May/June 2009

BMW K1300S TestHarley Davidson Electra Glide Ultra ClassicThe Dark Arts, Troy Corsaer talks, Cruisin’ in Yack, Hills Ride

BMW K1300S TestHarley Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Cla

BahnSTORMER

australia’s online rider’s magazine

May/June2009

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Moto–ozMoto-oz is published by Mulga Partners Pty Ltd for Motorcycling Australia.

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All enquiries to the Editor:Philip DennettPhone: 0438 202 138Email: pdennett@mac.com

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Contents

EditorialSpent a lot of time on the road recently. Had an affair with a BMW K1300s for a week and really loved it, then for something different spent two weeks and 5000kms on the sublime Electra Glide, Two very different bikes but both best in their class.

We would also like to hear from you – questions, comments, great rides to try etc. Send your emails to pdennett@mac.com.

Enjoy the ride!

Philip

3 3 Bahn Stormer – we put the new BMW K1300S through its paces

6 6 Dark Arts – Iron HD becomes an art form 7 7 Troy Talks – about his new challenge on

board the BMW superbike 8 8 Newsline – Thunderbirds are go, Atlantis

beckons... 9 9 Ultra Classic – we trip out on Harley’s top of

the range Electra Glide12 12 Just Cruisin’ – we take a crack at the Yack.

Followed by Ride for the Hills.

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BMW K1300S

Bahn Stormer

Before I rode this bike I thought it was just a mid-term makeover with a new moniker – boy was I

wrong! From a distance it looks like the same bike but up close the physical changes are more obvious. And when you jump onboard and twist the throttle it’s equally obvious there have been significant changes beneath the more curvaceous skin.

If asked to sum up the new K13 in one word I would have to say it is “refined”. When the old K12 was released in 2004 it was a significant departure for BMW. Five years in development, it was hailed as radically new and innovative. Raw power coupled with sharp angular looks.

The new K13 has slimmed down (20kg lighter), lost some of those angles and tamed that raw power. It looks less distinctive but attracts just as many admiring glances. From the front, the extra low V shaped radiator gives the bike a less bulky look and the clear-glass covered triple headlights reinforce the purposeful impression.

Gill-like openings at the top of the side fairing add menace but, according to BMW, they have a very functional purpose as well, using differences in air pressure to guide rainwater around the rider’s feet to the inside and beneath the motorcycle.

Other cool features include LED rear lights with clear glass; shorter and lighter exhaust with a hexagonal end; plus (my favourite) tyre valve access integrated into the

spokes. With my K1200R I’ve had to buy a right angle extension valve because the majority of air pumps at servos can’t bend themselves around the spokes to lock on.

Command performanceThe first thing you notice on takeoff is the improved clutch and gearbox. If, like me, you own a K12 you’ll have resigned yourself to live with the clunky gearbox and often the inability to find neutral – so it’s a welcome surprise that this has largely been eliminated from the new K13. Gearshift travel is very short and dynamic

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BMW K1300S

requiring just a touch to actuate it. My only complaint is that even at the closest setting the reach is too long for shortfingered people like me.

The dog-shift two-shaft gearbox has been upgraded and modified resulting in a much smoother operation, but the best thing about all the engineering behind the change is that you are now able to shift up with the help of the optional Quickshifter without operating the clutch. And wow, is that an awesome experience – you just keep the throttle pinned and flick through the gears with your foot! This transforms the relatively large, heavy bike into a real sports machine and is definitely one option (at $700) I would insist on having.

HandlingThe K1300s is best suited to powering around long sweeping curves. The optional second generation Electronic Suspension Adjustment (ESA) allows a firmer spring/damper setup that gives better feedback to the rider. In tighter corners you have to be more active and also trust the bike. Coming into one downhill corner too hot, I cranked the bike over a little more and was through without any complaint. Having said this, the Duolever front-wheel suspension doesn’t give the same feedback you are used to with traditional forks but once you’re accustomed to it, the overall ride quality makes up for any lack of feeling and the bike won’t let you down mid-corner.

