Went for my first ride for the year today, just a short ride 100km or so, down a road I hadn't been on for years. Of the 100km nearly 65km was dirt road. Determined to reach my objective (an old convict tunnel) I carried on, gingerly at first on the dirt, but as my confidence grew, I soon found myself averaging 60 to 80kph. I was amazed (but , maybe I shouldn't have been after reading Ribbets -Noel- ride report on his last big trip)at how stable the big brute of a bike was. Another happy journey done
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/4336_02_01_16_6_54_16_0.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/4336_02_01_16_6_54_16_1.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/4336_02_01_16_6_54_17_2.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/4336_02_01_16_6_54_17_5.jpeg)
Mark
Mate, that`s great to see! Dirt roads of that appearance are always fun in the dry IMHO. (Even more fun on the sidecar!)
On the FJ the only worry I get is speed decisions with corrugated corners and cars wanting to overtake.
Whereabouts is that convict tunnel? :drinks:
It sounds like a good run down there one weekend :good2:
This is what I found, is this the one? Is there another. :rofl2:
http://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/north-coast/clarence-coast/grafton/attractions/old-glen-innes-road-and-the-historic-tunnel-grafton (http://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/north-coast/clarence-coast/grafton/attractions/old-glen-innes-road-and-the-historic-tunnel-grafton)
A member from the FJ Facebook page suggested a set of these tyres (Pirelli Scorpion Trail 2) for my next dirt adventure. Might look into it.
Peta and I took a trip down that road when we came down to the Grafton rally in the hire car..... you did well to get up to 80kph on the bike...... that's about as fast as I was game to take the car.
Harvy
Quote from: Urban_Legend on January 02, 2016, 07:17:56 AM
........Of the 100km nearly 65km was dirt road. ....... I carried on, gingerly at first on the dirt, but as my confidence grew, I soon found myself averaging 60 to 80kph. I was amazed..........
Aaaahh, I love this sort of stuff. That's what riding is all about for me, the places it takes me (and the corners getting there), the more remote the better.
Getting off the beaten track is great fun. Good on you for beating the dirt road demon. I reckon gravel roads are a great experience, getting comfortable with the bike moving around under you.
That ride will live way longer in your memory than a 500km slog down the freeway.
Don't you love a bridge where you can stop on in the middle of the road and dismount for a photo without worrying about traffic, and the silence, other than nature, when you turn the bike off, love it.
If not for the different bike, your photos look like hundreds I have taken myself in similar far flung places.
Good one Mark, now go find some more adventure rides and report back.
My brother rides a GS1200, he is forever carrying on about how it was made for "this sort of country" when we are out in the boonies somewhere. I remind him it has not been anywhere the FJ hasn't and that I could take him anytime I felt like it. The FJ has matched it so far for water crossing depth and has only come off second best when it runs out of ground clearance.
While I am underwhelmed by my suspension for general duties, it does soak up corrugations very well within a certain speed range. I rode about 150kms of dirt on the Manshed run a few weeks back, great fun.
Noel
It's a nice run on the Old Grafton road not sure I would do it on my FJ however it has done worse roads at times. I try to keep it on the black stuff now and use the PIG for the dirt.
:good2: