So, here are a few basic truths about the Katana that have the potential to make it the hit Suzuki hopes it will become. First of all, the bike looks pretty cool. Although this is one of many retro themed motorcycles on the market these days, the new Katana has managed to stay true to its original, unique, and funky design, with a modern twist. The second truth is that it has been infused with a legitimate GSX-R1000 engine so it has potential to be a really impressive bike if it arrives un-neutered. And now the final piece of the puzzle is that Suzuki will be offering it at $13,499.
In terms of lap times, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing had a very positive day. Pol Espargaro and Johann Zarco finished 6th and 8th respectively, with the duo both working towards the race at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. As always, KTM are constantly developing the RC16 and while working on race setup, the Austrian factory were also busy trying items on the chassis and engine. In the afternoon, test rider Dani Pedrosa took to the track before the MotoGP™ Legend does a full day of riding on Friday, with Zarco only riding on Thursday. On the Red Bull KTM Tech 3 side, Miguel Oliveira’s test ended after two laps as the Portuguese rider was still feeling the pain from his Silverstone crash. He flew home on Thursday, with Hafizh Syahrin aiming to regain his confidence on the RC16.
Ahead of the Gran Premio Octo di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini taking place on the 15th September, the MotoGP™ teams are undergoing a two-day test at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli to continue their 2019 work – and start working on their 2020 preparations.
“In 2010 I did a full season, crashed a lot. A lot. And then ever since, from then…there was a 450 class the year after in 2011 then took the step to STK600 in the British championship. And here’s another story with my dad, again, at this point I was probably quite cocky…I was 16. Thought I was an absolute hero, riding round on my STK600. Did no testing…a day at Mallory and I was like ‘YEAH! I’m ready to ride a 600’. Turned up at Brands Hatch Indy, the first round, and I was like ‘Dad, I’m gonna win this weekend.’ Again, he says, ‘You need to stop thinking like this because it’s going to end in a bad way.’ I put it third on the grid, and then the race was wet. I’d done no testing, I rode warm up in the wet and I was 23rd and I was thinking ‘Oh my god’. Come the race, I won it by ten seconds! Complete opposites.”
The MotoGP™ riders have been busy on the first morning of the Misano Test and currently leading the way is Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) with a 1:33.539, 0.024 faster than fellow Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). Ducati Team test rider Michele Pirro is third on the timesheets, 0.111 behind Quartararo.
The Pro Draft, new for 2019, cemented MotoGP™ eSport as a global Championship, with 72 participants from 16 countries making it through, from as far and wide as the USA, Brazil, South Africa, India and Indonesia. Those 72 fought it out to become finalists, with 12 players emerging to move through to the final phase of the Championship – the Global Series, played on Lenovo Legion™ PCs.
Fonzarelli has produced the first Australian-made production electric motorcycle, the fun, dual-sport Grom-sized NKD capable of up to 120km range and 100km/h top speed.
Founder Michelle Nazzari says their NKD mini-bike is now available through Fonzarelli retailers and online, starting at $A9990. She says they will be “ready for summer”.
The Redfern-based company has already produced three electric scooters ranging in price from $5490 to $9890.
Fonzarelli X1 electric scooter
Now their NKD will beat the Savic Cafe Racer to the market as the first Australian electric motorcycle, albeit a mini version.
Savic electric motorcycle
Powered up
The NKD is powered by a mid-drive brushless motor producing 9.6kW of power and 56Nm of torque, reaching 100km/h in five seconds.
You can also buy optional fat knobby tyres so it can do some off-road work.
The Panasonic Lithium-Ion 3.5kWh inbuilt battery can be charged via the onboard AC mains charger from flat to 100% in about five hours.
It’s a type 1 Japanese charger as used in the Nissan Leaf and other electric cars.
So Fonzarelli is collaborating with design researcher Simon Modra of the University of South Australia, to create a compact two-wheel optional charger.
Michelle says the optional portable charger could be “rolled out in cafes, hotels and other public spaces”.
“You can charge up another 20km of range in the time it takes you to have a cup of coffee,” she says.
The optional single-phase 10amp charger costs $1200.
Custom design
Owners can option up the NKD with a hand-stitched honeycomb saddle in Lambo-style Alcantara suede, a USB port for charging devices on the go, integrated LED headlamp, tail-lamp and bar-end turn signals, LCD dash screen, and dual sport off-road knobby Pirelli tyres.
Fonzarelli design director Wenley Andrews has been working on the design for 10 months.
“I’ve built and designed all manner of bikes in my time,” Wenley says.
“I wanted it to be versatile where you could take it off-road into sand dunes and hills – and compact enough to put in the back of my Jeep.”
Michelle had an unlikely education as a motorcycle manager studying Mid-East politics and Arabic at Sydney Uni.
She then spent some time working in her father’s bus company helping to make Australia’s first hybrid and electric buses.
“I developed a real passion for developing electric motorcycle powertrains as I was already a rider,” she says.
Fonzarelli have so far sold 800 electric scooters in Australia and New Zealand and Michelle hopes to branch into Europe and UK with the NKD and X1 scooter.
