Bikesales Staff•8 Feb 2011

NEWS

Fast Torque #6

Recent topics in Fast Torque: Motorcycle levies across Oz, new Harley Davidsons, W800s, Vietnam adventures and go-fast Guzzis

It's Fast Torque time again -- and we're celebrating our half year anniversary. Yep, we're up to edition six, and we're seeing a great mix of letters coming in from you guys, the readers. And we're looking at giving readers even more freedom to comment on articles in the near future with a new comments section at the bottom of each story. If you're familiar with our sister websites, Carsales.com.au and Carpoint.com.au, you'll know what to expect.

This month's winner is Peter Hickey who has snaffled himself a waterproof Crumpler 'Seedybar' bag valued at $160 for sending us a letter about ABS systems being crucial to motorcycle safety. And if you want to win this months prize, just write us a letter and you could land yourself a custom made radiator guard custom made for your motorcycle from Rad Guard Australia. Valued at $195, the radiator guard protects against stones, bugs, and general damage, are easy to clean and are made from high grade aluminium. Used by racing teams they come with a three year warranty and are offered in two colours. And now the letters:

GO YOU GUZZI GOOD THING
Nice to see Guzzi doing some new retro bikes like the V7 Scrambler. Hope they make a Millequatrocento GT! Spoked wheels, alloy rims, black paint, gold pinstriping, low chrome pipes. I'd be first in line for one.
- JVB

Ed: You might be on to something there mate. A modern day Millequatrocento GT would be grand!

HARDLY DIFFERENT
I'm glad you listed all the 'new' parts for the 2011 HD Custom 1200, because it still looks like every other Harley to me.
- Tim

MOTORCYCLE LEVIES FOR ALL STATES?
All this levy is very good, but stop the bureaucrats getting involved! There must be experienced riders making the decisions, otherwise it's just another load of cr*p that won't work. To be blunt, all deaths cost money. If all riders (and drivers) are educated, it will save an enormous amount of money and sorrow.
- Steve Turp

Ed: Couldn't agree with you more about the education part of your equation, Steve. If every motorcycle rider and car driver had to undertake a defensive riding/driving course as part of the Learner and/or Probationary licencing scheme (like they do in Germany, Finland et al), things would be a lot different by 2020.

VIETNAM ADVENTURES

Fantastic video and write up of dirt biking through Vietnam. Myself, two mates, plus by the end three new mates from Perth, spent seven days with Long and Offroad Vietnam in July 2010. A truly fantastic trip. After your head stopped exploding and it became normal to see three vehicles side by side coming towards you on a two lane road... Long was truly invaluable in sorting things out when a local became a little more suicidal than normal, causing a four-way bust up. Be prepared for chaos, fantastic people, fantastic home stays, fantastic food, fantastic riding and fantastic value.
- Alan Holland

PUMP UP THE POWER
The Kawasaki W800 is a lovely bike and for my purposes it suits my needs and memories. However I was a little shocked to read the power output in the hand book as being just 35kW, around 46 ponies. Torque figures are better than othes and comes in earlier at 2000rpm. But how can a modern 800 fuel-injected twin have such a low output? Even my KLR seems to have the same amount of poke albeit it is 45kg lighter. Having said that, the W800 fits my memories and my expections in looks and retro feel, I just feel little bit deprived considering all reports expected around 70bhp. Please explain.
- Dennis

Ed: Thanks for the letter Dennis. Kawasaki has chosen to tune the engine in a certain fashion, keeping the rev ceiling low for big, low-end torque and improved rideability. The official specs are 35kW (48hp) at 6500rpm and 60Nm of torque at 2500rpm. The rev ceiling is not much more than 7000rpm; the engine was tuned this way to suit the bike's character, which as you point out is suitably retro. As a side thought, you could make a few aftermarket tweeks to bump up the power?

