I'm off to Tassie on Saturday!!!

matt232 · 11-01-2005, 11:15 AM

2 weeks and I'll be in tassie for a solid days of riding....woo hoo!!!

Might even get down to Joes Garage again for Bike night.

FuTAnT · 11-01-2005, 7:18 PM

Hey Matt, just saw this topic pop up in my inbox again. I'd forgotten about it! I'm planning on doing the trip in Mid February I think. I've got my 10R at the moment, but will most likely be selling it before Christmas (hopefully) and then picking up something new in the new year. Still have to whittle my choices down on the new 10R, GSXR1000 or R1. I'm pretty sure it'l all become evident within 5 mins of bum on seat.

Anyhoo, I'd appreciate if you could do a detailed route map, and certain hazards or attractions that the place has to offer. It's always nice to get a bit of inside info on where things are good. I'm trying to get my g/f to ride her bike more and get up enough experience for the haul. Plan is so far catch the spirit down, do Tassie, stop over in Melb for a few days break and drinking then head back up to Sydney via the twisites all the way. Will do the snowies and all that sorta stuff etc. One hell of a ride, should be absolute gold.

You had any more reg/rect problems? A number of other members seem to have been afflicted too.

matt232 · 11-02-2005, 3:54 AM

The bike is running great *Touch wood* Just did a little over 1750km over the last 4 days:

Saturday
Going from Melb up to Tintaldra in the Vic-NSW border that night. Riding through the Twonga Gap was brilliant with the exception of the car all the way on my side of the road over taking a cyclists while on a blind corner and double lines. Weather was pretty good with only a bit of light rain towards the end of the day but the roads dried up about 50km from the Tintaldra Hotel where the 4 of us lit up the night life of the riny little town. But it poured rain from about 9pm onwards.

Sunday
Took off in a break in the rain, only for it to start raining about 10minutes after we left. Crossed over into NSW and headed up towards Thredbo, fog and rain reduced visibility to 10-20metres in spots and the rain didn't stop all day. Still learnt a lot about man and machine when riding in the rain...huge confidence booster. After one of us had problems with water in thier air intake, another guy was already going to head home the next day and the forecast really didn't look to great while the Melbourne wetter was nothing but heat and sun we decided to head home early and press on a little further to Bomballa to shorten the trip the next day.

Unfortunately we made a wrong turn and end up with the choices of 28km of wet dirt road, 80km of backtracking or 14km of dirt road and 20km of back tracking. We decided on the 14km of dirt, plenty of close calls but the 4 of us managed to stay upright but the bikes looked a little worse for wear and riders were getting pretty tapped too. So we pulled in the the Imperial Hotel and Bomballa and started drying out and firing up the pub atmosphere.

Monday
Started the 600km trek home, first 150km was reasonable twisty but saoking wet with some decent rain. From about 150km mark to the 500km mark we had misty rain and pure scorching Sunlight over the last 100km of our homeward trek.

Pics of the trip

Tuesday
Scorching hot weather and nothing but blue skys and I met up with the group I'm going to tassie with. Was introduced to a huge collection of roads which were withing about 80km of melbourne which I'd never seen before and each of them were gold. Especially with the weather it was far more enjoyable just hanging around locally.

So thus far the bike is holding up well and I'm getting back to where I was before my stack and beginning to improve beyond that stage again.

I'll see what I can russel up in way of maps for you.

When you are coming through Melbourne give us melbournites a yell and well come and say G'day and if you can make your stay in Melbourne include a Friday night you should come down to southbank for the weekly gathering there. We can also probably arrange a nice lap of the local roads for you as well.

FuTAnT · 11-02-2005, 5:52 AM

Goodo, sounds like you had a blast, bummer about all the rain! You still end up enjoying it, but it's so much better when the sun's out.

Looks like I'll be in Melb the weekend of the 11th and 12th Feb 2006. I'll be leaving Sydney probably Monday morn or so on the Spirit, doing tassie, and be back in Melb that weekend. Stay the weekend, then head back up the coast home to Sydney.

Cowboy1600 · 11-02-2005, 8:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt232

Was introduced to a huge collection of roads which were withing about 80km of melbourne which I'd never seen before and each of them were gold.

Dang, looks like fun. Typical Sir Skuff. Wouldnt have him any other way

Where are these road muchacho?

matt232 · 11-02-2005, 9:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowboy1600

Dang, looks like fun. Typical Sir Skuff. Wouldnt have him any other way

Where are these road muchacho?

Tuesday wasn't with Skuffy, Tuesday was with Glitch and the majority of the Tassie Gems crew.

