IN THIS ISSUE
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 2
THIS issue features the conclusion to Cycle Torque’s Adrenalin Generations assault on the Isle of Man, where our editor, Chris Pickett, and his son Alex, raced in the Classic TT and Manx Grand Prix respectively. Chris went well, Alex blew everyone away with his performance and is in talks with a team about contesting the Isle of Man TT in 2014. The biggest launch for 2014 is Indian returning - we were there to ride the first three machines and came away very impressed. Make sure you check out the video, these bikes look and sound great. Also ridden this month is the new Piaggio range and the Royal Enfield GT. Our annual Christmas Buyers’ Guide is also a big feature this month, which means the year must be drawing to a close – merry Christmas everyone, have a great break! – Nigel Paterson publisher@cycletorque.com.au
For the love of motorcycling
CONTENTS
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 3
RIDDEN A TRIBE OF NEW INDIANS
PIAGGIO BV 350 LAUNCH
LAUNCH
34
26
FEATU RES
46 ISLE OF MAN PART II
COMING FROM AMERICA
TOURING THE OXLEY
LAUNCH
40
REGU LARS
82
THE DUCATISTI EXPERIENCE
84
+ OUR MASSIVE CHRISTMAS BUYERS GUIDE
88
ROYAL ENFIELD CONTINENTAL GT
+ QUAD TORQUE
80
54
COVER PHOTOS: INDIAN BY LOU MARTIN, ROYAL ENFIELD BY BRIAN DYER
04 NEWS TORQUE 18 EDITORIAL 21 DIRTY TORQUE 22 RACE TORQUE 25 GUNTRIP 77 MARKET TORQUE 78 RIDE WOLLOMBI PHOTO COMP. WINNER
92 SHOP TORQUE NEW 93 TORQUING BACK: LETTERS
WIN A 250cc HYOSUNG OF YOUR CHOICE
17
NEWS TORQUE
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 4
Rossi and Burgess part AFTER 14 seasons working together in theWorld Championship Valentino Rossi and his Crew Chief Jeremy Burgess will part ways following the Valencian GP. The pair have enjoyed one of the most fruitful working relationships in the history of Grand Prix racing, having won seven world titles in the premier class together. But with Rossi looking for fresh influences next year in the Yamaha Factory Racing team, having been unable to regularly challenge for victories this year, the Italian will have a new Crew Chief in 2014. Rossi announced the decision in a recent press conference saying, “It’s not true that I’m unhappy with Jeremy’s work but it is true that next year he won’t be my Chief Mechanic. It was a very difficult decision for me because I have a great history with Jeremy. He is not just my Chief Mechanic. He is like part of my family. My father in racing. “But I’ve decided for next year I need to change something to try to find new motivation and to have a boost to improve my level, my speed. So this will be my last race together with Jeremy.” Rossi went on to add, “we spoke today, face to face. Next year will be crucial and I need new motivation. In the last few races I’ve felt I wanted to work in a different way. It was a difficult choice to make. Yamaha had asked me some time ago, but I decided recently.” “In my head there is the idea of trying something new now. I’ve always done that in my career. Next year I have to earn a renewal with Yamaha, so I’ll have to be competitive. I still do not know who will be the new chief mechanic.” n
NEWS TORQUE
HARLEY’S 500 THE much-rumoured Street 500 Harley-Davidson has been unveiled to the world motorcycling press, with events running around the world to introduce the new bike, and it’s 750cc variant. Priced at around $10-12,000, the XG500 should be a big seller. Unfortunately Australia isn’t expected to get any until early January 2015. Aimed at a world market and being manufactured both in Kansas and India, the ‘Street’ is aimed at the young adult and returning motorcyclists markets, as well as the obvious LAM market. Built for urban environments – nimble handling, good looking, fast steering and quick-revving – the new Street 500 is designed to appeal to a new range of riders. Harley will introduce the bike with a huge range of accessories and options so owners can customise their Street to their desire. Powering the bike is an all-new SOHC 60-degree liquid-cooled motor. Similar specs to the V-Rod, but it’s an all-new design and platform. The engine is the first Revolution X engine series. A complete bike weighs in at a little over 200kg, has a low seat height and is aimed at encouraging people to ride. Check out the micro site at www.h-d.com/street and and interview Harley made with its chief marketing officer Mark-Hans Richer. n
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 5
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CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 6
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NEWS TORQUE
Marquez youngest-ever Champ
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 7 The last few races were like this - Lorenzo leading and Marquez scoring enough points to take the title.
SPANIARD Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) has become the youngest-ever premier-class Grand Prix Champion, and the first rookie since Kenny Roberts to win the top title.
And what a race it was. Marquez couldn’t make the best of his pole-position qualifying and was third into the first turn behind Lorenzo and his Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa.
In a roller-coaster season for most of the front runners, Marquez could have tied up the title weeks ago but a resurgent Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) - by this stage the only rider who could eclipse Marquez - was on a charge and concluded the season winning the last three races on the trot.
For the first ten laps Lorenzo attempted to control the speed of the race, leading but riding relatively slowly so the pack built up behind him.
It wasn’t enough though, Marquez having accumulated enough points to hold off his countryman and win the title. The final races were controversial. In Australia, where he could have wrapped up the championship, Marquez was controversially black-flagged (excluded) for riding too many laps - the new, highly abrasive Phillip Island surface deemed too dangerous for more than ten laps by race control and when his team miscalculated and left him out for an extra lap he was excluded from the results. This enable Lorenzo to claw back 25 points and the championship was going down to the wire.
Pedrosa made numerous attempts to overtake, by Lorenzo fought back against each one, the two touching on more than one occasion. Indeed, the stewards announced they would be ’chatting’ to Lorenzo about one particularly aggressive move after the race. With one-third of the thirty lap race run, it was obvious the front three were in a league of their own again, and other Yamaha riders weren’t going to be able to slot between Lorenzo and Marquez to help - Marquez would take the title even if he finished fourth as he started the race with a 13 point buffer. So Lorenzo cleared out to again display how he has been the rider to beat in the second half of the season, but Marquez’s year was slightly better overall - four points better. n
In Japan Lorenzo rode his Yamaha to a comprehensive victory. So for the first time since 2006, when Valentino Rossi led the Championship into the final round but would fall, handing the title to Nicky Hayden, the championship would be decided in the last race. Check out our Phillip Island MotoGP Photos and coverage at http://www.cycletorque.com.au/motogp2013pi
NEWS TORQUE
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 8
The Stars of EICMA
THE big biannual Italian Motorcycle show, EICMA, has gone off again and despite worldwide motorcycle sales begin pretty poor, manufacturers are looking to the future and have announced some really interesting new bikes for 2014.
2014 Honda VFR800F
Honda has a plethora of mainly updated bikes - the CBR300R has grown as the quarter-litre class seems to be disappearing, a new CB650F probably won’t make it to Australia but would be a nice mid-range sports-tourer… but we are definitely getting the new VFR800F, Honda’s venerable V-four getting a long-awaited overhaul. The CBR1000RR gets an overhaul too, but there’s also an SP version coming, with trick suspension and go-fast bits - and it’s the first SP sports Honda we can remember since the VTR1000SP, so it should be pretty special. Honda’s also showing off a new CRF450 rally, a factory race bike for taking on the Australian Safari and the Dakar.
Triumph’s Commander.
Triumph is also very active, with a special edition Tiger 800, new thunderbird variants, updates to the Speedmaster and America and the official news the company will be building a 250 in India - for 2015. The long-rumoured Harley-Davidson 500 has been officially unveiled, along with its 750cc sibling, as the Street range (see our separate story).
Race-ready CRF450 Rally.
NEWS TORQUE BMW has slotted a new engine into the R 1200 RT tourer, but it’s the S 1000 R the adrenalin junkies in the Cycle Torque office are keen to ride - an almost naked variant of the RR sportsbike - lots of horses, flat ’bars, we can see black lines on roads everywhere…
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 9 Husqvarna’s new concept mahine.
Yamaha MT-07
Husqvarna has shown off a trick Supermonostyle machine which will also be leaving black rubber everywhere if it makes it into production, and so will the new twin-cylinder MT-07 Yamaha. The MT-07 is a 689cc naked sports twin, which Yamaha says has “linear torque for outstanding acceleration”. Expect it to be well priced and a lot of fun. One Yamaha shown off at EICMA but unlikely to make it Downunder is the new SR400 - yep, the venerable air-cooled, single cylinder naked machine is being reintroduced… and it’s kick-start only. Once a concept, now a reality, the 2014 Suzuki V-Strom is eagerly awaited we’ve had a soft-spot over the years for the 650 V-Strom and the new 1000 certainly has the specifications and long-gestation which hopefully means it will be a strong competitor to the best Adventure bikes around. n
2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000
The new BMW S 1000 R
www.cycletorque.com.au/more
NEWS TORQUE
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 10
A SEA OF SPARKS THE latest Sea-Doo personal watercraft to make a big splash on the market is the Spark. Coming in either two or three seater variants, the Spark comes in a wide variety of options, and amazingly prices start at only $6,999. Both the two and three seater models come with a 900cc Rotax ACE engine but a high output 900cc engine is an option, as is the on-water brake, which is specific to Sea-Doo PWC. Sea-Doo says the engine is the most compact and fuel efficient on the market, and it uses a closed-loop cooling system, so no salt water gets into the system. But this is just the start really, from here the accessories available are almost endless, and the colour options will make you stand out. Cycle Torque hasn’t been able to test one as yet but everything we’ve read gives them a big thumbs up, especially the price. Not everyone needs a supercharged 200 plus horsepower jet ski, and we think the Spark is going to be a huge seller. n
It’s not where you’re going, It’s how you get there!
http://www.kenma.com.au/motorcycle_luggage.html
NEWS TORQUE
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 11
Troy Bayliss Classic SATURDAY, January 18, 2014 - that’s right, mark it down in your diary because it has officially been confirmed as the date that the Troy Bayliss Classic will return to Taree Motorcycle Club. Troy Bayliss Events have confirmed the date and the sponsors, Insure My Ride & MOTO EXPO, but Troy is being a bit tight-lipped about the riders who will join him for the next event. However we can confirm that current Moto 2 competitor Anthony West and Isle of Man TT legend Cameron Donald will both return to Australia for the event. Following the successful inaugural event, which saw a sell-out crowd flock to the Old Bar club, organisers have begun building bigger viewing mounds to allow for an increased capacity. The 2014 event will also see the number of special guest riders increase from 24 to 36. “After the success of this year’s event we have already started working on our second Troy Bayliss Classic,” Bayliss said. “It is very exciting to be able to announce that Anthony West and Cameron Donald are confirmed for the 2014 event. We have had a lot of this year’s racers express interest in participating again and our inaugural winner Michael Kirkness has earned his way into the invited line up.” For West, who has spent the past 14 years abroad racing MotoGP, Supersport World Championship, 250cc and 125cc, the event will see him race flat track on
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Australian soil for the first time in many years and once again line-up against fellow Queenslander Chris Vermeulen. Vermeulen and West raced dirt track together when they were juniors. Cameron Donald is the 2008 Isle of Man TT Superbike and Supersport winner. The Victorian has enjoyed a successful international racing career including placing first Newcomer of the Isle of Man TT and Northwest 200 in 2005 and winning the 600cc race at the Macau Grand Prix in 2001 & 2003. Tickets for the Troy Bayliss Classic are now on sale and limited to 6000 for the 2014 event. Adults $30, Children 5-15 $15, Family of 4 (2 adults 2 children) $75. For more information visit www.cycletorque.com.au/more n
TAP EACH PRODUCT ABOVE FOR MORE INFO
NEWS TORQUE
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 12
Junior club lost to fires
The Junior Trials Motorcycle Club in Gwandalan, on the Central Coast of NSW, has lost its clubhouse and canteen as well as significant infrastructure to the October bush fires. The JTMCC, as it’s better known, has carried insurance against just this sort of thing for a number of years, so will come back after a lot of work. Community support has been strong, with both the club members and locals putting in time and effort to get he club up and running again. Other clubs have already offered the use of their tracks and facilities, but JTMCC should have already run at least one event by the time you read this. n
www.triumphmotorcycles.com.au
NEWS TORQUE
Waters to Tyco TYCO Suzuki has signed double Australian Superbike Champion Josh Waters for the 2014 British Superbike Championship.
Waters rode for Suzuki in Australia for a number of years, winning both of his titles for the manufacturer. He will join former MotoGP, WSBK and BSB star John Hopkins in the Northern Irleand based team. Waters’ 2013 BSB season was not exactly successful, something Waters puts down to trying to learn the trick British circuits, and also being on a Yamaha superbike for the first time, after years of riding the GSX-R1000 “I am really happy and excited to be joining Tyco Suzuki for the 2014 season. I’ve spent a lot of years racing with Suzuki in the past, and every year I was with them, they were very successful for me,” said Waters. “TAS Suzuki is a team I’ve followed for a long time, and it goes without saying, Hector and Philip Neill run a great team. I’m currently back home in Australia, but I can’t wait to start testing the GSX-R1000 Superbike for the 2014 season. I’m looking forward to it already; and partnering John Hopkins in the Tyco Suzuki set-up is an added bonus.” The spot with Tyco become available because fellow Australian Josh Brookes is rumoured to have signed with Milwaukee Yamaha, replacing James Ellison. n
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 13
NEWS TORQUE
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 14
Josh Brookes to ride for RIC ANDREWS Milwaukee Yamaha MOTORCYCLES Milwaukee Yamaha has announced the arrival of Josh Brookes for the 2014 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship season. Brookes will be riding alongside Tommy Bridewell as the formidable pair bid for title victory in 2014. Australian Brookes joins the team for his sixth season in the championship as he strives to fulfil his aspirations of lifting the title after finishing runnerup twice. Brookes is now relishing the opportunity to race a Yamaha for the first time in his career and is already preparing back home in Australia for the team’s pre-season test programme early next year. Bridewell returns to the team following his striking performances in the final three rounds of the 2013 season when he scored an impressive three podium finishes from his first four races onboard the Milwaukee Yamaha. Bridewell has previously been a contender in the Showdown and is aiming to build on his podium finishing performances from the final rounds of this season. The team will also continue to contest the major international road races with Ian Hutchinson returning to action at this year’s Macau Grand Prix and lining up in Milwaukee Yamaha colours again at next year’s Isle of Man TT Ulster GP and the North West 200. Brookes, who made his road racing debut at the NW200 and TT last season, will also return to the events as he combines the two disciplines. Brookes said: “Three years with any team is fairly long so this is a good time for a change, and I believe Milwaukee Yamaha has a package capable of winning the championship. I have never ridden a Yamaha before but I know that when Leon (Camier) rode the bike and won the title he spoke very highly of it and I have been a rival to it for a long time and it appears to be a really strong bike! “Shaun (Muir) wanted me to be a part of the team and seems really excited about the prospect of working together next season and that makes me look forward to returning again next year with this different opportunity.”