VALE JEFF HARDWICK
I didn't know Jeff Snr all that long but in the short time I did he always had a smile on his face and he had many funny stories to tell. He loved his boating and was still doing this only days before till he passed... He was a good man and his funeral was a very sad day indeed. RIP Jeff.
- Daniel Jackson

TEN YEAR ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY!?
Why doesn't the government just say they want bikes off the road and at least be honest for once! This new 10 year safety plan is flawed.
- Alan Lindley

ONE WISH: CBR600F
It's a huge pity Honda Australia has decided NOT to bring this CBR600F bike to Australia!
- David Anderson

NINJA THE NUMBERS
I don't buy it, the new 2011 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R has 200hp at 13,000rpm? Wrong. Spend another $20,000 and you will have a 200hp machine. I believe it's marketing coming out with these numbers. Dyno tests prove it's all hype!
- Travis

Ed: The numbers quoted are measured at the crankshaft, not the rear wheel, and the BMW S 1000 RR has had several independent dyno tests that show output of around 190 horsepower at the crank, around 3hp lower than the claimed figure. I think the Kwaka ZX-10R dyno results could surprise you Travis.

ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY #2
How many long term motorcyclists are on this panel that came up with the 10 year road safety strategy? From my experience (I have been riding more than 30 years) road rules and road design are not well done. How long has it taken to introduce the LAMS approved system (still not in effect in WA). Eventual mandating ABS on bikes? Have they ever ridden a bike with rear ABS? I have and would rather not have it. How about mandatory self cancelling indicators? Probably the most important issue they should be considering. Who of us leave them on? Everyone forgets at one time or another and cars will pull out on a bike that has his indicator on unbeknowns. Enforcement of motorcycle speeding? Sounds like revenue raising. I am about to read the draft now but this list looks like it was put together by those not intimate with motorcycling and motorcyclists.
- Timbo

Ed:You make some very pertinent points Tim, but let's remember this is still a draft and (hopefully) things will change.

SCOOTING DOWNTOWN
Kymco do some manufacturing for its rivals... So the Kymco Downtown 300i should be ok.
- John G

Ed: Should be okay? It's already won several awards and from our testing so far we've been very impressed by what it offers. We've put some more kilometres on the scooter and Mr Torr has taken it for at least one extended blast through the hills, and he was suitably impressed. More on the maxi Kymco soon.

KAWASAKI CAFE
I would have said the W800 Cafe Style was really competing with the Triumph Thruxton and the Guzzi V7 Cafe Racer.
- Pino Sassu

DEUS EX-PENSIVE
Why pay for a Harley that's been butchered and then pay through the nose for it? I've seen a lot of these Deus Ex Machina bikes and that's exactly what they look like in a very short time - an old chop job with parts missing like chain guards, front guards, number plates that don't comply and the list goes on. They are even butchering old Jap singles and charging an arm and leg for them. Wow, a bit of custom paint, exhaust heat wrap and missing parts and pay twice the price! Suckers.
- Gibbsy

Ed: You seem very passionate about the issue Gibbsy. The custom motorcycle scene is growing in leaps and bounds as riders search for that unique image, and for a lot of bikers it's more about what the machine represents and how it makes them feel, rather than the price tag.

CLASSIC NIMBUS ADVENTURE

The Dumb Way Round World tour on a pair of 70-year-old Nimbus bikes. Check out this link.
- Douglas Graham

STRYKE IT LUCKY
Yamaha didn't release the Raider but I sure hope they release the Stryker. Why should we miss out? I'm sure it will sell well - and sooner the better. It looks like a better deal than the Honda Fury - come on Yamaha, do your magic.
- Paul Hughes

REC REG FOR NSW
Where do you get a copy of the recreational registration petition please - I am in the emergency services and reckon there would be 500 rec riders in there alone!
- Dave Mac

Ed: The petition can be found at this

InsureMyRide.com.au PDF file

. Hope it helps.

IF ONLY...

