Back getting dirty - An ongoing report from down under - Page 4

**saikhan** · 03-28-2012, 05:51 AM

Went for a run two weekends ago to Eurimbula and a whole heap of places. Will fill in the blanks soon.

Started at the usual fuel station at Calliope. Don't drink the water.

Then headed west until we found Galloway plains.

We then followed tablelands road all the way to Builyan, where we turned of onto Blackman's Gap road.

It's 90% dirt with some twisty bitumen parts.

We then headed for Eurimbula. Only to find the bridge had had a lot of water over it.

I'll try and add some more later.

**Tourmeister** · 03-29-2012, 12:50 AM

Uhhh... the approach to that bridge looks pretty "abrupt"

The rolling low mountains remind me of the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas here in the U.S. LOTS of fantastic riding there!

Thanks for the update/pics! Keep them coming

**Rman of 237** · 03-29-2012, 08:58 AM

I'm surprised the flood waters washed the rock off of the landings yet left the bridge intact. Great pics, let's see some more.

owtcast · 03-29-2012, 10:07 AM

Looks like a nice ride.

**saikhan** · 03-29-2012, 04:21 PM

Abrupt fits the approach perfectly. Last time it flooded, the old bridge got washed away completely so this shouldn't take them long to repair.

Easter school holidays start here today so when I finish work Monday morning Lucas (son) and I, plan to ride ourselves ragged. We have some good stuff planned. Can't wait actually.

**saikhan** · 04-05-2012, 04:51 PM

Hey all. Just taking the opportunity to wish all of you a happy easter. I hope you and yours have a great and safe weekend. I look forward to all the ride reports that will be generated.

Simmons1 · 04-05-2012, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saikhan

Hey all. Just taking the opportunity to wish all of you a happy easter. I hope you and yours have a great and safe weekend. I look forward to all the ride reports that will be generated.

Have a Happy Easter as well!

Thanks for sending us the great photos of your travels.

**saikhan** · 05-05-2012, 04:59 PM

Morning all (well it is here anyway atm

)

I went for a short run not far from home the other day. An area near the Rundle Range. The road takes you through a town, or what used to be a small township until the oil shale project near it had some chemical release issues and everyone either just left or were bought out by the government. About the only thing left there now is the Rural Fire Brigade shed and house slabs.

After the ex town there is mostly rolling hills.

This hill is known as white rock, imaginatively named because of all the white rocks on it.

Until next time.

Mudclod · 05-05-2012, 09:18 PM

That's some great photography man!

jhansen · 05-05-2012, 09:39 PM

+1 on the photos! Now , a question about the sign. GRID?

**saikhan** · 05-05-2012, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudclod

That's some great photography man!

Thanks, not that it's a competition or anything, but I still think they lag behind your last effort. But I keep shooting.

**saikhan** · 05-05-2012, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhansen

+1 on the photos! Now , a question about the sign. GRID?

You have them over there, I can't remember what you call them though.

Cattle Grid

**Tourmeister** · 05-06-2012, 12:10 AM

Beautiful country!

We call them cattle guards. They can wreak havoc on a bike, especially if wet. I don't know why, but they are often placed at the apex of corners

The other thing we have is bump gates. These are heavy metal gates that swing shut after they are pushed or "bumped" open. Operating them on a bike is tricky and can result in getting swatted off the bike if you are not careful. You have to pull up to them, make contact with the front wheel, roll on the power and steer into them until you get them moving and then steer away before they reach the far point of their swing. Some folks like to try to sneak through on the push from the rider in front of them. The first one might get through, but the second sneaker is like to get swatted! I've seen it happen several times

Iceman Jack · 05-07-2012, 02:37 PM

Holy cow.......I need to plan a trip down under. JT?

**saikhan** · 06-02-2012, 11:26 PM

Not a ride update, however not really sure where to post. I am very seriously considering getting a 2012 650 VSTROM. The 2 drz plan was a good one, however my son's schedule is very busy and he really has little time to ride. So I'm thinking out loud here, I plan to trade one DRZ in on a Vstrom. Sort of cover more bases.

Can take a pillion and handle longer bitumen runs more easily or at least more comfortably. I have read a lot of reviews etc, and they seem to be pretty good. I have ridden a 2009 but not a new model.

Thoughts welcome.

