Table of contents for Issue 351 in Motorcycle Trader

There’s a big problem with Motorcycle Trader. I’ve always struggled with it and I don’t think I’m alone. Sampling and reporting on brand new bikes is brilliant and a privilege, and I’m okay with the fact that they all exceed the Harris family’s modest household budget. That’s fine. I’m not shopping anyway and I’m at the wrong stage in life and all that. I’ve got my Paris Dakar unicorn and the little Suzuki Address Alex Rins replica, but that doesn’t stop me from window shopping. What bothers me is that this humble mag inspires me to get out and ride more while giving me an appreciation for bikes I’d have otherwise glossed over. And that’s when the desire pulses really start throbbing and I start noticing bargains ripe for the…

If you love the looks of the Ducati XDiavel but don’t have a full licence or a spare $30,000 to splash then Benelli’s 502C is for you. With a rideaway price of $9790, the pint-size powercruiser has finally arrived for a slice of the learner-approved cruiser segment, led by the likes of Harley-Davidson’s popular Street 500 ($9995 rideaway), Honda CMX ($7999 plus on-road costs) and Suzuki Boulevard S40 (from $7990). Based on the Italian company’s recently released TRK 502 adventure bike and neo-retro Leoncino naked machine, the 502C is powered by a familiar 500cc parallel twin producing 35kW (48hp) at 8500rpm and 45Nm at 5000rpm, the latter of which is delivered some 1000rpm lower than its mechanically identical siblings. Few other specifications carry over to the latest Benelli, however, which…

Moto Guzzi’s trademark 90-degree V-twin was designed in the early 1960s by engineer Giulio Cesare Carcano, who was also responsible for the firm’s wild V8 racer. There’s a strong association between Guzzi and California, since in the late 1960s the Los Angeles Police Department supervised the construction of a modest fleet of twins to be put in service. That in turn led to bigger orders and more law enforcement input, including from the California State Highway Patrol. The California was the civilian version. Guzzi ended up selling police bikes around the world over several decades.…

With the demise of the FJ1100/1200 series in the mid 1990s, Yamaha temporarily vacated the big-bore sportstourer battlefield. Its return may have taken a while but was arguably worth the wait with a 1300 four, running a five-speed transmission and shaft drive. That last point was key – effectively moving the FJ or FJR nameplate across to BMW marketing territory when it came to basic spec. Over time, the bike has undergone countless variations to styling and spec, though the underlying package has remained the same, with only a slight lift in performance spec and weight. The latter has risen less than 10kg. For many, the most dramatic change was the addition of a sixth gear for 2016 – shutting up one of the few consistent complaints about the model.…

Parker Indian put down its roots long before the current Indian craze, and somehow managed to ride a groundswell few people spotted. Located in Melbourne, Jim Parker has built up an enviable reputation for supply and repair of Springfield machinery. He’s also a little unusual in that he helped found, and retains a strong involvement in, the country’s biggest marque club. The business didn’t exactly start out as a business. “What happened was that I had a Chief I used to ride and a few other projects I was working on and I just used to do these things by myself,” Parker says. “Indians were very rare in the ’80s. People would find out that I fiddled with them and would come around and see me. “Sometime around the early…

YAMAHA FZR750R OW-01 (1988-89) ENGINE: TYPE: Liquid-cooled, five-valves per cylinder, inline four CAPACITY: 747cc BORE & STROKE: 72 x 45.7mm COMPRESSION RATIO: 11.2:1 FUEL SYSTEM: 4 x 38mm flatslide Mikunis PERFORMANCE: POWER: 88kW (120hp) at 12,000rpm TORQUE: 70Nm at 9000rpm TRANSMISSION: TYPE: Six-speed, constant-mesh FINAL DRIVE: Chain CHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR: FRAME TYPE: Deltabox aluminium FRONT SUSPENSION: 43mm Showa telescopic fork, full adjustment REAR SUSPENSION: Ohlins monoshock, full adjustment FRONT BRAKE: 280mm discs with four-piston Nissin calipers REAR BRAKE: 177mm disc with two-piston caliper DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES: WET WEIGHT: 215kg SEAT HEIGHT: 785mm WHEELBASE: 1485mm FUEL CAPACITY: 23L TYRES: FRONT: 120/70-ZR17 REAR: 170/60-ZR17 OTHER STUFF: PRICE WHEN NEW: $18,000 (plus on-road costs) Rare Exotic spec Fast Hard to find…

