Innholdsfortegnelse for #410 23-04 i Just Bikes

GasGas have announced a new addition to their electric range for junior riders – the MC-E 3. Sized and spec’d between GasGas’s 12eDrive/16eDrive balance bikes and the MC-E 5 (the electric equivalent of the MC 50), the MC-E 3 is aimed at kids under 5 years of age (approximately) or those not yet large enough to safely operate the MC-E 5. Key features include six ride modes that adjust power output and a seat that’s adjustable from 555mm to 600mm high. The lack of a gearbox allows juniors to learn the basics of balance and throttle control, then make adjustments to the power delivery as they gain skill and confidence. An integral “Control Centre” shows battery charge level and allows the different ride modes to be easily set by toggling…

Motorcycle road racing has lost one of its champions in Phil Read, the ‘Prince of Speed’, who passed away peacefully on 6 October, aged 83. Born in Luton, England, on 1 January, 1939, Read started racing in 1958 and would take his first win at grand prix level at the 1961 Isle of Man TT on a 350cc Norton. Wins at the Thruxton 500 and podiums at the North West 200 saw him drafted into Gilera’s GP team in 1963, taking podiums in both the 350cc and 500cc classes. Read made his Yamaha debut in the same year, and while he didn’t achieve Yamaha’s first race win in grand prix competition, he did deliver the Japanese brand’s first world championship, in the 250cc class in 1964. Read won the 250cc…

Royal Enfields are fast becoming the new favourite amongst custom bike builders. Yamaha’s SR400 was once the king of affordable street tracker and café racer custom creations, but we’re now seeing a lot more bespoke builds based on Royal Enfield singles and twins. Many of those have been factory-sponsored and plenty have come from Aussie builders, too, including the machine presented here, which wears the label of ‘Cerra GT865’ and carries much more than just a fairing and fancy finish. Based on the current Royal Enfield Continental GT 650, the Cerra GT865 was designed and built by Carl Cerra of Skunk Machine in Melbourne, with the help of several Australian collaborators, including Hallam Cycle Works, Kaber, Revelry Cycles, Horsch Carbon and Mid Life Cycles, who hosted its official unveiling this…

Kawasaki have released the 2023 version of their KX250, with the quarter-litre motocrosser receiving a number of updates for the coming year, across engine, transmission, suspension and tyres, as well as improvements in reliability and rider ergonomics. Following updates in 2020 and 2021, this latest update aims to keep the KX250 at the head of the pack in motocross and supercross competition. While the changes are subtle, they’ll be appreciated by racers. ENGINE CHANGES In terms of capacity and configuration, the KX250 engine remains unchanged at 249cc, with the liquid-cooled four-stroke single featuring the same 78 x 52.2mm bore and stroke, 14.1:1 compression, CDI ignition and electric starting. The engine changes start with the intake valves, which now have a narrower pitch of 35.5mm (previously 37mm). Coupled with increased valve…

The 2023 version of Kawasaki’s KFX90 has arrived, with the junior ATV adding some styling and spec changes, without compromising its usability and kid-friendly features. The next step up from the KFX50 and designed for kids aged 12 and older, the KFX90 remains a smart choice for junior riders, with its 90cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine outputting 6.5kW and 6.6Nm, while a screw-type throttle limiter allows parental control over power output. The keyed ignition is another safety feature. Electric start is standard, with a kick start back-up, while the thumb-control throttle and clutchless CVT transmission makes for easy operation. Changes on the 2023 KFX90 start with the addition of LED lighting front and rear, allowing the ATV to see and be seen when fun extends into the evening. The front mudguards…

After eight full seasons in grand prix racing, including winning the Moto2 World Championship in 2021 and riding in MotoGP this year with Tech 3 KTM Factory Racing, Remy Gardner will move to the Superbike World Championship in 2023. When he joins the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team next year, Gardner will be the first full-time Aussie rider in World Superbikes (WSBK) since 2016, with his arrival sure to ignite hopes of the same sort of success achieved by Troy Bayliss, Troy Corser and Chris Vermeulen in the past. The 24-year-old son of former 500cc World Champion Wayne Gardner will replace Garrett Gerloff at GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK. After three seasons with the Yamaha satellite team, Gerloff is moving to Bonovo action BMW Racing next year. While Gardner has no…

