Doing the 16,000km Lap Around The Block

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Doing the 16,000km Lap Around The Block

2/3

mickle
6 years ago

Quoting -kiwi- on 14 Sep 2018 08:56 AM
Following this with interest, sounds bloody awesome so far

You forgotten already Boxhead.

-kiwi-
6 years ago

Quoting -kiwi- on 14 Sep 2018 08:56 AM
Following this with interest, sounds bloody awesome so far

Quoting mickle on 14 Sep 2018 09:39 AM
You forgotten already Boxhead.

Just seeing if they stop where we stopped

Ken in Cairns
6 years ago

8000km service interval nice. Day at the local dealer, check.
Im heading off down T-ville way next week, might pay SunCity a visit.
Enjoy the last half of your trip.
Cheers Ken

Baloffski
6 years ago

Keep having fun Matt, good stuff.

mattt
6 years ago

Quoting Ken in Cairns on 15 Sep 2018 04:33 AM
8000km service interval nice. Day at the local dealer, check.
Im heading off down T-ville way next week, might pay SunCity a visit.
Enjoy the last half of your trip.
Cheers Ken

Suggest you call ahead and book the loaner so that it's ready for you. No charge, they just ask that you bring it back with the same amount of fuel as when you started.

mattt
6 years ago

Quoting Baloffski on 15 Sep 2018 04:45 AM
Keep having fun Matt, good stuff.

Thanks

mattt
6 years ago

Update on our trip....
Continued down the west coast with overnight stops in Exmouth, Broome, Port Headland, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Perth and a five-day break with partners in Margaret River. Enjoy the photos

Colours in Broome have to be seen to be appreciated

Long and straight, but stunning scenery

Coral Bay

Sunsets and beers in Carnation. Good place for a rest day.

Bottom of Shark Bay in the background but definitely in the middle of the GAFA out here

Finally, rivers full of water, in this case the Ashburton River

Murchison Gorge near Kalbarri

mattt
6 years ago

Great 104,000 km service done by Perth HD. Highly recommended for their friendly staff and excellent advice. Couldn't do enough to help. Coming out of Carnarvon 2 days beforehand the bike went into limp mode. Thankfully before starting the trip I had downloaded instructions on how to download and interpret fault codes via the odometer, and was able to discuss codes on the phone with my local guy Pete at Canberra Harley and the guys at Perth Harley. Great advice from both of them confirmed I could clear the fault codes. After a 30km test run all was well and continued on to Perth as planned. Most likely cause was dust in the electronic connections in the throttle body (no surprise given the trip we've done). I gave it a good spray with CRC electrical contact cleaner after I cleared the codes at Carnarvon and had no repeat. Perth HD gave it a good professional clean during the service and, touch wood, no repeat of the fault so far. Only other thing was in the last 2-3 days before Perth the front tire really wore hard and warranted replacement after only 11500kms. (See my previous entry commenting on my past experience of them being good for 20,000kms - seems I spoke to soon!). Rear tire has 6mm wear remaining and should see me to home at least.

brucefxdl
6 years ago

Quoting mattt on 26 Sep 2018 01:21 PMedited: 13 Dec 2018 12:00 PM
Great 104,000 km service done by Perth HD. Highly recommended for their friendly staff and excellent advice. Couldn't do enough to help. Coming out of Carnarvon 2 days beforehand the bike went into limp mode. Thankfully before starting the trip I had downloaded instructions on how to download and interpret fault codes via the odometer, and was able to discuss codes on the phone with my local guy Pete at Canberra Harley and the guys at Perth Harley. Great advice from both of them confirmed I could clear the fault codes. After a 30km test run all was well and continued on to Perth as planned. Most likely cause was dust in the electronic connections in the throttle body (no surprise given the trip we've done). I gave it a good spray with CRC electrical contact cleaner after I cleared the codes at Carnarvon and had no repeat. Perth HD gave it a good professional clean during the service and, touch wood, no repeat of the fault so far. Only other thing was in the last 2-3 days before Perth the front tire really wore hard and warranted replacement after only 11500kms. (See my previous entry commenting on my past experience of them being good for 20,000kms - seems I spoke to soon!). Rear tire has 6mm wear remaining and should see me to home at least.