**Tourmeister** · 06-03-2012, 01:02 AM

I'd keep a DRZ and get the Strom as well

Seriously, I hated my 650 Strom off the paved surfaces. I know some folks ride them on unpaved surfaces, but it just never felt right for me. As for the paved stuff, great bikes. A tiny bit under powered and under sprung for any serious two up riding, but if you are just cruising around it is fine.

**saikhan** · 06-03-2012, 01:20 AM

Thanks for the input Scott. I was wondering about the two up thing, however my main pillion weighs 55 kilos on her worst day, and they've uprated the springs a little bit in the new model. Also in reality everyone other than me in the family is very busy this year. I work 4 days on 5 off, so most of the riding will be one up. I keep looking at the 1000cc but I prefer the new look.

Incidentally the 2011 is still available here for 8990 ride away. The 2012 is 12000 ride away. Also the bike shop offered me a good trade price for the DRZ.

The other thing is a GSX1250 FA is only 12900, which muddies the waters a bit lol.

**saikhan** · 07-11-2012, 03:08 AM

Went for a couple of short rides. Just a few pics without any real story.

Boondoola Tunnel, near Gin Gin. Was used for the mine at Mt Perry in the late 1800s and on.

Boyne river.

Awoonga dam or Lake Awoonga.

Mudclod · 07-11-2012, 09:27 AM

Awesome country saikhan, man, would I love a visit. I see you still have 2 Z's. I have a DL1000 and Scott's right, it really is just a streetbike that I ride offroad on but so far it's been fun and isn't that what it's all about? They sure jacked the price on those '12's though.

**Tourmeister** · 07-11-2012, 01:04 PM

Glad you posted, I was just about to post to see what you were up to because I was wondering if you had made a decision on the bikes.

As always, beautiful country...

03-28-2012, 05:51 AM	#61
saikhan Forum Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 116	Re: Back getting dirty - An ongoing report from down under Went for a run two weekends ago to Eurimbula and a whole heap of places. Will fill in the blanks soon. Started at the usual fuel station at Calliope. Don't drink the water. Then headed west until we found Galloway plains. We then followed tablelands road all the way to Builyan, where we turned of onto Blackman's Gap road. It's 90% dirt with some twisty bitumen parts. We then headed for Eurimbula. Only to find the bridge had had a lot of water over it. I'll try and add some more later. __________________ Core of my heart, My country. Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening. L1 DRZ 400E X2. 82 GSX1100E. 83 GSX750 Katana. 91 DT175. K7 JR80. Last edited by saikhan; 03-28-2012 at 05:58 AM.

03-29-2012, 08:58 AM	#63
Rman of 237 Forum Supporter Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northern Fayette County Posts: 5,491	Re: Back getting dirty - An ongoing report from down under I'm surprised the flood waters washed the rock off of the landings yet left the bridge intact. Great pics, let's see some more. __________________ '06 TW200 Mountain Goat, '06 XR650L Sumo, '98 XR440R trick and plated, '98 KDX220 plated, '84 RZ350, '83 XR350R, '83 XR200R '84 ATC125

03-29-2012, 10:07 AM	#64
owtcast Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Beaumont TX Posts: 610	Re: Back getting dirty - An ongoing report from down under Looks like a nice ride. __________________ _____________________________ Terry

03-29-2012, 04:21 PM	#65
saikhan Forum Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 116	Re: Back getting dirty - An ongoing report from down under Abrupt fits the approach perfectly. Last time it flooded, the old bridge got washed away completely so this shouldn't take them long to repair. Easter school holidays start here today so when I finish work Monday morning Lucas (son) and I, plan to ride ourselves ragged. We have some good stuff planned. Can't wait actually. __________________ Core of my heart, My country. Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening. L1 DRZ 400E X2. 82 GSX1100E. 83 GSX750 Katana. 91 DT175. K7 JR80.

04-05-2012, 04:51 PM	#66
saikhan Forum Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 116	Re: Back getting dirty - An ongoing report from down under Hey all. Just taking the opportunity to wish all of you a happy easter. I hope you and yours have a great and safe weekend. I look forward to all the ride reports that will be generated. __________________ Core of my heart, My country. Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening. L1 DRZ 400E X2. 82 GSX1100E. 83 GSX750 Katana. 91 DT175. K7 JR80.

05-05-2012, 04:59 PM	#68
saikhan Forum Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 116	Re: Back getting dirty - An ongoing report from down under Morning all (well it is here anyway atm ) I went for a short run not far from home the other day. An area near the Rundle Range. The road takes you through a town, or what used to be a small township until the oil shale project near it had some chemical release issues and everyone either just left or were bought out by the government. About the only thing left there now is the Rural Fire Brigade shed and house slabs. After the ex town there is mostly rolling hills. This hill is known as white rock, imaginatively named because of all the white rocks on it. Until next time. __________________ Core of my heart, My country. Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening. L1 DRZ 400E X2. 82 GSX1100E. 83 GSX750 Katana. 91 DT175. K7 JR80. Last edited by saikhan; 05-05-2012 at 05:29 PM.

05-05-2012, 09:18 PM	#69
Mudclod Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Killeen, Texas Posts: 867	Re: Back getting dirty - An ongoing report from down under That's some great photography man! __________________ '74 TY250 '89 GB500 '06 DRZ400 '03 KDX220 '08 DL1000 '09 XR1200

05-05-2012, 09:39 PM	#70
jhansen Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Spring Texas Posts: 5,587	+1 on the photos! Now , a question about the sign. GRID? __________________ Jeff Hansen 2005 FLSTCI AMA #289603 Life member Patriot Guard Rider ---------------------------------------------------

05-07-2012, 02:37 PM	#74
Iceman Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: On a bike, down by the river! Posts: 1,178	Re: Back getting dirty - An ongoing report from down under Holy cow.......I need to plan a trip down under. JT? __________________ Jack Daddy-O S372 TCCRA Political Correctness - the belief that one can pick up a turd by the clean end. *Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.*

06-02-2012, 11:26 PM	#75
saikhan Forum Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 116	Re: Back getting dirty - An ongoing report from down under Not a ride update, however not really sure where to post. I am very seriously considering getting a 2012 650 VSTROM. The 2 drz plan was a good one, however my son's schedule is very busy and he really has little time to ride. So I'm thinking out loud here, I plan to trade one DRZ in on a Vstrom. Sort of cover more bases. Can take a pillion and handle longer bitumen runs more easily or at least more comfortably. I have read a lot of reviews etc, and they seem to be pretty good. I have ridden a 2009 but not a new model. Thoughts welcome. __________________ Core of my heart, My country. Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening. L1 DRZ 400E X2. 82 GSX1100E. 83 GSX750 Katana. 91 DT175. K7 JR80.

06-03-2012, 01:20 AM	#77
saikhan Forum Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 116	Re: Back getting dirty - An ongoing report from down under Thanks for the input Scott. I was wondering about the two up thing, however my main pillion weighs 55 kilos on her worst day, and they've uprated the springs a little bit in the new model. Also in reality everyone other than me in the family is very busy this year. I work 4 days on 5 off, so most of the riding will be one up. I keep looking at the 1000cc but I prefer the new look. Incidentally the 2011 is still available here for 8990 ride away. The 2012 is 12000 ride away. Also the bike shop offered me a good trade price for the DRZ. The other thing is a GSX1250 FA is only 12900, which muddies the waters a bit lol. __________________ Core of my heart, My country. Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening. L1 DRZ 400E X2. 82 GSX1100E. 83 GSX750 Katana. 91 DT175. K7 JR80.

07-11-2012, 03:08 AM	#78
saikhan Forum Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 116	Re: Back getting dirty - An ongoing report from down under Went for a couple of short rides. Just a few pics without any real story. Boondoola Tunnel, near Gin Gin. Was used for the mine at Mt Perry in the late 1800s and on. Boyne river. Awoonga dam or Lake Awoonga. __________________ Core of my heart, My country. Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening. L1 DRZ 400E X2. 82 GSX1100E. 83 GSX750 Katana. 91 DT175. K7 JR80. Last edited by saikhan; 07-11-2012 at 03:27 AM.

07-11-2012, 09:27 AM	#79
Mudclod Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Killeen, Texas Posts: 867	Re: Back getting dirty - An ongoing report from down under Awesome country saikhan, man, would I love a visit. I see you still have 2 Z's. I have a DL1000 and Scott's right, it really is just a streetbike that I ride offroad on but so far it's been fun and isn't that what it's all about? They sure jacked the price on those '12's though. __________________ '74 TY250 '89 GB500 '06 DRZ400 '03 KDX220 '08 DL1000 '09 XR1200

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