Table of contents
- Complete Alpine Masters 2016 for download 20 bikes, 58 pages, 6.99 euros
- Alpine scoring and special stages
- Preliminary round with 20 motorcycles
- Alpine Masters groups 2016
- Alpen Masters final: in a class of its own
Photo: www.factstudio.de
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Off we go in Europe’s number 1 motorcycle mecca, in the Alps. 20 motorcycles compete in 5 groups for the title of Alpine King 2016.
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Triumph Thruxton …
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and Yamaha XSR 900.
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The Adventure Bikes will be represented at the 2016 Alpen Masters by …
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Aprilia Caponord 1200 rally, …
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Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro, …
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Honda CRF 1000 L Africa Twin …
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and Triumph Tiger Explorer XRT.
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Last, but not least: The sport / touring group at the 2016 Alpine Masters. Namely, they are …
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Ducati 959 Panigale, …
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Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, …
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Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer, …
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BMW R nineT, …
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For Modern Classics, the 2016 Alpen-Masters will field: …
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In the group “Easy going” compete: …
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Honda CB 500 F., …
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Kawasaki Z 300, …
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Suzuki SV 650 …
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… and Yamaha MT-03.
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The naked bike group is made up of …
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Ducati Monster 1200 R, …
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KTM 690 Duke, …
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MV Agusta Brutale 800 …
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and Triumph Speed Triple S.
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And no, we don’t let shaky weather discourage us!
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The curves are swept and the hairpin bends are allowed – the big comparison test can begin!
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and Suzuki GSX-S 1000 F.
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KTM 1290 Super Duke GT …
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All the results of the 2016 Alpine Master can be found in the MOTORRAD issues 15, 16 and 17/2016. We wish you as much friends reading as we had while testing!
motorcycles
Complete Alpine Masters 2016 for download
Complete Alpine Masters 2016 for download
20 bikes, 58 pages, 6.99 euros
No, life jackets and life buoys were not necessary at the 2016 Alpine Masters. But heavy downpours and cold sleet showers transformed the Dolomites around the impressive Pordoi Pass into a soaking wet challenge for people and machines.
Eva Breutel, Johannes Muller, Gert Thole
07/07/2016
The 55-page download PDF includes all three parts of the Alpine Masters from the MOTORRAD issues 15, 16 and 17/2016.
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Alpine Masters 2016
Ahoy, Pordoi!
58 pages) as PDF
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At the MOTORRAD-Alpen-Masters, the largest motorcycle comparison test in the world, 20 machines fight for the title of King of the Alps. The venue for the preliminary round was once again the Dolomites, which, however, behaved unusually wild in this cold, wet June. Heavy downpours and low temperatures presented drivers and photographers with difficult tasks, because pictures of wet gray mountain peaks don’t really look good. In addition, even professionals should rather explore the technical limits of motorcycles in the dry.
But contrary to the catastrophic weather forecasts – which, as we have also learned, should only be trusted to a limited extent – the Dolomites ultimately fulfilled all of our hopes. They gave us a few brilliant mornings to test and take photos, which is why we are happy to forgive them that the heavy rain showers in the afternoon turned some mountain passes into downright slides. The reward for the effort: In the constant search for the hole in the cloud cover, we unwound more kilometers than in sunnier years, got to know the motorcycles even better and tested their skills particularly intensively on wet mountain and valley railways.
Alpine scoring and special stages
In order to work out the qualities of the motorcycles in the mountains, MOTORRAD is changing the evaluation scheme for the Alpine Masters. Instead of the usual 1000 points in tests, we only award 500 points in the Alps. Criteria such as guarantee, maintenance costs and top speed are irrelevant here.
The driving dynamics are even more important than usual, because they are what count in the heated ups and downs of the Dolomite passes between Marmolada and Sella, between Langkofel and Rosengarten. Above all, they decide whether a motorcycle should see itself as an alpine athlete or rather as a flatland Tyrolean. The most important criteria include steering precision and handling, because tight and angled switchbacks are just as much a part of the Alpine carousel as well-developed, crisp bends. These and other points are also evaluated in advance in special tests.
The brakes are of immense importance in the mountains, especially downhill, of course, which is why a special alpine stage is all about deceleration skills with passengers. Unmoved, test driver Karsten Schwers pushes every motorcycle to the physical limits and that of his co-driver often to the psychological limits. Alpine brake measurements often end in a steep stoppie – which means that the motorcycle in question is deducted points.
The pulling power, which is measured twice at the Alpine Masters, is also highly relevant for the alpine fun factor: uphill with a passenger, which corresponds to accelerating from the hairpin, and solo at an altitude of 2,000 meters – because who wants to starve to death while overtaking the engine struggles for breath high up in the air?
Preliminary round with 20 motorcycles
At the Alpine Masters, 20 motorcycles start in five groups. Each model only gets one chance. This means that there are essentially new or revised models of the current year, supplemented by individual motorcycles that have never been included for whatever reason. This applies, for example, to the BMW R nineT, which was left out in view of the flood of new boxers in the previous year. In the preliminary round in the Dolomites, the testers choose a winner in each of these five groups.
Alpine Masters groups 2016
- Easy Going (MOTORRAD 15/2016): Honda CB 500 F, Kawasaki Z 300, Suzuki SV 650, Yamaha MT-03
- Naked bikes (MOTORRAD 15/2016): Ducati Monster 1200 R, KTM 690 Duke, MV Agusta Brutale 800, Triumph Speed Triple S.
- Modern classics (MOTORRAD 16/2016): BMW R nineT, Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer, Triumph Thruxton, Yamaha XSR 900
- Adventure (MOTORRAD 16/2016): Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally, Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro, Honda Africa Twin, Triumph Tiger Explorer XRT
- Sport / touring (MOTORRAD 16/2016): Ducati 959 Panigale, Kawaskai ZX-10R, KTM 1290 Super Duke GT, Suzuki GSX-S 1000 F
Alpen Masters final: in a class of its own
These group winners will advance to the final (MOTORRAD 17/2016), where they will fight for the title Alpen-Master 2016 with the reigning mountain king, the BMW R 1200 RS, in the Valle d’Aosta. Testers from partner magazines from all over Europe travel to the finals to choose the new King of the Alps together with MOTORRAD.
The special thing about victory and defeat is that there are no points that decide, but the subjective assessments of the test drivers. Long test rounds, hot discussions and a lot of topics to talk about are guaranteed. We look forward to it – but would like a little less water from above.
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