - it just goes on and on.

The six-speed transmission is smooth and the brakes are more than up to the task, especially the radialmounted four-piston caliper gripping the 300mm front disc. In fact the front brake is a serious bit of gear but you’re not often likely to need to make full use of the Force even in a Darth moment. The rear sports a 220mm disc with single piston caliper.

And even if you do have to use the Force, those 41mm upside down front tubes have black anodised stanchion clamps with a wheel travel of 110mm, while the rear is a monoshock linked directly to the asymmetric swingarm with 130mm of rear wheel travel.

The 17-inch wheels have 100/80 rubber up front and 130/70 at the rear and are light alloy with six split spokes. The tyre sizes suit the bike really well – too many little bikes are overtyred for the appearance, whereas the RS4 has tyres which offer heaps of grip for a lightweight machine without sucking horsepower through increased friction.

In a first for the entry-level class, the RS4 125 will be available with an optional quick-shifter, allowing silky-smooth gear changes without backing off or losing any of that all-important momentum.

The RS4 likes to have plenty of revs happening to keep it flowing along. And it will keep flowing along for quite some time with a 14.5 litre fuel tank, which includes 3.5 litre reserve.

RS4 Heritage From 1993 to the present day more than 100,000 Aprilia RS 125 two-strokes have been built and sold in more than 30 countries around the world.

The RS4 125 is the advanced evolution of the RS 125 - the bike that dominated the 125 sports class for years and set a pretty high benchmark on the way. It’s a bit of a milestone really, being the first Aprilia 125cc sports bike equipped with a four stroke engine.

So, even though it borrows heavily from big brother, this sexy sibling has a pretty strong pedigree in its own right.

You have to remember that on Aprilia 125 and 250 Grand Prix machinery riders such as Biaggi, Rossi,

Melandri, Stoner, Lorenzo and Simoncelli rode to their first great triumphs. So the reliability and technology that put those riders at the pointy end of the pack is now in your hands.

In the Showroom The RS4 125 comes in Racing Black (RSV4 Factory), Racing White (RSV4 R) or the Alitalia Biaggi Replica.

The RS4 125 will retail for $6490 (plus on-road costs), while in an Alitalia Racing Max Biaggi replica paint scheme it will retail for $6990 (plus on-road costs).

That’s a lot of pedigree in a very sexy package for your money. n

CYCLE TORQUE TEST

APRILIA RS4

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 34

APRILIA RS4 WHITE

SPECIFICATIONS: n ENGINE TYPE: LIQUID-COOLED SINGLE n CAPACITY: 125CC n TRANSMISSION: 6-SPEED n FUEL CAPACITY: 14.5 LITRES n FRAME TYPE: ALLOY PERIMETER n SEAT HEIGHT: 820MM n WET WEIGHT: 120 KG n FRONT SUSPENSION: 41MM USD n REAR SUSPENSION: MONOSHOCK n BRAKES: SINGLE DISC FRONT AND REAR n TYRES: 100/80-17, 130/70-17 n PRICE (RRP): $6,490 + ORC + $500 FOR BIAGGI RACE REPLICA.

WWW.CYCLETORQUE.COM.AU/MORE CALL FOR A QUOTE

1800 24 34 64

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 35

BIAGGI REPLICA HAS A SLICK SINGLE SEAT.

125CC FOUR STROKE SINGLE GIVES LEARNER LEGAL FUN PERFORMANCE.

KEEPING THE LINES CLEAN IS THE LOW SLUNG MUFFLER.

WHEEL DESIGN MIMICS THAT OF THE 1000CC RSV4, AND THE SINGLE DISC IS CONTROLLED

BY A FOUR-PISTON CALIPER.

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 36

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 37

Experience GSX-R performance at its fastest, lightest and most responsive. The all new Suzuki GSX-R1000 is back and better than ever with Brembo front calipers, super light pistons, upgraded crankcases, 4-into-1 exhaust with titanium muffler, increased power and acceleration with an impressive 2kg reduction in weight. To experience 136kW of pure GSX-R1000 performance, take a test ride today.

suzuki.com.au

IBIKE STUFF

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 38

INFORMATION FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

GET POLISHED

FOR those of us who like to keep the shiny bits on our machines shiny, Lucas Oil has a new metal polish designed to do just that.

It polishes and protects aluminium and other metals.

It has built-in enhancement elements that help to prolong and protect the treated surface from fading, oxidation or tarnishing.

P RICE : $29.95 AVA IL A BL E F ROM: Leading motorcycle shops MORE INF O: www.cycletorque.com.au/more

THE SCORPION KING

PIRELLI has released a couple of new sizes of its very popular Scorpion Rally.

Now available for big adventure bikes like BMW’s R 1200 GS, and Yamaha’s 1200 Super Tenere is the 110/80-19 front, and 150/70-17 rear.

P RICE : See stockists for prices AVA IL A BL E F ROM: Pirelli stockists MORE INF O: www.cycletorque.com.au/ more

SPITFIRE

LOOK cool and feel safe with Triumph’s new Spitfire Textile jacket.

Armour in all the right places, and it’s waterproof, windproof and breathable.

It also has a removable inner liner.

Sizes for everyone.

P RICE : $369 AVA IL A BL E F ROM: Your Triumph dealer.

MORE INF O: www. cycletorque.com.au/more

CAPE HORN

WHEN you’re out for a ride sometimes you might want to take a walk to see some sights too. Nothing worse then than having some ill-fitting boots that work well on the bike but not so well while walking.

Check out these new Cape Horn touring boots from Forma. Waterproof, suitable for road and adventure riding, and built tough.

Sizes to suit most people.

P RICE : $390 AVA IL A BL E F ROM: Direct from Andy Strapz, 03 9770 2207.

MORE INF O: www.cycletorque.com.au/ more

LIKE A PRO

IF YOU lose a few fingers in a crash it’s awfully hard to hold your beer or dry martini.

If you wear a pair of Alpinestars GP Pro leather gloves that’s highly unlikely to happen.

Full grain leather, kevlar lined palms, knuckle protection and perforated finger gussets make for one trick road or race glove.

P RICE : $249.95 AVA IL A BL E F ROM: Leading motorcycle shops MORE INF O: www.cycletorque.com.au/more

SUIT UP WITH BMW

BMW’S Rallye riding suit has been very popular over the years, and the new Rally 3 version is out.

It incorporates a variety of practical pockets and offers incredible protection, while being extremely comfortable to wear and eye catching.

It’s perfect for adventure and enduro riders who refuse to let the weather spoil their fun.

These suits really are the duck’s guts.

They aren’t cheap but then again quality never is.

P RICE : Jacket $999, pants $799.

AVA IL A BL E F ROM: BMW dealers nationwide MORE INF O: www.cycletorque.com.au/more

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 39

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 40

USED & REVIEWED

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 41

INFORMATION FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

THE SMITH FACTOR

VIETNAM FRIENDLY

SHOEI’S XR1100 Bradley Smith Replica is my new track lid, and I love it. Shoei helmets are premium products, and it shows in the fit, construction, aerodynamics, ventilation, visor options, anti-fog and style.

Designed as a sport-touring lid, the XR-1100 is great for the long haul but it’s also at home on the track. Check out the links to the detailed information about how it is built and the massive colour scheme range.

– Nigel Paterson P RICE : $799.95 AVA IL A BL E F ROM: Shoei stockists everywhere MORE INF O: www.cyletorque.com.au/more

ON CYCLE Torque’s recent trip to Vietnam I wore an M2R Nitrous textile jacket. It’s designed for summer use and has lots of ventilation to keep you cool without sacrificing safety.

