KIWIRIDER JANUARY 2010 by KIWI RIDER MAGAZINE

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ROAD FEATURES

REGULARS ROAD

SUZUKI HAYABUSA – 20 Suzuki’s Hayabusa is now in the second year of its latest 1340cc incarnation. So, is the new king reigning supreme? APRILIA MANA – 27 In which Stretch surprises himself (not to mention those of us in the office) with a positive spin on Aprilia’s gender-bending Mana automatic. HYOSUNG GT250S – 33 ‘Honest,’ ‘reliable’ and ‘economical’ are the sort of words you’d usually associate with a 250cc commuter. But there’s more to Hyosung’s three-quarter fairingequipped GT250R than a keen purchase price. HARLEY DAVIDSON LAUNCH REPORT – 37 Last month Big Dave filled us in on the Australasian press launch of Harley-Davidson’s 2010 models. This month he gives us a run-down model by model RIDDEN: H-D XR1200X – 41 Racing Dave made the most of the fact that one of the first XR1200X Harley-Davidson demo bikes to land here turned up in Christchurch... KIWI RIDER’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY – 43 Is it really 25 years since the first issue of Kiwi Rider magazine hit the shelves? It certainly is.

ROAD NEWS.....................................10 LETTERS............................................64 MORONEY ........................................67 Predicting the unpredictable NASH .................................................69 A contrarian writes BORN AGAIN BIKER........................71 The racing bug bites BRONZ ...............................................73 When bean counters go bad CLASSICS .........................................75 Kawasaki ZXR400 GASTROM RIDER ...........................79 The Smashed Pipi, Mangawhai ROAD COMPETITION .....................81 ROAD PRODUCTS ...........................85 See it, want it, must have it

ON TOUR: BMW MOTORRAD DAYS – 58 It’s amazing what you can stumble on when you pack up the Hornet and head off to Europe. BIKE OF THE YEAR – 91 This year’s winners are Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 and Husaberg’s FE450.

DIRT FEATURES YAMAHA YZ450F – 106 Everyone in the dirt bike world knows about Yamaha’s radical new 2010 YZ450F. So what’s it like to ride? 2010 KAWASAKI DIRT BIKES – 11 What’s the Green Team got to offer serious MX and offroad riders for 2010? Dirt Ed Ollie and shooter Osborne headed to Huntly last month to find out. YAMAHA WR250F – 117 They say that ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ and that, reckons Dirt Ed Ollie, is pretty much the case with POLARIS MUVS – 120 You’re going to be seeing and hearing a lot more about Multi User Vehicles (MUVs) if the local branch of US company Polaris has anything to do with it. SEE-DOO & CAN-AM – 125 KR Sales & Marketing man Ian Ferguson flew to the Tangalooma Island Resort off the coast of Queensland to check out BRP’s 2010 Can-Am ATV and See-Doo PWC product BEN TOWNLEY INTERVIEW – 129 For a while there Ben Townley’s career trajectory was in hyper-drive. Then injury saw it stall. Now on the road to complete recovery the country’s favourite motocross son is plotting a return to the world stage. YAMAHA DT175 – 156 If you’ve done an Adventure Ride in the North Island in the last 10 years Ken Sutton and his diminutive DT175 will be familiar to you. Here daughter Nicole relates the story of ‘the little bike that could!’

CONTENTS DECEMBER 2009

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PAGE 20

PAGE 33

REGULARS DIRT DIRT NEWS .......................................98 DIRT COMP .....................................133 Hamilton SX, NZ MX Champs and Taupo MX HANDY ANDY.................................143 The Italian way JOSH COPPINS ..............................144 Back home & loving it! BT......................................................145 Back to (grass) roots! DIRT PRODUCTS ..........................147 See it, want it, must have it HOW TO .....................................153 Install an hour metre PRODUCT EVALUATION...........154 FoxWing awning KR KIDS ...........................................162 NZ Mini MX championships JUNIOR MX ....................................162 With Courtney Duncan LOOKING BACK .............................164 5/10/15 YEARS AGO Contributions: Kiwi Rider welcomes editorial contributions from its readers. If you would like to write something up for KR e-mail a précis to the Editor at editor@ kiwirider.co.nz. Electronic transmission of words (Microsoft word. doc) and pictures (hi-res jpgs) preferred.

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Advertising: Got a hot product or service and want some real bang for your advertising buck? KR offers a complete in-house advertising design and production service. To ﬁnd out more talk to Pete (pete@kiwirider.co.nz) or Ian (ian@kiwirider.co.nz) PAGE 162

KIWI RIDER 5

FIRST WORD ROSS MACKAY

TIME TO CELEBRATE

There’s a real mood of celebration round the Kiwi Rider ofﬁce at the moment, everyone caught up, it seems, in our 25th anniversary celebrations. For a loose-knit bunch of guys – and the odd gal – to be able to celebrate 25 years of working together is a real achievement. As one wag mumbled when a group of us were gathered round a copy of the very ﬁrst issue…’it’s a wonder noone’s been killed.’ And no he wasn’t meaning as a result of an accident on a bike.... There’s more on 25 years of Kiwi Rider inside the mag, so I won’t dwell on the highs of lows of my involvement here. Instead I’ll walk you through the issue and what to expect over the next two or three months. This month the big news, if you like, is the fantastic response from what the daily media now likes to label as ‘bikers’ (which I suppose is better than ‘bikies!) to ACC proposals to increase the levies on bike registration. As readers you, I’m sure, were proud to see ‘us’ take centre-stage in the newspapers and on TV as the 9000-strong ‘Bikoi’ descended on Parliament. I found it interesting, at the time, to talk to the Leader of The Opposition, Phil

PUBLISHED BY: McStannic Publishing Ltd POSTAL ADDRESS: P.O. Box 299, Kumeu, Auckland COURIER ADDRESS: 127 Moire Rd, West Harbour, Auckland PHONE: 09 416 5307 Fax: 09 416 5308 PUBLISHER: Pete McPhee Ofﬁce: 09 416 5307 Email: pete@kiwirider.co.nz SALES AND MARKETING Ian Ferguson Ofﬁce: 09 416 5307 Mobile 021 446 164 ian@kiwirider.co.nz ADVERTISING MATERIAL: set.up@clear. net.nz and please cc to ian@kiwirider.co.nz

6 KIWI RIDER

Goff. The day before the protest ride, at Auckland’s Colemans Suzuki, Goff spelled out the process we, as citizens, must follow if and when we disagree with the actions (or in this case ‘proposed’ actions) of the politicians we vote in every three years. It really is about ‘the process,’ as much as it is ‘the protest,’ a point columnist Nash (I think) was trying to make in the December issue of the mag. Elsewhere in our 25th anniversary issue you’ll ﬁnd our usual selection of tests, features and columns plus our annual Bike of The Year special and a bumper Dirt Comp section from long-time columnist Andy McGechan covering the local round of the Aussie SX series and the last two rounds of the 2009 NZ MX Champs.

For a loose-knit bunch of guys – and the odd gal – to be able to celebrate 25 years of working together is a real achievement. As one wag mumbled when a group of us were gathered round a copy of the very ﬁrst issue… ’it’s a wonder no-one’s been killed.’

Speaking of Andy there’s more to the Kiwi Rider ‘krew’ than the bunch in the ofﬁce. One of the great strengths of the mag (in my opinion anyway) are the contributors like Andy (and Roger, and Nash and Racing Dave and Andy Lyver and Rhys Jones etc etc) who month-in month-out report ‘from the ﬁeld.’

annual break/unpredictable early summer weather/over-indulgence in food and drink that it usually brings.

And of course, at this time of the year (I’m writing this in early December) most of us are hanging out for Christmas and New Year and the unique combination of

To which all I can say is have a great Christmas and New Year and I hope you’re looking forward to the next 25 years of Kiwi Rider as much as I am! KR

BIKE MART ADVERTISING: Todd Sutherland: 021 709 989 or Alan Duff: 027 264 3383

PROOFREADING: Linda Glasswell

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Ross MacKay editor@kiwirider.co.nz

DISTRIBUTION: Gordon & Gotch Ltd, McStannic Publishing Ltd.

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OPINIONS: Opinions expressed in Kiwi Rider are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the publishers accept no liability for any error or omissions contained herein. COPYRIGHT: This magazine is copyright in its entirety. Material may not be printed without the written permission of the publishers.ISSN 1177-0023

PHOTOGRAPHER: Geoff Osborne Ph 415 2555 ospics1@xtra.co.nz REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Roger Moroney, Andy McGechan, Mike Nash, Ben Townley, Josh Coppins, Michael Esdaile, Big Dave, Racing Dave, Ollie Sharp and Andy Lyver DIRT EDITOR: Ollie Sharp ON-LINE EDITOR: David Cohen

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ROAD NEWS AND BRIEFS

RA RARE V4 YAMAHA FO FOR CLASSIC FEST F February’s annual Classsic Festival at Pukekohe will feature one of the rarest Classic rracers ever seen in N New Zealand – a 1968 Ya Yamaha RA31A. The one coming to New Zealand is tthe only one in existence outside the Yamaha factory fact in Japan and is owned by Dutchman Ferry Brouwer Brou of the Yamaha Classic Racing Team. Yamaha fielded the rare 125cc V4s in the 1967 & ’68 World 125 Championship. Apparently concerned with the technological development going on in road-racing, the world governing body stepped in and re-wrote the technical rules in 1968, restricting 125 class machines (as well as 250 and 350cc bikes) to two cylinders and six gears for the 1969 season. CHANGES AT MNZ After a detailed operational review of its current staffing structure and requirements, the Board of Motorcycling New Zealand Inc., acting on the recommendations of HR company Directioneering Ltd, have moved to restructure their organisation. The new structure, which includes the disestablishment of the current Chief Executive Officer and Administration Manager positions leaves both Paul Pavletich and Jill de Thierry out of a job. According to Motorcycling New Zealand President Jim Tuckerman the move was considered necessary to realise organisational efficiencies and a resulting year on year cost savings in six figures. “The Board looked carefully at the total proposal and are now keen to move forward,” he told Kiwi Rider. SUZUKI RIDERS ENJOY MANFEILD Suzuki owners from around the lower North Island descended on Feilding’s Manfeild Park to stretch their legs on Saturday, November 28. Some came from further afield: Tim Fraser made it down from Whangaparaoa with his GSXR600 K3 while Neil Shaw made the trip from Orewa with his GSX-R1000. Other ‘northerners’ enjoying the fast, relatively open Manfeild layout were Ian Farrell and Mandy Nichol from Albany with their GSX-R750s along with Hamiltonians Warren Chalmers (SV1000) Mike Lingard (SV1000) and Daryn Morten (Gladius). Without doubt the rarest Suzuki at the Manfeild track day was Alex Hockly’s RGV250. What distinguishes Alex’s RGV from the regular models is that his has the later electric start 70° V-twin engine. These were the last 250cc sporting two-strokes produced in Japan, and were only in production from 1996 to 1997. Alex’s bike is the rarer SP version which is reputed to make close to 70 bhp. He got in four full sessions on a dry track then continued to circulate in the wet, when most of the fourstroke men had given up. Other notable wet weather runners were Tim Fraser and local gun Dave Walker (GSX-R600). The dealer that supported the event on the day was Freedom Suzuki of Palmerston North while Tauranga’s MotoGB had most customers there. The final Suzuki Track Day of the year is at Taupo on December 20 and already MotoGB is way out in front in terms of customer entries.

10 KIWI RIDER

BUMPER TURN-OUT FOR ACC LEVY PROTEST An estimated 5000 motorcycles, 6500 riders and pillions, and a grand total of almost 9000 motorcyclists and supporters gathered in Parliament’s grounds on Tuesday November 17 determined to present a unified response to proposed punitive levy increases recommended by the ACC board. A STREAM OF SPEAKERS A stream of speakers; private citizens, politicians, interest groups, and academics presented both sides of the argument to the crowd gathered on Parliament’s lawn. Kari Lloyd representing the ‘average’ biker, presenting the financial and social costs for individuals and society respectively eloquently and persuasively. Kari started a common theme amongst the BIKEOI supporting speakers – ACC’s figures don’t support their own argument, with cyclists, pedestrians and motorcar accident victims all costing more than motorcycle accident victims on average. Meanwhile Charlie Lamb from Lincoln University presented perhaps the most credible set of arguments against the National Government’s plans to restructure ACC’s financial basis. THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITIOIN Labour made a very public show of supporting the motorcycling community and were determined to remind us that under a Labour Government, despite the move to a fully funded model, the goal was to reach those targets over a decade, not almost immediately as National seem determined to do. Phil Goff made a mark as Opposition Leader, publicly denouncing Government policy and pledging the support of all Labour MPs. In fact the entire Labour

WORDS & PICS: Jim Walsh

Bikoi organiser Brent Hutchison addressing the 9000-strong crowd at Parliament and scenes from the gathering including the crowd and a poignant reminder that some of us have never needed to call on the good services of the ACC….

Caucus was on the steps of Parliament with him, providing a depth of support to the BIKEOI cause that was unexpected but very welcome. LEVEL OF SUPPORT Speaking of which, Les Mason of BRONZ said he was deeply moved by the level of support being shown across New Zealand society for protesting motorcyclists. “The thing that most impressed me in the last few days was the overwhelming level of spontaneous public support. In over 50 years of motorcycling I have NEVER seen this level of support for motorcyclists. It’s not because they have suddenly fallen in love with motorbikes of course. But they are asking, “Who’s next?” To all the speakers, marshals, researchers, and most of all Brett and Les – Well done. Very well done indeed. KR

or That’s right, as hard as it might be for some of you to believe it, this month’s h’s issue of the mag marks the 25th anniversary of Kiwi Rider. From humble beginnings, originally ally as Kiwi Dirt Rider, then – on the industry’s try’s behest, Kiwi Rider (adding road bikes es into the mix), the magazine has grown wn and prospered to the point where it is the most popular motorcycle sectorr title on the New Zealand market. To celebrate this most auspicious us occasion (few magazines reach 10 years let alone 20 or 25) we’ve put together a bumper issue which includes an eight page look back at where we came from, with comments from the current Ed Ross MacKay, and previous Editors Jonathan Bentman and Michael Esdaile. We’ve also had a trawl through the th archives and come up with some gems from the past. KR

WORDS: Staff PIC: Archive The very ﬁrst issue of Kiwi Rider (in its current form) January 1985.

NEW MULTISTRADA TAKES BEST IN SHOW AWARD Ducati’s new Multistrada 1200 looks set to be a popular addition to the iconic Italian motorcycle manufacturer’s ranks, earning ‘Best of Show’ kudos on debut at Bologna’s EICMA show in November. In doing so it took 48% of the votes cast in a pole organised by Italy’s Motociclismo magazine, beating both MV Agusta’s latest F4 WORDS: Staff PIC: Ducati

SUZUKI NZ TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS Suzuki is set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the marque in New Zealand at a special tthree-day weekend (March 05-07) in 2010. The celebrations mark 50 years since Suzuki Th m motorcycles ﬁrst appeared in this country with activities set to include a Classic M Motorcycle Rally for Pre ’86 machines, the N North Island Classic/Twin Shock & Evo Trials C nd Championships, a dinner with Suzuki display and on Sunday the North Island Classic & Twin Shock ock Sc Scramble Championships at the old Coleman’s Tr Track ‘Kildare.’ Dinner speakers are Rod Colem man plus John Bullock, with special guests Hugh A Anderson & Peter Ploen. Further details www. le legendsofdirt.co.nz In case you’re wonde dering, the pic here is of Suzuki World C Champion Hugh A Anderson aboard th the RT 63 125cc on hi his way to a class w win at the Isle of M Man in 1963

ROAD NEWS AND BRIEFS

KIWI RIDER TURNS 25

1 YEARS OF MOTORCYCLING ON TV 100 Th That’s right, as part of the celebrations to mark the So Canterbury Motorcycle Club’s centenary South ev events over the weekend (Labour Weekend) in Timaru were ﬁlmed for a documentary which will be shown on Sky TV in December Date Time Channel 22/12/2009 18:00 SKY Sport 1 23/12/2009 07:00 SKY Sport 1 24/12/2009 23:00 SKY Sport 3 27/12/2009 14:30 SKY Sport 3

and Aprilia’s RSV4. The new Multistrada takes up where the ground-breaking ‘allroads’ original left off, its motive power from the latest version of Ducati’s liquid-cooled DOHC 8-valve testastretta engine. The new model is also the most wired of any new Ducati with rider switchable engine maps, traction control and electronic suspension adjustment. Tipping the scales at just 189kg the new model is also one of the lightest of the large capacity dualpurpose models on the market. KR

CEMETERY CIRCUIT LIVE ON THE INTERNET Speaking of coverage. the famous Wanganui Cemetery Circuit Boxing Day Street Race is set to be live streamed on the internet at www.speedbox. tv It will cost NZ$9.95 and there is a 100% money back guarantee if, for whatever reason, you can’t view the event. The stream starts at 11am and all races are covered. Interviews from the pits will be played between races, and the commentary team will keep you up to date with all the race day drama. There is plenty of information regarding receiving a live stream on your computer in the FAQ section of the Speedbox.tv website. Give this new technology a go, and be a part of this great event on the ‘best little street circuit in the world’ from the comfort of your own home. Remember, if you can’t be there, then watch it live a www.speedbox.tv ROUND THE SOUTH ISLAND RIDE Do you think you can ride 2000 km around the South Island in 48 hours? The ‘TT2000 South Island’ is an annual challenge thrown out to all motorcycle riders in a new Iron Butt lite event organised by three Christchurch motorcyclists, Mike

KIWI RIDER 11

ROAD NEWS AND BRIEFS

Hy (of Twisting Throttle fame), Robert Hyde, Hyde an and Gavin Sargent. The inaugural TT2000 was h held last year and saw 80 motorcyclists, out of 100 entries, achieve line honours. This year the TT2000 is on Sat 13 and Sun 14 March 2010, with the 2000 km route criss-crossing the upper h half of the South Island. Entry is free but if you su succeed then you’ll be persuaded to buy the ‘achievement pack’ for bragging rights – that’s the ‘ac shirt, shir the decal, the jacket pin, the fridge magnet, the p podium photo, and your name and photo on the TT2000 website Hall of Fame. Pre-event registrations have doubled on last year, with a 50:50 split between North and South Island. Have a look at the web site www.tt2000.org. Registrations are open now.

INJECTION FOR HYOSUNG

New EFI Hyosung models here include (from left to right) the new GT250 EFI and the new GT650R EFI while expected in March is a revised GV650 EFI cruiser

WORDS: Michael Esdaile PICS: Hyosung In one bold move, Korean manufacturer S & T Motors has fitted the entire Hyosung motorcycle range with electronic fuelinjection for 2010. Not content with that, it has also released not one, but two electric scooters, increased the capacity of its 250cc scooter to 300cc and punched out one its 650s to make a 680cc cruiser. NEW KAWASAKI VULCAN Full-dress tourers don’t come more comprehensively equipped than Kawasaki’s latest Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS. For the 2010 model year the large capacity V-twin engined Vulcan gets Kawasaki’s first fully electronic throttle valve system, Kawasaki’s much-praised (KACT) ABS anti-lock-equipped co-active (linked) braking system, cruise control and a multi-function instrument panel complete with audio system which is iPod-compatible. Recommended retail price is $33,750 and the first 2010 models are already in the showroom if you want a closer look.

So things are bubbling along nicely in Changwon-si at the south-eastern end of the Korean peninsula. Two years ago the company considered using Japanese electronics and fuelinjection throttle bodies but says these ‘failed their testing programme’ so it was back to the drawing board. There are also suggestions that the Koreans baulked at the price of the Japanese hardware. Consequently S & T Motors rounded up its best electronics engineers, including some from the company’s automotive arm S & T Daewoo and put them to work developing their own EFI, in-house. OTHER CHANGES AS WELL

MORE TOURING MODELS FROM VICTORY The Sydney Motorcycle Show, held on November 20-22, saw the ﬁrst ofﬁcial down-under release of two new models from Victory Motorcycles, the Victory Cross Roads and Victory Cross Country. Both are variations on the range-leading full-dress Vision theme, with power courtesy the company’s 1731cc (106-cubic-inch) ‘Freedom’ V-twin engine. They are distinguished by their wind protection, the Cross Roads getting a simple upright Lexan screen, the Cross Country a framemounted three-quarter fairing. Each retains the sleek, stylized panniers of the Vision which offer approx. 80 litres of storage space. Both models will be available here early in the New Year though right now price remains tba (to be advised). For more information about the Victory range in New Zealand go to the www. victorymotorcycles.com.au

12 KIWI RIDER

The result is the entire 250cc 75° air/oilcooled V-twin range gets EFI for 2010, as do the four 650cc 90° V-twin models and the new 680c ‘700 cruiser. In addition to EFI, the two GT 250cc models – GT250, GT250R – get re-styled rear bodywork with a two-piece grab rail, an integrated clear LED tail light and new clear indicator lenses front and rear. Then there’s the new front and rear seats, new fabric luggage hooks under the rear seat to attach bungee cords, a re-styled rear number plate hanger/reﬂector, new rear foot-rest hangers, new rear brake master cylinder, a new digital instrument cluster with EFI warning light and a white-faced tacho. ADJUSTABLE FOOTPEGS The GT250R also gets adjustable foot peg mounts while the foot pegs on the GT250 are slightly lower and further forward. These combine with the higher bars and a small colour-matched wind

deflector above the headlight to provide a slightly different riding position to the previous GT250 naked. The naked bike retains the sliding-pin two-piston TCIC caliper clamping the 300mm semi-floating rotor of its predecessor while the R-model gets twin discs. In 2006 and 2007 the GT250R was the best selling 250 in New Zealand. Hyosung New Zealand anticipates the new model will once again challenge for the top selling 250 tag, and has announced a retail price of just $7795 for the single colour R-models and $7995 for the twotone versions. They are already available in New Zealand. Meanwhile bargain of the 250 pack has to be the new GT250 at just $6695, a $300 reduction in price! It will be available in January. BRAKE UPGRADE For the GT650 and GT650R, the same new styling features from the 250s are found on the bigger bikes, along with a front brake upgrade – the twin sliding-pin two-piston TCIC calipers have been replaced with four opposed piston calipers. The rotors remain the same 300mm semi-floating units. Pricing remains very competitive. The naked GT650 EFI retails for $9995 while the single colour GT650R EFI is now a whopping $1300 more affordable than before, at $10,695. The two-tone version retails at $10,985, a reduction of $1100. For the GV Aquila ‘sport cruisers’, apart from the addition of EFI and a strengthened frame for the 650, most of the updates for 2010 are cosmetic. That said, the 650 features new adjustable forward control foot-rests with up to 60mm of fore and aft adjustability, something that will be welcome news to shorter riders who struggled to reach the forward controls on the previous models. The new GV250 will retail for $6695 when it arrives in January while the GV650 is expected to cost $11,995 when it arrives in March. KR

KIWI RIDER 13

14 KIWI RIDER

It’s time to elect NZ’s BEST Road. We’ve had over 100 responses to the question ‘What is NZ’s best Bike Road?’ Leading vote pullers include such world class byways as: The Cormandel Peninsula, The Forgotten Highway, Buller Gorge, Takaka Hill, Rimutaka Hill, State Highway 22, The Pig Root, East Cape (Opotiki to Gisborne), Akaroa highway, Haast Pass, Nelson to Christchurch via Hope Saddle/ Lewis Pass and Milford Road (Te Anau to Milford Sound). Be sure to submit your call. On a more serious note, we think our ACC levy coverage has been ﬁrst rate. Jim Walsh’s insightful comments and reporting from the Bikeoi should win a Qantas award – remind us to enter it Jim! – We’ve recorded other BRONZ events as they occurred. Our Zine Blog is the place to follow all the local developments, bike reviews and local scuttlebutt. We’ve turned The News Blog over en-

tirely to Bike Sports and International news and the New Products blog is also online. The KR products pages are available to download as a .pdf there. So far they have been downloaded over 8,000 times! As we go to print Big Dave and the Copilot’s Victory tour is underway, you can check the results of their excellent adventures at the Burt Munro Challenge onboard the magniﬁcent Arlen Ness Victory Vision. Todd and the Bikemart crew keep the KR Event Calendar up to date and it’s full of info on NZ happenings. Our You Tube Vids are approaching 700,000 views, mostly from NZ and the Flickr photostreams have over 100,000 views. Trafﬁc to the site continues to grow and we have a variety of advertising and sponsorship options right now – including free artwork on Banner Ads. For more information give Todd or Ian a call on 416 5307. KR

KTM TARGETS YOUNG ROAD RAC-ERS KTM has targeted young would-be road-racers with an all-new multi-purpose 125cc 4-stroke, the KTM 125 Project. The go-ahead Austrian company’s idea of an entry level ‘road’ bike is based round a pukka trellis-style chromoly frame enclosing an all-new liquid-cooled, fuel-injected DOHC/4-valve single cylinder 4-stroke 125cc engine with suspension by WP front aland rear with a radially-mounted Brembo calher iper-based braking package up front. Whether the Project gets the go-ahead is, of course, another story but if you’ve been following this year’s Sportz Fotoz South Island Cup this year you’ll be aware that there is a deﬁnite demand for just such a machine.

ROAD NEWS AND BRIEFS

THIS MONTH ON THE WEB SITE

ADVANCED RIDER TRAINING AT PUKEKOHE Another successful Advanced Rider Training event was run by the AMC in conjunction with Road Guide in late November. There was a full compliment of instructors and 20+ volunteer workers and the Road Guide mobile technical centre which was busy all day assisting riders with tyre and suspension settings. A special feature of the event was the pioneering of some new technology. Road Guide arranged to have a four-seat helicopter on site which did some track ﬂyovers late in the day. The idea behind this is to be able to monitor riders’ lines from above. ‘Copter Cam’ as well as instructor to participant radio communication may become an ongoing part of the ART programme. The local distributors ensured that the instructors had a good compliment of bikes so special thanks to Phil Haynes from Honda, Simon Meade from Suzuki, Mike Wilkins from Kawasaki, Peter Payne from Yamaha and Ian Beckhaus from Triumph. Three more Advanced Rider Training Days are planned for January 17, March 6 and April 18.

THEY’RE READING KR WHERE? Believe it or not, some globe-trotting readers have had a pic published in our ‘They’re Reading Our Mag Where?’ feature more than once. One is Peter Withers, the bloke you see here holding up what’s become known as ‘The Andrew Stroud Stand-Up Wheelie Cover’ issue. Last year Peter e-mailed us a pic with a copy of the mag he had taken to Nepal with him. This year he’s in….. North Korea. As he tells us; “At the moment my wife is working in North Korea and we are living here for a year. I couldn’t bear to leave home without my beloved Kiwirider magazine, so here is proof that your mag is truly is a worldwide publication! This picture was taken in central Pyongyang

– note the ﬂavour of the local billboards!’ Peter goes on to say that he is still working his way through in-country logistics in order to get his backside on a motorbike, having to make do with his MTB…. Cheers Peter, and when you do (get back on a motorbike) we’ll be waiting on a ‘touring North Korea’ story as well! KR

LAWRENCE TO HYOSUNG Road racer Jay Lawrence has taken delivery of his new fuel injected GT650 Hyosung. KiwiRider has literally just picked up a test example and early indications suggest a heap of SV650 Suzuki’s are in for a fright. Jay will campaign the Hyosung in the 650 Pro Twins class in the national road race series. Here we see young Jay with his new Hyosung and Hyosung NZ’s Ken Dobson. LOCAL RR NEWS After 28 continuous years of racing or managing race teams, Bernard Racing will be taking a break this summer. Brian, KC, Jessie and Jacob Bernard will be having what the rest of us consider a normal holiday! Don’t expect them to stay away too long however. We’re sure the national road series will be seeing Bernard Racing again. KR

KIWI RIDER 15

ROAD NEWS TWISTER

UNIQUE, LOCALLY BUILT TRIUMPH TWISTER’

WORDS: Staff PICS: Big Dave The team at Deus Ex Machina in Auckland (a.k.a. Shed 5) debuted their new Triumph-based race bike at the Burt Munro Challenge in Southland late last year. Having had loads of fun building ‘Twister’ for all four events, the intention was to campaign one rider, Deus’ very own Sid Hodgson. Twister started out with ﬂ at tracker inspirations, a touch of beach racer, a dash of hill climber, a racetrack roar, a good measure of street tracker, and plenty of hand machined ideas. SCRAMBLER ENGINE The Triumph Bonneville Scrambler engine unit gained performance cylinders, big ﬂat slide carbs and

Overseas model shown with optional accessories.

16 KIWI RIDER

heaps of other secrets. The frame was superbly fashioned from a delivery of Chrome moly tube by the crafty magicians in the Shed 5 workshop. Along with the custom building team, a race tent set up and some friends, the Deus Ex Machina Team also enjoyed displaying a sampling of other custom bikes and apparel around the Challenge events. Dare Jennings, the founder of Deus Ex Machina, and Douglas Rikard-Bell, adventurer and co owner of Deus Ex Machina have grown increasingly excited by the motorcycling subculture here and 'Twister' is their opportunity to enjoy the world of motorcycling in New Zealand since becoming part of the world wide Deus Ex Machina business.

ROAD NEWS AND BRIEFS

s With custom motorcycles becoming more and more popular Deus Ex Machina bring a wide and growing variety of custom motorcycle parts and accessories to New Zealand, also importing a good quantity of young second hand motorcycles to these shores that will be ideal for experienced and novice spanner hands alike.

Deus Ex Machina is working to make sure everybody's backyard shed is like Shed 5, a house for simple pleasures. There will be a full Burt Munro Challenge report in the February issue of Kiwi Rider. KR Left: Sid puts the Twister through its paces.

VICTORY MOTORCYCLES @ VICTORY AUCKLAND 0508 842 867 | www.victorymotorcycles.co.nz KIWI RIDER 17

ROAD NEWS AND BRIEFS

YAMAHA ON THE MOVE IN AUCKLAND WORDS Staff PIC: Todd S. W We don’t know if it’s a case of instant success ffrom its multi world championship winning season (MotoGP, Superbike, Supersport and Endurance) but (M two new Yamaha shops opened in the Auckland area tw just before Christmas.

The shops are Auckland Yamaha in Penrose (near Mt Smart) and Motorcycle City in Glenﬁeld (on Auckland’s North Shore) Both are sole Yamaha franchises. Dave O’Leary is the owner of Auckland Yamaha and has incorporated his pleasure water craft store PWC Planet into the new business. Looking after the motorcycle sales side of things at the Church Street store is Dave Elgar. Along with service manager Gavin Veltmeyer, Elgar has a wealth of Yamaha speciﬁc and general motorcycle knowledge. Add in O’Leary and PWC service manager Neil Foster and the crew look to have your needs covered in that part of town. Meanwhile Motorcycle City can be seen next to the motorway at the Tristram Street off-ramp. It’s a case of turning left off of Tristram onto Wairau road, and then left again to get onto Curry’s lane. Kiwirider will pop in and get Paul and the crew’s cheery grins for the next edition. KR

Dave Elgar in Auckland Yamaha’s huge new showroom

NEW SCOOTER SHOP

WORDS: Staff PICS: Alan Duff ‘Impressive’ is the word that pops into your mind when you visit Auckland’s newest dedicated scooter retail outlet, TMG - Home of Two Wheels – in Newmarket. TMG – Home of Two Wheels is arguably the country’s biggest and best appointed dedicated scooter based full retail/accessories & workshop outlet with eight brands of scooters available, making it well worth a visit by anyone considering getting into scootering or upgrading the scooter they already own. TMG – Home of Two Wheels is no small company and has the backing of years of vehicle and bike sales and service, so they are deﬁnitely in the business for the long haul. Paul Tupai has years of experience in sales and will be more than happy to show you around their large centrally located showroom in Broadway Newmarket.

TMG – Home of Two Wheels is a state-ofthe-art scooter shop in Auckland’s Newmarket. Check it out and while you are there say Gidday to manager Paul Tupai.

18 KIWI RIDER

TMG – Home of Two Wheels also offers full workshop facilities for scooters and bikes. For further enquiries contact Paul on 09 520 9212 or ptupai@teammotorgroup. co.nz KR

0 $99 A N O AYT XD 5 M

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RC M4

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KIWI RIDER 19

ROAD TEST SUZUKI HAYABUSA

Bleak weather and a black bike didn’t stop Campbell and the Ed piling on the kms on Suzuki’s latest Hayabusa.

20 KIWI RIDER

Suzuki’s Hayabusa is now in the second year of its latest 1340cc incarnation. So, asks KR tester Campbell Rousselle, is the new king reigning supreme, or merely a usurper to the throne of the ground-breaking original?

ROAD TEST SUZUKI HAYABUSA

LONG LIVE THE KING! L

et me state from the outset, the king is far from dead. Suzuki’s Hayabusa is still the daddy. It’s the best with the most. It’s still the king.

the most ‘politically correct’ and insidious of ‘rider aids’ like ABS, the ‘90s were a smorgasbord of riding delights.

The Hayabusa has been one of the fastest production bikes in the world for a decade now and whilst there have been other pretenders to the crown; the Hayabusa has always been the king in ways that really counted.

Bikes like Yamaha’s Thunderace, Kawasaki’s B model ZX9s and Suzuki’s reborn GSX-R750 (in the form of the mighty 96 SRAD) dominated the landscape. To me, those were the bikes that will always be the benchmark for what a road-going sportsbike should be like.

Before the widespread use of cast aluminium frames and fuel injection, before traction control and long before

But before the end of the century the mightiest of all was released, the all-conquering Hayabusa, and the new

model has its roots ﬁrmly grounded in that golden era. Whilst other sportsbikes may arguably handle better on a racetrack and other hyper-sportsbikes may temporarily wrestle its crown away, being intangibly faster down the quarter mile, or a couple of kilometres faster in top speed; nothing is quicker, or more satisfying to ride on the road than a Hayabusa. Why? THE HAYABUSA FACTOR As you swing a leg over the new KIWI RIDER 21

ROAD TEST SUZUKI HAYABUSA

This gives the rider conﬁdence that could be eroded on more ‘sporty’ rivals. Conservative geometry, extra mass and long-ish (by sportsbike standards) wheelbase, as well as its road-focused suspension all contribute to its excellent road manners. MONUMENTAL THRUST On windy roads the monumental levels of thrust are also heaven sent. Currentgeneration 600 and 1000cc bikes can be intimidating with their light, switchlike throttles. In stark contrast, whilst their tachos rush towards the redline in a frenzied blur, and their tyres scramble for grip on anything but the most billiard-table smooth tarmac, the Hayabusa hooks up and charges out of corners like a ball out of a cannon.

bike you discover that the new riding position is just as accommodating as that of the original bike. Whilst it’s not as comfortable, as say, the new CBR1000RR, the Hayabusa’s cockpit will be a popular choice amongst bigger riders. That said, seat height is reasonable so it shouldn’t deter smaller pilots either. As an aside, the riding position gets better and better the faster you go which is a pity because, as you know, cruising at 120km/h is no longer socially acceptable, and cruising quickly and safely is something the mighty ‘Bus’ excels at. At fast cruising speeds the plush, controlled suspension, precise steering and

massive torque curve make eating kms a doddle. But what happens when speeds increase and roads change from smooth and open, to tight and treacherous? Well, what happens is that your calm smile becomes a manic grin. The Hayabusa, always hailed by those in the know as sweet handling, retains its predecessor’s excellence at attacking corners. Steering is sharp and turn-in quick and neutral, the suspension doing an excellent job of soaking up bumps, helping the bike to track smoothly across poor road surfaces.

The ﬂ ywheel and engine inertia, suspension, and super grippy Bridgestone Battlax BT015s are to be lauded for this. You can’t have all that ‘go’ without a way to bring the show to a stop, however. Fortunately the four-pot radial brakes up front do an excellent job, pulling the big beast up impressively quickly; and when combined with a little rear (which is easy to modulate) quicker still. Feedback at the lever, combined with the supple and controlled front end, provides easy conﬁdence-inspiring braking. ALL-ROUND EXCELLENCE This bike is not a one trick pony either.

THE HAYABUSA, A BRIEF HISTORY OF SPEED In 1996 the Honda CBX1100 Blackbird wrestled away the crown of ‘fastest’ from Kawasaki’s ballistic and popular ZZ-R1100, ending a decade of dominance. However, Honda was to hold that tentative title for two brief years before Suzuki’s Hayabusa toppled the Blackbird from its perch, smashing the record of ‘fastest production bike’ by 16km/h. The Hayabusa heralded a new paradigm in ‘hyper bike’ speed and handling, simultaneously creating a wave of controversy, throughout Europe, in regards to motorcycle performance. The fallout in Europe over large horsepower, high speed motorcycles was to force a self imposed manufacturer’s limit of 300km/h, in fears of an all-out ban. That decision compromised the launch 22 KIWI RIDER

of the ZX12R and Kawasaki’s attempts to regain their previously held title of fastest.

The looks that had been universally derided as ugly were by now considered iconic.

Perhaps surprisingly, given the competition, not to mention the kudos associated with ‘King of the Hill’ status in the hyperbike category, the Hayabusa remained relatively unchanged until 2008.

However, the update, provoked by Kawasaki’s ZX14 and BMW’s K1200S, was more than skin deep. Suzuki, working on the philosophy of ‘if it ain’t broke don’t ﬁx it’ decided on revising the old model as opposed to an expensive and potentially risky redesign.

When it ﬁnally was, however, there was more drama, this time centred on why the aesthetics hadn’t been given a more serious overhaul. The Hayabusa’s looks were modernised, it was nipped here and tucked there, but ultimately it was still the same bike, visually, that it had been back in 1999. Consensus quickly came down on the side of the new styling however, which retained the Hayabusa’s original identity.

Power was increased by simply stroking the engine 2mm, creating an increased displacement of 1349cc. The head was redesigned using lessons learnt developing the GSX-R1000: lighter titanium valves added, compression increased from 11.0:1 to 12.5:1 and Suzuki’s Dual Throttle Valve (SDTV) injection system included to improve fuelling.

Around town the engine is happy to sit at 50km/h in top gear and drives smoothly from as low as 2000rpm. The gearbox is typically Suzuki-slick and the clutch is also what you’d expect from the marque. The Hayabusa slides effortlessly through trafﬁc and the ride position provides acceptable comfort at town speeds (even for my rattly old bones).

ROAD TEST SUZUKI HAYABUSA

Latest Hayabusa combines cutting g edge engine and chassis technology gy with what are now quite old-skool looks, long wheelbase and low CoG dynamics...making it one of the best large capacity road bikes on the market.

It would be remiss of me to sing only the praises of this epic motorcycle, so here are a few grizzles. The dashboard is cluttered and if you were taller than my 1.7 metres it would be partially obscured by the screen. My other gripe is the holographic decal, which changes colour. Cool in itself, but its pink and purple hues don’t match anything on the bike. It probably looked ﬁne on last year’s red version, but looks cheap and tacky here. TO SUM UP To sum up, this is probably the best road-bike I’ve tested. That’s right. THE best! I did 620km on it during my short time with it. I rode it in rush hour, around town, on the open road and, as often as possible, on tight windy roads. I haven’t talked much

Other proven technology, such as shot-peened chrome-molybdenum steelalloy connecting rods, forged three-ring aluminum-alloy pistons with re-shaped piston crowns, reduced weight and reciprocating mass, allowing greater engine speeds and increased strength. Suzuki’s Composite Electro-chemical Material was used to coat aluminum bores, replacing the previous model’s iron liners. This allowed greater tolerances increasing the compression ratio from 11.5:1 to 12.5:1. This high-tech ceramic coating also reduced friction and wear, improved heat dissipation and increased power. There’s also signiﬁcant weight and space saving compared with traditional iron cylinder liners. The gearbox was also reﬁned and a slipper-clutch added to take care of any clumsy down shifts. It wasn’t just the engine that was

enhanced either, attention was given to improving the Hayabusa’s other important attribute, its handling. The new forks are stiffer and come with Suzuki’s DLC (Diamond Like Coating) to give a more compliant and controlled ride. Rake is reduced from 24 degrees to 23 degrees and Trail reduced from 98mm to 93mm, to sharpen up steering over the original bike.

– A for full power (146Kw), B for partial (130Kw) power and C a very lazy (100Kw) power.

New four-pot Radial brake calipers grip smaller, lighter discs, improving braking performance, whilst also reducing unsprung weight, again improving steering and suspension performance.

Setting ‘C’ merely resulted in the computer second-guessing what I was trying to achieve with a given throttle opening. It did soften delivery, but was inconsistent. The Hayabusa delivers superb traction from its rear wheel and never scared me, even in wet slippery conditions (check out the photo of me power-standing, in ﬁrst gear in the wet, in ‘A’ mode). In my mind if you don’t possess the requisite throttle control to ride in ‘A’ mode you shouldn’t be riding a Hayabusa.

Mention must be given to Suzuki’s S-DMS (Suzuki Drive Mode Selector) system which allows the rider to chose one of three ignition programmes. The system is controlled via a switch on the right-hand switch block that allows the rider to select one of three settings

In all honesty I was at a loss to see the point. If you want less aggressive acceleration, short shifting into top would achieve a better result; the Hayabusa is capable of pulling smoothly away, in top, from as little as 2000rpm.

KIWI RIDER 23

ROAD TEST SUZUKI HAYABUSA

abo its straight-line ability (it’s about blisteringly fast) because I feel bl that th would be missing the point. This is a bike that excels on the T road in almost every situation. It delivers massive performance in a more accessible way than other sportsbikes. Would I buy one? s Absolutely. Ab KR

Latest L t spec includes Suzuki’s threestage rider-selectable ignition curve S-DMS function plus four-piston radial caliper front brakes and Bridgestone’s new 015 tyres. Result is one of the most competent and actively safe bigbore bikes on the market.

2009 SUZUKI HAYABUSA

1999 SUZUKI HAYABUSA

ENGINE Type:

Liquid-cooled DOHC/16-valve four cylinder

Four cylinder, 4-Stroke, DOHC

Displacement:

1340cc

1298cc

Compression:

12.5:1

11.0:1

Bore/stroke:

81 x 65mm

81.0cc x 63cc

Peak power:

144kw (194hp) @9500rpm 154Nm (114 lb-ft) @ 7200rpm

129kW (173hp) @ 9800rpm (claimed) 138 Nm (102 lbs-ft) @ 7000rpm

Starting:

Electric

Engine mgmt:

CDI

Electronic Ignition

Fuel system:

Keihin/Denso Suzuki Dual ThrottlenValve (SDTV) fuel injection w/ 44mm throttle bodies

Keihin/Denso Fuel injection

Clutch:

Wet multiplate

Hydraulic, Multi-plate, Wet

Transmission:

6-speed

6-speed constant mesh

Final drive:

Chain

O-Ring Chain

FRAME Type:

Aluminium beam-type

Aluminimum Beam frame.

Swingarm:

Aluminium

Aluminimum Box section.

Suspension:

Front: USD-type telescopic forks adj for preload, compression & rebound damping. Rear: Link-type w/ single coil-over shock absorber adjustable for spring proload and compression & rebound damping

Front: Inverted telescopic forks. Preload adjustable. Rebound 14 clicks. Compression 13 clicks.Rear: Link type. Adjustable preload. Rebound 22 clicks. Compression 22 clicks.

Brakes:

Twin 310mm rotor discs w/4-pot Tokico radial calipers front, single 260mm rotor disc w/4-pot caliper rear

Front: Twin 320mm x discs with 6-pot Tokico calipers. Rear: 240mm disc with 4-pot caliper.

Wheels:

Cast aluminium 3-spoke

Tyres:

Bridgetson Battlax BT015 120/70-ZR17 front & 190/50-ZR17 rear

Bridgestone Battlax BT56 Front: 120/70-ZR17. Rear: 190/50-ZR17

Wheelbase:

1480mm

1485mm

Rake:

23 degrees

24 degrees

Trail:

93mm

98mm

LxWxH

2190 x 735 x 1165mm

2140mm x 740mm x 1155mm

Seat height:

805mm

Dry weight:

222kg

215kg (Claimed)

Fuel capacity:

20L

RRP:

$19,995

Test bike:

Suzuki New Zealand Ltd

DIMENSIONS

GEAR ROSS: Helmet: Arai Jacket, pants and boots: Teknic CAMPBELL: Helmet: HJC Boots: Axo Jacket and pants: Macna

24 KIWI RIDER

Ninja Series 2009 Ninja 250R

$7,995

The Power to Disappear 2009 Ninja ZX-6R

$18,495

2009 Ninja 650R

$13,750

2008 Ninja ZX-10R

$19,995

2009 Ninja ZX-14

$23,995 Special Edition $24,995

Special Monster Edition shown

www.kawasaki.co.nz for full model information RRP as at Novenber 1 2009, inclusive of GST.

WORDS: Stretch PICS: Geoff Osborne ROAD TEST APRILIA MANA

Aprilia continues to innovate at all levels, creating the motorcycle world’s ﬁrst hi-tech V-twin-powered CVT-transmission sport commuter, the Mana.

AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE F

or those of you that don’t suffer from short term memory loss, ‘twas only a month or so ago that I ﬁrst slung my leg over the Aprilia Dorsoduro. Now, where was I ...? Oh yes! Well, Aprilia has got another model on offer in the form of the Mana. Curiosity got the better of me so I Googled up the word Mana and came up with this. Mana (n) power, prestige, right or authority. Oooohh! Personally, I woulda’ come up with something different, like, Avant-Garde Auto, or Mac Daddy Auto, or something auto ‘cos that’s what the Aprilia Mana is – a giant scooter engine/ CVT trannie unit in a conventional chassis with 17 inch wheels. At the heart of the matter is the power plant, a liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 90° longitudinal V-twin which produces a mild 56kW (76 hp) at the crank with ﬁnal

drive being by way of (right-hand-side) chain. In between is the CVT ( continuously variable transmission) for which the best thing for me to do in these circumstances (with Editor MacKay constantly at me to ‘get more technical’) is quote directly from the manual: the transmission is ‘sequential with manual or automatic modes selectable by the user.’ ‘There are seven ratios in manual mode and three mappings (touring, sports, rain) in automatic mode. Gear change is by pedal or paddle-type handlebar control. The user can switch from automatic to sequential mode at any moment.’

Yep, that’s what it said! FIRST RIDE My first ride on the Mana reminded me of myself as a first time, fumbling 16-yearold (and what’s changed Stretch? Ed). My fingers were flat out busy and I didn’t know what to do with my left leg...though of course that was a long time ago and I’m pleased to say I soon sorted that little issue out, practice making perfect as I am always being told. But seriously, I jumped aboard the Mana and started flicking through the different modes indicated on the dash, pausing only when ‘sport’ started flashing in front of me. Next step was to hit the start button

In which Stretch surprises himself (not to mention those of us in the ofﬁce) with a positive spin on Aprilia’s gender-bending Mana automatic. KIWI RIDER 27

ROAD TEST APRILIA MANA

at w which point I have to say I was surprised just how quiet the twosu into-one exhaust system was. It in was w eerily quiet, scooter quiet in fact, albeit with a distinctive V-twin backbeat. So, she’s in ‘sport’ mode and the th engine’s idling. The usual drum is to haul in the clutch, select ﬁrst gear then ease out the clutch as you gea roll on some throttle.

But the Mana’s an auto just like Gran’s Mirage so I’d better run you through the ‘start off’ procedure. Here’s what it says in the manual. ‘Good morning Mr Lupton, thank you for choosing an Aprilia Mana, the pride of the….’ Well actually no it doesn’t say that. What it says is; ‘Actuate front brake lever, press start button, turn throttle, and ride away... In the manual mode you have the choice of shifting the seven ratios by means of a conventional foot shifter or by ﬁnger and thumb operated switches attached to the left-hand switch block on the handlebar…if you ride a mountain bike you’ll be right at home because it has paddles like those you use to change chain rings. From idle it’s not necessary to engage the transmission – in exactly

the same way you do on a scooter you simply ‘twist and go’ with the on-board computer holding the transmission in ﬁrst gear (this is in sport mode) until either shift lever or paddle is used. With seven ‘speeds’ I had endless fun holding the throttle open and shifting gears with a blur of ﬁngers. When changing down, however, the computer will do it for you if you don’t do it yourself. Brilliant. RESPECT

By combining smooth, creamy latemodel V-twin power delivery with rider-selectable clutchless manual gearchange (by foot lever or handlebar-mounted paddles) or fully-automatic ‘twist-and-go’ auto Mana bridges the gap between conventional middleweights and large capacity scooters

As much as I enjoyed stropping the Mana up to the rev limiter before thumbing in another ratio, I can well respect that the Mana is more a city and suburbs bike than the high revving sports bike I was toying with. Leave it to the trannie itself and all you’ll ever have to do is ‘twist-and-go,’ making the Mana one of the most ridable machines I have had the pleasure of coaxing a leg over. The power delivery can be as smooth or as harsh as you like. You can tiptoe through a shopping centre or do GP start from the lights, the Mana takes it all in its stride, and all without the snatchiness that many fuel-injected bikes suffer from. So, let’s have a wee sum up. Kick-ass automatic power plant in a conventional frame, attached to sticky 17 inch wheels with twin disc stoppers on the front and a 260mm stainless disk at the rear, oh and it’s as quiet as a mouse. What else could you want out of a commuter/occasional tourer? I know, how’s about some storage space up front (pop up a lid where the petrol tank would be on other bikes). Or

28 KIWI RIDER

what about a 12 v power socket! The fuel tank, by the way is under the pillion perch, a la various BMW F series bikes. It really is a wee pearl of a bike with beautiful hi-tech Italian attention to design, style and engineering detail – there’s even an ABS version available. DAY-TO-DAY Chassis-wise there’s a mixed sort of a bag, with a trellis-type tubular steel frame using the engine as a stressed member with suspension courtesy a pair of (nonadjustable) 43mm USD-type forks up front and a long, single spring damper unit (like the one off my old IT Yammie) at the rear. The spring/damper unit is tucked in on the left hand side of the bike inboard on your thigh and mounted without beneﬁt of a linkage of any type to the frame at the top end and a meaty-looking cast aluminium swingarm at the other (end). Despite their, shall we say prosaic, nature, both ends performed well on the road, combining to produce a plush, welldamped ride at all speeds. Speaking of speed, when the time came to scrub some of it off, the auto transmission offers solid engine braking down to what feels like walking pace before going into a sort of freewheel mode which you quickly get used to. The brakes themselves are serious plate-sized discs measuring 320mm up front and 260mm out the back with four-pot calipers up front and a single-pot jobbie at the rear. Like the suspension, the brakes proved pretty much perfect for my daily

ENGINE Type: Liquid-cooled SOHC 4-valve-percylinder 90° V-twin 4-stroke Displacement: 839.3cc Compression ratio: 10.0:1 Bore x stroke: 88 x 69mm Starting system: Electric Engine management: Digital electronic Fuel system: Weber Marelli electronic fuel injection w/ 1 x 38mm throttle body

Clean-sheet-of-paper design directive allowed Aprilia engineers to pick-and-choose from existing technology and convenience features from across its sportsbike and scooter ranges. Design-brief required sticking to a tight budget, something not immediately noticeable when you ride the thing. Not a bike for everyone but there are already people here and around the world who think it is the best bike they have ever owned.

commute (which just happens to take in Auckland’s Waitakere Range-crossing Scenic Drive! Ed).

ROAD TEST APRILIA MANA

SPECIFICATIONS APRILIA MANA 850

As I think I’ve already mentioned, ed the 16 litre fuel cell (can’t call it a tank) is located under the rear pillion seat and is mounted low in the bike to distribute weight more evenly and lower the bike’s centre of gravity.

FRAME

Wheelbase is 1463mm which accounts for its nimbleness through twisting roads, and the seat measures in at 800mms, a whopping 70mms lower than its cousin the Dorsoduro – though I can’t help thinking that, to top off a pretty slick piece of kit, Aprilia could perhaps offer an adjustable seat or lower seat option, but hey, I’m not on the board and it was only an idea.

Type: Tubular steel trellis

TO SUM UP

Swingarm: Aluminium

In summing up I’d like to state that as non-conventional as it may be, I rate the Mana very highly and yes it is a bike I would certainly own. I got my head around it fairly quickly as a result of testing the Dorsoduro last month, and that requires a small amount of time with a technician or a raft of reading. I didn’t gel with the motardy Dorsoduro but I certainly did with the Mana.

Peak power: 56kW (76.1hp) @800rpm Peak torque: 73Nm @5000rpm Clutch: Automatic Transmission: 3-map (Touring, Sport, Rain) sequential w/ manual or automatic mode selectable by user Final drive: Chain

Suspension: Front: USD-type 43mm telescopic fork w/ 120mm wheel travel. Rear: Single direct-acting coil-over shock absorber adjustable for spring preload and rebound damping 125mm travel Brakes: Twin 320mm dia. stainless steel rotor floating discs w/ radial four-piston calipers front and single 260mm stainless steel disc w/single piston caliper rear incorporating two-channel ABS Wheels: Cast aluminium alloy 3.50 x 17 in. dia front & 6.00 x 17 in. dia rear Tyres: 120/70 ZR 17 front, 180/55 AR 17 rear DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 1463mm Rake: 24° Trail: 103mm LxWxH: 2080 x 80 x 1130mm Seat height: 800mm Fuel tank capacity: 16L RRP: $19,990 Test bike: Aprilia NZ GEAR Helmet: Airoh Jacket: M2R Pants: Teknic Boots: Teknic

To date it’s at the top of my, ‘you must ride’ list. Speaking of things Italian, the threewheel MP3 (Piaggio scooter thingie. Ed) is up there also, purely because they’re different from the norm and if you don’t ride it, you’re not getting the full picture. The Mana is a lot of bike for your buck. Way more bike than most can offer plus a bevy of accessories are available. Adjustable windscreen, pillion back rest and top box are just a few of the items available to personalize your ride. I give team Aprilia the double thumbs up for their effort in designing and manufacturing the Mana. I could not say that about their efforts regarding the Dorsoduro yet I’ll bet most people would be more accepting of it because it is more conventional (or less quirky) than the auto, and last but not least, it’s my favourite colour combo. White on black. Get yourself a ride. Cheers. Stretch. KR KIWI RIDER 29

30 KIWI RIDER

KIWI RIDER 31

new

2010 EFI MODELS

GT 650 NAKED $9995*

GT 650R FROM $10695*

ABOVE: GT 250R FROM $7795*

Electronic fuel injection - better power, instant starting, improved economy. 路 new colour options 路 new styling including seat and led tail light 路 650cc upgrades include four piston calipers

HSG 0025 KRMW

Available now from 34 Hyosung dealers nationwide. Find your nearest at www.hyosung.co.nz or ph. 0800 HYOSUNG (0800 496 7864) *All prices exclude on road costs

32 KIWI RIDER

ROAD TEST HYOSUNG GT250S WORDS: Michael Esdaile PICS: Geoff Osborne

eplace the name on the fuel tank and the one cast into the clutch cover with ‘Gilera,’ ‘Mondial,’ ‘Morini’ or even ‘Parilla’ and you could probably fool people into believing the air-cooled V-twin engine which powers Hyosung’s 250cc models came from an early ‘60s grand prix machine. It really is too handsome to cover up behind plastic body work. And therein lies a story. To come up with an alternative model to ﬁt between the naked GT250 Comet and the fully faired GT250R, Hyosung New Zealand decided to introduce a model called the GT250S. To do this they followed in the footsteps of the Australian Hyosung importer. The Aussies created a model called the GT650S by using the nose fairing from a GT650R and ﬁtting it to a naked GT650. The model proved so popular that the Korean factory has produced its own version of the GT650S – by simply stripping the lower fairing off the R-model. This results in a GT650S with low mounted clip-on handlebars whereas the Aussies use higher ‘bars on their S-model. NZ-ONLY To make the GT250S, Hyosung New Zealand has stripped the lower fairing panels from the GT250R – and exposed that great looking air-cooled engine to public view. To

this tester’s eye, it is a better looking bike than either the naked GT250 Comet or the GT250R. The only drawback is that it has the lower ‘bars of the R-model. However, that said, the riding position is not as extreme as something like an MV Agusta F4 or numerous Ducatis; not to mention some of the supersports bikes from the Land of the Rising Sun. In the GT250S you get a neat package that includes an air and oil-cooled DOHC 8-valve 75° V-twin engine wrapped in a sturdy steel perimeter type frame that features generously dimensioned rectangular section main spars and a box-section cradle that wraps down, around and under the engine. Up front there’s a set of beefy 41mm inverted (male slider) forks while out back there’s a rectangular section steel swingarm. Wheels are cast alloy 17-inchers with a 3.0-inch wide rim at the front and a 4.0-inch rim at the rear – the widest wheels in the 250 class by far. All this for just $6995!

As we have noted previously, the 250 Hyosungs are physically quite big motorcycles, which is odd as the engine is quite compact. Quite why Hyosung opted for a 75° vee angle, then built a largish bike around it is a mystery. There’s enough room for a 90° V-twin motor in there. TIDY PACKAGE The 26mm Mikuni carburettors may be jetted a little on the rich side for New Zealand, at least in their low-speed circuitry as the motor was regularly fired into life on cool mornings without resorting to the enrichener lever on the left handlebar. We never experienced any cold-bloodedness with the bike at any point during the two weeks we had it. We’ve said it before, but it is worth saying again: the 250cc V-twin Hyosung engine is amazingly flexible. We even noted it would pull from 35 km/h in top (fifth) gear without complaining. It slowly gathered speed from there, and from 70

‘Honest,’ ‘reliable’ and ‘economical’ are the sort of words you’d usually associate with a 250cc commuter. But there’s more to Hyosung’s threequarter fairing-equipped GT250R than a keen purchase price reckons KR tester Michael Esdaile. KIWI RIDER 33

ROAD TEST HYOSUNG GT250S

The GT250S urges you to look for quiet winding roads so you can enjoy the widish power band and the nimble handling. And if you feel so inclined, wind it up and enjoy the song it sings at high rpm. You won’t keep it there too long though as there’s some high frequency vibration through the ‘bars, seat and footpegs when it’s revving out. Stopping is not a problem with dual 300mm discs up front. In fact, you could argue that it is over-braked. With reports from some owners of more than 100,000 trouble-free kilometres if the bike is serviced at its scheduled intervals, there are plenty of reasons to look seriously at the GT250S. Right now it is $700 less than the new GT250R and just $300 more than the naked GT250 Comet.

km/h onwards, it gets going quite well. We never tried it for absolute top speed, but we have seen 180 km/h indicated on a fully-faired R-model so the S should be good for around 170 if you feel so inclined. If you want to tour on the GT250S, all you need is a tank bag and a set of throw-over saddlebags and away you go. Because of the head-down riding position, you will probably be happiest a little north of the posted legal open road limit, and the engine won’t complain. Getting the best from small displacement engines is a case of planning. You need to look well ahead – which is a good strategy at any time – so you can plan your moves in advance. That way you will anticipate what traffic around you is doing and be in the right gear to nip on by as soon as the opportunity arises. If you really must rev it, the red zone starts at a little past 10,500 rpm and while there is no rev limiter – well, at least we couldn’t find one – it would be wise not to stray past 11,000 rpm too often. There’s a reason that part of the tacho face is red… BUDGET SUSPENSION While the GT250S has a set of beefy 41mm forks up front, they are relatively lightly sprung. We’d like slightly firmer springs in there to get the best from the bike’s corner carving abilities. Also the rear suspension has too much rebound damping and does not recover its ride height quickly so tends to ‘pack down’ a bit over a series of bumps. Curiously, that did not crimp our enjoyment of the bike, it just made us look out for surface irregularities and dodge the worst of them. 34 KIWI RIDER

One ﬁnal point: if you buy a GT250S you will have a motorcycle that is extremely rare. It is only available in New Zealand. But as it is based on the regular GT250 Hyosung models, it’s no orphan – spare parts are readily available. KR

SPECIFICATIONS HYOSUNG GT250S ENGINE Type: Air & oil-cooled DOHC 8-valve 75° V-twin 4-stroke Bore x stroke: 57 x 48.8mm Compression ratio: 10.2:1 Carburetion: Twin Mikuni BDS26CV carburettors Ignition: CDI Claimed max. power: 28.2 PS @ 10,000 rpm Claimed peak torque: 21.6 Nm @ 7500 rpm Transmission: 5-speed constant mesh FRAME Type: Twin pressed rectangular section steel main beams with twin square section steel double under-engine cradle. Front suspension: USD-type 41mm telescopic fork w/ 110 mm travel Rear suspension: Linkage operated single coil-over shock w/100 mm travel Front wheel: Cast aluminium 3.0 x 17 in. dia front & 4.0 x 17 in. dia. rear Front tyre: Shinko 110/70-17 front &150/7017 rear Front brake: Twin 300 semi-ﬂoating discs w/ twin ﬂoating twin-piston calipers Rear brake: Single 240mm disc w/ single piston caliper DIMENSIONS L x W x H: 2080 x 760 x 1120mm Wheelbase: 1445 mm Steering rake/trail: 25.5°/85 mm Seat height: 780mm Ground clearance: 180mm Fuel tank capacity: 17 litres Fuel consumption: 25 km/litre (3.98 l/100 km) Measured fully fueled weight: 187 kg Warranty: 24 months or 20,000 kilometres RRP: $6,995 Test bike courtesy: Hyosung NZ Ltd GEAR Helmet: Nolan Jacket: Spidi Boots: Styl Martin Pants: Triumph jeans

Local GT250S follows lead of Aussie market GT650S model and gives punters here needing a 250cc bike another look/feel/price option. Attractive lines of the engine is a good enough reason to remove the fairing lowers of the R, though for some owners the appeal will lie in fewer things to break and require repair if the bike is ever dropped. Instrument panel is an easily read mix of electronic analogue tacho combined with digital read-out speedo and fuel-gauge. Curiously, the bar graph engine temperature gauge only shows up for a split second after the ignition is switched on, then it disappears. Worthwhile feature, particularly at this price point, are the three-way adjustable rider’s footpegs.

Join The Championship Winning Team Don’t settle for less 2009 World MotoGP Championship, Valentino Rossi (Yamaha YZR-M1)

1st

2009 World Endurance Manufacturer’s Championship, Yamaha Motor Co.

1st

2009 World MotoGP Teams Championship, Fiat Yamaha Team

1st

2009 World Supersport Championship, Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha YZF-R6)

1st

2009 World MotoGP Manufacturer’s Championship, Yamaha Motor Co.

1st

2009 World MX-1 Championship, Antonio Cairoli (Yamaha YZF450F)

1st

2009 World Superbike Championship, Ben Spies (Yamaha YZF-R1)

1st

2009 World MX-1 Manufacturer’s Championship, Yamaha Motor Co.

1st

2009 World Endurance Championship, Yamaha Austria Racing team (Yamaha YZF-R1) 1st

When the new-for-2009 YZF-R1 was released, Yamaha’s engineers gave road riders a taste of the MotoGP technology Valentino Rossi had enjoyed since 2004, with the ﬁrst cross-plane crank ever offered in a showroom ready in-line four. Did it work? Ask Ben Spies: 11 Pole positions and 14 race wins from 28 races in his rookie season in the Superbike World Championship! Proving the new Yamaha technology has what it takes in the long term, the Yamaha Austria Racing Team used its R1 to dominate the World Endurance Championship, winning four of the six rounds, including the Le Mans 24-Hour.

Yamaha’s success was just as strong in the World Motocross Championship with Antonio Cairoli clinching the MX-1 title on a YZF450F – a bike which can trace its lineage back to the ﬁrst mass production four-stroke motocross bike, the YZF400F. And we haven’t even mentioned the sensational 2009 MotoGP World Championship which saw the Fiat Yamaha’s of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo win 10 of the 17 races, helping Yamaha clinch the World MotoGP Manufacturer’s Championship. Yamaha – the Art of Engineering

www.yamaha-motor.co.nz

WORDS: Big Dave PICS: Lou Martin for H-D LAUNCH REPORT 2010 H-D RANGE

H-D’S 2010 NZ SELECTION Last month Big Dave ﬁlled us in on the Australasian press launch of Harley-Davidson’s 2010 models. This month he gives us a run-down model by model.

ive vehicles are featured for 2010. I originally typed ‘new vehicles’ and the factory marketing materials and descriptions are peppered with the word ‘new’, but in the shadow of the on-going Global Financial Crisis the 2010 range seems more an evolution with some nice reﬁnements to existing models, and the re-introduction of a personal favourite – in name at least. In fact, in the pre-ride introduction, Australasian Sales Boss Adrian O’Donaghue stated that Harley is ‘focussing on expanding their strength as one of the most personal and emotionally connected brands in the world’.

Their proposed means of achieving this were outlined as better dealer premises and operations, new insurance products with extended warranties (from Swann Insurance) and better efforts to ‘get closer’ to their customers. This will include supplying a raft of personalised information about their customer’s individual vehicles, a ‘Freedom Rewards’ loyalty card and upgraded HOG publications. Bigger Rallies are also planned with the likes of Jimmy Barnes booked for the next Oz event, which will be open to the general public. Adrian also noted that they have been ‘fairly aggressive with pricing’ and a quick glance at the price list had me raising an eyebrow. Some existing models have come down in price. And then it was on to an overview of the 2010 models we will see in New Zealand. 883 IRON First up was the 883 Iron which will have a RRP of just NZ$12,750. Not bad for a stylish Harley-Davidson that is a bunch of fun to ride.

Sample selection on ‘10 HarleyDavidsons is strong on black-out imagery courtesy the key role black powder-coating plays in the colour palette. Price leader here and across the Tasman will be entry-level 883 Iron model though there will also no doubt be strong interest in new ‘All-Black’ version of last year’s new-comer the XR 1200 as well as the new slimmed/ slammed ‘Lo’ version of the Fat Boy and re-focused Wide Glide.

although that said I was quite comfortable on the bike. So was the regularly sized Isabel, from H-D, who tagged along to keep the journalists under control. She rated the machine as much fun as I did. The fun factor comes from the Evolution 883 V-twin engine that doesn’t mind a bit of a rev. It also comes from the all round coolness and feel-good of the machine. It’s a Fonz bike. It’s also a low bike with a 64.3cm saddle height and it handles tidily within the cornering clearances afforded by its all-round ‘lowness’. I found it has the same attraction as numerous mid-power, retro style motorcycles; machines I enjoy simply for the way the throttle is pinnable on the road.

I thought it’s a great looking motorcycle and a good fun Harley that suits a compact rider.

As is often Harley’s way, they don’t publish a horsepower claim, preferring to nominate 70Nm / 52 ft. lbs @ 3750rpm and a 30 degree lean angle as the key performance criteria.

In other words ‘Big’ Dave looked pretty funny onboard. I only needed the long shoes and red nose to complete the act,

They present the bike as a platform for customising and it’s got some nice places to start from. The Harley security system, KIWI RIDER 37

LAUNCH REPORT 2010 H-D RANGE

som really funky standard wheels some an ‘Dark Custom’ style cues (like and B Black crinkle ﬁnish) abound and the p paint is ﬁnished in silver or black ‘denim’ paint. (I’d call it a matte.) H-D XR1200X

N Next we were presented with the XR XR1200X. To which all I can say is…. Sc Schwing! OK Multiple Schwings – to the factor of a trouser tent. (Thanks Stretch.) Don’t just take my word for it either. Several of the moto-noters agreed that this is their favourite Harley. It’s a refinement and styling exercise of the XR1200 we rode last summer. As a Buell owner I find it close to home performance-wise and the black on black with blacked-out blackness simply delicious. Personality-wise the figures – a claimed 67kW of peak power at @ 7000 rpm and 100 Nm of torque @ 3700 rpm to go with the 39 degree lean angle – tell part of the story. The three-way adjustable USD front forks and piggy-back rear shocks, adjustable for pre-load, and damping and

120 front/180 rear rims shod with Dunlop Qualiﬁer tell the rest. In short? Nice to look at and very nice to ride. And with an NZ RRP of just $17,250 we should see plenty of them on the roads. H-D FLSTFB FAT BOY LO Next card shown was the $28,995, FLSTFB Fat Boy® Lo. I gave the Fat Boy a ‘BD Bike of the Year’ accolade a few years ago, on the back of living with a press bike for a few weeks and completing one of the most enjoyable cruises around the Coromandel Peninsula. In Dark Custom Fatty spec the engine grunts out an easy 125 Nm of peak torque @ 3500 rpm and as any owner will already know the ‘Fatty’ is all about the feel and this one feels low. ‘The lowest seat height for any HarleyDavidson’ conﬁrms the marketing material. Said marketing also uses female riders quite extensively in a pretty good pointer as to whom the machine also suits. It’s low and simply a great looking motorcycle.

H-D XR 1200 X

H-D FXDWG Wide Glide Next off the deck (and a personal favourite making a re-appearance) is the FXDWG Wide Glide. One of the ﬁrst bikes I reviewed in KR was AMPS’ Wide Glide. Enjoy it as I did, it turns out that the bike formerly known as the Wide Glide is a bit of a truck compared to this latest incarnation. The new ’un feels smaller, and the test bike had a real ‘tight unit’ feel, the gearbox is slick, the throttle response impressive and any semblance of ‘breathing difﬁculty’ and catalytic converter wheeze are gone from all of the ’10 models. Sitting on a ‘Wide’ and looking down at the spartan front end is one of the nicest on-board views on a motorcycle and the changes for 2010 make it perform and handle like a modern $28,000 bike should. MISSING IN ACTION The missing cards in the ‘new’ deck were the Ultra Classic Electra Glide and the allnew Trike, both of which will be available as demos in New Zealand so a report on them will have to wait until another day. KR

H-D FLSTFB Fat Boy® Lo

H-D FXDWG Wide Glide

Engine

Black powder-coated air-cooled H-D SPORTSTER XL883N IRON evolution fuel-injected 1202cc V-Twin Black powder-coated air-cooled

Black powder-coated air-cooled Twin Cam 96B fuel-injected 1584cc V-twin

Black powder-coated air-cooled Twin Cam 96 fuel-injected 1584cc V-Twin

Bore/stroke:

evolution fuel-injected 883cc V-twin

88.9 x 96.8mm

95.3 x 111.1mm

10.0:1

9.2:1

76.2 x 96.8mm

100Nm @ 3700rpm

125Nm @ 350rpm

126NM @3500rpm

9.0:1

5-speed

6-speed

70NM @ 3750rpm

Wet multiplate

5-speed

Tubular steel

wet multiplate

Cast aluminium swingarm w/ USD-type 43mm forks and twin coil-over preload adjustable shock absorbers rear

Telescopic forks 42.3mm front and Softail-style horizontallymounted hidden coil-over shock absorber rear

Telescopic 49mm front fork w/ dual-rate springs & twin coil-over shock absorbers rear

Cast aluminium 18” dia. front & 17” dia. rear

Cast aluminium 17” dia. bullet hole disc

Black lace spoke 21” dia. front and 17” dia rear

Compression: Peak Torque Gearbox: Clutch: Frame: Suspension:

Tubular steel

Wheels:

Telescopic 39mm fork front and twin preload adjustable coil-over shock absorbers rear

Brakes:

Cast aluminium 19” dia. front & 16” dia. rear. Single 292mm disc front & rear w/dual-piston caliper front & single-piston caliper rear

Twin 292mm Nissin ﬂoating rotor discs w/ four-piston calipers front & single 260mm rotor disc w/ single-piston caliper rear

Single 292mm rotor discs front & rear w/ four-piston caliper front and two-piston caliper rear

Single 300mm rotor disc w/fourpiston caliper front and single 292mm rotor disc w/ two-piston caliper rear.

Wheelbase:

1510mm

1515mm

1630mm

1715mm

Rake:

29.6°

29.3°

32°

34°

Trail:

117mm

130mm

147mm

32mm

Fuel capacity:

12.5l

13.3l

19.7l

17.3l

Dry weight:

251kg

250kg

313kg

295kg

RRP:

$12,750

$17,250

$28,995

$28,000

38 KIWI RIDER

AS SHOPPINGs! M T IS R H C P O T ONE S nt Bargain hristmas Prese

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YOU’LL FLIP OVER THIS GREAT DEAL GIFT IDEAS FOR BIG SPENDERS! The revolutionary Shark Evoline provides the best of both worlds. One simple movement converts it between being a full-face helmet and an open face. Usually $899 but this month we have a limited number available in gloss white for just $699... SAVE $200!

Treat yourself or someone else to some of the fantastic accessories or practical gifts available in store. Some popular ideas include... DRC Scissor Lift Stands ... $369 VHOLDR HD Camera ... $475 Leatt Neck Braces ... from $435

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info@cycletreads.co.nz www.cycletreads.co.nz Barrys Poi nt Road

Mention this “tree-mendous” offer when you bring your bike in for a pre-holiday check, tyres or a WOF and, when we check it over, we’ll replace any blown signalling bulbs found for FREE! (Conditions apply, excludes halogen headlight bulbs.

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Please note: Special terms and conditions apply to products and services listed. Details provided on request. Images shown are representative of the products offered and may vary from those on sale.

KIWI RIDER 39

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40 KIWI RIDER

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RIDDEN H-D XR1200X

New blackout treatment for X-model XR1200 will appeal, no doubt, to New Zealand’s legion of black-loving bikers. Orange and silver ’08-release version now becomes base model with all black X retailing for a little more

X FILES

WORDS: Racing Dave PICS: RD & Jeremy Ballagh

Never one to be backward in coming forward, Racing Dave made the most of the fact that one of the ﬁrst XR1200X Harley-Davidson demo bikes to land here turned up in Christchurch...here’s what he thought of the bike Big Dave had only just tried at the Australasian media launch (see preceeding pages)

arketing types made odd decisions sometimes, like the ones at Harley-Davidson, that most iconic of all American brands (well, that and McDonalds), who decided it would be a good idea to ﬁnally produce a Flat Track-inspired XR1200...but only sell it in Europe.

QUICK FLICK Bike: Harley-Davidson XR1200X Type: Roadster Engine: Air-cooled pushrod/2-valve 45° 1202cc V-twin Frame: Tubular steel w/aluminium swingarm Wheelbase: 1515mm Fuel tank capacity: 13.3L Seat height: 795mm Dry weight: 250kg RRP: $17,750 Test bike: Rolling Thunder Motor Co

Fortunately, potential buyers Stateside made their view of that decision quite clear, with management quickly reversing that peculiar decision, and tasking its designers and product planners to go one better in 2010, which they did, creating the stealth-style all-black X model I got to recently ride. The obvious difference between the over other Sportster models is the suspension – the Showa twin rear shocks are more adjustable, with stepped spring pre-load and ﬁngertip damping adjusters, and have piggyback reservoirs. And

the forks are now of the more modern upside-down style. SPORTY SPICE The adjective ‘sporty’ is not given lightly, but nor is it meant in the CBR600RR sense. Compared, for instance, to the feet-forward ﬂoor-boarded behemoths that also make up the H-D model range, the XR1200X is very nippy indeed. Neither is it sporty in the cramped and hunched riding position sense. This is a full-sized bike designed for full-sized (McDonalds fed?) riders. Based on the long-serving XL1200 Sportster series, the XR version has its foot pegs much further back, handlebars lower, seriously powerful Nissin dual fourpiston front calipers acting on discs bolted to cast wheels shod with Dunlop Sportmax Qualiﬁer tyres. Their sizing is 120/70 x 18 front, and 180/55 x 17 on the rear. KIWI RIDER 41

RIDDEN H-D XR1200X MORE POWER & TORQUE There is more power from the engine, too. Revving to just 7000 rpm, but thrusting out 67kW, this Harley-Davidson surges forward strongly whenever the throttle is cracked, and at all revs. I avoided those from idle to 2000 rpm, however, as the engine’s response is a little jerky in this range, but is smooth everywhere else. Overtaking slower trafﬁc? No need to change out of top gear; you just open the taps, and zoom past. Maximum torque of 100Nm is at a mere 3700 rpm, giving lots of punchy acceleration. I collected the $17,750 (rideaway price with 12 months rego, base model XR1200 is $16,495) 1200X from the Christchurch Harley dealership, Rolling Thunder Motor Company, and didn’t particularly enjoy the

42 KIWI RIDER

Racing Dave checking out the XR1200X model’s sporting credentials

busy early morning traffic. There is a high-geared feel to first gear, although it tops out at a mere 80 km/h. To avoid the snatchiness of low revs, I found I didn’t get into higher than third gear in the city, but the slim profile is great for lanesplitting, and filtering at lights. COUNTRY HIGH Once out in the country, the bike really comes alive. The steering is light, the suspension, which feels a little choppy on potholed or rippled seal, works a whole lot better the faster you go, and although the geometry is nothing like the similarly-engined Buells, you can, and I did, have a lot of fun bombing around with no particular destination in mind.

for a medium distance is where I see the XR. For me, that could mean a ride to Akaroa for lunch, as the 1200 suits the mix of bends and hilly terrain on that road, or I might take in the gorges of Ashley, Waimakariri, and Rakaia. REAL VERVE At the same time, and like a shot, I’d head off for the Lewis Pass/Arthurs Pass loop, and with a riding speed in the 110 km/h zone the Harley is not tiring to ride, and rewards with mid-range urge from the long stroke engine with real verve. This would be a solo trip, however, as the pillion accommodation is not great, with a narrow and short pad perching the passenger at some risk, and greater discomfort, behind the rider.

The standard two-into-one-into-two pipes also have the exact sound this bike deserves – loud enough to make your presence known, yet not intrusive after a long ride.

Old fashioned the 45-degree, aircooled, two-valve-per-cylinder twin might appear, and there are only ﬁve gears residing inside the crankcases, but you can’t deny the Harley-ness of the whole package, which includes the instrument panel. A simple analogue tacho, digital speedo, and trip meter and clock, and that’s your lot. This bike is for riding, not scrolling through screeds of unnecessary data.

Absolute high speed is not this bike’s forte, as there is no protection from windblast, and the rider has only a slightly leaned forward stance. A medium pace

With the demise of the Buell brand, the Harley-Davidson XR1200X inherits the ‘most sporting’ epithet of any American manufacturer, and is worthy in that role.

PUBLISHER – SINCE 1984

25TH ANNIVERSARY PETE MCHEE

PETE MCPHEE

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Is it really 25 years and along the way we have an YEARS dab dabbled in all facets of the since the ﬁrst issue sport and created a few new of Kiwi Rider magaones that th enabled us to share our visions with w you. Adventure Rides, zine hit the shelves? It Family Fun Days, Good Times Scrambles, certainly is. To celebrate we Sports Production racing and Scooter Days to mention a few. offer the following insights I have been fortunate to meet several from the publisher, recent world champions over the past 25 years editors Ross MacKay, and to a person they have been passionate about riding motorcycles and they have Jonathan Bentman and shown me the qualities needed to achieve Michael Esdaile, and the greatness; it’s all about having a goal, believing in yourself and just getting on with mag’s key contributors.

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Before I go any further, I would like to thank all the readers, contributors, staff members and the advertisers who have made Kiwi Rider the success it is. And I mean that sincerely. Thanks. It’s hard to believe we have been publishing Kiwi Rider for 25 years and I shudder to think how many kilometres and litres of petrol have been used to make the journey so far. It’s been a hectic ride at times with the normal pressures of running a business, having a family life and dealing with customers – both advertisers and readers. Kiwi Rider has always been a labour of love – the love of motorcycling. From its beginnings as Kiwi Dirt Rider, which ﬁrst saw light in May 1984, we have tried to cover all aspects of motorcycling in New Zealand ﬁrst, and then Kiwis doing it overseas, whether racing, touring or attending a product launch, and then we use foreigner’s stories. Along the way we have made lots of friends and probably a few enemies, but that’s life, eh. Our underlying philosophy has always been ‘its all about the bikes’

it. Everyone has a set-back or two in this life – true champions accept the situation and then look for a way forward. Seems simple but too many think there must be an easier way, just get more power and then it will all be ok. Hard work brings its rewards. Just ask them.

Riding is still something that brings a smile to all of our faces , although never near deadline which is a very stressful time in publishing, and we ride everything that’s available at some time. The debates around the lunch table over the latest test bike are always stimulating and a chance to place the bike in its position. Views are diverse and comments are sometimes personal and sometimes inﬂammatory… but at the end of each month we manage to combine the thousands of pieces that make an issue and get it printed and on sale. Then it starts again… Kiwi Rider is many things to many people and we have not reached the end yet. More changes are coming and we look forward to bringing you the best little bike magazine in the world every month with our take on the fantastic world of motorcycling. Pete McPhee (aka Vege) KIWI RIDER 43

25TH ANNIVERSARY ROSS MACKAY

scene like our own. Here I’ve seen enduro riders morph into road racers, road-racers evolve into Harley owners and Harley owners become globe-trotting adventure riders. Everywhere else, it seems, you start in a niche and stay in it till you stop riding. Talk to factory types and they will tell you, too, that they are constantly amazed at just what Kiwis do on bikes……be it racing a custom-style Harley-Davidson cruiser at Wanganui on Boxing Day or putting knobbies on a conventional road bike (i.e. not a dual-purpose one) and going Adventure Riding. And ﬁnally, here I am – after all those years – sitting in the Editor’s chair. Not quite sure how that happened, bar the need to quickly and effectively replace Bentman when he decided to jump ship and return to the UK at the end of 2001.

EDITOR 2002-2010 Did your life pan out the way you – or perhaps more to the point, your parents – thought it was going to? Mine didn’t. It was while I was studying law and politics at Otago University that I started writing race reports and taking photos for KR predecessor New Zealand Motorcycle News, and, the rest, to be perfectly honest, took care of itself. My links with Kiwi Rider go back even before that, in fact, to when I was still at school and my trail bike-riding friends and I ventured from our homes in and around Gore to Waikaia to check out a new motorbike event called an enduro. Before heading up to the Argyle Station that fateful day the four of us were quite happy hacking around the various farms we had access to and exploring the gold trails of Central Otago at Christmas and Easter. Afterwards, however, we resolved to give this exciting new sport – really just an extension of the trail riding we were already doing – a go. Once we did, competing soon led to helping organise events, at which point I got to know the original partners in the

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People often ask me how I can ‘stay ffresh’ under the relentless pressure of a m monthly deadline but the answer is incrediibly simple and I’m sure it’s one I share w with many of my fellow ‘bikers.’ Put simply, any day I get to ride a ‘bike iis a good day. And in this job I get to ride a ‘‘bike every day. KR

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Since then it’s been a matter of head down, tail-up as the magazine got bigger and bigger, and glossier and glossier.

magazine’s predecessor, Kiwi Dirt Rider, Pete McPhee, John Nicholson and Shaun Stanbridge. Having decided I much preferred writing and taking photos to studying law and/ or politics I switched my focus to journalism and as fate would have it only had a year-and-a-bit in what you could call a ‘proper’ job before departing Editor Sean Kelly put my name forward to replace him at New Zealand Motorcycle News. With Kiwi Dirt Rider kicking off about the same time, NZMCN ﬁnally had some competition, but after a couple of years editing it I decided it was time to do my OE. On my return I went back to newspapers then to trade magazines all the while riding and writing about motorcycles and motorcycling for what had become Kiwi Rider. Over the years formats, styles and staff changed but the one thing that stayed constant was the magazine’s unique ability to reﬂect the passion, intensity and perhaps most importantly, diversity, of the local motorcycle scene. I’ve travelled the world and can tell you for a fact there is no other motorcycle

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JONATHAN BENTMAN EDITOR 2001-2002 Kiwi Rider was my ﬁrst magazine purchase when I arrived in New Zealand on the last day of 1995. Before the last day of 1996 I was already writing for it. Road racing a 30bhp RGV250 (long story) I was also helping Ant Young with his sponsorship deals, which lead to a confrontation of sorts with Mike Esdaile over KR’s need to publish more road racing coverage. Esdaile, always cunning, turned the accusations back onto the accuser and before I knew it I was writing race reports, racing features – and road tests! In 2000, tired of my day job as a valuer, I went back to Uni and sat a post-grad in journalism. Pete rewarded that with the KR editorship. In fact I got the editorship before I’d graduated, which made the last days at Uni rather hectic (I remember it well. RM) The editorship was incredible. Esdaile has always been my mentor and I can’t imagine having done what I have without him. Similarly the generosity of Pete was, and is, incredible – he allowed me to create without restriction. To this day I’ve not met a publisher of such vision, such bravery. I had a dream team to help me. Ross was my freelance help back then, while

Todd and The Hump were my sidekicks on the tar seal and the dirt, better buddies I could not imagine. Then there was Geoff Osborne, simply the most incredible guy and to this day is the best photographer I’ve ever worked with. Nathan (aka Spud) was our young designer, together we learnt so much in very little time – an incredible journey. And then there’s Stretch. I kid you not, Stretch always arrived at the office in one hell of a hurry, he’d mono-wheel the length of Moire Road, then skid whatever it was he was riding all the way into the driveway. Then hide the wheels behind the shed and lay flat on the office floor until the blues-and-twos had passed. The team at KR are the stuff of legend, everyone of them. I miss them terribly. I left KR at the end of 2002 to launch a new dirt bike magazine in the UK. My knowledge gained from KR made that magazine an immediate success. Personally, it was the worst decision I’ve ever made. I left the best job in the world. And because of the pressures, because of my stupidity, I lost my much-loved wife. Some losses you bear for the rest of your days. KR

KIWI RIDER 45

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46 KIWI RIDER

EDITOR 1995-2000 for Kiwi Rider. He mailed me some copies of the magazine and I was pleasantly surprised with its folksy charm. I was also impressed that the owners were hands-on and involved in an innovation called Adventure Rides. ‘What a great way to see the old country,’ I mused, and ﬂew over to Auckland to have a chat Pete and John.

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IN a roundabout way, it was an invitation from BMW Australia that led to my return to New Zealand in 1995 after 16 years running motorcycle magazines on the other side of the Tasman. Let me explain. As a guest of BMW Australia, I was sitting in their corporate suite at the Australian Grand Prix in March 1994. At the insistence of their then motorcycle manager Chris van Wyk, I had broken with tradition and accepted a glass of a very nice shiraz while I watched the mercurial John Kocinski streak away from the ﬁeld, leaving Yamaha’s Luca Cadalora and Honda’s Mick Doohan trailing in his wake. It was then that I met Pete McPhee. He knew of me and asked what I was doing. “Freelancing,” I replied. “Have you ever thought of returning to New Zealand?” he enquired. So I explained that as my parents were not getting any younger, I had in fact been considering that option. “Well,” he said, thrusting his business card into my hand, “we may be looking for someone to take the reins at Kiwi Rider early next year – keep in touch.” Over the next few months in the USA, I wondered about what it would be like to work in New Zealand. I had left in 1977 after four years at the Otago Daily Times and apart from regular holidays, I had not spent any extended time in Aotearoa. Back home in Sydney some months later, I received a call from a fellow who said he was John Nicholson. He wanted to know if I had any interest in working

The upshot was that I took over the reins in January 1995 to allow John to take an extended holiday – cruising down the canals of England – while I rubbed along with Jacqui Madelin sorting the editorial content while Pete ﬁlled heaps of pages with advertising. After years working for big publishing houses, the charm of Kiwi Rider was hard to beat. You had a beef, you walked next door and talked with the boss. Unlike the companies I had worked for in Sydney, at Kiwi Rider it was possible to get an answer within minutes, rather than days. The original plan was to run the editorial side of the magazine while John was away, then look for something else to do. But the owners must have liked what I was doing as I ended up in the Editor’s chair for six years.

Ross MacKay, Kiwi Rider is unrecoggnizable compared to the folksy little d number I inherited. It is all colour and printed on very high quality paper.

25TH ANNIVERSARY MICHAEL ESDAILE

MICHAEL ESDAILE

I still get the occasional bike or scooter to test and there are a few feature stories I am able to provide, which allows me to keep my hand in with the ‘team’. I must say, conducting test bike photo shoots here is much easier than in Sydney – it takes only a few minutes to ﬁnd a decent location and Geoff Osborne is easily the best photographer I have had the pleasure of working with. He doesn’t ﬂuff about looking for the ‘perfect’ setting. He just works around what we’ve got and produces brilliant results. There are many people in the motorcycle industry in New Zealand I would like to thank for their input, wise counsel and advice over the years, but the list would be too long to be accommodated here. Anyway, I’ll raise another glass of shiraz and wish Kiwi Rider well for another 25 yyears. KR

Aside from editing and proof reading all the material in the magazine, somehow there as time to be invited (appointed is a better word) to the Road Race Commission of Motorcycling New Zealand. Stu Newby was the chairman but delegated me to produce the draft rules for a class that became known as ‘Sports Production.’ After five re-writes following input from the industry, we arrived at a set of workable rules that got the class up and running. Tony Rees found they suited him perfectly. Instead of battling to field a competitive Superbike, he was able to afford to run in the SP class, and won it several years running, but always by slim margins. I guess that proved the rules led to close racing, both for track position and the final championship points. After six years, I knew I needed a break. After all, I’d been editing bike mags for more than 20 years, so we coaxed the the irrepressible Jonathan Bentman into the role. In those six years, the magazine changed steadily, and by the end of it there were no more newsprint pages – it was all gloss. Since then, under Bentman and now KIWI RIDER 47

25TH ANNIVERSARY ROGER MORONEY

quite a bit and get away with it. And when you are led by the lads at KR you can only smile...who else would have commissioned, inspired and let me roll with ‘Lord of the Piston Rings?’ Here’s to another 25 years. Shit...I’ll be 80. Time to buy an Indian and head for Bonneville. You can bring the beer Pete! KR

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ROGER MORONEY COLUMNIST In 1984 I was 30 years old. To anyone yet to reach that point of their existence it would likely be foreseen as ‘the beginning of the end.’ Well youngsters, let me tell you now, I would happily once again walk in the boots, or jandals, or whatever, of a ‘here comes middle age’ 30-year-old. Although an aching 55 ain’t bad, when you take into consideration the fact blokes like Keith Richards have another decade on their shoulders. He may look the age but it’s not in his head, that’s for sure. He can still pick up a Fender Telecaster and cause axemen half his age, and less, to consider putting the picks away. So, 25 years ago huh? That year was the 10th anniversary of

my freelance motorcycle writing career, which was kicked off with New Zealand Motorcycle News in 1974 through covering the Onekawa GP (now extinct as an event). It was just a natural progression as I later got to know Pete McPhee and John Nic when Kiwi Rider emerged. Don’t know where I ﬁrst encountered them, although I think it was a six-hour race at Manfeild. Wherever it was, there was drinking involved in the evening. I liked them straight away. I had a restored Honda 350/4 around that time as well as an old Yamaha trail bike which eventually seized. I eventually progressed to a Kawasaki 600. I did race and ride reports for the lads, and they kept me in bikes and put my name forward when it came to bike releases...because we could all catch up at the bar again. In fact, KR – with assistance from Rothmans I believe – sent me over to Philip Island to watch the Honda team testing in the early ‘90s. It was brilliant. I had breakfast with Max Biaggi and Darryl Beattie. Dunno how the column thing came about. I think Pete one day said ‘write a column’ and I simply did what I was told. I’ve been to scores of bike races and done some fast laps through the years at test days...a highlight was being given three laps on Russell Josiah’s 750 Kawasaki around Pukekohe. And while I may not ride as regularly as many dyed-in-the-wool readers (some of whom have told me I am irrelevant to motorcycling now) I will never shake loose the wonderful cloak of biking. Too many good memories to try and remember, and all of a sudden I’m kind of glad to be 55 because I’ve managed to do

48 KIWI RIDER

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COLUMNIST I’m doing life in reverse. Twenty-five years ago, when Kiwi Rider began, I was knee deep in nappies and there was no motorbike in my life. As a kid, I’d ridden farm bikes and I rode my brother’s Suzuki 185 to work on carless days as a young adult. Then it was a Th long time between rides. Fitw nally, less than n three years ago, I became tthe proud owner of my o own two wheels ow the very first for th time. I’ve owned five time bikes since then and ridden many more, revelling in making up for lost time. Instead of tapering off as I face the big ‘five-o,’ I’m doing more and more – and motorcycling is steadily taking over all my other leisure activities.

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MIKE NASH COLUMNIST Look at us. Fresh-faced, clean-shaven, not a care in the world beyond the young man’s pursuits of playing with old vehicles, ﬁnding out about young women, drinking beer, smoking drugs, riding motorcycles – and trying to hide at least some of these activities from parents who have done it all in their time, of course. Naturally, the idea that our parents may once have been sexually-active, beer-drinking, substance-abusing motorcyclists never entered our heads. They were just Old Farts. When that photo was taken KR was just a twinkle in the eyes of a few young men who took some time out from chasing girls, riding motorcycles and drinking beer to think: “What if . . . .” Now we’re the Old Farts; and does it ever occur to our kids as they try to stop the bedroom window from squeakling at 3am, or hope we won’t notice that all the gas has been siphoned out of our motorcycle, or snap the new dent in the wing of our car, or spot the odd smell of burning leaves in the house when we come home

unexpectedly – that we have been there ourselves? Like hell it does. One of those young chaps introduced me to the ﬁrst motorcycle I ever rode, a Zundapp scooter his grandfather thought was safely locked in the garage ... A lifetime later, another came to visit me when a motorcycle and my own stupidity rewarded me with a week or two of Hospital Food.

Fulﬁlling a dream, I started out on a cruiser but it was a chance ride on a sport bike that changed my outlook and I’ve stuck with my VFR800 for more than a year now as

the perfect all-round sport/touring bike. I ride with three clubs and I’m clocking up around 15,000 kms each year on the road and on the track.

25TH ANNIVERSARY ANDY LYVER/NASH

ANDY LYVER

And that brings me to racing. Never one to do things by halves, I own two bikes now for the track. I have an F4 – or ‘bucket’ racer – and I’ve just bought a Streetstock bike so I can race in an extra class. What a blast. I started writing for Kiwi Rider just over two years ago, right after I got my ﬁrst bike. Like an evangelist, I want to spread the word to other people about the fun to be had on two wheels. The good thing is, I’m not alone either. My husband Maco has shared this journey with me and we know many others who have come to, or returned to biking later in life. And we’re lovin’ it! There’s still a lot of biking for me to catch up on. And like a kid in a lolly shop, I’m not leaving till I’ve tried them all. KR

One is a captain of industry; the bikes of his past just a fading memory. Another is a motorcycle mechanic who never really got over the BEARS trip. Back then it was Nortons; these days it’s Bimotas. One’s a Local Body Suit who hasn’t ridden a motorcycle in two decades. At least two have the publishing industry’s ink-stained ﬁngers; and one has been scribbling for KR for more years than he may wish to remember. For some of us, there have always been motorcycles. And motorcycle magazines . . . KR KIWI RIDER 51

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25TH ANNIVERSARY DAVE BRITTEN

‘RACING DAVE’ BRITTEN CONTRIBUTOR Nineteen-eighty-four, the year Kiwi Rider was born, was a big year for me. At Easter, I awoke in Palmerston North Hospital, arm in plaster, and concussed, after crashing my Kawasaki 100 while racing in the Ohakea Grand Prix. Two weeks later, in Christchurch, surgeons rebroke my shattered wrist (stating, ‘It looked like a piece of toffee struck by a hammer’) to attach external ﬁxation. Think metal rod fastened to long screws extending through my hand and forearm. Their advice? Give up motorcycle riding. Advice ignored!

used a tank of petrol doing so. Kiwi Rider’s come a long way since 1984. Who remembers its predecessor, New Zealand Motorcycle News, unkindly known as the 20-minute silence? Newsprint paper and grainy black-and-white photos are long gone, and the quality stock, perfect bound, full-colour magazine we now devour bears it no relation. I’ve contributed to KR for 23 years, and I’m still enjoying riding motorcycles and writing about motorcycling as much as ever. Long may it continue. KR

With time on my hands, I borrowed many library books, and there met a Honda C50-riding cutie, whom I married, and she became known to KR readers as Racing Maree. Next year is our 25-year anniversary. In June, just days after having the ironmongery removed, I was in London buying a new Yamaha RD250LC, on which I terrorised the UK and Europe for the next four months, following the World 500GP circus. After the Belgian GP, I saw a policeman pull a gun on Barry Sheene. Truly! s Eddie Lawson I also saw take the Championship tit in Sweden. I slept title u under a bridge, in the pissing rain, at Assen. I went to the Isle of Man, twice. On a G German autobahn, ﬂat on the tank, I covered 100 miles in one hour, and

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25TH ANNIVERSARY DENE HUMPHRIES

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DENE ‘THE HUMP’ HUMPHRIES TESTER It’s hard to believe really, 25 years have flown past since I first met a young and enthusiastic KR team. I literally bumped into John Nick when I was 12-years-old and he worked out in our first conversation that I was dirt bike crazy. Two months later I had the mission of photographing and testing the latest RM80 1985 model. That’s the day I met my mates ‘Uncle Vege’ and a long haired Geoff Osborne. What a day, I can still remember not being able to sleep the night before the big test; like it was yesterday. Over and above all the great bikes we’ve tested, and the shitters, something still remains; the friendships. Vege and John have been more like big brothers, great mates, leading me down some great paths, and astray to boot, but we won’t go into that one too much. Osborne, well we worked trying to bring the readers the best photos we could, and over the years he has developed into the best photographer New Zealand has in the action stakes. He has constantly upgraded gear and worked like a soldier refining his styles and has a natural eye for action shots. Osborne has been loyal and professional which has given KR the leading edge in photography. I have Pete and John Nic to thank for countless sponsorship deals and assistance far beyond the call of duty throughout my Enduro racing years which resulted in, I think, about five national Enduro titles. They trusted me with their vehicles and test bikes right from the early days, thanks guys you have been a huge part of my life. THE BIKES For the best part of 20 years I rode every 54 KIWI RIDER

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dirt bike that went through KR which at times became full on and confusing too. I never forget the huge build up and anticipation for the launch of what would change the face of 4-stroke enduro bikes, the KLX 250, so we were told. Disc brakes front and rear, water cooled, narrow ergos, increased power and handling. It was going to knock the old XR250 off its perch. A bit of a laugh when you look at bikes now, but that’s life, next year’s bike will always be better than the last they say, but let’s face it, that’s not always the case. THE CREAM Going to a new bike launch was always a highlight, getting time off the panel-beating job to be a journo and rub shoulders with mainly Aussie journos who thought they were shit hot. Good fellas but the Kiwi boys always played hard, night and day which sure did have our fair dinkum mates shaking their heads. A great launch was the new alloy-framed WR Yamaha range in Tasmania. A ski resort was the venue, two nights and two days of full-on riding trails having a blast, eight Aussies, the Hump and Whytey from NZ. We rode the wheels off the Yamahas and managed to drink the bar dry that night, which ended in a pile of diced carrots off the second ﬂoor balcony of the ski lodge onto our host’s trailer beneath, not my proudest moment. I nearly got away with it until Whytey dobbed me in the next night. Good one! So yeah I could go on forever about the things we have done, like the years of road trips, great times, lucky to be alive to be fair, but all in all good on ya KR, here’s to another 25 years. KR

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56 KIWI RIDER

CONTRIBUTOR The past 25 years have simply ﬂown by.

There were virtually no Kiwis racing MX in Europe or America in those days … but now we have Kiwi world champions (that’s plural, and in motocross and enduro too), plus US and Australian championship titles to crow about. What’s more, instead of waiting for speckled fax sheets, we can now watch our Kiwi internationals live on the internet. Back in 1984 we’d be lucky if we could peer through the smeary or dust-caked window of the trackside caravan to laboriously scribble down the results at the end of the day. Now, thanks to transponders, we get handed crisp, clean sheets of paper barely ﬁve minutes after the last race of the day, or perhaps we download off the internet in just a few hours time. Forget about twin-shocks, ‘bootsavers;’ silly shark ﬁns on helmets, rubber-band start gates … they’ve all died a natural death.

KIWI R • 4

It seems like only yesterday we had to wait beside the fax machine for results to come through from the press ofﬁce at the GP, our ﬁrst clue as to what had happened at the motocross on the other side of the world.

25 YEARS

NCE 198 SI

But the biggest change is what I’ve seen from the outside, looking in.

ER MA D I

ZINE • GA

Back in 1984 I was racing motocross or riding enduros every single weekend. … even won a few races in my day. Now I’d probably injure myself just unloading the trailer.

25TH ANNIVERSARY ANDY MCGECHAN

ANDY MCGECHAN

We now have concrete pads and backward-falling metal gates, even at club meetings, and many of the circuits now have built-in watering systems, properlyconstructed commentator’s towers, sitdown ﬂush toilets, showers and catering on-site. In 1984 there were no ‘safety seats’ on MX bikes … now we have foam padding up the kazzoo, including seat ‘humps’ to keep the rider from sliding off the back of the bike. It was in the 1990s that we witnessed the rise again of four-stroke technology, to such an extent now that two-strokes are virtually gone and four-strokes weigh less now – and produce more clean-burning power – than the 500cc two-strokes of yesteryear. As for me, personally, I can now take photos digitally – instantly check for and delete the duds – then get the gems to the Kiwi Rider ofﬁce within minutes of the racing. No more waiting for prints to get developed. The magazine’s looking pretty good these days too, although I am still very proud of those early editions. Where else can you look to see the history of New Zealand motorcycling so faithfully recorded? In the past 25 years, Kiwi Rider has become something of an almanac or encyclopaedia … it’s certainly a reference work for me. KR

KIWI RIDER 57

ON TOUR BMW MOTORRAD DAYS

“B it is not a BMW!” observed “But the security guy eying my Honda Hornet up and down. I waited for H the t BMW police to come and throw me out but he smiled. “No problem, park your bike, put up your tent and drink.” y

Despite initial appearances and my m own expectations of a highly organised, exclusive affair, populated org by GS riding and garbed stormtroopers, this was in fact just another motorcycle piss-up – albeit more mild bunch than wild bunch. Let me explain. I stumbled across the BMW Motorrad Days event, a three-day BMW-fest in the twin towns of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the Bavarian Alps during a six week bike tour of Europe. Stopping into Motorrad Central, Munich’s flagship BMW bike centre, I picked up a brochure for the event. “It is much fun” suggested the friendly assistant, “There will be lots of pretty girls….” So, of course, I decided to stop in as I was heading for the Stelvio Pass into Italy and the Bavarian Alps were on my route. Turning off the A95 from Munich, the road flowed through groomed alpine meadows to the scenic Lake Kochelsee before a series of tight uphill switchbacks led to lunch at a café on the shore of Lake Walchensee before carrying on to the twin towns of GarmischPartenkirchen. Hitler joined the towns for the 1936 Winter Olympics, however these days a different army fills the streets during the first weekend in July. The ubiquitous BMW signs began to appear and soon I was directed into one of the three (free) campingplatzs. OCTOBERFEST…ON TWO WHEELS Already early Friday a tent village was forming, swelling rapidly as BMW troopers continued to arrive on into the night. Nearby huge helpings of wurst, meatloaf, potato salad, and of course steins of Erdinger and Radler were being dished out in the aptly named giant Party Tent. This was looking like the Oktoberfest on two wheels. As day dawned the extent of the event became apparent. Some 35,000 When virtually every bike in the park is a BMW there’s a good chance, like Kiwi Stephen Haines, you have chanced upon a BMW Motorrad Days event

58 KIWI RIDER

It’s amazing what you can stumble on when you’re a bike-riding Kiwi on your OE in the UK and you pack up the Hornet and head off to Europe. Stephen Haines has the story. WORDS & PICS: Stephen Haines

ON TOUR BMW MOTORRAD DAYS

KIWI KIWIRIDER RIDER 59

60 KIWI RIDER

ON TOUR BMW MOTORRAD DAYS

This page and (left) we have BMW’s World Champion stunt rider Christian Pﬁeffer putting on a show on his F 800 0 R while below, pay just ﬁve Euros and you can ride any new BMW model, off-road as well as road. For the G and GS off-road models there were dedicated loops, including an Enduro one for GS adventure models and a X (as in MX) one for the G450 X.

and a water obstacle tested the bike’s (and your own) off-road abilities. Here things were a little looser and with no check on competence, a number of over-conﬁdent riders came to grief on the GS 1200s. The 800 however took it all in its stride, with an agility that felt more like a 250 trail.

enthusiasts would attend over the three days, with most arriving on bikes. Line after line of BMWs, mostly GSs with fitted luggage, filled the streets and parking zones. Everywhere the blue and white roundel dominated, as did the uniform of BMW Gore-tex and System helmets. I had never seen so many accountants in one place at a time. Ready to blame Ewan and Charlie for the preponderance of GS Adventures, many of which appeared to have never seen a dirt road, I was surprised to find that most had never heard of the lads or their journeys. ALL THINGS BMW All things BMW were on hand in the merchandise area, with companies such as Touratech showing off their wide range of customisation parts and touring gear. Tour companies promoted a range of adventures with New Zealand being a popular destination. BMW Motorrad had a series of large displays of course, showing off their range of bikes, clothing and accessories, doing a good line in green and grey Motorrad Days T-shirts that threatened to turn everyone into clones by the end of the second day. There was no escaping BMW marketing as logoed paragliders patrolled the sky to catch anyone trying to escape in a cable car up the nearby Hausberg ski fields, ascending the funicular railway to the Zugspitz, Germany’s highest mountain (2962m), or hiking

in the oddly named Wankspitz (2217m). Even the Third Reich never had such a comprehensive indoctrination plan.

Nearby, the Munich-One X track offered the opportunity to wring a G650 X-Challenge out for those with a long inseam, while factory motocross riders on the works BMW G 450 Xs showed how it was done. GUIDED TOURS Also free to anyone with a pin and their own bike were guided half and all day road tours and

TEST RIDES Buying a pin badge for 5 Euro entered you for the 650 X-Country prize draw and allowed you to test ride any of the BMW range on either local roads, the 10,000 sq/m Enduro Park course, or the more challenging Munich-One X-track. The road test rides, or Probefahrten, attracted a long queue with many vying for a spin on the HP2 Sport. I managed to score a ride on the new F800 GS, joining a group of eight riders and two leaders on a two hour loop of alpine roads around the Eibsee area. The 800 was impressive, combining good performance and comfort as well as being much lighter and nimbler than the huge GS Adventure. And I have to admit, it seemed like motorcycle heaven, riding a new BM through stunning alpine twisties, a short break allowing riders to compare notes. Interestingly, despite the attractions of the local area and the proximity to fantastic riding in the nearby Italian, Austrian and French Alps, there was much interest in New Zealand as a motorcycling destination with one rider noting, ‘for us New Zealand is a rider’s paradise.’ I took the opportunity to try out the 800 GS on the Enduro Park course. Bumps, berms, loose gravel KIWI RIDER 61

ON TOUR BMW MOTORRAD DAYS This being Germany the best patronized facilities were the Wurst stall and beer tent (above right). Garmicsh is an Alpine town which swaps winter’s skiers and snow-boarders for BMW owners and fans in the summer. Area is surrounded by picture-book high-altitude meadows and stunning alpine roads, perfect for riding a bike on or off the road.

Panorama off-road tours for those of a GS persuasion. Meanwhile back on the street, Christian Pfeiffer gave Streetbike Freestyle shows on his modified F800 and HP2 of the stunt-riding that made him world champion. Other entertainment on offer included video and slideshow presentations, with adventure travel author and photographer Michael Martin providing tips and touring information for those thinking of ‘doing a Ewan.’ The Party Tent rocked at night to ‘80s music and a lucky biker from Bulgaria walked away with the 650 X-Country at the Saturday night prize draw. Those with an aversion to the ‘80s or seeking something quieter could find respite in the chill-out tent or campfire guitar sessions.

62 KIWI RIDER

GRAND PARADE

Police of Germany.’

One of the highlights was joining in the Motorrad-Korso, or motorcycle parade, with more than 1000 bikes snaking over an 80km course through mountains roads, valleys and villages before rejoining the motorway back for a sweep through town.

As the event drew to a close on Sunday I reﬂected on what had been a great three days, huge fun and enjoyable even if the sight of a boxer twin doesn’t move you to tears. It’s an annual must do for BMW riders with many traveling for days from all over Europe. You don’t have to be a BMW trooper to have fun but you may well be converted by the end.

Here and there a few other makes could be seen, and as the parade rolled past the crowds lining the main thoroughfare a British voice crying out ‘look it’s a Honda’ raised a small cheer. The route was controlled by a large contingent of friendly Police who had swept into town the day before to provide road blocks over the entire circuit. Police presence was low key throughout the event and the Korso with the parade instruction sheet starting ‘Dear Bikers’ and signed off by ‘The

The BMW Motorrad Days are held over three days in early July each year in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, some 80k south of Munich. It’s otherwise a ski town so there are plenty of chalets or hotels to choose from but join the majority in enjoying the free on-site camping for the full experience. I will be again. Check out www.bmw-motorrad.com and you could too! KR

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

ACC LEVY ANGER AC Dear De KR R ACC: The Proposed Rip-Off of Re A NZ Motorcyclists All I’m enclosing a copy of one of our local Palmerston North newsp papers.

Although I am now 69 and don’t cu currently own a motorcycle anymore, I, Ja Jason and his Dad, are incensed at the Government’s ACC restructuring proposal, especially as to the way it would affect motorcyclists. I hope the information in the article gives you some ‘ammunition’ to run with and perhaps you can pass it on to others who could use it to beneﬁt a large percentage of New Zealanders who would be disadvantaged hugely should current suggested proposals become law (or statute).

JACKASSES AT THE ACC Dear KR I read your mag a fair bit, even the back issues. Well I think that the jackasses in ACC should look at their own history. You see they published a book with the help of the MTA. The book was called ‘Your Ticket to a Better Ride.’ KR gave it a bit of a write up in April 2005. Now they want us off bikes, go ﬁgure. Keep up the great mag! Jeff To their credit, Jeff, the ACC has funded and/or initiated/supported a number of ‘safer riding’ initiatives, one I can think of using Mike Hailwood as the ‘face’ of the campaign, going back over 20 years. Pity they’ve squandered any goodwill they’ve generated by their draconian current levy increase actions. RM

Good luck with your efforts for all of us.

CENTENARY CLELEBRATIONS

Veronica McEwen (Jason’s Mum)

Dear KR

Thanks for your letter Veronica. As it turns out your local MP is correct. In fact it looks now, as if the whole ‘levy increase saga’ is a Trojan Horse. Under its current structure there is no crisis at the ACC. HOWEVER should that structure be changed and the Corporation be required, like a conventional ‘insurance’ company to hold signiﬁcant cash assets it would indeed need more money injected into it….Not only that but it seems that to ‘test’ the new business ‘model’ they decided to hit what they thought was a ‘soft’ target, US! Problem was, not only did BRONZ, Ulysses, Motorcycling NZ, the motorcycle group with the motor vehicle industry and thousands of ordinary, everyday motorcycle riders said enough’s enough, the general public saw the attempt for what it was and sided with us. As I wrote this the proposed levy increases have been announced and it appears the neither the ACC nor the Government has listened, meaning we’re going to have to get on the phone to our local MPs and plan more protest rides/group action initiatives. RM

Your various articles on the South Canterbury Motorcycle Club’s centenary celebrations got me thinking back to all the good times I had on a bike back in the day. I raced (read fell off) at Levels Raceway a few times during the 70s and was lucky enough to participate in amateur production racing during the times of the CB750 Hondas, Mach 3 & 4 Kwakas and the RD Yamahas. These were fun times when you still rode what you raced, and dietary supplements were a few jugs of the local brew the night before. One of my most memorable times was watching the great Dale Wylie carving up the Hondas and Kwakas on the Combat Commander from Tommy’s Suzuki in ChCh during a Three Hour Production Race – well at least for the ﬁrst 1.5 hrs – and then it did what all Combat Commanders did – it blew up. Keep up the work with the best bike mag on the market. It is nice to be able to get honest, down to earth reports on the everyday bikes we ride, as well as the ‘Flash Harrys’ that we will buy when we win Lotto. You have the balance about right. I recently went on a ride with a few friends and not one bike was of the same brand or genre – an indication of the diversity of motorcycling today. Barry Mines. We’ve had a fantastic response to that series Barry, and buoyed by it, promo man Robert Cochrane is planning a number of other major celebrations of motorcycling over the next two-three years. Also, you’ve hit the nail on the head about the diversity of motorcycling today. There’s a group ride that leaves my local Shell servo every

64 KIWI RIDER

Wednesday evening (www.kiwibiker.co.nz) and literally no two bikes are the same. There are 250cc commuters, large capacity customs, the usual banged-up GSX-Rs and ZX-6 and 10R, even some self-converted Supermotards. Fantastic! RM ROAD SURFACE CONCERN Dear KR Over the last forty years I have ridden almost as many miles on motorcycles, and driven in cars, as I have in trucks. I would’ve travelled well over a couple of million kms both in New Zealand and in Australia. Back in ‘91 I had a bad accident as a result of some wacker spilling diesel at a roundabout and, not being cleaned up. In short, I came a gutser, my ride got smashed up real good and I spent six weeks in a coma. I sold my ride a few years later and haven’t ridden since. Now I just do the kms in cabs, maybe in a year or two I can afford to climb back on another cycle as I believe I am conﬁdent enough, except maybe for the roads. The roads have not improved much really at all in the last forty plus years, however slowly they are coming right again. The reason I am writing, is that as a concerned driver I am hoping that someone can investigate the possibility of getting the guys who do the water-cutting of our roads to actually cut the centre sections as well as the wheel tracks. I have seen the guys out water-cutting the slippery shiny surfaces of tar off the roads around New Zealand and frankly they do a great job, good on them for that. However I have spoken with many motorcyclists and they all have said that when it is wet, the tar that is not cut in the centre area of the lanes is still very slippery and therefore very dangerous. If nothing else, what are we portraying for the tourism here? Are we encouraging it by displaying safe roads to drive on, not to mention the many who come and tour New Zealand on motorcycles? Do we want tourists to be safe on our roads? DW Henderson Mate, you’ve hit on a real sore point round the Kiwirider ofﬁce here, one we’ve campaigned about before when one of our freelancers banged himself up (not to mention wrote off one of our long-termers) on rain slick tar bleed. Only the other night, returning from Manfeild, I couldn’t believe how bad the Western Access road between Turangi and Tokoroa had become. Thanks for raising the issue again and let’s see if we get some comments from other riders about it.

(UN)HAPPY CAMPER #1 Just a very brief note regarding your November 2009 edition of Kiwirider. Kiwirider is not my usual choice of bike mag’ but when I saw the MV Brutale splayed across the front cover I decided to give Kiwirider a shot so bought it in eagerness to read perhaps a review, maybe even a comparison on the Brutale. But no? Nothing except a brief mention of the latest models on page 9. How can you do that? You have to surely expect that your readers will be anticipating at least something about a bike if it is prominently displayed on the front cover. I’d love to use a few choice words but instead I’ll use these. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MY FIRST AND VERY LAST READ OF KIWIRIDER MAGAZINE. Thank goodness there are so many other bike mags to buy. Moran (UN)HAPPY CAMPER # 2 Dear KR I am interested in the Augusta Brutale RR, so read the page 9 article (Nov ’09) on the ‘new models’ I have also been looking

Why, in the November ‘09 issue article ‘Latest MV Agusta and Cagiva models here’ is the following line...’NZ is one of the ﬁrst export markets to see the new MVAgusta Brutale 1078....’When the rest of the world is looking to the new 1090 Brutale, due in Australian markets before March 2010 (AMCN) Is it a case of the NZ dealer distorting things to sell the last of the old stock before arrival of the new? Paul Guess we have to take the rough with the smooth guys so no probs publishing your letters. I’ve bracketed the two together because I need to explain the reasons we ran the ‘new’ Brutale on the cover. The facts are these. Where we can – as with the recent Triumph Thunderbird cover and story – we will run a ‘lead’ pic on the cover and follow up inside with a multi-page feature, be it a model intro or a test. Of late though we’ve been experimenting with a cover pic and ‘cover story’ package as per the November issue. Not quite sure, Moran, what your issue with the story was. Everything anyone in this country needed to know about the ‘new’ Brutale was in the story including basic model info, suggested

ce. arrival time and indicative retail price. Now to Paul. Yes, the 1078 is about ut e, to be replaced by a further upgrade, to the 1090. In fact I’ve just read a ‘test’ of the new 1090 model in Road Racing World magazine which we receive by airmail. The issue here though is that Kiwirider services the New Zealand market and the local importer had waited–– mainly due to the global ﬁnancial meltdown at the beginning of the year – several months before ordering any ’09 models. Then, literally days after he did so his decision was, if you like, vindicated by Harley-Davidson’s shock decision to put MV-Agusta on the market, meaning that despite putting on a brave face and both showing and demo-ing the ’10 models to the Northern Hemisphere media there is now a very real question mark over whether those models will go into production…..Hope that clears the issue up. You’re right, Paul, in that it seemed odd, but that’s how it happened and having now ridden the 1078 I can tell you hand-on-heart that it is a signiﬁcant step forward over the 750 model I tested in 2004. If it’s any consolation to either of you the 1090 uses the same 1078cc engine as the ’09 1078 complete with the 1078’s slipper clutch. Other changes are largely cosmetic. KR

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear KR

at other mags and on the net and have a question....”

KIWI RIDER 65

IMPORTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY DARBI ACCESSORIES LTD. AUCKLAND, WELLINGTON, CHRISTCHURCH.

According to some strange religious sect in Tennessee we aren’t supposed to be here. We should all be gone to whatever resting place our destinies had lined up for us. Which, for the 300 or so believers of the sect is a fantastic place full of light and love, and endless green fields of pretty flowers where there is no death...just for ever and ever. For the non-believers their resting place will be a world filled with uncertainty and suspicion. Of darkness and danger. Of foul water and acrid, heart-stopping heat. Yes, we’ll all end up in Haiti. But the strange worshippers of whatever deity exists in Tennessee have all been left shaking their heads because 2010 will dawn like any other year. It’s not supposed to. For in the mind, and words, of the wacko seer who leads this idiot flock, the whole world is supposed to have collapsed and ended in torrents of floods, famine, fire and dreadful music...on the first day of December 2009. They got it wrong...as so many have got it wrong through the years. You can’t predict the end of a circus like planet earth. It’ll end when the great meteorite (somewhere just off the Vega system about now) slams into Asia and splits the world in half. Simple really. Predictions of course are wonderful things. They’re like placing bets on horses, except there is less to lose. Predictions are also like New Year’s resolutions...pointless. Last year I resolved not to make any resolutions yet within a fortnight had

MORONEY ROGER MORONEY

PREDICTING THE UNPREDICTABLE vowed to lose 5kgs. I also predicted last year that Casey Stoner would win the MotoGP crown. It was a prediction based on fact and reality. He had a very fast motorcycle and had developed a gritty resilience and consistency. The Aussie battler had shrugged off the years of canning off 250s and morphed into a very serious contender...who managed to wrap up a world title. So what happens? Casey picks up some mysterious virus (shades of Barry Sheene back in the late `70s after arriving back in Europe from his otherwise victorious opening round at Venezuela) and loses the middle of the season. He re-appeared toward the end of the season and picked up where he left off. To flag away a fistful of GPs through illness and still finish in the top four at the end of the year isn’t bad at all. But you can’t predict the unpredictable. So let me try again. For the year of 2010 (unless the Tennessee wackos may have been a month out and it could still all go tits up on a global scale) I am going to stick my neck out (rather than pull my head in) and predict that the Stars and Stripes will again rise over the landscape of Moto GP. I’m figuring Ben Spies will rattle the cages. Stoner second and Rossi third. Forget Lorenzo...the head’s not in it. From what I saw of Spies during the superbike circus he’s got the fearless goods, and anyone who can bag a seventh in their first Moto GP outing on a strange bike must have a spark. My other predictions for 2010 are that

‘Predictions are wonderful things. They’re like placing bets on horses, except there is less to lose’

some manufacturers will wake up and realise that motorcycles designed to be `naked’ should actually look like motorcycles and not something Weta Workshops would hammer together. And I predict New Zealand will pick up a WSB round, which (like the meteorite) will be long overdue. After all, we bloody started it...and it will mean I can ﬁnally get to see the big names of the international circus just a few hours up the track. Because my ﬁnal prediction is that I will still be skint well into the late spring of 2010 so the chances of lining up for a hotdog at Philip Island are as remote as a Tennessee sect getting their predictability act together. KR

KIWI RIDER 67

NOLAN N-COM

N10

N84

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Next week half the motorcyclists in the country will converge on parliament to protest the ACC levy increases.

clad onanists – we play our sport upon the public roads.

By the time you read this, it’ll all be history, of course.

And, having made that choice, I believe we must accept the consequences.

I’ll be in Wellington too, because Herself and I are going to listen to Ry Cooder play there that evening.

The fact that there isn’t a mechanism to tax badminton players for the ACC-borne cost of their RSI, or rugby players for the cost of living with cauliﬂower ears is of no relevance to our own situation.

But I won’t be on the protest ride – for a bunch of reasons. I am tired of the rhetoric, the unthinking knee-jerk protest stances, the angry rather than considered responses, and, perhaps most of all, the extent to which our Kiwi Motorcycling Press have jumped on the mindless protest bandwagon. Editor McKay’s effort ‘Enough is Enough’ wasn’t much better – like any good politician he knows what his audience wants to hear. Fair enough. He’s entitled to his opinion, like everyone else. I just think something like 99% of the angry words spoken on this subject over the last couple of months have been crap.

We make that choice.

Riding a motorcycle is dangerous. Never mind whose fault that is. I think the question of whether it’s sixty percent or seventy percent of bike accidents that are caused by the stupidity of car/SUV/Little White Van drivers has been well-covered by now. The rest of New Zealand’s road users (apart from the Lycra Brigade, who deserve all the gravel-rash they get) have crumplezones, airbags, ESP, side-intrusion bars and seat belts. Since we choose to venture out without all this stuff, we have to take the risks on the chin.

Firstly, we’re overlooking an important point: Apart from those of us who ride small commuters and scooters (shafted worse than anyone by the ACC – and we’ll get to that) our motorcycles are toys. We ride them for sport, as others might play badminton or rugby.

As someone who has eaten a bit of hospital food on occasion – and who has been in that hospital as a result of his own bloody stupidity on a motorcycle, I think that something like $700 – $1000 a year is probably about the right ﬁgure to take from motorcyclists to cover the total burden that our (self-inﬂicted, since we chose to travel essentially naked on the highways) actions will impose on the welfare state one way or another (and the ACC is only a part of that) over the course of our lifetimes.

Uniquely, however, apart from road cyclists – and don’t get me going about those arrogant, selﬁsh, self-righteous lycra-

Big bikes – like mine – aren’t any more environmentally friendly than a small car (arguably less so since they’re essentially

One thing Ross says is very true – you can’t talk to another motorcyclist without listening to him venting about this. My turn then:

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‘Sensible isn’t a word that has characterised any part of this issue – especially the debate about it’ a selﬁsh toy rather than useful transport). Small bikes are great for the environment in all sorts of ways; and a fairer and more sensible option than mindlessly hiking their ACC levy to hell would have been to leave it as it was and to transfer funds from the Environment Ministry’s budget to the ACC account to cover future claims, rather than just disincentivising people from using frugal, enviro-friendly, non-congestive transport. Far too sensible an option for Government, though . . . ‘Sensible’ isn’t a word that has characterised any part of this issue – especially the debate about it. Don’t get me wrong, I hate paying the levy as much as the next broke motorcyclist. It’s just that I’d rather think about it before opening my mouth on the subject. See you in Wellington, eh? KR

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KIWI RIDER 69

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I got my knee down today. I’d been riding lap after lap and I thought I must have been getting close when an unfamiliar scraping sound caught me by surprise. I’d been expecting some kind of resistance but there was none; just the noise and a slight vibration through my knee. I’d done it! I was so excited, I punched the air and ran wide, brushing the tyres stacked on the outside of the bend for bunnies just like me. Whoops. Rewind a year, back to the development day I did on the Taupo Motorsport Park track on my VFR 800. That session triggered an appetite for going fast and for pushing my skill and speed barriers. I wanted to race and Maco was equally keen. “Are you mad?” was the general response from family and friends, which I suspected was more of a statement than a question. Sanity prevailed – on our terms anyway. We knew it would be folly to keep riding our road bikes on the track. Under-skilled and over-enthusiastic as I am; sooner or later, I’d be stretched to breaking point and if I came off at the speeds I was doing on the development day, I could cop myself some serious damage. We just had to ﬁnd a way to achieve our ambition without risking life and limb. Enter Steve – we call him Stevie Wonder – what he doesn’t know about bikes you could ﬁt on a rego sticker. Since we’d moved to Waipukurau and become regular

BORN AGAIN BIKER ANDY LYVER

THE RACING BUG BITES visitors to the bike shop where he worked, Steve had been telling us about ‘bucket’ racing and ﬁnally we went to the track for a look. The nickname ‘buckets’ or ‘bucket of bolts’ refers to the fact that many of these bikes are created from a collection of second hand parts. Others are standard commuter bikes stripped down for racing. Side stands, mirrors, lights and indicators must be removed and handlebars are plugged to protect the tracks. Buckets – 2 stroke bikes up to 125cc or 4 strokes up to 150cc – are raced under Motorcycling New Zealand rules in Formula 4 grade. Check out www. bucketracing.co.nz. Don’t be fooled; these bikes may not top 100 km/h on the back straight but there’s all the fun of a full-sized event because they’re raced on kart tracks, which match the size of the bikes. It’s all about scale. Racing at this level means that riders of all ages, sizes and skills get to go hard without high risk to their hides – or their wallets. Long story short –Maco now races a Honda CBR 150 and I have a CBR 125. My ﬁrst few circuits on a track were frightful. My brain went quickly into overload and it wasn’t long before I felt like I was half a lap behind the bike. As soon as I got through one corner, I was on top of the next, unprepared and overwhelmed. Talk about sweat. Gradually, after many laps, I found some kind of rhythm and really began to enjoy myself. One thing’s certain; I’ve learnt more on this little

‘One thing’s certain; I’ve learnt more on this little screamer in a single race meet than I’ve ever learned riding my big bike on the road’

screamer in a single race meet than I’ve ever learned riding my big bike on the road. And I’ve also realised that I’ve got an awful lot yet to learn. I picked up this crash hot one-piece suit the other day from a second hand shop. It’s white, red and green – the Italian colours – and I like to think that a rider with a name like Rossi once raced in these leathers. It’s the nearest I’m ever likely to get to the inside of an Italian stallion’s pants. And speaking of pants – I haven’t had so much fun fully clothed for a very long time. KR

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KIWI RIDER 71

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ACC says that we motorcyclists cost them too much. And they want bigger (MUCH bigger) levies from us. BRONZ opposes such increases. It is contrary to the principles of the Woodhouse design of ACC to single out a specific group of people. ACC was never designed to be a user pays system. It is a compensation system. That’s clear from ACC’s levy profile – if it truly believed in user pays, cyclists would pay for their road accidents, and the brittle-boned elderly would pay more than their kids. Then there’s the fact we gave up the right to sue those who knock us off our bikes, in return for compensation. Now we are told we cost too much so we must pay for our own injuries. No other group in society is expected to pay for the privilege of being injured by other people. These proposals are illogical and not supported by their own data. Over 600cc machines are to pay more. Yet its own figures (supplied to BRONZ by ACC) show that 750s cost less and crash less than 600s. The claims are riddled with anomalies and nonsense. The hike is unfair on people who own more than one vehicle. They can only ride or drive one at a time. If Biker Bill rides 10,000 kilometres on his Suzuki, he has a certain risk of being injured. And, fair enough, he should pay something in

recognition of that. But because he must pay the levy for each machine, and not on distance, ACC effectively says that if he rides 5000km on the Suzuki, and 5000km on a directly comparable Yamaha, he should pay twice as much. That’s just perverse. If he then commutes in his car he pays a levy again, three levies though he’s only using one vehicle at a time. Yet the increases are unnecessary. Motorcycle claims make up a small fraction of total claims (about two per cent). It’s not like we’re going to send the system broke. And ACC is not broke. It took in more than one billion dollars more than it paid out last year. Broke businesses don’t make a billion dollar profit. ACC should be tasked with a social vision and responsibility beyond mere bean counting. Motorcyclists are a social good in non financial terms. We reduce congestion, produce fewer emissions and pollution, have a far smaller carbon footprint than cars, we do far less than our share of damage to roads. These social benefits should be reflected in the levies. So, BRONZ is riding to Parliament. By the time you read this the great National Protest Ride will be over (you did go, didn’t you?) And there may be greater clarity of what is going to happen. But regardless of the numbers that

COLUMNS BRONZ

WHEN BEAN COUNTERS GO BAD

‘No other group in society is expected to pay for the privilege of being injured by other people’ finally emerge for this year we may be sure of two things. If ACC does not get its pound of flesh this year, it will come back for another bite next year. We need recognition that motorcycles should not be a special, discriminated-against group. We should be the same as cars, as we were until the late 1990s. Be the figures what they may, the fundamental underlying fact is that we, collectively, are falling off our bikes too often. Much too often. And no compensation system can make up for the father or mother, son, daughter or partner who doesn’t come home. Put more money in rider and driver education and you cut those figures – and ACC costs – long term. Check out the BRONZ website www. bronz.org.nz for updates. KR

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KIWI RIDER 73

CLASSICS KAWASAKI ZXR400

Having come to the frightening conclusion that 1990 was twenty-years ago, I think it’s acceptable to elevate my Kawasaki ZXR400 to classic, or at least post-classic status. I bought the bike new when I moved to Singapore. I needed a bike for extensive city use, and weekend blasts on Malaysian country roads. My detractors said ‘You’ll never be satisfied with a 400.’ ‘Why ever not?’ was my response. If performance is the concern ask someone who has raced a ZXR400 in Formula 3 in this country. It’s a quick, fine handling, and flexible motorcycle. It is nimble and easy to maneuver in the city, and performs well on the open road. After all, 46kW (62bhp) at 12,500rpm from a bike weighing in dry at 162kg is a very respectable power to weight ratio.

Kawasaki’s ZXR400 a classic? Rhys Jones reckons it is. Here’s why.

LITTLE BIKE WITH A BIG HEART WORDS & PICS: Rhys Jones

SMALL PLACE, SMALL BIKE Many advantages come with owning a motorcycle in Singapore, unlike our dumb administrators, their authorities actually encourage bikes. They take up less space in a crowded city, and use less fuel. Hence they are cheaper to buy, and cheaper to run than cars. For instance, almost every shopping centre and parking area has free parking for bikes. The money saved by the city through less congestion more than makes up for accident costs. Our dummies haven’t worked this out yet. Other Asian cities are equally friendly to motorcycles. I can remember riding the ZXR up to the front door of a 5-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur. I was quickly surrounded by bell hops and other front line staff from the hotel. Once my wife had dismounted I was asked if I would take a couple of the lads for a ride around the perimeter of the hotel. After two laps the lads showed me where to park the bike securely and locked it up for the night; they then carried the luggage and our helmets into the lobby. Can you imagine that happening here? LOVED THE LOOK I loved the looks of the ZXR, almost a

carbon copy of its big brother ZXR750, but more compact. The speciﬁcations are impressive for a twenty-year-old motorcycle. The four-stroke in-line four cylinder 398cc motor is liquid-cooled with a DOHC/16valves head. Four Keihin D32s handle the carburetion. Ignition is electronic, and the transmission is 6-speed. The diamond aluminium frame is clearly visible between the tank and fairing, matching the mufﬂer and swing arm, and setting off the rich blue white and green livery. At the front are upside-down forks with 41mm stanchions, adjustable pre-load, and 12-way rebound damping adjustment. Rear suspension is from a Uni-Trak gas-charged shock, adjustable for pre-load and re-bound damping. Front tyre is 120/60 R17 and the rear 160/60 R17. TOP SPEED – GOLLY! Top speed is around 220km/h. Usable power begins well below 8,000rpm, and really starts to explode above 9,000rpm, with the red line at 14,500rpm. The triple disc brakes are stunning with twin 298mm four piston calipers at the front, and a 210mm single at the rear. The ZXR, in fact, is one of the few bikes I’ve owned that chewed through front tyres so quickly. In those days I spent

Top shot, believe it or not, is from a brochure, with support from the cover and an inside shot from a SuperBike (UK) magazine feature in 1991 where the ZXR400 went up against Yamaha’s FZR400.

KIWI RIDER 75

CLASSICS KAWASAKI ZXR400

THE COMPETITION

many hours riding the back roads of Johor in southern Malaysia with a group of riders who rode mostly 750 and 900 Japanese bikes and a rare, in that part of Asia, Ducati Paso. Rarely did I feel underprivileged because of my bike’s smaller engine, and I was very often at an advantage through twisty roads and under heavy braking. The only time I did feel a shortage of power was when carrying a pillion. My wife is

76 KIWI RIDER

The record books show that Yamaha’s equivalent 400, the FZR400RR, was a more successful bike on the track, especially in the Isle of Man, and Honda’s CBR400RR found more critical acclaim. In spite of this, and having ridden the Honda over an extended period, I’ll stick with the Kawasaki as the best small bike I’ve owned. Well maybe in the same league as the Yamaha RD400. Maybe I’d like one of each. KR

fairly small, but even so, on a motorway, or long straight open road the ZXR sometimes felt as though it was struggling. The rear seat had about as much padding as a plank of wood. Long distances with a pillion meant ‘numb bum’ for the passenger, but with frequent stops it was ﬁne. In a perfect world the ZXR should have no pillion at all, and be reserved for solo riding, with something bigger and more comfortable in the garage for ‘two-up’ and less race fantasy riding.

That’s Rhys’ own bike in Singapore and Mrs Jones with bike (not to mention numb bum) circa 1990 at Ayer Hitam in Malaysia.

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KIWI RIDER 77

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GASTROM RIDER MANGAWHAI

THE SMASHED PIPI CAFE BAR WORDS & PICS: Dave Wyatt

I had a chance to have a chat with the owners and discussed the trials and tribulations of owning a café; in the summer, for instance, they can have up to 30 staff on the books indicating it has a huge customer base of loyal patrons. SIGNATURE DISH When I was in my early 20s my best mate decided it would be a great idea to get out of Auckland and move the family north, to Waipu. It’s been over 15 years since they shifted and with both of us living busy lives we have struggled with getting time to catch up. However the weather has been stunning lately and I decided to head north and pay him a surprise visit (just an excuse to ﬁnd a cafe). Heading north on State Highway 1 the roads are dry and I make short work of the road works by cruising past all the tin tops with their occupants heating up in the midday sun. I had been told about a bakery at Kaiwaka but my destination for a feed is Mangawhai. I take the road from Wayby and head on to the winding country road to Mangawhai passing only two cars on the way. The cafe I go to is The Smashed Pipi Cafe Bar located at 40 Moir St Mangawhai. The owners, Shel and Jenny, have had the place for six years and after being in the hospitality game all his life Shel decided he wanted his own place and stamp his mark on the landscape so to speak. WARM & INVITING The Smashed Pipi Café Bar and Gallery is in Mangawhai, north-east of Auckland. Signature dish is, not surprisingly, Pipi Fritters, but wide range of other dishes available making it an ideal spot for a quick ﬂat white or full meal.

The atmosphere is warm and inviting with several areas to sit and enjoy the chef’s creations. I sit outside and soak up the rays as I wait for a BLT and a coffee. Within a few minutes my lunch arrives and I’m impressed with the presentation. The BLT tasted great, the coffee was hot and the staff were very pleasant.

The signature dish is their smashed pipi fritters served with a fresh salad and roasties, followed by their seafood chowder served with garlic bread. As the name suggests The Smashed Pipi does shellfish and other crustaceans but has recently introduced gourmet pizzas to the menu. These are all made using their own freshly prepared dough, homemade sauces and fresh toppings, all fired up in a wood fired oven. As Jamie would say, ‘real pukka!’ With lunch done and dusted, it’s time to throw a leg over the old girl and head over to Waipu and track down my old mate. The only thing about surprise visits is you can’t count on the person being home when you get there and such was the case when I turned up unannounced (he was working). Oh well, such is life, as Ned Kelly once famously said. And so I head back over the Brynderwyns and point the old Yammie in the direction of home, resolving not to leave it so long next time when I want to catch up with old friends - especially when there is good food to be had. KR

QUICK STOP VENUE: Smashed Pipi Cafe Bar AREA: North Auckland ADDRESS: 40 Moir St Mangawhai SIGNATURE DISH: Pipi fritters COST RANGE: $4.00 coffee - $18.90 for the fritters RATING: 4 stars

KIWI RIDER 79

80 KIWI RIDER

WORDS & PICS: Racing Dave

freshened-up 2006 GSX-R600, and his obviously well used leathers, stilll bearing the scars of their previous or owner, Shaun Harris, are overdue for replacement. Darbi are supplying him and Dennis with new Berik leathers; blue for Cameron and black for Dennis.

ROAD COMPETITION ROAD RACE

CHARLETT & JONES PREPARE FOR 2010 R/R NATIONALS

BASELINE SETTINGS

Motorcycling Canterbury’s November round of the King of Ruapuna was held on a perfect summer’s day, and the pits were full of bikes and riders looking forward to some fast laps.

Suzuki and Dirt Action Motorcycles, whose co-owner, Stu Holdaway, was twirling the tools.

With a full program of races on the board, no one wanted to miss practice, but Cameron’s only lasted one lap, before a minor oil leak sent him back to the pits. He still enjoyed plenty of track time, and put in a spirited ride in the Bucket Racing class. Dennis had a number of minor problems, too, but was able to establish some baseline suspension settings, as this was his ﬁrst outing on the Continental Attack tyres that the team will be using.

Cameron’s bike looked less ready, with a battered set of plastics adorning the

Preparations continue to get three bikes and two riders sorted in time. KR

In the 600 Supersport class, teammates Dennis Charlett and Cameron Jones were there, as they get ready for the rapidly approaching National Championship.

Christchurchbased racers Dennis Charlett (top) and Cameron Jones (bottom) preparing for this season’s Road Race Nationals at the King of Ruapuna meeting.

SPONSORS SIGNED Given that work expands to ﬁll the time available, there was plenty to do, and Dennis’s newly painted fairings had been ﬁtted to his spare bike, and were just awaiting the sponsor-pleasing decals. Those sponsors now include not only Suzuki New Zealand and Darbi Accessories, but also local Christchurch bike shops Avon City

ITALIAN COMPANY BUILDS ELECTRIC RACE BIKES If you thought the ground-breaking race for electric-engined motorcycles at the 2009 Isle of Man TT was a stunt, think again. In November, Italian company CRP Racing announced plans to build production versions of the zero carbon, clean emission bike it built for the TTXGP with an ofﬁcial launch at the Motorsports Industry Association (MIA) event Cleaner Racing Conference on 13 January 2010 at the annual NEC show in Birmingham. As well as producing the ﬁrst true

zero emission ‘production’ race bike CRP Racing is also the ﬁrst company to lodge an entry for the inaugural TTXGP 2010 series which includes PRO1, PRO2 Isle of Man and circuit races across the globe. Not surprisingly, the company has a history of innovative R&D through CRP Technology, a world leader in automotive, defence and aerospace development. TTXGP is the world’s ﬁrst zero carbon, clean emission motorcycle series, having launched with a well-

WORDS: Staff PIC: CRP Racing The prototype CRP Racing electric bike on which the new production model will be based.

received ﬁrst race at the Isle of Man in 209 and with separate series in either side of the Atlantic in 2010. KR KIWI RIDER 81

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WORDS & PIC: Brian Wood Brian’s next challenge is to become a California Superbike School coach

There’s been no racing for me since the unusually early start to the race year with the Auckland Motorcycle Club at Pukekohe. I have, however, been out on track and wow, what a track.

prised me, it’s interesting and challenging for sure but the barriers are closer in places than I expected they would be at a brand new international standard circuit.

After much hype and delay Hampton Downs is open for business. Early reports on the track varied with the odd person saying they didn’t like it, that safety was a concern and costs too high, but I’ll address those issues later.

I guess we need to remember the track is probably designed more for car than bike racing and some rider’s expectations of huge gravel traps at every corner, à la some European circuits like Jerez, are a bit unrealistic.

My ﬁrst day at the track was the instructor try-out day for the California Superbike School (CSS), a global brand that has opened in New Zealand and is run here by Darren Sweetman, a Kiwi.

Most noticeable is the very fast home straight that has a right kink. This section is taken ﬂat out on a bike and has a bump/crest that unsettles the bike at high speed, at a point where the concrete barriers are right at the track edge, this will worry some.

LEARNING THE ROPES The try-out day was hard going with lots of class and track time and the pressure of the Australasian head ride coach assessing my on-track abilities as well as grilling me on my knowledge of the school teachings. At the moment all the CSS coaches are flown in from Australia for every event as there are no qualified coaches in New Zealand except for Darren himself. I’m very pleased to say that I passed and now move onto more training days before I hopefully become a fully-fledged CSS coach. THE TRACK ITSELF So that aside, what’s the track like? Well the layout of the short track sur-

82 KIWI RIDER

Then there is the cost, which at nearly $200 for a track day is considered high in New Zealand but compared to what I used to pay for UK track days it’s still good value and before someone says, ‘ah wages are more in the UK,’ it’s still comparatively cheap to ride any circuit here. By way of example, a day (and there are lots) at Brands Hatch short Indy circuit is typically in the region of $350. I enjoyed Hampton Downs and when ﬁnished, with garages and infrastructure, I have no doubt it will be the # 1 facility in New Zealand and I may even end up teaching some of you there at the CSS days! KR

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Fresco

RRP: $119.00

• Durable soft calf leather • TFL - COOL coating (reflects sunlight) for rider comfort • Curved fingers and quilted seam technology for opti mum rider control • Specialised foam knuckle guard underlay • Ball of the hand reinforced with Keprotec • Side of hand and palm reinforced with double layer calf’s leather • 3M Scotchlite reflective material • Wrist adjustment strap Colours: Black - sizes: 7,8,9,10,11

Snowﬂake

RRP: $199.00

• Back of hand, thumb and cuff in robust Polyamide • Palm in PITTARDS WR 100 treated leather • GORE-TEX membrane liner (breathable /wind and waterproof) • 3M-Thinsulate thermal liner (65% Polyolefin, 35% Polyester) • HUSKY Polyester micro-fleece padded lining (thermal) • Schoeller Dynatec on knuckles and sides • 3M Scotchlite reflective material • Adjustable wrist and cuff • Integrated rubber visor wiper er Colours: Black Sizes: 7,8,9,10,11 11

CHE C THE K SE SPE CS!

Polar

RRP: $96.00

• Cow hide leather palm • Back and cuff in 100% Polyamide Airguard with leather pannels • Windproof and breathable HIPORA waterproof membrane • Thinsulate thermal lining Colours: Black - sizes: 7,8,9,10,11

Estivo

RRP: $96.00

• Palm made from durable AMARA (60% Polyamide, 40% Polyurethane) • Fingers reinforced with leather inlays • Back of hand made from breathable net material • Hard plastic knuckle shell protector reinforced with leather inlay • Palm and ball of the hand reinforced with Keprotec • Held print on palm and back of hand • Wrist adjustment strap Colours: Black - sizes: 7,8,9,10,11

Phantom

RRP: $379.00

• Palm and back in highly abrasion-resistant sweatproof and colourfast kangaroo leather • Unlined palm. Back and thumb fully padded with shock-absorbing suprotect and 100% kevlar® • Little and ring ﬁngers additional kevlar® padding on the inside and outside • Pre-formed, crumple-free palm • Special ﬂat seams reduce pressure points on the inner hand, and enhance feel • Gfc shells with 100% kevlar® ceramic polymer matrix coating give perfect protection to the side of the hand and knuckles • Velcro straps on the cuff and wrist • Visor wiper Colours: White-red-blue • white-blue • white-red - black C Sizes: 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11 S

Hashiru

RRP: $269.00

• Palm In Highly Abrasion-resistant Sweat Proof And Colour Fast Kangaroo Leather • Back In Soft Cowhide Leather • 100% Polyester Lining • Special Step Steam For Unsurpassed Fit • Underneath The Carbon Knuckle Protection • Twin Velcro Straps At Cuff • Visor Wiper Colours: Black - Red - Blue - sizes: 7,8,9,10,11,12

Blizzard

RRP: $169.00

• Palm in soft cowhide leather • Back and cuff in 100% Polyamide Airguard with leather pannels • GORE-TEX membrane • Heat accumulating lining • Reﬂective pannels • Velcro adjustment for snug ﬁt • Visor wiper Colours: Black - sizes: 7,8,9,10,11

Available from good bike shops now. KIWI RIDER 83

KBC VR2R

RRP: FROM $349.00 - $499.00 COLOUR: Lady Killer, Alien, Stealth, Vulcan

KBC S-FX

RRP: $339.00 COLOUR: Skull White/Gold, Spark

PERFORMANCE HELMETS

www.kbchelmet.com www.nwa.co.nz

ZEUS 805

RRP: FROM $139 - $169 COLOUR: Red/Silver, Blue/Silver, Titanium/Silver, Matt Black, White, Gloss Black, Blue, Red Wine

ZEUS 3600C

RRP: $179.00 COLOUR: Blue, Wine Red, Black, Silver

www.zeus-helmets.com www.nwa.co.nz

84 KIWI WI R WI RIDER IDER ID ER

HOT PRODUCTS ROAD

1 AGV GP-TECH HELMET $1299 Distributor: Nationwide Accessories

Constructed of SSL (Super Super Light) Carbon Kevlar, the AGV GP-TECH has the highest specs of the AGV race range. It offers comfortable and secure ﬁt and the IVS (Integrated Ventilation System) incorporates dual air intakes with channels hollowed directly into the shell to ensure the rider is comfortable during the longest ride. The hygienic treated CoolMax padding is fully removable for cleaning while the clear, ﬂat, anti scratch and anti-fog polycarbonate Race-X visor (with tear-off system on the helmet) offers fast, tool-free replacement in a few seconds. Sizes: M-XL, black only.

2 NOLAN GREX J2 HELMET $279 Distributor: Eurobike Wholesale

The J2 is an elegant new jet helmet with appealing design and strong details. It features an extra long visor for added wind protection and comes standard with a retractable internal sun visor and a superior ventilation system (consisting of an upper air intake and rear extractors which allow constant air recirculation). The removable padding is fully washable and a micrometric adjustment buckle provides for quick, easy fastening of the helmet.

3 AIROH GP HELMET From $1039 Distributor: Forbes & Davies

The new for 2010 Airoh GP is the same helmet used by 2009 125GP World Champion Julian Simon. Featuring state-of-theart Carbon and Kevlar construction, the GP comes with all the top shelf features you’d expect from a helmet used by the world’s best motorcycles racers. There’s a washable and removable comfort liner, Anti-fog (AFFS) visor insert, anti-scratch visor, multiple air vents and rear extractors, removable air deﬂectors for the nose and chin, visor lock system, Double D-ring retention, and weighs a mere 1350g. The GP comes in 4 shell sizes providing the ideal ﬁt, no matter what size your noggin, from XS up to a massive XXXL! Expect to see the GP at Airoh stockist from late December / early January. 4 FULL BORE M3 TRACK SPORT RADIAL TYRES $60 Distributor: Northern Accessories

Designed for the most aggressive rider, these street legal, D.O.T. approved, track sport radials are offered in soft and ultra soft compounds. The M-3 is the best choice for high performance street riding, track days or drag racing offering incredible handling and traction and the best overall value of any track day/premium aggressive use radial. Available in 120/70-17, 190/5017 and 200/50-17.

4 FULL BORE M1 SPORT RADIAL Distributor: Northern Accessories

When it’s time to replace your OEM radial, this ZR Rated General Purpose superbike tyre offers the perfect blend of handling and longevity and the best overall value in its class! The tread and construction give superior traction even in the most varied of weather and road conditions. Designed for today’s high-performance superbikes. Available in 120/70-17, 180/55-17, 190/5017 and 200/50-17. 6

VESPA GIFTWARE

Vespa (Italian for wasp) is the iconic name that pops into everyone’s head when they think ‘scooter’. Vespa has a range of giftware which is ideal for Christmas presents, or for a treat for yourself. There is something within everyone’s budget – from fridge magnets, notebooks and perpetual calendars, to torches, bags and clothing. See your Vespa dealer www.euroscooter.co.nz

KIWI RIDER 85

e y E a n y D MOTORC YCLE EYE WEAR

Designed and made in Italy!

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Introducing Dyna-Eye Motorcycle eye wear for every style of riding from competition to leisure.

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Titania Seri

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REVOLUTIONARY NEW ‘OPTIC CLIP’ ACCESSORY. Have your optician ﬁt your prescription into the ‘Optic Clip’ and it simply ﬁts into the range of Dyna-Eye frames for hassle free riding. Available for Deimos 3 Moto, Oberon Moto, and Titania Series.

Priced from $89.00 AVAILABLE FROM ALL GOOD BIKE SHOPS oto

Deimos Mo

Oberon Mo

DISTRIBUTED BY EUROBIKE WHOLESALE LTD

86 KIWI RIDER

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1 DIADORA EAGLE FX WP BOOTS $399 Distributor: Nationwide Accessories

2 HOT PRODUCTS ROAD

The Eagle FX WP is a great looking boot designed for sport and racing use but comfy enough to use for touring. All leather uppers are combined with Veratex’s waterproof and breathable lining. The removable toe sensor is in magnesium while the closure is a velcro and zip combo. The mid-sole is an antishock Dual Flex in TPU with EVA padding to cushion pedal vibration. The sole is in anti-slip rubber and the removable, anitbacterial inner sole is equipped with APS (Air Pump System). Like all Diadora boots, the Eagle FX WP guarantees safety thanks to the internal padding, polyurethane reinforcements, ASS (Ankle Support System) and removable calf and ankle sensors. Sizes: 40 - 47, black only.

2 MOTORCYCLE HELMET CAMCORDER $225 Distributor: PHS www. amalgamate2000.com/sales

What everyone has been waiting for to get their 15 minutes of fame on the net, unbelievably simple to operate even with gloves on, strap it on - press one button to turn on laser light for aim and another button to start digital video recording & the same button again to stop, comes with 2Gb SD card, powered by 2 x AAA batteries, autopower off - this much fun has never been so easy. 3 UGLY FISH SLIM GLASSES From $82 Distributor: Forbes & Davies

Part of the new Ugly Fish releases for Summer, the Slim is the smaller version of the popular Glide and is available as a single lenz set of either normal or light sensitive lenz, or as a three lenz kit (clear, yellow, smoke). They also come with removable arms that can be replaced with the supplied strap, a shatterproof antiscratch and anti-fog lenz, plus hard protective case, soft pouch, and removable wind blocker inserts. Protect your eyes when out on the road this Summer with a pair of Ugly Fish Riderz sunglasses – available now from your Ugly Fish stockist. 4 VENTURA-BIKE PACK SYSTEMS Distributor: Dold Industries If you need to carry your gear without disturbance to your riding or a hassle to yourself, ﬁt one of these systems. All Ventura Bike-Pack Systems are CustomMade to ﬁt your bike. Simple as that. The Ventura Bike-Pack System is now available for Yamaha XV 1900A W-Y Roadliner (0709), Yamaha YZF – R 125 Y (2009), Aprilia RSV4 Factory (2009) (Ventura Light-Guard available), Honda VTR 250 (2010) (Ventura Light-Guard available) www.dold.co.nz

HJC CL-ST FULL FACE HELMET From $199 Distributor: Darbi Accessories

Injected alloy shell with three shell sizes. Quick release visor system with lock down mechanism. Anti-fog visor. Removable, washable liner. Removable breath guard. Removable chin curtain. 7-point ventilation. One touch buckle. Available in black or sliver solid colours (top); Mosaic Graphic MC5F (bottom, Silver/Black/Grey); Myth Graphic: MC1 (Red - middle), MC2 (Blue), MC5 (Silver) and Scoop Graphic: MC5 (Silver) .

ZEUS 506D JET HELMET $109 Distributor: Nationwide Accessories

The Zeus 506D helmet is a super lightweight, open face helmet manufactured of injected thermoplastic resin. The 506D has a patented “No-Sweat” interior system to keep the rider comfortable. Complete with a quick release seat belt fastening strap and 2.2mm scratch resistant visor, the 506D is ideal for the rider who prefers an open face helmet. Sizes: XS-XL in matt black/orange, dark blue/silver, black/silver.

5 KIWI RIDER 87

$19,995 3 Year Warranty | 2 Year Free Service Haldane Motorcycles Auckland Image Motorcycles New Plymouth Moto-Mart Lower Hutt Norjo Motorcycles Christchurch

Restar ting The Passion

Distributed by Eurobike Wholesale Ltd

EMMKR012

www.motomorini.co.nz

s e k i B m o t s u C & s y Harle

The Ultimate Shocks for:

S TWIN SHOCK E L B A T S U J L, AD INLESS STEE A T S , Y T U D HEAVY

• Polished stainless steel bodies • Polished stainless steel springs • Full 2 year warranty • Adjustable spring preload • 18mm diameter hard chrome shaft • Black or silver anodised mounts • Full adjustable, high pressure gas damping (11 clicks) • Double acting shim stack valving just like a monoshock • With chunky 42mm bodies and 72mm springs, they look right on a big bike.

Available now from your nearest Harley or Japanese franchised dealer

Distributed by Eurobike Wholesale Ltd

88 KIWI RIDER

EHAKR002

Its new shape and larger dimensions give increased durability and traction along with optimum pressure distribution and unmatched riding comfort. The Night Dragon’s street-wise tread pattern maximizes the contact patch for fast warm up, quickly giving the rider conﬁdence of stability and traction.

HOT PRODUCTS ROAD

1 PIRELLI NIGHT DRAGON TYRE Distributor: Nationwide Accessories

2 BLUETOOTH BIKE 2 BIKE MOBILE PHONE INTERCOM $399/sgl, $699/pr. Distributor: Northern Accessories

The innovative Stereo F4 Interphone Motorcycle Kit is a fully ﬂedged wireless entertainment and communication system for bikers on the go. Use it to: talk wirelessly on your mobile phone; talk to another Interphone user within 500 metres, using the intercom feature; hear turn by turn GPS direction information from your Bluetooth-enabled GPS device (works with “motorcycle-friendly” GPS devices only) and listen to stereo music from any music player that supports the Bluetooth A2DP proﬁle. Wireless, water-resistant, windproof and world class, the removable and rechargeable BlueAnt Interphone F4 Stereo Motorcycle Kit can be used at up to 180 KM/h and is compatible with all Bluetooth mobile phones.

3 DIADORA POKER TOURING BOOTS $299 Distributor: Nationwide Accessories

Made from synthetic leather with a Cordura upper and a hard wearing, triple density non slip rubber sole. The shin and ankle areas feature internal moulded plastic protectors, and water is kept out by using a breathable Veratex membrane. It also features an antibacterial replaceable footbed with APS (Air Pump System). Sizes: 40 48, black only.

1 3

4 MOTODRY TRIPLEX TANK BAG $156 Distributor: Forbes & Davies

The Triplex is a trick dual compartment Tank Bag from Motodry with a 22 ltr capacity. Effectively two bags in one, the top compartment zips off and becomes a handy back pack that features a stow away rain cover, 2 external pockets, and a clear map pocket on top. The bottom compartment also zips off – leaving another clear map pocket which can be used all on its own! Great for touring duties (utilising both top and bottom for greater storage), or for commuting simply detach the top and just use the bottom compartment – the choice is yours. 5 OXFORD SCREAMER ALARM LOCK Distributor: Northern Accessories

At last a great disc alarm for under sixty bucks. Attack activated alarm lock. 100db siren, 2 keys, 7mm locking pin and pouch. Easy to operate in just 4 steps; 1. Open up lock with key 2. Fit over brake disc 3. Push key cylinder to lock 4. Press button within 15 seconds to activate alarm. Can be locked up and stored without activating the alarm siren. Oxford quality. ORINA ROAD KNUCKLE SUMMER GLOVES From $59 Distributor: Darbi Accessories

A glove with attitude. Cowhide leather in palm and ﬁngers. Carbon knuckle protection. Mesh foam to keep cool in summer. Sizes: XS to 3XL, black only.

2 KIWI RIDER 89

THE CLASSIC N TOOL ROLL AMERICA f Ipraex.

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Distributed By Eurobike Wholesale Ltd

New!

New! GIVI 300

The latest in the Givi Monolock range for scooters and low powered motorcycles. Featuring an interchangeable cover in a range of colours to match your bike. |$139.00 black| black|

EVAKR002

THE LATEST IN THE GIVI MONOKEY RANGE. This beautifully styled case features a 55 lt capacity that will comfortably ﬁt two full face helmets without being too wide. Interchangeable painted lid covers available |$599.00 black|

|$699.00 painted colour|

|$199.00 painted colour|

TECHNOLOGY

CAPACITY

300

SIZES

0 40

410

VOLUME

COMING SOON: The E55 will soon be able to be ﬁtted with a speciﬁc remote control for easy one hand opening.

30 lt MAX. LOAD

3 Kg Distributed by Eurobike Wholesale Ltd

90 KIWI RIDER

EGIKR016

Distributed by Eurobike Wholesale Ltd

EGIKR017

ROAD SUZUKI GSX-R1000 K9 What is it about 1000cc sportsbikes that we as motorcyclists ﬁnd so attractive? I was pondering just this question as I ﬂicked through the candidates for this year’s Bike of The Year award.

BIKE OF THE YEAR ROAD

KR 2009 BIKE OF THE YEAR

Having missed out on a couple of ofﬁcial launches I have yet to ride candidates from other categories like BMW’s new, improved K 1300 sports tourers and Harley-Davidson’s XR 1200X. And though two new middleweights left a big impression on me this year, namely Yamaha’s new XJ6 Diversion and BMW’s F 800R, I’m not sure I could, in all conscience, nominate either as my ‘Bike of The Year.’ Previously we’ve hedged our bets and judged each bike only against its peers but this year, having decided months ago that Husaberg’s new FE450 deserved the ultimate dirt bike accolade we decided to man-up and narrow down both road and dirt candidates to just the one bike In the road bike category this year that bike is (drum roll please) Suzuki’s GSX-R1000K9.

MY BEST OF 2009: ROSS MACKAY THE GOOD Over the years I’ve waxed lyrical over the good and ranted over the bad but whether it’s a fundamental change in the motorcycle landscape or just me getting ground down by the monthly deadline cycle, 2009 hasn’t had the highs other years seem to have had. Of the bikes I’ve ridden the ones which have left the most positive impression would be our ‘Road’ Bike of The Year, Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 K9, with honourable mentions to Yamaha for the all-new – and very good – XJ6 middleweight and YZFR125 sports single, and BMW for the F 800 R. Of the dirt bikes (that I’ve personally ridden, remember) the list is even shorter, consisting of Husaberg’s new FE 450 and Yamaha’s WR250F. But that’s as much a function of the fact that we’ve hardly had any enduro or dual-purpose bikes to test. That aside one of the best ‘motorcycle’ things to happen in Auckland this year was the opening of destination ‘store’ Deus ex Machina in the old Auckland City Council depot building off Wellesley Street. Part café, part clothes shop, part custom shop, part place for downtown media and ad in-

dustry creatives and design-types to ‘hang out,’ it is the perfect place to catch up with home ofﬁce-based freelancers Campbell and Big Dave…not to mention talk business with downtown clients in a suitably motorcycle-themed environment. THE BAD Oddly enough the so-called ‘world-wide recession’ took a while to trickle down to the corridors of Kastle KR…..in fact we were still seeing year-on growth both in ad sales and subscriptions well into the winter. When the downturn did hit, however, it hit hard and it continues to affect both the bottom line and the mood of the industry. Bike sales are down across most sectors as is attendance at organised events, even charity trail rides. At some by as much as a third. On a personal level, meanwhile, both Pete and I had to say ﬁnal goodbyes to much-loved Mums this year…which, no matter how hard an image us tough two wheel huas try to project, is hard and has cast a shadow over the year. Finally, any year I keep things shiny side up has got to be a good year, though how I managed to do so when so many

of our main roads (the Western Access is now one of the worst) suffer from terminal tar bleed I don’t know. THE UGLY Buell. Or at least what Harley-Davidson did to it. Sure the parent company has been hit hard by the recession but surely Buell was just getting into its stride? Personally I’ve never been a great fan of Erik’s unique Made-in-America vision. But one ride on the Ulysses was all it took to convince me that the guy was - ﬁnally - onto something. So to Erik and all you (because I know there are a lot of you) Buell faithful out there, my honest and heartfelt commiserations. And to Harley-Davidson? I know business is as much about the head as it is the heart, but the last time you let the bean-counters run things remember what happened.... And while I’m on the subject of short-sighted ﬁscally-motivated decisions, how do you think the bloke who designed pushbike company Cannondale’s ill-fated motocross bike feels when he sees or hears another breathless story about Yamaha’s ‘innovative and ground-breaking’ new YZ450F? Not only did the Cannondale use a fuel-injected, reverse cylinder head 4-stroke engine, it also came standard (both the MX and enduro models) with push-button electric start. Which the new YZ450F doesn’t have! KR KIWI RIDER 91

\ “WORLD BEATER” is how the Aussie dirt bike magazine, Trailbike Adventure, described the 09 Safari!

Yamaha NZ and the Britton Motorcycle Adventures team are back with a new three-day South Island Safari! The 2010 Yamaha NZ Safari is based in Marlborough, a region that is well known for its dry, temperate climate, its wineindustry, the stunning Marlborough Sounds, the beautiful Awatere Valley and high country farms and stations. This year we head into exciting new terrain, ride areas include Marlborough Sounds, Pelorus Sounds, Havelock, Canvastown and the Awatere Valley. ANYONE CAN RIDE THE YAMAHA NZ SAFARI Any off-road or adventure rider can join the Safari; this ride is open to all brands, and models. You will need a road legal dual purpose bike of 200 to 1200cc. It must be well prepared with at least dual-purpose tyres fitted. Riders need a current driver’s licence, a reasonable level of fitness and capability, and the confidence to ride many kilometers on gravel and stony trails. SAFARI ENTRY COST Full Safari Package: NZ$1250 Pillion Rider: NZ $1100 Own Accommodation: NZ$950

LA STIL LEFT CES PLA FEW

92 KIWI RIDER

OPEN TO ALL DUAL PURPOSE MOTORCYCLES AND RIDERS BIG B BIKE AND ADVENTURE TRAIL OPTIONS

Safari Entry Forms are available on the website; www.adventurerides.co.nz For more information contact; Mike Britton at 07 8556132, mobile 021 2849047 or email: mike@adventurerides.co.nz Postal: PO Box 12180, Chartwell, Hamilton 3248

BIKE OF THE YEAR DIRT

KR 2009 BIKE OF THE YEAR

DIRT HUSABERG FE450

Just when you thought Husabe erg had disappeared off the face of the planet, the Swedish giantt got savvy and set about re-brandnd ing, re-inventing and re-invigorating their proud heritage. From its release Husaberg’s 2009 FE450 became the single most important off-road production motorcycle the world had seen since Yamaha added performance to 4-stroke racing with the original YZ400F. The forward-slanting engine was developed in some genius’s cold Swedish workshop out of old and new Husaberg and KTM parts. Husaberg then blended the masterfully crafted engine into a newly extruded chromoly frame and raided the KTM parts catalogue for the ﬁnishing touches. The result is a super-competitive and radically enhanced off-road machine that gets unbelievable traction with the balance and ﬁnesse of a factory trials bike. If you haven’t experienced the sensation of riding one, then we suggest you make it your New Year’s resolution. It’s truly fascinating and worth the satisfaction of calling it Bike of the Year 2009.

MY BEST OF 2009: OLLIE SHARP THE GOOD As I write this I’m sitting with my legs curled up around my ears just like the other 150 odd jet setters sardined into this Air New Zealand Boeing 767 bound for Sydney. There I’ll board another, hopefully more comfortable, passenger jet, destination Johannesburg, South Africa to compete (or rather ride) in what looks set to be the hardest race of my life and possibly the most stupid thing I have ever attempted. No matter what calamities or triumphs unfold over the next three weeks during my stay in Africa I know it will be the coolest thing I have ever done in my life to date – riding dirt bikes in the motherland of humanity.

As for KR, we’re still going strong, very strong. Twenty-ﬁ ve years of service to the New Zealand motorcycle community is something to hold in very high regard and something I am forever grateful to be an integral part of. The Bad Binning a brand new 2009 R1 at 200km/h in west Auckland while running her in one late May afternoon; well that’s how the rumours went anyway. Unfortunately for all you rumour mongers out there I wish that were the case because it would make one hell of a story for the grandchildren in 50 years. In truth it was a low speed low side in some git’s dropped engine oil. To this day I can still vividly recall the sound of

Peter Payne’s bottom lip slapping his desk when I told him the news. All I can say is thank my lucky stars that cross-plane crankshaft is the widest point on the bike acting as a factory Oggy Knob – I knew that new engine was good for something. The Ugly Well it’s fantastic that New Zealand is currently on what seems to be recession recovery but unfortunately for the motorcycle manufacturers it’s very ugly stuff and it will be years before the wounds are healed. The global recession wreaked havoc on world-wide motorcycle production and as a result availability of new machines for purchase after the initial shipments run out will be as rare as rocking horse shit. KR KIWI RIDER 93

96 KIWI RIDER

WORLD FAMOUS MOTORCYCLES

RED BARON QUALITY AND SELECTION AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE

OVER 200 QUALITY USED BIKES

1999 1995 1992 1997 1997 2001 1991 1992 1994 1994 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2002 2003 2005 2005 2008 2006 1989 1990

APRILIA BMW DUCATI DUCATI DUCATI DUCATI HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA HYOSUNG KAWASAKI KAWASAKI

RS250 $8,995 F650` $6,995 400SS $5,995 SS400 $5,995 ST2 $7,995 ST4S $10,995 VFR400 $5,995 CB250 $4,995 XL400 TRANSALP $6,495 NAS250 $3,495 NSR125 $2,995 VRX400 $4,995 CB400 $5,995 GL1500SE $17,995 VTR1000F x 2 from: $7,495 CB400 $5,995 SP1 $10,995 CB400 $6,495 CBR954 $9,995 CRF450 $6,995 CBR600RR $10,995 CR85 $3,495 CRF250 $7,995 GV250 $5,995 ZXR 250 $5,995 ZZR250 $4,495

1990 1991 1991 1993 1995 1997 2000 2000 2002 2002 2005 2004 2004 2005 2006 2007 2007 2007 2008 2002 1989 1998 1998 2001 2001 2004

KAWASAKI KAWASAKI KAWASAKI KAWASAKI KAWASAKI KAWASAKI KAWASAKI KAWASAKI KAWASAKI KAWASAKI KAWASAKI KAWASAKI KAWASAKI KAWASAKI KAWASAKI KAWASAKI KAWASAKI KAWASAKI KAWASAKI KTM SUZUKI SUZUKI SUZUKI SUZUKI SUZUKI SUZUKI

ZXR250 VOYAGER ZXR750R EL250 x 2 ZXR400 ZX6 KX80 ZX12R X 2 ESTERELLA KX85 Z1000 KX250F VN2000 ZX10R KLE VERSEYS KX250 KX250R GPX250 ER650F 125SX GSXR1100 SV400 VS1400 GSXR1300 GSXR1000 GSXR1000 K4

$5,995 $8,995 $8,495 $3,995 $7,495 $7,495 $2,995 $10,995 $5,995 $3,495 $10,995 $5,495 $16,495 $10,495 $9,995 $6,495 $6,495 $5,995 $9,995 $4,995 $6,495 $6,495 $8,495 $12,495 $11,495 $9,995

2005 SUZUKI RM250 $6,495 2006 SUZUKI DR200 $3,995 2009 SUZUKI AN250 $6,995 2003 TRIUMPH SPEED TRIPLE $9,995 1990 YAMAHA FZR250 $5,495 1990 YAMAHA FZR1000 $5,495 1990 YAMAHA SRX400 $4,995 1991 YAMAHA FJ1200 $5,995 1993 YAMAHA SRV250 x 2 $3,995 1994 YAMAHA XJR400 $3,995 1995 YAMAHA YFS200 $3,995 1995 YAMAHA XV1100 $6,495 1995 YAMAHA TRX850 $6,995 1996 YAMAHA XJR400 $5,995 1996 YAMAHA SZR660 x 2 from $6,495 1996 YAMAHA VMAX $7,995 1997 YAMAHA SRV250 $4,995 1999 YAMAHA XVS1100 $8,995 2001 YAMAHA R6 $10,495 2002 YAMAHA XVS1100 $10,995 2003 YAMAHA XVS1100 35500kms $11,995 2004 YAMAHA R6 $12,495 Stock Available as at 30/11/09

FOR THE BEST QUALTY – MAKE SURE IT'S A RED BARON BIKE WARRANTIES AVAILABLE ON ALL USED ROAD BIKES

RED BARON 250 LEARNER BIKE PACKAGES FROM $2995 INCL FREE PACKAGE VALUED AT OVER $600

299 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn, Auckland. Ph 360 7700 www.redbaron.co.nz KIWI RIDER 97

DIRT NEWS AND BRIEFS

KT CAPITAL COAST 2010 KTM Th The KTM Capital Coast Adventure is on again in 2010 on Saturday March 20 to be exact. The ‘Coast centres on Wellington City T and explores its extraordinary coastline. Prepare to be amazed at how much offroad riding there is within the city limits. L Long-time adventure event organiser John Forsyth has some remarkable terrain lined Fo up, including coastal tracks, native bush, up fire rebreaks – you’ll be blown away. The course will be totally rideable on big bikes with pillion passenger and will have alternative sections for those seeking a challenge. The KTM NZ team will also be there with a range of demo bikes. The event venue will be once again at the Plimmerton School, 25km north of Wellington city and free camping is available. Navigation will be by the traditional route sheet and holder but John tells us that this time round he’ll also be exploring a new idea with GPS navigation for those riders that have these ‘electronic lunchboxes.’ The entry fee of $135 includes route guide, lunch, ride badge, sumptuous dinner (with pudding!) and land access is all taken care of. Look for entry forms in KRN, or check out the KTM CCA website at www. capitalcoastadventure.co.nz/ AUSSIE BACKFLIPS… A HARLEY That’s right, as hard as it might be to believe, Australian FMXer Kain Saul has just completed a world-first of sorts, the successful back flip of a genuine Harley-Davidson motorcycle. In this case it was a modified XR1200X; the road version of the iconic American motorcycle manufacturer’s Flat Track model. The stunt was completed with the minimum of fuss on a movable ramp and hastily created landing mound just outside Melbourne with still and digital cameras there to capture the moment. We’ve attached a couple of shots here but to see it pan out yourself on YouTube.

BIRCH LEADS KIWI ONE-TWO IN AFRICA WORDS: Staff PICS: KTM Defending race-winner Chris Birch (KTM) has spearheaded a stunning Kiwi one-two in this year’s Lesotho Sun-backed Roof of Africa Rally, leading home countryman Rory Mead (Yamaha) by a record two hours and 13 minutes. “I’m absolutely stoked to have won the Roof of Africa for the second time. I’m bruised, bent and exhausted but am still really happy. I owe a huge thanks to the KTM South Africa team and their sponsors Brother, LG and Red Bull and as always my wife Monica the best (and loudest) supporter South Africa has ever seen,” Birch said at the prize giving.

BMW’s challenge meanwhile was blunted late that day when top contender, and recent New Zealand visitor, Andreas Lettenbichler, was forced to retire an agonizing 10 km before the ﬁnish line after a rock holed his bike’s sump. KR

RESULTS 2009 ROOF OF AFRICA 1. Chris Birch (KTM, New Zealand) 19:07:08 2. Rory Mead (Yamaha, New Zealand) 21:20:53 3. Jade Gutzeit (BMW, South Africa) 21:21:05 4. Darryl Curtis (KTM, South Africa) 21:40:53

This year’s ‘Roof rally had three Kiwis entered, Birch, Mead and KR’s own Dirt Editor Ollie Sharp. Sharp acquitted himself well early on only to succumb, as did many of the other riders, to dehydration when things got really difficult on Day 2. As an indication of just how tough it was, race leader Birch took 10 hours to complete the course that day. The event started off on Thursday, 26th November with the traditional ‘Round the Houses,’ a three-lap race per class in the city centre of Maseru that competitors had complete on the tar. Chris Birch got his event off to a good start by winning the Open class on his 300 EXC-W though the fastest overall time was set by South African BMW rider Jade Gutzeit. TOUGH DAY Friday’s route was harder than anyone had ever expected. The most difficult rocky terrain to ride with hardly any rest between the stages even brought the fittest and experienced riders to their limits.

SUPERVALUE SUMMERCROSS ‘10 The Bay of Plenty’s popular Summercross is on again over the usual two days in late December, the 27th and 28th. This time round the motocross event held near Whakatane has attracted a new major sponsor - SuperValue Supermarkets in Edgecumbe. Entries were ﬂowing in as this issue of KR was heading to the presses so

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There was also a hiccup for Birch on the start of Day 3 (Saturday) when the organizers didn’t get a marshal onto the course on time and the Kiwi had to return to the start, re-fuel and re-trace the 40 kms he had just covered In the end, however, he was a more than worthy winner, finishing the event with a new record lead over Rory Mead with the first of the South Africans to see the chequered flag, Jade Gutzeit (BMW), in third.

Two-time Roof of Africa rally winner, Kiwi KTM rider Chris Birch

if you haven’t already get yours in quick before the classes ﬁll up and book your holidays around the 27th and 28th of December to take a trip this summer to where the hottest racing action will be in the sunny Eastern Bay of Plenty. Download your entry form now from www. bopmcc.co.nz

DIRT NEWS AND BRIEFS

MAJOR UPGRADE FOR BMW R 1200 GS WORDS: Staff PICS: BMW

WORDS: Staff PIC: Archive BMW’s R 1200 GS – now with new HP2-style DOHC /4-valve cylinder heads

After incremental upgrades over the past few model years BMW has chosen 2010 to release its first major revamp of the top-selling R 1200 GS since the engine capacity went from 1150 to 1200 in 2004. The key change is the move to the chain-driven double overhead camshaft (DOHC) cylinder heads first seen in the HP2 Sport model, the upgraded engine now developing a maximum power output of 81 kW/110 PS at 7,750 rpm with peak torque of 120 Nm at 6,000 rpm. With the new, more effi cient and freer-breathing heads peak revs have now gone up from 8000 to 8,500 rpm with the new power figure representing an increase of fi ve percent. Following the lead Honda established with its latest CBR1000RR BMW has also introduced (in their case) an electronically controlled flap in the exhaust system which varies the exhaust note depending on engine revs…. Colour options are white, red, grey and black for the R 120 GS and metallic grey and yellow for the R 1200 GS Adventure.

