Riding Brisbane to Sydney

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  • Kato
    Kato
    3 years ago
    Ok - some advice from those that travel long distances .

    My brothers doing it a bit tough in Sydney and on top of it hes been retrenched last week 
    So Im  riding down to see him but Ive never travelled that far on a bike EVER .
    Ive crossed the Simpson a few times but to me that seems a LOT different to riding on the black top for 1000 kms or so .
    Ive done heaps of road roading but max distance would be 350 kms (long story) 

    So if anyone has any tips on 
    - how do you get the ability to do long distances (How truckies do it i will never know ........they deserve a medal thats for sure) 
    - pubs to stay at along the way (or ones to avoid ) . I love a good pub stay . Would love to camp but i cannot take a tent etc and all the other stuff that goes along with that (maybe thats a crap call on my end ????) . I have saddlebags but no sissy bar so perhaps i could put a dry bag on the rear and strap that down eh ??
    - do you blokes recommend taking stuff to eat along the way ?? or perhaps just "pie it" along the way 
    - i was thinking the ride would take say 2 days and 2 nights at least ( Could never do it in one bite  i think) 
    - taking wet weather gear as no doubt it will rain on me for sure ( I hate riding in the rain im afraid) 

    Any advice would be greatly appreciatted by me for the upcoming trip 

    many thanks 
  • B0nes
    B0nes
    3 years ago
    Should be able to do that distance without to much drama. Had to do Goulburn to Brisbane in one hit last year, not fun but not that hard. Do at least two trips a year from Brisbane to Melbourne just for shits and giggles. Normally leave Brisbane around 7.00am, stop for the night at Raymond Terrace. Then from there to Albury. Stay the night then an easy cruise into Melbourne. Having said that, being an ex truck driver doing Brisbane to Perth or Adelaide, makes trips like Sydney or Melbourne seem like a drive just down the road.
    Don't over think it, and you'll have no trouble.
  • Evo
    Evo
    3 years ago
    Mate, it is an easy run, just have roadworks from Ballina to Grafton.  Once you get past that, it is cruisy.  I suggest leaving early, around 5.30ish in the morning, gets you past shit traffic around Brisbane/Gold Coast.  Bear in mind that NSW is an hour in front.  Top up your fuel at Woodburn, next stop should be Coffs Harbour, then the servo which sells great pies just north of Taree.  Nice run to Sydney from there.  You don't say what you are riding but if it is a Heritage/Roadking/Ultra, you will do it comfortably.
  • roadrunner14
    roadrunner14
    3 years ago
    500-600km days are pretty easy especially if the bike has cruise. I tend to stop every 2-2.5 hours and fill up if I need to or not, just gets me moving and usually grab a snack, or lunch from the same place. Talk to a random or two if they are around to get the brain working and then move on. Happy riding. You will love it, did I mention wet weather gear, nothing worse riding all day cold and miserable. Enjoy. 
  • Kato
    Kato
    3 years ago
    Thanks heaps to all that have advised me thus far . Im now looking forward to it for sure . Need to get wet weather gear . Any idea what suit is best to buy for wet weather ??
  • Kato
    Kato
    3 years ago
    Rick K - Yep did that on a ride in the busy years ago . Looked like a balloon riding along . Those were the days (NEVER forgot that ) 
  • Daffy
    Daffy
    3 years ago
    I've got some adventure pants. Really comfy and you can take the liner out if it's too hot. PM me your number and I'll send you pics.Its motodry stuff.Recently rode for 2 hours in heavy rain and stayed dry inside. Pants are AdventTour. Jacket is Motodry thermo. Both not real expensive. 1000 K,s not real difficult. Done that in a day when I was a bit younger. 500 a day is easy on my Deluxe still today. Buy your food. Not worth messing about.Camp in motel room. Or pub. Cheers.
  • Kato
    Kato
    3 years ago
    Daffy - PM sent 
    Cheers 
  • Smokey61
    Smokey61
    3 years ago
    Thousand KM days are easy enough, fifteen hundred if you're young and fit. Trick is to keep the stops short and keep moving.
  • Krash Kinkade
    Krash Kinkade
    3 years ago
    Quoting Kato on 28 Jan 2021 10:52 AM

    Ok - some advice from those that travel long distances .


