Innholdsfortegnelse for #343 18-02 i Just Bikes

Australia’s Jack Miller has taken the next step in his MotoGP career, announcing a switch to Ducati for 2018. When HRC chose not to renew Miller’s contract, it opened the door for a move to Ducati; a switch the 22-year-old Queenslander has been upbeat about since making the announcement on the eve of the Austrian Grand Prix. Miller will join the Octo Pramac Ducati squad on a one-year deal, partnering Danilo Petrucci and replacing Scott Redding, but the Aussie’s contract will be direct with Ducati, rather than the Pramac team. This is similar to the HRC contract he’s had for the past three years. The one-year contract will leave Miller with options when most of the current crop of rider contracts come up for renewal at the end of the…

While the RAM 2500 and 3500 are made for carrying and towing BIG loads, JUST BIKES recently spent some time in a RAM 2500 and found that this tough truck can be just as versatile for smaller hauling. For those not familiar with them, RAM trucks are US-made large pickups; and were previously known as Dodge Rams before the model name became a brand name in its own right in 2009. RAM landed here – officially – at the end of 2015, via American Special Vehicles - a joint venture between Walkinshaw Automotive Group and Ateco Automotive, who undertake the right-hand drive re-manufacture and other ADR and compliance requirements. TWO TO CHOOSE From the broader RAM range available in the US, two variants are offered locally: the RAM 2500; and…

GOT A HOT NEW PRODUCT FOR JUST BIKES READERS? SEND DETAILS, ALONG WITH A SELECTION OF GOOD QUALITY, HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS, TO: EDITORIAL@JUSTAUTO.COM.AU AND PUT ‘JUST BIKES WHAT’S HOT’ IN THE SUBJECT LINE. RPHA 11 HELMETS Visit your local Motorcycle Dealer McLeod Accessories: 1300 300 191 Helmets are made with PIM PLUS Shell Construction. Have optimized shell design for outstanding ventilation, RapidFire™ Shield Replacement System, aerodynamic shell structure for extreme performance at maximum speeds. Emergency Kit (Cheek Pads) for safe & quick release in emergency. Wide eye port provides better peripheral vision. Dual Lock visor System for high speed racing condition.Multicool Interior, antibacterial, moisture wicking & quick drying. Removable & washable liner & cheek pads. Comes standard with both the 2D Dark Smoke Shield & Anti-fog insert lens.and Five year…

This year’s sixth annual Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) looks set to be the largest ever, with the 24 September fundraising ride for prostate cancer and men’s mental health charities expected to attract more than 70,000 riders worldwide. What started as a Sydney-only event organised by Mark Hawwa has gone global, with rides now held in 600 cities around the world and US$8 million raised since 2013. This year, the goal is to raise US$5 million worldwide, so DGR organisers are urging as many lady and gentleman motorcyclists as possible to get involved. The “rules” of the DGR require participants to ride classic motorcycles, scooters or sidecar outfits, but retrostyled modern bikes, as well as old-school choppers, bobbers, café racers, scramblers, street trackers and brat-style bikes are also welcome, while ladies…

When I first saw pictures of the Bobber, I went “Yeah…nah…” in my head. That’s just not going to work as a motorcycle, I figured. The last time a motorcycle manufacturer adopted style over substance and tried to make a bike look like a rigid and still have suspension, we ended up with the Harley-Davidson Softail. Every corner became an adventure, every bend a challenge and each bump a clunk-fest of surrender. How was this going to be any different? SURPRISE SUSPENSION The horizontal monoshock was visible under the seat – and the seat itself was suspended on a beam of handsome aluminium and seemed to hang in space – just waiting to destroy your spine. Or so I thought. Still, because I am a hoary old bison with some…

One of the most popular events on the MotoGP calendar, the Australian round at Phillip Island is a “must-do” event for any bona fide motorcyclist. And this year’s Aussie round looks more like a must do than ever. With a tight championship battle atme of press time, the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix could prove pivotal in deciding the 2017 champion. As such, expect to see plenty of action at the Island circuit this 20-22 October. With Jorge Lorenzo on a Ducati, Maverick Vinales on a Yamaha, Andrea Iannone on a Suzuki and the giant-killing performance of Johann Zarco, there’ll be plenty that’s ‘new’ to see on the track this year. On top of that, there’s the improved performance from Andrea Dovizioso, the always-reliable Valentino Rossi and Jack Miller’s home round…

NSW SEPTEMBER, FRIDAY, 15TH, 2017 34TH ANNUAL PELICAN RALLY Presented by Central Coast Classic Motorcycle Club, Camping and Limited Bunk accomodation available. Camp Chapman, Somersby, NSW Central Coast Neil 0418 233196 or Mark 02 43 284 060 SEPTEMBER, SUNDAY, 17TH, 2017 CENTRAL COAST MOTORCYCLE ONLY SWAP MEET Motorcycle parts and accessories one day only. Hosted by Central Coast Vintage Motorcycle Club Inc. No glass, no camping, no dogs. Sites 6m sq $15.00 (includes driver entry passengers and lookers $3.00) Doyalson Wyee RSL Club Pacific Highway, Doyalson (500 metres north past the traffic lights at the Scenic Drive / Wyee Road at Wentworth Avenue) For full details visit our website ccvmcc.org.au Allan (02) 4396 7187 or Colin 0243991372 SEPTEMBER, SATURDAY, 23RD, 2017 TEMOA SWAP MEET Friday set up from 4pm, overnight…

Ahead of their arrival in Australia, Harley- Davidson has announced details of their Touring range for 2018. The main change comes in the limited-edition CVO family, which will expand from two models to three, all of which are powered by the 117 cubic inch Milwaukee-Eight engine. Offering up to 160Nm of torque, the Milwaukee-Eight 117 is the largest displacement engine ever offered in a factory Harley, and is essentially a Screamin’ Eagle version of the Milwaukee-Eight 114. The 1923cc v-twin will be exclusive to the CVO Touring range for 2018, which comprises the CVO Street Glide, CVO Limited and CVO Road Glide; the latter is the new addition. Styling and colours have been altered for the new models, too, while an enhanced tech platform features “advanced integrated communications technology.” This…

If you’ve always wanted to ride a sportsbike at some point in your life, but have always put it off, you’ll empathise with my mate Doug. Having turned 50, Doug sits in an unenviable statistical group – the middle-aged male who decides to take up riding a sportsbike. Call it mid-life crisis, call it making up for lost time, call it whatever you like, actually; the fact is Doug fell in love with bikes – particularly fast ones - and because I work for JUST BIKES, he figures I’m the fount of all knowledge when it comes to motorcycles. That’s how I entered this story. STEP-THROUGH START To backtrack a couple of years, Doug’s introduction to motorcycling was on a Vespa around Sydney; that gave him the motorcycling bug. From…

I have been using these finelooking hand-shoes for a while now. I’ve done maybe 3000kms with them. Most of those kilometres have been brisk, and there was even a mad dash to Canberra from Sydney and back where it rained relentlessly. The gloves were dry on the way down, but finally started letting the water through on the way back. But I’m thinking three hours of dry-time is pretty good. I know it says they are waterproof on the box. But nothing is waterproof. So the age-old battle against frozen hands was fought yet again. Not every bike I ride has heated handgrips. So I do seek a cold-weather glove that doesn’t leave me feeling like I have inserted my hand into a frozen cat. It’s also important to have…