Aer

SPANNERMAN’S XT500 + OUR FIRST BIKES + BENELLI 502C + SUZUKI DR650 + MOTORCLASSICA + PUD’S FOURS
0 TIP S
TOP-1 OUR PRO
FROM
How to get the

most from your
next track day
HARLEY-DAVIDSON BMW R 1250 R & RS
,!3BD0A6-a ejib!:l;m HERITAGE SPANNERMAN

CLASSIC BOXES CLEVER
A better, cheaper,
sharper Road King?
On BMW’s latest naked and
sportstouring heavyweights
Shannons are offering motoring enthusiasts the chance to win a 15-day trip for two to London
and the 2020 Goodwood Revival. One of the biggest historic motorsport events in the world!
Plus, tour through the English countryside visiting historic locations and unique motoring
museums including the Williams F1, British and Beaulieu Motor Museums, plus the Jaguar
and Morgan Factories.
The winner will also receive a new 2019 Indian FTRTM 1200 S Motorcycle.
INSURANCE FOR MOTORING ENTHUSIASTS | CALL 13 46 46 FOR A QUOTE | SHANNONS.COM.AU

Shannons Pty Limited ABN 91 099 692 636 is an authorised representative of AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807, the issuer of Shannons Car, Bike and Home/Contents insurance products. Read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and consider
whether it is right for you before buying these insurance products. Contact 13 46 46 for a copy. Competition conducted by Shannons Pty Limited, of Level 28, Brisbane Square, 266 George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000. Competition commences at
12am on 2/9/19 and closes at 5pm on 13/12/19 (Melbourne time) (Entry Period). Âpplications for online quotes must be submitted by 9/12/19, however, telephone applications will continue to be available until 5pm 13/12/19. Entry is only open
to eligible Australian residents aged 18 years or older. Maximum cost of call will not exceed 55 cents + GST from an Australian land line. Higher rates may apply for mobile phones or pay phones. Total prize pool valued at approx. AUD $48,266.14
QU G
OT ET
E A
TO
DA
Y !
Ȉ ENTRY
Get an eligible
Quote* Ȍ
To enter go to shannons.com.au/goodwood or call 13 46 46 and obtain
ENTRIES
Take out an eligible
new Motor Policy** Ȉȇ ENTRIES
Take out an eligible new Home &
Contents Policy or have an Existing
Home & Contents Policy+
an eligible quote on your Car, Bike or Home Insurance* by 5pm on 13 December 2019^.
(depending on major prize winner’s point of departure, Shannons Club Membership and on road costs which differ nationally). Prizes drawn at 12pm on 14/1/20 at Engage Australia, Level 8, 56 Clarence Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. The winners will
be notified by phone and email by 16/1/20 and published in The Australian newspaper on 24/1/20 and on the competition website on 17/1/20. Bike for illustrative purposes only. *Apply for and receive a new Shannons Motor Insurance Policy quote
(excludes CTP insurance) (“Motor Policy”) or a new Shannons Home & Contents Insurance Policy quote (includes building only, contents only or building and contents cover) (“Home Policy”) during the Entry Period. Limit 1 quote per vehicle or
insured address. **Purchase a new Motor Policy (excludes existing Motor Policy renewals) during the Entry Period. +Purchase a new Home Policy OR hold an existing fully paid Home Policy (current during the Entry Period). Eligible Entrants must
consent to receive Shannons marketing communications and not opt out during the Entry Period. Customers that do not wish to participate in the competition can email info@shannons.com.au. Permits: ACT TP 19/03887, NSW LTPS/19/36794, SA
T19/1275. Full competition terms and conditions at shannons.com.au/goodwood.
from
$6990 RIDEAWAY
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Contents
In
this
issue...
MOTORCLASSICA
Spannerman and Falloon frock up
and get on their knees to judge
the best bikes in show
353
ISSUE 353/NZ 312 DECEMBER 2019
14 22 40
BMW R 1250 R & RS TOP-10 TRACK TIPS HARLEY-DAVIDSON HERITAGE CLASSIC
Spannerman meets BMW’s ShiftCam boxer How to get the most of your next track day Sure you want the Road King?
56 72 104
BENELLI 502C SHED MASTERS OUR BIKES
Style is subjective, but does it matter? Pud’s Four Parts Spannerman captures his unicorn
Regulars
Next month
SPANNER & STROOTH 62 SPANNERMAN 86 UNDER THE HAMMER 114 Groff tastes BMW’s
The beards get political Fixing the world The price of happiness bitumen-based TS Safari,
MAILBOX 68 COLLECTABLES 92 CLASSIC GROFF 118 Charris has a crack at
Tell it like it is Bimota SB2 The Christmas spirit Yamaha’s latest YZF-R1
while Cam goes off the
SHED MASTERS 72 OUR BIKES 98 ROOTHY, GUIDO & CAM 121 grid on his boat and Guido
Pud’s Fours Parts 1982 Honda CBX550F II Motorcycling diversity personified probably buys another bike.
1976 Yamaha XT500 MT #354, on sale December 5.
FUTURE CLASSIC 80 BUYERS GUIDE 128
Suzuki DR650SE (What?!) Learner bikes
ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: Dale Johnson, 0403 743 587, Dale.Johnson@TradeMotorcycles.com.au MOTORCYCLE TRADER 9
Editorial
CONTACT MOTORCYCLE TRADER

(02) 9186 9186
mct@trademotorcycles.com.au
PO Box 2094, Oakleigh, VIC 3166
EDLINE
EDITORIAL
Editor Chris Harris
Chris.Harris@TradeMotorcycles.com.au
Sub Editor Wolter Kuiper
Art Director Paul Andrews
CONTRIBUTORS
Grant Roff, Cam Donald, Guy Allen, Ben Galli,
John Rooth, Karen Anderson, Ian Falloon,
with Chris Harris Sandy Burgoyne, Hamish Cooper,
Phil Aynsley, Rachael Baskerville, Nathan Duff
ADVERTISING
HEAD OF SALES – MOTORCYCLE DIVISION
DAMN, SON Dale Johnson

0403 743 587
I
Dale.Johnson@TradeMotorcycles.com.au
f you ever want to be reminded of imagine the amount of time, money,
NATIONAL SALES MANAGER
how fat, old and slow you really are, commitment and possible heartache Mark Evans
well, I’ve found the perfect place for you’ve invested. 0422 805 205
you: go and do a track day during Yes, investment. Subject number two. Mark.Evans@TradeMotorcycles.com.au
an Oceania Junior Cup practice As you’ll read, Spannerman has finally QLD SALES MANAGER
Todd Anderson
or selection day (or any other junior captured his unicorn: an XT500. But he 0409 630 733
development-type ride day). You’ll never faces a dilemma, which I’m sure you’ll Todd@MotorMedia.com.au
feel more hopeless on a motorcycle, and relate to: the damn thing is so valuable
MANAGEMENT
you may never ride again. You’ll certainly (in this case, to him) that he’s afraid to CITRUS MEDIA
never consider yourself fast. ride it in its natural bush habitat in fear Publisher: Jim Flynn 0449 801 899
I’m no fighter pilot – even aboard a of dropping it and denting that gorgeous PRODUCTION
jet like a 2020-model Yamaha R1 – but Production Manager Ian Scott
tank. Fair point. Welcome to my cruel
Advertising Co-ordinator Yang Zhou
those kids… “I can’t even.” Like a school world with my beloved 1986 BMW
of piranhas, they cut me up from every R80G/S Paris Dakar, which also has a SUBSCRIPTIONS*
direction. And once they were done beautiful, vulnerable and expensive tank. 13 issues: Australia: $69.95 (incl GST)
devouring my fat carcass, I didn’t see Seen the prices of them on eBay? You’d 26 issues: Australia: $125.00 (incl GST)
subscribe@CitrusMedia.com.au
which way they went with their corner think they were made of unobtainium. Motorcycle Trader, PO Box 161, Hornsby, NSW 1630
speed and pack mentality. Yep, I’d As we saw a few years ago with the Ph: (02) 8227 6486
*Recommended and maximum price
just had my first-hand encounter with ridiculously sharp price hike of Aussie only including GST.
Australia’s next generation of racing muscle cars, some ambitious (or cunning All motorcycle prices listed are
talent and I was in awe. Incredible. or brave) chap in NSW recently tested recommended retail only unless otherwise stated.
Some of these kids, between the ages the market on the same G/S as mine with Published by Citrus Media ABN 28 137 759 043,
Level 2, 59 Buckingham Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
of two and four (okay, 11 and 16) could an asking price of – wait for it – $79,000. © Citrus Media 2019
All rights reserved. Printed by Bluestarweb,
barely touch the ground while aboard I did notice, however, that he dropped the Unit 1, 83 Derby Street, Silverwater, NSW 2128.
Distributed by Gordon & Gotch
their Yamaha YZF-R15 race bikes, if at price by $10,000 within 24 hours. Material contained in Motorcycle Trader is protected under
the Commonwealth Copyright Act 1968 and may not be
all. No lie. Most of them relied on dad to The point is if somebody’s prepared reproduced in part or whole without written consent from the
copyright holders.
steady them on the starting grid. Then, to pay an unusually high amount for *$7.95 maximum and recommended retail price only.
once their session was over, they’d switch something, it’s bittersweet for other
PRIVACY NOTICE
back to being kids again playing handball, owners. Do I click my heels knowing This issue of Motorcycle Trader is published by Citrus Media (CM). CM may
wrestling and laughing in their sponsored I’m sitting on the next ‘Green Frame’ use and disclose your information in accordance with our Privacy Policy,
including to provide you with your requested products or services and to
onesie leathers. It blew my mind. Ducati and wrap it in cotton wool for keep you informed of other CM publications, products, services and events.
Our Privacy Policy is located at www.citrusmedia.com.au/privacy. It also sets
The subject of pushing kids in sports is the rest of my life (and leave it to my out on how you can access or correct your personal information and lodge a
complaint. CM may disclose your personal information offshore to its owners,
a current topic in the Harris household, kids who may end up selling it for nix joint venture partners, service providers and agents located throughout the
so I was also observing the moods of the anyway)? Or do I put the academic world, including in New Zealand, USA, the Philippines and the European Union.
In addition, this issue may contain Reader Offers, being offers, competitions
race-bred kids and their dads. No Damir monetary value aside and just enjoy the or surveys. Reader Offers may require you to provide personal information to
enter or to take part. Personal information collected for Reader Offers may be
Dokic types to report. As long as they’re damn thing, dents be damned? There’s disclosed by us to service providers assisting CM in the conduct of the Reader
enjoying themselves. That’s our motto probably no right or wrong answer but Offer and to other organisations providing special prizes or offers that are
part of the Reader Offer. An opt-out choice is provided with a Reader Offer.
with netball and ballet. Swimming, the bike’s a family heirloom anyway, Unless you exercise that opt-out choice, personal information collected for
Reader Offers may also be disclosed by us to other organisations for use by
however, is non-negotiable. so maybe the Harris kids can have the them to inform you about other products, services or events or to give to other
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Good luck and congratulations to all Paris Dakar cake and eat it too. As long further information, please contact CM’s Privacy Officer either by email at
the kids and persevering parents. I can’t as they’re enjoying themselves. privacy@citrusmedia.com.au or mail at Privacy Officer, Citrus Media, PO Box
20154, World Square, NSW 2002.
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News
Desk
IN BRIEF
SUZUKI GOES BUSH
Suzuki has kitted out its popular DR650SE
and DR-Z400E dual-sport bikes with a host of
YAMAHA SHARPENS R1
Yamaha has refined its racy YZF-
R1 and flagship R1-M with a host
arms and camshaft profiles.
The MY2020 model also sees
itself by its full carbon-fibre
bodywork, Ohlins electronic
upgrades at no extra cost, which are typically
of evolutionary upgrades to the the introduction of a ride-by-wire suspension (with several changes
undertaken by customers anyway. With rideaway
prices of $9490 and $9390 respectively, the superbike’s engine, electronics throttle as well as brake control to the fork and shock), slightly
DR650SE Tanami Edition and DR-Z400E Cape York and suspension systems while (ABS threshold adjustments) wider rear tyre (200mm versus
Edition (pictured) feature as much as $1200 worth complying with Euro 5 emissions and engine brake control to the 190) and datalogger.
of off-road ability. In the DR650SE’s case, this regulations. electronics package. Available now, the 2020-
includes a 20-litre Acerbis polyurethane fuel tank The most notable changes Both bikes get slightly more model YZF-R1 and R1-M have
(to address the bike’s small 13-litre tank); more to the unique 998cc inline aerodynamic bodywork. respectively rideaway prices
off-road oriented Pirelli MT21 Rallycross tyres; four-cylinder with Yamaha’s The R1-M, meanwhile, of $26,339 and $34,849.
plus a Suzuki alloy bashplate and handguards, ‘crossplane’ crankshaft include continues to distinguish Launch report in the next
and Tanami swingarm decals. a redesigned cylinder head, fuel edition of Motorcycle Trader
Meanwhile, the DR-Z400E Cape York Edition injectors, finger-follower rocker (#354), on sale December 5.
picks up a Pro Taper SE alloy handlebar and
grips; Pirelli Scorpion tyres; Suzuki alloy
bashplate, handguards and radiator guards.
Turn to page 80 for more on the DR650SE.
Evolutionary changes by the dozen

for the 2020 R1 and R1-M (pictured).
SWAP & CHOP
INDIAN HITS THE POWERPLUS

The Bendigo Historic Motorcycle Club (BHMCC)
motorcycle-only swap meet will be held at the
Llanelly Public Hall Reserve on December 1.
Site to swap/sell is $10, which includes entry
fee. Entry is by a $5 donation. Food available Sit back and grab the a semi-dry sump-oil
and camp in the reserve on Saturday night $5. popcorn because Indian system. Other technical
Llanelly is located between Newbridge and Motorcycle has upped highlights include a six-
Tarnagulla via the St Arnaud road. the performance ante speed gearbox with an
Now in its 11th year, the BHMCC swap meet over its historic rival assist clutch and ride-by-
has become legendary in northern Victoria not by unveiling “the most wire throttle with three
just for the quality of what’s on offer but also powerful engine in its ride modes.
for the hospitality of the organisers and locals. class”. The ‘PowerPlus’ Indian says the
The Llanelly Public Hall also serves as the engine is an all-new PowerPlus engine
clubrooms for BHMCC. The hall was a public 108-cubic-inch (1769cc) underwent more than
school in the 1870s and one of its teachers was liquid-cooled, 60-degree one million miles of
the mother of John Flynn who went on to found V-twin that delivers The PowerPlus simulated testing and
the Royal Flying Doctor Service. 90kW (121hp) at 5500rpm engine, which takes its more than 250,000
For more information, visit and 178Nm at 3800rpm. name from the historic on-road miles.
BendigoHistoricMotorcycleClub.wordpress.com The performance- Indian motorcycle built “You simply cannot
or call Rex Jones (0407 683 376) oriented engine will between 1916 and 1924, deliver the ultimate
or Pam Jones (0490 819 494). debut in Indian’s adopts several features bagger without an
forthcoming Challenger from the smaller Indian engine that stands
fixed-fairing bagger, due Scout’s liquid-cooled head and shoulders
to arrive early next year. 1133cc V-twin. This above anything else
The Challenger includes overhead in its class, and that
will take on Harley- camshafts and four- was the motivation
Davidson’s Road Glide valve heads; a relatively behind the PowerPlus,”
Special, which is high compression ratio Indian Motorcycle vice
powered by the 163Nm of 11:1; 52mm dual-bore president of engineering
Milwaukee-Eight 114. throttle bodies and John Callahan says.
H2 GE
The ‘Z’ naked version of Kaw
sportsbike has finally broken
year with an expected price t
sportstourer sibling.
As the fifth member of th
by the same supercharged 9
a neck-wrenching 147kW (20
137Nm at 8500rpm. The diff
bike, however, is relatively li
from such acceleration. For
current naked top dog, the
(140hp) at 10,000rpm and 1
221kg (wet) package.
The bike’s performance is h
comprehensive electronics su
inertial measurement unit-ba
traction control and ABS syste
cornering functions as well as
rider modes, an obligatory tw
quickshifter and TFT display w
smartphone integration.
Suspension comprises a
Showa SFF ‘Big Piston’ fork
conventional shock at the rea
stopping power is by Brembo
The Z H2 has a wet weight
and a 19-litre tank capacity.
CFMOTO 650GT $8490

CFMoto’s third LAMS-approved 650cc
offering has arrived with a rideaway price
STREET TRIPLE GETS ANGRY
Triumph has spruced up its Prices remain unchanged flowing exhaust; a more refined
popular Street Triple 765 naked for the December-bound bikes, gearbox with a slip-assist clutch,
of $8490. Based on the company’s NK bike with more performance with the RS retailing for $18,050 shorter first- and second-gear
naked and upright MT adventure touring and sharper styling as part of a and the 660 S for $13,175 (plus ratios and a two-way quickshifter
models, the 650GT brings a sportstouring Euro 5 emissions update – just on-road costs). as standard for the RS as well as
flavour to the package penned by two years since the Moto2- Despite complying with stricter updated riding modes.
KTM’s favoured styling house Kiska derived bike’s unveiling. emissions regulations, the RS’s The RS continues to be lavishly
Design. Highlights include an adjustable The iconic British brand has so 765cc triple engine gets more equipped with Brembo M50
windscreen and a colour TFT screen. far unveiled the flagship RS and mid-range torque, going from brakes, fully adjustable Ohlins
Panniers are an optional extra. LAMS-approved 660 S variants, so 77Nm at 10,800rpm to 79Nm suspension and Pirelli Supercorsa
Powering the GT is CFMoto’s familiar expect a mid-spec R version soon. at a gruntier 9350rpm, which is SP V3 tyres.
650cc parallel twin that delivers 41kW sure to bode well for road riders. Meanwhile, the LAMS-approved
(55hp) at 9500rpm and 62Nm at 7000rpm. Peak power is unchanged Street Triple 660 gets a higher level
The bike has a 226kg wet weight and at 90kW (123hp) at of specification while maintaining
a 19-litre tank capacity. 11,750rpm, but Triumph the 660cc triple’s outputs
says mid-range power has (40kW/53hp at 11,250rpm and 61Nm
increased for even- at 6000rpm). In addition to the
greater overall more aggressive styling, the Street
flexibility. Triple S gets two riding modes (Road
Other and Rain) with matching levels of
headline traction control; Nissin/Brembo
changes brakes, Showa suspension and
e a freer- Pirelli Diablo Rosso tyres.
MOTORCYCLE TRADER 13
r s s i nc e it s first
yea
Almost 100 off reckons BM W
r t w i n , Gr
b oxe
ro du c e d its best
has just p
W ALTE RS
T RO FF PH OT OS DE AN
W OR DS GR AN
BM W R 1250 R /R S
L AU NC H R E P ORT
W
hen Rolls-Royce got fed up
with the horsepower race,
it started writing ‘adequate’
in the specs panel for its
cars. BMW’s top speed claim
for its new R 1250 RS and R 1250 R is
‘above 200km/h’. It’s not a bad idea –
why poke the safetycrats with a stick
when you can suggest a substantial top
speed without actually identifying it?
With its fairing-based aerodynamic
advantage, the RS will get close to
250km/h. The R model has exactly
the same engine but without wind
protection it starts to get uncomfortable
above 220km/h. Regardless, Rolls-Royce
would call that ‘more than adequate’.
This kind of performance is available
from $21,265 for the base R and $22,565
for the base R 1250 RS. On-road costs
have to be added to this and each model
has three other iterations (Spezial,
Exclusive and HP for the R and Sport,
Exclusive and Option 719 for the
RS) with different levels of equipment and
features which, naturally, push the price up
– and we haven’t even opened the accessories
cattledog yet or looked at the ‘Option 719’
parts list. Assembling the bike you want may
end up giving your accountant indigestion but
you can’t criticise BMW for not facilitating
the process. The bike you ride away from the
BM W R 1250 R /R S
showroom will be distinctively yours.
L AU NC H R E P ORT
ENGINE ENVY
The main reason you’ll decide to finish your
breakfast later and hurry on down to your Short-shifting can
nearest BMW dealer will probably be the find you accelerating
new engine. It’s still a boxer in the tradition
established by the company in 1923 with the strongly in top from very
R32 but this is without doubt the best boxer low revs. Sixth can feel
engine ever. While most other manufacturers
are struggling to be Euro 4 compliant, the like a normal fourth
1254cc engine powering the R and RS is
already Euro 5 compliant. Spectacularly, this
has been achieved without shooting the engine
with a tranquiliser dart. The new boxer has 14
per cent more torque and nine per cent more
power than the 1170cc engine it replaces.
The big technical news is ShiftCam. There
are two lobes operating on each inlet valve,
one prioritising low engine-speed torque and
the other opening the valves further for more
high engine-speed power. It’s a version of
variable valve timing that’s very effective in
spreading love right through the rev range.
An output of 100kW (136hp) is matched with
143Nm and it’s all managed in a way that
makes the new R series incredibly easy to ride

R 1250 RS slowly as well as quickly.
From $22,565 The impressive engineering in the heads
243kg includes inlet valves that open and close at
slightly different times to improve the swirl of
the fuel mixture in the combustion chambers.
This increases power and decreases emissions
through a more complete burn.
Excellent, hesitation-free fuelling adds
to the pleasure and the giant twin is very
forgiving of riders who occasionally find
themselves in the wrong gear. Short-shifting
the six-speed ’box can find you accelerating
strongly in top from very low revs. Sixth can
feel like a normal fourth.
THE LOW DOWN

There’s also good news for the vertically
challenged among us. The R-series bikes have
often been out-of-reach for shorter riders, but
the new R and RS have a 760mm seat option
(820mm is standard) meaning a lot more
potential customers are going to be able to put
their feet on the ground. On top of that, BMW
hill-assist is standard on both models, which
ABOVE: Light White, Lupin Blue
Metallic and Racing Red version
is our pick of R 1250 R models.
RIGHT: TFT dash is suitably
inobtrusive for the naked.
BELOW: It might look busy but
it’s all intuitive and the thumb
wheel simplifies things.
R-series RS timeline R 1250 R

From $21,265
1976 R100RS 239kg
1994 R1100RS
2001 R 1150 RS
2014 R 1200 RS
Competition
DUCATI SUPERSPORT S
$20,250 rideaway
937cc V-twin; 81kW (113hp) at 9000rpm; 97Nm at 6500rpm;
184kg (dry); 16L tank
KAWASAKI NINJA H2 SX SE+

$33,000 rideaway
998cc supercharged four; 147kW (200hp) at 11,000rpm (154kW/210hp
with Ram Air); 137Nm at 9500rpm; 262kg (wet); 19L tank
KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE GT

