Table of contents for #412 23-06 in Just Bikes

Jack Miller has taken his initial steps with KTM for the 2023 MotoGP season, completing the Valencia test on the RC16 that he’ll be riding for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing next year. On track for almost the entirety of the 7-8 November test, Miller made numerous small set-up changes to the 2023-spec RC16 along the way, while team mate Brad Binder worked with three configurations of the KTM MotoGP bike, including a hybrid of the 2022 and 2023 spec chassis. “We were able to get on track relatively early and ride right until the end of the session - and did a lot of laps shaking down the new bike, understanding the new team. It was a good day,” Miller enthused. On the transition from Ducati’s Desmosedici to KTM’s…

A year after he retired from the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship, Tom Sykes will make his return, signing with the independent team Kawasaki Puccetti Racing for the 2023 season. After hinting as far back as July that he’d welcome a return to the production bike class, the 37-year-old announced on 8 November that he will replace Lucas Mahias at Kawasaki Puccetti Racing and reunite with the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR he last rode in 2018. The Brit spent the 2019-21 seasons on a BMW M 1000 RR. “I’m really happy to be joining Kawasaki Puccetti Racing and returning to the WorldSBK paddock,” Sykes said. “For years, I’ve been impressed by the way in which Manuel Puccetti manages his team and by the mentality with which he goes racing, as well…

One of my favourite jackets for urban riding is the waxed cotton Merlin ‘Anson’, which meant I looked past leather and textile types for something with similar material when selecting a new jacket, ultimately settling on Merlin’s ‘Perton’. Like the Anson, the Perton is a short jacket, of the same Halley Stevensons waxed cotton construction and with the same Reissa breathable waterproof membrane, but differs in its styling and swaps the Safetech CE Level 1 armour in the shoulders and elbows for D30 LP1 protection in the same areas, with provision for a back protector. But unlike the Anson, the Perton has an ‘Outlast’ removable thermal lining and ventilation zippers front and rear. I’m 5’10’’ and weigh 82kg, so found the medium-size Perton fitted me best, allowing a lightweight jumper…

ACT ACT MOTORCYCLE CLUB The Club caters for riders aged 4 to not out; for beginners, weekend warriors, club racers and Pro’s. We got riders regularly racing in their fifties! Meetings held 1st Wednesday of every month. All club meetings are held at the Roos Club in Queanbeyan 6pm Website: www.actmcc.com P.O. Box 3150, Manuka, ACT, 2603 (Membership Officer) Ph: 0418 633 447 AUSTRALIAN ARIEL REGISTER A National Association of Ariel owners and enthusiasts. Quarterly mag, annual National Rally. Website: www.australianariel-register.com 180 Kosciusko Ave, Palmerston, ACT, 2913 Col Hill (Secretary) Ph: 02 6242 0495, secretary@australian-ariel-register.com CANBERRA BRANCH OF BIKES AUSTRALIA We’re looking for new members in the ACT region. If you’re into bikes (2wheels and a motor) give us a call. ACT Badge Ph: 02 6258 4811 CANBERRA DISTRICT DUCATI…

In the ongoing rollout of new and upgraded models from Ducati, the Diavel has been presented in 2023 form, with the high-performance cruiser gaining a major update of its powerplant and revisions in other areas for its twelfth year on the market. Unveiled at the end of October (as the sixth instalment in the ‘Ducati World Premiere’ web series), the key change on the new Diavel is the adoption of the V4 engine that’s already been applied to the Panigale sports bike, Streetfighter naked and Multistrada adventure tourer. Incorporating this engine in place of the Testastretta v-twin has meant adopting a new chassis, which has resulted in a significant reduction in weight compared to the current Diavel 1260. The new version also gains several styling tweaks and additional tech features.…

After overhauling the largest points deficit in MotoGP history, Ducati’s Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia has won the 2022 MotoGP World Championship, defeating defending champion, Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo, who was leading the title fight until the very last rounds. Bagnaia’s first championship in the premier class, the 2022 title is also the first for an Italian since Valentino Rossi in 2009, the first for a Ducati rider since Casey Stoner in 2007 and the first for an Italian on an Italian bike since Giacomo Agostini and MV Agusta 50 years ago in 1972. The 25-year-old came into the 2022 season finale at Valencia with an almost insurmountable 23-point lead, so only needed to finish the race in 14th place or higher, even if Quartararo won. That was a far cry…