I found it really comfortable and even on the hottest days it was able to keep me relatively cool as soon as I got moving and the mesh ventilation was able to do its job.

There’s a pocket either side, and on the inside there’s pockets for phones, glasses etc.

It got a bit dirty from road grime in Vietnam but you can easily hand wash it, just so long as you whip the CE armour out. It comes with a removable thermal liner too.

All in all this is one of the best summer jackets I’ve used. Highly recommended.

– Chris Pickett P RICE : $229.95 AVA IL A BL E F ROM: Leading motorcycle shops MORE INF O: www.cycletorque.com.au/more

STAYING SAFE AND COMFY

GLOVED UP

FOR the heat we expected in Vietnam, I chose Sidi’s Coibus gloves, a heavily-perforated leather glove with a perforated lining and outer, reinforced palm and plastic knuckle guards.

Comfortable, tough and cool, the Coibus gloves were perfect for the warm, wet weather in Vietnam. My only complaint is the sizing are a bit small: most gloves I take an XL, but these were a bit tight. If I had my time again, I’d get XXL. – Nigel Paterson P RICE : $99.95 AVA IL A BL E F ROM: Bike Shops Everywhere MORE INF O: www.cyletorque.com.au/more

DRIRIDER’S Kevlar Lined Jeans were my choice for our big Cycle Torque Vietnam Tour.

Being jeans they were versatile and comfortable, with the safety of a kevlar lining from below the knees, up the outer thigh area and across the bum. I found them to be a little warmer to wear than conventional jeans, but the extra safety they offer made it worthwhile. Available in indigo only, in standard and short lengths.

The quality and fit was as good as any kevlar jeans I’ve tried.

– Nigel Paterson P RICE : $199.95 AVA IL A BL E F ROM: Bike shops everywhere MORE INF O: www.cycletorque.com. au/more

CCYYCCLLEE TTOORRQQUUEE AAP PR RII L 2 0 1 2 - 4 2

Husqvarna TC250 Launch CYCLE TORQUE REPORT

A true

contender

IMITATION

IS THE BEST FORM OF

Husqvarna’s

TC250

isn’t usually mentioned around the pits as the

bike to be on... ... That’s

likely to change!

FLATTERY

TAP FOR MORE

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 43

Husqvarna TC250 A Launch CYCLE TORQUE

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 44 CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 44

true contender

REPORT

HUSQVARNA’S motocross team has had a lot of input into the 2012 TC250, and the result is a bike which is more powerful, more competitive and more fun than any Husqvarna 250 before it.

BASED on the machine introduced in 2010, I was keen to ride the new bike and see if Husqvarna had addressed the biggest failing of the old bike: uncompetitive performance.

Like everyone else who rode the bike I thought it handled really well but was too slow, so when I jumped on the 2012 version I was really keen to see if there was a genuine improvement. n TEST BY DARREN SMART PHOTOS BY iKAPTURE

Power up

n RIDING GEAR: SMARTY – M2R HELMET, JT NYLONS, ALPINESTARS BOOTS. TR – SHOEI HELMET, FOX NYLONS, ALPINESTARS BOOTS.

Even during my warm-up laps first time out on the new machine my warm up it was oblivious there was a lot more spark to this motor.

Most of the 2012 updates were aimed at the motor which now features a new cylinder head (including new valve train with finger followers) with four titanium valves, a new F1-inspired lighter piston, new full Akrapovic exhaust system with “Power Bomb”, new battery-less 46mm EFI system with Keihin ECU and throttle body, new Kokusan generator, new NGK iridium spark plug, new capacitive stick coil (for improved combustion) and a new airbox and trumpet.

Other changes include the replacement of the old Sachs shock with the latest KYB, updates to the frame for more rigidity around the steering head,

stiffer springs in the KYB front forks and they are held being watered by a sprinkler system so we often went from a wet slippy surface to dry and slick is no to the frame with new triple clamps. time at all so it was a good test for the new TC250.

Style wise the chassis is now black instead of white and the rims are silver instead of black while the ‘in mould’ (not stickers) graphics get the obligatory annual update.

On the track The track we were testing on was hard packed with a lot of elevation changes, plenty of jumps, off camber turns and berms. It was a very hot day with the track

The Brembo brakes work really well and the hydraulic clutch can be abused as much as you like without fade. Ergonomic wise moving around on the TC250 is as good as anything I have ridden for a while so all up the ‘feel’ is very positive, and these factors really add up to giving the rider a lot of confidence in the machine, which is key to great lap times.

The suspension felt good out of the box, with just a few tweaks to the clickers to tailor the bike to suit

250R

TAP FOR MORE

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 45 my style. The KYB forks went through the stroke without any ‘spike’ back through my hands while the KYB rear shock was on the money from the get go.

Even when pushing hard I found hitting my marks around the track quite easy and there is nothing flighty or twitchy about this bike. I felt secure tipping in under hard braking and best of all is that as I got my head around the upgraded motor I was able to pull the throttle on earlier and earlier each lap and could hold one gear through a series of corners.

Drive out of corners was exceptional and I really appreciated that when trying to find traction towards a table top or jump face. I actually experimented for a few laps just spinning the rear tyre out of most of the corners with a heap of revs then pinned the TC over the next few laps in race mode and loved the way it jumped out of the corners.

I did a series of first and second gear starts up a small grassy hill and the TC dead-set shot up the hill without any drop in revs, in fact I had to give the clutch a touch a few times as the front wheel climbed. And let’s not forget that I am 85kg and the young bucks who will be racing this bike will be 10 to 20 percent lighter than I am.

Conclusion So what does all of that mean to the riders who are going to race this TC250 against the current crop of top 250F contenders? Well, I believe in the right hands the 2012 TC250 will definitely be competitive thanks to the overall package Husqvarna has offered for the new season.

While I believe the TC250 still doesn’t have the outright power of some of the other 250s, its handling and rideability make up for it, and I really don’t believe lap times will be off the mark.

In conclusion, at $10495 only time will tell if this model is accepted in the market and on the race track as a true contender in the 250F class but I will tell you this, if Husqvarna keeps improving this model at the same rate each year it’s only a matter of time before we see one at the front of the pack at more and more races around Australia. n

TR’s opinion TO BE totally honest, I turned up to the 2012 launch simply expecting more of the same from the TC250. I did a small amount of pre-event research and noticed the spec sheets had some upgrades but I was unsure of what this would actually do for the small-bore Husqvarna. We have all heard about the greatly improved this, strengthened that, and whatever else the marketing department can fit in onto a fancy, glossy brochure, but sometimes these improvements mean a whole lot of bugger-all when you’re out blasting laps.

So I reserved my judgement until I had taken to the track and put a few laps under my belt.

I quickly got comfortable on the TC250 and began picking up some smooth lines and a nice flow which made me feel quite confident. The handlebars, levers, footpegs, gear lever, etc, were all in good position, very comfortable, and you quickly felt at home. In the past I have usually taken some time to warm up to the Husqvarna feel, but it seems the gap is closing and the TC doesn’t feel so ‘niche’ anymore – certainly a good thing.

KYB has taken over the suspension duties for Husqvarna and

it shows. The KYB units are predictable and stable, which in the past hasn’t always been the case. I played around pretty extensively with clickers and sag settings and came up with a decent base setting for the TC which worked well around our MX venue for the day. I’d still be looking for a more custom setting if it was my own personal bike, but the stock setting was nothing to sneeze at.