$28,795 (plus on-road costs)
1301cc V-twin; 127kW (177hp) at 9500rpm;
141Nm at 6750rpm; 205kg (dry); 23L tank
makes the bike that much easier to manage. same as the engine in the most expensively
When you back in to park on a steepish road optioned model so you miss none of that
gradient for a coffee or a beer, you can now new technology. While 95RON fuel is
leave with dignity. Start the engine and grab recommended, the engine has a knock sensor
the brake lever two times in quick succession that will allow you to vary from 91RON to 98
and the bike will stay where it is while you as our country’s erratic fuel supply sometimes
get the rest of your leaving tasks organised. demands.
Once you let the clutch out and it starts to Getting the wallet out will provide you
disengage, the hill assist turns itself off. with a lot more choice although some options
Taller riders haven’t been forgotten. There’s stand out more than others. For MT’s money,
an 840mm seat option that adds enormously electronic suspension (ESA) is worth every
to comfort levels for longer trips. It could be cent. It provides semi-active suspension
the most comfortable seat I’ve ever sat on – MAIN: Vertical inlet and which means the sensors instantly respond
gel seats included. exhaust ports mean more to road conditions, altering springing and
legroom. The catalyser is
behind the centrestand damping to suit road conditions. In the
PICKING AND CHOOSING bracket but Akrapovic’s bad, old days (yesterday), if you’d manually
The standard features of the ‘poverty pack’ optional muffler still set your suspension to soft springing and
looks rather large.
R and RS are still pretty impressive. They damping for comfort and suddenly come upon
ABOVE: Design language
come in any colour as long as it’s Black Storm potholed roadworks in NSW (occurring in
is in line with the
Metallic and have ABS, traction control, LED S 1000 RR; no more bug- most of the state), you could be bounced off
headlights, two ride modes (Rain and Road), eyed headlights for BMW. the road into the shrubbery, but dynamic ESA
heated grips and a TFT display. You can FAR RIGHT: Single-sided will compensate automatically.
connect your smartphone to your bike via swingarm remains a Dynamic mode allows for sensitive
Bluetooth and enjoy navigation assistance, tremendously practical adjustments to all the bike’s electronic aids
feature despite the
music and phone services. reduced likelihood and you can set it up to suit where you are
The engine in the base model is exactly the of punctures. and how you intend to ride. On the previous
Five minutes with
Nigel Harvey
(HEAD OF BMW PRODUCT
AND MARKETING)
It’s no secret the motorcycle
BM W R 1250 R /R S
market is under pressure.
L AU NC H R E P ORT How’s BMW going?
We’re likely to end up this year just
Finding fault 50 or 60 units behind last year
which, compared with the rest
reduces you to what of the marketplace, means we’re
my old university comfortably outperforming it. This
has been helped by sales of the
lecturer used to call G 310 R, but BMW brand loyalty is
‘ant-f**king’ strong and we’re doing well in all the
segments in which we’re engaged.
Product aside, what’s keeping
you at this high level?
I hope it’s partly because of how we
support our dealers to be profitable
and, in turn, help them provide a
premium service to customers.
Customers expect more these days
and a lot of our effort goes into
improving the relationship between
customers and dealers. We have to
be clever at reading the economy. An
example of this is our current ‘Third
model, you could manually select the of a Third of a Third’ campaign, which
appropriate suspension setting for one person, means you can buy a new BMW with
one person with luggage or two people. The a third of the cost upfront, a third
latest models do this automatically, adjusting after 12 months and the remaining
the setting depending on the load. third after 24 months. No interest
Is the quickshifter (Gearshift Assist Pro) is charged on this and it appeals to
worth the extra money? It’s useful for hard buyers who’ve been acquiring cash
riding but works best when you’re exploring but have suspended commitment
the bike’s performance potential. If you’re because they’re not sure how the
just loafing around, it takes practice and economy is going to play out.
technique to get it to work without clunking What will the next 12 months
and you may get a more consistent result from look like for you?
using the clutch lever.
We have some very interesting
Cruise control is useful for relaxed touring
new product that will be released
and works well on both the R and RS because in the late ’70s, the bike fits me like
at the EICMA
at the show
EICMAinshow
Novembe r.
in Novembe
so much torque is available from low revs in a glove. The riding position is proper
Unfortunately for MT, which I know
sixth gear. Like quickshifters, once you ride sportstourer but with the 840mm seat
with cruise control for any length of time on the relationship with the ’bars and ’pegs is hanging out for the R18, you
dull highways, you grow to love it. was near-perfect. We did 450km on Day might have to wait a bit longer. One
One and I could have doubled that easily issue we’re focussed on for 2020 is
ROAD WARRIOR and still been able to walk afterwards. improving the supply of bikes we’re
We got to ride the R and RS in many of their Most of the thrill came from the crisp, currently short of, including the
versions in the hinterlands of south-eastern responsive, torque-monster engine and S 1000 RR. We’re expecting 2020
Queensland. My pick was the R 1250 RS a chassis that loved being put on the to be a better year and it will be
Sport. I’m tall at almost 6’3” and as has been gas earlier than usual when exiting driven by the quality of our products,
the case since the first RS was launched longer sweepers, helped, undoubtedly, including the R 1250 R and R 1250 RS.
by traction control. It made me long for
the re-creation of something like the
Castrol 6-Hour where an RS in the hands
of someone like the late, great Kenny
Blake would be a red-hot contender in a
twins class. What may have denied him
victory is the 18-litre tank. The official
fuel consumption figure is 4.75L/100km,
but MT’s unscientific attempt to do it SPECS
manually resulted in a figure closer to
5.1L. The fuel warning system on the
very-readable TFT screen alerts you BMW R 1250 R/RS
when four litres is left.
There was some minor high-frequency ENGINE
vibration around the 4000rpm period, but as the hot weather during the launch TYPE: Air/liquid-cooled horizontally
opposed twin
the engine was as smooth as silk below showed the benefits and limitations CAPACITY: 1254cc
and above it. Actually, I’m embarrassed of the RS fairing. Naked bikes always BORE & STROKE: 102.5 x 76mm
that I even mentioned it because it was win comparison tests in the summer. COMPRESSION RATIO: 12.5:1
so inconsequential. It’s that kind of bike: The styling of the R 1250 R is now at FUEL SYSTEM: EFI
finding fault reduces you to what my old the stage where casual observers don’t
PERFORMANCE
uni lecturer used to call ‘ant-f**king’. automatically conclude that the rider
POWER: 100kW (136hp) at 7750rpm
While I really, really liked the RS, this is an old man. Seeing 220km/h on the TORQUE: 143Nm at 6250rpm
is not to say the R 1250 R isn’t a fine bike. screen while grimly hanging on to the
In some ways it was more comfortable ’bars proves you’re alive. TRANSMISSION
TYPE: Six-speed
CLUTCH: Oil lubricated, hydraulic
GOLD CLASS FINAL DRIVE: Shaft
BM W R 1250 R /R S BMW tried to kill the boxer engine in
1982 with the introduction of the K100, CHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR
L AU NC H R E P ORT which was essentially a four-cylinder car FRAME TYPE: Two section,
engine turned on its side. Dealers and load-bearing engine/gearbox
FRONT SUSPENSION: USD telescopic
BMW lovers wouldn’t have it and BMW
140mm travel
punished them by continuing to make REAR SUSPENSION: Single sided
progressively slower airhead engines. swingarm, 140mm travel
When it realised that there might be a FRONT BRAKES: Twin 320mm discs,
quid in investing in new technology, the four-piston floating calipers, ABS
REAR BRAKE: 276mm disc two-piston
oilhead and parallel twins emerged and
floating caliper
BMW is marching towards 100 years of the
boxer twins in the marketplace. The new WHEELS & TYRES
ShiftCam engine is the best of them and WHEELS: Cast aluminium
while they’re at the higher end of the price TYRES: 120/70 ZR17 front, 180/55
ZR17 rear
spectrum, history has shown that BMW
ownership can be forever rewarding. DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES
New factory support including a three- WET WEIGHT: R:239kg RS:243kg
year warranty and fixed-price servicing SEAT HEIGHT: 760-840mm options
for three or five years suggests BMW itself WHEELBASE: 1530mm
has lots of confidence in the product. FUEL CAPACITY: 18 litres
These bikes suit contemporary Australia/ OTHER STUFF

NZ conditions and add great lustre to the PRICE: R from $21,265, RS from
naked and sports/tourer classes. Watch for $22,565 (plus on-road costs)
a full test in an upcoming MT. COLOURS: Black Storm Metallic
(other options)
WARRANTY: Three years/
Second ops unlimited kilometres
www.BMW-Motorrad.com.au
UNCLE WO RRIS GUIDO GROFF
The RS is the o think A boxer that This is possibl
for me, now was wants to rev? the most
ShiftCam engine Entry fee
BMW has go to kill Righto, where are insightful
Ergonomics Display clutter
middle-of-the-road. the boxer… the keys? That looks like fun. review of new models
Riding ease
I’ve ever read.
CA S
Attending a track day is

rewarding but expensive,
so here’s how to make
the most of it, according
to an experienced pro
WORDS CAM DONALD PHOTOS MT ARCHIVES
CA S
N
ow that the
warm weather
is finally upon
us, it’s time
to dust off the
one-piece suit
and book some
track days. Closed-circuit
ride days are the best way
to test your bike and body
to limits not possible on
public roads. A controlled
environment without police
1 BOOK
and oncoming traffic allows
you to learn and fully enjoy
the thrill of riding as fast as
YOUR DAY
you like.
But once you tally the
cost of the track hire
(Phillip Island and Sydney
Motorsport Park typically Most circuit days allow pre-booking with
cost $325 on a public some offering early bird discounts as
holiday), consumables, opposed to paying on the day. From this
tyres, fuel, travel and all the time of year many circuit days (especially
other unforeseen rats and weekends and public holidays) tend to
mice, it quickly becomes a book out well in advance. I like to book
pricey day out – and that’s my next track day at least a few weeks out
all on top of the expense of to allow plenty of lead time to prep my
your track-worthy bike and bike, book time off work and earn some
riding kit. The good news brownie points at home before she sees
is that, once you’re out on the credit-card statement.
track, the adrenaline rush
blanks out any thoughts of
your rapidly diminishing
bank balance. We accept it’s
a big-dollar day on the bike,
PREP YOUR BODY
so why not do what you can Arriving the night before
to make the most of it? with mates often leads to
Motorcycling is no a catchup at the bar, but
different to anything else in try and save that until
life in that you get out what after the ride. Circuit
you put in, especially when riding is mentally and
it comes to track time. Piss- physically demanding,
poor preparation leads to a so try for an early night
piss-poor day. and arrive as rested as
Whatever your bike or possible. When it comes
riding experience, here are to food, excitement and
a few golden tips I’ve learnt nerves can reduce your
from years of track riding. appetite but try and eat
If used as a checklist, I a decent breakfast
guarantee you’ll make the to build your energy
most of your track time. levels for the day.
2 PREP YOUR BIKE
WHAT TYRE?
Some riders choose race slicks
while others go for a treaded
Whether you’re on a track-only sportsbike, a naked, cruiser or your supersport tyre. Keep in
daily commuter, it needs to be prepared for the day. My standard mind, premium, treaded
onceover begins with a quick check of the service schedule – if it’s sports tyres offer comparable
due for a service then get it done. grip to a racing slick. A treaded
Then give the bike a thorough eyeball starting at the tyres. Have
tyre gives you the option of riding
you got enough tyre for the day? The number of riders I see arrive
in the rain or a damp track where slicks won’t be
at a track day with worn-out tyres is frightening. Check chain
allowed unless the track is fully dry.
tension and give the sprockets a visual for wear.
Ensure you select a tyre size compatible with your
Ensure you have enough brake pads left to get you through the
day because, needless to say, you’ll be braking much harder than bike – bigger isn’t always better. Also, find out the
you would on the street. recommended track pressures for that specific tyre.
Check that all nuts and bolts are tensioned and remove or tape New tyres are cheap insurance – good tyres equal
your mirrors – they only get in the way. good grip, which equals confidence.
3 PREP Piss-poor
preparation
YOUR KIT
leads to a
piss-poor day
Get your full set of riding kit out
a week before. Try it all on and
ensure zips are working, knee
sliders have meat left and your
helmet visors (tint, clear, anti-fog)
are serviceable. This allows time
to sort any issues.
Pack your kit bag and, if possible,
your bike the night before as what
takes 10 minutes the day before
will take 30 minutes when you’re
running late in the morning.
4 SET YOUR GOALS
This may sound a little advanced, but it applies to everyone. If your
aim for the day is to simply lap the circuit with a smile then that’s
fine, but if your focus is on improving your performance then plan
for that. All too often a rider will head to the circuit with the aim
of beating their PB time, but when they’re asked how they intend to
go about it the response is often to the effect of “Today I’m going to
really try”. Were you not trying last time? How do you try harder?
Grip the handlebars tighter and grit your teeth?
Have a think about where you think you can improve, taking into
consideration body position, line selection and bike set up. Spend
some time identifying what you want to try and plan how you’ll fit
that into your day.
5 ‘I’s AND ‘T’s

Before you turn the key to leave for
the track run through your
checklist and double check you
have everything onboard.
CA S
The number of riders

I see arrive at a track
day with worn-out
tyres is frightening
6 ARRIVE EARLY
Chances are you’re
already wound up
like a spring so take
some pressure off by
arriving early. Leave
yourself time to find
your pit, unload
7 EASE INTO THE DAY

your bike and sign
on before grabbing a
cuppa and catching up with friends.
I like to find out the day’s schedule.
If it’s on paper I highlight my sessions Build speed progressively, allowing yourself time to get your eye in
and stick the sheet inside the lid of my and brain up to speed. If you don’t have tyre warmers then you’ll
toolbox, if it’s not then I take a photo of need to warm up your rubber.
the list on display at sign on. Either way Use the first session to assess conditions and get a feel for your
you have a quick reference to know when bike. Remember to breathe. Relaxing your body on the straights
you’re scheduled to be on track. helps avoid arm pump and cramps that are often experienced when
Give the bike a final onceover, check pushing too hard too soon. Make a plan for what you want from each
your fuel level and install tyre warmers scheduled session whether it’s just spinning laps or trying changes
if you have them. Always arrive with to your riding or bike set up. Try and choose a group that rides at
more pressure in your tyres than what’s a similar pace to you as constantly passing or being passed will
required. Once your tyres are hot off the distract your focus. Don’t hesitate to ask the organisers to be moved
warmers you set your pressure (track into a faster or slower group if required – there could be less traffic.
pressures are quoted as hot off a tyre Instead of sitting down for a heavy lunch, have a healthy snack after
warmer). It’s best to lower your pressure each session and keep drinking water even if the conditions are cold.
to what’s required than put cold air in a Dehydration happens quickly and effects your ability to concentrate.
hot tyre to reach pressure.
8 TAKING ADVICE
This is something you may or may not be looking for, but it usually
flows freely at track days. Be careful of people offering advice before
you’ve asked for it. Being a racer or able to set a fast lap time doesn’t
make you an oracle. In saying that, I’ve received insightful tips from
9 ENJOY
riders fast and slow, so it’s worth hearing someone out, especially
those with knowledge and experience.
I suggest you take all that you’re told with a grain of salt, use what
works and discard what doesn’t.
CA S
What takes 10 minutes
the day before will
take 30 minutes
THE PROCESS
Some days it clicks and good lap
times come easy, and some days feel
when you’re running like you can’t win a trick. Arriving
prepared and rested is the best
late in the morning
Checklists
Bike Pit
check accessories
Nut & bolt check Fuel can & funnel
Fluids Stands
Brake pads Tyre warmers/
Chain & power board/
sprockets extension lead
Tyres Spare wheels
Spare tyres
Engine oil &
chain lube
10 CALL
IT EARLY
Late in the day a combination of
worn tyres and rider fatigue can
snowball, resulting in mistakes.
If you’re feeling spent then pack
up and head home in one piece.
Riding one more session just
because it’s there can spoil a
good day.
If you ride to the track take
care of your speed when
returning to public roads the
same day – 100km/h will never
have felt so slow!
way to start the day on a positive and excitement combined with

and continue building positive high expectations of yourself,
momentum. Making improvements which can become overwhelming.
to your riding and bike set up is If you find yourself in a frump just
hugely satisfying. Be methodical, remember that negative thoughts
take notes of changes to both your lead to negative emotions that in
bike and riding. You can reflect on turn produce negative outcomes.
those notes away from the track and Sometimes it’s best to leave the lap
also use them to better prepare for timer switched off, remind yourself
your next day on track. you’re not at work and focus on the
There’s a lot of pressure involved positives, like you have a circuit
in circuit riding including danger waiting to be ridden!
Riding kit Tools Miscellaneous

Helmet & visors Tyre-pressure Wallet/licence/bank
Leathers gauge card/cash
& sliders Pump Phone/charger
Base layer Tie wire/duct tape/ Glasses/sunglasses
Back/chest zip ties Hat/sunscreen
protector Hand cleaner Medication/pain
Boots Rags & polishing relief
Gloves cloth Spare clothes
Mr Sheen spray Water/snacks
CA S
7t h i n gs
1
Tyre warmers are a worthwhile
investment that perform two vital roles.
Firstly, they give you the confidence to
head out on track with tyres at operating
temperature offering close to their maximum
grip from the first lap. Secondly, they greatly
reduce or eliminate cold tearing (surface
4
of cold tyre heats while tyre carcass is still If you hit the track often then consider
cool). You’ll get a greater life from a set of When buying a spare set of wheels and discs.
tyres using tyre warmers so they soon pay
for themselves.
making If your bike is more than a few years old
then you should find them second-hand for
changes
2
If you don’t yet have tyre warmers then a fraction of their new price. The investment
park your bike in the sun and rotate it
every so often to allow another part of
to your pays for itself as you can head to the track
with tyres that may have just one or two
the tyre to catch the sunlight. I’ve tested this bike do sessions left knowing you have your new set
method with a temp gauge and found the
tyre more than 10 degrees hotter than it was
one thing ready to go when needed instead of fitting
the new ones when there was still life left in
parked in the garage. at a time the current set.
3 5
There’s no need to wrestle the weight of Professional rider coaching is the
a fully laden fuel tank when your session most effective way to improve your
is 15 minutes long, but you don’t want performance, but there is a lot you can
to pit prematurely with a flashing fuel light do yourself. Completing a circuit map after
either. I make a fuel dipstick out of a short each session including your braking, gear
length of dowel timber. Drain the tank and change and acceleration points allows you
refill a litre at a time, marking the stick in litre BELOW: The Phillip Island to self-analyse. Talk yourself through the
go-kart track is a 750m
increments. It takes just seconds to dip the replica of the 4.4km real
session and identify one or two points to
tank, count the lines that are wet and know thing and much cheaper try something different in the next session.
how much fuel I have for the next session. than a track day too. Never try to work on more than two riding
changes (line or body position) per session.
Any more is too much to manage.
6
When making changes to your bike,
do one thing at a time. For example, if
you stiffen rear spring preload, raise
the ride height and alter your tyre pressures
and it feels better, what was the change that
made the difference?
When adjusting suspension, make a
change you can notice. If there’s 25 clicks
of compression adjustments even Valentino
Rossi would struggle to feel the difference
two clicks would make.
7
If it rains, don’t sit in the pit
complaining, get out there! The flowing
line choice and smooth control inputs
required in the rain will teach you plenty.
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Who doesn’t want their first bike back again?
Spanner goes into the sewer of his past and drags
the rest of the team down with him
WORDS SPANNERMAN & MT TEAM PHOTOS BEN GALLI & MT
M
y psychiatrist advised me and would be good for the hundreds of
strongly not to write this acres of bush tracks behind the drive-in
story, but what does he know? in New Lambton. The plan was to share
“You’re going to write about the cost, but I couldn’t raise the five quid
your first bike and your first so a third party was introduced. Len
girlfriend? I was about to take you off Notaris, now famous as a doctor in the
medication, but now I’m not so sure. NT, was relieved of three quid and the
There are demons in your subconscious deal was done.
best left alone and you’re about to prod The bike was a BSA C10 side-valve
them with a big stick. No good will single 250 that BSA inflicted on the
come of this.” working class from the late 1930s to
My psychiatrist is younger than me about 1957. As you’d expect, it wasn’t
and wasn’t around in the 1960s when the a rocketship but we didn’t know that
desire to ride was so strong I would have because it didn’t have a speedo. Our guess
stolen a bike if a legal one hadn’t been was a top speed of 80mph but when we
available. finally got to test it against a Morris Elite
I don’t remember the names of my few on an open road, it peaked at 42mph.
early girlfriends, but I remember the name A clue to its gutlessness may have been
of the first person who ever let me ride having to climb off it and walk beside it
his bike: Kim Constable. He bought one to get it up steep hills. Even with a three-
of the first Honda C90s in Australia and I speed gearbox, first was too high.
got to ride it down a back lane in Moree, I hadn’t started working at garages
NSW, in 1966. I was forever afterwards at this stage so I knew nothing about
a shot dog – my fate was sealed. I would servicing and maintenance. The result,
forever be a motorcyclist. eventually, was a piston that separated
The second bike I rode was a Yamaha 70 itself from its crown due to the fact that
in Newcastle and it was faster and even we never changed the oil or even topped
more exciting than the C90. Its owner it up. Who knows why but I’ve always
traded it in on a Yamaha DT250 and I got missed it. I went on to bigger and better
to ride that as well. Bliss. bikes, but I always kept my eye out for
I was, however, a kid with no money. a C10 just to keep in the workshop and
A school mate told me about a bike we ride on the rare occasions when I needed
could buy for 10 quid that was going to feel 16 again.
T BIK
RS
ES
FI
S
FI
RS
ER
T PARTN
FUTURE FREAKOUT
Fast forward 50 years and I’ve decided to
get a haircut. I do it twice a year whether I
need it or not so it’s a pretty big deal. The
instruction to the barber is a number four
blade for the hair and beard. My old barber
in Melbourne used to charge me $40 and
I always used to complain about the cost.
He told me the haircut was actually free,
but the money was to pay for his labour
because it took him so long to clean up
after I’d left.
This time I’m in Castlemaine and the
barber, John, recognises me.
“You’re Spannerman.”
“Correct.”
“You realise that if I give you a number
four blade, I’ll be the only one alive who
knows what you look like after a haircut.”
It was a sobering thought but more
interesting was the fact he knew who I
was. He must ride.
“Have you got a bike?” I asked.
“Yeah, sort of. I’ve got a BSA C10 250.”
Bugger me.
He lived in Bendigo so we immediately
arranged that I should visit and relive the
glory days of my teenage years by doing
burnouts in his street. Okay, burnouts
were a dream for C10s, but I did wonder
how it would feel to ride that bike again.
I loved it in 1967 but I didn’t
know any better. It
felt a little slow then
– how slow would it
feel now?
It had a lazy,
plonking ability
that enabled me to
smell the roses (or be
imbedded in them courtesy of the lack

of rear suspension), which I remember
vividly.
RS
T BIK Around the same time, I fell in love
with a bike I fell in love with a girl. Her
ES
FI
name was Cathie and she put up with

my permanently grease-stained hands
S
FI
RS
ER
T PARTN thinking I would change as I got older.

I did change but I got worse, not better.
She eventually realised the hopelessness
of the situation and moved on to greener
She eventually realised pastures. The picture of us on these pages
is the only known photo of me when I
the hopelessness of the ABOVE: Ian
Falloon’s didn’t have a beard. Quite the ladies man,
situation and moved 750 GT has held
up very well, but
I’m sure you’ll agree.
On the following pages you’ll find out
on to greener pastures it was only a few
months old when how the rest of the MT commune faired
he nabbed it. with their first loves…
qu
round
It
o
r
ung
ern’.
competitive event but the one-up, two-down

gearchange and modest forward progress was Fast forward to this year and my
intoxicating. memories are going to be either confirmed
I burnt the clutch out on regular occasions, or contradicted by my Bendigo ride of John
but the fix was simple. I’d turn the bike the Barber’s C10. There’s a particular spot
upside-down as I’d learned to do with my in the narrow rev range where it’s most
bicycle, remove the clutch cover and the one comfortable and if I can ever find one for sale
clutch plate. This was a circular bit of steel again I can be certain I’ll never be booked
with squarish holes around the perimeter for speeding. John is having a little rest from
that were plugged with cork inserts. Yes, his licence at the moment so may consider an
cork, like the cork that used to stop wine leaking offer. Fingers crossed.
out of bottles. I’d then go to the BSA dealer in Thousands of Poms rode these to work because
Newcastle and buy a bag of replacement corks. they couldn’t afford a car and so did steel
He’d stick his hand into a bucket, grab a fistful workers in Newcastle. I wish I’d been nicer to it
of inserts and put them in a paper bag. From and still had it. I wish I’d been nicer to Cathie as
memory they cost about two shillings. well but that’s another story…
“Having a throttle seemed excessive. A switch would have done”
Guido How anyone lives through this period

of their lives is a complete mystery.
was a big fat zero until you hit the
mid-range when all hell seemed
1975
Women, booze, motorcycles, maybe to break loose. Maybe it had
even a job – and that was probably something to do with the alleged
dangerous, too. Being in your late ‘hot-up’ mods to this one but, really,
KAWASAKI
teens and feeling bulletproof is a having a throttle seemed excessive.
mixed blessing. A switch on the right handlebar
One of the deadlier aspects of the would have had the same effect.
S3 400
experience, in my case, was the very As for the handling, it was appalling.
questionable choice of a Kawasaki Everything would be humming along
S3 400 as my first bike. These were nicely until you hit a mid-corner bump
the days when the rough rule of which would be enough to set off
thumb was you could get a workable your very own two-stroke rodeo. And
used motorcycle for about a dollar the brakes? It had a 1970’s front disc,
per cc, which was stretching my which was really just there to keep you
budget to the limit. occupied until you crashed.
While the performance now Good news, Guido! Of course, I wrote it off.
seems pretty tame, this was a bit of We chased Ann up and found As for my first serious girlfriend,
out what happened to her.
a monster for its time. Mostly, the Ann, I’ve often wondered over the
She went to Hollywood and
danger lay in not how much power became a big star but told us years what happened to her. At
it had (42 rampaging horses) but she never abandoned the love least that relationship ended less
how it was delivered. In this case it of motorcycles you gave her. dramatically.
Falloon
1974 DUCATI
750 GT
There was method in my madness. of British and Japanese bikes were
Early in 1974, Vicki and I moved relentless. British bikes handled
into a share house and the new better but leaked oil, vibrated and
flatmates, Spiro and Mal, had a were basically unreliable.
Suzuki T500 two-stroke twin and Judging by the number of times
1969 BSA 650 Lightning. All I had the BSA 650 engine was apart on
was a motorcycle licence, courtesy the loungeroom floor, even Mal
of a borrowed Kawasaki 90cc had to concede there was a better
two-stroke GA2A. Mal was a dyed- alternative.
in-the-wool British motorcycle One of Mal’s mates had a Ducati
guy and claimed he didn’t need 750 GT that he had bought new only bike and didn’t leak oil. So began a moved towns. While that time is now
wet weather gear because he was a few months earlier. Mal and Spiro relationship that continues today. largely a distant memory, the bikes
always covered in oil. Spiro was convinced me this was the perfect Vicki was an alternative type but of the day remain indelibly etched in
never covered in oil, but he made learner bike and soon the deal never really took to riding pillion. my subconscious. The Ducati 750 GT
sure everyone in his wake was. was done. While a bit larger than Eventually the Ducati became more is one of my all-time favourite bikes
Arguments comparing the qualities the GA2A, it handled like a British important, we grew apart, and I and I still have it 45 years on.
Roothy
MALVERN
STAR WITH
VICTA ENGINE
My first motorcycle was a Malvern Star with a Victa lawn mower engine
bolted in the V of the frame. It taught me about gearing anyway. Uncle
Reeves saw it and brought down a BSA Bantam basketcase. I painted it with
a brush, got it going and sold it for $35 to buy a Honda CB175. With a second-
hand knobby on the back and the pipes bent up, it got used in the paddocks.
A few months before my 15th birthday with a night-shift job in the local
garage (try that now) I sold the Honda and bought a second-hand Suzuki 250
Hustler because the Honda didn’t even vaguely look registered and suddenly
I needed something that did.
Why? That’s her in the photo, my first real girlfriend and, yes, Gibbo, I’d
“On weekends lied about my age when we met. She lived on the other side of town and I’d
visit whenever her parents were at work. On weekends we’d sneak out for
we’d sneak out long rides in the country with nothing but a blanket, our swimmers and
with nothing sandwiches. In those days, every trip meant going past a chemist, too.
So it’s two firsts in this photo really. Six months later, she found a bloke
but a blanket, her age and the Suzuki got sold to buy a Matchless about a year before I
swimmers and got my learners. Good thing, it took most of that year to get that Matchy
roadworthy.
sandwiches” Forty-eight years later and the ning-ning of a two-stroke twin still makes
me crack a, err, fat smile.
Cam
1978 Suzuki
RM50
My first bike was a 1978 Suzuki RM50. It was my
eldest brother’s, then my middle brother’s, then it
sat in the shed waiting for me to be big enough or
brave enough to ride it.
I was almost six years old when my dad took
me to the paddock for a day that will forever be
etched in my memory. It ended with me riding in
second gear for hours, shouting when I needed to
stop. Dad would then jog alongside and pull the family’s paddock making noise and getting faster.
clutch in for me. My next bike arrived long before I had an interest
This minibike was no automatic or clutchless girls, but that arrived eventually. She was the
model – the mini-motocross Suzuki had five younger sister of a mate I raced BMX with. We
gears, a clutch and a powerband that kicked in were both young teenagers and it was love
with the subtlety of a missile launcher. I can’t of the purist kind. I’d left school at 15 and
think of a more daunting bike to teach a six- each day at work was spent counting down
year-old on. It scared me silly but also excited the hours until I got to see my girl or ride my
me like nothing before. Once I’d sampled Honda XR100.
a two-stroke motorcycle, everything else in At that time there was literally nothing else
life became mundane. The next time I rode it I my life. My mind was set on becoming the
mastered using the clutch to start, shift and stop. fastest motorcycle rider I could be and spend the
The rest is history. I wasn’t even 10 when I knew time when I wasn’t on the bike with my girl. Come
how to put air in my tyres and mix two-stroke fuel. to think of it, the girl changed but everything else
Every spare moment was spent riding around the has stayed pretty much the same.
Sandy Burgoyne and learnt where the controls

were. Then I parked my car at the
When I had been riding for
almost a year, I heard that a
1980 HONDA
end of the driveway so I couldn’t Sydney riding school was running
overshoot onto the road, engaged a course at Moe in Gippsland and
Hajime’s first gear and rode off, I booked in. On a narrow hillclimb
CB250RS
stopped before hitting the car circuit, Stay Upright introduced
then rolling back. After an hour of me to a system of control skills
this preparation, I was ready for and roadcraft that was mind-
I married my first boyfriend – big the road and off I went into a new blowing. I’ve been riding to the
mistake. He vetoed my dream of universe. The first rider I passed system ever since.
riding a motorcycle, just as my on the road nodded to me and As much as I loved Hajime,
father had. Soon after my first I’ve been acknowledging other he did have limitations. Heading
boyfriend/husband shot through motorcyclists ever since. out on the Western Highway, I
with his paramour I answered 25 Hajime took me on many dreaded the climb from Pykes
multiple-choice questions and got adventures. I discovered Creek Reservoir to Ballan knowing
my motorcycle learner’s permit. motorcycle rallies – ride to a we would crawl to the summit in
No practical test back then, which distant speck on second gear. Hajime also seemed
is just as well as I didn’t know the map, set up to attract a permanent head wind.
how to ride. My shiny new Honda a tent, party on As the date approached when I
awaited in my driveway after an Saturday night with could legally ride a bigger bike I
obliging neighbour rode it from like-minded souls started collecting brochures and
the shop. I named my CB250RS then ride home the reading road tests. I bought a
‘Hajime’ – Japanese for ‘begin’. next morning. The Kawasaki GPz550.
I borrowed a book on rally calendar became Indeed, Hajime was well
motorcycling from the library my social diary. named.
Kaz
1996
Kawasaki
ZZR250
I got my first bike in 2001 which, incidentally, traffic and obstacles was the most courageous
is when my first boyfriend and I broke up. thing I’d done in my life thus far.
Not a coincidence in the least, but it’s far I rode that bike straight into the middle of
from a sob story. Having finished high school, the city and parked on the footpath outside uni. myself downright stranded a few times. One
I was off to the city most days for uni and Sometimes lectures were in a classroom where time, the chain snapped while I was in the
working part-time in between. Meanwhile, my I could gaze at my trusty steed from five storeys middle lane of a busy freeway, calling for big
boyfriend was playing soccer at an elite level. above. Classmates told me how cool they action to get to safety. Another occasion saw
Sure, breaking up is hard, but the relationship thought I was. The best part was riding home me stranded about an hour from home when
was running its course, and he didn’t want me the ZZR got lethargic and lost all power. A
to ride a motorbike... bloke who worked with bikes pulled over to
Owning a motorcycle was a childhood dream “Mum checked the help. We knew it wasn’t electrical, but he was
of mine, and it became a reality as a solution
to my commuting woes. At 18 years old, I sat a
oil window and scratching his head, unable to help. It ended
up at his mate’s workshop and the diagnosis
test and spent a day learning how to operate thought it was was too much oil in the sump. It turns out my
a motorcycle. Then I went shopping. I’d spent
months researching what I loved and what was
bone dry ... it was mum checked the oil window one day and
thought it looked bone dry, so she topped it
attainable, and I settled on a Kawasaki ZZR250. on the sidestand” up rather generously. The poor ZZR was on its
It was purple all over and, although I was never sidestand at the time...
infatuated with its aesthetics, I’ll never forget My first motorbike was a wonderful
how I felt when I was riding it. – avoiding traffic jams, exchanging nods with platform, leading to a life of great experiences.
I practised on backstreets before making fellow riders, and ecstatic by the thought that Thankfully, as I become more experienced, each
my first attempt at an intersection. Operating this was an alternative to sitting on a train. new bike is just as enjoyable as its predecessor,
the clutch, rear brake and indicator switch at Although mostly reliable, the ZZR250 gave regardless of age or brand. The same could be
the same time, while keeping clear of all other me a taste of real adventure when I found said for my boyfriends.
TOP: Kaz’s
first boyfriend went on to
become super rich, super famous,
an international sex symbol and T BIK
RS
married a Spice Girl.
ES
FI
She ended up with Cam...

S
FI
RS
ER
T PARTN
38 MOT
WASAKI ZR-7
Renaissa I d been looking after for

the past 12-or-so months. Time
for something more capable,
comfortable and mine.
Hate is probably too
strong a word, but to look
at – let alone ride – the
quintessential UJM machine
gave me nothing. It had the
soul of an Aldi toaster.
All my riding mates were on
infinitely better bikes by ever “The Kawasaki
imaginable measure. Cliff
a Street Triple, Pat a customised
Camry was
GB500 and Tom an Iron 883 – all nothing more
superior machines with presence in
spades compared with my invisible
than a chloroform
two-wheeled Toyota Camry. Heck, commuter”
even Johnny ‘Eyelashes’ who could
barely ride the Renaissa 250 had a
bigger smile and was pulling more some idea of its mint-like condition.
chicks. I should know because I was I’m pleased to say my first
the happy custodian of Johnny’s motorbike and first girlfriend don’t
little SRV250 Yamaha while he was intersect on my personal timeline,
forced to take public transport for a but the girlfriend who was there
year (an angry young man with an during that reluctant acquisition is
XY GT-HO replica with an angry 351 still with me. Yep, Mrs Charris was
Cleveland will do that.) alongside my mates pushing me to
The Kawasaki Camry was nothing and foremost of which is the fact go for the ZR-7 and she was there in
more than a chloroform commuter that Japanese fours are not for me. support for the Suzuki Address, the
and weekend depressor. Really, I eventually sold the ZR-7 to my R80 cafe racer and, most recently,
though, it was a dependable, stable wife’s cousin keen for a fuss-free the Paris Dakar.
and friendly segway into big-bike transaction. The top photo was one Hmm, seems I’ve nothing to
ownership. It taught me heaps, first the ‘for sale’ pics, which gives you complain about...
NOW IT’S
Have you got a picture of your first bike and your first girlfriend/boyfriend? We’d like
to see it and we’ll publish a spread of your responses in #355. We’re not expecting the
pics to be much good but we’ll do our best with them. Your current relationships are
YOUR TURN
important so don’t jeopardise them by giving us too much information on your love life.
We don’t want to be sued, either, so first names only please unless you’re still
in a relationship with the same person. As if that’s likely…
Annoy Charris with your submissions on mct@trademotorcycles.com.au
A R L E
Y
HERITAGE CL ASSIC 114
AV
N
D
I D S
O
MODERN
CLASSIC
Harley’s massive rework of the Softail
Heritage Classic makes it a double-
edged and convincing performer
WORDS GUY ALLEN PHOTOS BEN GALLI
A R L E
Y
HERITAGE CL ASSIC 114
AV
N
D I D S
I
n case you missed the seemingly endless
cycle of launches and announcements
since 2017, Harley-Davidson has made a
huge generational leap with the big-bore
engines and Softail series chassis, to the
point where you can argue the current Softail
Heritage Classic (or FLHC in Hogley-speak) is
by far the most significant thing since sliced
bread, or when the series first launched.
We recently copped a 114-cubic-inch version
of the toy (aka FLCHS) for a couple of weeks
and, before we head off into the hills, let’s have
a quick look at where we’ve been.
Alright, a little test here. Who among you
has ridden an early Evolution Softail for any
distance? We’re talking from 1984 and on, with
the rigidly-mounted engine and underslung
shocks. Remember the ride? You should – it
was a horrid experience.
Okay, I know I’m going to be howled down
on that one. The fact is that, when we’re
younger, our standards for what’s acceptable
in a motorcycle – and many things in life
– is arguably lower, because we feel more
bulletproof and far more tolerant of pain. So
what we accepted back then, ain’t going to
make the grade now.
Early Softails had a number of issues. First,
they weren’t great handlers, and tended to be
also-rans in this direction even among other
Harleys. The alleged causes were numerous,
with the questionable underslung shock-
absorber set-up being prime among them.
The second big issue was the vibration from
the solid-mounted engine, which could be
epic. Keep in mind, much of the range was
using ‘floating’ engine mounts, which isolated
the worst shakes from the 45-degree twins.
That vibration issue was addressed to some
extent with the Twin Cam series from 2000,
which had Softail-specific counter-balanced
powerplants.
Incredibly, this is the first time you could
say those assorted question marks have been
comprehensively addressed. And you have
to admit that, this time around, when Harley
decided to announce what it described as the
most extensive redesign in living memory, it
wasn’t kidding.
Let’s get the fundamentals out of the
way. The frame is new, the shock is now
a conventional cantilever design, and the
engines – all of them in the Milwaukee-Eight
series – are counterbalanced to a much higher
degree of sophistication.
The FLHCS is surprisingly
modern under the skin
but wouldn’t have looked
completely out of place in
last month’s ‘Soldiers of
Fortune’ feature.
When Harley
decided to
announce what it
described as the
most extensive
redesign in living
memory, it
wasn’t kidding
Competition
HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD KING

$34,995 rideaway
1745cc V-twin; 150Nm at 3250rpm; 379kg wet; 22.7L tank
INDIAN SPRINGFIELD
$35,495 rideaway
1811cc V-twin; 151Nm at 3000rpm; 388kg; 20.8L tank
MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA TOURING

$28,490 rideaway
1380cc V-twin; 71kW (95hp) at 6500rpm;
121Nm at 3000rpm; 346kg wet; 20.5L tank
IN THE BOX appropriate C-spanner and extension bar.

Much of what comes in the box of the latest Braking is by single disc at both ends, with a
H-D heavy-hitter range has already been four-piston caliper up front and a two-spotter
covered by MT, so we’ll avoid drilling down to on the rear.
the absolute last thread size. Wheels are 16-inch wire-spoke rims, which
The chassis is where much of the action is, look the part and will – like most traditional-
and H-D’s new frame claimed a number of style wheels – require a little maintenance
improvements. These include far more rigidity over their life.
for better response and less wallowing; less As for the engine, it’s just a whole new
weight, and fewer component pieces and ball game and better for it. Sure, it’s still a
welds, which probably has more impact on the 45-degree pushrod V-twin, but that’s about
production cost than anything else. A R L E where the similarity with its predecessors
H
Out back, we’re in much more HERITAGE CL ASSIC 114 ends. Among the notable upgrades are
conventional territory, with a standard relatively high compression for an H-D
AV
N
D
cantilever single shock that would look right I D S (10.5:1), eight valves running off a single
O
at home on several brands. camshaft, dual sparkplugs and air/oil

We’re also dealing with Showa cooling. Ah yes, and it’s now a wet rather
suspension and you get the sense The Motor than dry-sump design.
Company went out of its way to impress In the 114ci (1870cc) version, it’s claiming
with this. Up front you score a ‘bending 165Nm from 3000rpm with 100Nm or better
valve’ fork, which alludes to variable-rate from 2000rpm or about 90km/h in top. Harley-
damping, and a straightforward rear shock. Davidson is typically coy about horsepower
There’s no adjustment up front, but you numbers, but other sources are saying about
can play with the rear spring preload via a 68kW (94hp) at 5000rpm at the crank which,
collar under the seat. H-D will sell you the for this style of bike, is very respectable.
You might
struggle to find
the motivation
to hot it up
as it’s pretty
good off the
showroom floor
Finishing off the powertrain is a separate out your pillion’s dental fillings.
six-speed transmission and belt final drive. It’s quiet, though the exhaust can make itself
What distinguishes the Heritage package heard as you wind up the thing. The throttle
is the removable screen, twin foglamps, rider response is very good, and the performance
footboards and hard leather-trimmed top- seems pretty seamless from a little off idle
loading panniers. In the mix, you of course
COLLECTABLE through to where it’s making max power.
get ABS, cruise control (the Heritage Classic is
SOFTAILS There’s a dual nature in play: it will happily
the only Softail to get it) and keyless starting While I may have harsh words bumble along at low revs in more or less any
thanks to a proximity fob that’s been a feature for early Softails, there’s no gear, but also responds to a quick kick in
on the range for some years. question there are some very the ribs via a lower gear and cracked-open
collectable models among them. throttle. You’re not going to set the dragstrip
ON THE ROAD Without doubt the most alight, but you might struggle to find the
It doesn’t take a whole lot of time in the desirable are 1990-on Fat motivation to hot it up as it’s pretty good off
saddle of one of these – maybe to the end of Boys with their (for the era) the showroom floor.
the street – to realise this is a very different shockingly stark stylings. Clutch action is very light and takes a little
barrel of wingnuts to its predecessors. By A starring stunt role with mental dialling-in to get right as the take-up
far the overwhelming first impression is Arnie Schwarzenegger in the point is not huge. That said, it’s user-friendly
that it feels lighter and more responsive Terminator II movie no doubt for something this size.
than any of the previous generations. Oh, helped push sales along at a The lack of a heel-toe shifter standard
and a whole lot smoother. time when times were tough for was the first thing I noticed about the
They haven’t actually taken away the the industry as a whole. transmission – you somehow come to expect it
‘lumpiness’ of a Big Twin, but someone has If you can find one in with footboards. Getting neutral at a standstill
clearly gone to a lot of trouble to get the good nick at the right price, was sometimes a little sticky and I’m
counterbalancing right so it feels like it’s preferably in the eye-catching wondering if this is something that loosens up
alive, without blurring your vision or shaking silver-grey livery, hang on to it. a little as the six-speeder gets more miles on
Guido quickly
A R L E
found the remote
Y
shock preload HERITAGE CL ASSIC 114
adjuster and put
it to good use. AV
N
D
I D S
O
SPECS
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
HERITAGE CLASSIC 114
(FLHCS)
ENGINE:
TYPE: Air/oil-cooled, four-valves-
per-cylinder, pushrod single-cam
45-degree V-twin
CAPACITY: 1868cc
BORE & STROKE: 102 x 114mm
COMPRESSION RATIO: 10.5:1
FUEL SYSTEM: Sequential port EFI
PERFORMANCE:
POWER: 68kW (94hp) at
5000rpm (estimate)
board and beds in properly. PACK IT UP TORQUE: 165Nm at 3000rpm
Suspension performance is good and So how does it work as a package?
seems to cope well with the mumbo This is one of those bikes that can take TRANSMISSION:
TYPE: Six-speed, constant-mesh
on tap. Steering is light – disguising a while to grow on you. At first, I was
CLUTCH: Wet multi-plate
the weight – and very predictable with surprised at how easy it was to throw FINAL DRIVE: Belt
reasonable cornering clearance. There’s around, then no great feelings either
enough potential there to play in the hills way. Give it a few more rides and the CHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR:
with a fair degree of confidence. thing seems to work its way into your FRAME TYPE: Steel twin-loop
FRONT SUSPENSION: Telescopic
Braking has good feel and requires affections.
Showa fork, 49mm, no adjustment
a bit of force up front to get max It is a very capable package that’s REAR SUSPENSION:
retardation. I’m not over the moon about low-stress to ride. The screen won’t suit Showa monoshock with remote
the stopping performance – it’s adequate all heights – it’s probably a little low for preload adjustment
rather than great. tall folk – but does make the ride more FRONT BRAKE: Single disc
with four-piston caliper
Instrumentation is typical Harley, with civilised, along with the very welcome
REAR BRAKE: Single disc
the tank-mounted analogue and digital cruise control. As for the panniers, with two-piston caliper
cluster in a large single pod. The info they’re not huge, but can be locked
is ample and the menu easy enough to and aren’t so big that you can’t thread DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES:
nut out. Really the only disadvantage is through traffic. WET WEIGHT: 330kg
SEAT HEIGHT: 680mm
having to look down to check it. Fuel consumption is modest, with
WHEELBASE: 1630mm
Long term, it should be a relatively 20km/L (5.0L/100km) achievable from FUEL CAPACITY: 18.9L
inexpensive bike to run. A read through the injected motor, giving a respectable
the servicing schedule reveals the usual range from the 18.9-litre tank. TYRES:
engine and chassis checks, but with For me, the 1940s styling cues really FRONT: 130/90-16
REAR: 150/80-16
hydraulic valve lash and relatively work, as do the black-outs and overall
straightforward construction, there understated appearance. Sunday toy or OTHER STUFF:
should be no big mechanical bills on the interstate cruiser? I reckon it can play PRICE $33,995 rideaway
horizon. Service intervals are 8000km. both roles pretty convincingly. WARRANTY Two years/unlimited km
www.Harley-Davidson.com
Second ops
ROOTHY CHARRIS UNC FF
I just bought an The Softail with a A Har ays you
old Road King project name ‘Young the ta einvent
Light handling No heel-toe
that was too is’, as in the side o heel? lever
Responsive
good to pass up. svelte, black-leather Elvis from the bravo H-D. H-D keeps doing it and engine Not cheap
Don’t tell anyone... ’60s, not the fat jumpsuit-wearing here’s another example. Nice packaging
Elvis of the ’70s. So Harley says.
PROFILE-V
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Distributed by Cassons Pty Ltd Northern Accessories Ltd Like us on Facebook
NEW ZEALAND Cassons Australia Motorcycle
AUSTRALIA E: sales@northacc.co.nz
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Falloon and Spanner
frock up again
to judge the best
of the best at the
2019 Australian
International
Concours d’Elegance
event, Motorclassica
WORDS SPANNERMAN PHOTOS BEN GALLI
H
ow much did you say it was worth?” MT’s
Ian Falloon adjusts his glasses before
fixing me with his steady gaze and telling
me this particular 1951 Vincent Black
Lightning was sold at auction in Las
Vegas last year for $A1.16 million.
To the uninitiated, it looks like a barn find
probably worth $500, tops, but there’s a collectors’
world out there most of us know nothing about.
Further down the hall at the Motorclassica event
in the Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building was
Jon Munn’s 1922 Brough Superior Mk I 90 Bore
V-twin. Jon has fully restored this bike to make it
one of possibly only three that still exist, but he
relied heavily on assistance from American show
host Jay Leno, who owns one of the other two.
Images from the Leno bike allowed Jon to fabricate
long-lost parts and components over the 20 years
it took to complete the restoration. Yes, it runs
and, yes, it won the concours class.
Motorclassica celebrated its 10th encourages a detailed examination of
anniversary this year and is acknowledged components down to whether or not the oil
as Australia’s premier national concours and fuel lines are of the proper type and are
event. When they finish counting this year’s of the original material. Similarly, wiring
crowd, around 200,000 enthusiasts will type, colour and connectors are checked
have passed through its doors during the and particular attention is paid to mounting
decade. Motorcycles have been there from hardware like nuts, bolts, ties and wraps.
the beginning and the firm of Falloon and Each bike starts at 100 points and
Spannerman keeps getting invited back to deductions are made in half-point
do the judging. The bike categories have increments when faults are found. While
evolved over the years and Ian and I look I enjoy the practicality of cable ties, they
after the concours bikes while the very weren’t used on bikes before about 1965 so a
experienced Colin Osborne from Pro Auto bike will lose points if they’re discovered in
Solutions handles the ‘preservation’ class in place of the original rubber or metal ties.
which bikes like the (very) unrestored ’51 Matching original paint colours is
Vincent can be entered. another area fraught with danger along
with pinstriping which, on many bikes
HERE COMES THE JUDGE including Bill Arsenakis’ BMW R90S,
Judging at the concours level involves which picked up third place, was originally
inspection of almost every single done by hand.
component of the bike for authenticity A bike can also lose points for being too
and condition. A checklist of 20 sections good – over-restored to ‘better than new’
The firm of Falloon and Spannerman keeps

getting invited back to do the judging
1960 ROYAL ENFIELD METEOR MINOR SPORTS
You want rare and unusual? Try Richard Badham’s Royal Enfield
Meteor Minor Sports. Just 325 of the 500cc four-stroke twins
were built in 1960 and Richard is the third owner from new.
A revised cylinder-head gasket and exhaust camshaft
provided three extra horses to the model on which it was based
and it had lower handlebars and a chrome tank with rubber
knee grips to set it apart from the standard ‘De Luxe’ model.
It also had a 17-inch front wheel instead of the period 19-inch
unit, which would have considerably sharpened up the steering
and handling. The finished product answers the question of
what Richard has been doing in his spare time since he acquired
the bike via eBay in 2004.
1959 NORTON NOMAD 600

If you’ve never heard of a Norton Nomad 600,
you’re joining a big club. It was built in a short
production run to take advantage of the North
American interest in desert racing and Jon
Munn’s example is believed to be the only one
in Australia.
The 597cc engine produces
36hp and claims a top speed
above 150km/h, but its main
attraction was a special
frame that provided 203mm
of ground clearance. The
suspension package included
Roadholder forks that were the
best you could get at the time.
1958 HONDA C71 DREAM TOURER

It may have been inspired by
NSU but the Honda C70 and
C71 are icons of late 1950s
Honda styling. Ricky Grima’s
example is a 1958 model and
features a host of genuine
Honda accessories including
a windscreen, rear luggage
rack and leg shields.
The 250cc SOHC engine
produced 13.5kW (18hp) at 7400rpm but the big news
for ’58 was an electric starter.
This was Honda’s first export model to Australia
and was sold through Bennet Honda. If you’re
wondering how Ricky managed to get original parts
for it, he owns 30 of them and is in the process of
setting up a business in Bathurst that will attract
national and international attention. Watch this space
in a future issue for more information.
1970 SUZUKI T125 STINGER
In terms of looks, Suzuki’s T125 Stinger was a knockout when
it was launched. The dual, upswept exhausts, near-horizontal
twin-cylinder engine, separate speedo and tacho and racy
looks pushed small-capacity motorcycle styling into the
future, Jet Jackson style.
A price of just $399
underscored its appeal and
it was capable of 120km/h.
It also had automatic oil
injection and, along with
dumpier-looking two-strokes
from Yamaha and Kawasaki,
made two-strokes more
acceptable in the marketplace.
Phil Scorah’s entry to the concours looked almost
original rather than restored and was a credit to his
dedication to the bike.
1962 BSA ROCKET GOLD STAR TOURING

The impetus for this bike allegedly came from Gold Star
specialist Eddie Dow, who convinced BSA management to
put the Super Rocket 646cc twin-cylinder engine in the
Gold Star frame and running gear, making it one of the best
remembered factory café racers of last century.
Thomas Weitacher’s example pictured here is a ‘touring
clubman’ that was delivered with up-turned handlebars
rather than clip-ons and a bigger fuel
tank, but it still had the ‘factory’
engine which involved balancing,
porting, polishing and lightening,
producing a top speed of over
180km/h.
It’s estimated 1584 Rocket Gold
Stars were produced making them rare
indeed, particularly in this condition.
1958 BSA B31

