Table of contents for Issue 349 in Motorcycle Trader

So there I somehow found myself in a massive multi-brand dealership helping JC buy a bike. That’s a lot of responsibility for one man. What’s his budget? His style? What sort of riding is he planning on doing? We could be here a while. All I could safely assume is that if you can walk on water, you’re probably not going to need a good helmet, jacket or gloves, are you? Still, wouldn’t want him getting pulled over on my watch. As you can tell, I’ve had some obscure dreams the past few nights, such is often the case when you’ve been hit with the flu and on meds. Amid the dark and plain-weird corners of my imagination, one question remained: Given the choice, what bike would Jesus ride, especially…

The V85 TT has a long list of spiritual predecessors including the dual-purpose V35 and V65 TT models of the early to mid ’80s and the NTX range (350/650/750) from 1986, which imitated the styling of the Paris-Dakar and Baja 1000 race bikes. The NTX was discontinued in 1990 to make way for the Quota 1000. The aforementioned models were powered by the company’s transversely mounted V-twin and featured electric start and shaft-drive, which was not commonplace for the segment (BMW being the exception). For Guzzisti and rally raid enthusiasts, the jewel of the TT crown is the V65 TT Baja, or TTC, which is distinguished by its imposing stature, massive ground clearance, enormous 50-litre tank and white, upswept muffler. Dating further back are the featherweight trail/trials-oriented Stornello 125 and…

IRVING VINCENT SIDECAR ENGINE TYPE: 50-degree air-cooled V-twin CAPACITY: 1300cc BORE & STROKE: 100 x 82.5mm COMPRESSION RATIO: 14.0:1 FUEL SYSTEM: 2 x Gardner 48mm flatside carbs (made in-house) TRANSMISSION TYPE: Five-speed FINAL DRIVE: 520 chain GEARING: Various to suit circuits PERFORMANCE POWER: 112kW (150hp) at 6500rpm TORQUE: 196Nm at 5500rpm CHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR FRAME: Three-inch diameter chromoly tube 1/8-inch thick, with aluminium mounting plates and engine as stressed member FRONT SUSPENSION: Single-sided leading link, machined from aluminium billet. Ohlins TTX shock absorber REAR SUSPENSION: None FRONT BRAKE: AP four-piston caliper, 275mm vented, floating disc REAR BRAKES: Twin AP two-piston calipers, 200mm vented discs WHEELS & TYRES FRONT: Aluminium 13 x 7-inch (all wheels made in-house) REAR: Aluminium 13 x 9-inch SIDECAR: Aluminium 13 x 8-inch TYRES: Avon racing…

BMW C 400 X (GT) ENGINE TYPE: Liquid-cooled single, SOHC CAPACITY: 350cc BORE X STROKE: 80 x 69.6mm COMPRESSION RATIO: 11.5:1 FUEL SYSTEM: EFI PERFORMANCE POWER: 25kW (34hp) at 7500rpm TORQUE: 35m at 6000rpm TRANSMISSION TYPE: Continuously Variable Transmission CLUTCH: Automatic dry centrifugal CHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR FRAME: Steel tube construction with aluminum diecast section FRONT SUSPENSION: 35mm fork, 110mm travel REAR SUSPENSION: Twin shocks, adjustable preload, 112mm travel FRONT BRAKE: Twin 265mm discs with four-piston radial calipers, ABS REAR BRAKE: 265mm disc with single-piston radial caliper, ABS DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES WET WEIGHT: 204kg (GT 212kg) SEAT HEIGHT: 775mm FUEL CAPACITY: 12.8L WHEELBASE: 1565mm WHEELS & TYRES WHEELS: 3.5x15-inch (f), 4.25x14-inch (r), aluminium alloy TYRES: 120/70 R15 (f) 150/70 R14 (r) OTHER STUFF PRICES y@:gm C 400 X from $m…

