BEAR FACED LUCK OF THE PAW There are two kinds of people in the world: the ones who divide people into two kinds, and the ones who don’t. No, no. The ones who think they’re lucky, and the others who think they’re unlucky. Interestingly enough, exactly the same set of circumstances can confirm both kinds in their conviction.

I am one of those people for whom mechanical work is challenging. It’s not as if I haven’t done it – I owned the Shovelhead from Hell, so it’s not like I had much choice about beating it with spanners, hammers and rocks to keep it going – it’s just that I’m not all that good at it. Patience is a pre-requisite for being good at tinkering with your motorcycle. I don’t have that. So are the appropriate tools. I don’t always have them, either.

WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM WHAT YOU SAY, the letters are among the most keenly read parts of the magazine. Please try and keep letters down to no more than 300 words. Then you can read many, not just a couple. We do reserve the right to cut them and, unless you identify yourself and at least your town or suburb and state, we will print your email address instead. Please address letters to thebear@ausmotorcyclist.com.au or Australian Motorcyclist Magazine, PO Box 2066, Boronia Park NSW 2111. All opinions published here are those of the writers and we do not vouch for their accuracy or even their sanity! THE WINNER IS… For this issue, the excellent Andy Strapz AA Bagz goes to Beth Ottaway, who just wrote to us to ask where she could get a copy of the Hema Motorcycle Atlas! We’re awarding her the bag as a welcoming present from the entire motorcycle community – I hope that’s all right with you, motorcycling community? Beth, you will find that the AA Bagz is the ideal way of carrying all kinds of things on your bike, and that it will also look good and keep looking good. Andy makes them from the highest quality materials. As we say in the bike business, we use one ourselves!

I am a massive fan of long termers, such as, braided brake lines. If you don’t have a set on your bike, what are you waiting for? Venhill braided brake lines are among the best in the world, I use them on my race bike and now we have fitted a set to our long term Yamaha MT-07. In fact our bike was used as the test unit to determine length and angles of the connections.

KALGOORLIE BLASTING MINING IS NOT THE ONLY THING TO DO IN THIS TOWN This ride in the outback of WA will give you a good taste of rich red dirt. Base yourself in Kalgoorlie and enjoy this route and the little bit wilder outback nature, towns in this region have to offer. KALGOORLIE Kalgoorlie, now known as Kalgoorlie– Boulder after Kalgoorlie and Boulder joined, is a city in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. The town was founded in 1893 during the Yilgarn-Goldfields gold rush, and is located close to the so-called “Golden Mile”.

BORN IN (NOT U)SAMUMMY, WHERE DID AG BIKES COME FROM? WORDS/PHOTOS PHIL “CHIEF” LAWTON Have you ever wondered who first thought of ag bikes? I hadn’t either until I heard of a man named Frank Johns. Frank Johns just happens to be the late father of a friend of mine. Strange as it may seem, but true, his first name is the same as mine: Phil. There the similarity ends dear reader, because Phil, not this Phil, the other Phil, did not follow in his father’s wheel tracks; he is not a motor cyclist. His passion is Ford Mustangs and Chevrolet Corvettes, and he has several in his most gloriously laid out garage.

Welcome to a new section of Australian MOTORCYCLIST, highlighting some of the products and services that are sure to interest you. Manufacturers and distributors: if you have something that you think may interest our readers, just send in a photo and a few words – it’s a free service. IT’S TOOL TIME Touratech toolbox – BMW R 1200 GS/GSA Touratech has just introduced a toolbox for the popular BMW R1200GS/ R1200GS Adventure. The optimal utilisation of space on the bike allows tools, first-aid kit, breakdown kit and many other useful items to remain on the motorcycle permanently and without interfering with luggage or riding. The 4.2 litre (approx) storage space is protected against water spray and a large opening makes loading and unloading easy, even when the cases are fitted to the bike. The lid can be removed completely for easier loading, while a safety mechanism prevents the loss of items.