REVIEWS‘09 Yamaha V-MAX‘09 BMW F800GS‘09 BMW F1200GS Adventure‘09 BMW G650 Xcountry‘09 Hyosung GV650 Aquila

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KZN • February 2009 Road • Off-Road • WaterBIKE TALKBIKE TALK

OTHERBecome a good PillionMotorcycle TypesGod’s Half PageDealer DialogueRider TrainingYouth Rally

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Yes! It’s back into the swing of things for most of us; the pressures of work, life and family are upon us and then there’s the PLEASURES OF RIDING A MOTORCYCLE! Sweat, sweat music to the ears, rhythm to the bones and food for the soul. Get the picture? Then why are you s ll si ng here reading? Put on some gear, get on your bike and go have breakfast at your favourite nook up or down the coast somewhere and fi nish reading it there!

This industry is taking a knock on sales due to the Rand’s plunge late last year causing prices on new bikes to surge upwards with 20-30%. This will see used bikes sales rise un l such me, around April, when prices should be returning to almost normal. Dealers will have to diversify and selling clever to see them through this me. Gone are the days of si ng behind a sales-desk wai ng for business, this is the me where you’ll see the real salesman come out of the box and do some hard selling to get the business. I know it’s tough out there, but maybe now

is a good me to take the bike for a service, replace old or worn-out gear, give the old horse a new paint-job, put on new tyres or kit your ride out with a few a er-market goodies; no harm in that.

This issue, once again, is packed with interes ng ar cles and news bits sharing a few pointers with you as passenger/pillion, dressing for a wet ride, I give some insight on the diff erent types of motorcycles out there, our drag racing club and future race dates, some feedback from our academy students, the fi rst youth rally in KZN and then there are the usual reviews. Boy what an exci ng month!

Further to all this and in an ongoing a empt to promote our adver sers I thought it a good idea to have regular interviews with some of our dealers to fi nd out what makes them ck and what they are up to in our community. Read the fi rst interview of many to come on page 24 ...

Later this year or even early next year Bike Talk will a empt to host a Motorcycle ONLY Show at The Crescent behind Gateway allowing the general public, and you, to view the latest and greatest in the local motorcycle industry under one roof. Ac vi es like demo rides, wheelie machines, lucky draws, biker fashion show and dealer talk are just some of the plans we have on the table.

In closing; mes are changing and it waits for no-one. 2009 is yet another year where you might’ve had a few “New Year’s Resolu ons” to start the year off and looking back now you see yourself standing with nothing the show for it. Whose fault is it? Me, myself and I! God is in control of our lives, so why do we s ll refuse toacknowledge that? Think about it next me and seek Him fi rst in all things! Blessings ...

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

4

EDITORHein Jonker

DESIGN & LAYOUTHein Jonker

ADVERTISING SALESCarin Jonker

ACCOUNTSCarin Jonker

PRINTINGColour Planet

CONTRIBUTORSJohn Brisco - Gearing UpYou, the Reader and Adver ser

CONTACT USTel: (031) 916 6902Fax: (086) 648 9855

Carin: 083 777 8716Hein: 083 793 7975

Postal: PO Box 902 Amanzimto 4125

Email: carin@biketalk.co.za hein@biketalk.co.za

Web: www.biketalk.co.za

While every eff ort is made to ensure the accuracy of the informa on and reports in this magazine, the publisher, editor, produc on personnel, printer and distributor do not accept any responsibility whatsoever for any errors or omissions or for any eff ect there from. The views expressed by correspondents are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher.

All rights reserved; artwork in this publica on has Copyright and may not be used in other publica ons without the wri en concent from the Editor.

CONTENTSREGULARS PAGEA word from the Editor 4(Lend me your ear)

Subscrip on Form 4(Get the Mag in the post)

Keeping it Up 6(Just a few pointers that could save a life)

What’s on Calendar 7(KZN Biking Events an’ all)

In the News 10(People and Places in the news)

Why we ride Motorcycles 10(Find out what you are missing out on)

Who to Buzz 12(Contact details of adver sers)

Gearing Up 14(Rain, Rain, Rain Everywhere!!)

God’s Half Page 28(This can change your life)

CMA in your area 28(Find a CMA Chapter in your area)

Rate Sheet 28(See how aff ordable it is to adver se)

REVIEWS / PRESS RELEASE‘09 BMW G650 Xcountry 10‘09 BMW F800GS 18‘09 BMW F1200GS Adventurer 19‘09 Hyosung GV650 Aquila 26‘09 Yamaha V-MAX 30

OTHERRider Training Feedback 9Insurance 13Dealer Dialogue: John Briscoe 24Just for Fun: GSX-R1000 26Drag Racing 29Youth Rally 29

5

It’s fair to acknowledge that there are many ladies out there who are happy never to own their own bike, but want to experience motorcycling. Being a pillion takes concentra on and experience, It may come naturally to you, but take a look at these pointers anyway - your rider may be too shy to tell you what you need to know or what you are doing wrong. As an experienced pillion you will be able to:1. Iden fy the best grab points on a motorcycle.2. Grip ghtly with your knees to cope with all but the heaviest braking/accelera ng situa ons.3. Iden fy in advance when to put a hand on the tank or the grab rail for hard braking.4. Iden fy in advance when to grab the rider for hard accelera ng.5. Realise when you need to concentrate hard, and when you can relax and enjoy the scenery.6. Know when there’s me to shout a couple of words and when it might risk distrac ng the rider too much.7. Carry a back-pack without complaint.8. Minimise knocking helmets together.9. Withstand numb bum for at least 80km before demanding a cuppa.10. Inspire such confi dence in the rider that it improves his cornering and he wants you there all the me. TOURER: As a rule the “default” posi on is with 100 – 300mm gap between you both on the seat (depending on the size of the seat and if there is a separate pillion perch). Lean forward slightly and try holding on gently to the sides of his jacket - if there are straps there then use those. Grip gently to the sides of the bike and his bum with your knees, you will very rarely need to adjust your posi on for steady riding. If there is excessive braking put your hand back and grab the aptly named grab rail. If there is excessive accelera on move your arms further around his waist and hang on.

