Dave's Place

Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe

2012-02-06T20:50:00.000+10:00

Looking stunning at the Manly Marina

Stunning looking machine or what!

I've been enjoying the cruise immensely. Probably the most 'beautiful' bike I've tested. It has amazing paint - genuine H-D, Color Shop® Limited Series.

The style is called “Epidemic”.

Limited paint is usually only supplied to 200-300 kits worldwide - and are individually numbered. This unit is #4 0f 200.

At each H-D dealer show, new kits are released. The RRP for the kit is a shade under $AU3,500 (NZD$4,600). The RRP’s are pretty much around the ballpark with all model families.

The bike is an excellent cruiser. It's not fast, but the 103 cube engine is very strong and un-fussed. Not as vibration free as the Touring Chassis units, but still very pleasant to sit back and watch the world roll by, reflected in perfect chrome and vivid paint.

Ride Articles will be in the magazines I contribute to. Shooting some video as well.

Alhambra Classical Guitar

2012-01-28T19:31:00.002+10:00

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Allegro by F. Sor.

The semi-electric classical is great for plugging it to the computer and recording practice.

Aus Classics Playlist

2012-01-28T11:01:00.004+10:00

A post Australia Day celebration of some Aussie Tunes

iConcerts Widget

2012-01-14T00:03:00.000+10:00

Some pretty cool music available here:

Brisbane HOG Ride

2012-01-11T21:34:00.000+10:00

It’s great being a motorcycle writer. I get to experience many different bikes and riding groups.

This time I was fortunate enough to be invited along on the Brisbane HOG Chapter’s Monthly ride - just before I had to return the Road Glide Custom Press Bike.

A large contingent of stunning machines and a very happy crew were already at local dealer and ride assembly point, Morgan & Wacker, by the time I got there.

After registrations and a quick chat the ride briefings got under way. The new members were in the ‘Green’ group and the experienced hands led the way.

I have to say I was made feel very welcome by everyone I talked to. These are keen motorcycle enthusiasts and they have a great time together.

Morning formalities concluded, it was time to mount up and hit the road.

Once under way the group travelled in an orderly fashion, with designated riders stopping and indicating all the turn-offs, as we made our way along an assortment of freeways and main roads winding our way northwest from Brisbane and out to our morning tea stop at the Dayboro showgrounds.

After a drinks break it was on towards a fuel stop at Nambour via some fantastic hill country around Mt Mee.

The beautiful and occasionally very twisty roads were mixed with riding through the magnificent green countryside on the plateaus and southern reaches of the Sunshine Coast hinterland. We wound our was north to our lunch stop and a very nice steak burger and more motorcycle conversation at the Pub in Kenilworth.

From there it was more hill country riding and fascinating roads as we headed back towards the Glasshouse Mountain district and a farewell stop at Landsborough.

Prize draws and details of the next ride followed.

It was an outstanding day, superbly run and organised, with emphasis on safety and getting everyone home in one piece.

It was warm, with the temps nudging the mid 30’s centigrade, but I’ll be sure to take them up on their offer to tag along again.

Soon.

2011 Pictorial Review

2012-01-01T18:53:00.000+10:00

Isn’t this digital age great?

I took hundreds of photos and hours of Video and it’s cool to be able to paw back over them and review the year that was.

On the work front (if you call writing about and taking photos of bikes work that is), the motorcycle industry generally is still in the aftermath of the 2008 meltdown.

While some are reporting a slow return to profitability and the hope of better days to come, with a few exceptions, completely new model releases are still relatively rare, with most manufacturers evolving their ranges and offering improved version of existing models.

The retail sector in NZ continues to do it tough, with leisure spending still well below pre-GFC levels.

Overall I didn’t get to throw a leg over as many test bikes as in previous sets of 365, but of those that did land in my garage, I usually managed to keep them for a longer period.

It was also the year we left New Zealand after nearly eleven years of great times.

January
The year began in Auckland and the first test bike was the Harley Street Glide for Kiwi Rider.
This is one I had a hard time returning. In the video I called it ‘possibly the coolest stock Harley ever’ and I meant it – still do.

What a machine.

January concluded with a photo assignment for Kiwi Rider covering Graeme Crosby’s Book Launch

February
Feb means the NZ Classics Festival. It’s a really great event. Here's a big slide show:

I also got to hang out with Henry and his crew from ‘Worlds Greatest Motorcycle Rides’ for a morning. Cool dude.