TR I UMPH AND YA M AHA PR ICES
TOO HOT TO PRINT
CH ECK OUR W EBS ITE FO R R I D E AWAY PR I CES
CENTRAL COAST TYRE CENTRE LOYA LT Y PROG R A M M E . CH ECK O UR W E BS ITE FO R D E TA I LS
Bridewell is also looking forward teaming up with Brookes and said, “It is great for me to be able to work with Josh too because I think we are quite similar and I think we can push each other. I ticked off one of my ambitions this year with a double podium finish, now I am ready to fight for wins!” Team Owner Shaun Muir concluded: “We are delighted to confirm our line up for next season, and all of us involved at Milwaukee Yamaha are excited at the prospect of Tommy and Josh battling for race wins from the very first race.
www.ricandrewsmotorcycles.com.au
“I have obviously watched Josh for several seasons and admired his guile, determination and aggression. I can see these guys working well off the track and equally doing battle on it. I am sure the combination of Josh and Tommy puts us in a very strong position to win back the title in 2014.” n
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NEWS TORQUE Nearly 17,500 at Perth Bike Show With nearly 17,500 people, international visitors and heaps to see, the Bi-Annual Perth Motorcycle and Scooter Show has been a huge success. Run every second year and for the first time at the Claremont Showgrounds, the Show featured Charley Boorman, Matt Mingay doing his amzing stunts, areas for kids to try out a quad and adults to try out scooters. “We are extremely pleased with the way the weekend turned out, and glad to have brought such an awesome event to the people of Perth,” Peter Woods, Show Director, said. Mick Doohan led the charity ride to support YouthFocus, a local organization which deals with mental health issue in teenagers. Almost 1500 bikes participated in the ride. Planning is already underway for the next event, on the weekend of 6-8 November 2015. More information will be made available on the website www.perthbikeshow. com.au. n
Vietnam Tour selling out? CYCLE TORQUE’S tour of Vetnam is selling well, with over half of the bikes booked already. The tour runs from February 1-9 in Vietnam, with the Vietnam Motorbike Tours taking the Cycle Torque group up into the Western Ho Chi Minh Trail on a pillionfriendly roadbike tour taking in spectacular scenery, incredible food and the wonderful culture of the Vietnamese. At just $2650 per rider and pillions half price, the Cycle Torque 2014 tour of Vietnam is not just a great experience but is also incredible value. Cycle Torque will be running a story on the event, so you’ll have the story and professional photography included along with the Vietnamese-speaking tour guides, support vehicle for luggage and tired pillions and lots more. More info on 02 49569820, or check out www.cycletorque.com.au/more. n
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 15
NEWS TORQUE Maverick Vinales claims victory and Moto3 World Championship Maverick Vinales (above) claimed victory and Moto 3 World Championship at the Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of Jonas Folger and Alex Rins. With only a few points separating the front row starters of Vinales (Team Calvo (KTM), Alex Rins (Estrella Galicia 0,0 (KTM) and Luis Salom (Red Bull KTM Ajo), it was always going to be a tense, nail-biting race, while Jonas Folger and Jack Miller held on to make a leading pack of five. The three riders stayed locked together sharing the lead until lap 10, when Salom who was leading the championship coming into the final race had his hopes dashed, crashing out of third place leaving Vinales and Rins to battle it out. Salom rejoined the race finishing in the points in 14th position. Jack Miller, who looked a strong podium contender tumbled out of fourth place in the closing stages leaving Rins, Vinales and Folger clear at the front. On the final corner of the last lap Rins made his move for the lead, touching Vinales on the way past. Rins was unable to hold his line and Vinales retook the lead and was able to hold it over the line. Rins last corner mistake allowed Jonas Folger (Mapfre Aspar Team Moto3) to finish second. n
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 16
www.ctek.com
Cycle Torque/Hyosung giveaway
Enter in the iPad edition or at www.cycletorque.com.au Terms and conditions: Entrants must be over the age of 17 years. Entry is free. Only one entry per person per day is permitted. Entries open 9am September 23 2013. Entries close midday Monday, January 6 2014. Prize will be drawn 3pm Monday, January 6 2014 at Cycle Torque offices, Warners Bay, NSW. Entry is by online form located at www.cycletorque.com.au or via iPad/digital edition (eMag). Prize is not redeemable for cash. No employee or family members of an employee of Motorcycle Publishing Pty Ltd or associated companies are permitted to enter. The single (1) prize is a choice between either a GT250 Hyosung OR a GT250R Hyosung OR a GV250 Hyosung motorcycle valued at up to $4990. The prize is to be collected by the winner at their nearest Hyosung dealership, and includes vehicle registration and on-road costs (value variable dependent on the winner’s address, age, driving record and experience). The prize will be awarded to the first complete, legible, random serial number selected from all the serial numbers allocated to each online entry. The winner does not need to be present at the draw. The winner will be telephoned and emailed at the conclusion of the draw. Winner to be notified by telephone and email. Name to be published in February 2014 editions of Cycle Torque print and digital editions and online at www. cycletorque.com.au. The promoter is Motorcycle Publishing Pty Ltd. The name of the promotion is Win A 250cc Hyosung of Your Choice. NSW Permit Number LTPS/13/06788.
EDITORIAL
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 18
Extra Care I THOUGHT I’d strike while the iron is hot regarding road safety in Cycle Torque. In recent months we’ve been running a photo competition, where readers send in their motorcycle related pictures, wherever in the world, and put themselves in the running to win a weekend at Wollombi, west of Newcastle in NSW. It’s no secret, at least to most riders who use the area, the roads are in average condition at best, and the whole Wollombi promotion/road safety/liability thing has initiated some spirited debate. After talking to the new Cessnock Council Road Safety Officer Warren Jeffery it seems the time is right to talk about other aspects of motorcycle road safety. You might say the Wollombi debate has kicked this off but it’s relevant for all roads. One particular area of the road from Kulnura to Wollombi, via Laguna, has been a hot spot for accidents for many years. And it even has a name, Lemmings Corner. Many years ago I remember a friend coming to grief on that corner, which is much wider and better prepared than it was way back then. He was inexperienced and on a big Kawasaki. He simply misjudged the corner because you do come into it a bit suddenly, and luckily his injuries were minor and he even rode away. But lots of riders haven’t been so lucky. I know the Cessnock Council has tried to warn riders about the area, and this corner in particular, and has even produced a motorcyclist handout/flyer warning riders of areas to look out for in the region. Even 20
years ago you could expect the Westpac Helicopter to be picking up riders in the area pretty much every weekend, and it hasn’t changed much since then. The NSW RTA, or Roads and Maritime Service as it’s known now, has produced ads in numerous motorcycle magazines, and put signs up in accident hot spots throughout NSW, giving riders a heads up on the correct lines and when to be extra careful. One issue which has been brought up though is the fact these signs tend to have sports motorcycles as the generic machine, when many riders are in fact cruiser mounted. What’s the difference? Well cruisers are popular with many older riders, because of their style, the grunty engines, the low centre of gravity, and their comfort. It might surprise some of you that not all riders want to ride around like a half opened pocket knife. And just because you are over 40 doesn’t make you an experienced rider. You may have returned to riding after a layoff of many years, or you might be an empty nester looking for some two wheeled thrills, and the body just can’t cope with a bike which has handlebars inline with its seat. Regular riders could well be surprised how many of the cruiser riders out there are relatively new to riding. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, in fact I think it’s great, but each and every bike on the market has an Achilles heel somewhere, and on cruisers it’s usually ground clearance and suspension travel. And on roads like the one from Kulnura to Wollombi it’s easy to get caught out, especially if you are a newbie. Your machine doesn’t like bumps and you don’t like to
be left behind in a crowd. Riding with your friends is top fun but it can lead to riders, both experienced and inexperienced, making poor choices, and I’m as guilty as anyone. If you have lots of experience you may be able to get yourself out of that poor choice but if you don’t have the experience... You simply can’t expect a cruiser to go around the same corner as fast as a better handling bike, and it’s important to know that. Too often inexperienced riders will follow the bike in front, almost blindly, without putting all the facts together in their mind first. So, in a nutshell the Cessnock Council is out to target cruiser riders in their patch. Not because they don’t like them but because they want them to enjoy the area safely. Of course that’s not saying cruisers are the main type of bike involved in crashes but they do make up a fair chunk, in this area at least. In my experience too many riders treat popular motorcycle roads like a racetrack. Please, if you ride be aware of the limitations of your motorcycle, your own ability, and the road you are on. What’s right for the person in front or the one behind might not be right for you. – Chris Pickett
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 19
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DIRTY TORQUE
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 21
AMA MX Vs World MX THE AMA Motocross Championships and the World Motocross Championships are the two highest profile series in the moto scene. The promoter for the AMA series is MX Sports Pro Racing and they have basically stuck to a 12 round, two 30-minute moto format for decades while the World Championship is promoted by Youthstream who seem hell bent on changing the face of motocross forever. Let’s see who is doing the best job. The AMA Motocross Championship kicked off back in 1972 and has stayed as close to the traditional motocross racing format from day dot and despite some venue changes (some forced, some political) the series pulls huge crowds at each round with TV ratings that sometimes eclipse mainstream sports like baseball. MX Sports Pro Racing pay $70,000 in prize money per round and manage to put together a 12 round championship each year with two 30-minute races on tracks which (in some cases) have been in the series since the 1970s. The Hangtown Motocross Classic has been around for 44 years, the Thunder Valley National for 14 years, the High Point National for 37 years, the Budds Creek National for 23 years, the RedBud National for 39 years, the Washougal National for 34 years, the Spring Creek (Millville) National for 30 years and the Unadilla National for 41 years. There have been some changes in the last few years with the Miller Motorsports Park hosting its first round in 2013, Lake Elsinore National started in 2012, the Tennessee National returned in 2013, the Glen Helen National is back in 2014 while the famous Southwick National ran from 1976 and hosted its last event in 2013 thanks to its lease on the land running out. How does all of this help with the AMA Motocross Championship’s success? Tradition! It is as simple as that, there are fans who have been going to their local national round since they were in their teens and their children and grandchildren are now doing the same. They know the venue, they know how to get there and have their favourite spot to park and spectate from. It’s a family tradition and thousands flock to each and every round of the championship. And with spectators and a solid fan base comes the sponsorship and TV coverage. The AMA Championship’s
naming sponsor is Lucas Oils while its supporting sponsors include Ford, Red Bull, AIR National Guard, Parts Unlimited, GoPro, Etnies, FMF, Octane Academy, NBC, THOR, Oakley, Kawasaki, KTM… the list goes on. Now compare the 12 round AMA Motocross Championship with the 18 round World Motocross Championship and you will see that the FIM and the promoter Youthstream are coming up well short of what they offer spectators, sponsors and in particular the riders. You see, the FIM sold the rights to the World Motocross Championship to Giuseppe Luongo in the late ’90s and other than track presentation and facilities getting better with live TV coverage at each round the negative effect that Luongo’s influence has over the championship is palpable. Of the 18 rounds slated for the 2014 season I can only see Valkenswaard in the Netherlands, Matterley Basin in Great Britain, St Jean d’Angely in France, Maggiora in Italy, Teutschenthal in Germany and Loket in the Czech Republic as venues that have any serious history in the World Motocross Championships. That is one third of the championship on venues that we recognise with the likes of Qatar, Thailand, Brazil and Mexico being thrown into the championship at the whim (and financial benefit) of Youthstream. So, strike one for Youthstream, which has opted not to use the traditional venues that made the World Motocross Championship so special in the past and strike two has to be the race formats Youthstream has put into the championship over the last couple of seasons with the dumbest being the MX1 and MX2 combined ‘Superfinal’ held at the non-Euro GPs last year. So instead of the traditional two moto format the MX1 and MX2 riders had one moto each then the top 20 from each of those races all went into the Superfinal. This was the wording used on Youthstream’s website when this format was put into the series: ‘We believe this formula is great for show and TV and will allow a higher participation of the Continental wildcard riders. As this is the formula which we propose for the entire 2014 World Championship the 2013 overseas events will be a good test to see how this formula works’. Well, it didn’t work! Only 22 MX1 riders turned up for the Brazilian GP, 21 for the Thailand GP, 23 at Qatar. This is the
World Championship and there are only half of the riders that should be on the gate so we can only hope that the Superfinal has been dropped for 2014. Strike three for Youthstream is when it dropped all the start and prize money from the World Motocross Championships and started charging riders to compete in each round of the championship. In the pre Luongo days the World Championships paid start money to 42 riders per class and prizemoney to the top 25 finishers in each moto and there was no entry fee so it was free to have a crack at a GP. Back in the late ’80s and early ’90s Shayne and Darryll King were able to trek from GP to GP on start money alone but that is now impossible to do under Youthstream’s policy of charging around $1500 per rider per round or just under $15,000 if you are doing the whole championship. That’s it! Three strikes and you are out! Nope, Giuseppe Luongo and Youthstream have a contract to run the World Motocross Championships until 2026 and with part of the grand plan being to drop 450cc and 350cc bikes altogether, have only one class and one World Champion (on 250cc four strokes) and ride-through penalties during a moto. “Motocross has to become mainstream, also in the fastgrowing world of the social media. Our top riders need to have the same level of awareness and value as other motorsport stars like Rossi, Vettel, Loeb, et al. Our program needs to be understandable for the international viewers and easy to follow for the big TV networks,” wrote Luongo in a letter to the race teams earlier this year. Yep, you read it right, Luongo plans to fly in the face of tradition and change the World Motocross Championship forever while the AMA continues with the proven format at venues with true motocross heritage. As a moto fan, I am thankful for the great series in America and alarmed that the Euro teams and the FIM don’t find it in the best interest of the sport to get rid of Youthstream and Luongo. – Darren Smart
RACE TORQUE
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Vivid Insight
I HAD a recent email exchange with WSBK rider Mark Aitchison that provides a powerful insight into the thoughts, feelings and frustrations experienced by elite riders. You will find that they are often the same frustrations experienced by a D-grader just starting out as they battle their own expectations and those of others. I sent Mark the note following his very solid outings on the Pedercini Kawasaki over the final six rounds, which yielded several top ten finishes and an incredible fourth in Superpole 1 at Jerez. Since his BSB team folded before the 2013 season even started, Mark has been working as a marketing consultant in London and riding parttime in the IDM and WSBK. Mark, Josh Brookes and Jack Miller stand as Australia’s best riders on the world stage, with both Brooksey and Jack secure in top teams. Just turned 30, Mark still has a great career in front of him if he can break down the self-sponsorship barrier that has chronically infected the European race scene since the GFC and land a decent ride. WSBK commentators Jonathon Green and Steve Martin have both unashamedly pushed Mark’s barrow during their race calls for one simple reason; they know how good Mark is and how better he would be with a factory bike underneath him. They almost barked themselves hoarse with their repeated calls for Kawasaki to allow someone, anyone to fill in for the injured Loris Baz, namely Mark! My note to Atcho was to congratulate him, and comment on his riding style and that of others. His response is interesting in both its interpretations and overall response to my note.
Hi Mark Glad to see you get a bit of seat time and do well once the bike was not throwing you off (again!). What interests me is your riding style. It looks like you’re riding to work! Not getting off the bike much and looking like you’re out on a Sunday morning blast. (I’m sure it’s not like that from behind the screen…) I reckon you hang off less than any rider I’ve seen for almost 40 years, when Jarno Saarinen started dragging his knees in 1973. American Gary Nixon was the last rider of that era to ride straight in the saddle; he was Team Kawasaki #9 in the ’70s, so you looked a bit like him with #8. Kenny Roberts said Nixon was the only guy who could run with him that rode straight in the saddle. The other guy of that era who rode straight in the saddle
was another veteran Ron Toombs who rode for TKA, and he was as quick as anyone into his 40s in the era when you retired by 35. I think Marquez keeps his head towards the middle of the bike much more than this era of MotoGP riders, who hang so far off that it must affect the balance of the bike and traction on the contact patch. I think for a MotoGP rookie, Marquez has done so well because of his less radical style. He has crashed a lot, yes, due to pushing the envelope and a few brain fades on Fridays and Saturdays. Anyway, well done, looked like you were having fun out there. Cheers, Darryl
Hey Darryl It’s interesting what you have identified....you know for the past few seasons from 2011 I’ve wanted to work on getting off the bike further and using more weight off the side of the bike. But my rather limited schedule of seat time (in the last 18 months) has meant that each and every time I’m on the bike, basically I’m just building confidence and bike feeling each and every time I ride. By the end of the season this year, especially at Laguna Seca and onwards, I really found a good rhythm, which was really equated to bike setup, and probably the rhythm to push with a very aggressive setup. Essentially I could push hard as we kept going firmer on the frontend then compensated for the rear slightly. It’s funny both in Laguna & Jerez people kept coming up to me saying they were surprised with the job we were doing, which pissed me off a bit... maybe I took it the wrong way but it was expressed in a way that they were surprised with my speed & the bike’s performance. I simply replied... I’ve always been fast enough it
was just getting the package right (it was a good motivator for both races to show I could do more than just 1 lap!) In any case, it felt really good to find confidence and push hard for the majority of the race. Maybe my style is not to hang off the bike so much but I think my body weight & size doesn’t affect the bike so much, so as a consequence those body movements don’t need to be so exaggerated (my feeling in reply to your comments). Also this year the new 17 inch tyre has a more tapered angle at the edge v the 16.5 tyre, so I guess there’s more ability to lean the bike further at a certain point in the corner, front & rear. For example, during race 2 in Jerez we went a little harder on the front-end (spring rate) and in certain points I could feel myself about to roll off side of the tyre, in my opinion slightly too hard for the heat. Still, I think I have some definite improvement to make with small body adjustment or even with the shoulder drop to help move the body slightly more... I think this could even help me preserve the rear tyre toward the end of the race. The hope is now during the summer I can get on a track bike a few times and try this out, review my initial thoughts/feelings, but no radical changes at this point as I believe I’m still riding well. Atcho
– Darryl Flack
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Suzuki’s New DL650 MC Cruise (V4 ) the latest release of the world’s leading model-specific Motorcycle Cruise Control system, is now available in limited stock for Suzuki’s New DL650. (Now available with new fully electric throttle servo.)
