KIWI RIDER MAGAZINE AUGUST 2016

BMW R1200RS

SPoRTS TOURING SPECIAL

TRIUMPH TIGER XRX

LOW SEAT ADVENTURE TOURING

MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE AUGUST 2016

SINCE 1984

 

BMW R1200RS TRIUMPH TIGER XRX LOW YAMAHA YZ250X KTM 250 SX-F ROAD OF BONES ADVENTURE   

ADVENTURE

KIWIS TAKE ON RUSSIA’S ROAD OF BONES PT2 $10 INCL GST

AUGUST 2016

FIELDAYS 2016 NO MUD SHOCKER • MITAS E08 TYRE REVIEW YAMAHA YZ250X REPORT • 2016 NZ ENDURO CHAMPS MOTOGP MILLER’S MAIDEN WIN • 2017 MX KTM & HUSQVARNA

RST ROADSTER

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ATTENTION KTM ADVENTURE RIDERS Are you Ready for Adventure? KTM New Zealand is proud to offer an event for orange enthusiasts who have that adventurous spirit lurking within and are ready to answer its call. And what better way to do that than with an epic 5-days in the saddle on your KTM Adventure bike.

Bring old friends or make new ones, in the spirit of adventure riding, the KTM New Zealand Adventure Rallye is about getting back to the basics.

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DASHBOARD 20

MILLER WINS MOTOGP

32

Triumph tiger XRx low

40

Bmw r1200rs

Until the S1000RR, the RS was one of BMW’s sporty models. And it’s just cracking as a sports-tourer.

64

2017 husky & KTM MX

A quick look at Husqvarna and KTM’s newfor-2017 motocross machinery.

86

32

Just like the Tiger XRx but lower, to bring adventure motorcycling to those of shorter stature.

riding Russia’s infamous Road of Bones.

78

20

In his greatest ride yet, Kiwi-parented Jack Miller takes the top step of the podium in The Netherlands.

50 road of bones adventure

The second instalment of plucky Kiwis

70

AUG 16

50

40

2016 NZ enduro champs

Our recap on this year’s New Zealand enduro championships.

harwood’s ktm 250 sx-f

We ride Hamish Harwood’s 250 SX-F, which won the MX2 title - and all on a standard engine.

MAY’s yamaha yz250x

Callan May’s report on his season with Yamaha’s YZ250X two-stroke.

78

86 KIWI RIDER

5

Hello...

H EDITOR Ben Wilkins

Contributions: Kiwi Rider welcomes editorial contributions from its readers.

If you would like to write something for KR e-mail a précis to editor@kiwirider. co.nz. Electronic transmission of words (Microsoft Word .doc) and pictures (hi-res jpgs) preferred.

OUR NEW DIGITAL MAGAZINE KR REPORT GIVES YOU ALL THE LATEST GRASSROOTS MOTORCYCLING EVENTS NEAR YOU. AND IT’S FREE! TAKE A LOOK HERE... http://bit.ly/29b1LbA

.....................REGULARS.....................

Advertising: Got a hot product or service and want some real bang for your advertising buck? KR offers a complete inhouse advertising design and production service. Pete (pete@kiwirider.co.nz) or Todd (todd@kiwirider.co.nz) Published by: McStannic Publishing Ltd Postal Address: P.O. Box 299, Kumeu, Auckland Courier Address: Kiwi Rider c/o Fullerton Motorcycles, Unit 1, 156 A Main Road, Kumeu.

Phone: 09 411 7815 Fax: 09 411 7815 Publisher: Pete McPhee: 027 4 74 8 675 Email: pete@kiwirider.co.nz sales and Marketing: Pete McPhee 027 4 74 8 675 Email: pete@kiwirider.co.nz Bike Mart adertising: Todd Suther­land: 021 709 989 Design/layout: Marcel Norkia design@kiwirider.co.nz Photographer: Geoff Osborne Ph 09 415 2555 ospics1@xtra.co.nz REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Rodney O’Connor, Roger Moroney, Andy McGechan, Ben Townley, Chris Birch, Michael Esdaile, Jock McLauchlan, Sam Greenslade and Racing Dave.

On-line Editor: Marcel Norkia Office manager: Linda Glasswell Printers: PMP Maxum

ride these bikes because they’re too tall. Coming in with a 760mm seat height, the XRx opens adventure up to a wider market. See page 32.

Hamish Harwood won the NZ MX2 championship in 2016 but not many know he did it on a KTM 250 SX-F with a stock engine. Jock McLauchlan rode it to see how Harwood did it. Turn to page 78 for more.

In racing news, Australian Jack Miller has taken his first ever premier class win. Born to Kiwi parents, the 21-year-old slipped and slid through the rain at the Dutch MotoGP round while the world’s best struggled, or fell off. Hopefully it’s the start of something more for the youngster.

See page 20 for more.

Enjoy the mag. BEN WILKINS

ELLO... and welcome to the August issue of Kiwi Rider. Well, here at KR we’re all glad the shortest day is done and dusted. Saying that, we’ve apparently had the warmest first six months of the year since, well, forever.

I keep expecting super cold mornings and regularly end up wearing too many layers on the bike. Still, I’ll take it - the cold mornings will be here soon enough.

In this issue of KR, we’ve got the second instalment of a bunch of Kiwi’s taking on Russia’s infamous Road of Bones. See page 50 for their rugged adventure.

Triumph has addressed the need of riders who want to take on dirt road adventures but can’t

FRONT END 9  NEWS

27

 ROAD PRODUCTS

ROOST ZONE 61  NEWS

75

 DIRT PRODUCTS

BACK END 90  BIKE MART

Essential services and products for you and your bike.

98

 REVIEW

92

 EVENTS CALENDAR

101

 CLASSICS

96

 RACE RESULTS

104

 ROGER MORONEY

Taupo bike & truck meet;

Post Classic International; Hampton Down track days;

New NZ Superbike rules.

New MX bikes for 2017;

NZ Enduro champs; Cooper chasing Tarawera win;

Kiwis heading for Romaniacs.

Need it, want it, must have it...

Everything you need to keep you and your dirt bike in tip-top condition.

Mitas’ E08 gets the tar, dirt and mileage test in the South Island.

Distribution: Gordon & Gotch Ltd, McStannic Publishing Ltd. 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

MotoGP, WSBK Championships, MXGP

Norton’s JPS replica was the first off-the- peg cafe racer available to the public.

Whatever you do, don’t forget to check the brakes after a bike has been laid up..

without the written permission of the publishers. ISSN 1177-0023 Cover image: Geoff Osborne

6

KIWI RIDER

NEXT ISSUE OF KIWI RIDER MAGAZINE GOES ON SALE MONDAY AUGUST 8

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A fixed interest rate of 4.99% applies. An establishment fee of $250 applies. This finance offer expires 31/08/2016 and is subject to Alphera Financial Services NZ Ltd standard lending criteria. Visit www.alphera.co.nz/customer/consumer-contracts

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Truck show and racing festival

I

confess to initially being a little torn about covering what is, in essence, a truck meeting, with bike and car racing as supporting classes. Isn’t that just supporting those things that wreck the tracks? And, if I struggle to find car racing captive viewing, what chance would a bunch of wallowing trucks have of piquing my interest?

Colemans Suzuki’s, Gavin Veltmeyer admitted he had his own concerns after seeing a truck coasting across the finish line in an earlier race, spewing what looked like diesel, oil and all manner of treachery. Thankfully the car races run in between seemed to disperse the mist of offending material (those cars proving useful on track after all) and the two warm up laps, for the bikes, confirmed the traction wasn’t adversely effected.

Watching my first truck race start melee, into turn one changed my perspective.

Not only were they tightly bunched, these guys didn’t look at all concerned with the protection of what amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars of machinery. Excellent! They were getting things well out of shape and the novelty of

Story: Todd Sutherland

Supermotard winner Casey Bullock

Superlight winner Gavin Veltmeyer

seeing something different and the ‘I can’t look’ as they got out of shape made for compulsive viewing.