    My brothers doing it a bit tough in Sydney and on top of it hes been retrenched last week 
    So Im  riding down to see him but Ive never travelled that far on a bike EVER .
    Ive crossed the Simpson a few times but to me that seems a LOT different to riding on the black top for 1000 kms or so .
    Ive done heaps of road roading but max distance would be 350 kms (long story) 

    So if anyone has any tips on 
    - how do you get the ability to do long distances (How truckies do it i will never know ........they deserve a medal thats for sure) 
    - pubs to stay at along the way (or ones to avoid ) . I love a good pub stay . Would love to camp but i cannot take a tent etc and all the other stuff that goes along with that (maybe thats a crap call on my end ????) . I have saddlebags but no sissy bar so perhaps i could put a dry bag on the rear and strap that down eh ??
    - do you blokes recommend taking stuff to eat along the way ?? or perhaps just "pie it" along the way 
    - i was thinking the ride would take say 2 days and 2 nights at least ( Could never do it in one bite  i think) 
    - taking wet weather gear as no doubt it will rain on me for sure ( I hate riding in the rain im afraid) 

    Any advice would be greatly appreciatted by me for the upcoming trip 

    many thanks 

    what sort of bike are you riding?

    back in early 2000's, I road Sydney to Willowbank QLD booked into hotel motel about 20min ride from Willowbank, took a day to ride up ( left early )Raced in screaming Eagle Harley's two days, then road back to Sydney to work. did not think it was hard, just planed fuel stops think maximum I could do on the tank was around 270k, I would fill up pay & straight back on the road. that was on a Dyna twin cam FXD 95". did that till Harley stopped sponsoring Screaming Eagle. 
    then three or four years back I flew up to Cairns from Sydney to pick up an old 03 sporty I bought, stayed the night and road home to south coast NSW, had to plan fuel stops & stopped in motel one night & with friends. both Bike's ( 01 Dyna & 03 1200 sporty ) ran perfect not one problem ( apart from Queensland hidden speed camera's ). also I don't smoke, would be harder for a smoker I'd think, but you don't have to worry about the bikes. I was lucky not getting any flats so on. I've never liked what weather gear but uncomfortable riding in rain! I got wet on those trips .
    good luck on your trip.
  • Kato
    Kato
    3 years ago
    KK - sounds like you ride fast ............thanks for the advice .
    I'll be getting some wet weather gear though as i aint riding wet ( NO WAY) 

    Ive even got one of those small pumps to pump up my tyres (if i get a flat) and it connects to my battery via a SAE connector .......bloody ripper at $60and works a treat . 30 PSI in under 4 minutes 
  • STEAMER
    STEAMER
    3 years ago
    Evo,  road works finished. Drove down to Wyong 10th Dec last year. Cruise control on until Coffs Harbour, Then freeway till Nabiac 80kmh. Then freeway to Raymond Terrace. 
     Kato, Coffs Harbour would be a good break roughly half way Bris to Sydney. Thats 6hours either way
  • Krash Kinkade
    Krash Kinkade
    3 years ago
    Quoting Kato on 28 Jan 2021 11:10 PM

    KK - sounds like you ride fast ............thanks for the advice .

    I'll be getting some wet weather gear though as i aint riding wet ( NO WAY) 

    Ive even got one of those small pumps to pump up my tyres (if i get a flat) and it connects to my battery via a SAE connector .......bloody ripper at $60and works a treat . 30 PSI in under 4 minutes 

    Kato good luck on the trip, the pump handy, I would also look for tyre sealer ( once in blue moon you might need it, thing is better to have & not need, than to need & not have ) Check the condition of your Tyres, if they have bit of wear, better to replace with new tyre before the trip!!
    I don't ride that fast on a trip ( stick to speed limit ) but I don't stop for longer than I need to, like fuel stop, only fill & pay & get going again or Loo stop, I drink water , don't do food stops ( take too long , can survive on water for a day ok ).
    Also now in NSW keep eye out for Subaru wagon parked of road anywhere, as they are mobile speed camera's & don't have a speed warning sign's now.
  • Airhead
    Airhead
    3 years ago
    Quoting Kato on 28 Jan 2021 11:10 PM

    KK - sounds like you ride fast ............thanks for the advice .

