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What did you guys do on your bikes today?

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  • bloodog
    bloodog
    2 years ago
    Nice one Pauly
     Ride safe bro
  • evo94
    evo94
    2 years ago
    wasnt it wet az, the last time too...?
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    2 years ago
    Quoting evo94 on 09 Mar 2023 03:28 AM

    wasnt it wet az, the last time too...?

    Well done and dusted or muddied depending on the day. We left home to persistent drizzle just enough for wet weather gear till around Esk. My brother in law very nearly got cleaned up on the turn off to Mt Glorious by a ute that we had followed for 5-10klm that indicated to turn right, started to move right across the diving lane then suddenly decided to turn HARD left with my Brother in law already at the rear of the ute. Needless to say the ute driver shit himself as did my Brother in law and somehow it all unwound without a incident. Lucky indeed. It started to rain steadily once we hit the dirt at Gatton and was pretty slow going thru the forests and back roads. We weren't able to do some of the creek crossings as the roads had been closed due to the last floods thru there. There were no entry points or exit points to get across. Day two was driving rain and terrible conditions all dirt and it took us around 9 hrs to do less than 100klm with all the stops and tip overs and back tracking. Day three was overcast and we decided to shortcut via the tar to the back of Stanthorpe and get back onto the dirt hopefully ahead of the predicted 1 months rain in a weekend prediction. Some of the roads out the back of nowhere are spectacular and freshly tarred with no traffic and the state forest fire trails well maintained again with zero traffic/4x4. And then the rain started.....just staying upright in "Enduro mode" with traction control activated on clay based roads that now had a layer of sludge on top was very challenging. I ran out of skill twice on that section with the front tucking once on the camber while upright and then 50m further on the rear overtaking the front. Anyway once we got of that road we made the decision to head for home in torrential rain. It rained all the way till the back of Glasshouse mountains and then dry run home. 
    Our last run home from the Cape was also in unbelievable rain with places underwater and cool conditions. I can tell you with first hand experience that HD wet weather gear wont keep you dry when it gets really snotty. 
  • Grease Monkey
    Grease Monkey
    2 years ago
    On ya PB, good yarn, but it does bring me to a question, wet weather gear, I've had various stuff over the years and non of it kept me dry if it really hammers down for hours, I wonder if anything really does?
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    2 years ago
    Like yourself Hilly i have been thru plenty...i did have a Dainese one piece suit that was fantastic but man was it hot! If you were in traffic it was wetter inside the suit than outside due to sweat. I stick with the HD ones due to their lightness and that i can pack it inside its own hood saving space. 
  • Grease Monkey
    Grease Monkey
    2 years ago
    Did have one piece thingy that we used to use at work when doing really filthy water blasting etc, same thing, like wearing a flammin sauna, just wondering.
  • markwoumla
    markwoumla
    2 years ago
    Have to agree , in consitent rain you eventually get wet with whatever gear you have... But over many years of riding,I think i have found the the answer,,,,
    Stop at the closest pub,,, give it an hour and poke your head out to check conditions..... If still pissing down,, book into pub and continue drinking..... In the morning if fine , continue on your way,, if not, book room for another night.... Works for me.....


  • Grease Monkey
    Grease Monkey
    2 years ago
    Quoting markwoumla on 12 Mar 2023 07:39 AM

    Have to agree , in consitent rain you eventually get wet with whatever gear you have... But over many years of riding,I think i have found the the answer,,,,

    Stop at the closest pub,,, give it an hour and poke your head out to check conditions..... If still pissing down,, book into pub and continue drinking..... In the morning if fine , continue on your way,, if not, book room for another night.... Works for me.....


    Fucking brilliant plan......I may of used it before but now that it has been acknowledged as a legitimate strategy I'll use it more often lol
  • Far Canal
    Far Canal
    2 years ago
    Quoting evo94 on 09 Mar 2023 03:28 AM

    wasnt it wet az, the last time too...?

