Cycle Torque August 2011

AUGUST 2011

www.cycletorque.com.au

AUGUST 2011

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1000cc Can-Am ATVs

Cycle Torque’s outback adventure – part II Staff bikes+

FEATURES:


2 – August 2011

August 2011

Contents

feAtures 36 Outback adventure tOur

60 staff bikes31 can-am Outlander and renegade

reguLArs3-19 news

21 letters22 e-tOrque23 guntriP20 editOrial

35 race tOrque34 dirty tOrque

48 bike stuff51 used & reviewed

Cover photos: KTM by iKapture, Can-Am supplied by BRP

44TouR TesT KTM 990 AdvenTuRe, 690 enduRo R

24lAunCh RePoRT

2012 KTM 2-sTRoKe exC lAunCh

43TouR TesT TRiuMPh TigeR 800 xC

62 BooK sAles

42TouR TesT BMw f 800 gs

45

54

46TouR TesT yAMAhA xTz660

TesT KAwAsAKi 1400gTR

TouR TesT MoTo guzzi sTelvio nTx


August 2011 – 3

NeWstorque

husqvarna nudaOVER the last couple of months we’ve reported on Husqvarna’s new naked streetbike powered by a BMW F 800 engine. All we’ve had is a spy pic and some strategically leaked snippets of information. Until now.Check out the actual pics of the Nuda 900 R streetbike which is due to be released later this year.

The styling is radical to say the least, and in true European form, everything is designed for form as well as function.

Based on the Rotax 800cc parallel twin cylinder engine BMW uses for its F 800 range of machines, the engine in the Nuda 900 R has a bit more capacity and is tuned for more peak power.

With a dry weight of only 175kg, Ohlins suspension and Brembo brakes you can be assured this is one angry street fighter.

As Cycle Torque went to press there was no confirmation of exact release dates or prices. n

eleCTRiC RoARAMERICA’S Roehr motorcycles has announced a 2011 update to its previous eSuperSport electric motorcycle. Roehr’s products are usually powered by a Hyosung 650cc V-twin engine but the eSuperSport is powered by a single speed direct drive AC induction motor which offers 67hp and 80ftlb of torque, giving the bike a top speed of over 160km/h.According to Roehr the bike has a range of 120 kilometres before a recharge is required, which takes around seven hours.

The eSuperSport retails for US$17,995. Electric bike lovers have imported other electric sportsbikes from overseas so there should be no reason you can’t have a Roehr eSuperSport down under, even if it’s to run up and down your driveway or scare a trackday punter or three. n


4 – August 2011

2012 KTM 2-stroke exc launch – P24

huge adventure touring feature –

page 36


8 – August 2011

NeWstorque

RegulaR contRibutoRs:DaRRyl Flack, bob guntRip, keith MuiR, alex pickett, DaRRen sMaRt, toDD ReeD, FRieDeMann kiRn, WWW.2snap.coM. cycle toRQue is publisheD by MotoRcycle publishing pty ltD. abn 91 085 871 147 pRinteD by RuRal pRess, noRth RichMonD. pRint post appRoveD pp255003/04198 issn 1441-8789 cycle toRQue is available FRoM bike shops acRoss austRalia. iF you can’t FinD ouR latest issue, call 0420 319 335. subscRiptions aRe available. $24.95 peR yeaR, call 02 4956 9820 FoR Details. copyRight 2006. all Rights ReseRveD. no paRt oF this publication May be RepRoDuceD in any FoRM, incluDing electRonic, Without WRitten peRMission oF the publisheR. please contact the eDitoR beFoRe subMitting FReelance contRibutions.

www.cycletorque.com.au po box 687, Warners bay, nsW 2282 Ph (02) 4956 9820 • Fax (02) 4956 9824 email: [email protected]

eDitoR chRis pickett

aDveRtising Dennis penZo, 0420 319 335

[email protected]

Design & pRoDuction Dionne hagan, the D MeDia Design

accounts: Rebecca eastMent [email protected]

publisheR nigel pateRson

intelligent suspensionBMW is set to take suspension a d j u s t m e n t another step forward when it releases its Dynamic Damping Control system in the near future.Essentially it’s an active suspension system, something which has been seen in the car world for a while now but is yet to be used on a production motorcycle. Electronics sense how you are riding, loads and the road conditions to adjust the suspension to suit all of the above.

For example, if the rider accelerates hard the electronics will take note and stop the bike from squatting under acceleration by

stiffening the rear shock.

According to BMW the technology is being developed at a rapid rate to suit motorcycles, and as BMW is usually at the forefront of technology you can expect it to seen on a motorcycle sooner rather than later. n


10 – August 2011

NeWstorque

Kx fouR fiTTyKAWASAKI’S 2012 KX450F is pushing boundaries well before it hits the showroom floors.With launch control, and adjustable ECU and riding position, now probably more than ever before, you can really tailor exactly how you want the bike to perform at any given time on any given track.

Launch control is operated by a power button which modifies power in the first two gears at the start of the race, giving less wheel spin and wheel stands. Once the rider shifts into third gear, launch control automatically deactivates.

The ECU has three selectable engine maps, for normal, hard and soft tracks. The adjustability doesn’t stop there, the footpegs can be placed in two positions, the ’bars in four.

And with updated suspension and the powerful engine the KX450F should be a big seller. Retailing for $11,999, you can check one out at your local Kawasaki dealer or go to www.kawasaki.com.au. n

Visit www.kawasaki.com.au for more information

* 12 months insurance o� er available through participating Kawasaki dealers only. O� er is based on Kawasaki comprehensive insurances. O� er available for a limited time only. Conditions apply. Insurance issued by Swann Insurance (Aust) Pty Ltd (Swann). Refer to the PDS available from Swann or your participating Kawasaki dealer. ** $530.49 value is based on 40 yr old male, locked garaged in postcode 2116, no accidents, no other drivers, no criminal convictions, no modi� cations or additional accessories, agreed value, for a Kawasaki KLR650. *** Please check with your state licensing authority or Kawasaki dealer for full details of applicable models

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12 – August 2011

NeWstorque

online this month at cycletorque.com.auHeaps of new Videos! • KTM 990 Adventure, Triumph Tiger 800XC, BMW

f 800 gs, yamaha xTz660, Moto guzzi stelvio nTx.

new husqvarna CR65 debuts in AustraliaHUSQVARNA’S all new CR65 made it’s Australian debut at the 2011 Australian Long Track Championships held at North Brisbane’s Nudgee facility early in July and if the performance there was any indication there is now a viable alternative to the KTM in the competitive 65cc class.In the hands of young Broc Feeney the little

CR65 showed great speed to wrap up fourth in the championship among a gaggle of KTM 65SXs and at no time did the little machine look down on speed on the long straights despite the fact that the new 65 was stock standard and that it was Broc’s first ride on the new machine.

Look for this sharp little red rocket at your local Husqvarna dealer by mid August. n

Kini & Red BullFICEDA accessories has released a new line of MX gear which is available in good motorcycle shops right now. It’s called Kini Red Bull and the range is all about lifestyle for atheletes. Everything from towels and goggles to MX nylons.Rally rider Heinz Kinigadner is forever linked with both KTM and Red Bull. The twice motocross champion, winner of the rallye des Pharaons and the Paris-Moscow–Beijing Rally still clearly remembers how he was chosen to be the first motorbike rider in the Red Bull Team. “It was during the Inca Rally in Peru. I was extremely proud and working with Red Bull has given me Wings!”. Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz also shared his passion for riding motorbikes, which formed the basis for a long lasting friendship. Together they set up the Wings for Life foundation whose aim is to find a remedy for spinal cord injury. Kini (as his friends call him) has gained a lot from riding motorbikes but it has also taken a lot, as his brother Hans had an accident in 1984 and his son Hannes came off his bike 2003. Both injured their spine and are paraplegic. “My dream and my main aim in life is to find a remedy for spinal cord injury through Wings for Life”, says Kinigadner. Therefore a large proportion of profits from the KINI Red Bull collection goes to the Wings for Life foundation – www.wingsforlife.com – which helps spinal cord injury research. n


14 – August 2011

NeWstorque

fuTuRe CoMMAndeRCAN-AM is well advanced in the field of electric vehicles and has produced a concept electric powered side-by-side atv.

Charging the lithium-ion battery is as easy as plugging the power cord into a wall power socket. Recharging time is only two hours and the range of the vehicle is 160 kilometres. Top speed is 40km/h from the 23kW electric motor.

Selectable 2WD/4WD allows it to go almost anywhere, especially combined with the locking front and rear differentials.

Cycle Torque can see the military being especially keen on the electric Commander considering it will be almost noiseless during operation.

Can-Am is also working on a hybrid Spyder which combines a regular internal combustion engine with an electric motor for power. Both the concept Commander and Spyder use current platforms to house the alternative power units.

Can-Am hasn’t given any ideas of when either vehicle is likely to be released. n

THE FUTURE CAN-AM COMMANDER ELECTRIC SIDE-BY-SIDE VEHICLE.

In 2010, BRP launched its first side-by-side vehicle. The Can-Am® Commander.™ Our passion for innovation continues as we work toward developing a future

electric vehicle. Our goal is zero emissions. We believe electric propulsion is one of the ways forward for the environment and will bring about another milestone

on BRP’s road map toward eco-performing vehicles. The advanced concept Can-Am Commander Electric side-by-side vehicle, is once again testimony of BRP’s

passion for innovation in the powersports industry.

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE POWERSPORTS WORLD. AGAIN.

TRIUMPH’S Tiger 1050 is now available in ‘SE’ guise which has a few notable differences to the Tiger 1050 which is currently retailing for only $13,990 + ORC as a run out deal.The ‘SE’ comes with hand guards, gel seat, ABS, colour matched panniers and a centre stand as standard equipment for $16,490. Four colours are available: Red, white, orange and matt black.graphite two-tone combo. For more info visit www.triumphmotorcycles.com.au. n

TAMeR TigeR

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16 – August 2011

NeWstorque

sPeC

iAl f

3MV AGUSTA’S long awaited 675cc three cylinder should be available to Australian buyers later this year, and the Italian company has already produced a limited edition ‘Serie Oro’ version.Only 200 of this model will be built, so it’s pretty exclusive. Setting it apart from the regular F3, if you can call any MV Agusta ‘regular’, are things like the gold frame plates and forged alloy wheels. There’s also the special paint scheme, lashings of carbon fibre, billet

engine covers, and of course a gold plate on the triple clamp telling all and sundry what number out of 200 your ‘Serie Oro’ is.

Several mechanical parts are unique to the Serie Oro models, like the radially-mounted Monobloc one-piece Brembo calipers and fully adjustable Öhlins upside down forks, TTX shock and steering damper.

There’s more to the bike than this of course. Prices for the ‘Serie Oro’ hasn’t been released as yet but you would have to be cashed up to afford one we expect. If you are then lobby your MV Agusta dealer for one now. n

Rider handbookA NEW resource to improve the education and safety of motorcycle riders has been released by Western Australia’s Department of Transport (DoT).Director General – Transport Reece Waldock said the new Ride Safe handbook is a fantastic learning tool for potential riders, as well as a reference guide for the wider motorcycle community.

“On average, 28 motorcycle riders are killed on WA roads each year and we would very much like to see these numbers reduced,” Mr Waldock said.

“The aim of this handbook is to educate motorcycle riders on their obligations to comply with the WA driving laws, road rules and regulations.

“It will give skills to new and returning riders to ride safely and help new riders prepare for the motorcycle theory test and practical riding test.”

Mr Waldock said the need for a handbook was expressed during public consultation conducted by the DoT in metro and regional areas in 2010.

“This fits in with the DoT’s strategic direction of delivering transport services through customer advisory groups and feedback,” he said.

Mr Waldock said Ride Safe also aligns with the government’s Towards Zero road safety strategy 2008-2020.

Copies of the handbook will be available from metro licensing centres, regional licensing agents, as well as on-line at www.transport.wa.gov.au/dvs. n

new hondA RACeR

HONDA has put itself one step ahead of the competition by producing a customer version of a 250cc road racer. With the new Moto3 class kicking off in 2012 the release of the bike is very timely.Called the NSF250R, it’s powered by a 250cc four-stroke engine, most likely based on the CRF250 powerplant. A couple of years ago Moriwaki worked closely with Honda to build the customer MDH250, and this looks to be Honda’s answer to that machine, even though the bike is most likely share the same basic engine spec.

The NSF250R has a frame and suspension set up similar to the RS125R so it will be nimble and light.

Pure racing bikes aren’t cheap but the NSF250R is a breathtaking $22,990 and it can be ordered through Team Honda Racing. Call Paul Free on 0418 334 183 if you want one. n


August 2011 – 17

NeWstorque : pit bitsClub racerSOUTH Australia’s Cafe Racer Club is all about road racing. One class which is pretty interesting is C20, where bikes built in the 20th Century are eligible. Get those first generation R1s out there and get amongst it.

More info at www.caferacerclub.com.

on safariWANT to be a part of the Australasian Safari on a bike but don’t want to compete? Then why not try it as an adventure tour?

The seven-day off-road motorbike tour, from Perth through the remote northern goldfields to historic Kalgoorlie, travels parts of the same route as competitors in the Australasian Safari – the Aussie version of the infamous Dakar desert endurance event.

All you need is to be a competent dirt bike or trail bike rider, love to challenge yourself, and have a spirit for adventure.

The Adventure Tour fee of $2,800 (inc GST) provides a complete package. It includes an experienced tour director, tour guide and itinerary, with MA Licence, fees and insurance, access to the Safari Bivouac and overnight facilities, campsite fees, tourism inclusions, all fuel from bowsers or containers, transport of limited gear between overnight stops, water and emergency supplies, catering, a merchandise pack, and a ticket to the prize presentation dinner.

Check out www.australasiansafari.com.au for more info.Bumper schedule for Aussie MotogPTHE 2011 IVECO Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix has a huge on-track schedule lined up for the October event.

For the first time since 2008, fans at the event will see an extra session for all international classes; 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP with the additional sessions scheduled for Friday 14 October.

The feature support category will be the Australian Superbikes and Australian Superstock 1000. This field will combine many of the fastest ASBK and Formula Extreme riders in the country.

Fans can also look forward to the ever-popular Australian Historic class featuring some of the World’s most spectacular bikes from yesteryear including the high-handlebar, unfaired Superbikes of the 1970s and ’80s.

Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Andrew Westacott, said motorsport fans have a lot to look forward to at the 2011 event.

“We are really excited about bringing quality entertainment to Phillip Island for the fans, both on and off the track this year,” he said.

“The Australian Superbikes and Superstock 1000 are always a strong crowd pleaser. Together with more international sessions and the Aussie Historics, they complete a fantastic line-up of events.”

sx datesDATES have been released for this year’s Australian Supercross Championship.

Round 1 kicks off at Melbourne on October 22, with the final, Round 5, at Brisbane on November 19.

Visit www.ma.org.au for more information.

3 hourIT’S not too late to get your entries in for the Adelaide 3 Hour endurance road race at Mallala on August 27-28.

Go to www.pheonixmcc.org.au for more info and entry forms.

Parramatta is backFOLLOWING the success of last year’s event, Parramatta Speedway will again host the Sydney Dirt Bike Spectacular, this time a day/night meeting on September 17.

Juniors, sidecars, quads and senior solos are all welcome.

For more info call David Smith on 02 9673 0411.

Aussies for 8 hourTEAM Honda Australia riders Jamie Stauffer and Wayne Maxwell will team up for Team Sakurai Honda in this year’s Suzuka 8 Hour.

Both riders have competed in the prestigious event before. Normally the teams are headed by a Japanese rider and backed up by Aussies but in a rare break from tradition Stauffer and Maxwell will be going it alone as an all-Aussie outfit.

“I am really excited to be returning to Japan to compete in the Suzuka 8 Hour Race and I feel honoured that Team Sakurai Honda has chosen Wayne and I to compete as an all-Australian team. The opportunity for us is fantastic. The team itself is a highly professional and successful team and I believe our chance for a podium is very high,” said Stauffer.

Ride with hondaHONDA is holding a ride day at Sandown Raceway in Victoria on August 5.

Riders must have their own road registered, roadworthy motorcycle to bring to the track as well as full protective riding gear. This means no race bikes.

Grab your mates and head to Sandown to refine your skills on the track. Prices start from $150.

Call 03 9270 1111 for a spot.

going globalGPS Imports (Grand Prix Spares), an Australian importer of Italian aftermarket parts and accessories for motorcycles and scooters has started phase one of their online assault into the local spare parts market by launching their new E-Commerce business as of Monday May 16th 2011.

With the first 2500 products now uploaded with another 4000 to be included in the coming months, GPS is staking its claim in the direct online and wholesale side of the motorcycle industry. The new website will offer a wide range of Italian made parts and after market accessories from some iconic brands from the world of motor sport and classic and modern scooters.

The new GPS website is an easy to use portal for the company’s retail and trade customers with a secure gateway for online payments and options to use other providers like Pay Pal.

Check them out at www.gpsimports.com.au.

honda does youtubeHONDA has produced an advertisement for the 2011 Repsol replica CBR1000RR with Casey Stoner the star, and the CBR of course.

Honda’s assault on our optic nerves isn’t limited to road machines and road racing stars though. There’s also a clip featuring the GHR Honda Racing Team at this year’s Dakar Rally in South America.

Well worth watching, just go to www.youtube.com/user/hondamotorcyclestv.sawmillTHE Sawmill Rally will take over Mansfield in Victoria on November 13. Lots of giveaways and lots of trailbike fun.

Go to www.admcc.com.au for more info. n

sMALL torque unveiling historyANDY Caldecott, one of Australia’s off road heroes was taken from us in January 2006 while racing in the Dakar Rally.

Andy’s home town of Keith in South Australia has worked hard to raise funds for a monument to Andy. It will be unveiled on Sunday August 14 at 11.30am. The venue is Pilmore Park, on the Dukes Highway at Keith.

For more information go to www.andycaldecott.com.au.

Thunder RallyHERE’S an invite to the Thunder Rally. The 30th one! Held over the 7/8/9th October, at the beautiful Sheba Dams recreation area, 8km up the hill from Nundle, 40km south of Tamworth.

All the usual rally awards, including “Longest distance stuffed Cat”. B.Y.O. everything, but the local Lions Club make dinner and breakfast on the Saturday night/Sunday morning. Eftpos and supplies available at Nundle. Fresh water and toilets on site. Great raffle prizes, including vouchers for bike gear and more! The rally is hosted by the Ducati Owners Club, NSW and held to benefit the Moorong Spinal Unit. All bikes and riders welcome. By attending you are taking your place along with the 9000+ riders who have travelled 8,000,000+km supporting this concept over the last 29 years. Don’t forget your fishing gear, some beautiful trout have been caught right at the site! There is a “non-attendance option” for those who still want to support Moorong and get their badge, T-shirt etc, but just can’t get there. Ride safe, one and all. Download an entry form at www.groupspaces.com/thunderrally/ Enquiries, Aunty Mal: 0404 002 427.scooter showTHE Sydney Scooter Expo is on again, on September 10. Taking place at

HART’s St Ives location just north of Sydney, the Sydney Scooter Expo is the largest of its kind and will bring together all types of scooters, accessories and riders from all over Australia.

Most scooter manufacturers will be at the expo with a fleet of scooters to check out.

The day will offer fun for the whole family with a host of activities planned including expo stands, games, competitions, test rides and more.

For the dedicated scooter rider, the 2011 National Scooter Rally will feature alongside the Sydney Scooter Expo. This three day event on September 9 – 11, will kick off at HART’s St Ives location in Sydney with events scheduled across all days.

The Sydney Scooter Expo and the Scooter Rally is for scooterists from all walks - or rides - of life and is not to be missed.

To keep up to date and register visit the official expo and rally website: www.nationalscooterrally.org.

The ultimate BrazilianCOMPASS Expeditions has announced it will run the company’s first ‘women’s only’ ride, scheduled for Brazil in 2012.

“This tour across Brazil is being led by none other than Lois Pyrce, a UK based author, travel writer and all round adventure bike rider, to name just a few of her accomplishments”, says Compass Expeditions director Mick McDonald.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be having Lois lead this ride for our female clients” says Mick, considering her amazing achievements including riding solo the length and breadth of Africa and South America it’s a real honour to be having her join the Compass team”, continued Mick

The tour includes some of the finest riding to be had in South America with Brazil constantly being rated by the Compass Expeditions crew as

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yamaha promotionsYAMAHA is offering some great incentive deals to get your backside on a machine from the blue brigade.

Whether you’re buying a new YZ450F motocrosser or a big bang R1 road burner (other models too), there’s deals in finance, Yamadollars which you can spend in store, free insurance, or free gear for your new bike.

In fact there’s lots of deals happening with lots of different Yamaha models. Some of the deals end in late July, after Cycle Torque’s August issue comes out, and some end early in 2012.

The deals are model specific so head into your local Yamaha dealer to find out what you get. Be quick though.

Triumph to enter indian marketTRIUMPH motorcycles has announced its intention to enter the Indian market.

Triumph has appointed Ashish Joshi as its Managing Director for India. Prior to joining Triumph, Ashish was heading the European operations for Royal Enfield and established the company’s business in Europe. He has over 16 years of experience in Asia and Europe.