To be competitive in the lites class you need a fast bike before you look too much further. I enjoyed the power on the TC250 and felt like I had plenty of power to tackle most things on the track. The power wasn’t as hard hitting as some of its competition, and lacked a bit of the outright speed that say the KX250F has, however I didn’t feel that the TC was too far off the mark. The power was always smooth, predictable and the EFI never missed or popped under sudden loads.

I walked away pleasantly surprised with the TC250. The bike was certainly capable, and was a lot of fun to ride. If BMW can keep steering Husqvarna in this direction, it won’t be long before you see some white and red TCs at the front of the pack.

– Todd Reed

Husqvarna TC250

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 46

Launch CYCLE TORQUE REPORT

AKRAPOVIC PIPE LOOKS THE BUSINESS.

SPECIFICATIONS: n ENGINE TYPE: LIQUID-COOLED SINGLE n CAPACITY: 249.5CC n TRANSMISSION: 5-SPEED n FUEL CAPACITY: 6.5 LITRES n FRAME TYPE: TUBULAR STEEL n SEAT HEIGHT: 985MM n DRY WEIGHT: 100 KG n FRONT SUSPENSION: 48MM KAYABA USD n REAR SUSPENSION: SINGLE KAYABA n BRAKES: SINGLE DISC FRONT AND REAR n TYRES: 80/100-21, 100/90-19 n PRICE (RRP): $10,495 + DEALER DELIVERY

WWW.CYCLETORQUE.COM.AU/MORE

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 47

QUALITY COMPONENTS IN THE FRONT END.

FASTER AND VERY EASY TO RIDE.

EFI TAKES CARE OF THE FUELING.

KYB SUSPENSION, BREMBO BRAKES.

CCYYCCLLEE TTOORRQQUUEE AAP PR RII L 2 0 1 2 - 4 8

CYCLE TORQUE TEST

KAWASAKI KX250F

DOUBLE INJECTION

IMITATION

IS THE BEST FORM OF

The top end rush of the KX250 is now even more

impressive

FLATTERY

TAP FOR MORE

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 49

LEDGENDARY KAWASKAI NINJA STYLING CYCLE TORQUE TEST

TAP FOR MORE

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 50 CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 50

KAWASAKI KX250F WINNING races and the KX250F is a match made in heaven. The innovative and classleading $10,999 KX250F is back for 2012 with more improvements and refinements to make sure the Lites class killer is leading the way in 250cc four-stroke competition.

DOUBLE INJECTION

n TEST BY TODD REED PHOTOS BY CHRIS PICKETT n RIDING GEAR: SHOEI HELMET, FOX NYLONS, ALPINESTARS BOOTS.

250R

TAP FOR MORE

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 51 Engine Hold it wide and keep feeding more gears, the KX250F motor pulls hard from bottom to top and will make anyone feel like they are on a rocketship. Kawasaki has introduced the Dual Fuel Injection System (DFI) for 2012, and when compared with previous models, the differences are quite noticeable. Add this to the already lightning fast motor and you’ve got yourself a very fast 250F. The remainder of the engine is relatively unchanged in 2012; the previous year’s package was both fast and reliable, so Kawasaki decided it was a good move to stay with the engine that was winning them championships for their next gen KX250F. When you put the KX into action on the track, the small bore thumper really lights up and gets moving. The power is smooth, yet comes on with a strong punch and pulls hard through the range. When you get the Kawie screaming a bit harder and move into the higher end of the rev range the KX blows away the competition and pulls for longer than many of its competitors.

The rest of the engine components work well.

The clutch has a nice feel and doesn’t have any strange quirks. The gearbox fits the power nicely and doesn’t have any long or short gaps between gears or in-between the meat of the power. Our test bike seemed bit hard to shift when the motor was under considerable load, nothing to complain about though, just

needed a bit more of a kick than usual.

The DFI is a technical system that seems quite intricate and in-depth for a dirty old motocross bike. The short version is there is a secondary injector unit which sits up in the intake boot, behind the main injector body.

The second injector comes into play when you twist the throttle harder and faster and simply squirts more fuel in at a more consistent rate.

Chassis & Suspension The headline feature here is certainly the Showa SFF front end. The Showa Single Function Fork was released to the world on the 2011 KX250F and is now considered to be one of the best set of forks on the track.

The Showa setup can be easily tuned to your personal liking, and the standard internal setting is certainly within the ballpark for most riders. Whilst we played around with clickers during our test we never steered far away from the standard setting and felt very comfortable and confident on the SFF fork.

Showa have also taken care of the rear shock, however there is nothing new to see there.

The shock compliments the forks well and does a fine job of keeping the rear end in shape. Once again the standard settings work well for the majority of riders out there and whilst we made some changes, they were only minor clicker settings to suit our track conditions.

The rest The KX250F is a very comfortable bike with quality components that make the ride both comfortable and exciting. Renthal handlebars are the first thing you notice after climbing aboard the mighty KX. They are a nice comfortable bend and most riders won’t even think of looking for something different. The Nissin braking package takes control at both the front and rear ends, the standard brakes work well and have great feel, but it would be nice to see some more stopping power from the front with a larger rotor. Bridgestone headline the tyre duties on the KX, with a 403 front and 404 rear. Both are intermediate tyres which are aimed at the track which features both hard and soft terrain. The Bridgestones are commonly referred to as one of the best tyres on the market and to find these as standard equipment is a very nice touch for any buyer.

Overall The 2012 KX250F is another awesome package from the Green Team. The KX does all that you could ask for a 250F fourstroke motocrosser. It has a fast and lively powerband, and is capable of winning at any level. Besides being high quality, the Showa suspension is innovative and is the most modern technology you can find on any production motocross bike. n

CYCLE TORQUE TEST

SPECIFICATIONS:

KAWASAKI KX250F

C Y C L E T nO ENGINE R Q UTYPE: E ALIQUID-COOLED P R I L 2 0 1SINGLE 2 - 52 n CAPACITY: 249CC n TRANSMISSION: 5-SPEED

n FUEL CAPACITY: 7.2 LITRES n FRAME TYPE: ALLOY PERIMETER n SEAT HEIGHT: 945MM n WET WEIGHT: 106.2 KG n FRONT SUSPENSION: 47MM USD n REAR SUSPENSION: UNI-TRAK n BRAKES: SINGLE DISC FRONT AND REAR n TYRES: 80/100-21, 100/90-19 n PRICE (RRP): $10,999 + ORC

WWW.CYCLETORQUE.COM.AU/MORE

SHOWA SINGLE FUNCTION FRONT FORKS.

DFI FEATURES SECOND INJECTOR.

THIS ENGINE IS ONE OF THE FASTEST IN ITS CLASS.

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 53

LETTERS

K C A B I G N I TO RQ U

Speedway’s fine AFTER my complaints ab ou titles, I thought I ha t the running of the 2011 Australian Solo d better comment on th Sp anyone of importance e 2012 series. I don’ eedway read my comments, but t know if it It was great to see No rth Brisbane rewarded seems my wishes came true. speedway (especially for all their years pr the juniors) and what omoting a great job they did.