Is that the time already? It’s nearly 15 years since I bought the R65 from Ms J and the toy is now celebrating its 40th birthday. As is often the case, I reckon time has been kinder to the motorcycle than it has to me – it hasn’t aged a bit. Anyway, what better way to celebrate your bike’s 40th birthday than by heading off for a ride? Even if it’s just a brief mid-winter squirt to a local cars and coffee gig. Back in 1979, when this thing was built and the model as a whole was launched, the R100RS, with its trend-setting fairing, was the star in the line-up. BMW in its wisdom decided to have a crack at the middleweight market, producing this and the R45 –…

CYCLING BIB KNICKS Why did I want to look like a WWF pro wrestler? Simple – comfort. Shoulder straps hold them in place (and avoid a tight waistband of shorts) and the high-quality pad prevents chafing. Cheaper knicks might have a single-thickness pad whereas better-quality examples use variable foam thicknesses and density to keep the pad thinner where you don’t need much cushioning, and thicker where you do. Such pads are generally more comfortable as a result. Look for a pad with an antibacterial finish for hygiene, too. POD KNEE BRACES Crucial protection for cruciate ligaments. Some find them uncomfortable, but they fit fine for me. My knees took a hard hit during one of my crashes and I didn’t feel a thing. Borrowed from a colleague. COMPRESSION LEGGINGS The…

SuperSoco scoots Ducati Electric bike brand SuperSoco has become Andrea Dovizioso’s official ride while he’s recovering from his spectacular crash during the British GP. Dovi’s teammate, Danilo Petrucci, also gets one for putting around the pits. With a rideaway price of $5490, the special Ducati-edition CUx scooter has become the official paddock transport for the factory Ducati MotoGP race team. The electric scooter is powered by a 2788-watt Bosch hub motor that delivers a maximum range of 75km (tested on a flat road with a 75kg rider) and a top speed that’s around 13 per cent of the 250hp-plus Desmosedici GP bike’s 350km/h capability. IN IT TO WIN IT The CB750 Owners’ Club is running a raffle to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their hero bike, with first prize being…

Harley-Davidson’s performance-oriented Low Rider S is back, but not quite as we know it. The iconic Milwaukee brand has revived one of its most popular nameplates in recent history but, since the demise of the Dyna platform, distinguished by their exposed twin shocks and comparatively sharper handling, the 2020 Low Rider S (like the Low Rider, Street Bob and Fat Bob) is now based on the Softail range, launched exactly two years ago. An entire subculture exists for the Dyna range, and Harley’s move to consolidate the Dyna and Softail platforms with an all-new Softail frame – despite being lighter and considerably stiffer – was a controversial one, upsetting ‘Dyna guys’ such as world-renowned stylist Roland Sands. In addition to near-identical styling cues, the 2020 Low Rider S also echoes…

ROOTHY The first Katana cut a swathe through the competition with its performance, reliability and style. Looks like it’s game on again! CHARRIS Suzuki should’ve based it on the top-dog GSX-R1000R. It would’ve helped amortise R&D costs from the high-tech beast. GUIDO I owned an original Katana and really wanted to like the new chap. This is all about the look and the revival isn’t working for me. GROFF Nothing else looked like a Katana back in the day and this one stands out as well. Not a bike for shy people.…

ROOTHY Gawd, looks like someone put the Electra Glide on a diet, turned the motor sensibly sideways and gave it some suspension. Bellissima! CHARRIS Job #1: Piss off those pin-dick mufflers (have a look at them!) and let the big Tony Soprano of a bike sing. UNCLE WOL I remember testing a Cali and photographing it at the California Motel. That motel is gone but the latest bike deserves more fans. GROFF I’ve always wanted a Moto Guzzi, but the purchase price has to come within my poor Catholic budget...…