Unremarkable engineering is a feature of the B31, the first new
model introduced by BSA after the close of WWII. Its 348cc
single-cylinder engine pumped out a modest 17 horses to allow
a top speed of around 115km/h. The model life stretched from
1945 to 1959 and its popularity was based on its reliability,
although it’s also a remarkably handsome bike.
Phil and Marilyn Turner’s 1958 example has a fascinating
history, including original ownership by a descendant of famed
British poet William Wordsworth after whom the bike is named.
It travelled all over England in boxes with its second owner
and finally ended up with Kim Jones, a Mercedes-
AMG technical specialist attached to the McLaren
F1 racing team. Kim completed the restoration
but had to put the bike up for sale when he was
transferred to Italy.
That’s how it ended up with Phil and Marilyn
and if you want to know how proud they are of the
bike, read the self-published book they produced.
condition. Thick chroming on early Japanese
bikes is usually considered with raised
eyebrows.
All the bikes judged end up with a score and
there’s provision for a tiebreaker if needed:
provenance. A bike with a known, interesting
history can have up to three points added to
its score. Phil and Marilyn Turner’s 1958 BSA
RIGHT: Philand Marilyn
B31 didn’t win, but their bike belonged to Miles Turner got so involved
Wordsworth, a direct descendant of British poet in the story of their
William Wordsworth and the bike’s restoration 1958 BSA B31 they
story is fascinating enough to be the subject of a compiled a book about
it: The Wordsworth,
self-published book. which includes poetry
Such is the quality of the entrants to from the great
Motorclassica that judging can turn out to be British poet.
a very nit-picking affair. Points can be lost for BELOW: Hand-done
the wrong type of tyre valve cap and often the pinstriping was one of
the hallmarks of the
winners are decided by the smallest of margins. R90S, but how do you
replicate that here?
RICH PICKINGS Still, the restoration
Before you conclude Motorclassica is just for was good enough for
Bill Arsenakis to pick
millionaires, some of the entries this year stood up third place from the
out for their modesty, including a Honda C100 tough MT judges.
Cub, a Honda C71 Dream, a 1970 Suzuki T125
Stinger and a Lambretta scooter. Restoring bikes
like these can be harder than restoring, say, a
1969 Triumph Bonneville where all its parts
are still available. Try finding an example of
the pressed aluminium gearchange lever Honda
used for one year on its 1959 Honda Cub.
Motorclassica is a great event and worth
planning for whether you decide to enter or
simply spectate. Come spring in 2020, look out
for a short, stout man and his taller, bearded
companion who will be heading for the Royal
Exhibition Building and wearing suits for the
only time of the year.
Judging can turn out to be

a very nit-picking affair
1951 VINCENT BLACK LIGHTNING
This unrestored Black Lightning was one of only
33 built and was bought at auction last year by a
Tasmanian collector for an eye-watering $1.16 mi
It’s estimated only 19 examples still exist.
This particular Vincent was the one on which
Ehret set an Australian Land Speed Record in 19
227.7km/h. Ehret continued to race the bike an
it in 1999, two years before his death.
The bike ended up in France where it was res
mechanically but it retained its original factory
and all the dings and scratches accumulated th
years of high-performance work.
Despite its value, however, the Vincent didn
the Preservation class. That honour went to Ph
Caldwell’s 1959 Ariel Square Four.
Many unknowning punters

walked straight past the
million-dollar machine
based on its appearance.
This unrestored Black Lightning was one of only 33 built

and was bought for an eye-watering $1.16 million
959 HONDA SUPER CUB C100

How can a motorcycle with a production run of
00 million and a new purchase price of under
$300 compete in a concours with something
ike a 1922 Brough Superior? Well, the Cub didn’t
win but using the International Chief Judges
Advisory Group (ICJAC) scoring criteria, it put up
a very good fight. This is another of Bathurst-
based Ricky Grima’s bikes and was hard to fault.
With his contacts and collections of original
Honda parts and materials, Ricky has produced
a Cub as close to the original as you’re ever
likely to get, including the rare, correct pattern
on the foot controls.
The Cub engine from 1958 until 1964 was
an overhead valve 50cc unit that was replaced
by an OHC model, and the early engines are
becoming rare. Australia was the first country in
the world to receive the Super Cub as an export
from Japan and the model kick-started the
monster Honda has since become. ‘Kick-started’
is probably the wrong expression – the Cub
scored an electric leg before it morphed into its
OHC iteration.
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N E L L
BE I
LAUNCH
REPORT
5 0 2 C
Surely Benelli hasn’t just knocked off

a Ducati. Not when everything else
about the 502C is this good
Y
ou could spend all afternoon laughing at Chinese
knockoffs if you Google it. ‘Bugo Hoss’, ‘Michaelsoft
Binbows’ and ‘Johnnie Worker Red Labial’ is
barely the, err, lip of the iceberg. But surely the
moral compass points to higher ground for an
international-reaching brand like Benelli.
The Italian/Chinese motorcycle maker has worked hard
to reinvent itself in recent years, and it has its own styling
studio in Pesaro, Italy, for goodness sake. At the head of
‘Centrostile Benelli’ is Stefano Casanova, the design force
behind Benelli’s recent revival of goal-kicking entry-level
models such as the neo-retro Leoncino and TRK adventure
bike. So when it comes to the company’s latest offering,
the Ducati XDiavel-apeing 502C you see here, we have one
question for Casanova: WTF, mate?
Imagine yourself, a proud owner of a 502C,
having the same conversation with other
riders at cafes, red lights and petrol stations:
“Yep, XDiavel, yep. Haven’t heard that one
before...” “Yeah, nah, it’s a Benelli.” “Yeah,
Chinese... And Italian.” “Ducati Devil? Nah,
never heard of it, mate.”
Such repeated conversations would be the
bane of 502C ownership, but that’s where the
pint-size powercruiser’s shortcomings come to
an abrupt end. If you’re looking for a LAMS-
approved cruiser, the story is all good from here.
“I PAY CASH NOW”

With a rideaway price of $9790, the 502C
has finally arrived to steal sales from
Harley-Davidson’s popular Street 500 ($9995
ABOVE: Hmm,
rideaway), Honda CMX ($7999 plus on-road a genuine replica
costs) and Suzuki Boulevard S40 (from or an accomplished,
$7990). Oh, and to return serve to XDiavel great-value cruiser
proponents, tell them your identical-looking for learners?
Benelli is a third of the price.
The 502C certainly has a big-bike presence
about it, with stretched proportions via
its raked-out front end, forward controls,
bulbous 21-litre fuel tank atop an exposed N E L L
BE I
trellis frame and stubby, if familiar-looking,
LAUNCH
rear. All that’s missing is a sexy single-sided REPORT
swingarm and massive 240-section rear tyre.
We’re pleased about the latter’s absence, 5 0 2 C
Prepare to be taken aback by the bike’s attention to detail –

especially with the sharp price in mind. Rough, ordinary it ain’t
however – as will novice riders – because
the skinnier 160-section rear endows the
entry-level machine with a thorough sense of
eagerness and effortlessness through a set of
twists. Helping here of course is a nice, wide
handlebar for lots of leverage while putting
the rider in the obligatory urban brawler/
tough-guy riding position. Foot pressure
through the adjustable ’pegs does the rest.
If you’re not familiar with the recent Benelli
range, prepare to be taken aback by the bike’s
attention to detail – especially with the sharp
price in mind. Rough, ordinary it ain’t.
Perhaps the only tell-tales of the 502C’s
budget-conscious positioning is the LCD
display, which is impossible to read when
struck by direct sunlight. Legibility is
a bit on the fussy side, too, but it does
automatically change to a night mode
when dark, which is handy.
Once in the low 750mm-high seat, your view
is dominated by the sizeable tank, which has
knee cutouts positioned too low for long-legged
riders, but perfectly placed for mediums and
midgets. The seat itself isn’t thoroughly padded
Competition
Harley-Davidson Street 500 Honda CMX Suzuki S40 Boulevard

$9995 rideaway $7999 (plus on-road costs) $8290 rideaway
500cc liquid-cooled V-twin; 41Nm; 233kg wet; 13.1L tank 471cc liquid-cooled parallel twin; 34kW (46hp) at 652cc air-cooled single; 23kW (31hp) at 5400rpm;
8500rpm; 43Nm at 5000rpm; 188kg wet; 11.2L tank 50Nm at 3400rpm; 173kg wet; 10.5L tank
or particularly comfortable for longer rides, RIGHT: The digital dash is

okay for legibility, as
not that that’s a surprise or a concern for such
long as it’s not hit by
a bike where shorter trips are the norm. direct sunlight.
Those wide ’bars could be a concern The multi-coloured
for its intended environment, however, fuel gauge (bottom
left) takes some
worsened by its even-wider mirrors that familiarity. Night-
impede your lane filtering ability and mode switches to a
confidence. The whole laid-back, slow- completely different
steering cruiser geometry with forward presentation.
controls don’t help splitting traffic so, if
that’s you, you’ll be better served with the
more upright Leoncino. At least the 502C’s
217kg wet weight is low and well disguised
to help you crawl around stationary
vehicles like a pro.
halting momentum, despite the modest
Benelli-branded set-up. SPECS
The suspenders, comprising a 41mm
fork and hidden shock, provide a planted
feel when you’re having a crack or dealing BENELLI 502C
with mid-corner bumps, despite 50mm
rear travel and forward controls. Still, ENGINE
TYPE: Liquid-cooled, four-stroke,
there’s a positive sense of compliance, DOHC, eight-valve parallel twin
control and confidence when holding a CAPACITY: 500cc
line. Again, much of that comes down BORE & STROKE: 69 x 66.8mm
to the conventional-size Pirelli Angel COMPRESSION RATIO: 11.5:1
ST tyres (120/70-ZR17 front, 160/60- FUEL SYSTEM: EFI
ZR17 rear), which will prove beneficial PERFORMANCE

for learners – none of this fat and posey POWER: 35kW (48hp) at 8500rpm
240mm stuff like the Ducati. TORQUE: 45Nm at 5000rpm
So, yes, there’s more than a strong
whiff of Chinese knockoff about the TRANSMISSION
TYPE: Six-speed
Benelli 502C which, despite its sharp FINAL DRIVE: Chain
styling in isolation, can be seen as a CLUTCH: Wet, multi-plate
disappointment. Especially when you
consider the bike’s designer is hardly CHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR
FRAME TYPE: Tubular-steel trellis
bereft of talent. It kind of makes you feel
and plates
sorry for the poor bastard who we FRONT SUSPENSION: 41mm
RAISE A FEW EYEBROWS N E L L
can only assume was strangled upside-down telescopic fork, non-
The ride experience mirrors the BE I creatively by execs further up the adjustable, 125mm travel
bike’s general presentation in its LAUNCH corporate ladder. REAR SUSPENSION: Monoshock,
REPORT adjustable for preload, 50mm travel
ability to surprise you. It’s more That aside, as an affordable,
FRONT BRAKES: Twin 280mm discs
entertaining and engaging than 5 0 2 C entertaining and still-stylish with twin-piston calipers, ABS
you’d expect. Even the cornering cruiser, the 502C is another REAR BRAKE: Single 240mm disc
clearance is better than you’d think. convincing proposition from Benelli. with single-piston caliper, ABS
Powering the LAMS cruiser is a
familiar 500cc parallel twin that produces WHEELS & TYRES
WHEELS: 17-inch alloys
35kW (48hp) at 8500rpm and 45Nm at It’s more entertaining TYRES: 120-70-17 front, 160/60-17
5000rpm. As found in the TRK 502 and rear, Pirelli Angel ST
Leoncino, the liquid-cooled, eight-valve and engaging than
DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES
DOHC unit with a 360-degree crank offers you’d expect WET WEIGHT: 217kg
a broad range of power and excellent
SEAT HEIGHT: 750mm
throttle response. The airbox and exhaust WHEELBASE: 1600mm
system from the dirtier Leoncino Trail FUEL CAPACITY: 21 litres
means it sounds pretty encouraging
too, which ticks another important box. OTHER STUFF
PRICE: $9790 rideaway
Gearing is slightly different than its
COLOURS: Matte Black Metallic,
mechanically identical siblings, with Metallic Matte Cognac Red,
a one-tooth larger rear sprocket and Black Glossy
appropriately narrow ratios to cruise at WARRANTY: 24 months/unlimited
100km/h in sixth at 5500rpm. kilometres with two years of
roadside assistance
At the levers, the clutch is light and
www.Benelli.com.au
modular for smooth, stress-free take-offs
though it lacks reach adjustment unlike
the front brake, which does a good job of
Second ops
ROOTHY UNCLE O GROFF
More Ducati f ed twins are This engine is
Value … Copycat
proof that won’t li always a nic proving itself styling
Fun bike
motorcycle t a lit le package and in daily use. Presence LCD display
designers shouldn’t of Italy in a Chinese this one has the looks, a good brake Even in cruiser form, illegible in
Styling... direct sunlight
do drugs. cruiser can’t hurt. package and competitive price. it shows its pedigree.
WIN A
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Spanner
n’ Strooth
PANNER
MUSINGS FROM YOUR TWO FAVOURITE OLD BLOKES
and In the boat going backwards

and on fire and about to
go over the waterfall…
SPANNER: You remember when you ran for the

senate and didn’t quite make the quota?
ROOTHY: C’mon Grant, it was only to raise
awareness of some bush issues, and I did it
twice. If they’d given me a ticket to Canberra
I’d have stuck the old TL125 up the stairs of
Parliament House and gone to jail instead. Got to
speak with heaps of politicians, though. Enough
to thoroughly disillusion me with the whole
bloody process. You know I hate talking about
politics. Why are you doing this to me?
SPANNER: I’m just a tiny bit pissed off that
NSW has finally adopted a se ib
club plate scheme for motorcy
and states like Queensland ar
still stuck in the dark ages.
Hardly anyone gets this, but
Australia was a bunch of
self-governing, independent
states until 1901 when we
‘federated’, which means we
got a federal government. It
had almost no power, though, THY: Are you a trainspotter? I
the famed ‘Australian Constit t g a blanket, a couple of bottles of red
is actually a document designed to protect the and a choo choo going through a tunnel could
states from federal interference. Individual be you. Okay, I’m a member of the UNEMC,
states still make most of the rules that govern registered in NSW as a historic motorcycle
us and, as you’re probably painfully aware, club. Yet members down there get 60 days for
they’re different from state to state. $48 a year going anywhere they want, and I
A great example of how ridiculous this is get 15km from home and club events for $200.
involves rail gauges – you know, the distance Does a designated UNEMC run count for a bike
between the rails for trains. If you wanted to registered through a Queensland club? I’m not
take a train from Perth to Brisbane in 1917, you game to ask.
had to change trains six times because most Having different laws in different states
ABOVE RIGHT Roothy’s states had decided on different gauges. Guess is typical of the chaos of the most governed
been digging up when it was possible to travel from Perth to nation on Earth. The bastards have managed to
dirt on politicians Brisbane for the first time without changing tie it all up in knots and taxed the shit out of
for a long time.
trains? 1995 – that’s less than 25 years ago. us to pay for their pensions. You should see the
mumbo jumbo behind vehicle modification laws
state to state or the rubbish towing laws that
If you see the
taken together mean almost every grey nomad world from
blocking the road with his caravan is technically the point of
illegal once he’s crossed a border or two. But
you saw this up front during those years spent view of the
working for the RACQ surely? What’s got to you people whose
this time, mate?
SPANNER: Well, given they’re all working off
lives you’re
the same research, how come they can arrive at interfering
different conclusions? There used to be no speed with it can
limits on NT highways, but politics got in the
way and a 130km/h limit was introduced. It was make a lot
reversed in 2014 because it didn’t actually lower more sense
the road toll and the initial review said having
no speed limits didn’t increase road deaths. The
government changed in 2016 and the 130km/h
dweller do a year on the pitface of wherever
limit was reintroduced.
they’re creating paperwork and get ourselves a
Here’s the thing. At the moment, 130km/h is
Lieutenant Governor to run the place as Queen
legal in NT but if you do it in Victoria in certain
Libby’s representative. You’d be good at that,
conditions you’ll lose your licence indefinitely
Spanner, you’d look great in ceremonial robes!
and your bike will be crushed. These things
Look, I want a government that involves reality,
happen in the same country. I wouldn’t mind if
endurance, balls on the line and the vital bit:
there was some science behind all this, but states
contact with the real people they’re taxing. Let’s
just seem to make it up as they go along.
have an annual ride around Australia where
ROOTHY: Whatever’s politically expedient on the
every prospective politician has to get on a
day to buy some votes or a bureaucrat working in
motorbike and do the big lap. They’d be followed
the background after the nasty man on the loud
by a semi loaded with swags and food and grog
motorbike winked at his daughter. National road
and wherever they camped overnight people
rules are common sense, which means they’ll
would be welcome to come and have a whinge.
never happen in this festering fungus of ‘f**kwits
That’d mean only the fit would survive. To be a
out to grab as much candy as they can’ system.
politician in this country, a decision maker, you’d
SPANNER: The problem with going national is have to be fit, capable of roughing it, dealing with
they’d go for the lowest common denominator. real people and every year you’d see the country
At least NT accepts 130km/h is sensible for the way it really is. And when you can’t make
the distances travelled there but a national that trip, you’re out. We don’t need willy wombats
speed limit might end up being the limit for the smelling of old wee wee who can be bought for
Great Ocean Road, which is currently 80km/h. a handful of votes making decisions. We need
National road rules wouldn’t be a bad idea, but strong people with quick reactions who are in
Victoria shouldn’t be the state that determines touch with the real world. You can’t fly over
them. We should get the Isle of Man government Australia and know it, as you know full well from
to do it. What do you reckon? your recent travels. How’d you get along with all
ROOTHY: Love it, dump all our existing the different grog laws the state’s impose on your
politicians, make every government office trip up north anyway?
Spanner
n’ Strooth
SPANNER: It was a nightmare.

My otherwise abstemious wife
likes a single malt whisky from
time to time but there were plenty of
places in NSW where she couldn’t get one at a
pub unless it was mixed with something else.
Takeaway beer in the NT? Sure, as long as it’s
light. I wish I could buy shares in XXXX Gold
– nobody seems to drink anything else. Oh,
and no wine casks but nobody seemed to mind
if I bought a dozen bottles of shiraz at a time.
Ten feet into WA and I could buy what I liked.
Where’s the logic?
ROOTHY: Yeah, there isn’t any. Queensland’s
definitely behind the eight ball on registration.
Did you see Rob Brown’s letter in this issue?
Seems you can’t buy a registered second-hand
bike from a dealer here if you have an interstate
address. The dealer has to hand the plates in
first. What, are we running short of numbers for
plates up here? Meanwhile, backpackers can ride
a 50cc moped without having to train for a bike
licence. We cater to idiot tourists who want to
buzz around the Gold Coast in thongs until they
hit a taxi, but we shit on fellow Aussies. Fats Palmer would be out talking to the fringe ABOVE Bob Katter’s
groups they want kicked out and then I’d ban been in the House
SPANNER: Yeah, the registration thing is of Representatives
lobby groups. Next, government departments
particularly ridiculous. NSW has annual since 1993 but is
would work on rotation. So someone in health currently the only
roadworthy inspections so if I buy a registered
administration would spend every second year representative in
There’s another federal mopping up hospital floors or helping patients. Canberra of the
Katter’s Australian
Education decision makers would have to do a
election in a couple of round of classroom teaching in a poor country
Party. Spanner’s
still waiting.
years. Are you sure school. Anyone who wants to voice an opinion
on the police force, good, bad or indifferent,
you can’t be talked into would have to spend a year riding with beat
having another go? coppers. If you see the world from the point of
view of the people whose lives you’re interfering
with it can make a lot more sense.
bike in, say, Albury, but I live in Wodonga,
the NSW registration has to be cancelled and SPANNER: Come on, mate, there’s another
I have to go through a Victorian roadworthy federal election in a couple of years. Are you
inspection before I can ride the bike. Why can’t sure you can’t be talked into having another go?
states accept each-other’s inspection regimes?
ROOTHY: Yeah, I know. You’ve heard about the
Someone’s making money out of all this, but
subsidised meals and incredible wine cellars at
it certainly isn’t us. If you ended up being the
Parly house haven’t you? Mate, I’m not interested
prime minister, how would you change things?
in wasting years of my life mixing it with people
ROOTHY: Day one, it’s compulsory to ride a I’ve no respect for. But if an earthquake tipped
motorcycle to parliament rain, hail or shine. the world, I’d have to get you and McKinnon and
That’d mean maybe three people showing up Kog and Gibbo and the Wiffos and Mr CEO Lovell
who all think much the same way. We’d wade to come and sort it anyway. Get Ned Kingsbury
through the crap real quick. Then make it law on foreign affairs, your ex-copper mate Brian
that hypocrites aren’t allowed to vote. That’d on law and order, Mr Charris writing the press
mean if you wanted to vote extreme green, releases. Dave Morley could sort road rules and
you’d have to live without air-conditioning registration. Geoff Seddon on national cornering
and recycling a 20-year-old Holden instead of sign speed restrictions, after mentioning there
wasting the Earth’s resources on a Prius. Every shouldn’t be an open limit just for Ducatis, of
politician would have had experience on the course. Hmmm, jobs for the boys again. But at
jackhammer and shovel, Pauline Hanson and least this time we’d all ride to work.
LONG
LIFE.
LONG
ADVENTURE.
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Harvey’s
world travels
QUICK SAN
WORDS & PHOTOS M A RT I N H A RV EY
Five little life lessons when

it comes to riding in sand
I
’m often asked about riding a heavy road
bike with street tyres in sand… It’s as
if it should be impossible without, at
the very least, an adventure bike and
appropriate knobbie tyres. But it wasn’t never heard it should be difficult. All city
always that way. Here are five little life boys, the nearest to sand we’d ridden were
lessons when it comes to riding through the tracks in Epping Forest or the Hollow
the soft stuff. Ponds behind the snack bar and only then in
the middle of the night. But everyone coped
1
OL’ BLIGHTY admirably. In fact, our speeds were mental.
Like the Barron Knights sang, it Hopefully you can recognise the bikes,
started long ago, outside a chip shop which were mainly British, mostly very non-
in Walthamstow. Thursday nights were in standard and as far from adventure or dirt
The Greyhound in Lea Bridge Road, not ABOVE Natalie with bikes as it gets. An excellent introduction to
actually Walthamstow, nor a chip shop, travelling buddy, sand racing for a bunch of teenagers in 1978.
but close enough. Eric. Hot in the Of course, I’ve travelled many sand miles
Sahara Desert, our
Easter weekend was a run to Beddgelert young travellers saw
since, including Australia and across Africa
in North Wales and, in those days of no 52 degrees in the on my way back to London in 1985, all of
compromise, that meant leaving after the summer of ’85. which is doable with the right attitude.
pub shut. Not necessarily all together but BELOW LEFT Beach racing
a few separate groups made the 250-mile in North Wales 1978, LESSON The older I get, the faster I was.
and not a dirt bike
(400km) journey through the night arriving
2
or adventure bike in
at the camp site (a field with a river) at sight. The city boys TASSIE VS AFRICA
various times during the early to very late were a long way That Tassie track is a very memorable
morning. Many adventures en route, of from home. one. I think I’d avoid it now, but we both
course, probably 25-30 bikes in total and BELOW RIGHT When it came got through it without falling thanks in part
to riding in Tassie,
at least one Escort van. to the power of youth. At least it wasn’t as hot
Martin and his mates
Anyway, when the beach run was bought were backed by the as the Sahara, but it felt like a monster sand
up, nobody baulked, probably because we’d power of youth. dune at the time.
The Sahara itself was actually relatively
easy, with very little gradient on the
main highway. Once you get up to speed,
maintaining it is a doddle. Crossing ruts left
by trucks was a game, and we occasionally
ended in sand sandwiches when we landed
without shutting our mouths. The bike didn’t
mind 52-degree temperatures at all, such is
the beauty of air-cooled engines, I s’pose.
LESSON Air-cooled rules. And when

wearing an open-face lid on sand,
keep your mouth shut.
CLUTCHING LIFE
Clutches are one of the common
victims of sand abuse, as a bloke we
et at the Algeria and Niger border post
Tamanrasset will attest: by the time
ur paths crossed he’d been camping
r three days waiting for help after
burnt out the clutch of his XR600.
He was German, I think, but spoke
reasonable English. When I explained that
I could bolt the clutch together to give
him drive but no clutch as such, I wasn’t
sure he’d cope, but it was all I could offer.
Imagine my surprise when he pulled out old Welsh shots, only a little better, you know,
a complete clutch pack, fibres and steels Someone had 100mph a few feet apart, hair in the wind.
from his big metal boxes. Mad. Someone told him to It took a while to convince Dan but
had told him to bring spares but not how eventually he agreed, and I set off down the
to fit them. He really was close to dying,
bring spares ramp first. The stones at the bottom were a bit
having used all his food and water before but not how tricky but momentum from the descent got
being rescued by a truck. I fitted his plates
but never found out if he made it to Togo
to fit them. me onto the sand pretty damn quick.
“Give it some noise through the soft, dry
without killing them (or himself). He really was stuff and the wet stuff will be like bitumen!”
close to dying I told myself as the back wheel spun and sank.
LESSON Learn how to fix your bike. Some 50 metres in and the wet sand
It could be the death of you. seemed to be getting further away, the sweat
starting to pour. Even my gentle arc of a
retreat was seriously hard work. Then I had
to go past Dan, just in the opposite direction,
not at 100mph – or even 10mph – but just
ABOVE A Land Rover and
moving probably best describes it. A few
the Guzzi were caught feet further I reached the stones that had
in a Sahara sandstorm grown into boulders as the back wheel kept
in the middle of the day! spinning while the front bounced higher
Martin thought he could
withstand it if he wore a with each go.
helmet but, no… Visor An offer of help from some locals, kind not
destroyed. to laugh, was my final call to action. I had
BELOW Two mature to do it with Guzzi power. Well, I did, but I
Guzzisti in 2015 in must’ve lost a kilo in sweat.
Ireland fail miserably
to do what they did in Hey, riding sand is easy, just watch me.
’78. Ambition and ability
got confused. Getting LESSON Ambition can outweigh talent.
4
DUCKS TO WATER back up the ramp over
boulders was hard,
Of course, for my kids, and but the old boys did it This is an edited extract of a forthcoming
presumably many readers too, the without help. Just. audio/book by Martin Harvey.
introduction to sand came much sooner.
It was well before high-school age for the
young Harvey boys where blasting along
beaches on dirt bikes was the norm. In fact,
our local MX track had seriously deep sand
so, by the age of eight, my boys were quicker
in sand than I ever was or will be.
LESSON Earlier the better.
5
OLDER, NOT WISER
Ireland, 2015, and actually very close
to a street circuit Cam may have been
racing the weekend prior (I got the timing
wrong and missed the event). When I saw this
beach, I figured we could recreate some of the
Mailbox
YOUR
LETTER OF THE ISSUE
SHED MASTER? He also has great backstories
I wondered if you might about campaigning in
consider taking a look at Europe and elsewhere in
Dave Kellett’s contribution sidecar racing, most of
to motorcycling in which he’s too modest to tell
southeast Queensland as most people about.
Write to MT’s Mailbox at mct@trademotorcycles.com.au Mr Kellett grafted
a Shed Masters feature.
my outfit together (see
LETTERS
or Motorcycle Trader, PO Box 2094, Oakleigh, Vic 3166 DaveKellettMotorcycle.
attached photos): a 2008
com.au
Suzuki GSX1400 and an
Mr Kellett’s tag line
Inder (off the shelf). He
is “We’ll give it to you
fabricated the leading-
straight”, and he’s known as
link front end from
the region’s (the country’s?)
scratch and made various
best frame straightener. modifications to the ’car’s
He carries, nay, exudes, chassis and wheel bearing
a lifetime of motorcycle to allow it to keep up with
engineering wisdom. the big two-wheeler. The
But that’s not why I’m
MENTIONING THE WAR This photo was taken
writing. Here it is: his
geometry of the completed
when they were getting combo is perfect, being
I have read your piece avocation is the sidecar. In
ready to help Poland fight completely controllable
on bikes throughout the dealing with him over the
the Germans in 1938. He with one hand whatever
first and second world six-month period of a project
was just 17 at the time. the speed or surface. The
wars and found it very concluded almost two years
Steve Sawbridge project has brought our
informative. ago, I’d say he’s forgotten
sjpools@bigpond.com little family enormous
I’m writing to say there more about these outfits than pleasure – which was the
was not a mention of the
most people have ever learnt. whole idea, of course – and
Norton bikes being used.
These were used in WWII
and I have a photo of my
father at the helm of a 1938
ADVENTUROUS GIRLS The Facebook group is
called Women Adventure
I met Spannerman at the
350cc, which are very rare. Riders Australia. The
recent BMW TS Safari, and
He took it to Poland in Safari was lots of fun and
I wanted to add this to our
1938 and later used it super well-organised by
conversation.
in Egypt. He had a fall the BMW Safari Team!
I know a number of girls
in the sand where the Thanks in advance.
who ride all sorts of
exhaust pipe burnt into Lana Bozic
bikes including Harleys,
his leg and dug himself Facebook
Suzuki GSX-R, TU250X,
out and returned to base
BMW F 800 GS and a
for medical treatment. Good on you, Lana. A
Ducati Monster. We used
Tough man. quick scan reveals several
to ride together every
weekend in the early days local FB groups for female
where there was a lot of adventure riders with
encouragement, lots of fun strong membership, which
and lots of coffee stops. is great to see. Get out there
We rode down to Philip and get among it!
Island the year Casey
Stoner retired and it took BUY MY BIKE
us three full days (a couple I just read Cam’s latest
OLDIER of the guys came with us

