Sometimes the rest of the moto world forgets there’s a whole continent Down Under, cranking out riding gear, parts and other stuff that isn’t commonly found in Europe and North America. Here’s a look at some more Aussie-built products, thanks to The Bear, who actually lives down there and knows what’s going on in the country—Ed.
Keep those classics running
I have just had a note from Stephen Kelly at Tri-Spark Ignition in Adelaide, South Australia. “Bear,” he writes, “we share your passion for classic bikes and we love finding ways to keep them running better than ever. Our reputation for supplying top quality products and technical support is recognised worldwide.” I know he’s right because I used one of his ignition kits on my Triumph Hurricane, with outstanding results.
“我们很高兴nounce that the next ignition in the Compass family is now available for the Moto Guzzi,” Stephen continues. “The Compass is a high-performance ignition system to suit your classic Moto Guzzi with twin-points distributor.”
Tri-Spark also offers the Compass Ignition for the BMW Airhead Twins 1970 to 1979, Yamaha XS650 and more recently the BMW twins from 1980 to 1996, often known as BMWs ‘bean can’ ignition.
It’s all in the box! Photo: Tri-Spark
Online ordering is available for all of his products, and you will be pleased to know that he will gladly ship parts out to the United States, the UK, Europe, New Zealand and within Australia for a reasonable cost. Just have a look at the sitehttps://www.trispark.com.au/and feel free to get in touch with Stephen if you have any questions.
Naz’s Gear Roll is as tough as they come. Photo: The Bear)
These bags are Aussie strong
You know you’re onto something when the comments on a website congratulate the maker for goods bought three years ago. That’s what you get for Naz’s (Narelle Lyons’) Nazbags products. Just in case you need reminding, Australia is a tough place and Naz’s bags suit the place perfectly. I have been trying out her tool and gear rolls, and I can see why she is congratulated on the longevity of her work. The workmanship (workwomanship, really) is outstanding. It helps, too, that her extensive range of bags is made from strong, long-lasting Australian canvas
“I am a mad keen rider and camper,” she writes on her website. “But I also have a design degree so you can see where the mix works for the business. Some years ago I was riding all over our great country on my own, on a DR650 and camping most of the time… While I was travelling I was always wishing I had been able to make my own luggage… At Naz Bags we are planning an entire luggage system that is hard wearing but good looking. Pieces that work together.”
You may never have to buy another tool roll. (Photo The Bear)
See more onwww.nazbags.com.au. And yes, she will ship to just about anywhere in the world. If you have any queries, including custom orders, you can reach her at[email protected]or, for Australian customers, on the phone at 0439 724 957.
Just a quick warning for those same customers: “We do not have a physical store or facilities,” she writes. “Please do not visit the postal address (on the website) as it is protected by guard dogs and visitors are NOT welcome without an appointment.” Ha. It is Queensland, after all.
Ferris is just faking it, don’t worry. His tours leave you in good shape. Mostly.
The secret tales of tours
It is possible that some of you who are reading this have been on tour with Mike Ferris of motorcycle tour operator World On Wheels. He has been busy during the Covid-enforced travel hiatus and has at long last done what, according to him, many people have demanded over the years: he has written his first book, called ‘Free Back Issues – 27 Years on the Road’. While its title appears to have little to do with the contents, the same contents are alternatingly hilarious and horrific. You can go to the webpage,www.WorldOnWheels.tours, and order yours now.
As I wrote in the book’s introduction, “It is a good thing that Mike Ferris has kept a diary over the years he has been running his tours. Nobody could remember so many funny, outrageous and downright scary stories. We would be the poorer for it if any had been forgotten. Read the book and marvel at the things that can happen on tour, and how they can be dealt with successfully. It is just as well that what happens on tour – does not stay on tour!”
The book consists of 80,000 words and 320 pages, 70 photos and 50 plus stories from those 27 years on the road and here’s a bonus: the book weighs as much as half a brick and is therefore ideal for beating on rabid pi-dogs. That alone makes it worth the thirty Oz bucks it costs. Buy it or be sorry next time you’re in India and confronted by a rabid pi-dog.