In true BMW style, technology such as switchable ABS and Enduro ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment) Tyre Pressure Control and Automatic Stability Control will be available, as will an extensive range of equipment and luggage. The new BMW R 1200 GS and R 1200 GS Adventure will arrive here in the ﬁrst quarter 2010 with pricing details to be announced closer to the time. KR

OPARAU ENDURO 2010 The 2010 New Zealand Enduro Championship gets off with a hiss and a roar next year with the 15th running of the Oparau Enduro in the western Waikato on Saturday January 20. As the Enduro championships have changed over the years so have the events with a lot of two-day events early on. This year the Oparau Enduro will live up to its reputation as being a demanding but really enjoyable ride for all competitors, including – for the first time, Juniors. To accommodate them organiser Sean Clarke will effectively run two events on the same day, with Juniors starting at 9am and finishing at 12.00, and the Seniors starting at 12.00 on a different loop just as the Juniors are finishing. It may sound complicated but Sean swears its not and reckons there will be no worries of the seniors running down the kids in the same section! If you’re planning on making the trip remember too that there’s free camping by the river and the Hauturu School fundraiser trail ride the day after (Sunday). NEW MID-SIZE 4T SX-F FROM KTM Responding to interest from riders and event organizers alike for a bike which combines the brute power of a 450cc class MX1 with the finesse of a lighter, sharper handling MX2 machine KTM has come up with a new 350cc machine, the 4-stroke 350 SX-F. The new bike was officially unveiled at the recent Milan show and came complete with KTM’s muchvaunted new linkage rear suspension system and a fuel-injected version of the company’s distinctive 4-stroke single engine. The new bike, developed with input from MX legend Stefan Everts, will not go on the market

KIWI RIDER 99

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straight away but production is expected to begin in 2010 for a 2011 release.

DIRT NEWS AND BRIEFS

AND THE WINNER IS… WORDS: Staff PIC: Oscar We love giving away motorcycles, for no better reason than to hear the reaction of the winner when we phone, then see the look on their face when the key is ﬁnally handed over. So a drumroll please for Hamilton subscriber Andy Glover, the proud new owner of the Kawasaki – in this case a KLR650 – which was the prize in our most recent subs promo. Andy’s a long-time motorcyclist who owns Farrell Bearings in Hamilton and is

KR subs winner Andy Glover with Kawasaki NZ’s Mike Wilkins (top) and ready to head home on his new KLR650 Kawasaki

the archetypal worthy winner. To the point where even before he collected the keys he was planning a ﬁrst ride to the Far North Adventure Ride!!!! Here we see Andy being congratulated and handed the keys to his new bike by Kawasaki’s Mike Wilkins. Good on you Andy we hope you enjoy your new ride...and continue to subscribe and enjoy Kiwi Rider! KR

NOW WOMEN GET AN ENDURO CUP First came a Women’s Trials Cup. Then Women’s Rally and MX Cups. Now the FIM has unveiled plans for a new Women’s Enduro Cup. At the same time the world’s governing body of motorcycling has announced it is setting up a special Commission for Women in Motorcycling. Commenting on the decision, Beaulah Schoeman, Commission for Women in Motorcycling President said: “The introduction of the FIM Women’s Enduro World Cup once again highlights the FIM’s commitment to promote women in motorcycling, and this decision is of course warmly welcomed by the CFM. On behalf of the CFM and all women motorcyclists, we wish each and every lady who will be participating in the FIM Women’s Enduro World Cup only the very best. Amedeo Michelotti, Enduro and Cross-Country Rallies Commission President added: At the ISDE in 2009 no fewer than ﬁve women’s national teams participated, and all the female competitors ﬁnished. KR

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KIWI RIDER 101

RIDDEN ’09 HONDA CRF450R WORDS: Steven Croad PICS: Glen Manning

CRF450 SUPER MOTARD STAGE 2

he plan changed not long after the stage one project went to print, when someone wanted to purchase the bike as it was, and as everything had always been for sale it had to go. Plus, I was thinking this was going to be a good chance to start all over again as I’d found the ﬁrst project to be a lot of fun. So a few days later a new CRF450 09 turned up on my door step – but the mission this time was a little different as I had been given the challenge of attending the Burt Munro in late November, and not being someone to turn down a challenge I accepted. I didn’t think about how much work it was going to be to get a new bike, plus all the parts, get the set up sorted, and get the bike freighted to the bottom of the South Island to go racing! All this within ﬁve weeks. So I started making a list of the parts and the set up I was going to need to get the bike ready, and I must say the list just kept on getting longer and longer. Then it was time to get on the phone and start 102 KIWI RIDER

organising everything so it would get here in time for it all to be assembled. First mission was to disassemble the bike and start from a scratch. The engine and suspension were removed and sent away for heavier springs and valving for my weight and riding style. The engine just needed a few little modifications to increase horsepower and get a slipper clutch fitted. At the same time the Ignition was re-mapped to also improve power and performance. Thanks to Jimmy at the Performance Factory for his assistance in this area as it worked a treat. Next it was a matter of getting some wheels and brakes sorted, so I decided to go for Haan Wheels for the weight and the strength that they had to offer. So I selected the colors that I wanted to run and they were underway. These nice wheels then got a new set of Michelin supermotard tyres fitted and balanced on one set and then a set of Michelin wets on the other. The good thing with the Michelin Supermotord slicks is they are specially designed for supermotard

As for the brakes, there was only one option for the best, so I ordered a Braking Brand caliper, caliper bracket, 320mm disc and 16mm radial braking master cylinder. Easy as that and they were on their way. Mmm then the problem of working out what gearing I was going to need. So it was Renthal Sprockets front and rear, for the weight and style I could not go past them, plus the options from a 38 rear through to a 52, just in case, then a 13-15 fronts. To be able to use all these gearing options I needed to have a couple of Renthal race chains in different lengths to make it easy. To help with the adjustment I also put the Zeta axle blocks in, as these have two directions giving you more options for chain adjustment and wheel placement. The control department is my favourite, I have always used Renthal Twinwall Handlebars just as they are a nice bend and the strongest on the market, so why would I not put them on? Then just so I could have more options on the position of the handlebars, I decided to add a Zeta top triple clamp which gives me the flexability to get the bars in exactly the right position for my height and style. For levers I decided to use the Zeta pivot brake lever and then the full Zeta pivot clutch assembly. For the benefit of strength and consistent feel I also decided to fit a DRC alloy throttle tube followed by some Renthal kevlar grips, which feel like a full

RIDDEN ’09 HONDA CRF450R

bikes, so they heat fast and the proﬁle works so much better.

soft compound but last three times as long, what a bonus. Then just to ﬁnish it all off I had to mount some full wrap-around hand guards, so I selected to run the Zeta Armour Guards with the smaller plastic guards. So that was the controls sorted. Then there was this box that still had lots of little things to put on to the bike, all adding their little part for extra performance, looks and strength. For example; I put the new Z-Carbon rear disc guard, rear caliper guard, front sprocket and exhaust guards on as all of these are both stronger, lighter and better looking than standard. DRC radiator hoses had to go on mainly for the looks, but they also offer

better coolant flow and are more durable. The list just goes on, I fitted the new DRC hour meter, the bonus of this hour meter, is A the size, B the option to have 3 integrated times so you can set your Oil change time and then what else you want to time, like Piston and rings. They are easy to install as well. We actually ran out of time to finish getting every on to the bike before we had to get the bike in the truck to get it down to Invercargill for the Burt Bunro Race, so there was no time to run the bike in or test anything. But I just worked on the theory that everything would be fine and how hard would it me to get used to a new bike… I would soon fine out. KR

FACING PAGE: Out front leading at the Wyndham Street (top). First run on the new bike up the Bluff Hill Climb (bottom). THIS PAGE: Getting some racing tips from Honda Superbike rider Hayden Fitzgerald (top) and front row at the Wyndam Street race, Brent Scammell #30 Steven Croad #333 and Malcolm Wells #14 (bottom).

KIWI RIDER 103

104 KIWI RIDER

KIWI RIDER 105

TALK’N ‘BOUT THE

R EVOLUTION Everyone in the dirt bike world knows about Yamaha’s radical new 2010 model year YZ450F. So what’s it like to ride? We sent Dirt Ed Ollie S trans-Tasman to ﬁnd out.

WORDS: Ollie S PICS: Greg Smith iKapture

106 KIWI RIDER

Take a stroll back nearly 11 years and we have the YZ400F – the bike that started the ‘4-stroke revolution’ in motocross. Since then we have had evolution, with a number of engine capacity sizes and overall chassis refinements until 2006 when Yamaha released the YZ450F with an aluminium frame. Now, at the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century, Yamaha has incited another revolution – this time with the all-new, reverse-cylinder YZ450F. OVERHAUL History has shown us that Yamaha has always been one to overhaul models in a four year cycle. If I were a betting man I would even go as far as saying Yamaha have probably been working on the new YZ450F for the best part of the past six to seven years. For evidence I point to the fact that the 2010 YZ450F is so radically overhauled that the only cross-over parts are the wheels, Pro-Taper handlebars, brake calipers, brake discs and the indestructible genuine Yamaha grips. That’s right. Yamaha started with a blank canvas, organised several focus groups, researched, pioneered and then produced, what they deem to be the direct result of listening to the customer, a motocross machine that turns easier, benefits from quicker, more nimble handling and produces more controllable power with the direct intention of making going faster easier. ENGINE-ERRING The new rearward facing cylinder, although not a brand new concept to the world of engineering, is the first of its kind to be implemented into global production. Slanting back a whopping 12.7° over the 2009 model, it sits lower in the frame than the previous design whilst the cylinder is shorter in stroke and wider in bore. The crank is offset to reduce the excess friction usually found in a conventional crank design, resulting in an increase in efficiency and decrease in lost horsepower. Like the YZ250F released in Cessnock several months back, the YZ450F for 2010 consigns Yamaha’s technical but proven five-valve head design to the archives, opting instead for the widely used four-valve design in conjunction with the all-new fuel injection system.

cable 44mm Keihin throttle body with th 12 injector holes, the most common n fuel injection unit used by the likes of Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki. However Yamaha differentiates itself from the competition via the ability to completely ﬁne-tune the engine mapping via the YZ Power Tuner (an n optional accessory from GYTR) and save the newly created maps to the YZ Power Tuner unit.

LAUNCH REPORT YAMAHA YZ450F

he word is revolution. And Yamaha doesn’t use it lightly.

iTUNE Looking much like a rugged iPod the YZ Power Tuner is a remarkable piece of electronics serving as a data storage tool, tuner, multiple engine diagnostics recorder and has the built-in ability to interchange tuned maps with other 2010 YZ450Fs. With the engine facing rearward the air intake is mounted up front, well out of the way of roost and debris usually thrown up by the rotating rear wheel. Not only does the Yami breath more clean air than ever before, it also comprehensively blows it out the rear tornado style exhaust with amazing efficiency and a truly unique sound. So, there’s a big tick in the box marked ‘engine.’ What about the frame and running gear? With the new engine comes - predictably – a new frame to make the most of the engine’s characteristics, and to match (or better) the competition in areas of high speed stability and lightning-fast turning. The bilateral beam frame was created with the focus on lessening ‘spring back’ to hard impacts, combined with smooth flex characteristics and more consistent shock absorbing. The bilateral design also enabled the engineers to mount the fuel tank centrally under the seat for better balance and a lowered centre of gravity. As a direct result of the new tank position, ergonomics are greatly enhanced by a longer, flatter seat allowing the rider to get further over the front wheel than ever before. While we’re talking seats and things new, the radiators are now 17mm lower maintaining a consistent width between the legs and slanted 5 degrees more than the ‘09 YZ450F. IN THE FRAME Bolted onto the bilateral frame is a set of brand new Kayaba forks that have an extra 10mm of travel over the (pretty much industry-standard) 300mm of the’09 model. As well as the extra 10mm length the forks benefit from a new low friction seal kit and a 10% increase in low speed damping to match frame rigidity.

Fuelling itself is supplied by the impecKIWI RIDER 107

LAUNCH REPORT YAMAHA YZ450F With the introduction of the new frame and engine layout, the new rear Kayaba shock receives an all-new reservoir mounted to the back of the shock, with the shock centrally mounted on to the backbone of the frame. This improves rigidity, balance, bump absorption and reduces ‘kick back’ in braking bumps. DUMBFOUNDED Yamaha took a bold approach to styling the new YZ450F. Its sharp lines, minimalistic body work and magpie-like attention to detail express a new and aggressive direction. And I must admit, at the launch where I saw it for the first time, if you like, ‘in the flesh’ - the twenty-ten YZ450F is a gorgeous-looking machine. There are so many intricate detail and performance additions that poke you in the eye when you get hands-on, it’s hard to express them all in one paragraph. I have to say, too, that the open seating position is nothing short of stellar for moving around on the bike mid moto. And if you need more fine-tuning to make you 10% happier, there’s the new four-way adjustable top triple clamp. FEELS TALLER The completely new package feels taller than the superseded ‘09 model. It fits per108 KIWI RIDER

fectly for taller riders (like me) who have previously struggled with bike ergonomics, yet seems to work equally well with shorter riders. The Kayaba suspension package is truly sensational for a standard bike, and like modified factory race suspension, it’s incredibly sensitive to clicker adjustments. In fact, chassis overhauls and swingarm refinements provide the YZ450F with a turning capability on par with the just launched ’10 YZ250F – and light years ahead of the standard YZ450F from 2009. Fantastic turn-in agility isn’t at the cost of straight line stability either. Both handling traits are equally as important as each other in the heat of the battle and the twenty ten achieves both with remarkable assurance. Arguably the most miraculous single area of the machine is the fuel injected reverse cylinder engine. During the first laps of the launch at Appin MX track it was very slippery having been watered and ripped extensively. The entire test fleet was initially set up with Jay Marmont’s race map, one of nine pre-prepared map settings. After two laps the engine spent more time pasting the watered slop all over Greg’s camera gear and going sideways than actually gaining forward momentum. So in as little as 30secs I exited the

Whether it’s railing berms or getting air-time the new reverse cylinder head YZ450F is a revelation, combining 250-like turn-in with 450-class power and stability.

LAUNCH REPORT YAMAHA YZ450F How to completely re-engineer a bike from front to rear, top to bottom and from inside to out. Yamaha used the need to upgrade from traditional carburettor to modern-day fuel injection and electronic engine management systems to turn engine design convention on its (cylinder) head, turning the new (now 4-valve) head 180° so that the intake is at the front, the exhaust at the rear. Decision made, the engineers responsible then rocked the cylinder and head back on its axis to make the intake tract as long and straight as possible. That meant moving the airbox to the top front of the bike which in turn meant sliding most of the fuel tank under the seat. Mix in a remote tuning module to help riders ﬁne-tune the engine’s power characteristics to the conditions and you have the harbinger of a whole new era of out-of-left-ﬁeld solutions to the age-old problem of making a bike lighter, faster and easier to ride!

track, grabbed the YZ Power Tuner and downloaded a new map into the fuel injection unit to feather the throttle response and make traction the emphasis rather than top end rev out. The result was a total transformation. Not only did the machine become more controllable in the wet, it also gained an unbelievable amount of traction – making the bike both controllable in slippery conditions and dropping lap times. During the following four hours of riding and evaluating I changed the mapping of the engine a further five times trying as many different engine settings as possible. Every time a new map was downloaded it comprehensively changed the way the engine responded to the conditions and rider input. While one map setting would make the YZ450F a totally unrideable angry beast, another would have the engine run like a tractor off the bottom end and sign off in the midrange like a retired XR600. I was totally gob-smacked at the difference in engine performance. It was like removing the engine and installing a completely different highly modified engine six times over. HOT PROPERTY With so many changes and refinements

to the engine and chassis the big question that still lingers is how much the offset crank and reverse cylinder has benefited the entire package. The only way to properly answer that question is to test the ‘09 against a twenty ten back-to-back in constant conditions; something KR may well look into when the first test model rolls up our driveway. Sexy in the flesh with looks unlike anything on the market, the twenty ten YZ450F is truly a crated ready-to-race machine. The entire package was an overload of stimuli for the senses during the Appin MX track Yamaha launch and you can’t help but detect the focus around the limitless fuel injection advantages of the new Yamaha donk. The YZ Power Tuner is not a necessity but is most certainly an advantage as it provides every performance upgrade you need in the convenience of a hand-held computer. Forget replacing the exhaust, forget replacing the suspension and forget everything you have previously known about the YZ450F, because the 2010 YZ450F is a revolutionary new machine that has set a new benchmark for ingenuity and performance and has created has some very big boots for others to try to fill. KR KIWI RIDER 109

The legend continues They’ve always held pride of place in your garage — and over the years, have given you plenty of great memories. Iconic models like the Suzuki PE175 that many riders cut their teeth on in the 70’s and 80’s. And who could forget the trusty Suzuki RMX250 that dominated the trails in the 90’s? Now the legend continues with the launch of Suzuki’s latest world-class o˷-roader, the RMX450Z. Descended from our most popular and well-respected motocross bikes, this hard-core trail-blazer shares the core technology of the high-performance, championship-winning RM-Z450 motocrosser. Its aggressive styling, lightweight frame, advanced suspension, and potent fuel injected 4-stroke are nearly identical. And with the addition of electric start and lights the RMX450Z is trail-ready and ideal for endurance-based riding. So make room for the new legend. There are plenty of good memories still to come!

RMX450ZL0 $12,995 RRP 0800 SUZUKI | WWW.SUZUKI.CO.NZ 110 KIWI RIDER promotus 1664

There’s nothing wrong with evolution of course, Kawasaki putting a dollar both ways by fuelth injecting the KX450F but staying with a carbie for the KX250F.

LAUNCH REPORT 2010 KAWASAKIS

or the past few generations Kawasaki has been keeping a low proﬁle in terms of major machine overhauls. Almost to the point where you feel like something bigger is on its way.

Having evaluated both 2009 KXFs back-to-back in early 2009 I can personally say that they were fantastic machines in all respects, and ones that keep raising the bar every year. However, time marches on and in very late October Kawasaki New Zealand plucked a couple of machines from the recently landed ﬁrst shipment of twenty-10 KXFs and threw a unveiling shindig at Kimmy’s MX Park, near Huntly (which is south of Auckland in case any of you from points further south were wondering). I was out of action on that particular day so to ﬁll the gap, Luke Ramsey, long time KR contributor and Kawasaki Metalman KMP team rider, jumped into my boots, got the elbows up high and cut some laps on the new twenty-10 KXF’s. I, meanwhile, got my moto mouth on, chatted up the Kawasaki clientele and got the good oil on what’s new in the 2010 KXFs.

What’s the Green Team got to offer serious MX and off-road riders for 2010? Dirt Ed Ollie and shooter Osborne headed to Huntly last month to ﬁnd out.

2010 KX250F For 2010 the KX250F has a completely new bridged-box bottom piston offering, what the factory claim is improved durability and reliability while greatly enhancing performance. The new piston shape also reduces piston pin length, further reducing reciprocating weight making for a quicker rev – a characteristic consistent with quarter-litre KXFs in the past. As for fuel injection, it will have to wait until 2011 – unlike some prototypes operating in Japan. The Keihin FCR will still deliver the goods until then. Other updates include a wider, stronger 19mm big end bearing, larger dogs on third and fourth gears, thicker, wider radiators for enhanced cooling and a stainless steel header pipe for increased durability.

WORDS: Ollie S PICS: Geoff Osborne

On the chassis side the new rear Uni-Trak suspension mount system allows for a longer rear suspension stroke, Kashima coating featureson all major slide and friction systems in the suspension whilst revised suspension settings aim to improve overall balance and performance. KIWI RIDER 111

LAUNCH REPORT 2010 KAWASAKIS

Off to a ﬂying start! That’s stand-in tester Luke Ramsey aboard the new KX250F plus basic roundthe-bike shots showing detail of what the new quarter litre looks like close-up

To ﬁnish it off factory styled raceorientated components make the 2010 KX250F stand out over last year’s ‘09 model with a new graphics package, new front and rear brake petal discs and black alumite coated rims. 2010 KX450F When fuel injection was introduced into the 2009 KX450F it totally transformed the engine into a valve-rupturing monster. For twenty-10 the fuel injection system has received a few tweaks which may just make it that much sweeter between the knees. Much like the upgraded piston included in the KX250F, the KX450F uses the bridge-box bottom piston. It achieves the same performance gains as mentioned with the KX250F, and like the quarter-litre rev box, Kawasaki engineers have introduced a stainless steel exhaust header pipe for durability. Other areas that have been revised are intake timing, a wedge-shaped crank web for better engine balance and smoother power delivery, and the most interesting, a new crank with slightly higher inertia mass to aid traction. The clutch lever also gets a makeover for a reﬁned lighter pull and clutch internals improve feel and control over the ‘09 model. Finally, thicker, wider and longer radiators ensure the KX450F stays cool with the extra length adding to their rigidity. 112 KIWI RIDER

Like the 2010 KX250F, all the important suspension internals receive Kashima coating and the Uni-Trak suspension system is mounted below the swingarm allowing a longer rear suspension stroke for a smoother ride. Styling gets the upgrade to match the factory tuned and orientated style of Villipoto’s machine with white number plates (as used in AMA) as opposed to the black number plates on the KX250F. In addition, to help the general punter tune the fuel injection system, Kawasaki offer a calibration kit to adjust engine characteristics as a factory optional purchase. LUKE RAMSEY’S IMPRESSIONS KAWASAKI KX250F I jumped on the 2010 KX250F, and after a few lever adjustments headed out on to Kimmy’s MX track. Track conditions were almost perfect with slightly tacky clay and not a hint of dust which allowed me to lay down some good laps and get a feel for the bike from the get go. The KX250F was straight out of the container and had only just been run in. There was a slight bog right on the bottom as I landed off hard jumps, however, in all fairness, I felt that with a little bit of jetting and some more hours on the engine the bog would soon disappear. The engine produced really good power from mid range through to the top end but probably peaked a little too early without much run off. I can’t

LAUNCH REPORT 2010 KAWASAKIS

but help wonder if a smaller sprocket on the rear wheel would open out that top end speed and not limit it to revving out so easy. Only being a 70kg rider the suspension felt over sprung but the action of the forks and shock was plush and had good resistance to bottom outs. KAWASAKI KX450F I rarely ride a 450 motocrosser because of the sheer power they produce compared to my very light mass and the type of riding I mostly do, so I was a little edgy when Geoff and Ollie wanted some feedback on the new open class beast. First things ﬁrst, the KX450F is an animal. I found the engine snuck the power up on you when cracking the throttle open and putting it straight to the ground in the form of pure traction. In fact I really had to push hard to get the weapon to wheel spin; it just kept trying to hook up, putting good testament towards great handling. You think with all that power comes a lot of compression and therefore a bike that’s really hard to start. Right? Wrong! The new KX450F is a piece of cake to start and with the fuel injection there is no mucking around with turning the gas on and pulling the choke out, you just kick it and go. It didn’t even feel like a bus when I was riding it, the slim tank and shrouds allowed really good grip with the knees and it only felt slightly bigger than the KX250F. The KX450F’s suspension, like the 250F, was much too hard for me but because the forks and shock were

Because he’s already got his own race bike BT had no trouble adapting to the awesome raw power and punch of the fuel-injected KX450F. Like Ramsey though? Young Luke had to take it one step at a time, though he admitted he was helped by the slim-line ergos of the open class attack weapon. The verdict? ‘It’s an animal!’ said Luke. And the way it turns power and torque into grip? Incredible!

so plush it made things a lot more comfortable than I had envisioned. I can see your average trail rider struggling with the power of this bike, but like your mother, if you treat her with respect she will not hurt you. BACK TO OLLIE It’s tough on the psyche attending new model launches and not actually cutting a few personal laps to tame the inner tiger. I did my best to conceal my envy but when you love dirt bikes this much its hard yakka. Especially when the new KXFs, in all their green livery, look so good in the ﬂesh. Luke did an awesome job riding the wheels off the two new bikes and his comments will be stowed away till a later date when KR gets their opportunity to evaluate the models in their full glory. Kawasaki New Zealand put on a relaxed affair and having Ben Townley carve ten thousand practice laps aboard his practice machine was an epic sight. We can’t wait to see that guy put his race face on for Whakatane Summercross 2009. KR KIWI RIDER 113

Paul Whibley 116 KIWI RIDER

DIRT TEST YAMAHA WR250F

They say that ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t ﬁ x it’ and that,, reckons Dirt Ed Ollie, is pretty much the case with Yamaha’s WR250F.

WORDS: Ollie S. PICS: Geoff Osborne

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DIRT TEST 09 YAMAHA WR250F

Latest WR250F offers more of the same all-round excellence on which its second-to-none reputation was founded. Combination of light, nimble chassis and running gear and hardhauling quarter litre engine means point-to-point times can be up there with 450cc class off-roaders.

something exotic to let the engine breathe and make best use of the versatile but hidden bottom end. OPPOSITES ATTRACT Placed on a spectrum the WR250F is at the opposite end to the WR450F. Yamaha’s larger capacity enduro 450 is more ﬁnely tuned for racing with a much throatier power output and race-inspired dynamic handling.

amaha’s 2009 WR250F is nothing new. It won’t make you wet your pants and if you take as gospel what your mate’s brother’s cousin says, you probably think it’s a bit soft in the power department. But you’re wrong; the WR-F is deceptively quick, makes bush savvy power and is adept at anything you throw its way. To go fast in the bush you don’t need a bike with über amounts of horsepower. Or certainly the kind that bites your elbows with a sting of a hornet every time you crack the throttle open , or ruptures an abdominal muscle whilst saving high speed tree root washouts (we get the picture Ollie! Ed). In the bush, particularly on gnarly single trail and more technical terrain, the only way to go fast is to be smooth. The best enduro bikes and the fastest riders are the smooth operators; the ones with supple suspension and quiet engines that have the ability to pull a gear higher, make very little nose and turn with balance and precision. SMOOTH OPERATOR From the pit stand to entering your typical tacky, rut-infested Riverhead trail the quarter-litre WR-F has a solid, weighty feel. Yet once you’ve familiarised yourself with the engine and your’re 10 minutes into the thick stuff the initial weighty feeling is superseded by a very quick responding and peculiarly agile chassis. In fact, with it weighing in at a competitive 117kg with a full tank of gas the WR-F is unstoppable in the tight bush as it literally dips and darts between the radiata like a feral stoat so long as the

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momentum is held consistent. It may not punch out huge horsepower figures and lack all manner of competitive nature on the open fire breaks compared to big bores blazing past you, but combine a WR-F with a competent rider and little blue will flash its heels at any large cube bike when the trail sharpens. That adeptness in the sharp trail is a result of the WR’s narrow frame geometry, compact dimensions and well balanced – if not overly soft – suspension set up. At some stage the suspension will need an eventual overhaul once/ if you go racing, yet for all day bush bashing and bog snorkelling I wouldn’t change a thing as time in the saddle is the WR’s best friend. Unlike large capacity machines the quarter-litre five valve DOHC engine wedged into the YZ- inspired aluminium frame requires constant monitoring to keep it locked in the meaty part of the rev range. The overly muffled engine means there is a fine line between bog and rev. Whilst revving the DOHC engine produces ‘go forwards’ punch equal to the best in the business, it’s less than beneficial to the torque curve when you want to traverse slippery terrain in a slow second or third gear. In fact in my humble opinion the ADR-legal exhaust muffler is the only hiccup in the engine’s otherwise stellar form sheet; and rightly so as this bike is manufactured to comply with road regulations when asphalt excursions beckon. So if road riding isn’t on your list of things to attack I recommend swapping the standard muffler for

In standard trim the WR250F is confusingly a long way off the WR450F, and is very much your next step up from Yamaha’s TT-R230 from their trail range; although there are clear separations after you remove the easy riding nature and supple suspension. The digital enduro computer mounted in front of the steering stem offers a speedometer, clock and tripmeter in basic mode. Then when switched into race mode it offers several pace management functions including timer, distance-compensating trip meter and average speed. Braking is provided by the same Nissin package that is bolted onto the YZ range and is more than effective for pulling the WR-F up in testing conditions. And bar its standard trim limitations the quarter-litre WR-F is exceptionally well manufactured and it’s reliability in

DIRT TEST 09 YAMAHA WR250F

the face of constant abuse is nothing short of legendary. Its ability to be all things to all people means it can be everything from a well-specced (premium Pro-Taper handlebars, toolless entry airbox, fancy pants enduro computer, all-essential push button start and YZ-inspired graphics) trail or adventure bike to an all-out national-level race-mount. I can’t think of one situation where the WR-F truly struggles and over the past month it’s been through it all. If Yamaha intended to produce an allrounder then the WR-F is exactly that. It’s the ultimate all-conditions machine for the novice rider right through to the advanced. KR

SPECIFICATIONS YAMAHA WR250F ENGINE Type: Liquid-cooled 5 titanium valve DOHC 4-stroke Displacement: 250cc Compression ratio: 12.5:1 Bore x stroke: 77.0mm x 53.6mm Starting system: Electric Engine management system: CDI Fuel system: Keihin FCR-MX37 carburettor Clutch: Wet multiplate clutch Transmission: 5-speed FRAME Type: Aluminium beam-type Swingarm: Aluminum Front suspension: USD-type fully adjustable Rear suspension: Link type fully adjustable Brakes: Single hydraulic disc front & rear Tyres: 90/90-21 front & 130/90-18 rear DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 1476 LxWxH: 2180 x 825 x 1305mm Seat height: 990mm Kerb Weight: 117kgs Fuel tank capacity: 8L RRP: $13,199 Test bike: Yamaha New Zealand

State-of-the-art beam-type aluminium frame and 37mm Keihin FCR carburettorequipped 5 (titanium) valve liquid-cooled engine provides the standard by which all other enduro-ready 250cc dirt bikes must be judged. Add in Pro-Taper bars, enduro computer and slick YZ-inspired graphics package and the appeal is obvious.

GEAR Helmet: Arai VX3 Wingﬂame Blue Goggles: Ariete Palladium Shirt, pans & gloves: Shot Racewear Neck brace: BMW Motorrad GPX Sport Boots: Sidi Crossﬁre SRS

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LAUNCH REPORT POLARIS PRODUCT

Aussie rally star Cody Crocker at the wheel of the RZR-S

STAR ON THE RISE O

ver several consecutive days in late October, Polaris Industries established a bit of a base at Kariotahi beach (south-west of Auckland) and if it hadn’t been for the suits in attendance you could have confused the event with some sort of mad petrol-head daylight party. With so many variations available throughout their extensive product range Polaris focused their Kariotahi demo launch day on models from their MultiUtility-Vehicle and Side-X-Side line up. The relaxed gathering at the Castaways event centre (perched above

the distinctive black sand of Kariotahi beach) gave Neil Anderson, head of Polaris Australasia’s marketing division, and his crew the prime opportunity to educate the media about recent Polaris initiatives and industry ﬁrsts. As educational as the PowerPoint presentation was, the platoon of freshly run-in Rangers, Sportsmen, a couple of products from competitors and the blood boiling RZR and RZR-S, made concentrating hard work.

You’re going to be seeing and hearing a lot more about Multi User Vehicles (MUVs) if the local branch of US company Polaris has anything to do with it. KR Dirt Ed Ollie Sharp reports. WORDS & PICS: Ollie S.

Not to mention the presence of one clammy-palmed multi Asia/Paciﬁc Rally Champion and Polaris ambassador, KIWI RIDER 121

LAUNCH REPORT POLARIS PRODUCT

All lined up….Polaris had a full range of MUV and SXS product including these Rangers at the local media familiarisation day at Kariotahi.

Cody Crocker, who was just itching to demonstrate the dune-shredding abilities of the brand new RZR-S. FROM SMALL ACORNS... Something your average Kiwi Rider reader probably doesn’t know is that Polaris is the #1 manufacturer of ATVs and SXSs in the world and the company has an astounding 56 year track record behind it. Way back in 1954 Polaris invented the ﬁrst ever snow-mobile. Since then the company has branched into ATVs (in 1985), going on to sell over one million Sportsmen.

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With an annual $1.9billion turnover Polaris is a company made up of seven subsidiaries and sells product in 144 countries. In a stroke of good fortune the company has also recently struck a gold mine by becoming the ofﬁcial SXS supplier to the US Army (with their Ranger product) – they even mount 50-calibre machine guns to the damn things! The Sportsman is only one of a handful of ATV models in their impressive line-up, but one which perhaps shines the brightest in the ATV market. Polaris would probably agree that in contemporary times their SXS range sits slap-bang in the middle of one

of the fastest growing segments in the motorcycle industry worldwide. It has a lot to do with their diverse range of applications and that SXSs are easier to learn to drive, and some would argue, inherently safer to operate than ATVs. WESTERN HOEDOWN The grassy hills above Kariotahi beach proved to be a you-beaut test location with a technical course layout set up to put the quiver of Rangers, RZRs and Sportsmen through their paces. Steep uphills, several soft bogs and some very challenging rough straights really tested the dexterity of the entire Polaris range. Which was handy because

Polaris was the first company to introduce Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) in ATVs, the first to introduce anti-kickback steering into ATVs and the company prides itself on the exclusive on-demand true all-whee-drive system incorporated into both their ATV and SXS ranges. Polaris further developed their IRS system into what they call Rolled Independent Rear Suspension, meaning the rear shocks are mounted rearward, not vertically, to enhance traction and smoothness. Active Descent Control (ADC) combined with the EngineBraking System (EBS) incorporated into most of the Polaris range is another model integration feat that beats the competition. We got to try out the ADC and EBS firsthand down some of the steep descents throughout the course and it almost effortlessly reduced the descent speed to just over 20km/h until you levelled out or got back on the throttle. GIGANTOR The Polaris Sportsman Big Boss 6x6 is the gigantor of the Sportsman range. Dual seating and a tip tray, as well as ADC, Rolled IRS and integrated front storage make it a pretty beefy illustration of ‘too much is never enough.’ Surprisingly it turns rather adeptly for such a mammoth ATV and handles nearly like any normal 4x4 ATV would. However if I had to pick my favourite Sportsman of the day it would be the 850cc SOHC Twin EFI 70 horsepower Sportsman XP. Believe me, it’s a pure-bred paddockmulcher in the hands of a throttle-happy MXer. Conversely in cooler, calm and collected hands it’s a real pleasure to ride, looks amazing and with a classleading towing capacity of 680kgs, it will

tow a bogged down Angus bull out of the mud any day. MATE HAPPY These days side by sides seem to have taken on a life on their own; most of the manufacturers are now in on the market and what they produce looks like their quad range on a diet of steroids. Polaris’s Ranger range leads the market for best hauling and towing, as well as best power and top speed. The Rangers integrate the same classleading all-wheel drive system as the Sportsman range and include the IRS system. The Ranger XP would most likely be the consummate show pony with its 40hp 700cc Twin EFI engine. Its vital stats are impressive too, with a top speed of 80km/h to really chase those sheep in the secluded back paddock, a towing capacity of 2000lbs and a loaded haul capacity of 500lbs whilea retaining 10” of travel (12” unloaded). If that isn’t enough the Ranger HD (with power steering, selflevelling suspension and available with move, plough or grapple hydraulic Lift & Carry system) can haul an incredible 1000lbs out of the box. If you’re after a SXS for (only where it’s 100% legal, please!) sand dunes or exploring forestry trails then the Ranger RZR is the perfect choice. Its 50” width lets it go into all major ATV trail routes, making it the only trail-capable SXS on the market. Powered by an 800cc Twin EFI engine, it knocks out 30% more power than a Yamaha Rhino and accelerates to 100km/h in a ﬂash. However the ultimate back-country toy is the Ranger RZR S. Not only can you leap this thing 15ft in the air and put it on one wheel – it has the suspension, brakes and power to handle it. With 12.5” of ground clearance, a 60” wide wheel track, fully adjustable Fox Podium X shocks and accelerating to a

ridiculous 40km/h, it’s a breathtaking ng SXS to drive – the coolest utility vehicle I have ever driven. It’s just like driving that battery powered RC Hornet you rolled, bowled and arseholed as a kid. ACCESSORIZE ME

LAUNCH REPORT POLARIS PRODUCT

good handling and suspension are key Polaris qualities.

Lock & Ride is Polaris’s answer to the ultimate after sale bolt-on feature. Utilising a very secure clip-in p in and lock mechanism, the Lock & Ride system can take gun scabbards, petrol cans, lock boxes and even a chain saw rack to name a few. Alongside the Lock & Ride accessories Polaris provides a whole host of attachments for every need – like a snow plough, winches, nerf bars, hydraulic grapples, wind shields, rain wipers, roofs and doors. Just about everything is covered and readily available to bolt on to any Ranger or Sportsman model, including the blistering RZRs.

With so much information and such an enormous range of models to demo throughout the afternoon it’s virtually impossible to ﬁt every detail in to this report. The launch itself went off without a glitch and the venue (Castaways) was a treat indeed. Being hurtled round a separate trail at vomit-inducing speeds in the RZR S with Cody Crocker at the wheel was a sublime treat and better than any Gold Coast theme park ride. Simply conveying my quick two cents worth throughout these pages does not do the entire Polaris range any justice. The brochures are simply jam-packed with information and the coverage of their models is uber impressive. I dare you to pop down to your local Polaris dealer and check out a truly jaw-dropping American made product. KR Polaris product (from left) the Big Boss 6 x 6, Ranger HD, RZR, RZR Youth, Sportsman XP850EFI

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LAUNCH REPORT SEE-DOO & CAN-AM

It was a case of out of the frying pan (the monthly deadline) and into the ﬁre (36+°C) for KR Sales & Marketing man Ian Ferguson when he ﬂew to the Tangalooma Island Resort off the coast of Queensland to check out BRP’s 2010 Can-Am ATV and See-Doo PWC product.

WORDS: Ian Ferguson PICS: BRP

ou mightn’t know this but Dorothea Mackellar penned a poem called My Country.

This is a standard for all Australian school students and the second verse starts with the immortal words…. ‘I love a sunburnt country.’ Well that may be but coming from the real God’s Own, the so-called ‘Lucky Country’ is stinking hot, dry and insect infested. If the ﬂora don’t getcha’ the fauna will. Fortunately, the only smart mammals

that frequent Tangalooma are the bottlenose dolphins frolicking in the tepid waters surrounding what is in effect a sand island that is 98% conservation area, making it a very safe place for them to be.

Morning dawns early for the BRP Tangalooma launch and this time the sparkling white sands are covered with Sea-Doos ready for a day of pounding around in the brilliant blue waters.

Smart in that they get a free feed for turning up each evening and mixing with the tourists on the water’s edge under ﬂoodlights.

On the other side of the wharf, meanwhile, are Can-Am ATVs lined up at the ready, to trek south along the water’s edge to an inland sand trail playground. First stop is breakfast in the marquee with a product overview and the day’s activities laid out, punctuated with product knowledge and presentations.

But it just goes to show that you can¹t count on ﬁrst impressions. GOOD MORNING TANGALOOMA!

KIWI RIDER 125

LAUNCH REPORT SEE-DOO & CAN-AM This launch is about experiencing first hand the new features as they are also the benefits of the BRP product range. By the time action commences, it’s around 10.30am local time and 30 bloody degrees. Thank goodness the first activity is the watercraft. FIRST TIME The last BRP big adventure was my first time on the superb Can-Am Spyder, now it’s the Sea-Doo, which should be a doddle as it doesn’t have any gears to change, oh and the landing is softer should you come off. “But you won’t,” they say. This year’s big Sea-Doo feature is called iControl and includes intelligent brake and reverse, intelligent suspension and intelligent throttle control.

Looks like BRP have drive-by-wire sorted, although you have to be impressed with suspension on a PWC. Also the forward, neutral and reverse drive control is very logical and effective. The water is warm (luckily) as it takes a couple of spills to ﬁnd the riding parameters of PWCs. No throttle means no steering, the brakes work really well but it’s a bit choppy for this beginner to get the S3 hull design up and planing to pull big numbers on the speedo. The hull works a treat on turns and at any speed, well almost. LAUNCHING SKYWARDS The GTX 255 means 255 seahorses and it ﬁres off with a good handful of throttle. Staying with it is a challenge as it launches

A beach, a PWC and an ATV……..and no shortage of takers for BRP’s latest Can-Am/See-Doo product launch at Tangalooma island off the coast of Queensland! Before it got too hot the journos were let loose on the latest See-Doo PWCs. They were then given the opportunity to helmet-up and head inland on the ATVs

skyward off a wave and comes down hard if you back the throttle off at the wrong moment. Ouch! The new suspension will obviously increase ride distances on the models to which it is ﬁtted, but on this day, the change of wind and tide means this beginner is getting battered on the way back to the beach. Still the sight of the rusting hulks on the slow ride back was pretty amazing. SWAP ‘YA! Back to shore and all dried off it’s a swap over to the ATV drive. Now it’s midday, 36 bleeding degrees C and our bodies are crusted with salt from the water. Needless to say the sun is relentless and there is sand everywhere. We don helmets and goggles to drive into the bush track ahead, our Outlander ATVs (all Rotax-powered in either 650 or 800 capacities) exhibiting huge pulling power. The Trailing Torsional Independent suspension is also unique to BRP ensuring the vehicle tracks straight and true. This design has signiﬁcant weight and component saving advantages and is combined with inboard disc brakes to keep

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LAUNCH REPORT SEE-DOO & CAN-AM

INTRODUCING THE UNIQUE LOWERING TRAILER

Tangalooma Island proved a perfect venue for a combined PWC/ATV launch....though Ian was left wondering what the bell on the wharf was for...

s !N INNOVATIVE TRAILER THAT LOWERS TO THE GROUND

weight distribution central.

s %ASY SAFE AND CONVENIENT AND CAN BE LOADED BY A SINGLE PERSON

All of these features contribute to what could be the most stable ATV available in its category.

s 3UITABLE FOR MOTORCYCLES JET SKIS QUAD BIKES AND MANY OTHER USES s (OLDS A LOAD OF KG AND THE LOAD CAN BE BALANCED s .: DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED TWO DECK SIZES vX v vX v 4ELEPHONE 3/ %:%% %MAIL SALES EZEETRAILERS CO NZ 7EB WWW TRAILOW CO NZ

The trail includes sand obstacles and steep descents, all of which are easy meat in 4-wheel drive and two-up. Although these products may be considered by some as recreation-only ATVs, I would rather have the fun of using an Outlander for work and play. Outlanders are not toys but serious kit which work extremely well. You almost want to change your career so as to get one of these babies for the company vehicle. HOT, HOT, HOT By now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 38 degrees and the afternoon sun is beating up the beachfront. Best place to complete this day of action and learning is at the bar and this

is where the national rivalry becomes serious. Over a cold refreshing ale it is clear that the other members of the media assembled all agree that BRP have great product and what we have been riding is exemplary. Maybe itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the heat, but the launch has shown that innovation is king. Japanese tourists all know Tangalooma as the Dolphin Resort and you can tell by the smiling faces itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all that they dreamed it would be. Me? As cold as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been over the winter and early spring, it was nice to feel a crisp chill in the Auckland air when I arrived back home! For more detailed information visit www.brp. com/en-AU/ KR

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en Townley is slowly putting the jigsaw back together. DIRT FEATURE BEN TOWNLEY

The Kiwi international – 2004 MX2 world champion and 2007 East Coast Lites Supercross Champion in the United States – has been down and out, unable to race competitively since a bone-crunching crash at the Motocross of Nations in the US in September 2007. But now he's all smiles again, back home in New Zealand and putting the pieces back together and eagerly counting down the days to when he'll be racing toplevel motocross again. At this early stage, he's anticipating being back in action soon after Christmas, at the popular annual Whakatane Summercross motocross in the Bay of Plenty. For the time being, he's content to ride a borrowed Kawasaki KX450F, courtesy of old friend Mike Wilkins, the managing director of Kawasaki Motorcycle Distributors, New Zealand's Kawasaki importer. And it is his renewed relationship with the Kawasaki crew, the brand Townley rode with so much success in his junior days and when he won the American title, riding for Mitch Payton's Pro Circuit Kawasaki team two years ago, that has given him so much fresh hope. NO NEED TO RUSH "I'm probably a bit behind where I originally thought I'd be (with my recovery). I thought I'd be able to ride the New Zealand Motocross Championships," said the 25-year-old. "Of course I'm excited to be home. I've not raced here since 2000 but I feel there's no need to rush back to racing just yet. "Mike (Wilkins) is helping me out … we've had a great relationship, since I was about seven years old actually. And my relationship with Mitch Payton is great too.