Also available on Boom Trikes, Honda VFR1200X and VFR800X
www.mccruise.com
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 24
GUNTRIP
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 25
The thin end “Take off your colours, get a real job, act like decent, law-abiding human beings and become proper citizens in the state of Queensland and you will not have to go to jail” – Queensland Premier Campbell Newman “The mere fact of membership of an organisation of that kind should not have criminal consequences” – Nicholas Cowdery, former NSW Director of Public Prosecutions THIS issue’s screed was going to be a sort of satirical blather about Australian cops rounding up the last rider on the continent, launching a massive manhunt and finding some pimple-bestrewn youth cowering with his battered trail bike in a remote mountain fastness. But things have got a little beyond that, I think. The time for frivolity had passed by the time the Queensland government came up with its anti-bikie laws a month ago. Me, I don’t understand the bikie fraternity. We occupy different ends of the motorcycle spectrum and our paths have crossed infrequently. Which is not to say I find them uninteresting, as a phenomenon. And I’ve certainly met them, from time to time. Back in my AMCN days a couple of the local outlaws dropped in towards the end of each year to talk about the Broadford Festival. At different times I’ve worked alongside former patch club members. Later, a colleague became a respected member of a prominent club, and still is to the best of my knowledge.
We’d exchanged all the pleasantries and, automatically, I shoved my journo hat on, turned to the bikie nearer me and started on the ‘interview’. He didn’t expect it and he didn’t like it, but either I didn’t see that or chose to ignore it. On I went, asking why. Eventually he went very quiet and the boss directed my attention to something else. He looked a little pale, I thought. Eventually, the boss and the head-honcho bikie concluded their business and the two groups went their separate ways. It was then that El Chiefie told me the bikie I was trying to grill was known to have a particular facility with the knife and had come that close to sticking me. And I hadn’t seen it at all. I’d lost interest because the bikie clearly didn’t want to talk to me or explain his views. He certainly wasn’t interested in selling me on patch club membership, and as I wasn’t used to talking to people who weren’t interested in discussing the issues that concerned them, I was happy the boss had intervened when he did.
The second time came lots of years later when I was working alongside a veteran member of a patch club. He and I got on well and eventually I raised the idea with him of having a chat to the local branch of his outfit, to explain a little in the mainstream bike press about who these dark and mysterious creatures were. Naïve of me, perhaps, but we started to go through the motions, to But that’s usually as far as it’s gone. During my 30-plus negotiate bases for discussion. Well, life got in the way years in this game I’ve had just two opportunities to and it didn’t happen. I’d lost faith in the idea, anyway. I ask patch club members who they are and what they wasn’t daft enough to think the local branch prez would do. The first time nearly ended with me in casualty, or pour out his heart to me, but I thought we might end up worse. There were four of us, two bikies, my boss and me. with something worth printing. Oh well.
At least the Queensland government has succeeded in getting outlaw clubs into the mainstream press. But specials jails, pink overalls, confiscations, and now job bans? None of these things had any place in the story I had wanted to write. Again, it’s naïve of me I suppose, but I’d hoped we had left behind persecutions of minorities in the middle of the 20th century, when they reached their most disgusting expression. But here we go again. I thought the idea was supposed to be that if no one was above the law, no one should be a victim of it either. But now Queenslanders apparently have 26 new criminal organisations to contend with, and an association with any of them could land you in strife. That looks to me like desperation and regardless of the morality of it, I can’t for the life of me see how instituting bans is going to cure any ills. Certainly, I sympathise with the cops on this. They’ve got some major problems to overcome and need help. Resources, technology, manpower, perhaps they’re the answer. If laws are being broken, if people – whoever they might be – are trafficking drugs, committing acts of violence whether using offensive weapons or not, if they’re causing distress to members of the public, then go and get them. Establish your task forces and your special squads. That’s police work. If then we still want to start banning things, I can think of one or two political bodies far better deserving of the attention. – Bob Guntrip
A TRIBE OF NEW INDIANS
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CYCLE TORQUE
WELCOME BACK
Indian
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Gone for over 60 years,
Indian is back with a range of modern Motorcycles which evoke the machines of the past.
A TRIBE OF NEW INDIANS
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Pure, unadorned and timeless in its style, the Chief Classic comes to you naked and proud,..
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N REPORT BY NIGEL PATERSON, PHOTOS BY LOU MARTIN & GARETH HARFORD N RIDING GEAR: NOLAN HELMET, SCHOTT LEATHER JACKET, LEE PARKS DESIGN GLOVES, AXO BOOTS.
CALL me a cynical journalist, but when I heard Polaris Industries, the owner of Victory motorcycles, was bringing back the Indian brand, I assumed it would be a branding exercise, a way to tap into a longgone legendary marque. After the launch of the machines recently though, I believe the team at Indian are here to evoke the machines of Indian, with a modern slant, of course, while building a premium brand of cruiser motorcycles - taking on Harley-Davidson at its own game. From the heavily valanced fenders (guards) to the new Thunderstroke motor designed to replicate the Indian motors of the 1940s to the art-deco styling, it’s possible, if you squint hard, to believe the three new models introduced this year would be the bikes Indian would still be producing if it had survived past 1953.
The team Indian Motorcycles is owned by Polaris Industries, one of America’s largest manufacturers of motorised vehicles - everything from farm quads to the Victory Vision, a fulldress touring motorcycle. Less than three years ago Polaris assembled a team of engineers and designers to create a premium brand of American motorcycles, bringing back the Indian name at the same time. The team looked to the past for inspiration while employing the latest technologies to ensure the new bikes would be everything modern riders expected and need – ABS, modern suspension, good handling and 21st-century performance – while having the retro styling reminiscent of 1940s Indians. Introduced with a worldwide simultaneous launch to thousands of motorcyclists keen to see the next chapter in American motorcycling, Indian
WELCOME BACK
Indian has been re-born and the new bikes are very, very good.
The powerplant Named the Thunderstroke 111, Indian’s first new motor in many decades is a pearler. Indian doesn’t publish a horsepower figure, but its torque output of 138.9Nm (102.4ft-lb) is impressive and that translate to effortless riding on the road, with brisk acceleration and easy overtaking. The “111” refers to the capacity, in cubic inches - 1818cc, so we’re immediately into heavyweight territory. Indian’s heritage is here. The engine finning, the downward facing exhaust tube, the shape of the rocker covers - all reminiscent of 1940s Indians. That torque is delivered by a four-stroke V-twin, air cooled and fuel injected engine.
Maximum torque is delivered at 2600rpm, and passes from the engine through a wet multi-plate clutch to a six-speed gearbox. The Thunderstroke motor produces enough vibes to let you know there’s a large-capacity twin between your legs, but is remarkably smooth on the highway. Through the foot boards there’s a consistent reminder you’re on a V-twin, but few other vibes. It makes for a relaxing ride. The transmission is slick – most twins pushing the two-litre boundary have clunky, slow-moving transmissions – not the Thunderstroke. It’s pretty slick… not in the category of four or six cylinder bikes, but among the best on a twin. All three 2014 models have footboards and toe-only gear change - no heel change. Belt final drive is a feature of all 2014 Indian machines.
Common features As you’d expect for a new range of machines, the three Indian motorcycles being introduced share many common features. There’s a cast aluminium chassis with integrated air box, designed to keep the heavyweight machines in line and handling like they should – no flex or weave here. Heavily valanced guards, war bonnet front fender light, a long wheelbase, leather seats, deep paint and extensive chrome plating are obvious similarities between the three models. Less obvious is the ABS, keyless ignition, standard cruise control and computerised electronics. Things like the leather is worth a special mention – it’s being supplied by the same manufacturer which supplied the old Spingfield-based Indian Motorcycle Company back in the day, and is now supplying the re-born Indian with luxurious, thick, soft treated leather, which is beautiful to look at and gloriously soft to touch. All the bike’s seats are leather and very well padded too, so are very comfortable, short ride or long. Each bike is available in Thunder Black, Springfield Blue and Indian Red.
The Chief Classic Pure, unadorned and timeless in its style, the Chief Classic comes to you naked and proud, for $28,995 on the road. With its beautiful badging and 1940s styling, this bike will fool the uneducated into thinking it’s a classic machine. The handlebars are swept back, the footboards pushed forward – which results in an upright riding position, up in the breeze and well suited to cruising. The centre console speedo features integrated idiot lights and an LCD panel which can display fuel consumption figures, trip meters and lots more. The Classic exists as an entry-level machine to the Indian range, or for those who really don’t want or need luggage carrying capabilities, but its lack of weather protection and upright riding position make it tiring to ride at highway speeds.
The Chief Vintage Leather bags and a touring screen are the big features of the Vintage over the Classic, but there are a number of less obvious features which make the bike unique. There’s the raised badging, in the classic Indian script. There’s the whitewall tyres, evoking a period long past. But the big features are the leather-wrapped quick-release saddlebags and quick-release touring screen.
Being able to go from naked to Bagger to touring in minutes adds to the style and versatility of the Vintage. CY C L Eenough T O for RQ U E Dtrip EC EM B have E R modern 2 0 1plastic 3 - 29 The bags aren’t huge, but swallow a weekend easily. They clips hiding behind the leather buckle straps, so they are quick to use, too. The screen is large and protective, so tall you look through, rather than over. Instruments are centre console, just like the Classic.
The Chieftain At the touring end of the market the Chieftain lies; its integrated panniers and handlebar-mounted fairing providing the capacity and comfort for eating big miles. Under the electronically height adjustable screen are a classic-styled speedo and tacho, but between them is a modern digital display which showed the data from my phone, once the standard bluetooth pairing had been established. I listened to Amy Winehouse singing about how she wasn’t going to drink anymore as I soaked up the sights, smells and sounds of Northeast NSW, enjoying the beat of the Thunderstroke motor in conjunction with Winehouse’s Blues. At $35,995 the Chieftain doesn’t come cheap, but it does come well equipped. Beautifully finished and capable of taking two people on a comfortable long tour, the Chieftain should become a popular machine with the touring set.
Handling and performance With all three Indian machines running the same engine, transmission, fuel injection and final drive, you’d expect performance to be similar across the range, and it is. Acceleration, braking and handling were all good, the fat front forks and rear suspension working very well at controlling the powerful motor while letting the rider throw the machine around better than expected – I suspect the aluminium frame has something to do with this, preventing any twists in the chassis from upsetting the handling. All three bikes have forward-set footboards, but the cornering clearance was pretty good – and I suspect this is why we don’t have heel changing, for the linkages which often run under footboards are also often the first thing to scrape. The boards will scrape with a bit of keen riding, but not dangerously or very early.
Instant Classics? The new Indian machines represent a real reinvention of a classic marque. They are modern, beautiful and very well made. They do everything you’d demand of cruiser/touring machines without some of the compromises you might expect. Priced at the premium end of the market, they won’t be for everyone, but that’s OK too: it’s hardly unique if everyone has one. For those lucky enough to be able to afford one and actually find a dealer with stock to sell you (they will be in short supply for a while), you’ll be rewarded with a nice ride, plenty of attention when parked and something very, very different. n
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A TRIBE OF NEW INDIANS
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S P E C I F I C AT I O N S: 2014 INDIAN CHIEF CLASSIC Engine Type: Air-cooled V-twin Capacity: 1811cc Transmission: 6-speed Fuel Capacity: 20.8 litres Frame Type: Steel double cradle Seat Height: 660mm Wet Weight: 370kg Front Suspension: 46mm Conventional telescopic forks Rear Suspension: Single shock Brakes: Twin disc front, single rear Tyres: 130/90-16, 180/65-16 Price (RRP): $28,995 + ORC www.cycletorque.com.au/more
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www.cycletorque.com.au/more www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-au
The famous Indian Chief on the front guard.
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Old style, new tech.
Even the brake pedal is an exercise in style.
Since 1901… sort-of.
Watch the video
Traditional script.
Lashings of chrome, just how we like it.
In our opinion this is one of the best looking motorcycle engines ever made.
A TRIBE OF NEW CYCLE TORQUE Launch INDIANS
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CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 33
PIAGGIO BV 350
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Piaggio’s
FRESH START
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CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 35
The most remarkable aspects of the new Piaggio BV 350 are hidden deep inside the engine.
PIAGGIO BV 350
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N REPORT BY DENNIS PENZO, PHOTOS BY JEFF CROW N RIDING GEAR: BELL CUSTOM 500 HELMET, MATADOR EQUIPMENT EYEWEAR, IXON JACKET, MATADOR EQUIPMENT GLOVES, BULL-IT JEANS, FALCO BIKER BOOTS.
DON’T be surprised if future models of Piaggio/Vespa scooters start looking like the BV 350 - on the inside, at least. The new design 330cc single cylinder engine, automatic clutch and transmission have had a thorough refresh. Of course, like most scooters, it still sports the twist and go set-up but there’s a dry sump in there and in a new twist, pardon the pun, a wet clutch which is fully integrated with the gearbox. At the launch Piaggio’s Technical Manager John Hansen, who’s no slouch with a pool cue either, had a BV 350 engine apart for us so we could all get a good look at the internals. And there are a few other interesting things too, like clutch plates that only fit together one way so that there’s no chance of a mix up.
Piaggio’s
FRESH START
There are valve shims instead of screw adjusters so it’s easier, and faster, to service when it comes time to check the valves (not that many owners will do this - it’s to reduce the cost of servicing).
BV 350 engine is only 62cc bigger than its predecessor but produces a lot more power. Piaggio says it’s like a 400 performance wise while weighing less which makes for a massive improvement in power-to-weight.
A new torque server is also claimed to improve engine braking characteristics.
So, what’s it go like? Well, you definitely do notice the impact of the work Piaggio has done.
Piaggio has gone to a lot of effort to also reduce engine friction which results in better fuel economy and longer service intervals. Minor services are now every 10,000km and major services at a remarkable 40,000km - which includes checking the valve clearance.
Weighing in at 177kg the 24.5kW pushes the BV 350 at a spirited pace and even at freeway speeds it’s not left short of breath. And even then it still had more left in the throttle.
That’s a huge improvement on the previous Quasar engine. In fact the new
I like the way it handles around the inner city and suburban back blocks. Our launch test ride covered a lot of different riding conditions.
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 37 The extra oomph in the newly designed engine is noticeable and on the longer stretches out in the countryside I almost forgot I was riding a 350 at times.
The seat height is only 795mm making it an easy reach for most riders. The rider’s seat is very comfortable with a step-up to the pillion which is equally spacious. There is also a passenger grab rail and the little rear rack means it’s top-box ready.
The water-cooled four-stroke, four-valve engine features a lot of high tech gear including ABS as standard as well as ASR traction control which also has a Adding to the rider’s comfort is the handlebar mounted screen. It’s not huge manual disable button. but it is efficient. And with a 16 inch front wheel and 14 inch rear the BV 350 makes for a very sure-footed and confidence inspiring ride. So too with the brakes. The front carried a 300mm disc with three-piston caliper while the rear sports a 240mm disc which more than comfortably do their job. The suspension works well with those big wheels to combine for smooth and positive behaviour, especially on some not-so wonderful suburban roads. Front suspension is 35mm telescopic tubes and rear duties are handled by twin coiled shocks with dual effect damping and adjustable preload. The large 13 litre fuel tank will make sure you can cover a lot of ground between fuel stops on this Piaggio. The fuel tank is easily accessed and finished with flush mount aircraft style lockable fuel cap. Likewise the stylish flush folding pillion pegs, very tidy!
The other thing adding to this machine’s riding stability is its 1560mm wheelbase which is the longest in the Piaggio range, apart from the 1640mm of the new Piaggio X10 500 Executive maxi scooter. The sidestand has an engine lock out switch for safety while parked which is being increasingly seen on more and more scooters these days, and there’s also a centrestand on this model. And in keeping with the quality that you expect from a marque like Piaggio are all those other neat things like anti-theft electronic key coded immobiliser, powerful halogen headlight and front mounted LED lighting, large lockable under-seat storage and smart glove compartment with 12volt auxiliary power plug socket and fold-away bag hook. The analogue speedo is easy to read and has the other things you expect like fuel and engine temperature gauges with digital odometer and clock. A nice performer with a quality build, the Piaggio BV 350 retails for $7990 and you’ll get the customary two year unlimited kilometre warranty. n
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PIAGGIO BV 350
SPECIFICATIONS:
C Y C L E T O RnQENGINE U E D ETYPE: C E MLIQUID-COOLED B E R 2 0 1 3FOUR- 38
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STROKE SINGLE
n CAPACITY: 330CC n TRANSMISSION: CVT AUTOMATIC
www.piaggio.com.au
n FUEL CAPACITY: 13 LITRES n FRAME TYPE: DOUBLE CRADLE n SEAT HEIGHT: 795MM n DRY WEIGHT: 177KG n FRONT SUSPENSION: 35MM CONVENTIONAL TELESCOPIC FORKS n REAR SUSPENSION: TWIN SHOCKS WITH ADJUSTABLE PRELOAD n BRAKES: SINGLE DISC WITH 3-PISTON CALIPER ON FRONT, SINGLE PISTON CALIPER REAR n TYRES: 110/70-16, 150/70-14 n PRICE (RRP): $7,990 + ORC
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ROYAL ENFIELD CONTINENTAL GT
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The Rocking Royal
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Is there a place for a single cylinder cafĂŠ racer in your garage?