The technical advancement here is important. That’s a lot of stuff to go wrong, and you can bet it won’t be cheap to fix if it does. That said, the thing will very probably prove incredibly reliable. The upside is to be found in the user-friendliness provided by the electronics on offer. These are not gimmicks but real-world significant advancements in motorcycle operation. And that, my friends, is seriously game-changing stuff. So. Snaggy’s New Bike Experience (NBE). I love the treatment I got at the dealer, the three-year warranty, the fact I have the latest and greatest and the smell of the thing. I sit in the shed with a stubby and look at it. The NBE is unlikely to happen again, but me and that XR have developed an…

GLORY DAYS I picked up a bunch of 1990s motorcycle magazines recently. Forgive me if I’m a bit slow on the uptake here, but while reading some old interviews with the leading Australian motorcycle racers of years past, I came to realise how popular they were in the 1970s and ’80s. Guys like Kenny Blake, Gregg Hansford, Graeme Crosby, Mick Cole and Greg Pretty, to name just a few. As this was all happening when I was unfortunately too young to know I was interested in it, I was wondering why the popularity of domestic motorcycle racing faded. I went to the ‘Bikes are back at Bathurst’ meeting in 2000 when Kevin Curtain blitzed them on his Yamaha R1 and loved it. So did all the other punters. I also…

Motorcycle businesses recommended by MT and MT readers. If you have a new recommendation or would like to give one of the businesses below an extra star, tell us why at mct@TradeMotorcycles.com.au NEW SOUTH WALES CC Bikeworks, Long Jetty. Repair centre and tyres Ph (02) 4333 9884 Ballina Motorcycles, Ballina. Yamaha, BMW, general service/repairs www.BallinaMotorcycles.com.au Mick Cole Motorcycles, Bega North. Honda, Yamaha www.MickColeMotorcycles.com.au Taree Motorcycles, Taree. Honda/agricultural www.TareeMotorcycles.com.au Sydney Motorcycle Wreckers and Workshop, Hornsby. Servicing and repairs (older models included) www.SydneyMotorcycleWreckers.com.au Vince Strang Motorcycles, Inverell. Suzuki (DR & DR-Z specialist), Honda, Can-Am www.VinceStrangMotorcycles.com.au Cash and Co, St Marys. Repair centre and wrecking Ph (02) 9623 3699 WESTERN AUSTRALIA Corse Motorcycles, Bayswater. Service and repair of all makes and models, specialising in Ducati, MV Agusta as well as customs and race/track-bike…

It was one of those weeks where you take one step forward and two back. The latest mission was to replace the missing fork gaiters on the mighty SR500 – the previous set had turned to dust a long time ago. This is one of those non-critical jobs that’s way too easy to put off, and I reckon the bike’s been getting around without them for about a year. In part, this is a cosmetic thing –it looks better with them on. It’s also practical, as it protects the fork legs from stone damage and keeps incidental crap out of the seals. Right, so let’s order a set. My usual practice when ordering for this or the T160 Triumph is to get a pair intended for a 1970s Norton Commando.…

The Paris Dakar can take luggage at long last! It’s been a helluva ball ache to find the correct pannier frames, which I sourced from Motor Works, the largest independent BMW motorcycle specialist in the UK. If anybody knows about early G/S and GSs, the pannier frames, as rudimentary as they are, are assymetrical to cater for the high-mount exhaust and are rare as unicorn poo, so I snapped up a second-hand pair. Somehow, they barely fitted (hardly any holes lined up), however, so I pestered me ol’ mate Pat, the super-busy architect, to cut and weld them to fit between finalising the construction of a restaurant and coffee-roasting business for his father-in-law. We got there in the end and at least the coffee was delicious and free. That’s the…

How could I let myself get into this situation? Why didn’t I plan ahead? I haven’t really got time to sit on the empty drum of Grand Prix in my shed and get depressed, but I can’t help myself. The zip’s broken on the tankbag. The Bagman throw-overs are in shreds and, for reasons I’ve long-since forgotten, I have a Gearsack bag and a Ventura rack, meaning I can’t use either. There’s no switchblock on the left side of the handlebar. It’s over at an electrician in Croydon who’s trying to use parts from a Suzuki GN250 and a Datsun 120Y (I have no shame) to cobble together some way of turning the lights and indicators on and off. I didn’t realise they still use canvas in tyre construction but…

