Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 155 i Australian Road Rider

Not only is there a feature devoted to suspension, there’s a bike with electronically adjustable suspension (the Kawasaki Versys) and most of the others have either fully or at least extensively adjustable forks and shocks. It wasn’t long ago many bikes in these categories were supplied with suspension which included only preload-adjustable rear shocks. Well set-up quality suspension transforms a motorcycle, but for too long motorcyclists have only been interested in upgrading the crap stock units on their bikes when they either fail, go racing or get the opportunity to ride something which works better. The reality is excellent suspension works on every level to provide a more comfortable, better handling ride, providing more confidence, less fatigue, better performance and can even make your tyres last longer. If your suspension…

Every year NSW’s Southern Highlands dedicates June to its fabulous pies when the now-famous ‘Pie Time’ occupies the whole month. This festival of pastry and delectable fillings brings out some of the best bakers in the country and prizes are awarded. The big finale is on the last weekend of June where the outstanding ovens are acknowledged. The best thing is that these beaut baked goods are available all year round at dozens of outlets all over the Southern Highlands like the biker-friendly Robertson Pie Shop – and we know Road Riders love their pies! LATE NEWS: Pie Time has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but be assured there will be lots of great pies available in the region if the bakers are baking.…

After a brief spell of riding other people’s motorbikes, I’m back to riding mine, which means I’m not riding at all. The Norton has a frustrating miss that I just can’t shake and the Ducati has gone AWOL, choosing to spend some quality time with my mechanically-minded brother-in-law Stuart. Time to get philosophical. Philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence, according to something I just read on the internet. Another definition is a theory or attitude that acts as a guiding principle for behaviour. I’m thinking we learn a lot about life from motorcycling, which also shapes our attitudes and behaviour. My philosophy in life is to not crash. One bloke who knew the relationship between motorcycles and philosophy better than most was Robert…

The suspension on the Versys 1000 SE comprises 43mm USD forks and a single rear shock, offering 150mm of front wheel travel and 152mm at the back. Based on the semi-active systems in Kawasaki’s sportsbikes, the KECS system adjusts damping rates in real time based on what the suspension movement is, bike speed, acceleration and deceleration rates and more. A single solenoid valve with direct action makes the adjustments which Kawasaki claims is much faster (one millisecond) than step motors or pilot valves. This provides better feel and comfort. Preload is controlled manually, but is adjusted electronically — set via the instruments to single rider, rider and luggage, two-up or two-up with luggage. Additionally, in Rider mode you can go in and set any configuration of suspension settings you like.…

This landmark licensed cafe/motel is offered for sale on a ‘Walk In, Walk Out’ basis. Its location at the junction of the Oxley Highway (Fitzroy St) and Thunderbolts Way, makes it a popular haven for road travellers, particularly motorcycle leisure groups. The Oxley Highway is regarded as the ‘Motorcycle Mecca’ of the New England Region. The ground floor includes the bar area, commercial kitchen and dining rooms which are fully furnished and equipped to cater for approximately 80 patrons. The generous outdoor areas can service additional guests for special occasions or themed functions (i.e weddings etc). The property consists of a very well maintained, two-storey brick building with a total floor area of approx. 700 square metres, including an attached, self-contained cottage, on 1,563 square metres of land, surrounded by…

I went looking for a simple app to record suspension settings, and I found one which is almost too simple… but it’s also $1.49, so not a lot to lose if I didn’t like it. iMotoSuspension runs an image of a sportsbike with coloured dots in the places where adjustments might be available. About the only custom setting is high and low speed compression damping… which I only have at the rear of the bike, hence the blank red dot at the forks. You can record settings for multiple bikes and create new records for each bike to record changes - but you can’t delete records without deleting all of the records for a particular bike. The five buttons across the bottom of the screen give you some basic information…

It’s not often I’m relieved to be back home after a week or so away on the bike, but this time around it was a little different. With no power, no phones, no running water and little hope of escape, our post-Christmas ride 2019 wasn’t looking great. This was no Caribbean cruise, but if you have to be trapped in a bushfire catastrophe, it could be worse than being in Tooma, NSW, at the height of the crisis. Standing on the front porch of Brigham House B&B, formerly the Tooma General Store, we were shocked by the stories from those arriving out the front. Some had lost everything to the flames; their homes and livelihoods gone up in smoke. We were suddenly confronted by a situation equally as ferocious as…

More power, more torque, better roll-ons, better acceleration and more – Triumph is launching three new 900cc Tigers, with an additional two ‘Pro’ Variants, for a massive new range of its long-running midrange adventure bike. The new machines are lighter, more responsive and better looking, with built-in high tech ‘ride-enhancing’ electronics to make them, according the Triumph, “the most capable, agile and dynamic middleweight adventure bikes available.” The new 900cc engine produces more power and torque across the whole rev range than the outgoing Tiger 800 models and is Euro5 emissions compliant. Possibly more importantly is the change to the firing order, now 1-3-2, which will give the new triple a unique character and feel. Power is up to 93hp with torque peaking at 87Nm. All the new models are…