I was reading the Top 10 Classic Collectible Motorcycles yarn, and saw the MV Agusta America sells for around $75,000. Well, around 1976 I was trying to sell my Honda CB750 to finance a trip OS, and I happened to come across an MV Augusta America in a bike-shop window. It was covered in dust and had obviously been there for a while. The price tag was $2200, not much more than a new CB750. Thought about it. Went on holiday.
- Bob

ADIOS AMIGO
Enjoy a rest Mr. Giles. You're a decent fella and a natural rider.
- Kym O'Malley

MAKE MINE A MOJO
I have one of these Mojo V5 Cruisers in red and I luve it. I have only been on it a total of four times now and have done 600kms. Great to ride especially for a vertically challenged girl like myself at 5'2".
- Lorraine

REDUCE SPEEDS TO 40KM/H
Tasmanian road speed reductions? ...and a 100% reduction in speed limits will result in even more lives saved. So goeth the logic?! Reduce the whole australian speed limit to 40km/h, why worry about doing it incrementally?
- Tim Stone

ABS? SHMAY-BE-ESS...
G'day Bikesales. What study shows that MC fatalities would be halved with ABS? I recently did a HART advanced 1 course, and they demo'd an ABS kitted CB400. In the dry, the instructor was able to outbrake the ABS no problems. It also looked like a very jerky experience! Regards,
- Rob

Ed: In the dry, in perfect conditions, with fresh tyres, maybe someone who rides the same bike for several hours, day in, day out, could outbrake the same bike with an ABS system. In the wet, with a rider of average skill, the results would almost certainly favour the ABS.

ABS FOR ALL BIKES IN 2017
Its about time the pollies woke up to "real" safety matters around bikes after the fiasco of wire rope barries. Rope barriers that are being removed in the EU because of the dangers they pose... But are being installed in Australia with great gusto. In my humble opinion ABS is a must have, no-brainer on ANY vehicle, but especially a bike which, with a locked brake is inherentaly unstable.
- Skutr

HOME-GROWN HARLEY CUSTOMS
This is a fantastic hotrod look for the Harley-Davidson brand in Australia - and each bike looks brilliant. It's taken Harley so long to wake up what customers like and they've hit the nail on the head with this. I'm drooling over these I want one! Safe riding everyone.
- Leigh

KYMCO FOR THE WIFE
I liked this article on the Kymco Quannon 125, so I went and took one of these bikes for a test ride and found the bike to be good to ride: Nice and light and the power was a little slow of the mark but once the tacho went past six, the power came on pretty good for a little bike, just about the same power feel as my KLX 250. Anyway, I liked the article and went and tested the bike and bought one for my wife who has just got her L-plates, and she loves the power. It's just right for her so thanks for your good words on this bike.
- Adam Wills

SPEED DOESN'T KILL

Every on road death or injury is a tragedy in so many ways, but, there is a lot more involved in reducing road deaths/injury than just lowering the speed limits (a bandaid solution at best). Based on a test south of Hobart, and expecting it to be a "benchmark for the rest of Australia," you've got to be kidding? There is not a single jurisdiction in Australia that as far as I know has formally acknowledged driver attitude and lack of training as a major cause of road trauma apart from the usual suspects of alcohol, no seat belts, speed, etc (all easily quantified). No State or Territory as far as I am aware has a compulsory Driver Training Programme over and above what is required to get a full licence. A fixation with the "Speed Kills" mantra needs to be thrown out and the core of the problem attacked, driver attitude/training.
- Peter Karpati

Ed: You make a compelling point Peter.

BEST BIKES OF 2010!
The Kawasaki Z1000 - I agree it's one of the best sports rides in the real world. Nimble, agile, comfortable, damn fast, sexy [matt black 2011] - and very well priced!
- Alexander Greenberg

Ed: Indeed, Feann has been raving about the bike ever since he reviewed it (and fell in love with it) in early 2010.

WORST COMPANY OF 2010?
BMW's... Ugly pieces of cr*p. I would put a bet on a Honda Transalp bettering a 1200GS anytime. Have alook at all the sad old tossers on 1200GSs - they cannot pick them up. With CAN electronics and servo brakes...phooey. I would have a Kwaka 1400 over a K1300 anytime and a Monster over a 1200 twin. Only the S 1000 RR tickles my ivories, and MAYBE a 800GS.
- Sydney Dude

BIG BAD BMW
I have road tested the BMW S 1000 RR Mark, and love it. BMW has set a very high benchmark for the others to match. Let's see what happens now in 2011 - this is a very exciting time for motorcycling.
- Gary Burford

Ed: No argument there, it has set a new benchmark. But watch out for the new 2011 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R - it could be the bike to dethrone the big bad Bimmer.

* Some emails have been edited for length and content.

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Fast Torque #6

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