ROYAL ENFIELD CONTINENTAL GT
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 42
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N WORDS AND PHOTOS BY BRIAN DYER
AMID the mayhem of modern London traffic there’s an undercurrent of a ’60s subculture, a time when rock‘n‘roll reigned as the anthem to a generation of leather and denim clad bikers with their slick hair and sleek attitudes. The time when cigarettes were the smoking guns of a cool demeanour, but most importantly a time when motorcycling evolved in the streets and the Café Racer was born. This period of freedom and simpler times was the inspiration for the creation of the new Royal Enfield Continental GT Cafe Racer.
The swinging ’60s A huge amount of research has gone into the design and development of the new proudly invited the world media to put the bike through its paces at the Continental GT, not only drawing upon stylistic and classical influences from the café racer era, but also from Royal Enfield’s international launch in London UK. own 1967 Continental GT itself. “In a world that is increasingly looking at reviving the mood of romantic You Lookin’ at me? and free-spirited optimism of the swinging ’60s’, the Continental GT evokes The stylistic design of the new Continental GT makes it a very enticing a sense of nostalgia,” said Siddhartha Lal, managing Director and CEO of motorcycle indeed, it just looks like a fun little bike to ride. The bodywork Eicher Motors, the parent company of Royal Enfield. has smooth sculptured lines while maintaining the simplicity of the café Royal Enfield worked closely with UK companies Harris Performance racer style. The exhaust lays low which gives the 535cc engine room to (chassis) and Xenophya Design (bodywork) to create and refine the new remind you of its heritage. The steering head/instrumentation area is GT to produce a bike which not only has real character, but also a subtle minimalist in its layout, and the clip-on handlebars help to ensure the bike balance between tradition and technology. has a more compact, sporty look. Oh and by the way, the little bar-end mirrors on the GT, awesome looking and very practical, they would look Although Royal Enfield is a motorcycle company with plenty of heritage, great on any café style bike. The low profile recessed tank is long and sleek it also has a strong vision of its future in the marketplace. The firm started and is finished in Royal Enfield’s ‘Signature Red’. Together with its chrome producing motorcycles in the UK at its Redditch factory in 1901, and is filler cap and traditional decals it really looks the part. The side covers are planning to have the capacity to produce 500,000 units per year from its new Oragadam facility in India. With the Continental GT being the lightest, also finished in the same red, but to me they look a bit bare, it would be nice to see some sort of GT insignia here to finish it off. All of this bodywork fastest and most powerful Royal Enfield in production, Royal Enfield
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 43 hangs nicely around the Harris Performance designed chassis, with its double cradle frame, 41mm front forks and twin gas-charged Paioli rear shocks.
The GT motor is based on the Royal Enfield 500cc single cylinder air-cooled UCE (Unit Construction Engine) which has now been increased to 535cc with a remapped ECU and RE claims 29.1bhp at 5100rpm. The power response from a standing start took some getting used to as there was a lag in the juice but once Ready to Rock ‘n’ Roll you learnt to give it a hovering twitch it didn’t seem as bad. The GT engine has a The whole theme of the UK Continental GT Launch was to give the international nice gentle purr low down and is deceiving as to how sweet the note is until you media (including six larrikin Aussies) a reminder of the rockin’ ’60s in London, the are away from the bike to hear it. This was most noticeable when riding as a group era from which the GT drew its inspiration. This was actually pretty cool and at into Brighton which produced a sweet harmonious rumble which turned a few times I found myself drifting off and wishing I was old enough to have been part of heads. This engine won’t allow you to drop the clutch and wheelie to adrenalin the whole rock ’n’ roll era. We enjoyed a guided tour that traced back to the early heaven, but remember it’s not the intention of this machine. Instead you get an times of Bill Haley, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Yardbirds etc engine happy to either just purr effortlessly at low revs or be pushed a bit harder and discussed the influence this music had on the culture of motorcycling at the and rumble through the rev range to ride comfortably at reasonable speeds for time. prolonged periods. The clutch and five-speed constant mesh gearbox seemed The Ace Café in London was a hive for motorcycle activity back then, so it seemed smooth and gentle, just a soft nudge and you would change through the gears appropriate the test bikes started their journey from this iconic location. We arrived with ease. at the cafe in the early morning glow and was greeted by a sea of Continental GTs The Brembo 300mm floating disc front brake was solid and reassuring with a good mustered before us in the car park. I had heard a rumour that Royal Enfield had feel, the lever position felt good for me and using a couple of fingers was all that brought 60 GTs to the UK launch, it was pretty impressive to see most of these was needed to pull up with ease. A 240mm disc with a single piston floating caliper lined up ready for action. covers the rear braking of the GT. Both brakes when combined with the Pirelli Sport Demon tyres seemed to work well when put under pressure, especially when After a hearty English breakfast at the Café, we were all keen to twist the throttle having to pull up suddenly in amongst the crazy London traffic on a wet road. on these little red racers. The bike’s engines by now were gently rumbling ready for their temporary pilots, and with most of us kitted out in our supplied textile Continental GT Riding Jackets and AGV open faced GT helmets, we were soon Just Ace for Cafes aboard the spankin’ new Continental GT machines and ready to roll. The test This bike has huge potential in today’s motorcycle market. You can just ride for ride route was via Brooklands, (the world’s first purpose built raceway which first the pure enjoyment of riding. It should suit a large variety of riders, and would feel opened for racing in 1907) for a coffee and onto Brighton (location of the famous Rocker v Mods riot in the ’60s) for lunch on the pier. This ride promised to give us a at home in many garages worldwide. If you want more, well, Royal Enfield in fact encourage owners to trick up their GTs and hint they may even work closely with variety of roads to showcase the diversity of the GT. some modification companies in the future. Although heading out of London we encountered some traffic, but this was a Sometimes the most unassuming things in life can bring the most joy. The GT is good chance to get acquainted with the bike and relax into the UK countryside a bike which doesn’t boast blistering power or top speeds but has an engaging ahead. Instantly the bike felt easy to ride, even with the clip-on handlebars the riding position just felt right, not so low as to give your neck a workout. I found the usable power, comfort and agility. This makes it bloody fun to ride and there’s a stylistic mystique to its design that will turn heads at your local caffeine brewing bike easy to just flick around from side to side thanks to the Harris Performance designed chassis. The bike is well balanced, which allows it to feel light and nimble, rest stop. the 41mm forks are quite responsive and allow the bike to just glide over normal The Continental GT should hit our shores by the end of this year, and it is expected terrain with ease and the Paioli twin gas shocks seem to keep the back end honest. it will sell for around $9000 on road. Even in the full café racer riding position the bike is effortless and comfortable to In the meantime check out ‘Ace Cafe to Madrid’ a Royal Enfield film, www. ride, your knees just mould into the sculptured GT tank, and the ’bars are just right cycletorque.com.au/more which pretty much says it all. n to crouch down for some ‘café cruizin’, without being too low. MORE
ROYAL ENFIELD CONTINENTAL GT
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 44
Launch CYCLE TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS: n ENGINE TYPE: AIR-COOLED SINGLE n CAPACITY: 535CC n TRANSMISSION: 5-SPEED AND CHAIN DRIVE The new machine is based on this, an early Royal Enfield Continental GT. The new machine’s retro styling is in keeping with the old bike.
n FUEL CAPACITY: 13.5 LITRES n FRAME TYPE: STEEL DOUBLE CRADLE n SEAT HEIGHT: 800MM n WET WEIGHT: 184KG n FRONT SUSPENSION: 41MM CONVENTIONAL TELESCOPIC FORKS n REAR SUSPENSION: TWIN PAIOLO GAS SHOCKS n BRAKES: SINGLE BREMBO 2-PISTON CALIPER ON FRONT, SINGLE PISTON CALIPER REAR n TYRES: 100/90-18, 130/70-18 n PRICE (RRP): ESTIMATED $9000
WWW.CYCLETORQUE.COM.AU/MORE CALL FOR A QUOTE
1800 24 34 64
WE’LL BEAT ANY PRICE GUARANTEED*
Twin Paioli shocks.
Air-cooled four-stroke single. There should be one in your life.
Ace Café, spiritual home of all café racers.
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 45
www.mccruise.com
CYCLE TORQUE RACE FEATURE
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 46
WATCH VIDEO NOW
I I T P
EYESWIDEOPEN
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They say the bullshit stops when the flag drops, and there’s no time for bullshit when you blast down Bray Hill. Continued from last issue… The off Waiting for the start of the race was nerve-racking, especially as the race was continually delayed. The weather was warm too, so it was a matter of finding a cool spot in my leathers and wait until it was time. In my corner I had Shaun Sutcliffe, son Alex, and Glen ‘Tangles’ Thackeray. The trio would perform pit stop duties, with Shaun and Glen handling the fuel, and Alex visor and drink duties. All three know plenty about road racing so I was in good hands. I had quite a few minutes to wait after pole sitter Michael Dunlop set off first on the Suzuki XR69, and as you move further ahead you can hear the bikes get louder and louder as each rider heads off. In front of me in 42nd spot was Anthony Stock on an early Suzuki GSX-R750, and behind was jovial American James McKay. ‘Jimmy’ and I had shared a fantastic couple of laps during practice where we were at each other the whole way, with him better in some sections and me better in others. James was no doubt a better short circuit scratcher than me but after talking to him, the TT mountain course seemed to be playing head games with him. I guess it’s like that for many riders, me included. With James on an unfaired Kawasaki Z1000, the three bikes were very different indeed. The nerves were flat out as I let the clutch out and gave it the berries from the start line. For me to be heading down Glencrutchery Road after starting my first IOM race was a AFTER practice was done and dusted it was time to think about actually racing. I can tell very emotional thing. Not tear inducing but it’s like everything was geared in my life for you the thought was a bit daunting, as things always seem to step up a bit when it comes this very moment, and it was finally happening. With cold tyres and a full tank I took it time to race. easy for a while, and the black Suzuki in front of me disappeared into the distance. Not long into the race my left leg did a spot of shaking as my mind went into overdrive with We still had problems with the ECU on our 851/888 Ducati, and it was becoming quite the enormity of it all. Yes, I was a trifle scared, but it calmed down after a short while. clear it was likely the computer chip rather than the ECU itself. By this stage our 916 man ‘Damage’ was due back on the island so we were able to again track him down to I was conscious James would be right up my tailpipes, and he later said he caught up ‘liberate’ his 916 of its electronic brain. The offering of a bottle of bourbon went down the ten seconds I started in front of him pretty easily, but when I got to the section in well, so it was all looking good. Kirk Michael I just seemed to go up a gear and pulled away. I guess that was one of my strong sections. James had also taken the strategy of putting on a massive long range Alex’s race was another couple of days away, and as we had ‘parked’ his Ducati 848, he tank which he hoped would allow him to do the race with no fuel stops. Unfortunately it wouldn’t ride again until the Wednesday. There was more practice for the modern bikes wasn’t in the best condition and his fuel tap would eventually clog up and cause him to before Wednesday, but no-one would overtake his 114.8mph lap. He did get pushed stop. He got going again and finished, but was some way back. down to 11th in qualifying for the Senior race however, as riders posted faster times.
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CYCLE TORQUE RACE FEATURE Continued from previous page On my second lap I started to catch that black Suzuki in front of me as we were flat out over the top of the mountain. I got past under brakes and we went into the pits together with half the race done. My pit crew were slick but his must have been slicker because he went out with him in front by about five seconds. Off I went again, down towards Bray Hill with the bike feeling slightly wobbly in the rear, which I ‘hoped’ was down to a full tank of fuel again. As I braked into Quarter Bridge I could see Anthony on the Suzuki out brake himself which allowed me to slip inside of him. As I braked for Braddan Bridge the big Suzuki came slithering past as its rider tried to out brake me. Of course he ran in hot and stuffed up both our lines. From then on he just pulled away until the mountain section when I would pull him back again. On the third lap between Ginger Hall and Ramsey Michael Dunlop came flying past. It wasn’t the shock I expected it might be, and he gave me plenty of room which was good for the pair of us. Later I would look at the footage from my rear-facing onboard camera which showed Dunlop coming up behind me like a bloody big Great White Shark, he appeared that quick.
Putting it on the line On the mountain I again caught Anthony on the Suzuki and to be honest I couldn’t wait for the race to end, as it takes it out of you mentally and physically. On the final lap the Suzuki again pulled away from me in the first half of the lap, but on the mountain I again caught him. ‘Right’ I said to myself, ‘I’m going to bloody well dust him.’ I lined him up as we came down from Kate’s Cottage to Creg-ny-Baa, and as we both leaped over the hump I went past him with my machine and I barely one metre from the hedge. As I braked into the right hander at Creg-ny-Baa the Suzuki did another slithering trick, wobbling past me under brakes. He stuffed his line up and I swept around the outside of him, but as he accelerated out of the corner he ran wide and pushed me into the earth bank on the outside, with my knee and fairing gathering grass from the bank. Then it was on as we both had the throttles pinned down towards Brandish, a very, very fast left hander with knee on the deck in fifth or top. Out of Brandish I was basically right beside him, and as the fast right hander known as Hillberry loomed I had thoughts of slipping past under power. But self preservation came into play and we both blasted up and out of Hillberry, pretty much as one. Into
Signpost Corner I had a rush of blood and tried to out brake him, only to run wide myself and scrape the bank. Into Bedstead Corner we went, with the finish line nearly in sight, and the GSX-R went in hot, running wide and up on the gutter, with Anthony hanging on for dear life. It was at that moment I thought, ‘whoa, if he wants it that bad he can have it’, especially considering I was up on corrected time by eight or so seconds. We crossed the line with him in front by a second and then it was all done. As we rode into parc ferme my mind was overloaded. I had a quick chat with Anthony and he was ‘pumped’ about our battle during the race, especially the last lap. I wasn’t overjoyed like I expected, as the toll on my mind more than my body had me almost blank in thoughts. As my team congratulated me I just wanted to sit down and do nothing and pretty much talk to no-one. The bike ran well, thanks to ‘Damage’s’ ECU but it started to blow smoke after the halfway mark. It turned out to be a fractured oil cooler, not the engine itself, with the oil burning off on the hot exhaust. I started 43rd on the road, and finished 23rd, so it was a good result for me. My fastest lap was 98.2 mph but my race time, including the pit stop, was an average of 96.966 mp/h, with a race time of 1 hour, 33minutes 23 seconds. I didn’t quite get my 100mph lap but it doesn’t matter much in the scheme of things.
We were all a bit flat after the race as the enormity of it all sank in, and the fact Alex was due to race in two days time. I didn’t even wait to get a photo with my finishers medal, heading to Laxey instead for an ice-cream by the seaside, which was great I might add.
