Kawasaki is celebrating the Z 50th Anniversary at the event on the Easter weekend of 16-17 April 2022.
The Broadford Bike Bonanza is run by the Museum and Heritage committee of Motorcycling Australia.
Organising committee member and longtime Z fan Shaun Lennard says the Z1 50th Anniversary will be a highlight of the 2022 Broadford Bike Bonanza which was one of the first events cancelled in March 2020 due to the pandemic.
Shaun Lennard
The 2021 event was also abandoned.
“But for Easter 2022, the Broadford Bonanza is back, and making the Z1 Anniversary a key part of it makes the event even more special,” he says.
The Z1 was one of the most iconic bikes of the 1970s and starred in the first Mad Max film as well as Stone.
Kawasaki Motors Australia spokesman Robert Walker says the Z family of bikes “shaped motorcycling in Australia”.
“The Z1 was the first of our machines to bear the Z moniker,” he says.
“Through the years, Z motorcycles have established themselves as icons of performance and style.
“The 1972 Kawasaki 900 super4 (Z1) is embedded in motorcycling history.”
Kawasaki Z900RS and Z900RS Cafe
The current Z line-up includes the pocket-sized Z125 Pro, the learner-approved Z650, Z900, the retro Z900RS, the Z1000, the supercharged Z H2 and the new addition for 2022, Z650RS.
The 50th Anniversary Edition models, Z650, Z650RS, Z900, Z900RS, come in heritage colours “Incandescent Fireball” and “Firecracker Red”.
Organisers are aiming to attract not only a large number of Z1s, Z1As, Z1Bs and Z900s for display, but are also hoping the event will draw a wide range of all Z-series bikes, from Z250s to Z1300s.
You can find out more via the Broadford Bike Bonanza’sFacebook page.
Riders and fans of Moto Guzzi are invited to taste Italian cuisine and motorbikes at the inaugural Festival of Moto Guzzi on 11-13 March.
The event will be held on large acreage in the beautiful rolling hills around Yea, Victoria, just 1.5 hours north of Melbourne.
A highlight of the weekend will be the opening of the Cathedral of Moto Guzzi which houses the largest collection of the Italian marque’s motorcycles in the Southern Hemisphere.
Moto Guzzi Cathedral
It was assembled over five years by a small group of passionate Moto Guzzi enthusiasts.
It features the private collection of more than 170 Moto Guzzi motorcycles owned by Moto Guzzi doyen, Teo Lamers, who describes himself as a “motorcycle-racist”.
Teo Lamers of the Moto Guzzi Cathedral
“There are many better bikes however you want to look at it, but, to me, a Moto Guzzi is more than just a bike,” he says.
“I know the people who make them. I know the village where they live. I know the restaurants. I’ve been going there for so long. I know how important the factory has been for Italy, for Mandello, to survive after the war.
“It’s the Italian culture, the language, the food, it’s the whole package. Italians are warm-blooded. They have this passion.
“I bought my first Moto Guzzi – a second-hand V700 from 1967 – at the age of about 19. I still remember when I started it up and feeling the engine go ‘boom, boom, boom, boom’. I rode it home and just fell in love with Moto Guzzi the brand from there.
“Riding a Moto Guzzi is a completely different feeling. The DNA of 100 years is in today’s range. The bikes are still exclusive. If you ride one, it draws people’s attention. You don’t get that with other brands.”
The Cathedral’s display is set over three levels with bikes grouped by model semblance to highlight the mechanical evolution. They are also developing a library and bar/café.
The Cathedral is open to the public for guided tours by appointment.
Meanwhile, the three-day Festival of Moto Guzzi includes:
Test rides of the latest Moto Guzzi range, including the V7 Special, V9 Bobber Centenario and V85 TT Travel
A rare opportunity to test ride a variety of classic Moto Guzzi models provided by Teo Lamers Motorcycles. These include a 1934 500 GTS; a 1947 250 Airone; a 1949 and 1951 Super Alce as well as a pair of Ercole, or Hercules, commercial models from the late 1950s – a shuttle bus and a hydraulic tipper with an Ariasi cabin. All bike tests are subject to availability.
Live entertainment from Mojo Mafia (Friday night) and Stoked (Saturday night)
After a false start in 2019, the Dubbo Motor Bike Rally in central NSW returns this May after a two-year pandemic hiatus.
Dubbo Motor Bike Rally Committee spokesman Wayne Amor says the region is the perfect place for a large motorcycle rally.
He has hopes to turn it into Australia’s version of the world’s largest rally, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.
The free event will be held in Talbragar Street from 6-8May.