WORDS & PICS: Andy McGechan

PUTTING THE PIECES BACK TOGETHER For a while there Ben Townley’s career trajectory was in hyper-drive. Then injury saw it stall. Now on the road to complete recovery the country’s favourite motocross son is plotting a return to the world stage. Andy McGechan has the story. KIWI RIDER 129

DIRT FEATURE BEN TOWNLEY

Just like old times. When he was one of the country’s top Junior MX riders Ben Townley rode Kawasakis. Now he’s back on them as he contemplates his return to the world stage.

exhaust systems from Mitch Payton. I think I had got to my limit with a standard bike and the last time I was really comfortable on a bike was when I was on a Mitch Payton Pro Circuit Kawasaki. "The suspension tuning that Mitch Payton's man, 'Bones', has done is outstanding and I feel really comfortable again. IN A GOOD SPACE

"I was in the Honda team in the US but now I'm not affiliated with any team or bike brand. It was just such an easy thing for me to call up Mike and ask for help. "I'll be looking for a ride in America again when I'm fully fit and I have all the connections I need there. But it's going to be tough to get a top ride because someone is hiding all the world's money at the moment. UNFINISHED BUSINESS "I still have unfinished business in America. I'm definitely going back. Racing the GPs in Europe was great but I had always dreamed of racing in America and I'm still all set up in the US to go back. "Even if I end up riding as a privateer there, that's what I'll do," said Townley. "I just hope everything can come together, that I can get up to speed again and be sorted before the outdoor nationals start in May.

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"I love the Kawasaki I'm riding … it's the most fun I've had since the end of 2007 when I was battling with Ryan Villopoto." Townley said he plans to make his comeback to racing at the Summercross in Whakatane, followed by racing the supercross nationals (on a KX450F) and the big annual Woodville Motocross. BACK TO THE US "Then I'll hop on a plane and see what waits for me in the US. I'm concentrating on getting my strength back now and getting up to speed again. I've not raced in about 15 months and racing is my goal. "I now have my suspension and

"I'm deﬁnitely gutted with how things have gone for me these past two seasons but, at the end of the day, I'm happy with what's happening for me now. I'm looking forward to the future. It's looking much brighter now. "I guess it all comes back to that day at Budd's Creek (the Motocross of Nations in September 2007). I had a point to prove to the world. I'd battled all season with Ryan Villopoto and he'd smoked me at the nationals there earlier in the season. I think he went 1-1 and I went 2-2. "I'd like to think that I could have raced with Ryan that day (at the MXoN). "But I'm still taking things one day at a time now. At least when I stretch in the mornings now it doesn't hurt any more." KR

He’s still got it. KR Dirt Ed Ollie Sharp tells a great story about a recent ‘trail ride’ with BT. The venue was Woodhill Forest, the day a chance for BT and a couple of mates to chill out. Ollie enjoyed the day as much as Ben, bar saying that every so often, just when he thought he had his measure, BT would simply ‘check out.’ ‘One minute you’d be on his wheel,’ says Ollie. ‘The next minute, he’d be gone. Then just as quickly as he had checked out, he’d be back in front of you again. The guy’s a legend!’

ED NOT INCLUD Big Wheel

E i E R ak

h c s t a a w W a K ck o h S G

2010 KLX140L Small Wheel

2009 KLX140

2009 KLX 110

Free Kawasaki G Shock Watch with every KLX110 or KLX140 while stocks last. Limited to 100 watches nationwide.

$4,595 incl.

$3,295 incl.

Monster Energy

2009 KLX 110 Phone 0800 4 Kawasaki (0800 452-9272) Get current prices & download the full information PDF from www.kawasaki.co.nz

$5,995 incl.

$3,795 incl.

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DIRT COMP HAMILTON SX

The gate goes down and Craig Anderson (#100) joins Chad Reed (#1), Robbie Marshall (#51) and Cody MacKie (#33) in another mad dash for the ﬁrst corner.

REED STARS AT HAMILTON SUPERCROSS WORDS & PICS: Andy McGechan

he night could not have gone any better for Australian superstar Chad Reed on his ﬁrst re-visit to New Zealand in 10 years. Not since 1999 has the motocross and supercross hero from Kurri Kurri been seen racing in New Zealand but what a return it was. Reed was unbeatable in every race he lined up for at the sixth round of seven in the Monster Energy Australasian Super X Championships inside Hamilton’s Waikato Stadium in November.

This was the only time the fledgling series would come to New Zealand this season, but after drawing the biggest crowd of the series thus far – estimated at about 15,000 – it seems sure the series will be returning in 2010. Reed was second in the open class standings when he arrived in the Waikato but that quickly changed. The Kawasaki ace was one point behind leader Jay Marmont (Yamaha) in the rankings but that deficit was wiped out in just the first race of the night, Reed winning comfortably and Marmont finishing only 11th out of the 15 starters.

CONTRASTING FORTUNES

the four ‘quad challenge’ heats.

Reed’s fortunes on the night only multiplied from there, in direct contrast to Marmont’s investment, which devalued with almost every twist and turn of the American-style circuit. Wollongong’s Marmont ﬁnished the night 15th overall, his worst result of the series, and he slumped from ﬁrst to third in the championship standings.

“It was just one of those nights where everything seemed to go from bad to worse,” said Marmont.

Perhaps the emotional turmoil of losing his seven-month-old daughter, Lila, just over a week earlier (the victim of an undiagnosed white blood cell disease) hindered his concentration – he crashed in virtually every race, ﬁnishing with uncharacteristic 11-12-11-dnf results over

“The track was extremely technical and towards the end of the night it was very rutted. I came up a bit short of the ﬁnish line jump on the opening lap of the last race and went down. From there I was pummelled by a number of riders and got the wind knocked out of me.” FOUR STRAIGHT WINS Reed, the defending champion from the inaugural 2008 series, recorded four straight wins in Waikato Stadium, leaving the venue

Supercross done properly. That’s what the 15,000-strong crowd saw at the inaugural New Zealand round of Australia’s successful Monster Energy Super X Championship at Hamilton’s Waikato Stadium on Saturday November 21. Andy McGechan has the story. KIWI RIDER 133

DIRT COMP HAMILTON SX with a solid 14-point lead over the new No.2 man in the standings, Dan Reardon (Honda), with just the final round left in Brisbane to wrap up the series. “It’s so great that we have been able to bring the Monster Energy Super X to New Zealand and it is really good to get the win tonight,” said Reed. “I wasn’t on top of my game at the start of the series and these guys really caught me off guard in the first few rounds.” TOP OF HIS GAME Reed’s international credentials and standing as a superstar of the sport are now undeniable – also then racing a Kawasaki, he finished runner-up in the 250cc motocross world championships in 2001 before moving from Europe to the United States to make a name for himself there. With two AMA (US) Supercross titles (in 2004 and 2008, both times on a Yamaha) and this season’s AMA open class motocross title in the bag (riding a Suzuki), the 27-year-old now commands a million-dollar salary from whichever factory can snare his services. When the Australasian Super X Championships conclude, Reed will head back to the United States to rekindle his bitter rivalry with US Supercross champion James Stewart. Reed finished runner-up to Yamaha’s Stewart in the AMA Supercross nationals last season but he intends to reverse that when the 2010 US season kicks off in Anaheim, California, on January 9. “I’m really enjoying my riding at the moment,” said Reed. “This bike is just 134 KIWI RIDER

so good. Winning this series is definitely a good build-up for America. I’m feeling pumped and confident. It’s a shame that Stewart is not coming to the final round in Brisbane. I never thought he really would anyway and I personally couldn’t care much less,” said Reed, the hostility between the two obviously still very raw. PHILLIPS WINS NZ CROWN Meanwhile, Honda rider Michael Phillips (photos this page) survived a brutal battle with Australian Danny Anderson (KTM) to secure the one-off New Zealand Open crown – the Des Caulfield Trophy – his prize for winning the 250cc class in Hamilton. Another Kiwi, Hamilton’s Jesse Wiki (Honda), finished on the third step of the podium.

Phillips’ 1-2-2-1 result was enough to edge out Anderson (4-1-1-2) by just two points in the end, less than a bike length between the two at the end of the deciding last race. It has been a golden run for Phillips this season, the dairy farmer’s son from Rotorua having clinched his second national MX2 motocross title in Taranaki just six days earlier. The 250cc class action was an all-Kiwi affair – apart from Anderson – and it took a little bit of incentive from the organisers at the last minute, when numbers were looking poor (like allowing the riders free entry), to get the Kiwis to enter, but it was a roaring success with the New Zealand riders gaining so much experience. KR

DIRT COMP HAMILTON SX

RESULTS 2009 MONSTER ENERGY SUPER X HAMILTON SAT NOV 21 SERIES OPEN 1. Chad Reed (Australia, Kawasaki) 80 points (maximum); 2. Tye Simmonds (Australia, KTM) 1 72; 3. Dan Reardon (Australia, Honda) 65; 4. Michael Byrne (Australia, Honda) 63; 5. Daniel McCoy (Australia, KTM) 62; 6. Todd Waters (Australia, Honda) 57; 7.; Craig Anderson (Australia, Kawasaki) 55; 8. Matt Moss (Australia, Suzuki) 53; 9. Cody Mackie (Australia, Kawasaki) 53; 10. Cameron Taylor (Australia, Suzuki) 41 NEW ZEALAND OPEN 1. Michael Phillips (Rotorua, Honda) 78 points; 2. Danny Anderson (Australia, KTM) 76; 3. Jesse Wiki (Hamilton, Honda) 70; 4. Justin McDonald

(Christchurch, Honda) 69; 5. Peter Broxholme (Tauranga, Honda) 64; 6. Ethan Martens (Waikatere, KTM) 58; 7. Matt Hunt (Gisborne, Kawasaki) 56; 8. Isaiah McGoldrick (Rangiora, KTM) 55; 9. Davi Fisher (Tauranga, Suzuki) 45; 10. Travis Russell (Ngaruawahia, Suzuki) 44 SERIES POINTS AFTER 6 OF 7 ROUNDS 1.Chad Reed (Kawasaki) 132 points; 2. Dan Reardon (Honda) 118; 3. Jay Marmont (Yamaha) 114; 4. Tye Simmonds (KTM) 108; 5. Daniel McCoy (KTM) 94; 6. Cody Mackie (Kawasaki) 80; 7. Cheyne Boyd (Yamaha) 77; 8. Craig Anderson (Kawasaki) 69; 9. Cameron Taylor (Suzuki) 67; 10. Troy Carrol (Kawasaki) 66.

The night belonged to defending champ Chad Reed (top pics). Very welcome, meanwhile, were the Monster Energy girls. Heading down the page, we have event organiser Kevin Williams (left of photo) pointing out something to top Aussie rider Craig Anderson, then as the skies above them darken, Chad Reed (#1) and Daniel Riordan (#122) get down to business. And ﬁnally (bottom right) we have Michael Phillips with the coveted Des Caulﬁeld Trophy.

KIWI RIDER 135

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DIRT COMP NZ MX CHAMPS

WORDS & PICS: Andy McGechan

MCDONALD LEADS NEW GUARD Christchurch’s Justin McDonald is part of a new guard changing the face of New Zealand motocross. KR MX man Andy McGechan explains why as he recaps this year’s Demon Energy-sponsored New Zealand Motocross championships.

A new face on the top step of the podium. That’s what happened at the Demon Energy MX Champs this year as Christchurch’s Justin McDonald stepped out of the shadow of the likes of Daryl Hurley, the King brothers and Cody Cooper.

here is no denying that returning international Cody Cooper was brilliant, very impressive in winning seven of 12 races in the MX1 class in this year's Demon Energy New Zealand Motocross Championships. But it was the consistent speed, reliability and dogged determination of Justin McDonald that ﬁnally won the main prize.

The battle for MX1 championship honours at the Kiwi nationals came down to the very last few races of the season with Honda's McDonald doing enough to win the MX1 crown, ﬁnishing a mere two points ahead of Suzuki's Cooper. It was a battle of attrition for the lesser placings in the MX1 class. Defending dual-class champion Damien King (Yamaha) opted out of the MX1 battle when he realised that racing two classes was too much to expect of his body with the new one-day, three 30-minute race format and chose to focus on his 125cc class defence. Hawera's former champion Daryl Hurley was the next to go from the MX1 class, the Suzuki ace crashing out of the championship at round two in Rotorua. He had been leading the standings after round one.

TO FINISH FIRST…… Paraparaumu's Jesse Donnelly (Suzuki) disappeared from the class after round one, while Auckland's Blake Gillard (KTM) was out after round two and so was Hamilton's Hayden Clark (Yamaha), the young rider who had so stunned everyone with his race win in his MX1 debut at Rotorua. Gisborne's Shaun Fogarty (KTM) and Mount Maunganui's Mason Phillips (Kawasaki) dropped from the points at Taranaki's final round, so that was a grand total of seven ‘name’ MX1 riders who didn't last the distance. Taupo's Brad Groombridge (Suzuki), who had shone so brightly in winning the Labour Weekend Extravaganza that came midway through the national series, was deserved No.3 man in the MX1 class for 2009. MX2 CLASS The action was similarly hot at the top of the MX2 class where the series-long see-saw battle between Rotorua's Michael Phillips and Queenstown's Scott Columb finally tipped in favour of Honda's Phillips at the final round. Phillips recovered from a first-corner crash in race one at Taranaki's finale to KIWI RIDER 137

DIRT COMP NZ MX CHAMPS catch and pass Columb and eventually claim fifth spot. That stunning ride alone was probably worthy of the title. He backed that up with a win and a second placing, eventually pushing out his points advantage to nine points over Columb, who managed 8-3-1 in his three Taranaki outings. There had been nothing to separate the two riders at rounds one and two, but Phillips came on strong in the latter half of the season. Even so, when his front wheel washed out and he fell in front of the pack, he was probably feeling a little bit of déjà vu. Hadn't he lost his grip on the title at this same track last season, and in similar circumstances? But it was a different story in 2009, Phillips picking himself up, brushing off the dirt and charging his way back to fifth. If that had instead been a DNF, like the one he suffered the season before, he'd surely have lost the title to Columb. "I thought it was all over when I went down at the start of that first race," admitted Phillips. "To win here, after all the grief I've had at this track in the past, is pretty special." EXCITEMENT & DRAMA Excitement and drama seem to follow Phillips. He won his first national MX2 title (on a Kawasaki) in 2007, that title virtually gifted to him when Luke Burkhart (then riding a Suzuki) crashed out at the final round, ironically, also at Taranaki's Barrett Road track. A year later Phillips had old foe Burkhart as his team-mate (both riders having 138 KIWI RIDER

moved to Honda), although Burkhart was injured and consigned to cheering Phillips from the sideline. Phillips crashed out of the day's final MX2 race (again at Taranaki's Barrett Road) and that was that, the MX2 title gifted instead to Hawera's Daryl Hurley. Phillips has definitely had his fair share of ups and downs – don't forget the serious spleen injury he suffered in England earlier in 2009 – but the season did end on a massive up for the semi-pro racer and sometimes dairy farm worker from the volcanic plateau. Third best MX2 rider for 2009 was the evergreen Peter Broxholme (Honda). Tauranga's Broxhomle showed his class at the final round to win the day and move up from fourth to third in the overall standings. Taupo's Nick Saunders (Kawasaki) was solid throughout the series, eventually settling for the No.4 spot, while Hamilton's Jesse Wiki (Honda) took the No.5 spot. 125cc CLASS The 125cc class remains the domain of Cambridge's Damien King (Yamaha). The defending champion was again simply too powerful for his rivals in 2009, the 33-year-old former GP rider stretching it to four consecutive 125cc crowns, and five in total. King finished 1-2-1 at Taranaki, eventually putting him a solid 28 points ahead of Waitakere teenager Ethan Martens (KTM). "Ethan was riding so well," complimented King afterwards. "But I guess I was riding well too … I beat him and I'm twice his age." Third overall was former national champion Mike Cotter (Kawasaki), the

Can you feel the tension (top shot) between Cody Cooper (closest to camera) and Justin McDonald? Cooper (top right) won more races but it was McDonald who won the 2009 NZ MX1 title. The MX2 title also went to a Honda rider, in this case Rotorua’s Michael Phillips who pipped longtime rival Scott Columb and Peter Broxholme.

DIRT COMP NZ MX CHAMPS

Te Puke Motorcycle Club Presents The first annual Te Puke MCC

Enduro Cross On: Saturday 13th Feb 2010 At: Te Puke A & P Show Day This is a Vegas Style Enduro Cross event for experienced Enduro & Trial Riders. These events are hugely popular around the world & will attract the top riders from around NZ. This is the first of an annual signature event to be held by the Te Puke Motorcycle Club. A lot of preparation has been put into making this event a success for both the riders & spectators. This is one event not to miss. Over $1000 in Prize Money is on offer for the first 6 places overall & heaps of spot prizes on the day. Cost: Only $40 Entry. Sign on 7.30 – 8.30am. Briefing: 8.45am Practice Races: 9 – 10.30am. Main Races: 11am – Onwards Places are limited to 64 riders & only 40 spaces still remain! Entries Close Fri 15th Jan 2010. Entries are first in first served & any late entries will be at the discretion of the club. To enter you must hold a current Senior MNZ licence. Please enter by completing the entry form below or printing this entry of our web page www.tepukemcc.co.nz Contacts Phil Singleton: 021 533 151 or Murray Jensen: 027 284 9817. ENTRY FORM: Te Puke MCC Enduro Cross - Sat 13th Feb 2010 Rider's name: Address:

Email: Mobile:

And they’re off in this MX2 heat at Patetonga with (from left to right) Jayden Jessop (#808), Nick Saunders (#476), John Phillips (#210) and Scott Columb (#442) in the frame. Meanwhile (second shot) it’s all gone wrong here at Taranaki with Michael Phillips (lower left, No.2) trapped beneath the bikes of fellow Honda riders Cameron Dillon (in yellow, centre) and Wellington’s Tommy Madams, while championship No.2 man, Scotty Columb (bike No.422) is seen in the background (right) dragging his Suzuki out of the mess.

35-year-old motocross coach from Cambridge consistently among the top two or three in this class. Meanwhile, Martens won the race-within-a-race for national under-21 honours, ending the championship 62 points ahead of Wanganui's Tom Managh (Suzuki). Man-

agh took the No.6 spot in the 125cc rankings. Mangakino's Kayne Lamont (Yamaha) had been second-best in the under-21 battle but crashed out at Taranaki, ﬁnishing an undeserved third overall (and only seventh in the 125cc KR

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Please post entry & $40 cheque to: Te Puke MCC Enduro Cross P.O Box 167 Te Puke.

RESULTS 2009 DEMON ENERGY NZ MX CHAMPS MX1 1. Justin McDonald (Christchurch, Honda) 265 points; 2. Cody Cooper (Mount Maunganui, Suzuki) 263; 3. Brad Groombridge (Taupo, Suzuki) 213; 4. Mason Phillips (Mount Maunganui, Kawasaki) 202; 5. Shaun Fogarty (Gisborne, KTM) 146. MX2 1. Michael Phillips (Rotorua, Honda) 263 points; 2. Scott Columb (Queenstown, Suzuki) 254; 3. Peter Broxholme (Tauranga, Honda) 209; 4. Nick Saunders (Taupo, Kawasaki) 200; 5. Jesse Wiki (Hamilton, Honda) 189. 125cc 1. Damien King (Cambridge, Yamaha) 286 points; 2. Ethan Martens (Waitakere, KTM) 258; 3. Mike Cotter (Cambridge, Kawasaki) 227; 4. Hayden McKay (Christchurch, KTM) 195; 5. Cam Negus (Rotorua, Yamaha) 193. Under-21 1. Ethan Martens (Waitakere, KTM) 294 points; 2. Tom Managh (Wanganui, Suzuki) 232; 3. Kayne Lamont (Mangakino, Yamaha) 196; 4. Roydon White (Tauranga, KTM) 180; 5. Joel Hansen (Taumarunui, Yamaha) 137.

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DIRT COMP TAUPO MX

It was young gun Brad Groombridge’s turn to shine at the annual, season-opening Labour Weekend Motocross at Taupo’s Digger McEwen Park. Andy McGechan has the story.

WORDS & PICS: Andy McGechan

GROOMBRIDGE STEPS UP I

t was the old school versus the new kids on the block at this year's big annual Labour Weekend Motocross Extravaganza at Taupo. With the event falling midway through the four-round national championship series, it was no surprise that some of the big names opted not to ride at Taupo this year, but that did little to diminish the quality of the racing at the popular Digger McEwen Motorcycle Park complex. With his team boss sidelined through injury, it was expected that Taupo’s Brad Groombridge would step up and fill the void. And that’s exactly what the 19-year-old did on his home track of Taupo. TRIPLE TREAT Groombridge took his Suzuki RM-Z450 to three wins from three starts at the sand and pumice-based track in Taupo’s industrial area, winning both the MX1 class outright and also taking the main prize for the day when he won the all-comers champion-of-champions Nicky Smith Memorial feature race as well. He finished ahead of a surprisinglyquick Darryll King, the two-time former world No.2 from Hamilton finishing runnerup in both the MX1 class battle and the feature race. 140 KIWI RIDER

“It was a perfect day really,” said an ecstatic Groombridge afterwards. “Darryll King really gave me a run for my money and I really felt the pressure from him, but I held on to win the feature race. “I knew he was coming hard at me over those last few laps, so I had to find some extra pace too. “To get my name on the Nicky Smith Memorial trophy is pretty special. There are not too many Taupo names on that." Meanwhile, the veteran King was gracious in defeat. KING THE TOP VET “Brad just didn’t make any mistakes … it’s as simple as that,” said the 40-year-old King. “I wanted so bad to win that final race and I was taking big risks to catch him. I guess I was beaten by the better man on the day.” It may be some consolation to King that he won the veterans’ class, each time finThat’s Brad Groombridge (top) on his way to a confidence-boosting MX1 whitewash and (next shot) being congratulated by runner-up and top vet finisher Darryll King. Top man in MX2, meanwhile, was Honda’s Peter Broxholme.

DIRT COMP TAUPO MXW

ishing ahead of fellow Yamaha rider Darren Capill (Whakatane), with Taupo’s Glenn Clark (Honda) third both times. Tauranga’s Peter Broxholme (Honda) won the MX2 class on Sunday, while King’s younger brother, Cambridge-based Damien King (Yamaha) won the 125cc class.

TOP TRAIL RIDER SERIES NATIONAL ENDURO SERIES ENTRY FEE: Juniors: $35, MNZ licence or day licence required. Seniors: $60, MNZ licence required for championship, day licence for Top Trailrider series only. Entry on the day. CLASSES: JUNIORS 12-13 yrs up to125cc 2 stroke; 14-16yrs up to 250cc 4 stroke. SENIORS: 0-200 2 stroke; 200- open 2 stroke; 0-300 4 stroke; 300- open 4 stroke; over 40 vet int and expert; over 50 vets int

OPARAU SAT 30 JANUARY VENUE: John Scott's property Hauturu Rd, Oparau, WAITOMO. DIRECTIONS: Follow SH31 from Otorohanga or Pirongia towards Kawhia. Allow 40 mins from either direction. Free camping.

Mangakino’s Kayne Lamont (Yamaha) impressed in winning all three 15-16 years’ 125cc class races during junior racing on the Saturday and then the 16-year-old backed that up by ﬁnishing third overall, behind national 125cc champion Damien King and Waitakere’s Ethan Martens (KTM) in the senior 125cc class the following day. WATCH THESE TWO Another trio of youngsters to step up were Rotorua's John Phillips (younger brother of former MX2 national champion Michael Phillips), Hamilton's Hayden Clark, the former junior

champion a relative newcomer to the MX1 ranks, and Jonathan Martelli, of Rotorua. The 19-year-old Clark finished fourth overall in the MX1 class and came home third in the feature final; John Phillips finished sixth in the MX2 class and seventh in the feature race, while Martelli was placed seventh in the MX2 class and also came ninth in the feature race. Manawatu's Tom Hughes was top dog in the junior 14-16 years' 250cc four-stroke class, finishing five points clear of Wanganui's Tom Managh, while local man Scott McKinstry came in third overall and Rotorua's Scott Canham was fourth, although equal on points with Whangarei's Michael Purdon. Tauranga's Jesse Waterhouse was unbeatable in the women's races, finishing the day ahead of local rider Alex Dillon. KR

TERRAIN: High country farmland, native bush, farm tracks. CONTACT: Foresttrailevents@xtra.co.nz Sean or Adele Clarke 07 886 5918, 0275 996 045 JUNIORS: This is the first round of the Yamaha Top Trail Rider Series. The Junior Enduro will start at 9am and go until 12 o'clock. There will be a minimum of 3 special tests and the course will be 3 x 25km loops. SENIORS: This is the first round of both the Yamaha Top Trail Rider Enduro series and the Yamaha National Enduro Championship Series. There will be 5 special test plus the Oparau Extreme Test at the end of the day. Trophies to 3rd place in each class. Sign in Starts: 8:00 Riders Briefing: 11:45 Start Time: 12:00.

WHANGAMATA SAT 20 FEBRUARY VENUE: The race is 15mins north of Whangamata and is both a National and Top Trail rider. It will be an awesome ride with new tracks and a new layout with 1 pit area and around 150ks for experts.

RIVERHEAD SAT 6 - SUN 7 MARCH Top Trail Rider will be held on Saturday March 6th and the National Enduro event will be on Sunday 7th.

Style like this (top) will get Mangakino’s Kayne Lamont (Yamaha)a spot in the mag any day – as it is he won all three 15-16 years’ 125cc class races. In the Senior 125cc class however it was Damien King (bottom) who did the winning.

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142 KIWI RIDER

“Oh, that’s just the Italian way …” I lost count of how many times I heard that during my visit to Italy for the Motocross of Nations. Of course the Motocross of Nations was how I justiﬁed spending the money and making the trip but, to tell the truth, it was also a holiday because we actually stayed over there for a couple of weeks after the great race. Fortunately we had pre-booked train tickets for most of our journey through the country– from Milan to Brescia, to Verona, to Venice, to Rome, Florence and back to Milan – and that was the best advice I had been given. First class train transport was deﬁnitely the way to go. The carriages were clean, air-conditioned, spacious and plush, with large tinted windows and bar service. Even at 300-kmph-plus we got to see a lot of the country. But for the actual weekend of the motocross, public transport was not an option and we had to resort to hiring a car. It turned out to be a little Fiat Punto, left-hand drive (naturally) but with a manual stick-shift (on the right of the driver). Surprisingly that didn’t take too long to get used to and, apart from a ‘scary moment’ with the rapidly-dropping barrier arm in an underground car-park, driving in Italy was pretty much trouble-free. The car park incident came about after the toll machine ate our exit ticket (two of them in fact) and I decided to back up and wait for the next car to approach and then creep up behind them … when the barrier rose for them I shot up close behind and escaped with them. It worked but was a damn close thing.

HANDY ANDY ANDY MCGECHAN

THE ITALIAN WAY Even back home, we’re still half expecting a knock on the door from a Carabinieri (the tough-looking machinepistol-toting military police). Road signs were in Italian. No surprises there and my grasp of the language came in handy - you don’t want to get Entrata (entrance) and Uscita (exit) mixed up - but the signage was pretty poor and just a tad confusing. Even some of the local motocross people got lost finding the track. We ourselves got lost every day we drove to the track - Friday, Saturday and even again on Sunday. The scooter riders in the city were nuts and it’s no wonder Italy has produced the road-race and MX world champions (Rossi and Cairoli) if they grew up on Italian streets like in Milan and Rome where scooters ruled the cobbles, nipping in and out of traffic like they’d stolen the bikes, recklessly scraping their rear-view mirrors while they ducked and dived between trucks, buses and even pedestrians. All this was done in frenetic, yet stylish fashion and there was not even a hint of road rage from any of the road users, even though there was plenty that would surely have provoked waved fists and foul language back home in New Zealand. Street parking defied belief … cars, bikes and scooters squeezed in anywhere there was space … or even if there wasn’t … including blocking shop entrances, footpaths and even blocking pedestrian crossings … cause for a immediate traffic ticket in NZ. This was our first experience of the ‘Italian way,’ where everything is both speedy and calm at the same time. Things were constantly ‘Domani’ .. they can always be delayed ‘until tomorrow.’

‘This was our ﬁrst experience of the ‘Italian way,’ where everything is both speedy and calm at the same time’ As a race, the Italians certainly appreciate and prepare wonderful food and they are very snappy dressers with not a pair of shorts or jandals in sight, despite the 29-degree temperatures in Rome. However, the footpaths looked like they hadn’t been maintained since Caesar’s Roman legions marched there in their leather sandals some 2000 years earlier. The place simply reeked of history much of it even before the Bible’s New Testament was on the ‘best sellers’ list’ - ancient tales visibly oozing from the crumbling stone buildings, echoing along the labyrinth of narrow alleys and whispered in the darkened corners of ornate churches. Italy is the most modern of countries and yet also one of the most ancient; life is both relaxed and frenzied at the same time and it’s not hard to understand how they produce some of the fastest motorcycle riders in the world. KR

KIWI RIDER 143

COPPINS JOSH COPPINS

BACK HOME & LOVING IT!

Hi there, I’ve been back in New Zealand for two days as I write this; it’s a hell of a flight for anyone, let alone my daughter. I was nervous she would keep everyone up... but she was a star and somehow pretty much slept the whole way! Right result that was... I’m a fairly active person and don’t like to sit still for too long so that trip is a nightmare for me. I fidget round, listen to some music, watch a few movies, read a bit and then eat some very average food and then do it again and again for two days. In-between that I do a lot of thinking – mostly about rubbish I must admit. For instance I was thinking about how many races I’ve done? Imagine I’ve been racing for 21 years flat out. I do about thirty events a year now, so let’s say 25 for the past 21 years, which is 525 races! Another thing I thought about was motocross in New Zealand. In 2002 I went to the New Zealand Mini MX champs to give out the trophies and it was an eye opener I tell you! Some parents were a little bit intense to say the least! Now that I’m a parent I can kind of (note kind of) understand why you’re so proud and protective of your young one... but one parent yelled out to me as his youngster was getting his prize….’give Josh your autograph ‘cos he’s going to want it soon….’ I honestly thought to myself, ‘I hope that’s the case, however that kid should be tearing up New Zealand and be the

www.joshcoppins.com

144 KIWI RIDER

new star on the horizon now if it’s the case, but I’m not seeing him! Because it deﬁnitely was a him (i.e. not Courtney Duncan). And do you know what? I’ve seen this time and time again. Motocross is a great sport for kids but getting through the teenage years as an MX rider is like a bomb site. Kids have to deal with girlfriends, drinking parties, parents’ jobs paying for stuff etc etc and too often it just goes in the too hard basket. It is hard, I know that I hit a T-junction many times in my career and didn’t know which way to turn. But desire and passion always led me in the right way. Straight up. Wanting to win kept me going. So parents, keep all that in mind.

‘I’ve said it before in columns and I’ll say it again, let your kids have fun and try to guide them in the right direction. If they are having fun they will improve at a faster rate’

I’ve said it before in columns and I’ll say it again, let your kids have fun and try to guide them in the right direction. If they are having fun they will improve at a faster rate. Anyway, the testing on the new bike has been going good, with 250 MotoGP ﬁnishing, all the staff from there has moved over to MX, as Aprilia are not running in the new Moto 2 class. This obviously is good news for me as it means we will move forward faster. Overall I’m happy with where we are at and my goal is to be the ﬁrst rider to win a GP on a V-twin. Finally I want to take a moment to say thanks to Yamaha NZ, Peter Payne, Darryll King and all the people I dealt with here and in Australia while I rode for Yamaha. They always did their best for

me and were great to work with. The summer MX/SX season is nearly here and that will be a busy time. I hope all you manufacturers support these events, and of course, the riders. Remember, you get out what you put in. If you rock up without the preparation or bike setup you’re asking for bad results and injury. It’s as simple as that. Well that’s it for me, I have to go. Hope to see you readers at an event around New Zealand over the summer! Meanwhile, ride safe. KR

Kia Ora! Wow, 30 days seems to have flown by for me, time flies when you’re having fun eh? This past month I’ve done a few more club days which have been really fun. I headed down to Taumarunui for their final Winter Series round and annual club challenge against Taupo. With the dry conditions the club opted for a make-shift track on mainly grass and that was loads of fun, it had some MX jumps, a bit of grass, some fast parts and a few little technical parts. I had a blast; I raced a couple of classes which allowed me to get some extra time behind the gate; the first time for me on a dirt start gate in a long time. The Taupo vs Taumarunui challenge was good, and seeing that Taupo had a few ring-ins for the day, I decided it would be best to help out the hosting club...we got the win by a narrow margin over Taupo, well done Taumarunui! I’ve been doing some serious riding again. It is time for me to start knuckling down a little to make sure I’m back to a good level of fitness by the time we hit the summer racing. I’ve been doing some riding at Whakatane. In fact Broxy and I have our own Supercross track to ride each week. I haven’t got too serious,

normally I have someone on the stopwatch doing splits and lap times also giving me a pit board with my times so I can really push myself. So far I’ve just been trying to work up to 1520 min motos on a motocross track and 12-15 min motos on my SX track. I have also had Niki Urwin work with me on my technique. I feel it’s important for me to really work on my cornering, scrubbing and to get rid of a few bad habits while I’m getting back up to speed.

BT BEN TOWNLEY

BACK TO (GRASS) ROOTS! ‘It is time for me to start knuckling down a little to make sure I’m back to a good level of ﬁ tness by the time we hit the summer racing’

I also did another club day on the weekend in the Waikato. The Te Awamutu club asked me to come over to one of their events and when they told me they had a grass track race coming up I couldn’t refuse. I haven’t raced on grass like that in a long time; it had rained the night before and that made the grass extra slippery. I had my brother-in-law (Jayden Gray) out there to battle with for the day and he definitely hasn’t forgotten how to start on bungee start lines... It was a really fun day; once I got a handle on grass again, I really enjoyed it. Riding grass is all about flowing from turn to turn and keeping your speed up and Jayden definitely gave me a lesson for the first few laps of the first race! On a completely different note, I have started my own line of clothing – BT101. For this summer I’ve got a

range of tees and a line of caps coming out. Check into my website for the latest info or call into my store that I’ll have set up at Summercross. That will be my ﬁrst major race in a long time, so I hope to see you all out there on the 28th of December. Lastly, Merry Xmas to you all, I hope you have a great time with your families over the festive season and hopefully all you kids have been good this year... KR

www.bentownleymx.com

KIWI RIDER 145

Big y k S n r Southe February 27th to March 1st 2010. Oamaru, North Otago to Queenstown, Southern Lakes KTM have again joined Robbie and Connie Crickett and the team at High Country Trail in offering adventure riders the KTM Southern Sky Adventure. This event will be laid out totally with the big adventure bikes in mind and the route will be set on gravel roads and hard based farm tracks, designed by Robbie using KTM’s 990 Adventure on dual sport tyres... Road legal enduro or trailbikes are welcome but the emphasis will be on fun and rideability for the larger heavier machines. (Yes, there will be optional challenge sections for those who need them included). Expect big days, big views and even bigger country as we take adventure riders into country not previously covered by this type of event. Of special note will be the little known Strath Taieri region of inland Otago. This is a top shelf place to place tour event and the entry fee includes: • Four nights accomodation • Full breakfast each of the 3 ride days • Country lunch • Sumptuous evening meal on each ride day. • All luggage movement • Friendly, experienced High Country Trail support crew. At the tours end in scenic Queenstown, the unforgettable cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak is optional but really is a must. On this trip you will ride over high mountain tracks, overlook huge mining operations and venture well off the beaten track to little known hamlets, both inland and seaside in this wide ranging tour of Southern New Zealand. We will even include an optional tour of NZ’s largest goldmining operation and subsequent short cut route sheet for those who tick the box. Robbie and Connie along with the High Country Trail team are proud to offer you this opportunity to enjoy a very big piece of Otago. Friday 26th Feb, Assemble at the Oamaru accommodation. Event welcome and brieﬁng at 8.30pm (evening meal not included ) Day 1. Saturday 27th. Follow the route sheet over little known mountain roads and tracks and past very modern and substantial mining operations. Days end brings the event into Dunedin City. Day 2. Sunday 28th. Dunedin to Alexandra. Through southern forests, historic hydro villages and along old wagon trails. Day 3. Monday March 1st. Alexandra to Queenstown. Through the fruit bowl of Earnscleugh up into the high country on tracks otherwise used only by shepherds and their merinos towards the tourist mecca of Queenstown and a chance to relax on beautiful Lake Wakatipu.

Entry cost: • Bike and rider $1150 • Pillion $800 The ﬁnal dinner/lake cruise is optional and if not required deduct $ 110pp from the above prices.

146 KIWI RIDER

For further information contact: Robbie & Connie Crickett Tel: 03 448 9582 or 0274 354 267 Email: robbie@highcountry.co.nz

w w w. h i g h c o u n t r y. c o . n z

Buchan Design

Itinerary:

3 HOT PRODUCTS DIRT

1 DIRT GUIDE BAG $40 Distributor: Northern Accessories

Now this is a super deal, simply spend $100 on any of the great stuff in the Dirt Guide and you can buy this great practical gear bag for just $39.95. Yip, under forty bucks. This top quality product has all the features you would expect of a bag that usually retails for $119.95. It has shoulder and carry straps, is water resistant and has a Tardis-like capacity (for the photo shoot we got two helmets, a neck brace, a pair of boots and lots of other stuff into it). Be quick - offer only available while stocks last from authorised Dirt Guide Dealers, bag and goods must be purchased at same time. LxWxH = 35x95x40cm (props not included).

2 SHOT RACE GOGGLES $79 Distributor: Nationwide Accessories

Shot Race goggles feature triple layer foam padding and a wide strap with silicon grip. The anti-scratch PC iridium lens (clear lens also included) has in-built tear-off studs (tearoffs and roll-offs optional extra). Colours: black, white, red, blue, pink, transparent black, transparent blue, transparent red, bubbles grey, transparent camo, safari.

3 DID RACE CHAIN Distributor: Darbi Accessories

D.I.D. ER chain is designed exclusively for motorcycle racing both on and off-road. This high performance, light weight chain provides the winning edge in world class competition. Available in 520ERT2 for SX and MX Racing up to 450cc and 520MX for SX and MX Racing up to 500cc. 4 SWALLOW MOTORCYCLE TUBES From $10 Distributor: Forbes & Davies

Swallow have been making motorcycle tubes for more than 20 years. The good news for Kiwis is these quality tubes are now available in New Zealand. There’s a huge range of sizes covered, so you’re sure to ﬁnd one suitable for your bike. The Swallow range is available now from all good bike shops. Deﬁnitely worth a look next time you’re after a tube replacement. 5 EBC BRAKE PADS Distributor: Nationwide Accessories

A wide range of these excellent pads is available including: EBC MX-S racing pads: An excellent choice for all weather performance in moto-X and ATV racing, with the highest HH rated friction for maximum stopping power and long lifetime. Being a sintered copper alloy, MX-S pads also have excellent durability in sand, wet and mud riding and are less aggressive to the brake rotor. Diamond ground surface ﬁnish accelerates pad break-in. EBC Sintered Metal MotoX & ATV “R” series brake pads: For ultimate durability EBC presents its “R” se-

4 ries of high density series pads. A sintered, copper, USA-made pad, the “R” series of heavy duty ATV and moto-x pads have become an aftermarket standard offering high durability, high resistance to contamination by mud, water, sand and grit etc. for reduced disc damage and long pad life. EBC TT series enduro compound pads: For some eight years this success-

ful carbon graphite formula has been the choice of top Enduro and Moto-X riders around the world. The main advantage of this type of material is its lack of heat generation which keeps both the rotor and caliper cool. Top Enduro and Hare Scrambles riders prefer this material for fast and dry riding conditions. It is also suitable for standard Sport ATV usage. KIWI RIDER 147

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148 KIWI RIDER

When its time to change your sprockets and chain most of us would prefer to use a quality product like Renthal but the budget won’t always allow it. However, with the all new Renthal ﬁnal drive kits you get a Renthal steel front and alloy rear sprocket plus Renthal chain in a one-stop pack and save 20%. Available in an O-ring (kits from $349) or non O-Ring (kits from $299) chain option. Check out the Renthal section at www.dirtguide.co.nz for applications to suit your ride.

HOT PRODUCTS DIRT

1 RENTHAL FINAL DRIVE KITS From $299 Distributor: Northern Accessories

1 6

2 REIKON GRIPS $32 Distributor: Nationwide Accessories

Reikon is well known for its very wide range of components – handlebars, front and rear sprockets, forged brake and clutch levers. Each Reikon product is designed with great care and craftsmanship and with the toughest conditions in mind. The result is a grip that meets the highest standards required for racing parts. Colours: black, grey.

3 AIROH STELT EASY MONSTER $825 Distributor: Forbes & Davies

The new 2010 model Stelt Easy shares many of the same technical features found in the Stelt Senior, but comes with a much sharper price tag. Shell construction is composite ﬁbre with 2 shell sizes available for an improved ﬁt. Other features include a removable washable liner and cheek pads, front ventilation, rear air extractors, nose protection, adjustable peak, double D-ring retention, only 1050g in weight, and ECE22.05 safety rating. The Stelt Easy comes in a very cool Monster graphic in sizes S to XXL. 4 2010 EVS VISION KNEE BRACE Adult $479, Youth $389. Distributor: Northern Accessories

EVS Sports continues to set the standard with the introduction of the new affordable Vision Brace. This super easy to use knee brace starts with aluminium dual pivot hinges that imitate the motions of the knee. It also provides superb bilateral protection and stability along with superior hyperextension control. Impact resistant thigh and calf panels are lined with anti slip sharkskin neoprene to give this brace the highest comfort level of any knee brace. With the EVS Vision Brace there are NO excuses not to wear knee braces. Sizes: S, M, L and XL. Sold in sets only (right & left legs). 5 TROY LEE DESIGNS AIR BETA HELMETS $799 Distributor: Northern Accessories

Protection never felt cooler. The highly

3 evolved edition of the original Troy Lee Design’s SE helmet, the AIR helmet, features our state-of-the-art multi-level internal ventilation system that rams specific streams of pressurized air through 12 individual intake channels. Meanwhile, five large independent exhaust vents jettison unwanted hot, humid, strength sapping air out the back. Lighter than ever, the shell shape, in coordination with over eight square inches of intake area, place the AIR helmet at the leading edge of comfort, quality and ventilation efficiency. Available in red and matt black.

MUC-OFF CHAIN LUBE $26 Distributor: Forbes & Davies 6

Muc-Off Dry PTFE Chain Lube is formulated to hold up to the extreme pressures that are applied to a modern drive chain. It’s a highly versatile, all-weather chain lubricant that has superior penetrative qualities ensuring that every part of the chain link is lubricated. An advanced ‘Dry Formula’ creates a clean, durable and protective layer that inhibits rust and corrosion. The added PTFE has exceptionally low surface friction to provide incredible drivetrain efﬁciency without attracting contaminants. It’s so clean and easy to use!

KIWI RIDER 149

EXTRA GIFT!

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* Offers available at participating dealers on the following models while stocks last for a limited time only, conditions apply: PW50/80, TT-R50E, TT-R110E, TT-R125E/LWE, YFM90R. $200 RRP value of riding gear or accessories may be claimed from your participating dealer at time of purchase if you buy any model listed above using Yamaha Motor Finance. Finance is to approved purchasers only. Application fees, charges and conditions apply. Rates available upon request. Retail promotion begins 2/11/09 through until 23/01/10.

152 KIWI RIDER

21/< :+,/( 672&.6 /$67

Step 1

One of the most practical additions to your off-road bike is an hour metre. In this, the ﬁrst in what (we hope! Ed) is an occasional series, Ollie S. walks us through the job. WORDS: Ollie S PICS: Todd Sutherland

eing a bit of a stickler for detail (oh really? Ed) I think an hour metre should be mandatory on any machine you own – in much the same way you have a log book to track your service records, jot important riding notes and doodle whilst you wait for your riding buddies to front up.