But there were bikes there too. Gavin Veltmeyer was one of eighteen Superlight

competitors and around a dozen Supermotard competitors invited to provide support with motorcycle classes.

Local man Scott Moire showed everyone his class in Saturday’s dry races. Moire,

Superlight

Supermotard

1) Gavin Veltmeyer 91pts

1) Casey Bullock 97pts

2) Scott Findlay 75

2) William Young 78

3) Josh Augustine 74

3) Grant Ridley 60

4) Aaron Carmichael 59

4) Roy Antony 54

5) Ian Reed 57

5) Mike Kyle 48

KIWI RIDER

9

Photos: Geoff Osborne

The biggest agricultural show in the southern hemisphere is a great place to check out some of the latest road and dirt motorcycles in New Zealand. The major manufacturers’ importers were there giving show-goers the opportunity to sit on their complete ranges of dirt bikes – not something most dealers are able to offer.

Kitted up in gumboots and waterproofs we were ready for the worst, but the sun shone brightly, giving us the warmest Fieldays for years. It was great to see the next generation of motorcycle riders clambering all over the latest and greatest.

Kawasaki showing

off its range

lan was keen

Ju

n McLauch nior tester Sea

Looks pretty happy to us!

ukis

to try the Suz

Start ‘em young!

Did you get any pictures of you or your young ‘uns on bikes? Send them to us at admin@kiwirider.co.nz KIWI RIDER

17

Words: Michael Esdaile / Photos: Hondaproracing.com

What a roller-coaster season 2016 has been so far, with Spaniards Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo taking turns to lead the MotoGP Championship chase while Italian veteran Valentino Rossi has maintained a watching brief in third place, his own ambitions stymied by crashes and an engine blow-up from over-revving.

T

he season got underway with Movistar Yamaha’s Lorenzo taking the championship lead, before Repsol Honda’s Marquez took over, with Lorenzo dropping to fourth on the points table after the Argentinian round. At that stage Valentino Rossi was second with Dani Pedrosa third. Marquez extended his lead after round three while Lorenzo jumped back to second, then pegged back Marquez’ points lead and eventually got back in front following his win at Le Mans. Another win, at Mugello, a third of the way into the season, saw five times world champion Lorenzo leading four times world champion Marquez 115 points to 105 with nine times world champion Rossi third on the points table with 78. Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa was next with 66 points just ahead of Suzuki’s Maverick Vinales (59) and Aleix Espargaro (49).

And where were the factory Ducatis? Back in ninth and 11th places on the points table.

Looking at the raw information, you’d think the Ducatis were not competitive. But that has been far from the case. There have been times when they have outclassed both the Honda and Yamaha factory machines.

Casey Stoner told Ducati the bikes were competitive after preseason testing, leaving Ducati to conclude its lack of success lay elsewhere. Almost right on cue, Andrea Iannone took his Ducati into the lead in the first race of the season, under lights at Losail, with team-mate Dovizioso running second. Then Dovizioso challenged for the lead, and in the tustle, Iannone touched one of the trackside while lines with his front tyre, and crashed. As the race went on, Dovizioso was unable to withstand the relentless attack from Lorenzo, but he did manage to battle with and beat Marquez for the runner-up spot.

It was all downhill for Dovizioso after that though. At round two in Argentina, he was on track for another second place finish when he was skittled by Iannone with the chequered flag in sight.

One minute the Ducati team was looking at a double podium, the next they saw both Ducatis laying in the gravel.

In Texas, Iannone made it to the podium in third place while Dovizioso was again taken out, this time by the sliding Honda of Dani Pedrosa. Round four at Jerez saw Dovizioso retire after a fright, when coolant from a failed water pump seal sprayed onto his rear tyre. He had been running seventh after slipping from fifth, the only frontrunner using the softest Michelin front.

Dovizioso and Marquez crashed simultaneously on lap 16 of 28 Things didn’t get better for the Ducati men at Le Mans.

Iannone crashed early while chasing race leader Lorenzo then Dovizioso took up the chase. Just on halfway, Rossi passed the Ducati man who then had Marquez hot on his heels. In a performance reminiscent of the Doohan-Chili synchronised crash at the Nurburgring in 1990, Dovizioso and Marquez crashed simultaneously on lap 16 of 28.

Things looked up for Ducati at the sixth round at Mugello.

Iannone qualified third but made a poor start and had to work his way through the pack. He stuck to his task and finished third while Dovizioso finished fifth – not what Ducati wanted on home soil.

Round seven at Barcelona saw more misery for Ducati.

Dovizioso struggled all weekend, citing lack of rear traction, and ended up running ninth, until Iannone took out fifth-placed Lorenzo, handing Dovi seventh at the flag.

Ducati Corse General Manager Luigi Dall’Igna, normally a man of outward calm, was almost incandescent with anger and told Iannone so in no uncertain terms. If ‘Crazy Joe’ hadn’t already been told there was no place for him in the team in 2017, he would most certainly have been given the message right there.

As it was, Race Direction decided that for his transgression he

would start the next round in Holland from last place on the grid, no matter where he qualified.

With Iannone taking out Lorenzo – who had led at Barcelona for six laps before being passed by a resurgent Rossi then dropping to fifth – and Marquez finishing second, the Repsol Honda man went to Assen ten points ahead in the title chase. Had Iannone not made his late-braking attack that knocked Lorenzo down, the Yamaha man would still have had a one point lead going to Assen.

Behind Marquez and Lorenzo, and closing in on the title lead, was Rossi. His superb win at Barcelona, in which he lead a processional race punctuated only by a late charge from Marquez, saw him just 12 points behind his Yamaha team-mate going into the Dutch race.

The first race at Assen was held in 1925 and was called the Dutch TT as it ran on a 28 kilometre public road circuit. Assen is also the only event still on the calendar since the grand prix world championship series started in 1949. The track has seen numerous changes but what hasn’t changed is its location, around 45km from the Dutch coast facing the North Sea. This year’s event in some ways mirrored the topsy-turvey nature of this year’s MotoGP championship. First practice KIWI RIDER

21

Photo: Tony Goldsmith

winners choose dunlop

Dunlop Tyres reaffirmed its status as the most successful tyre in the history of the Isle of Man TT, leaving the Island with three victories, two race records, and the absolute lap record. Road Racing is fundamental to Dunlop – nowhere else can the crossover between race and standard tyres be seen more clearly. Discover the race bred performance at your authorised Dunlop stockist.

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Macna Mountain Men The new year-round Mountain Jacket features Macna’s three-layer system with separately detachable waterproof, Raintex membrane and thermo liner. Hot-vest-prepared for cold weather, with extra-large ventilation panels in the chest for when it really gets hot, the Mountain also has CE-protection in the shoulder and elbows, and side eye panels for visibility. Not enough? A detachable Vision vest and LED vision light for the rear collar are available separately.

Distributor: Darbi Accessories Size: S – 4XL, Black/Grey, Black Price: $499 Info: motorcyclegearnz.com

Hot bodies go further The Keis X10 heated bodywarmer is the ultimate way to stay warm while riding through the cooler months. It features dual power options, so it can be powered from a motorcycle 12V battery or by the optional-extra Keis Battery Pack, which ensures you can stay warm on and off the bike. Earlymorning winter milking will never feel as hard.

Distributor: Dold Industries Price: From $299.99 Info: dold.co.nz From catwalk to cafe Wear it as a hat, a scarf, a balaclava: combine two or more to create your own style of funky head gear. This Multi-Purpose RST garment is made from a soft but insulating material that’s lightweight and versatile. It’ll cover that chilly gap between collar and helmet, then doubles as a cap when your skid lid comes off. A bargain at twice the price Distributor: Nationwide Accessories Size: One size Price: $19.95 Info: nwa.co.nz

Hot hands, warm heart Daytona heated grips offer a comfortable ride in the cold of winter. They make your hands warmer in a few short minutes, and the three-level heat control unit ensures the most comfortable warmth, whatever the conditions. The heat control unit is integrated onto the left grip, and saves the space to locate any separate switch on your bike.