On the Saturday there will be a motorcycle festival with free bike parking from 8am to 6pm in “Bike Street” which is between Macquarie and Darling streets.
“Bike Street”
“The aim of the rally is to promote safe riding and foster all the great things that riding a bike provides – fun, freedom and camaraderie,” Wayne says.
“We have invited the MCC of NSW, are in negotiations with the RMS Motorcycle Safety Unit and the NSW Police Force will be in attendance, as well as many other motorcycle related industries and outlet stalls.”
Highlights include Lucky Kieser’s Merlin V-twin-powered trike and his new salt lake drag bike.
Wayne says Dubbo has many pubs, clubs and restaurants that welcome riders.
A detailed list of entertainment options will be provided on the Dubbo Motor Bike Rally Facebook page as the event gets closer.
Event Communications Coordinator Brad Moffett confirms the event is still planned to go ahead despite current Covid lockdown restrictions.
“Yes we are planning for the event to go ahead and are monitoring the developing Covid situation and health orders affecting regional NSW,” he says.
“Registrations are good. We are over 1600 registered now for the full four-day event.”
While registrations for the full four days are now closed, single day tickets are still available.
The event, to be held across the October long weekend from Friday 1 to Monday 4 October, is based on the successful 2015 National HOG Rally but open to all “breeds” of motorcycle.
Brad says that if ticket holders cannot attend the event due to border closures or Public Health Orders that prevent travel, organisers will offer the option of a full refund or a credit to use the ticket at the 2022 rally scheduled for Friday 30 September to Monday 3 October.
“We will update registered riders as this develops,” Brad says.
The rally will include bikes, music, food and entertainment and is open to individual riders, club members and organised groups representing all motorcycle manufacturer brands.
The event will feature live music on the Thunder Stage reliving the sights and sounds of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s, a National Thunder Horse Spectacular, trade sites, food stalls and licensed bars.
2015 Tamworth HOG rally horse spectacular
A motorbike parade through the streets and surrounds called the National Thunder Rally Run will close out the event.
The New South Wales Harley Davidson Owners Group (HOG) will also hold their State Rally in conjunction with the National Thunder Rally.
Riders will again take over the Australian Equestrian and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC) which was the successful venue for the 2015 national HOG rally.
2015 HOG Rally in Tamworth
There will also be guided rides throughout the Tamworth region including Nundle, Bendemeer, Barraba and Manilla.
Glamping and BYO camping options are available on-site.
The announcement this week of an Australia Royal Commission into veteran and serving defence member suicides has prompted organisers of a motorcycle rally to amend their plans.
The planned rally on Saturday, 24 April at 11am on the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne will now become a vigil to “show respect to those veterans who have taken their lives and the family and friends affected”.
Motorcycle riders have had a long association with the defence forces in many countries. In fact, it was returned servicemen fromWorld War II who sought adrenalin and started many motorcycle clubs which are still going strong today.
Many returned servicemen find the camaraderie, adrenalin and mindfulness of riding to be helpful in handling post traumatic stress disorder.
Organisers say riders need to show the Federal Government that now that the Royal Commission is called they will be making sure “every stage is done properly including the follow-up of the terms of reference, recommendations followed up”.
It will begin with a free ride from the BP at the Southbound Service Centre in Scoresby from 9am on Saturday. All riders and supporters are invited to attend
Rider will head to the Shrine of Remembrance before leaving at 10.30am for Parliament House.
(All images from Veterans MC Victoria Chapter Facebook page)
Australia’s country music capital, Tamworth, will host the inaugural National Thunder Motorcycle Rally in October 2021 based on the successful 2015 National HOG Rally, but open to all “breeds” of motorcycle.
Now, the rally is back on and registrations are open for the event held across the October long weekend from Friday 1 to Monday 4 October.
The rally will include bikes, music, food and entertainment and is open to individual riders, club members and organised groups representing all motorcycle manufacturer brands, says Barry Harley, National Thunder Event Manager.
“We’re really excited for Tamworth to provide the opportunity for riders to get back on their bikes and onto the road after a difficult year,” he says.
The event will feature live music on the Thunder Stage reliving the sights and sounds of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s, a National Thunder Horse Spectacular, trade sites, food stalls and licensed bars.
2015 Tamworth HOG rally horse spectacular
A motorbike parade through the streets and surrounds called the National Thunder Rally Run will close out the event.
“Regardless of what club or brand you’re aligned with, National Thunder is about getting back out there with mates, sharing the passion of the motorcycle community and putting on a great show,” Barry says.
“To add to the excitement of our inaugural event, we’re thrilled to announce that the New South Wales Harley Davidson Owners Group (HOG) have indicated that they intend to hold their State Rally in conjunction with the National Thunder Rally.”
HOG Regional Director (NSW/ACT) Ken McDonald says the merger had been considered for some time.
“Harley Davidson enthusiasts and HOG Chapters are set to flock to Tamworth from all corners of the State to take part in one of the most anticipated events of our riding calendar. Riders will enjoy a phenomenal line-up of entertainment, Chapter challenges and guided rides,” Ken says.
Riders will again take over the Australian Equestrian and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC) which was the successful venue for the 2015 national HOG rally.
2015 HOG Rally in Tamworth
“Its sheer size means it’s the perfect space to offer up unforgettable entertainment whilst ensuring there’s plenty of room for patrons on-site as they move between scheduled offerings,” Ken says.
“Our HOG members had a blast in 2015 and we can’t wait to come back to AELEC for another memorable rally.”
There will also be guided rides throughout the Tamworth region including Nundle, Bendemeer, Barraba and Manilla.
Registration is now open at $149, and includes rally merchandise, access to all rides and entertainment across the weekend, and an entry into the Rally Raffle supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern NSW.
Glamping and BYO camping options are available on-site.
Event organisers are planning for a COVID Safe event, and will continue to monitor State and Federal Government recommendations and regulations.
The 16th BSA National Rally will be held in the officially declared Motorcycle Friendly Town of Crows Nest in South East Queensland this weekend (15-18 October 2020).
Despite the COVID border closures, the BSA Owners Club of Queensland still expects more than 60 members to show off their bikes.
There are four BSA branches Australia wide in South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland with national rallies held in turn. The last rally was held in SA with about 100 attendees.
The Queensland branch has been going for 17 years.
They are inviting motorcyclists to ride up the scenic Hampton Range on Saturday to see the free display of rare and expensive machinery at the rally headquarters in Crows Nest Tourist Park Qld from 3.30pm to 4.30pm.
The oldest bike is likely from around 1915.
They are also hoping to see a 1953 Super flash BSA on display, likely to be one of the most valuable. The rarest BSA could well be the Speedway BSA.
A big rally dinner is being held on the Saturday night.
Crows Nest was named Queensland’s second Motorcycle Friendly Town in 2017 and has become a motorcyclist Mecca with several motorbike events to be held in the town over the next two weeks and into next year.
The town has since a good social media presence, substantial motorcycle parking in the centre of town and handy brochures, videos and online resources to encourage more riders to the area.
The town is only 90 minutes’ ride from Brisbane and about 2-3 hours from the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.
Highlights are fabulous roads, great scenery, bike friendly cafes, pubs, and accommodation.
For example, Crows Nest Tourist Park has 28 cabins and more than 150 powered and un-powered sites along with an onsite restaurant and café, The Curly Carrot.
The park is popular with motorcycle clubs as it has a club house catering for more than 150 people and a mini club house for 40.
So what is the fallout from the 80th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rallylast week, the biggest mass gathering in the world since the pandemic was declared?
Organisers had predicted attendance would be about 250,000, down from an annual average of almost half a million.
However, official figures are 365,979 which is only about 7% down on the previous year. Fewer people aged 60-70 attended as this is the age group statistically most vulnerable to COVID-19.
It seems many riders chose to thumb their noses at the pandemic.
This is despite 63% of the town’s citizens voting not to hold the rally. It went ahead anyway after a gift wholesaler in nearby Rapid City threatened to sue the council.
The world’s media was there to record the event, leaving some scratching their heads and others cheering for freedom.
Rally fallout
The fallout in infection rates and deaths is yet to come as the incubation period ranges from two to 14 days.
However, the damage to motorcycling’s image may already have been done.
One of the results of the rally in the small town of Sturgis is that many of the 7000 residents, especially the elderly, will now go into a 14-day lockdown.
Robert Pandya, a motorcycle industry veteran and founder of the GiveAShift motorcycling lobby group that initiated the fund drive, says they had hoped to raise $US8000.
Instead, they raised $15,750 online and collected an additional $1408 in cash along Lazelle St during the rally in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
That’s a total of $17,158 from motorcyclists and motorcycle brands both attending and electing to skip the rally.
”This was wild and completely unexpected,” says Jamie Helms, manager of the Sturgis Meals on Wheels program. “Due to COVID-19 some of our donations coming in have slowed down in the past few months, this fundraiser from the motorcycle community will help so many here in Sturgis! I am overwhelmed by the generosity!”
Riders in the Black Hills of South Dakota
While the number of infections and deaths from the spread of coronavirus is not known, we do know that there were 50 crashes reported over the 10 days of the rally.
That’s up from 41 last year.