The Newcomers There’s no denying I was a bit worried about Alex’s first race, the Newcomers, in which he had qualified fastest. He was seeded at number 25, so that’s where he would start on the road. As we got closer to the start we both went into our own thoughts. Alex has never been an aggressive racer, sure he wants to do well but he’s never had that killer instinct which has hurt him at times on short circuits. That’s fine, it’s how he’s wired internally. But as he was just about to put down the visor and move towards the start line I’d never seen him so focused, ever. For me it was an indication right there of how seriously he was taking this, and how much he wanted to win. But there was one very big problem which was going to make it very difficult to win. Prior to coming over I assumed the standard 15 litre fuel tank would be big enough to do two laps of the mountain course. I later found out many riders ‘pump’ their fuel tanks with compressed air, allowing them to run an extra couple of litres. At 105mp/h the bike could do two laps on one tank, but at over 110mp/h no way. The standard Ducati tank is made of a plastic type material, which is quite thick, and as it turns out not conducive to making it larger with compressed air. I spent hours online trying to find larger tanks for sale on eBay and the like but even though you could buy aftermarket tanks with the required capacity needed, they were in the USA or Europe and had to be ordered. And with a public holiday in the mix there was pretty much no chance to get a tank in time. We were left with two options, to either ride at a slower pace and hope the bike could do two laps on one tank, or just ride as fast as you could and do a pit stop each lap, making us do three stops to everyone else’s one. Alex opted for the latter, so we went with the three stop strategy. On lap one Alex was sitting in around sixth place after the first quarter of a lap, then we heard over the loudspeaker, ‘and Alex Pickett is making a move, he’s now moved into fourth, no wait he’s in third’. Alex would move into second, three seconds down from the leader, falling back a second or two as he slowed for his first pit stop, putting him back to third after lap one. As he rolled into pit lane for his first stop I got a bit nervous, getting in the road of ‘Tangles’ Thackeray who yelled at me to, ‘get out of the f-ing road’. As Shaun and Glen fuelled the bike up I gave Alex a drink and shakily changed his visor. He was an intense man at this stage, and he thumbed the starter and blasted out of pit lane. Looking later at his onboard footage, the way he accelerated down Bray Hill and up Ago’s Leap after his first stop was breathtaking. Let’s just say he was having a real go. As the minutes clock down you know when to expect your rider in, if everything’s gone OK, and after Alex’s second stop he was in fifth place, and the extra time in the pits hurt him.
On his second last lap we heard his Ducati scream towards the pit entrance and as he pulled up I could see the look in his eyes. I’ve never seen him so intense, I just handed him his drink bottle and changed his visor. Nothing was said by any of us, and when finished Alex threw his drink bottle into the pit box, thumbed the starter and took off down Bray Hill like a man possessed. I think deep down he knew he was fighting the inevitable, but he was giving it all he could anyway. With a lap to go I just hoped he would be safe and finish, and as a father I could not be more proud with what he had achieved by that stage. When he came across the line I was very relieved, and when I took the bike off him in parc ferme I could see the same look in his face that I must have had when I raced a couple of days earlier. I said, “you don’t want to talk to anyone do you?” He replied, “No.” I understood totally. The result was Alex finished in 8th position with a race time of 1 hour, 22 minutes 39 seconds. The race winner was Christopher Dixon (Yamaha R6) from the UK, with a time of 1hour, 20 minutes, 28 seconds. It took about one minute to slow down, do your pit stop, then speed back up again, and with the extra two stops Alex did, and you took those two minutes off his time, the result could have been very different. What might have been.
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CYCLE TORQUE RACE FEATURE
EYESWIDEOPEN PT II
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Cancelled With the ever changing Manx weather, it was touch and go whether the Senior Manx GP would be run. It’s run on the last day of the two week festival, with the day after an option to run the race if it had been postponed due to weather. One problem is many of the 500 or so marshals needed to run the race usually book themselves in for the Friday evening ferry, so even if the weather on Saturday was fantastic, there would not be enough marshals. In the end the weather didn’t play ball enough for the race to be run later on Friday so the decision was made by the Race Secretary to cancel the Senior MGP.
Aussies In the end only two other Australians entered for the 2013 Manx GP or Classic TT would race. Dave Mason got more than he hoped for out of his Ducati Pantah, but instead of blowing up like he expected the Ducati leaked oil all over his boots and back tyre, without him knowing. Luckily he was black flagged on top of the mountain. Turned out a cover had come loose and oil escaped that way. Lucky. He was then entered in the Newcomers B race on his budget Suzuki SV650, finishing a very creditable 18th in his class, with a best lap of 92.725 mp/h. Alan Johnston finished 13th in the Formula 2 Classic TT class, with a best lap of 87.336 mp/h on his Yamaha TZ250. Alan was first newcomer home in his class too.
It’s over?
There was quite a bit of interest from other Australian riders interested in attending this year but for a variety of reasons most of them couldn’t make it.
After over 12 months of planning, when it seemed my whole life was revolving around the next Manx GP, it was all over. Time to pack up bikes, get them in the container and fly home. We made some great friends, Petre Pop from Romania, the DP Racing team from the Isle of Man, and Stephen Carmichael from Portugal who greeted us each time with, ‘Gidday mate, where are your sheilas?’ But we met many more people who were so friendly and helpful.
The Isle of Man government is interested in again helping get an Australian team to the 2014 Classic TT but stressed bikes need to be well prepared and presented, and riders capable.
The whole event is very professionally run, and the scale of the presentation night reflects this. There were hundreds of people in the auditorium, the place was packed to the rafters, and even the presenters were dolled up in suits. It hit home how big the event is, and how it compares to what happens in Australia.
The future While I’d like to race there again, the main focus is on Alex. He wants to now do the TT, and the Isle of Man Government and a race team are interested in him for the 2014 TT. Early days yet but Alex is working towards it, and is planning his year with the TT in mind. It might sound like a cliche but we could not have done it without the help of our family and friends, who spent their own money coming to help us. We are forever in their debt, and if nothing else happens, Alex and I can say we’ve raced at the Isle of Man.
If anyone is interested in going next year to ride you can always contact me at Cycle Torque on 02 4956 9824, for the good oil on how it’s done. – Chris Pickett Chris Palmer.
CYCLE TORQUE RACE FEATURE
EYESWIDEOPEN PT II The Manx Festiva
l included Sideca
Michael Dunlop was so fast and so smooth, it was a real highlight to watch him race.
r Trials on the Be
John McGuiness , as Mike stini Hailwood, and Giacomo Ago on a tribute lap.
ach in front of Do
uglas at low tide.
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AS WE approach another Christmas, it’s time to slow down, think about family and friends… then hit them up for something useful or cool. Christmas is an awesome time to indulge yourself, primarily by asking your loved ones for something which reflects your passion for all things two (and sometimes three) wheeled – and in these pages you’re sure to find many awesome Christmas presents.
Of course we hope you think it’s Christmas every month when new issues of Cycle Torque are out, because where else do you get such great stuff for free? And if you’d like to give us a Christmas present, download, rate and review our iPad edition (it’s the best way to read Cycle Torque, with embedded videos, links, social media sharing and lots more pictures) or write to us - feedback@cycletorque.com.au From all of us at Cycle Torque, a big Christmas cheer to all our readers and advertisers - we wouldn’t be able to do this without you.
CYCLE TORQUE FOR THE LOVE OF MOTORCYCLING
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SHINE A LIGHT TWIST AND GO
THESE handy roadside repair kits for tubeless tyres use Cargol style plugs that you screw into the tyre and comes with several mini gas canisters so you can be on your way quick-smart. Various size kits are available and will even fit under the seats of most bikes. Very handy. PRICE: Basic kits start from as little as $32 AVA IL A BLE FROM: Good bike shops MORE INFO: www.cycletorque.com.au/more
GO ANYWHERE GEL
THE Universal gel seat cover is a handy little product to use on anything from dirt squirters to big tourers. It’s handy because it packs away easily and the universal application lets you fit it to almost any bike with its fully adjustable velcro straps and vinyl waterproof cover. The soft gel seat has a very plush feel and will keep your backside comfortable for hours in the saddle. PRICE: $65 AVA IL A BLE FROM: Good bike shops MORE INFO: www.cycletorque.com.au/more
REMAR has a quality LED lighting range from 10w to 800w aimed specially at motorcyclists for better lighting. Model pictured is a REM-609 measuring 51mm X 51mm X 61mm. Power output is 10W with 12-24V voltage. Beam types can be flood or pencil. It is dust proof and totally waterproof and the shell is die-cast alloy, and the bracket is 304 grade stainless steel. There is an optional handlebar bracket too. Comes with 12 month factory warranty. Full list of other LED lights on our website, www.remarcables.com.au. Trade enquiries welcome. PRICE: Christmas Special $66 AVA IL A BLE FROM: Remar MORE INFO: www.cycletorque.com.au/more
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W A R K SHAR Comfortable natural fibre interior and ventilation system using air vents and diffusers.
Double anti-fog and antiscratch visor.
Aerodynamic outer shell.
Easy fit for glasses wearers with the goggles. QRGS: quick release goggle system.
Planned location for SHARKTOOTH®.
Facial protection mask.
AN URBAN HELMET THAT COMBINES COMPACTNESS AND GREAT LOOKS.
Boosted by over 25 years of experience, the French brand Shark has become one of the world’s leading helmet makers. Founded by former professional racers, Shark designs helmets that guarantee high levels of performance and safety and that exceed safety standards. SHARK’s ethos is always to push the technical boundaries and innovate so that each and every biker and racer can enjoy the sheer pleasure and freedom of riding in complete safety.
YEARS WARRANTY
Shark RAW 290x400 B.indd 1
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* Overseas model shown
The Freedom Instinct
shark-helmets.com 14/10/13 10:01 PM
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WATCH US FITTING THE VORTEX ’BARS
LIGHTER, STRONGER AND BETTER LOOKING JUNIOR motocross bikes like our Honda CRF150R project machine are thousands of dollars cheaper than bikes deigned for adults, and the cost savings have to come from somewhere - which could be one reason Honda still supply heavy, easier to bend steel handlebars. For years riders switched out the steel ’bars for lighter, stronger alloy units, and that’s exactly what we’re doing with the Cycle Torque CRF150R project bike, fitting a set of Vortex alloy handlebars.
PRICE: $89 AVA IL A BLE FROM: Better bike shops everywhere MORE INF O: www.cycletorque.com.au/more
Instead of waiting for the first bike crash, we decided to switch out the steel ’bars before they were bent. With the Vortex ’bars less likely to bend, it’s less likely we’ll need to to running repairs at the track when our project bike rider Damien does have that first, inevitable, Big Off. And in the unlikely event that he does manage to bend the Vortex ’bars, we’ll have the old ’bars in the Cycle Torque Renault van to bolt in place so he can keep riding. Vortex has a variety of bends in standard and Fat Bar styles, to suit all motocross machines. We’ve chosen the MX Low in Black, which looks very stealthy and fast.
FOLDING ALLOY STAND FROM Spex Racing comes this neat folding race stand, complete with oil drainage jug. Featuring a compact profile for transportation, a hole and oil jug to make oil changes easy, tool tray and solid construction, this Spex Racing stand has found a home under the Cycle Torque project CRF150R. PRICE: $104.99 AVA IL A BLE FROM: Better bike shops everywhere MORE INF O: www.cycletorque.com.au/more
CYCLE TORQUE FOR THE LOVE OF MOTORCYCLING
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WORLD ON WHEELS
TOP Australian TV Network 7Mate recently premiered the Australian sixpart motorbike adventure series World on Wheels. Already being described as the Australian version of Long Way Round, the series is an unforgettable motorcycle odyssey around the world, igniting a passion for travel and adventure. This outstanding series screening all around the world (Australia, New Zealand, Russia, China, Mongolia, Thailand, Brunei and Singapore) is now exclusively available in Australia as a boxed DVD set. The sixepisode series World on Wheels follows adventurous Australian couple, Mike and Denise Ferris who after years in the corporate world gave it all away to become motorcycle tour guides taking fellow bikers outside their comfort zone through some of the most awe-inspiring places on earth. From Kashmir’s highest road in the world to the saltpans of Bolivia, via Moroccan sandstorms, the battlefields of Gallipoli, and everywhere in between. Men, women, young and old, riders and pillions, travellers and adventurers alike will enjoy this very real, entertaining and unforgettable DVD motorcycle odyssey. Now also available as part of the Cycle Torque catalogue.
PRICE: $30 AVA IL A BLE FROM: www.worldonwheels.tv MORE INFO: www.cycletorque.com.au/more
SUPER GIFT
PRICE: From $50 AVA IL A BLE FROM: Motorcycling Events Group MORE INFO: www.cycletorque.com.au/more
Looking for the perfect Christmas idea? Why not give them something they really want? Gift vouchers are available right now for an experience they will never forget! Send them along to the world renowned California Superbike School program, or to enjoy riding one of the two best racetracks in the country (maybe the world?...), Sydney Motorsport Park and Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Starting at $50, going through to the full experience including bike and gear hire… and everything in between, you can spend as much or as little as you want. Is there a better way to make a riders Christmas wish come true? We don’t think so… For more information: email info@motorcyclingeventsgroupaustralia.com.au or phone the office on 1300 793 423.
CYCLE TORQUE FOR THE LOVE OF MOTORCYCLING
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1. 365 Motorcycles You Must Ride – $24.99 These 365 must-ride motorcycles range from classic gaslight-era bikes, racers, and modern sportbikes to oddities that have to be ridden to be understood (or believed). From the 2007 Ducati 999R to the 1909 Harley-Davidson Silent Grey Fellow, promising hours of entertainment to any motorcycle enthusiast.
2. How to Ride Off-Road Motorcycles – $39.99 Off-road riding is one of motorcycling’s most popular pursuits and also one of its best training grounds for improving street-riding skills. Off-road riding takes many forms, from motocross and enduro racing, to dual-sport day trips, to trail riding, to adventure tours. No matter the specific pursuit, all dirt riding (and much street riding) shares the same basic skill set.
3. Don Cox Circus Life - Signed – $99.00 Welcome to the gypsy world of the Continental Circus private entrants - warts and all - with the joys, camaraderie, heartache, laughs and low acts. It was a time when rider usually had to be truck driver, mechanic, cook and start-money negotiator as well. And management help? You wish! In the 1950s, it was considered unAustralian to push your own barrow.
4. Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance – $65.00 The purpose of this book is to introduce the novice motorcycle mechanic to the basic mechanical concepts that go into designing, building and maintaining modern motorcycles. By performing their own basic maintenance readers will gain a much better understanding of how motorcycles function, and develop a much better feel for the health of their bike and deal with little problems before they become a big one, or worse, a serious safety issue.
5. Essential Guide to Motorcycle Travel – $55.00 This book is written to help motorcyclists prepare themselves and their motorcycle for travelling 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.
6. How to Set Up Your Motorcycle Workshop – $44.95 From a corner of the garage set up for routine maintenance to a dream shop housing precious classic machines, How to Set Up Your Motorcycle Workshop, Third Edition will help you make the most of your space. Packed with easy-to-read practical advice, author C. G. Masi walks the reader through designing, building, and equipping the workshop you need - whether you plan to restore, repair, and maintain your own bikes or hope to open a small commercial facility.
7. Charley Boorman Extreme Frontiers – WAS $35.00 NOW $24.50 EXTREME FRONTIERS: CANADA is Charley Boorman’s brand-new adventure/travel book. Travelling mainly on his much-loved bike, Charley will explore the world’s second largest country - home to some of the most stunning and challenging terrain known to man.
8. Race Tech’s Motorcycle Suspension Bible – $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.
9. Velocette Motorcycles – $69.99 “This very handsome hardback book has excellent quality paper, print and photographs of machines, sales brochures, promotional material ... It’s almost worth buying this book solely for the history portrayed through all the sales material. This is a definitive development history of the Velocette motorcycles based on the author’s earlier work ... an absolute must for Velocette enthusiasts and restorers.” – LE Velo Club
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1. One Man Caravan – WAS $39.95 NOW $35.00 This adventurous work records Robert Edison Fulton’s solo round-the-world tour on a two-cylinder Douglas motorcycle between July, 1932 and December, 1933. First published in 1937.
2. The Castrol Six Hour Production Race – WAS $69.95 NOW $41.99 For 18 years, the Castrol Six Hour Production Race was the biggest event on the Australian motorcycling calendar. Controversial, important and exciting, the Castrol Six Hour Production Race was one of those rare events which had bikes and tyres developed specifically to win it.
3. Motorcycle Journeys through the Pacific Northwest – $49.95 Motorcycle Journeys through the Northwest, 2nd edition, by Bruce Hansen, is an important update to his very popular first edition. Hansen’s enthusiasm for motorcycle exploration comes through in this full-colour, fully detailed tribute and guide to the great roads of America’s Northwest. Both visitors to the region and lifetime locals will enjoy and learn from the exciting trips that Hansen has planned and perfected. This book, designed from top to bottom for motorcyclists includes: relief maps for each trip, section, and chapter; photocopy-able spreads with detailed maps and directions for easy placement in a tankbag map window; more than 30 great trips that span 5 states and parts of Canada and include the twistiest, most scenic roads the Northwest has to offer; and the best places to eat, sleep, and pitch your tent.
6. Weekend Warriors 1 & 2 – $44.95 About five years ago Shaun, Andy and I (Jake) started to run out of places to ride. We were sick of riding the same places time and time again so we decided to pay a visit to the Melbourne Map Centre in Chadstone to see if there was a guide book on the subject. Much to our surprise there was nothing to be found. Sure there were heaps of 4WD and Mountain Bike books but, alas, no trail bike books. The guys in the shop were also surprised, as they had had a lot of enquiries from other trail bike riders. This gave us an idea....... Why not write our own book? And that is exactly what we did!