CRUISER: Usually these come with a huge so pillion seat and a “sissy bar” - which is a large metal contrap on just behind the seat which you can lean against and grip onto. You’re very unlikely to need any more help staying on.

SPORTS: This type of bike needs the most concentra on to hang on. The rider is likely to be zooming around showing off and even trying to get his knee down. If you’re da enough to get on the back then you’re probably the one egging him on and asking him to pop wheelies. I’m not knocking it! Get out there and have fun - it’s a hoot if you go with the fl ow and don’t worry too much. To fi t onto these machines it helps if you are less than 1.5m tall. The best posi on is tucked in as ght as possible and squeezed up as close as you can get. If you’re lucky and the bike has a grab rail then hang onto it un l your arm goes numb, then swap arms at a suitable point (i.e. stopped at traffi c lights). The other arm should be ght around his waist as far as you can get it to take the accelera on. If there is no grab rail (most Super Sports bikes) then both arms should be around his waist as ghtly as possible. Your knees should be in a vice-like grip around his legs and bum.If he’s really going hell for leather then turn the “round the waist” hand round so that your palm is towards the tank - this is so that under hard breaking you can push against the tank to stop all of your weight catapul ng into him. He’ll really thank you for this because riding a sports bike is hard enough on the arms without having to bear the weight of a pillion too. He’ll probably like the cuddling up feeling of it too!

LEAN ANGLE: You should always move your body with the bike. When you get used to it the fl ow will be natural and the ride will feel smooth. NEVER be tempted to sit up because you don’t think you’re going to make it round a corner. Rest assured that if you do this you will NOT make it round the corner. Have a li le faith in the rider’s abili es and recognise that bikes can lean to scary angles - watch some bike racing and you’ll see. If you don’t trust the rider then don’t get on the back!If you are on a Super Sports bike and adop ng the posi on described above, then you won’t have any choice but to go where the rider goes. Try this on other types of bikes too if you fi nd you are uncomfortable and keep trying to sit up - snuggling up to the rider is the best way to “be in harmony” with him and the bike.

COMMUNICATION: If you don’t have an intercom then establish a rule for various prods, signals and gestures before you set out, for instance:- Push the middle of his back = go faster, I’m bored- Tap on his le shoulder = request to get on or off - Tap on his right shoulder = indicate that you are ready to roll- Tap on his side several mes = I’m a li le nervous, would you slow down now please?- Pat his legs or a give big hug = I’m really enjoying the ride, thanks, keep going - Wave to the side of his helmet when passing a sign = I want to go there or tell you something

5

KEEPING IT UP: Become a good Pillion

6

DATE EVENT DESCRIPTION

Every Sunday BIKERS CHURCH - DURBANChris an Fellowship Church, cnr of Edwin Swales & Wakesley Road - 6PM Contact Rui on 082 8004108

6 MARCH BEE STING RALLY

The Beehive, Greytown. Entry R160Contact Lee-Ann: 083 6599898 orBig T: 078 6522206Website: www.customriders.co.za

8 MARCH BIKE TALK DRAG RACE DAYToyota Test Circuit, Eston. (MAP on Website)Contact Hein: 083 7937975 Website: www.biketalk.co.za

27 MARCH BALELE RALLYUtrecht, KZN. Entry R180. The only Rally in KZN hosted in a game reserve.Contact Phillip: 083 3000461

1 MAY PUKE RALLY

Ivala Lodge, 30kms from Greytown.On the banks of the Mooi RiverContact Marius: 082 7106366Email: ironmaidenmc@mweb.co.za

29 MAY YOUTH RALLY

Camp Johnathan, Eston. Hosted by CMA for School and Varsity Biker Youth.R320/p (meals and accommoda on)Contact Hein: 083 7937975Website: www.cmakzn.za.org

5 JUNE PARADISE RALLY Graskop Resort, Website: www.bikesa.net

14 JUNE BIKE TALK DRAG RACE DAYVenue will be announced on Website.Contact Hein: 083 7937975 Website: www.biketalk.co.za

5 JULY DURBAN NAPPY-RUN

Leaving Southway Mall 9:30AM for Lords & Legends in To . Great Games, Food, Refreshments and Live Music!Contact Marius: 083 5700876

24 JULY DRAGON RALLYCastaways Holiday Resort, MunsterContact Jo: 083 2850815Website: www.highwaydragonsmc.co.za

4 SEPTEMBER FAITH RALLYSkogheim, Port ShepstoneContact Rui: 082 8004108Website: www.cmakzn.za.org

5 SEPTEMBER RIDGE RIDERS BIRTHDAY BASH

Venue to be advised. Time: 12:00. Entry R40pp inclduing Metal Badge. Bring a Tent and stay over.Contact Nick on 082 4058291

12 SEPTEMBER LADYSMITH BIKE SHOW

Elite Motorcycles in Ladysmith, FREE ENTRY, lots of prizes, great fun.Contact Nikki on 082 971 9290 orJannie 083 627 1077 or 036 6375626

30 OCTOBER RHINO RALLY Harrismith, Website: www.bikesa.net

15 NOVEMBER BIKE TALK DRAG RACE DAYVenue will be announced on Website.Contact Hein: 083 7937975 Website: www.biketalk.co.za

27 NOVEMBER PIG RALLY

Ladysmith Motel, R170.00 pp, beer mug, cloth and metal badge. A er 6th November R190.00. Live Band, Chalets or camping. Contact Nikki on 082 971 9290 orJannie 083 627 1077 or 036 6375626 7

WHAT’S ON CALENDAR

8

HONDA NEWS

Seen here from Le to Right is James, Tyron, Hudson who a ended the event on 31 Jan where Honda Wing Pinetown showcased the new HRC Honda CBR1000RR, CBR600RR and CB1000R. All three of them will be racing for Honda this year, this is truly exci ng for the brand to invest in young blood and promo ng the sport at the same me. Keep your eye on these guys as I’m sure they will not disappoint their sponsors and supporters out there! Keep it up boys, make us proud, riding one of the best products on the market.