    Quoting paulybronco on 12 Mar 2023 01:50 AM

    Well done and dusted or muddied depending on the day. We left home to persistent drizzle just enough for wet weather gear till around Esk. My brother in law very nearly got cleaned up on the turn off to Mt Glorious by a ute that we had followed for 5-10klm that indicated to turn right, started to move right across the diving lane then suddenly decided to turn HARD left with my Brother in law already at the rear of the ute. Needless to say the ute driver shit himself as did my Brother in law and somehow it all unwound without a incident. Lucky indeed. It started to rain steadily once we hit the dirt at Gatton and was pretty slow going thru the forests and back roads. We weren't able to do some of the creek crossings as the roads had been closed due to the last floods thru there. There were no entry points or exit points to get across. Day two was driving rain and terrible conditions all dirt and it took us around 9 hrs to do less than 100klm with all the stops and tip overs and back tracking. Day three was overcast and we decided to shortcut via the tar to the back of Stanthorpe and get back onto the dirt hopefully ahead of the predicted 1 months rain in a weekend prediction. Some of the roads out the back of nowhere are spectacular and freshly tarred with no traffic and the state forest fire trails well maintained again with zero traffic/4x4. And then the rain started.....just staying upright in "Enduro mode" with traction control activated on clay based roads that now had a layer of sludge on top was very challenging. I ran out of skill twice on that section with the front tucking once on the camber while upright and then 50m further on the rear overtaking the front. Anyway once we got of that road we made the decision to head for home in torrential rain. It rained all the way till the back of Glasshouse mountains and then dry run home. 

    Our last run home from the Cape was also in unbelievable rain with places underwater and cool conditions. I can tell you with first hand experience that HD wet weather gear wont keep you dry when it gets really snotty. 

    Where were you planning to get to on this trip Pauly?.
    Seems as though the pin was pulled before the final destination was reached.
    Not sure why but thought you were heading off on an epic eat to west off roader.
    Maybe I was just smoking too many Sonoran desert toad skins.
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    2 years ago
    Ha Ha FC trying for winter/July desert crossing to Steep Point from the Sunshine Coast. We would love to straight line it but reality is i dont have the right bike and more importantly the skill to do that so a slightly easier road and dirt /desert trip is being rejigged constantly. These week/weekend trips are just lead up to getting saddle time and getting to brush up on off-road skills.
    We did what we wanted to this weekend other than a few forest sections that had water crossings and had plan b sorted before we left that allowed us to hit the tar and bypass certain areas. 
  • bloodog
    bloodog
    2 years ago
    Quoting paulybronco on 12 Mar 2023 10:20 AMedited: 12 Mar 2023 10:24 AM

    Ha Ha FC trying for winter/July desert crossing to Steep Point from the Sunshine Coast. We would love to straight line it but reality is i dont have the right bike and more importantly the skill to do that so a slightly easier road and dirt /desert trip is being rejigged constantly. These week/weekend trips are just lead up to getting saddle time and getting to brush up on off-road skills.

    We did what we wanted to this weekend other than a few forest sections that had water crossings and had plan b sorted before we left that allowed us to hit the tar and bypass certain areas. 

    Such a shame your not a photo taking bloke PB
  • evo94
    evo94
    2 years ago
    Quoting paulybronco on 12 Mar 2023 10:20 AMedited: 12 Mar 2023 10:24 AM

    Ha Ha FC trying for winter/July desert crossing to Steep Point from the Sunshine Coast. We would love to straight line it but reality is i dont have the right bike and more importantly the skill to do that so a slightly easier road and dirt /desert trip is being rejigged constantly. These week/weekend trips are just lead up to getting saddle time and getting to brush up on off-road skills.

    We did what we wanted to this weekend other than a few forest sections that had water crossings and had plan b sorted before we left that allowed us to hit the tar and bypass certain areas. 

    tnx for writeup of your trip...so what would you then consider the "right bike" for you on such an adventure??
  • GGUser260
    GGUser260
    2 years ago
    Quoting paulybronco on 12 Mar 2023 10:20 AMedited: 12 Mar 2023 10:24 AM

    Ha Ha FC trying for winter/July desert crossing to Steep Point from the Sunshine Coast. We would love to straight line it but reality is i dont have the right bike and more importantly the skill to do that so a slightly easier road and dirt /desert trip is being rejigged constantly. These week/weekend trips are just lead up to getting saddle time and getting to brush up on off-road skills.

    We did what we wanted to this weekend other than a few forest sections that had water crossings and had plan b sorted before we left that allowed us to hit the tar and bypass certain areas. 