YAMAHA FJR1300AE ENGINE: TYPE: Liquid-cooled, four-valve inline four CAPACITY: 1298cc BORE & STROKE: 79 x 66.2mm COMPRESSION RATIO: 10.8:1 FUEL SYSTEM: Fuel injection PERFORMANCE: POWER: 107.5kW (144hp) at 8000rpm TORQUE: 138Nm at 7000rpm TRANSMISSION: TYPE: Six-speed, constant-mesh FINAL DRIVE: Shaft CHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR: FRAME TYPE: Aluminium diamond FRONT SUSPENSION: 48mm USD fork, electronic adjustment REAR SUSPENSION: Monoshock, electronic adjustment FRONT BRAKES: 320mm discs four-piston Nissin calipers, linked, ABS REAR BRAKE: 282mm disc twin-piston Nissin caliper, linked, ABS DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES: WET WEIGHT: 298kg SEAT HEIGHT: 805/825mm WHEELBASE: 1545mm FUEL CAPACITY: 25L WHEELS & TYRES: FRONT: 120/70-17 REAR: 180/55-17 OTHER STUFF: PRICE: From $27,999 (plus on-road costs) COLOURS: Graphite WARRANTY: 24 months, unlimited kilometres Yamaha-Motor.com.au Big strong sportstourer Lots of performance Easy handling Price is getting up there Small sidestand…

ROOTHY’S BMW Hi Roothy, I’ve just read the ‘Our Bikes’ article on your 1993 BMW R100LT in MT #349. Regarding your comment on the exhaust sound, it seems to me that the megaphone shape of your exhaust pipes is still the best style of any old or current exhaust system and usually produces, to my ears, the best-sounding note regardless of make or type of bike. So it would appear to me that you’re stuck with your current note. They mightn’t produce the extra horsepower supposedly produced by the modern types (eg Akraprovic) but they sure look and sound better. “They mightn’t produce the extra horsepower of modern types but they sure look and sound better” One thing that has always bugged me about BMW’s boxer engine is the fact…

How good was the last edition of MT (#350)? I know I work for the magazine but it’s still impressive to see it reach 350 issues and show no signs of slowing down. Charris was right to blame the excellent staff the title has, and I think it’s not just the best magazine in Australia/NZ but one of the best in the world. Keep buying it. Just like you, none of the staff here get to see the finished magazine until after it’s published and sometimes in the newsstands. In the old days, we’d get an early version of it and check the classifieds for obvious bargains. Guido’s shed is result of this, but he’d be the first to admit that sometimes you get it right and sometimes you get…

1 The genesis for a new four-cylinder motorcycle went back to September, 1989 when Claudio Castiglioni and Tamburini discussed creating a high-performance 750cc four-cylinder all-Italian motorcycle over a late-night dinner in Rimini. 2 As CRC was heavily involved in Cagiva’s 500cc Grand Prix racing program, resources to develop the F4 were limited so Ferrari Engineering in Modena was engaged to develop the prototype. The four-cylinder engine was initially similar to half a Ferrari V8. The choice of radial valves was also Ferrari Formula 1-inspired. 3 Engine development was problematic and in 1991 the F4 project was moved to the Ducati factory at Borgo Panigale in Bologna. Here two of Ducati’s most eminent engineers, Massimo Bordi and Fabio Taglioni were engaged to help facilitate development. 4 By 1994 the Cagiva Group…

The problem with Hilda is you can’t kill her. How the hell she survived 45 years of Rooth abuse has Nicko and me tutting into our beers. She got pounded silly on dirt tracks when we were mining, got leant against fences when we were harvesting, has carted Ruby’s motor and ’box around town through at least three rebuilds and did a wobbly run to the shops this morning when we ran out of milk. Wobbly? I’ll explain later. But, despite the ability to start and run every time she’s needed, that doesn’t mean she’s purring like a well-fed pussy. Oh no. Ever since little brother left her leaning outside his shed wall during a monsoon 15 years or so ago, Hilda’s decided to get a little temperamental. That was…

CYCLO LIQUI SHIELD What if I told you there’s a chain lubricant that doesn’t fling off, doesn’t attract dirt and is waterproof? Yep, I’d be wondering what I’m smoking, too. The Cyclo Australia people must have wondered the same thing when they rang me, asking what I thought of their new waterproof lubricant. They thought I’d tried it. Problem was, I hadn’t. The lubricant hadn’t shown up at Compound Rooth. We have problems receiving our mail here – something you should note if you’re waiting for bills to be paid... It turned out the parcel had been too big for our slot, so our postie had lobbed it over the fence. Fair enough – except we had floods back then. So it’d washed down a gutter and become stuck under…