Seen here Byron, Honda Wing Pinetown Sales Manager, handing over the keys to Tyron of his CBR600RR who will be the racer for the Dealership. Promising mes for the sport with new blood coming in to show their stuff .

A few regulars discussing who knows what while holding onto one of the new releases for this year. Now if only the prices would come down a bit ...

9

Bike Talk Motorcycle Rider Academy has been running for almost 3 years now and growing by demand; here is what some of our Course Par cipants has to say.

Many thanks to Hein and Carin for the wonderful course on Saturday, not only was it truly enjoyable and tremendously educa onal, it defi nitely gave me the confi dence to overcome the fear I’ve developed for slower manoeuvres and the size of my new bike, a 650cc cruiser. Your pa ence, encouragement, individualised advice and that li le extra push to do the “Wow, that looks DIFFICULT!” exercises gave me such a sense of achievement once I’ve realised I have done it - yippee!! You presented the course in such a way that by just following the clear step-by-step instruc ons and understanding what were required the tasks was easy. Sunday I went for a long breakfast run down the South Coast and not once did I hit a panic bu on or not know what to do, as stern laid founda ons just popped back into mind as I needed it, I never had such confi dence in the 2 years of being a self thought rider. I feel the

need to challenge other girls who have ever thought of learning to ride a bike to do so, it is such an amazing feeling to be able to ride your own bike and keep up with the guys! Once again to Bike Talk, thank you so much for taking me from my crawling stage to walking - I’ll be back for more courses! - ESTI

I thoroughly enjoyed my fi rst bike lesson this weekend. I learnt to ride a bike safely although slowly while having fun as well. I must say that the greatest thing that I learnt was that riding a motorbike is not something to be taken lightly. One has to be very, very responsible and well informed about the dangers before moun ng a bike. You have made me very aware of that. I will defi nitely be back for more of your valuable lessons once I get my licence and buy a motorbike and I defi nitely advise others who dream about experiencing the thrill of riding a bike to a end your lessons fi rst – KRIBEN

Thank you for the me and dedica on given to us ‘newbies’, It was truly an enlightening and more so, educa onal experience! Some

of the aspects seemed daun ng before you told us to “get on and do it”, but the confi dence you install as an instructor is paramount to the experience; as you said, “no pressure, no progress”! Ul mately, the pressure was a pleasure… I look forward to many more days in the saddle, prac cing what you taught us. I am much more confi dent now that I’ve been on these two courses, and look forward to progressing onto future courses as my confi dence, experience and exper se improves! Thanks for a great course and the use of your academy bike… glad no damage was done and we all walked away feeling far more confi dent for our biking futures! I believe that this course should be the star ng point for all ‘newbies’; a learning curve I want to take further – DEREK

So, when you decide to buy a bike or maybe you’ve been riding for years or need to go for your License, give us a call (031 9166902 / 083 7937975) or visit www.biketalk.co.za for more informa on.

Bike Talk M.R.A. - Yours in Motorcycle Rider Skills Development.

TRAINING FEEDBACK

10

REVIEW BY HEIN JONKERWhen you fi rst set eyes on the func onal Xcountry, it’s quite unusual looking. It’s not an out-and-out off -road bike, it’s let down in this respect by the close fi ng front mudguard and only a plas c sump guard with a fairly wide and comfortable dual seat. Yet its wide bars, upswept exhaust, wide pegs and Metzler Tourance trail style tyres suggest that off -road riding is a possibility. I would have liked to have seen a be er fi nish to the frame welds though; this is a BMW a er all.

The riding posi on is very upright and forward and the way the seat is angled ps you forward into the small 9.5 litre tank which has comfortable sculpted cut-outs for your knees. I found the cable operated clutch to be very light and smooth in applica on and the gearbox whilst s ll having a very posi ve ac on (another BMW trait) was not clunky and gear changes could be achieved with a fair degree of smoothness. The exhaust note from the large silencer is pleasant but not outstanding, raspy but fairly muted, perhaps the op onal and more stylish Akrapovic™ slip on sport silencer would improve this.

The revised engine is a big improvement; at last they’ve done away with the vibra on that is evident in the F650. This incarna on of the single cylinder engine is actually fairly smooth, this was a big surprise. Whilst the engines power delivery is quite punchy it did not seem to deliver the level of aggressive torquey response I was expec ng from a 650cc single, it’s a li le so in its delivery! The engine does pull well in the mid range though and given a long enough stretch of road should reach its claimed top speed of approximately 170 km/h. The bike is 100% naked, this makes the bike hard work on freeways (not its natural habitat) with wind blast and turbulence.

At last someone has produced a digital speedo that’s big and clear and easy to read, the Xcountry has a small instrument binnacle that has a big digital speed read out and the normal range of warning lights. A further surprise is that this BMW has the normal design indicator switch as found on most other bikes, may be this is a ploy to a ract more riders to the range? This bike is all about having fun, it’s instantly apparent that this really is a back roads bike. You can hustle it along twisty country roads and fl ick it in and out of bends with ease, aided by the wide bars and it’s lightweight of only 160kg. The single cylinder engine is very willing and I soon found myself really warming to the bikes ability to cope with gravely, muddy and downright potholed roads as if they where a smooth tarred freeway. The engine spins up quickly in the lower gears and is very tractable which makes off -road riding a delight. The Metzler Tourances providing ample grip for what can be impressive lean angles and are not easily thrown off line and the upright and slightly forward riding posi on soon seems to makes sense, once you get into what this bike is about.

