Ask the Bear

Motorcycling Australia's "Ask the Bear' section allows you to submit a question on anything to do with a motorcycle or motorcyclists.

Peter Thoeming, a.k.a. "The Bear" is one of Australia's most experienced and well-respected motorcycling journalists. 

If you have any questions on motorcycling - e.g. what is the Nullarbor really like on a bike? Are those accessory seats worth the dough? Which is the best place to stay in Port Macquarie? -  the Bear will answer your queries here.

(note: Questions about the ground speed of a sparrow, his favourite colour or the meaning of life may take more time for a response...)

Submit your Question for the Bear

Upgrading from Scooter to Motorbike

Hi

I am fairly new to motorcycling and have so far been riding a scooter.

I am keen to purchase a proper motorcycle. I like the look of the 'naked'mid sized variety and have looked at a few (eg Triumph street triple - to give you an idea of price range and size).

That said, I would like something that has a bit more upright riding position. Can you give me any suggestions?

Cheers
Rob  

Hi, Rob. What a wonderful position to be in – it’s like being a kid in a candy shop…

You’ve raised a difficult question, though, because there are simply so many contenders – and I don’t know how tall you are, or what sort of riding you (hope to) enjoy.

I’d say your top two contenders ought to be the Kawasaki ER-6NL and the Suzuki VStrom 650 because they both have ABS. I would always recommend ABS if you can get it.

But there are many other bikes in your sights: Suzuki alone has the GS500 and GS500F, the GSX650, the GSR600 and the SFV650 – all of which are terrific bikes.

Can I suggest that you find a copy of Australian Road Rider’s Bike Guide 2010 (your newsagent should have it)? It has in it pretty complete descriptions of all of these bikes and more.

Best regards,
The Bear

Riding with Neuroma

My question for you is…

Have you ever heard of any riders/racers that suffered an Intermetatarsal Neuroma (aka Morton’s Neuroma) caused by their footpegs?

I have just been diagnosed with this condition and am concerned that if I opt for the surgery that I may not be able to ride anymore. If you know of any other riders that have been through this I was wondering how they went about treatment and if they are still able to ride?  The pain is bad but the fear of not being able to ride anymore is worse. Any information you may have in relation to Neuromas and riding would be greatly appreciated. I’m currently looking into modifying the footpegs and possibly reinforcing the soles of my boots. \

Thanks,
Geoff

Dear Geoff,
That sounds like a through bummer. Take a look at this link, which will give you some idea of potential treatments:
http://www.permanente.net/homepage/kaiser/pdf/33069.pdf.

Obviously we can’t give you advice on surgery, but I would suggest to you that you ask about non-surgical treatment, and perhaps get at least one more opinion! The idea of getting stronger boots and so on sounds good to me.

All the best with this,
The Bear

Trike Hire

Hi Bear,

Looking into hiring a trike to ride the Great Ocean Rd next year in September... Any ideas?..Will be travelling from W.A.

Dear Chris,

Since Britz Australia closed their motorcycle and trike rental business in Melbourne I have not been aware of anyone renting trikes out down there. The closest I could come would be Phillip Island Trike Hire & Sales. You can call JR on 0407 049 117 to get more details, but I'm afraid I have not had any dealings with them.

Trike tours are not especially hard to find, but rental is. Websites that may be of help include:

http://www.aussie-motorcycle-hire.comYour best move may be to get in touch with the two main manufacturers in Australiaand ask them for help. They will know if anyone is offering their trikes for rent anywhere.The e-mail addresses are sales@panthertrikes.com and info@oztrikes.com.au.


Good luck, and I'm sorry I couldn't be more help. It would have been easy out of Sydney, where Oz Trikes have all sorts of trikes for hire!

Regards,
The Bear

Motorbike Mirrors - 1 or 2??

Hello Bear,

Is a road registered motorcycle required to have two mirrors or only one to be legal? And if only one, which side?

Geoff

Hi, Geoff.

My understanding is that all ADR-approved motorcycles in Australia (in other words, all bikes that can be registered) need to be equipped with two mirrors, one on each side (but see below for vintage/classic bikes).

This is because the Australian Design Rules (ADRs) require two mirrors to be fitted when the bike is approved, and it is prohibited to remove one or more afterwards.