Daytona heated grips are the must-have items for this winter.

Distributor: Northern Accessories Price: $139 Info: northern.co.nz

Get that old-time swing Givi’s H207 Oldster is a high-quality jet helmet that’s Perfect for American bikes or Japanese cruisers. It promises superb comfort, very light weight – at 850 grams – thanks to its carbon/Kevlar construction, plus a removable washable inner lining and a quick-release buckle. But wait, there’s more! No, not a free set of steak knives, but it comes with detachable peak and a set of suitably retro goggles.

Distributor: Eurobike Wholesale Price: $299 Info: eurobike.co.nz

Anywhere, anytime luggage solution This new MotoDry Seat Bag is a great option for commuting or weekends away. It’ll expand to a healthy 27 litres and can even house a helmet. Construction is heavy-duty, reinforced 600-denier material (PU backed), and a universal fitting system allows the bag to be secured to your pillion seat or rack. The zippers are waterproof, and there’s a built-in waterproof rain/storm cover for peace of mind.

Distributor: Forbes & Davies Price: $129 Info: forbesanddavies.co.nz

KIWI RIDER

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Treat your hands to a fur coat These Five WFX2 WP gloves feature fabric construction with a PU knuckle and palm slider and Hipora breathable-waterproof membrane, plus 180g Thinsulate lining for thermal insulation.

Synthetic fur inside the sleeve helps deliver cold-weather protection and should make these the most comfortable gloves you’ve ever had. Now factor in comfort gussets on fingers and thumbs, a large Velcro adjustment strap on the cuff, a reflective strip — and hot-red stitching to keep your hands warm while looking cool.

Distributor: Darbi Accessories Size style: S-3XL, black Price: $139 Info: motorcyclegearnz.com

Great life, great grip With crap weather still the norm, you’ll want top-notch rubber for your bike. This ultimate sports-touring tyre from Avon comes with 3D sipes to warm up the rubber quickly and improve wet grip, plus a multi-compound silica formula for great wet grip as well as long life. Avon says these tyres have to be tried to be believed, with grip that’s almost as good in the wet as in the dry. Why settle for less, when you can have great life and great grip?

Distributor: Dold Industries Price: Starting around $650 for a set Info: dold.co.nz

Tanklock tankbag goes the extra mile These great-looking tank bags from Givi are made from a Thermo-formed UV-resistant material and feature the Tanklock ‘clickon’ attachment, a transparent window for your smartphone, a handle and an adjustable shoulder strap for easy transportation, plus side-reflective inserts – and they are ready for the Power Hub accessories Distributor: Eurobike Wholesale Price: $159 and $199 Info: eurobike.co.nz

Urban cool, bikers rule The RST Ellie women’s jacket was designed for the urban environment, both on and off the bike. Made from brushed 300D polyester, with a Sinaqua waterproof breathable membrane and removable thermal lining, it also gets important stuff like armour on the shoulders and elbows and a waterproof lining, but adds cool features like a detachable hood for casual use. There’s a pocket for an optional back protector, multiple adjustment points and, of course, double- and triple-stitched seams for maximum burst resistance.

Distributor: Nationwide Accessories Size style: 08–20, Silver, Black Price: $269 Info: nwa.co.nz Call of the (Michelin) Wild The new Michelin Anakee Wild is aimed at bikers who seek adventure, solo or with a passenger: those for whom biking means expeditions, experiencing and discovering. It is aimed at riders who break away from paved roads to exploit a bike designed both for roads, and the most uneven, sandy, stony and muddy tracks.

The Anakee Wild tyre was designed to adapt to all terrain types and situations, as well as varied climates: to be a multi-purpose tyre that covers any conditions you throw at it.

Distributor: Northern Accessories Price: tbc Info: northern.co.nz

Noah’s ark for feet The Forma Fuji OutDry full-grain leather boot is ideal for tourers and commuters and features OutDry Technology, a new patented process which laminates the membrane directly to the full leather upper. Unlike regular boots, where water gets trapped between the bootie and the upper, the OutDry membrane keeps water on the outside surface. Feet stay dry and are isolated from humidity. As you would expect, the Fuji is reinforced in the ankle and shin regions, and has double Velcro and double zip closure for ease of entry and exit.

Distributor: Forbes & Davies Size style: Euro sizes 39 to 47 Price: $379 Info: motorcyclegearnz.com

28

KIWI RIDER

DistributeD by eurobike Wholesale (NZ) ltD

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service + Display staNDs • Tough high-tensile steel • Available in red, blue or black • Stands also available individually • Dual wheels on rear stand • Powder coating • Fully adjustable • Choice of rubber blocks or V cursors • Special stands for Ducati 996/999, Triumph, Honda and MV • Special front stands for R1/R6 • 6, 8, and 10 mm bobbins for stand support

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DH Profile (depression spoiler) - suitable for sports bikes with its low aerodynamic resistance D...S Profile (deflector spoiler) - suitable for touring due to its increased comfort at all speeds.

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Track – road – off-road

Road legal • Make up your own custom hoses

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Triumph’s Tiger 800 models are almost built for New Zealand gravel road touring adventures but they’re too tall for many riders. The XRx Low brings adventure to more people with a lower seat height, which broadens the Tiger’s appeal.

Words: Stuart Hamilton Photos: Geoff Osborne

T

he category ‘Adventure Motorcycle’ is pretty meaningless these days.

It spans a vast range of motorcycles from my battered old KTM 950, which has seen more off road than was healthy for either it or me, to the new mega buck superbike-engine’d BMW S1000XR and a heap of variations in between. It is also obvious that the word Adventure has different meanings to different motorcyclists.

Personally, I use three loose categories of motorcycles, based on the people who ride the bikes. Firstly, there’s Serious Adventure. These are the riders who think Charlie and Ewan were wimps.

These riders are also categorised by medical science as psychopaths, who like to encourage their mates off road to get stuck and/or break down in faraway places. I have a lot of these ‘friends’.

Secondly, there’s Adventure. These guys stay away from tar seal, spend most of

their days on gravel and off road tracks.

They’re categorised by less of a tendency for silliness compared to the guys in our first category.

Then there’s Adventure Touring.

These are the ‘let’s go anywhere’ types.

Highways and backroad seal, gravel – with tents/wife/dog on the back. Pretty much the norm I’d say. Probably people like you and me.

The people in the first category are on the fringe and, at any given point in time, will either have been given up for dead by their families, be in the emergency department or at home fixing their bikes, I shall only use the two latter categories for comparison purposes here. So... based on that measure, I have decided that the subject of my epistle today is an Adventure Tourer.

Category of the XRx categorised, Triumph has catered for both ‘Adventure’ and ‘Adventure Tourer’ types in the Tiger range. There are four bikes in the line-up, all with the same engine, an 800cc triple making a claimed 95 horse power.

KIWI RIDER

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Words: Jock McLauchlan / Photos: Geoff Osborne

BMW’s RS models have always added a dash of sports to touring, the new R1200RS is no exception and sports is still most definitely on the cards.

I

t was foggy, cold and damp. I was astride a new BMW R1200RS and we were on a mission to meet KR’s lens wielding machine, Mr Osborne, in what were, basically, whiteout conditions. I couldn’t see a bloody thing. But I knew vaguely where the road went, which was helpful... and my hands were warm. The handgrips were set to a warm roast, not the higher fully-roasted position (for absolutely freezing days) and they were comfortable, but I still couldn’t see much. The screen was in the highest position, so my body was protected and warm too and, yet, still the fog obliterated any view ahead.

Yes, the life of a KR tester is fraught with these extreme difficulties, but none the less I battled on reward-less to get the job done. Such is our commitment to the motorcycling world. Happily it wasn’t too long before the fog eventually lifted, the damp road dried and I could begin to enjoy BMW’s R1200RS. Vision restored, I could start to sample the delights of BMW’s sporty tourer.

