Innholdsfortegnelse for #345 18-04 i Just Bikes

Triumph’s new Bonneville family will soon get a new member, with the Speedmaster set to join the T100, T120, Thruxton, Street Twin, Street Cup, Street Scrambler and newly-released Bobber. Due for Australian release in March, 2018, the new Speedmaster follows the pattern set by the previous generation (which was available from 2003 to 2016), in taking the Bonneville platform and making it more of a laidback cruiser. CRUISIN’ WITH GRUNT whereas the old Speedmaster used the 865cc air-cooled Triumph twin, this new version will run the ‘high torque’ version of the latest 1200cc liquid-cooled parallel twin that’s used in the new T120 Bonneville, Bobber and Thruxton. Claimed output is 57kW at 6100rpm and 106Nm at 4000rpm: 25 per cent more power and 42 per cent more torque than the previous…

Bringing the legendary off-road ability of their GS model to a smaller, LAMS-approved package, BMW Motorrad’s all-new G 310 GS is now in Australia. Based on the G 310 R commuter that’s also just arrived locally, the GS is described as a real all-rounder and arrives as an alternative to similar compact adventure tourers, like Honda’s new CRF 250 Rally and Kawasaki’s Versys-X 300. However, BMW claim their version is unrivalled in its segment. Styled like its larger GS siblings, with a high front mudguard, wide bars and a back end with extra clearance, the G 310 GS also features cast alloy wheels and chain drive, like the G 650 GS. Wet weight is listed at 169.5kg, while the seat height of 835mm is part of ‘upright’ rider ergonomics that…

With the biennial Sydney Motorcycle Show fast approaching, organisers Troy Bayliss Events, have announced a number of special attractions. The location for this year’s show - the all-new Sydney International Convention Centre at Darling Harbour - will allow Aussie stuntman extraordinaire, Robbie Maddison, to put his waterbike into action on the Cockle Bay area of Darling Harbour. Following its debut at Tahiti’s famous Teahupoo surf break in 2015, the Sydney M/C Show will mark the first time the waterbike has been in action in public, with Maddison to demonstrate it on both the Saturday and Sunday of the 24–26 November event on a special ‘aquatic flat track’ course. When he’s not on the water, Maddison and the bike will be at the show for fans to meet across all three…

Just like last year, the 2017 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK) went down to the seventh and final round to decide the champion. The only difference this year was that one of the three title contenders was Josh Waters (Suzuki), who was fighting against longtime competitors, Troy Herfoss (Honda) and Wayne Maxwell (Yamaha). THREEWAY FIGHT Herfoss and his Crankt Protein Team Honda Racing squad entered the grand finale at Phillip Island on 6-8 October with a sixpoint championship lead over Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Waters, while Yamaha Racing Team’s Maxwell was nine points behind Waters after he crashed his YZF-R1M in race two at the Sydney Motorsport Park round (8-10 September). For those who didn’t make it down to the 4.445km seaside circuit to witness…

24th-26th NOVEMBER 2017 For nearly 50 years, the Geelong Sprints brought a magnificent collection of classic sports vehicles to Geelong’s waterfront for the classic ¼ mile sprints, attracting many of the world’s best drivers including Sir Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss, Dick Johnson, Jim Richards and Alan Jones. Towards the late 90s and early 2000s, the event was generally regarded as the largest classic motorsport event of its type in Australia before it fell dormant. Quite literally ‘revived’ as the Geelong Revival Motoring Festival in 2012, the event has expanded to celebrate all things vintage and offers the motoring community a chance to see over 1000 valuable and unique cars that are rarely seen in public. ¼ MILE SPRINTS Spectators will witness 400 unique cars and motorcycles sprint down Ritchie Boulevard…

Indian Motorcycle Australia has released pricing on their 2018 range, which includes three new models, while existing models get new colours and features. The trio of new arrivals includes the Scout Bobber, (see JUST BIKES #342) which is in Indian dealerships now, with the rest of the MY18 lineup to follow in late November. Priced at $18,995 ride away, the Scout Bobber is available in a choice of five colours. Also new is the Springfield Dark Horse, a bagger with blackout everything, quickrelease windshield and a cutaway front guard showcasing a new 19-inch front wheel. Finished in matte Thunder Black Smoke with gloss black detailing, the Springfield Dark Horse is $34,995 ride away. The third new model is the Roadmaster Elite, a Chieftain-based, limited edition tourer that comes with Indian’s…

A compact companion to Yamaha’s TMAX 530 scooter, in the form of the XMAX 300, started arriving in Yamaha dealerships in October. Filling the gap between the YW125 and the big TMAX in Yamaha’s scooter lineup, the XMAX 300 takes the latter model’s sports styling and wraps it around a 292cc ‘Blue Core’ single cylinder engine that’s Euro4 emissions compliant. While power and economy figures haven’t been released, Yamaha says the engine is both abundantly powerful and extremely fuel-efficient, thanks to a number of design and engineering features, including a new fuel injection system. The TMAX-inspired chassis offers a sportier riding position and is said to provide motorcycle levels of handling performance. The telescopic front fork and twin-shock unit swingarm offer 110mm and 79mm of travel, respectively, with Yamaha’s Traction…

Tickets for the 2018 FIM World Superbike Championship season opener at Phillip Island are now available on pre-sale through Ticketek. With the season opening Aussie round scheduled for 23-25 February (TBC), there’ll be a WSBK first at Phillip Island next year, with all three-day ticket holders also getting a FREE Paddock Pass. A three-day Paddock Pass allows you to mingle amongst the international teams, attend autograph sessions and rider media conferences, as well as access all the daily entertainment in the Paddock Show. Pre-purchased three-day General Admission tickets are just $120 per person, with Bar SBK passes just $260 for all three days. Both are discounted compared to the gate price, with similar savings available with other ticketing options when you purchase in advance. Of course, there are a bunch…