With just weeks before the chaos of our family road trip to the 24-Hour Trial in SA, why do I feel no better prepared than I was 12 months ago? Last year I entered for the first time and was thrilled to finish 24th overall and win the two-stroke class. I did my best to prepare for the event, studying the race regulations and watching all the YouTube footage, but I could never have fully understood what I was getting myself into. There was no doubting how hard it would be on my bike and body, so I had to prepare both for the long haul of racing through the night. Bike preparation turned into a mammoth task as although Gas Gas loaned me a new EC250, it was still…

1 b) Even though they’re not racing, they still get nervous before heading off. 2 d) It’s called the Black Edition because of the finish on the engine and exhaust. 3 a) You can’t hide 347kg 4 b) Maybe it wasn’t the biggest but there were no excuses for rear ending an RF. 5 a) Yamaha FZR1000 just like Guy Allen owns, well maybe not exactly alike. 6 d) Silastic Boy seems to have shares in a silicone sealant factory. 7 c) The Trials Experience crew may not be enough. 8 d) The WR250F is, apparently, incredibly well balanced. 9 a) The versatile 1100cc donk proved popular. 10 c) 1078cc 11 b) Charris calls it a rabbit pouch thanks to his years living off the land. 12 b) Amazingly, he…

> Ohlins shock $1950> Heated grips: TBC (September)> Aluminium topbox: $1295> Topbox inner bag: $125> Canvas panniers: $1495> Touring cases: $1295> Comfort seats (high, standard or low): $495> Touring windshield: $425> Foglights: $395> Smartphone compatibility to the onboard electronics: $395> Anodised black and silver levers: $249> Folding mirrors: $75> Brake pedal tip: $70> Off-road exhaust: $2495> Engine guards: $200> Final drive protector: TBC> Centrestand: $195> Tank protection decals: $55…

YAMAHA MT-07L ENGINE TYPE: Liquid-cooled, parallel twin, DOHC, four-valve CAPACITY: 655cc BORE & STROKE: 78.0 x 68.6 mm COMPRESSION RATIO: 11.0: 1 FUEL SYSTEM: EFI TRANSMISSION TYPE: Six-speed, constant-mesh FINAL DRIVE: Chain PERFORMANCE POWER: 39kW at 8000rpm TORQUE: 68Nm at 6500rpm CHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR FRAME: Diamond tubular FRONT SUSPENSION: Telescopic fork, 130mm travel REAR SUSPENSION: Link-type, adjustable for preload, 130mm travel FRONT BRAKES: Twin 282mm discs with floating four-piston calipers, ABS REAR BRAKE: 245mm disc with twin-piston caliper, ABS WHEELS & TYRES WHEELS: 2.5 x 17-inch (f), 3.5 x 17-inch (r), cast-alloy TYRES: 120/70 ZR17 (f), 180/55 ZR17 (r), Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES WET WEIGHT: 182kg SEAT HEIGHT: 805mm WHEELBASE: 1400mm FUEL CAPACITY: 14L OTHER STUFF PRICE: From $9999 (plus on-road costs) WARRANTY: 24-month unlimited km COLOURS:…

BMW S 1000 XR ENGINE TYPE: Liquid-cooled, inline four-cylinder with DOHC CAPACITY: 999cc BORE X STROKE: 80 x 49.7mm COMPRESSION RATIO: 12.0:1 FUEL SYSTEM: EFI PERFORMANCE POWER: 121kW (165hp) at 11,000rpm TORQUE: 112Nm at 9250rpm TRANSMISSION TYPE: Six-speed constant mesh with optional two-way quickshifter CLUTCH: Wet, multiplate FINAL DRIVE: Chain CHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR FRAME: Aluminium composite bridge frame with engine as a partially stressed member FRONT SUSPENSION: USD 46mm fork, Dynamic ESA, 120mm travel REAR SUSPENSION: Monoshock, Dynamic ESA, 120mm travel FRONT BRAKES: Twin 320mm discs with radial mount four-piston Brembo calipers, ABS REAR BRAKE: Single 265mm disc with twin-piston Brembo caliper, ABS DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES WET WEIGHT: 228kg SEAT HEIGHT: 840mm WHEELBASE: 1548mm FUEL CAPACITY: 20L WHEELS & TYRES WHEELS: 3.5x17 (f), 6.0x17 (r) cast aluminium TYRES: 120/70ZR17…