Commenting on Triumph’s entry to the Indian market Nick Bloor, CEO of Triumph Motorcycles, UK said “India is a very important motorcycle market and Triumph has assessed it carefully before deciding to step in. We see it as the next step in our global business model. The appointment of Ashish Joshi is a signal of our seriousness about success in India. I wish him the best and look forward to comprehensive growth from the Indian market.”

deus machinesDEUS Ex Machina in Sydney continue to produce some amazing retro/bratz style machines. The newest custom to see the back of the Deus workshop is the Oddjob, based on the venerable Yamaha SR Deus likes to use.

Go to www.deus.com.au and be prepared to be amazed.hooray hondaHONDA is on the bandwagon with a number of specials and incentive deals to get your backside on one of its products.

From Honda dollars where you can purchase stuff form the dealer when you buy a brand new bike to low interest rates for the CBR125R.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a cruiser or quad, visit your local Honda dealer to see what they have got in store for you.

suzuki dealsSUZUKI also has a range of deals on its range. Factory bonuses on many models to free Pirelli tyres to go with your new Suzuki MX bike, there’s something at your Suzuki dealer to help sweeten the deal.

One deal you might like to check out is the new-look 650 V-strom adventure tourer. Loved by loads of adventure riders, the V-strom has received a much awaited styling update and some technical updates too. It now comes standard with ABS and the updated fuel injection system apparently gives better fuel economy. It was awesome before, what’s it like now? n

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20 – August 2011

eDitoriAL

Bucket list

AFTER the movie of the same name as this column’s heading was released, i t seems everyone started making their own bucket list . If you have no idea what I ’m talking about it ’s all about giving yourself a l ist of things to do before you die.

One of the things on my l ist is to do an endurance race with my son Alex as my co-rider. In fact he’s so much faster than me it ’s r idiculous so I guess I ’ l l be his co-rider. We want to accomplish this in this year ’s Post Classic Racing Association One Hour at Wakefield Park on September 17/18. I could say I ’ve been working feverishly on our intended steed, a 1985 Honda VF1000F, but I ’d be lying. And after real ising the event is in September I real ly do have to get my f inger out and f inish i t .

I essential ly want to race i t in Period 6 as a production style machine but I ’ve got a few bits and pieces to make i t into a decent handling machine. I found a new Bitubo shock on eBay, and I ’ve also got some NG brake discs and Venhil l braided brake hoses to sort the brakes out. You can get these products from good motorcycle stores and the cool thing is they are available for a huge variety of bikes, including the older stuff l ike my VF. For the moment I ’ l l be st icking with the standard 18” front and 17” rear wheels as I ’ve done some web surfing and found I can get some decent st icky rubber for them. Not as good as modern sl icks mind you but good enough for the f irst run. I can see me putting a set of more modern wheels on i t later though.

At the ‘One Hour ’ there wil l also be the 2011 Austral ian Bucket Nationals , which is seen by the riders as an unofficial Austral ian Championship, and rightly so. Originally designed as a very cheap way to go bike racing the bucket class has evolved from where i t al l began in 1993 at Oran Park’s Figure 8 circuit to the point where the top machines are works of engineering art , and the not-so-top machines are just holding together. Seriously though, I ’ve raced in a bucket one hour and had a ball . Last year

my son was offered a bucket co-ride at the last minute and said i t was one of the most fun things he’s done on a motorcycle. I t shows you don’t have to invest bucket loads (pun intended) of cash to have bucket loads of fun.

There’s lots of bucket classes too, from the f ire-breathing Motolites to the production based commuterl i tes and the Superl i tes which cater for moderately modified machines. Also at the event wil l be Post Classic , Forgotten Era, New Era and Pre-Modern classes. I f you l ike watching motorcycle racing get down to Goulburn for the meeting, you won’t be disappointed.

There’s no doubt racing bikes has kept my family close. I prepare my son’s bikes, my 13-year-old daughter is chief tyre warmer technician, my wife’s job is keeping everyone happy which can be hard when the stress levels are up, and Alex gets to take the controls .

Imagine what i t would be l ike for a young kid who doesn’t have i t so easy. Our dirt guru Darren ‘Smarty’ Smart has got his eye on young Max ‘Magoo’ Gibbons and reckons he’s a star of the future.

Five-year-old Max has been nicknamed ‘Magoo’ after the late Danny ‘Magoo’ Chandler due to his love and desire of dirt bike riding and his fearless approach to his racing, which according to ‘Smarty’ , was apparent at the recent Austral ian Junior Long Track Championship held at the North Brisbane Junior Motorcycle Club, with Gibbons winning almost every race in the 50cc four-nine years class.

I t was only a crimped fuel hose in the opening race that stopped Gibbons from clean sweeping the class and would you believe this was only Magoo’s f i f th competit ive race meeting. And to do this while his family is going through some tough t imes shows how much love is around the young bloke. Well done Max!

– Chris Pickett

Max ‘Magoo’ Gibbons.

Ken Linsay and his trick Bucket Racer.


August 2011 – 21

Letters torquiNg bACK

Write A Letter! Win A GreAt PriZeThis month Ashley Saintww has won an Airhawk mid-cruiser seat for his bike, valued at $159. Airhawk seats make riding a lot more comfortable by putting a cushion of air between you and your bike. Check out www.airhawkguy.com for more information.Send your letters (and/or great bike pictures) to The Editor, Cycle Torque, PO Box 687 Warners Bay, NSW 2282 or email [email protected].

I agreeI’D LIKE to sincerely thank you for your reply to Mark Robinson in the July issue of Cycle Torque. It’s easily the best and smartest response I’ve ever come across in any form of media on the discussion of bicycle registration.As a motorist, motorcyclist and cyclist I’ve got a foot in each camp, and Mark, please note the key word in the first two - motor. It’s motor vehicle registration, not vehicle registration. Don’t want to pay it? Remove the motor, easy! I pay it on my motorcar and motorcycle because that’s the way it is, want to change the law? Lobby your local MP. The Greenslip is more of a rip off than the registration in my opinion, but that’s another discussion.By the way Mark, it’s worth noting that roads are funded from consolidated revenue, not motor vehicle registrations. The road is a public space and is there for all members of the public to use within the confines of the law. Just like your taxes subsidise those pesky school kids at their public schools or those annoying sick people in the public hospital system, freeloading almost as badly as those bloody cyclists!When I’m riding my bike (the one with pedals) to work and back, or for fun I have the same simple goal as every other road user - get there and back to my family safely.I know sharing and understanding are outdated concepts, but from one vulnerable road user to another, I’d like to think the few seconds it takes to wait and pass me safely when I’m on my bike aren’t too much to ask.

Cheers,Ashley Saint

The deal is in the finance SO, YOU want to spend between $10-15,000, you have looked around and found that new bike advertised at the cheapest price, and you’re biting at the bit to put that new bike in your shed.You ring Harry Shonk, the dealer, and he then says, “wait, there’s more than just the best price. I’ll throw in all the accessories you need”. You’re shell shocked! You say, “yes” to the deal. You say, “I need finance”. Harry Shonk then pulls out his calculator and says, “how’s 60 bucks a week sound?” Harry then produces a Contract of Sale and says, “sign here” (I recently heard of a new CB250 offered at $60 per week by a dealer, which made the interest rate over 40 per cent. You can buy one of these for around $30 per week from a reputable dealer.) If you are financing, there are four things to ask before saying “yes!” to a deal on a new or used bike:1. What is the interest rate? (And check it yourself.)2. What is the establishment fee? (Paperwork costs)3. How many dollars per week or per month?4. What is the term of the loan?The problem is, when the honeymoon is over with this bike, and you’ve been stitched up from the first day you said “yes!” (particularly an off road bike), you come to the realisation that you owe far more than sometimes the original retail price, and that your bike is worth far less on the open market.

Motorcycle and accessories finance, if done correctly, is a great tool for you, the customer. You can get frocked up with a new bike, with all the accessories and rider apparel for a weekly payment.This makes more sense to me than throwing cash over the internet for wrong sized clothing or parts that don’t fit. It also keeps your local dealer and Aussies in jobs.The advertised cheapest price, particularly if you are financing with that type of dealer, is the expensive option. Bikes are a fantastic leisure or commute activity. I don’t like seeing young people being put off with the wrong information, particularly about price and finance on their new bike.The total motorcycle community in Australia represents around eight per cent of the population, and a reputable dealer realises he needs to sell a few bikes to you, the customer, over your motorcycling years (repeat business).The one-deal finance stitch-up may work in some of the motor vehicle industry as around 80 per cent of the population drive.

A concerned dealer

Wire rope killsTWO young people dead and three critically injured after crashing a 4WD, 20km west of Ballarat in Victoria recently. The road was supposedly protected by wire rope barrier (WRB). Their car went through the WRB and hit trees.In February 2010 a driver died after WRB failed to stop his truck running off Melbourne’s Eastern Freeway. His truck crossed the WRB, hit a pylon and burned.In May 2011 WRB was raised in Federal Parliament by Luke Hartsuyker MP. He called on state and territory governments to review their use of WRB. He was prompted to raise the issue because a motorcyclist had a leg cut off after colliding with WRB near Taree in NSW. Miraculously, the rider survived.Hartsuyker reminded road authorities of their duty of care to ALL road users.Riders should contact their local MPs and demand road authorites stop installing new WRB immediately and review the future use of WRB.

Damien Codognotto

Hi DamienI see the point about WRB maiming riders, but I don’t see the point re cars or trucks. A truck passed through it on

Melbourne’s Eastern Freeway. If a WRB wasn’t there it would have made no difference to the fact the truck hit a pole and

burned. Likewise with the 4WD.The real question is what can be put there to stop all

vehicles passing to the incorrect side of the road, including bikes, while reducing the risk of injury as much

as possible.– Ed

e-torqueI M I S S E D C h a d R e e d ’ s b i g c r a s h w h e n i t h a p p e n e d – I c a u g h t s o m e o f t h e t e l e c a s t o n F o x t e l , b u t t h e c r a s h h a d a l r e a d y h a p p e n e d a n d I w a s l e f t w o n d e r i n g h o w i t l o o k e d a n d h o w C h a d w a s d o i n g .

I w a s a b i t m y s t i f i e d b y t h e c o m m e n t s b e i n g m a d e b y t h e c o m m e n t a t o r s a b o u t t h e c r a s h : o n t h e o n e h a n d t h e y w e r e s a y i n g h o w i t w a s a h u g e c r a s h , b u t o n t h e o t h e r h a n d R e e d w a s s t i l l o u t t h e r e – h e f i n i s h e d 1 4 t h . S o n o m a j o r i n j u r i e s a n d t h e b i k e w a s n ’ t t o o b a d l y b e n t , e i t h e r .

Yo u Tu b e s o l v e d t h e m y s t e r y f o r m e a d a y o r t w o l a t e r , w i t h g o o d q u a l i t y f o o t a g e o f t h e a c c i d e n t f r o m A m e r i c a n M o t o c r o s s , w h i c h h a s i t s o w n C h a n n e l o n Yo u Tu b e , j u s t l i k e

C y c l e To r q u e . T h e r e ’ s l o t s t o s e e a n d i t ’ s a g o o d w a y t o c a t c h s o m e o f t h e a c t i o n y o u m i g h t h a v e m i s s e d : R e e d ’ s c r a s h i s w o r t h b o o t i n g t h e c o m p u t e r u p j u s t t o s e e .

T h e c r a s h i t s e l f i s v e r y, v e r y s p e c t a c u l a r , w i t h C h a d h e a d i n g u p a s h o r t , s t e e p h i l l h a r d o n t h e g a s w h e n t h e b a c k e n d j u s t k i c k s s i d e w a y s n e a r t h e t o p o f t h e j u m p . T h e r e ’ s s t i l l e n o u g h m o m e n t u m t o t h r o w C h a d i n t o t h e a i r 6 o r 7 m e t r e s , b u t l u c k i l y f o r b o t h b i k e a n d r i d e r t h e i r m o m e n t u m t o o k t h e m o f f t o t h e s i d e o f t h e t r a c k a l i t t l e a n d t h e y b o t h l a n d e d a n d s l i d d o w n t h e s i d e o f a g r a s s y e m b a n k m e n t : i f t h e y ’ d l a n d e d f l a t o n t h e g r o u n d i t w o u l d h a v e b e e n b r o k e n b o n e s a n d b r o k e n b i k e . A s i t w a s i t l o o k e d l i k e h e ’ d b e e n

k n o c k e d o u t t e m p o r a r i l y.F o r C h a d t o t h e n p i c k h i m s e l f u p , d u s t

h i m s e l f o f f a n d r e j o i n t h e r a c e s h o w e d j u s t h o w t o u g h h e i s . O r c r a z y, o r b o t h .

Yo u c a n f i n d a l i n k t o t h e c r a s h f o o t a g e a t w w w. c y c l e t o r q u e . c o m . a u / m o r e .

T h e r e ’ s p l e n t y o f o t h e r i n t e r e s t i n g b i k e v i d e o s o n Yo u Tu b e , o f c o u r s e : a n d n o t j u s t t h e a w f u l s h o t s o f i d i o t s m a k i n g m i s t a k e s . T h e p r o f e s s i o n a l s a r e o u t t h e r e , w i t h M o t o G P a n d t h e S u p e r b i k e Wo r l d C h a m p i o n s h i p b o t h h a v i n g t h e i r o w n c h a n n e l s , a n d t h e r e ’ s h e a p s o f c o v e r a g e o f y o u r f a v o u r i t e m o t o r c y c l e a c t i o n , t o o .

C y c l e To r q u e u s e s Yo u Tu b e t o o , b u t i t ’ s a c t u a l l y e a s i e r t o f i n d o u r v i d e o s a t w w w.c y c l e t o r q u e . c o m . a u / v i d e o . A n d d o n ’ t f o g e t t o c h e c k o u t w w w. c y c l e t o r q u e . c o m . a u / m o r e f o r l o t s m o r e l i n k s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t b i k e s w e ’ v e t e s t e d , n e w s a n d f e a t u r e s .

– N i g e l P a t e r s o n


August 2011 – 23

guNtrip

on to MadagascarW E ’ R E h e a r i n g a l o t i n o u r f a m i l y a b o u t s o c i a l w o r k e r s r i g h t n o w, a n d a f t e r a l o n g a p p r e n t i c e s h i p a s a s c e p t i c a b o u t t h e s u p p o s e d i n t r u s i o n s o f t h e n a n n y s t a t e i n t o o u r l i v e s I ’ m r a p i d l y c o m i n g r o u n d t o t h e v i e w t h a t a l l s u c h e a r n e s t m e d i a t o r s o f s o c i a l j u s t i c e s h o u l d b e g i v e n o n e - w a y t i c k e t s t o M a d a g a s c a r a n d l e f t t o a n a l y s e e a c h o t h e r a n d e s t a b l i s h s u c h c r è c h e s a n d e n c o u n t e r g r o u p s a s t h e y s e e f i t . W e ’ l l s e n d t h e m a s u p p l y o f s o y s k i n n y c h a i l a t t e s b y a l a t e r b o a t .

T h a t ’ l l l e a v e t h e r e s t o f u s t o g e t o n w i t h o u r i n a d e q u a t e l i v e s u n e n c u m b e r e d , t h o u g h w e ’ l l s t i l l h a v e p l e n t y o f p r o b l e m s t o t a c k l e a l o n g t h e w a y. F o r e x a m p l e , s o m e m e a n s w i l l h a v e t o b e f o u n d t o s t o p A m e r i c a n s f r o m s h o o t i n g o n e a n o t h e r a n d c o m i n g u p w i t h s i l l i e r a n d s i l l i e r l o n e - h e r o - s t a n d i n g - t a l l -s o a r i n g - e a g l e - l a n d - o f - t h e - f r e e b u m p e r s t i c k e r s , j u s t a s w e ’ l l h a v e t o f i n d w a y s o f l i m i t i n g t h e i d i o c y o f o t h e r e l e m e n t s o f t h e l u n a t i c f r i n g e – b u t , h e y, y o u p a y s y o u r m o n e y a n d t a k e s y o u r c h o i c e ; i f y o u w a n t s o m e o n e t o k n i t y o u r b o o t e e s f o r y o u , t h e r e ’ s a l w a y s M a d a g a s c a r .

T h e f u t u r e w i l l h e r e a f t e r b e a l l a b o u t t a k i n g f u l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r o u r o w n l i v e s . O f c o u r s e , w e ’ r e u s e d t o d o i n g l e s s a n d l e s s o f t h a t s o w e ’ l l h a v e t o d e v i s e s o m e k i n d o f t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m t o f a m i l i a r i s e o u r c i t i z e n s w i t h t h e s t i c k y b u s i n e s s o f l o o k i n g a f t e r t h e m s e l v e s .

We ’ l l a l l n e e d a c o u r s e i n s e l f - r e l i a n c e .T h e k i d d i e s w i l l b e o k a y, o f c o u r s e ; f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s

w i l l e s t a b l i s h a s t r o n g n e w l i n e i n p i o n e e r i n g s p i r i t w h e n w e t a k e a w a y t h e i r g a m e c o n s o l e s a n d p a c k t h e m o f f t o t h e s c o u t s o r g u i d e s t w i c e a w e e k . T h e y ’ l l l e a r n b a s i c e c o n o m i c s , m e c h a n i c s , p l u m b i n g a n d e l e c t r i c a l w o r k , a n d w i l l g o o r i e n t e e r i n g , c l i m b i n g , h i k i n g a n d c a n o e i n g . We ’ l l s h e l v e t h e c o u r s e s i n l i t e r a r y c r i t i c i s m a n d w i n e a p p r e c i a t i o n u n t i l t h e i r g a p y e a r . U n i v e r s i t y e n t r a n c e w i l l h a v e a c o m p u l s o r y c o u r s e i n b u l l s h i t i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , m o t i v a t i o n a n d o r g a n i s a t i o n w i t h o u t e l e c t r o n i c a i d s . T h e y ’ l l b e t a u g h t t o g e t o n w i t h s t u f f . F i r s t s i g n o f a t a n t r u m , t h e y ’ r e o f f t o M a d a g a s c a r . B y c a n o e .

B u t i t ’ s n o t m u c h u s e p l a n n i n g f o r f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s i f w e c a n ’ t l e a d b y e x a m p l e , s o w e n e e d t o b e c o m e r e s p o n s i b l e , s e l f - r e l i a n t c i t i z e n s o u r s e l v e s . T h e l o c a l T A F E w i l l h e l p , o f c o u r s e , w i t h c o u r s e s i n f i r s t a i d , d e a l i n g w i t h b u r e a u c r a c y, c a r p e n t r y, p l u m b i n g , g a r d e n i n g a n d a l i t t l e o n c o m p a r a t i v e c u l t u r e t o h e l p u s u n d e r s t a n d t h a t m o s t o f h u m a n i t y d o e s n ’ t w a n t t o b l o w u p o u r e a r l y p o t a t o e s , s t e a l o u r p o w e r t o o l s o r r a p e o u r w i v e s .

B u t t h a t ’ s r e a l l y j u s t a t a s t e r . We r e a l l y a n d t r u l y n e e d s o m e m e a n s o f l e a r n i n g t h e a r t o f t h e p o s s i b l e ; o f d i s c o v e r i n g w h a t w e c a n d o a n d w h a t w e c a n ’ t ; f i n d i n g o u t h o w t o l o o k a f t e r o u r s e l v e s a n d o u r t o o l s , a n d t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f i n a d e q u a t e p r e p a r a t i o n a n d m a i n t e n a n c e , o f f a i l i n g t o a c q u i r e t h e a b i l i t i e s w e n e e d . We n e e d a n a c t i v i t y t h a t w i l l p r o v i d e e n o u g h s t i m u l u s a n d e x c i t e m e n t t o k e e p u s i n t e r e s t e d , t h a t ’ l l h e l p u s t o a c q u i r e s o p h i s t i c a t e d a n d c o m p l e x s k i l l s , t h a t ’ l l t e a c h u s t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f g e t t i n g t h i n g s w r o n g a n d t h e j o y o f d o i n g i t r i g h t .

Ye s , i n m y v i s i o n o f u t o p i a , l e a r n i n g t o r i d e a m o t o r c y c l e w i l l b e c o m p u l s o r y. N a t u r a l l y.

I ’ m a s h a m e d t o t e l l y o u t h a t I h a v e n ’ t b e e n t o a r a c e m e e t i n g i n m o r e t h a n a y e a r . N o t s o v e r y l o n g a g o t h i s w a s

m y m e a t a n d d r i n k , p e r h a p s e v e n m y r e a s o n f o r b r e a t h i n g . T h e s e d a y s I ’ d b e c o n t e n t j u s t t o s t u m p u p m y $ 4 0

a n d s i t i n t h e s t a n d s , b u t w i t h t h e n e a r e s t r o u n d o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n S u p e r b i k e C h a m p i o n s h i p s a n e v e n 1 0 0 0 k m a w a y, a t P h i l l i p I s l a n d o r a t Q u e e n s l a n d R a c e w a y, I h a v e t o m a k e o t h e r a r r a n g e m e n t s . T h e s e a r e u s u a l l y m e t w i t h a v i s i t t o t h e A m a z o n w e b s i t e a n d t h e p u r c h a s e o f a c o u p l e o f c h e a p D V D s . T h e l a t e s t a c q u i s i t i o n s i n c l u d e t h e B r i t i s h S u p e r b i k e 2 0 1 0 s e a s o n r e v i e w a n d a l i t t l e c h a r m e r c a l l e d I , S u p e r b i k e r .