The engine is the same spec as that in the company’s GS model, and rated at 125hp @ 7750rpm and 125Nm @ 6500rpm. I wouldn’t read too much into those numbers though, because 75 percent of peak torque is available at all revs! The horizontally-opposed twin makes great power from just over 3000rpm and pulls hard from a little over 4000rpm. It genuinely has a lovely engaging feel and is one of the better power deliveries for an all round road machine on the market today.

I like the Dynamic engine mode best.

In this mode the liquid-cooled, down draft, 1170cc motor with DOHC and four valves per cylinder is indeed quite dynamic; being responsive yet smooth with an effortless, decently flexible, grunty and fun power delivery. It is also moderately abrupt if you are ham-fisted which is something I like. So, perhaps for dodgy slippery conditions the Road and Rain mode choices are wise additions.

But with sophisticated traction/stability control on hand to help out, you can safely rely on the electronics to kill wheelspin if the excitement of the day turns to too much throttle. Lastly, User mode is where the engine management system can be programmed and tailored for the throttle response that an individual owner requires. This really does mean that there should be a power mode to suit everyone... however, I still like dynamic the best.

The six-speed gearbox has shift-assist, which works incredibly well on the upshifts and quite well on the down-shifts

too, but using the clutch does help to smooth out gear changes when rushing down through the gears, even considering how nicely the slipper clutch works.

Or maybe I just have too much mechanical sympathy going on here? Anyway, I genuinely enjoyed holding a constant 4000rpm and listening to the lovely throbbing exhaust note as I short-shifted up through the gears without touching the clutch.

Handling-wise the RS is a competent and stable bike that’s best suited to flowing open roads. On the tighter roads that I favour, turn-in is a little on the lazy side and, while still confident and accurate, it is not really a tight corner craver. Even though the chassis has 45mm USD telescopic forks, the front end feel is very much that of BMW’s Tele-Lever system. By that I mean, there is very little dive under braking and it prefers smooth constant lines... as I suppose we should all ride, rather than mixing things up mid-turn. In other words, it likes constant radius turns and requires more effort than some if the turn tightens up to stay on line and not drift wide. The slower 27.7 degree steering head angle plays a part here too.

The 1200 has Dynamic ESA (Electronic KIWI RIDER

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Getting to the start of the Road of Bones was an adventure in itself for Chris Stephens. In this second and final instalment Chris finds out how much more adventurous it could get.

O

Words & photos: Chris Stephens

ur adventure on the Road of Bones had finally started, but it began slowly. It was a late morning wakeup and, while breakfast crackled, sizzled and popped, the Kiwis changed all the bikes from road to off-road tyres and sorted out what we would ride with and what would stay in the support vehicle.

As we headed off it was great to be free of roughly 60kg of kit and riding more of a trail ride.

It wasn’t long before we were up to our knees in mud, as we circumnavigated waist high bogs. There were patches where we could see examples of the Old Road’s former glory, smooth but softened by nature – tempered with a sombre respect for those who built it. These road sections were abruptly severed by raging water, scouring across leaving sharp entry and departure angles. This made for tricky entry into the streams, but it was even more tricky having to balance against the current and keep enough momentum to pop up the other side (without sliding back!).

In the initial days there were many streams flowing across the road into a main river, and derelict wooden bridges, which were destroyed or partly dismantled (hard to know) but, inevitably, it meant fording the stream instead. Thankfully the occasional encounter of two-degree water in our boots was thawed by warm sunny weather, and the bridges were perfect photo opportunities... although it was risky getting on some bridges, it was more risky turning around and getting off!

We set up our nightly camps by the rivers. Rivers have water, are handy for cooking, washing and drinking but, more

importantly, the air around the rivers is cooler and thus there are fewer mosquitos. Walk just a few metres into the forest on the river bank and mosquitos, seemingly as big and ferocious as bears, threatened to carry us away. They most certainly bit any exposed area of Deet-free skin. This was most ‘dangerous’ at ablution time. You really must (while in the safety of your tent) spray every potentially exposed body part prior to squat! Riding a motorcycle with itchy bits is not safe riding.

At one such camp there were still banks of snow and ice, which, when kicked, shattered into stunning crystals I’ve never seen the like of before. At the same camp the big Kamaz had arrived with the tail-lift out of action. This meant we had to unload all of the gear via a side door for the night’s camp. An inoperable tail lift also meant that bikes couldn’t be loaded onto the truck if ever needed and rear access was impossible for any gear.

The Kiwis decided to take a look, and found a blown fuse leading to the discovery of a crushed wire to the hydraulic pump.

This is a big truck to be dropping in and out of these steep scoured river banks and the “tail lift accessory” was exposed to much heavy grounding. As dinner was being prepared we beavered away and then switched it all back into life to cheers from the campfire. Sanych’s eyes light up and the “world explorers” were invited for celebratory shots of vodka.

While still sober we all headed off to the water’s edge for target practice (read: big shoot up) with AK47s and the likes. If there were bears in those woods they would certainly have been gone for the night. It seemed us Kiwis had passed our ‘apprenticeship’ for living in their neck of the woods. Sanych and his Yakut team

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2016

CROSS CROSS COUNTRY COUNTRY SERIES SERIES

CROSS COUNTRYSUNDAYS Round 1 Sunday 19th June Tar hill (1st round is also 1st round of the NZXC Round) Round 2 Sunday 7th August Ohakuri Round 3 Sunday 4th September Ohakuri Round 4 Sunday 2nd October Tar hill

Dirt Guide Cross Country Series: All rounds are sign posted from SH 1 south of Tokoroa.

Classes:- Juniors (3km track) - - 7-11 yrs MX - - 7-11 yrs Trail - Juniors (10km track) - - 12-15 yrs, MX 85cc 2 stroke / 150cc 4 stroke - - 12-15 yrs, up to 200cc 2 stroke - - 12-15 yrs, up to 250cc 4 stroke - Novice ladies all capacities.

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Terrain: Forestry based tracks Junior (small race) 3k course Juniors (big course) race (approx 10km loop) starts at 9:30am and is one and a half hours long Seniors race (approx 20km loop) starts at 12:30am and is two hours long Organiser: Forest Trail Events Contact: Sean & Adele Ph: 07 886 5918 or 027 599 6046 Sign On: Juniors need to sign in between 8am and 9am. Seniors between 8am and 11.30am.

Entry Fee · Juniors $50 · Seniors $60 Food for sale throughout the day Prize giving at the end of the series for overall points.

Cooper chasing Tarawera win number five

A

s we go to press, it is just days away until the 39th annual Honda Tarawera 100 crosscountry marathon and there’s no sign of the defending champion.

Bay of Plenty’s Ben Townley took his Honda CR450F to win the event last year, making it a stunning consecutive hat-trick of wins for him at the popular offroad motorcycle race.

But now Townley is back in Europe and racing Grand Prix motocross events, enjoying the sweltering heat of Italy last weekend while his homeland was under a chilly mid-winter rain cloud.

It won’t be panic stations in the Honda camp, however, with national MX1 motocross champion Cody Cooper signalling that he’ll return to the Tarawera 100 this Saturday and that he’ll bring his championship-winning Honda CRF450 with him.

The venue for Saturday’s race is the same as last season, on steep farmland at 78 Tahuna Road, Te Teko, just west of Whakatane, although the course that’s been laid out this time will run in the opposite direction from last year, “just to keep things interesting and to keep the riders on their toes”.

Opotiki native Cooper, who now calls Mount Maunganui his home, is also no stranger to winning cross-country races and his success rate at the Tarawera 100 in the past is almost second to none.

Cooper won the Tarawera 100 for the first time in 2007, then backed that up by winning it three more times, in consecutive years between 2010 and 2012, and now he’s chasing win number five.

Only five riders have won the Tarawera 100 three times or more since the event’s inception in 1978.

In addition to Cooper and Townley, the other major winners have been Wayne Jennings (a record five-time outright Tarawera champion) and three-time former winners Nick Reader and Damien King.