Team Australia finished sixth overall at this year’s Motocross of Nations held at Matterley Basin in Great Britain, with the star in the three-rider Aussie squad being Hunter Lawrence. In what were initially good conditions, Lawrence qualified second in the MX2 class, but overnight rain made the circuit heavy and boggy for race day. This proved to be no problem for the 18-year-old from Landsborough in Queensland, as he finished fourth in the first moto (MXGP and MX2) on his Suzuki 250, ahead of many top flight competitors on 450cc machinery, then backed up with eighth in his second moto (MX2 and Open) despite a late race fall. The 4-8 result was enough for Lawrence to win the MX2 class and make a big contribution to Team Australia’s placing in…

Having already ridden Kawasaki’s Z650L naked earlier this year, I was keen to test the bigger, beefier new Z900, so when the opportunity came up recently, I jumped at it. Obviously, with almost 300 more cubic centimetres, the Z900 would offer more grunt, but would it offer a better riding experience? LARGER, BUT LITTLER Replacing the Z800, the Z900 is much more than a case of just sticking a few extra horses in the engine. For starters, there’s an all-new chassis, with the previous model’s backbone frame replaced with a trellis frame, which is a factor in the new arrival’s substantially reduced weight. Even with its larger engine, standard ABS and substantial 17-litre fuel tank, the Z900 tips the scales at 210kg; a full 21kg lighter than the Z800. While…

I do not believe there is a more evocative production bike on earth. From every angle the Super Duke R visually screams, paws at the ground and snorts “Bring it, bastard!” And that’s all well and good, but if its abilities didn’t match its looks it would be just another lame-duck design exercise. There’s no point looking like a demon made of hate if you’re a butterfly made of fluff, is there? But in the Super Duke R’s case, its ability not only matches expectations, it exceeds them. It is KTM’s King-Beast and it can do it all. KTM even put that Beast tag on the cover of its brochure. Beast 2.0 it called the Super Duke R. WHAT’S NEW FOR THE BEAST? A few bits and pieces. The entire…

Following the initial collaboration between Lewis Hamilton and MV Agusta that resulted in the Brutale-based Dragster RR LH, the three-time F1 champ and the boutique Italian bike brand’s Castiglioni Research Centre (CRC) have teamed up again to produce a second special model – the F4 LH44. With a number of styling and spec changes inspired and suggested by Hamilton, the special edition is limited to just 44 units (Hamilton’s race number) worldwide. Based on the F4 RC, the F4 LH44 features a performance upgrade to the Corsa Corta 998cc 4-cylinder engine, with a bespoke ECU and titanium silencer increasing power from 152kW to 158kW. Premium Ohlins suspension is used at both ends, with a USD NIX 30 TiN-coated fork at the front that offers separatelyadjustable compression, rebound and pre-load. At…

Kymco Australia has released the first details on their premium AK550 scooter, which is due for local release in December. A maxi-scooter that’s billed as combining performance and handling with touring ability, the AK550 offers several advanced technology features as standard, with luxury, comfort and practicality also built in. Based around a lightweight aluminium frame, the AK550 is powered by a fuelinjected 550cc twin-cylinder engine matched to a CVT transmission and delivering a claimed 39.9kW and 55.6Nm. Two selectable riding modes – normal and rain – alter the power delivery to suit different road and riding conditions. Further lightweighting measures, like aluminium wheels and low-weight radial tyres, as well as a near-50/50 front/ rear weight distribution, are designed to lower the scooter’s centre of gravity to improve handling and provide…

Australia’s mens team at the 2017 Trials des Nations (TdN) are on a high after winning the International Class category. The Aussie team of Kyle Middleton, Connor Hogan and Christopher Bayles, all on Gas Gas bikes, triumphed over teams from 12 other nations, including Ireland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Switzerland and the USA. In the main TdN Championship for the top-flight trials teams, Spain triumphed for the fourteenth consecutive year, defeating Great Britain and Japan, despite a poor performance from individual trials world champion, Toni Bou. Held at Baiona on Spain’s Atlantic coast in September, this year’s TdN International Class saw the Czech Republic get the early advantage over Australia following an unpenalised first lap of the tough waterfront course that comprised fifteen individual sections. On lap two, the…

Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jonathan Rea has won the 2017 Motul FIM World Superbike Championship, wrapping up the title at Magny- Cours in France with two rounds remaining. The championship is Rea’s third straight in the production bike-based category, and while other riders have won three WSBK championships, including our own Troy Bayliss, Rea is the first to win three in succession. FRENCH DECIDER Coming into the tenth round at Magny- Cours, Rea held a 120-point lead over second-placed competitor and Kawasaki team mate, Tom Sykes, with Aruba.it Ducati’s Chaz Davies third overall. With all three riders still in championship contention, Rea needed to finish at least five points ahead of Sykes, while not conceding any more than twelve points to Davies to take the title. As it turned out, this…

Every year, Phillip Island turns on something special for its round of MotoGP. This year was no exception, with weather playing a factor, some surprises in qualifying, as well as more than a few surprises on the track come race day. STATE OF PLAY The MotoGP circus came to Australia, the sixteenth round of the 2017 championship, with the premier class title fight down to just two riders. Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Maverick Vinales and Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa were both mathematical possibilities, but in reality, Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez or Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso were the only realistic chances to win this year’s MotoGP championship, Marquez holding an 11-point lead over Dovzioso. Both contenders were considered strong possibilities for the race win, along with Vinales and the tearaway rookie of…