Australian Road Rider

Is the GT the peak of L-twin-powered Multistradas? The feel of the big twin is unique – no V-four can be the same... Ducati’s Swiss Army knife, the Multistrada, has a luxury touring model: the Multistrada 1260 S GT. A premium bike with price tag to m

More of a sports-tourer than the Suzuki and costing a couple of thousand dollars more, the Ninja 1000 is a lot more versatile and has some features we appreciate, like cruise control, an adjustable screen and optional panniers. Well worth a look. Wit

The more road-oriented version is lighter, friendly, easy to ride and an inexpensive entry into European motorcycling. Versatility is the name of the game with Ducati’s Multistradas and the 950 has made a lot of friends with its user-friendly nature.

For decades the parallel twin ruled motorcycling, smoother and more powerful than the singles which came before them and with more character than the four-cylinder multis which came later. Many riders, then and now, believe a motorcycle should have t

The new Katana is a godsend in a world where so many bikes look alike. It was the same back in the 1980s when the first Katanas were released. I still vividly remember the first Katana I laid eyes on, a GS650G, and it was love at first sight. I was 1

With just two or three days to explore the region and still get some riding in, we sought advice from Tourism Barossa and expert colleagues to come up with these qems. Lambert Estate: At the winery (see below) there’s also a superb restaurant helmed

I was in an isolated pine forest and the bike parked well off the road in the gravel. A gold-coloured land cruiser approached as I wandered around some distance away. I guess I looked confused. I often look confused apparently… Anyway, the vehicle st

Twenty-three-year-old Joan Mir has won the MotoGP title for Spain, Suzuki and, of course, himself, taking the title with a round to spare. The only Aussie in the field, Pramac Ducati’s Jack Miller, had an up-and-down season that included too many fal

Back in the day, you could buy a trackbike or a streetbike, and many riders chose the latter then modified it to be as close to being a trackbike as they could. Race replicas were born and the manufacturers took notice. Sportsbikes started to resembl

https://bit.ly/3eTOT7S Australian Road Rider, in conjunction with TomTom, is going to provide routes for tours where we can. The map published here points you in the right direction. Follow the link or scan the QR code open up on your phone or comput

An eternity or so ago I was a motorcycle courier in Perth, Western Australia. Summers there, even before global warming, were punishing, with 40 degrees in the shade not uncommon. I tried to do the right thing and wear a jacket while many of my colle

Riding the Adelaide Hills in glorious spring sunshine is a heady mix of nostalgia and exuberance. Growing up in these parts reminds me of my enthusiastic youth when the neighbourhood lads would scream through these serpentine roads on our “too-fast”

Like a thief in the night. That’s how I feel as I tear out of my home in Bali at 10 PM to catch the overnight ferry to the neighbouring island of Lombok. From there, I’ll make a two-hour dash across Lombok and board a second ferry for a 10-day advent

By the time this is published, 2020 will be gone, Donald Trump will be out of the White House and the first batches of COVID-19 vaccines will have been administered. I hope. 2020 certainly copped a flogging, with many, many people saying how it was t

When I was looking for my latest Norton Commando seven years ago, my better half asked if it would make a good investment. Not really, I said. Most people who ever lusted after one probably had one by now. And then you have to kick-start the blessed

Ducati has decided to shake up the Adventure bike world with a four-cylinder, 19-inch front-wheel machine aimed at beating BMW and KTM at their own game. Prices range from $28,990 to $40,690 in Australia, ride away. Here are some of the highlights: •

If you’re more serious about getting off the beaten track, then perhaps look at either of the Rally variants of the Tiger. Better equipped to handle more extreme off-road terrain than either of the GT models, the Rally models are designed to take you

Unless you’ve parked the bike and are on a minibus winery tour, you’ll need to learn the art of spitting as part of your wine-tasting routine. We asked international wine writer and judge, Winsor Dobbin, how to expel your wine without making a drip o

Thit’s kinda shocking to think the Multistrada has been with us for 17-odd years, but it’s true, the first 1000s debuting in late 2003 as 2004 models. With styling that could only have come from Ducati – an appearance only a mother could love – the M

Adventure bike sales have gone nuts over the last few years right around the world and the manufacturers have responded with new, cutting-edge bikes. Triumph has responded by building a new range of Tigers aimed at gaining a good slice of that market

There are many apps you can choose from for navigation. Here’s a selection worth a look, but note we haven’t installed and tested these apps: it’s more than just a little time-consuming, to say the least. The upshot of most apps is that if you aren’t

Dragging a helmet and jacket on a short walk to a lookout or cafe is a pain. These compact cable locks free up riders to leave their bike and gear unattended and protected from opportunistic theft. Made of high-impact plastic, featuring four combinat

GPS navigation is a minefield of technical terms, hardware, apps, file types and jargon – as I’ve discovered writing this series of articles. The basics can be handled pretty well by the Google and Apple Maps of this world, although their user interf

With its trellis green frame, 649cc paralleltwin cylinder engine and sporty good looks, the Z650 L SE is bold and attractive. It has Bluetooth phone connectivity, TFT instruments and one litre more fuel capacity than the MT-07. A machine that has bee

Remember the good old days when riding a motorbike meant a pair of jeans, work boots, a Marlon Brando jacket and no helmet? Ahh yes, sunglasses on and just ride off into the sunset... bullshit. It might look good in the movies or in an advertisement,

Australian Road Rider encourages you to look after your local bike shop so that it’s there when you need it, but most won’t have everything you need for a big trip. Here are some online resources to check out for brands we trust and gear we’ve mentio

BMW is set to launch a new R 1250 RT touring machine in Australia. Arriving in the second quarter of 2021, the machine will feature new styling, higher-spec standard equipment and improved electronics for safety and performance. “We have given the R

More Power and Torque • Electronically-controlled suspension • New Chassis • 3-Bag capability • Cruise control • 6-Axis IMU • LED lighting • Lean-sensitive rider aids • Quickshifter ■

I’m now a licensed motorcycle riding instructor as well as a magazine editor. When I put my hand up to become an instructor some months ago, I thought it would be pretty easy – it’s not. Of course it will vary from state to state (can’t have consiste

ARR requested the use of a touring screen on the GSX-S1000F because the standard screen is quite low and doesn’t provide much protection for tall Aussies. It arrived a few days later and took minutes to fit – but longer than we expected. The screen i

MOTUL CARE PACK WINNER Every issue we’re giving away this beaut pack of Motul cleaning gear worth $49.95. All you have t do to be in with a chance of winning is send us a pick of your shining steed and we’ll pick what we think is the best shot and co

https://bit.ly/2lvYG8q Australian Road Rider, in conjunction with TomTom, is going to provide routes for tours where we can. The map published here points you in the right direction. Follow the link or scan the QR code to open it up on your phone or