Good news for the racers out there is that the ABS system can now be switched off, but in my experience, the BMW Integral ABS system won’t get in the way of you enjoying yourself.

PowerThe jump from 1157cc to 1293cc brings with it more power – 129kW (175hp) and maximum torque of 140 Newton-metres. 6kW extra power is not huge but the new engine is much smoother than the old one and is

also better geared. In traffic the old K1200 was often not comfortable in either gear but the K1300 will hold a lower gear for longer meaning fewer changes are required. The idle system is also new with 46mm diameter throttle bodies and a new desmodromic operating system, which in plain English means a more precise throttle dosage.

Gone is the feeling of raw scary power – the new engine is more friendly but has all the power you’ll ever need waiting for your command.

CockpitSometimes I wish manufacturers wouldn’t listen to journalists. Almost every reviewer – except me – complains about BMW’s separate indicator switches. I love them, as does just about every BMW owner I know. Alas, they are no more. BMW have made the change at the same time

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BMW K1300S

as changing just about every other switch in the cockpit. They have been made, according to BMW, “smaller and more compact and stand out through an even higher level of functional convenience, clear design and optimum accessibility.” BOLLOCKS. I think I’ll start a petition!

The speedo and rev counter are also new. No complaints there except, if you value your license, note carefully that the speedo dial starts at “20 past the hour” and 100kmh comes up at “20 to” – just below your sightline!

While overall riding position is quite comfortable (the Pillion reckons it’s the best yet), I found the bars were angled a bit far back putting my wrists at an unnatural angle. I also found (because of my size) that my head ended being so far forward that the beautifully sculpted windscreen shoveled wind directly into my helmet. After a 6 hour trip I could hardly hear. Serves me right, according to the pillion, I should have worn earplugs!

SummaryThe new K1300s is a very capable sports-tourer which should appeal to a wide audience. BMW have ironed out all the K1200 bugs and built a more refined machine that is both powerful and forgiving. If you are in the market for a sports-tourer and have never tried a BMW – then its time you did.

RRP is $25,750 plus on-roads. The K1200s comes standard with sports wheels, heated grips, on board computer and Integral ABS (switchable).

Factory options:Electronic suspension adjust 1,300.

Tri colour paint 765.

Gearshift assistant 700.

Traction package 675.

Anti theft alarm 505.

Automatic stability control 385.

Tyre pressure control 380.

Luggage grid 200.

Low seat

Test bike courtesy of BMW Australia

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A recent exhibition in the USA, titled The Art of Rebellion, created the ideal platform to celebrate

a coming out party for Harley-Davidson's latest dark ride, the Iron 883™ motorcycle.

Ten artists displayed a custom-painted Harley-Davidson gas tank in the event's theme. The gallery of tanks as well as a piece from the artists own collection were on display and available for purchase. Proceeds from sales benefited Art Matters, a charity that supports and encourages the exploration of new ideas and art.

Iron 883The Iron 883 model continues the rebellious tradition of Harley-Davidson Sportster® motorcycles that have stood against the grain since their introduction in 1957, when the modern rebel culture was being bred from restless veterans and hot rod pioneers.

As the latest of the Harley-Davidson Dark Custom motorcycles, the Iron 883 is stripped down, blacked-out, and ripe for custom creativity. The black powder-coated 883cc Evolution powertrain takes the Iron 883 deep into the heart of darkness. With Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) and performance tuning with a broad torque curve, the Iron 883 delivers plenty of power for the city scene. The pipes on

in the USA, titled The Art of d the ideal platform to celebrate

Dark Artsthe straight cut shorty dual exhaust flow the distinctive Harley-Davidson V-Twin sound. The rest of the Iron 883 gets a darker-suited presence with a black chopped rear fender, drag style handlebar, and a solo classic seat that fits the lone rider.