The night produced so me terrific close race s and a wonderful nigh entertainment. Campo t’ and his crew deserve a pat on the back for s the sport in such a po pr sitive manner and I’m es year as well. sure they will have a enting round next Finally to Gillman, a gr requiring minimal main eat finale to the series, with a great tr ack tenance through the ni racing. Although Chri ght producing some ha s Holder was the stan rd close dout rider winning al through the championsh l his races ip he didn’t win them his talent several ti al mes coming from behind l from the front. He showed it was good to see hi after drawing bad gate m make himself availa s and ble autographs after the races. He has top supp to greet his fans and sign ort from his family wh an asset to speedway at o are their talent with good all levels. The rest of the competitors di splayed cl winner of any heat, pr ose racing making it hard to confidently pick a oving how lucky we ar e in this country to abundance of talented have such an riders. And with the excellent support race all rounds by the juni s ors the future looks bright. Gillman staff put on at complemented on the te ar rr e to be was clearly audible an acing and the improvements to the P.A. sy stem which d kept the fans inform ed of proceedings.

To everyone involved in the running of thes e for presenting speedw ay as the wonderful en titles a very heartfelt thanks tertainment it can be .

Kevin Everett

t Phillip Great WSBK of the recen s r e s i n a g r o c but so was fantasti to thank the g e n k i i c l a r T S e U h J t I’D l know round. We al tion.

Island WSBK k, the organisa d n a e r e und the trac h o p r s a o m e t k a i b e h r t u g yo was chosen, alon ou can ride o y s l t a c a d f a h e h I t I love package the GP. a trackside cannot do at t e u g o y d n g a n i t h e t k e r som o upma ve hoped. riends, to g n I could ha a h t r e t t with a few f e b modating. ly and accom looked after d n e e m i r d f a h e r h e c ly w i wh they certain nt the staff , e t w n e u v o e y e e h r t e h Everyw ho manage the people w o t s k r a m p uest.

To hheld by req ne. t o i w n u s r s e o r t d d w a o know h Name and

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 54

r flaggies A new era fo hout go ahead wit ng t o n n a c g n i c i a MOTORCYCLE r And it’s a way where rac acing r . flag marshals n get super close to the a c s t . s the bike enthusia lly being on ociation is actively a u t c a t u o h t wi Ass ring free ssic Racing The Post Cla w marshals, and are offe g in ne d trainin looking for ee accredite , a marshal’s r f , p i h s r e b club mem ling NSW ith Motorcyc nd a Facebook page w n o i t a i c o s as , a PCRA website page on the on-site too. ition to the tings at d d a n i e r a e es These measur mmodation provided at me o c c a reek. meals and or Eastern C s can nominate k r a P d l e fi e Wak hall ould-be mars Current or w and/or training at www. / s for race day ing.com.au/forms/forms-1 d c a a r D c i r vi postclass a coordinato i v r o x p s a . .com. volunteer-3 aggies@gmail 16 450. fl . a r c p y e s s Morri 414 7 sey call me on 0 David Morris You can even . e u cycletorq able on www. l i a v a k n i l There is a com.au/more.

WRITE A LETTER!

WIN A GREAT PRIZE

This month David Morrissey has won a Cargol Turn & Go puncture repair kit.

Available from better bike shops everywhere and there’s a video of one being used on the Cycle Torque website.

Noise I Read the e di and it struc torial in the last issue k a cord. titled ‘Nois e’ Like most ri ders I appre ci sports syste m, but I’m n ate the sweet sound of a ot a fan of bikes (or ca extr rs are Harley-D ). I would like to ask t emely noisy avidson moto he question, rcy regulations?

Very few see cles exempt from the noi m to run a m at all. When uffler system se ever a Harle y conversation rides past a ll normal h one going by as to stop, and if there , you can ba ’ s more than rely hear yo urself think I’m all in f ! av regulations, our of enforcing noise p o b l field, book t ut let’s all play on a l lution he Harleys t e v el playing oo.

Actually a s Mike Barlow ta in fact, tha ndard Harley is very qui t few owners e will tolerat t: so quiet, e the standa rd system. – NP

Send your letters (and/or great bike pictures) to The Editor, Cycle Torque, PO Box 687 Warners Bay, NSW 2282 or email chris@ cycletorque.com.au

QUAD TORQUE FOR PARKLANDS’ BOSS WORK ALSO MEANS PLAY PARKLANDS Power Products, CEO, Ron Zacka, says he is living a boy’s dream. He is heading up the team at the industry leading outdoor equipment company, which his father Neville conceived back in 1968.

After completing his apprenticeship at Qantas as an instrument maker in 1970, Ron started working at Parklands with his ‘old man’, for over 40 years personally testing each product on offer on the Zacka family farm at Mudgee, which included 500 acres of testing ground. Products from brushcutters, chainsaws and push-mowers right through to ride-on mowers, ATVs and Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs). Ron reckons though, the best part of his job is testing the Parklander quad bikes and UTVs. “We did a full-day test a few weeks ago, it was intense,” he said.

“We have very satisfied customers who absolutely love their quad-bikes and UTVs. These machines really are big boy’s toys.”

The Parklander range of quad-bikes are made by Hi-Sun, China’s largest manufacturer of off-road vehicles and distributed in Australia exclusively

by Parklands. Ron reckons these machines are incredibly tough and are packed full of features.

“There is a model to suit every application; from a small 350cc lightweight runabout to the awesome power of the PQV-800 800cc beast. And the double seat on the 800 allows you to take a mate along for the ride.”

The simple automatic transmission on all models (except the 350cc sports) means just about anyone can ride them. Ron says the ease of use and comfort were big considerations in the design. “The whole range rides very well,” he said. “The suspension system was designed with safety in mind. The suspension has undergone comprehensive safety testing on a specially designed track to put each and every assembled quad-bike through its paces.”

“Safety is very, very important to Parklands,” Ron went on to say. “We are extremely confident that each and every Parklander off-road vehicle provides a safe and durable ride, when used correctly and within the proper parameters set out in the owner’s manual. We have worked closely with our suppliers to ensure that these models are all extremely safe.

A K C A Z N RO All UTVs come standard with seat-belts, windshields and roll-cages and our quad-bike range all have deadman switches, just in case.”

Parklands isn’t new on the scene, even though the ATV side of the business wouldn’t be easily recognisable to many readers.

“Parklands Power Products has been in the farm machinery industry for over 44 years,” said Ron. “We have a vast dealer network which gives buyers peace of mind, and we carry over 50,000 spare parts in stock – so you can rest assured that if your machine needs spares, we’ve got it.

“We have also worked hard to get a decent range of ATV products which consists of a 350cc sports model and a 400cc, 500cc and 800cc unit. From the 400cc up you have the ability to take equipment or feed on the front and rear luggage racks. These same models have a front-mounted winch to give you confidence to go just about anywhere.

“While the UTV range consists of a 400cc, 500cc and an 800cc model. There’s also a 700cc 4-seater available in case you need to give a couple of extra people a lift. We are very proud of the quality of our range.”

For lots more information about Parklands’ see www.cycletorque.com.au/more. n

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 55 YELLOW BLOOD CONQUERS THE RED HEART CAN-AM X-Team member Chad McKay has racked up an impressive array of wins at numerous state championships but it was the Finke held in Australia’s Red Centre that proved the toughest challenge.

Chad has been a member of the Australian Can Am X-team since 2009.

The 22-year-old has ridden quads most of his life, but has only been racing pro class quads for the past six years.

He lives in Perth, WA and works as a diesel mechanic in his family’s business McKay Drilling.

The decision to sign with BRP’s Can-Am came in late 2008 after discussions with Mick Andrewartha of 47industries (X-team Manager) following the 2008 ATV MX Nationals.