Obviously this does not apply to race bikes and certain types of dirt bikes, which are not subject to ADR approval.

Since this is a federal rather than a state matter it should apply equally everywhere in Australia.

An Australian standard also exists for the size and shape of the mirrors, although this does not appear to be enforced and I am not sure that it has been included in laws in every state.

There should be exemptions for older (vintage or  classic) bikes which were imported or built before these rules applied. If they are legal with one mirror in your state, this will almost certainly have to be on the right-hand side.

You will need to check with your local licensing authority (the RTA, or VicRoads or whomever) to get a  conclusive ruling.

If they see the removal or replacement of one or more mirrors as a safety matter you will not receive approval.

Hope that helps; I guess it’s not good news.

Best regards,
The Bear

E-tags on motorbikes

Hello Bear,

I noticed you have been getting a few questions about using E-Tags on bikes. My experince is as follows. I have an RTA E-Tag (NSW) attached to my car. When I enquired about getting one for my bike they advised me that all I had to do was supply them the Rego of my bike which they have added to my account. I don't have to carry the E-TAG on the bike. Apparently when you ride through a tool-point the photo is automatically matched to my account and the toll appears on my RTA statement. (I think this is only for NSW tollways) So far the system seems to work....

Greg J
Sydney NSW

Hi, Greg.
That’s really good advice, and works considerably better than using an E-tag – in NSW, anyway.

The drawback for me is obvious – I’m constantly on test bikes, and I can’t register all the different bikes with the RTA. I will continue to need an E-tag.

A minor drawback for other riders is that anyone who happens to be riding your bike can run up toll charges. So don’t lend the bike to your brother-in-law!

I don’t believe that E-tag accounts are cross-referenced interstate just yet, so I guess that’s another possible drawback. But overall, for the average bike owner, your answer is by far the best.

I’ll copy this to Matthew and see if we can get it up on the website.

Best regards,
The Bear

Hot Airbags?

Hello, do you know of any reviews on the "Hit-air" air bag motorcycle  jacket range ?

Are they any safer than a "non-air bag" jacket?

Robert Moss

Hi, Robert.
You've asked a very interesting question, and one that has been debated at length by many people without leading to a conclusion. I have not had an opportunity to try out an airbag jacket, although I have worn one for a while.

Let me try to answer you in a general sense, not just in relation to Hit Air (which I think is a quality product, by the way).

The idea of an air bag is attractive. How well it works depends partly on the time it takes to deploy, and partly on exactly what kind of crash you're involved in. The bottom line for me is whether the jacket offers adequate protection even if the air bag does not deploy, or deploys too slowly.

So I regard the air bag capability as an add-on, not as a  replacement for other safety features. I think as long as you're happy with the jacket's general safety features, buying one with air bag capability is a good idea. Keep in mind that you will need to remember the lanyard every time you get on and off the bike.

Hope that helps!
Regards,
The Bear
 

He tags, you tag, they tag

Bear

Mine is not a question but simply to say that I recently got an e-tag to use on my bike (sick of change and all that mucking around) and I keep it in the top pocket of my shirt under my jacket and it works fine, no need to mount it etc

Cheers

Mick Moylan

Thank you for that, Mick. Unfortunately a few people have said that the same thing does not work for them - that they have to 'present' the units to get reliable readings.

What sort of jacket do you wear?

Regards,

The Bear
 

Pick up line

Hi Bear,

I own a 95 GTR1000 and have joined MA with hopefully their assistance if I breakdown. The question is, should I also keep my premium NRMA service for the bike as well,would they be able to help to get the bike going or are they just as likely to put it on their truck the same as MA. What are the options??

Thanks Michael (Based in Wollongong NSW but will be doing interstate rides)

Michael

The main difference between the NRMA service and MA’s is that the NRMA is basically selling you an insurance policy for when you break down.

What you get is effectively a central number to call anytime, day or night to arrange for a motorcycle mechanic to come to your rescue. When they come, they offer a minimum of a 10% discount for the service they offer to you as an MA member.

This means:

You’ll probably get your bike fixed, as opposed to “Sorry mate, I know nothing about bikes, but I can arrange for it to be transported somewhere else”
b) If you’re unlucky enough to have an off, you won’t get the local towing contractor turning up with a tow-truck, doing twice the amount of damage to your bike as the crash.
c) You pay for the service when you need it, instead of an annual premium for something you may never use.
d) You’re a member of Australia’s peak motorcycling organisation.