thanks matt,great pics of the west country,enjoy and stay safe.cheers

mattt
6 years ago

Quoting mattt on 26 Sep 2018 01:21 PMedited: 13 Dec 2018 12:00 PM
Great 104,000 km service done by Perth HD. Highly recommended for their friendly staff and excellent advice. Couldn't do enough to help. Coming out of Carnarvon 2 days beforehand the bike went into limp mode. Thankfully before starting the trip I had downloaded instructions on how to download and interpret fault codes via the odometer, and was able to discuss codes on the phone with my local guy Pete at Canberra Harley and the guys at Perth Harley. Great advice from both of them confirmed I could clear the fault codes. After a 30km test run all was well and continued on to Perth as planned. Most likely cause was dust in the electronic connections in the throttle body (no surprise given the trip we've done). I gave it a good spray with CRC electrical contact cleaner after I cleared the codes at Carnarvon and had no repeat. Perth HD gave it a good professional clean during the service and, touch wood, no repeat of the fault so far. Only other thing was in the last 2-3 days before Perth the front tire really wore hard and warranted replacement after only 11500kms. (See my previous entry commenting on my past experience of them being good for 20,000kms - seems I spoke to soon!). Rear tire has 6mm wear remaining and should see me to home at least.

Quoting brucefxdl on 26 Sep 2018 01:25 PM
thanks matt,great pics of the west country,enjoy and stay safe.cheers

Thx Bruce

BeeFa
6 years ago

OK i'm jealous..
How do you go taking the bike off road? Are those GS riders any more comfy? they certainly can pack more but I think you can get all you need on the SG
tell me more about the shocks and why did you go to that brand/style?
If your coming through vic doing the GOR or whatever I might tag along for a few hundred K's
I want to do that trip and was looking at a GS to do it on but they are just toooo tall for me..

BeeF

mattt
6 years ago

Quoting BeeFa on 26 Sep 2018 01:34 PM
OK i'm jealous..
How do you go taking the bike off road? Are those GS riders any more comfy? they certainly can pack more but I think you can get all you need on the SG
tell me more about the shocks and why did you go to that brand/style?
If your coming through vic doing the GOR or whatever I might tag along for a few hundred K's
I want to do that trip and was looking at a GS to do it on but they are just toooo tall for me..

BeeF

The SG is surprisingly surefooted on good quality dirt where we've done a short excursion to explore over a km or two ( but we're not doing dirt roads per se). I think because of the steering geometry and low centre of gravity. A steady hand on the throttle helps too.

I went with Revo-A on the recommendation of the senior mechanic at Canberra HD, and couldn't be more satisfied. See my previous comments here: https://www.hdforums.com.au/Thread/672242/1

Krash Kinkade
6 years ago

Quoting BeeFa on 26 Sep 2018 01:34 PM
OK i'm jealous..
How do you go taking the bike off road? Are those GS riders any more comfy? they certainly can pack more but I think you can get all you need on the SG
tell me more about the shocks and why did you go to that brand/style?
If your coming through vic doing the GOR or whatever I might tag along for a few hundred K's
I want to do that trip and was looking at a GS to do it on but they are just toooo tall for me..

BeeF

From my experience really rough off road no go with mag wheels as rocks, shatter the cast alloy. need spoke wheels.

BeeFa
6 years ago

Quoting BeeFa on 26 Sep 2018 01:34 PM
OK i'm jealous..
How do you go taking the bike off road? Are those GS riders any more comfy? they certainly can pack more but I think you can get all you need on the SG
tell me more about the shocks and why did you go to that brand/style?
If your coming through vic doing the GOR or whatever I might tag along for a few hundred K's
I want to do that trip and was looking at a GS to do it on but they are just toooo tall for me..

BeeF

Quoting Krash Kinkade on 27 Sep 2018 09:18 AM
From my experience really rough off road no go with mag wheels as rocks, shatter the cast alloy. need spoke wheels.

Yes thats the reason for my comment.. Few friends and I did Uluru couple years back and it was dissapointing not being able to head off road.
For this reason I was looking at a GSA1200 but I cant take the ladder everywhere..
I am taking the grow ya legs tablets in the hope I can reach the floor before I get the urge again but I think I am running out of time..
What a great trip.. I will do a lap one day on what? who knows..?