B o t h o f t h e s e f e a t u r e o u r o w n J o s h B r o o k e s , r i d i n g f o r H M P l a n t H o n d a a n d c h a s i n g t h e t i t l e d o w n t o t h e w i r e a g a i n s t t e a m - m a t e R y u i c h i K i y o n a r i , P o m To m m y H i l l , a n d t h e u n f o r t u n a t e J a m e s E l l i s o n , w h o s u r v i v e s a m i g h t y s t a c k e a r l y i n t h e s e a s o n t o m a k e t h e f a s t e s t c o m e b a c k i n h i s t o r y.

T h e B r i t i s h S u p e r b i k e C h a m p i o n s h i p h a s i t s e l f t o g e t h e r a s a m a r k e t a b l e c o m m o d i t y, a s t h e s e t w o $ 2 0 o f f e r i n g s ( f r e e p o s t a g e f r o m A m a z o n P o m a t t h e m o m e n t ) a t t e s t . B S B h a s a d o p t e d a s e a s o n s t r u c t u r e t h a t h a s s o m e p a r a l l e l s t o N A S C A R , t h e m o s t s u c c e s s f u l r a c i n g s e r i e s o n p l a n e t E a r t h , t o e n s u r e a s f a r a s p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e s e a s o n g o e s d o w n t o t h e w i r e , a n d t h e r e s u l t m a k e s g o o d v i e w i n g , e s p e c i a l l y i f , l i k e m e , y o u h a v e n ’ t b e e n s c a n n i n g t h e m o t o r c y c l e p r e s s a n x i o u s l y e v e r y w e e k f o r B S B r a c e r e s u l t s o r i f , u n l i k e m e , y o u d o n ’ t k n o w a l l t h a t m u c h a b o u t B r a n d s H a t c h o r T h r u x t o n .

I t w o u l d b e c h u r l i s h n o t t o r e c o g n i s e t h a t t h e r e a r e 6 0 m i l l i o n B r i t s a n d o n l y 2 1 m i l l i o n o f u s , w h i c h p r o b a b l y m a k e s i t a l i t t l e e a s i e r t o m o u n t a s u c c e s s f u l r a c e s e r i e s . J u s t t h e s a m e , I h o p e n e x t y e a r t h e o r g a n i s e r s o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n S u p e r b i k e C h a m p i o n s h i p s c a n o r g a n i s e a r o u n d o f t h e s e r i e s i n N e w S o u t h Wa l e s ( a n d S o u t h A u s t r a l i a ) . I f t h a t ’ s s o , I ’ l l c h e e r f u l l y s a c r i f i c e m y c o p y o f t h e B S B 2 0 1 1 s e a s o n r e v i e w a n d h a n d t h e c a s h i n s t e a d t o t h e n i c e p e o p l e o n t h e g a t e a t E a s t e r n C r e e k o r Wa k e f i e l d P a r k .

– B o b G u n t r i p

Superbike or Supercross?

REPORT BY DaRREn SmaRT PHOTOS BY iKaPTuRE

RIDING GEAR: Shift/Shoei helmet, Shift nylons, Alpinestars boots.

LauncH REPORT – 2012 KTm TwO-STROKE EXc RangE

Dream rides

Continued next page

everyone it seems is against smoking, except KTM.

THE 2012 KTM EXC range is proof that i f you couple the feedback given from factory r iders with modern technology, engineering and mater ials you can dramatical ly improve from a previous model ’s overal l performance , even i f the previous models were a lready the c lass leaders .

The KTM 200 , 250 and 300 EXC two-s trokes have a lways been fun to r ide . I t doesn’ t mat ter i f you’re on a s imple t ra i l r ide or a hard core thrash at warp speed…the nimble handl ing , the fantas t ic c lutch , brakes and ergonomics coupled with the c lean explos ive power makes for a r ide few would deem mundane.

For 2012 KTM has thrown a l l o f i t s resources behind a ser ies of changes that makes these three ‘ smokers ’ the ‘Dream Ride’ for 2012 .

n e w c h a s s i s KTM has new frames for a l l o f i t s 2012 EXC

models and even though i t was a surpr ise the PDS frames are back consider ing the success of the ‘ l inkaged’ SX-F models KTM ins is ts that one , there i s no compromise in handl ing with the PDS system and two, a l inkage system is prone to damage in the hard-core world of enduro and bush bashing.

The new frame is made f rom high-qual i ty, l ightweight chrome-moly s tee l mater ia l in var ious prof i les and is ha l f a k i lo l ighter than i t s nearest compet i tor.

A new des ign provides h igher tors ional and reduced longi tudinal s t i ffness , providing bet ter s tabi l i ty wi th improved handl ing . The most obvious change to the naked eye i s where the

shock i s mounted to the chass is and th is new mount i s des igned to i so la te and absorb energy created f rom rear wheel impacts .

The new EXC White Power PDS shock i s 7mm longer and is mounted f la t ter compared to previous models to offer a much improved r is ing rate . I t i s a lso f i t ted with improved pis ton and bushings which provide bet ter sea l and f r ic t ion propert ies to handle the h igher shaf t ve loc i t ies . A new spr ing re tent ion and pre load system al lows pre load ad justment without the use of hammer and punch.

The shock i s bol ted to an a l l new ‘s ingle component ’ cas t a luminium swingarm which i s 300 grams l ighter, has up-dated mount ing pos i t ions , s l ight ly h igher prof i les and opt imised f lex support to work in unison with the new frame and suspension.

According to KTM, ‘ the s ingle-component cas t ing process for the new swingarm al lows unl imited geometry so lut ions and e l iminates any inconsis tenc ies created by welding. ’

Up f ront the 2012 EXC models are f i t ted with WP’s la tes t generat ion 48mm USD forks which are now f i t ted with new seals , improved bushings and new set t ings featured throughout the range .

The new EXC range a lso features the Ste fan Everts - inspired super s l im ergos that have exce l lent contact points between r ider and machine whi le there i s now a ‘grab handle ’ moulded into the new 50mm wider rear mudguard.

An a l l -new a irbox offers protect ion for the a i r f i l ter against d ir t and maximises a i r f low for

increased performance whi le the KTM engine dyno department has des igned di fferent intake boots for every displacement to opt imise the power and responsiveness for each model .

The new two-s trokes feature a ‘ two-component technology’ s i lencer which i s mounted with a s t rong plas t ic holder around the a luminium housing.

Excel r ims and CNC machined hubs are used with z inc/nickel coated spokes are now employed to improve corros ion res is tance and the new nipples are made of h igh-s trength a luminium which reduces the weight by 200 grams per wheel .

Overal l the 2012 KTM EXC range comes with the usual qual i ty we expect f rom the orange army inc luding the proven integrated cool ing system, the hydraul ic c lutch , Brembo brakes , tapered a luminium handle bars , Renthal gr ips and the much loved KTM tool k i t .

T h e r i d e – 2 0 0 e x CSince i t ’ s unvei l ing in 1998 , the KTM 200EXC

has en joyed a loyal fo l lowing here in Austra l ia for the smal ler bui l t r iders thanks to the fac t i t goes l ike a cut cat and handles l ike a 125cc motocrosser… I mean, what e lse could you want , and for 2012 the motor i s even l ive l ier thanks to the new airbox and intake boot , a new exhaust and an a l l new igni t ion curve .

Couple that wi th a l l o f the chass is and suspension changes and you have a dir t b ike that rea l ly makes you fee l l ike there are no


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Minimalist cowling.

The front end works really well.

A new chassis with the proven PDS suspension system.

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boundar ies no matter what i s ahead of you on the t ra i l . Sure , the 200 i s not ideal for open road r iding but to be honest , I am not a fan of 100km per hour s tuff on any two-s troke but where th is b ike shines i s i t s abi l i ty to brake way deep into the corners and s teer though them l ike a kni fe through but ter. This b ike has a huge fun fac tor and sui ts r iders of a l l ab i l i t ies .

2 5 0 e x CAlready powerful , the e lec tr ic s tar t 250 gets

the new airbox and intake boot as wel l as a new reed valve b lock to make th is an awesome a l l - round package that inspires phenomenal conf idence .

Honest ly, you give th is motor fu l l throt t le between each corner and you are bui lding up ser ious speed and each t ime you thank your lucky s tars that you have world-c lass brakes to pul l th is baby up. I f you change your mindset , s l ip the 250 into th ird gear and cruise through the s ingle t rack t ra i l s us ing the ample torque the b ike i s jus t as happy as i t i s in ba l l i s t i c mode.

3 0 0 e x CAlmost everyone who has r idden a KTM

300EXC in the las t ten or so years jus t loves the motor. KTM has found the balance between explos ive motocross-s ty le power with a pul l o f the throt t le and the f l i ck of the c lutch and the broad torque of a motor happy to be lugged a long for a cruisy Sunday r ide .

Yet , despi te the fac t that i t i s a c lass favouri te KTM has developed a new 300cc cyl inder to g ive the e lec tr ic s tar t , s ix -speed motor more low-end power than ever before . Add the new airbox and intake boot and new reed valve b lock with the new cyl inder and we have a KTM 300 that i s c lean, cr i sp and powerful f rom idle through to red- l ine .

Like the 200 and the 250 I was fee l ing invinc ib le on the 300 but what s tood out for me was the abi l i ty to s t ick the turns and get on the gas so ear ly and to be able to hold one gear for so long. I was of ten holding th ird gear through a ser ies of turns ins tead of going up and down the gears and just concentrat ing on my braking, turns and acce lerat ion and thanks to th is beaut i fu l motor I never s t ressed about the motor not react ing as des i red.

T h e r i d e – t h e n e w c h a s s i s /

s u s p e n s i o nI want to sum up the r ide on a l l three of these

models by g iv ing my appraisa l o f what the new chass is and suspension wi l l do for you, the r ider. Wel l , for s tar ters , a f ter I heard a l l o f the sc ience behind the engineer ing changes to the chass is I wi l l admit to be ing a l i t t le overwhelmed.

I mean, who th inks of ‘ tors ional and longi tudinal s t i ffness ’? Or ‘ i so la t ing and absorbing energy created f rom rear wheel impacts ’? Obviously and thankful ly the tech heads a t KTM HQ do because the change in the new chass is was very obvious to me so here i s my take and what i t d id for me on the t rack and in turn what i t wi l l do for you.

OK, under brakes the new chassis g ives an amazing amount of s tabi l i ty, even through large

braking bumps or braking through rocks and logs etc , there just i sn’ t the same amount of force coming from the rear wheel through the rest of the chass is , you can feel the reduced impact through your seat and footpegs and I think this a lso a l lows the front forks to work bet ter as wel l .

I was even hi t t ing th is foot h igh ledge a t the s ide of one of the t ra i l s a t speed and under heavy braking t ry ing to get any of the KTMs to show s igns of punching me over the bars and I was surpr ised each t ime how wel l the new fork/frame/shock combinat ion worked.

And with the f ront and rear end being more predic table under brakes i t means you can brake la ter and actual ly le t the brakes off ear l ier and get into the turns quicker or i f not quicker wi th more conf idence .

So i t was under brakes and through corners where I rea l ly fe l t that the 2012 KTM ECXs shone

but I wi l l a l so te l l you that I d id some laps around a motocross t rack nearby and a l l three machines are very handy smashing the ir way through berms and over jumps as wel l .

So to wrap this up I have to say that the forks are superb, the rear shock is great , obviously the new chassis is working a treat and I have to say that al l three motors are what r iding dirt bikes is al l about. Combine al l of this new stuff with al l of KTM’s tr ied and trusted running gear and you have what I cal l the ‘Dream Ride’ for 2012.

The 300EXC will be available for $11,995, the 250EXC for $11,495 and the 200 EXC for $10,495. Prices l isted are recommended retai l prices and exclude dealer delivery or on-road costs .

And finally, thank you KTM for not giving up on the two-s trokes , there i s an army of d ir t b ike heads out there who s t i l l love the smel l and fee l o f a ‘ smoker ’ . n

LauncH REPORT – 2012 KTm TwO-STROKE EXc RangEContinued from previous page 26ww

S p e c i f i c at i o n S : KTM 200EXC/250EXC/300EXC

Engine Type: Liquid-cooled 2-stroke single

Capacity: 193cc/249cc/293.2cc Transmission: 6 speed Fuel Capacity: 9.5L Frame Type: Central double cradle Seat Height: 960mm Wet Weight: 96kg/102.9kg/103.1kg Front Suspension: WP-USD48mm Rear Suspension: WP-PDS Brakes: Disc brake 260/220mm Tyres: 90/90-21, 120/90-18; 140/80-18 Price (RRP): $10,495/$11,495/$11,995

+ ORCwww.cycletorque.com.au/more

RRP $3,999.00 + dealer delivery charges

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Can-Am goes litre-class

C A N - A M i s o f f e r i n g y o u e v e n m o r e p o w e r w i t h t h e 2 0 1 2 - m o d e l 8 0 0 a n d 1 0 0 0 c c O u t l a n d e r a n d R e n e g a d e m o d e l s , a n d t h e f i r s t m o d e l s s h o u l d b e h e r e i n l a t e O c t o b e r .

W i t h n e w c h a s s i s a n d b i g g e r e n g i n e s t h a n e v e r b e f o r e , t h e n e w O u t l a n d e r m o d e l s c o v e r t h e r e c r e a t i o n / u t i l i t y m a r k e t w h i l e t h e R e n e g a d e 1 0 0 0 i s a s p o r t i e r 4 x 4 A T V.

A l l u s e a R o t a x f o u r - s t r o k e V - T w i n , f e d b y f u e l i n j e c t i o n a n d p o w e r i n g a l l

f o u r w h e e l s .T h e 9 7 6 c c v e r s i o n d e l i v e r s a c l a i m e d

8 2 h o r s e p o w e r , m a k i n g i t t h e m o s t p o w e r f u l A T V e n g i n e i n t h e w o r l d . B R P c l a i m t h e s m a l l e r m o t o r i s t h e s e c o n d m o s t p o w e r f u l a v a i l a b l e a t 7 2 h o r s e s .

H a r n e s s i n g t h e i n c r e a s e d o u t p u t i s a n a l l - n e w c h a s s i s , w h i c h B R P c a l l s S u r r o u n d i n g S p a r T e c h n o l o g y ( S S T ) . T h e n e w w e l d e d - s t e e l S S T f r a m e i n c o r p o r a t e s n e w p r o c e s s e s

a n d u p d a t e d g e o m e t r y f o r i n c r e a s e d s t r e n g t h , b e t t e r d u r a b i l i t y a n d p r e c i s i o n h a n d l i n g . T h e S S T d e s i g n a l s o p r o v i d e s a l o w e r c e n t r e o f g r a v i t y , i m p r o v e s h a n d l i n g a n d r e q u i r e s f a r l e s s c o m p o n e n t s , m a t e r i a l s a n d w e l d s t h a n a t r a d i t i o n a l t u b e f r a m e .

B i g c h a n g e s h a v e a l s o b e e n m a d e t o t h e s u s p e n s i o n , w h i c h i n c o r p o r a t e s s o m e i n t e r e s t i n g t e c h n o l o g i e s t o g e t a r o u n d p r o b l e m s i n h e r e n t i n o l d e r

QuaD TORQuE FEaTuRE – can-am OuTLanDER anD REnEgaDE

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Can-Am goes litre-class

d e s i g n s .T h e r e d e s i g n e d T r a i l i n g T o r s i o n a l

I n d e p e n d e n t r e a r s u s p e n s i o n u s e s 7 5 p e r c e n t l e s s m o v i n g p a r t s t h a n c o m p e t i t i v e s y s t e m s , w a s d e s i g n e d t o e l i m i n a t e s c r u b a n d c a m b e r c h a n g e s w h e n t h e s u s p e n s i o n m o v e s u p a n d d o w n , r e d u c i n g f i s h t a i l i n g . U n i q u e t o C a n - A m , t h e p r o v e n T o r s i o n a l T r a i l e r i n g a r m I n d e p e n d e n t ( T T I ) r e a r s u s p e n s i o n h a s b e e n r e c o n f i g u r e d t o o f f e r i n c r e a s e d

r i g i d i t y a n d i m p r o v e d s u s p e n s i o n t r a v e l o f 2 3 6 m m . T h i s s u s p e n s i o n s e t - u p a l s o i n c l u d e s a r e m o v a b l e e x t e r n a l s w a y b a r a n d l o w e r p i v o t p o i n t s f o r g e o m e t r i c s q u a t t i n g t o i m p r o v e t r a c t i o n a n d t h e t r a n s f e r r i n g o f p o w e r t o t h e g r o u n d .

T h e R e n e g a d e r e t a i n s i t s r a c e - t e s t e d d o u b l e A - a r m s e t -u p , b u t i t s s u s p e n s i o n t r a v e l i n c r e a s e d f o r 2 0 1 2 . T h e 2 0 1 2 m o d e l u s e s f i v e - w a y p r e l o a d H P G s h o c k s t h a t o f f e r m o r e t h a n a n i n c h o f a d d i t i o n a l s u s p e n s i o n t r a v e l f o r b o t h t r a i l c o m f o r t a n d a g g r e s s i v e r i d i n g s i t u a t i o n s . F r o n t -e n d s u s p e n s i o n t r a v e l i s 2 2 8 c m . T h e s e t - u p a l s o i n s p i r e s c o n f i d e n c e , r e d u c i n g k i c k b a c k t o t h e o p e r a t o r b y l o c a t i n g t h e k n u c k l e i n t h e w h e e l .

A C V T a u t o m a t i c t r a n s m i s s i o n i s s t a n d a r d , u p d a t e d f r o m e a r l i e r m o d e l s t o p r o v i d e b e t t e r p e r f o r m a n c e i n w e t t e r r a i n a n d c o n d i t i o n s . A d e d i c a t e d d r a i n p l u g i s b u i l t i n t o t h e c o v e r a n d e a s i l y a c c e s s i b l e t o d r a i n w a t e r f r o m t h e C V T h o u s i n g . T h e C V T i n t a k e w a s r e p o s i t i o n e d t o a h i g h e r l o c a t i o n i n t h e c h a s s i s f o r o p t i m a l p e r f o r m a n c e i n w e t r i d i n g c o n d i t i o n s .

T h e p r o g r e s s i v e a u t o - l o c k i n g V i s c o - L o k f r o n t d i f f e r e n t i a l i s u n i q u e t o t h e A T V i n d u s t r y. T h e i n n o v a t i v e s y s t e m c o n s t a n t l y m o n i t o r s f r o n t w h e e l s p e e d a n d , i f i t d e t e c t s o n e w h e e l s p i n n i n g m o r e q u i c k l y t h a n t h e o t h e r , i t p r o g r e s s i v e l y s e n d s a d d i t i o n a l p o w e r t o t h e w h e e l w i t h b e t t e r t r a c t i o n . W h e e l h o p o r d r i v e l i n e w i n d - u p i s a l s o e l i m i n a t e d t o k e e p t h e s y s t e m t r a n s p a r e n t t o t h e o p e r a t o r .

N e w c a s t a l u m i n i u m w h e e l s r e d u c e u n s p r u n g w e i g h t - C a n - A m s t u d i e d w h e r e t h e f o r c e s d r i v i n g t h e w h e e l a n d d i s c o v e r e d a l o t o f e x c e s s m e t a l f r o m t h e c e n t r e c o u l d b e r e m o v e d , f o r a l i g h t e r b u t s t i l l v e r y s t r o n g , w h e e l .

O t h e r c h a n g e s f r o m e a r l i e r m o d e l s i n c l u d e a r e d e s i g n e d a i r b o x , n e w r a d i a t o r , i m p r o v e d m a i n t e n a n c e a c c e s s .

R e n e g a d e v o u t l a n d e rA l t h o u g h t h e R e n e g a d e a n d O u t l a n d e r m o d e l s s h a r e

m a n y f e a t u r e s a n d c o m p o n e n t s , y o u o n l y h a v e t o l o o k a t


32 – August 2011

QUAD

t h e m t o r e a l i s e t h e R e n e g a d e i s g o i n g t o b e m o r e f u n , t h e O u t l a n d e r m o r e p r a c t i c a l .

W i t h i t s s t a n d a r d f r o n t a n d r e a r r a c k s ( n o w m a d e f r o m a c o m p o s i t e m a t e r i a l w h i c h i s l i g h t a n d s t r o n g ) , o p t i o n a l n e w L i n Q q u i c k - a t t a c h l u g g a g e s y s t e m , s t a n d a r d s t o r a g e b o x a t t h e b a c k ( a c c e s s e d f r o m u n d e r t h e r e a r r a c k o f t h e A T V, s o y o u c a n s t i l l u s e i t w h e n t h e m a c h i n e i s l o a d e d ) a n d s t a n d a r d w i r i n g f o r a w i n c h , t h e O u t l a n d e r s h o u l d b e h e a p s o f f u n , b u t a l s o v e r y u s e f u l f o r g e t t i n g s t u f f d o n e .

T h e R e n e g a d e s a c r i f i c e s l o a d f o r s p o r t . T h e r e a r e n o r a c k s , b u t t h e r e a r e F o x H P G s h o c k s a n d m o r e a g g r e s s i v e s t y l i n g .

e v e n m o r e f e a t u r e sI n N o r t h A m e r i c a t h e r e a r e a n u m b e r

o f m o d e l s o f t h e s e A T V s , b u t o u r s m a l l e r m a r k e t m e a n s w e w i l l o n l y g e t t h e $ 1 6 , 8 1 9 h i g h e r - s p e c R e n e g a d e 1 0 0 0 X X C m o d e l , n o t t h e l o w e r - s p e c 1 0 0 0 o r 8 0 0 m o d e l s .

I n i t i a l l y t h e O u t l a n d e r w i l l b e a v a i l a b l e i n 8 0 0 X T ( $ 1 6 , 1 4 9 ) a n d 1 0 0 0 X T ( $ 1 7 , 2 1 9 ) v a r i a n t s : t h e l o w e r - s p e c v e r s i o n m a y b e a v a i l a b l e i n t h e f u t u r e .

C o m m o n t o t h e X T a n d X X C m o d e l s a r e T r i -m o d e D y n a m i c P o w e r S t e e r i n g ( D P S ) a n d V i s c o - L o k Q E .

T h e C a n - A m D P S s y s t e m i s o u t f i t t e d w i t h t h r e e s e p a r a t e s e l e c t a b l e l e v e l s o f s t e e r i n g a s s i s t a n c e : Minimum, Medium or Maximum. Dynamic Power Steering provides v a r i a b l e s t e e r i n g a s s i s t a n c e n o m a t t e r w h a t m o d e t h e r i d e r c h o o s e s f o r t h e t e r r a i n . T h e s y s t e m i s d e s i g n e d t o o f f e r l e s s a s s i s t a t h i g h s p e e d a n d m o r e a s s i s t a t l o w s p e e d . T h i s t e c h n o l o g y a l s o i n c l u d e s a D i r e c t L i n k s e t - u p t h a t u s e s a d v a n c e d m a g n e t i c f i e l d s e n s o r s f o r f a s t r e s p o n s e t o s t e e r i n g i n p u t , w h i c h m i n i m i s e s s t e e r i n g l a g .

V i s c o - L o k Q E s t a n d s f o r q u i c k e r e n g a g e m e n t . A l t h o u g h t h e V i s c o - L o k Q E f r o n t d i f f e r e n t i a l s y s t e m o f f e r s t h e s a m e f e a t u r e s a n d b e n e f i t s o f n o r m a l V i s c o - L o k , i t a l s o a c t s f a s t e r t h a n i t d o e s o n n o n - D P S O u t l a n d e r A T V s .

T h e C a n - A m R e n e g a d e 8 0 0 X X C a l s o f e a t u r e s F O X R a c i n g S h o x P o d i u m X f u l l y a d j u s t a b l e s u s p e n s i o n , 1 2 -i n c h ( 3 0 . 5 c m ) a l u m i n i u m b e a d l o c k w h e e l s , a l u m i n i u m t a p e r - p r o f i l e h a n d l e b a r w i t h s q u a r e p a d , a n a l u m i n i u m

s k i d p l a t e , f u l l -w r a p h a n d l e b a r w i n d d e f l e c t o r s w i t h

a l u m i n i u m b r a c e s , a 6 5 0 - w a t t m a g n e t o a n d X - P a c k a g e s e a t c o v e r .

T h e C a n - A m O u t l a n d e r X T a l s o f e a t u r e s 1 3 6 0 k g w i n c h w i t h r o l l e r f a i r l e a d , w i r e d r e m o t e c o n t r o l a n d i n t e g r a t e d r e m o t e s t o r a g e i n t h e r e a r c a r g o h o l d , 1 2 -i n c h c u s t o m - l i k e f i n i s h c o m p a r e d t o t h e s t a n d a r d m o d e l r u n n i n g 2 6 - i n c h C a r l i s l e r a d i a l t y r e s f o r a s m o o t h e r r i d e r a n d b e t t e r s h o c k a b s o r p t i o n , h e a v y - d u t y f r o n t a n d r e a r b u m p e r s , a 6 5 0 - w a t t m a g n e t o a n d h a n d l e b a r w i n d d e f l e c t o r s . T h e C a n - A m O u t l a n d e r 1 0 0 0 X T i s a v a i l a b l e i n b l a c k o r s i g n a t u r e y e l l o w .

– N i g e l P a t e r s o n

www.motonational.com.au 1300 885 355

Hand Laid Fibreglass Laminate Construction . Modern Double Clear Coated Graphics . Hard Coated Scratch Resistant Quick Release 3D Visor . 3D Washable / Removable Internal Lining with Padded Strap Covers . ‘Ultraflow’ Venting System with Rear Exhaust Outlets . Bonus Detachable Breathguard . ‘Anti Flap’ Strap Holder . Ultra Modern

Aerodynamic Shell Design . AS/NZS 1698 Standard . Sizes XS – XXL (XS-L in Pink)

RRP$199.95*Extra freight cost may be applied in some areas

The future is here...

3D CHEEK PADS3D CHEEK PADS3D CHEEK PADS BREATHABLE SOFT FEEL SUEDE LINER

CHINGUARD VENTILATION

FRONT VENTILATION

DUAL LEVEL REAR AIR EXTRACTORS

REMOVABLE WASHABLE LINER

0007MNA-11 Assen CT.indd 1 6/7/2011 10:51:44 AM


34 – August 2011

Dirtytorque

The best dirt bike ever...I A M n o w i n t o m y f i f t h d e c a d e o f r i d i n g d i r t b i k e s a n d d u r i n g a r e c e n t r i d e I w a s b a s h i n g m y w a y a r o u n d a g l o r i o u s g r a s s t r a c k a n d t h e w o r d s ‘ t h i s i s t h e b e s t b i k e I h a v e e v e r r i d d e n ’ j u m p e d i n t o m y h e a d . N o s o o n e r h a d t h e w o r d s p o p p e d i n t o m y h e a d t h e m e m o r i e s s t a r t e d f l o o d i n g b a c k t o a l l o f t h e d i r t b i k e s t h a t h a v e h a d a s i m i l a r e f f e c t o n m e .

1 9 7 7 Ya m a h a Y Z 8 0 D : A f t e r y e a r s o f w o b b l i n g a r o u n d o n m y d a d ’ s H o n d a Z 5 0 a n d t h e n a s e r i e s o f Ya m a h a G T , M X a n d t h e Y Z 8 0 B I w a s r a p t w h e n S a n t a C l a u s m a n a g e d t o f i t a p a i r o f Y Z 8 0 D s f o r m y b r o t h e r P a u l a n d I i n t o h i s s l e i g h .

T h i s w a s t h e s e c o n d Y Z 8 0 m o d e l t h a t h a d t h e t w i n s h o c k s l a i d d o w n b u t c o m p a r e d t o t h e p r e v i o u s y e a r t h e r e w a s a p l e t h o r a o f u p g r a d e s t h a t m a d e t h e ‘ D ’ t h e b e s t b i k e I h a d e v e r r i d d e n . C o m p a r e d t o m y ‘ B ’ t h e ‘ D ’ w a s f a s t e r , h a n d l e d w a y b e t t e r a n d I m a n a g e d t o h a v e a v e r y g o o d s e a s o n w i t h s o l i d r e s u l t s a l l o v e r Q u e e n s l a n d .

1 9 8 1 S u z u k i R M 1 2 5 X : M y f i r s t 1 2 5 w a s a u s e d Ya m a h a Y Z 1 2 5 C b e f o r e d a d b o u g h t a n e w 1 9 7 8 Y Z 1 2 5 E t h e n t h e 1 9 7 9 R M 1 2 5 N ( a p p a r e n t l y S a n t a C l a u s h a d s t o p p e d s p o n s o r i n g m e ) . A l l g o o d b i k e s b u t t h e y p a l e d i n t o i n s i g n i f i c a n c e o n c e I r o d e S u z u k i ’ s a l l n e w 1 9 8 1 R M 1 2 5 X .

Wa t e r c o o l e d , F u l l F l o a t e r r e a r s u s p e n s i o n , 3 8 m m K y a b a f r o n t f o r k s , 8 8 k g d r y w e i g h t , m a n , t h e s e t h i n g s w e r e d e a d s e t t h e b u s i n e s s . M y f i r s t r i d e w a s a t a c l u b d a y a t T i v o l i R a c e w a y a n d m y e x a c t w o r d s t o m y d a d w h e n I g o t b a c k t o t h e p i t s w e r e t h i s . “ D a d , t h i s i s t h e b e s t b i k e e v e r , t h e y w i l l n e v e r m a k e a b i k e b e t t e r t h a n t h i s . ”

1 9 8 1 S u z u k i R M 4 6 5 X : A t t h e 1 9 8 1 Q u e e n s l a n d 5 0 0 c c M o t o c r o s s C h a m p i o n s h i p h e l d a t T i v o l i I w a s r i d i n g a 1 9 7 9 S u z u k i R M 4 0 0 N t h a t h a p p e n e d t o b e o n t h e u s e d b i k e l o t a t D a r r y l R e e k ’ s S u z u k i , t h e d e a l e r s h i p I w a s w o r k i n g i n a t t h e t i m e .

I w a s 1 8 y e a r s o l d , t h i s w a s m y f i r s t e v e r 5 0 0 r a c e a n d a f t e r t h e f i r s t m o t o w h e r e I m a n a g e d t o s a l v a g e a t o p t e n r i d e I w a s a p p r o a c h e d b y t h e h e a d h o n c h o o f S u z u k i Q u e e n s l a n d , E d d i e B a i l e y. A p p a r e n t l y S u a r t M c L a c h l a n h a d h u r t h i m s e l f a n d h i s s e m i - f a c t o r y

R M 4 6 5 X w a s s i t t i n g t h e r e w i t h o u t a r i d e r a n d E d d i e w a n t e d t o k n o w i f I w a n t e d t o h a v e a g o .

We l l , m y m a t e G r e g Te m m e a n d I p e e l e d m y n u m b e r 3 1 3 o f f t h e o l d R M a n d p l a c e d t h e m o n t h e 4 6 5 a n d I w e n t o u t a n d r o d e m o t o s t w o a n d t h r e e t o a n o t h e r p a i r o f t o p t e n s d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t t h i s t h i n g w a s w a y t o o f a s t f o r m y y o u n g b r a i n , b u t i t s t o p p e d a n d t u r n e d l i k e a d r e a m a n d t h a t k e p t m e s o m e w h e r e n e a r t h e t r a c k f o r m o s t o f t h e r a c e s .

A g a i n , I c a n r e m e m b e r c o m i n g b a c k t o t h e p i t a n d b l u b b e r i n g t o G r e g t h a t ‘ t h i s t h i n g i s t h e b e s t b i k e e v e r , t h e u l t i m a t e , n o t h i n g e v e r b e t t e r … ” I g o t t o r i d e t h a t 4 6 5 f o r t h e r e s t o f t h e 1 9 8 1 s e a s o n a n d i t h o l d s g r e a t m e m o r i e s .

F o o t n o t e : M y m u m w a s c r y i n g a f t e r m y f i r s t m o t o o n t h e 4 6 5 , a p p a r e n t l y s h e w a s n ’ t u s e d t o w a t c h i n g m e t a n k s l a p p i n g m y w a y a r o u n d t h e t r a c k w i t h m y f e e t o f f t h e p e g s a n d s h e w a s s c a r e d f o r m y l i f e .

M y a n s w e r t o h e r w a s , “ y o u t h i n k y o u ’ r e s c a r e d ? ”

1 9 8 3 K a w a s a k i K X 2 5 0 : A f t e r a n o t h e r y e a r o n S u z u k i s a n d o n e o n a H o n d a C R 2 5 0 R I w a s o f f e r e d a K a w a s a k i r i d e i n 1 9 8 3 . N o - o n e e l s e w a s r i d i n g K a w a s a k i s c o z t h e y w e r e n ’ t a s g o o d a s t h e S u z u k i o r H o n d a e q u i v a l e n t b u t o n c e I l a i d m y e y e s o n t h e ’ 8 3 m o d e l 2 5 0 I f e l l i n l o v e a n d t o b e h o n e s t , I t h i n k i t l o v e d m e b a c k b e c a u s e w e h a d a c r a c k e r y e a r .

I w a s b a s e d i n M t I s a a t t h i s s t a g e a n d w a s w o r k i n g i n t h e m i n e s b u t t h a t K X a n d I w o n t h e N o r t h Q u e e n s l a n d M o t o c r o s s C h a m p i o n s h i p s , t h e 2 5 0 c l a s s i n t h e F i n k e D e s e r t r a c e a n d t h e I s a t o C a m o o w e a l D e s e r t r a c e , a n d p u l l e d 2 n d i n t h e o p e n i n g m o t o a t t h e Q u e e n s l a n d 2 5 0 c c M o t o c r o s s C h a m p i o n s h i p s a t T i v o l i b e f o r e c r a s h i n g o u t w h i l e l e a d i n g i n m o t o t w o .

I e v e n s t u c k t h e K X o n t h e p o d i u m a t a f e w S u p e r c r o s s r a c e s t h a t y e a r s o h o w v e r s a t i l e a n d r e l i a b l e c a n o n e b i k e b e ? I r e c k o n t h a t s e a s o n I d i d 2 0 p l u s m o t o c r o s s m e e t i n g s , f i v e p l u s s u p e r c r o s s r a c e s , t w o d e s e r t r a c e s a n d a h e a p o f t r a i l r i d i n g o n o n e b i k e .

1 9 8 6 H o n d a C R 2 5 0 R : I n 1 9 8 6 I m o v e d b a c k t o B r i s b a n e a n d s c o r e d a C R 2 5 0 R a n d t o b e h o n e s t I w a s n ’ t t h a t i m p r e s s e d w i t h i t a f t e r m y f i r s t r i d e b u t C r a i g D a c k ’ s m e c h a n i c w a s G a r y B e n n a n d s o m e h o w h e g o t m y s u s p e n s i o n a n d c h a n g e d e v e r y t h i n g . A f t e r m y f i r s t r i d e I s a i d t h i s t o m y m e c h a n i c … ” t h i s i s t h e b e s t b i k e I h a v e e v e r r i d d e n . . . ” T h a t H o n d a a n d I r o d e a h e a p o f r a c e s t h a t y e a r t o s o l i d r e s u l t s a c r o s s t h e b o a r d .

O f c o u r s e I d i d n ’ t s t o p r i d i n g i n 1 9 8 6 b u t I ’ v e r u n o u t o f r o o m f o r t h i s m o n t h s o c h e c k t h e S e p t e m b e r i s s u e f o r t h e r e s t o f m y ‘ b e s t e v e r ’ l i s t .

– D a r r e n S m a r t


August 2011 – 35

rACetorque

doohan fineD O M I N AT I N G g r a n d p r i x r a c i n g w a s o n c e a n o b s e s s i o n f o r M i c k D o o h a n . B u t a f t e r 1 2 y e a r s i n r e t i r e m e n t i t i s n o w s o m e t h i n g t h a t h e w a t c h e s w i t h i n t e r e s t , s o m e w h a t f r o m a f a r . W i t h a y o u n g f a m i l y t o l o o k a f t e r a l o n g w i t h s e v e r a l i n t e r n a t i o n a l b u s i n e s s i n t e r e s t s a n d h i s w o r k w i t h s p o n s o r s , r o a d s a f e t y i n i t i a t i v e s a s w e l l a s t h e L a u r e u s F o u n d a t i o n , D o o h a n s i m p l y d o e s n ’ t h a v e a s m u c h t i m e a s h e w o u l d l i k e t o i m m e r s e h i m s e l f i n a l l t h i n g s r a c i n g .

I n d e e d , o n e s e n s e s D o o h a n v i e w s h i s r a c i n g c a r e e r a s a n i n d e l i b l e c h a p t e r i n h i s l i f e t h a t h e c a n l o o k b a c k o n w i t h g r e a t p r i d e , b u t i t i s a c h a p t e r t h a t n e v e r t h e l e s s c o n c l u d e d o v e r a d e c a d e a g o . I f t h e r e i s a h o b b y t h a t h a s f i l l e d t h e g a p a f t e r b e i n g f o r c e d o u t o f r a c i n g a t t h e e n d o f 1 9 9 9 , i t i s f l y i n g h i s h e l i c o p t e r . H i s o t h e r p a s s i o n i s g e t t i n g k i d s i n v o l v e d i n s p o r t t h r o u g h h i s w o r k w i t h t h e L a u r e u s F o u n d a t i o n , w h i c h s i n c e i t s i n c e p t i o n h a s r a i s e d € 4 0 m i l l i o n f o r d i f f e r e n t p r o j e c t s a r o u n d t h e w o r l d a n d w h o s e o t h e r m e m b e r s i n c l u d e s s u c h a s G i a c o m o A g o s t i n i , E m e r s o n F i t t i p a l d i , a n d M i k a H ä k k i n e n .

“ N o w, I w o u l d l i k e t o i n t r o d u c e o n e o f o u r n e w e s t L a u r e u s A c a d e m y m e m b e r s , f i v e - t i m e w o r l d m o t o r c y c l e c h a m p i o n , M i c k D o o h a n , ” s a i d O l y m p i c 4 0 0 m g o l d m e d a l i s t C a t h y F r e e m a n a t a r e c e n t L a u r e u s / A u s t r a l i a n S p o r t s C o m m i s s i o n f u n c t i o n i n S o u t h S y d n e y p r o m o t i n g t r a d i t i o n a l i n d i g e n o u s g a m e s a n d r u g b y l e a g u e s k i l l s s e s s i o n s f o r k i d s . D o o h a n , w h o b e c a m e a L a u r e u s m e m b e r i n F e b r u a r y, w a s t h e r e a l o n g s i d e f e l l o w a c a d e m y m e m b e r s i n c l u d i n g f e m a l e s w i m m e r o f t h e 2 0 t h c e n t u r y D a w n F r a s e r a n d d u a l O l y m p i c d e c a t h l o n c h a m p i o n D a l e y T h o m p s o n .

Wa t c h i n g t h e k i d s g o i n g t h r o u g h t h e i r p a c e s , M i c k s a i d , “ I f y o u c a n e n c o u r a g e j u s t t w o o r t h r e e o f t h e s e k i d s t o g e t i n v o l v e d i n s p o r t a n d h a v e f u n d o i n g i t - t h a t i s t h e f i r s t s t e p . I f t h e y e n j o y i t a n d w a n t t o p r o g r e s s , t h e n d i s c i p l i n e a n d h a r d w o r k c o m e i n t o i t . T h i s i s t h e p h a s e t h a t y o u n g [ c u r r e n t R e d B u l l C u p l e a d e r ] A r t h u r S i s s i s i s n o w i n . ”

D i s c i p l i n e a n d o v e r c o m i n g h u g e c h a l l e n g e s w e r e t h e m a j o r p r e c e p t s o f D o o h a n ’ s l e g e n d a r y c a r e e r . I n 1 9 9 5 , h e w a s o n t h e v e r g e o f d o i n g a R o s s i w h e n h e c a m e p e r i l o u s l y c l o s e t o l e a v i n g t h e s u c c e s s f u l c o n f i n e s o f H o n d a f o r t h e u n d e r - p e r f o r m i n g Ya m a h a . Wa y n e R a i n e y b e g a n t h e b i d d i n g f o r M i c k ’ s s e r v i c e s ,

t h e n Te a m R o b e r t s s t e p p e d i n w i t h a n e v e n b i g g e r o f f e r a n d a s e r i o u s c o n t r a c t w a s d r a w n u p . B u t H o n d a c a m e t o t h e p a r t y w i t h m o r e d o l l a r s t o k e e p t h e A u s s i e i n i t s c o l o u r s f o r h i s e n t i r e G P c a r e e r . D o o h a n s e e s p a r a l l e l s w i t h t h e r e c e n t m a c h i n a t i o n s i n M o t o G P.