The Iron 883 is now available at Harley-Davidson dealerships nationwide. It's sold in Black Denim and Brilliant Silver Denim.

Harley Davidson Iron 883

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New challenge for TroyTroy Corser is one of the most successful motorcycle racers in recent history. In his long and illustrious career, he has won the Australian Superbike Championship, the AMA Superbike Championship and has twice won the World Superbike Championship, stepping on to the podium an incredible 128 times – 33 of which have been on the top step.

In 2009, the 37-year-old is riding for the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team in its debut World Superbike Season and early signs show that the Australian has quickly got to grips with the S 1000 RR factory race bike.

Despite being newcomers to the championship, at the first round of the championship in Phillip Island – BMW’s first ever appearance in the World Superbike Championship – Corser set the fastest lap of race one, ultimately crossing the line in eighth position.

Speaking after the event, Corser said, “At Phillip Island, the

chassis was working well, the balance of the bike was good and it also felt stable. The engine felt strong - on top speed and acceleration. Considering how little track time we have had on the bike, it felt comfortable.”

Corser, who has ridden for Ducati, Aprilia, Petronas, Suzuki, and Yamaha teams in the past – winning titles with Ducati and Suzuki in 1996 and 2005 respectively – says, there is no secret to developing a new race package. The answer is simple – hard work. “I start by trying different things, comparing telemetry with my previous knowledge. Then there is a lot of trial and error as it is an all-new bike.”

Troy believes he will be competitive at every circuit and is confident of improving his position as the season progresses.

Troy talks the BMW S1000RR

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Newsline...

Sprint SatisfactionGermany may have a reputation for producing top quality touring bikes, but when German motorcyclists look for a well built bike to do the kilometres with, Triumph’s Sprint ST gets their satisfaction tick. In a survey conducted by German Motorrad magazine, readers voted the Sprint their touring bike of choice for the second year running.

New Thunderbird websiteWhile the bikes themselves are still a few months away (Spring launch), fans of Triumph’s new 1600cc Thunderbird can drool over it at a new website: www.triumphthunderbirdcruiser.com. The 308kg Thunderbird is Triumph’s first belt driven bike of the modern era and develops an impressive 146Nm of torque and over 80bhp as standard – all this from the world’s largest capacity production parallel-twin.

Atlantis awardProving that form, function and great design can work together in harmony, the Atlantis 4 suit from the BMW Motorrad rider equipment collection has been awarded the renowned iF product design award 2009 by an international jury.

The iF (International Forum Design) product design awards are one of the world’s most prestigious design competitions and have been held annually since 1953. This year’s ceremony took place in Hannover, Germany, and it was BMW Motorrad’s Atlantis 4 riding suit that was singled out for praise by the international jury.

The significance of the iF product design awards are recognised throughout the design world and this year, more than 2,800 products were submitted by 1,025 entrants from 39 countries worldwide. A jury consisting of 28 members from ten different nations had the task of discussing and debating the merits of a whole variety of products, before selecting the ones that would win awards in the various categories. Assessment criteria included structure and design, finish and material selection, functionality, ergonomics, safety and brand value. In all, 802 products won awards in 16 different categories.

Winning the coveted iF product design award for the BMW Atlantis 4 suit clearly demonstrates the fact that it’s possible to have products that not only look good, but also fulfil their intended roles in the best way possible.

The Atlantis 4 is the latest incarnation of the legendary all-weather classic leather suit for men and women. The two-piece, anthracite-coloured suit in quick-drying, breathable calf nubuk leather is manufactured in such a way that no rain clothing is required - the wearer stays dry whatever the conditions.

You don’t have to ride a BMW to get the benefit of the Atlantis – its not heavily branded and would look good with any bike, and because it will keep you warm or dry or cool – you never need to have any other gear!