Then I tagged along with the Ed for a quick ride on the new Triumph Tiger 800’s as well.

March
The new Honda Stateline. I thought it looked great and went pretty well too.

I also covered the Christchurch Fund Raiser Ride in Auckland

April
One of my Favourite events – The Suzuki Boulevard Rally.
This year it was held out of Whangarei in Northland and was another beauty. Lots of Pics here:

I also got to keep the M109R for a while after the rally and enjoyed it heaps too. It has some serious mumbo.

May
I had a few jobs to do for KR early in the month. Including shooting Mr Croad's Motard on the dyno

And had a few days living with the new Speed Triple and liked it a lot too.

I also had a drool over the new Guzzi V7 Racer and a very cool Scrambler;

June
I was dispatched to the Sunshine Coast to attend the new BMW K1600 launch. What fabulous machines these are. All the luxury of a Gold Wing with the performance of a sports bike.

Then the Co-pilot was offered a job in Brisbane, so we started renovating the house in Auckland and I was project managing that job through July when we put the house on the market.

August
And my Buell also went up for sale - with some regret.
I had 5 great years out of this bike, but it was almost time to hit the road again.

I did have the great Kawasaki Z1000SX for a while though. This is a great all round machine.

And a few days on my last NZ test bike - the Suzuki GSR 750, which I also thought was a very good road bike.

Some guy posted a comment on you tube that I was riding it like a pussy. I have my name and what publication I work for all over the site - Like I'm going to post up doing anything illegal and wait for the cops to call?? Double face palm. FWIW I did give it the berries with the camera turned off.

September
I had a series of great farewells in Auckland - and set it up so I'm still working for Kiwi Rider over this side of the Tasman. It was time to look back on our time in NZ though. I had a very special time there, living like some sort of motorcycle king, in a rider's paradise. Here's a montage of just some of it.

We arrived in Brisbane, back in our native Australia. Co-pilot started work and I went shopping for a new bike.

Yep - tthe mighty KLR. I'd tested one back in 2009 and really enjoyed it. $7.5K ride away with a 2 year warranty and it really just suits me. It's tall, comfortable and the worse the road is, the more it likes it. Good around town and does 400km on a $20 tankful. Here it is on Mt Tambourine in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Plus I still get to ride a heap of exotic test bikes, like the Road King and the new Dyna.

I have continued freelancing for the Harley Owners Magazine and we did a 'Big Ride' feature riding from Brisbane up to Hervey Bay in Queensland. It was a great couple of days.

October
My first test bike in Aus was for Kiwi Rider and a few weeks living with the Dyna Switchback.

In 10 years working for KR I have become known to most of the Aussie press corps as well - and have always got on great with the crew at Heavy Duty Magazine, so when Brum asked me to do a piece on the Turbo Victory 8 Ball I jumped at the chance.

What a fantastic bit of kit it is too.

November
And the Follow up piece for Heavy Duty was another Chopperworks creation - the Turbo Road King

Man I want one!

I also had the HOG Magazine Hat on too - as we flew over to Perth in Western Australia to cover the HOG Rally and to do another 'BiG Ride' down to Albany. That yarn will appear in the Mag early in 2012
Old Man Emu

In the SW Forests
I also got to hang out with Mr Bill Davidson for a few days. Top bloke.

December
The Kiwi Rider hat is back on and the year ends somewhat similarly to the way it started.
On a medium term test on the new Harley Road Glide. It's still in the shed now:

-------------------

So - to my annual awards.

Bike of the Year.
Those that have been following over the years will recall that my criteria isn't the usual magazine fare. Logic doesn't play a huge part in the decision - it just comes down to: If I could keep one - which one.

It is a very tight call between the Street Glide and the BMW K1600 and the Turbo Road King - I would go for....The Chopperworks Road King. It really is quite remarkable - check the video.

Event of the Year.
The National HOG Rally - Margaret River WA.
Superbly run and organised in a great venue.

Roll on 2012!
Happy New Year,
Dave,
Brisbane Qld.
1/1/2012

Harley-Davidson Road Glide

2011-12-16T16:16:00.000+10:00

Here's the video. More ride impression and pics will be published in Kiwi Rider and the HOG Magazines.