“ I g u e s s I e n d e d u p s t a y i n g w i t h H o n d a b e c a u s e t h e y w a n t e d m e m o r e t h a n t h e o t h e r s . H o n d a h a d a p o l i c y o f h i r i n g t h e b e s t r i d e r s , w h i c h i s w h a t Ya m a h a s t a r t e d t o d o w h e n i t s i g n e d Va l e n t i n o . G r a n d p r i x r a c i n g i s a b u s i n e s s a n d w e h a v e s e e n H o n d a g o i n g a f t e r a t o p r i d e r , s i g n i n g C a s e y. I t w a s a b u s i n e s s d e c i s i o n . ” A s p a r t o f t h e H o n d a f a m i l y, D o o h a n s a y s h e h a s b e e n i n c o n t a c t w i t h S t o n e r , w h o h a s s a i d h i s m o v e t o R e p s o l H o n d a w a s i n s p i r e d b y M i c k ’ s s t e l l a r y e a r s w i t h t h e t e a m i n t h e ’ 9 0 s . C o m m e n t i n g o n R o s s i ’ s a n d S t o n e r ’ s c o m i n g t o g e t h e r a t J e r e z , M i c k s a y s , “ We l l , t h e y ’ r e t w o g u y s w h o w a n t t o w i n - t h a t ’ s w h a t t h e y d o . Va l e n t i n o s a w t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o p a s s a n d i t d i d n ’ t c o m e o f f . I t w a s a r a c i n g i n c i d e n t , a n d t h a t ’ s t h e e n d o f i t r e a l l y. ”

A b i t g r e y e r , b u t j u s t a s l e a n a s h e w a s w h e n h e w a s r a c i n g , D o o h a n , w h o t u r n e d 4 6 i n J u n e , d o e s n ’ t w a l k w i t h a l i m p a n d s a y s h e h a s n o l i n g e r i n g a f t e r - a f f e c t s f r o m t h e s e r i o u s i n j u r i e s h e s u s t a i n e d a t A s s e n i n 1 9 9 2 a n d l a t e r a t J e r e z i n ’ 9 9 . “ A s s o o n a s I g o t o f f t h e c r u t c h e s [ i n ‘ 9 9 ] , m y r e c o v e r y w a s p r e t t y g o o d a n d I h a v e n ’ t h a d m u c h t r o u b l e r e a l l y. I d o e n o u g h e x e r c i s e t o s t o p g o i n g r u s t y, b u t t h a t ’ s a b o u t i t . ”

A u s s i e t r i a t h l e t e w o r l d c h a m p i o n E m m a S n o w s i l l w a s a t t h e L a u r e u s e v e n t a s p a r t o f t h e b u i l d u p t o t h e S y d n e y Tr i a t h l o n o n A p r i l 1 7 , a n d M i c k j o k i n g l y g a v e h e r a b i t o f a s e r v e d u r i n g o n e o f t h e r u g b y l e a g u e d r i l l s , “ C ’ m o n , d o w h a t y o u ’ r e t o l d ! ” A s k e d w h e t h e r h e w o u l d e v e r c o n s i d e r d o i n g a t r i a t h l o n , D o o h a n d e m u r r e d .

“ We l l r u n n i n g i s o u t o f t h e q u e s t i o n , s o I s u p p o s e I c o u l d d o t h e s w i m m i n g a n d c y c l i n g l e g s , b u t I ’ m n o t r e a l l y a

t r i a t h l e t e k i n d a g u y. R a c i n g b i k e s w a s w h a t I d i d f o r s p o r t , a n d t h a t ’ s a b o u t i t f o r m e . ”

W h a t i s n ’ t o v e r i s t h e f a c t t h a t s t a t i s t i c a l l y M i c k D o o h a n i s t h e n u m b e r o n e r i d e r o f t h e p a s t 3 5 y e a r s . F i v e y e a r s a g o w h e n I c r e a t e d t h i s t a b l e , R o s s i w a s o u t o n h i s o w n b u t h i s i n j u r y - p l a g u e d 2 0 1 0 c o u p l e d t o h i s b a f f l i n g f i r s t y e a r w i t h D u c a t i h a s s e e n h i s w i n p e r c e n t a g e s l i p w a y b e l o w 5 0 p e r c e n t a s a t A s s e n 2 0 1 1 , a n d i t w i l l d r o p b e l o w D o o h a n ’ s b y s e a s o n ’ s e n d p u s h i n g h i m i n t o t h i r d b e h i n d K e n n y R o b e r t s .

– D a r r y l F l a c k

cYcLE TORQuE TOuRing FEaTuRE

Outback Adventure

it only takes a bit of water for your plans to change big time.

Part 1 was published in the July issue: find it online at www.cycletorque.com.au/more.

B R O K E N H i l l i s a m i n i n g t o w n , a l t h o u g h i n m a n y w a y s i t ’ s a s h a d o w o f i t s f o r m e r s e l f i n t h a t r e g a r d . L i k e m a y r e g i o n a l c i t i e s , B r o k e n H i l l h a s r e i n v e n t e d i t s e l f s o i t s r e s i d e n t s d o n ’ t r e l y o n l y o n t h e m i n i n g i n d u s t r y f o r w o r k .

O f c o u r s e t h e b i g h i l l w h i c h d o m i n a t e s t h e l a n d s c a p e o n t h e v e r y e d g e o f t o w n i s s t i l l a w o r k i n g m i n e , a n d t h e h o m e o f a m a s s i v e m i n i n g m u s e u m , i n c l u d i n g t h e m o n u m e n t f o r m i n e r s l o s t d o i n g t h e i r j o b .

R e a d i n g t h e l i s t o f n a m e s a n d h o w t h e y d i e d i s v e r y s o b e r i n g a n d a r e m i n d e r t h a t O H & S w a s n ’ t s o p r e v a l e n t i n t h e e a r l y y e a r s o f t h e m i n i n g b o o m .

W e c r u i s e d i n t o t h e P a l a c e H o t e l , f a m o u s f o r i t s a m a z i n g w a l l m u r a l s w h i c h w e r e f e a t u r e d i n P r i s c i l l a , Q u e e n o f t h e D e s e r t i n t h e h e a r t o f B H a t 2 2 7 A r g e n t S t r e e t ( 0 8 8 0 8 8 1 6 9 9 ) . I t ’ s g o t t o b e o v e r 1 0 0 y e a r s o l d a n d i s m a s s i v e , t h r e e s t o r e y s h i g h . B e c a u s e I s n o r e I g o t m y o w n r o o m a n d I w a s n ’ t a b o u t t o a r g u e . T h e P a l a c e w o u l d b e o u r h o m e

f o r t h e n e x t c o u p l e o f d a y s w h i l e w e e x p l o r e d B H a n d i t s s u r r o u n d s , a n d a s w e f o u n d o u t i t a l s o h a d a l o v e l y r e s t a u r a n t .

W e d i d h a v e o n e i s s u e t h o u g h . I n e e d e d t o g e t t h e c r a s h e d M o t o G u z z i S t e l v i o o f f t h e t r a i l e r . I t h a d b e e n r u n n i n g a f t e r t h e c r a s h b u t s i t t i n g o n a t r a i l e r b e h i n d a 4 W D f o r 4 0 0 k i l o m e t r e s o f d i r t h a d n ’ t d o n e t h e b i k e a n y f a v o u r s . I t r e f u s e d t o s t a r t o r e v e n t u r n o v e r , a n d a l l w e c o u l d a s s u m e w a s t h a t v i b r a t i o n o r d i r t h a d c a u s e d s o m e l o o s e n i n g o r f o u l i n g o f e l e c t r i c a l c o n n e c t i o n s .

A s w e w e r e u n l o a d i n g t h e b i k e a f r i e n d l y v o i c e a s k e d u s i f w e n e e d e d a h a n d . A m e m b e r o f a l o c a l H a r l e y -D a v i d s o n m o t o r c y c l e c l u b w a s h e a d i n g t o t h e c l u b h o u s e f o r s o m e F r i d a y e v e n i n g d r i n k s a n d o f f e r e d u s t h e u s e o f t h e c l u b h o u s e t o s t o r e t h e b i k e o v e r n i g h t . I ’ d l o v e t o t h a n k h i m b y n a m e b u t o f c o u r s e I c a n ’ t f i n d t h e c a r d h e g a v e m e . I s e e m t o r e c a l l h i s n a m e w a s P e t e r . W h a t h i s k i n d n e s s s h o w s i s b i k e e n t h u s i a s t s f r o m a l l o v e r s t i c k t o g e t h e r .

I ’ v e f o u n d i t i n e v e r y c o u n t r y I ’ v e r i d d e n .

f i x i n g f o r s i l v e r t o nT h e n e x t m o r n i n g w e r e t r i e v e d t h e

S t e l v i o a n d g o t t o w o r k g e t t i n g i t s t a r t e d . A t o n e s t a g e f o u r o f u s w e r e w o r k i n g o n t h e b i k e p u l l i n g p a n e l s o f f t o g e t t o t h e m e a t y b i t s . W e c o u l d n ’ t f i n d a n y t h i n g g l a r i n g l y o b v i o u s s o w e p u s h e d i t a c o u p l e o f d o o r s d o w n t o t h e l o c a l m o t o r c y c l e s h o p a n d u s e d t h e i r c o m p r e s s o r t o g e t a s m u c h o f t h e r e d d i r t a s p o s s i b l e o u t o f t h e n o o k s a n d c r a n n i e s . P r e s t o , s h e f i r e d u p a n d w e h a d o u r G u z z i b a c k i n a c t i o n .

A q u i c k c h a n g e f r o m s h o r t s i n t o j e a n s a n d w e w e r e a l l o f f – w i t h t h e S t e l v i o l e a d i n g t h e w a y m i n d y o u – t o S i l v e r t o n , s o m e 2 0 o d d k i l o m e t r e s o u t o f B r o k e n H i l l . I m u s t a d m i t t o b e i n g a h u g e M a d M a x f a n a n d h a v e w a n t e d t o s e e t h e t o w n w h e r e m u c h o f M a d M a x 2 w a s m a d e f o r m a n y y e a r s . W h a t a c o o l p l a c e . F i r s t s t o p w a s f o r a b e e r a n d s a u s a g e s a n g a ’ a t t h e S i l v e r t o n H o t e l . A f i l m

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o f s o m e s o r t w a s b e i n g m a d e a t S i l v e r t o n s o w e s p e n t s o m e t i m e c h a t t i n g t o s o m e o f t h e c a s t a n d t h e h u s b a n d a n d w i f e p u b l i c a n s , c h e c k i n g o u t t h e M a d M a x m e m o r a b i l i a , h a v i n g a n o t h e r b e e r a n d a c r u i s e t h r o u g h o n e o f t h e a r t g a l l e r i e s . T h e r e ’ s a l s o a n e w M a d M a x m u s e u m w h i c h i s o w n e d a n d r u n b y a P o m m i e . A p p a r e n t l y h e b e c a m e s o e n g r o s s e d i n t h e m o v i e a n d i t s f o l k l o r e t h a t h e j u s t h a d t o m o v e t o A u s t r a l i a . H e t h e n r e l o c a t e d t o S i l v e r t o n w h e r e h e s t a r t e d t h e m u s e u m w h i c h h a s a c o u p l e o f c a r s a n d l o a d s o f o t h e r s t u f f f r o m t h e m o v i e .

A v e r y p l e a s a n t a f t e r n o o n w a s f i n i s h e d o f f w i t h a t r i p t o t h e M u n g i M u n g i L o o k o u t j u s t o u t o f S i l v e r t o n . F r o m t h e r e t h e l a n d s c a p e j u s t f l a t t e n s o u t t o w a r d s t h e h o r i z o n . S i m p l y s p e c t a c u l a r . I c a n j u s t i m a g i n e M a x ’ s V 8 I n t e r c e p t o r s c r e a m i n g a l o n g t h a t o u t b a c k r o a d .

T h a t e v e n i n g w e e n j o y e d a B B Q o n t h e h u g e v e r a n d a h o f t h e P a l a c e H o t e l . F o r $ 1 5 a h e a d w e g o t a m a s s i v e T - b o n e , s a l a d s e t c . C r a i g R e e v e s f a n c i e s h i m s e l f a s a b i t o f a c h e f s o h e v o l u n t e e r e d t o c o o k e v e r y o n e ’ s s t e a k . I a s k e d f o r m e d i u m b u t g o t m e d i u m r a r e s o h e c a n ’ t b e t h a t g o o d . H a v i n g s a i d t h a t , i t w a s g r e a t t o k i c k b a c k w i t h a b o u r b o n a n d w a t c h m y m e a l g e t c o o k e d . I t w a s a p e r f e c t e n d i n g t o a g r e a t c o u p l e o f d a y s a t B r o k e n H i l l .

M e n i n d e e a n d b e y o n dW e w o k e t o r a i n , a n d b e f o r e w e l e f t t o w n a f e w o f u s w a n t e d

t o c h e c k o u t t h e P r o H a r t g a l l e r y . I l o v e h i s w o r k a n d I s a t t r a n s f i x e d w a t c h i n g a d o c u m e n t a r y o n h i s l i f e . W e e v e n g o t t o s e e t h e o l d a d s h e d i d f o r S t a i n m a s t e r c a r p e t s , t h e o n e w h e r e h e p a i n t s w i t h f o o d p r o d u c t s .

W i t h t h a t o u t o f t h e w a y w e h e a d e d s o u t h w e s t t o M e n i n d e e , w h i c h i s o n e o f t h e l a s t t o w n s B u r k e a n d W i l l s v i s i t e d d u r i n g t h e i r e x p e d i t i o n t o t h e G u l f c o u n t r y . L o t s o f r o a d s i n t h e B r o k e n H i l l a r e a a r e f l a t , a s y o u w o u l d e x p e c t , b u t t h e 1 0 0 k i l o m e t r e r u n t o M e n i n d e e s t a r t s w i t h a b o u t 3 0 k i l o m e t r e s o f w i n d i n g , s l i g h t l y h i l l y r a c e t r a c k q u a l i t y t a r m a c . L e t ’ s j u s t s a y t h a t a f e w b i k e s w e r e w e l l e x e r c i s e d d u r i n g t h i s s t r e t c h . W e k n e w t h e M e n i n d e e L a k e s w e r e f u l l f r o m r e c e n t r a i n s , a n d w e p l a n n e d t o s t a y t h e n i g h t a t M e n i n d e e a n d t h e n

t r a v e l t h r o u g h t o t h e M u n g o N a t i o n a l P a r k t o m e e t u p w i t h D a n i e l w h o w a s h e a d i n g b a c k o v e r f r o m t h e C l a r e V a l l e y . U n f o r t u n a t e l y t h e r a i n h a d m a d e m a n y r o a d s i m p a s s a b l e , a s w e w e r e t o f i n d o u t .

A s w e r o l l e d i n t o M e n i n d e e a f e w o f u s w e r e k e e n f o r a c o f f e e s o w e c h e c k e d o u t a l i t t l e c a f e r u n b y k i d s f r o m t h e l o c a l s c h o o l o n w e e k e n d s . A c o u p l e o f o l d t r a i n s a r e u s e d , o n e f o r y o u t o e n j o y a c a p p u c c i n o a n d a b i t o f c a k e , w h i l e t h e o t h e r i s a v a i l a b l e t o s t a y i n , w i t h t h e r o o m s b e i n g t h e o l d s l e e p e r c a b i n s .

A s m u c h a s t h i s w a s e n t i c i n g w e h a d a l r e a d y b o o k e d i n t o t h e A l b e m a r l e H o t e l ( 0 8 8 0 9 1 4 2 1 2 ) w h e r e w e e n j o y e d b a s i c b u n k h o u s e a c c o m m o d a t i o n . I p l o n k e d m y s e l f a t t h e b a r , w a t c h e d m y f a v o u r i t e N R L t e a m g e t b e a t , d r a n k m y s o r r o w s a n d a t e a b r i l l i a n t c o u n t e r m e a l . E v e r y o n e e l s e s e e m e d t o b e d o i n g t h e s a m e a n d a n u m b e r o f u s c o m m e n t e d w e c o u l d n ’ t r e m e m b e r h o w m a n y y e a r s i t h a d b e e n s i n c e w e a t e a m e a l a t t h e b a r o f a p u b . P r i c e s w e r e c h e a p a n d w e w e r e w e l l l o o k e d a f t e r .

w h e r e t o n o w ?W e a s k e d s o m e l o c a l s i f w e c o u l d g e t t h r o u g h o n t h e d i r t

r o a d s a f t e r t h e h e a v y r a i n a n d t h e i r r e p l i e s r a n g e d f r o m

‘ i m p o s s i b l e ’ t o ‘ m a y b e ’ . T h a t m a d e o u r p l a n n e d r o u t e t o t h e M u n g o N a t i o n a l P a r k o u t o f t h e q u e s t i o n , w h i c h r e q u i r e d s o m e f r a n t i c c a l l s t o D a n i e l t o l e t h i m k n o w t h e c h a n g e i n p l a n s .

I t t u r n e d o u t t h e g r o u p w o u l d s p l i t i n h a l f , w i t h t h e r i d e r s o n m a c h i n e s w i t h m o r e a g g r e s s i v e t y r e s w i l l i n g t o g i v e i t a g o , w h i l e r e l u c t a n t l y t h e o t h e r s m a d e t h e d e c i s i o n t o h e a d b a c k t o B r o k e n H i l l , t h e n o n t o W i l c a n n i a a n d C o b a r f o r t h e o v e r n i g h t s t a y .

N i g e l , R o n a n d I m e t D a n i e l a t B H , w h i l e t h e t w o C r a i g s , M a t t , ‘ H a r r y ’ a n d L i n c o l n h e a d e d f r o m M e n i n d e e t o I v a n h o e .

W e h a d o v e r 5 0 0 k i l o m e t r e s t o d o s o h e a d e d o f f t o C o b a r , s t o p p e d f o r a n i c e l y b r e w e d c o f f e e a t a r e s t s t o p b e t w e e n W i l c a n n i a a n d C o b a r . D a n i e l j u s t h a p p e n e d t o h a v e a l i t t l e g a d g e t w h i c h b r e w s c o f f e e , a n d h e a l s o h a d s o m e c h e e s e , s a l a m i a n d b i s c u i t s . L i v i n g i t u p w e w e r e , e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r w e b o r r o w e d s o m e c u p s f r o m c a r a v a n n e r s s t a y i n g t h e n i g h t a t t h e r e s t s t o p . W h a t w e d i d n ’ t k n o w a t t h a t s t a g e w a s t h e c r e w h e a d i n g t o I v a n h o e h a d o n l y m a d e i t 3 0 k i l o m e t r e s o u t o f t o w n b e f o r e t h e m u d g o t t o o b a d t o c o n t i n u e . B o t h C r a i g s f e l l o f f t h e i r m a c h i n e s , a B M W F 6 5 0 G S a n d a Y a m a h a 6 6 0 T é n é r é , w h i l e t h e f r o n t g u a r d s o n t h e t w o 9 9 0 K T M A d v e n t u r e s b r o k e o f f w h e n s t i c k y m u d q u i c k l y f i l l e d t h e g a p b e t w e e n t y r e a n d

living it up at the ‘Palace’.

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dreaming of Max.

g u a r d . T h e y t h e n m a d e a n e x e c u t i v e d e c i s i o n t o h e a d b a c k t o M e n i n d e e a n d f o l l o w o u r f o o t s t e p s t o C o b a r . B y t h e n i t w a s g e t t i n g l a t e a n d t h e y h a d t o s t a y a t W i l c a n n i a i n s t e a d .

W e t r u n d l e d i n t o C o b a r a f t e r r i d i n g a n h o u r i n t h e d a r k . E a c h r e s t s t o p w e w e n t p a s t h a d t r a v e l l e r s s i t t i n g b e s i d e f i r e s a n d w e w o u l d h a v e l i k e d t o d o t h e s a m e b u t o u r t e n t s a n d s l e e p i n g b a g s w e r e i n t h e b a c k u p 4 W D . T h e o u t b a c k c a n b e a v e r y d a n g e r o u s p l a c e t o r i d e a t n i g h t , a n d w e s a w e v e r y t h i n g f r o m g o a t s t o k a n g a r o o s l o i t e r i n g o n t h e s i d e o f t h e r o a d r e a d y t o s p o i l o u r e v e n i n g . W e m a d e i t t h o u g h a n d s p e n t a n e n j o y a b l e e v e n i n g a t t h e G r e a t W e s t e r n H o t e l w h i c h l o o k s t o b e r e c e n t l y r e n o v a t e d .

w o r k b e f o r e p l a yW e h a d s o m e m a c h i n e t r o u b l e s s o s t r a i g h t t o M & C P a r i s i

M o t o r c y c l e s i n C o b a r f o r s o m e h e l p . C l a u d e a l l o w e d u s t h e u s e o f h i s w o r k s h o p , a n d h e e v e n t a l k e d u s o u t o f b u y i n g a n e w t y r e f o r t h e T r i u m p h T i g e r 8 0 0 , c o n v i n c i n g u s i t w o u l d s u r v i v e t h e t r i p h o m e . N o w i f t h a t ’ s n o t s e r v i c e I d o n ’ t k n o w w h a t i s . H e e v e n m a d e u s a d e c e n t c a p p u c i n o t o o . S m a l l t o w n h o s p i t a l i t y i s e v e r y w h e r e i n t h e o u t b a c k . C a l l i n a n d s e e t h e m i f y o u ’ r e p a s s i n g t h r o u g h C o b a r . T h e y a r e a t 2 0 F r e d e r i c k S t ( 0 2 6 8 3 6 2 6 6 9 ) , a n d y o u c a n g e t a c o p y o f C y c l e T o r q u e t h e r e t o o .

T h e o u t b a c k ’ s b e h i n d u s n o wW h i l e w e w e r e w e r e p l a y i n g w i t h b i k e s t h e r e s t o f t h e c r e w

t r u n d l e d i n t o t o w n . F r o m t h e r e i t w a s a s t r a i g h t r u n f r o m C o b a r t h r o u g h t o N a r r o m i n e f o r t h e o v e r n i g h t s t a y a t t h e C o u r t H o u s e H o t e l i n B u r r a w a y S t r e e t ( 0 2 6 8 8 9 1 0 1 5 ) . R o n c h a l l e n g e d m e t o d a r t s . H e t h o u g h t I ’ d b e a n e a s y b e a t . I p r o v e d h i m w r o n g .

N e x t m o r n i n g w e h i g h t a i l e d i t t h r o u g h t o M o l o n g , O r a n g e a n d B a t h u r s t w h e r e w e f u e l l e d u p t o t a c k l e t h e B r i d l e T r a c k t o H i l l E n d , o u r l a s t e v e n i n g d e s t i n a t i o n .

I t h a d b e e n a w h i l e s i n c e I ’ d d o n e t h e B r i d l e T r a c k s o w i t h a f e w f a l s e s t a r t s a n d w r o n g t u r n s I f i n a l l y f o u n d w h e r e w e n e e d e d t o g o . T h i s i s q u i t e a p i c t u r e s q u e a n d h i s t o r i c t r a i l , p u n c t u a t e d b y a c o u p l e o f s e c t i o n s o f t r a c k w h e r e i t c a n b e c u r t a i n s f o r y o u i f y o u s o m e h o w g e t o f f c o u r s e . T h e t a r r o a d w i n d i n g d o w n t o w h e r e t h e d i r t s t a r t s i s s i m p l y f a n t a s t i c b u t i t i s n a r r o w a n d y o u h a v e t o b e c a r e f u l . T h e B r i d l e T r a c k i t s e l f f o l l o w s t h e T u r o n R i v e r a n d w a s u s e d b y t r a v e l l e r s w h e n t h e H i l l E n d G o l d R u s h w a s a t i t s p e a k . N o w i t ’ s m a i n l y u s e d b y c a m p e r s a n d t h e l i k e , a n d a d v e n t u r e r i d e r s o f c o u r s e .

A s w e r o d e a l o n g w e c a m e t o a s e c t i o n o f t r a c k w h i c h h a d b e e n w a s h e d a w a y , b u t l u c k i l y a n a l t e r n a t i v e b y p a s s h a d b e e n p u t i n b y s o m e f o u r w h e e l d r i v e r s . T h e r e w e r e o t h e r s e c t i o n s f u r t h e r a l o n g w h i c h w e r e d a m a g e d b y f l o o d w a t e r t o o . W e f o u n d t h e r o a d p a s s a b l e t o m o t o r c y c l e s b u t c a r s c o u l d n ’ t g e t t h r o u g h .

T h e l a s t 1 0 k i l o m e t r e s o f t r a c k h e a d i n g i n t o H i l l E n d i s q u i t e t i g h t a n d n a r r o w a n d t h e l i g h t w a s f a d i n g f a s t . I t w a s a l l b u t d a r k w h e n w e a r r i v e d a t t h e R o y a l H o t e l i n H i l l E n d .

A t a s t e o f h i s t o r yH i l l E n d r e a l l y i s a s t e p b a c k i n t i m e . T h e p u b l i c a n ’ s 1 9 3 0 s

r e s t o r e d P a c k a r d s i t s o u t t h e f r o n t o f t h e h o t e l , a n d t h e w a r m f i r e i n s i d e h e l p e d m y b o d y g e t b a c k t o t e m p e r a t u r e , h e l p e d a l i t t l e b y t h e B u n d y a n d C o k e I e x p e c t . A c c o m m o d a t i o n i s s o m u c h b e t t e r t h a n t h e p i t t a n c e w e w e r e c h a r g e d ( $ 3 5 - 4 0 a h e a d ) . O v e r n i g h t e r s n e e d t o s h a r e t h e b a t h r o o m s b u t t h e d e c o r i s p e r f e c t f o r t h e t i m e p e r i o d , v e r y c l e a n a n d t h e a t m o s p h e r e i s g r e a t .

The view from Mungi Mungi

lookout.The sign says it all.

W e e n j o y e d a n i c e m e a l a n d w a t c h e d N S W g e t b e a t b y Q l d i n S t a t e o f O r i g i n .

A f t e r a w a l k a r o u n d t h e h i s t o r i c t o w n w h i c h o n c e b o a s t e d o v e r 5 0 0 0 r e s i d e n t s a n d s o m e 2 5 h o t e l s , w e h e a d e d t o D i m i t y ’ s s h o p f o r a c o o k e d b r e a k f a s t . W i t h r e l u c t a n c e w e d e c i d e d t o p a c k u p f o r t h e l a s t d a y ’ s r i d e b a c k t o N e w c a s t l e v i a D e n m a n a n d t h e B y a l o n g V a l l e y W a y .

T h e r u n f r o m H i l l E n d t o S o f a l a s t i l l h a s s o m e d i r t b u t t h e n e w t a r s u r f a c e i s p u r e f u n o n a b i k e . A q u i c k t o u r t h r o u g h S o f a l a ’ s s t r e e t s a n d w e w e r e o f f t o I l f o r d , K a n d o s , R y l s t o n e a n d t h e B y l o n g V a l l e y W a y w h i c h i s a f a n t a s t i c r u n n o w t h a t i t ’ s t a r a l l t h e w a y . D e n m a n , S i n g l e t o n a n d t h e n h o m e .

– C h r i s P i c k e t t

negotiating the Bridle Track on

the way to hill end.

cYcLE TORQuE TOuR TEST: Bmw F 800 gS, PaRT 2

Everyman’s Adventure

O V E R 1 0 d a y s o f o u t b a c k t o u r i n g a c r o s s a l l s o r t s o f b i t u m e n a n d g r a v e l r o a d s , t h e B M W F 8 0 0 G S t e s t m a c h i n e p e r f o r m e d a b s o l u t e l y f a u l t l e s s l y. I t d i d n ’ t m i s s a b e a t o r p u t a f o o t w r o n g a t a n y s t a g e .

A b o u t t h e b i g g e s t c o m p l a i n t w a s f r o m a c o u p l e o f r i d e r s n e w t o B M W, h a v i n g t r o u b l e g e t t i n g u s e d t o t h e i n d i c a t o r s w i t c h e s b e i n g o n e a c h h a n d l e b a r … b u t I ’ v e d o n e e n o u g h m i l e s o n B M s t h a t I n o w a c t u a l l y p r e f e r t h i s s y s t e m .

I ’ l l a d m i t i t t o o k m e a f e w d a y s t o r e a l l y w a r m t o t h e 8 0 0 G S ’ s c h a r m s . A t f i r s t i t f e l t u n d e r p o w e r e d f o r a m u l t i - c y l i n d e r m a c h i n e , b u t I ’ d b e e n r i d i n g t h e K T M 9 9 0 A d v e n t u r e R : a n o t h e r t i m e I j u m p e d o n i t I t h o u g h t i t f e l t t o o m u c h l i k e a r o a d b i k e , b u t I ’ d b e e n r i d i n g t h e Ya m a h a X T Z 6 6 0 : b u t w h e n I r o d e i t u p t h e B r i d l e Tr a c k t o H i l l E n d I r e a l l y d i d s t a r t t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e b a l a n c e t h a t i s t h e F 8 0 0 G S .

I n t h i s m a c h i n e B M W h a s t r i e d t o b u i l d b a l a n c e b e t w e e n w e i g h t , s i z e , p e r f o r m a n c e a n d h a n d l i n g , a n d a l l a t a p r i c e c o m p e t i t i v e w i t h o t h e r m a n u f a c t u r e r s ’ o f f e r i n g s .

S o t h e e n g i n e p e r f o r m a n c e i s n ’ t s t e l l a r , b u t i t o f f e r s m o r e t h a n e n o u g h f o r t h e a v e r a g e r i d e r a n d p l e n t y o n l o o s e s u r f a c e s . T h e p a r a l l e l t w i n m o t o r i s a l s o f a i r l y l i g h t , a l l o w i n g B M W t o m a k e t h e b i k e a l o t e a s i e r t o t h r o w a r o u n d t h a n i t s 1 2 0 0 r a n g e , w h i c h i n t u r n i n s p i r e s c o n f i d e n c e i n t o u g h c o n d i t i o n s .

T h e G S i s a l s o c o m p a c t i n i t s d i m e n s i o n s , f e e l i n g o n l y a l i t t l e l a r g e r t h a n t h e s i n g l e c y l i n d e r b i k e s o n t h e t o u r .

T h e p a c k a g e a d d s u p t o a m a c h i n e w h i c h i s n ’ t s o s m a l l t o b e t i r i n g f o r l o n g r i d e s o n b i t u m e n ( a l t h o u g h p r o t e c t i o n f r o m t h e t i n y s c r e e n i s m i n i m a l ) b u t i s n ’ t s o b i g a s t o s a p c o n f i d e n c e i n t o u g h c o n d i t i o n s o f f r o a d .

T h e c o n v e n t i o n a l f o r k s a n d s i n g l e r e a r s h o c k a r e a l s o w e l l b a l a n c e d t o o f f e r d e c e n t w h e e l t r a v e l a n d b u m p a b s o r p t i o n o f f r o a d w i t h o u t w a l l o w i n g t o o m u c h i f y o u ’ r e t r y i n g t o p r e s s o n a l o n g g o o d b i t u m e n .

L i k e m o s t b i k e s o n t h i s t o u r , y o u n e e d t o c u s t o m i s e a n 8 0 0 G S t o m a k e i t r e a l l y s u i t a b l e f o r a d v e n t u r e t o u r i n g . T h e r e ’ s n o l u g g a g e s t a n d a r d , i n d e e d n o s t o r a g e c a p a c i t y a t a l l - n o t e v e n a r e a r r a c k . B M W h a s a w h o l e c o m p l e m e n t o f l u g g a g e a v a i l a b l e a n d t h e r e a r e a f t e r m a r k e t o p t i o n s a v a i l a b l e t o o .

I ’ d a d d a s e t o f h a n d g u a r d s , a l t h o u g h t h a t ’ s m o r e f o r p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t h i t t i n g t h i n g s r a t h e r t h a n k e e p i n g t h e w e a t h e r a t b a y : t h e b i k e h a s h e a t e d h a n d g r i p s s t a n d a r d , a n d w a s t h e o n l y b i k e o n t h i s t e s t w i t h h e a t e d g r i p s . I ’ d a l s o d i t c h t h e t h i n p l a s t i c e n g i n e g u a r d i n f a v o u r o f a n a l l o y m o d e l .

Ty r e s f o r a l l a d v e n t u r e b i k e s a r e a c o n u n d r u m : g o o d p e r f o r m a n c e o f f r o a d u s u a l l y m e a n s a t y r e w h i c h c a n w e a r o u t i n j u s t a f e w d a y s o f s u s t a i n e d h i g h s p e e d r o a d u s e , w h e r e a s m o r e r o a d - o r i e n t e d t y r e s d o n ’ t o f f e r t h e c o n f i d e n c e o f f r o a d m a n y r i d e r s f e e l

t h e y n e e d . H e r e ’ s t h e s e c r e t : d r o p t h e t y r e p r e s s u r e s

o f y o u r m o r e r o a d - o r i e n t e d t y r e s w h e n r i d i n g o f f r o a d a n d t h e y w i l l p e r f o r m m u c h , m u c h b e t t e r . S o f i n d r o o m i n y o u r l u g g a g e f o r a p u m p s o y o u c a n k e e p t y r e s i n f l a t e d a t t h e r i g h t p r e s s u r e f o r t h e c o n d i t i o n s a n d y o u ’ l l g e t a l o t m o r e l i f e a n d c o n f i d e n c e f r o m y o u r r u b b e r .

T h e r i d i n g p o s i t i o n o f t h e G S i s a l i t t l e u n u s u a l : I f e e l t h e f o o t p e g s a r e s e t a l i t t l e t o o f a r f o r w a r d , w h i c h m a k e s r i d i n g s t a n d i n g u p a l i t t l e l e s s c o m f o r t a b l e t h a n I t h i n k i t s h o u l d b e , a n d m a k e s g e t t i n g f r o m s i t t i n g t o s t a n d i n g t a k e a f r a c t i o n o f a s e c o n d l o n g e r t h a n i t s h o u l d , t o o .

B M W ’ s F 8 0 0 G S i s a n a w e s o m e m i d - r a n g e a d v e n t u r e b i k e . I t ’ s a r e a l p a c k a g e t h a t i s n o t - t o o - b i g , n o t - t o o - s m a l l .

R e p o r t b y N i g e l P a t e r s o n .

BMw’s f 800 gs covers all the bases when it comes to adventure touring…

Just right adventurer

Just right adventurerA S A N a l l - r o u n d b i k e t h e Tr i u m p h T i g e r 8 0 0 X C i s o n e o f t h e b e s t o n t h e m a r k e t . I t s 8 0 0 c c t h r e e c y l i n d e r e n g i n e i s n ’ t a p o w e r h o u s e , b u t i t d o e s n ’ t h a v e t o b e , i t h a s o n e o f t h e m o s t c o m f o r t a b l e s e a t s a r o u n d , a n d t h e s u s p e n s i o n i s d e s i g n e d t o c o p e w i t h o u r c r a p r o a d s . O n t o p o f t h a t y o u c a n e x p l o r e o u r c o u n t r y ’ s n e t h e r r e g i o n s w h e r e m o s t b i k e s w o u l d f e a r t o t r e a d .

W h e n c o m p a r e d t o t h e o t h e r b i k e s o n t h e t o u r , t h e T i g e r w a s p r o b a b l y t h e s e c o n d m o s t r o a d o r i e n t e d b i k e , b e h i n d t h e M o t o G u z z i . I n t h i s f i e l d t h e b i k e i s a r e a l p e a r l e r . N o t o n l y c a n i t c r u i s e e a s i l y a t w e l l o v e r t h e n a t i o n a l s p e e d l i m i t , t h e r i d e r d o e s i t i n c o m f o r t .

C o m b i n e d w i t h t h e g e n u i n e t o u r i n g a c c e s s o r i e s t h a t c a m e w i t h o u r t e s t b i k e , t h e T i g e r 8 0 0 i s a r e a l a l l - r o a d s t o u r d e f o r c e .

W h e r e s h o r t e r r i d e r s w i l l b e w a r y o f t h e t a l l s e a t h e i g h t s o n m a n y o f t h e a d v e n t u r e b i k e s a r o u n d , t h e T i g e r c o m b a t s t h a t w i t h a s e a t h e i g h t t h a t ’ s a d j u s t a b l e . I t ’ s n o t t h a t h i g h i n t h e t a l l e s t p o s i t i o n ( 8 6 5 m m ) a n y w a y.

F i t t e d w i t h a g g r e s s i v e M e t z e l e r K a r o o t y r e s t h e b i k e h a n d l e d b e t t e r t h a n m o s t

e x p e c t e d o n t h e d i r t . I h a d a l r e a d y a t t e n d e d t h e T i g e r 8 0 0 X C a n d T i g e r 8 0 0 l a u n c h e s a n d k n e w w e l l w h a t t h e b i k e c o u l d d o , s o I w a s n ’ t s u r p r i s e d . E v e n t h e s t a n d a r d 8 0 0 w i t h i t s c a s t a l l o y 1 9 ” / 1 7 ” w h e e l c o m b o w o r k s w e l l i n t h e d i r t , s o t h e X C w i t h i t s 2 1 ” f r o n t w h e e l ( b o t h a r e s p o k e d ) c a n o n l y b e b e t t e r .

W i t h t h e a l l o y p a n n i e r s , s e a t b a g , r o l l b a g a n d t a n k b a g a l l f u l l t h e b i k e k n e w i t w a s c a r r y i n g i t . A n y d i f f e r e n c e i n p o w e r w a s n ’ t r e a l l y n o t i c e a b l e b u t y o u c o u l d n o t i c e t h e d i f f e r e n c e o n t h e d i r t .

I n t h e f i r s t i n s t a l m e n t o f t h e s t o r y w e m e n t i o n e d o n e o f t h e g u y s o n t h e t r i p w o u l d e a r m a r k t h e b i k e a s h i s o w n d u r i n g t h e t r i p . R o n r e l u c t a n t l y h a n d e d o v e r t h e k e y s a t t i m e s b u t g e n e r a l l y i t w a s h i s b u m o n t h e s e a t . T h e f u n n y t h i n g i s , h e w a s n ’ t t h a t k e e n o n t h e b i k e a f t e r h i s f i r s t d a y o n i t . A s t h e t r i p w o r e o n h e b e c a m e m u c h m o r e a t h o m e o n t h e b i k e a n d w h e n h e d i d t r y o t h e r s h e c o u l d n ’ t w a i t t o g e t b a c k o n t h e T i g e r . H e i s u s u a l l y a v e r y h a r s h j u d g e o f b i k e c h a r a c t e r b u t f e l l i n l o v e w i t h t h e T i g e r .

B y t h e t i m e w e h a d d o n e a f e w t h o u s a n d k i l o m e t r e s t h e r e a r K a r o o w a s a l l b u t s t u f f e d . I t w o u l d l a s t t h e t r i p b u t t h e

l a s t c o u p l e o f d a y s h a d u s e x p e c t i n g a p u n c t u r e . O n t h e r u n i n t o H i l l E n d a l o n g t h e B r i d l e Tr a c k , R o n s h o w e d u s a l l a c l e a n p a i r o f h e e l s . H e ’ s n o t a n e x p e r i e n c e d a d v e n t u r e r i d e r a s s u c h , a n d i t h i g h l i g h t e d p e r f e c t l y h o w g o o d t h e s u s p e n s i o n i s o n t h e X C , a n d h o w t h e f r i e n d l y n a t u r e o f t h e e n g i n e a l l o w s r i d e r s t o c r a c k a l o n g a t a d e c e p t i v e l y q u i c k p a c e .

O n t h e f i n a l s p r i n t h o m e , R o n g a v e t h e b i k e i t s h e a d o n a c o u n t r y r o a d h e c a l l s h i s ‘ t e s t t r a c k ’ , c o m m e n t i n g i t w a s o n e o f t h e b e s t b i k e s h e ’ s e v e r r i d d e n a l o n g t h e r e .

E v e r y o n e o n t h e t r i p w h o r o d e t h e X C g a v e t h e b i k e a b i g r a p . O n t h e r o a d a n d o n d i r t r o a d s i t p e r f o r m e d v e r y w e l l . W h e n t h e t r a c k s g e t n a r r o w e r , g e t b i g r o c k s o r d e e p s a n d y o u ’ l l h a v e t o b e a g o o d r i d e r t o g e t t h e b e s t o u t o f t h e T i g e r 8 0 0 b e c a u s e r e a l i s t i c a l l y i t ’ s s t a r t i n g t o g e t o u t o f i t s e l e m e n t i n s u c h c o n d i t i o n s . Yo u c o u l d s a y t h e s a m e a b o u t p r e t t y m u c h a n y b i g c a p a c i t y a d v e n t u r e t o u r e r t h o u g h b e c a u s e o f t h e s h e e r s i z e o f s u c h m a c h i n e s . I n e x p e r i e n c e d a d v e n t u r e r i d e r s a r e n ’ t m e a n t t o b e t a k i n g t h e s e t y p e s o f b i k e s i n t o r e a l l y t o u g h c o n d i t i o n s .

F o r Tr i u m p h ’ s f i r s t s e r i o u s a t t e m p t a t a p r o p e r a d v e n t u r e b i k e i t ’ s a t o p e f f o r t .

R e p o r t b y C h r i s P i c k e t t

cYcLE TORQuE TOuR TEST: TRiumPH TigER 800Xc, PaRT 2

The Tiger 800xC is the middle of the pack. not too small and not too big.

Big bore dirt bikescYcLE TORQuE TEST: KTm 990 aDvEnTuRE & 990 aDvEnTuRE R, 690 EnDuRO R, PaRT 2

KTM is famous for its dirt bikes, and its Adventure machines reflect that heritage.

T H E R E i s l i t t l e d o u b t t h e K T M 9 9 0 A d v e n t u r e R i s t h e a d v e n t u r e b i k e o f c h o i c e f o r d i r t b i k e r i d e r s w a n t i n g t o m o v e i n t o t h e c a t e g o r y.

K T M ’ s h e r i t a g e a s a p r e m i u m c h a m p i o n s h i p -w i n n i n g d i r t b i k e m a n u f a c t u r e r a n d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e V - t w i n A d v e n t u r e r a n g e o v e r t h e l a s t d e c a d e o r s o h a s r e s u l t e d i n a k i c k - a r s e b i k e w h i c h c a n g o a l m o s t a n y w h e r e , a t h i g h s p e e d , c o m f o r t a b l y a n d s a f e l y. A d d i n a h u g e l i s t o f o p t i o n s a n d a c c e s s o r i e s a n d v e r s a t i l i t y c o m e s t o t h e f o r e , t o o .

A l o n g w i t h t h o s e c a p a b i l i t i e s c o m e s a n e y e -w a t e r i n g p r i c e t a g , n o s e - b l e e d s e a t h e i g h t a n d p l e n t y o f w e i g h t , s o t h e 9 9 0 A d v e n t u r e R c e r t a i n l y i s n ’ t f o r e v e r y o n e .

S o t h e r e ’ s t h e s t a n d a r d 9 9 0 A d v e n t u r e . T h e s e a t ’ s l o w e r , t h e p o w e r d e l i v e r y s o f t e r , t h e s u s p e n s i o n m o r e c o m p l i a n t . T h e r e ’ s s w i t c h a b l e A B S , a n d , o f c o u r s e , a h u g e r a n g e o f o p t i o n s a n d a c c e s s o r i e s t o t a i l e r t h e b i k e

t o s u i t y o u r s t y l e a n d n e e d s .A n d i t ’ s $ 1 0 0 0 c h e a p e r .I f t h e A d v e n t u r e R i s f o r t h e d i r t b i k e r i d e r

w a n t i n g t o m o v e i n t o A d v e n t u r e r i d i n g , t h e s t a n d a r d 9 9 0 i s f o r t h e r o a d b i k e r i d e r w a n t i n g t o m o v e i n t o t h e A d v e n t u r e s c e n e . I t ’ s a b e t t e r b i k e o n t h e l o n g h a u l , a b e t t e r b i k e o n t h e r o a d , a n d t h e A B S r e a l l y a d d s a m a r g i n f o r e r r o r .