Not entirely sure where we went...out Wellington Rd from the Stamford Hotel, snaked through an whole lot of back roads towards Warburton...up Mt Donna Donang. Then a whole lot more back roads towards Healsville, Myers Creek Road, Kinglake, St Andrews and home. I'd done about 1/2 of the roads we went on but all the twisty back roads are a mystery and Mt Donna Donang was definately new and well worth it.

matt232 · 11-04-2005, 7:10 AM

Ya wouldn't read about (nd yet you are) looks like with exactly the same timing as last yer relative to my departure for tassie........my stator has burnt itself out AGAIN.

Not 100% sure its the stator but its doing the same thing it did last time and since I got a part out of another new bike last time rather than a replacement part that is probably better quality then I wouldn't be surprised it it was the stator.

FuTAnT · 11-06-2005, 5:43 AM

Arghggh, you're freakin kidding! I think a call to Honda Australia is in order!

sheepofblue · 11-06-2005, 10:51 AM

So more data gathering in case I can ever get over. What is your definition of "Scorching hot weather"

I think there is a square on that ceiling that needs "Baa y'all from Huntsville Alabama, USA"

Of course the pavement looked kind of harsh on the grain. If you are ever over this way despite the other horrid condition (no one should come to the USA south) I think I could bring you to some areas you might like

matt232 · 11-07-2005, 5:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

So more data gathering in case I can ever get over. What is your definition of "Scorching hot weather"

I think it was about 30 degrees centigrade (86 F)...compared to about 5 degrees (41 F) and pissing rain the two days prior. So by "Scrotching" I mean it was definately drying out my gear.

sheepofblue · 11-07-2005, 9:11 AM

30 is prime riding weather here. 5 is the dead of winter (and a bad day at that) Course it is only spring there correct?

FuTAnT · 11-07-2005, 6:22 PM

Remember to add in the relative humidity when you quote temperatures as well. It's a huge factor for the "human comfort."

sheepofblue · 11-07-2005, 6:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FuTAnT

Remember to add in the relative humidity when you quote temperatures as well. It's a huge factor for the "human comfort."

Alabama == swamp humid except when it is worse

matt232 · 11-07-2005, 8:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

30 is prime riding weather here. 5 is the dead of winter (and a bad day at that) Course it is only spring there correct?

Correct. And you are right its great riding weather but going from one end to the other in a single day and it makes it feel alot hotter.

sheepofblue · 11-07-2005, 8:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt232

Correct. And you are right its great riding weather but going from one end to the other in a single day and it makes it feel alot hotter.

True especially after getting rained on at the 5º

matt232 · 11-07-2005, 8:42 PM

Just spoke to Redwing Honda, all the paper work is done and parts ordered. Will know later this arvo if the parts are in stock other wise its a 3 week wait. But I would like to think that they will do the same as they did last time and gut a bike and use those parts.

Been a bad week for the Tassie Gems (name of this tour of tassie) crew, my electrical issues, one collision with a car (cosmetic damage to him and bike, right to go for trip), one withwarped front discs (jury out at the moment), one guy symtanously punctured both tyres. And one other has been battling back problems for months. But its looking like the full 15 odd crew are going to be ready. Touch wood.

matt232 · 11-07-2005, 8:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

True especially after getting rained on at the 5º

That was near thredbo, one of our major ski resorts, rather than the sea level 30 degrees two days later. But yer the weather wasn't much fun....the challenge was.

matt232 · 11-10-2005, 6:29 AM

Getting on the boat tomorrow night and day 1 starts saturday morning when we disembark.

If anyone is at Joes Garage on Tuesday, might see you there.

FuTAnT · 11-10-2005, 6:33 AM

Looks good! I see you've made a few changes taking in some twistier routes this time. Eeeeeeeeeexcellent. Good to check out the maps.

matt232 · 11-20-2005, 5:46 PM

well I'm back, got off the boat yesterday morning and as we all spilt off I glanced down at the speedo on the freeway and noticed I was doing 20km over the speed limit. Thats when it hit, depression, for not having 14 odd mad bastards around 24/7 and being stuck with speed limits again. To take the edge off I went for a ride to the Great Ocean Road and again realised how good tassie was, you wear out the edges of your tyres getting to the twistier stuff, over here you have to straight line it for 100+ km to get to some good stuff.

But it was a brilliant trip, few close calls but no one binned it and all had a brillant time.

highly recommend people get over there if they have a chance.

Just watch out for the gravel on the corners and whats on the other side of the crests.