However fun is limited, in that this is not a true off -road bike, light green lanes, gravel tracks, forestry shale trails are all with in its gambit, but the plas c sump guard, close front mudguard preclude real serious off -road riding. The wide rubber pegs, do allow you stand upright on the bike and it’s very stable; for serious off -road riding though you need to consider the G650 X challenge. However I think it’s a missed opportunity that the Xcountry’s off -road capabili es could not be extended a bit more. A er about 100km the seat seems to ge ng increasingly hard, but then this bike doesn’t have a massive fuel range, so you will be stopping for fuel occasionally and relieving your aching posterior. It only has a 9.5 litre tank and there is no fuel gauge, but a low fuel warning light comes on when there is approximately 2 litres le in the tank. BMW seem to have delivered on their promise of economy from this improved engine, so the bike has about a 190km tank range.

In the end I greatly enjoyed myself on the Xcountry, once again riding on roads not o en travelled.

PRICE: R69 000.00 - Incl. 14% VAT

REVIEW: ’09 BMW G650 Xcountry

Auto UmhlangaTel: (031) 502 9800115 Flanders Drive, Mount Edgecombe

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WHO TO BUZZ

AFFORDABLE BIKESPhone: 035 7511000

ALFIE COX RACING - KTMPhone: 031 7022034

APRILIA DURBANPhone: 031 5665464

AUTO UMHLANGA - BMWPhone: 031 5029800

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EAST COAST CHOPPERSPhone: 032 9461844

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ROADMASTER Phone: 031 7660126

RYDER MOTORRAD - BMWPhone: 031 7658877

SCOOTER INNPhone: 031 3068826

STARTLINEPhone: 031 7050715

STRAPS WITH IMPACTPhone: 082 8030259

SUZUKI MARGATEPhone: 039 3172671

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UMPLEBY SUZUKIPhone: 031 3038323

VICTORY MOTORCYCLESPhone: 039 6822168

THE JUNCTIONPhone: 033 2666116

TIDAL MOTORCYCLESPhone: 031 3123990

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XTREME OUTDOORPhone: 031 9038904

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FULL RANGE OF JACKETS - PANTS - BOOTS - GLOVES - SHIRTS2 Murray Smith Rd, Winklespruit • 031 916 9350 • www.citsports.co.za

MASSIVE SALE !!!20% OFF ON SELECTED

OFF-ROAD GEAR

Rain ! Rain ! Rain ! Everywhere !Wri en by John Briscoe of Gear Up Motorcycle Accessories

“Every condi on makes some one happy” is an old perspec ve passed down through the ages! So for bikers the only guys who could possibly be happy right now are the farmers!!

How the hell are we meant to enjoy these two wheel beasts of ours when it is so wet? First of course is your gear! Make sure every nook and cranny is covered or sealed. Water is unbelievable it gets in everywhere!

Just recently a customer popped in at the shop and complained about ge ng wet in his new rain suit. A er a few quick ques ons I established that his gloves were ‘inside’ his rain suit sleeve and his collar was not ghtly adjusted. It gets down your neck and se les in the crotch area. We then blame the suit for ‘leaking’.

Sure this can also happen when the sealed s tching is broken – but more of this later. In essence then make sure the suit fi ts you and that you u lize all the features available to you. If it has a hood use it (inside the helmet), make sure the boo es are also used. If you’ve got waterproof gloves – use these as well.

Some riders prefer one piece suits. Whilst these supposedly keep more water out due to having fewer pieces my view is they’re more diffi cult to get on and not as fl exible in terms of riding comfort. Some mes one just wears the pants to keep out wind. With a one piece it is not possible to do this. However there is no right and wrong in this case! Go with what suits your riding style. There are also race rain suits now available i.e. very li le fl apping and they allow for knee sliders!

On the topic of seals and s tching please remember the slightest bit of strain on the joins will result in minute stretches in the material itself. If it is a rela vely cheap material it won’t be able to accommodate these stresses and ul mately the ‘seal’ will be broken and result in a leaking suit. This happens regularly in the crotch area especially if the pants are bought one or two sizes bigger to allow for the expanding waistline. The crotch then hangs lower and as soon as the leg is li ed to get on the bike the stretch occurs and the seal is broken. The solu on is to try and ‘hook up’ the pants as high as possible so that no strain is put on the crotch area!

A quick few thoughts about riding in the rain. If you can avoid it – do so! Avoid anything shiny on the surface – off road guys can fi nd virgin territory, road guys s ck to the black top and avoid the lines and any areas where diesel / oil build up can occur! In all cases be ultra smooooooth!!!!! Any drama c ac on results in your balance being tested to the extreme! If you’re off road remember to keep those legs wide-open and gentle thro le.

May the riding condi ons improve in 2009 and I will strive to keep these ar cles informa ve!

14

GEARING UP

TEL:

(031

) 566

493

2

giving youconfidenceto ride

The Crescent (upper level)Umhlanga RidgeGPS S29°43.371 E31°03.675

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18

REVIEW BY HEIN JONKERBMW is con nuing its assault on every market segment with a bike that is beau fully behaved on-road, and very eff ec ve off -road given the proper tyres. The F800GS is so seduc ve that you fi nd yourself wondering if it isn’t the ideal size for an urban bike as well as for virtually every type of touring, especially solo.

The GS concept (Gelande Strasse) - bet you didn’t know that or Off -Road/On-Road features longer travel suspension and a spring/shock combo that gobbles up bumps and ruts with the greatest of ease.