H o w e v e r , i f y o u ’ r e e v e r l i k e l y t o w a n t t o c h a r g e t h r o u g h t h e d i r t l i k e y o u ’ v e e n t e r e d t h e P a r i s - D a k a r , t h e A d v e n t u r e R i s f o r y o u . O r m a y b e y o u s h o u l d c o n s i d e r t h e K T M 6 9 0 E n d u r o R , a n d t a i l o r i t f o r a d v e n t u r e r i d i n g .

W h i l e a d v e n t u r e b i k e s a r e f a n t a s t i c m a c h i n e s a n d a r e v e r y v e r s a t i l e , a 6 9 0 E n d u r o R i s a d i r t b i k e w i t h s o m e r o a d m a n n e r s . O u r r e s i d e n t d i r t g u r u , D a r r e n S m a r t , r o d e o u r t e s t b i k e t o w o r k r e g u l a r l y a n d t h e n w e n t o u t a n d s h o c k e d e n d u r o b i k e o w n e r s w i t h h i s a b i l i t y t o c h a r g e t h r o u g h t h e b u s h a t h i g h

s p e e d , m a k i n g o w n e r s o f W R s , C R F s a n d E X C s r e a l l y s i t u p a n d t a k e n o t i c e .

F o r C y c l e To r q u e ’ s b i g o u t b a c k a d v e n t u r e w e a d d e d t h e S a f a r i f u e l t a n k s u p p l i e d b y K T M A u s t r a l i a , S a v a t y r e s , G - I T b a s h p l a t e a n d r a c k f r o m A d v e n t u r e M o t o , a g e l s e a t a n d t o u r i n g s c r e e n f r o m K T M . A l l t h e s e a c c e s s o r i e s d i d n ’ t m a k e t h e 6 9 0 i n t o a 9 9 0 , b u t t h e y d i d m a k e t h e b i k e i n t o a g e n u i n e a d v e n t u r e t o u r e r . O n l y t h e Ya m a h a X T Z 6 6 0 T é n é r é a n d t h e 6 9 0 R i n o u r t e s t g r o u p f e l t g o o d o n w e t , s l i p p e r y r o a d s , a n d t h e y f e e l l i k e d i r t b i k e s . T h e 6 9 0 c a r r i e s a l o t l e s s

w e i g h t t h a n a n y o f t h e m u l t i - c y l i n d e r b i k e s , h a s a r i d i n g p o s i t i o n d e s i g n e d m o r e f o r p e r f o r m a n c e t h a n c o m f o r t , i s a w e s o m e t o r i d e s t a n d i n g u p a n d g o e s e x a c t l y w h e r e y o u p o i n t i t .

I t d o e s n ’ t h a v e t h e o u t r i g h t p e r f o r m a n c e o f t h e m u l t i s , b u t c o u l d b e t h e f a s t e s t b i k e i n t o u g h c o n d i t i o n s - w h e n t h e b i g b i k e s a r e t u r n i n g i n t o a h a n d f u l , t h e 6 9 0 i s r e a l l y c o m i n g i n t o i t s o w n .

I w o u l d r e c o m m e n d t h e 6 9 0 E n d u r o R t o a n y o n e w a n t i n g a d i r t b i k e 5 0 w e e k s o f t h e y e a r a n d a n a d v e n t u r e m a c h i n e f o r t h e o t h e r t w o .

T h e 9 9 0 A d v e n t u r e R c a r r i e d h e a p s o f l u g g a g e , t h e C y c l e To r q u e c a m e r a g e a r , o n b o a r d c a m e r a s a n d l o t s m o r e o n o u r a d v e n t u r e t r i p . I t s p e r f o r m a n c e - e n g i n e , s u s p e n s i o n , c o m f o r t - w a s a l l e x c e l l e n t . O n l y i n w e t , s l o p p y o f f - r o a d c o n d i t i o n s d i d i t s t a r t t o f e e l l e s s t h a n c o m f o r t a b l e , a l t h o u g h I w o u l d h a v e l i k e d t o h a v e h a d a s t e e r i n g d a m p e r w h e n s o f t s a n d s t a r t e d t h e o s c i l l a t i o n w h i c h s c r e a m s ‘ t a n k s l a p p e r ’ ( w a t c h t h e 9 9 0 v i d e o t o s e e t h e o n b o a r d f o o t a g e o f t h i s - w w w. c y c l e t o r q u e . c o m . a u / m o r e ) . I d i d n ’ t c r a s h i n t h o s e c o n d i t i o n s , b u t o n e o f o u r c r e w d i d .

B u t d e s p i t e m y l o v e o f t h e 9 9 0 A d v e n t u r e R , I r e c k o n m o s t r i d e r s w o u l d b e b e t t e r o f f w i t h a s t a n d a r d 9 9 0 . T h e s t a n d a r d v e r s i o n , w i t h i t s l o w e r p r i c e , l o w e r s e a t a n d A B S m a k e s i t a b e t t e r a l l - r o u n d m a c h i n e , e s p e c i a l l y i f m o s t o f y o u r r i d i n g i s d o n e o n t h e b i t u m e n .

Te s t b y N i g e l P a t e r s o nTo s e e p a r t o n e o f t h i s s t o r y , a v i d e o r e v i e w

a n d l i n k s t o s p e c i f i c a t i o n s e t c , g o t o w w w .c y c l e t o r q u e . c o m . a u / m o r e .

Big bore dirt bikes Adventure valuecYcLE TORQuE TEST: YamaHa XTZ660 TénéRé, PaRT 2

Y A M A H A’ S X T Z 6 6 0 T é n é r é o f f e r s a n a w e s o m e c o m b i n a t i o n o f c a p a b i l i t y a n d v a l u e . I t ’ s n o t t o o h e a v y, t o o e x p e n s i v e o r t o o i n t i m i d a t i n g . I t c o m e s p r e t t y w e l l r e a d y - t o - r o l l , b u t t h e r e ’ s a l s o a h e a p o f a c c e s s o r i e s a v a i l a b l e t o m a k e i t p e r f e c t f o r y o u r u s a g e a n d n e e d s .

F o r t h e r i d e r e a t i n g m i l e s a c r o s s t o u g h t e r r a i n , t h e X T Z c a n b e e q u i p p e d w i t h a n a l l o y b a s h p l a t e , e n g i n e p r o t e c t i o n a n d h a n d g u a r d s , s o g o i n g d o w n i n t h e b u s h i s u n l i k e l y t o c a u s e m a j o r e x p e n s e o r t h e i n a b i l i t y t o c o n t i n u e . W i t h i t s s i n g l e c y l i n d e r m o t o r i t ’ s a l i g h t w e i g h t b y a d v e n t u r e b i k e s t a n d a r d s , s o i t ’ s l e s s l i k e l y t o b e o n i t s s i d e a n y w a y, a n d i s a d a m n s i g h t e a s i e r t o p i c k u p , t o o .

F o r t h e l o n g d i s t a n c e t o u r e r t h e T é n é r é ’ s p e r f o r m a n c e i s a d e q u a t e , a l t h o u g h h i g h w a y o v e r t a k i n g u s u a l l y r e q u i r e s a d o w n s h i f t o r t w o , a n d t h e p i p e s d o r e s t r i c t t h e b r e a t h i n g a b i t ( Ya m a h a o f f e r s A k r a p o v i c m u f f l e r s … ) , b u t t h e f u e l - i n j e c t e d e n g i n e i s f r u g a l a n d t h e t a n k a d e c e n t s i z e , s o m o r e t h a n 3 0 0 k m b e t w e e n r e f i l l s i s e a s y.

F o r C y c l e To r q u e ’ s b i g a d v e n t u r e t r i p t h e b i k e w a s a l s o f i t t e d w i t h t h e g e n u i n e p a n n i e r s , w h i c h s w a l l o w a d e c e n t a m o u n t o f g e a r , b u t I t h i n k t h e f i t t i n g s a n d m o u n t i n g m e c h a n i s m a r e u n n e c e s s a r i l y c o m p l e x .

U n u s u a l l y f o r a n o f f - r o a d m a c h i n e t h e r i d e r ’ s s e a t i s s c o l l o p e d o u t a b i t , w h i c h m a k e s r e a c h i n g t h e g r o u n d a l o t e a s i e r , b u t i f y o u ’ r e r i d i n g h a r d o f f r o a d i t m a k e s i t a b i t m o r e d i f f i c u l t t o m o v e a r o u n d : t h e r e ’ s a l w a y s c o m p r o m i s e i n t h e s e t h i n g s . T h e s e a t c o m f o r t a n d r i d i n g p o s i t i o n a r e g r e a t : i t ’ s v e r y c o m f o r t a b l e t o r i d e l o n g d i s t a n c e s , b o t h s i t t i n g i n t h e s a d d l e a n d s t a n d i n g w h e n o f f -r o a d . I t ’ s r e l a t i v e l y v i b r a t i o n - f r e e f o r a b i g s i n g l e , t o o : Ya m a h a ’ s d o n e s o m e w o r k i n t h i s

a r e a , f i t t i n g v e r y h e a v y w e i g h t s t o t h e e n d s o f t h e h a n d l e b a r s ( w h i c h a r e r e m o v e d i f y o u a d d t h e h a n d g u a r d s ) a n d t h e r e a r e r e m o v a b l e r u b b e r i n s e r t s i n t h e f o o t p e g s , w h i c h w e l e f t a t t h e o f f i c e .

W h a t I b e l i e v e Ya m a h a h a s b u i l t i s a m a c h i n e w h i c h c a n d o q u i t e s e r i o u s o f f - r o a d w o r k , a l b e i t a t l o w e r s p e e d s t h a n o n e n d u r o b i k e s . B u t w h e r e e n d u r o m a c h i n e r y i s a w f u l t o r i d e o n t h e r o a d , t h e X T Z s i m p l y c h u g s a l o n g , e a t i n g t h e m i l e s c o m f o r t a b l y b e h i n d a r e a s o n a b l y p r o t e c t i v e f a i r i n g , w h i c h s i t s q u i t e a l o n g w a y f o r w a r d o f t h e r i d e r , w h e r e i t ’ s l e s s l i k e l y t o g e t i n t h e w a y w h e n y o u ’ r e s t a n d i n g u p .

T h e v e r s a t i l i t y o f t h e T é n é r é m a k e i t a b i k e y o u c o u l d u s e a l l y e a r : c o m m u t i n g t o w o r k , b i g a d v e n t u r e s , e v e n t r a i l r i d i n g .

O n e t h i n g I w o u l d n ’ t r e c o m m e n d f o r t h e T é n é r é i s t w o - u p t o u r i n g : f o r d a y r i d e s a n d s h o r t t r i p s , f i n e , b u t f o r l o n g e r d i s t a n c e s a t h i g h e r s p e e d s I t h i n k t h e a d d i t i o n o f a p i l l i o n p a s s e n g e r w o u l d m a k e r i d i n g t i r i n g f o r b o t h p e o p l e .

T h e r e ’ s a l s o b e e n s o m e c o n t r o v e r s y a b o u t t h e $ 1 3 , 9 9 9 + O R C p r i c e : t h e T é n é r é i s c o n s i d e r a b l y m o r e e x p e n s i v e t h a n s o m e o t h e r s i n g l e - c y l i n d e r d u a l - p u r p o s e b i k e s s u c h a s K a w a s a k i ’ s

K L R 6 5 0 a n d S u z u k i ’ s D R 6 5 0 .I a c t u a l l y d o n ’ t b e l i e v e t h e y c o m p e t e t h a t

c l o s e l y. T h e D R a n d K L R a r e b o t h g r e a t b i k e s : t h e y h a v e b o t h b e e n a r o u n d e s s e n t i a l l y u n c h a n g e d f o r d o n k e y s ’ y e a r s , b u t t h e y a r e d u a l p u r p o s e b i k e s , n o t a d v e n t u r e m a c h i n e s . To t u r n e i t h e r i n t o a n a d v e n t u r e b i k e i s v e r y p o s s i b l e a n d a p o p u l a r t h i n g t o d o , b u t i t t a k e s t i m e a n d m o n e y, w h e r e a s t h e T é n é r é i s r e a d y t o g o o f f t h e s h o w r o o m f l o o r , e s p e c i a l l y a s y o u c a n h a v e o n e c o n f i g u r e d w i t h t h e a c c e s s o r i e s o f y o u r c h o o s i n g b e f o r e y o u w h e e l i t o u t o f t h e d e a l e r ’ s s h o w r o o m . I d o n ’ t c o n s i d e r t h e T é n é r é a n e x p e n s i v e d u a l p u r p o s e b i k e , I l o o k o n i t a s a c h e a p a d v e n t u r e m a c h i n e .

R e p o r t b y N i g e l P a t e r s o nVi s i t w w w . c y c l e t o r q u e . c o m . a u / m o r e t o s e e a

C y c l e To r q u e v i d e o a b o u t t h e b i k e , l i n k s t o p a r t o n e o f t h i s s t o r y a n d l o t s m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t

t h e b i k e .


46 – August 2011

Tough enough

I N T H E l a s t i s s u e w e t o u c h e d o n t h e f a c t o u r t e s t M o t o G u z z i h a d b e e n i n v o l v e d i n a c r a s h . I t w a s n ’ t a m i n o r o n e e i t h e r , i t w a s b i g e n o u g h t o s e e o u r r i d e r u n a b l e t o c o n t i n u e a n d g e t a t r i p w i t h t h e R o y a l F l y i n g D o c t o r S e r v i c e .

A f t e r t h e d u s t h a d s e t t l e d , l i t e r a l l y, w e s t a r t e d t h e S t e l v i o u p a n d r o d e i t u p t h e r a m p o n t o t h e b a c k u p t r a i l e r . T h e p a n n i e r s w e r e s t u f f e d , o n e w e c o u l d n ’ t e v e n g e t o f f , s o t h e y w e r e s t r a p p e d s e c u r e l y t o t h e b i k e , a n d b o t h p a n n i e r f r a m e s w e r e b e n t . O t h e r d a m a g e w e c o u l d s e e c o n s i s t e d o f a c r a s h b a r b e n t b a c k , j u s t t o u c h i n g t h e r i g h t c y l i n d e r , a s c r a t c h e d s c r e e n a n d a s p o t l i g h t .

P r i o r t o t h e u n f o r t u n a t e c r a s h o n t h e r o a d f r o m B o u r k e t o Wa n a a r i n g t h e S t e l v i o h a d a c q u i t t e d i t s e l f a d m i r a b l y. O n t h e o p e n r o a d i t w a s v e r y e a s y t o r i d e , h a n d l e d w e l l a n d h a d l o t s o f l u g g a g e c a p a c i t y. T h r o w i n t h e g r u n t y e n g i n e , t h e b i k e w o n s o m e f r i e n d s . I w a s t h e f i r s t r i d e r t o s a m p l e d i r t o n t h e b i k e , a n d a l t h o u g h I f e l t t h e t y r e s w e r e n ’ t a s a g g r e s s i v e a s I ’ d h a v e l i k e d f o r s o f t d i r t , i t s t i l l c o p e d v e r y w e l l c o n s i d e r i n g i t w a s b y f a r t h e b i g g e s t a d v e n t u r e b i k e o n t h e t r i p .

F u l l y l o a d e d t h e r e a r s h o c k – w h i c h h a s h y d r a u l i c p r e l o a d a d j u s t m e n t – s t r u g g l e d w i t h b i g d i p s i n t h e r o a d , o f t e n b o t t o m i n g o u t . W h e n I r a m p e d u p t h e p r e l o a d i t b e c a m e a b i t h a r s h . L i k e w i s e w i t h t h e m a n u a l l y a d j u s t a b l e s c r e e n . I j u s t n e v e r g o t i t i n a s p o t w h e r e I g o t r i d o f b u f f e t i n g , o n e o f m y p e t b u g b e a r s , b u t t h e o t h e r r i d e r s n e v e r c o m p l a i n e d a b o u t i t . O v e r a l l t h o u g h , I , a n d t h e o t h e r f e w r i d e r s w h i c h g a v e t h e S t e l v i o a r u n o n t h e f i r s t d a y o f t h e t o u r h a d p l e a s i n g t h i n g s t o s a y a b o u t t h e b i k e .

H o w i t a l l c a m e u n d o n e i s a c o m b i n a t i o n o f c i r c u m s t a n c e a n d c o n d i t i o n s . G a r e t h W i l l i a m s h a d s p e n t m o s t o f t h e d a y o n t h e b i k e a n d w a s h a p p i l y t o o t l i n g a l o n g o n t h e d i r t a t a r o u n d 8 0 k m / h . H i s v i s i o n w a s o b s c u r e d b y h e a v y d u s t f r o m a n o t h e r v e h i c l e , a n d a s h e v e e r e d t o t h e l e f t o f t h e r o a d h i t s o m e t h i c k s a n d , a n d a f e w w h e e l r u t s w h i c h s a w h i m l o s e c o n t r o l o f t h e S t e l v i o , a l t h o u g h h e f o u g h t i t t o t h e b i t t e r e n d .

W h e n w e g o t t o B r o k e n H i l l t h e b i k e r e f u s e d t o t u r n o v e r , e v e n t h o u g h i t h a d p o w e r . T h e s h o r t o f i t i s w e p u l l e d l o t s o f p a n e l s o f f a n d b l e w o u t t h e c o p i o u s a m o u n t s o f r e d d u s t t h e b i k e h a d a c c u m u l a t e d w h i l e i t w a s b e i n g t o w e d o n t h e t r a i l e r . I t t h e n f i r e d a n d n e v e r m i s s e d a b e a t f o r t h e r e s t o f t h e t r i p , s o m e 2 , 5 0 0 k i l o m e t r e s .

B e s i d e s t h e o b v i o u s d a m a g e , t h e b i k e n e v e r s h o w e d a n y s i d e e f f e c t s o f t h e c r a s h w h i l e b e i n g r i d d e n , t r a c k i n g s t r a i g h t a n d t r u e .

T h e l a s t t h r o w o f t h e d i c e f o r t h e b i g G u z z i

w a s t h e r u n f r o m B a t h u r s t t o H i l l E n d o n t h e B r i d l e Tr a c k , w h i c h i s n o t e n d u r o t y p e o f t e r r a i n , b u t i t ’ s n o t s o f t a d v e n t u r e e i t h e r . I f y o u a r e o n a b i g a d v e n t u r e b i k e y o u ’ l l h a v e a b i t o f w o r k t o d o o n t h e B r i d l e Tr a c k .

T h e S t e l v i o i s a c a p a b l e m a c h i n e i n t h e r o u g h s t u f f i f y o u a r e c o n f i d e n t w i t h y o u r c a p a b i l i t i e s . I f o u n d I c o u l d l u g t h e b i k e

a r o u n d v e r y t i g h t c o r n e r s i n t h i r d g e a r – w h i c h s a v e d m e u n n e c e s s a r y g e a r c h a n g e s – a n d w h i c h s h o u l d g i v e y o u a n i n s i g h t i n t o h o w m u c h t o r q u e t h e e n g i n e h a s .

W h i l e t h e S t e l v i o i s h a p p i e s t o n t h e t a r , i t w i l l g l a d l y h a v e a g o a t w h a t e v e r y o u t h r o w a t i t .