Cooper is taking nothing for granted in his comeback to the Tarawera 100 this weekend. He knows that last year’s runner-up, Taupo rider Brad Groombridge (Suzuki), will be a serious threat, as will cross-country specialists such as Howick’s Liam Draper (Husqvarna), Reporoa’s Hadleigh Knight (Husqvarna), Coatesville’s Sam Greenslade (Kawasaki), Morrinsville brothers Hayden and Nathan Tesselaar (KTM), Titirangi’s Callan May, Whakatane’s Mitch Rees (Honda) or Rotorua trio Andrew Charleston and Scott Birch (both Honda) and Scotty Canham

Story: Andy McGechan, bikesportnz.com

Bay of Plenty’s Cody Cooper (Honda CR450F), one of the favourites to win this Saturday’s 39th annual Honda Tarawera 100 cross-country marathon (Husqvarna), among others.

“The soil at Te Teko is fairly free-draining and we’ve taken out the steep downhill that troubled so many riders last year, so it should be a great day’s racing,” said spokesman for the organisers, Tony Rees.

“We also have again included the popular

two-rider/two-bike and two-rider/one-bike categories this year and all the riders will be sent away in one massed wave of bikes, not in separate waves,” he said.

“It’s the event’s 40th anniversary next year and that’s something to look forward to as well.”

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LIAM DRAPER

CALLAN MAY

Words & photos: Andy McGechan

It has been a remarkable year for Bay of Plenty Suzuki ace Brad Groombridge, the 25-year-old clinching two national motorcycling crowns at his first serious attempt.

W

ith defending national champion Chris Birch nowhere in sight (until the final round), the competition was thrown wide open this season and any one of three or more riders were capable of taking the title overall.

But it was Taupo locksmith Groombridge who emerged with most of the glory. He produced a remarkable come-from-behind result in early June to secure the 2016 New Zealand Enduro Championships title overall and the under-300cc four-stroke class title as well in what was his first concerted effort to contest the series, adding those titles to the two (overall and class) national cross-country crowns he’d won in May. With riders to face a gruelling doubleheader enduro weekend – the fourth and fifth rounds of the series, at Waimiha on the Saturday of Queen’s Birthday Weekend and at Tokoroa on the Sunday – to wrap up the competition, and with three individuals all within four points of one another at the top of the standings, the phrase ‘it’s not over until the fat lady sings’ could not have been more appropriate.

Round two winner Groombridge (Suzuki RM-Z250) started the weekend second overall in the series standings, sandwiched just two points behind Christchurch’s Hamish Macdonald (Sherco SE-R 300), who had won the series opener in March, and two points ahead of the round three winner, Howick’s Liam Draper (Husqvarna FE250).

But then the balance of power swung dramatically in favour of Kiwi international Groombridge at round four on the Saturday when he won the day, while

both his main rivals “blew it” – Macdonald suffering a blown engine, which resulted in a DNF for the young rising star, and Draper suffering a blown fuse, which left him finishing the day in a lacklustre and undeserved eighth position.

Groombridge was now suddenly on top of the standings, a solid 14 points ahead of new No.2 man Draper, with Titirangi’s Callan May (Yamaha YZ250X) elevated to third, eight points further back, and Macdonald forced down to fourth overall, just one point behind May, and the title was Groombridge’s to lose.

A finish of fifth or better at Tokoroa on the Sunday would be enough for Groombridge to win his first national enduro championship and that’s what he did, ending the day third overall, behind a firedup Draper and Glen Eden’s 2015 overall champion Chris Birch (KTM 250 XC-F).

“I knew where I had to finish and did enough to get the job done,” said Groombridge matter-of-factly.

“My congratulations to Liam (Draper), who had a solid day, and I feel sorry for him and Hamish (Macdonald) too, who had their championships fall apart the day before.

“I only rode three enduro races last season and this is my first full attempt.

To win two rounds out of three on debut is pretty good I feel and it doesn’t feel any better than winning a title at your first attempt.”

Dubbed “Mr Versatility”, Groombridge won the New Zealand Cross-country Championships earlier in the year, also at his first full attempt, on that occasion riding the bigger Suzuki RMZ450, and he also finished fifth overall in the MX1 class at the New Zealand Motocross Championships, which wrapped up in March.

Meanwhile, May finished the day fourth KIWI RIDER

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76

KIWI RIDER

“I have used Mitas to win the Roof of Africa and multiple titles in NZ” Chris Birch.

29 Saxon Street Phillipstown 8011 Christchurch

Words: Jock McLauchlan / Photos: Geoff Osborne

Winning the New Zealand MX2 title is tough enough.

Think it could be done without throwing a heap of money at the engine? Hamish Harwood did it running a standard engine and tweaked suspension.

H

amish Harwood’s New Zealand MX2 title-winning KTM 250SX-F is certainly a striking looking machine.

The orange frame, Acerbis front disc protector and chain guide, along with the workshop graphics kit, not to mention (not too much anyway...) the number one plates and logos really make his KTM stand out from the crowd. And the truth is it goes just as well as it looks.

Surprisingly, especially for some of his competitors, the engine remains completely stock. There are three main reasons for this. Firstly, the standard motor

is a goody. Secondly, ultra high performing motors can be prone to mechanical... err, shall we say ‘misadventures’. And finally, hot rod motors are often very expensive to build up and maintain. I also have a sneaking suspicion that the CML/Harwood team believed they could win the NZ championship with the standard engine and should, I think, be justifiably proud of having now done so.

The standard 250SX-F engine has an excellent power delivery that is very flexible with a quite linear spread of grunt and a strong, high-revving top end. While it is not super fast at any point in the rev range for a 250 MX race machine, its awesome rideability throughout the whole power delivery

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Words: Callan May / Photos: Geoff Osborne

Callan May has been riding Yamaha’s YZ250X for the 2016 summer season and this is his long term report on Yamaha’s new two-stroke.

T

here is fresh bike on the offroad scene from Yamaha for 2016, which I feel has given hope into reviving the two-stroke off road world. The Yamaha YZ250X is definitely a bike much needed and I believe will make a lot of people’s decisions a lot easier when choosing their next two-stroke off-road weapon.

Based on the YZ250, the YZ250X has some key changes that help adapt it perfectly for bush riding. To start with, the wide ratio gearbox is almost perfect; it’s still a five-speed ‘box but the spacing between gears is great for cross-country.

Second and third gears are closer together in ratios, making them a lot more rider friendly in tighter technical sections, which also allows the rider to maximise the use of the torque produced by the 250 two-stroke engine.

Secondly, the revised expansion chamber is significantly smaller than that on the motocross model and I believe it plays a big part in mellowing out the power. This makes it smoother going through the power and less of a handful.

The compression ratio has been reduced, which also helps give the engine a smoother, less aggressive feel.

Thirdly, the X gets an enduro-specific 18-inch rear wheel, which is great at helping with finding traction.

On a suspension front, the bike has virtually the same KYB setup as the motocross bike with the same spring rates, but the X gets different valving. This makes the X a lot plusher and forgiving, which is perfect for the roots, rocks and ruts typically found off-road. The bike also comes with a reserve switch in the fuel tank which is always handy.

I have really enjoyed racing and trailriding the YZ250X for the last six months.

It’s a very versatile bike that can be ridden anywhere from your local trail ride to racing national enduro and cross-country straight out the crate. I think Yamaha has made a big step in the right direction with this new model.

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Ph: 03 3667463 Fax: 03 3667462 Email: mscoombesltd@clear.net.nz Web: www.mscoombes.co.nz Web: www.customsportstrike.co.nz

Taking the bike on an overseas tour, or buying or selling overseas?

Want someone who knows bikes and knows how they should be handled?

Hi-tensile steel with bright zinc coating Hi-tensile anodised alloy (4 colours) Engine bolts, frame bolts, fairing and screen screws.  In fact every type of fastener for motorcycles. The right type and finish. From 4mm to 10mm diameter, up to 100mm long.

For full details of types and sizes, e-mail eurobike@xtra.co.nz Available individually or in kits.