Barely three months after the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship last visited Phillip Island, the category will return to the Victorian circuit in February for the first round of the 2023 season. On 8 November, the Superbike World Championship released their provisional calendar for 2023, which sees World Superbikes and World Supersport return to a “traditional” schedule and “traditional” dates for the coming 12-round season. After a late start in 2021 and 2022 due to COVID-19, season 2023 kicks off on 24-26 February at Phillip Island, which hosted this year’s season finale, but has been Round 1 every year from 2009 to 2020. The pre-season test will also return to Phillip Island in 2023, to be held at the seaside circuit on 20-21 February. Mandalika in Indonesia, which hosted the…

Part of TCX’s ‘Vintage Line’, the Blend 2 is a midsized boot with casual styling that makes them as wearable off the bike as they are practical on the bike. In terms of style, the Blend 2 has a matte finish and pre-worn look that I liked. The design reminds me of the traditional Timberland boot and sits high over the ankle, yet works really well with jeans. Laces add to the casual look, with the subtle ankle cups and textured shifter points on the right boot’s toe (that’s repeated on the left side) the only clues to these being motorcycle boots. Practical features start with sturdy full grain leather construction and include reinforced toe, heel and ankle sections. The T Dry waterproof membrane makes the Blend 2 practical for…

The 2023 version of Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 and GSX-R1000R have arrived, and while the only changes for the new model year are new colours, both models will be available with special ride away pricing. While the GSX-R1000 and its tweaked GSX-R1000R sibling haven’t had a major update in the past five years, they remain at the pinnacle of Suzuki’s sportsbike lineup. Both variants use the same twin-spar aluminium frame that, in its most recent update, was narrowed by 20mm and lightened by ten per cent. Both variants also use by the same 999.3cc DOHC inline four, and while the current version of this liquid-cooled engine is the powerful and technologically advanced ever built, it’s unchanged from the previous model year. Listed maximums, applicable to both GSX-R1000 variants, are 148.6kW at 13,200rpm…

After years of dominance by Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jonathan Rea, the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship has welcomed its second new champion in as many years, with Alvaro Bautista winning the 2022 championship at the penultimate round of the season. The Spaniard, who made his World Superbike (WSBK) debut in 2019 with Aruba.it Racing Ducati after 16 years in grand prix racing, was unbeatable in the first half of that season before falling away. Two fruitless years with Honda in 2020-21 saw Bautista return to Ducati in 2022, but there was no drop off this time around - the 37-year-old won early and kept on winning or finishing on the podium. Despite this, Bautista’s championship lead was only 16 points coming into the fifth round at Donington in July. A…

Does bigger equal better? Depends on what you’re talking about and who you ask. In terms of motorcycles, bigger engine capacity is usually always better – unless you’re in the LAMS market. LAMS, by its very nature, is restrictive, so to break out of those confines opens up new possibilities. Case in point being the Leoncino and Leoncino Trail siblings from Benelli, which are now bigger at 800cc capacity – but are they better? I make no bones about my admiration for the previous, 500cc version of the Leoncino. I thought it was one of the best-looking motorcycles from any brand in the past decade. My ride on it during the Australian media launch confirmed it had the ‘go’ to match ‘show’, too, with impressive acceleration, braking and overall handling…

With the World Superbike and World Supersport championships already decided by the time both came to Phillip Island for the final round of the 2022 season, you’d be forgiven for thinking there was nothing to play for. But, with racers being racers, pride on the line and wet conditions being the joker in the pack, there was still plenty of action. Instead of its traditional season-opening slot in February-March, the Australian round for the 2022 World Superbike and World Supersport championships was held in late November. The last time both categories raced in Australia was back in February, 2020, and that would be the last international-level motorsport event completed here before COVID-19 shut the world down. No Australian round was held in 2021 and the late (but very much welcome)…

NSW FEBRUARY, FRIDAY, 10TH, 2023 STEEL HORSE SNOWY RALLY 2023 Orangised by Zaidee's Rainbow Foundation. When Brothers and Sisters of like minded people come together as one no matter what brand of steel horse motorcycle you ride. Steel Horse Snowy Rally in February Jindabyne 2023 when the weather is not too hot and never that cold this time of the year. This event will cater for all your needs and wants, whilst supporting a great charity in Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation to help increase organ and tissue donation and save lives via transplants. Lake Jindabyne Hotel will be the venue for these three days - we are taking over the whole Pub. This place rocks as a Pub venue - Fri/Sat Bands, Sat Show and Shine, start and end of the…