    Quoting bloodog on 12 Mar 2023 08:49 PM

    Such a shame your not a photo taking bloke PB

    I was able to visualize 
    biy2xnl9.png
  • flstc08
    flstc08
    2 years ago
    Quoting markwoumla on 12 Mar 2023 07:39 AM

    Have to agree , in consitent rain you eventually get wet with whatever gear you have... But over many years of riding,I think i have found the the answer,,,,

    Stop at the closest pub,,, give it an hour and poke your head out to check conditions..... If still pissing down,, book into pub and continue drinking..... In the morning if fine , continue on your way,, if not, book room for another night.... Works for me.....


    G'day,
    sounds like an excellent plan. Does it have to be raining, or can you just pretend?


  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    2 years ago
    Quoting paulybronco on 12 Mar 2023 10:20 AMedited: 12 Mar 2023 10:24 AM

    Ha Ha FC trying for winter/July desert crossing to Steep Point from the Sunshine Coast. We would love to straight line it but reality is i dont have the right bike and more importantly the skill to do that so a slightly easier road and dirt /desert trip is being rejigged constantly. These week/weekend trips are just lead up to getting saddle time and getting to brush up on off-road skills.

    We did what we wanted to this weekend other than a few forest sections that had water crossings and had plan b sorted before we left that allowed us to hit the tar and bypass certain areas. 

    Quoting bloodog on 12 Mar 2023 08:49 PM

    Such a shame your not a photo taking bloke PB

    Seems like the odd photo that i take are that offensive i don't bother sharing them. LOL 
  • markwoumla
    markwoumla
    2 years ago
    Quoting markwoumla on 12 Mar 2023 07:39 AM

    Have to agree , in consitent rain you eventually get wet with whatever gear you have... But over many years of riding,I think i have found the the answer,,,,

    Stop at the closest pub,,, give it an hour and poke your head out to check conditions..... If still pissing down,, book into pub and continue drinking..... In the morning if fine , continue on your way,, if not, book room for another night.... Works for me.....


    Quoting flstc08 on 13 Mar 2023 05:53 AM

    G'day,

    sounds like an excellent plan. Does it have to be raining, or can you just pretend?


    Funny you bring that up .... The older I'm getting it doesn't really have to be pissing down... You may remember the old rule on building sites ,, the Union rep would pull a tally ho paper out , hold it outside for 10 seconds, if a drop of rain hit the paper, the order was , stay in the donger lads !!!!



  • Ultramick
    Ultramick
    2 years ago
    And I always thought it was a drop of water on a Sydney morning herald. Thats with inflation and all.
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    2 years ago
    Quoting paulybronco on 12 Mar 2023 10:20 AMedited: 12 Mar 2023 10:24 AM

    Ha Ha FC trying for winter/July desert crossing to Steep Point from the Sunshine Coast. We would love to straight line it but reality is i dont have the right bike and more importantly the skill to do that so a slightly easier road and dirt /desert trip is being rejigged constantly. These week/weekend trips are just lead up to getting saddle time and getting to brush up on off-road skills.

    We did what we wanted to this weekend other than a few forest sections that had water crossings and had plan b sorted before we left that allowed us to hit the tar and bypass certain areas. 

    Quoting evo94 on 12 Mar 2023 11:11 PM

    tnx for writeup of your trip...so what would you then consider the "right bike" for you on such an adventure??

    Cheers evo....gee there's a few that would fit the bill but like all things each bike is a compromise. A KTM 450 rally for the actual desert crossing, but a total misery for the "getting there bits" My GS 1200 for the "getting there bits" but a heavyweight (225 dry v 139 dry for KTM ) in the sand. A KTM 890 is possibly the best compromise but again weight is the factor (200kg dry) but certainly far better than a single for the endless klm on the tar.
    Bmw, Triumph also bring out comparable models but again benchmark themselves off each other. 
    Low tech Dr 400/Dr 600 have proven they are worthy of consideration but for the reasons stated i wont be on one.
       
  • Grease Monkey
    Grease Monkey
    2 years ago
    XL 750 transalp is 208kgs wet, might be a good thing.
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    2 years ago
    Quoting Grease Monkey on 13 Mar 2023 08:57 AM

    XL 750 transalp is 208kgs wet, might be a good thing.

    Cheers Hilly the reason i never mentioned it was two fold...Honda cant give me a timeframe for arrival or delivery in Australia or even a price. Lastly there is not much after market stuff available yet,  panniers, sump guards, bark busters etc. 
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