Chad had taken a break from State MX Championships but competed in several major off-road events such as the Thumb Pump 300 ATV Festival, Finke Desert Race and will make a comeback to MX racing at the end of the year at the ATV MX Nationals in Queensland.

Last year’s win in the Tattersall’s Finke Desert Race was the sweet spot Chad needed after missing out on the title by only 83 seconds in the previous year.

The Finke is renown as one of the most intense and gruelling off road races in the world.

Last year was no different with an international contingent of 516 competitors toughing it out across two days of frost, dust and rugged terrain.

Crossing over 460km from Alice Springs to the small Aputula Community, some 120,000 spectators and competitors converged to one of the remotest places on earth for this legendary event.

CHAD MC KAY

CanAm X-team member Chad McKay rode a great race on the powerful Can-Am DS450X MX powering to his first Finke title.

With impressive legs across both days Chad finished the race with an overall time of 5hr 18m.

“The Finke is definitely the hardest race I have competed in throughout my racing career,” Chad says.

“Since joining the Can-Am X-team in 2009 I have put the product through its paces in some of the toughest terrain in Australia,” he said.

“However, riding the Finke was on a totally different level.

“After missing out on the title in 2010 by a mere 83 seconds, it was a great feeling to win in 2011.”

Can-Am team manager Mick Andrewartha was understandably pleased with Chad’s result.

“It was great to see Can-Am on top of the podium again in 2011,” Mick said.

“The results reaffirm Can-Am ATVs as the most reliable and well built machines on the market.” n

2012

BMW S 1000 RR

LAUNCH

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 56

Now in its

second generation...

BMW’s

S 1000 RR is still at the

cutting edge of superbike

technology

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2012

BMW S 1000 RR

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 58

LAUNCH

BMW HAS updated and improved the sportsbike it released onto an unsuspecting world just two years ago.

The S 1000 RR came from a factory famed for its touring and adventure machines and immediately jumped to the top of the tree when it came to electronics, performance and safety. The electronics package included ABS, traction control, ridercontrolled engine mapping and a speed shifter, while the suspension was top-shelf and the engine performance exhilarating.

While the Japanese and Italians were just starting to release bikes with traction control or ABS, the Germans came along and stole the technology mantle with a bike which not only had all the right acronyms on the brochure, but worked in the real world, too.

In many racing championships, including Australia, the bike has been ridden to victory., although BMW is still struggling at World Superbike level - where more modifications to the road bike are permitted – but in classes such as SuperStock where few changes are allowed, the S 1000 RR has been a winner.

Updates BMW, in its press kit, talks about the updates to the bike were to “improve rideability by boosting thrust” and “enhancing the linearity and harmoniousness of the power and torque curves”. Whether that’s hyperbole or just a bad translation, what the engineers have done is tweak the throttle to improve drive off the turns and at the same time giving it a quicker action throttle (how far you have to twist it between off and fully on) and made it lighter to use, too.

Changes to the chassis and suspension have been made to improve handling, especially on a track. The chassis geometry – steering head angle, position

n TEST BY NIGEL PATERSON PHOTOS BY JEFF CROW n RIDING GEAR: SHOEI XR1000 BRADLEY SMITH REPLICA HELMET, RST TRACTECH LEATHERS, GLOVES BY FIVE GLOVES, ARLEN NESS BOOTS.

Back in the real world BMW has updated the instruments: you now have three options for how your engine speed is displayed on the tachometer, the lap timer has extra functions and you can set a “speedwarning” light to warn you of possible indiscretions. of the swingarm pivot and suspension – have been altered to improve feedback to the rider, steering accuracy and better handling.

For the road riders you can now order heated handgrips on your S 1000 RR, and given how much I hate wearing touring gauntlets on a sportsbike, I reckon that’s a great idea for those cool mornings in the mountains when there’s no traffic, no cops and no speed limit…

On the track The Australian launch of the bike was treated to wet conditions for the start of the track sessions, which the friendly BMW staff thought was a great idea: get out there and test the traction control and Race-ABS, boys.

Yeah, great: the technology might be fantastic, but there’s nothing to stop a front-end wet-weather lose, and I wasn’t keen to be the first to find the limits of the sticky Metzelers fitted to the test bikes. The race-ABS

might prevent the wheels locking while braking into a turn, but they won’t help if there’s no grip for the front tyre when you flick it into the turn…

So I was a cautious while tipping in to the turns around the awesome Phillip Island circuit, but powering out was a blast. With the electronics set to ‘Rain’, the engine is limited to 165hp (15 more than the old model) while both the ABS and traction control are at their most intrusive.

Later sessions saw the track dry out somewhat, allowing use of the full-power modes – “Sport”, “Race” and “Slick”. All 193 horsepower are available in these three modes, although Sport produces a little less horsepower between 2500rpm and 11,000rpm.

The biggest change to these has been the adoption of full throttle response in Sport mode. The older model tempered the power delivery somewhat in sport mode, especially at smaller throttle openings. It would allow full power with the throttle wide open, but the idea was to temper the engine’s aggression out of turns.

That’s been dumped, and now she takes off like a scared rabbit at the flick of the wrist.

In all of the full-power modes the S 1000 RR is a controlled animal. With traction control active you can have confidence the rear end won’t spin aggressively and spit you over the highside, and as you get used to that idea you can ride this bike really, really hard - and that means at a place like Phillip Island the handlebars will be really light because the front wheel is barely on the ground as you click through the six-speed quickshift-equipped ‘box.

Speeds down the straight are incredible and how fast you go into Doohan corner is entirely up to you… and the size of your cohonas…

the wiring harness ($13).

The HP Race Data Logger ($1297) will provide heaps of information about the bike back in the pits, while the HP Race Calibration Kit 2 ($2260) allows custom tuning and mapping of the traction control.

The HP Power Kit comprises a titanium exhaust, control unit and lots more: the price of the parts required is $5639. The last addition you might want for track use is the HP race Gearshift Pattern Reverser ($436).

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 59

New gear BMW has also announced the DoubleR range of riding gear: leathers, boots and gloves. The DoubleR suit features Kangaroo leather, stretch leather panels, NP Protectors. perforated areas for ventilation, plastic-covered stainless-steel abrasion protectors on shoulders and elbows, hard plastic abrasion protectors on knees. The suit is available in Black/White Red or Blue/White/Red.

On the Road Like the majority of Racetrack Refugee Sportsbikes, the BMW S 1000 RR isn’t really at home on public roads. It is uncomfortable, hot, unforgiving and too fast for your licence. It’s also incredible fun, although a lot more fun when there’s no speed limits.

I like the fact BMW has made the damping so easy to adjust - simply use your ignition key to turn the clickers, which are clearly marked with numbers from soft to hard. There may only be 10 clicks, but do you really Track options need 30? I’d much rather have just 10 but to be able to BMW realises a lot of riders are using their see at a glance what the suspension is set at.

S 1000 RR as a track bike, and is now offering both On smooth roads the S 1000 RR is blisteringly fast, but high-performance, data and cosmetic parts for riders on the bumpy goat tracks so common in Australia it’s not using their bikes on the street. not so much fun. The riding position is aggressive and There’s the HP race Cover Kit ($70) which blanks off the uncompromising – there may be worse out there, but mirror and licence plate mounts, raised-head screws for it’s no tourer. the mirror cover ($8/pair) and a set of blanking caps for But nobody ever bought an S 1000 RR because it was

comfortable: they buy them because they are fast, handle well and offer technology which has a chance to keep you in the saddle when other bikes might put you on your arse, which is a Really Good Thing.

