Fast Torque #7

Welcome to the seventh edition of Fast Torque, the letters page that keeps its finger on the pulse of the Australian and international motorcycling community. And there's some big news in terms of how readers can air their comments and opinions - we now have our comments section underneath each and every news story and review on our website. And yes, the best/weirdest comments will also make their way into Fast Torque and go into the monthly prize draw. The letter of the month has been chosen from Fast Torque #6, and Steve Turp has won himself a custom made radiator guard from Rad Guard Australia valued at $195 for his succinct letter on motorcycle levies.

This month you can win you a pack of Smart Strapz from Andy Strapz valued at $65. Billed as the smart alternative to occy straps, they're designed for bikes that are normally difficult to pack luggage on, such as sports bikes and trail bikes, and can be hooked into small gaps in the bike's frame and won't scuff your fairing thanks to padded straps.

SPEED CAMERAS FIASCO
RE: Speed cameras being scrapped in NSW. Everything the Government / RTA does regarding traffic laws is about raising revenue. They have absolutely no interest in safety or saving lives, let alone any clue how to do so. I don't see this being any different, hope I'm wrong...
- Brett (via comments)

BIKERS BEHAVING BADLY
Bad motorcycle behaviour is already happening. And it aint limited to motorcycles - scooters do some pretty sketchy things too (you know who you are). I don't reckon risky bike behaviour is a big problem in Australia just yet, and not as bad as in some Asian countries, but give it another 10 years... Who knows?
- Pocoloco (via comments)

PRICES TOO HIGH?
How can Andrew McKellar say that the continued reduction in overall sales is a "sign of a trend on a recovery of motorcycle sales"? The FCAI keeps coming out with this sort of line but Australian new motocycle sales keep falling.  I firmly believe that a contributing factor in the overall new sales continuing to fall is that some importers have not passed on the full exchange rate improvements for the AUD $ against most foreign currencies.  Pass them on guys and lower the prices and I for one will then consider updating to a new bike. 
- Gavin Bazley-Smith

LOW SKILLS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
I wish we could get some advanced rider courses like this in Adelaide. I have been looking for an advanced course for months, but then we don't get enough participant numbers and then it gets cancelled! The hike to Melbourne means I need to find three days to complete a one day course plus accommodation. Really frustrating.
- David Thornton (Adelaide)

BLACK TIMES AHEAD
The days of great big bore bikes are being killed off by governments by price rip offs with CTP greenslips etc. I assume that the poor market sales in Oz may contribute to the over abundance of black bikes, unfortunately. Just check the US and European markets for colour choices.
- Gibbsy273 (via comments)

KAWASAKI BURNING CUSTOMERS
RE: Kawasaki Ninja 250R price rollback: Who cares about the resale value for the people who have already bought a 250R for 7500...? That's going to sting when they go to sell their bike.
- Seymour Butts (via comments)

ABS WON'T SAVE LIVES
Mandating ABS on motorcycles isn't going to help. When some dimwitted twit fails to look, and therefore see you, and subsequently pulls out in front of you, ABS will do nothing. Education, NOT legislation.
- John Fraser

RED LIGHT DISTRICT
I sincerely hope running red lights legally doesn't happen here, imagine if there's an accident; "I didn't see him/her" becomes "he/she ran a red light". Why not make sensors more sensitive, starting with the one on the corner of Gold St and Johnston st Collingwood, outside a motorbike shop nonetheless! And you solve the problem. Surely if speed, red light, and tollway cameras can pick up bikes then the technology must exist to allow bikes to trigger traffic signals, or do they think we don't count (or vote)?
- Mark

TESTING TIGER
I wanted to buy a Triumph Tiger 800XC after 15 minutes and had second thoughts after 45 minutes. The heat transfer along the frame makes it really hot around the knees and not very comfortable. Has no one else noticed this?
- Barry

ROCK HARD ABS
Here we go again... Hearing from all these riders that are so good they can outride ABS, and it's the spawn of the Devil. The fact is that ABS is the only safety feature (aside from improvements in brakes, handling, etc) that has arrived for bikes in about 100 years. So let's hope narrow-minded and unfounded opinion doesn't cloud judgement here and stop riders getting the best safety feature so far. Just for the record, I have 35 years riding experience and I ride daily.
- Peter

POOR BIKES OR POOR SALES?
The XS Yamahas were lemons... Who could sell a triple when the competition were capable fours? The DUC was dog and owners shook as soon as dark clouds appeared. Why not include the TX 500/750 and complete a list of failures? The Kwaka and BM were too competent to be in this group. So is the article really about failures or just poor sales? PS. Who ever heard of a Silk?
- Old Man