Maps everywhere, but all of Tasmania

Hi,

I'm wondering if you know whether there are any maps available for Sydney and Australia like the ones that "Tuffmap" make for Europe and the UK. They're rip-proof and waterproof, very useful on a motorbike!

Cheers, K

Quite a few different manufacturers make maps like this. In fact, the Australian Government Publishing Service prints an entire and incidentally very useful book, called 'Stay Alive', on polypropylene.

You can also buy celloglazed maps. Assuming you're in Sydney, take a look at the Map Shop in Pitt Street between Park and Bathurst streets. Anywhere else, just find a good map shop. I'm sure they'll be able to help you.

Regards,

The Bear
 

Getting your kid started

Hi Bear

As a Deaf father of a 13yrs son living in the Big Smoke (aka Sydney) near West Ryde, can you advise me on where I can hire dirt bikes and access to a dirt bike track to pass on riding skills to my son? I used to live in the country and had my own dirt bike and could get to outskirts of town easily on my own. But in Sydney, now that's a diff story with strict road laws, etc. Am a proud owner of a 900 roadie but think best to start with the basics and nice, soft dirt.

David

Hi, David, and congratulations on the thoughtful way you've decided to introduce your son to the wonderful world of motorcycling!

Unfortunately the answer to your question is not a simple one. The best thing for you to do is probably to take a look at the MA website www.ma.org.au  to find out about clubs in your area. A club is going to be the simplest and most convivial way of doing what you want.

You'll get lots of good advice from other members, including information about possible rentals.

If you want to have a go by yourself, try Pacific Park Ski Gardens at South Maroota (02 4579 1019), Appin Motocross Complex (www.mdmcs.com.au) or the Louee Motocross and Off-Road complex near Mudgee (www.louee.net.au).

Renting is not easy. Your best bet is probably Sydney's Motorcycle Rentals, www.motorbikehire.com.au/trail.htm. Clubman M/C Rentals offers enduro bikes; see www.clubman-motorcycle-rentals.com .

You'd probably find it more cost effective to buy a cheap second-hand trailie.

Anyway, whatever you do - have a great time!

Regards,
The Bear

Bums across the Nullarbor

Hi Bear

My husband and I are planning a trek across the Nullabor from Perth WA.

My question is, will my butt handle it?  I ride an Kawaski VN800 classic and hubby is on the Nomad.  Do you recommend any type of extra padding on the seat.  I have been reading a bit about the gel seats, but I am torn between these and a common old sheepskin.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Kind Regards

Robyn

The answer to your question, Robyn, is one word: 'AirHawk'.

Buy one of these (they're advertised in Australian Road Rider magazine) and you will thank me all your days.

Alternatively, sheepskins are okay.

The Bear
 

It tolls for thee

G'Day,

I am interested in your experience regarding "Electronic Toll Passes"  used on motorcycles.

I have recently purchased a Tourer and intend on travelling which does involve some use of toll roads.

I have toll passes for our cars but I am having difficulty in finding a suitable toll pass for the bike.

Can you help?

Craig & Wendy

Dear Craig,

I have some good news and some bad news. Leave them for a while and the good news will probably become bad news, while the bad news will become slightly better news. On balance, though, it's all bad news...

The good news is that you won't need an E-tag in Victoria, because the toll roads are free for motorcycles. However, plans are under way to change that and to charge bikes just as cars are charged. I don't know when this will be introduced, but I'd say it's pretty certain that it will happen eventually.

The bad news is that in NSW, you will need an E-tag just the same as the one you use in your car. The good - sort of - news is that there is some work being done on a bike-specific tag. As far as I know the situation in Queensland is the same.

So, for the time being you can forget about tolls in Victoria, and use your car E-tag in NSW and Queensland.

Don't fall off. Those tags are hard, and have sharp corners.

The Bear
 

Carnets [Are there bikenays, too?]

Hi Bear,

My husband and I have been travelling now in Aussie on our R1200GS for 6 months. We have brought our bike across from NZ on a carnet which only Lasts 12mths. We decided to stop for a while in Victoria over the winter and will resume our travels again in Oct. Our problem is that we have not even come close to getting around the country and would like to either extend the Carnet for another 12 months or consider importing it into Aussie as we are unsure how long this adventure will take.