Under the Gateway Bridges

Here's what H-D says:

The Road Glide® model had long been known as the “tourer’s touring bike.” It introduced the world to the unique “shark nose,” frame-mounted fairing. The Road Glide® Custom takes that unique, wind-splitting design and gives it a slammed, custom appearance. It’s undeniable that the frame-mounted fairing design gives the Road Glide® Custom outstanding handling properties. Ask those who know and they’ll tell you that once you ride it you’ll understand.

With a lowered suspension, large 18-inch front wheel, shorty, smoked wind deflector, color-matched saddlebag latches and custom rear fascia and taillight, the Road Glide® Custom brings true attitude and style to that renowned handling. And now those who love to rack up the miles can choose to upgrade their Road Glide® Custom straight from the factory with the Security Package Option, combining an Anti-lock Braking System and Smart Security System for outstanding value.

Another great effect from the skewed white balance in the Brisbane Tunnel

Interesting Cover Versions

2011-12-14T17:36:00.000+10:00

Billy Bragg's 'Walk Away Renee'.

The Stranglers

'Walk on by'. Whatever happened to our heroes?

Cake

'I will Survive' - Possibly the best cover version ever?

Tunnels, Bridges & Roads

2011-12-13T20:28:00.001+10:00

A Montage from the rider's seat:

Picture for a Song

2011-12-13T13:35:00.000+10:00

Have you ever taken a picture and it reminded you of a song?

Nevis Valley to Bannockburn

2011-12-07T15:53:00.001+10:00

Bit of a travel vid on the Nevis Valley and a ride over 'Duffers Saddle' to the pub at Bannockburn with the guys from Central Otago Motorcycle Hire.

Chopperworks Turbo Road King

2011-11-29T21:15:00.001+10:00

Review for Heavy Duty Magazine. This stunner will be featured in an upcoming edition of Australia's Number 1 H-D Magazine.

I had an afternoon with it and was 'blown away' by how nimble it is and how much good fun it is to ride.
Keep an eye out for the article.

Victory 8 Ball Turbo

2011-11-03T13:59:00.005+10:00

Another Chopperworks bike reviewed for Heavy Duty. Loved it too. Another really good fun, very cool machine.

Vid features some onboard video and a walk around of one sick Vic. Unfortunately there wasn't anywhere on the bike to mount my cameras, so it's only helmet mounts - which doesn't do the sound of the Turbo beauty any justice at all.

KLR to Mt Glorious

2011-10-17T14:05:00.001+10:00

Quick Spin on my new KLR650 west of Brisbane. Mainly to learn how to edit video on Final Cut Pro.

H-D Dyna Switchback

2011-10-12T19:42:00.001+10:00

For Kiwi Rider Magazine. I had a few weeks living with this new model and really enjoyed it. Very versatile machine. The Quick Spin review is in December KR.

Here's some of the pics used in the mag on Flickr.

Suzuki GSR 750

2011-08-31T18:05:00.002+10:00

Gilera Nexus 300

2011-08-27T23:30:00.002+10:00

Classics at Deus

2011-08-13T22:56:00.002+10:00

Was early for a lunch hook up with the Ed at Deus, so I pointed the camera at some of the bikes on display.

Kawasaki Z1000SX

2011-08-10T21:24:00.006+10:00

Just doing a few days on this beauty. I'm liking it a lot. Very good power delivery for street use. Wheelie monster if you give it the business.

For the Megaphone Mag

2011-08-09T23:15:00.000+10:00

Just dispatched this cool BandW pic to the Megaphone Magazine

My Rolling Stone

2011-07-09T22:02:00.007+10:00

Woo-hoo! I made another cover!
The mag turned up in my mailbox today and I had no idea it was a collector's edition! :-)
Submitted the words to the K1600 Test and the Speed Triple Test - and thought the Ed on the Speedy was going to be the cover. It's still a big thrill.

10 Years in 20 Minutes

2011-06-29T18:25:00.004+10:00

'BD and The Co-pilot's' wonderful adventure in NZ is coming to an end. A job offer too good to refuse will see us leave the Shakey Isles and return to our native Australia in September.

Since we arrived in late 2000, our time here has been simply amazing, from our early adventures with the Triumph RATs, to nearly ten years as contributors, correspondents and bike testers for Kiwi Rider Magazine. (Some of which will be continued from Australia - most of the new model releases are now held there).

I suspect there aren't many riders anywhere who've had it as good as me for the last decade - for which I thank everyone who made it so. It is a substantial list.

I've had the keys to just about every dream bike I desired and a paradise to ride them in. Pinch me.