R e p o r t b y C h r i s P i c k e t t

cYcLE TORQuE TOuR TEST:

mOTO guZZi STELviO 1200

nTX, PaRT 2

GRAPHIC

RRP $119.50

RRP $99.95PLAIN

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More information: www.cycletorque.com.au/more

1 geT soMe foRMNIGEL’S Forma boots are European made and have no zips to stuff up. Use them for trail, touring, commuting and adventure riding. Light, comfortable and waterproof. Dual density, oil-resistant sole. Outer of full grain Nabuk leather, adjustable velcro closure and replaceable/adjustable GH plastic buckles. Shin and ankle reinforcement and a special stiff nylon midsole.P R i C e : $390 AvA i l A B l e f R o M : Andy Strapz

2 duAl sPoRTSHOEI’S Hornet DS gives you a snug comfortable fit, as you’d expect from a top-of-the line manufacturer. The quality of finish is simply superb, and the combination of good-sealing visor under the integral peak is perfect for adventure bikes. The peak keeps the sun out of the eyes in the trees and the visor is what you need on a freeway, so it’s a versatile combination. If you decide to get serious off road you can swap the visor for a pair of goggles, and you could also remove the peak and run the helmet as a standard full-face lid, too, so it is a bit like getting two helmets for the money.P R i C e : $899.90 AvA i l A B l e f R o M : Leading bike shops

3 sAfARi suiTNIGEL’S favourite touring set up is his BMW Rallye 2 two piece adventure touring suit. He got it in 2009 and it’s done a few trips around the place, with a few different bodies inside it.Fitted with Goretex liners, the jacket and pants become waterproof, and the fit and quality is second to none, as you would expect from BMW.Back in ’09 this suit cost around $1800, so you would expect the new Rallye 3 suit (Rallye 2 discontinued) to cost a bit more.AvA i l A B l e f R o M : BMW dealers nationwide

4 CleAR shoTWHEN touring we often have to wait for fuel top ups to clean our bug ridden visors.Clear Shot’s handy kit includes spray and two microfibre cloths. Suitable for motorcycle helmets, goggles, sunglasses, cameras, binoculars, scopes, scuba masks and more.All in a rugged case to protect from dirt and grime.Don’t wait for a servo, clean your eyewear whenever you like.P R i C e : $26.95 AvA i l A B l e f R o M : Adventure Moto

5 TenT TiMeDURING our trip we used a Redverz Tenere tent from Adventure Moto.The cool thing about the tent is it has a section where you can keep your bike out of the weather, almost like it’s own garage.It’s simple to put up (check out our video of it at www.cycletorque.com.au/more) and easy to pack away.It’s a decent sized tent able to take 3-4 people pretty easily so doesn’t pack up to nothing but could be strapped on a rack, pannier or pillion seat without any issues.Impressive quality too. There’s a Mk II version out soon.P R i C e : $495 AvA i l A B l e f R o M : Direct from Adventure Moto

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6 KeeP dRy on youR MoToMOTODRY Adventurer riding gear worn by both Matt and Daniel features CE armour protection, inbuilt 3litre hydration system, vented mesh outer shell for maximum ventilation, zip-off arms, also includes waterproof thermal lining for cooler climates. Sizes XS to 4XL (to 6XL in black/silver only). The Demon pants are made of 600 denier Kodra and are 100 per cent breathable/waterproof. They have a removable quilted liner with knee gussets for comfort and night safety reflectives. We’ve worn this gear in the snow in France at a Yamaha Tenere launch - it works!P R i C e : $349 Demon Pants $225AvA i l A B l e f R o M : Good bike shops everywhere

7 RAllye TiMeBOTH Daniel and Chris wore RXT Rallye helmets during our outback adventure. If you think the cheap price reflects inferior quality you’d be wrong. Besides a nice fit the helmet has a wide eyeport which gives great vision, and the Rallye is also good at keeping wind noise to a minimum.With a visor and flip up screen it’s perfect for adventure riding, although like any helmet with a peak, can catch the wind a bit at higher road speeds. But hey if you don’t like that then just remove the peak and run without it.They look smart in both graphic and solid colours and come in all sizes. P R i C e : g R A P h i C $199, solid colours $179AvA i l A B l e f R o M : Bike shops everywhere

8 CRoss oveRAS ADVENTURE riding becomes more popular so will this type of dual purpose helmet. Zeus’ ZS 2100 B design fits well but if your head is an odd shape you can change over some of the internal padding pieces to tailor it to your head.You can remove the peak without the need for tools, and besides looking very modern the ZS 2100 B works well in the real world. The design keeps wind noise down to acceptable levels and the overall fit and finish is very good.All sizes and a number of different colours are available, as are tinted and iridium visors.P R i C e : $249 AvA i l A B l e f R o M : Leading bike shops

9 ChRis’ TRiuMPh geARCHRIS has had the Triumph adventure jacket and pants for a while now but he reckons it’s one of the best textile suits he’s ever worn. With the liners in, the jacket and pants become waterproof and toasty in winter temperatures.Lots of pockets allow you to carry lots of stuff. In fact there’s so many pockets he actually lost a neck warmer in one for a few days, finding it after he returned from Cycle Torque’s outback adventure.There’s nothing worse than a jacket which fits your body but has a neck designed to fit someone much smaller. Don’t worry, the Triumph jacket’s neck size is the right ratio.P R i C e : Jacket $495, pants $449AvA i l A B l e f R o M : Triumph dealers nationwide

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1 TAll sCReenKTM’S 690 Enduro R comes standard with an enduro style headlight cowl which is not much chop keeping wind off the rider at 100km/h + in the desert.KTM’s accessory touring screen fixed all that, and was fitted in a campsite in about 10 minutes with a couple of tools and a pocket knife. How easy is that?P R i C e : $122.35 A v A i l A B l e f R o M : KTM dealers nationwide

2 sAfARi TAnKFITTING a Safari tank to the 690 Enduro R transformed the bike. In one step the 690 R went from having the smallest fuel range to the largest.When fitted it complements the standard tank, rather than replacing it, so a range of something like 600 kilometres is feasible.Plastic construction, Safari tanks are known for their toughness, and really add value to your bike when you want to update.You will notice a difference in the handling of the bike when the tank is full but the fact you can cover so many kays between fuel stops far outweighs that.P R i C e : $749 A v A i l A B l e f R o M : Direct from Safari Fuel Tanks and selected stockists.

3 sAvA T yResTHE 690 started the adventure trip with a near shagged rear tyre. On day two we needed to replace it so on went a Sava Rockrider.From there the bike covered something like 3000 kilometres of everything from thick sand to highway tar.At the end of the trip it looked like it could go another 3000 kilometres easy which is fantastic for this type of enduro/adventure tyre.It was easy to fit with normal tyre levers on the side of the road at night somewhere near Bourke.Overall both the front and rear Euro made tyres worked very well and looking at how good they wore, really do offer great value for money.Check out the Sava website for the entire range.If you mention this article when you buy any Sava tyre direct from White’s Racing Products you’ll get free freight. P R i C e : Front $120, Rear $160A v A i l A B l e f R o M : Direct from White’s Racing Products or see website for selected stockists.

4 AiR hAwKWE LOVED the Airhawk seats on our adventure trip. In fact Lincoln was so converted he vowed never to tour without one again.Adjustable air cells reduce weight on pressure points for more and more smiles. Made from top quality materials plus a nylon/lycra cover, attachment loop and non-slip urethane base. Suitable for motorcycles, armchair, wheelchair, office 4x4, bus, motorhome, transport, mining, construction, earthmoving and even aviation. In fact it’s suitable for anywhere you plonk your bum.P R i C e : From $159 A v A i l A B l e f R o M : Airhawk Guy

5 guARd iT MADE in the UK by Guard-IT, the rear rack on the 690 Enduro R comes in black anodized only and is extremely well made.There’s numerous holes to attach things to, whether it be by occy strap or webbing.Dead easy to fit too.Protecting the engine is a Guard-IT bash plate which was fitted in something like five minutes. It has a slot so you can still see the oil level of the engine and an

extension which helps protect the rear brake master cylinder.Like the rack the quality of construction is very high and judging by the abuse it suffered on the Bridle Track it’s tough too.P R i C e : Bash plate $349.95, Rack $199.95A v A i l A B l e f R o M : Direct from Adventure Moto

6 e R g o s e ATENDURO seats aren’t known for their plushness, so when we decided to take our long term KTM 690 Enduro R on our outback adventure we thought a better seat would be the go.We didn’t have to look far because KTM offer an accessory gel seat. It doesn’t turn the 690 into a tourer but it definitely made the going on Matt’s bum easier when one of the other riders accosted his Airhawk seat.P R i C e : $447.50 A v A i l A B l e f R o M : KTM dealers nationwide

7 gReAT BAsin luggAgeTHIS luggage is a great problem solver for adventure touring bikes and also fits most sport and sport touring bikes too. Easy on/off with no racks, mounts or braces needed. 50+ litre volume and has a trim and slim profile. Sewn with military grade thread. Very handy, well thought out luggage system. We found it very versatile and functional. Too many features to list - check their website!P R i C e : $489 A v A i l A B l e f R o M : Direct from Adventure Moto

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Tuono V2 Cycle Torque.indd 1 7/14/2011 2:41:08 PM

Father’s Day Book Sale1 Going Postal Nathan Millward had a dream, he wanted to ride across the world on a small motorbike. A decommissioned Australia Post bike, to be precise. Nathan hit the road on his clapped out postie bike, from Sydney to Darwin then through Southeast Asia and onwards to Pakistan and China and the home run through Europe.Going Postal – $30.00

2 Ivan Mauger AutobiographyIVAN Mauger is more than the outstanding individual performer in speedway.He can also point to hugely successful partnerships on and off the track.His latest ‘best pairs’ partner is award-wining journalist, historian and former promoter Martin Rogers who co-authored Ivan’s eagerly-awaited autobiography. Martin has written and/or edited 19 sports books and collaborated with other former speedway champions including Barry Briggs, Bruce Penhall and Jason Crump.Ivan Mauger Autobiography – $39.95

3 The Riders Australia’s love affair with motorcycle racing and its fearless heroes was meant to be.Two things have made it so enticing. The first is the inherent love of freedom, speed and adrenalin - that wild feeling of the wind whipping your face as you fight to take the machine as fast as it can go. The second is the ingrained Australian desire to test ourselves against the rest of the world - to be the quickest of all.The Riders – $35.00

4 Weekend Warriors 1 & 2About five years ago Shaun, Andy and I (Jake) started to run out of places to ride. We were sick of riding the same places time and time again so we decided to pay a visit to the Melbourne Map Centre in Chadstone to see if there was a guide book on the subject. Much to our surprise there was nothing to be found. Sure there were heaps of 4WD and Mountain Bike books but, alas, no trail bike books. The guys in the shop were also surprised, as they had had a lot of enquiries from other trail bike riders.This gave us an idea....... Why not write our own book?And that is exactly what we did!Weekend Warriors 1 & 2 – $44.95

www.cycletorque.com.aullwwwwwwww.cccyyccc ee ooorrrqqquee.cccooom.aaauwwwwwwwwwwww.cccyyycccllleeetttooorrrrqqqqqquuuueeee.cccooommm.aaaaauuuuuuuwww.cycletorque.com.au

To order Call 02 4956 9820 or www.cycletorque.com.auor see order form on page 60

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Book TiTle: _________________________________ QTy: ___ Price: ______



PosTage & handling: ($10.00 or Free iF more Than $100 sPenT) Price: _______

Want more than 3? list them on a separate sheet. ToTal amounT included: _______

name _____________________________

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cheques or money orders should be made out to motorcycle Publishing Pty ltd. send your order to: Book sales, cycle Torque, Po Box 687, Warners Bay, nsW 2282

Ph: (02) 4956 9820, Fax: (02) 4956 9824shop online at www.cycletorque.com.au

To order Call 02 4956 9820

www.cycletorque.com.aullwwwwwwww.cccyyccc ee ooorrrqqquee.cccooom.aaauwwwwwwwwwwww.cccyyycccllleeetttooorrrrqqqqqquuuueeee.cccooommm.aaaaauuuuuuuwww.cycletorque.com.au

Father’s Day Book Sale1 Bitch’n BitumenThis - the ultimate riders/drivers guide book, provides 224 pages of the best roads in Tas, Vic, ACT, NSW, and QLD, including 34 maps covering loads of day rides, overnight trips and awesome week-long tours, and much more.Bitch’n Bitumen – $39.95

2 DEUSCalling this a coffee table book doesn’t do it justice by half. There’s not much writing in the book, and most of what’s there is from TE Lawrence but it definitely is a visual feast with some great work from the creative mind of Carby Tuckwell who was also responsible for the designs and illustrations. It’s a huge book and covers many of the events and beautiful motorcycle creations that have emanated from that end of Parramatta Road in Sydney.DEUS – $89.00

3 Lost on Earth “The only way I am coming home is by bike or by box,” Steve Crombie writes when he first hits the road, travelling 90,000kms from Australia to the Arctic Circle via South America. It takes him two years. He suffers from dehydration, starvation and disease. He rebuilds his motorcycle four times. Along the way Steve not only tests his limits but meets the world head on - waking up behind iron bars in Tierra Del Fuego.Lost on Earth – $34.99

4 Motorcycle Touring BibleTouring on a motorcycle has never been more popular than it is today, but with more and more people hitting the open road, a growing number are doing so without the proper skills and information they need to survive the ordeal. Far too often the trip of a lifetime turns into an unmitigated disaster, leading to expensive breakdowns, arrests, lost wages, broken limbs, death, and even, on more than one ocassion, divorce. Most people who travel aboard motorcycles have learned these lessons the hard way, if they’ve survived long enough, but now readers of the “Motorcycle Touring Bible” can learn an easier way; they can learn from author Fred Rau’s mistakes rather than through the school of hard knocks.Motorcycle Touring Bible – $34.99

5 Norton CommandoThe aim of this book is to provide a wide range and collection of road tests, comparison tests, new model descriptions, long term tests and other articles, taken from the world’s motoring magazines. Informed and reliable test comments, specifications, performance data and photographs. The most comprehensive book of our several road test book series, containing 208-220 pages with 400-450 illustrations.Norton Commando – $59.50

6 Australia’s Speedway King Colin Stewart was once a top international dirt track speedway rider, and one of the trail blazing Australians who established the new sport on the world stage. The distinctive feature of dirt track speedway racing was motorbikes without brakes “broadsiding” round corners at terrifying speeds. Colin was one of the pioneer riders who developed the art of broadsiding, and he was once considered to be the world’s best.Australia’s Speedway King – $29.95

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cYcLE TORQuE TEST – KawaSaKi 1400gTR

RAPID TRANSIT TEST BY cHRiS PicKETT PHOTOS BY nigEL PaTERSOn

RIDING GEAR: KBC helmet, BMW jacket, Spyke gloves, Hornee jeans, Thomas Cook boots.

There are lots of tourers out there but not too many as quick as the

1400gTR.

RAPID TRANSIT

Continued next page

THERE are many ways to describe the Kawasaki 1400GTR: fast, comfortable, handles well, mile eater. They all give you a portion of the picture but the simple thing is the bike is one of the best high speed touring machines ever built.

First released in 2007 to much fanfare, the big GTR was at the very pointy end of the market which also included some great bikes like Honda’s ST1300, Yamaha FJR1300, BMW K 1200 GT, Ducati ST4 and Triumph’s Sprint ST. While all were powerful machines, only the K 1200 GT and FJR1300 could really try and match the 1400GTR for outright grunt, and even then the big Kwaka had the wood on them both.

Things have changed slightly in 2011, with the new BMW K 1600 GT standing toe to toe with the GTR in the real world of actual riding.

In many ways it’s incorrect to describe these bikes as tourers, they are sports tourers due to the huge improvements in power and handling you expect and get from bikes of this nature in 2011.on the stand

The 1352cc inline four cylinder engine boasts just over 160 horsepower and shed loads of torque. The fact that maximum power chimes in at only 8,800rpm shows you this

is not just a top end missile, it’s happy to power away in top gear at low revs.

A neat trick with the engine is the variable valve timing. Seen on some cars for a while now it’s not often been used in motorcycles. Kawasaki claims it’s the first time a motorcycle in this particular market sector has used VVT. Honda’s VFR800 introduced VVT to riders a few years ago now so Honda might dispute this, although you could argue the smaller capacity of the VFR doesn’t pitch it directly at the 1400GTR.

A six-speed gearbox and shaft drive complete the drivetrain package. According to Kawasaki the two-point jointed shaft drive system gives a feel similar to a chain drive system, and after riding the bike it’s hard to argue against.

Front forks are 43mm USD units with rebound damping and preload adjustment. At the rear the Uni-Trak rear shock set-up is what Kawasaki calls a Tetra-Lever. It’s attached at numerous points, with the upshot being it vastly reduces any up and down movement of the suspension during acceleration and deceleration, a trait of shaft drive machines since they were first introduced.

Comfort is covered by the nicely scalloped seat, an electronically adjusted screen and heated handgrips which

cYcLE TORQuE TEST – KawaSaKi 1400gTR

S p e c i f i c at i o n S : KAWASAKI 1400GTR

Engine Type: Liquid-cooled inline four Capacity: 1352cc Transmission: 6-speed Fuel Capacity: 22 Litres Frame Type: Twin beam alloy Seat Height: 815 Wet Weight: 304kg Front Suspension: 43mm USD Rear Suspension: Uni-Trak Brakes: Twin 4-piston, single disc Tyres: 120/70-17, 190/50-17 Price (RRP): $24,999 + ORC

www.cycletorque.com.au/more Call for a quote

1800 24 34 64We’ll Beat aNY PrICe GuaraNteeD*

Lots of technology needs lots of buttons.

Big fast bikes need good brakes. The GTR1400 has them.Handy rack can also take a

top box.

Most rider sizes are catered for by the electric screen.

Continued next page

cYcLE TORQuE TEST – KawaSaKi 1400gTRContinued from previous page

come standard. Panniers also come standard as does the neat little rack which can take a decent sized bag.

The safety side of the equation is taken care of by the KTRC traction control system which activates when rear wheel slip is detected. Handy in dodgy weather. ABS is also standard, as are tyre pressure sensors to let you know if your tyres are a bit low in pressure.on the road

Yes it’s a big bike, weighing in at 304kg full of fuel, and a bit imposing but it’s easier to ride than you might think. It has a lowish seat height which negates the weight somewhat. When you are underway you are seated nicely in the cocoon, with the handlebars swept back and all controls falling nicely to your respective body parts.

Around town the GTR’s torquey engine allows you to be pretty lazy, cruising around in one or two gears almost.

Out on the open road the bike just eats miles so easy. Most riders will experience buffeting from the screen at some point of its range so it’s a matter of selecting the best spot for your

head height.Awesome power is available just about everywhere in the

rev range. Generally we got the bike into top gear and left it there as much as possible. You can play racer too. If you get throttle happy the GTR will launch towards the horizon with a ferocity not often seen on bikes of this genre. One downside to the bike’s size though is a tendency for it to understeer when pushed hard in tighter corners. Interestingly two out of the three testers who rode the bike noticed it while the other didn’t. That’s enough to show you it’s a minor issue, and only when riding it a bit silly maybe.verdict

This is an awesome bit of kit. It has more power than you’ll ever realistically need, handles well enough to push way beyond the boundaries of the regular touring motorcycle, and has safety features many other bikes in this field should have.

At $24,999 it’s on par with the majority of its direct competitors, and you get a lot of motorcycle for your money. n

Maintenance friendly shaft drive looks super trick.

Adjustment aplenty on the forks.

Great mirrors.

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ANDREA DOVIZIOSO

Moto National Accessories PH : 1300 885 355

www.motonational.com.au

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ANDREA DOVIZIOSO

Moto National Accessories PH : 1300 885 355

www.motonational.com.au

Five australie v2.indd 1 6/07/10 11:27:48

cYcLE TORQuE STaFF BiKES ducati fever

YOU might think all of the bikes kicking around Cycle Torque’s shed are test bikes. That’s not the case. All of us are bike enthusiasts, and whether our individual bents are dirt or road based, there is always something interesting gathering dust or heaven forbid being ridden.

Cycle Torque’s Nigel Paterson and I have been fans of Ducati’s 851 for years now. When we were impressionable young riders the 851 and the Honda RC30 were the bikes to be seen on. Of course a bloke in his early ’20s was always going to find it hard to find the available cash to buy either of these bikes back in the day because they were much more expensive than your average motorcycle. I lusted after a Tri Colour 851 so bad it was ridiculous. At the time I made do with a Suzuki Katana which was still a nice bike.

Fast forward many years and I casually made mention to a mate – who happens to be a Ducati specialist – that I would love an 851. The conversation was duly forgotten but a few months later my mate rang me with the words, “I’ve got an 851 for you.” The conversation went back and forwards with questions of condition and cost. A couple of days later I agreed to buy a 1992 American import 851 with some 30,000 miles on the clock, registered and with reasonable tyres. It was cheap, much cheaper than I’d ever seen an 851 advertised before.

I was going to buy it for myself and when I told Nigel about it we decided Cycle Torque should buy it. Lots of fun was had riding it around, we even did a track day.

But then the shoddy original paintwork on the frame had gone powdery which really started to irk me. Before I knew it I was pulling down the most complex motorcycle I had ever

worked on. I was going to just powdercoat the frame and get Ron Young Engineering at Vacy (02 4938 8097) to do the desmodromic heads.

One thing led to another and we bought a pair of new barrels/pistons/rings from Ian Gowanloch, where we also got a set of big bore superbike spec header pipes. A set of factory spec race mufflers also found their way onto the bike and it all eventually went together.

Ron Young Engineering finished the engine, and after being continually frustrated at trying to find places for all the wires, and do a myriad of other jobs I couldn’t seem to get to or had the knowledge to complete I took the bike down to Mike Berry of Desmo Clinic (02 9808 4277) down at Ryde who got the bike running, replaced the starter clutch, and did 99 per cent of the outstanding jobs.

A bit more time in the Pickett shed and it was finished. Since then its sole purpose has been to make me smile with runs to my local coffee haunt, and to give it a run at the Troy Bayliss Experience media day we reported on recently.

Before that we put on a new set of Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa tyres. Retail prices are $205 for the 120/70/17 front, and $299 for the 180/55/17 rear. They transformed the handling of the bike and give loads of grip so we are pretty happy.

Besides me filling a swear jar while working on the 851 not much has gone wrong. There was that time when the bike fell over in the trailer on the way home from Desmo Clinic, denting one of the special mufflers. I prefer not to talk about though, the pain is still a bit deep.

– Chris Pickett

Restoring the first of Ducati’s four-valve superbikes isn’t that easy.

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Cycle Torque August 2011

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Transcript of Cycle Torque August 2011