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Then call us-we have years of experience and good reviews from riders touring USA, Australia, Canada, Europe & UK. We can arrange freighting, all customs facilities, holding of crates and shipment of bikes and goods purchased on tour back to New Zealand.

We have offices & customs teams throughout USA, Australia, Europe and agencies in Canada and UK. Two years ago we had a family tragedy and had to get back to New Zealand immediately. We were in the back blocks of Colorado. One phone call to Mainfreight in LA and they just sorted everything out. They picked our bikes up from Colorado, sorted out all of the details and shipped the bikes home to us... Bridget Jakicevich Another successful trip to the States for my group and a large part played by yourself and Mainfreight. Looking back has been 8 years now, you have been involved... With out your help I know that it could otherwise be very stressful with much unnecessary time dealing with the minutia to the various agencies involved both in New Zealand and The US.... Ken Contact Jeff Larsen on jeff.larsen@mainfreight.com 04 816 5255 or 0274 493008

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EVENTS CALENDAR / AUGUST 2016 * Please check with organisers before event in case of cancellations, errors or changes in dates *

ADVENTURE RIDES JULY - tba, Overseas Adventure, Trans-American Trail Tour, US based, guided or self navigate with GPS. Contact Jim either 021517110 or email jimdenham@hotmail.co.nz or visit www.northerngraveladventureridersnz.com4 SEPTEMBER - 12, ALL NEW AUSTRALIAN Adventure Bike Ride, with NGARNZ, checkout www. northerngraveladventureridersnz.com - 18/1 Oct, Adventure ride to Cuba, with Adventure Rides (Mike Britton), check out www.adventurerides.co.nz or phone Mike on 0212849047 OCTOBER - 3/31, 28 days riding your own motorcycle through the Andes Mountains, the Atacama Desert, ride along the border with Bolivia, and through to the lush wine and agricultural areas of Argentina and Chile. With Rosco’s Rocky Road Adventures, phone 09 4068807 or visit www.roscosrockyroad.com and his blog at www.mytb.org/rosco-p - 22/23, Heartland Gisborne based Adventure Bike Ride with NGARNZ, checkout www.northerngraveladventureridersnz.com NOVEMBER - 5/7, Great Barrier Island Adventure Ride, fully guided and catered, big bike and pillion friendly, contact Britton Adventures on 0212849047 or mike@adventurerides.co.nz - 26, Yamaha Far North Adventure Ride, with Britton Adventures, contact Mike at 0212849047 or mike@adventurerides.co.nz - Date tba, Adventure Taupo and Surrounds with NGARNZ, checkout www. northerngraveladventureridersnz.com CROSS COUNTRY SEPTEMBER - 4, Dirt Guide Cross Country Round 3, South Waikato (tba), Juniors $40, Seniors $50, phone Sean Clarke 0275996046.

Juniors sign on between 8-9am OCTOBER - 2, Dirt Guide Cross Country Round 4, South Waikato (tba), Juniors $40, Seniors $50, phone Sean Clarke 0275996046.

Juniors sign on between 8-9am - 8, GNCC Round 1 at Murray Jensens farm, Te Puke, with Power Adventures, phone Greg 0274454429(four rounds only) -29, Acerbis 4 Hour, Crosscountry race, Tahorakuri, Taupo, check out www. epicevents.co.nz and 0275144419 or email directors@epicevents.co.nz NOVEMBER - 12, GNCC Round 2 at Burts Farm, Matata, with Power Adventures, phone Greg, 0274454429(four rounds only)

DECEMBER - 10, GNCC Round 3 at Maddix Farm, Tauranga,with Power Adventures, phone Greg 0274454429(four rounds only) JANUARY 2017 - 28, GNCC Round 4 (final) at Maramarua Forest, past Maramarua Golf Club on SH2, with Power Adventures, phone Greg 0274454429 MOTOCROSS OCTOBER - 14, Nailing the Peat 4, at Patetonga, 516 Mangawhero Rd, with Hauraki Plains College hosting the Secondary School Invitation TT Series, cost $55 per rider, entries close Wednesday 21st September, limited to 140 riders.

Email amandaf@haurakiplains.school.nz or ring her on 07 8677029 ext 812 RUNS, RALLIES, RIDES, SHOWS & TOURS Attention all Aprilia Riders: Wanted to form a small & relaxing club for touring, racing & club meetings every week.

Contact: Vincent 021 682 823 or aprilia_NZ@hotmail.com SUPERMOTARD (mixed dirt / tarmac races) also see www.supermotard.co.nz/events

TRAINING DAYS - RiderSkills Motorcycle Training Motorcycle training 7 days a week, for new or back to biking, and confidence building, including advanced roadcraft.

Phone Phil McDaid on 0800245387 or visit www.riderskills.co.nz - Barry’s Point Road Monthly Ride Out Monthly rides on the last Saturday of each month, from Hyosung Motorcycles at 72 Barrys Point Road, Takapuna.

Meet 9.30, to depart 10.00. All abilities welcome. Professionally run by Accelerated Motorcycle training with instructors available on the ride for assistance. Safe, sociable ride lasting 2-3 hours with a coffee stop en route. Call David Horner 021970648 or visit http://motorbiketrainingnorthshore.co.nz/ join-the-barrys-point-road-rideout/ or ring 0508776643 or 0276998089 - Auckland Motorcycle Club Advanced Rider Training Visit AMCC website www.amcc.org.nz for entry form. Enquiries: Colleen at cthompson@paraserv.co.nz or amccinc@Ihug.co.nz or ph 09 4891239 or 0274231433

CLUB SECRETARIES If you want your event listed here FREE, as it has always been for our Events pages, please fax the details to: KR EVENTS, (09) 416-5308 or email admin@kiwirider.co.nz.

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 AUGUST - 13/14, Epic Events presents Suzuki Western Blast trail ride at Western Bays, Taupo, check out www.epicevents.co.nz and 0275144419 or email directors@epicevents.co.nz SEPTEMBER - 10/11, Epic Events presents Suzuki Berm Buster, trail ride at Wainui, Taupo, check out www.epicevents.co.nz and 0275144419 or email directors@epicevents.co.nz OCTOBER - 15/16, Suzuki Desert Storm, trail ride, at Karioi, Ohakune, check out www. epicevents.co.nz and 0275144419 or email directors@epicevents.co.nz - The Sandpit (Woodhill Forest) Open 9-5 Wed to Sunday, tracks suitable for all levels, family passes available, for more Info phone 09 420 8879 or visit www.thesandpit.co.nz, hire bikes available but bookings essential

HONDA MUFFLERS VFR 800 ’98-01 900 Hornet ’98-00 CBR 900 ’00 CBR 1000 RR ’04-07 CBR 600 RR ’05 CRF 450 R ’04-05 CRF 450 R ’02-03 CRF 450 R ’06 CRF 450 R ’08 CRF 250 ’06-08 XR650 ’00

Carbon Carbon Titanium Titanium Titanium Alloy Titanium Titanium Titanium Titanium (pair) Alloy

$500 $500 $600 $800 $495 $395 $495 $495 $495 $695 $295

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Giordano’s Wine bar & Italian BBQ 57 The Strand East, Whakatane

WHEEL & SPOKE SERVICES

Bike friendly, secure bike areas free upgrade to spa suite - quote ‘kiwirider’ on site wine bar & restaurant amazing rides around the eastern bay on our doorstep

☛ Spokes for most bikes ☛ Custom-made to suit ☛ Stainless or galvinised ☛ Rims – Alloy ☛ Chrome or stainless ☛ Drilled to suit ☛ All wheel repairs Ph Tom Morriss 021 313 136 • 09 576 0312 wheelman1@vodafone.co.nz www.wheelandspoke.co.nz

call 07 3082244 - www.tuscanyvillas.co.nz - email: stay@tuscanyvillas.co.nz

Cash Paid

SCOOTER HIRE- 4 HOURS $60

Bike Jackets Bike Pants Bike Boots

fully auto 250cc scooter OK for restricted or full test

257 Onehunga Mall Rd, Onehunga, Auckland, NZ

www.scootling.co.nz/hire Ph (09)360 0717

P: 09 636 5296 M: 021 0256 7945

310 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn

E: armyleathershop@xtra.co.nz

Buy SCOOTLING_AUG15_45X45.indd 1

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Get your company noticed here from a trifling $45 PH: 09 416 5307