Suzuki’s new 1050 V-Strom should be available soon, with stocks of the new model hitting showrooms ‘mid 2020’. With standard and XT (Cross-Touring) versions of the 1037cc V-Twin powered adventure bike, the new models will feature lots of smart electronics and ability. With drive modes, cruise control, Suzuki’s Intelligent Ride System (S.I.R.S), upgraded traction control and more. The XT model will feature hill hold, Slope Dependent and Load Dependent control systems. Hill hold control automatically applies the rear brake when the motorcycle is stopped on an upward slope to prevent rollback when the brakes and clutch are released. Slope Dependent control constantly monitors posture and if required controls brake pressure to prevent rear wheel lift during downhill braking. Load Dependent system supports optimal braking by compensating for varying load conditions…

The 2020 Yamaha R1 and R1M have been refined in ways to make them better on the track, and better bikes for race teams to build into race winners. Most of the changes aren’t going to be immediately apparent for most riders in most situations, but they could make the difference between challenging for a championship (or not) at the top-level of racing, so if the Yamaha teams are challenging for wins in this year’s WSBK, ARR told you so here. The Aussie motorcycle media was able to ride the bikes thanks to the Yamaha R-Experience — a day organised by the manufacturer for owners of R-series machines to experience what it’s like to ride a racing circuit, with track training provided by motoDNA. There was a presentation, followed by…

I last slung a leg over an 821 Monster back in early 2016, which seems like a lifetime ago now, although I enjoyed it so much the memory remains fresh. It was pretty much a brand-new model from the wheels up then, built around the utterly superb 11-degree Testastretta L-twin motor inherited from the then updated Hypermotard, which was definitely the icing on the big red torque-flavoured cake. Back then we declared it the best Monster ever made, featuring excellent revisions to the geometry and ergonomics that totally eliminated our previous gripes with the range, those being an unnaturally wide and low handlebar position and a seat that sloped markedly towards the tank, making it hard not to continually slide forward. Hitting the brakes on a bumpy road would almost…

One warm summer night three years ago, I was strolling along a cobbled street in colonial-era Habana Vieja (Old Havana) when Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara’s son bounded out of a bar and hugged me. Like his dad, Ernesto ‘Jr’ is a motorcycle enthusiast. When I first met him four years prior, he was riding a battered, jade-coloured 1948 Harley-Davidson Flathead through Havana’s potholed streets. That night, after we dined together at Harley-themed bar Chacón 162, Guevara sped off on a sleek new Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Classic. I did a double take. It seemed totally out of place in this twilight-zone country that’s half frozen in time. High-finned, voluptuous dowagers from the 1950s are everywhere in Cuba: chrome-laden DeSotos, corpulent Buicks, stylish Plymouth Furies and other relics putter alongside sober Soviet-era…

You don’t have to put up with a poorly-handling motorcycle due to sacked-out suspension – there are options which don’t have to run into thousands of dollars yet can bring back the control and feel the bike had when it was new. They aren’t heavily promoted and won’t be in stock at your local bike shop, but there’s a really good chance there’s a reasonably priced replacement rear shock (or pair if your bike takes two) and your forks can be serviced. REPAIR There are numerous suspension service shops dotted around the country. Many of them will open up the standard shock which came with your bike, clean it out and replace the oil – which will make a huge difference to the performance of the shock. In theory the…

You’ve all seen those ridiculous hairpin roads in Europe, like the famous road from La Turbie to Monaco, where Princess Grace drove her Rover P6 over the edge into oblivion. These tortuous thoroughfares, so beloved by daring Mini Cooper drivers and mad motorcyclists, are all over the mountainous midriff of Europe right down to the Mediterranean naval. But one such road, once hidden behind the communist curtain of the former Yugoslavia, is re-emerging as a riding ritual. The Cetinje-Kotor Road, or just R-1 (Regional Road 1), is a 38km length of road between the town of Cetinje and the historic port of Kotor. The most challenging part of the road is the short 8.3km stretch with 16 hairpins dubbed Kotor Serpentine, while the whole length of the road itself has…

Harley-Davidson has probably sold out of its freshly announced 30th Anniversary Fat Boy. They aren’t building many… Harley tell us it’s “Cloaked in dark finishes with bronze highlights and powered by a blacked-out Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine” and there will only be 2500 built. Originally based on the silhouette of the 1949 HydraGlide, the Fat Boy has been incredibly successful for Harley-Davidson, selling very, very well for 30 years. This model is dark, with blacked-out motor, exhaust, disc wheels and its Vivid Black paint. The yellow flashes of the original model on the rocker covers are now bronze, as is the tank logo and other highlights. The 30-Anniversary Fat Boy puts to torque from the 114 cubic inch engine to the ground via a fat 240-section rear tyre. You’ll need to…