Step 2

Over the years I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to install many an hour metre and have consequently come up with a fairly reliability-proofed method. For the purpose of illustration I’ll use my brand new YZ450F courtesy of Yamaha NZ to show you exactly how I do it.

HOW TO HOUR METRE

INSTALLING AN HOUR METRE Step 7

Step 8

STEP BY STEP Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 1 –In order to complete the operation on a YZ450F you will need a set of side cutters (preferably sharp ones), 8mm and 10mm T-bars, an assortment of cable-ties and a steady hand. Step 2 – Remove the seat and tank from the bike to expose the frame rail(s). Once the frame is bare, take a moment to look for any obstructions. In many cases, hour metres come supplied with Velcro tape and/or self tapping screws. I personally ﬁnd sticking the metre to the frame is the easiest method and less obstructive in the future. Step 3 – Remove the spark plug lead from the engine and there will almost certainly be a plastic sheath surrounding the coil wires. Remove the hour metre from the packaging and uncoil the wire along the length of the chosen route to gauge how much you will need. Allow extra length for movement and ½ a foot for overlap. Step 4 – With extreme caution, so as to not sever the ignition wire, snip a hole in the sheath near the top of the ignition lead just wide enough for the hour metre wire to slide through. Step 5 – Continue to feed the hour metre wire through the opening, till it pokes out the bottom. Pull taut to the desired length, grab the short cable-ties and secure from the bottom back up to the hole in the sheath at incremental stages. With the cable ties secured and in place, trim off any remaining hour metre wire and re-insert the ignition cap back over the spark plug, making sure you press ﬁrmly until you feel the click of the terminal securing over the spark plug. Step 6 – Before securing the metre to the

frame you need to make certain that your desired location won’t mean the lower triple clamp will crush the unit at full lock – adjust its position accordingly. Then with a fat flat blade screwy push the hour metre wire into the current reader channel on the engine metre till it clicks in firmly. Step 7 – Prepare the frame area with some brake clean or metholated spirits. Remove the adhesive protector film on the Velcro and firmly press the hour metre into place. Lightly secure the meandering wire with some longer cable ties to either the frame or engine loom. Caution! Don’t secure the hour metre wire to your throttle cable! Step 8 – Refit the tank and seat, and then check all cables are free and there is no pinching or stretching when rotating bars to full lock. JOB DONE And just in case you were wondering . . . snipping a hole in the ignition lead sheath and then routing the hour metre’s current wire directly beside the ignition current makes certain there is a constant connection between the engine current and the metre itself. Simply cable-tying the hour metre wire to the ignition lead often leaves your hour metre struggling to recognise the current and therefore inaccurately logging those important hours. KR KIWI RIDER 153

PRODUCT EVALUATION FOX WING

FOX-WING FOLD-OUT AWNING

fasten the FoxWing down for safety on those breezy days. The coverage of the waterproof and mould resistant wing protects one whole side and rear of your vehicle leaving plenty of room to pit your bike and set up table or chairs. There’s even a drain pipe incorporated into the canopy at the rear hinge point for added protection. The second major beneﬁt of the FoxWing is the impressive ability to zip in just about any OzTent product to extend the FoxWing into a fully ﬂedged camping weapon for those locked into full-blown camping missions. KEEPIN’ IT PEGGED! Like your ever popular Ezi-Up, the FoxWing needs to be secured when the wind starts to get up. In fact to be on the safe side I always had the unit pegged into the ground. It was a real bonus not having to lug out and set up a heavy shelter when attending the races by myself, and when the heavens opened, the FoxWing did a marvellous job of keeping my gear dry.

WORDS & PICS: Ollie S.

Here at the mag we’re offered all sorts of products to try. A recent one was the Fox-Wing, a handy fold-out awning which Ollie trialled on his test bike-toting van. Brand new from the team at Rhino-Rack and OzTent is this versatile, bolt-on awning called the FoxWing. It takes pull out awnings to an all new level with a never-before-seen design that completely shades one side and the rear of your vehicle. It’s a patented one-piece design which simply swings out when you need it, no unfolding as such and no fuss. The team at MOFAC Vehicle Systems are the national distributors for FoxWing, Rhino-Rack and Oztent product and were in attendance at the National Mystery Creek Fieldays back in July 2009. As I strolled past the MOFAC stand I noticed the FoxWing in all its glory and immediately considered it as the answer to seriously versatile pit paddock protection from the elements. After having a chat with Peter Baucke from MOFAC, we got the ball rolling for a demo to be ﬁtted to my KR-branded VW T5 van. Two months later I was busting miles up and down the country with the FoxWing bolted to the roof of my van along with a pair of Rhino-Rack bars. 154 KIWI RIDER

SIMPLICITY ITSELF Most racers equip themselves for weekends away with some form of Ezi-Up tent for shade from the elements. The FoxWing serves a very similar purpose, but has two major advantages. Firstly, because the unit is mounted to your roof the only set up needed is to unzip the weather-proof protection bag, unclip the rubber lock strap, grab the top bar and walk around the edge of your vehicle. Included in the FoxWing package are telescopic poles, pegs and ropes to securely

One reservation that initially crossed my mind was the extra drag or whistling created when roof racks and/or storage boxes are roof mounted. I’m happy to report that the FoxWing is whisper quiet and places no extra drag on the vehicle. Although the extra height meant getting my sneaky double cheeseburger combo from McDs drive-through was no longer an option. PRICE POINT With a super easy ﬁve step process to set up and pack down, the FoxWing must surely be the perfect choice for racers, especially families, looking for a more versatile product. It’s extremely well constructed, won’t rust and comes with a two year warranty and at last check retails for a competitive $1199. Guide your browser to www.teammofac.co.nz for more information, dealer listings and related Rhino-Rack/ OzTent product. KR

KIWI RIDER 155

ADVENTURE YAMAHA DT175

If you’ve done an Adventure Ride in the North Island in the last 10 years Ken Sutton and his diminutive DT175 will be familiar to you. Here daughter Nicole relates the story of ‘the little bike that could!’

WORDS & PICS: Nicole Sutton

THE LITTLE BIKE THAT COULD K

en Sutton, or ‘Dad’ as he is known to me, bought the Yamaha DT 175 shiny and new way back in 1989. Initially it was used for trail riding missions in the north-eastern Waikato and Coromandel Peninsula area; you know, places like Thompson’s Track and up the Wires, and yes, as I’m sure you can imagine, it soon became not quite so shiny and new. That, as it turns out, however, was only the beginning for the mighty DT. Adventure Rides were becoming popular in the early 1990s and the DT ﬁrst appeared at one in 1994 in Taranaki. At ﬁrst it caused some raised eyebrows, but quickly earned respect when it left bigger bikes in its dust. With its 2-stroke pick-up and 6-speed gear box, and of course that 175 ccs of raw power, the DT was (and still is) the ultimate adventure riding machine…for Dad and us kids being quite at home on anything, from gritty trail riding to winding gravel. MY TURN When I was about eleven, I was allowed to accompany Dad on his 156 KIWI RIDER

Adventure Riding expeditions. This meant I’d be on the back of the DT, usually lugging a pack as big as I was with all the camping gear, because it wasn’t a proper ride if you didn’t ride there and back (that’s according to Dad anyway!) Finally, at 15, I was old enough to begin my own Adventure Riding career, and after about eight years of vibrating

That’s Ken at the controls (top) with Laura in the foreground deep in the heart of the bush on Rangitoto Station and Nicole (below) leading the way through a river in the Pureora Forest. Facing page: Snapshots of a family enjoying their Adventure Riding over the years with Nicole, brother Alex, Dad Ken and the trusty DT.

YOU’D DO IT ON THE DT! Over the years our fellow riders have really got into the DT vibe – when contemplating a steep bank, tricky river crossing, bog or narrow ledge on another bike someone would invariably pipe up – ‘you’d do it on the DT!’

ADVENTURE YAMAHA DT175

around on the DT, I graduated to a Suzuki DR-Z 400, and now own an old, but loyal, KLE 500.

The DT, you see, always gets you there... steadily. As Dad put it; ‘occasionally something will fall off it, but it always gets you home.’ Upon hearing this philosophical comment, I was reminded of the time I busted the DT’s gear lever up the Maratoto Valley on a Coromandel ride. WITH A LITTLE HELP…. With the bike stuck in second gear, I made it to a shed that belonged to Dad’s mate. He welded the gear lever back on, and off I went to happily continue the ride. Over the years, various friends of mine have learned to ride on the DT; it being a perfect height for beginners, as well as having a very forgiving gearbox. On one trail ride, my friend Donna pulled up next to me looking a bit red in the face; ‘I don’t know if you and Ken are going the easy way, or the hard way because you think it’s more fun!’ she puffed. We were usually going the hard way... because it’s more fun. The years go by, of course, but do you know what? That’s right, the DT lives on. With 114,000 km on the clock (although there was a while there where the speedo wasn’t working so it’s actually more) it’s done the length and breadth of the North Island many times, Cape Reinga to Hawke’s Bay to Whangamomona and Wellington. Mechanically it’s had two rebores, one set of crank bearings, one new oil pump, one new gearbox output shaft bearing, plus the usual consumables (chain, sprockets, wheel bearings etc.). My brother Alex and I both learned to ride on it, and it has now been commandeered by a friend of the family’s 16 year old daughter. Apparently she’s already found all the back roads around Cambridge. And so the spirit of the DT, with its oh-so-cushy seat and questionable back suspension, lives on. KR KIWI RIDER 157

158 KIWI RIDER

KR KIDS MINI MX CHAMPS

THE ONE TO CHACE Families from all over New Zealand converged on Taranaki over the October 31-Nov 01 weekend for the annual KTM-sponsored New Zealand Mini MX championships. KR man Andy McGechan was there. WORDS & PICS: Andy McGechan

The name is Johnston, Chace Johnston ... and chase is about all the other riders could do when the Napier boy lined up to race at the New Zealand Mini Motocross Championships in Taranaki in nearly November. The 11-year-old Puketapu School pupil on bike No.11 was untouchable, winning all five of his 9-11 years' 65cc races over the two days of the KTM-sponsored event. Johnston finished the weekend a massive 17 points clear of his nearest threat, Cambridge rider Trent Liddle-Collins, and a whopping 47 points clear of the thirdranked rider, Hawera's Kieran Baker. "It was a perfect weekend really," said Johnston. "I had one little slide-out in qualifying but I didn't hurt myself and still managed to qualify fastest. "This is my first national title and the best thing I've ever done in my life … so far," he beamed.

That’s the start of a 4-7 yrs 50cc class race with Jacob Hunt (closest to the camera) and Ryan Webley beside him.

Johnston now moves to the junior ranks where he will race an 85cc bike in the 8-12 years' class. "That'll be hard work. That's a big step up really."

A SIMILAR TALE It was a similar tale of dominance in the 7-8 years' 65cc class where Wanganui's Kane Ditmer won three of his five races and finished runner-up in the other two, ending the weekend 18 points clear of Christchurch rider Kayden Bourke. Ngaruawahia's Jeremy Ashdown and Featherston brothers Jacob and Sam Morison were locked in a tight struggle for honours in the 7-11 years' trail bike class, with Ashdown eventually getting the title, albeit finishing just two points ahead of Jacob Morison, with Sam Morison just three points further back. TIGHT AS It was also tight at the top of the 6-8 years' 50cc class where Taupo's Oliver Rasmussen eventually won the title by just two points from Hamilton's Caleb Richardson. Ngatea 7-year-old Isaac Broad was almost unbeatable in the 4-7 years' 50cc class, winning four of his five races and managing third in his final outing to win the class by a safe 22 points from Muriwai Beach rider Jayroy Skinner, with Tauranga's KIWI RIDER 159

Jacob Hunt just six points further back. KR KIDS MINI MX CHAMPS

Broad will now progress to the 65cc class for next season. "I want to be a pro motocrosser when I grow up. I certainly don't want to be an architect like my dad … that's way too boring." UNBEATEN Masterton's Zak Nolan went unbeaten to win the 6-8 years' 50cc trail bike class, as did Muriwai Beach's Ryder Skinner in winning the 4-5 years' 50cc trail bike division. "The sport is in a very healthy state," said Motorcycling New Zealand junior motocross commissioner Bryan Davidson, of Marton. "This is where the future of the sport will grow from and it's looking very encouraging." KR Hawke’s Bay’s Chace Johnston was unbeatable in the 9-11 yrs 65cc class winning all ﬁ ve races and the NZ title over the weekend.

LIKE FATHERS; LIKE SONS It was interesting to note that the young sons of several Kiwi motorsports legends were in the thick of the action in Taranaki. New Zealand V8 champion and former national truck-racing champion Kayne Scott, of Hamilton, acted as spanner man for his seven-year-old son Jett. Jett Scott ﬁnished no lower than third all weekend to end the championship runner-up to Masterton’s Zak Nolan in the 6-8 years’ trail bike class. Kayne Scott himself raced motocross when his family moved to Australia while he was young and he still enjoys getting out on a bike. He is also the patron of the Hamilton Kart Club, another motorsports code in which he has enjoyed success over the years. Jett Scott’s race number, No.99, was 160 KIWI RIDER

Like father, like son in this case NZV8s champ Kayne Scott right) with son Jett, and (far right) former World 50cc MX champion Shayne King with son Curtis.

also the number that Kayne used when he raced BMX, motocross, go-karts and cars. THAT NAME RINGS A BELL! It probably comes as no surprise that Curtis King, the eldest son of Taranaki’s former 500cc world motocross champion Shayne King, was also in action on the Barrett Road track. Curtis King rode a KTM with the No.9 on its plates, the same bike brand and digits that Shayne had when he won the world title in 1996. Curtis ﬁnished 21st in the 6-8 years’ 50cc class.

Also following in their father’s footsteps were the Furze brothers, Sam and Jake. Their dad, David, is the Taranaki MCC president but in his racing days he was one of New Zealand’s elite on the domestic scene. David Furze ﬁnished runner-up to Aussie professionals Craig Dack and Vaughan Style in the 250cc class in the N.Z. Motocross Championships in 1986. Sam ﬁnished 30th in the highlycompetitive 8-11 years’ 65cc class at the Mini motocross nationals, while Jake was placed 15th in the 6-8 years’ 50cc division.

KR KIDS MINI MX CHAMPS

RESULTS 2009 KTM NZ MINI MX CHAMPIONSHIPS TARANAKI OCT 31-NOV 01 9-11 years 65cc class: 1. Chace Johnston (Napier) 125 points (maximum); 2. Trent Liddle-Collins (Cambridge) 108; 3. Kieran Baker (Hawera) 78; 4. Tony Cvitanovich (Feilding) 73; 5. Troy Taylor (Whangarei) 69. 7-8 years 65cc class: 1. Kane Ditmer (Wanganui) 116 points; 2. Kayden Bourke (Christchurch) 98; 3. Chris Merriman (Tauranga) 92; 4. Logan Brett (Eketahuna) 84; 5. Joel Natzke (Hamilton) 79. 7-11 years trail bike class: 1. Jeremy Ashdown (Ngaruawahia) 114 points; 2. Jacob Morison (Featherston) 112; 3. Sam Morison (Featherston) 109; 4. Jack Abbott (Wanganui) 90; 5. Bryan Ashdown (Ngaruawahia) 80.

Other winners at the KTM Mini MX Champs included (this pic) Kane Ditmer (7-8 yrs 65cc), Oliver Rasmussen (6-8 50cc) top left and Isaac Broad (4-7 yrs 50cc) below left. Finally, it wasn’t all about the boys as pink-clad Ryleah Bourke-Palmer proves

6-8 years 50cc class: 1. Oliver Rasmussen (Taupo) 116 points; 2. Caleb Richardson (Hamilton) 112; 3. Joel O’Connor (Rotorua) 98; 4. Jesse Te Kani (Pukekawa) 88; 5. Leroy Porteous (Kaiwaka) 78. 4-7 years 50c class: 1. Isaac Broad (Ngatea) 120 points; 2. Jayroy Skinner (Muriwai Beach) 98; 3. Jacob Hunt (Tauranga) 94; 4. Jack Lawson (Napier) 92; 5. Brodie Connolly (Matamata) 88. 6-8 years 50cc trail bike class: 1. Zak Nolan (Masterton) 125 points (maximum); 2. Jett Scott (Hamilton) 106; 3. Chloe Steel (Te Awamutu) 104; 4. Thomas Harrington (Napier) 90; 5. Anaru Pilcher (Pirongia) 80. 4-5 years 50cc trail bike class: 1. Ryder Skinner (Muruwai Beach) 125 points.

KIWI RIDER 161

KR KIDS COURTNEY DUNCAN

JUNIOR MX WITH COURTNEY DUNCAN

Hey everyone! Welcome to my column. I’m sitting at the table looking out the window with the sun shining in – and to be sitting here with the temperature 28 degrees is pretty good for November and far better than rain or wind! CHILLING OUT This month I haven’t competed in many events but I have been chilling out with the family and my friends as well as training hard for the SummerX coming up in December and also for Woodville in late January. Last weekend I went down for a wee ride at a track called Titri Park just south of Dunedin. It’s a hard pack clay track that cuts up rough and has a lot of good jumps. It was good to go somewhere different to ride. Also they’ve just put in a new section with sick jumps, great for whips! HELPING OUT I’ve just been riding around on all sorts of tracks with my riding mates Sam and Jed Cuthbertson; also with my cousin Regan, just helping them out and having fun. It’s almost the end of school with only three weeks to go until the holidays... but that means exams. EXAMS! I had four exams this week…and it will be good to see how I get on, what with having a few weeks off travelling to the North Island for MX racing. The good thing is that when school’s over, I will have more time for riding and chilling out. Hope to see you all at Whakatane, remember to enter, it’s going to be an awesome weekend. Till then, stay safe and see you at the SummerX. Courtney #8

Thanks to: GMD, Backﬂips, Otago Transport, Bridgestone, Mike Gould Yamaha, Yamaha NZ, Yamalube, Fox, Scott, Sports Pro, Suspension Tech.

162 KIWI RIDER

KAWASAKI MX WALLET $23 Distributor: Kawasaki

KIDS’ PRODUCTS CHRISTMAS IDEAS

Very functional and handy, made of tough 600 dernier fabric.

4 3

MCR K3 JNR GOGGLES From $27 Distributor: Forbes & Davies 2

Smaller frames to ﬁt smaller faces – and at a smaller Price too! Designed for kids from when they start riding, up to 10-11 years old, these goggles are fully vented, have a wide adjustable strap, and plenty of foam padding for the smaller faces. Available in White, Black or Red. Also available in Teen, with slightly larger frame for the bigger kids in colours White, Black, Red and Blue. KAWASAKI RIDING SOCKS $27.50 Distributor: Kawasaki

Very warm riding socks with reinforced sections to give extra support where needed. Designed for active use with moisture regulating properties. Extra long to go under shin guards and inside motocross boots. Sizes 38-42 and 42-46.

YAMAHA RACING GEAR BAG $310 Distributor: Yamaha NZ

Keep everything in one place with this massive oversized equipment and apparel bag. Made out of heavy duty polyester and a moulded polyethylene base, the Yamaha Gear Bag can accommodate all your essential riding equipment from chest protectors, boots, helmet, pants, etc. through to leathers, back protectors, and so much more. With a quick pull handle and off road type wheels, along with numerous outer pockets to secure your valuables, this easily manoeuvrable case is a must for any competitor. Available at your nearest Yamaha Dealer

YAMAHA RACING HYBRID BACKPACK $195 Distributor: Yamaha NZ

This exciting new back-pack allows you to travel with all your essentials. It incorporates a ﬂeece lined 38mm padded laptop compartment, with reach-in dual zone compartments that open to a 4 panel internal pocket. The outer shell is of water resistant semi-rigid foam construction with a mesh padded back panel and padded straps. Extra features include a concealed mobile phone/i-Pod pocket, top carry handle and an adjustable abdominal brace. Available from your nearest Yamaha Dealer 6

AXO JUNIOR BOXER BOOTS

$239 Distributor: Northern Accessories Features a soft, supple leather outer construction. PU Bi-molded shin plate with energy absorbing foam backing. 4 AXO PU locking buckles. 4 ﬂoating buckle bases ensure correct alignment. 2 nylon side struts add lateral support. AXO exclusive MX

style sole. Synthetic gator seals the top of the boot. PU molded inner plastic and buckle deﬂector. Steel shank and steel toe cap. Made especially for the youngsters, this range is available in sizes 1 to 6. EVS RC EVOLUTION $349 Distributor: Northern Accessories

Providing the ultimate in neck protection, the RC-Evolution has been designed with the assistance of top orthopedic professionals to reduce neck compression and extension related injuries (the cause of serious spinal chord damage). It has a customizable ergonomic to ensure comfort

and maximum impact protection. Reducing overall weight and bulk, the vented design allows air to move freely through it, helping to keep you cool. With 4 sizes and the 3 position shim system, you have 12 options to ﬁnd your perfect ﬁt Other pluses are simplicity of use, the way-easier adjustability, the lower weight, lower bulk (oh, yeah!), and: it works with EVS roost guards, but also with anybody else’s. And did we mention that it looks like a piece of high-tech art, moto jewelry, eye-candy. Colours: Red, Blue, Black, White. SIZES: S (Youth), M, L. (Pink S (Youth) /M. KR KIWI RIDER 163

LOOKING BACK 5/10/15 YEARS AGO

1 Y 15 YEARS AGO JANUARY 1995

-T The Triumph division of Otahuhu-based im importer Northern Accessories was aw awarded an International Market Share A Award by the company. Managing d director Ian Beckhaus and Triumph di division manager Geoff Robinson were in L London to accept the award which is pres presented to the importer and distributor with the greatest market share percentage. Northern Accessories Triumph division snared 16% of the 750cc and over market eclipsing all other distributors. - Simon Crafar reflected on a superb debut year in World Superbikes, but reckoned it could have been even better had Honda Japan offered more assistance to his Italian-based Rumi team. Crafar was the highest placed privateer for the year of 1994 and finished a remarkable fifth in the title chase. Aboard what he described as a ‘basically stock standard’ Honda RC45 - a bike previously untested in the world arena. ‘I rode the wheels off it and my mechanics were good...the bike never missed a beat,’ he said. - Mitch Rowe successfully defended his New Zealand Beach Jump Challenge Title at Oakura Beach in Taranaki. The record he set at the event in 1993 of 58m was always going to be hard to beat as a cross-wind was affecting the competitors. But Rowe’s 44.7m flight through the air aboard his Suzuki was enough to take the title. Greg Ngeru posted a 39.5m leap while Jeremy Baker took third with 36.3m. - KR profiled the traditional street racing which had lit up the centre of Greymouth for the annual Greymouth Motorcycle Street Races. It was a real community affair, with all profits from the day’s racing donated to St Johns in Greymouth and the local fire brigade. As for the racing, Ducati 900 rider Graham Servicke-Jones of Timaru took out the F1 race while Christchurch’s Michael Tall on a Suzuki RGV250 took the F2 race.

164 KIWI RIDER

10 YEARS AGO JANUARY 2000

FIVE YEARS AGO JAN 2005

- KR announced that by the narrowest of margins a panel of New Zealand judges had voted Honda’s CB750K1 as the Motorcycle of the Century. The voting process had involved 12 judges who originally picked a top 24 - which was then whittled down to a top 12, then a top ﬁve then a ﬁnal three. Those three were then put under the voting spotlight and the ground-breaking four took the honours. Second place also went to a Honda - the ubiquitous C50 step-through.

- Yamaha led the way when it came to the KR crew (and selected contributors) coming up with the bike awards for 2004...which were announced in this opening issue for 2005. Sports Bike of the year went to the YZF R1, while the top tourer award went to the FJR1300. Yamaha also nabbed the Middleweight class with the FZ6N, and made it a quadrella through the Majesty 400 grabbing the Scooter title. Triumph got a look in with the Rocket 3 taking the Cruiser class, while BMW’s R1200GS was judged best big traillie.

- BRONZ was demanding answers from Transit New Zealand over what they considered to be potentially dangerous road markings. The thermo-plastic markings had earlier come to Transit’s attention through cyclist organisations who were concerned over their skid resistance. Up until that time the thermo-plastic coatings had only been used on state highways. - It was announced that the annual NZ Classic Motorcycle Racing Register race meeting at Pukekohe that year would be a festival of spectacular ‘streamliners.’ Four very rare race bikes all from an era when full ‘dustbin’ fairings were the big thing. A 1957 six-cylinder 500 MV, a 1957 500 Gilera four, a 1954 BMW 500 twin and a 1956 single cylinder 500 Moto Guzzi would make up the line-up. - Tony Rees and Jason McEwen stamped their authority on the RK Chains Sports Production Championship. After three rounds of the ﬁve round championship the pair had emerged as the leading battlers. Rees was back on Yamahas, in the open and 600 classes, after four seasons on Suzukis. - In one of the biggest surprises in the offroad arena, 1999 enduro champ Sean Clarke announced he was switching to Suzuki after 15 years racing with Honda. He made the switch after failing to reach terms with Honda, and making a call to Suzuki who effectively said ‘what would you like to ride?’

- What had started out as a harmless bit of fun had emerged as one of the country’s fastest-growing forms of motorcycle sport. Mini Moto had started out in July the previous year with a modest number of entrants turning out - but by the end of the year, and the start of 2005, entry numbers had swelled to more than 90 riders taking part. - Mike Esdaile rolled out another colourful proﬁle of one the motorcycle business’s leading lights - Michio ‘Mitch’ Arai, of Arai helmets fame. Mr Arai’s business in terms of how his helmets are made was put under the spotlight, as was his philosophy toward it. ‘It is like the child growing into an adult. They may look quite different - but the DNA remains the same. It is that way with Arai helmets. The design has evolved but it is the same DNA. - Ashburton Yamaha dealer Brian Donaldson rolled out an entertaining feature about a trail ride which had been organised around the Australian Safari. When he heard about it he was in like Flynn, and gave readers a colourful and entertaining account of his travels across the Aussie landscape. KR L to R: Taupo had its Jurassic Scrambles. The new GSXR750 turned heads at Big Boys Toyz. We rated the Suzuki RM250 as our top motocrosser and the GasGas 300 best enduro bike.

SEEV CTEN IO TS N !

Honda riders Michael Phillips and Jesse Wiki (pictured) performed well in front of the huge Kiwi crowd. Hamilton played host to the 6th round of the Australian Super X series. Photo: A McGechan.

m os Inc t c lu om de pr s N eh Z’ en s si ve

ISSUE 152 • BIKES FOR SALE • EVENTS

KIWI RIDER 165

shop online 24/7 mrmotorcycles.co.nz ROAD & TRACK

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2010 SUZUKI RM-Z250L0 All-new, fuel injected model here now. Demo available. WIN

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LT-Z250

$8,995

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New Zealand’s legendary big-hearted trail bike with riderfriendly handling and exhilarating 4-stroke power for serious dirt-kicking action.

WIN

ME!

Get out and enjoy some trail fun with your friends. This awesome quad o˷ers agility and responsiveness combined with smooth performance and a torquey powerband through an ME! WIN easy auto clutch. . Special SuzukiFEST Price.

Price is recommended retail and includes GST.

$10,995

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DR-Z400E

Special SuzukiFEST Price Includes a FREE Pro Circuit T4 Slip-on Mu˻er.

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LT-Z400K9

$8,495

The weapon of choice for serious fun on the trails. Its liquid cooled 398cc DOHC engine features advanced ECM controlled fuel injection for more e˺ciency, more torque, and of course, ME! WIN more power. Special SuzukiFEST Price. Price is recommended retail and includes GST.

5 Stadium Drive, Pukekohe • 09 237 3095 • Mon to Fri 8am - 5pm, Sat 9am - 1pm

166 KIWI RIDER

A/H Craig 0274 581 544 • sales: craig@mrmotorcycles.co.nz • parts: scott@mrmotorcycles.co.nz

shop online 24/7 mrmotorcycles.co.nz 2010 KX450F 2009 shoot-out WINNER just got better. Demo available.

$13,990 2010 KX250F Already ranked at the top of its class in magazine shoot-outs, the 2010 KX250F gets further fine tuning to ensure its winning performance for 2010. Demo available.

$12,995 2010 KX85

New Ninja 250R

2010 KX65

Includes full spares kit and Moto Minder

with FREE HJC helmet and Dririder jacket*

HOW TRICK IS THIS?

Demo available.

$4395 $5250

$5,899 $6,299

Small wheel

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Includes full spares kit and moto minder. 1 x 2009 model 2010 models

*offer valid to 30 November.

$7,995

+ on road costs

5 Stadium Drive, Pukekohe • 09 237 3095 • Mon to Fri 8am - 5pm, Sat 9am - 1pm KIWI RIDER A/H Craig 0274 581 544 • sales: craig@mrmotorcycles.co.nz • parts: scott@mrmotorcycles.co.nz

167

Great Shops ~ For Great Bikes -

win a Suzuki Swift WIN

ME!

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IMPORTERS OF TOP QUALITY, LATE MODEL PERFOR

23 Grasslands Place, Hamilton Phone: 07 846 6991 Grant 0274 94 77 85 grant@bigbikes.co.nz or Alan 021 327 771 alan@bigbikes.co.nz Hours: Mon-Fri 8.30-5 Sat 9-3 All our imported bikes are serviced and include on road costs

New GSX750K9 $19995 $16995 now incl orc

GSX1400ZK7 Limited Edition $12995 incl orc

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NOW! !

$12,995 2003 Ducati S ST4S S ABS, 11,200kms, new tyres, heated grips. One of three available New GSX1300RK9 Hayabusa $22000 $19995 including FREE Shoei Helmet now incl orc

VZ800ZK9 M50Z Boulevard Sporty cuiser $12595 $10995 now incl orc

$14,990 2006 BMW R850R New Pirelli tyres, Givi top box. 27,500kms

New DR650SEK9 $9100 $8495 now incl orc

New LT-Z400K9 $9995 $8495

$7,495 Buy any new Suzuki motorbike before 31 January 2010 and be in the draw to win a Kasmir Blue Suzuki Swift 1, 1.5L manual â&#x20AC;&#x201C; rrp $21,800!

2009 Hyosung TE450R New VL800LO C50 Cruisie criuser $13700 $11995 now incl orc

NEW 5 speed with reverse

SCREAMING DEMON MUFFLERS

403 Te Rapa Rd, Hamilton Ph 07 838 1209 Fax 07 838 1208 A/H Greg 0274 916 532 Glenn 0274 795 998 sales@boyds.co.nz www.boydmotorcycles.co.nz

To fit GT250/R, GT650/R, from $475

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IKES

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MANCE MOTORCYCLES

Check out our awesome new website. Shop online, lookk att our bikes, or join our mailing list!

WOFs • Servicing • Tyres • Repairs

1997 BMW K1100 $14995 WON’T FIND BETTER

1995 HONDA GL1500 GOLDWING $15995 PURE LUXURY

$10,995

+orc

2009 Hyosung GV650 NEW, Great cruiser at a good price.

1993 HONDA ST1100 $7995 GOOD OPEN ROAD TOURER

2000 KAWASAKI ZX12R $9495 POWER TO BURN

2003 HONDA VTR1000 $7495 V-TWIN MONSTER

2009 HONDA CB1300 $13995 EX DEMO!

2005 HONDA CB900 $8995 AS NEW CONDITION

1991 HONDA CB400 $4495 GOOD STEP UP FROM 250CC

FROM

$6,995 $6,995

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2009 Hyosung GT250R NEW, Full size bike with looks to match.

$6,995 2006 Sherco 4.5I Approx 35 hours 891km

CLOSI NG DO WN S ONeNa Wiley W iley X Eyewear EyALeEw r! OW ! Starting from $229 .95

HONDA HAMILTON 10-14 Willoughby St (op. Countdown)

HONDA HAMILTON Ph 07 838 9299 Jayd 021 284 6632 sales@hondahamilton.co.nz

You know you want it

TE250 & TE310 - in stock now 2 year manufacturers warranty www.husqvarnamotorcycles.co.nz

170 KIWI RIDER

ROAD - SPORT - MX - QUAD

Full Systems from

$465.00

MX QUAD MX Legal Power Tips

prices maybe subject to change

$10.95 SealSavers$32.95

Air Filters$14.85 $24.95

Palmsaver

2 & 4 Stroke Engine Kits From

$128.95

Air Filters

Filter Covers

Performance Clutch Baskets

From

$218.00 $245.00

Hour meter

$59.95 $66.95 * Prices maybe subject to change

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60A Ellice Road, GlenďŹ eld, Auckland Ph 09 443 1722 Fax 09 443 1723 sales@lifanmc.co.nz see our website for your local dealer www.lifanmc.co.nz 172 KIWI RIDER

KIWI RIDER 173

2010 YZF-R1 The new 2010 Crossplane Crankshaft YZF-R1 is in store now, in VERY limited numbers. Demonstrator Available. $23,995 + orc

2010 YZ450F The Theory of Revolution. The all new Revolutionary Fuel Injected YZ450F is in store now. $13,495 in Yamaha Blue or $13,595 in Competition White.

From No Deposit. $148/week.

From No Deposit. $83/week.

From No Deposit. $79/week.

2009 FJR1300A The ultimate sports tourer, complete with panniers. One only in Smokey Grey. $26,495 + orc

2009 YZF-R125 Yamaha’s all new high-revving production SUPER SPORT machine. Demo available. $8995 + orc

2009 XJ6-N Yamaha’s Cool new middleweight naked motorcycle, available now. $13,295 + orc

From No Deposit. $163/week.

From no deposit .$58/week.

From No Deposit. $84/week.

2009 YZF-R6 In store now in Yamaha Racing Blue. $17,995.00 + orc

2009 MT-01 The new MT-01 delivers a whole new kind of Riding Excitement. Gloss black/red accents. $23,995 + orc

2010 YFM700R Raptor Special Edition. Awesome Power with Absolute Control $14,795 (Also available in Yamaha Racing Blue. $13,995)

From No Deposit. $112/week.

From No Deposit. $148/week.

From No Deposit. $90/week.

2010 YZ250F The Ultimate Corner Carver. There are very limited numbers available. $12,995 in Yamaha Blue or $13,095 in Competition White.

FINANCE YOUR WATERCRAFT FROM 7.99% FOR A LIMITED TIME

2010 Yamaha FXHO. An Intelligent choice for those who demand an Extraordinary Reﬁned craft. $22,495

2009 YAMAHA FZR-SHO. The Essence of Driving Pleasure on the Water. $24,615

2009 Yamaha FXSHO. An Excellent combination of Luxury and High Performance. $26,495

From No Deposit. $107/week.

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From No Deposit. $125/week.

346 Church St, Penrose Ph 09 525 0300 www.aucklandyamaha.co.nz Dave Elgar 021 930 007 sales@aucklandyamaha.co.nz

THE RIDERS: from England, Ireland, Australia, Italy (including world Supermoto # 2 Ivan Lazzarini) (the biggest international ﬁeld in over 30 years) and demonstration laps by Dave Hiscock on the ‘Plastic Fantastic’. THE BIKES: Superbikes (F1), F2, F3, Sidecars, Supermotard, 600 Superspot, Bears and more. OVERBRIDGE, to get around the circuit throughout the day.

THE BIG SCREEN on the start-ﬁnish straight so you can follow the whole race. W(h)anganui 26 December 2009. For pre entries (early bird $20) general / corporate admission tickets and more info log onto www. cemeterycircuit.co.nz Kids under 12 free.

KIWI RIDER 175

VICTORIAN

MOTORCYCLE WRECKERS LMCT 9537 Grey Import specialists

Wrecking only late model Japanese road bikes

52-54 Mologa Rd, Heidelberg West, 3081 Australia Ph + 61 3 9457 1733 Fax + 61 3 9457 1866 Email vicwreck@vicwreck.com.au

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176 KIWI RIDER

Honda CRF250 / CRF450 2010 models. ORDER NOW

All new Honda VFR1200 $28995 order now (very limited stock - Only 6,5,4,3,2 left)

RIDING GEAR DEALS

SHOEI SPECIALS

XR750 @ $750

ALPINE STARS KIT:Shirt Pants and Gloves $249 COMPLETE KIT: Helmet /Goggles / Shirt / Pants / Gloves/Boots. Normally $970 SPECIAL PRICE $599

PIMP YOUR RIDE with some of our Ballistik aftermarket gear. It can be as small as your valve caps through to indicators, bar ends or maybe a tail tidy.

Cyclespot Honda 63 Barrys Point Rd, Takapuna. Ph (09) 486 1136 sales@cyclespot.co.nz www.cyclespot.co.nz Open 7 days a week until Christmas

KIWI RIDER 177

at le a s n o s t e k ic T ek.co.nz e w e c a .r w w w

COOKS GARDENS WANGANUI – 28TH DECEMBER – 6PM

NZ FMX NATIONALS

Come witness the epic battle as riders go head-to-head in combat for the NZ championship title WWW.FREERIDERMX.COM.AU

178 KIWI RIDER

MAGAZINE

ADVENTURE RIDES JANUARY 2010 - 4/7, Yamaha Ultimate Adventure, an extra four days of riding, to precede Yamaha NZ Safari Marlborough Sounds; this adventure gets riders to the Marlborough Sounds Safari a day prior to the start, delivering a total of seven days of adventure with a day off between the rides. Accommodation will be in comfortable hotels or motels with all meals provided (cooked breakfast, picnic or station lunch, and two course dinner). A back up vehicle carries all luggage. Call Mike Britton on 07 8556132 or 0212849047 or visit www.adventurerides.co.nz - 9/11, Yamaha NZ Safari Marlborough Sounds Yamaha NZ & Britton Motorcycle Adventures team are back with a new 3 day South Island Safari. This year they head into the Marlborough Sounds, Pelorus Sounds, Havelock, Canvastown and the Awatere Valley. All 200-1200cc bikes welcome. Full Safari package: $1250, pillion rider: $1100. Visit www.adventurerides.co.nz or contact Mike Britton at 07 8556132 or 021 2849047 or email mike@adventurerides.co.nz. - 13/15, Kaikoura Coast Trail Ride, stunning and at times challenging trail riding. Ride the massive Clarence River valleys, along stunning coastal trails, remote alpine valleys, along rugged mountain trails. Ride includes four nights accommodation at exclusive lodge, all meals, expert crew, sat. phone, GPS, 1st aid, land access fees, petrol and a support vehicle. Price: $1495/rider, twin share. Contact Mike Britton 07 8556132 or 0212849047, or visit www.adventurerides.co.nz, or email mike@adventruerides.co.nz. - 17/18, Dusty Butt 2010, 4th anniversary of this 24 hr event, this year there is a second day option and a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Small Bike Challengeâ&#x20AC;? with a limit of 125cc. 85% off road, all new, heading south from Fairlie into of South Canterbury and Otago. Free event. Designed by Ryan Cooney, check the Kiwi Biker website under Adventure/

Dual Purpose Bikes forum for more details. FEBRUARY 2010 - 1/5, Yamaha West Coast Trail Ride, in a rugged primeval region of rain forest and braided river valleys. Hidden alpine valleys and pristine native beech forest. Crossing wilderness of the Mackley River system, visit the historic Denniston coal mine. Stay in Reefton and Murchison. Access to many high quality off road trails in the Marlborough and northern West Coast regions. Includes: Five full days riding. 6 nights accommodation, all meals (breakfast, filling lunch, full buffet or set menu dinner). Expert guiding by Britton M/cycle Adventures crew. Land access fees and concessions. Fuel and support vehicle. $2695/rider, twin share. Visit www.adventurerides.co.nz, or contact Mike on 07 855 6132, 0212849047 or adventurerides@paradise.net.nz - 27/1 March, KTM Big Southern Sky Adventure, Oamaru, North Otago to Queenstown, Southern Lakes. This is an event with big adventure bikes in mind. Bike and rider: $1150, pillion $800. Includes 4 nightsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; accommodation, full breakfast on the three ride days, country lunch and evening meal on each ride day, and all luggage movement. At tours end there is a cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak, (if not required, deduct $110pp from price). See Robbie and Connie Crickett for more details on 03 4489582 or 0274354267 or email robbie@highcountry.co.nz MARCH 2010 - 8 March/15 April, Roscoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rocky Road Adventure, High Andes Adventure Ride - ChileArgentina-Bolivia-Peru. We ship your motorcycle, you ride it. We cross the magnificent Andres Mountain Range four times. Experience the heat and vastness of the Atacama Desert and the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest salt lake in Bolivia. Visit Punoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous floating islands on Lake Titicaca. Climb the sacred Inca site at Machu Picchu. Adventure ride begins and ends in Vina del Mar - Chile.

EVENTS $9980 + shipping and air fare. Please contact Rosco Pennell for more information at rosco. rr@ihug.co.nz or ph 09 406 8807, or visit http://www.mytb.org/rosco-p - 15/18, Yamaha Taupo Central Trail Ride, new terrain and the best riding the Central North Island has on offer. This is a top shelf, multi day experience with at least 180 kms riding each day, plus lodge accommodation and all meals to high standard. Mixture of flowing 4x4 tracks, single trail in native bush, open farm land, plantation forestry and gravel. You will need a 250-650cc road legal enduro bike with knobbly tyresand basic tools and spares. We transport your luggage and spares. Lodge accommodation with all meals. Includes: 4 full days riding. 5 nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accommodation. All meals. Land access fees. All fuel for your bike. $1950/rider. Contact Mike on 07 8556132 or 0212849047 or email mike@ adventurerides.co.nz.

BUCKET RACING DECEMBER - 19/20, AMCC, Non points fun day TBC, at Mt Wellington Kart Club. Contact John Connor 0274988883 or at itswj@xtra.co.nz FEBRUARY - 13/14, AMCC, Non points fun day, at Mt Wellington Kart Club. Contact John Connor 0274988883 or at itswj@xtra.co.nz MARCH - 13/14, AMCC, at Mt Wellington Kart Club, Round 5. Contact John Connor 0274988883 or at itswj@xtra.co.nz

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EVENTS

Puke MCC Enduro Cross at Te Puke A&P Show Day. Vegas Style Enduro Cross event for experienced Enduro and Trial riders. $40 entry, sign on 7.30-8.30, briefing 8.45, practice races 9-10.30, main races: 11am onwards. Over $1000 in prize money. Heaps of spot prizes on the day. To enter you must hold a current senior MNZ licence. Places are limited to 64 riders, and only 40 spaces still remain. Entries close 15 Jan2010. Entry form at www.tepukemcc.co.nz. Contact Phil Singleton 021533151 or Murray Jensen 0272849817.

