How to take the fun out of riding

In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:27:22 +1000

Whereas to me the idea that the only way to enjoy bikes is at high
speed is like a roller coaster. All very well but in the end it's
the same thing over and over.

And you never get to see the country you are speeding through. Never
get to explore the byways, never get to smell the different things,
see the people, feel the temperature bands.

To confine yourself to one style of riding just seems so pointless.

Zebee

 

The CB is also a all channel and Police Scanner so I moniter all CB channels
Emergency Services etc, also I really don't consider 130 KPH low speed for
long distance riding, any faster and you suck so much fuel you end up
stopping more often for fuel and speeding tickets. My bike has a 600
kilometre range and one stop in the middle of the day for lunch and fuel
plus a couple of piss stops is all I need.

Boxer

 

No. Not savage... harsh.

 

That entirely depends upon the bike, conditions, location & terrain.
Pushing a bike towards it's designed optimum performance range greatly
enhances the enjoyment factor for me... that applies equally to a 175 chook
chaser or a 'Bird.
In over 40 yrs of motorcycling I've owned/ridden/enjoyed many bikes ranging
from a 70cc Honda to my present 'bird & 5 assorted /chasers.
Riding the Oxley at 120kph on a 250 I find enjoyable. The Hay Plains at that
same speed on the 'Bird I would find boring.
S.

 

Now hang on! This present debate arose from my remark regarding the
Nullabor.
Now if you had used the Gt Ocean Road in your statement then I will
completely agree.
G.

 

Yes, I tend to restrict myself to 120-30kph also on most roads where traffic
& policing make it a prudent policy.
But touring out west, away from towns & in the absence of traffic, police &
likely animal strikes I frequently range between 140-180kph.
As my passenger prefers rest stops every 200k or so we tend to only average
around 700-800k's between motels each day when touring so limited fuel range
on the 'bird is not much of a problem as long as I keep an eye on the gauge,
lol.
S.

 

Look, we're all very sorry you have such a small dick. OK?

Theo

 

You think the scenery on the Nullarbor is boring? You were either going too
fast or you've never been there then.

The most awesome experience I've had on a bike was heading east from
Nullarbor roadhouse early in the morning and riding into a fog. The road
descended to below the fog and I was riding in clear air with the cloud a
few feet above my head.

Theo
Nullarbor specialist

 

Two Nullarbor experiences come to my mind.

A Goanna feasting on roadkill on my side of the road, with his body and
tail almost completely blocking the road. Slowed down, honked horn,
revved engine. He slowly looked up at me, then immediately returned to
his meal. I had to go around him.

A bloody great wedgie that took off as I approached and flew along side
me for several seconds, both of us watching the other, only a couple of
metres between us, before he wheeled up and turned left. An incredible
experience.

 

I've never seen any big goannas on the road.

They are truly awesome.

Theo

 

In aus.motorcycles on Tue, 21 Aug 2007 09:05:29 +0800

I stopped several times on the main straight because it was so
amazing. Walked a hundred yards or so to one side and spent time just
looking at the ground to see the insects and plants. And hear the
silence.

It changes too, if you just see it as a chore then you never notice
the differences.

Zebee

 

In aus.motorcycles on Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:47:27 +1000

Admittedly I found the Pantah tiring at slow speed till I got used to
it.

The Yellow Devil is always at me to go faster, but it will go slowly
if required. Again a head down bum up chest on the tank sorta bike
but if your abs are in good condition you can hold yourself up with
those and not have problems with your wrists.

Phil's 750 Montjuic was worse cos not only head down bum up, but
highish geared and carbureted for WFO. I still had fun though

Zebee

 

A pre-dawn run in August 05 from Border Village east to Nullarbor Roadhouse
watching the sunrise, a molten pool of amber slowing climbing above the
horizion, one of the most membrable riding experences of my life.

Boxer

 

I got done for 124/110 just east of Balladonia, Caiguna bound. Worst
part about the Nullabor was that with the heat haze coming off the road,
you can't distingush between a police car and any other random white car
until you're well within radar detection distance.

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX

 

The problem with the trans-Nullabor trip is that you see them all. They
only have one road to patrol.

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX

 

That's only on pre-FI XXs I think. The later models have a stock screen
which was sufficiently high to not warrant an aftermarket replacement.

I can recommend Eagle screens (who are over in Perth) and do a great
DubBub for the Blackbird... other people I know who've enquired about
his XX screens and have been sent pics of my bike as an example... but
I recommend you go into Clark Rubber and buy some rubber moulding for
the leading edge... costs about $5 for the required metre or so.
Unfortunately most after market screen makers leave the unsafe sharp
edge on their screens. I found out the hard way years ago.

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX

 

Biggest bloody birds in the world out there aren't they. I saw one
which was feasting on some kill on the centre line. I was approaching
in my car and there was another car approaching from the other
direction. He just walked off my side of the kill onto the other side
of the line, then when I had passed walked back around the roadkill onto
my side of the road to let the other car go past.

Had a few close-eagle-encounters on our trip up to Bundy last year, had
to duck my head and close my eyes a few times after big birds took off
just as I approached... including one which apparenlty cruised along in
my slipstream for a while. Remember another one years ago on the narrow
road between Orbost and Buchan which brushed my helmet with his wing
feathers as he tried to gain altitude and get out of my way.

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX

 

When you get near Eucla, because the ground slopes up slightly to the South,
the horizon looks far away. Then you realise that the horizon is only 200
metres away, and the ocean is right there.

Theo

 

Do they ever hide behind bushes?

Boxer

 

Probably. In 20 years riding/driving in Victoria I've never had any
ticket issued for any detected speed less than 10kph over the limit...
or any other state for that matter.. but I can say that the police in
NSW (or at least the one who clocked me at +46kph) was very polite and
chatty. The cops on the Nullabor don't mind a chat either.

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX