January/February 2016

Everything old is new again

and aint that grand?

How

many times have you mused how good it

would be to find a new old bike.

ride some-

one forgot about, leaving in its crate in a shed

protected from the elements and the ravages of

time. so new it was still wrapped in grease paper

and the tyres still had the nipples on?

Well

it appears you were not

alone, and that is ex-

actly what the crew at

Janus Motorcycles is
about. See their story
starting on Page 2.

PO Box 2071 Mildura 3500

Club

office bearers

President
Jack McCarthy
jacmac@ncable.com.au

Vice president
Ian Kinleyside
Ikinleys@bigpond.net.au

Secretary
Chris Sibley
christophersibley@iinet.net.au

Treasurer
graeme brown

grbrown1@internode.on.net

Vehicle

inspectors

Ron Brown
brownrg@bigpond.net.au

John Stephens
stevo583@bigpond.com

Alan Tarr
tarrs@ncable.com.au

chatter editor
grant maynard

grant.m.maynard@gmail.com
Contributions to our club newsletter
are always welcome. This month I
thank Danny Curran, for his input
and assistance.

Danny Curran to Janus Motorcycles

Hi,
Have you sold any bikes in Australia?
How long have these bikes been in production?
Danny
Janus Motorcycles to Danny Curran
Danny,
Thanks for writing in! I dont believe we have any bikes in Australia at this point.
Its certainly been nearly the most interested non-US country as far as interest goes
(Im sure theres a clearer way to say that, but I think you get what Im saying).
We JUST started production on our 250 line. The first ones are rolling out any day
now. Before we started our 250s, weve been in production with 50cc two-strokes for
about 4 years. 250s are much easier to pass emissions standards in the US, and were
working to preserve the small bike magic that we love with the new four-strokes.
Wed love to get bikes overseas as soon as possible. Emissions clearance here will
help with that, which should be clear by summer. Well keep you updated with our
progress!
Thanks,
Grant (one of the Janus guys)

The Janus story

ACCORDING to the crew at Janus Motorcycles, their company was founded
on the belief that the spirit of motorcycling is best understood on a small,
lightweight machine, and that honoring timeless styling cues from motorcycling
history isnt antithetical to modern engineering and performance.
Janus Motorcycles provide riders with a more powerful sensation of speed
and a more direct connection with both the road and the passing landscape
than is possible with many of todays motorcycle designs.
Janus Motorcycles are proudly hand crafted in America. The design and
manufacturing process developed by Janus in northern Indiana is focused
on the highest level of design, quality, and performance. This approach
mandates a motorcycle different from any others made today and guarantees a
fundamental simplicity of operation and maintenance, making possible a closer
relationship between owner and machine.
All fabricated parts of our motorcycles are made within about 20 miles of our
facility, with specialty cast parts such as the engine and brakes sourced from
the best suppliers we could find for our purposes

Continued
The first for 2016: The world
is returning to normal after the
Christmas/New Year break...
and thats worth a sigh of relief.
Have a great year and enjoy your
motorcycling.

PO Box 2071 Mildura 3500

next page

The Janus Motorcycles story

From

previous page

Our philsophy is that motorcycles

are like architecture. That is they
must be beautiful, functional and
made to last.
Form and function are inextricably
paired in a way we seldom see
anywhere else.
What is it about motorcycles that is
so captivating?
That makes the experience of
riding so wonderfully invigorating?
We are convinced that
motorcycles, in order to provide
the perfect ride, must not only be
functional, but also beautiful and
well-made- perfectly fitted to their
purpose.
Motorcycles are not primarily
about efficiency, but about an
experience.
Many manufacturers during
the golden age of motoring took
advantage of their small scale and
flexibility to develop sophisticated,
balanced machines and, at the same
time, were able to acquire their
power trains and transmissions from
specialty manufacturers known for
their quality and reliability.
Like them, we find a great
deal of satisfaction by bringing
in proven specialty components
and concentrating our attention
on providing a superior chassis, a
balanced riding position, and the
highest levels of finish and quality.
Apart from a few cast aluminum
and electronic components,
everything on the bike is
manufactured within about 20 miles
of our shop, allowing us to focus on
the handling and high level of quality
that are the hallmark of a Janus
motorcycle.
The past has a lot m ore tell us
than the future, simply because its
already happened!
Our architectural interests have
led us to look for inspiration in the
traditions of classical design. We