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Catalytic converter substitution from $290 - More Power - Better Fuel economy - Better Sound - Less Weight

KTM 390-$290 KTM 1290-$290 Triumph Thunderbird-$350

Agents for Micron Scorpion 30A Kerwyn Ave, East Tamaki. Ph 09 2741155

www.customchambers.co.nz

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NEW ZEALAND’S BIGGEST SELLING MOTORCYCLE TYRE

& Restoration WIRE WHEELS Repair We SpecialiSe in

Distributed by Nationwide Accessories (W/Sale) Ltd, Hamilton

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09 274 2727 09 303 1786 09 486 2472 09 486 5187 09 969 2778 09 299 8420 09 833 8333 09 412 9430

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NEW PLYMOUTH:

JMS Motorcycles Ltd New Plymouth M/C Centre Performance Factory

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04 298 3556

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Mr Motorcycles Phil’s Motorcycle Centre

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06 323 6256

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07 345 5654 07 348 4100

Harris Tyre Services Ltd

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07 838 1209 07 849 1919 07 838 9299 07 958 1400

Bike Torque

07 895 7994

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07 884 8044

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09 408 1950

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07 868 9363

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021 072 0753 09 407 7736

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04 589 5106

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09 272 7137 09 263 9335

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09 431 8555

MANUKAU: MAUNGATUROTO: MASTERTON:

Fagan Suzuki

06 378 6159

Honda Matamata Phil’s Motorcycle Centre

07 888 4969 07 888 7604

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07 927 1340

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04 528 9395

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06 345 8599

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09 425 8535

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Ph Craig on 06 324 8345 or 027 231 7864

ECONOHONDA

LTD

Honda Motorcycle Spares Our Speciality – NZ’s largest selection of new and used parts MALCOLM KIRKBY

21 Kenrick St, Te Aroha PH 07 884 8810

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Fax 07 884 8890 parts@econohonda.com www.econohonda.co.nz

Dismantling Motorcycles for over 25 years

SOUTH ISLAND STOCKISTS ALEXANDRA:

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03 214 4467

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03 302 4939

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03 528 9992

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03 547 2420 03 544 8703 03 548 3786

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03 434 5354

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03 486 1222

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03 573 5413

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03 313 2041

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03 204 8455

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03 688 2447 03 688 7611

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03 236 7993

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Pirelli test over 1,700 Motorcycle Models every year to ensure the correct tyre fitment is recommended for all motorcycles. Talk to an authorised Pirelli Stockist next time your bike is in need of tyres.

Ride Safe, Ride www.pirelli-moto.com I www.nwa.co.nz

94

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95

- RACE RESULTS -

MotoGP 2016 Championship Country

Bike

Total to date

Rd 8 Assen

Rd 7 Catalunya

Rd 6 Mugello

Rd 5 Le Mans

Rd 4 Jerez

Rd 3 The Americas

Rd 2 Argentina

Rd 1 Qatar

1

Marc Marquez

SPA

Honda

145

20

20

20

3

16

25

25

16

2

Jorge Lorenzo

SPA

Yamaha

121

6

0

25

25

20

20

0

25

3

Valentino Rossi

ITA

Yamaha

103

0

25

0

20

25

0

20

13

4

Dani Pedrosa

SPA

Honda

86

4

16

13

13

13

0

16

11

5

Maverick Vinales

SPA

Suzuki

79

7

13

10

16

10

13

0

10

6

Pol Espargaro

SPA

Yamaha

72

13

11

1

11

8

9

10

9

7

Hector Barbera

SPA

Ducati

58

10

5

4

8

6

7

11

7

8

Andrea Iannone

ITA

Ducati

52

11

0

16

0

9

16

0

0

9

Alex Espargaro

SPA

Suzuki

49

0

0

7

10

11

11

5

5

10

Eugene Laverty

IRL

Ducati

48

9

3

3

5

7

4

13

4

Next Round: 17 July Sachsenring

WSBK 2016

Rimini

Donington

Fassi

Name

Bike

Country

Round 8

Race 2

Race 1

Round 7

Race 2

Race 1

Round 6

Race 2

Race 1

1

Jonathon Rea

Kawasaki

GBR

343

25

25

293

20

16

257

16

20

2

Tom Sykes

Kawasaki

GBR

277

20

20

237

25

25

187

8

25

3

Chas Davies

Ducati

GBR

244

0

13

231

16

0

215

13

16

4

Davide Giugliano

Ducati

ITA

165

16

2

147

9

20

118

20

10

5

Mark van der Mark

Honda

NED

163

6

16

141

8

8

125

10

9

6

Nicky Hayden

Honda

USA

146

10

0

136

10

11

115

25

8

7

J Torres

BMW

ESP

137

9

11

117

5

9

103

3

13

8

L Camier

MV Agusta

GBR

105

0

8

97

11

13

73

7

6

9

L Savadori

Aprilia

ITA

100

11

0

89

13

10

66

2

0

10

A Lowes

Yamaha

GBR

81

8

3

70

0

0

70

0

11

Next round: US 9/10 July, Germany 17/18 Sept

FIM MX GP 2016

ITA

GBR

France

Spain

Italy

Germany

Latvia

Name

Bike

Country

Total to date

Rd 12

Rd 11

Rd 10

Rd 9

Rd 8

Rd 7

Rd 6

1

Tim Gajser

Honda

SLO

532

50

50

47

50

36

40

43

2

Antonio Cairoli

KTM

ITA

440

35

33

34

28

47

50

42

3

Romain Febvre

Yamaha

FRA

408

0

0

47

30

40

31

41

4

Max Nagl

Husaberg

GER

401

23

36

25

44

35

35

38

5

Evgeny Bobryshev

Honda

RUS

396

29

34

38

31

32

35

27

6

Jeremy Van Horebeek

Yamaha

BEL

351

30

28

19

27

32

15

38

7

V Guillod

Yamaha

SUI

267

25

34

28

27

14

23

19

8

Glenn Coldenhoff

KTM

NED

230

29

17

28

10

10

15

17

9

Shaun Simpson

KTM

GBR

212

0

2

0

21

21

25

21

10

C Desalle

Kawasaki

BEL

210

40

22

31

35

0

0

3

Next rounds: 24 July, 31 July, 7 August 96

KIWI RIDER

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Star, Protecta, NAC, Classic Cover, N21 and We ride bikes and have our own Race Team!

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When you contact us you are accessing Star, Protecta, NAC, Classic Cover, NZ1 and Vero Insurance. So why ring around, ring us and save yourself the hassle!

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Call 0508 373 373 or visit us online at www.barnesjenkins.co.nz

MITAS E08

Tyres for adventure touring bikes have to cope with a lot of conditions, and need to last. Geoff Osborne tried the Mitas E08 tyres on a trip to the South Island.

E

arlier in the year, my wife and I planned to take our trusty Suzuki V-Strom 1000 on an adventure to take in the lower South Island and West Coast. Obviously there were a lot of things to consider for the trip, but one of the most important was which rear tyre I should choose for the trip. The route involved a fair amount of tar seal plus plenty of gravel roads, tracks and passes with water crossings and obstacles. The other consideration for choosing a back tyre was load capacity as we would be riding two-up with full touring luggage [along with the kitchen sink – Ed].

I needed a tyre that’d last yet would still give grip on dirt and be fun on the tar seal.

I spent a fair bit of time weighing up all the options and decide to fit the Mitas E08. This is a more of a road-biased pattern than I might normally choose but it looked like it would still give decent performance on gravel roads, and it has a deep tread to help with the occasional trickier bits.