The reality If you live on sinuous piece of smooth road or can get your S 1000 RR to a track regularly, you’ll probably love it. Only the best riders will find fault with the ABS or traction control systems, and because they are switchable those riders have the option of turning them off anyway. And turning them back on for road riding, or when it rains…

For the vast majority of riders the electronics help give you a confidence you couldn’t hope for only a few short years ago, and lets you explore your limits rather than the bike’s.

And the price of this European exotica – $22,290 plus on road costs - makes it only a few thousand dollars more than Japanese machinery and considerably less than some of the Italian machines. n

2012

BMW S 1000 RR

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 60

LAUNCH

PILLION SEAT IS TYPICAL SPORTSBIKE TERRITORY…

…AND THE PILLION PEGS ARE HIGH.

SPECIFICATIONS: n ENGINE TYPE: LIQUID-COOLED INLINE FOUR n CAPACITY: 999CC n TRANSMISSION: 6-SPEED n FUEL CAPACITY: 17.5 LITRES n FRAME TYPE: CAST ALLOY BRIDGE TYPE FRAME n SEAT HEIGHT: 820MM n DRY WEIGHT: 183 KG n FRONT SUSPENSION: FULLY ADJUSTABLE 46MM USD n REAR SUSPENSION: FULLY ADJUSTABLE SINGLE SHOCK n BRAKES: TWIN DISC FRONT AND SINGLE REAR n TYRES: 120/70-17, 190/55-17 n PRICE (RRP): $22,290 + ORC

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CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 61

HI TECH COCKPIT.

HEATED HANDGRIPS ARE AVAILABLE AND THE DAMPING CAN BE ADJUSTED WITH THE KEY.

STYLING ENHANCEMENTS INCLUDE TINTED ‘WINGLETS’ ON THE FAIRING.

MASSIVE BREMBO BRAKES DO THE STOPPING.

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D U C AT I MONSTER BIBLE

BY IAN FALLOON

$59.99

When Ducati unleashed Galluzzi’s Monster at the Cologne Show at the end of 1992, few expected it to become Ducati’s most successful model. Dramatically styled, minimalist in stature, yet bristling with innovative engineering, the 900 Monster created a new niche market.

A multi-faceted machine, the Monster bridged the gap between racetrack oriented sports bikes and cruisers.

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO

MOTORCYCLE T R AV E L

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This book is written to help motorcyclists prepare themselves and their motorcycle for traveling long distances over extended periods. Whether you are getting ready for a weekend trip beyond your home turf, or for a transcontinental odyssey lasting several years, Coyner’s book details the fundamentals for riding in comfort, safety, and convenience.

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO

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Everything you need to buy, ride and enjoy trail and adventure motorcycling. Sections on riding gear, tools, riding tips and safety and maintenance keep you well informed for the trip ahead.

Exploring and navigating are also covered in this comprehensive guide book.

GOING P O S TA L

BY NATHAN MILLWARD $30.00 Nathan Millward had a dream, he wanted to ride across the world on a small motorbike. A decommissioned Australia Post bike, to be precise. Nathan hit the road on his clapped out Postie bike, from Sydney to Darwin then through Southeast Asia and onwards to Pakistan and China and the home run through Europe.

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 63

HOW TO RESTORE

YOUR MOTORCYCLE

BY MARK ZIMMERMAN

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The market for used motorcycles is vast and deep, with many popular motorcycles available for a fraction of what they cost when new even a few years ago. With a little hard work and know-how, a restored used bike can become a reliable and stylish commuter vehicle. But restoring an older motorcycle can be challenging. Often you’re dealing with old technology, parts that are hard to replace, rusty and stubborn bolts, etc.

How to Restore Your Motorcycle walks the reader through the process of tearing down an old motorcycle and building it back up again. This revised edition adds color photography throughout, as well as new information covering bikes and technologies new to the collector realm.

B I L LY C O N N O L LY ’ S ROUTE 66 $35.00

Having always dreamed about taking a trip on the legendary Route 66, Billy Connolly is finally heading off on the ride of a lifetime. Travelling all 2,488 miles of this epic road, known as ‘The Main Street of America’, the Big Yin will share the experiences of the countless travellers who have taken the journey before him. The tales he’ll gather on the way, from the skyscrapers of Chicago through the Wild West badlands of Oklahoma and Texas, and on to the beaches of the Pacific coast, will tell the story of modern America. And they might just inspire a few readers to get on their bikes as well.

RACE TECH’S

MOTORCYCLE SUSPENSION BIBLE

BY PAUL THEDE & LEE PARKS $49.99 Based on Thede’s world-famous Race Tech Suspension Seminars, this step-by-step guide shows anyone how to make a bike handle like a pro’s.

There is also a detailed troubleshooting guide for dirt, street and track as well as a great appendix which includes a Race Tech tool list a suspension testing log and even a glossary of terms.

I VA N M A U G E R AUTOBIOGRAPHY $39.95

IVAN Mauger is more than the outstanding individual performer in speedway. He can also point to hugely successful partnerships on and off the track. His latest ‘best pairs’ partner is award-wining journalist, historian and former promoter Martin Rogers who co-authored Ivan’s eagerly-awaited autobiography. Martin has written and/or edited 19 sports books and collaborated with other former speedway champions including Barry Briggs, Bruce Penhall and Jason Crump.

CYCLE TORQUE TOURING FEATURE

PART ONE

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Vietnam Editor, Chris Pickett with Wife, Kerrie. On top of the mountain, Nha Trang to Da Lat.

A gold star adventure

e

No, this isn’t a one way bridge. Near Nha Trang.

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 65

If you want to see Vietnam

do it by motorbike

CYCLE TORQUE TOURING FEATURE

PART ONE

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Vietnam

FROM the chaos of bustling city streets to the incredible serenity of the mountains, from gaudy displays of wealth and bling to the incredibly poor countryside, from a war-torn past to a blossoming future, Vietnam is an incredible country.

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 67

Early in Nha Trang, and the Cyclo riders don’t have customers yet.

CYCLE TORQUE TOURING FEATURE

PART ONE

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 68 CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 68

A street vendor in Da Lat selling chicken.

Local traders know how to get the best out of their machines.

Sampling the rice wine at Lake Lak. It was an acquired taste.

A fire dance.

Vietnam

Lake Lak at sunset.

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 69

CYCLE TORQUE TOURING FEATURE

PART ONE

The people are wonderful and they get around by scooter and small capacity bike, so we did too when the editors teamed up with Vietnam Motorbike Tours to explore the country with a group of Cycle Torque readers.

Vietnam Motorbike Tours is a well established motorcycle tour company, run by Australian Jason Thatcher, and his local Vietnamese guides and management team based in Nha Trang, a seaside resort town about 50 minutes flight from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Just the trip by bus from Saigon Airport to our hotel was enough to get the pulse racing. There are literally thousands of bikes filling the streets of Saigon. Our guide told us that because it was Saturday traffic was light. On Monday it would be chaos. Well, that just blew everyone’s mind, that and the few close shaves between our bus and motorcycles/pushbikes. A week later back in Saigon and the close shaves were just second nature for the tour group, we were used to them by then.

Saigon itself was where the group of 22 eager souls met for the first time, with a meet and greet at a local restaurant giving most of us our first taste of the local food and beverages.

We had actively promoted the tour in Cycle Torque Magazine, on our website and Facebook page, and we were overwhelmed with inquiries.