CALL THEM FOR THAT THEY ARE: FAKES You don’t have to look far in this world to see fakes of just about everything, from iPhones to Rolex watches and, more dangerously, fake aviation and car parts. These are usually produced for financial gain, as is generally also the case with say artwork and literary hoaxes. Well, the fakes I particularly dislike are those presented as genuine in an attempt to fool the motorcycling community with misinformation regarding iconic motorcycles, in this instance Moto Guzzi. This year’s Broadford Bike Bonanza had on display two such Guzzis being the GP 500 V8 and a 350 GP with a six-speed gearbox, which purported to have been “as used by Keith Campbell”. No such machine made by Moto Guzzi ever existed. The V8 was…

I’ve been driving editor Charris crazy this month by being out in the bush with mates rather than being in the workshop where he can harass me on a daily basis. We’re doing 4WD rather than bikes but we’ve just done Goog’s Track in SA and we’re coming back on bikes soon to do it the real way. It’s like a mini-Simpson Desert with around 250 sand dunes to cross and really interesting vegetation. Communication is limited to satellite phones so Chris hasn’t been able to pester me to get my copy in on time. We’re now holed up in a pub in Cooper Pedy so I have no excuse not to file. The journey so far has been an adventure and has reminded me that, once upon a time,…

“I’m much more relaxed about my lack of preparation from seeing how relaxed you are. And you’re so far behind me!” Awesome. Thanks, Cam. The planning for the 24-Hour Trial is indeed a challenge in itself. Like, big time. And it’s coming down to the wire. But we are getting there even if the rider preparation isn’t where it ought to be. It’s easy to point to any one of the myriad excuses why we haven’t been riding as much as we’d like, all of which are true: family, work, manflu, take your pick. While Mr Donald’s been toughening up with a healthy diet of concreting, I’ve been hardening my hands by hitting the drums pretty hard (I have eight songs to learn for my best mate’s 40th just days…

Gone are the days when you can’t stay dry while wearing your favourite leather jacket in the rain. Triumph has given us the best of both worlds in the Raven GTX, which comes with a Gore-Tex liner – the duck’s (dry) nuts when it comes to waterproofing and breathability – and the superior protection of a leather outer. Designed to be worn while riding Triumph’s Modern Classics and Cruiser models, this chocolate and tan jacket costs $1190 for several reasons: it’s constructed of vintage leather and very well made with lovely quilted accents; it comes with the latest D30 removable armour on the shoulders, elbows and back (the latter of which often isn’t the case); and it uses the Gore company’s proprietary technology that comes with a water-tight lifetime warranty.…

He was a big fella. Looked like he’d been a hard case in his time too. The new boots and vest gave it away as much as the shiny Harley – he was new at this bikie game. Or maybe he’d re-equipped for his second time around? Plenty of blokes rode when they were young, dropped the bikes to raise families and then got back on once they’d done the responsibility bit. Some of us never stopped. I’d been admiring the bike. Absolutely spotless, and while Harleys are as common as Trump tweets these days, Springer front-ends aren’t. What I’d noticed was the new front tyre. Should I tell him? “G’day mate, nice bike. What year is it?” “2007,” he said. “It’s a Custom Springer.” Sure enough, he’d bought it…