and couldn’t believe how
column about shopping
for an adventure bike
of
ORTUN
They either got ridden into the ground,
long it could take to get
there) to get there. I came
and thought you may be
interested my 2013 BMW
or shot at, sometimes both in the same
day. Whatever their intended fate,
nobody expected these old victims
of war to become collectable back with the boys and we F 800 GS that’s for sale.
WORDS GUY ALLEN
PHOTOS BEN GALLI/MT ARCHIVES
did it in just over a day. I bought it new, it’s never
I’m still exhausted from been dropped and has
32 MOTORCYCLE TRADER MOTORCYCLE TRADER 33
the experience. 42,000km. It has a full
service history (including
valves and current
the Steven Walters Snowy
Ride in early November.
I have a bad
shim sizes) from BM It will be my final trip on back and bad
Motorcycles in Ringwood,
Melbourne.
the bike.
I’d take $10,500 with a
left knee, so the
Here’s a bit of a list: RWC. Bike is in Northcote, bikes must go.
• Electronic suspension
adjustment on the rear,
Melbourne.
Phil McMillan
You don’t want
traction control and ABS philjmc@bigpond.com a Thruxton R
(both switchable). as well, do you?
visibility, with nods and • BMW accessories For once, somebody’s not
waves and Q&As galore. include ‘Comfort seat’, flogging their bike to you,
Thanks for the mag. It’s BMW bar protectors, Guido! Hahaha!
the best. B&B bash plate. a NSW address. Instead,
John Britten (no relation) • Andy Strapz racks and the plates have to be
Beaudesert, QLD soft panniers; Givi NOT HAPPY, JAN handed in by the dealer to
topbox and tank bag. Having just endured the their Queensland Service
A motorcyclist named • Puncture repair tools worst buyer experience Centre.
John Britten. What are the and an electric air from a dealer I’ve ever Not fully understanding
chances? It’s like the other compressor. had (and I’ve had a few this, I recently flew up
Chris Harris from Highett • The usual BMW – 23 bikes in 35 years), to Coolangatta from
Primary School who also features: centrestand, I thought it best I write Newcastle to take delivery
played drums, Chris Harris heated grips, 21-front in to warn others of the of my new black 2006
the other motoring journalist wheel. predicament I recently Kawasaki ZX-10R.
and Chris Harris the I have a bad back and faced in Queensland. Once in the cab from the
speedway rider who can get bad left knee, so the bikes Long story short, it airport to Nerang sitting
sideways without actually must go. You don’t want a turns out a registered on The Thunderdome
crashing. Shed Master? Thruxton R as well, do you? motorcycle dealer can’t expressway into the
Watch this space. I haven’t advertised it sell a used motorcycle Goldie, the true nature
yet as I have registered for with rego to anyone with of the technicality was
explained to me over
the phone whereupon I
preceded to lose my shit
accordingly.
I couldn’t ride it off the
lot. I had to return to
Tweed Heads with the
roadworthy provided and
register it fresh then bring
the NSW plate back with
me and screw it on myself.
There’s no three-
month grace period for
any vehicle purchased
THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT in a private sale as
Seems you can’t decide between the Vitpilen and a per standard. In fact,
I can remember there was a time when I could walk into
Z900 going by your Facebook message, Alvar, not that the law is so emphatic
any motorcycle dealer and be able to throw a leg over most
we blame you. Great bikes. that no motorcycle
machines. I recently bought another bike, but my choice
You might recall Cam and Charris testing the can be purchased with
was severely limited to those with a low enough seat. Is it
Vitpilen 701 and Svartpilen 401 back in MT #342, Queensland rego by a
me (I’m 5’8” in the old coin), or is the gap from the top of
both of which put a serious smile on their dials. NSW resident from a
the rear tyre and the underside of the seat getting bigger? Like you, Cam isn’t exactly a tall chap and the registered Queensland
I presume it’s to aid sharp handling, etc. We don’t all want Husky’s 830mm seat height didn’t concern him, so dealer. End of story.
to be Barry Sheene – some of us just like riding to work and it give it another look maybe. As Cam said, on your Thankfully, the dealer
keep our licences. And not all of us want cruisers either. I favourite twisty scratch road, the 701 would keep (Hinterland Motorcycles)
currently have a Bonnie T120, which is just right. I would’ve any naked or sportsbike honest. You could shame did a good job of settling
loved a Husqvarna Vitpilen 701, but it’s just ridiculously tall! them in the corners – it’s all about momentum and me down (eventually)
Alvar Scott corner speed, and that’s its strong point. And what a and stuck the bike in
alvar56@hotmail.com striking design, too! – Ed. the back of his ute and
Mailbox
and register it first. And

WORDS GUY ALLEN PHOTOS MT ARCHIVES
“Just because don’t forget to bring your

you like a own screwdriver, just to
be safe.
Jackson Pollock And after much
painting does discussion in the ute on
the way to Tweed not
not mean I’ll even the dealer could
pay ridiculous explain to me a valid
reason for this. If anyone
money for it!” can I’d love to hear it… FUTURE CLASSIC
DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1000
Aside from keeping some

public servant in a job, Go back 15 years and the idea
of Ducati doing an adventure
took me back down The it’s got me buggered. tourer was just plain silly.
Then the Multistrada was born
Robert Brown
80
Thunderdome to Tweed
Heads after the close robbrwn7@gmail.com somehow (I also have a Ah, yes, the original
of trade delivering me 1976 Honda CB550-Four Multistrada 1000. The
and my new Kwaka and 2009 Suzuki V-Strom follow-up to Ducati’s
missile to a hotel in WHAT’D HE SAY? 650). My fleet isn’t in the polarising 999 sportsbike,
Tweed where I managed I missed the recent Guido territory, I know, both of which were
to get it registered fresh article about the Ducati but it’s enough to keep designed by poor Pierre
in NSW at the Tweed Multistrada by Guy me busy. Terblanche who copped
Heads Service Centre the Allen. Having just bought If you could direct me yet another pasting.
following morning. a 2007 1100 model, I’m to the edition the article Ahead of his time? That’s
So there you go. Buyer keen to read what Guido appears would be most up for debate and time
beware if you’re thinking wrote. I had to make way appreciated. will tell.
of buying a used bike for the new purchase by PS. Keep up the good The story, as part of
in Queensland from selling my 1974 Norton work! Guido’s Future Classic
a dealer and you live Commando 850 MkII Phil Moden series, appeared in MT
in Mexico: Get the (a sad day), but I had Phil.Moden@ #342. A red/yellow BMW
paperwork sent through to rationalise the fleet delwp.vic.gov.au K1 appears on the cover.
FOR FUND SAKE B

BA Y poor reports and market drivers? Just
BO
B
because you like a Jackson Pollock
S
OOMER
Really enjoyed Guy Allen’s ‘Talking Baby boomers have

driven a big rise in
le market and the
‘Bout My Generation’ in MT #351. So

the collectable vehic
question on a lot of peop le’s lips is what
fade away?
painting does not mean I’ll pay
GN
happens when they
ridiculous money for it!

BEN GALLI/MT ARCHIVES
WORDS GUY ALLEN PHOTOS
much so I’ve read it about six or seven

times to be sure I had a good grasp on To the former, I also wondered why
his viewpoint. pay full price for a new model intended
What I’ve found interesting is for investment (and a potential new-
comments on various social media age classic), but allow the dealer to
groups regarding punters referring uncrate a potential future icon and
to their sheds and collections as display on the showroom floor? If I had
‘super funds’. These statements the coin, I’d look at investment models
originally perpetuated a mental to leave 100 per cent ‘Mint in box’ and
image of exactly what you referred
not pre-delivery setup.
to as too much stuff.

Having purchased the same model
Recent conversations with other

I recently spoke to one such self- from the fund). I found this intriguing. unit for regular rides, I cannot think
Gen-Xers have indicated that this
funder who stated that the recent What guarantee or risk was there of of the prospect forking out cash for
super reference is far more than
some might expect. In this age of purchase of a newly released bike increase in value to the purchased something not to ride. But I’m not in a
self-managed super funds, people are which has polarised opinions “won’t investment? Would the various models SMSF, so I’m sure there are other points
open to invest their superannuation be ridden” as the terms of the SMSF stored in a shed prove to be good to this that escape my understanding.
in various areas so long as it falls dictate that as an investment item and sought-after models in years to Stuart Bell
within the rules. it cannot be used (unless purchased come, or bad rejects shunned due to sbell@device.com.au
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PUD’S
ED MASTERS
SH
Pu d’s Fo u r Pa r t s
Pud’s Four Parts has

become the go-to place
PLACE
if you want help with a
Honda 750-Four resto.
Meet the man behind
the oddball name
WORDS GUY ALLEN PHOTOS BEN GALLI
A
sk Andrew ‘Pud’ Barker how That was also where he got the
or why he got into motorcycles nickname ‘Pud’. It seems his racing
and he’ll cheerfully assure pal would invite him home for dinner
you that he was “an eight- and the missus referred to the pair
year-old bouncer at a of them as ‘puds’, as in puddings.
minibike track”. Okay, that’s not Evidently it was all in good fun and
something you hear every day – they even had pud weigh-offs to
what’s the story? His dad owned a see who most deserved the title. Of
minibike park near Melbourne, and it course, the story got loose in the race
was Andrew’s job to round up people pits and Andrew ended up ‘wearing’
when their time was up. the handle.
He had the right tool for the job.
While the standard fleet bikes were I’LL TAKE THE LOT
Honda Z50 Mini Trails, young Mr B With a 750-Four-powered outfit of his
had a hotted up ‘big-block’ version, own to feed and care for, he needed
with a rampaging 70cc barrel and a ready supply of single-cam Honda
special carburettor. Apparently, if CB750 engine parts. Not an unusual
people refused to come in when situation, but it seems he took to the
their time was up, Andrew’s job idea with rare dedication.
was to catch them and punt them off. “When the Trading Post was a
A simple and effective tactic. paper, I lived in the Frankston area,
Somehow, over the intervening and the paper was printed nearby
years, Pud’s Four Parts has in Wells Road, Seaford. I used to
infiltrated the national motorcycle wait at 7 in the morning and get the
psyche more by a process of osmosis paper warm off the press. Anything
than through any revolutionary that said 750-Four, I went and
marketing program. In fact, when bought as spares.
you talk to Andrew, it seems the “I ended up with 100 engine cases,
whole thing came about by accident shopping trolleys full of carburettors,
rather than design. that’s how it all started.”
His early riding career saw him Okay, a little obsessive perhaps,
progress through a series of air- and he ended up with a whole lot
cooled Z900 and Z1000 Kawasakis, more than just engine parts. Chassis
until he sidetracked into Hondas soon joined the bloating stockpile
through racing. “I started Post- and the explanation is simple
Classic sidecar racing years ago and enough: “You’d go somewhere and
I was passenger for Neil Turner, for say you want only the engine, not the
12 months, then bought the sidecar frames and wheels and they’d say
off him. He bought another one well you take everything or nothing.
and we raced each other. That was “I stored everything I wasn’t using
quite funny as I came in that year at my brother’s place – he’d just
as second as a rider and first as a bought a property with a derelict
passenger!” dairy on it. I put a roller door on it,
ED MASTERS
SH
“Anything that
said 750-Four,
I went and
bought
as spares”
filled it in and used that until we odd bike I did up. It’s a nice spot if
moved down here [to Gippsland, in it’s not snowing…”
eastern Victoria].” Good plan. Maybe do up the
In the meantime, he’d been occasional toy and sell it off to keep
running a business as a mobile car things ticking over. Andrew reckons
audio installer. He had something it worked for a while, but, as these
like 40 dealerships on his books, things do, the plot ran off the rails a
in addition to private clients, and little. “Someone came in and asked if
business was flat-out. However, the I could get new parts. I said I’d have
thrills of driving 1000km a week and a look around, and then more and
working long hours installing stereos more people came in.”
to boot soon wore off. He decided to The interest inevitably raised
ABOVE LEFT: The SL350 restoration retire to Gippsland with his partner, thoughts of turning it into a
has come up well. Honda and maybe do a bit of work in the business, and that meant, eventually,
once made a whole range
of them, like the SL70.
giant shed he built himself. “I’d been having to move out of the shed. Next
ABOVE RIGHT: Somehow Pud’s
tinkering with bikes since I was thing he knew he was renting a shop
has ended up working eight years old and was quite content in a back street in sunny Yarram and
on all manner of bikes. to mess around the place and sell the things got serious.
“It’s gone flat out, all the He’s a little bemused at the whole
restorations on all sorts of bikes. I industry that has built up around
cater for all the single-cams: 350, 400, reviving motorcycles that were, not
500, 650 and 750. And obviously if so long ago, seen as throwaways. “It
people have other bikes I’ll try with looks like it’ll keep going for a while
them, too.” You see, it’s that sort of at least. I thought the bubble might’ve
helpful attitude that’s bound to lead burst two or three years ago.”
to trouble. He soon outgrew the rented As for the stratospheric prices ED MASTERS
shop and bought another on the ($50,000-plus) being paid for rare SH
main street, which has recently been variants, such as sandcast 750-Four
extended. That’s full, too. K0s, is he surprised by that? “Yes and
no. Have a look at XY Falcons and old
“We’re
ON THE MONEY EH Holdens and the big money they getting
So where does all this work come
from? It seems his reputation is very
sell for. I used to buy old EHs for $50
and thrash them round a paddock and
a lot of
much nation-wide. For example, go and buy another one when they hit Mini Trails
“I have three bikes for a fella in
Yeppoon, in Queensland. They had
a tree!” Now you can add a few zeroes
for an exceptional example.
and SL70s
been wrapped in tarps near the coast “People are going nuts over stuff coming
and they had sweated, so they’re
absolutely full of rust. One was his
that no-one wanted to know when
they were new, and I think those
to get
brother’s bike and I reckon it’s a 20 TV shows like Rick’s Restorations restored”
grand-plus job, but he wants it done.” and American Pickers are having an
ABOVE: Now there’s something effect. We’re seeing lots of stuff being There is also a mate’s Kawasaki
you don’t see every day. pulled out of sheds. Z1000H lurking out the back,
The 750-Four can certainly
handle a sidecar and Pud “We’re getting a lot of Mini Trails, affectionately known as ‘Beyond 2000’
knows a thing or two about SL70s, things like that coming to get after the once-famous TV show of the
them from his days in Post- restored. We’ve just done an SL350 same name.
Classic sidecar racing. and that’s come up really well. It was Apparently, the mate sent an engine
BELOW: The spare parts
pulled out of a dairy in Poowong (Vic), off to be restored sometime in the
situation is changing, with
some OEM bits getting hard covered in mud. Years ago, you never early ’90s and Andrew warned the
to find and expensive. would’ve bothered with them.” bloke that would be last he saw of
Okay, so what does a man who it. Whoever had been given the job
fixes classics for a living have in his had a dodgy reputation and there
own fleet? Well, there’s a K1 Honda was no way the thing would be up
CB750-Four of course. It’s running an and running before the turn of the
aftermarket exhaust and has a well- millennium.
used look about it. “It’s a bit rough Unfortunately, Andrew was right,
around the edges,” he says, “It’s not and the machine has, after being
concours, but it suits me and it’s really given a donor engine and some extras
comfortable. We get on it and ride up such as Dymag wheels and a VF1000
to Tathra about six hours away – I’d Prolink rear, circled back into his
get off as fresh as I got on it. ownership. It shares space with a
“The K1 has a better seat than the very desirable Harris Magnum 2,
K2,” he adds, “Better padding with running an air-cooled Katana 1000
softer foam.” powerplant.
FOR A GOOD CAUSE ED MASTERS
SH
Those toys have lacked attention over the Pu d’s Fo u r Pa r t s
last couple of years while Andrew and
members of the Honda CB750 Owners Club They must be way past
have pulled together an extraordinary what Honda envisaged
line-up of three 1972 single-cam fours
a CB350, 500 and 750 all restored to as a reasonable lifespan
showroom condition. It was a big job,
apparently as the trio were a bit shabby to
begin with – particularly the 350.
IN IT TO WIN IT
“They were all stripped back to nothing, The CB750 Owners’ Club is
then we blasted the frames, did them in running a raffle to celebrate
two-pack paint, new bearings, wiring, the 50th anniversary of their
spokes, rims – everything. In the end, very hero bike, with first prize
original parts were done up, as these bikes being the choice of a fully
had to be absolutely right. So we spent a restored 350, 500 or 750
lot more than we planned to do them. (which are all 1972 models).
“The motors are brand new, too, so they Tickets are $50 each, with
should be a good thing.”
all proceeds going to the
Okay, so why the big effort? They’re the
Black Dog Institute, which
prizes in a raffle, where the winner gets
assists in the treatment of
first choice of the three and so-on to third
place. Any profits go to the Black Dog male depression.
Institute, a charity that combats mental The show-stopping bikes
illness and depression in particular. have been painstakingly
Tickets cost $50 and are being sold restored by Puds Four Parts.
through Pud’s. For ticket sales, call 0499
Looking at the bikes, you have to 355 725 between 9am and
wonder what parts are difficult to find – 6pm. Competition drawn
after all, we’re talking about 50-year-old November 24.
motorcycles. They must be way past what
Honda envisaged as a reasonable lifespan.

“Cosmetics can be the hardest,” says
Andrew, “And some things are starting
to dry up. Original gauges can be difficult
and original exhaust pipes are getting
really expensive.” The story goes that
Honda had warehoused a giant collection
BELOW LEFT: Which one of legacy parts, but that building
would you choose if was partially destroyed in the 2011
you won the raffle? earthquake and tsunami, wiping out a
huge amount of stock.
There’s a growing industry in making
reproduction parts, but Andrew reckons
you have to keep a keen eye on the quality,
which sometimes isn’t as good as the
original.
Surely, after all these years, the novelty
of doing a resto must sometimes wear off?
Apparently not. To this day, the sight of an
old toy getting up and running again brings
Contact him joy. “It’s great to see. And it gives you
Pud’s Four Parts a great sense of satisfaction when someone
Andrew Barker drags in some rusted old heap of crap
Ph: (03) 5182 5704 they’ve found somewhere and it goes out
252 Commercial Rd, Yarram, VIC living and looking like a million dollars. It’s
PudsFourParts.com fantastic. I get a real buzz out of that.”
$8675$/,$1',675,%8725
35
5 DDS
• 30 CLICK COMPRESSION AND REBOUND AND 16

BYPASS VALVE ADJUSTMENT.
ADJUSTMENT
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ADJUSTMENT.
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$VNX
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FRP
SUPERBIKE FORKS FORK INTERNAL KITS CARTRIDGE KITS
THE ULTIMATE EDGE FOR ROAD AND RACE RACE PROVEN
Future
Classic
ZUKI
SU
FUTURE CLASSIC
DR650
BASIC
Can a humble chook-chaser make it
into the pantheon of collectability?
WORDS GUY ALLEN PHOTOS MARTYN BLAKE & MT ARCHIVES
Y
eah, yeah – I know what you’re going
to say. How on earth can something
that’s little more than a cheap and
cheerful chook-chaser make it into
the ranks of collectable motorcycles?
After all, we’re not exactly talking Vincent
twins here, are we?
On one level it’s right to question this,
as we’re talking a very basic piece of
machinery – a 650 single-cylinder trail bike
on trials universal rubber that has, with a
little modification, long been seen as the
bargain end of the adventure-touring market.
However, there are numerous cases of
formerly humble pieces of machinery that
are now very much on the collector radar.
Future
Classic
There’s a burgeoning market out there for

old trail bikes, with early Suzuki TS185s
and SP370s among them. So it’s not that big a
leap to see a nice, original DR650 eventually
getting there, particularly given their now
near-legendary status on the adventure-
touring scene.
So let’s step back a little and have a look at
what we’re dealing with. The early history
of this model can take a little untangling, as
there was a surprising number of variants. One
pairing we didn’t get here was the DR650RS
and ES series (see the sidebar, below right).
For Australia, the model progression began
with the DR500 from 1981, which was the
company’s first big-bore four-stroke single
(which is now very collectable, by the way). ZUKI proposition once you master the drill … but
SU
Next came the DR600 in 1985 and then the it’s tough to master the drill when you’re stuck
650 from 1991. That date, by the way, makes in the middle of an intersection with a flooded
it of much more affordable club-plate age in engine … hot starts can be tricky if you don’t
Victoria, and only two years away in most DR650
get it right the first time.”
other states. A combination of a very depressed market
But here’s the catch, some genius decided and the absence of electric start meant these
they could get away with kick-start only, things weren’t exactly flying off the showroom
which was the basis for the base model. Now DR650s can be seen floor. I’d be happy to have one as a curiosity,
everywhere from the
a big single with kick-start only is all fine but for most the main game began with the
’Stans in the former
and happy if it’s in tune and you have the Soviet Union to the update in 1996.
technique nailed but, in reality, it’s a pain in high country of New
the arse – or leg if the bastard kicks back at Zealand’s South THE NEW CHAP
Island. Stronger
you, which big singles can be prone to. rims and spokes are
Welcome to the DR650SE, which (aside from
As one reviewer of the day accurately recommended for very minor updates) is still being sold today.
described it: “It’s rarely more than a two-kick both areas. This is the model that truly found a niche,
Much of
the charm
of the
DR650 lies
in its sheer
simplicity
with a subtly modified engine in place. its Achilles heel is the 13-litre standard fuel
In fact, the engine mods were numerous. tank – many people change these over for
Compression was down slightly from 9.7:1 much bigger aftermarket items.
to 9.5:1, while capacity edged up from 640 to Suzuki Australia has recently added an
644cc. The new bike was making the same updated model that addresses the fuel
max power – a modest 32kW (or 43hp) – but a range issue, called the Tanami Edition
little earlier at 6400rpm instead of 6700. Max THE ONE (pictured above). Running a 20-litre Acerbis
torque also chimes in significantly earlier at
WE MISSED fuel tank, it also boasts alloy handguards,
4600rpm instead of 5000. There was a pair of early more aggressive Pirelli knobby tyres and a
Much of the charm of the DR650 lies in variants (from 1991) of the bashplate for a grand total of $9490 rideaway.
its sheer simplicity. That air-cooled single DR650 that wasn’t imported In recent years the DR has enjoyed one major
(running an oil cooler) is one of the few of its here, though I wouldn’t be asset when it comes to finding a market – it’s
type still roaming the Earth, running four surprised if there are a few learner-approved, without modification.
valves and fed by a 40mm Mikuni carburettor. grey imports on our shores.
That basic spec is reflected across the entire They are the DR650RS SADDLE UP
package, including the chassis. The frame is – which was kickstart only The whole ride experience is very benign.
– and DR650ES, which had
a very basic steel item, with a non-adjustable Starting is simple and the thing makes
electric start.
conventional fork plus a monoshock with solid power right off the bottom. It’s willing
These carried frame-
spring and compression damping adjusters enough and you’ll soon find all those
mounted half-fairings similar
on the rear. horses coming into play. Top speed is about
in style to that used on the
Braking is by single disc with two-piston 160km/h, which isn’t a lot, but more than
Honda Dominator NX650,
calipers at both ends, and the company has so enough to tear up a licence.
which it saw as a direct
far resisted the impulse to add ABS. competitor. In reality, that speed potential means it will
Seating is one long dirt-bike style pad, which Sales were modest and happily cruise at 120km/h or better, so there’s
allows easy changes of riding position, but one over here would be a no issue with long-distance highway running.
it isn’t the most comfortable perch on the real curiosity. Handling is influenced by the long-travel
planet. One aspect that has long been seen as suspension at both ends and the light
Future
Classic
weight, as it can feel