7. The Riders SAVE 30% – WAS $35.00 NOW $24.50 Australia’s love affair with motorcycle racing and its fearless heroes was meant to be. Two things have made it so enticing. The first is the inherent love of freedom, speed and adrenalin - that wild feeling of the wind whipping your face as you fight to take the machine as fast as it can go. The second is the ingrained Australian desire to test ourselves against the rest of the world - to be the quickest of all.
8. Classic Motorcycling SAVE 45% – WAS $34.95 NOW $19.25 All about buying, selling and owning classic motorcycles. With sections on many different makes and models as well as a heap of general information about classics, this is a great book for owners - or would be owners - of anything old and collectable.
4. How your motorcycle works – $19.99
9. Billy Connolly’s Route 66 – $35.00
The modern motorcycle is a fascinating and complex piece of machinery, easily as complex and diverse as the modern car. With clear, jargon-free text, and detailed cutaway illustrations, this book explains exactly how the modern bike works.
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 shares the experiences of the countless travellers who have taken the journey before him. The tales he gathers 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, tell the story of modern America. And they might just inspire a few readers to get on their bikes as well.
5. Adventure Motorcycle Maintenance Manual – $36.95 This book is the definitive guide to keeping an adventure motorcycle running in the way it should. Written for the rider who wants to be self-reliant while on the road, the book takes the reader through a series of practical, hands-on techniques designed to keep the bike in peak riding condition.
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1. Ivan Mauger 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.
2. Advanced Custom Motorcycle Painting – $39.95 The subject of custom painting is always important for the simple reason that motorcycle owners can’t leave their bikes alone. Bike owners want a custom paint job, and they want to learn how to apply custom paint in their own small shop, without having to pay someone else two to five thousand dollars for a candy job or really nice set of flames. This new book is the only how-to-paint book that includes specific directions and tips from Dave Perewitz.
3. Advanced Custom Painting Techniques – $39.99 Intense how-to book filled with photo sequences and supporting text explaining the best techniques for the preparation and application of custom paint to cars and motorcycles.
4. Motovudu - Dark Art of Performance - soft cover – $34.95 500GP winner and World Superbike racer Simon Crafar passes on the essential rules learned throughout his career, designed to teach any rider how they can ride faster and stay away from unnecessary risks. Covering such areas as body position, braking, corner entry, mid corner and corner exit as well as other essential tips and tricks, this book will provide you with a comprehensive easy to understand guide to going fast.
5. Ultimate sheet metal fabrication – $36.50 Develop the skills you need to build your own sheet metal parts! Expert customizer Tim Remus combines his knowledge with metal-workers Steve Davis, Bob Monroe, Steve Moal and Craig Naff, to provide all the instruction you need to get the job done right. Detailed chapters cover: the right tool for the job; materials; welding; repairs; building
from scratch and finish work; plus tips on how to repair and modify an existing part and starting from scratch. Create your own complex shapes from scratch or repair damaged panels with help from todays knowledgeable craftsmen.
6. Supercross Unleashed – $39.99 Supercross Unleashed is an all-action, packed out read with everything to keep even the most hardened supercross fan occupied for the winter months - TMX News. This book brings together essays, photos, and behind the scene glimpses from the sports current pros and past champs, told by motocross insider Billy Ursic and framed by photographer Simon Cudby. From profiles of the hottest names in the sport to insight about changes from up and coming young guns, it’s all here in the stirring words and images of the biggest names in Supercross.
7. American Dream Bikes – $59.99 Unappreciated by the world is the fact that in today’s elusive studio of motorcycle design America is a major player - for some, the major player. Dozens of designers, engineers and craftsmen are creating some of the most exciting and innovative motorcycles the world has ever seen - ever dreamed about. This doesn’t just mean yet another chopper. It means names like Confederate, Ecosse, Fischer, Roehr, Vectrix (producing an electric sportbike), and MotoCzysz in addition to, and no less worthy in this context, the establishment Harley-Davidson with Buell, Victory, and even Indian.
8. My Motorcycling Life – $19.95 This book is not meant to be a chronological history. In fact it’s not meant to be a work of history at all. It is simply an entertaining (hopefully) look at many of my motorcycling experiences over nearly 30 years of riding. If I could get permission to mention some motorcycling names, then I did. But otherwise I have told a series of stories that I thought were memorable and fun. So don’t expect them to be in order or to make much historical sense, just enjoy the ride, I certainly did!
9. My Motorcycling Life Part 2 – $19.95 My Motorcycling Life is Greg Hirst’s follow up to his successful first book.
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PERFORMANCE TS UC MACHINE PROD
R E N E G A DE W HE E LS
4 INTO KAWASAKI Z1$2199 4 EXHAUST
D SKELETON H$ AN9 MIRRORS 17
S S&S PRODUCT ENGINES FROM $ 9 80 9
SKULL FEND$ ER9 ORNAMENT 10
VARIOUS S T E S Y D O B 1 KAWASAKI Z $1699
KAWASAKI S PART RESTORATION
ES VANCE AND HINEMS EXHAUST SYST
RS HYPERCHARGE LS ODE VARIOUS M $ FROM 429
INE XTREME MACH PRODUCTS
SISSYBARS FORS METRIC$ CRUISER 399 $ 199 RACK OPTIONAL
S RJAYS JA$CKET FROM 199
THOMAS COOK WATER P$ROOF JEANS 109
LARGE SELECTION OF LUGGAGE FROM TANK BAGS TO SADDLEBAGS FROM BRANDS SUCH AS WILLIE AND MAX, VENTURA AND RJAYS.
Phone: 02 6361 9587
Web: www.zpower.com.au
HARLEY DAVIDSON • METRIC CRUISER • TOURING • SPORTS • CAFE RACER • CLASSIC Z UNIT 2, 65 LORDS PLACE, ORANGE NSW 2800 • OPEN MON-FRI. 10AM TO 5PM
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 67
REDUCE THE PAIN
RUBBER AND OIL PACK White’s Racing Products offers readers a great combination for Christmas - tyres and oil. Christmas season specials - receive a 4litre container of Castrol Power 1 Racing oil plus a set of the following tyres for $500, delivered anywhere in Australia. Castrol Power 1 Racing Oil is a 5W-40 full synthetic, fourstroke engine oil for high performance sportsbikes, with Trizone technology to deliver complete performance protection for the engine, gears and clutch. Pick your tyres from these specials. The R10 Treaded Race Tyres are road legal production tyres for performance bikes. Bridgestone R10 Treaded Race Tyres: 120/70ZR17, 180/55ZR17, 190/55ZR17. These slicks are an ideal tyre for Ride Days or racing. Bridgestone Slicks: 120/600R17 R01, 190/650R17 R04.
WHEN you’re on a long distance trip keeping a grip on that throttle can sometimes be a pain in the wrist. Well, Bikes & Bits Importers have a neat little doo-dad that just made that pain go away. The Accelerator Assistant Mat is a nifty little device that just slips onto your throttle. It has a contoured section on which to rest the palm of your throttle hand. It’s designed to help riders avoid hand and arm fatigue. Simply apply downward pressure from the palm, rather than actually wrapping your hand around and gripping the throttle, and relax. They come in a variety of colours. PRICE: $12.00 AVA IL A BLE FROM: Good bike shops MORE INFO: www.cycletorque.com.au/more
Special available from Whites Racing Products, 2/13 Devon Rd, Ingelburn NSW 2565. Phone 0413461353. Email wrp@iprimus.com.au Fax 02 9618 3090. PRICE: $500 AVA IL A BLE FROM: www.wrp.net.au MORE INFO: www.cycletorque.com.au/more
CYCLE TORQUE FOR THE LOVE OF MOTORCYCLING
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2013 WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONS
Tom Sykes has proved his point. The combination of the Ninja ZX-10R and KRT factory rider swept the opposition away across a whole season of Superpole domination, multiple race wins and fastest laps. Focused and formidably consistent, Sykes and the Ninja ZX-10R demonstrated what an impressive overall package they are. Join us in congratulating Tom.
www.kawasaki.com.au
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 69
OGGY KNOBBS FOR NEW KTMS Freshly designed to protect the new model 2013-2014 KTM 200/390 Duke. The fully bracketed Oggy Knobbs frame kit features massive centre bar for superior strength and load distribution. Strongest, most resilient material used for strength, performance and appearance. State-of-the-art manufacturing techniques like CNC machining, laser cutting and MIG welding for accuracy and perfect fit. Brackets from high tensile steel alloy for vastly superior strength and minimal weight, aluminium compression components made from aircraft grade 7075 T6511. OK344 Black Oggy Knobbs $199, OK345 White Oggy Knobbs $199. AAF061 Front Axle Oggys $65, AAR546 Rear Axle Oggys $65, OK344OKAAKIT complete in Black, includes all three items for $299. AVA IL A BLE FROM: Good bike shops MORE INFO: www.cycletorque.com.au/more or Kenma Australia (02) 9484 0777 www.kenma.com.au
CYCLE TORQUE FOR THE LOVE OF MOTORCYCLING
PURCHASE ALL OF THESE QUALITY PARTS FROM YOUR LOCAL BIKE SHOP CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 70
DUAL POWER SOCKET
$39.95
RRP
( P/N BBI56.UP-01301 )
$139.00
$29.95
RRP
DOUBLE USB POWER SOCKET
( P/N BBI98.MX-16039 S/M P/N BBI98.MX-16039-1 L )
RRP
RRP
( P/N BBI91.MC-12343 FOR JAPANESE & HARLEY DAVIDSON )
MX PADDED SHORTS
UNIVERSAL GEL SEAT COVER
$65.00
CRUISER STAND
$34.95 ( P/N BBI56.UP-12051 )
( P/N BBI 98.UP-12090 )
ATHENA WIRELESS HOUR METRE
$95.00
RRP
( P/N BBI56.GK-C1-0001)
BBI
BIKES & BITS IMPORTERS
Phone: 08 9295 6688 Toll Free Fax: 1800 080 808 sales@bbimpoters.com.au
AUSTRALIA WIDE OVER NIGHT AIR EXPRESS DELIVERY SERVICE. FREIGHT CHARGES MAY APPLY.
Massive range of products go to www.bbimporters.com.au YOU CAN CALL US FOR YOUR NEAREST DEALER
RRP
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 71
ZIP INTO REDD DOG RANGE GUARDING THE BEEMER
Rad Guard now has a radiator guard for the new BMW F800GT 2013-2014 model. The guard is very easy to fit and doesn’t restrict the airflow to your radiator core. Both the black and polished alloy guards look good on this bike. RRP is normally $195 but you can grab one from the Rad Guard website for $165 or just give them a call. (02) 6658 0060. PRICE: RRP: $195 AVA IL A BLE FROM: www.radguard.com.au MORE INFO: www.cycletorque.com.au/more
THIS is the first of Redd Dog’s full zip range. The women’s top is 100% Aussie designed and Aussie made using 100% premium Aussie Merino wool. Fabric weight is a warm 270gsm premium wool meaning it’s warm and easy to pack down small and even fit into your tank bag. A great feature is the double-slider YKK zip so you can open it up slightly at the bottom for a more relaxed/ flattering fit around the hips. Fully zipped it features a high neck for warmth and partially zipped it reveals the red neckline contrast, so it looks stylish and casual. Womens sizes 8 24. Call 0407 944 203 to order. PRICE: From $165 AVA IL A BLE FROM: www.redddog.com.au MORE INFO: www.cycletorque.com.au/more
GO RAW!
Shark Helmets has just released new helmets which we will be featuring in Cycle Torque over the coming months - here’s the first one, the Raw. An Urban biking open face with removable mask and facial protection, the Raw combines militaristic style with function in cool graphic and plain colours. PRICE: $349.95 (plain), $369.95 (graphics) AVA IL A BLE FROM: Good bike shops MORE INFO: www.cycletorque.com.au/more
CYCLE TORQUE FOR THE LOVE OF MOTORCYCLING
Choose the ride, leave the gear to us.
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BIKES AUSTRALIA
TAKING FUN SERIOUSLY
NO NOISE, NO PETROL, NO HEAT Expedition Panniers
Andy Strapz approved gear is tested rigorously
3x Models available: 12.5” 24v 600w, 16” 36v 750w and the NEW 20” 48v 1200w motor. 12 months Factory Warranty.
Waterproof Boots Adventure
The new Andy Strapz approved gear logo indicates that Andy has put specially selected gear through its paces for quality and motorcycle friendliness.
AUSTRALIAN IMPORTER FOR OSET ELECTRIC KIDS BIKES
www.osetbikes.com.au Ph: 07 3844 8266 • kal@osetbikes.com.au
CYCLE TORQUE FOR THE LOVE OF MOTORCYCLING
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EXPED DOWNMATS DECADENCE!
EXPED are arguably world leaders in inflatable mattresses and Downmats are the top of their range. Suitable for winter camping, even sleeping on snow! Featuring two low profile protected and durable valves (one for inflation, the other for deflation) as well as light foam blocks at the mat’s end to prevent down escaping or migrating between chambers. Laminated polyester fabric is durable, light and humidity resistant with high frequency welded seams for durability. IDFL certified goose down, specially treated to eliminate the effects of humidity. Two thicknesses - 7cm and decadent 9cm, with two sizes in each LW is 197cm long and 65cm wide or M at 183cm long and 52cm wide.
PRICE: From $180 to $255 plus postage AVA IL A BLE FROM: Andy Strapz MORE INFO: www.cycletorque.com.au/more
CYCLE TORQUE FOR THE LOVE OF MOTORCYCLING
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TOOLED UP
MOTOHANSA BMW R 1200 Pro Tool Set - all BMW R 1200 incl 2013 water cooled. The new Pro series tool kit suitable for BMW motorcycles are now available from Motohansa. These new tool kits are professional quality, backed by a lifetime guarantee. These 61 piece kits give you all the tools required to service your BMW, remove the wheels, spark plugs and work on most things the home mechanic would tackle. PRICE: $165 AVA IL A BLE FROM: Direct from Motohansa MORE INFO: www.cycletorque.com.au/more
CHAIN GANG
AA AND A BAGZ
Motul has released some nifty chain maintenance packs which are available for both road bikes and dirt bikes. These are really cool ideas for Christmas! The Motul Chain Packs contain either one can of Motul Chain Lube Road or Off-Road, plus a can of Motul Chain Clean and a handy chain cleaning brush. Normally these would retail for over $55, but Motul have bundled them together into a convenient pack for $39.95. They are available now from your local Motul stockist. Motul motorcycle products are imported and distributed in Australia by Link International. For more information check out www.linkint.com.au or like them on Facebook www.facebook.com/MotulAU
ONE of Australia’s favourite bike bags, just drop it on the passenger seat and tie down with its own strap system. No frames or hardware needed. Constructed of brown Aussie oilskin (Drizabone type fabric) or black Cordura in Andy’s own Melbourne factory, A Bagz are 30 litre capacity and AA Bagz about 18 litres. Stiffened with 4 nylon bars to stop sagging. Easy to use and water resistant. PRICE: 30 litre A Bagz $220, 18 litre AA Bagz $180 AVA IL A BLE FROM: Direct from Andy Strapz MORE INFO: www.cycletorque.com.au/more
CYCLE TORQUE FOR THE LOVE OF MOTORCYCLING
fo pay We r ca bi sh ke s
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 75
Wrecking motorcycles for 30 years. Australia’s oldest and most respected motorcycle wreckers. Australiawide freight.
Metropolitan Motorcycle Spares • Wrecking all Makes & Models • Grey Imports • Spares & Accessories • All Service Items
parts@motorcyclewreckers.com Phone: (02) 9748 7400 90 Silverwater Rd, Silverwater, NSW 2128 Open Mon-Fri 8.30 - 5.00 • Sat 8.30 - 1.00
www.motorcyclewreckers.com
SUZUKI
Sharp as a Talon Product Test by Darren Smart
I have spent the best part of a year on the mighty 2013 KTM 450 SX-F and if you think I was going to change tyres every time I went from sand to hard pack and back again you are kidding. Thanks to the crew at John Titman Racing I was able to get around this because they gave me a great deal on a set of spunky looking wheels that featured orange SM Pro Platinum Rims laced up to black Talon Hubs and a Talon Rear Sprocket as well as two very nicely finished RHK discs. Stoked? You Bet! Talon has been around for 40 plus years and are the market leaders when it comes to hubs so it was a no brainer to go with a gloss black billet hub. The fact that Talon hubs come with a three year warranty is just a bonus. My spare wheels were purchased for sand riding and that in itself creates extra wear and tear so once again Talon was chosen for the rear sprocket. Talon’s 7075T6 aluminium sprockets are the best wearing on the market that feature a self-cleaning groove which acts to remove dirt between the sprocket teeth and the chain which increases the wear life of your chain and sprockets by up to 30 per cent. After a bit of research I chose the SM Pro Platinum rims because they are manufactured from the highest spec 7050 aircraft aluminium which is precision welded and finished with a durable hard anodising. My figuring is that there is no use buying great looking wheels that look crap half way through the season and the SM Pro Platinum rims get rave reviews. OK, there is no use having wheels without disc rotors and again John Titman Racing had the solution with their RHK OEM replacement rotors that are laser cut out of the highest quality stainless steel that are lighter than the OEM rotors and offer a higher heat resistance. Finally, John Titman Racing put the two wheels together with English made Bulldog heavy duty stainless steel spokes which are the strongest known on the market. They also sourced and fitted bearings, seals and spacers so when I picked them up I just handed over the cash, bolted them straight into the Kato and went racing. Does it get any better?
PRICE: Hubs, rims, spacers, seals, sprocket and disc bolts front and rear for the package is $1395. • RHK disc – 89.95 • Talon rear sprocket – $79.95 AVA IL A BLE FROM: Good bike shops MORE INFO: www.cycletorque.com.au/more
Other than looking sensational there is nothing better than having a spare set of wheels at your disposal at a race meeting and if it can be done at a reasonable price with NO compromise as far as quality and reliability goes it is a no brainer to sign up for a set. If you are keen, contact your local bike shop or the team at JTR on (07) 3245 7699 or be lazy and e-mail them at sales@jtr.com.au for your nearest stockist. n
CYCLE TORQUE FOR THE LOVE OF MOTORCYCLING
MARKET TORQUE
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 77 Order online or call direct Ph: 07 3869 3016 120a Hoskins St, Sandgate, QLD
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A Custom Moulded Noise Plug and Music Listening Interface all Built into One. Designed by Interface all Built into One. Motorcyclists, for Motorcyclists. Designed by •Acts as high quality custom noise plug when not connected to a music source Motorcyclists, for Motorcyclists. •Up to Class 5 or 34 dB(A) attenuation (Deep impression, full concha) An Impression of your ears is required. Turnaround approx. custom NoiseGuard Moto •Professional single audio driver (L&R) Effectively a musicians 1 week. Cost: $435.00 Includes L&R Call Hearlink on with extension (Not pictured), cleaning and maintenance tools, In-Ear-Monitor 6 wax caps, instruction manual and1300 semi-softHEARING carry pouch. andystrapz.com Contact: johnny@hearlink.com.au or Call Hearlink on 1300 HEARING •No hollow tubing www.noiseguard.com.au www.noiseguard.com.au •Tangle free, high quality, thick coiled conductive wiring for flexibility and
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y e l l a V i b m o l l o Ride W CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 78
Photo Competition
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THE winner of the November Ride Wollombi Valley Photo Competition was Colin Whelan, of Kensington, with a shot of his Super Tenere against the trails of stars in the southern sky. He says it took him three nights out near Moree to get a perfectly clear night for the shot. The red line behind the tree is a jet trail and a couple of bright trails to the right of that are shooting stars. He has won two nights accommodation for two at Gray’s Inn (Fri to Sun), lunch for two at Cafe Wollombi, a half-day tour for rider plus pillion with Timetravellers Motorcycle Tours and Events for a prize package worth over $700. Wollombi Valley has emerged as a distinctive tourist destination of its very own. With an ever increasing range of food, wine, great events and boutique shopping in the valley, there really is something for everyone. For breakfast, lunch and weekend dining choose from Wollombi Tavern and the Italian-inspired menu of Panino; delectable breakfast, lunch & teas at Café Wollombi, and Mulla Villa just 3km south of the village (bookings essential), which is also open to the public for tours of the convict holding cells. Great Northern Trading Post at Laguna is open for all meals 7 days a week and is becoming well known for its live musical entertainment and appetising country fare.
Many of the local cellar doors on the Wollombi Wine Trail can also provide specialized cheese and olive platters. Discover an exclusive range of home wares & gifts at Twine Home Store, and everything your garden needs at Little Red Riding Hood Nursery, including ReTyred outdoor furniture made entirely from recycled tyres. The General Store provides groceries, newspapers and postal services, and Timetravellers has a range of motorcycle apparel, gifts, memorabilia, and Royal Enfield guided motorcycle tours. You can also find antiques, Nepalese clothing and accessories, art exhibitions, the largest outdoor sculpture park in Australia, cellar door wine tasting, and for only $2 enjoy a very interesting tour of the historic Endeavour Museum, originally the town’s courthouse and jail. There are exciting events in the valley consistently, with an inspiring diversity of art, music, cuisine, wine and culture. Congratulations to all the winners of the photo competition, who with their partners or friends will have a great time exploring this extraordinary valley. Visit the official Wollombi Valley website (www.visitwollombi.com.au) for information on accommodation, activities, vineyards, tours, and upcoming events. n
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Bikescape is a first-class motorcycle rental & tour company conveniently located in Sydney, Australia. The Bikescape team are dedicated to providing personal, friendly service, with rich insights into the best roads to ride, and ensure that you return home with only the best motorcycling memories.
QUAD TORQUE NEWS R O T C A F X E TH
MICHAEL Guest and co-driver David Green have won at Coates Hire Rally Australia (a round of the World Rally Championship) for the Can-Am X-Team. Driving a 2013 Maverick 1000 X rs, Guest and Green went into the rally confident of a strong result. “We tested the Maverick during the week leading up to competition and felt we’d found even more speed and a solid reliable package to tackle the event,” said Guest. The rally started on Thursday night amongst a sea of spectators in the centre of Coffs Harbour before competition began in earnest with a run around the Coffs Harbour super special stage – a mixture of tarmac and gravel. Guest and Green finished second, only 0.1 seconds off the pace. The competition really kicked into gear on Friday starting with a 14 kilometre forest stage. After a drive shaft complication provided only rear-wheel drive for Guest, Cody Crocker (Polaris) pulled ahead by over 20 seconds. The next 24km stage faired stronger for Guest and Page with a win by over seven seconds, leaving them in second after day one of the rally. Day two began with the longest stage in the World Rally Championship, just under 50km. Winning this stage was imperative for Guest as it made up a huge percentage of the day’s competition. After some fantastic technical driving from
Guest and Green, they ended the stage up by 11 seconds. The following stage went to Crocker by 0.2 seconds, however after two blistering runs around the super special spectator stage, the Can-Am X-Team had the foundation to go into day three in a strong position. Guest’s time at the super special stage of 1.31.03 would make them third fastest outright in the Australian Rally Championship! Day three was always going to be a tough affair. Day one had belonged to Polaris and day two to Can-Am, meaning the winner of the final day would decide the overall winner of the rally. “The Maverick was really starting to show its potential and my confidence was certainly growing. Crocker took two seconds off me in the first stage and then a further 3.7 in stage two,” said Guest. The Can-Am X-Team fought back in stage three to see them take back the lead by just two seconds. This would leave the second longest stage of the event, “Shipmans”, to decide the rally. Guest and Green took the final stage by a huge 17 seconds to secure the win at the Coates Hire Rally Australia. ”This is a fantastic result not only for myself and David Green
XMAS IBONUS HONDA'S TRX500FM and TRX500FPM are even better buys this year thanks to the $1000 HondaDollars you’ll receive with every purchase before December 31, 2013. HondaDollars can be used at the time of purchase for accessories, towards servicing or to reduce the purchase price. The TRX500FM and TRX500FPM are seasoned workhorses which have been designed to go for years in the toughest of environments. The liquid-cooled four stroke single cylinder engine is punchy enough for work, and it's fuel injected also, so cold climates or high altitudes won't worry it a bit. Other features include front disc brakes and Electric Power Steering. On top of that Honda is also offering an extended three year warranty on all agricultural ATV and SxS vehicles. Get into your local Honda dealer now! n
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but for our whole team. Neal Bates Motorsport has done a great job preparing and developing the package into its current form,” said Guest after the event. “To have the Maverick’s first win in a combined WRC/ARC event is a sure sign for more success around the corner.” n
U N LEASH TH E IBEA ST CHECK out the 2014 Polaris RZR XP 1000 EPS. When it comes to side-bysides, both Polaris and Can-Am are pushing hard into the Aussie market, with both brands offering fantastic machines. Powering the RZR is the 107 horsepower ProStar liquid-cooled V-twin engine. It will hit 0-80 kmh in a shade over 5 seconds, so it’s definitely a hang on machine. It’s also got an On-Demand all-wheel-drive system, which will no doubt help keep it pointing in a relatively straight line, not so easy a thing to do in two wheel drive with all those ponies running free. It’s no good having all the grunt if the chassis can’t control it, and Polaris has equipped the new RZR with lots of goodies in the handling department, and all shocks are fully adjustable. This is one serious hombre, check one out at your local Polaris dealer pronto. n
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CYCLE TORQUE FEATURE
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Coming from America
In the land of the free you can get pretty much anything, including a brand new Honda CR500.
WITH the advantageous exchange rate of the Australian dollar it’s been a good time to buy American. Whether it be cars or bikes, it seems just about every man and his dog is buying up big from the land of the free. Our dollar hasn’t been quite as strong lately but recently we spoke to two people who have done just that: one who imported his own machine, and the other who imports them for a living. We got the good oil on how it’s done, and what the benefits are.
One man’s big bore
The mighty Honda CR500 is a man’s machine, and although popular for many years, the beast hasn’t been made by Honda for some years now. That didn’t deter one enterprising Aussie from buying what’s essentially a new CR500 from the states. He’s a bit coy
on having his details printed but he was happy to tell us about the bike. “I imported the bike from Service Honda in the USA,” said our anonymous friend. “The bike is built by Service Honda USA and can be imported worldwide. Bikes can be customised to each person. I had a larger fuel tank (10L) fitted. The AF500 is the motocross version. The bike is a CRF250R 2012 fuel injected frame with a brand new CR500 engine fitted by modifying the frame to suit the 2-stroke big bore engine.” There’s nothing stopping someone from building their own version of the AF500 here in Australia but our man wanted it done right. “I imported the bike from Service Honda USA as I wanted to make sure that the bike was brand new, genuine and had all import paper work. “I love the two-stroke 500 engines because of the
noise they sing, the torque they produce, the size of the engine and very low maintenance. No power valve to clean or adjust ever in a CR500 engine and the mid ’80s engines were the most brutal. The engine is brought brand new in pieces and hand built and is a 2001 CR500 engine from Honda.” Often building a ‘special’ is harder than people realise, and can sometimes be a mish-mash of bits which don’t really work all that well. We wondered if that was the case with the AF500. “It’s better than I expected. The build quality is fantastic and the acceleration is like nothing I have ever felt on a motocross bike before. It takes your breath away and you truly have to respect this bike. “I have ridden heaps of two-stroke 500s: CR500, YZ490, KX500, RM465 but the first 100 metres was really memorable. I was standing up and accelerating slowly to run the bike in properly and nearly went
over the back guard. As I backed off I nearly went over the handlebars. It was then I really realised how quick this bike is. All the two-stroke 500s regardless if they are old or new models are quick but the AF500 is also really smooth.” A bike this powerful would be a real handful in the bush, let alone on a motocross track. “I plan to take it to the sand dunes, ride it in the bush, race it at dirt drags on a proper quarter mile drag strip, and do a few shows/dyno days etc. “They don’t make really big cubed two-stroke bikes much any more. The sound of a two-stroke 500 is different and if you’re lucky enough to ride one you will never forget that experience in your life and if you race one anywhere even better. “At the end of the day I’ve got a 90 + kilo alloy framed low maintenance monster with 60 + horsepower. I’ve also got sore shoulders.” The other side of the scales is buying a vintage MX machine from the States, something which is becoming very popular according to Scott Bentley from ATVs Unlimited. At one time Scott’s business centred around ATV sales, servicing and spares but now has evolved. “It used to be 99 per cent ATVs but now is 70 per cent vintage motocross bikes, and 30 per cent ATVs,” said Scott. “Most of my buyers are 40 plus and they either get me to source them a bike or ring me to see what I’ve got coming in. “At the moment I’m about to unload a container full of VMX bikes and I’m already building up stock in the USA for my next container. I usually find most of the stock is pre-sold before it gets here.” We’ve all heard horror stories about someone buying a bike or car off eBay, and either losing their money or finding out the machine wasn’t as good as it looked in the pics. “It’s not hard to spray some WD40 on the bike to make it look shiny, and lots of people get caught,” explained Scott. “It’s not as simple as you think, and people often don’t factor in freight costs in the USA, cleaning the bikes so they pass quarantine when they arrive in Australia, and making sure the bike gets import approval. “I have a guy on the ground in the USA who checks out bikes for me or my prospective clients, he picks
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them up, cleans them thoroughly and prepares them for sea freight. Not many people think about the bikes sitting in the container on the ships and how they can corrode. We take precautions against that, and when the bikes arrive we have no hassles. “I charge $950 to ship a bike which includes import application costs, and I do all the paperwork. My container is also insured against falling off the ship or some other such drama, so the buyer is protected.” “You have to be careful dealing with people on the other side of the world because you aren’t there and have to take them on their word. Getting a reputable dealer to do that for you takes the risk of something dodgy happening out of the equation.” Scott then went on to tell us about ways you can
minimise the risk. “If people want to import themselves it’s best you deal with reputable people, those that have references, or you know someone who’s dealt with them before, or if on eBay what sort of feedback the seller has. Try to ask as many questions as possible. Does it run? Is it rideable? Are there any major faults? Always be aware the seller knows you are on the other side of the world and knows it’s hard for you to do much about it if they gloss over the finer details somewhat.” You can ring Scott on 0408 298 600 or email him at info@atvsunlimited.com.au if you fancy getting astride some VMX muscle. – Chris Pickett
CYCLE TORQUE EXPERIENCE: DUCATI MOTOGP CLUIB
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ADUCATISTIMOTOGP The Ducati MotoGP Club is a stylish way to enjoy the races… N
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DUCATI is tethered to motorcycling racing like no other marque. With a reputation born out of tough racing and legendary performances, Ducati’s red machines have been ridden to victory in road races across the globe. Ducati’s customers, riders with a passion for those (usually) red machines, are known as Ducatisti. Even in the inevitable lean years for racing success like 2013, Ducatisti come out to support the marque, the mystique and the those who race Ducati motorcycles at breathtaking speeds. I’m talking, of course, of MotoGP, and in particular at the Ducati MotoGP Club at Phillip Island where Cycle Torque was invited to come along, enjoy the hospitality and meet some local Ducatisti. It was a sea of red when I arrived, Ducati Australia’s staff having decorated the marquee in the Italian firm’s traditional colours. The goodie bag I
received on arrival contained a T-shirt, red and a cap, red, emblazoned with the Ducati logo, and these were easily the most popular items being worn by Ducatisti. I’d arrived in time for lunch (unfortunately I was working at the GP, I couldn’t spend all my time enjoying Ducati’s hospitality) and sat down to a very enjoyable meal of chicken, beef, salad and vegetables. My waistline recommended I avoid the lasagna, but it looked great. Maybe tomorrow. Being at work and needing to capture sharp images prompted me to pass on the cash bar, but the barista service was excellent. For Dr Peter Prentice, being in the Ducati marquee really added to his enjoyment of the event. “I enjoy coming to sporting events where you feel you can get involved in
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it all. Here you’re involved with a group of guys and women who all love their Ducatis, you’re close to the track action and it’s the whole vibe of the three days you’re here, it’s amazing.” Getting involved is certainly one of the big features of the Ducati facility, with pit walks each day where you can get in close to the bikes as the mechanics are preparing them for the races, giving you a great chance to get some photos and check-out the world’s most exotic race bikes from almost touching distance. Peter also had high praise for the service and the food. “Ducati has done a great job. The food has been excellent, I think they almost over-feed you. The people have been great, anything they don’t know they find out and come over and let you know and tell you. I’m really impressed.” Peter’s looking at buying a Diavel Strada. He’s test-ridden one and told me, “It’s a magnificent bike. It’s great, really good. Spoils you. The bruteness of it, it’s out there.” At the front of the Ducati MotoGP Club is a raised stage with a couple of stools and a pubic address - obviously set-up for interviews. Ducati never guarantees it will be able to get its riders to come across and talk to the Ducatisti - racing is too fickle for that - but usually the factory team riders come across for a 10-minute visit between the morning warm-up and the big race. This year it was Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden who were greeted very warmly by the Ducatisti, a resounding round of applause when they arrived indicating the crowd appreciated how hard these guys were working when trying to win races. Ducati’s Warren Lee bounced some questions off the guys and the obligatory photos were shot and the racers had to head back to their pit garages, but the brief visit is certainly a highlight of the weekend (and next year Cal Crutchlow will be in the team, which will encourage more people to come along to support the popular Briton). Ducati charges $935 to the Ducatisti who choose to join them at MotoGP. I’m certainly not going to pretend that’s cheap, but when you’ve seen the
view from the included grandstand seating, when you’ve taken a slice of pizza from a waiter while watching Nicky Hayden scream down Gardner Straight at well over 300km/h and not had to battle the crowds, dust and security goons to get a drink, well, there’s certainly something to be said for spending the big bucks. Your Ducati MotoGP Club ticket gets you all three days of the GP, so you can watch practice, qualifying, the support races, on track entertainment, special events and the main races, either trackside (with a super screen directly opposite, seats and tables), inside the marquee (with a big screen TV), or from the grandstand - which is so tall you can see nearly all of the circuit. The facilities, food, convenience and view make MotoGP with Ducati a pretty special event. – Nigel Paterson
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CYCLE TORQUE TOURING FEATURE
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THE
OXLEY
One of the best road rides in Australia is simply known as ‘The Oxley’.
THE Oxley Highway running basically from Wauchope to Tamworth on NSW’s Mid North Coast is one of the most famous ‘rides’ in Australia. From tight bends in the middle of a rainforest to fast open sweepers, high enough to be in the clouds if the weather is right, or wrong. You could call it Motorcycling Nirvana.
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But as we all know you can’t just zap yourself to the Oxley without riding there first, so we’ve put together a guide for riders to do just that, out of Sydney. One of the best rides you will ever do is the Putty Road from Windsor to Singleton but it’s a road to be careful on, especially on weekends. In the past trucks used the road almost en masse, and it was a dangerous place to be, either in a car or a bike. Thankfully the use of this road by heavy vehicles has significantly diminished over the years, but you still have to be aware riders and drivers can creep over the centre of the road on occasions. If you keep this in mind and treat the road sensibly it can be one of the best rides you’ll ever have. Heading north from Windsor you just have to stop at the Grey Gum cafe which is bike friendly and has great coffee and food. Be careful though, you can easily while away a few hours so you better not stay too long if you want to arrive at the overnight stay at Walcha at a reasonable hour. The other option is to stop at the old Putty Halfway House for a coffee or cool drink and one of the best bacon and egg rolls you will ever have. Run by an eclectic artist, I can confirm the conversation will be stimulating as well. You can’t miss the massive stainless statue out front. First fuel stop will be Singleton, 175 kilometres up the road. Our machine for the trip was a new Triumph Daytona 675, and getting there on a tank was easy. But start getting throttle happy and letting the engine rev into the red zone and you might be pushing depending on what you are riding.
Heart of the Hunter From Singleton we now head over to the farming hamlet of twin towns Gresford and East Gresford. This is around a half-hour run and the road conditions are what you would call well maintained ‘B’ roads. On some sections the road narrows so you have to be wary of fast moving four-wheel-
drives, and there are a couple of rough patches too. There’s a couple of nice little cafes at the twin towns, and they are hard to miss due to the fact they are both situated at intersections. There is fuel at East Gresford but it’s not open all hours. Think of servo operational hours of 30 years ago and you’ll be right. Don’t expect to be cruising through at 4pm on a Saturday and get fuel. Then you head over the mountain on Bingleburra Road. This is a favourite ride of mine, and for a bit of fun we like to call it the Bingleburra TT. The scenery is amazing, but the road is very rough in spots. Plenty of riders have come to grief on this road over the years, but treat it as a leisurely ride and you will be fine. If on a sports bike make sure you dodge the bumps or you’ll need a chiropractor by the time you get to Dungog. We had backed the damping off on the Daytona 675 especially for this trip and it was OK. That said we still aimed to miss the bumps as much as possible. By the time you get to Dungog you will have travelled 245 kilometres and in the midst of natural beauty. Dungog’s roads are well known for their poor quality, but it’s also a great spot for a break. There are some great eateries in the main street, and there’s fuel too. The run from Dungog to the Bucketts Way is a mixture of new tar, tar patches over patches, and once again some fantastic scenery. This is another road
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to be careful on, as you can be caught out by loose gravel and some pretty bad lumps in the tar. On one memorable occasion a few years ago I was following a mate on a sportsbike when it leapt in the air after hitting a massive bump where a heavy vehicle had pushed up the tar. A close one it was. Once on the Bucketts Way near the township of Stroud Road, it’s an easy run to Gloucester, another great Aussie country town. Roadies Cafe is the place to eat here, and it’s filled with motorcycles and memorabilia. Top tucker too, so this is a great spot to eat lunch. By lunch you would have covered 310 kilometres and be due for a rest anyway. Plenty of fuel at Gloucester.
Thunderbolts In case you didn’t know, Thunderbolts Way is named after the infamous bushranger Captain Thunderbolt. For many years it was dirt but is now tar all the way, and it’s generally in fantastic condition. There are some sections where you head up the mountain to Carson’s Lookout but overall it’s a great ride. If you have bypassed Gloucester for a spot of lunch you could always stop at Bretti reserve which is a popular camping area by the river. You might be able to bludge a cuppa off some caravaners or campers there while you cool your feet in the river. Don’t ride past Carson’s Lookout, you will never know what you’ve missed. The view is simply spectacular. Not far from the lookout the road drops down from the mountain as you near Nowendoc, and it then opens up as you head towards the high plains town of Walcha. From Windsor this is around 460 kilometres, and should take you, with stops, the best part of a day. There’s a number of places to stay at Walcha but my favourite is the Royal Hotel which is in the heart of the town. The Royal Hotel is run by a couple who love bikes.
It’s Art Deco in style and the accommodation is cool. If there’s a group of you there’s always the option of the well equipped house in the backyard of the Royal. You can even park your bikes undercover. Like I said, it’s bike friendly and the food is top notch. Depending on what night you are at Walcha there’s a variety of food options, from hamburgers at the takeaway or Chinese at the pub, to the Apsley Arms Hotel which is also a favourite of mine, and offers great accommodation too. Try the Cafe Graze too, it’s more of a breakfast/lunch/afternoon tea sort of gig but I’ve sampled that a few times and can vouch for its quality. Walcha always seems cold but I love the place. You might want to delay your early starts, especially during the cooler months. The run down the Oxley Highway towards the coast can be a bit dodgy if it’s icy so enjoy a cooked breakfast and let the sun warm your bones before you get back into the saddle. Next month we explore the famed Oxley Highway and get back to Sydney via a route which is a bit out of the ordinary, but one well worth the effort. – Chris Pickett
Cycle Torque’s Ho Chi Minh Trail Tour 2014
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VIETNAM is one of the most picturesque, inviting and exciting places to ride in the world, and Cycle Torque is taking a group of readers on a 9-day ride along the Western Ho Chi Minh trail. With Cycle Torque's partner Vietnam motorbike Tours, we've gained permission to ride through almost tourist-free areas of isolated countryside to some of the world's most magnificent caves and through World Heritagelisted areas of spectacular scenery. Our tour will take us from the coast and up into the mountains, travelling from Hoi An to Khe Sanh, Phong Nha caves and along the winding, amazing Western Ho Chi Minh trail. The Cycle Torque tour runs from February 1-February 9. Cycle Torque will, of course, be publishing the story of the tour. Just 20 bikes are available for the tour - you can bring a pillion passenger on Vietnam Motorbike Tour's small-capacity road bikes - while your luggage will travel in the support vehicles.
The cost of the tour is $2650 for each rider, half-price for pillion passengers or non-riders, who can travel in the air-conditioned support van. The price includes daily breakfast and lunch, a welcome dinner, all fuel, bike insurance, third-party insurance, airport transfers, internal flights, guides, decent twin-share accommodation, helmets, wet weather gear… The price does not include - International airfares, mandatory travel insurance, personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry, alcohol, vaccinations, tourist visa). Tour extension option - let us know if you’d like to see more of Vietnam - we can arrange an extension to the Cycle Torque tour which can include visits to war museums and displays (including firing war-era weapons!), visits to former American bases and much more.
Email tours@cycletorque.com.au or call 02 4956 9820 for more information and to book your place on the tour.
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SHOP TORQUE
Peter Wood – a Triumphant 21 years
PETER Wood has been involved with motorcycles for his whole professional life, which now seems to have come full circle with the Triumph marque. Back in 1972 he started his motorcycle retail life at a Suzuki dealership in Gorokan on the Central Coast of NSW. “It was also a Triumph dealership back in the days when Hazel and Moore were the Importers,” Peter says. “So it’s ironic that having kicked off all those years ago with Triumph, here I am with another 21 years as a Triumph dealership in Triumph’s modern era,” he said. Peter has had Woody’s Motorcycles at Wyong since 1978. It was a Honda dealership for nearly 40 years but these days operates as Peter’s accessories/ apparel merchandise store. Peter took over the Ric Andrews Motorcycle dealership in 2002, which, of course, carried the Triumph brand and this year celebrates that dealership’s 21st anniversary as a Triumph dealer. Ric Andrews had originally bought the store in about 1978 and it was a BMW, Husqvarna and Honda dealership - they even sponsored Pelle Granquist. The store added Yamaha to its stable in mid 1979. But, of course, anyone that knows Peter Wood, knows full well that he never seems to stand still for a second. In taking on the Ric Andrews operation Peter invested a considerable amount of time and money to build a modern showroom to properly showcase the Triumph brand. Peter is actively involved in every aspect of the business from the workshop
through to the showroom. In fact he recently installed a dyno facility as part of the workshop complex. And we mean quite literally that he installed it, himself, like always, hands-on in every part of his business. The new Ric Andrews showroom at 169 Manns Road, West Gosford also features Yamaha’s range. So Peter is confident he can offer his customers everything they need in new and used bikes, in everything from kids bikes, quads, dirt bikes, nakeds, tourers, cruisers as well as accessories, servicing and after-sales service. For more information check out www.ricandrewsmotorcycles.com.au or ring (02) 4324 1800. n
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LETTERS
K C A B I G N I U TO RQ
Objectification
REGARDING the letter from Josie, I really don’t think the magazine is as a whole is ‘objectifying women’. It’s a long way from being put in a plain plastic cover. There was a time when most advertisers went with a sex sells approach and now we are talking about one, because advertisers know what we expect today. This is not the thin edge of the wedge, more the last vestiges hanging onto the thick end (intended). Ultimately advertisers will go with what sells, not what titillates (sorry). I do like getting all Cycle Torque has to offer, for free. So if I occasionally have to avert my eyes, I’ll just do that. I do hope you ride an adventure bike - so you won’t have trouble getting off your high horse. Enjoy the rest of the mag. Sam
Objectification 2
I’M WITH Josie on the subject of objectifying woman and take a stand. Tell the advertiser that the ad isn’t acceptable. Your magazine is a quality product, the only Australian mag I bother reading. Here is your chance to start to change the industry. Name Withheld
Entrapment
TO THE rider who stood his ground and took the issue all the way, you’re a bloody legend! Very few have the tenacity to follow through, for most of us it’s just too hard and time consuming to fight ‘the man’. Just goes to show what you can achieve if you believe in your cause, and the associated publicity must be spread far and wide by all riders as recognition of your efforts. How can the people tasked with upholding the law get away with such disgraceful and unethical behaviour for so long? As riders we all want a safe and enjoyable riding experience and the police and fellow riders should not tolerate the few that give riding a bad name, but what these officers did was and is inexcusable, and well done for shutting it down. More of us need to follow your example, thank you again. Peter
Outlaws MC gangs threaten the nation
QUEENSLAND has introduced laws to stop people associating with members of banned clubs. The army was ordered to break down gates and fences. Brisbane riders are called on to notify their local police if they are going anywhere in a group of three or more. What’s next? Travel permits? Let’s put this in perspective. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) tells us that over a million Australians are licensed to ride a motorcycle or scooter. Police have estimated there are 7000 members of “outlaw motorcycle gangs” in this country.
WRITE A LETTER!
WIN A GREAT PRIZE
This month Sam (despite the awful puns) has won an Airhawk midcruiser seat for his bike, valued at $159. Airhawk seats make riding a lot more comfortable by putting a cushion of air between you and your bike. Check out www.airhawkguy.com for more information. 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.
Do the math. The outlaws are less than half of one percent of the Australian motorcycle and scooter community and not all of them are criminals. The vast majority of Australian riders are law-abiding citizens who pay their way and also drive cars. Touring motorcycle and scooter riders contribute more than $750 million a year to the Victorian economy. Most of that is spent in regional areas. The GP alone bring $60 million tourist dollars to Phillip Island and surrounds. The Ulysses Club AGM brought $4 million plus to Mildura. How much do two-wheel tourists spend in your area every year? Enforce the current laws by all means. Gaol crims whether they travel by bike, car or plane. But don’t introduce police-state laws based on prejudice and hysteria, not fact. It’s not only in Queensland that riders and civil liberties groups are protesting about draconian anti-bike laws. People across the country are angry too. These kinds of increased police powers will mean non-motorcycling clubs and other organisations can become targets too. Australia is a free country. We want it to stay that way for all Australians. On Sunday, December 1 motorcycle and scooter riders from across Victoria will ride on State Parliament in protest at the Napthine Government’s proposed antibike laws. One group will depart the Eureka Stockade in Ballarat at 8 am. Damien Codognotto Independent Riders’ Group – Melbourne
The winds of change
AS TIME gets on, the time come to change bikes that keeps the fun back into riding. I had just brought a Triumph Bonneville, had a touring screen fitted, rear rack to mount my top-box and I am happy. It’s low and being height challenged, I can put both feet on the ground. I have made up a rack for a set of Givi E-21 panniers. It’s a fun bike, easy to turn into corners. The seat is not that comfy, so need to work on that. As for the iPad version of Cycle Torque, I enjoy it and as much as I like the hard copy, this is the way of the future! Stay safe, David Cauchi
Hot lap
I READ with interest the report on your Isle of Man venture. Young Alex should be mighty proud of lapping at 114.8mph. I know it was a long time ago but the greatest motorcycle racer ever until Valentino came along, lapped in his last ever visit to the TT in 1979 at 114.02mph on a works Suzuki 500cc GP bike, and that was none other than Mike Hailwood. Ok 34 years ago on cross ply slicks with about 120hp, but Christ
Mike knew the place backwards! Well done Alex I’d be stoked if it was me.
IOM
Brett Norris
FINALLY a decent bit of info from the horse’s mouth about your father and son adventure on the Isle of Man in the November issue of C-T. I just wanted to let you know that I loved what you two set out to do and followed it as best I could. I was so impressed with what you both achieved and Alex’s fastest newcomer lap – Wow! I got a bit of first hand comment from Cam Donald when we had lunch together after he returned. He was well impressed with Alex’s performances. The other thing I wanted to say is that I congratulate you for not trying to hold Alex back from having a go at the IoM. Well done mate. I always remember from when I was active at Hartwell MC, the story about the very young (maybe 17) Ken Kavanagh, then a Hartwell member, having a Dad who said that he was against Ken racing. He laid it on the line that if Ken kept racing he was no longer welcome at home. So Ken packed his bag and stayed with a family connected with Hartwell and kicked on a bit from that point. A couple of my good mates, motorcyclists, have more or less discouraged their kids from taking up bikes. I couldn’t do that. I left it to them. And helped them when they did try bikes out. Both my sons and one of my daughters took up bikes for a while when they were young. My youngest daughter actually worked as a motorcycle courier in Melbourne for a couple of years. I noticed your mention of the parachute jump. Funny that. Now that I’m retired I told my wife I need to do a solo parachute jump and do 200mph at Lake Gairdner on a bike. She says, “No way.” We’ll see. Anyway. Well done both of you. I look forward to the next instalment. Rob Blackbourn Hi Rob Thanks for your view on the subject of whether or not I ‘let’ Alex ride at the IOM. He’s just turned 20 and is a big boy. We can guide our children as much as we can but in the end the choice, good or bad, is up to them. Yes it is dangerous but then again so many things in life are, and it’s all about managing the risk as best as you can. CP
CYCLE TORQUE DECEMBER 2013 - 94
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