Unfortunately Vietnam Motorbike Tours doesn’t have a limitless supply of machines so a number of people missed out. From NSW were Glen and Sue Thackeray, Tony Penfold, James Alvarez, Ben Goodwin, Cherie Welsh, Glenn Rumford, Kim and Kay Miller, Laura Jones, Mandy Jones and Dave McIlvenny and from Cycle Torque there was Nigel Paterson and Chris and Kerrie Pickett. From Queensland we had Peter Russell and Thor Kampe

Vietnam

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along for the ride, as well as Katy and Jurgen Harmsen. Flying in from Perth were Mark and Teresa Cifuentes, while Colin Price was the lone South Australian on the trip.

A few of the group has arrived a couple of days earlier and had already sampled the ‘wild’ night life of Saigon, but Jason ensured us we were in for a taste of the ‘real’ Vietnam, away from the bright lights and tourist traps.

The next day we flew into Nha Trang where we checked out the bikes, met the local guides, got an idea of our itinerary for the week, and had dinner at a fantastic beach-side restaurant. For the rest of the week though there would be no plane rides, we would be getting amongst it on motorcycles. We weren’t sure what we were in for.

much for the three-course lunch? Try six dollars including a cool drink or two.

In the afternoon we cruised along to a fishing village north of Nha Trang where we saw people sorting through the day’s catch – everything is used, nothing thrown back – and fishermen readying the vessels for the evening’s fishing. When we say fishermen we do mean men and women.

We quickly worked out that Vietnamese women are very hard workers, something we would continue to see during our trip, especially in the countryside.

One of our group even got into the swing of things by helping a fisherman bag ice so it could be transported out to the boats.

Riding back into the town itself at peak hour was an eye opener but everyone got through unscathed.

Nha Trang is renowned for its blue water and Tour Day One: clear skies but the area was on the tail-end of an unseasonal cyclone so we didn’t get to see that side From the looks on people’s faces there was some of it. Nevertheless it is a very beautiful area with trepidation about riding in local traffic conditions.

Nha Trang was nothing like Saigon but it is certainly nice restaurants, and lots to do if you are a tourist, like scuba diving, parasailing or fishing. If, like a few much more chaotic than the average Australian is of the ladies on our group did, you feel the need to used to. It was therefore a smart idea when Jason be pampered you can check out some of the spas and his team took us for a jaunt around the Nha Trang area for the day. We travelled to an area called which are popular and cheap.

Long Beach where local people have constructed a beach-side village. The structures are built from Tour Day Two: bamboo and scrap timber, with awnings out into The first major leg of the tour was from Nha Trang the water. In high tide the water rushes up to the to Da Lat which is located on the Langbian Plateau deck chairs, wetting the feet of a number of our some 1500 metres above sea level. The City itself group. Little cafes catered for locals and tourists. It was a very basic affair but you could buy drinks, hot was very popular with the French, which was food and fresh fruit. It was a very cool interlude and heavily involved in Vietnam for around 100 years up until the mid-1950s. The main reason the French a great way to spend the day. Of course we didn’t loved Da Lat so much was the cool climate, and have all day so we continued on to the outskirts of you can find many examples of French architecture Nha Trang where we rode down some dirt tracks, past rice paddies and to a riverside restaurant. How there, including the very pretty railway station.

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 71 CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 71 The trip to Da Lat saw us travelling through numerous villages. Almost like Eastern Europe it seems it’s one long village, with the roadside usually taken up with housing, and open countryside behind, not suburbs separated by open countryside like we are generally used to in the Australian countryside. We visited a small workshop where tools to cut plants were being made. There were piles of them and our guide explained that the metal used to make them were of inferior quality so many needed to made because they wear out quickly.

For many years local people used the steel from American tanks and planes left over from the Vietnam War, but these are almost non-existent now, with examples more likely to be seen in war museums, not the countryside.

We also visited a local village inhabited by what our guides called ‘Minority People’. About 80 per cent of the population is a certain race, with the other 20 per cent a little different and found in less populated areas. Even the dialect is different, with city people only understanding about 60 per cent of the minority language.

To get to Da Lat we had to ride over a mountain pass which was breathtakingly beautiful, even if it was raining for much of the trip. At one lookout we caught up with a couple of French guys doing the Vietnam bike trip, only they had bought bikes in Vietnam for a few hundred dollars. They were having a blast and were travelling lightly indeed.

We were to see a number of other western tourists doing the Vietnam gig during our trip too, some riding their own bikes, being doubled by guides or doing a trip like ours, although our group was much bigger.

There was a bit of good natured racing between a few of the tour participants too, all at 30-40km/h up

It’s normally luke warm or it can be taken with ice to make it real cold.

After this we ventured to a silk factory where the little worms were working away like slaves. It’s a very interesting process but what is perhaps more interesting is the machinery used to produce silk products. A couple of French made weaving machines are used and they were built in 1927. It’s Tour Day Three: amazing to think they are still in use and do look as On our way from Da Lat to Lake Lak we stopped though they have not been modified to bring them into a crazy house in Da Lat, designed by celebrated into the 21st Century. They are fully automated too, architect Hang Nga. Crazy House, yes that’s what with a script used to produce the specific design it’s called, rises about five storey above its suburban of the silk which is then placed onto a roll. It’s the neighbours, rattling and squirming its entrails and same method you would see on an old Pianola bones into the skyline, great sweeps of black and which uses a different script to play different songs. yellow concrete, bizarrely shaped glass openings, You have to remember that Vietnam is still a third beautifully peach-coloured walkways that are a world country and new machines cost money the cross between a tunnel and cave, and sculptured manufacturers don’t really have. rooftops that appear menacing. It’s also an active A massive Buddhist temple was next on our travels. hotel and had everyone on the tour amazed.

Most of Vietnam’s population are Buddhist, and After this amazing piece of architecture it was the temple is open to all visitors. Some took the up the road to where the staple crop is coffee. opportunity to check out the temple while others There are a few types of coffee grown but the relaxed on its steps. most interesting is the Weasel Coffee. The coffee Once we arrived at Lake Lak we were treated to a beans are eaten by a local Asian Palm Civet which display of singing and dancing by local Menong looks alarmingly like a weasel, and as the pulp of tribes people which included most of us sampling the coffee berries are digested the left over hard rice wine from the communal pot and having a bit coffee beans pass out the little Civet’s rear end, of a dance ourselves. A great night topped off by a and are then processed for consumption via a great meal overlooking the lake. coffee machine of some sort. Don’t worry they Continued next month. are washed first. Not everyone in the tour group There’s more about visiting Vietnam with Vietnam was adventurous enough to sample this particular Motorbike Tours via the links on coffee but those who did came away impressed. www.cycletorque.com.au/more n Outside of the major cities the Vietnamese drink coffee a little different to westerners. A small glass has a condensed milk product poured in first with the coffee placed in second. Once it’s stirred you drink away but it’s gone in two or three mouthfuls. the steep mountain pass.

Once in Da Lat it was out to check the markets and grab a meal. Normally in these areas finding western style food is not easy but Da Lat had a few, especially one built right on the lake. A pretty city, and at night it was a most spectacular sight.

CYCLE TORQUE TOURING FEATURE

The girls in a Saigon bar were happy to pose for the ‘Ossie’ with the big camera.

Mates in paradise.

PART ONE

Vietnam

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 72 CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 72

Remnants of the Vietnam war.

Jason Thatcher from Vietnam Motorbike Tours checking out a gun emplacement from the French War.

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 73 CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 73 Don’t know what the sign says but it looked cool.