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Ultra Classic

Electra Glide Ultra Classic

Riding Harley Davidson’s Electra Glide Ultra Classic is an experience like no other. The Glide is much,

much more than a mere motorcycle. On first approach the bike, finished in Black Pearl and sporting its impos-ing batwing fairing, reminded me of a beached whale.

But like the whale in its natural environment, the Glide is a majestic creature when it’s sailing down a freeway. In our case the freeway was the Hume from Melbourne to the NSW Central Coast. Our fuel-stop-only 11 hour journey ended with us feeling as fresh as when we fired the beast up at 3am in the morning. Cruising through the dense fog, Harman Kardon audio trumpeting out some classic Dave Dobbyn, it was like we were cocooned in a gliding pod of leather and metal.

Under the skin, Harley Davidson’s 2009 Touring models are essentially new motorcycles – rolling on a new chassis that combines a new frame, swingarm, wheels and tyres, plus revised exhaust and engine mounting. The results include sharper handling, more luggage capacity and passenger room, enhanced heat management and increased rear tyre life. The tweaked 1584cc fuel-injected V Twin, coupled with a six-speed transmission proved to have heaps of

torque (even at low revs) and was also very smooth. Gear changes were a breeze.

From a rider perspective the stiffer frame removed most of the frame-shake of earlier models, the bike was happy to turn-in on corners without wallowing and the ABS equipped brakes swiftly brought it to a halt. Of course fully loaded as we were, I quickly learnt to make sure the forks were straight and I got both feet down at the same time – otherwise you had no chance to hold up 400kg if it slightly overbalanced!

Relaxing over a beer that night, I could only come up with two things that marred our experience. The rear suspension had trouble on rough NSW roads with the Pillion getting some pretty severe jarring on the worst of them. However the rear shocks are air-

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Electra Glide Ultra Classic

adjustable so with a bit of playing around (particularly under full load) this should be improved. The big issue for me was because I am tall – coupled with the screen height it meant the wind was hitting the top half of my helmet and really buffeting my head at speeds over 90kmh. I had to learn to adapt by activating the cruise control (when practicable), putting my feet up and reclining like I was in a lazyboy chair. Again a shorter rider (or even a much taller one) wouldn’t have this problem.

Day 2The next day, while the Pillion went shopping, I rang a couple of mates and we took a blat down the Old Road. It was awesome fun – unloaded, the Glide was a different beast and was surprisingly easy to manage. This was helped by another neat feature: the “trim-tabs” on the fairing. These adjustable wind deflectors really make a big difference to handling, helping the fairing slice through the air rather than act as a big sail.

Return tripWe tackled the return trip the same way with the same result. However, this time we struck rain which wasn’t a problem for the bike and I didn’t even bother with a rain suit as the huge fairing and high screen gave me total protection from the elements (until I stopped of course!).

SummaryIf you love cruisers and you love long distance touring in comfort, then the Ultra Classic Electra Glide has to be on your shopping list. Harley Davidson have done much more than a cosmetic upgrade – the increase in wheelbase has allowed the saddlebags to be moved rearward, increasing

passenger legroom. The elimination of the left-rear exhaust pipe, and the new routing of the right-rear exhaust pipe, has created more foot room for the passenger, and reduced the heat exposure to the rider’s thighs and the

passenger’s calves.

Technical briefingThe 2009 Touring models continue a series of product innovations that can be traced back to a research study conducted by the company in 2002, and to face-to-face interaction with customers who rode an estimate 50 million miles during the Harley-Davidson 100th Anniversary event in 2003. Armed with this feedback, Harley-Davidson launched a programme to enhance the Touring line-up through the introduction of the Twin Cam 96™ engine with 6-speed Cruise Drive™ transmission and a sophisticated active intake and exhaust system, the rear wheel Isolated Drive System, electronic throttle control, Brembo® brakes with ABS, a 22.7 litre fuel tank, reduced clutch lever effort, the Advanced Audio System by Harman-Kardon®, GPS navigation and a high-output charging system to better enable new

GMA heated seats and grips.

