Australian Motorcycle News Vol 67 Issue 19

having his GP18 throw him into a gravel trap probably unleashed a few more mind demons QATAR MAY NOT be everyone’s cup of Mezza, but the unique night race adds excitement to the start of a new season. The Dovi/Marquez fight continues, but the Lorenzo situation is just as intriguing. The former alpha alien is not only fighting his rivals, he’s also got a battle going on inside his head. The Spaniard is what some may describe as highly strung, so having his GP18 throw him into a gravel trap probably unleashed a few more mind demons to run amok with those already in party mode as his teammate notched up yet another win. MotoGP has genuine emotion at the moment. There are heroes and villains up and down the grid, and…

More than one Beast Despite being used as the base for other KTM models such as the 1290 GT and Super Adventure R, the Super Duke 1290 R has only been available in one flavour, but that looks set the change in 2019. Our spied 1290 R has the same WPbranded 48mm fully adjustable fork and rear shock as found on the existing model, but our photographer reported seeing a second bike with a different style of fork. Odds are that at least two variants of the Super Duke will be offered – one with fully adjustable WP kit, and the other fitted with semi-active electronic suspension. A suite of programmable riding aids, including traction control, stability control, cornering ABS and an IMU are sure to be standard fitment across the range. Hopes are…

Suzuki has revealed its interest in reusing the Katana name SUZUKI APPEARS SET to resurrect the famous Katana name, having reapplied for a trademark on the Katana name and logo in America. There’s a strong chance its plans are to apply the name to the upcoming production version of the Recursion concept bike. That turbocharged parallel twin was originally shown at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, powered by a 588cc SOHC engine making around 100hp. However, in 2015 Suzuki revealed the near-production version of the engine, reworked with DOHC cylinder heads and a capacity of about 700cc. That should push its performance up quite significantly, probably to around the 150hp mark. The production version of the bike is expected in 2019, carrying the title GSX700T. The ‘GSX’ bit refers to its line arrangement (GS) and…

LONG AFTER TRIUMPH’S air-cooled 865cc Bonneville range had been superseded by the latest water-cooled 1200cc and 900cc machines, one bike, the Scrambler, held on, finally being dropped at the start of this year. But now the Scrambler is back, and the all-new model is bigger and faster, based around Triumph’s 1200cc water-cooled engine. The new Scrambler model will be an aggressive, high-spec neo-retro off-roader. And it’s a stunner. Our spy shots show the bike in near-final form. Technical goodies include Ohlins suspension fore and aft, Brembo radial stoppers, and an upside-down fork. The styling addenda includes enough machined and polished aluminium to satisfy the most obsessive detail freak. The 1200cc parallel-twin engine is straight from the existing Bonnie range, although it’s not clear which state of tune it’s in. The high-end suspension and brakes…

KTM IS SET TO massively expand its production capabilities thanks to a new partnership with Chinese company CFMoto. The partnership was first previewed at CFMoto’s annual dealer meeting in December when the covers were taken off the CFMoto V.02 NK concept powered by KTM’s 999cc 75-degree V-twin LC8 engine. The LC8 will be produced exclusively in China from 2020, and power an all-new range of CFMoto models. KTM president Stefan Pierer has also entered into a joint venture with CFMoto owner Lai Guogui that will see the manufacture of KTM’s range of middleweight parallel-twin 799cc LC8c models – including the new 790 Duke – transferred to China from 2020. It’s all part of Pierer’s plan to build 400,000 KTM and Husqvarna motorcycles annually by 2022. The joint-venture company, known as CFMoto-KTMR2R, sees CFMoto…

AS AMCN WENT to press, the federal government was expected to announce details of a plan to phase out the sale of petrol-powered motorcycles by 2025. The shock move is part of the government’s strategy to follow the lead of European countries phasing out the sale of petrol-powered cars by 2050. Speaking exclusively to AMCN, a government source said: “We have decided to use motorcycles as a toe-in-the-water exercise to gauge the flow-on effect to related industries of the transition from petrol to electric-powered cars in 2050. “Most motorcyclists in Australia are only recreational riders heading out on the weekend for a quick blast, so we don’t feel they will be too inconvenienced by the decision.” The spokesperson refused to be drawn on rumours that the legislation will also include a total ban on…