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Riding Brisbane to Sydney

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  • UltraPete
    UltraPete
    3 years ago
    You'll do it easy as pie mate!

    For me if I am riding after an hour or so (once out of traffic) I get in 'the zone' where it's you, the bike, the road and nothing else. It's a good place to be and for me at least, I stay alert till the kickstand is down. Every time I stop, I just want to get back on the road again. 
    Pack a few backup snacks (muesli bars/protein bars... I take a pack of vita wheats and a jar of peanut butter!) in case you can't get food in a small town or roll up after trading hours.... It will suck, but at least you'll have something in yer guts!

    The right bike certainly helps. I can go about 3-4hrs straight on my Ultra and still be comfortable after a full day.

    With wet weather gear, I like cheap and simple. I use the RJays nylon pullovers.
    https://www.mxstore.com.au/p/Rjays-Tornado-Black-Pants/TPBK1-c?gclid=Cj0KCQiAx9mABhD0ARIsAEfpavQlJnz7ucHcVnwbcqbM592Aq-ogJgN5WV93RL5mcFWb4P7SfI-B_zUaAsbhEALw_wcB
    They just pull over your normal gear. They are cheap, light and surprisingly warm. They live in the bottom of my left saddlebag Used mine last week, got absolutely dumped on between Avoca and Learmonth. 

    Don't over think it, be be prepared. 
    Safe travels Brother!





  • Kato
    Kato
    3 years ago
    U Pete 

    Thanks for the advice . I'll be sure to get soem of the R Jays stuff .looks light and not to dear at all . Looks like good gear .
    Any thoughts on how to keep your riding boost dry at all when it pours 
  • UltraPete
    UltraPete
    3 years ago
    If I know I'm going to be in the rain I throw on tall cowboy boots, so that's probably not much help.

    Those Rjays pants are real long in the leg, and have a strap at the bottom to pull them nice and tight. 
  • Krash Kinkade
    Krash Kinkade
    3 years ago
    Quoting Kato on 31 Jan 2021 09:43 AM

    U Pete 


    Thanks for the advice . I'll be sure to get soem of the R Jays stuff .looks light and not to dear at all . Looks like good gear .
    Any thoughts on how to keep your riding boost dry at all when it pours 

    Hi again Keto , good question!! One of the problems I had in old days, was when I got caught in heavy rain, my boots finished up full of water. Gets really uncomfortable & on a long run, were I tried to do more riding time less stops, it was a problem.
    now can get waterproof boots ( I have a pair that I don't like wearing as feet get real hot ) also never really tested to know if indeed they are waterproof. but think best thing is keep wet weather pants that cover over your normal riding gear. then if looks like it's about to rain heavy, all you have to do is pull boots off to get them on, cover leg of boots with wet gear & just have to use any of that leather wax that's waterproof to treat the lower part if not whole boot, seems to repellants water if you treat boots  with it once in while.
    been getting lot of rain here!!
  • UltraPete
    UltraPete
    3 years ago
    Yup leather boots are fine if you keep up the dubbin/beeswax/scotchguard
  • Kato
    Kato
    3 years ago
    Ok - so i did the run from Brisbane to Syney based a lot on the advice from those on the Forum and their replies so thanks in advance 

    Some comments FYI 
    - had the cam chain tensioners replaced / SE 204 cams / K and N open style air cleaner installed . Bit more torque than before and worth the cost i thought .
    - Bought a set of used Belstaff Trialmaster pants and jacket  second hand (made in England i believe) for $80-00 . Tried water on them  under a fullon hose "test" at home and not a drop inside . Ol mate reckons they were worth a $1000-00 in the day . Looks like good gear and hardly worn / used . bit bulky but if rain hits me i am confident i could keep riding for sure now  
    - installed a Quad Lock with a charger connected to a SAE connector direct off the battery . SUPERB bit of gear and the navigation off the phone was superb . The Quad lock charges my phone at 1% every minute (super fast ) . Love the quad lock stuff now .
    - bike ran perfectly ( 03 Anniv Fatboy 88 Twin Cam with 85K on it now) ..........averaged 5.5 L / 100 Kms . 110 Kph max speed though  (Point to point camaras everywhere / and quite a few fixed camaeras . Only one Copper pulled me over in Stanthorpe as his Licence plate "reader" on his car interpreted the 0 on my No plate as a 0 not O for Oscar . He was pretty cool (i have a personal styled plate ) 
    - rode 550 kms the first day no drama and stayed at Armidale . Took that "Thunderbolt Way " route that somone kindly mentioned on here ..............brilliant . Barrington Tops was very scenic to say the least . They "forgot" my booking at the motel in Armidale ????. Said i rang the wrong No when booking in FFS .........my Mob phone showed the time / date / duration of the call made the DAY BEFORE . Anyway it was all sorted and i got another place to stay in Armidale 
    - rode into Sydney the next day No problems at all . Perfect weather over the 2 days . Hit sydney at 5 pm . the traffic is Sydney is unlike any other . I will NEVER ride in Sydney traffic ever again unless i have to .........just another world . CArs everywhere and you have to be on ya game 
    - stayed 3 nights then hit the  road home (took the pacific highway route home this time not the New England highway )
    - rode straight  home ( 1000 Kms and 13 Hrs) just to see if i could do it . Rain followed me ALL the way home and got a bit 2 hours out of home but pressed on and was dry when i hit home . Must say if i had more daylight ( it was night when i got home) i could have kept riding for another 1 hour or so . So i was pretty impressed withn that aspect i must say . 

    so thetre you have it .......my FIRST big trip and loved it 

    Thanks to all that assisted / commented on what to do / take / ways to ride etc 

    Cheers 



  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    3 years ago
    Well done mate. Done many a 1000klm day back to back and if you plan in advance , and confirm, it spurs you on knowing you have a decent feed, hot shower and a good sleep waiting.
  • roadrunner14
    roadrunner14
    3 years ago
    Great adventure, thanks for the write up. 
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