approach our work as a special

challenge: to achieve the clarity of
form fostered by the best of smallscale manufacturing and to recapture
the drama powered by movement
though the American landscape.
We are interested in the great
machines made by our predecessors
as models of concise beauty and
terse simplicity. The bikes made in
our small American factory arent
replicas; they are contemporary,
practical machines that celebrate the
art of motorcycle design over the last
century.

reality of manufacturing and the ideal

of design.
The result is a ever-approachingperfect correspondence between
form and function.
Our manufacturing process also
guarantees a fundamental simplicity
of operation and maintenance,
making possible a closer relationship
between rider and machine.
For us, the spirit of motorcycling
is best understood on a small,
lightweight machine, like the
majority of bikes produced over the
course of the last century. The rider

The traditional and laborintensive process of hand production

permits Janus to recreate the
endlessly rewarding connections
between motorcycle form and rider
experience.
The design and manufacturing
process developed by Janus in
northern Indiana involves small
production runs focusing on
the highest level of quality and
performance.
This approach mandates a
motorcycle different from any others
made today. The processes involved
in the mass manufacture of most
motorcycles dictate most aspects of
their design. As a result, the industry
is subservient to the lowest common
denominator in marketing and cost.
We aim, in contrast, to achieve
the closest fit possible between the

observes a more powerful sensation

of speed and feels a more direct
connection with both the road and
the the passing landscape than the
occupants of automobiles or many
of the heavier and higher-powered
motorcycles common today.
The experience of the roadacceleration and terrain cannot
be more directly experienced in any
other way. We are building machines
for men and women who love the
freedom, joy, and mobility that a
motorcycle allows, especially if they
can work on them themselves.
Janus would like to encourage
a younger, broader generation of
American riders and to achieve this
by producing beautiful and practical
small-displacement motorcycles.

Continued

next page

The Janus Motorcycles story

From

previous page

THE HALCYON 250 honors designs from

American motorbikings golden age. A lean and
long tank design, full-grain saddle seat, leading-link
front suspension, and a powerful 250cc singlecylinder engine create a sense of connection with
the motorcycle and road not found in any other
production motorcycle today.
The Janus Halcyon starts at US$7800.

Built with the caf racer in mind, the PHOENIX

250takes its styling cues from Grand Prix
motorcycles of the 50s and 60s.
Constructed around the signature Janus
featherbed chassis, which was inspired by Norton
Manxes of the 1950s, the Phoenix is our take on a
more aggressive look with a focus on handling and
performance.
The Janus Phoenix starts at US$8200.

Nuts and bolts

February meeting date change
Please note in your diaries that the
March meeting has been brought
forward to Sunday the 20th, so as not
to clash with Easter.
There was some concern
expressed that the change will have
the meeting clash with the annual
Black Dog Ride.
This, president Jack said, was
unavoidable and individuals will have
to make a choice.
The mid-month ride date for
February will remain unchanged.
Website coming along
Our club has its own website. It is
up and running, but is in its infancy.
.. that is to say there is a lot more
information to be included on the site
in the near future.
Club member and IT specialist
Richard Waters will work with our
editor Grant Maynard, and the club
executive, to add a host of new
features and material to the site in
coming months.

Notes from the last meeting

Youll find it at www.shmc.org.au/.

