The Black Dog Ride is held simultaneously around the country in March each year. It’s primary goal is to raise awareness to Depression and Suicide Prevention.
I attended the Black Dog Ride 2019 here in Penrith in Sydney’s West, to offer my support to a very worthy cause.
Arriving in Penrith at 0630 on a Sunday morning, the rain was absolutely torrential, however that didn’t stop over 300 riders participating in the day, for Black Dog. After a good social catch up the start over a hot coffee, then a riders briefing, then off they rode, into the rain.
Approximately 2 hours of riding led them back to the Wallacia Hotel for Lunch, an Auction to raise Funds, and then some partying to a local band.
I wanted to compare the Kawasaki Z900RS with the Z900RS Cafe. So this week I wanted to go and check out the Black Dog Ride course so I can plan my video shoot for the 17th March, and when James from Penrith Motorcycle centre offered to come with me and for us to take the 2 different Z900RS models available, I jumped at the chance.
So I jumped on the Z900RS with the Jaffa paint scheme and off we went. The Black Dog Ride course is great, but the Z900RS was just exceptional. I really love this bike and it has a lot to offer. Good retro styling with all the modern day safety, performance and convenience.
After an hour or so we pulled over, and James handed me the keys to his personal Z900RS Cafe and off we went again. There is no mechanical differences between the two bikes, mainly just body positioning differences due to the sportier handlebars, peg positions a little further back and the front fairing. For me though, the Jaffa colored Z900RS wins my head and my heart.
Engine Type Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke In-Line Four Displacement 948 cm³ Bore x Stroke 73.4 x 56.0 mm
Compression Ratio 10.8:1 Valve System DOHC 16 valves
Fuel System Fuel Injection, 36 mm x 4 with sub throttles valves Ignition Digital Starting Electric
Transmission 6-speed with Positive Neutral finder and Assist & Slipper Clutch
Frame Trellis high tensile steel Suspension – front 41 mm cartridge fork with compression and rebound damping and spring preload adjustability
Suspension – rear Horizontal Back-link with rebound damping and spring preload adjustability
Wheel travel – front 120 mm Wheel travel – rear 140 mm
Brakes – front Dual 300 mm semi-floating petal discs.
Dual radial-mount monobloc opposed 4-piston calipers, ABS Brakes – rear Single 250 mm petal disc with single piston caliper, ABS Tyre Size- front 120/70-ZR17 (58W) Tyre Size- rear 180/55-ZR17 (73W) L x W x H 2,100 x 865 x 1,050 mm
Wheelbase 1,470 mm
Ground Clearance 130 mm Seat height 835 mm
Fuel capacity 17 litres Curb Mass 214 kg (includes full fuel tank and all fluids at optimum levels)
Max Power 82.0 kW @ 8,500 rpm
Max Torque 98.5 N.m @ 6,500 rpm
Colour/s Candytone Brown with Candytone Orange or Metallic Matte Covert Green and Flat Ebony type 2
Warranty 24 Months Unlimited Kilometres
Throttle Downunder is a group of like-minded car enthusiasts sharing their love for all things with a throttle…..Boats, Cars and Bikes.
Picking up the 2019 Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE from Penrith Motorcycle Centre to head up into the Blue Mountains to give it a really good run. All in all the Versys 1000 SE is an amazing Tourer and very comfortable.
Kawasaki have really nailed this model, creating enough sportyness and comfort to blend into the ultimate touring bike.
Boasting even greater comfort and versatility, Kawasaki proudly presents a new model designed to offer maximum riding enjoyment across a wide variety of street riding situations like the 2015-2018 Versys 1000 before them. Whether riding solo or two up, around the corner or around the globe, this fun-to-ride road sports bike’s combination of a highly responsive In-Line Four engine tuned for flexibility, and a nimble chassis fitted with dynamic suspension will have riders grinning from ear to ear. Its relaxed, upright riding position offers a high level of machine control, and is complemented by a highly comfortable seat and good wind protection, making it easy to spend a long time in the saddle. Change your view and ride the Kawasaki VERSYS 1000 SE; comfort and performance. The new model benefits from numerous upgrades that add to both riding exhilaration and touring potential. The engine now boasts Electronic Throttle Valves, which enable the addition of Electronic Cruise Control. And the addition of advanced Kawasaki IMU equipped rider support systems contributes to riding enjoyment as well as rider confidence Read full Specs here, https://kawasaki.com.au/shop/motorcyc…
Throttle Downunder is a group of like-minded car enthusiasts sharing their love for all things with a throttle…..Boats, Cars and Bikes.
The Royal Enfield Twins have finally landed in Australia and today I got to spend the afternoon on both Continental GT 650 Cafe Racer and the Interceptor 650 from Royal Enfield. James from Penrith Motorcycle center popped these 2 bikes in the van and drove them to the Northern Beaches for me to test.
Final drive: Chain CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR Frame: Tubular steel double cradle Front suspension: 41mm fork, non-adjustable Rear suspension: Twin shocks, adjustable for preload
Front brakes: Single 320mm disc with twin-piston caliper
Rear brake: Single 240mm disc with single-piston caliper
Tyres: Pirelli Phantom Sport – 100/90-18 front, 130/70-18 rear
DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES Claimed dry weight: 202kg
Seat height: 804mm
Wheelbase: 1400mm Length: 2122mm
Fuel capacity: 13.7 litres
Throttle Downunder is a group of like-minded car enthusiasts sharing their love for all things with a throttle…..Boats, Cars and Bikes. Product Reviews, want to send me stuff?? Rob Charlwood
On a recent visit to Melbourne I took the opportunity to visit 2 iconic motoring locations while I was there. Being a new owner of a Royal Enfield motorcycle I wanted to visit Mid Life Cycles to check out their bikes and buy some Royal Enfield merchandise to set the scene. So a 30 minute walk from our hotel, through the sporting precinct, past Rod Laver Arena and the mighty MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) on the Eastern side of the Melbourne CBD we arrived in Cremorne to have a look at the showroom.
Afterwards we walked a further 20 minutes to Richmond to find a warehouse in a back street across the railway line, that housed Dutton Garage. Here at Dutton Garage there were so many Supercars, Classic Cars and Sports Cars that I could not believe it. To top it off all these cars are for sale too. There were Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, Ford Gt, Mustang and McLaren to name a few. Truly my dream garage.
After spending quite some time looking and dreaming it was time to head back into Melbourne with a nice walk along the Yarra River and into the Lonsdale Street Greek Festival for a good meal and to head home.
The brand new 2018 Harley Davidson Softail range, including the Harley-Davidson Sport Glide, are running the all new “Milkaukee-Eight” engine that produces a whopping 145 NM of torque.
The Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine is 1745cc and has a claimed fuel usage of 5.3L/100km.
Running this engine the torque curve is really strong and the power is delivered seamlessly as I wind on the throttle. These new engines display very little vibration at idle and through the rev range, but still give you enough to remind you that you are riding a Harley-Davidson.
The new suspension on the Sport Glide consist of an inverted front fork and a new rear monoshock with external preload adjustment to customize the handling for the weight of riders, pillion carrying or extra cargo.
The new frame has been redesigned and really makes this bike more nimble than you would expect from a Softail.
My favourite thing about the Sport Glide is the detachable saddle bags and also removable fairing too, to change this bike from a tourer to a boulevard cruiser.
The only thing I didn’t like about this bike, is that there isn’t one sitting in my garage now.
“More Roads to Harley-Davidson” Includes New Products in Additional Motorcycle Segments, Broader Access and Commitment to Strengthen Dealers
MILWAUKEE (July 30, 2018) – To inspire even more people around the world to experience the exhilaration of riding a motorcycle, Harley-Davidson today shared details of its “More Roads to Harley-Davidson” growth plan through 2022.
In a fast-changing world with new consumer demands, these accelerated actions support Harley-Davidson’s 2027 objectives with increased focus and strategic investment to reinvigorate the U.S. business while accelerating the pace of international growth.
“The bold actions we are announcing today leverage Harley-Davidson’s vast capabilities and competitive firepower – our excellence in product development and manufacturing, the global appeal of the brand and of course, our great dealer network,” said Matt Levatich, president and chief executive officer, Harley-Davidson, Inc. “Alongside our existing loyal riders, we will lead the next revolution of two-wheeled freedom to inspire future riders who have yet to even think about the thrill of riding.”