The ver cal Twin in the F800GS delivers 85 ponies and produces readily available torque right off the 2,000 rpm mark. Smaller and lighter than the R-Series older brothers, it uses a balancing connec ng rod on a third cranksha pin to reduce the vibra ons produced by the two pistons moving in unison. Combus on occurs at each revolu on, producing a smooth, turbine-like eff ect.Thanks to the six well chosen gear ra os, a light clutch and the absence of heavy masses high on the frame, the bike is signifi cantly easier to ride and change direc on than the heavier R1200GS. The electronic injec on and igni on systems seem fl awless, delivering immediate thro le response whatever the rpm.

The F800GS clearly loves uneven roads, with which we are all too familiar with in our part of the world. You can hear the tyres working hard to gobble up holes and bumps, while you sit undisturbed and the bike never seems to be jumping around unduly. The ABS brakes work well on normal road surface, as you would expect, but also on more slippery surfaces, ensuring your safety on wet or dirty roads. And if you decide to hop off the road for some play me in the dirt, the system can be deac vated in order to allow you to use the appropriate braking and sliding techniques.

The driving posi on is rather straight up, allowing your hands to fall eff ortlessly on the grips, and the levers and controls are easy to use. Let’s talk about the seat, well propor oned but a bit s ff for my taste. I even wonder if you can actually get used to it. The rather small wind defl ector blocks the storm up to shoulder height, leaving your head to deal with headwind and turbulence, which is what some riders prefer. For wimpier riders, a larger windshield is available at no extra cost, as well as the hand guards missing from the bike we tested.

Its torque, agility, comfort and easy-to-use controls make it an ideal bike for those who learned the basics on a 125 or similar bike and want to upgrade to a large machine. The 85 ponies won’t scare anyone, and the brakes and suspension know how to win your trust. For the older, oops, more experienced among us, the F800GS delivers enough performance for 99% of our solo ac vi es, and it also easily accommodates a passenger. On the road, the 800GS can quickly accelerate to illegal speeds. Thro le response is instantaneous, and passing a car is done eff ortlessly and more o en than not without having to downshi .

Comments on the looks of the bike have always been posi ve: it’s simple and well propor oned, and without the somewhat spidery look associated with its older, well known and well loved sibling, the R1200GS. The F800GS hits the bulls-eye with enthusiasts looking for generous performance, easy comfort and a motorized toy at home in town, on the road and off . And if the devil pushes you towards spor er ac vi es, it won’t embarrass you!

Now all this come at a price, but it won’t take you long before you realise that you are at the top of the world when it comes to shear riding pleasure when the adventure takes you places you’ve only dreamt of; the choice is yours!

PRICE: Basic @ R101 000.00 or with ABS and Heated Grips @ R106 000.00 - Incl. 14% VAT

REVIEW: ‘09 BMW F800GS

Ryder MotorradTel: (031) 765 8877Heritage Market (underneath the Keg Restaurant)Old Main Road, Hillcrest

19

REVIEW BY HEIN JONKERHeat, cold, drought, wind and rain - it all quickens your heartbeat, because it lets you know you are on the road. If you see yourself in all this, this motorcycle is the right companion for you. The BMW R 1200 GS Adventure defi nes the standards for the ul mate indestruc ble adventure motorcycle. It is a perfect synthesis of agility, touring suitability and off -road capability - as standard!

Here, the popular strengths of the R 1200 GS Adventure have been combined with true endurance quali es: an increased range thanks to the 33-litre fuel tank, even more eff ec ve wind produc on due to a newly designed, robust windshield, stable cross-spoke wheels, a raised chassis for the best possible combina on of powerful off -road quali es and dynamic touring capabili es, a more off -road oriented seat and extensive protec on for greater robustness.

Like the basic R 1200 GS version, the R 1200 GS Adventure places its trust in a completely reworked 6-speed transmission which, with its shortened transmission ra os and a shorter secondary ra o, provides clearly improved trac on and accelera on. Combined with the reworked engine, the R 1200 GS Adventure is much more lively and dynamic in the upper half of the engine speed range, while s ll providing more trac on in the lower ranges.

Power and spor ness, dynamics and technical elegance in equal measures characterize the R 1200 GS Adventure through a deliberate contrast between black components and two new colour variants.

Its 33 litre tank, for example, allows the rider to ride for much longer stages. At a constant speed of 90 km/h, the theore cal range is around 750 kilometres. In this way, the new R 1200 GS Adventure can cover far greater distances than any of its compe tors.

On fast stretches, the windscreen of the new R 1200 GS Adventure defl ects air fl ow past the rider largely without any turbulence, thus eff ec vely reducing the burden on the head and upper body at high speeds in par cular. The angle of the windscreen can be adjusted, providing outstanding wind and weather protec on for riders of all sizes. Wide enduro footrests and adjustable levers for the foot brake and gear shi lever take account of the o en changing requirements in off -road use in par cular and can be adjusted both to personal riding styles and habits and to diff erent styles of shoes. The rough condi ons on long-distance trips and over extreme terrain away from surfaced roads are taken into considera on by the new, double-bu ed handlebar in aluminium, which can be mounted in two posi ons, depending on the intended purpose, and new hand protectors, now mounted directly on the handlebar.

As previously, a stable, sturdy tube structure made from high-grade steel protects the tank and frame eff ec vely from the consequences of accidental contact, especially over land. In addi on, high-quality aluminium covers protect the valve covers against tough impacts. As in the predecessor model, tough, prac cal luggage fi xing devices are provided by the spacious, stable luggage bridge, made from high-grade steel, which will also take the aluminium top case, available on request. The two-part bench seat, which can be adjusted to two heights in the rider sec on, gives an op mum seat posi on, as previously. In the upper posi on, at 915 mm seat height, it off ers the rider the comfort of a con nuous seat surface without level changes and allows the necessary freedom of movement over land too. In the lower posi on, the seat height of 895 mm gives good ground reach and a stable posi on.

Bo om-line is; Live your dream of freedom and infi nity - take a ride on the R 1200 GS Adventure!