Iwasn’t always rich, famous and popular. I lived in poverty for a while in a house in Carrington, Newcastle, which was the second-closest residential dwelling to BHP’s Number One blast furnace. As a result, home heating wasn’t needed in winter, which was lucky because I couldn’t afford it anyway. It was a terrace house between two others occupied by sisters both named Ross. The posties often got confused because my last name is Roff, and so I was often the third person to read my mail. The sisters were great protectors, though. Both were happy to tell visiting debt collectors that I no longer lived there. They also told me my house was derelict in the 1930s and, when they were young, they’d chase goats up the stairs. My landlady…

Against my expectations, I loved riding it Have you ever had the experience of a motorcycle getting right under your skin, even while others are telling you it’s a loose bucket of bolts and the logical part of your brain is screaming “step away from the motorcycle”? It happens to me more often than I care to admit. However, it’s not every day that one of those moments comes back to haunt you. There I was minding my own business, sitting on the couch watching some sort of murder mystery on the talking box, when a message popped up on my messenger feed, from young Gray H. No explanation attached, but there was a link for a Faceplant classified for an MZ ETZ250, priced at a touch over $1600. Right.…

“When can I get a motorbike?” is a question every non-motorcycling parent must dread. Fortunately for our five-year-old daughter, Lola, her parents live and breathe bikes, so this is not an unexpected question. Lola has had a big spurt of interest recently, and I’ve got a fair idea why: Kaz has been riding her motocrosser a bit more lately. When a child sees their mum and dad having so much fun riding around the paddock why wouldn’t they want to try it for themselves? We’ve always said it’d be neat if Lola wanted to ride, but we’d be just as happy if she didn’t. All too often I see kids pushed into riding earlier than they’re ready. Parents often want to give their children something they, themselves, missed out on.…

1 What number did Charris run in the 24-Hour Trial that he reported on in the last issue? a) 23; b) 43; c) 63; d) 83. 2 How many competitive tests did he have left when he smashed his foot? a) Two; b) Five; c) 10; d) All of them. 3 Norton did not build a new engine when it switched the Commando to a left-side gearchange and button start in 1975 but about how many parts did it replace on the bike, according to Our Bikes? a) 150; b) 160; c) 170; d) 180. 4 Last month’s Shed Master, Ian Falloon, stumbled on a racket that involved building fake “green frame” 750SS Ducatis. What raised his suspicions? a) The clone had the same numberplate as a real one; b)…

Harley-Davidson has debuted a traction control package on its CVO and Trike models as well as select 2020 Touring offerings (excluding Road King and Electra Glide Standard). Dubbed Reflect Defensive Rider System, or RDRS, the bundled safety pack comprises cornering-enhanced linked braking; corner-enhanced ABS; cornering-enhanced traction control; drag-torque slip control; a hill-hold feature and a tyre-pressure monitor. The system uses gyroscopic sensors to account for the forces acting upon the motorcycle when cornering, moderating intervention to suit, while the drag-torque slip control feature reduces any rear-wheel slip detected during aggressive downshifts or abrupt deceleration on wet and slippery surfaces. The linked brake system employs both brakes when just the one brake control is activated above certain speeds for better overall stopping performance. At low speeds, however, the electronic system eliminates…

ENGINE: TYPE: Liquid-cooled, 16-valve, inline four CAPACITY: 999cc BORE & STROKE: 102mm x 114mm COMPRESSION RATIO: 10.5:1 ENGINE MANAGEMENT: EFI PERFORMANCE: POWER: 147hp (110kW) at 10,000rpm TORQUE: 108Nm at 9500rpm TRANSMISSION: TYPE: Six-speed FINAL DRIVE: Chain CLUTCH: Wet, multiplate, slip-assist CHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR: FRAME: Twin-spar aluminium FRONT SUSPENSION: 43mm KYB USD fork, fully adjustable REAR SUSPENSION: KYB shock with adjustable preload and rebound FRONT BRAKES: 310mm discs with Brembo radial-mounted four-piston calipers, ABS REAR BRAKE: 220mm disc with twin-piston caliper, ABS WHEELS & TYRES: WHEELS: 3.50 x 17 (f), 5.5 x 17 (r), cast aluminium TYRES: 120/70-17 (f), 190/55-17 (r), Dunlop Roadsmart DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES: RAKE: 25 degrees TRAIL: 100mm WET WEIGHT: 215kg SEAT HEIGHT: 825mm WHEELBASE: 1460mm FUEL TANK: 12 litres OTHER STUFF: PRICE: $18,990 rideaway COLOUR: Silver…