‘floaty’ at times. You
will also get a fair
amount of pitching
fore and aft if you’re
hard on the throttle
and brakes, so it rewards
a smoother riding style.
With all that said, it’s
remains a very satisfying SPECS
and amiable ride.
Where you will apprecia SUZUKI DR650SE
its simplicity is when the
riding surface deteriorates. It w g ENGINE:
just 162kg wet and is very easy to throw TYPE: Air/oil-cooled, four-
valve single
around. Meanwhile, unlike the big end of
CAPACITY: 644cc
the adventure-tourer market, you’re not from 2004-on will fix it. BORE & STROKE: 100 x 82mm
dealing with 250-odd kilos of rampaging Maintenance is simple and in easy COMPRESSION RATIO: 9.5:1
motorcycle. There’s a whole lot to be said reach of the home mechanic. The fact FUEL SYSTEM: 40mm Mikuni
for that: less stressful and far less likely it has simple screw-and-locknut tappet BST40
to end in tears. adjustment is a big winner.
PERFORMANCE:
One catch is that it’s quite tall in the POWER: 32kW (43hp) at 6400rpm
seat, though this is less of an issue than WHICH ONE? TORQUE: 54Nm at 4600rpm
the numbers suggest. The suspension The standard advice for the DR650SE is
compresses easily under the weight of buy these things on condition rather than TRANSMISSION:
TYPE: Five-speed, constant-mesh
a rider and the seat is narrow, making model year. That’s the way to go if you’re
FINAL DRIVE: Chain
reaching the ground a little easier. looking at something that functions well.
Serious adventure tourers look at these You can get a working proposition from CHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR:
areas for upgrades: suspension (rebuild around $4000. FRAME TYPE: Steel
rather than replace), heavy-duty rims and When it comes to collectability, the old FRONT SUSPENSION: Telescopic
fork, leading axle
spokes, larger fuel tank, plus revised seat chestnut of having the earliest possible REAR SUSPENSION: Monoshock,
padding. That sounds like a lot, but we’re model in dead-stock condition, or all the preload and compression damping
talking about building something that will parts to return it to showroom nick, still adjustment
tackle literally anything. applies. In any case, this is never going to FRONT BRAKE: 280mm disc with
In stock form, these things have an be investment of the century, so don’t plan two-piston caliper
REAR BRAKE: 230mm disc with
excellent reputation for reliability. We’re your retirement on it. However, if you do
two-piston caliper
told the cylinder base gasket can weep on happen to have a tidy early model sitting in
early models and that an upgraded part the shed, it’s worth looking after. DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES:
WET WEIGHT: 162kg
SEAT HEIGHT: 885mm
WHEELBASE: 1490mm
FUEL CAPACITY: 13L
TYRES:
FRONT: 90/90-21
REAR: 120/90-17
Simple Small fuel tank

Reliable Painful seat
Very capable Rims a bit soft
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Available for pre-order now, contact your local
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@BenelliAustralia @Benelli_Aus_NZ
Spannerman Write to MT’s Mailbox at mct@trademotorcycles.com.au
or Motorcycle Trader, PO Box 2094, Oakleigh, Vic 3166
SPANNER’S SOAPBOX
Let the mechanical master solve your woes. It might even be about your bike
Quite a few years ago, I got picked in the New Harley so much when he came home that he went
England regional basketball team to play at the sta k 22 years later, tracked it down and convinced the
championships. I was living in Moree at the time er to sell it back to him. He had a hell of a time
it was a pretty big deal to be selected. The assu ting it into the country because the asbestos rules
among the locals was that I must’ve been a gun d kicked in and, in the end, it would have been far
player. Our first game was against Wollongon cheaper to call by his local H-D dealer and pay
and we were beaten by 70 points. cash for a new Low Rider S. That wasn’t
‘Beaten’ is probably the wrong word – the point, though. Here he was on the
‘humiliated’ might be better. bike he’d courted his wife on all those
I was reminded of this at years ago. It would’ve come dead last
Motorclassica this year where plenty in the concours but, for him, it will be
of people turned up on what they beautiful forever.
thought was an ace display bike to be Most bikes have a story that can be
confronted with real display bikes. more interesting than the machine
What they thought was an immaculately itself. The knockout bike at the show
clean bike suddenly looked filthy and wasn’t the shiniest – it was a Vincent
minor blemishes stood out like dog’s balls. Black Lightning that looked like it had been
I talked with quite a few of these people dragged to the exhibition behind a truck rather
and heard the stories of their bikes. Suddenly the than in it. You’ll see pics of it on page 54. Bikes can’t
appearance of the bike became less important than its tell their own story, but owners can. The important
history and its association with its owner. One bloke thing, as it turns out, isn’t what your bike looks like
had spent time in the US in the 1960s and missed but what it means to you.
SUSPENDERS I’m on is key to how my time to do maintenance wondered what a good

A reader had a question bike (Triumph 800XC) on suspension to avoid maintenance regime for
handles off-road. Lower a failure out bush? forks and suspension
recently about tyre
pressures in gravel or I’ve done a fair bit of would look like.
pressures. I found the
sandy ground are a corrugated road riding Crispin Underwood,
best way to stay on top
winner on a bigger bike. (Great Central Road a few underwoods@gmail.com
of the situation is to get
Now that I have your times and others) that
a portable gauge (I kept it Aha, the Great Central
attention, when’s the best hammers suspension and
in the tank bag) to check Road. Gossip is they’re
pressures when the tyres going to seal it in the
were cold and then use next two years, Crispin,
a good-quality bicycle to make it easier for
floor pump to adjust WA residents to get to
accordingly. the Centre but, at the
This avoids the issue moment, it’s corrugation
of tyres heating up by central.
the time you get to the A few things can happen
servo. I picked this up to your suspension over
from track days and have time. Its performance
found over the years that can decline with age
adjusting tyre pressures because the damping
for the particular terrain oil outlives its use-by
date and becomes either
too light or, usually, too
One fork
heavy, slowing down leg
the damping process
and making the bike less
working
manageable over rough will still
roads.
Your owner’s manual
keep the bike
will suggest oil change under control
intervals for the forks,
and it doesn’t hurt to
and it’s rare
follow them. that both will go
The big issue is seals
in both the fork and the
rear spring/damper unit. from the fork stanchions,
These can let go at the which are always a little
most inconvenient times. moist from bathing in the
Seals on the fork can be fork oil. Gaiters also help TIME WELL SPENT
replaced but many rear protect the stanchions Thanks for giving me your time at Motorclassica this year. I could see
spring/damper units from being pitted by road how busy you were. I was the one asking you for a recommendation
are sealed or require grime and allowing fork for someone to service my MV Agusta somewhere near Noble Park in
specialist equipment to oil to escape. Melbourne.
dismantle. So. Ride your bike If you remember, I was telling you how unhappy I was with my current
If your bike is being regularly, change fork oil workshop. The bike runs fine but I’m having some minor niggles with
used regularly, the seals as directed, make sure fuelling, particularly in the mid-range.
stay lubricated and are the play in the chassis You recommended someone in Oakleigh, which I wrote down on my
more likely to continue bearings is within programme which I then left on the train home. Some happy commuter
working. If you drag your tolerances and protect the now knows the best place to get MV Agustas serviced, but it’s not me.
bike out once a year for fork stanchions. In dire Bernard Gibbens, bernieg20@hotmail.com
an adventure, the seals situations, one fork leg
may have become brittle working will still keep I remember you, Bernard, and was struck by the incongruity of your green
and may explode at the the bike under control jacket and the fact that you owned a current MV. You would’ve been very
first sign of bumps in the and it’s rare that both attractive to the opposite sex in the 1950s but, with your current bike, it might
road. seals would go at the be time to update your wardrobe.
Seals also work same time. Yes, I know, you saw what I was wearing but that was a kind of uniform
best if you keep them Oh, and you’re right forced on me. I normally look uber-cool.
operating in the plain about tyre pressures. The business you’re after is Brad the Bike Boy and you can find him on
in which they were www.bikeboy.org
Depending on load,
first configured. Worn His fan club is full of other motorcycle mechanics.
somewhere around 18psi
swingarm bearings, for on really rough stuff
example, will allow the helps the suspension by front end is too soft for up the forks but then the
rear of the bike to move allowing the tyres to do faster riding, particularly whole bike seems to be
around, putting sideways some of the work. It helps over rough surfaces when harder to turn in and it
pressure on seals that are with grip as well. All you I’m using heavy braking. makes the rear end feel
only supposed to work in need then is some way of I’ve used cable ties loose and uncontrolled.
a vertical plane. inflating the tyres again to determine front Don’t get the wrong idea
It’s the same with the once you get back to the suspension travel and – I’m not riding flat out
fork. Worn steering-head bitumen. there’s plenty of it. In on public roads and, as I
bearings can result in some situations, it feels say, in normal conditions
blown fork seals. like I’ve used it all and the bike is comfortable,
Australia has some of FRONT END LOADER the whole front of the and I actually enjoy the
the finest dust in the I have a 1993 BMW R100R bike bounces if I hit plush suspension.
world so it’s also worth Mystic with a minor any larger ripples while All I really want is a
investing in fork gaiters handling problem. The braking hard. way to avoid the feeling
or some kind of seal glove bike is fine under normal I had a go at using more of the forks bottoming out
to keep the dust away riding conditions, but the spring preload to firm under brakes.
Spannerman
ecalls
YAMAHA YZF-R AND MT-03 (2019) HONDA CBF300N (2019) CBR300R (2018) CRF250L (2017) DUCATI PANIGALE V4/V4R
PROBLEM: The front brake lever may break PROBLEM: The groove on the main gearbox shaft PROBLEM: The fuel tank ventilation system may be
when a strong gripping force is applied, was incorrectly manufactured and is oversized, which defective and cause pressure to build in the tank,
resulting in the loss of all brake functionality could result in circlips flicking out and causing damage resulting in fuel potentially spraying out of the tank
at the front of the motorcycle. to the gears. It has the potential to lock the back when the cap is opened and creating a fire risk.
ACTION: Contact your nearest Yamaha dealer wheel while you’re riding the bike. ACTION: Ducati dealers will fit an updated ventilation
and a replacement brake lever will be fitted. ACTION: Visit your nearest Honda dealer for system and give you a sticker for your owner’s manual
SPANNER SAYS: The worrying thing here is inspection and repair. with instructions on how to correctly open the fuel cap.
that if you’re squeezing the front brake lever SPANNER SAYS: Another Honda recall for a major SPANNER SAYS: You could argue that a bike that costs
hard enough to snap it, you obviously really, mechanical defect, which involves taking the engines as much as a Panigale V4 should have a fuel tank
really need to stop in a hurry. It’s the perfect apart. As long as Honda is realistic about repair time, ventilation system and a tank cap that you can open
storm, so if you have a 2019 R3 or MT-03, get at least the dealer network will be making some intuitively without the risk of burning to death. A sticker
ye to your nearest dealer ASAP. money out of this. with operating instructions for the tank cap? Seriously?
Increasing the tyre Progressive springs to service the forks and problem, but BMWs of
pressures makes it worse matched to your weight make sure the new oil your vintage were known
rather than better. Is would probably be the is either of the correct for comfort rather than
there something cheaper best option, Stephen, but volume or the correct high-speed handling.
I can try, or do I have you could also try adding distance from the top of Okay, the oil level
to go down the path a little more oil to the the tube. Your owner’s is right in both fork
of progressive springs forks. manual will give you this tubes and it’s of the
matched to my weight? Before you start information. recommended viscosity.
Stephen Franklin, experimenting with You might find a service Following the manual
stephenvickifrank@gmail.com this, though, you need actually solves the will still allow air inside
the fork when the springs
are installed. When you
brake hard, that air is put
under pressure which,
along with the spring,
resists the compression
of the tube.
(Ignore this part if it’s
confusing: the spring’s
compression is linear,
but the force created
from the trapped air
increases exponentially,
which gives a total force
that comes into play
most effectively close to
the bottom of the fork’s
travel.)
If you have a little more
oil in the forks, it reduces
the air in the forks and
discourages ‘bottoming
out’ as its effects are felt
most at the bottom of the
never having been
washed properly. My
Cleaning My own bikes aren’t
that clean, either, but
forks’ travel. fault, for sure. I’m listed plastic on they’re clean on the
We’re not talking about
a lot of additional fork
at my primary school
daughter’s palace of
off-road inside, which is where
it’s most important. Your
oil here. It’s a delicate learning in late November bikes line to the kids might be
environment in there
and increasing the height
for a ‘show-and-tell’ about
off-road riding and I’m
can be to focus on their inner
selves rather than on
of the oil in the fork by shitting myself. a bugger. The appearances.
10mm is probably as far
as you’d want to go. If
Talking in public will
be hard enough, but I
convenient Cleaning plastic,
particularly on off-road
you’re a cook, that’s about don’t want to embarrass answer is to bikes, can be a bugger.
a tablespoon in each leg.
You’ll notice the
her by having a filthy
bike. I’ve given it the best
buy new guards The convenient answer
to your question is to buy
difference in feel wash it’s ever had but I’m new guards and refit the
immediately and you’ll having trouble with the seem to be your strong stock tank before you
be able to see it if you mudguards and plastic point, but you might deliver your speech.
already know how to tank. They certainly look know something about The inconvenient
use the cable-tie test. If better after the wash but cleaning bikes. answer is to start with a
you’ve gone too far, you’ll nowhere near as good as Robert Langtree, soft scrub brush for the
lose a little front end feel the metal components. Is langtrees06@bigpond.com initial wash and then
under braking. there anything I should use a soap-impregnated
Have fun with this but know about cleaning “Personal grooming Brillo pad or something
keep progressive springs plastic other than lots of doesn’t seem to be your similar for a light scrub
in the back of your mind. soap and water? strong point?” You afterwards.
Oh – airheads rule! I bought a bottle of really know how to The problem with
‘plastic polish’ from the hurt someone, Robert. plastic is that when
CLEAN THINKING auto shop, but it didn’t Sometimes I put up to 30 it scratches, dirt and
My Suzuki DR650 is make any difference. seconds into grooming grit builds up in the
showing all the signs From the pictures I’ve in the morning – time I scratches and is difficult
of having been ridden seen of you, personal could be spending in the to extract. The above
hard in the bush and grooming doesn’t workshop. process will remove most
Spannerman
THE TOIL OF OIL So, should I change the oil based

on time or should I wait until the
I have two motorcycles, one a
usual 5000km mark?
Kawasaki GPz900R and the other
Mark Naish, ovc749@gmail.com
a Honda ST1100. Both are ridden
infrequently, the GPz having done
Jeez, Mark, you’re caught in the
1000km in the last 12 months since
the last oil change and the ST1100 middle of two philosophies here.
having clocked up 3000km, again Oil changes over time is based on
in a 12-month period since its last the oil becoming contaminated by
temperature on a regular basis. I chang t o a 50 km inte als.
oil change. infrequent use of the engine and
think both 20 and 90km are enough The 5000km oil change interval is
When ridden, the shortest trip is the contaminants (mainly acid)
for this to happen, but your use of the generous to the engine of both bikes
usually about 20km for the GPz and separating from the oil and eating the
engine’s internals. word ‘infrequent’ worries me a little. and should be enough to allow them
about 90km for the ST although,
Oil changes over distance is based The GPz is the most vulnerable to outlive you.
of course, it can vary. I live in the
country with the nearest traffic lights on the additives package in the oil being here but if you do 1000km a year in I’m not sure I’ve ever ridden a
being 20km away so I have no stop/ used up and needing to be replaced. 20km increments, it means you ride touring bike as comfortable as the
start traffic problems and the engines Oil does its job best when you the bike at least once a week, which is ST1100. It was a wonderful bike and
can get warm at highway speeds. allow it to get to normal operating certainly enough to allow you to just vastly underrated.
of it. Then you need to model bike and give all What you did wrong
use a sealer/glaze to buff the participants a mini probably depends on
out the light scratches Mars bar. Take a digital the instructions you
and provide as smooth a image of each kid on your got, Bernie. Yamaha
finish as you can. bike (after it’s cooled would’ve told you to
There’s a product called down so they don’t soak the new plates
Meguiar’s #6 which is burn themselves on the in engine oil for
a cleaning wax which exhaust) and send the a minimum of an
will do a final clean results to the teacher. hour but, preferably,
and protect whatever Your daughter will be a day before you
shine you’ve been able proud of you and you’ll fitted them. This allows
to achieve. It will never never have to wash your them to absorb the oil
be perfect, but it will be bike again. and swell up to their full
better.
Here’s my tip for public
The clutch working thickness.
If you don’t soak the
speaking: think about your CLUTCHING AT STRAWS sounded plates beforehand,
audience. They’ve never It looked easy enough in fine but they’re prone to
done what you’ve done the workshop manual: overheating. This is
and won’t understand it. remove the clutch cover, a quick exacerbated by the
Think about their level remove the outer plate, ride produced initial adjustment which
of comprehension and tends to put unsoaked
work to that. Wear your
pull all the fibre drive
plates out and replace
smoke from the plates under too much
(clean) off-road gear, show them, then reassemble. clutch and a pressure which can
a video of riders better
than you doing stunts and
I had a complete clutch
replacement set for my
burning smell result in the symptoms
you describe.
then get them to do an Yamaha FZ750 courtesy We’re sometimes
activity that’s motorcycle- of eBay. The kit wasn’t ride produced actual exploited by
related. Weave through six an official Yamaha kit, smoke from the clutch manufacturers
witches hats set up on the but the seller swore it and a burning smell. It demanding we use
footy field on the bike and was at least as good and went away eventually but, branded parts but, on
then get them to each run probably better. 2000km later, the bloody occasions, it’s the only
through the same course I bungled a few things clutch is slipping again. way you can get the right
and time them with a but the whole job took I followed the information on fitting.
stop-watch taking points less than three hours. instructions. What did I The internet is a
off if they touch a cone. When I started the bike, it do wrong? minefield – but you
Reward the best with a sounded fine, but a quick Bernie Cook, Bondi, NSW already know that.
Collectables
M OTA S B2
BI
OL
LECTABLE
C
TOO
GOOD With Italian
engineering and
Japanese power
and reliability,
the Bimota SB2
was way ahead
of its time – even
if it struggled to
overcome its ‘kit
bike’ reputation
TOO
SOON
WORDS & PHOTOS IAN FALLOON
I
f you go back to the mid-’70s and have
a look at motorcycle frame design,
the first thing you notice is the pre-
eminence of the Norton Featherbed-
style cradle frame. This originated in the
early 1950s and twin rear shocks generally
supported the swingarm. Apart from the
monoshock Yamaha RD 400, virtually
every street bike of the 1970s followed this
principle. While there were variations from
the full-cradle design, twin rear shocks
were universal. Then Bimota came along
and released the astonishing SB2 at the
1977 Bologna Motorcycle Show. This was
a frame kit powered by an engine from the
newly released Suzuki GS750, and it was
totally unlike anything before.
Collectables
M OTA S B2
BI
CO
LLE LE
CTAB
MORE THAN ENVIABLE NUMBERS
With the appearance of the SB2, Bimota
showed it was a company of unsurpassed
innovators. Taking a bike that was already
much lauded by the motorcycle press,
Bimota made the GS750 27kg lighter
and gave it a 108mm shorter wheelbase
at 1392mm. In those days four-cylinder
Japanese engines hung alternators
and points systems on the end of their
crankshafts, and the engines were wide.
The SB2 carried the engine 25mm higher
(for improved ground clearance) but was
otherwise tiny and GP-like in dimensions.
The seat was 45mm lower than the GS750’s
and the fork 75mm shorter. But there was
much more to the SB2 than mere numbers.
The frame design threw all conventions aside
and topped it off with bodywork that still
looks unique. The design was simply decades
ahead of its time.
The minimalist frame weighed only
9kg, and large aircraft-style self-aligning
conical joints connected the front and rear
sections. With the engine as the principal
load-carrying member, 12 tubes located the
steering head and eight tubes comprised
the rear section, most straight for increased
It’s a solution that’s only

caught on more recently but
Bimota had it 40 years ago
strength. While the main frame was unusual,

the swingarm and steering head designs were
more so.
Although the 24-degree steering head
angle is not unusual by modern standards,
it was quite radical in a day when 28 to
30 degrees was the norm. However, in an
effort to reduce trail change under braking,
the fork tubes were set at 28 degrees. This
method of minimising trail change with
suspension deflection was quite popular
with Italian manufacturers during the 1950s
and ’60s. Trail was also adjustable by rotating
eccentrics held in the triple clamps, much
as Tamburini later included in the Ducati
916 and MV Agusta F4. Trail could be set
short for tight, twisty roads, or long for more
stable steering on faster roads. The Speedline
magnesium wheels were 18-inch items and
the rear a massive (for the day) WM6.
Use of the
Five things
about Bimota
RIGHT
standard Suzuki
GS750 instruments
may have hurt the
space-age looks
but cut costs and
probably simplified
1 Three brilliant Italian
engineers Bianchi, Morri,
and Tamburini originally
getting legal
created Bimota as a hobby in
compliance.
1972. By taking the first two
letters of each name, Bimota
was born.
2 Bianchi departed Bimota

in 1972, followed later by
Tamburini who went to Ducati
where he designed the 916 and
headed the Cagiva Research
Centre in San Marino. When
Cagiva sold Ducati in 1997
Tamburini stayed on, later
designing the MV Agusta F4.
3 In 1975 Bimota designed the

chassis for Johnny Cecotto’s
350cc World Championship-
winning Yamaha. They followed
this in 1976 and 1977 with
the chassis for Walter Villa’s
winning Aermacchi Harley-
Davidsons. These, and other
early designs like the KB1 for a
Kawasaki 900/1000 four, were
quite conventional in concept,
but were superbly designed
and constructed.
UNIQUELY INNOVATIVE
Bimota was the most innovative in the
swingarm and rear suspension layout. A 4 The designation SB2
comes from ‘S’ for Suzuki,
‘B’ for Bimota, and ‘2’ for the
monoshock unit and rising rate linkage
provided 140mm of travel, which was much second series of Bimota with
more than was usual with a twin-shock a Suzuki engine. The first was
system. The box-section steel swingarm a racing bike.
was very long at 610mm, and almost half
the length of the entire motorcycle. It
widened appreciably towards the pivot that
was supported by tapered roller bearings
5 Of the 200 frames
manufactured, a total of
140 SB2 kits were built. Of
mounted concentrically with the countershaft the 60 remaining frames, 30
sprocket. Thus, the drive chain operated with were used for the less-radical
constant tension, and the chassis was isolated
SB280 and the remaining 30
from any chain influences. It’s a solution
destroyed. Only two kits were
that’s only caught on more recently but
sold in Australia.
Bimota had it 40 years ago.
The fibreglass bodywork was also unique.
Detachable in seconds, four rubber bushes
WHAT’S
and two rubber straps supported the fuel IT W
tank and seat unit and revealed a bank ˜ New $50 O R T H ?
00
of Mikuni carburettors and the heavily ˜ Now $50 (kit only);
,0
gusseted steering head. The thin fibreglass ˜ Mint $80 00-plus (fair)
,000-p ;
seat had a suede leather insert with the lus
Bimota logo imprinted, and the frame fitted
the engine so closely that there wasn’t
Collectables
even room for the engine’s four chromed Italian sportsbike, such as a Ducati 900SS, ABOVE Supported on
camshaft covers. The instruments and Laverda 1000, or Moto Guzzi Le Mans, the rubber bushes, the
wiring were standard Suzuki GS750, but Bimota SB2 makes them look antiquated. seat-tank unit is held
down by two rubber
the fork was a higher-spec 38mm Ceriani The SB2 charted new territories in straps, one of which
providing 115mm of travel. motorcycle frame and suspension design you can see here. Not
Needless to say, the brakes were state-of- and the extremely rare SB2 was one of the pretty, but effective.
the-art for 1977 with Brembo 08 calipers most significant motorcycles of its time.
with 280mm cast-iron discs. Indicative of Combining the finest in Italian
Bimota’s attention to detail was the front engineering with Japanese power and
brake hose splitter that was cast integrally reliability, the SB2 struggled to overcome
with the milled aluminium triple clamp. its ‘kit bike’ categorisation and was
Other bespoke details included a tiny cam overlooked for decades. But now the SB2
on the mounting plate directly above the is enjoying its deserved status as a highly WANT TO KNOW MORE?
rear brake lever that allowed individual collectable classic and an example of
Bimota no longer exists but
tailoring of the lever angle. Bimota’s amazing foresightedness.
there is still interest in the older
models:
KIT BIKE Bimotaclassicparts.com/en/
The SB2 created quite a stir when it was Bimotaforum.co.uk/
released, but it was a very expensive
kit and, in Australia at least, you had to There’s only one book on Bimota,
provide your own engine and electrical but it is long out of print:
system. Amazon.com/Bimota-Years-
The shape of the tank/seat unit Excellence-Giorgio-Sarti/
still looks outrageous, and the SB2 dp/8879111981
prophetically anticipated the move
towards fully enclosed bodywork for street One of the best clubs is the
bikes. If it wasn’t for the wide engine cases Swiss Bimota club:
protruding through the side of the fairing bimota.ch/start_en.html
and the skinny 18-inch wheels, the SB2
could easily be mistaken for something And the German Bimota club:
more contemporary. Set beside late 1970s bimotaclub.de
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Our
Bikes
Our
1982 HONDA CBX550FII
Bikes
FORTUNE
WORDS G U Y A L L E N PHOTOS B E N G A L L I
550
Once Honda’s entry in the
hard-fought middleweight
class, the CBX now survives
as a semi-retired classic
Our
Bikes
I
t’s a long time ago now – getting on for
nearly 40 years. But there was a period
at the start of the 1980s when the 550cc
street-bike sector was a hard-fought
battleground between the major Japanese
makers. They all had inline-four four-stroke
entries and it was regarded as a serious
sportsbike contest.
We’ve had two of the Honda variant – the
CBX550 both in naked and FII faired form.
When I say ‘we’, partner Ms M senior has
owned the bikes, though it’s rare for her to
swing a leg over one these days as a series of
Suzuki SV650s seems to have taken over.
However, there was a time when her first
and very beaten-up CBX was the daily
transport. It seemed indestructible, leading
me to form a theory that after the nuclear
holocaust only two things would be left
running: cockroaches and CBXs.
NOT TOO SHABBY

These things were actually a hot little
item in their day. With 16-valve heads
and a bank of four CV carbs, the little air-
cooled engines claimed 62 horses – very
respectable and enough to give a lot of more along. You need to get it above 5000rpm to
fancied performance models a run for their properly wake it up and max power comes
money when it came to calculating a power- in at what was then a very high 10,000rpm.
to-weight ratio. Typical for the period, the rider
ABOVE RIGHT The
long-
Though tiny, the engine is a delight to accommodation is pretty good. A low and suffering Ms M senior
service, with the screw and locknut valve generously proportioned seat, relatively gets reacquainted with
lash set-up being one of the most accessible upright ride position and a lot of protection the CBX550F, from which
she was once knocked off.
I’ve ever worked on. from the mini Bol d’Or style fairing.
These days she’s regarded
Running a six-speed transmission, it’s To reinforce its performance credentials, in the industry as more of
relatively uninspiring when just ambling Honda Australia’s brochure of the day a Suzuki SV650 person.

