Australasian Dirt Bike Magazine Issue 508

For 37 years, Australasian Dirt Bike magazine has been the definitive source of information for off-road motorcyclists – from beginners wondering where to ride and what gear to wear, to seasoned riders getting their monthly fix of racing action and bike hot-up advice. The stories cater to junior riders, ’weekend warrior’ trail riders, full-blown racer-heads and the technically-minded. Bike tests, riding tips, equipment guides, race reports and rider profiles are all delivered with full-colour professional photography.

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in this issue

Front Guard

TUFF HAD ENUFF

IF YOU ARE anything like me, you will not have even thought about Christmas shopping yet. It’s not that I am lazy or disorganized, it’s more about the whole Christmas gift deal frying my brain. I just don’t see the point in calling the few relatives I exchange gifts with to see what they want. Their wishlists always come with restrictions on how much we spend and we all end up exchanging gifts for the sake of it, or buying something that we really want ourselves. It just doesn’t make sense to me. I reckon we’d all be much better off setting aside a bunch of money each year and buying stuff we really want, for ourselves. I’d go sick on a new set of plastics and a graphics kit for my…

3 min

Front Guard

HULKING HUSKY

HUSQVARNA HAS LAUNCHED its first big adventure bike, the Norden 901, and when it arrives in Australia in March dualsport riders will be very happy indeed. Based on the KTM 890 Adventure but with a more traditional look, the Norden 901 is packing a 899cc, 105hp parallel twin that will munch long distances with ease. With 21 and 18-inch wheels and WP Apex suspension, the 901 is geared towards off-road adventure rather than dress rehearsals on the tar. The 43mm fork offers 220mm of travel along with compression and rebound adjustment while the shock has 215mm of travel with rebound and spring pre-load adjustment. The Bosch/ Brembo braking system can have the rear wheel ABS deactivated. There’s also an on-road ABS mode. Husky suggests we’ll get over 400km from the 19-litre tank…

1 min

Front Guard

KALGOORLIE DESERT RACE

ONE HUNDRED AND seventy seven bikes took on the fifth annual Kalgoorlie Desert Race. The two-day event was staged over a 135km course that included some mega-fast salt flats, sand, rocks and twisting desert tracks. The bikes completed two laps on the Saturday, with a rest in between while the car competitors had a go. The bikes that were still alive then had a third and final crack at the course on the Sunday. By all reports it was a fun event that is gaining serious momentum with desert racers. If state border closures allow, it sounds like there will be quite a few east coast riders headed for Kalgoo next year.…

1 min

Front Guard

FREEMAN KING OF ENDUROGP

BETA’S BRAD FREEMAN claimed the EnduroGP World Championship at the final round in France. The British rider made amends for narrowly missing the title last year while also claiming the E3 title aboard his Beta RR300. Spain’s Josep Garcia was second on his KTM ahead of Andrea Verona of Italy aboard a GASGAS. Australia’s Wil Ruprecht was fourth overall for TM. The E1 title went to Verona with Garcia claiming E2. Ruprecht was second in that one with Kiwi Sherco gun Hamish Macdonald finishing fourth. Off-road racing super woman Laia Sanz claimed yet another women’s championship to add to her 2021 world trials title. By the time you read this Sanz is due to be racing in the Dakar Rally, but in a car this time. Multiple car and bike champion Stephane…

1 min

Front Guard

SOAKED GNCC DECIDER

THE FINAL ROUND of the Grand National Cross Country series in the US was held in mega-wet conditions at Crawfordsville, Indiana. It was a nail-biting end to the season with title contenders Ben Kelley (inset) and Steward Baylor (Yamaha) way back in the pack and well out of points-scoring positions as rain played havoc with the race. Kelly eventually managed to work his way up the field and claimed the title for the first time. Baylor completed the season in second with Husqvarna’s Jordan Ashburn in third. Thad Duvall claimed the final round win ahead of Australian duo Josh Strang and Lyndon Snodgrass. Strang placed fourth in the XC1 title while teammate Snodgrass was third in XC2 for Kawasaki.…

1 min

Front Guard

AORC GOES FOR DOZEN

THE YAMAHA AUSTRALIAN Off-Road Championship is set to run over 12 rounds. Although dates and venues for most of the events are yet to be announced, we can tell you rounds one and two will be held in Victoria over one weekend sometime in March. Rounds three and four will be in Mackay, Qld, alongside round two of ProMX on April 9-10. Mackay will be awash with rev-heads that weekend, so if you are thinking about a tropical getaway that involves dirtbikes, your wish have been granted. Just make sure you have somewhere to stay.…

1 min