BeeF

mattt
6 years ago

Quoting BeeFa on 26 Sep 2018 01:34 PM
OK i'm jealous..
How do you go taking the bike off road? Are those GS riders any more comfy? they certainly can pack more but I think you can get all you need on the SG
tell me more about the shocks and why did you go to that brand/style?
If your coming through vic doing the GOR or whatever I might tag along for a few hundred K's
I want to do that trip and was looking at a GS to do it on but they are just toooo tall for me..

BeeF

Quoting Krash Kinkade on 27 Sep 2018 09:18 AM
From my experience really rough off road no go with mag wheels as rocks, shatter the cast alloy. need spoke wheels.

Quoting BeeFa on 27 Sep 2018 10:45 AM
Yes thats the reason for my comment.. Few friends and I did Uluru couple years back and it was dissapointing not being able to head off road.
For this reason I was looking at a GSA1200 but I cant take the ladder everywhere..
I am taking the grow ya legs tablets in the hope I can reach the floor before I get the urge again but I think I am running out of time..
What a great trip.. I will do a lap one day on what? who knows..?

BeeF

I'm not taking about going bush, just venturing off the tar less than say a km in order to see some highlight. And in almost all cases the dirt has been well graded and dry. Anything else and I'd have to spend the next hour or so retightening everything! If you take it relatively slowly and plan your track to avoid ruts, the SG is pretty surefooted.

mattt
6 years ago

27 Sep update.
Said farewell to our lovely ladies who flew home today, and we got back on the road to continue our All-Stars Lap Around The Block. Quick detour to see Cape Leeuwin lighthouse, the most SW point of Australia where the Indian and Southern Oceans literally collide. Then eastwards heading, in the long run, for home. Such different countryside now, beautiful curving roads through the giant Karri forests that come right to the road's edge. Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks near Denmark are still the most perfect swimming beaches in the country. Overnight in Albany.

mattt
6 years ago

1 Oct update.....
Busy week since leaving Albany. Great fast run past brilliant yellow canola fields with a warm tail wind to overnight in Esperance. Explored the beautiful Cape Le Grand National Park and Lucky Bay before heading north to Norseman for a couple of nights. Instead of taking a rest day we took the opportunity to do a lazy 400km round trip to see Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie and the Super Pit open cut gold mine there. Headed east across the Nullabor on 28 Sep to Border Village in one 720km run. Lovely sunny weather continues, but a chilly headwind had the winter gloves and heated grips on. Following day we completed this iconic trans-Australian road trip, overnighting in the beautiful Streaky Bay. Very fortunate to able to see a number of whales and their calves very close to shore at Head Of The Bight lookout. Several road houses along the way, the longest distance between two being 190kms, makes the trip easier than it sounds with lots of opportunities for coffee and chats with the eclectic fellow travelers heading in either direction by car, motorcycle, bicycle or on foot. Just enjoyed a rest day in Whyalla before beginning the final push home.

Cape Le Grande

Lucky Bay

Kalgoorlie Super Pit

Looking forward to some curves

Who needs GPS out here

Hello SA

The Bight

Plenty of things trying to ruin your day out here
Finally left the desert behind us

paulybronco
6 years ago

Keep the pics coming Matt and stay safe

Kato
6 years ago

Quoting paulybronco on 01 Oct 2018 10:00 PM
Keep the pics coming Matt and stay safe

Yes i agree - really enjoy reading what you 3 Amigos are getting up to .
Hows the HD handling the dirt roads ??

mattt
6 years ago

Quoting paulybronco on 01 Oct 2018 10:00 PM
Keep the pics coming Matt and stay safe

Tks Pauly

Topics

2/3

Doing the 16,000km Lap Around The Block

Doing the 16,000km Lap Around The Block

mickle

-kiwi-

Ken in Cairns

Baloffski

mattt

mattt

mattt

mattt

brucefxdl

mattt

BeeFa

mattt

Krash Kinkade

BeeFa

mattt

mattt

mattt

paulybronco

Kato

mattt