The opening of ‘Museo Moto Laverda’ (Laverda Museum) in the little village of Breganze in northern Italy’s Vicenza region this past July was like a funfair. Around 2,000 guests gathered in the town centre to enjoy traditional food and wine while Piero Laverda, the former managing director of the motorcycle company that was founded by his father Francesco in 1949, directed festivities as if he were still in charge of Laverda’s endurance racing team. Alongside his brother Massimo (d.2005), Piero had been in charge of Laverda from the late 1960s to 1986, the pair acting as managing directors. While Piero was in charge of Laverda’s endurance racing team between 1969 and 1978, Massimo was the creative engineer who pushed the development of the company’s first large-displacement bike; a 650 twin…

Ducati will add a new member to their Monster family of performance naked bikes next year, with the ‘Monster SP’ to join the existing Monster and Monster+. Based on the current generation Monster that arrived in 2021, the Monster SP is defined by the addition of premium components, recalibrated electronics, lighter weight and a MotoGP-inspired colour scheme - all to “enhance the fun” of sporty riding. The Monster’s aluminium alloy main frame that uses the engine as a stressed member is unchanged for the SP, as is the carbon fibre reinforced subframe and aluminium swingarm. The engine is still Ducati’s liquid-cooled Testastretta 11-degree v-twin of 937cc capacity, with desmodromic valve operation, ride-by-wire throttle and 53mm throttle bodies. Listed maximum outputs of 82kW at 9,250rpm and 93Nm at 6,500rpm are unchanged…

A Triumph was one of the stars at a special, two-part auction conducted by Christie’s in the UK this past September to mark six decades of the James Bond film franchise. The ‘Sixty Years of James Bond’ auction combined an online sale, that featured props, costumes, posters and memorabilia from the 007 films, with a live auction on 28 September, where the Triumph was one of several vehicles on offer from No Time To Die, the latest film in the franchise. Supplied for the film by Triumph Motorcycles Ltd, the Scrambler was a late-model (presumably 2019) Scrambler 1200 XE, initially seen with the assassin character ‘Primo’ and commandeered by Bond during the pre-title chase scene in Matera that included a spectacular jump into the Italian town’s piazza. According to No…

The GasGas Factory Racing Team has completed its rider lineup ahead of its 2023 MotoGP debut, with Augusto Fernandez announced as the second rider, joining Pol Espargaro in the squad formerly known as Tech3 KTM Factory Racing. Fernandez, who turned 25 a week after his signing was announced on 16 September, was considered the strong favourite to join the rebranded Tech3 team after it was revealed that neither Remy Gardner nor Raul Fernandez would be retained for 2023. Championship leader in Moto2 at time of writing, Fernandez joined that class in 2017 (bypassing Moto3) after success at national and European level. The Spaniard took his first race wins in 2019, then a string of podiums in 2021. This year, riding for Red Bull KTM Ajo (for whom Remy Gardner delivered…

1 LA CORSA ROAD BIKE REAR STAND La Corsa linkint.com.au Perfect for use at the racetrack, motorcycle workshop and home garage, the La Corsa rear stand makes maintenance tasks on your road bike easier and safer. The La Corsa stand’s 35mm tubular steel construction and coated finish ensures it can withstand years of use, while the quartet of 110mm solid plastic wheels provide stability on uneven surfaces. Standard V-shaped axle lugs are adjustable to accommodate different rear end widths, with L-shaped swingarm pickups available separately. When not in use, the La Corsa packs away flat to save space. $99.95 RRP from good bike gear and accessory providers. 2 SHOEI X-SPR PRO HELMET Shoei/McLeod Accessories Premiumhelmets.com.au With the same safety and aerodynamic technology as the helmets used by Marc Marquez, Shoei’s…