The plan is to make club information
more accessible to our members.
Soon to be included features
include a newsletter archive and
PDFs of standard club forms,
including bike registration requests
and change of personal detail forms.
These can be filled in on-line, and
then printed out to be handed in at a
monthly meeting, or emailed to the
appropriate office bearer.
Healthy bottom line
Our club is in a healthy financial
position. As of the 31.01.16, the club
had a bank balance of $10, 995.60.
Worth a trip to Brim
Several club members have made
the trip to Brim recently to check
out the large murals painted on the
towns towering grain silos.
It is, those that have seen it say
well worth a butchers hook.
Maybe a club ride for the future?
It is a two-and-a-half hour trip or

234 kilometres down the Calder and

Sunraysia Highways.
Meander reminder
For those who have not diary-dated
it, the clubs Meander ride is on again
in 2016 on the weekend of May 14 &
15.
Anyone who is will to help in
any way to stage the event should
contact president Jack who is
presently working on the paperwork
for the event.
Douglas Rally
Another date for your diary. The
SHMCC agreed to help stage
the national Douglas rally on the
weekend (beginning Friday) of
October 8,9,10 and 11th. Once
again, help is being sought from club
members to help stage the event.
There is no national Douglas club,
so owners will be using the SHMCC
umbrella to stage the event and
make it official. Once again, president

Continued

next page

Nuts and bolts

From

previous page

Jack is on top of the details as they

stand. There will, of course, be more
to come on this in the future.
Babes on bikes
For the female members of the club,
they might want to check out the
gender specific website for women
riders at www.2wheelbabes.com.
According to the website, RIGHT,
the group hosts Babe Raids
weekend rallies that celebrate
women who love motorcycles and
support not only the motorcycling
community, but also the local
community where they are staged,
and charity too!
You dont have to have a bike
to come to the Babe Raid, but you
will want one when you leave, the
promotional material says.
There are two raids planned
for 2016. The first is atByron Bay,
the home of the original Babe
Raid, from the 9th to the 12th of
September.
The second is much closer to
home at Echuca, from the 4th to the
7th of November.
For more information log onto the
website.
Early bird bookings are being
taken now, and there is a host of
good oil on the site.
Music by the Lake
The Cullulleraine Exposed Music
Festival is a community-based, notfor-profit, family friendly, fun, folk
and acoustic roots festival. It will
be held on the banks of the iconic
Lake Cullulleraine, Bushmans Rest
Caravan Park.
As well as musical entertainment
there will be scores of childrens
activities, displays, demonstrations,
food stalls, art, environmental and
musical workshops. Camping is
available at the Caravan Park.
Entrance fee is $10.00/person/day
or $15.00/person/2 days.

Notes from the last meeting

For further information visit our

website www.cullulleraineexposed.
com.au or call Colleen on 0427 236
462.
SHMCC member Marty Deacon
told the January meeting our club
had been invited to display a
selection of members bikes as part of
the festival and encouraged people
to attend as both a member of the
club and to be part of the festival.

Jane to get your coffee at Hudaks,

and because Bob Jane is not open
Sundays, we will not be interfering
with anyones business, president
Jack said.
There was also another suggestion
that maybe another meeting place
might be more suitable.
This was howled down by those
that like their coffee prior to setting
off.

I went last year, and it was a very

good weekend, Marty said.

Members are asked to respect the

pet shop owners wishes, and not to
park outside his store in the future.

Pet Shop parking

Judging by the reaction of some
members at the latest meeting, the
issue of parking outside the 15th
Street Pet Shop before take-off
for the mid-month ride might be
considered trivial.
The owner of the store has asked
that club members/riders refrain
from parking outside his store, taking
up potential customer car parks.
Apparently he feels strongly about
it, and the suggestion has been
made to park on the other side of
the driveway, near Hudaks, who
welcome our custom, or on the Bob
Jane forecourt.
It is only a short walk from Bob

Motorsport Park group push

There is a push on to unite Sunraysia
motorsport and motoring clubs and
organisations (like ours) to advance
the cause of the establishment of a
motorsport park her in Sunraysia.
Member Andrew Ratcliffe reported
to the January meeting that he had
attended an informal gathering of
interested people recently and the
plan was to have a more formal
meeting of groups in the near future.
He revealed that Council has set
aside 200 acres for the proposed
park at Koorlong and has agreed to

Continued

next page

Nuts and bolts

From

previous page

foot a bill for half the funding it will

take to get it off the ground. Andrew
also revealed that private funding has
been pledged for another 25 percent
of the project cost, and corporate
sponsors are now being sought for
the remain der of what is expected
to become, in time, a complex not
unlike Mallalla or Winton that will
host national events, on both two and
four wheels, and numerous club and
private race days as well as vehicle
testing.
Our weather here makes it
possible to host events and motoring
days year-round, Andrew said.
He is asking club members to
keep an eye out in the media for
developments, and to lend their
support in coming months to the
project.