MOTOCROSS DECEMBER - 27/28, Summercross ‘09, at Awakaponga MX Track, Matata, Whakatane. Sign in at 7am, riders briefing 7.45, start time 8. Mins, juniors, seniors, veterans, ladies. Organised by BOPMCC - contact bopmcc@bopmcc.co.nz

RALLIES, RUNS & RIDES JANUARY - 31, 3rd annual Chateau to Plateau ride - 260kms taking in SH43. Starts at Chateau Tongariro on Mt Ruapehu and finishes at the Stratford Plateau on Mt Taranaki travelling along the famed “Forgotten World Highway” between Taumarunui and Stratford. Plenty of corners, big hills and panoramic views of the high country. $40 per bike early bird registration, $45 on day, $15 per pillion. Further info and reg forms contact rmmasters@xtra.co.nz or Neville Cleland 06 7655390. For accommodation visit www. NationalPark.co.nz or www.aatravel.co.nz. Sat evening BBQ and Sunday breakfast at Eivin’s Bar Bistro in National Park Village. Book direct for either or both, BBQ + breakfast via evinski @xtra.co.nz or 0272507808. Sponsored by Suzuki NZ and Riverlands

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FEBRUARY - 12/14, Triumph Motorcycle Owners National Rally, at Wairoa Scout Camp, Mosgiel, Dunedin. Contact Ken Spall 03 4891740 or email spall@ callsouth.net.nz. All motorcyclists welcome. Hosted by the Otago/Southland and the Canterbury Chapters of TOMCC. The venue is the Waiora Scout Camp nestled in the picturesque Silverstream Valley just a short ride from Dunedin. Facilities include cabins, bunk rooms, kitchens, toilet block and showers, campfire facility and plenty of space for those with tents. Pre-booked meals (Saturday breakfast, Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast) will be available as well as snacks throughout the day and evening. Music and entertainment will be provided. Application forms will be available for downloading off the club website (tomcc.co.nz) or phone 03 489 1740 or e-mail spall@callsouth.net.nz - 24, Westpac Rescue Helicopter Charity Ride, Karaka Blood Stock Centre, Auckland, turnoff the motorway at Papakura off ramp. Organised by Ulysses Club, Auckland, contact Richard Tweedie. See www.silver-bullet.co.nz. Leave Karaka at 9, (be there at 8), travel north on m/ way to Wellesley off ramp, down Queen St to Fanshawe St and back onto the motorway at Fanshawe St on ramp. Keep left over the bridge to Akoranga Campus. Transit and marshals are blocking the motorway on ramps only as the ride passes. Speed on m/way is planned at 80 km. Badges $10, t shirts $20, be in the draw for $500, $250 x2, plus spot prizes. Open to all bikes. Sausage sizzle and drinks at the start and on site catering at the end. MARCH - 5/7, March 24th Annual Hare Rally at Waimate A&P Showgrounds, ph Stuart on 0274355458 or email whitehorse.cars@xtra.co.nz

TOURING MARCH - 8 March/15 April, Rosco’s Rocky Road

Adventure, High Andes Adventure Ride - ChileArgentina-Bolivia-Peru. We ship your motorcycle, you ride it. We cross the magnificent Andres Mountain Range four times, riding in altitude above 5000m on the Altiplano. Experience the heat and vastness of the Atacama Desert and the world’s largest salt lake in Bolivia. Visit Puno’s famous floating islands on Lake Titicaca. Climb the sacred Inca site at Machu Picchu. Adventure ride begins and ends in Vina del Mar Chile. $9980 + shipping and air fare. Please contact Rosco Pennell at rosco.rr@ihug.co.nz or ph 09 406 8807, or visit www.mytb.com/rosco-p - 9/18, Top Half South Island Tour, organised by Boyd Motorcycles. Start at Hamilton, to Wellington, Picton; Nelson, Farewell Spit, Golden Bay; Buller Gorge, Karamea; Westport, Hokitika; Hokitika Wild Food Festival or Fox Glacier; Arthurs Pass, Akaroa; Kaikoura, Hanmer Springs; Lewis Pass, St Arnaud; Nelson, Havelock; return home. Rider $85/day, pillion $50/day. Back up van for luggage, flat tyres etc, ferry crossings, accommodation & day maps. All the organising is done, you just ride. Contact Glenn at Boyd Motorcycles at glenn@boyds.co. nz or ph 07 8381209, or 0274795998 - 17/26, The Rusty Nuts Super Tour, 10,000 kms 10 day tour, no rest days on this one, covers North and South Islands. Entry fee includes all accom, breakfasts and evening meals, badge (one off) and other exclusive rider perks. This will be the longest and hardest RNMC ride to date. Entry fee is $2850 pp, overseas riders welcome. Limited to 25 real riders only. More info & entry form at www.rustynuts.co.nz, rustyinfo@ rustynuts.co.nz or Lee or Gail on 09 416 5866

TRACK DAYS DECEMBER - 20, Kiwi Track Days, Summer Series at Pukekohe. Visit www.kiwitrackdays.co.nz to book JANUARY 2010 - 9, Central Districts M/c Touring Club Track Day at Manfeild. Slow, medium, fast and race bike

sessions. $50/rider, full riding gear required, scrutineering and sign on 8.30 to 9.45, maximum 120 riders, entry on day only. For details ph Andrew 0274463870 - 28 & 29, California Superbike School, at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park. Discover the art of cornering. A structured day of classroom theory combined with on track coaching. info@californiasuper bikeschool.co.nz or ph Darren Sweetman (09) 412 6266. Visit Australia’s website as ours is still under construction: www. superbikeschool.com.au - 29, Kiwi Track Days, 2010 Summer Series at Taupo. Visit www.kiwitrackdays.co.nz to book FEBRUARY - 1, Kiwi Track Days, 2010 Summer Series at Pukekohe (Anniversary Day). Visit www. kiwitrackdays.co.nz to book - 20, Kiwi Track Days, 2010 Summer Series at Taupo. Visit www.kiwitrackdays.co.nz to book MARCH - 21, Kiwi Track Days Summer Series at Pukekohe. Visit www.kiwitrackdays.co.nz to book

TRAIL RIDES “The Kawasaki Sandpit”, Woodhill Forest, Rimmers Rd entrance, SH16, Helensville. The ultimate offroad motorcycle playground. Come & ride, we are open Wednesday to Sunday 9-5pm with a late night on Thursday. Ph: 09 420 8879 or for more information go to www.thesandpit.co.nz DECEMBER - 23, Bugger the Boss; let’s go riding Twilight Trail Ride, at Maramarua Forest. Signposted from Kopuku Rd on SH2 between Maramarua Golf Club and the Red Fox Tavern. Start 13.00. Bikes, quads & side x sides welcome. Free gourmet burger and can of soft drink. Cost: $40 Phone 0274454429 for info, or email greg@ poweradventures.co.nz ADULTS only - 27, Raglan MCC Trail Ride, Nelson Property,

Ohautira Road, Te Uku, Raglan, sign on and start from 8.30, adults $35, 12yrs to 15yrs $25, under 12yrs $10, main tracks approx 20kms with half loop options. Suitable for 2 and 4 wheelers. Kids track at each venue. Free sausage sizzle. MNZ permitted and MNZ rules apply. All children must be supervised by parent or guardian, must wear long sleeve shirt and long pants, and helmets in good condition compulsory. No trainers, no sneakers, no slip on shoes. Riders of farm ATVs must be over 16. No pillions on bikes or ATVs. No dogs. No tear-offs. Signposted from the Hamilton/Raglan Rd, SH 23. Further enquiries phone Rob 0274969063 or Grant 07 8255090 or Elwyn 0274521921 - 30, Adult Beginner Coaching for Trail Riding, at Maramarua Grass and Forest, directions upon registration. For adult beginners who are keen to learn about trail riding. Organised by Power Adventures. Contact Greg, at coaching@poweradventures.co.nz or 02774454429 to register. JANUARY - 2/3, Possum Trapper Family Trail Ride, Maramarua, at Maramarua Forest. Signposted from Kopuku Road on SH2 nr the Maramarua Golf Course, follow the Honda arrows to the start. Bikes and quads welcome. Pine Forest with trails for all abilities including a kids’ track. Organised by Power Adventures, contact Greg at trailriding@poweradventures.co.nz or 0274454429. Sausage sizzle at 12 noon, demo bikes. - 5, Bugger the Boss; let’s go riding Twilight Trail Ride, at Maramarua Forest. Signposted from Kopuku Rd on SH2 between Maramarua Golf Club and the Red Fox Tavern. Start 13.00. Bikes, quads & side x sides. Free gourmet burger and can of soft drink. Cost: $40 Phone 0274454429 for info, or email greg@poweradventures.co.nz ADULTS & KIDS WELCOME - 13/15, Yamaha Kaikoura Coast Trail Ride, stunning and at times challenging trail riding.

EVENTS Suitable only for solo riders on road legal dirt bikes of 200-650cc with knobbly tyres and basic tools and spares. Ride includes: Four nights accommodation at exclusive lodge; all meals, dinner lunch and breakfast. Expert crew, sat. phone, GPS, 1st aid. Land access fees, petrol for your motorcycle, and a support vehicle. Price: $1495 per rider, twin share. $500 deposit (or full payment) to be sent in with booking form and indemnity. Mike Britton 07 8556132 or 0212849047, or visit www.adventurerides.co.nz, or email mike@adventruerides.co.nz. - 19, Bugger the Boss; let’s go riding Twilight Trail Ride, at Maramarua Forest. Signposted from Kopuku Rd on SH2 between Maramarua Golf Club and the Red Fox Tavern. Start 13.00. Bikes, quads & side x sides welcome. Free gourmet burger and can of soft drink. $40 Phone 0274454429 for info, or email greg@poweradventures.co.nz ADULTS & KIDS - 24, Raglan MCCTrail Ride, Waipa Ranui Station, Ohautira Road, Te Uku, Raglan, see Dec 27 for details. Rob 0274 969063, Grant 07 8255090 or Elwyn 0274 521 921 - 31, Ladies Coaching - Trail and Race coaching, at Maramarua Forest. Directions on registration. Ladies only, no guys at all. Paddocks and forest riding. Organised by Power Adventures, contact Greg at coaching@poweradventures.co.nz, or 0274454429 FEBRUARY - 1/5, Yamaha West Coast Trail Ride, in a rugged primeval region of rain forest and braided river valleys. Visit www.adventurerides.co.nz, or contact Mike on 07 8556132 or 0212849047, or email adventurerides@paradise.net.nz - 7, Gary Worsley M/cycles School Fundraising Trail Ride Series (Round 2), at Waituna West Valley Road, Manawatu. All ages and abilities. Natural rolling hill country with river crossings.

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Contact Gary Worsley Motorcycles. - 12/14, Honda Kids Club Family Camp Out, Waiotira, families with kids 14 yrs and younger welcome. Fun for the whole family. Go to www. poweradventures.co.nz. Organised by Power Adventures, contact Greg at campout@poweradventures.co.nz or 0274454429. Pre registering is recommended. Get Broxy coaching + scavenger hunt, marshmallow toasting, etc, etc.. - 14, Sherwood School Trailride, at Makaretu Road, Central Hawkes Bay, signposted off SH50, all ages and abilities, flat to steep hill country. Ride on farm tracks, 90-100 kms. Contact Darryl Wilson 06 8556849. - 14, Waitawhiti Station Trail Ride, at 824 Waitawhiti Road, Tararua. Contact Graham and Lisa Richardson 06 3767221 or waitawhiti@ wizbiz.net.nz for more info. - 14, Mangaweka School Trail Ride, at the Mighty Kawhatau Valley, Rangitikei. Turn right north of Mangaweka, SH1, signposted. Over 80cc. 60 kms in the morning over hills & farm tracks, afternoon awesome 30km loop. bonnor@farm side.co.nz or David Gordon MC 06 3880505 - 14, Raglan MCC Trail Ride, Browns Property, Te Papatapu Rd, Raglan, see Dec 27 for details. Rob 0274 969063, Grant 07 8255090 or Elwyn 0274 521 921 - 16, Bugger the Boss; let’s go riding Twilight Trail Ride, at Maramarua Forest. Signposted from Kopuku Rd on SH2 between Maramarua Golf Club and the Red Fox Tavern. Start 13.00. Huntly Honda says motorcycles and quads welcome as well as side x sides. Free gourmet burger and can of soft drink. Cost: $40 Phone 0274454429 for info, or email greg@poweradventures.co.nz ADULTS only - 20/21, Norsewood Mud Fest Trail Ride 2 Day Event, at Rakatutahi Road, Norsewood,

Southern Hawkes Bay. Signposted from Snee Rd off SH2 and north of Norsewood Jens Andersen Rd, off SH2. Sign in 8.45, riders briefing 9.45, start time 10. Suitable for Quads and bikes, helmets and sturdy boots compulsory, no gumboots, minis track provided for young ones. Loop about 25kms with some mud. Contact Rex Rosacker 0274862538 or Craig Rosacker 0272878344 or Angela 06 3740427. $20/day incl bbq lunch. Non riders $5 incl lunch. Camping available: $10/adult/night. $5/child/night. Need to bring own water and some food. Toilets supplied. - 21, Port Waikato Family Trail Ride with Counties Honda, at Port Waikato, Sunset Farms. Signposted from the Tuakau Bridge over the Waikato River, follow the Honda signs to Port Waikato then south for 3 km to the farm. All motorcycles and quads welcome. Farmland riding with native trails, pine block and cliff runs. Once a year only! Contact Greg at trailrides@ poweradventures.co.nz or 0274454429 - 21, Maungaturoto Primary School Trail Ride at Maungaturoto, Kauri Coast. 265 Whakapirua Road, 3 mins from SH12 on sealed road. Sign in 8.30, riders briefing& start 9. Two wheelers and Quads. Open farmland. 35 kms main loop with 3 shortcuts home. Main trail and easy options. Expert only sections. 2 fully supervised kids’ tracks (learner’s + an advanced rider loop). Food and drinks for sale. Free tea and coffee. Adults $35, children up to 16 $15, kids tracks only $10. Tracks open 9am till 3pm. - 21, Te Akau School Motocross fundraiser, at Te Akau, Waikato, signposted from Huntly and Ngaruawahia, sign in 8am, riders briefing 9.45, start time 10, all riders, across farmland, hills and flat. Contact Angela Downs on 07 8254797. Adults $20, children $10 (under 16) - 21, Glen Oroua School Trail Ride, at McKelvie

EVENTS

Property 1597 Tangimoana Road, Tangimoana, Manawatu. Signposted from SH1, 15 mins north of Foxton or 8 mins south of Sanson. Quads welcome but track more suitable for 2 wheelers. Children’s loop divided into two tracks. Loop ride on rolling sand country and thro pine forests. Awesome children’s loops. Organised by Manawatu-Orion MCC, contact Brendon Tootell at AFC Motorcycles ph 06 3578043 or 021 324 727, free lunch (baking, sandwiches, bbq). Cash only. $25 adults, $10 kids (12 & under.) 10 and under must be supervised. No pillions. Must wear helmets, gloves & boots. Quads to carry tow rope. Farm ATV riders must be 16+. - 28, Mighty Mokau School Trail Bike Ride, at Piri Piri Station, Awakino, signposted from Junction Service Station, Main Road, Awakino, one hour north of New Plymouth, 1 hr south of Te Kuiti. Sign 8am, start 9.30, suitable for 2 and 4 wheelers. Three loops approx 10/7/28 kms. A & B sections Farmland. Some steep climbs and fast flowing river crossings. Paddock for kids track. Contact Murray Gemmell 07 8966722 or 06 7529011. MNZR permitted event, ambulance and marshals in attendance. Boots and helmets compulsory. No briefing. Staggered start. Superb all day bbq on sale, $30 per bike. $50 per family (3 bikes). - 28, Whetukura District, at Te Uri Rd, 27 km east of Dannevirke. Signposted from Ormondville & Takapau. Sign 8.30, riders briefing 9.45, start time 10. Kids track, 2x large loops am & pm for more experienced, something for all abilities. Contact Brenda Massie at the.massies@xtra. co.nz or 06 374 1573. $15 kids track, $25 per adult, $5 non rider, lunch, excellent food.

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NORTH & SOUTH ISLAND! Scheduled Delivery Dates Skilled and experienced staff Regular and reliable Fast and effective Trusted by the motorcycle trade Motorcycle Movers as the name suggests do just one thing – we move motorcycles. Our specially modiﬁed vehicles allow us to offer a door to door, roll-on and roll-off service of the highest level. The reputation we have gained has been built on providing an extremely high quality service to all of our customers. All our staff are trained and have many years experience in both transportation and motorcycles. CALL FOR A FREE QUOTE: 0800 687 583 Motorcycle Movers PO Box 11, Tirau Telephone: 07 8831 289 info@motorcyclemovers.co.nz

NEW ZEALAND’S BIGGEST SELLING MOTORCYCLE TYRE Distrubted by Nationwide Accessories (W/S) Ltd, Hamilton NORTH ISLAND STOCKISTS Auckland: Botany Honda Motorcycles 09 274 2727 Coleman’s Suzuki 09 303 1786 Cycletreads 09 486 2472 Full Throttle Motorcycles 09 238 5384 Haldane Motorcycles 09 303 0624 Henderson Motorcycles 09 838 5899 Holeshot Motorcycles 09 486 5187 JFK Motorcycles & Jetskis 09 262 4285 JTR Motorcycles Ltd 09 826 4034 Triple X Motocycles 09 265 2135 Mt. Eden Motorcycles 09 303 1960 Papakura M/C Services 09 299 8420 Silverfern Imports 09 299 1006 Watson Racing 09 412 9430 Cambridge: Blackwood Yamaha 07 827 7066 Peter Glidden Honda 07 823 5522 Dannevirke: Hewitts Motorcycles 06 374 7701 Dargaville: Dargaville Honda 09 439 1089 Drury: Drury Perfromance Centre 09 294 7995 Gisborne: C.G.M Motorcycles 06 867 6638 Hamilton: Big Bikes 07 846 6991 Boyd Motorcycles 07 838 1209 Hamilton M/C Centre 07 849 1919 Honda Hamilton 07 838 9299 Road and Sport Motorcycles 07 958 1400 Speed Tech Limited 07 847 8944 Waikato Yamaha 07 850 5044 Hastings: Hastings Honda 06 878 4152 Hawera: Action Suzuki 06 278 4160 Huntly: Huntly Honda 07 828 9687 Lower Hutt: Moto Mart 04 589 5106 TSS Motorcycles 04 569 3989 Masterton: Dave Anderson Limited 06 370 0033 Maungatoroto: Maungatoroto M/C Ltd 09 431 8555 Matamata: JD Motorcycles 07 888 4969 Phil’s Motorcycle Centre 07 888 7604 Morrinsville: Phil’s Motorcycle Centre 07 889 7686 Mount Maunganui: GP Motorcycles 07 574 6688 Moto GB 07 574 0146 Napier: Ericksen Honda 06 836 6298 Pro Cycle Ltd 06 842 0915 Five Star Suzuki 06 842 0010 New Plymouth: Energy Honda 06 757 3612 Mach 1 Yamaha 06 757 9747 New Plymouth M/C Centre 06 758 4449 North West KTM 06 759 9059 Perfromance Factory 06 756 6117 Otorohanga: Bike Torque 07 873 8196 Otorohonda 07 873 7273 Opunake: Triple Fourensics 06 761 8289 Paeroa: Whyteline 07 862 8783 Palmerston North: AFCM Motorcycles 06 357 8043 Anza Parts & Accessories 06 358 7082 Freedom Suzuki 06 356 5317 Pahiatua: Simon’s Motorcycle Repairs 06 376 8288 Tony Jury Motorcycles 06 376 7163 Paraparaumu: Bike Clinic 04 298 6419 Twin Cam Motor Cycles 04 298 3556 Pukekohe: Mr Motorcycles 09 238 3176 Putaruru: Peter Glidden Motorcycles 07 883 3310 Phil’s Motorcycle Centre 07 883 7602 Rotorua: Bike Force 07 348 9171 Patterson O’Connor M/C’s 07 345 5654 Rowlinson Honda 07 348 4100 Shannon: Shield Motor Repairs 06 362 7347 Stratford: Cooks Honda 06 765 8028 Taihape: Taihape Honda 06 388 1211

Taumarunui: Bike Torque 07 895 7994 Taupo: Promoto 07 378 2453 Daryll August Motorcycles 07 378 8342 Tauranga: Bayride Motorcycles 07 571 3040 Coastline Honda 07 578 5550 Makz Gear 07 571 1161 Smiths Motorcycles Ltd 07 578 6062 Te Aroha: Te Aroha M/C Centre 07 884 8044 Te Awamutu: Peter Glidden Motorcycles 07 871 7317 Thames: Wheels of Thames 07 868 9363 Tokoroa: Craig Stevens Motorcycles 07 889 1014 Upper Hutt: Maidstone M/C Centre 04 528 9395 Waipukarua: Five Star Suzuki 06 858 8983 Wanganui: Joe Lett Motorcycles 06 345 8599 Warkworth: Warkworth Motorcycles 09 425 8535 Wellington: Harley Speed and Custom 04 239 9272 Motorad 04 382 8011 Richards M/C Services 04 477 2322 Wellington Motorcycles 04 384 4149 Whakatane: Bay Honda 07 307 0502 Moto SR Ltd 07 308 0310 Tony Rees Motorcycles 07 307 1050 Underwood & Wilkins 07 308 6166 Whangarei: Maunder Suzuki 09 430 3097 Shaw Motorcycles 09 438 1183 Whangarei Yamaha 09 438 0804 Whitianga: Coastal Tyres 07 866 2310 SOUTH ISLAND STOCKISTS Alexandra: Davidson Honda Centre 03 448 6374 Two Wheels Unlimited 03 448 6207 Amberley: Arthur Burke Limited 03 314 8121 Ashburton: Honda Country 03 308 2030 Jeff Marshall Motorcycles 03 308 2055 Balclutha: Balclutha Motocycles Ltd 03 418 0626 Powerzone Suzuki 03 418 4672 Blenheim: Peter Grinter Motorcycles 03 578 1213 Nelson Marlborough Trials Cnt 03 579 2500 Christchurch: Budget Motorcycle Spares 03 377 1881 Pitlane Motorcycles 03 379 7382 Superior Motorcycles 03 366 7793 Te Waipounanu M/C’s 03 372 3537 Tracktion 03 374 3502 Trevor Pierce Motorcycles 03 366 6563 Greymouth: Honda Farm & Trail Road 03 768 9922 Dunedin: McIver & Veitch 03 477 0236 SPV Kawasaki 03 474 1920 Gore: Ewan Allan Honda 03 208 0174 Murray Kawasaki 03 208 6653 Invercargill: Moto South Ltd 03 214 4482 Methven: Spring Lynne Motorcycles 03 302 4939 Motueka: Murray Thorn Motorcycles 03 528 9992 Nelson: Filco Farm & Sport 03 547 2420 Morley Motorcycle & Marine03 544 8703 Nelson Motorcycle Centre 03 548 3786 Oamaru: Young Motors 03 434 5354 Picton: Picton Tools & Tyres 03 573 5413 Tapanui: Dwains Service Centre 03 204 8455 Timaru: Mike Gould Motocycles 03 688 4802 Southern Motorcycle World 03 688 4225 Winton: Brent Scammell Honda 03 236 7993

KIWI RIDER 185

BIKE WRECKERS

SECOND HAND PARTS MOTORCYCLE WOFs BIKES WANTED NOW WRECKING ZXR250C • ZZR400 • ZZR250 • GPX250 GSX750Y • GPZ750A3 • Balius 250 ZXR750H • SR250 • ZX9R 94

62a Barrys Point Rd, Takapuna, Auckland Ph/Fax (09) 489 7987 actionbikewreckers@clear.net.nz • www.atomicbikes.co.nz

MOTORCYCLE CHASSIS SPECIALISTS

NOW WRECKING HONDA CB250 Hornet CBR250 MC22 CBR250 MC19 CBR250 MC17 CBR250 MC14 VTR250 VTR250 VFR400NC30 GB400 RVF400 CBR600 CBR600 CBR600 VFR750 CBR900 Fireblade VFR750FL VFR800 CB900 Hornet CBR900 CBR900 Fireblade CBR1000 VTR1000 CBR1100 Blackbird CBR1100 Blackbird ST1300 HYOSUNG GT250 GV250 SUZUKI SJ50 EN125 FXR150 RG150 GN250 GN250 GN250 GSF250 Bandit GSX250 GSX250 GSXR250RR GZ250

MOTORCYCLE

1999 1991 1989 1987 1986 2002 2006 1990 1988 1994 2001 2002 1999 1991 1992 1996 1999 2007 1997 2002 2008 2005 2006 2002 2006 2008 2008 2007 2002 2000 1998 2004 2005 1988 1990 2004 2003 1989 2002

LMVD

ACTION/A ACTION ATOMIC

GZ250 NZ250 SG350 Goose RF400 GS500E GS500E GSF600 Bandit GSX600F Katana GSXR600K1 RF600 DL650K4 SV650 GSX750F GSXR750J GSXR750 GSX750FW GSX750F VS750 VN800 VN800 VS800 (S50) RF900 SV1000 SV1000 TL1000S GSXR1000K4 GSXR1000K7 GSXR1000K8 GSXR1100 GSXR1100 GS1200SS GS1200SS GSF1200 Bandit GSF1200 GSX1300R GSX1300R GSX1400

2005 1987 2004 1993 1990 2007 1998 2006 2001 1993 2004 2003 1999 1988 2005 2000 1989 1990 1998 1991 2007 1998 2003 2006 1998 2003 2007 2008 1998 1994 2003 2004 1998 2007 2004 2003 2002

BIKE

KAWASAKI EX250 Ninja GPX250 GPX250R ZXR250A ZXR250B ZXR250C ZZR250 400 Zepher GPZ500 GPZ500 (ER5) GPZ600R ZZR600 ZXR750A ZXR750B GPZ900 ZX9R ZX9R ZX9R ZX10R ZZR1100 ZZR1100 ZX14R YAMAHA SX-4 (225) Scorpio FZR250 2KR FZR250 3LN SR250 Viagro 250 FZR400 3TJ XJ600 YZF600 R6 FZR600 FZR750 FZ1 YZF1000 R1 YZF1000 R1 YZF1000 R1 FZR1000 Exup FZR1000T FJR1200

BUSTERS

2008 1990 2007 1989 1990 1992 1993 1993 1995 2006 1985 2002 1989 1990 1986 2003 1998 1994 2006 1991 1995 2006 2007 1988 1990 1987 1998 1990 1997 1999 1995 1987 2007 1999 2001 2005 1991 1987 1987

WRECKERS

Wayne Parry Tel 07 824 7705 Fax: 07 824 7745

EMAIL ORDERS wayne@bikebusters.co.nz

BOSS

ENGINEERING SERVICES

Clip-ons • Skid knobs Rear sets • Axle sliders Risers • Lowering kits Post classic brake rotors

Touchbike chassis alignment checks Bike Bench frame straightening Fork & brake rotor straightening Brake rotor reconditioning Aluminium and magnesium TIG welding Full machine shop F1 ENGINEERING MOTORCYCLE WORKS 2/59 Vickery St, Te Rapa, Hamilton. Ph 07 849 6110 Steve@rapidartnz.com • www.rapidartnz.com 186 KIWI RIDER

• Cylinder Resleeving • Cylinder Reboring • Shock Rebuilds • All Head Work • Crank & Engine Rebuilds for all jet skis • Gear Dogs Build Up & Undercutting 196 Taupo Quay, Wanganui, New Zealand Phone: (06) 348 9516 Fax: (06) 348 9517 Email: bossengservices@xtra.co.nz

MOTORCYCLE EXHAUSTS LEO VINCE MUFFLER SPECIALS

Normally $800 & over NOW $585

Triumph Speed Triple TT600 GSXR1000 Honda VTR1000 (each) Suzuki GSF650 Bandit

CUSTOM CHAMBERS EXHAUSTS $997 Triumph Bonnie SE SS mufflers Triumph Speedmaster/America /SS Triumph T100/Bonneville SS

AGENTS FOR TWO BROTHERS MUFFLERS

Custom Chambers Making motorcycle exhausts since 1978

30A Kerwyn Ave, East Tamaki. Ph 09 2741155 www.customchambers.co.nz

TRAIL RIDE SERIES 2009/10 PROCEEDS TO COMMUNITY VENTURES THE TRAILS The tracks are all located within ¾ of an hours drive from Pukekohe and generally consist of gentle to rolling to steep farmland with picturesque views. All rides 30—40kms loop and open at 9.45am and close at 2.45pm. (except Waikaretu Beach Run) BBQ and refreshments available for sale during the day. KIDS LOOPS - Approx 1 to 1.5 kms long. These are designed for young children and novice riders who are not confident on the main loop. WHAT YOU WILL NEED Helmets are compulsory. Boots (no sneakers), sensible clothing. A

well prepared motorcycle, spare fuel, a good tyre and a good attitude. SIGN ON from 8.30am, no riders briefing. Ride will start approx 9.45am PLEASE BE EARLY WHO CAN RIDE Anyone who has a 2 or 4 wheel off road motorcycle or ATV. No children under 7 years old on main loop. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a riding adult/parent/guardian on the main loop. FEES Adult Riders $30. Under 16 $20. Pillion $10.00 Family Concessions $70.

WHEN & WHERE Sunday November 29th 2009 Glen Murray Signposted from Mercer and Rangiriri Bridges Starts at Glen Murray Hall. Easy to rolling farm land. Separate Kids Loop. Sunday December 13th 2009 Paparimu Signposted from Bombay and SH2 Mangatawhiri Starts at Paparimu School. Rolling farm land to medium hills to plantation forestry tracks. Separate Kids Loop. ** Fire extinguishers compulsory ** Can purchase on day ** Sunday February 14th 2010 Waerenga Signposted from SH1 Te Kauwhata and SH2 Maramarua. Starts at Waipuna Road Waerenga. Rolling farmland, bulldozed tracks, kids loop. Sunday 28th February 2010 Wairamarama Signposted from the Tuakau and Mercer Bridges Starts Wairamarama Hall. Rolling to steep country. Separate Kids Loop. Sunday March 28th 2010 Waikaretu Beach Run. Signposted from Mercer and Rangiriri Bridges Starts at Waikaretu Hall. Rolling to steep farm land and bush. West Coast beach and sand dunes. Old Style lead trail ride with awesome views. Sand Dunes and a run down a private west coast beach. ** No Kids Loop, Will not return to base for lunch - fuel and lunch truck provided. ** Sunday April 11th 2010 Naike Signposted from Rangiriri and Huntly. Starts Naike. Rolling to steep farm land and plantation forestry. Separate Kids Loop. FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact MR Motorcycles 5 Stadium Drive - Pukekohe Ph 09 237 3095 scott@mrmotorcycles.co.nz Craig 0274 581 544 Scott 0275 767 050 www.mrmotorcycles.co.nz

Do your aching wrists, back or neck or knees interfere with the pleasure of your ride? Aprilia BMW Buell Ducati

CUSTOM SPORTS TRIKES

Fro RSV1000 98-08 K1200GT, RS, R1150 XB9, XB12 1098/848, 748/998, 749/999, 750S, 800SS 900SSei, 1000DS, Monster, 1000 Sport Classic Honda - ST1300, CBR1000F, CBR1100XX, VFR800, VTR 1000, CBR600, Fireblade 98-06 Kawasaki - ZX9, ZZR11/12, ZX6R,12R, ZX636 02-05, ZX14, GPX Suzuki - TL1000R/S, GSXR 6/7/10 97-08, GSXR1100, RF900/6/4, GS1200, SV650/1000, Katana Triumph - Sprint ST, RS, T595, T955, Trophy, Thruxton Yamaha - R1 98-08, R6, YZF1000, FJR1300, MT-01 Your bike not listed? NO PROBLEM - we custom make to order Risers From $245 We have to date catered for the riders of;

$350

CREATED INDIVIDUALLY

by MS Coombes Limited Based on the Suzuki Boulevard M109R We can trike any bike Kitsets available to any stage DVD available 344 St Asaph St Christchurch. Ph: 03 3667463 Fax: 03 3667462 Email: mscoombesltd@clear.net.nz Web: www.mscoombes.co.nz Web: www.customsportstrike.co.nz

Clip-ons From $335

Adjustable Rear Sets From $650

Crash Protection From $169

www.rapidartnz.com Ph: 07 849 6110 steve@rapidartnz.com Fax 07 849 6330 Note: new address 2/59 Vickery Street, Te Rapa, Hamilton

KIWI RIDER 187

MOTO GP STYLED LOGO

ENGRAVED FOLDING LEVERS fold up Designed to ing reak ll. instead of b accident or fa n a f o t n e v e in the

• Bike gear designed for both men & women • Call now for your catalogue Ph: (06) 878 7949 Email: m_w@xtra.co.nz

• CNC milled from whole billet • Stronger than OE • Available logos: Aprilia, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, and 1098

• 7-10 7 10 day delivery

MUST HAVE ITEMS FOR THE DEDICATED MOTORCYCLE ENTHUSIAST Priced from $129.00. Available from your local motorcycle shop.

Distributed by Eurobike Wholesale Ltd

Custom ﬁt oilskin set JACKET & TROUSERS from $570

ENLKR001

Dismantling Motorcycles for over 24 years

1998 Honda XR250 wrecking now (sample photo)

Yamaha MR50 Could be made to go. $200

1999 Yamaha YZF-R6 wrecking now

Suzuki GSX1100F wrecking now

03 Honda CRF230F wrecking now

Suzuki LS 650 Savage, wrecking now

2005 Suzuki LT-A, 4WD, 500cc, wrecking now

88-90s Kawasaki GPX250 wrecking now

1990 Honda NC22 CBR250 wrecking now (sample photo)

1999 Yamaha YZ125 wrecking now

(sample photo)

ALSO WRECKING: 1988 Suzuki GSXR1100 • 1997 Honda XR70 • LTM SX Pro 50 • 02 - 03 Honda NXR125 x 2

188 KIWI RIDER

StormMasters TOP QUALITY, NEW ZEALAND MADE THI-HI MX SOCKS MERINO PADDED NEW • Extra-long, thigh-high merino and nylon MX sock with elastane for superior stretch. • Large padded area back of leg for protection from knee guards. • Cushioned foot for comfortable ﬁt. • Arch and ankle support. • High backed heel for superior wear. • Hard wearing. Warm water wash. Sizes: 2-5, 6-9, 10-12, 13+ 2 pairs $65 including postage!!

MERINO LIGHT • Extra-long, thigh-high merino and nylon MX sock with elastane for superior stretch. • This sock has an arch support and is hard wearing and comfortable. Sizes: 2-5, 6-9, 10-12, 13+ 2 pairs $50 including postage!! ORDERING Telephone +64 (07) 5422 028 Online www.stormmasters.co.nz We proudly sponsor Logan Blackburn, Isaiah & Micah McGoldrick, Ethan & Broc Martens, Josiah Natzke, Dylan Long (Aus).

BIKES FOR SALE New Bikes Yamaha TTR110 new save $200. . . . . . $3999 Yamaha YFM90R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3999 Yamaha YZ250F 2010 . . . . . . . . . from $12999 Yamaha AG100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3999 Yamaha AG200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6199 Yamaha YFM450 4x4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $13949 Yamaha YFM350 Grizzly . . . . . . . from $9499 Yamaha YFM550 Grizzly . . . . . . from $14699 Yamaha TTR125 new BW save $500 $5099 Yamaha SX-4 225 500km. . . . . . . . . . . . $3699 Yamaha PW80 new save $200 . . . . . . $2099 Yamaha PW50 new . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1899 Yamaha TTR50E new save $200 . . . . $1899 Yamaha TTR230 new . . . . . . . . .$7099 $6795

GasGas EC250 09 Six Day . . . . . . . . . . $12790 GasGas EC300 09 Six Day . . . . . . . . . . $12790

Used Bikes Yamaha YZ450F 2008. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7995 Yamahha 450F 2003, tidy . . . . . . . . . . . . $3995 Yamaha WR250F 2001, tidy . . . . . . . . . . $3995 Yamaha TT250R 1994 Raid. . . . . . . . . . . $2995 Yamaha YFM450FA 4x4 04. . . . . . . . . . $5695 Yamhah AG200 03 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2495 Yamaha AG100 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2495 GasGas EC200 2007, 6 hours . . . . . . . . $6995 Suzuki TF125 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1695 Kawasaki KLR650 1990. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1995 Kawasaki KLR650 03 5750K, mint . . . $5995

WRECKING YAMAHA AG1751975-95 (MP) DT100F1979 (MP) DT1751989-94 (MP) DT2501972-80 (MP) MR50(MP) PW501981-82 (MP) TT2251986 (MP) TT3501987 (MP) XT2001982-85 (MP) XT250TL1984-85 (MP) XT6001980 (MP) YFM2501989-92 (R & MP) YFM350SE4X4 1995 (MP) YT125 YZ1251981-88 (MP) YZ2501996 (MP) YZ450F2003 (MP)

YZ801986 (MP) HONDA ATC2001983-84 (MP) CR2501987-88 (MP) CT125(MP) CT90(MP) TRX2501985-87 (R & MP) TRX350 2X4 02 (MP & R) TRX4004X4 96 (MP & R) XL1751973 (NM) XL250S1980 (MP) XR1851978 (MP) XR2501986-89 (MP) XR500A1980 (MP) SUZUKI SJ502002 (R) DR125(MP) DRZ4002003 (MP)

ER185(MP) LT1251982 (MP) LT2301986 (MP) LTF250L1989-99 (MP & R) RM801985 (MP) PE400T(MP) RM1251992 (MP) RM2501988-90 (MP) RMX2501989 (NM) TF100(MP) TS125(MP) 1975 KAWASAKI KDX1251991 (MP) KDX200B & C 84-88 (MP) KDX2501991 (MP) KLF220(MP) KLF4004X4 1993 (MP) KLX250Road 1995 (MP)

KM100 (NM) KX801984-90 (MP) KX1251991-95 (MP) KX250H11990-91 (MP) KAZUMA/MARSHIN MH200(MP) ATV110Oryx GAS GAS EC200 2002 (MP) FSE4002002 (MP) EC3002002 (MP) WATER CRAFT JS300Jet Ski 1989 (MP) JS550Jet Ski 88-90 (MP & R)

(R) running motor (NM) no motor (MP) motor in parts

309 SOUTH RD, HAWERA PH 06 278 4726

StormMasters Ltd 6 Golden Courie Close, Papamoa, New Zealand 3118. stormmasters@xtra.co.nz

MOB 0274 540 073 A/H 06 278 5938 baileymotorcycles@xtra.co.nz

14 HAKIAHA ST TAUMARUNUI 07 895 7994 A/H: Russell Ph 0274 775 771 Ian 0274 464 849

www.BikeTorque.co.nz • Email: Bike.Torque@xtra.co.nz All prices include GST

$6,995

$2,500

$5,500

2008 Honda CRF250 55hrs, 4 hrs on fresh piston kit, very good condition.

2001 Yamaha TTR125 GYTR Graphics kit, excellent condition, fully serviced.

2007 Suzuki VL250 2980kms, one lady owner from new, mint.

$7,995

$1,599

$6,500

2002 Suzuki GSF1200K2 Scorpion muffler, 21,000km excellent condition.

2008 Suzuki UZ50K9 Mint condition, only 4000km screen, rego & WOF

Suzuki RM250K8 New graphics kit, good tyres, o ring chain, seal savers, Pro Circuit chamber, 86.5hrs Very good condition.

KIWI RIDER 189

SERVICES

Services ads from a trifling $45. Contact Todd Sutherland NOW on 09 416 5307. Sound, looks and performance from the original

Motorcycle Exhaust Specialists ‘Zorsts’ tuneable Sports Silencers and Replica Silencers in stainless & vintage & off-road Harris pipes licenced manufacturuers Private Bag 55004, Christchurch. Phone/Fax 03 315 7988

www.MotorcycleExhausts.co.nz

TAUPO WOF & WORKSHOP

Exhausts

We do mechanical repairs, servicing and WOFs

If you want it we can make it. Custom Chambers 25 years plus making motorcycle exhausts. 30A Kerwyn Ave, East Tamaki. Ph 09 2741155.

W.O.T. MOTORCYCLES 1 Miro Street, Taupo 07 3772535 • 027 2412775 wotcycles@xtra.co.nz

$ CASH PAID $ LEATHER BIKE JACKETS & PANTS LARGE SELECTION OF NEW & USED LEATHERS TRADE INS WELCOME

ARMY & LEATHER SHOP 257 Onehunga Mall Road Auckland PH 09 636 5296

Off road suspension service and tuning. Race Tech Service Centre. Race Tech Gold Valves, springs & parts. Hi performance Synergy Seals. Ph 09 832 0153 greg@proride.co.nz www.proride.co.nz

www.racepacetrainers.co.nz Telephone 021 348 244

The Budget Shop

GRAB-IT DIRT BIKE GRAB STRAPS

PIT TENTS Three sizes, any colour/s you want, made from PVC, can be signwritten. from around $800-$1,700 incl poles, pegs, carry bag, ropes, delivery & gst

EMBROIDERED STRAPS: Set (front & rear) $45/set. Rear only $25/strap. PLAIN BLACK STRAPS: Set (front & rear) $35/set. Rear only $18/strap. FREE POSTAGE WITHIN NEW ZEALAND Ph: 09 483 9248 Mob: 021 519 005 nzgrabit@xtra.co.nz www.grabitnz.com

0800 P i t T e n t s .com 7 4

ESTABLISHED 1976

Darrin Wilsons Hotsuits, 107 Ikanui Road, Hastings. Ph 06 876 2710 email hotsuits@xtra.co.nz

190 KIWI RIDER

FITNESS TRAINING FOR THE SERIOUS RACER

Brian Meadowcroft Tel 07 826 6871

SERVICES

Services ads from a trifling $45. Contact Todd Sutherland NOW on 09 416 5307.

Trail Bike Specialists • Suspension tuning. • 2 stroke tuning • Bash Plates • Stall prevention • Bush Bars Expert or novice. We can help you get the best out of your machine. Dirt Action Service Centre 29 Saxon Street, Christchurch. 03 389 0080

TRIKES R US Cambridge PH 07 827 2025 or 027 278 3865 Built to order. We can trike your bike: Goldwing, Harleys, Suzukis... We also do chains, sprockets & repairs

ATV CHASSIS PARTS

FRAME SECTIONS TRX300 2 & 4WD, TRX 400, TRX350 from $400 A-ARMS (exchange)—TRX300 2& 4WD Upper & Lower, TRX400 Lower, TRX 350 Lower, TRX 450 Lower from $117

53 Grove Road, Blenheim. Ph 03 579 2500 Mob 027 230 3151 montesa@trialsnz.co.nz www.trialsnz.com

Agents for GasGas Husqvarna Scorpa Montesa Aeon Cam-Am

NZ’s only full time trials shop

STOP THE WIND NOISE Certiﬁed Grade 5, custom made earplugs, made on the spot at: Pukekohe, Dec 12/13th Ruapuna, Jan 16/17th Classic Fest, Feb 6/7th Paeroa, Feb 21st Pukekohe, Mar 7th Pukekohe, Apr 24th PLUGZ 4 LUGZ Sue Rowles Ph 027 659 1583

All prices include GST, Courier bag supplied for return of exchange A-Arm. BARNEY BUILT Ph 07 829 9999 Mobile 0274 828 045

Mike Old has the answers MOTORCYCLE SPECIALIST 300m east of Drury offramp 257 Gt South Road Drury Ph: 09 294 7955 email: DPC@maxnet.co.nz txt: 021 225 2142

Aluminium Arched Loading Ramps

IDEAL FOR ATVS & RIDE ON MOWERS Straight ramps $273. Folding ramps $450. Cargo carriers $478/set. All + freight. • • • •

Length 1.9m & 2.2m 460kg per pair capacity Folding ramps length 2.3m & 680kg per/pair Cargo carrier, box section tow hitch required

HIGHLINE EQUIPMENT LTD Alexandra Ph 03 448 9369 Fax 03 448 6144 Email highlineequip@xtra.co.nz www.highline.co.nz

KIWI RIDER 191

Experience Motorcycles www.experiencemotorcycles.co.nz

Experience Motorcycles

0800 743 3269

The Ultimate Riding Experience

BMW S1000RR Superbike. In Store February!!

BMW K1300S Red/Black, 3500 kms, ex-demonstrator

$29,990

10/08 Aprillia Factory Tuono 1000 one owner, as new, very low kms,

$21,500

625 New North Rd, Kingsland 0800 RIDE BMW (0800 743 3265) Henry Plowright 0274 330 650 John Nicholls 027 275 5002 192 KIWI RIDER

New BMW F650GS Blue, 2 to choose. Ride away Today! from

$19,484 08 Kawasaki Ninja 250 One owner, 2400 kms, ride on learners licence, immac in black, as new

$6900

K-3B EVIL

RP: FROM $1,399 - $1,498 COLOUR: 5 Contients, Valentino Face

GP TECH

RRP: $429.00 COLOUR: Sword, Moto GP, Black Gothic

K3 ROSSI

.00 COLOUR: Red/Silver/Gun, Blue/Silver/Gun, Black/Silver/Gun, Solid Black

www.agv.it www.nwa.co.nz

TO VIEW TOTAL AGV COLLECTION