Australian qualification event to be staged this October in New South Wales.
Image: Supplied.
KTM Australia has confirmed the KTM Ultimate Race will return in 2020, with the Australian qualification race set to be staged at the Transmoto 8-Hour in Stroud, New South Wales, on 18-19 October.
With six KTM Adventure Rallye events now taking place all over the world, the KTM Ultimate Race was introduced in 2019 to bring together the global KTM adventure communities.
Two lucky riders from each country that host a Rallye will again get the chance to qualify and take part in the event at the 2020 Merzouga Rally in Morocco. The fully supported ride for each person includes flights, accommodation, entry fees, as well as a KTM 790 ADVENTURE R to race on, with a full race service.
Competitors will also be given the fantastic opportunity to be coached by some of the world’s finest and fastest off-road racers, and will be treated like factory supported riders during the trip in which they will negotiate some of the most epic terrain in rally racing.
There will be a stand-alone qualification event to find the two Australian riders, which will be held on Friday and Saturday before the 8-Hour, with plenty of chance for spectators to watch the challenges on Saturday.
Certain requirements must be met for those wishing to participate in the qualifications, as set across all countries. Riders must compete on a twin cylinder KTM motorcycle (790, 950, 990, 1090, 1190, 1290) that they own (the bike cannot be borrowed or rented) and is road registered.
They must hold a current MA racing license or a one-day licence can be purchased on the day, however the two qualification winners must have a valid MA license to participate in Merzouga. Riders can’t have raced professionally or participated in the Dakar Rally in the past 10 years, and they must have a GPS unit capable of following GPX tracks and an Instagram account.
It was unfortunately too late for me as we lost the right saddlebag off a Road King while touring in New Zealand. Thankfully nothing valuable was lost.
Road King with the missing bag
Accessory saddelbags
While Harley fixed that problem on its Touring models, they are now having a similar problem with the latches working their way loose on accessory bags.
They say the latching arm may become “disengaged from the mounting plate or bracket”.
“The latching arm could rotate out of the locked position and the saddlebag may become separated from the motorcycle while it is in motion, posing a road hazard for other motorists,” the recall notice says.
The part numbers for the affected saddlebags are: 90201561, 90201552, 90201644, 90201645, 90201555 and 90201513.
Owners of affected saddlebags should contact their nearest Harley dealership to arrange an inspection and free fix.
In then meantime, we suggest you tape that latch down so it doesn’t come loose.
Interestingly, Harley has issued the warning itself before the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has had time to post their recall which can often be delayed for a couple of weeks.
It’s typical of Harley to get on the front foot over recall issues. Last year Harley had only two recalls. This is their second recall this year.
We expect the official notice to show up soon on the ACCC’s website.
Even though manufacturers and importers contact owners when a recall is issued, the bike may have been sold privately to a rider unknown to the company.
Therefore, Motorbike Writer publishes all motorcycle recalls as a service to all riders.
If you believe there is an endemic problem with your bike that should be recalled, contact the ACCC on 1300 302 502.
To check whether your motorcycle has been recalled, click on these sites:
Hill joins CDR Yamaha Monster Energy for AUS Supercross return
Section: Competition
Former AMA Supercross regular returning to Australia for three-round stint.
Image: Supplied.
Former AMA Supercross regular Josh Hill will join CDR Yamaha Monster Energy for the final three rounds of the 2019 Australian Supercross Championship, racing alongside Luke Clout and Dan Reardon.
Hill, who raced in the Australian supercross series in 2013, will contest the Wollongong, S-X Open Auckland and AUS-X Open Melbourne rounds, adding to an already impressive international line-up.
“I can’t wait to get down to Australia and line up at the final three rounds of the Australian Supercross Championship,” said Hill. “I have always wanted to return to Australia after racing there a few years ago and when the opportunity came about through CDR Yamaha, Monster Energy and Fox Racing, I had to make it happen.
“And this isn’t a holiday for me as I know the level of racing in Australia is high and it’s my goal to come down there and bring home plenty of prizemoney with me. I have been working hard to get myself in shape and ready to go come 9 November at Wollongong.
“I’m still competitive and would like nothing more than to kick a little ass down there and beat not only the Aussies but also the other international riders competing.”
CDR Yamaha Monster Energy team owner Craig Dack added: “Having Josh Hill join us for the final three rounds is a real coup for the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy team as he is not only one of the most popular riders in the world but still fast and talented enough to make the championship exciting.
“His alignment with Yamaha in the US, Monster Energy and Fox Racing makes it a simple transition into the team and I’m sure he will be on the pace when the gates drop at round three. He has been super easy to deal with and his enthusiasm to come to Australia and race with us is overflowing down the phone with every conversation.
“Having Dan and Luke as the mainstays of our team, and the X factor in Josh Hill gives us a very strong team for this year’s Supercross championship. All three riders will be mounted on the new 2020 YZ450F and our preparations have already begun. We look forward to a great championship and working with three talented and skilled riders.”
Hill retired from professional racing in 2015, however has since made a number of appearances at various races across the globe, including a brief return to AMA Supercross in 2018 with Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing as fill-in rider.
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