Australian Motorcycle News Vol 69 Issue 01

THE NOISE. THE SHOCK of realising it’s definitely going to happen. The pain of it happening. Sky, earth, sky, earth. Then the world stops moving, your mind settles. And the pain kicks in. Crashing sucks. We don’t use the C Word much in AMCN, when related to roadbike crashes, but it’s the bloated elephant in the room. It doesn’t just suck for the crashee, either. Family, friends, emergency workers, witnesses – it sucks for them, too. Crashing sucks to different levels, sure – a slow dirtbike crash is different to messing up a fourth gear road corner, before joining the scenery at speed – but they both suck. That being the case – motorcycle crashes sucking – you’d think more of us would do more to prevent it happening. We are quick to…

IT'S A MOTORCYCLE, but not as we know it! BMW has revealed how it will tackle the sticking point of electric motorcycles, that they look more like bicycles than motorbikes. Its Vision DC Roadster packages BMW’s existing styling themes and brand identity into a design concept that at first glance looks like a petrol-powered motorcycle. While revealing this new take on how it will address the needs of a pollution-free future, BMW also gave a fascinating insight in the design and build process. It released images of the brain-storming process behind this radical venture. Our industry analyst, Ben Purvis, examines the details and also reveals how documents uncovered in the US hint at BMW’s production plans for 2020. How it is done Battery packs can be made in many shapes, so BMW has sculpted…

A LIST OF BMW'S unchanged 2020 models, published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, gives an insight into next year’s line-up. Although the list only mentions existing models that will remain in the 2020 range without getting changes, by looking at the bikes that are missing we can make some educated guesses that they’re being replaced or revised. Unsurprisingly, the outdated F800GT and F800R have been removed for 2020. We already know that BMW is preparing a new model based on last year’s Concept 9Cento, likely to go on sale as the F850XR as a 2020 machine. We ’ve even seen the firm’s BMW design patents for the final production model’s styling. As a sports-tourer, albeit with a hint of adventure bike in its riding position, it’s likely to be a…

Crash through VicRoads has launched a $1m education safety campaign to try and get a message of vigilance through to motorcycle riders. The ‘Every Second – Always On’ campaign encourages riders to brush up on their safe riding skills and focus on – speed, cornering, road positioning, road hazards, and other road users. Read how motorcyclists are overrepresented in road trauma in our exclusive investigation starting on Page 50, or to take the test, head to alwayson.spokes.com.au Postie trike The Australian-designed and built electric postie bike on which we reported in AMCN 68-17 is undergoing further testing on mail runs at Lilydale, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. It aims to address the growing number of parcels Australia Post processes due to the increase in online shopping. Fingerless H-D gloves Expect ‘Bareknuckle’ to be the model name…

Adventure (in)bound! AMCN'S HUGELY POPULAR annual Adventure issue is going ahead for 2019 and we can’t wait. Normally slated for the first issue at the turn of a new volume, the special issue will this year fall in Vol 69 No 03, on sale Thursday 1 August. As well as all the regular features and news that makes us Australia’s number-one motorcycle publication, the 2019 Adventure Issue will cover everything from riding advice, tests of significant new adventure models, a list of AMCN staff and contributor’s most memorable riding roads as well as a whole swag of inspirational and informative content to go with it! CFMoto 700X scooped AFTER CHURNING OUT bikes based on its Kawasaki-alike 650cc parallel twin for the best part of a decade, CFMoto is preparing an almost entirely new 700cc…

PLENTY OF ADVENTURE bikes never stray anywhere off the asphalt but the 500 buyers of KTM’s limited-edition 790 Adventure R Rally are likely to use them exactly as intended. The most extreme version of KTM’s mid-sized adventure model yet, the 790 Adventure R Rally shares the same frame and engine as the stock 790 Adventure, but adds far higher-spec suspension to boost its off-road credentials. The WP XPlor Pro 7548s fork uses ‘cone valves’ claimed to offer a wider range of adjustment, as well as having ‘unlimited’ opening to reduce harshness. The rear shock is an Xplor Pro 6746, also claimed to offer a ‘significant increase in damping performance’. All this adds 30mm to the ride height and the suspension travel, increasing off-road capability but pushing the seat up to a massive 910mm,…