    I'll be getting some wet weather gear though as i aint riding wet ( NO WAY) 

    Ive even got one of those small pumps to pump up my tyres (if i get a flat) and it connects to my battery via a SAE connector .......bloody ripper at $60and works a treat . 30 PSI in under 4 minutes 

    Quoting Krash Kinkade on 29 Jan 2021 11:08 PMedited: 29 Jan 2021 11:12 PM

    Kato good luck on the trip, the pump handy, I would also look for tyre sealer ( once in blue moon you might need it, thing is better to have & not need, than to need & not have ) Check the condition of your Tyres, if they have bit of wear, better to replace with new tyre before the trip!!

    I don't ride that fast on a trip ( stick to speed limit ) but I don't stop for longer than I need to, like fuel stop, only fill & pay & get going again or Loo stop, I drink water , don't do food stops ( take too long , can survive on water for a day ok ).
    Also now in NSW keep eye out for Subaru wagon parked of road anywhere, as they are mobile speed camera's & don't have a speed warning sign's now.

    Kato all good advice from KrashK.  The road works are over, it is 110 virtually the entire way.  If you have it cruise control is your friend.  Just need to keep yourself mentally occupied given it is such an easy if not boring trip these days.
  • Soapbox2627
    Soapbox2627
    3 years ago
    The wife and I do Whyalla to Cobar, Cobar to Casino (Clovass) 2 days
    food is a couple dim sims or chicko, drink a 750 ml double espresso, I also have mints that I sit in my cheeks and they slowly dissolve
    I don't like chewing gum as I bite my cheeks
    entertainment, we have intercom so chat and have the music from the phone, no radio for most of the trip
    I have a Sundowner seat for traveling, very comfy, highway pegs for a variety of leg positions, the wife now has a Zeppelin seat, VERY comfy
    We also carry a couple bottles of water as a "wet ya whistle" as you go
    we would sit on 115 on the speedo.

    I would say the ride down the east coast would be more visual than Orraroo to just past Warren

    Test your limits, you can ride far longer than you can drive (strange)

    I knocked off work Thursday evening 19:00 after a getting up at 05:15, rode (double up) to Adelaide for a 09:00 delivery (wifes Bike) had a DR appointment at 13:45 then we rode home all for me to go back to work for night shift, (I was late 1 hour)
    Who in their right mind would knock back a road trip mid week???
  • Kato
    Kato
    3 years ago
    SoapBox  and all responders 

    Thanks for the input and Im  thinking i can actually do this trip perhaps easier than i initially thought .
    I fall asleep driving SO EASSILY but i am aware of that aspect . I regularly pull over for 5-10 Min power naps and feel like ive been sleeping for 3 hours when i wake up and im am 100% ready to roll after that 5-10 minute sleep (this is when im driving ) 

    I see that some of you listen to music whilst riding but i believe that will break my concentration plus i quite like the  sound of the  V twin humming along for hours on end .some quite good ones 

    I plan to stay at pubs if i can but i havent been able to find any that cater for overnight stays so i expect a motel is the way to go and ive seen some quite good ones on  line too 

    So thanks again to  you all out there proving the advice thus far .........immensely appreciated 
  • B0nes
    B0nes
    3 years ago
    Little tip for you if you and anyone else heading towards Sydney from Brisbane or the other way. If staying the night or just stopping for a feed at Bulahdelah. DON'T use credit card, pay cash only. Stopped there 3 times over the last couple of years and every time the missus has had her credit card hacked. Our bank can't trace the breach but it's some overseas mob doing it. Never had any more problems since we pass straight through nowadays. Don't know if it's the servo, motel or pub but even the bank thinks it's one of them. Never had a credit card problem before or since and we use it all the time on our travels.
  • STEAMER
    STEAMER
    3 years ago
    Brisbane to Sydney is 917km, or 9hr 30min. Driving/riding time, plus stops. 
  • B0nes
    B0nes
    3 years ago
    Nope. It's still a blink and woops! missed it.
  • Benno
    Benno
    3 years ago
    Kato,  have you thought about going down the inland route, New England hwy, then via Thunderbolts Way, or whatever it’s called,  it’s a damn sight more interesting than the h-way.
    Benno
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