It turns out the Mitas proved more than equal to all of the challenges I put it through. On the road it gave good grip in both wet and dry conditions, and was confidence-inspiring with great edge grip [we can whole-heartedly attest to Geoff’s full, and slightly scary, use of edge grip... Ed].

Braking traction is right up there and it has positive drive on all sorts of sealed surfaces. As I’d hoped, the E08 was also good in the gravel, giving predictable grip and feedback at touring speeds with no punctures even in the rocky sections with a full touring load.

I have to say, this tyre surprised me in the areas where I thought it would struggle. Rocky climbs and water crossings were two of my concerns, but it performed well considering we were twoup. We took everything steady and the E08 propelled the big V-Strom through the water and up some pretty nuggetey hills without any problems.

The Mitas E08 is available in 17- to 21inch diameters with profiles to suit a wide range of bikes.

Overall I would recommend the E08 as a great general purpose tyre for a wide range of adventure-styled bikes and the bonus is the extra mileage you get over more aggressive, trail oriented tyres. I have done 4500km so far and there is still a decent amount of life left in the E08 yet.

Product: Mitas E08 Sizes: Front 110/80-19, 90/90-21; Rear 130/80-17, 130/80-18, 150/70-17 Price: $199 - $300 Contact: Your local Mitas stockist or www.dold.co.nz for your local stockist

KIWI RIDER

99

Classics

I

Words & photos: Rhys Jones

Norton John Player Special: ‘Off-the-peg’ Café Racer

n 1974 the scene was set for a café racer, or race replica, not built in someone’s garage, but straight from the factory floor. Norton had a race team sponsored by the tobacco company John Player, and Peter Williams had won the 1973 Isle of Man Formula 750 TT on one of the bikes, with a record lap of 171.52km/h. The sponsorship deal between Norton and John Player began in 1971 and lasted until the end of 1974, and during that time the distinctive white fairings with a red and blue stripe became familiar to thousands of race goers, from Daytona in the USA to the Isle of Man, and from European endurance races to the many short circuits around Britain. The John Player Nortons had become a marketable brand. In the spirit of Ducati’s Paul Smart Imola Replica, and later the Mike Hailwood Isle of Man Replica, there was an opportunity to make and sell a batch of road-going Nortons wearing race bike livery.

The road-going John Player Norton was basically a dressed up Commando. I don’t wish that to sound derogatory; I was the proud owner of a Commando, bought new from Gus

Kuhn in London in 1973. It was a fine motorcycle, which with a little imagination could be made to look and feel even better. I kitted mine out with Dunstall gear and fitted an electronic ignition.

As with most race replicas the JP Norton had different specs from the race bikes. Obviously, the road bike needs a lot of gear such as lights, indicators, centre stand, and mufflers, that add weight to the machine. There are also special engine parts on the race bike that would make the road bike more expensive and uncompetitive in the market place. But with a top speed of 193km/h the road going Commando was as fast as most riders wanted to go on public roads, and with the JP styling, it looked the part as well.

The road and race bikes had the same 73 x 89mm bore and stroke. The 745cc engine capacity was also the same, although Norton introduced the 850 motor for the road bike in 1973. The compression ratio was 11:1 for the race bike, and 8.9:1 for the road bike. There was a four-speed constantmesh gearbox for the road bike and a five-speed close-ratio box for the race bike, which produced 76bhp @ 7200rpm, and

Norton JPS Replica auctioned in Auckland 2010

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IN PREMIUM MOTORCYCLE APPAREL!

TEXTILE JACKET & PANTS JACKET FROM

$429

TEXTILE JACKET & PANTS

PANTS

JACKET

$269

$229

RST profile touring fit: a ž length jacket with multiple a adjustment points to tailor the fit to suit your needs, matched with tailored jeans for comfort on and off the bike. m Hi-Tex and Ballistic 1660 construction, with a Sinaqua w waterproof breathable membrane and a removable quilted f length thermal lining. full Triple and double stitched seams: all seams are stitched u using super-strong bonded nylon for maximum burst r resistance.

Contour Plus Level 1 back protector fitted as standard, with w Contour Plus CE armour to knees, shoulders and elbows with pockets for optional hip armour. e Reflective panels and piping for maximum visibility to other road users in the dark. o Adjustable intake and exhaust vents and a removable t throat coat to make the jacket/pants customised depending o the conditions. on

RST profile sports-street fit: designed to be comfortable a easy to move around when on the bike in any situation. and Ballistic 1660 and Maxtex construction, with a Sinaqua w waterproof breathable membrane and a removable quilted t thermal lining.

Triple and double stitched seams: all seams are stitched using super-strong bonded nylon for maximum burst u resistance. r Contour Plus Level 1 back protector fitted as standard, with w Contour Plus CE armour to knees, shoulders and elbows with pockets for optional hip armour. e Reflective panels and piping for maximum visibility to o other road users in the dark.

Full length jacket that can be worn on its own, or m matched with any pants in the RST range.

SIZES JACKET 40/SM - 54/5XL S PANTS 34/L - 40/3XL BLACK/FLURO YELLOW, BLACK/GUNMETAL (S (SHORT LEG AVAILABLE IN BLACK)

SIZES JACKET 38/XS - 54/5XL S PANTS 30/SM - 42/4XL COLOURS BLACK/WHITE, BLACK C (SHORT LEG AVAILABLE IN BLACK) (S

TEXTILE JACKET & PANTS JACKET

$399

TEXTILE JACKET

PANTS

JACKET

$199

$449

RST profile adventure fit: a specific fit for upright adventure and a touring style bikes Cordura 500d and Ballistic 1660 construction, with a removable Sinaqua waterproof breathable membrane and a r r removable quilted thermal lining Triple and double stitched seams: all seams are stitched u using super-strong bonded nylon for maximum burst r resistance Contour plus level 1 back protector fitted as standard, with contour plus CE armour to knees, shoulders and elbows with c pockets for optional hip armour Large adjustable vented panels to the chest with long zipped vents up the arms plus large rear exhaust vents and zipped panels on the jeans A water bottle pocket, removable map pocket that converts into a bum-bag and detachable throat coat give the adventure maximum versatility.

SIZES JACKET 42/M - 50/3XL PANTS 32/M - 40/3XL COLOURS BLACK

MAXTEX 600d Polyester and BALLISTIC 1680d Nylon outer shell.

SINAQUA waterproof and breathable membrane.

Removable 75g quilted lining.

RST Contour Plus CE approved armour to shoulders and elbows.

Pocket for RST Contour Plus back protector.

Multiple adjustment points.

Hi-Viz reflective panels and piping.

MAX zips used throughout.

360 heavy duty connection zip.

Multiple external and internal pockets.

Zipped air vents.

Soft touring collar.

SIZES 42/M - 52/4XL COLOURS BLACK

LADIES TEXTILE JACKET & PANTS JACKET

$249

LADIES TEXTILE JACKET

PANTS

$199

$269

RST profile ladies specific touring fit: comfortable for hours on the bike, with subtle feminine styling.

Ballistic 1660 and Maxtex construction, with a Sinaqua waterproof breathable membrane and a removable thermal lining.

Triple and double stitched seams: all seams are stitched using super-strong bonded nylon for maximum burst resistance.

Contour Plus CE armour to shoulders, elbows and knees with pockets for optional back protector and hip armour.

Reflective panels and piping for maximum visibility to other road users in the dark.

Pants available with a heavy duty connection zip to match the jacket.

SIZES JACKET 08 - 20 PANTS 08 - 20

COLOURS BLACK (SHORT LEG AVAILABLE IN BLACK)

RST profile ladies specific urban fit: designed to be worn in the city both on and off the bike.

Brushed 300D polyester construction, with a Sinaqua waterproof breathable membrane and a removable thermal lining.

Triple and double stitched seams: all seams are stitched using super-strong bonded nylon for maximum burst resistance.

Contour Plus CE armour to shoulders and elbows with pocket for optional back protector.

Detachable hood.

Multiple adjustment points for maximum comfort.

SIZES 10 - 20 COLOURS SLATE, BLACK

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PANTS

$299

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