the lyrics -
10 hours ago
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Condo 750: Success is relative
Well, I'm pleased to report that I successfully completed the 2011 Condo 750.
There were 80 starters in the bike/quad class, and out of 67 finishers I rolled in at a leisurely 62nd, after a Prologue and two days of solid riding.
I was pretty happy with that seeing as it was my first tilt at a navigational rally, and I was riding a virtually stock Yamaha TTR250.
I'm a Dakar dreamer from way back, but the Condo 750 is probably as close as the likes of me will ever get to it. Even the Australian Safari would require money and time beyond my station in life.
At this moment it's the greatest, most rewarding thing I've ever done on a motorbike. Will I ever go back? Maybe...
There were 80 starters in the bike/quad class, and out of 67 finishers I rolled in at a leisurely 62nd, after a Prologue and two days of solid riding.
I was pretty happy with that seeing as it was my first tilt at a navigational rally, and I was riding a virtually stock Yamaha TTR250.
I'm a Dakar dreamer from way back, but the Condo 750 is probably as close as the likes of me will ever get to it. Even the Australian Safari would require money and time beyond my station in life.
At this moment it's the greatest, most rewarding thing I've ever done on a motorbike. Will I ever go back? Maybe...
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Almost a bad day...
Leave home on Sunday to go and pick up a basket case Yamaha TT250, and some mags for an interstate friend. Just got onto the freeway when the car over-heated.
WTF? It's never done that before!
Anyway, I have a couple of litres of water, so I tip that in and try setting off again. No dice. The gauge goes straight to the limit, alarms are beepin'... I have to get off the freeway and find a service station pronto. Once I start cruising around the suburbs trying in vain to find somewhere, I notice that the gauge has gone back to normal. I figure I'll get back on the freeway and at least continue in the right direction, and stop when I find a garage.
I backtrack only to find there's no way back onto the freeway from where I came. Bugger. Ok, I'll just look in the street directory for the closest on-ramp. Street directory is of course on the kitchen table where I was looking up the best way to my destination.
Driving in circles around Melbourne's eastern suburbs is not the best way to my destination.
Anyway, I figure it out and am soon on my way. I was a bit hazy on the best route, but using some printed out whereis maps I had, I navigate using the sun like Columbus* to both my pick-up points.
The good news is that the car ran fine after that; and I found some near-new Renthal bars in amongst the basket case stuff!
It's all good, as the kids say.
* I don’t know if Columbus actually navigated using the sun.
WTF? It's never done that before!
Anyway, I have a couple of litres of water, so I tip that in and try setting off again. No dice. The gauge goes straight to the limit, alarms are beepin'... I have to get off the freeway and find a service station pronto. Once I start cruising around the suburbs trying in vain to find somewhere, I notice that the gauge has gone back to normal. I figure I'll get back on the freeway and at least continue in the right direction, and stop when I find a garage.
I backtrack only to find there's no way back onto the freeway from where I came. Bugger. Ok, I'll just look in the street directory for the closest on-ramp. Street directory is of course on the kitchen table where I was looking up the best way to my destination.
Driving in circles around Melbourne's eastern suburbs is not the best way to my destination.
Anyway, I figure it out and am soon on my way. I was a bit hazy on the best route, but using some printed out whereis maps I had, I navigate using the sun like Columbus* to both my pick-up points.
The good news is that the car ran fine after that; and I found some near-new Renthal bars in amongst the basket case stuff!
It's all good, as the kids say.
* I don’t know if Columbus actually navigated using the sun.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Victoria Vinduro Fun Day, Castella, Feb 13
This event was a kind of prelude to the 'real' vinduro season, and was intended as a testing/social occasion with the opportunity to get your bike registered under the 'red plate' scheme if so desired.
For me it was good opportunity to catch up with people, and best of all take the PE for a spin!
The last time we held this event was in November last year, and it poured rain all day, ensuring a muddy experience for those hardy enough to venture out. While we have had unseasonal rain this summer, yesterda was pretty much perfect with mostly clear skies and warm sunshine and not the excess mud and water that was present previously.
I was a bit put off when a mate did an early lap and reported to me that the track wasn't too good and he wouldn't be venturing out for a second one. I was quite apprehensive as I headed out, but I guess that's the difference between riding a big bike, and a little 175 - I found the loop really enjoyable. It was very tight, nearly all of it hand-cut single trail. There were some damp bits, and a few minor logs to hop over but nothing too hard. This is the sort of terrain where the PE175N really shines, and I ended up doing 13 laps of the 5km loop! It would've been hard work on a big bike.
One exposed tree root became a bit tricky by the end of the day, as the rear wheel would always skid off it into a deep rut. But once you were prepared for it, it was ok. Amazingly I have now fitted a decent rear tyre, finally getting rid of the ancient rock-hard retread that's been on the bike since I bought it, so this helped my forward progress on the day.
The 175 is in desperate need of new rings, possibly even piston, so the low compression is noticably affecting its performance, and making it almost impossible to kick start. It still roll starts easily enough though!
There was only about 20 or so bikes circulating, and I was the only PE rider. A guy was riding a really nice BSA, which made a glorious sound as he held the throttle open. There were a few Hondas, an Ossa, a Maico and a guy on a KDX200 who was very fast. All in all, I had a great day, and I can't wait for the first proper vinduro on March 20 at Three Bridges.
(Originally posted on PE Motorcycles Yahoo Group)
For me it was good opportunity to catch up with people, and best of all take the PE for a spin!
The last time we held this event was in November last year, and it poured rain all day, ensuring a muddy experience for those hardy enough to venture out. While we have had unseasonal rain this summer, yesterda was pretty much perfect with mostly clear skies and warm sunshine and not the excess mud and water that was present previously.
I was a bit put off when a mate did an early lap and reported to me that the track wasn't too good and he wouldn't be venturing out for a second one. I was quite apprehensive as I headed out, but I guess that's the difference between riding a big bike, and a little 175 - I found the loop really enjoyable. It was very tight, nearly all of it hand-cut single trail. There were some damp bits, and a few minor logs to hop over but nothing too hard. This is the sort of terrain where the PE175N really shines, and I ended up doing 13 laps of the 5km loop! It would've been hard work on a big bike.
One exposed tree root became a bit tricky by the end of the day, as the rear wheel would always skid off it into a deep rut. But once you were prepared for it, it was ok. Amazingly I have now fitted a decent rear tyre, finally getting rid of the ancient rock-hard retread that's been on the bike since I bought it, so this helped my forward progress on the day.
The 175 is in desperate need of new rings, possibly even piston, so the low compression is noticably affecting its performance, and making it almost impossible to kick start. It still roll starts easily enough though!
There was only about 20 or so bikes circulating, and I was the only PE rider. A guy was riding a really nice BSA, which made a glorious sound as he held the throttle open. There were a few Hondas, an Ossa, a Maico and a guy on a KDX200 who was very fast. All in all, I had a great day, and I can't wait for the first proper vinduro on March 20 at Three Bridges.
(Originally posted on PE Motorcycles Yahoo Group)
Monday, January 31, 2011
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
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