ENGINE TYPE: Air-cooled, transverse 90-degree V-twin CAPACITY: 853cc BORE X STROKE: 84mm x 77mm COMPRESSION RATIO: 10.5:1 FUELLING: EFI with 52mm throttle body PERFORMANCE POWER: 80hp (59kW) at 7750rpm TORQUE: 80Nm at 5000rpm TRANSMISSION TYPE: Six speed FINAL DRIVE: Shaft CLUTCH: Dry, single disc CHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR FRAME: Tubular steel with engine as stressed member FRONT SUSPENSION: 41mm upside-down forks with adjustable for preload and rebound, 170mm travel REAR SUSPENSION: Shock with adjustable preload and rebound, 170mmm travel FRONT BRAKE: Twin 320mm discs with radial-mounted Brembo four-piston calipers REAR BRAKE: 260mm disc with twin-piston caliper DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES WET WEIGHT: 229kg SEAT HEIGHT: 830mm (accessory options: 810mm and 850mm) GROUND CLEARANCE: 210mm WHEELBASE: 1530mm FUEL CAPACITY: 23 litres WHEELS & TYRES WHEELS: 2.50 x19 (f), 4.25 x 17 (r),…

CAM: Kaz had recently given birth to our second child. So when Barry Horner and older brother Ken of Horner Racing Developments suggested she and I co-pilot their P4 Irving Vincent Sidecar at the Broadford Bike Bonanza, we had no plans for anything more than taking it steady. The problem is that on a racetrack my brain is hardwired to apply the throttle as early and as aggressively as possible. An outfit’s three wheels allow this, as spinning and sliding tyres are easier to manage when there’s little risk of highsiding. But when the outfit is powered by a 1300cc V-twin producing 150hp and 165Nm, your passenger still has to struggle to stay onboard. KAZ: Cam said we were going to ease into it, but what ‘easing into it’ means…

Even BMW can’t control the weather. With journalists flown into Melbourne, the launch ride had to happen regardless of the conditions. As it happened, the wet and woolly weather told us a lot about the C 400 X and C 400 GT. The trim panels at the front of the scooters offer significant protection from wet roads and rain, with the slightly wider panels of the GT doing the better job. BMW raided the accessory cattledog and came up with what it calls a ‘scooter canopy’, which it attached to most of the test bikes. This is essentially a $605 waterproof cover that goes over the rider’s legs and covers some of the chest area. It’s held in place by studs and a strap that goes around the rider’s neck.…

ROOTHY: I’m probably gonna cop a big dose of “I told you so” here – certainly from McKinnon – but have you ever bought a bike knowing full well it’s exactly what you want and then realised you didn’t know what you wanted? SPANNER: It’s not just bikes, is it? Look at some of our old girlfriends. It always seemed like a good idea at the time. Lack of money has mostly kept me on bikes that did the job but never satisfied my wildest desires. Like that song, it’s always been a case of ‘If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with’. This is why I have an SR500 instead of a Manx Norton; an R60/6 instead of an R90S and a VTR1000…

“Riders from across the country ask Aaron to weave his magic” Upholstery is one of the black arts of motorcycle repair and customisation. While many riders will have a go at servicing a bike, replacing a chain, touching up paint, or even wiring, few of us know where to start when faced with rotting foam and leather. Choosing the right foam density, bending up a seat pan, selecting a cover material and tensioning a sewing machine are as foreign to most of us as, well, sewing. That’s where artisans like Weird-o-pholstery come in – to save us from ourselves and to produce the seat of our dreams. Trimming runs in Aaron Sinclair’s family. He started working on taxi seat covers, “for a fucking long time”, in his father’s upholstery shop…

HONDA CRF1000L AFRICA TWIN ENGINE TYPE: Liquid-cooled, parallel-twin, SOHC, four valves per cylinder CAPACITY: 998cc COMPRESSION: 10:1 BORE & STROKE: 92 x 75.1mm FUEL SYSTEM: EFI PERFORMANCE POWER: 70kW (95hp) at 7500rpm TORQUE: 98Nm at 6000rpm TRANSMISSION TYPE: Siz-speed with wet slipper clutch or optional auto dual-clutch (DCT) FINAL DRIVE: Chain CHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR FRAME: Steel, semi-double cradle FRONT SUSPENSION: Showa 45mm USD, fully adjustable, 204mm travel (Adv Sports 252mm) REAR SUSPENSION: Showa monoshock, fully adjustable, 220mm travel (Adv Sports 240mm) FRONT BRAKES: Brembo dual 310mm floating discs, four-piston radial calipers, two-channel ABS REAR BRAKE: Brembo 265mm disc, twin-piston caliper, two-channel switchable ABS WHEELS & TYRES WHEELS: 2.15x21-inch (f) 4.0x18-inch (r), wire-spoked alloy TYRES: 90/90-R21 (f), 150/70-R18 (r), Dunlop D610 DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES WET WEIGHT: 228kg (Adv Sports 253kg)…

