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Post by colinjay on Jun 25, 2007 22:14:13 GMT -5
Hi all, In a resent post, Thumperbill made a comment on touring on a SR. I thought that I would start a thread on the topic and start it off wil a couple of pics from a trip I did on my SR cafe racer back in 1996. The pictures show my SR in the North West of Western Australia, on the road to Steep Point (the most Western point on the Australian mainland). The trip was done on the Australia Day long weekend in 1996. At that time I was serving on board HMAS Canberra, based out of Garden Island near Rockingham WA. The bike was my only form of transport at the time, having been taken over to WA in the helo hanger of the ship when we relocated the ship to WA, and was basically a Rat Bike as it spent most of it time parked at the end of the wharf while I was at sea. I still have it and it is now my orange cafe racer. With nothing to do for the 3 days of the long weekend, I loaded up the cafe racer and headed North on the Friday afternoon. After camping on the side of the road on Friday night, I pressed on to Denham and spent the Saturday night at the Denham pub (the most Westerly pub in AUS). On the Sunday I rode off to see if I could get thru to Steep Point, after a about 150km of sandy dirt roads I made it to the blue sign in the picture which is about 29km from the Point. Unfortunatley just up from the sign the road degenerates into a track thru the sand hills. I had a go at the first sand hill, but 1/2 worn road tyres just don't cut it in deep sand, so I turned around and headed back south and camped by the roadhouse at Wannoo Billabong, after getting a police (Hwy Patrol) escort into the "town" as I had lost my lights when the voltage regulator died and fried the electrics. On Monday I continued on to home via Nambung National Park, more dirt roads and sand. Finally getting back to the ship just on dark. Overall I covered just on 3000km in the 3 1/2 days riding. Most of the load on the bike was spare fuel (10L) and water (5L) as you don't go anywahere up that way with out it. In the pic of the bike near the blue sign you can also see that the number plate had fallen off and the baffle plates from the Supertrapp muffler are also gone, so I was suprised when the police escorted me to a town and not to gaol (jail for those in the US). It was a fun trip and I still want to go back on my XT500 and have a go at getting thru the last 29km of sand hills. Maybe on the often dreamed of lap of AUS and do all four points. CJ
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Post by thumperbill on Jun 26, 2007 1:38:51 GMT -5
Looks like a good time to me! Would have done the same thing a few years back with no problem at all. Now with a bad back, comfort for those long hauls is a bit more important.
Did a similar trip back in 86 on a KZ400 converted to a cafe racer but the dual sporting was no where near as hardcore as your trip. Slept on picnic benches in campgrounds along the way with no tent or sleeping bag. Made for more room for the fishing gear. Just put long johns under the clothing before going to sleep under the stars. Actually frosted one night in the Steens mountains and didnt get much sleep as I kept throwing logs on the fire to keep warm. I was at around 7500 ft elevation that night. Rode up to 9500 ft the next morning. Decided to stick to the lower elevations for the rest of the trip.
Those were the days when I had no care in the world and kinda did what I wanted to.
Bill
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Post by StewRoss on Jun 26, 2007 2:28:38 GMT -5
Mate, Great pics...there's something about an SR with clip-ons...ahhh I've personally ridden mine from Adelaide to Canberra and from XCanberra to Phillip Island for the WSBK racing...plus many points in between. My tip for what it's worth is to use a sheep skin on the seat...much better! 9,500'! The highest point in Australia is only just over 7,000'! SR
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Post by colinjay on Jun 26, 2007 6:40:23 GMT -5
I use a sheep skin cover all the time now, however the limiting factor is the stuffed back (2 crushed vertebra) and the stuffed knees both of which DVA pay me a pension for. I can only ride my cafe racer (clipons and rearsets) for 1/2 hr before the knees are killing me, hence why it is not registered and lives in the shed under a cover.
CJ
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Post by StewRoss on Jun 26, 2007 7:09:16 GMT -5
Ah yes the 'old crushed vertebra'...did the same thing myself...crashing my SP1 in 2002. Got better though...thankfully T12...crushed, wedge fracture...X-Rays look a bit sus now...but it could certainly have been a real lot worse. Does require the 'sheepy' now for longer rides though...not a big price to pay. Thank you Dainese! 'Racing really does improve the breed' Safety Pro suit...a marvel in leather, AGV helmet, Alpine Star GP Plus gloves and Alpine Star GP boots. Sorry it sounds a bit like an ad, but I'm sold on 'em for protection. Well worth the money in my mind! As an aside, the 'Alpine Star GP Plus' gloves had carbon fibre inserts over the knuckles, finger joints etc...at the time I bought them I thought that it was a styling thing. Now I've worn out two pairs on the all-weather tarmac surface I love these things. Buy them they really work! SR
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Post by davedunsboro on Jun 26, 2007 7:47:07 GMT -5
Great read there Col , I know why you went to the pub in Denham as there isn't any thing else . I took the family up there last year & it was cold windy & no fish just those bloody dolphins & I've seen plenty of them as my other thing is surfing . Thats why I live where I live . I recon a SR with Nobblies on it would do the trick also( I mean WRs with slicks on the track ( moturds) why should the have all the fun) Let me know next time your over here I'll escort you for a leg cheers Dave.