OUR BIKES
We’ve had
two … in
naked and FII
faired form
showed the naked version with its race

team, and rider Andrew ‘Ajay’ Johnson, in
pit lane at Calder Park Raceway (far left).
In fact, it was never raced here in a major
way and was never intended for the track.
The chassis was capable enough for its day,
but it was very much a road set-up with air
preload at both ends. We eventually ditched
the leaking air shock on the FII, replacing it
with a conventional unit out of a CBR250RR.
Braking is by far the biggest source of
controversy with these things. It runs solid,
cast iron discs but, for reasons known only
to the styling department, they enclosed
them in elaborate alloy castings, probably
to hide the inevitable rust on the discs. The
result of a big night on the sake, perhaps?
The discs work well enough but the covers
make wheel removal a pain in the arse. I’ve
had a mechanic ask me to do it when I’ve
rolled up looking for fresh tyres. Running
this sort of arrangement in the Castrol Six-
Hour would have been a nightmare.

Our
Bikes
Our
1982 HONDA CBX550FII
Bikes
PLODDING ALONG
We bought this example, the ‘new’ one,
about 15 years ago. Its previous owner, Phil
Hall, used to do a fair bit of race marshaling
on this machine and he’s still involved in
the bike scene. The Honda had its own web
page and apparently we have a pact to sell it
back to Phil should we decide to offload it.
Ms M got knocked off the thing at some
stage, years ago, but the damage wasn’t
too serious. The payout from the other
driver’s insurance was put to good use. We
saved some money by buying second-hand
cosmetic parts and used the left-over cash
to give the powerplant a quick top-end
freshen-up.
Riding a middleweight of this age is a
It’s now got over 93,000km reminder of how far its modern equivalents
have come. You can get a lot more power,
on board and still feels plus far more nimble handling, heaps more
like a happy camper grip, ABS, all that good stuff.
Nevertheless, I’ve still got plenty of time
for the old CBX. Sure, it feels ponderous in
It’s now got over 93,000km on board and still the handling, the brakes are a little gothic
feels like a happy camper. I suspect a valve and you have to work harder to hustle it
seal is leaking a little, as there’s a little smoke through a set of corners.
on start-up, but it clears and the problem It’s reliable enough that I’d have no
really doesn’t seem to be worth fussing over. hesitation in sending it off on a long trip
These days, looking after it is a matter of and you’d be pretty comfortable. TOP The550 is running
changing over the fluids – the brakes were We’re a little hazy on what we spent on the an aftermarket 4-into-1
exhaust – a Motad street
our target this time around – and taking thing back all those years ago – I’m guessing system that looks as good
it for a reasonably regular ride. Hang the it might have been as much as $2500. It as a factory item but
expense, I went mad and fitted a lithium wasn’t worth selling by the time it was sounds like one as well.
battery a while ago, which means it starts replaced. These days it’s on club plates and The standard pipe is a
4-into-2 arrangement
up with very little fuss, even when it’s been fits in at any classic Japanese bike meeting as that blocks access
sitting for a month or two. a bit of a curiosity, which is a good result. to the drive chain.

Our
Bikes

Groff finds dreams can come true but
happy endings are far more difficult
WORDS G R A N T R O F F PHOTOS B E N G A L L I
S
ome bikes just get in its life with Cyril
at you the first Neveu winning the
time you see them, endurance-testing Paris
and you become Dakar Rally on one in
a shot dog – the rest of 1979 and 1980. In fact,
your life is devoted to in 1980, the XT500 took
acquiring one. For my the top three positions.
sins, I’ve always fallen The turning point was
in love with bikes I 1981 when Hubert
couldn’t afford and so Auriol beat XT500s into
it was with Yamaha’s second and third on his
XT500. new BMW R80G/S.
It was displayed for By then it wasn’t
the first time at the just BMW catching
1975 Las Vegas up. Honda and
motorcycle Our Suzuki both
show and it 1976 YAMAHA XT500 suddenly had
was clearly Bikes competitive
designed bikes in the
to appeal to marketplace.
American riders after Regardless, the
the fashion of Steve legend of the XT500
McQueen and the On had become firmly
Any Sunday crowd. It established and
was a proper (for the there was no sharper
time) enduro bike and statement of your
it had a stunning four- masculinity than not
stroke 500cc single- only to own one but
cylinder engine that to be able to start it.
turned out to be a major Kickstarting a 500
game-changer. single successfully
Its glory days in can be a painfully
competition were early acquired skill.

Our
Bikes
MEANWHILE,
BACK IN POVERTY LAND
My desire never went away, and I waited
patiently watching the price for second-
hand XT500s slowly fall. It got almost
OUR BIKES to the point of being achievable before
they started attracting the interest of the compromise $5500 price would at
enthusiasts and collectors and I had to least get this monkey off my back. Finally,
watch the prices start to go up again. I I owned a legendary Yamaha XT500.
had about $3000 set aside, which I finally
sank into an ex-museum Honda XL500 MYSTERY ROAD
thinking when I finally found the XT500 Apart from loving the look of Dale’s XT,
I wanted, I could sell the Honda and be I’d paid no attention to its provenance so
able to cover the cost of the Yamaha. step one of ownership was to try to work
Ha. The value of XL500s stayed at $3000 out how original it was. According to the
while XT500 prices continued to climb. compliance plate, it was manufactured in
They were appearing in MT’s classified August 1978, which should have made it
section with the really nice ones a 1U6-type which was fine – that was the
hovering around $8000. best looking and most widely sold model.
In the meantime, I’d joined the SR500 Checking the frame, though, revealed
Club of Australia and was being regularly it was a 1E6-type, the first model to
taunted by fellow member Dale Lindrea appear in showrooms in 1976. Helping
who would turn up to meetings and to confirm this was the original exhaust
rallies on his super-clean but not that Dale supplied with the bike. The
concourse XT500. Every time I saw him, header pipe went under the engine and
ABOVE Having successfully
moved all the bikes in the I asked to buy the bike. It’s called ‘pester then climbed up through a baffle at the
shed, former editors Grant power’. It works for kids so I thought I’d back of the engine to the muffler. The
Roff and Rob Blackbourn try it myself. Finally, he cracked and we 1E6 was replaced in 1976 by the 1N5
try to figure a way of
started to talk money. He wanted $6000 that had a similar exhaust system. It
getting back out with the
XT500 that Ben Galli is and I wanted to pay no more than $5000. wasn’t very practical for hard bush work
trying to photograph. I’d harboured this desire for 40 years so as the location of the header pipe made

Kick-starting
a 500 single
successfully can
be a painfully
acquired skill
it prone to getting crushed by rocks and

logs. For the 1U6-type launched in 1977,
the exhaust system was routed so the
header ran alongside the engine rather
than underneath it and was well out of
harm’s way.
So was my bike a 1E6 or some kind of
hybrid? The 1E6 didn’t have the sightglass
at the top of the camshaft to help punters
find top-dead-centre to assist in the
kickstart process, but one is fitted to my
engine. The beautiful alloy tank on my bike
didn’t appear until 1982 so it’s definitely
not original. One explanation is that the
original 1978 1U6 was crashed at some stage
and the frame was replaced with a 1E6
unit. It’s possible but there are other equally
possible explanations.
There was no such thing as Yamaha
Australia in 1978. There were different
distributors in most states with Milledge
Yamaha looking after distribution in
Victoria. The various distributors didn’t
‘bulk buy’ models and share them but had
developed their own supply chains.

Our
Bikes
It’s called ‘pester

power’. It works
for kids so I thought
I’d try it myself
It was common to have particular models to change ownership and a couple of soft
only available in some states. My XT500 and short blats around Victoria’s goldfield
has an Australian compliance plate (or at area. There’s absolutely something about
least my frame does) but it wouldn’t have 500 singles and there’s a lot of pleasure
been unusual for an order to go to Yamaha listening to them work.
Japan from an Australian distributor The chassis specs were changed by
and be filled with whatever Yamaha had Yamaha for the 1U6 after mild criticism of
hanging around the production line, steering that was too heavy for fast bush
which might have included the older 1E6 work. Certainly by today’s standards, the
frame and the newer 1U6 engine. The beautiful 499cc engine 1E6 feels a little heavy for serious off-
I’ve had three dogs in my life and is a solid unit and found its roading. My bike is strong, straight and
way into American flat track
they’ve all been pound bitsas. They were events and Sound of Singles still fast. But it’s come to this: I’ve waited
all great dogs, so I won’t love my bitsa road racing besides Dakar. 40 years to get the bike I so desperately
XT500 any less for it not being 100 per wanted and now I’m reluctant to ride it as
cent original. nature intended.
I’ll ride it to the 2019 SR500 Club rally in
RIDE OR HIDE? November at Bethanga but it will mostly
Here’s my conundrum. The XT500 I be on sealed roads and probably at about
now own is too good to ride in the bush. 85km/h so I don’t wear the engine out.
I don’t want to dint the alloy tank or People will admire it, but Dale will get all
crack any of the plastic bodywork as the credit. I’ll ride it home again afterwards
this stuff is hard to find and expensive. and it’ll sit in the shed where I can admire
Dale obviously felt the same way as its fine lines but ponder if this is really how
the XT is set up as a road bike with flat I expected the story to play out.
bars and road tyres. He used it as a soft Don’t feel too sorry for me. Next to the
tourer with the possible advantage that natty XT500 is a ratty XT600, which I can
it wasn’t too bad on dirt roads. I have flog without mercy in the bush and lean
an inclination to fit higher ’bars and OUR BIKES up against the wall of a country pub when
off-road tyres but I also have a feeling I I’m having a counter lunch. Dynamically,
could never ride it seriously in the dirt. it’s probably a better bike than the XT500
The few rides I’ve had on it so far have and it cost $1000. Want to know more?
largely been for registration inspections Watch this space…

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A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING... AMERICAN BAGGAGE
Do you hate scratching like a rat through your panniers? So does Andy
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CLEAN DREAM
Often the best accessory you can
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four brushes of different shapes, a
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WHEN IT COMES to riding gear, the final product before a company, water-repellent, according to Triumph.
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of smooth subtlety. Jackets, pants market. The upshot means you can to an extended downpour, moisture
or gloves, the technical apparel is bet your bottom dollar it works well as will eventually penetrate the textile
more akin to a timeless suit than it ought to for your hard-earned. It’s outer. Having said that, our wallet
some garish, in-yer-face or on-trend also backed by a lifetime guarantee. and phone has remained perfectly
proposition you might find elsewhere. Beyond the classy exterior and big dry after riding through plenty of
The adventure bike segment is the Gore-Tex retail tag swinging off it, the rain. At least the Gore-Tex liner has
serial offender in that regard, and next things to strike you about the waterproof pockets.
that’s where the iconic British brand’s jacket are the cool adventure rider External storage options include
Beinn jacket comes in for those who sketch on the jacket’s inside and an two main outer pockets (one is
prefer to go against the grain. unusual amount of D30 armour fitted flapped and zippered); nice, lined
The Beinn achieves its subtle as standard. We’re not just talking hand warmer pockets (a Godsend);
classiness through the combination about a back protector here – which a diagonal chest pocket (which has a
of functional fabrics with considered rarely comes standard – but also neat little compass dangling from its
design, and possibly having somebody a chest/sternum protector that’s zipper pull); a pair of smaller pockets
fashionably qualified to say ‘Nup, easily removable and comfortable on the right forearm and left arm
looks daft. Go again, you right geeza’ to live with. That’s in addition to (for keys and a garage remote, for
or ‘Smashing job, chaps. Fancy a pint?’ D30 protectors on the elbows and example); plus a storage pouch at the
Whatever the apparel team is doing, shoulders. Despite that, it’s neither rear to stash the liner. Internally, there
it’s working. heavy nor bulky. Extra house are three pockets.
Ideal for the brand agnostic, the points there. Ergonomic features include the
Beinn is equally as comfortable on a There’s more. Behind the heavy- usual adjusters on the forearm,
big, dirty day on a Tiger 800 as it is on duty textile outer fabric (which is ABOVEVertical vents in the bicep and waist areas, plus Velcro
a Scrambler or classic T100C. Actually, not waterproof, by the way), lies the Gore-Tex liner let cool air tickle adjusters on the wrist for a perfect
the Beck waxed cotton jacket would removable Gore-Tex waterproof liner, your rib cage while the chest/ fit. The addition of zippered cuffs help
work better with the old girl. which comes with ample pockets and sternum protector is a nice touch accommodate gauntlet gloves.
for those who break ribs easily.
At $1095, the Beinn is at the top can be worn separately. So what didn’t we like? A compass
end of Triumph town, and there’s one It also has a hood built into the draw air directly to your chest in hot that actually works would’ve been a
very good reason for that: it uses collar, which comes in handy when conditions. Those zippered holes are nice touch, and it isn’t exactly pleasant
a Gore-Tex three-layer waterproof you’re off the bike and it’s raining. positioned behind the pair of large, thumbing yourself in the neck while
and breathable liner. See, the Gore There’s no padded winter thermal vertical chest vents on the outer. you’re trying to secure those top press
company charges like a proverbial bull liner, but it’s not needed. There are no vents at the back to studs. Magnets would’ve been better.
in licence fees to use its proprietary The Gore-Tex liner also has a clever expel the hot air, however. That aside, smashing job, chaps. Enjoy
technology, and its terms and feature we’ve never seen before: a Also bear in mind that none of the the pint.
conditions include rigorously testing pair of big, zippered vent holes to outer pockets are fully waterproof but - Chris Harris

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All motorcycle prices listed are recommended retail only unless otherwise stated.
Under the
hammer Sold
£5750
BONHAMS
1914 FLYING
MERKEL RACER
Sold176,000
$UUMSS AUCTIONS
Early in the 20th century Joseph M EC
Merkel’s creations were at the forefront
of motorcycle design. His single- and
two-cylinder models had front and rear
suspension; engines with state-of-the-
art German bearings instead of bronze
bushings; reliable Bosch ignition and
throttle-controlled oil supply. All
this innovation came at a price, but
Mr Merkel believed racing success
would unbutton wallets, so he set
up a team to compete in motordome
and dirt-track events. Motordome
board-racing was the extreme
sport of that era and
spectators flocked to
see the gladiatorial
spectacle where
1000cc motorcycles
thundered around a competitors, to death.” Successful riders became others, the company did not survive
track at 160km/h. The Margaret celebrities and the winning marques the disruption of WWI.
surface was made of narrow Gast, recalled notched up sales for their road models. This lot had excellent provenance:
wooden planks, which soon in an interview: “I The Merkel company was not shy in imported to Sweden in 1915, sold nine
became slippery from expended oil don’t know why I stayed in promoting its product with slogans years later to Karl Berg and continued
and the tracks were banked – some to motordome work so long. Year after such as: “The Flying Merkel, the next in that family’s ownership until
60-degrees. year I wanted to quit. I saw some thing to flying”; “If it passes you, it’s becoming part of the MC Collection of
Crashes were common thanks to of the other riders killed, some of a Flying Merkel” and “The world’s Stockholm.
skinny tyres and no brakes. One of the them crippled, some of them burned greatest motorcycle”. Like many Sold at Monterey 2019.

C1920 FN 285cc MODEL 285 PROJECT
Fabrique Nationale d’Armes de Guerre particularly in the US, where it may
(National Factory of Military Weapons) have inspired Pierce and Henderson
was set up in 1889 to manufacture to produce four-cylinder machines.
arms for the Belgian army. Initially During the First World War German
150,000 Model 89 Mauser rifles were troops took over the FN factory and
made under licence from a German motorcycle manufacturing for civilian
company. FN went on to include other use ceased. Normal production
armaments, including machine guns had restarted by 1921 and the four-
and pistols, in its catalogue. cylinder continued until 1926. New
Like many industrialists of that single-cylinder models were also
time, the company diversified into introduced to reflect the austerity of
producing bicycle frames, then the post-war period.
powered bicycles and marketed its The catalogue noted that this
first motorcycle around 1901. That single-cylinder model had a 285T
was a 2.5hp 133cc single-cylinder belt- frame dating from 1920 and a 285TT
driven model. ran down either side of the engine, which was cheaper to produce. engine manufactured around 1923. A
The FN logo recalls the company’s as on this lot. Variable-pulley At the 1905 Paris Motorcycle collection of correspondence, notes,
origin with an image of a rifle transmission was introduced on the Show FN introduced a four-cylinder bills and photocopied literature was
separating the two letters. Early belt-driven singles, but by 1910 all bike with the inline engine placed included in the sale.
models had an unusual frame design FN models had shaft drive. This was lengthwise in the frame. The Sold at the Beaulieu Sale, National
where the front downtube split and replaced from 1924 with chain drive, model was a commercial success, Motor Museum, UK.
2002 DUCATI
S4 FOGARTY
Sol4d400
$UCUMSAUCTIONS
For a man who made his name in ME
Superbike racing, the choice of a
Monster model may seem a puzzling
tribute. However, Ducati had released
a limited-run 996 Fogarty model in
1998 and another the following year.
These had full fairings with all the
appropriate decals and looked like
WSBK mounts. Perhaps the factory
decided something a little different
was needed in 2002 to celebrate
Carl Fogarty’s string of world
championships.
This monoposto model was a new
design, not a simple dress-up of the
standard air-cooled 900cc Monster.
For a start, it had the same liquid-
cooled Desmoquattro engine as the skins. Extras were available, such as facsimile of Foggy’s signature.
916 mounted in a frame redesigned a Termignoni exhaust system and an The S4 was marketed from Ducati’s
to accommodate the different injection CPU featuring a dedicated website with an original price tag of
dimensions. A new rear suspension calibration and a special airbox. Aldo €18,000 (around $29,290), with an
linkage and the sturdy swingarm were Drudi – best known for the designs allocation of 75 units for the US. At
also departures from the standard on Valentino Rossi’s helmets – was that time, the dedicated Ducatisti
Monster. The seat was set higher and responsible for the S4’s styling. could also buy a limited-edition leather
ground clearance had been increased. Fogarty even got his nickname on the jacket designed by Drudi. Only 300 of
Many panel parts were carbon-fibre tank. Each bike featured a titanium these were produced and they were
including the mudguards, cam belt plate near the fuel cap with its number also numbered.
covers, side panels and silencer out of the 300 units produced and a Sold at Monterey 2019.
Sol4d950
Under the
hammer
2012 BMW $UCUSMS AUCTIONS

K1600GTL
ME
This is a motorcycle for the serious

touring rider. The 1649cc six-cylinder
engine produces 160hp and should
be enough to haul rider and pillion in
sumptuous style from one side of a
continent to the other. In 2016 a similar
bike to this lot set a solo Cannonball
motorcycle record travelling from Los
Angeles to New York City – a journey of
4552km – in 38 hours and 49 minutes.
However, for the rider and pillion who
want to travel at a more relaxed pace
they can do so in comfort. This lot was
equipped with a heated leather seat
with extended bolsters. The rider had
heated grips, cruise control, a power rider and pillion. The deep panniers a challenge. Honda had proved it could much lighter with a wet weight of 348kg
adjustable windscreen plus adjustable and enormous topbox ensured all the be done with the transverse engine compared with the Goldwing’s 410kg.
throttle and suspension modes at necessities of life could be taken on the of the CBX1000 in the 1980s and with A heavy-duty BMW bike cover
their fingertips. Other necessities trip. The luggage system is detachable the boxer configuration of the later GL and maintenance records from BMW
included GPS navigation to keep the when not in use. models. BMW’s transverse six-cylinder dealerships were included in the sale.
show on the road and FM/AM satellite Shoehorning a six-cylinder engine design is narrower than that of the Sold without reserve at Monterey
radio to inform and entertain both into a motorcycle frame is something of Goldwing engine. The K1600GTL is also 2019 in California.
1928 ARIEL MODEL A PROJECT

Ariel had been in business for British motorcycle industry. Val Page
many decades when this lot was was recruited from J.A. Prestwich to
manufactured. Previously the be chief designer. Later a promising
company had made pneumatic-tyred young engineer by the name of
wheels for horse-drawn carriages Edward Turner joined the company
and, in 1870, it introduced wire- and Victor Mole took charge of
spoked wheels for bicycles. The marketing and publicity. In 1925, Page Maudes Trophy endurance challenge. speed Burman transmission with a
first Ariel motorcycle – with a 3.5hp designed new four-stroke single- He also coined the sales slogan: choice of solo, hilly country or sidecar
single-cylinder White & Poppe engine cylinder models with the magneto “Ariel, the Modern Motor Cycle” and ratios; larger-section tyres; a more
– appeared at the start of the 20th placed behind the engine. These bikes introduced a new logo. luxurious saddle; steering damper
century. Over the next two decades had a lower saddle position, shortened This lot was a 557cc side-valve and valanced front mudguard. A
the company introduced a range of wheelbase and a high-saddle tank. Model A from that era. The A was the speedometer and lighting were
single and V-twin models, plus the Riders liked these glossy black bikes standard model and was equipped optional extras on both models.
two-stroke Arielette. and sales were good. In 1927 Victor with a three-speed Sturmey- Sold at The Beaulieu Sale,
In the 1920s staffing changes Mole arranged for a Model B with Archer gearbox and National Motor Museum,
led to Ariel becoming a force in the sidecar to travel 5011 miles (8064km) lightweight mudguards. Britain.
Sold
£ 4945
BONHAM
S

Brisbane - Darwin
Outback Adventure via Hells Gate
5 - 16 September 2020
Earlybird sale! Save $700
3500+km, on a small motorcycle? Riding north through the tropics the humidity builds, roads change from
highway to single lane to wide red dirt. A serious adventure - remote country, small towns, bitumen, dirt,
corrugations, bulldust, river crossings and crystal clear artesian water holes, make this a great adventure.
Entries open Aug 2019. Earlybird sale until 31/12/2019. NOW $4950 (was $5650): Incl bike, accom,
meals, mechanics, spares, support vehicles and donation to community group(s).
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PHONE
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EMAIL
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WEBSITE
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RISTMAS CHEER
The festive season isn’t always what you expect
T
he bus driver said it was my fault. He’s His name was Michael Patrick O’Leary. He
looked ahead and there was plenty of had owned a hotel in Hillgrove before the
space between the bus and the taxi but town died. Someone had since told him there
when he’d looked again, I’d suddenly weren’t any pubs there at all now and that his
appeared on the TS185. It’s possible bikes can pub had been closed after a murder. He hadn’t
sometimes be too manoeuvrable for their own been back to the town for years but the person
good. I’d been helping a mate paint his house who told him about the murder also told
and looked like I’d been standing in a paint him there was a picture of him in the local
booth for the past three weeks. museum. This had upset him. Museums were
It wasn’t a big impact, but it bent the back supposed to be for the dead.
wheel and the fork. I dragged myself and “Usually all pissed,” he said.
the bike onto the footpath, called a towing “Who?”
service, found a bench in Hyde Park to sit on “Tow truck driver.”
where I could still see the bike and settled He struggled with his memory. Everyone said
down to wait. he’d sold out at just the right time. No mining,
There was an old bloke up the other end no future. His father had helped him buy the
of the bench in an older suit hanging onto pub but was dead now. Michael Patrick still
a plastic bag, which was probably full of owed him money.
nothing very much. He wasn’t crying out loud He told me about last year’s hostel dinner.
but there were tear streaks down his dusty There’d been chicken and beer and everyone
face. I didn’t make eye contact because I didn’t had been given a pack of cigarettes. Michael
have any money to give him and I knew he’d Patrick didn’t smoke and couldn’t remember
probably ask. He didn’t and, when it got to the what he’d done with his.
stage of not being able to stand it any longer, I He decided he’d go back up to the hostel
asked him what was up. and try again to get in. It was eight blocks
“I can’t get into the hostel. They have a special up William Street and since there was no
dinner on Christmas Eve and I can’t get in.” sign of the towing service, I went with him.
“Why not?” I can talk like a lawyer – maybe I could help.
“I dunno.” He must have done this trip a thousand

beer from cans and laughing. There was a
cheap, cardboard tableau in the window which,
even to Christmas.
The carpenter had fal
according to Michael Patrick, had replaced a red me. I was dusted footprints across hi
velvet lounge suite that had been there all year.
He reckoned the red velvet wasn’t a fast mover.
worse people had walked over him,
Patrick picked him up and told m
The virgin was attached to Jesus in the crib but than no much the figure looked like his fath
the life-size, cardboard carpenter was standing
some distance away. He had an expression on
help” asked me to carry his plastic bag and th
while he carried Joseph and we continued
his face that looked like the expression people our journey. It was a disturbing experience.
sometimes get when they’re listening patiently People glanced at us then turned their heads
to a joke they’ve heard before. Michael Patrick presuming, I suppose, that we’d ask for money.
said the carpenter looked like his father. It was crowded in William Street but, strangely,
The apprentice saint at the gate of the hostel we had plenty of room. I saw our reflection in
knew Michael. a shop window – me carrying the bag and port,
“Sorry, mate, the place has been full since Michael carrying the cardboard replica of his
4pm.” There were a dozen other dishevelled father and both of us in rags.
men standing around who’d missed the boat. There was a small tray-truck waiting by the
I suddenly realised that, post-crash, in my bike. The driver was pissed. I sat with Michael
torn and paint-stained denims, I looked just Patrick and Joseph and we shared some port
as dishevelled, and the apprentice saint stared while the driver wrestled with the bike. I
at me incredulously as I attempted a bungled should have helped but, somehow, I wasn’t
explanation of who I was and what I was doing interested anymore.
there. It sounded like a scam even to me. I was Michael Patrick stared at me for the first time
worse than no help. Michael Patrick had a short just before I got up to leave with the truck.
conversation with the apprentice saint who I His eyes were watery-blue but seemed miles
couldn’t hear and I saw 20 bucks change hands deep. He said he’d see me later but that’s just
which Michael Patrick converted into a bottle something you say when you know it isn’t true
of port at the first pub we passed. He’d cheered to avoid awkwardness in a departure. I said I’d
up a bit – I don’t know if it was the company or see him later, too.
the port, but it was possibly both. He said the I watched the two figures on the bench get
Society knew where he usually slept and would smaller and smaller in the truck’s side mirror as
be around later with coffee and sandwiches. we crawled out of the diseased city towards my
It was dark now and we shuffled slowly house and my very different life in Annandale.

