Australian Motorcyclist — January 2018

(avery) #1

  • improving Husky sales down here
    when it joins the 401, possibly in 2018.
    The catch-cry of their presentation
    was ‘progressive’ and I took that to
    mean pushing a single cylinder to the
    limits of design for the streets. Part
    Flat Track and a mix of futuristic
    design the 75hp KTM derived engine
    has ‘hooligan’ written all over it. The
    detailing as well as top shelf parts
    are superb.


DUCATI
It’s a little on the chubby side, but
the 1079cc addition to the Scrambler
range will please those looking for a
lot more grunt from their commuter.
Ducati is pushing the boundary here
and as long as the simplicity and easy
to ride nature of the 800 translates
across to the Scrambler 1100 then
maybe this larger machine might
become a bit of a cult bike. The
reappearance of the under-seat
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will be an ‘S’ with obligatory Öhlins
suspension, a Sport and a Special
along with the standard model. The
simple engine modes are, as you
would expect, City and Active and
let’s be totally different and call the
one in the middle ‘Journey’ with the
full 85hp (quoted).

ROYAL ENFIELD
Probably the most jolly, delightful and
characterful launch was on the Royal
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‘Sid’ Lal and his UK based crew ran
a positive and insightful ‘chat’ on the
development of the 650s. The touring
style Interceptor and its smaller sibling
the Café Racer style Continental
GT were a surprise in looks and
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Why only 650, when for a number
of years the rumour was of a full
house 750? Sid explained that the 650

ground in the Dual Sport market here.


STREETABLE


HUSQVARNA
SVARTPILEN 701 in all of its
brooding urban looks with a capacity
just under 700cc looks to have pure
fun wrapped up. Translated to ‘Black


EICMA MOTORCYCLE SHOW F ature

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