What is your advice on this?

Todd & Sharon

Well, your options are limited, Kiwi.

Carnets are valid for 12 months from the date of issue for a good reason: any longer than that and you're really expected to buy the bike in whatever country you're visiting or, if possible, import it. Carnets cannot be extended except by taking the bike overseas again and arranging a new one.

There are various conditions attached to the use of carnets in Australia, including a requirement that you obtain the carnet before you bring the bike into the country. The bike must then be exported from Australia prior to or on the expiry date of the carnet.

Be careful. It is also a condition of use of a carnet in Australia that you do not leave the vehicle that is covered by a carnet in Australia while you are not here yourself. Should you do so, this is a breach of the provisions of the Customs Act 1901 and Customs Regulations 1926 and the security amount equivalent to the duty and GST will be called up by Customs from the provider of your carnet.

You'll have to try to register the bike here, but I'm not entirely sure that this will be possible: the law has changed recently and has not, to the best of my knowledge, been tested. Since it will not comply with Australian Design Rules, it is quite possible that the bike will need to be exported before your carnet runs out.

Check this with VicRoads as soon as possible. Be nice to them - they may have some leeway. Sorry I can't be the 'bearer' of more positive news, but at least you've been warned and won't just suddenly, out of the blue, get a bill for the full value of your bike plus GST!

The Bear
 

Too much choice?

G'day Bear

I've had an old XJ750 for the last couple of years and rattled around on weekends with the missus to see if we can survive a trip around Oz.

For the last few months we've been looking around for a suitable bike for the trip... trouble is, the choice seems endless!!

Anyway, I've narrowed it down to either a Goldwing, Venture, ST1300 or FJR 1300.

We'll be in no big rush and will stick pretty much to the bitumen.

My criteria for a suitable bike is:

Bulletproof reliability
Premium comfort 2 up and good ergonomics (we're in our mid 50's)
Sensible economy and range Decent handling and balance (certainly better than the XJ God love it).
Will probably keep it when the trip is over for general touring.

Can I have your thoughts please - all alternatives welcome

Cheers

Bangers

Interesting question, Bangers.

Let me start by giving you my usual recommendation when asked about what bike to buy: check out the dealers in your area, find one you'll be happy to deal with, then choose from what he or she can sell you. The dealer is actually more important than the actual model of bike. Truly.

Now to the choice, assuming you have good Honda and Yamaha dealers around.

Oh, by the way, have you considered the BMW K1200LT? It fits your requirements too. So does the R 1150 RT, but we need to keep the number under control.

Let's be objective about this when we apply your criteria:

Reliability? All five bikes should be fine.

Comfort? The GoldWing and BMW are in front, neck and neck, the Venture is next and the ST and FJR are neck and neck again, with the ST slightly ahead.

Economy and range? All of these bikes have big tanks, with the Venture the smallest by a couple of litres and the ST the biggest by four litres or so.

All will give you good touring range, provided you ride sensibly. Remember that fuel injected bikes get very thirsty when they're thrashed.

Handling and balance? The very fact that you ask about handling suggests that you intend to get up the bike every now and then. Now they are all capable of boogying (even the 'Wing, which can be very high-speed transport if you want it to be) but the FJR and ST, in that order, are well in front followed by the BMW. The Venture is a cruiser; 'nuff said.

What else would I say about these bikes? The cruise control on the Venture is a cracker. The heated seats on the K are great, and it has a CD player.

The pillion comfort on the GoldWing is outstanding and it has a CD player as well. The ST is a supreme mile muncher. The FJR is the sportiest of this group.

Which one would I take for this trip, assuming that I'd have my wife along?

Ah, there's the rub. I'd take the GoldWing, for one outstanding reason: I love that engine.

Except for that I'd take the BMW.

Happy riding!

Regards,
The Bear

Warm hands, Cold heart?

G'day guys,

I've read some of your comments about heated grips, any advice on the best ones to get (without breaking the bank of course), and where to get them. They're on ebay from the UK, but I've had trouble getting them here in SA.

Jonny

It's a bit unfair mentioning brands, Jonny, but I'll make an exception for once: I've used Oxford heated grips under really appalling conditions, and they have worked very well. They're also affordable. Your bike shop should have them (especially at this time of year). If they don't, get them to call Ficeda Imports [a division of Yamaha Motors] in Sydney.