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Post by milkman on Jun 26, 2007 8:48:39 GMT -5
Top pics mate. How far up the west coast is that?
I've only been between Perth and Dongarra - windy bloody town that one!
On the talk of protection and Dainese, I was looking at back protectors for sale the other day and the price varied greatly. Now I wouldn't want to skimp on my spine. Does anyone use on of these day to day? Or just for track riding?
Figure its something I should maybe wear.
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Post by colinjay on Jun 26, 2007 17:39:45 GMT -5
Stew, 1984 - T6 and T7 crushed, Kawasaki Z650 that I was test riding on completion of servicing for a customer, V's Ford being driven by a guy who had his P's for 12 day and drove thru a Giveway sign, said he didn't know he sign was there. He went to court 6 month later and the judge let him off since had had a good record after the crash, TYPICAL!
Also chipped my front teeth, was wearing an open face helmet as I was only going for a lap around the block to check the bike over. Only put the leather jacket over the overalls at the last moment as it was a bit chilly.
Waden Miller leather jacket and it still has the skid mark on the back where I landed.
On protective clothing, I bought a pair of Rossi road boot last weekend as they were the only boot I could get that would fit me, size 13, Tried Alpine Star and all the big name european brands but they only made road/race boots up to size 11.
CJ
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Post by frankyb on Jun 26, 2007 19:31:37 GMT -5
Hi guys, back protectors are compulsory gear in any racing discipline in aus, either by itself or combined into a pressure suit/body armour shirt thing. They are designed more to stop your spine from flexing back the wrong way, but also absorb an impact to the spinal area as well(like when you land flat on your back after being highsided). Mines a ufo brand, good quality and you dont notice its on after about 5 minutes. Ive tested mine a few times now, so i know they work as well. Cheers Franky b.
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Post by StewRoss on Jun 27, 2007 3:02:44 GMT -5
Yes I agree...although I don't always wear mine, I have had them on when they were most needed. Both of mine are Dainese...well worth it in my opinion. You can buy them with built in kidney belts etc. now as well. One of my suits has the outline of the back protector armour imprinted on the outside of the leathers...done while sliding down the tarmac on my back...didn't hurt my back at all. SR
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Post by marlon on Jun 27, 2007 13:52:23 GMT -5
I was on my way to buy a open face helmet when I came off at very low speed, slammed on the anchors and dropped the bike underneath me. I was only inches from going into the car in front. If I had, and was wearing an open face, it'd be messy. I try to rug up properly, but i get lazy.
Good to read constant reminders of the benefits of proper kit.
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digiroc
Junior Member
1978 SR500E
Posts: 85
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Post by digiroc on Jun 28, 2007 18:13:57 GMT -5
Sorry, but I couldn't resist: They don't call it Death Valley for nothing. Imagine a get-off on salt @ 150+ mph dressed like Rolli Free in this famous shot.
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Post by milkman on Jun 29, 2007 9:33:39 GMT -5
Not to mention laying on your "keel" over the back mudguard at that pace/vibration.
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digiroc
Junior Member
1978 SR500E
Posts: 85
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Post by digiroc on Jul 2, 2007 13:17:06 GMT -5
Bringing this thread back on topic, Debi and I just returned home from a weekend getaway on the SR to the Laurel Mountains here in Southwestern Pennsylvania. We packed light, just a backpack with a change of clothes and set off to enjoy our 18th wedding anniversary in a spectacular setting. Careful road selection resulted in 100 miles of winding back roads through fabulous country. The SR ran without a hiccup all the way there and back. Once in front of the Laurel Mountain ridge, a miles long 7% grade to the top, which needed fourth gear to get us over it. From there the roads were all plummeting descents followed by punishing climbs with tight sweepers sprinkled throughout. Perfect SR500 driving! The View from the top of Sugarloaf Mountain Check out the "have fun" scrawled on the sign. We had dinner and and a nice conversation with a couple that parked their BMW next to our SR. It looked like an RV compared to our Yamaha. The thing had an electric centerstand to park it, as well as a reverse gear to back it up!
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Post by milkman on Jul 2, 2007 16:17:36 GMT -5
nice photos there mate. I like your pipe aswell......
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