PRICE: Basic Spec @ R145 500.00 or Full Spec @ R159 500.00 (ESA, H GRIPS, ABS, ASC, TPC) - Incl. 14% VAT

REVIEW: ‘09 BMW F1200GS Adventure

Ryder MotorradTel: (031) 765 8877Heritage Market (underneath the Keg Restaurant)Old Main Road, Hillcrest

20

Motorcycles have, in recent years, become more focused and specialized in their func on. Here are defi ni ons of a few key types of bikes; to get a visual sense of the diff erences between these motorcycles.

Adventure/Touring, Dual SportsThe off spring of rugged dirt-bikes and long-distance Tourers, these bikes boast lots of suspension travel and upright postures that are comfortable for lengthy rides.

ChoppersEpitomized by the Harley-Davidson Panhead in the fi lm Captain America, choppers tend to have extremely raked forks, reclined seats, and lots of showy chrome.

CruisersCruisers are like sedate choppers; their fork rake is less extreme, and they’re designed for laid-back riding.

Dirt BikesDirt bikes generally refer to motorcycles designed for off -road riding, and typically feature knobby res, long suspension travel, and minimalis c frames and bodywork. Variants of dirt bike designs compete in Enduro, Motocross, and Trials events, among others.

Enduro BikesDesigned for long distance off -road compe ons, Enduro bikes are usually equipped with headlights and taillights for night- me riding, and can be ou i ed with mers and roll chart reading devices that aid riders with naviga on and mekeeping.

Naked BikesNaked bikes recall Bri sh motorcycles of the six es, and lack bodywork or a fairing that would normally hide their engines and inner-workings.

ScootersTypifi ed by Italian-made Vespas, scooters are like small motorcycles with bodywork that allows the rider to “step through” and sit without ge ng his or her clothes stained by oil. Scooter engine sizes can be as li le as 50cc.

Sport BikesDesigned purely for performance, sport bikes tend to require arms-forward posture, powerful engines, and ght handling.

Super Moto BikesBased on race machines that compete on a combina on of road and dirt surfaces, Super Moto bikes combine off -road characteris cs such as deep suspension travel with road res and bodywork reminiscent of so-called “street fi ghter” bikes.

Touring BikesCreated solely for long-distance comfort, touring bikes o en feature backrests, large windscreens, and creature comforts such as radios and naviga on systems.

Trials BikesThese specialized compe on bikes are tailor made for trials events, in which motorcycles are manoeuvred around off -road or man-made obstacles, and riders are penalized if their feet touch the ground. Extremely lightweight, trials bikes lack seats and feature s ff er suspension than most dirt-bikes.

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22

DEALER NEWS

XKULCHA Easy OverA XKULCHA original, the easy on/off protec ve

garment to wear over everyday wear. Yes, you can wear a pair of shorts underneath or even your

normal pair of work pants and s ll be protected.

Quick to put on and easy to take off , folds up into a compact parcel for easy storage.

It’s perfect for inner city transport or even long distance touring.

Every me I wear them to a training session and take them off in-front of my students I get a very in my

face; “HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” reac on.That’s just what it is, you can take these anywhere

and take them off anywhere, which will prevent youfrom looking like an idiot riding without any

protec ve gear.

Easy Over off ers you:- - tough nylon spiral 10 gauge zips- - water repellent Cordura- - Ballis c nylon for addi onal protec on- - refl ec ve strips for added visibility- - hip protector pads- - adjustable waist band for easy fi t- - wind-chill factor elimina on

As for it by name: XKULCHA

Lucky has been going for more than 20 years with his shop “Lucky’s Superbike Spares” in Gaile Street, Umbilo and recently decided to move the showroom to North Coast Road where Breakeven Motorcycles used to be. Stockists of Korean, Indian and some known Chinese brands, hoping to tap into the market segment in that area but s ll keeping the current customer-base, off ering product sales, service and repairs on all the motorcycles, quads and scooters they off er.

WHAT TO WEAR

24

DEALER DIALOGUE: John BriscoeJohn and I met early one morning over a hot cuppa coff ee in his shop and here’s what we talked about:Hein: What is your mission statement?John: Our mission statement revolves around the customer, their safety through wearing the right gear which in turn makes their ride more enjoyable and gives them confi dence to ride.Hein: How long has Gear Up been in business?John: About 4 yearsHein: From a rela vely small shop to more than double the size, why?John: Well, customers were trying on jackets and knocking fellow customers in the jaw, so we had to do something to give the customer a more relaxed and enjoyable shopping experience. One would’ve thought that doubling the space will double the profi t, but that is sadly not the case.Hein: How many diff erent brands do you stock?John: That’s a diffi cult one but I reckon we stock close to 400 diff erent brands in the store at any me with 20 to 30 main-stream brands although we don’t stock all items from each brand at the same me. Ini ally I looked at the overseas market and magazines as to what was going on in the market and I rely a lot on he reps from suppliers to keep me informed which helped me with carefully selec ng the items you see in the store today. Sure I’ve made some mistakes in the past and some suppliers have not supported their own brands as they should’ve, but we learned from these mistakes.Hein: Would you go the extra mile for a diffi cult customer?John: Yes, diffi cult customers are exactly that, we try and my philosophy is that if you were wrong to begin with, how do solve the problem and s ll keep the customer happy. If however the customer doesn’t know exactly what he’s looking for or need advise, we do go the extra mile and if we do not stock the item we will source it for them. If we made a mistake in selling the customer an incorrect item we do sort it out for them and we are not afraid to admit when we are wrong.Hein: What type of rider do you cater for?John: I’d say, looking at the market, the adventure market is more domina ng compared to others and apart from that we strongly cater for the off -road and enduro market sectors. I admit we fi nd ourselves weaker in the superbike and cruiser accessories departments. We do “order in” for some of these customers but clearly that is not the ideal situa on. Bo om line is the guy who really enjoys his motorcycling are the guys/girls we cater for.Hein: What are your future plans for the shop?John: Well I’d love to open a store in every major centre in the country, I think everyone looks forward to sustainable business growth but in the end it is fi nding the right people to help take the shop to the next level. Our inten on is to expand in KZN ini ally, depending on how it goes and maybe on a na onal level but that is s ll far off in the future.Hein: What advise do you have for riders out there?John: Well I would start with the wearing of the right gear at all mes especially to the guy who “nips” off to the shops quickly to either use the car if he is not planning to put on protec ve gear. Added to that is to wear the right gear for the right condi ons, for example: rather wear cordura pants and an airfl ow jacket if it’s too hot instead of leathers rather than not wearing anything at all. Dress accordingly but don’t compromise your safety, look into your op ons ... A.T.G.A.T.T. (All The Gear All The Time).

CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE ...

25

Hein: What is your biggest seller?John: Helmets are certainly the best seller in the store, then gloves, boots mainly the off -road side we are very strong and then accessories, consumables like lubricants, but the single biggest seller in volume terms is the Prepsol motorcycle cleaning kit. If I had to buy one item from this store it would be the motorcycle maintenance solu ons. Funny enough e-downs are also one of our biggest sellers in the off -road market. What is disappoin ng or concerning though is the fact that protec ve clothing is not moving as we expected it would. Other surprising items are videos, people just love them.Hein: Do you o en get people just coming in to have a look but spend nothing or very li le?John: Yes, people in general are very well informed and from me to me you will get people coming in and don’t want to be bugged, they just want to come and feel and see or experience some of the products we have or just to come in and gather informa on. Our biggest challenge is when the store is packed to give an equal amount of a en on to each and everyone of them.Hein: Why should people buy from you as John or Gear Up?John: In both cases I’d like to believe we off er good value for money and that our prices are compe ve, some of the best in the country. It is also in the rela onship we create with the customers, we might not achieve that with everyone but we try. We don’t believe we are just selling for the sake of selling, we always try and make sure we give sound advise based on informa on and experience at hand.Hein: During the trying mes we are in now, how do you see yourself in rela on to that?John: What we try and do is fi nd suppliers with redundant stock and off er that at compe ve prices and also keep our overhead expenses to a minimum.Hein: What is your policy on discount?John: We live in mes where you can’t aff ord to give discounts on everything but what we try and do is reward the customer per say for paying cash instead of Credit Card. You can’t put a fi xed rule on discount but if a customer comes in and spends R5000 for example and another spends R50 that we would obviously recognise that and pass discount where it is due. It is certainly not something we adver se as it is not always possible to give discount on items due to smaller profi t margins.Hein: How do you see compe on?John: Yes, compe on is good for us, it keeps us on our toes and we have no problem whatsoever for any dealer to buy from us. In the end we’re all in business and could work together or help each other to be er serve our customers.

REVIEW BY HEIN JONKERThere are very few Cruisers out there that truly impresses me and I thought we had run out of op ons un l Brendon asked me to ride their pride and joy. At fi rst glance this bike took me by surprise, yes it may have more plas c “bling” bits than some other cruisers, but the looks, sound and handling of this bike truly made me think ... we have a winner here!!

Even the price, yes keeping our fi nancial issues in mind, makes this stunning choice for aff ordability and style. Hyosung’s GV650 is the fastest, best equiped and most aff ordable middleweight cruiser money can buy.

Some tech specs to enlighten you:647cc 2-cylinder motor with 70bhp @ 9000rpm, weighing 218kg with a 705mm seat height and running on a 16litre fuel tank.

As for the handling and comfort, the Koreans have really done their homework ... belt-drive, perfectly placed handlebars, digital instrument panel, comfy seat and very responsive on swerves and weaves. The performance of the Aquila is exactly what you can expect from a 650-twin, more than enough “ponies” through all the gears. You can easily take this bike out on the long and twisty or to work and back and kit it out with op onal accessories like a higher screen, backrest for your passenger and saddlebags for all your goodies.

So here you have it; the perfect reason to to get up and ride in style and peace of mind.

PRICE: R69 990.00 (Incl. 14% VAT)

26

Every now and then you get the opportunity to ride someone else’s bike; well I did. I don’t want to men on any names as we might’ve broken a few landspeed records that day, but a friend of mine let me ride his bike just a er he built it up from scratch ... new panels, new paint job etc.

It is not everyday I get to ride a Suzuki, seeing that Suzuki SA can not even make a Demo Model available through one of their local dealers. Who’s to blame; the Dealer or Suzuki, I guess we’ll never know. Is this a challenge to see more of Suzuki in future Bike Talks ... you bet ya!!

Well the ride started off a bit slow due to a drizzle we had in the morning, but I eventually had ample me and opportunity to push this beast to a point where I thought ... “who’s gonna give, me or the bike?” Yeah, I know, I ended up being the chicken. For a stock standard bike it performed well over my expecta ons and I could feel my helmet pushing off my head as the “horns” started to grow and grow un l ... Oops what was that fl ash?! Must’ve been someone playing with a torch on the side of the road.

Riding the “gixer” like I did, I couldn’t help but miss my R1 days. Well enough of that, this bike is truly a beast in blue “Bulls” and the best place to play with this type of machine is on the track. Yes, do yourself a favour, before you go scraping around on the roads, take it to the track ... no RTI, no Taxi, no Cow, no Pedestrian just you wrapped over your 1st ... OH!! 2nd love having the me of your life. Thanks “J” for a lekka ride!