For more information on these recalls, visit www.ProductSafety.gov.au and follow the links to ‘motorbike’ recalls. Bikes listed for recall will always be fixed at the distributor’s expense. BMW K18/K19 C650GT, C600/650 SPORT 2012-19 PROBLEM: The front brake hose may be damaged over time, resulting in brake fluid escaping and a loss of braking. ACTION: Contact your nearest authorised BMW dealer for an inspection/replacement. SPANNER SAYS: The ‘over time’ part of the problem is a worry. You can’t just conduct a visual inspection and decide you don’t have to be concerned about this. Contact your nearest BMW dealer for a proper check. TRIUMPH SPEED TWIN 2019 PROBLEM: The coolant hose between the radiator and the overflow tank may have been misrouted during assembly and could come into contact with the exhaust…

The young Floyd Clymer excelled as an entrepreneur, setting up an auto agency in Colorado in 1907 at the age of 11. Clymer sold 13 cars, mostly Cadillacs, in two years. By the age of 14, he became interested in motorcycles, and won the first Pikes Peak Hillclimb on an Excelsior in 1916. This led to him becoming a member of the Harley-Davidson racing team. Clymer set up a motorcycle dealership in Denver, Colorado. Selling Indian, Excelsior and Henderson motorcycles and in 1929 he proudly proclaimed he was “the largest motorcycle dealer in the west”. After World War II Clymer, became an automotive publisher, printing more than 400 different titles over the next 30 years. In 1952 he established Cycle magazine, which went on to become the most significant motorcycle…

In addition to potentially saving your levers should the unthinkable (inevitable) happen off-road, handguards cleverly complement heated grips for full-weather protection, and Aussie brand Barkbusters has been making them since 1984. The NSW south coast-based brand offers a massive range for a variety of bike types: adventure, enduro, trail, street and supermoto machines, which are sold as model-specific or universal kits. They’re also sold worldwide, so it’s no wonder Barkbusters have become the generic name for handguards. The Storm guard is among its most popular for road and adventure-based bikes for its large coverage, and they’re available in single- or twin-point mounting systems. If you’re after protection from just the elements then the single-mount job is for you, but if you’re also after impact protection then go for the more…

How do these experiences change you? There’s no shortage of evidence that our physical and mental make-up is significantly altered by the things we do. Just ask any longterm cook, coal miner or surgeon. Each occupation has its practical and psychological risks that inevitably go a long way towards shaping that person. But what about motorcycling, given most of us do it for leisure rather than a living? We may not spend most of our waking hours in the saddle, but the dangers and the level of engagement mean that it must shape us in some way – that’s assuming we make it through that initial period where some people – perhaps wisely – drop it like the proverbial hot brick after a bad scare. You sometimes forget the extent…

1. In the last issue (#348), what habit did Cam Donald reveal he and Carl Fogarty share before they go to the Isle of Man TT race meeting? a) They put on black undies; b) They do unnecessary jobs around the house; c) They race at the North West 200; d) They check the lap records for each class. 2. The Suzuki Boulevard M109R road tested last month has a paint scheme reminiscent of the famous Shelby Cobra muscle car. What does Suzuki call it? a) Blue flash; b) White Metallic Haze; c) White lightning; d) Black Edition. 3. What does Suzuki claim the M109R weighs with fuel, but without our tester on board? a) 347kg; b) 337kg; c) 307kg; d) 297kg. 4. What was the claim to fame of…