All 2009 Touring models are powered by the

rubber-mounted

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Electra Glide Ultra Classic

1584cc Twin Cam 96 V-Twin engine with Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI), mated to 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission with active intake and exhaust for outstanding performance and economy. All models also feature air-adjustable rear shocks to accommodate variable passenger and luggage loads. ABS is now offered as standard equipment.

The new Touring chassis is based on a single-spar, rigid backbone frame. A new swingarm contributes significantly to the enhanced handling of the new chassis. The engine-isolation system has been revised to reduce engine and vehicle shaking at idle speed.

The wheel and tyre package has been updated, with front wheel diameter increased to 17 inches from 16 inches. All Touring models are equipped with new Dunlop® Multi-Tread tyres that improve handling and offer up to 25 percent more rear-tyre tread life. The wider rear wheel accommodates a new 180/65B16 rear tyre. Front and rear suspension has been recalibrated to match the dynamics of the new chassis, wheels and tyres.

Powertrain revisions include a new 2-1-2 exhaust system that reduces heat exposure to the rider and passenger, and a lower final drive ratio for improved acceleration performance. Rear styling is cleaner, with a wider fender and the elimination of the rear “hoop” over the fender on models not equipped with a Tour-Pak™.

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Just cruisin’Yackandandah is the perfect place to base yourself

for a high country experience. It’s steeped in his-tory, pictureseque, and surrounded by some of the best biking roads in the country.

Situated 295 km north-east of Melbourne, Yackandandah is a National Trust classified Historic Town. The old mining township is located between Beechworth and Albury Wodonga on the edge of the Kiewa Valley.

Gold was what brought people to the region, but now visitors are attracted by the town’s historic buildings to see the elaborate façades and decorative columns built during the gold rush of the 1800s. The pub is also a relic of the era but sports a sign welcoming motorcyclists – probably better behaved than the average gold digger!

The period buildings are populated by a range of cafe’s, antique and curio stores as well as an interesting museum.

We took Racecourse Road out of town heading for the Yackandandah Hideaway at 118 Mahon Lane. There’s 2km of gravel road but once you get there it’s worth it. Hidden away it is, this self-contained cottage has everything you need, including undercover parking. Hosts Zinna and Simon make you feel welcome and had no problem with our dog (yes he travelled with us on the bike), or a rather large Harley Davidson.

Zinna had also put the fire on for us to keep the autumn chill away. Usual price is $120 which includes breakfast.

Head to the Yack and check it out.

Yackandandah

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Hills Ride

Ride for the Hills

February 7th 2009 Black Saturday, nearly 50 de-grees, high winds, and firestorms combined to

devastate a number of Victorian communities.

At a meeting held the following Monday, a group of independent riders with representative from various clubs, associations and forums muted the Ride For The Hills to raise money for bush fire victim’s relief.

The huge amount of planning and the support of hundreds of volunteers culminated on Sunday 5th April 2009 with approximately 3000 motorcycles riding as one from St Kilda to Whittlesea in support of the bush fire victims. The Ride raised approximatly $ 42,000 for the Red Cross bush fire appeal.

When we arrived over an hour before the event there were already at least 1000 bikes lined up on St Kilda’s Esplanade. Many were standing by their bikes chatting, while others, like us, headed for a coffee fix.

Out front, a possee of Police BMWs waiting to lead off and stop traffic for the procession. The sight of so many Police bikes in one place was, strangely enough, reassuring and they did a good job of making sure that number of motorcycles completed the journey without incident.

By the time we hit the Hume Freeway there were motorcycles spread over almost 3 kms, yet there was no agro or jostling for position. It was almost as if it was a normal weekend ride with a bunch of mates!

With the current publicity about Bike Gangs it was good to see riders from all walks of life uniting for a common cause.

Congratulations to the organisers and everyone involoved in making the event a huge success.