Want to shop. Vietnam is waiting for you.

Laura and the snake wine...

...down the hatch...

...Ahh!

CYCLE TORQUE TOURING FEATURE

PART ONE

Vietnam

Not sure who’s worse off here.

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 74 CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 74

Pete, our ‘Happy Buddha’

Lake Lak.

195cm Jurgen was a constant sourceC Y C L E of amazement for the Vietnamese people.

TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 75

CYCLE TORQUE TOURING FEATURE

Vietnam

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 76

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 77

2 Day Tour - Nha Trang city sightseeing tour - incl.

Crocodile Farm and Waterfall.

2 Day tour - Riding Nha Trang to Central Highlands finishing at Dalat.

4 Day Tour - Ride the Loop starting and finishing at Nha Trang - riding the Central Highlands 6 days Coast Ride - starting Nha Trang ride to Hoi.

" THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO SEE THE REAL VIETNAM ! " " AND THAT'S ON A MOTORCYCLE !!! "

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9 Day Ride - Loop starting Nha Trang and finishing Nha Trang, ride includes Central Highlands, HCM Trail.

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12 Day Tour - Vietnam and Cambodia ,includes HCMC tour , flight transfer to Nha Trang, tour Central Highlands, flights to Phnom Penh, ride to Seim Reip Angkor.

“Top Gear” 20 Day Tour - Starting HCMC finishing Hanoi.

Contact our Australian booking agent :

MAIN STREET TRAVEL 03 5975 6333

30 Day Ride - Touring Vietnam and Cambodia, riding HCM Trail and central Highlands, Hanoi to Nha Trang, fly Nha Trang to HCMC, city tour, fly to Phnom Penh Cambodia ride to Seim Riep Tour Angkor Watt, this tour includes flights from Nha Trang to HCMC and flights to Cambodia.

THESE ARE SOME OF OUR MANY TOUR PACKAGES. All Tours include airport pick-ups and transfers, good clean hotel stays with breakfast, bike hire , English speaking guides and much, much more.

CYCLE TORQUE PEOPLE ‑WSIBK FEATURE

Aussies

JED METCHER

AT THE ISLAND LOCAL lads met with mixed success at the 2012 Phillip Island WSBK

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 78

MARK AITCHISON

Race Torque Columnist Darryl Flack gives us the lowdown on how the Aussies fared at the first round of the Superbike World Championship.

Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Honda WSS) was disappointed with his third-place finish, but was happy enough to take the points.

Pole-sitter Parkes nursed his tyres in the early stages of the Jed Metcher (Rivamoto Yamaha) made an impressive World race and could only watch as Kenan Sofuoglu and Fabien Supersport debut, just missing out on a top-10 finish after Foret pushed their Kawasakis far enough in front to keep any starting 17th on the grid. The 2011 FIM Superstock 600 challenges at bay. “Maybe I was bit a cautious in the opening Champion carded an 11th, just 0.8 off tenth-placed former 125 laps because we knew the rear tyre would be a problem for GP winner Lukas Pesek. It was a difficult transformation for the the race,” said Parkes, who finished over six seconds behind South Australian, forced to completely change his riding style race-winner Sofuoglu. Many have tipped this to be Broc’s to the traction-controlled R6. “I’m used to turning the bike on year to finally break through and win a world championship, the rear tyre, and I originally come from 125s where you feel in this his 12th year on the tour. He like many, were surprised the front end on the way in. With the World Supersport bike, by the speed of the Kawasakis, including Fabien and Kenan. “I you have to keep the bike over at an extreme angle and have would’ve liked to have been up there with them, and maybe the confidence to crack the throttle open before you want to.”

I was too conservative in the first part of the race, but we Team manager Jeremy McWilliams was delighted after Jed beat picked up some solid points and I look forward getting back to home American Jason Day by five seconds and finished with a Europe.” Best time 1m35.743 - top speed 284km/h. best lap of 1m35.734 and a top speed of 280km/h.

Bryan Staring (Pedercini Kawasaki SBK) was the best-placed

Aussie at Phillip Island with a terrific tenth-place finish in race one. Qualifying 17th fastest, Staring made a ripper start, but got bumped back to 21st across the stripe for the first time. He pushed is his way into the top 15 by lap 12 and descended on 2011 FIM Superstock 1000 sparring partner Lorenzo ‘Bubba’ Zanetti (Ducati). “It was a great dice with Zanetti, who gave me a pretty hard time on his factory BMW last year,” Staring said. The Aussie stalked the Italian for the remaining seven laps before pouncing on the final circuit to take 10th by just 0.2secs. “I was pretty confident with the bike, and our tyre selection was right for the conditions. It was good to get one back on Zanetti. ” With the hotter track temps in race two, Bryan couldn’t repeat his first race performance and finished 17th after a great late race duel with Josh Brookes. Best time 1m32.613 - top speed 307km/h.

Josh Brookes (Crescent Suzuki) finished a strong 16th in race two after battling handling woes for much of the weekend.

n PHOTOS BY RUSSELL COLVIN

BROC PARKES

1m33.308 - top speed 311km/h.

Mark Aitchison is in his seventh season in Europe, and in his seventh team – Grillini BMW WSBK. After a stellar 2011 where he put the Pedercini Kawasaki into Superpole several DAVID JOHNSON times on top of two top-ten finishes, Atcho has had to start Frustrated in his attempts to find a good feeling with the all over again on a brand new bike and team. “None of the front-end early in the weekend, the woolly-haired Brookes guys has ever worked with a BMW before, except one,” said qualified 21st and finished a commendable 16th in race one Atcho, who will be Australia’s only full-time entrant in this after earlier dicing with Mark Aitchison. In race two he scored year’s WSBK. “The upside is that the team owner is an exa well-earned championship point. “For race two, we went racer, he is very competitive, and will do whatever it takes to back to front-end ride height we used yesterday plus some develop the bike and take the team forward.” In early practice softer springs. It made a huge difference to how the front-end and qualifying, Atcho’s number one standard BMW engine felt, and the bike braked and turned better. We turned down overheated which forced him to use the second one. He’s the traction control and although I was happier with the feel running an EFI engine management/traction control system of the bike, it resulted in destroying the tyres more quickly.” which says has more potential than the one Pedercini used in Brooksy announced last August that he would love to do the 2011, and his confident of the BMW’s potential once the team TT this year, but his TAS Suzuki team boss has put the kibosh slots in a factory engine for round two at Imola. He finished on it. “Phil [Neill] has said no, but I’ll do it one day.” Best time 18th in race one, then ran off and crashed at Southern Loop

BRYAN STARING

after hitting a false neutral on lap two of race two. Best time 1m33.396 - top speed 316km/h.

David Johnson (Rossair AEP BMW) made his World Championship debut at PI, and walked away with mixed feelings after finishing 19th in race one before pulling in during race two when his standard BMW donk started making ominous clicking noises. The likeable South Australian qualified 24th after struggling with a surging engine earlier in the weekend. He sorted through a variety of tyres after an initial struggle adapting to the Pirelli control offerings, losing the front-end once and saving it on his knee. Heading back to the UK, where he has been based for 10 years, David is preparing for the British Superstock champs again on a BMW. He paid special tribute to his team and sponsors for helping to make his WSBK dream come true. David ripped a best lap of 1m33.816 and a top speed of 304km/h.

– Darryl Flack

JOSH BROOKES

N ext Month i n

CYCLE TORQUE APRIL 2012 - 80

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Winter riding gear

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