JUST FOR FUN: Suzuki GSX-R 1000

REVIEW: ‘09 Hyosung GV650 Aquila

Bike CityTel: (031) 464 8505Shop 57/62 Malvern CentreRidley Park, Queensburgh

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28

GOD’S HALF PAGENo Root, No FruitHave you ever wondered why you do what you do?One former Navy pilot tells how he was living a wilder life than he knew he should live. He decided his problem was that he was being led astray by his friends in fl ight training. So he arranged to fi nish his work in the program early and be transferred to another fi eld nearby. Yet, it wasn’t long, he said, before he was back in the same old bars, with the same girls, just with diff erent friends. One night out-on-the-town he wondered, “Why do I do this?” And he realized, “Because I like to.”Before a person becomes a Chris an-I mean a real Chris an, not just someone who says he is-his “want-to” is broken. He is not interested in God. He is bored by church and by reading his Bible. He cannot “make” himself “want to” do right and he cannot “make” himself “want not” to do wrong. When a person is born again, God repairs his “want-to.” Even though he s ll feels the pull of tempta on, he will have a new set of desires. He will love God and want to talk to God in prayer and see what God has to say to him in His Word, the Bible. He wants to be around other people who love God; church a endance becomes meaningful. There is a new desire to obey God.Why do we do what we do? The answer is simple: we do what we do because of what we are. It’s like fruit trees. Apple trees bear apples, pear trees produce pears, peach trees grow peaches. The fruit is the natural result of the nature of the tree. I suppose you could e apples to a peach tree, but that would not make it an apple tree. In the same way, adding religious ac vi es to one’s schedule doesn’t make one a Chris an. Just as the fruit of the tree naturally fl ows from the nature of the tree, even so the a tudes, words, and ac ons of our lives reveal the true nature of ourselves.Jesus said, “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit...” (Ma hew 7:17-20)

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Established, for you, to host and promote Motorcycle Drag Racing in KZN. Through these events we are able to promote motorcycling in general, give exposure to product and enjoy the sport that makes us true motorcycle enthusiasts, living for the next ride.

APPLY ON-LINE!!

Contact Hein on 083 793 7975 / 031 916 6902 hein@biketalk.co.za or visit our website for more information and On-Line Registration

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BIKER YOUTH RALLY29 - 31 May 2009

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30

REVIEW BY HEIN JONKERFresh from the factory, just unpacked ... the all new Yamaha V-MAX Power Cruiser!!

Cu ng straight to the point, I’m going to answer the ques on on the p of everyone’s lips. Yes. The VMAX is quicker than a Hayabusa, ZX-14, B-King, K 1200 S and everything else on the street. And yes the VMAX is even quicker than the GSX1620 monster built last year. Make no mistake, this is a wild machine that’ll knock your boots off and strain your neck. This is the ul mate in accelera on-induced adrenaline. And stupid fun. Really stupid fun!

The concept of the 2009 VMAX is simple; maximum accelera on and feeling every ‘G’ of that accelera on. That la er part is important, as the en re project, has been designed tested and built around feeling that accelera on. But this new century V-Max also had to handle and at 310kg wet with 200hp, stopping was also high on the agenda.

Yamaha has achieved the task with fl ying colours, oops no, the VMAX only comes in black…

On paper the VMAX is in mida ng and powerful. Talk of drag strip mes has dominated forum discussions all over the world since Yamaha revealed the bike. Unfortunately, no drag strip tes ng was done or burnouts, so I have no 1/4-mile mes.

Throwing a leg over the VMAX for the fi rst me reveals the he y weight of the machine. Although COG (Centre of Gravity) is kept low and forward, there’s no way to hide 310kg, however a low seat helps.

The handlebars are fantas c – solid tapered alloy at a comfy height. Controls are light and fall to hand well and although a bit high the pegs are well placed for me at 185cm. My only ini al gripe is that my knees well and truly sit either-side of the big air intakes, about 150mm above the knee cut-outs in the frame rail/seat upper area. Built for those of shorter status I suspect!

The VMAX thro le response is instant. And I mean instant like I’ve never felt before from a produc on machine.

The millisecond I snap the thro le open the VMAX slams my bu into the seat hump and hauls forward with huge pace. From 4000rpm the bike starts to pull hard but once the revvs swings past 6500rpm the rest of the ride is a blur.

Powering the new VMAX is an all-new 1679cc liquid-cooled four-stroke DOHC 65 degree V4 engine power-plant developing 197hp @ 9000rpm, together with a huge torque output of 166.8Nm @ 6500rpm. OK, so this is no cornering sportsbike. Yes, it understeers off turns when pushed. Yes, it has limited ground clearance and of course it suff ers from bump steer. But compare it to any other sports or power cruiser on the market and the VMAX handles like a sportsbike. The braking package is sensa onal and on par with any sportsbike, the pegs touch down smoothly and the bike is composed throughout cornering, only being upset by bumps mid-turn. Rear rebound is a li le quick but the remote adjusters make life very easy.

I’ve run out of pace and I’m forcing myself to stop here but one last thing ... Apart from the price, this is no bike for “sissies” and as far as the fun factor is concerned, 10 out of 10!

PRICER229 000.00 - Incl. 14% VAT

REVIEW: ’09 Yamaha V-MAX

Perry YamahaTel: (031) 566 74117 Te ord Circle, Umhlanga Ridge

COURSES FEESLearners R300Beginner R300Basic R595Roadwise R400License R400Experienced R595Off-Road R595

OFFICIAL INSTRUCTOR FORHARLEY-DAVIDSON, BUELL, HONDA and NESTLé IN KZN

contact HEIN: 083 7937975| 031 9166902 hein@biketalk.co.za | www.biketalk.co.za

Tel: 031 566 7411Mark: 084 353 2713Henry: 084 567 8115

www.perryyamaha.co.za

7 Tetford Circle, Umhlanga Ridge

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‘08 FX140 or YZF-R1 AT ’08 PRICES !YZ

F R1

*PRICE VALID ONLY WHILE STOCKS LAST!!

Normal RetailR119 000

SaveR9 000

OUR PRICER110 000*

Supe

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rts

FX 14

0 Normal RetailR128 000

SaveR23 000

*PRICE VALID ONLY WHILE STOCKS LAST!!

OUR PRICER105 000*

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