DEVILISH DUCATI
The Ducati Diavel style is an acquired taste, however when you're  riding it, you wouldn't care if it was the ugliest thing on earth. Hopping off a Heritage Softail onto it was an undeniable experience. Hopping off a sports bike onto the Diavel may not have the same impact, but it's still an amazing bike to ride. The pillion perch is only good for youngsters, which is a pity as there are a lot of older riders and partners who can afford to buy them, but won't because of this.
- Beagle

FLOOD BUSTED OVER VACUUM
Oh how the mighty have fallen! The Floods were motorcycle legends of the '70s while I was growing up dreaming of Farah Fawcett and YZ80s.
- Mark

PINT-SIZED YAMAHA
Hello. Great review and I agree with all your points on the Yamaha YZF-R15. This is a great package. I have been riding this bike for the last two years in India and even with Indian road conditions, the bike handles awesomely, both on city roads as well as the freeway! $3999AUD the bike is definitely higher priced in Australia as compared to the $2000AUD price in India (1,10,000INR). The Indian model runs soft compound tyres and I was surprised to read about the hard tires used in Australia! All in all a great review. Thanks.
- Pradeep B (India)

EAST OF THE CREEK
Great idea this Eastern Creek race track upgrade. It would be great to have some corners where you don't have to back off from the previous corner, similar to turn three or the hayshed at Phillip Island. Try and take some of the stop start away so it would be more flowing for drivers and riders. It is about passion, you know how it is.
- Rod McDonald

MARVELLOUS MITS
These Triumph Newington gloves are similar to my S3 brand gloves (about $50) which have an added kevlar pad on the palm base. I love the built in knuckle dusters on the back, for drivers who might tick you off a little. (Not really.)
- Iain T

SWEDISH TESTING GROUND
Sweden will be one of the first markets outside Japan to see the new Yamaha electric moped. We Swedes are so easy to take new things to our hearts! It has become relatively common for global companies with consumer products to use Sweden as a test/reference market. Yes we like! With the Yamaha priced right of course (read: not like electric cars).
- Urban Strand

IN LOVE WITH KAWASAKI W800
I placed my order on the morning of the Kawasaki W800 release and rode away the next day. And I just love it all over! 10 stars to Kawasaki for the best retro effort ever - right down to the last detail (okay, its fuel injected and no kick starter but so what). It's just the prettiest bike ever and a pearler for the the likes of me who started riding in the '50s - and it has come a long way since the W650. It's got an extra long stroke motor that hits max torque at just 2500rpm and while the manual says its only got 49ps of power, it feels very similar to a Bonnie. Did I say that I just love it?
- Dennis Murphy

AUSSIE RIDERS RIPPED OFF
Back in 2007 the Aussie dollar got 50 cents. Now it gets almost double that, and the BMW 1200 RT was around $30,000. And still is. Same goes for Harleys. Ask a dealer about it and they'll say they want to maintain the resale value of the second hand market. It's all cr*p, they just want to make as much money as they can, while they can.
-Kwikiwi

HOW MUCH DO THEY CHARGE?
Thanks for the real test on the Zero S electric street bike, and also for clearly explaining the battery rating. I would like to know battery replacement cost and expected charge/discharge cycles to about 80% of original capacity.
- Peter Cuthberton

FAZED AND CONFUSED
The FZ6N was a good bike, I can't believe they changed the line up in the 600's. The replacements for the FZ6N are only mere imitations that are LAMS approved. Whats the point in puttting a bigger engine in, if it is going to be restricted? The Yamaha FZ8N looks like a good replacement. Question: Does it come with a centre stand?
- Nanks

SAFETY TECH FOR BIKES #2
If you think that these proximity alerts and safety systems on motorcycles are worthwhile, I think that any tactile alerts should be restricted to handlebar grips, or included into the backs of gloves as part of a safety suit. Sensors could be mounted in jacket shoulders or as part of a neck brace. Tie it together with a wireless network. You could also more easily trial or introduce the alert systems by incorporating them into a GPS that already has audio output. Messages would be consistently delivered, and could include urgency based modulation of the sound level.
- Stephen Porter

TASMANIA LEFT OUT AGAIN...
I think that if BMW can make the effort to take the K 1600 GT to Western Australia, they could come to Tasmania too!!
- David Salisbury

W800 TOO PRICEY?
I was lined up to buy a Kawasaki W800 but when I seen the price, no thanks. With the AU dollar flying high, few bikes have dropped in price which shows the rip-offs going on in Australia. Still, we can get a Honda VT750 on the road for $9990 and whilst not retro, a Suzuki Bandit with 1200cc, water cooled donk, disc brakes all round for the same price or better. If BMW have an 800cc twin with more performance and fuel consumption of 28 kays per litre, why not other similar bikes? Power to weight ratios should have a lot more motorcycles getting far better consumption than they do, which is little better than some cars. Regardless of the whinge, I think the W800 is a great bike and I still want one, but not at $11,990 plus on roads. Not even close and no I can't even consider a Triumph. I doubt if Kawasaki will sell many at this price and either heavy discounting will follow or discontinuation of the model in Australia. Regards,
- Stewart