ENGINE: TYPE: Air/oil-cooled 90-degree V-twin with twin plug heads and four valves per cylinder CAPACITY: 1380cc BORE & STROKE: 104 x 81.5mm COMPRESSION RATIO: 10.5:1 FUEL SYSTEM: 52mm EFI PERFORMANCE: POWER: 71kW (95hp) at 6500rpm TORQUE: 121Nm at 3000rpm TRANSMISSION: TYPE: Six-speed, constant-mesh FINAL DRIVE: Shaft CHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR: FRAME TYPE: Steel twin-loop FRONT SUSPENSION: Non-adjustable 45mm fork, 120mm travel REAR SUSPENSION: Twin shocks, preload adjustment, 120mm travel FRONT BRAKES: 320mm ventilated discs with four-piston radial-mount Brembo calipers REAR BRAKE: 282mm disc with two-piston Brembo caliper DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES: WET WEIGHT: 346kg SEAT HEIGHT: 740mm WHEELBASE: 1710mm FUEL CAPACITY: 20.5L TYRES: FRONT: 130/70-18 REAR: 200/60-18 OTHER STUFF: PRICE $28,490 rideaway WARRANTY Two years/unlimited km www.MotoGuzzi.com.au Performance Handling Style Big & heavy…

SPANNER: Jeez, 50 grand later, fights with concreters, electricians, the local council, bulldozer operators and just about everyone else, and it’s finally finished. I hope I live long enough to use it. ROOTHY: Well, there goes your last excuse for not getting our Norton back on the road. At least it’d feel good getting that shed you planned erected. I mean, any erection must feel good at your age, old mate. So, did it turn out exactly as planned? SPANNER: Only accidentally. I misread the original specifications and it’s actually two car spaces bigger than what I had in mind, but that was lucky because I’ve used up the extra space already and might have to consider a mezzanine section as well. I was also a bit lucky in how…

Given the successes enjoyed by the legendary Aussie racer Mick Doohan enjoyed with Honda, it’s sometimes easy to forget that his career kicked off on Yamahas. He enjoyed considerable success on machines related to the OW-01, including superbike wins in 1988 on the FZR750 (one in Japan, two in Australia) and some high-profile rides on the YZF750 endurance racer. Victories on the latter at Sugo and the Mt Fuji Super Sprint in 1988 saw at least a couple of factories chasing his signature on a race contract.…

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 incorrectly routed during assembly and could come into contact with the exhaust header pipe, resulting in it melting and possibly spraying coolant onto the rear tyre. ACTION: Sixty bikes are affected and owners will be notified by Triumph…

It was the sound and style that first grabbed my attention. Then I rode one and I was impressed by the performance ‘for an old bike’. Now I’m an early Triumph twin tragic. I put my feelers out during the mid-2000s when prices of pre-oil-in-frame, unit-construction Bonnevilles were going through the roof – hardly the time to find a bargain. I wasn’t fussy about which model my first Triumph twin would be, so when a friend decided to sell his 1969 T100C at a fair price, I snapped it up. It was far from running and heavily weathered, however, but it had matching numbers and was reasonably complete for a project bike. Without wasting time, I stripped it and had the engine rebuilt and frame powdercoated. We had our first…

The bush is their solitude, for some it’s better than church could ever be I put the phone down almost quivering with anger. A couple of deep breaths and some Googling to check out what I’d just been told. No way, not in Australia. We’re not that stupid. Are we? Turns out we just might be. If all you do is ride road bikes from pub to pub, maybe this won’t bother you, but I’ve spent half my life fighting track closures. Somewhere, deep in my soul, I believe we have a right as Australians to go bush. To ride, drive, camp, do a bit of fossicking and even hunting when the season’s right, especially if it’s to control feral animals. These are our public lands yet with more public…