Australian Motorcycle News covers all things motorcycling from around the world, featuring new-model releases as well as comprehensive bike comparisons and race reports in every issue.
ED’S DESK.
Australian Motorcycle News
KAWASAKI UNVEILS HYDROGEN H2 • Mock-up of upcoming road prototype revealed in Japan
PATENT SHOWS HYBRID VERSYS
ARE YOU HONDA’S NEXT FIREBLADE?
BABY GUZZI ALL THE BUZZ • Aprilia RS457-based prototype more likely an entry-level Moto Guzzi
KTM 1390 SUPER ADVENTURE
TRIUMPH’S DAYTONA RETURNS
TRIBUTE PANIGALES • HAVING DOMINATED international racing in 2023 – winning riders’ and manufacturers’ titles in MotoGP, WSBK and WorldSSP by huge margins – Ducati has unveiled a rash of limitededition bikes that commemorate the achievements. The line-up is made of four variations of limited-edition Panigale V4 S machines, each with special paint and a variety of bolt-on additions, and one Panigale V2-based limited run with similar changes.
BRIEFS. • YOUR QUICK FIX
KYMCO PATENT OUTS A BIG SECRET • RevoNEX and SuperNEX transmission isn’t quite what it seems
BENELLI 350CC V-TWIN CRUISER, ANYONE?
THE YEAR WAS… 1992
SPEEDWAY TO THE SILVER SCREEN • Western Australia’s inaugural solo champion was the inspiration for matinée idol Dirk Bogarde’s first starring role
ACCESS.
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE • The vision can get a bit blurry after a marathon spell in the workshop. Spot the five changes Fred has made to this image, email us your answers (and postal address!) and you could win a neck sock.
RETRO ACTIVE • Honda is chasing a piece of the LAMS-approved retro-styled pie with its new GB350
DOUBLE BARREL • amcn.com.au 35 We head Stateside to find out what the latest twin-cylinder offering from Royal Enfield is all about
MARK WELLS • MARK WELLS, Global Head, Product Strategy and Industrial Design at Royal Enfield, lists the three key elements that make a motorcycle a Royal Enfield.
BOBBERS
Saxon SWAGGER • Telling BMW to go jump and celebrating victory in an international race win at Assen aren’t the sort of things you’d associate with Laverda, but that’s just the start…
RED FLAG! • Will Ducati continue to dominate MotoGP in 2024? Almost certainly but…
“OUR BIKE ISN’T SO FAR FROM PERFECTION”
“IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE TO ASK FOR MORE”
“I CAN FEEL A DIFFERENCE AND SOMETHING REALLY WORKS”
“THE CARBON FRAME IMPROVES GRIP, IN ENTRY AND ON EXIT”
“WE WANT TO GENERATE A BIG GLOBAL EFFECT ON THE PERFORMANCE”
WHOLE SHOT
Catch 23 • Bridgestone has released a new hypersport hoop for 2024 and, so far at least, it’s living up to the hype
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
SUGGESTED FITTINGS
ZERO MERCY • For three days and two nights in the depths of a British winter, a small team set out to claim the historic Maudes Trophy using electric motorcycles
“THE DEAL WAS IT HAD TO LOOK LIKE A PRODUCTION BIKE” • Q-ships were decoy vessels with concealed weaponry used in war. In the early 70s, Tony Hatt on’s Yamaha R5 350 was exactly that
KIWI Q-SHIPS
CROSBY SPLASH
RACING WHAT, WHERE & WHEN
RIDE DAYS & SCHOOLS
RALLIES & SHOWS
DRESSED FOR SUCCESS • Despite big mileages, resale values remain high for Harley’s flagship tourer. The Ultra Classic is built for the long haul…
RALLY UP • Turns out new hoops can teach a couple of old dogs new tricks
PACK ANIMAL
TOP GEAR. • COOL STUFF
BUYER’S GUIDE. • A-Z OF NEW BIKE PRICES
STROOTH!
REVOLVING RACER.
IN PIT LANE.
GAME ON! • A bloke from Botswana leads the top guns on a bike built in Rajasthan as the first half of...