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MR LANDCRUISER’S LOVE OF TWO WHEELS

Terrain Tamer’s Allan Gray is living proof motorcycles keep you young
C
an motorcycling
keep you young?
Nobody at MT would
deny it but, just in
case, I offer proof.
Yep, meet Allan Gray,
although chances are you
might have already. I knew
him as Mr LandCruiser
before we finally met at
Terrain Tamer HQ, in those
days an old post office you’d love one.
building in Melbourne. “Yeah, well, it’s probably
That was about 20 years time I bought another
ago, but when this old bike.” We both knew Al
bloke in overalls climbed had a shed full of bikes
under Milo and started but hey, was there ever a
making grunting noises I motorcyclist who thought
figured I’d better shake his Was there ever a motorcyclist he had every bike he
hand. That led to a well- needed forever already?
oiled, gnarly handshake
who thought he had every bike Next thing I know Al’s test
fuelled by grunts that let he needed forever already? ridden a Himalayan and
me know journos had to do put down the cash. He’s
more than show up in his motorcycles. Al had just vintage who grew up on big rung me to say it’s working
workshop to impress. come back from a Ulysses thumpers, the Himalayan out great for his daily
It’s hard not to like quiet run to Tasmania on his has instant appeal. commutes from the farm a
people who know what GoldWing, I’d just come “I love it, mate. Does few hours out of Melbourne
they’re doing, especially back from a run to Perth a whole lot of things. into Terrain Tamer’s new
if you’re a noisy Roothy on Ruby with the Rebs. It’s great around town, HQ in Tottenham. Cheap,
who doesn’t. Turns out Allan invited me up for a easy to live with and it’ll easy and most of all fun.
Al worked on the first weekend of high-country cope with anything from Eighty-plus years old, still
LandCruisers imported riding on his dirtbikes. I puddle jumping to outback working full-time and
into Australia by Theiss saw photos of him and his adventuring. The bloody Allan only drives when
Brothers for the Snowy brother riding speedway thing’s got a centrestand he’s testing Toyota parts or
Mountain scheme. That solos and outfits during and a drain plug where towing the soup kitchen for
folks, is experience. He’s the 1950s when he was you can get to it...” You his volunteer work.
still working with Terrain probably in his 20s. You can imagine the rest. “Anything you don’t like
Tamer’s Toyota parts work it out, but this is It had to be good, I was about it, Al?” I ask.
development team, a place one bloke who’s ridden ready to buy my test bike “Well, it could use a bit
where they never stop motorcycles all his life. after six months spent more power. Maybe bore
trying to improve. And a long life it’s been too. falling in love. it out, cam it, chuck on a
At smoko, while I “Johno, whadd’ya think “It hasn’t got the stomp of bigger carburettor...”
knocked back a coffee and of that Himalayan you’ve your DR650, but nothing Motorcycles. Keeping
a rollie, Allan munched been test riding?” I was half you can’t ride around with people young at heart
on a lettuce leaf and expecting the call, having some smooth.” I thought of since Daimler fired up the
drank a bottle of mineral noted his interest in the the endless corner drifting Reitwagen in 1885.
water. We were miles Enfield on our stand at speedway riders pull to “Hey Al, did you ever get
apart until discovering the Melbourne 4WD Show. get maximum speed from a ride on Gottleib’s bike
a mutual lifelong love of After all, to men of Al’s limited power. “I reckon back in the day?”

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Guy Allen
FIREBLADE THERAPY
Why aren’t there more sportsbikes at rehab clinics?
I
t’s funny how some at $40), knowing full well
weeks you get engaged that it will be carefully
with a detail in your filed away among the
life and, suddenly, other brochures and
it seems all-consuming. books and lost to the
Like you’ll pull a bike out mists of time.
of the shed to work on it If you think $40 for a
and then three pop up in brochure is a little rich,
your social media feed. hold on to your wallet.
Then another gets ridden Someone in the US just
down the street past your paid $35,000 (that’s Oz
house. dollars) for a zero-mile
I’ve been having one first-model FireBlade.
of those weeks with Yes, seriously. As the
FireBlades. There’s a auction house explained,
first-model 1992 example zero-mile CBR900RRs
lurking somewhere in the are probably rarer than
depths of the shed and zero-mile RC30s or even
it was long overdue for a NR750s. Even so, it seems
gallop. So it gets pulled It’s a good thing they nuts to me. I still struggle
out into the sunlight for
the first time in a few
can’t talk, as you can with the concept of paying
more than the equivalent
months. imagine the complaints of new price for any
Despite the inattention motorcycle.
I’ve been lavishing on it, enjoyable thing to play for one of these things. In among all this, there’s
it fires up after a couple with. Because we’re in This is exactly how a note on my Faceplant
of stabs on the starter. Victoria with its 25-year conspiracy theories start. feed that someone has
Lovely. It’s a good thing rule, we’re on club plates Someone reckons they responded to the ’Blade
they can’t talk, as you can which mercifully keeps were talking about fried posts.
imagine the complaints: the running costs down. cauliflower and next Say hi to Al, who has
“Oh, you remember me, We cruise home and all thing they know ads for come up with the first
do you? How come the is right with the world. McCaulis start popping genuinely new excuse for
Blackbird gets more The trip was a reminder up on their phone. The buying a sportsbike in the
attention than I do? And to pull out a story I did bastards from Google – or last few decades: I need it
do you even know what on this series a few years the CIA as they seem to for my post-motorcycle-
a fresh bottle of oil looks ago and pop it up on my be interchangeable – have crash therapy. Seriously.
like?!” Multiply that by 20 website, Allmoto.com. been listening in. “I bought this one while
and you’d soon be going It’s one of the ‘signpost’ Clearly that, or still on crutches after a
’round the twist. models in modern something similar, is spill on my ’99 Valkyrie,”
No matter. The non- sportsbike history and what happened with he explains. “The boss
talking Blade and I roll I admire its lively and the FireBlade brochure. asked, ‘What do you want
out the driveway and forthright designer Tada Maybe I even said “a that for?’
go for a bit of blast. Just Baba. FireBlade brochure would “‘Rehab,’ I told her. ‘I
10 kay or so today, but Of course. while I’m be nice” over breakfast need it to get my knee to
enough to get the assorted doing this, the algorithms that morning. bend all the way back.’
juices flowing. It’s a in my web browser have Of course, I have to buy “Must’ve worked because
nice reminder that these been hard at work and it and fork over whatever the damaged knee bends
things, in good condition, pop up an eBay ad for ransom is being asked further than the good one.”
are still a thoroughly an original brochure (actually it wasn’t too bad Al, you’re my hero.

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,!!3BD0A6-aaejib!:
ENTERTAINING,ENGAGING,
INFORMING SINCE 1994
YOU’LL LAUGH. YOU’LL CRY. EVERY MONTH.
TO ADVERTISE CALL MARK EVANS 0422 805 205
We can setup your bike for great rides, whether it’s for
ADVENTURE - CRUISING - COMMUTING - SPORT - TOURING!
www.motorcycleadventure.com.au
1300 898 560
Fast Lane
Cam Donald
WASHING OFF SPEED

The pace of the TT cannot be underestimated or overstated. Just ask ‘The Human Backpack’
I
t was April 2009, two for her and our guests on
months before the Isle the way back down.
of Man TT, when I was We stopped at the
summoned to the tiny Bungalow and I flicked my
island earlier than usual. visor up.
The TT organisers had “If you thought that was
arranged a media event to fun, the next leg will
promote that year’s races, knock your socks off!”
and motorcycle journalists Her response was muffled,
from all over the world incomprehensible and in
were in attendance. A German.
handful of top TT riders After repeated attempts,
at the time and I were I still couldn’t understand.
joining them for a series She was shaking. Then in
of PR events. English, I heard her loud
After two days of talking and clear: “I’ve pissed my
journos through bus pants!” The GSX-R’s seat
tours around the course, and back of my leathers
photoshoots and long
“They call me ‘The Human proved it.
lunches, I was looking Backpack’ because I’m a great As we awkwardly stood
forward to the final event: by the side of the road,
pillioning a journalist
pillion.” Okay then... all I managed to say in
over the mountain section consolation was “I’m
of the course on closed kilometres of course to varied bunch was assigned really, really sorry… But…
roads. Yes, some PR guru play with. to me: a petit German. You said… I thought you
thought it’d be a brilliant The plan was to leave I told her my plan was to wanted to go fast…”
idea to give these global 30 seconds apart and take it easy on the way up As the other racers
scribes a white-knuckle ride (against normal to the Bungalow, and wind and journos arrived, we
experience of the TT while race direction) up to the it on a bit more on the way hopped back on the bike
on the back of a TT racer! Bungalow, regroup, then back down. and headed down the
I was racing for Suzuki head back down to the “Don’t take it easy,” she mountain, albeit very
at the time and a brand- Creg. This would give our said with pride, “I race slowly, and returned to
new GSX-R1000 in race lucky passengers a feel for myself. They call me ‘The Creg Ny Baa.
replica colours and with the thrill of riding a short Human Backpack’ because Earlier on I’d envisaged
a pillion seat had been section of the TT course as I’m a great pillion.” us enjoying a drink at the
sent from England for the the racers did. Okay then. pub, but instead, without
extravaganza. There must’ve been We left the Creg Ny Baa eye contact, we went our
So we gathered at the 20-plus press and only five pub and climbed up the separate ways.
Creg Ny Baa pub that of us on bikes, so we’d go mountain. Not wanting Things have certainly
sits on the edge of the through the process a few to bore the poor girl, I changed since then and
TT course as you wind times. As you’d know from saved the high speeds you can only wonder if
down the final part of the reading MT, motorcycle for the straights, hitting someone like 2019 World
mountain section. The journalists come in all 172mph (275km/h). As we Supersport 300 Champion
road was closed from here shapes and sizes, so luck made our way up, I was Ana Carrasco will ever
to the Bungalow section, seemed to be on my side thinking about how fun tackle the Isle of Man ...
giving us around seven when the best of the (and fast) this would be probably not as a pillion.
VICTORIAN MOTORCYCLE WRECKERS
52 - 54 Mologa Road, Heidelberg West. 3081, Victoria
Ph: (03) 9457 1733, 1300 BIKE WRECK Fax: (03) 9457 1866
Email: vicwreck@vicwreck.com.au
(Melways Map 19G10) Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 - 5:30, Saturday 9:00 - 12:00
HONDA CBR1100XX 2005 - WRECKING ONLY YAMAHA XV250 2009 - WRECKING ONLY KAWASAKI Z300B 2018 - WRECKING ONLY
YAMAHA R1 2007 - WRECKING ONLY KAWASAKI Z750 2009 - WRECKING ONLY SUZUKI GW250 2014 - WRECKING ONLY
HONDA CBR1000RR 2014 - WRECKING ONLY KAWASAKI EX250J 2010 - WRECKING ONLY YAMAHA MT-03 2019 - WRECKING ONLY
YAMAHA XJR1300 2008 - WRECKING ONLY YAMAHA XVS650 2009 - WRECKING ONLY YAMAHA R6 2010 - WRECKING ONLY
ONLY WRECKING LATE MODEL JAPANESE ROAD BIKES INCLUDING THE GREY IMPORTS AND PARALLEL LINES
MOT-FP-5010641-A
www.victorianmotorcyclewreckers.com.au
HILLS MOTORCYCLE WRECKERS
DL:46889
1/47 Prince William Drive, Seven Hills, NSW 2147
M 0418 223 385 P 02 9674 3844 F 02 9674 3822
25% DISCOUNT when mentioning this ad on parts only
Wrecking – Please inquire for Bikes for Sale - Bikes for Sale -
availability and price for parts Bikes (Track or part only) Bikes (Can be registered)
Yamaha | XT250 8/10 6489km - Wrecking Kawasaki | Z900 12/17 4850km

Very low Km bike. Frame written off so can not
be registered. Starts and Runs well. Good bike Yamaha | XSR900 8/16 6934km
for track. Slight damage to rear section. Does Very Low Km bike. Starts and runs very well.
not come with road gear (headlight, mirrors, Lively triple engine. Plenty of power. Handles
indicators and tail light). $5500 very well. Comes with a blue slip $7500 - Sale
Suzuki | SV1000S 3/07 52877km - Wrecking
Suzuki | SV650 Gen 1 2/02 66314km Yamaha | YZF R15 12/11 23043km
Reliable 650. Perfect cruise, commute, weekend Bike is a bit rough around the edges, but with a
ride bike. Project bike as requires a few things bit of work could be a good commuter. Engine is
fixed. Has Remus aftermarket muffler. rattly, but this bike will come with a spare good
Rego Til March 2020 $1600 - Sale engine. Comes with a blue slip. $995 - Sale
Honda | CB125E 4/14 18581km - Wrecking
Kawasaki | EX650F Ninja 650L 9/13 15867km Suzuki | VL800 Boulevard C50 12/04 15201km
Nice low Km bike, starts and runs very well. Nice low Km bike, starts and runs very well.
Non Lams, Full powered. Comes with a blue slip. Perfect for a cruise. Non LAMS. Comes with a
BMW | F800R 1/07 - Wrecking $3250 - Sale blue slip. $4000 - Sale
BIKES WANTED | NEW BIKES ARRIVING DAILY
WWW.HILLSMOTORCYCLEWRECKERS.COM.AU E: PARTS@HMW.NET.AU
Buyers
Guide
BENELLI
(All prices rideaway)
TnT 135 135cc DOHC single Naked
TRK 502 500cc DOHC I-twin Adv
TRK 502 X 500cc DOHC I-twin Adv
Leoncino 500cc DOHC I-twin Naked
Leoncino Trail 500cc DOHC I-twin Naked
502C 500cc DOHC I-twin Cruise
BMW
G 310 R 313cc DOHC single Naked
G 310 GS 313cc DOHC single Adv
CFMOTO
150NK 150cc DOHC single Naked
250NK 250cc DOHC single Naked
650NK 649cc DOHC I-twin Naked
650MT 649cc DOHC I-twin Tourer
650GT 649cc DOHC I-twin Tourer
LEARNER BIKES
DUCATI
Scrambler Sixty2 399cc DOHC V-twin Naked $13,490
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Street 500 494cc SOHC V-twin Cruiser $9995
HONDA
CB125E 125cc SOHC single Sports $2299
Grom 125cc DOHC single Naked $3349
CB300R 286cc DOHC single Naked $5999
CBR300R 286cc DOHC single Sports $5489
Monkey 125cc DOHC single Retro $5199
CB500FA 471cc DOHC I-twin Naked $7299
CBR500RA 471cc DOHC I-twin Sports $7699
CBR650FL 649cc DOHC I-four Sports $9999
CB650F 649cc DOHC I-four Naked $9799

SUZUKI
TU250X 249cc DOHC single Retro $5990
GSX250R 248cc SOHC I-twin Sports $5790
Versys X 296cc DOHC I twin Adv $6399 DR-Z400SM 398cc DOHC single Motard $8990
Versys-X SE 296cc DOHC I-twin Adv $6499 SV650 645cc DOHC V-twin Naked $9490
Ninja 400 399cc DOHC I-twin Sport $6499 V-Strom 250 248cc SOHC I-twin Adv $6190
Ninja 400 KRT 399cc DOHC I-twin Sport $6749 V-Strom 650L 645cc DOHC V-twin Adv $10,990
Ninja 400 SE 399cc DOHC I-twin Sport $6749 V-Strom 650L XT 645cc DOHC V-twin Adv $11,990
Z650L 649cc DOHC I-twin Naked $9799
Vulcan S 649cc DOHC I-twin Cruiser $10,099 SWM
Versys 650L 649cc DOHC I-twin Sports $10,599 (All prices rideaway)
Ninja 650L 649cc DOHC I-twin Sports $9999 Silver Vase 445cc SOHC single Retro $7490
Ninja 650L KRT 649cc DOHC I-twin Sports $10,299 Gran Milano 445cc SOHC single Retro $6990
KTM (All prices rideaway) TRIUMPH

RC390 373cc DOHC single Sport $6995 Street Triple 660 659cc DOHC I-triple Naked $12,850
390 Duke 373cc DOHC single Naked $7795
YAMAHA
ROYAL ENFIELD YZF-R15 150cc DOHC single Sports $4299
(All prices rideaway) YZF-R3A 321cc DOHC I-twin Sports $5799
Rumbler 350 346cc OHV single Cruiser $5790 MT-03 321cc DOHC I-twin Naked $5799
Classic 350 346cc OHV singlw Retro $5590 MT-07 655cc DOHC I-twin Naked $9999
Bullet 500 499cc OHV single Retro $7690 XSR700 655cc DOHC I-twin Naked $10,999
Himalayan 411cc OHV single Adv $5990 Tracer 700 655cc DOHC I-twin Tourer $12,299
Classic 500 499cc OHV single Retro $7990 SR400 399cc SOHC single Retro $8099
Interceptor Classic 650cc OHV twin Retro $8440 XT250 249cc SOHC single Adv $6299
Interceptor Custom 650cc OHV twin Retro $8640 Virago XV250 249cc SOHC V-twin Cruiser $6799
Interceptor Chrome 650cc OHV twin Retro $8940 V-Star 650 Custom 649cc SOHC V-twin Cruiser $8799
Conti. GT Classic 650cc OHV twin Retro $8640 V-Star 650 Classic 649cc SOHC V-twin Cruiser $9299
Conti. GT Custom 650cc OHV twin Retro $8840 WR250R 250cc DOHC single Adv $8299
Conti. GT Chrome 650cc OHV twin Retro $9140 XT660Z Tenere 660cc DOHC single Adv $13,999

Trivia
Pursuit
1 According to Cam Donald’s BMW

GS Safari Enduro report in the last 6 Why is Dr Gange treated so
horribly? a) The kids who used HAVE
YOU BEE
issue, which part of Australia had he to ride in the chair have grown up; b)
not been to before? There’s a bunch of other toys in the
a) The Victorian High Country; way; c) It’s namesake saviour retired
b) Tasmania; c) Central Australia; long ago; d) Guy’s trying to get hold of
PAYING
d) Kings Cross. an LCR chassis for it.
h e l p yo u s o u nd
2 Royal Enfield Himalayans come
7 In ‘Classic Groff’, which To r at the pub
fitted with tyres from Indian brand
Ceat. What tyres were used at the EFI
authoritarian city caused Joe Groff
to descend into bizarre behaviour
smarte
ATTENTION?
model’s launch ride out of Ballina? at the newsagent? a) Shanghai;
a) Continental TKC80; b) Pirelli MT60; b) Moscow; c) Tehran; d) Singapore;
c) Metzeler Karoo; d) Dunlop D952. e) Baghdad.
3 What bizarre adventure ride did

Roothy suggest to fellow Himmo 8 While stuck in the regimented
city above, Joe visited the Kranji
11
owner Spannerman in ‘Spanner ’n’ war cemetery. How many unidentified Who got Denis started on early versions could punch conrods
Strooth’? a) Simpson Desert; people are buried there? a) 850; motorcycle exhausts? a) Pops out of the crankcase; c) It had “flow
b) Canning Stock Route; b) 672; c) 561; d) 446. Yoshimura; b) Peter Allen; c) Kaz separators”; d) It had a cast alloy
9
c) Gunbarrel Highway; d) Cape York. You’ve all heard of FIFO workers Yoshima; d) Bill Cervera. monocoque frame.
4 Spannerman was asked about

installing new needle seats in the
carbs of a ZZR1100. What lubricant did
but in ‘Fast Lane’, Cam Donald
mentions a phobia that is striking
stay-at-home riders. Is it a) SCOMO,
12 How many WLA Harley-
Davidsons were produced? 17 What was the innovative
fund-raising venture at the
a) 70,000; b) 80,000; c) 90,000; Wynnum Rissole Club mentioned in
he recommend for the O-rings? sitting on the couch motionless; d) 100,000. ‘Roothless’? a) They charged for tap
a) None; b) Petroleum jelly; c) Copper b) GOMAAR, going mental about
13 During World War I and water; b) They charged interstaters
spray; d) Wheel-bearing grease; adventure riders; c) FOMO, fear for car parking; c) They charged more
beyond, the Poms produced a
e) Rectinol. of missing out; d) DODD, dislike of for longer vehicles; c) They charged
very respectable 57,000 examples of
5 By happy coincidence, our loveable dualsport drongoes. people for paying in cash.
the Triumph Model H, helped by what
18
Guy Allen was struggling with catchy advertising slogan? a) Terrific Why did the Benelli TNT 135
something similar on neglected Triumph; b) Big Brute; c) Flying flea; initially come to Australia as
sidecar Dr Gange in ‘Our Bikes’. Work d) Trusty Triumph. a 125? So it didn’t need ABS; b) The
was brought to a screeching halt by 135 was considered too powerful for
a) Photographer Ben Galli (below)
demanding an apology; b) A flaccid
14 In ‘Harvey’s world travels’,
Martin was rescued from a
collapsed battery by a) soldiers;
learners; c) To escape higher rego
fees in some states; d) To improve
float-needle spring; c) Perished reliability.
b) a tourist truck; c) people he met
float needle valve seat O-rings;
at a party; d) a French guy on a
d) Charris sending Guido a link for
Honda 12 5.
a better sidecar for sale.
15 What was the scandalous,

sexist slogan for the Honda
XL350? a) On weekends it likes to
10 Shed Master Denis Ackland has play dirty; b) More punch downstairs;
had a pretty amazing career c) Give her a thrill; d) More grunt
that has included a) Racing flat track than she can handle.
in the US; b) Motorcycle exhaust
producer; c) Race engine builder; d)
Harley Sportster series organiser; e)
16 What was the major design
innovation of our ‘Future
Classic’, the Kawasaki ZX12R? a) It
Motorcycle dealer; f) All of the above. had a linked braking system; b) The
ANSWERS:
1 c) First time to Arkaroola and Central Australia. 7 d) Singapore 13 d) Can’t believe they didn’t stick with it.
2 b) Pirelli MT60s. 8 a) 850 14 b) An Encounter Overland Man truck.
3 d) FNQ it is. We’ve alerted the RFDS. 9 c) FOMO 15 a) It didn’t really.
4 a) He said you don’t need any but b) if you insisted. 10 f) All of that and beaten cancer. 16 d) It didn’t save weight.
5 b) The float needle spring. 11 d) Cervera is the man behind Bill’s Pipes. 17 b) Income for the dope heads.
6 a), b) and possibly c). 12 c) 90,000, one third of which were leased to the unsuspecting Russians. 18 c)

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What is the competition about and what are the prizes?

What is the competition about and what are the prizes?

What type of insurance is being advertised?

What type of insurance is being advertised?

SPANNERMAN’S XT500 + OUR FIRST BIKES + BENELLI 502C + SUZUKI DR650 + MOTORCLASSICA + PUD’S FOURS

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INSURANCE FOR MOTORING ENTHUSIASTS | CALL 13 46 46 FOR A QUOTE | SHANNONS.COM.AU

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Evolutionary changes by the dozen

SWAP & CHOP

INDIAN HITS THE POWERPLUS

CFMOTO 650GT $8490

makes the new R series incredibly easy to ride

THE LOW DOWN

R-series RS timeline R 1250 R

KAWASAKI NINJA H2 SX SE+

KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE GT

These bikes suit contemporary Australia/ OTHER STUFF

Attending a track day is

5 ‘I’s AND ‘T’s

The number of riders

7 EASE INTO THE DAY

way to start the day on a positive and excitement combined with

Riding kit Tools Miscellaneous

Born on the race track, raised on the street.

imbedded in them courtesy of the lack

name was Cathie and she put up with

T PARTN thinking I would change as I got older.

competitive event but the one-up, two-down

“Having a throttle seemed excessive. A switch would have done”

Guido How anyone lives through this period

Sandy Burgoyne and learnt where the controls

She ended up with Cam...

Renaissa I d been looking after for

HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD KING

MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA TOURING

IN THE BOX appropriate C-spanner and extension bar.

at home on several brands. camshaft, dual sparkplugs and air/oil

THE ARAI PROFILE-V.

The firm of Falloon and Spannerman keeps

1959 NORTON NOMAD 600

1958 HONDA C71 DREAM TOURER

1962 BSA ROCKET GOLD STAR TOURING

1958 BSA B31

Judging can turn out to be

Many unknowning punters

This unrestored Black Lightning was one of only 33 built

959 HONDA SUPER CUB C100

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Prepare to be taken aback by the bike’s attention to detail –

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or particularly comfortable for longer rides, RIGHT: The digital dash is

ZR17 rear), which will prove beneficial PERFORMANCE

You ﬁnd & Û}ÊÞÕÊ`ÀiVÌÊ