Innholdsfortegnelse for #350 18-09 i Just Bikes

Harley-Davidson’s new product onslaught continues, and the latest offering in the Motor Company’s plans to bring 100 new motorcycles to market by 2027 is a pair of reimagined Sportsters. The ‘Iron 1200’ and ‘Forty-Eight Special’ were unveiled in February and while both are based on the Evolution 1200cc Sportster platform, each has its own identity, thanks to clever use of wheels, paint, graphics and bolt-on bits. With more than six decades of heritage to dip into (the Sportster arrived in 1957), both new Sportsters have taken specific inspiration from the ‘Disco Decade’. The stripes and use of a “formal” font for the Harley-Davidson tank decal on both new models is a clear nod to the 1970s and H-D’s AMF era. Those that remember models like the 1976 XLH Sportster and…

Kawasaki used the Phillip Island World Superbike round to officially unveil the new variant of their Z900RS retro model – the Z900RS Cafe. Taking the styling features (inspired by the original Z1) of the Z900RS, the Café version adds a bikini fairing, lower-set handlebars and a café racer-inspired seat. The Café also comes in a Vintage Lime Green colour scheme, with Pearl Storm Grey optional; both of which are unavailable on the Z900RS. Less obvious changes include a satin finish on the frame and exhaust (instead of gloss), lower-set mirrors, black wheels with green pinstripes, a white-painted spring on the Back-Link shock, repositioned front indicators and blackout treatment for a number of other parts, like the radiator shroud and front mudguard mounts. With features like the fairing and repositioned bars,…

Royal Enfield are best known for their classics, specifically the ‘Bullet’ models that can trace their history back to the 1950s. More recently, the ‘Himalayan’ adventure tourer has shown a new direction for the Indian manufacturer, but the classic models remain the company’s bread and butter. A new addition to that classic family – at least a new addition to the Australian Royal Enfield range – has arrived in the form of the ‘Rumbler 350’. BIRD BANNED First things first. The “Rumbler” name is a little odd and it’s not what this model is known as in its home market. It’s actually called the ‘Thunderbird’ in India, but Triumph, obviously, wouldn’t be too happy seeing that name here, so it’s Rumbler for the Australian market. In India, the Thunderbird/Rumbler is…

Penrite Honda Racing Team recently confirmed their rider pairing that will contest this year’s MX Nationals and Australian Supercross Championship, as well as a new program that will see the squad support one of their riders in overseas competition. Number 1 rider for the Yarrive Konskymanaged team is Brett Metcalfe. Bringing vast national and international experience to the team, Metcalfe also brings knowledge of Honda, as the 33-year-old has enjoyed most of his success to date on the red machines. “I want to win an Australian Motocross Championship in MX1 before I finish racing professionally,” Metcalfe explained. “During my career I’ve achieved my best overall results with Honda. In 2009, I was third in the (AMA) 250 class and, in 2010, I took six podium finishes on my way to…

While this test is all about Suzuki, it’s also about Honda, because that brand, and specifically that brand’s Grom 125, is the reason why we’re seeing so many compact commuters and sportsbikes in the local market. When the Grom was launched here in 2016, many observers, myself included, thought it was a novelty; a fad bike that would come and go quickly. Well, here we are almost two years later and I’ve had to eat a healthy serve of humble pie: the Grom has done exceedingly well for Honda locally, which has led to a raft of competitors from other manufacturers, including Kawasaki’s Z125 Pro, Benelli’s TnT 125, Braap’s Street Superlite 125 (but given Braap’s legal dramas, the less said about that bike, the better) and Yamaha’s YZF-R15, to name…

Lines. The lines of a motorcycle are often overlooked or misunderstood, especially when it comes to custom builds. Sometimes, a bike just looks “right,” and more often than not, the visual lines are a factor as to why a bike – like this one - looks so good. CO-ORDINATION What do we mean when we talk about lines on a custom build? Well, two of the favourites to focus on (and a great rule of thumb for certain custom builds) are, firstly, the line through the bottom of the seat and tank, with the second being the line from the top of the headlight across to the top of the tank. A slightly raked (angled) line through the bottom of the seat and tank gives the bike a more aggressive…

The SV650X, Suzuki’s café racer-styled take on their SV650 naked, is due to reach Australia this April. In creating a cool new look to their 645cc v-twin commuter, Suzuki has added a slotted headlight fairing and complementary side panels, clip-on handlebars, lower mirrors, a pleated ‘tuck and roll’ seat, reshaped and larger capacity (14.5lt) fuel tank, plus blackout treatment for the levers, footpegs and pedals. A Glass Sparkle Black and Metallic Oort Grey colour scheme with red accents is standard, with a ‘SUZUKI’ tank badge (instead of the large ‘S’) adding to the SV650X’s old-school vibe. All up, the changes on the SV650X are minor, but they make a major difference to the v-twin commuter’s appearance, giving an undeniable ‘cool factor’ to what has been something a dowdy model in…

On the eve of this year’s opening round of the FIM Motul World Superbike Championship, few would have predicted how the weekend eventually ended. If most put money down on three-time champ Jonathan Rea cruising to a pair of wins, they would have left the Island emptyhanded. While rule changes and unexpected weather played a part, the spectre of unstable tyre compounds reared its head at the Island again, too. The issue ultimately added more spice to what was already a pretty tasty weekend in both World Superbike and World Supersport. Here’s how it panned out. STARTERS AND CONTENDERS – WORLD SUPERBIKE At the top end of the WSBK paddock, there was no change, with Kawasaki Racing Team (Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes), Aruba.it Ducati (Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri),…

1 ONEAL RIDER SHORTY ATV BOOT Cassons P/L cassons.com.au ONEAL’s Rider Shorty ATV boot combines comfort and protection with style. Featuring leather construction with injectionmoulded plastic heel, ankle and toe plates for protection, the Shorty ATV also features a metal toe guard. An air mesh interior and cushioned insole offer extra comfort, while the Goodyear welt sole is balanced and durable, with moderate grip for trail riding use. Twin snap-lock fastener straps are easy to operate and replaceable. Finished in black, the ONEAL Rider Shorty ATV boot is available (US) 7-13 sizes and priced from $159.95 RRP/pair. 2 HARLEY-DAVIDSON GIFT ITEMS Harley-Davidson harley-davidson.com.au The Harley-Davidson black leather wallet features an embossed bar and shield logo, the usual coin and note section, plus multiple slots for cards. Made from genuine soft-feel…