ROAD NEWS
BURT MUNRO CHALLENGE LOCKED FOR 2021
I
t’s back for the 15th year running! Organisers including beach racing, the Bluff hillclimb, road
of the Invercargill based Burt Munro Challenge racing and speedway events all in honour of
have announced the event will once again Invercargill’s most famous former resident.
return in February of 2021 - particularly the week The sporting side of the event attracts top
of February 10-14.
New Zealand riders as well as all the weekend
In the world of Covid-19, it’s a refreshing change warriors, all provided with a variety of exciting
to hear of an event locked in rather than cancelled, events, fantastic entertainment, and famous
particularly an event as large as ‘The Burt’. Passes southern hospitality.
for the event will become available on October 1 With the event moving to a February
via the burtmunrochallenge.co.nz website. timeslot since 2018 (as opposed to the
The Burt Munro Challenge has been an annual previous November slot which was plagued
event on the motorcycling calendar since 2006 with inclement weather) it’s the perfect time
and followed the success of the film The World’s of year to work in plenty of exploration of the
Fastest Indian starring Sir Anthony Hopkins. motorcycling playground that is the South
Run by the Southland Motorcycle Club, The Island of New Zealand.
Burt not only features a well attended rally, but
also a wide range of motorcycle sporting events
BIG BORE BENELLI ON THE WAY
T
he first non-LAMS addition to the modern otherwise high spec of components found on
Benelli lineup is on the way, with the stylish the new Benelli, compromises clearly would
new Benelli 752S sporting a sharp price as have had to be found.
well as new levels of performance for the brand. Set to be available in four different colours
Priced at just $13,490, the 752S brings with it including Green (Verde), Black (Nero), White
a lot of premium features including Brembo (Bianco) and Red (Rosso) as we’ve seen on the
brakes, 50mm Marzocchi fork and a new rest of Benelli’s range LED lighting and a digital
750cc parallel-twin engine to put the new display make up the main electronic features,
middleweight head and shoulders above its with the now mandatory ABS backing up the
500cc stablemates in terms of performance. dual front 320mm disc and 260mm rear disc
That performance comes in the form of 75hp braking combo.
(56kW) produced at 8500rpm, while peak As is the case with Benelli Australia and New
torque is stated as 67Nm at 6500rpm.
Zealand’s other models, the new 752S will also
Those might not sound like earth-shattering be backed by a two-year unlimited-kilometre
numbers, but they are enough to nudge the warranty with 24/7 roadside assistance to
reigning King of the naked 700 class - Yamaha’s assuage any fears in regards to reliability.
689cc MT-07 - for peak power output, though Based on our experience with the Leoncino
interestingly the larger capacity Benelli produces 500, we’re really looking forward to finding
1Nm less of claimed peak torque.
out just how dynamic the new 750cc package
One area the 752S appears to show off Benelli’s from Benelli is. With its price of under $14,000
old school approach to materials is in the weight and that gorgeous Italian styling, it looks to be
department, with the bike tipping the scales an incredible value prospect for a European
at a claimed 217kg dry. But for the money and designed machine.
KIWI RIDER 17