Australian Motorcycle News — January 03, 2018

22 amcn.com.au

access

NOW EVEN MORE

PLACES TO READ AMCN

Your say

International bike
language

My bride and I have
recently returned from a
10-week tour of Europe
covering 12 countries
and more than 10,500km
on Betty, our own BMW
F800GT. Holy crap, what an
adventure!
It was our first big trip
overseas and what better
way than by motorcycle.
We kicked off in England
and headed north to
Scotland, then back south
to the Isle of Man for the
TT races. If the GP riders
are known as aliens,
then the IOM racers are
indescribable. They are a
breed that we mortals will
never fully understand.
From IOM we headed
to Ireland, then back to
Wales and England, then
France on the train. Next
was motorcycling nirvana
in Switzerland, touching
Italy a little, then Germany,
Belgium, Netherlands,
France, and finally a train
back to England.
So many great
experiences, and even
greater people. In particular
Dave, Nick, Chris and staff
from DW Motorcycles in
Scarborough, England.
During the first week,
dickhead me accidentally
put diesel in the bike. We
didn’t realise until we
ground to a halt a few kays
down the road.
Tintops drove on by
for what seemed to be an
eternity. Then a fella on
a Harley pulled up and
offered us help. Chris said
he worked casually at a
motorcycle mechanic’s
just around the corner
and helped push our
fully loaded bike to DW
Motorcycles, where we met
Nick and Dave.
Their backlog meant they
couldn’t work on our bike,

but they were happy for

me to have a crack. They

let me use their workshop

and tools, and even offered

guidance. Many mechanics

wouldn’t allow their tools

to be touched by a drongo

who can’t read the words

unleaded or diesel. 24 hours

later we were on our way.

I’d like to send a huge

thank you to all the staff

of DW Motorcycles, in

particular Dave and Nick.

There’s a good chance we

may not have been able to

carry on with our fantastic

holiday, and that would

have meant not reaching

my goal of riding the Swiss

Alps two-up with the love of

my life.

I can assure the readers

the global motorcycle

fraternity is alive and well.

Garth Pickering

Canberra, ACT

That sounds like quite an

adventure, Garth. Your letter

arrived just as the Yearbook

went on sale. It confirmed

what I said in my Ed’s Desk

editorial, that motorcyclists

will always be generous

people. Chris

V4 Dreaming

Will you guys be sending

someone to test the new

Ducati V4 at the Valencia

launch in mid-January?

I’m looking forward to

a review of the bike and

want to know if you guys

think it’s an improvement

over the 1299. Also

trying to decide between

the standard and the S

model. There’s a big price

difference and I want an

honest opinion on if it’s

worth the extra coin.

Andrew Salerno

Via email

Hi Andrew, AMCN is the only

Australian publication invited

to the world launch of the new

Panigale V4, and yours truly

will be heading to Spain next

week. Look out for regular

updates on our social media

platform as well as our initial

thoughts on amcn.com.au.

The full test review will appear

in the Australian WSBK

preview issue of AMCN on

sale 15 February. I’m looking

forward to answering your

questions. Chris

Weighty issue

Motorcycles are not only

defined by numbers – how

they make you feel is just

as important. When it

does come to numbers,

however, there are two that

define our expectations

concerning performance,

whether it’s the latest

350/450 enduro scalpel or a

Ducati 1299 Superleggera:

power and weight.

I note in your

‘Motorcycle Of The Year’

piece (Vol 67 No 12) that

you go to some effort to

give the reader an idea of

power using a graphic that

resembles a child’s crayon

drawing, but then you

miss a golden opportunity

of providing accurate

weight information.

Some time and effort

would be required to get

all of the bikes around

to the dyno shop, but by

comparison, how much

energy would be needed to

weigh the bikes with a full

tank?

Obviously a bike changes

weight depending on

where it is parked.

AMCN, if you cannot

afford a set of scales,

please jump the issue price

by a few cents and you’ll

have your new motorcycle

scales in a few months!

Dave Pearce

Middlemount, Qld

DW Motorcycles in Scarborough

(above) helped Garth achieve his

dream of riding the Swiss Alps