WHAT A GAS
Handling and ergonomics for the Gas Gas EC 515 FSR are great! The rear shock is a bit savage when ridden hard, even with compression softened to the max. The steering angle is limited to when the triple clamps hit the radiators and the rear brake needs adjustment beyond the full adjustment provided. Engine power and torque are incredible though. But when you approach the 1300km mark you will be guaranteed to blow the cylinder head gasket and most likely destroy the throttle position sensor around the same time due to mud and water ingression. This will cost you hundreds and hundreds of dollars. After that oil consumption can occur with puffs of smoke on the occasional start up. Also check your ECU mapping as it can be programmed for the wrong bike. Apart from that its a great bike. Cheers,
- Mitch

TRIUMPH DOES IT BETTER
The Kawa W800 is no big deal. Triumph has done it with great success and have better bikes. Go back when the UK was No.1 for bikes and the Japanese were duplicating BSA's and others but in smaller capacities. They made almost identical miniatures.
- Antonio Campos

RIPPED OFF
So the new Goldwing is produced in Japan and sold in America for $18k, but in Australia is around $30k plus... What possible justification allows for such blatant gouging? GST is 10%, small market etc another fixed fee allow $2000 (ie, this is the same whether bike is 125 scooter or Goldwing). Freight should show a discount to Australia. All up the bike should cost around $22k in Oz, all the rest is pure profit by importers. This is not a rant against our motorcycle dealers (they are just as p*ssed off as we all should be). Honestly why do Australians cop it?
- Oporto J

COUNTRY VIEWERS MISS OUT
The Australian World Superbike round on Speed TV is only available to capital cities. Us regional folk, which includes Troy Corser's family, are unavailabe to watch it from our homes as we in the Illawarra are regional and silly Austar will not pay for the channel. Uncompettive and un-Australian is this issue...
- Susan

ELECTRIC REALITY
I have the  ZEV 3000 scooter and commute 22 mile [35km] round trip to Port Everglades. Sufficient power for around town, but I need more speed for the highway. Looking forward to the 7000.  Most important: because of the low CG with battery at axle level handling is far superior to anything with higher weight. I've lowered my seat four and half inches and two inches back from the stock seat. Wow! What a difference. Please! Give us people under 5'10' the casual feeling of comfort and security with both feet on the ground at the red lights. Give us an optional lower seat. As a 63-year-old ex muscle-bike rider ... my experience and opinion may be most respectful.
- Greg Cooper, USA

WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!
The misuse of metric units detracts from the authority of the Kawasaki W800 review. Why use "lt" for litre when the correst abbreviation is either L or l?  It's not that hard!
- AE

KICK THEM OUT
Motorcycle levies in all states? Tell them to go f*ck themselves. What party do they belong to so that we can vote them out?
- Wilkins

STRYKING DESIGN, BUT WHEN CAN I GET ONE?
When do you reckon the Stryker motorcycles (pictured) will be on sale in Australia?
- Bruce Kahn

YAMAHA GETS IT RIGHT
Another entertaining review, and this time on a bike I want to buy - the Yamaha YZF-R15. I'm going for my learner license soon and want the backing of a Japanese new bike warranty (rather than buy a second hand 250 or 125cc bike). But at the same time I don't want to spend big to do so, which makes the $4000 Yammy ideal for my needs. I reckon I'll try and take one for a test ride and get a black one, and probably add a few of my own stickers, because at that price it's hard to ignore. But then part of me thinks I should wait for the Honda CBR250R...

HIGH OCTANE CAFE
Now that's a cafe racer!! Can we get one in Australia?
- Paul Turner

HEAVY LEVY...
Yeah that'd be right, let's hit up Joe Public for more cash. More money... Less pollution, less traffic congestion, less damage to road surfaces but more money.... for another scheme.
- Cam

SAFETY SCHMAFETY
I want to talk about that yarn you wrote on the car type safety cr*p for motorcycles. Oh FFS, what's wrong with exercising the thing between your ears, which has kept me 'cycling for 35 years?
- John G.

PARKING ANGER
Perhaps someone should point out to the lady who got upset because she couldn't park in a motorcycle space that the reverse situation is true. In some states in Australia motorcyclists can be fined for parking in a car parking bay. "Motorcycles Only" parking areas are common in most towns and cities.
- Andy K.

GUTLESS REVIEWERS
How many sports bikes can you ride before declaring... "Gee this one is one tenth of a second faster than that one? Hmmmm...I love it." I cannot believe you guys have not reviewed the latest V-Max. Maybe you have not got the balls to ride such a bike... Long Live The Boy Racer.
- Dukkkman

* Some emails have been edited for length and content.

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