Innholdsfortegnelse for #335 17-07 i Just Bikes

Fans and owners of Victory motorcycles received a bombshell on 9 January, when Victory’s parent company, Polaris Industries, announced that they would be shutting down the brand – commencing immediately. The full wind-down of operations is already underway, but the complete liquidation of inventories and dismantling of the Victory dealership network is expected to extend into the middle of 2018. While closing down the brand, Polaris say they are committed to supporting their dealers, and will continue supplying Victory Motorcycle parts for the next 10 years (as per standard industry practice), while also honouring existing service and warranty coverage. SHORT HISTORY Polaris Industries developed the Victory brand in the mid-1990s, producing the first cruiser on 4 July, 1998, ahead of release to market for the 1999 model year. The Victory…

CASSONS P/L RJAYS Sturgis open-face helmet While a bargain-priced open-face helmet, the RJAYS ‘Sturgis’ still exceeds all DOT, ECE and AS standards for safety. The fibreglass shell - lightweight and designed for a low, skull-hugging fit - comes with studs for a visor (sold separately) as standard, but a no-stud version is also available. A double D-ring retention system and fabric liner are also standard, with the latter replaceable. The Sturgis comes in gloss white, gloss black, matt black and gunmetal, as well as ‘evil eye’ and ‘barbed wire’ graphic styles, in sizes XS –XXL. KAWASAKI AUSTRALIA Kawasaki peaked cap The latest Kawasaki curved peaked cap has arrived, featuring custom drill mesh and microfiber construction and an adjustable snapback fastener. The new design black cap features the Kawasaki logo front…

Can anyone beat Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea this year, or will it be a three-peat for the Ulsterman? Will Chaz Davies start this year’s season in the same way he finished last year’s? Will the return of Marco Melandri and Eugene Laverty shake up the WSBK order? Can the Aussies in World Supersport threaten the frontrunners? These are just some of many questions that’ll start to be answered at Phillip Island this 24-26 February, when the opening round of the 2017 Motul FIM World Superbike Championship leaps into action. SEASON OF CHANGE There are a number of things to get your head around for season 2017, from new race formats to new (and returning) riders, plus changes to the European rounds, so read through the following primer to make sure you’re…

After some doom and gloom earlier in 2016, Australia’s new motorcycle market finished the year on a high. A total of 114,783 new motorcycles, scooters and ATVs were bought in 2016, marking a 6.6 per cent increase on 2015 figures and the best year for the local industry since 2009. Industry analysts, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), say a surge in sales in the final quarter of 2016 was key to the strong year, which saw growth in three of the four key segments. The ATV segment was 2016’s star performer, with sales increasing by a surprising 14.4 per cent over 2015, while road bike sales increased by 5.3 per cent and off-road bikes by 6.3 per cent. Unfortunately for the scooter market, the sales slide continued last…

Triumph describe their newfor- 2017 Street Triple lineup as “the most explosive, agile and intuitive” performance street motorcycles they’ve ever made. That, obviously, is a pretty big call, and without any time in the saddle, it’s one that can’t be verified, either. So, until a demo ride comes up (likely in a few months’ time), let’s take a look at why Triumph are so excited about the new version of their middleweight naked. THREE’S THE CHARM The first thing to note about the new Street Triple range (Triumph calls them “all new”) is that there have been a number of changes. The naked’s trademark three-cylinder engine remains, but where the 660cc version serviced the LAMS market and the 675cc triple topped the lineup, both those engines have been usurped by…

The 2017 Dakar threw up its usual collection of spills and surprises, and also saw a new winner. In 2016, it was Australia’s Toby Price who won the motorcycle division of the world’s toughest rally in only his second attempt. This year, it was Great Britain’s Sam Sunderland. DROUGHTS AND FLOODING RAINS This year’s 39th Dakar took in Argentina, Bolivia and, for the first time, Paraguay. Prior to the 9,000km rally, the region was suffering from an extended drought, so Dakar organisers committed to bring their own water supply to the bivouac areas to minimise the impact on the local population. As it turned out, the heat and dry conditions were a factor, but rain – and lots of it – would have a bigger impact. Heavy downpours and resulting…

Have you ever tried some bolognaise sauce on your sushi, or maybe some wasabi on your lasagne? We’re sure someone must have tried this, but based on these examples, Italian-Asian fusion doesn’t sound all that appetising! While questionable in the culinary sense, a blend the best of Italy and Japan in mechanical terms can produce something far tastier, as evidenced by the Yamaha ‘XSR900 Abarth’; a limited-edition special that was unveiled at last year’s EICMA motorcycle show in Milan. While based heavily on the XSR900 production model that reached the Australian market last year, the Abarth collaboration has resulted in a distinctly different and very attractive machine. FIRST FUSION The XSR900 Abarth marks the first collaboration between the Japanese motorcycle brand and the Italian tuning house better known for an association with Fiat that…