Notes from the last meeting

A sound decision
The club executive will explore the
purchase of a small PA to help put at
monthly meetings and club events.
The club has grown enormously,
and a test of a small PA at the latest
meeting proved its worth.
They are, members were
informed, not expensive, and will
help everyone at the monthly
meetings to hear what is being said.
A decision to purchase or not to
purchase will be brought back to a
future meeting for a member vote.
Fast on the salt
President Jack is keen to visit Lake
Gairdner this year for the annual
(when the conditions permit) land
speed records meeting.
Anyone else keen to go is asked
to contact him.
The meeting is run by the Dry
Lake Racers Australia, official

sanctioning body for dry lakes racing

in Australia. The DRLA conducts an
annual event called Speed Week
at remote Lake Gairdner in South
Australia, not unlike the event made
famous in the United States at
Bonneville.
It is an event where cars,
motorbikes and trucks that comply to
the DLRA rules and regulations run
for one way speed records.
The Aussie Speed Week attracts
competitors from all over Australia,
and around the world, to this
amazing and unique location to try
and go as fast as they can.
It is believed that while Jack will
be going as a spectator, Sy Nunan is
planning to trial his streamliner racer,
something he has been working on
for about five years.
The SHMCC wishes him all the
best, and for more information log
onto www.dlra.org.au.

Theres no iron like old iron...

Great

actor

and accom-

plished motorcyclist to

boot...Steve
McQueen was a
true legend...
and BELOW,
never a truer
word...

Wanted To Sell
Norton Model 7 Dominator crankshaft and conrods. Fully reconditioned. Complete Norton
Dominator gearbox minus clutch. Serial # GB8 2418 Will listen to realistic offers. Call Adam on
5023 0977.
LEATHER JACKET. Brando style. Large. $80. Garry 0429 837 633.
HONDA CB100 1970. Complete and running. Price to be negotiated.
Bill Cox on 5023 0653.
YAMAHA XJ900S Diversion, RIGHT, 1998 Genuine 28,500 kilometres.
Very good condition. Original owners manual. Haynes workshop
manual. $4,500neg. Inspection invited. Phone Ron: 5023 2027
BSA Bantam 1954 125cc. Runs well. Mikuni carby, compression
plates in crankcase and a 12volt CDI ignition all makes for a great
little fun bike to ride, or restore back to how they were in there day. All
this fun for only $3000 ono. Was on club permit but has since ran out.
Call Kevin Brown on 0409 107 572

Wanted To Buy
Sunbeam S7 1950 gearbox to tailshaft coupling or bushes. Also gear indicator bezel that goes
between gearbox and gear lever. Please contact Paul Dunn 0408 999 120.
CB450 HONDA Twin Leading shoe front drum and backing plate and linkage. Complete. 0407
364 692 or email dougo294@hotmail.com.

Coming Events
Regular Club Runs
Monthly meeting rides leave from Hudaks on 15th Street opposite Centro at 10am. And remeber, try not to park near the pet shop. The run finishes at the MIldura Scout Hall in 12th
Street, Mildura.
The mid-month ride leaves from Hudaks on 15th Street opposite Centro at 10am on the second Sunday of the month. Turn up with a full tank and try not to park near the pet shop!

This is a good deal...

Graham Burton-Clay at Sunraysia Bearings, 34 Orange Avenue, Mildura, telephone 5023 4337, is
offering all SHMC members trade prices on a wide range of items including those featured below...
All you have to do is flash your membership card to get one of the best deals going around. The
Sunraysia Bearings team have 50 years experience in the industry, is locally owned and operated
by people that live and work in our community. Thanks Graham! Lets support the bloke who
supports us. We will be featuring more of Sunraysia bearings leading products in coming editions,
but here is a handy starter list...