Regards,

The Bear
 

Safe passage

Hi

I recently joined MA and am planning a trip to South America at the end of the year. I will be taking my new BMW GS and would like to know if there was any insurers who cover bikes in countries like Chile, Peru, Brazil etc?

I probably don't have a hope in hell but I thought I would ask.

Doug 72

Hi Doug,

You've started with one of the hardest questions you possibly could.

Overseas insurance is an absolute bugger, and it's worse in places like South America. There are, however, two options for you.

The first is to register your bike locally when you get over there, and take out insurance with a local company. This is not going to be easy, and you will need to make sure that the registration does not trigger redemption of your carnet de passage (I presume you're clear on the need for that), but it could be easier than the alternative.

That alternative is to get in touch with the only real international insurance agency I know, namely Michael Mandell (thank you, Dave Milligan of Get Routed motorcycle shippers for that contact). Reach them at www.motorcycleexpress.com or by e-mail at info@motorcycleservices.com

Officially they only serve US and Canadian clients, but they have been known to make an exception. There is also a limited number of countries that they will cover - check that yours are among them (here's a hint - nobody, but nobody covers Colombia at the moment as far as I know).

Good luck, and let me know how you get on!

Regards,
The Bear
 

Stuck in the Middle

Dear Bear

I am getting back into bikes after the kids have left home (finally). My last bike was a CBX550- I'd like something like it, but all the 600s I've looked at seem to be hyper sports bikes, and I don't think my back would stand it. What's a mid-sized bike out there that's right for an old codger like me?

Grant
Surry Hills, NSW

Hi Grant,

To start with, make sure that the kids don't come back by converting their rooms into a motorcycle workshop and a billiard room. Then go out and take a look at the likes of the Hyosung GT 650 range, BMW's F series or my current favourite in the class, Suzuki's GSR600. The same manufacturer also has a couple of rather plainer GS500s, also worth a look. I think you're being very sensible by starting with a moderate engine size and bike type; there's lots of time to go up in capacity and performance, if you so wish.

Regards,
The Bear

Baby, it's cold outside

Mr Thoeming

Global warming seems to work every but here in Western Victoria. God it's cold! The only trouble is that when I wear enough clothes to stay
warm, I feel like an overstuffed sausage. How do I stay warm, and still fit into my leather jacket?

'Freezing'
Hamilton, Vic

Please, no 'Mr' among motorcyclists!

Yes, 'Freez' (may I call you that?) I know what you mean. Part of the problem is the leather jacket - it's not the best way of keeping out the cold. There are a lot of textile jackets around now that do a considerably better job due to their trick membranes and such. If you want to stick with the tried and trusty 'Brando', I suggest aftermarket heated handlebar grips. Follow that up with a trip to a Katmandu or similar shop and an investment in some high-tech two part long johns. Add a sleeveless vest and you should be a long way towards keeping warm in almost any conditions. I have ridden in falling snow in more or less that outfit, and survived to tell the cool tale.

If you're rooly rooly cold (and flush with cash) take a look at BMW's heated vest or even the heated boot soles.

Regards,
The Bear

Winning at Two-Up

Hi,

I own a Suzuki SV1000 naked. [What do you own when clothed?- Ed].

I've been wondering what is best when I'm pillioning. The manual says to just put up the rear tyre pressure from 36 to 42psi and not to make any adjustments to the rear suspension. Fellow riders I ask all say that the suspension should be adjusted for a better safer ride! Any thoughts on this?

Cheers, Kirsten.

Dear Kirsten,

Finally an answer! Sorry it took so long, Kirsten, but we managed to worry a few technical people with this question. Mainly, it seems, because they don't want to contradict their manuals, which all seem to agree with the one you have!

The fact of the matter is, of course, that preload adjustment exists primarily to cope with different loads on the bike, so it seems to me that changing preload when you carry a pillion is a no-brainer.

But everyone's scared of advising you about precisely what to do, at a distance; they're worried that their comments might be misinterpreted, I think.

So I'll pass on the most common response, and endorse it: see your local dealer, and get advice about this on the spot. Once you know what to do it will be easy for you to do it each time you take a pillion along.

Regards,
The Bear

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