Some Kiwi's don't realise exactly how good they have it here - and there's plenty who do too. It's been a priveledge to share it. At the risk of sounding like Baz Luhrman's 'Sunscreen'; every motorcyclist should live in New Zealand once.

Hell of a ride.

Thanks for visiting my site, there's still more to be written on the NZ pages yet, and a new chapter from sub-tropical Queensland is story-boarding right now.

I'm sad to leave, it's been so grand, yet we're both invigorated by the prospect of a change and the opportunity to freelance for a number of new publications.

BD.

Motorcycle Music

2011-06-24T18:40:00.001+10:00

A playlist with over 100 songs featuring motorcycles:

Truimph Speed Triple Quick Spin

2011-06-15T22:33:00.003+10:00

BMW K 1600 GT & GTL

2011-06-13T10:26:00.011+10:00

SIX APPEALS
(Draft of KIWIRIDER article)

The expedition to the launch of new BMW K 1600 GT and GTL was a real ‘Yin and Yang’ affair.

The days spent travelling to and from Northern NSW were a bit of a drag, with cancelled flights and hours waiting in Airport ‘limbo’.

The Press release and ride were exactly the opposite: interesting, fascinating, great fun and quite exhilarating.

Amongst the keepsakes I brought back from the expedition is a Boarding Pass for a Flight that doesn’t exist, but all that pales at the recollection of these spectacular machines.

Right from the off it’s worth pointing out that this is one of the most expensive, fully optioned motorcycles on the market, but it’s also one of the best motorcycles on the market – particularly if hi-tech pushes your buttons, or more accurately, you like pushing hi-tech buttons.

‘Best’ is a long bow to draw I know, particularly if you’re in the ‘as long as it’s got an engine, handlebars, two wheels and a seat - it does me’ brigade, but the K 1600 series bikes really are technological marvels that provide a wonderfully efficient and relatively safer means of riding.

SETTLED IN

When we (the NZ Press contingent) arrived at the Peppers Resort at Kingscliff NSW it was mid afternoon and conditions were mostly sunny, with temps in the early 20’s.

We had time for a stroll around the resort and the endless golden beach before settling in to the information sessions held in the conference rooms.

The show opened with a presentation by BMW Motorcycle Manager Tony Sesto. He gave us a quick outline of where BMW had been, is at, and where it is going.

I found his reference to Dr Diess’s (Motorrad head honcho) speech at Intermot 2004 most interesting. The good Doctor drew a line in the sand and talked of a ‘global repositioning’ and ‘changing BMW’. I recalled reading the context of the speech when I was researching the KIWIRIDER test on the BMW R1200 S not long after, thinking ‘so far so good’. That was further reinforced with subsequent rides on the HP2 Megamoto, K 1300 S and several GS 1200’s.

So it was that I arrived at this launch as something of a re-enthusiast of the marque I thought had lost its way in the nineties (I rode some dull bimmers back then) - but has since be re-found.

The new 1600’s are the next step in their evolution of dynamic riding machines. And like all the BMWs I’ve thrown a leg over lately - dynamic they are.

Following Tony’s presentation, Miles Davis, the Marketing Manager took the mic and gave us an overview of each bike. It took quite some time to run through the overview, such is the list of standard features and the amount of adjustment, information and data available from each bike.

Question time followed and by the time we were done and headed out to dinner we were chomping at the bit for the big test ride.

TEST RIDING.

We got to sample exactly how dynamic the new K sixes are on a group ride through the Northern Rivers back country of New South Wales.

The Northern Rivers district sprawls from the Clarence River and Grafton, northwards along the coast to the Tweed River and the Queensland border. Big country, partly rich alluvial plain, bordered on three sides by the weathered spurs of the Great Dividing Range, meandering, like the many rivers, to the coast.

As such, the eastern-most part of the continent in early winter is an ideal region to sample a varied mix of road and riding conditions, with many of the same attractions, and hazards, as riding in New Zealand.

Thirteen K 1600s, with examples of both models (and four colour schemes), a GS 1200 and two support vehicles left Peppers Salt Resort after a quick ride briefing from Miles.

We did a short leg on the super-slab down to a Coffee stop at Byron Bay where the large fleet of expensive bikes drew a crowd of multi-coloured cheesecloth and tote-bag wearers away from their sifting around the beach.

Caffeine levels boosted, Hippies enlightened, we passed back over the Coast highway and made our way inland towards Lismore.