There were four fatal crashes with five people sadly losing their lives.
Riders are being asked to help raise $US8000 for Meals on Wheels to service senior citizens who will be advised to home quarantine after the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.
Robert Pandya, a motorcycle industry veteran and founder of the GiveAShift initiative that initiated the fund drive, says “motorcyclists are incredibly generous”.
The fund-raising project should go some of the way to dispelling the image of riders flouting social distancing and risking the spread of the coronavirus through the community and taking it back home when they return after the nine-day rally.
Organisers expect about 250,000 to attend the rally which is half the usual crowd.
Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen says they have increased cleaning schedules and cancelled many group activities. Following the rally, a mass Covid-19 testing program will be held.
Michael Osterholm, head of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, says the rally could cause a major virus spread.
“Come mid-August to late August, early September, Sturgis will have one hell of an imprint on this country,” he says.
Senior citizens
Meanwhile, the Sturgis Meals on Wheels (SMoW) program has already been stretched thin by the pandemic increasing need and reducing resources, says manager Jamie Helms.
“With the uncertainty of the world right now, our seniors depend on us just so that they don’t have to worry about leaving their homes where they feel safe,” he says.
“With our ageing population taking the city advice to quarantine for a couple of weeks after the rally, we are a needed service now more than ever, but we will get it done as we always do.”
Cash donations will be accepted under the blue tent at 1230 Lazelle St between 2-5pm from today (8 August) until next Saturday.
Click here for the official GoFundMe page for those who chose not to attend the event.
“We respect any riders who choose not to come to the event due to Covid, but encourage them to ‘donate a tank’ to thank and help the local seniors who have seen the rally become the most famous of its kind in the world,” Robert says.
“Supporting the Sturgis Meals on Wheels program is a natural fit for any biker and will have a hugely positive impact for local senior citizens.”
Motorcycle riders are about to inherit a bad reputation around the world as hundreds of thousands crowd into the 80th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rallythis weekend.
As riders start to roll into the town, organisers predict attendance will be about 250,000, down from an annual average of almost half a million.
Yet it will still be the biggest crowd of people in the one place in the world since the pandemic was declared six months ago.
That will be a tremendous black mark against motorcyclists everywhere and already America and the world’s media is massing in the small town to record the spectacle.
Vendors
The number of vendors is down from about 700-800 to 330 as some companies decide it is not worth risking the health of workers nor the associated bad image.
Harley-Davidson employees are forbidden to travel so they will not be there but will have a lot of signage at the event.
Meanwhile, Indian Motorcycle will be on hand offering demo rides.
The company vaguely claim they will do it “in a way that keeps them safe and makes sure we are keeping employees and the dealership employees safe when they are interacting”.
Crowd checks
Riders in the Black Hills of South Dakota
Town leaders say they will be handing out masks, advising social distancing and offering testing to the crowd but it is doubtful many of the freedom-loving riders will comply.
They say there is little likelihood of transmission in the outdoors event, although a lot of the activities do take place in close quarters and in clubs, hotels and inside venues.
Currently South Dakota is recording about 75 new cases a day and increasing.
In April, the Smithfield pork processing plant in Sioux Falls became what was then the nation’s largest coronavirus hot spot when more than 600 staff contracted the virus.
Death projections for the state are 250 by December 1 as restrictions ease. That could be reduce to 180 if masks were made mandatory.
However, South Dakota is among several states that has not locked down nor made masks mandatory.
Those projections for deaths don’t take into account the Sturgis rally.
Nor do they show how the virus can be spread in other states and countries as rally goers head home, taking the infection with them.
As this becomes evident, the stigma that motorcyclists have spread the virus will taint riders everywhere.
Vote against rally
Of the 7000 Sturgis citizens, 63% voted not to hold the rally, but a gift wholesaler in nearby Rapid City threatened to sue the council.
Sturgis City Council member Terry Keszler says they should have postponed or cancelled the rally in March.
However, Doreen Allison Creed, Meade County commissioner who represents Sturgis, says the county lacked the authority to shut down the rally because much of it takes place on state-licensed campgrounds.
“We are either going to be a great success story or failure,” she says.
“I truly believe it could not have been stopped.”
The state’s Department of Tourism has estimated that the annual festival generates about $800 million in revenue.
Warning
Neighbouring Minnesota Department of Health commissioner Jan Malcolm called the decision to go ahead with the event “disappointing”.
Malcolm and other state public health leaders have warned that the rally could be a potential petri dish for spreading the virus here and across the nation.
Michael Osterholm, head of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, says the rally could cause a major virus spread.
“Come mid-August to late August, early September, Sturgis will have one hell of an imprint on this country,” he says.
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