The result of a comprehensive, top-to-bottom assessment incorporating a “customer first” perspective, the More Roads to Harley-Davidson plan includes:
New Products – keep current riders engaged and inspire new riders by extending heavyweight leadership and unlocking new markets and segments
Broader Access – meet customers where they are and how they want to engage with a multi-channel retail experience
Stronger Dealers – drive a performance framework to improve dealer financial strength and the Harley-Davidson customer experience
“We expect this plan will result in an engaged, expanded Harley-Davidson community with a more diverse rider base, along with industry-leading margins and cash flow,” said Levatich.
New Products
Leveraging its industry-leading design and strong manufacturing capabilities, Harley-Davidson plans to offer its most comprehensive lineup of motorcycles, competing in many of the largest and fastest growing segments with a full portfolio of motorcycles across a broad spectrum of price points, power sources, displacements, riding styles and global markets. Highlights include:
Extending the company’s leadership in heavyweight motorcycles by continuing to develop improved, more technologically-advanced Touring and Cruiser motorcycles that will keep existing Harley-Davidson riders engaged and riding longer.
Introducing a new modular 500cc to 1250cc middleweight platform of motorcycles that spans three distinct product spaces and four displacements, starting with the company’s first Adventure Touring motorcycle, the Harley-Davidson™ Pan America™ 1250, a 1250cc Custom model and a 975cc Streetfighter model, all of which are planned to launch beginning in 2020. Additional models to broaden coverage in these product spaces will follow through 2022.
Developing a more accessible, small-displacement (250cc to 500cc) motorcycle for Asia emerging markets through a planned strategic alliance with a manufacturer in Asia. This new product and broader distribution is intended to fuel Harley-Davidson’s customer access and growth in India, one of the largest, fastest growing markets in the world, and other Asia markets.
Leading the electric motorcycle market by launching Harley-Davidson’s first electric motorcycle, LiveWire™, in 2019 — the first in a broad, no-clutch “twist and go” portfolio of electric two-wheelers designed to establish the company as the leader in the electrification of the sport. LiveWire will be followed by additional models through 2022 to broaden the portfolio with lighter, smaller and even more accessible product options to inspire new riders with new ways to ride.
Broader Access
Harley-Davidson will advance its market delivery approach and meet today’s customer needs by:
Creating high-engagement customer experiences across all retail channels – including improving and expanding the company’s global digital capabilities by evolving the Harley-Davidson.com experience to integrate with and enhance the dealership retail experience for existing and new customers.
Establishing strategic alliances with global leading e-commerce providers to extend access to Harley-Davidson to a pool of millions of potential new customers.
New retail formats — including smaller, urban storefronts globally to expose the brand to urban populations and drive sales of the expanded Harley-Davidson product portfolio and expand international apparel distribution.
Stronger Dealers
Harley-Davidson’s world-class dealer network is an integral part of the company’s accelerated strategy and critical to overall success. The company will implement a performance framework to significantly enhance the strength of the dealer network and the customer experience, enabling the best-performing and most entrepreneurial dealers to drive innovation and success for themselves and Harley-Davidson — while providing the premium customer experience the brand is known for across an increasingly diverse product and customer base.
“Harley-Davidson is iconic because we’ve never been static,” said Levatich. “In moving forward, we are tapping into the spirit that drove our founders back in 1903 and every one of the employees and dealers who rose to the challenges faced along the way. Our plan will redefine existing boundaries of our brand – reaching more customers in a way that reinforces all we stand for as a brand and as a company and we can’t wait to kick it into gear.”
Deus Ex Machina Customs started in Australia in 2006. Started with some custom motorcycles then grew into the international retail and custom lifestyle leaders.
Camperdown in Sydney’s Inner West, is the original, custom motorcycle builders garage, along with a hugely popular Cafe/Restaurant on the same property.
After a delicious Deus Ex Machina breakfast, I walked next door to the Deus Ex machina show room to check out the amazing custom motorcycles and to buy a couple of Deus T-Shirts too.
If you are in Sydney be sure to visit, If you are from over seas definitely put this place on your list of MOTO destinations to visit.
Full of Cafe racer style bikes (Scrambler, Tracker)
Deus Customs and Cafe
98-104 Parramatta Road, Camperdown NSW 2050, Australia
(02) 8594 2828
http://deuscustoms.com
Throttle Downunder is a group of like-minded car enthusiasts sharing their love for all things with a throttle…..Boats, Cars and Bikes.
Product Reviews, want to send me stuff??
Rob Charlwood
P.O Box 4122
Bexley North, NSW. 2207