The standard Honda Africa Twin, updated for 2020 and lighter, more powerful and more electronics and features, is now priced at $19,990. There will be one Africa Twin variant available, with a manual transmission, offered in two colours – Grand Prix Red and Matte Ballistic Black. There will be three Africa Twin Adventure Sports variants available: Manual ($23,499), DCT ($24,499) and the Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES (DCT with Showa EERATM /Electronic Suspension, $26,499.) All three Adventure Sports models are available in Pearl Glare White (Tri-Colour). All the Africa twin models have been enhanced for better off road abilities.…

In 2018, I travelled from my home in Bali to the neighbouring island of Lombok to do a ride report for Australian Road Rider. The trip was a disaster. When I stopped to take my first riding selfie — something I do by fixing a camera onto a tripod, setting the 10-second timer and making a run for my bike before the shutter clicks — a monkey climbed onto the tripod, knocked it down and broke the lens. I tried taking riding selfies with my smartphone but they didn’t cut the mustard and the story was put on hold. Two months later, the people of Lombok suffered a much larger disaster of their own. Between July and August, the island was hit by five major earthquakes measuring up to seven…

“We’ve got better riding roads than you Mexicans!” If I had a beer for every time my mates from convict country (aka NSW) and I argued over that, I’d be in rehab by now. Same goes with my banana-bending mates in Queensland, while the Tassie devils just sit back with a smug smile on their face. Well I’m here to tell you we Mexicans have some of the best riding roads on the mainland. Let the arguments continue. Seriously, if you’re coming for a ride in Victoria and you’re not suffering from destination fixation, there’s some great roads to take in. I’m sure many of you know about some, but a little local knowledge and insight can help you get more enjoyment out of your ride. Here’s a list of…

Are you looking for a business opportunity which fits in with your motorcycling lifestyle? If so, the Walcha Royal Cafe might be the perfect fit. A long-established, profitable business which runs on return customers, both locals and travellers, especially motorcyclists exploring the awesome roads in the area. The current owners, Brad and Toni, have a classic sidecar outfit! Located in the beautiful town of Walcha, from here riders can enjoy the famous Oxley Highway, the twisty Thunderbolts Way and it’s close Waterfall Way too. Dirt bike and adventure routes abound in the area. Riders use the Walcha Royal Cafe as both a meal and accommodation destination. A licensed restaurant and take-away, the Walcha Royal Cafe can cater for individuals, small and large groups, with indoor and outdoor seating. Upstairs is…

I’ve written about my preference for multiple cheaper motorcycles in my garage to one higher-priced bike, but when it comes to upgrades the economics are harder to justify. Spending thousands of dollars on suspension on a bike only worth around $5000 would seem crazy to most people. But not to me. For a start, I had to do something: sell the bike, repair the current suspension, buy new fork springs and a second-hand shock or new suspension all round. Selling the bike wasn’t an option: replacing it with something else would have resulted in spending more money in the hope it would be better sprung and stay that way – my FJR’s standard suspension went from ‘acceptable’ to ‘stuffed’ inside a 10,000km window. I seriously considered having the shock repaired…

A modular helmet was once called a ‘flip-top’, because the chin piece can pivot up, out of the view of the wearer, killing the claustrophobic feel some people experience in a conventional full face helmet. Modulars aren’t usually designed to be used with the chin piece up while riding - although there are exceptions - but they are often easier to put on and remove than a conventional lid, especially if you wear glasses, are great for being able to be heard without having to take off your lid (which is one reason coppers and couriers love them) and are excellent for touring photographers (which is why I’ve worn them, for selected rides, for over 20 years). The downsides of modulars are weight, price and a perception they aren’t as…

Performance motorcycles come in many shapes and sizes, from the racetrack refugees with their clip-ons and slippery fairings to naked roadburners pushing close to 200HP. Then there are adventure bikes with crazy horsepower figures, lightweight machines, dirt bikes… but essentially nothing from America. The US of A, the most successful capitalist economy the world’s ever seen and home to some of the oldest bike manufacturers on the planet, doesn’t build performance bikes in any numbers. Until now. The Indian FTR 1200S is a 120-horsepower flat-track racer-inspired ripper, designed for blasting backroads and dirt roads. CONCEPT Indian built the FTR750 racer to win, and it did, taking out the Flat Track Championships in 2017 and 2018 before the road-going version was released. We saw the FTR 1200 custom first, a race-bike…

IS THE FUTURE SUPERCHARGED? In an age when where job security is out the window (because we’re all on contracts), where real wages haven’t gone up years (because everyone’s afraid of losing their job) and the idea of and aged pension is no longer an entitlement but welfare (that would be the Morrison Government), I’m glad I can forget all that with a twist of the throttle. Whether it’s my old FJR, the new Rocket 3 (this issue) or the Supercharged Z H2 (next issue), twisting the right wrist when there are gobs of horsepowers attached to the grip is a lot of fun. Next issue Australian Road Rider is testing the Z H2, Kawasaki’s make-or-break Supercharged model. Kawasaki has been building supercharged motorcycles for a few years now, but…