We ran in reasonably heavy traffic all the way too, but once we got through Lismore and further west, the roads and the countryside opened up, and so did the throttles.

We skirted the foothills and ranges in an arc that took is back to the north into Queensland, via the Border Ranges, before heading south east again towards Murwillumbah. Then it was back to base through the excellent twisties of the Gold Coast Hinterland.

We clocked up around 450km on a great variety of roads. From open plains with fast sweepers, to tight mountain descents, from rickety timber bridges to super-highway and the bike nailed all of it.

Much of the last 50km was in pitch black on mountain roads – so we could see just how well the adaptive headlight works.

It was a brilliant ride – on a brilliant bike. Parts of it were quite Unzud-ish, particularly the twisty, winding roads through the Border Ranges and their lush, sub-tropical rainforests dotted with tree ferns. The main difference in riding was significantly (a lot) more double lines than here, while the hot-mix, rather than chip-seal, is generally easier to trust.

The day featured regular photo stops for Lou Martin’s images and employed the corner-man system faultlessly till we lost one on the very last leg back to base in the dark – but then the GPS came to the fore and we were all back at the Resort by pre-dinner drinks.

It was down to about 16c in the ranges, 21c on the valley floor, and the day was mostly a bright overcast, but it was a truly outstanding blat on a fabulous machine.

HOW FABULOUS?

Refer to the paragraph regarding ‘best’ above.

Take the luxury and accoutrements of a Goldwing and the downright schtonk of a Concours 14 and put them in one package.

160 ponies and 175 of Mr Newton’s Meters. A Rocket III tourer is the torque daddy of production bikes and it has 203Nm, so the six is up there.

The acceleration isn’t the ‘rip your arms out of their sockets’ of a modern hypersports, it is hauling 319kg wet (306 dry), which is reasonably light for an ultra-luxury tourer, but still a considerable mass.

It produces very rapid progress nonetheless and the torque of the six cylinder engine is a remarkable thing. Disengage the Traction Control system and it will easily power stand, just on throttle – no clutching needed.

More real-worldly is the way you can be barrelling along at touring speeds, come to a 40kph country school zone for example, slow down to 35kph, and then back up to touring speeds without any need to change gear. It pulls without lugging, smoothly and quickly back to where an autobahn would be handy - in no time.

The BMW telelever and paralever suspensions work beautifully. We did some pretty good runs through twisty mountain roads along the NSW border and the bikes handle sports type riding with aplomb. The big torque, solid handling and confidence inspiring ABS have me looking for the thesaurus in search of another word for ‘dynamic’.

It’s a big, fast, great handling motorcycle, ‘a rider’s machine’.

Inclusions and features we can only gloss over – the detailed press release and technical notes that came in our ‘goodies’ pack is 45 pages long. We have that .pdf – and over twenty minutes of video, including excerpts from the presentations and some ride video on the KR web site (keyword: K1600). It’s worth checking, just for how good they sound.

The highlights of the inclusions will even take me over the Ed’s word count but there are some standouts.

The Aus and NZ markets get the bikes delivered with ‘all the fruit’ included. ABS, Traction Control – ESA2 (push button suspension adjustment) all standard. The only obvious extra to add is your choice of GPS.

It has the most sophisticated ride computer and is the first bike I’ve seen equipped with a ‘mouse’ to operate it. There is an extra ring on the left hand switch block to click and scroll through the myriad of functions. It even displays tyre pressure on the dashboard.

The adaptive headlight really does shine around corners. Dark mountain roads are beautifully illuminated, particularly with the GTL’s extra driving lights, but the GT’s are still quite brilliant too.

Style-wise I found them to be attractive luxury tourers to look at. The luggage is top notch - in terms of capacity, appearance and function. Easily removed for a sports ride – and don’t believe this unit won’t keep up on a sports run. It’s got some real hurry up. Best windscreen I’ve used too.

SPECIALS

These Ks really are special. They eat big distances for breakfast - at a very rapid rate and really do live up to the dynamic tag when the road gets interesting. They have fruit on the fruit and a very comfortable, stylish package to deliver it in. The 24 litre tank gave well over 300km between stops and I found the saddle comfortable all day.

The six is only a bit over 60mm wider than the K1300 four. It’s still a large bike, but in no way is it ponderous. It’s just wicked.

If a stand out in hi-tech motorcycle efficiency pushes your buttons, talk to your BMW dealer about the new K 1600 series bikes.

Very appealing.