2021 Australian FJ Owners Rally

[krusty]

For FJ rallies, riding the bike is a no-brainer but it's a little different when I've been to VJMC rallies as I take more than one bike and distance can easily be 1000klm, that's a bit like Lands End to John O'Groats. I (and SWMBO) have been to one VJMC on the FJ and that was a bit over 1000klm.
One VJMC rally I took three bikes (TA250 Colleda, Honda C92 and FJ1200) to Healesville, Victoria 1170klm. After the rally I was able to leave the car trailer and two bikes at Ballarat and rode the FJ to Mt Gambier along the Great Ocean Road 600klm return. The GOR is one of the "must do" rides over here.

[Millietant]

Nah, sorry Andy, not buying those feeble excuses.... ...look at those Aussies doing 5k km round trips to attend rallies.

But, I think the clemency idea has some merit. I could suggest some criteria for those who would get a sarcasm bypass.

1) If they're older than me.

2) If they're bigger and meaner than me (Dan, you automatically get a pass).

3) If they meet the criteria for minimum beer drinking capacity at a rally (I'll never be allowed to use a trailer!)

4) If they meet a minimum beard density/length criteria (I'll never be allowed to use a trailer).

or

5) If they're bringing more than one bike - or lots of whisky and firewood on the trailer with the bike.

All of the above are at Randy's discretion, obviously 

The UK being as small as it is, easily justifies the term trailer queens for those that tow their bikes to events.
Having ridden all over the US, I still used the term freely to mock the supposed girlie men.
However, as I've aged a bit, I can see the sense in trailering to a riding event, even though I've still always ridden.  (don't have a trailer)
A couple of years ago, after riding to a central rally, the last thing I wanted to do was razz round the curves of unfamiliar roads early the next morning, so I ended up missing a day group ride which was the very thing I had gone to do.
Upshot is rallists attending rallys in the US or Australia should qualify for some clemency before being tarred with the effeminate slur.
Obviously it will have to be taken on a case by case basis. I look to the forum to suggest a suitable threshold pre-rally travel distance.
That is all.

[Millietant]

For FJ rallies, riding the bike is a no-brainer but it's a little different when I've been to VJMC rallies as I take more than one bike and distance can easily be 1000klm, that's a bit like Lands End to John O'Groats. I (and SWMBO) have been to one VJMC on the FJ and that was a bit over 1000klm.
One VJMC rally I took three bikes (TA250 Colleda, Honda C92 and FJ1200) to Healesville, Victoria 1170klm. After the rally I was able to leave the car trailer and two bikes at Ballarat and rode the FJ to Mt Gambier along the Great Ocean Road 600klm return. The GOR is one of the "must do" rides over here.

Oh Krusty, don't do us down, Lands End to John O'Groats is a lot more than 1000km...........come on mate, we're not that tiny and insignificant on a global scale................

Oh.....wait.........maybe we are !!   

[andyoutandabout]

Biggest Empire the World ever saw.

[ribbert]

Nah, sorry Andy, not buying those feeble excuses.... ...look at those Aussies doing 5k km round trips to attend rallies.

But, I think the clemency idea has some merit. I could suggest some criteria for those who would get a sarcasm bypass.

1) If they're older than me.

2) If they're bigger and meaner than me (Dan, you automatically get a pass).

3) If they meet the criteria for minimum beer drinking capacity at a rally (I'll never be allowed to use a trailer!)

4) If they meet a minimum beard density/length criteria (I'll never be allowed to use a trailer).

or

5) If they're bringing more than one bike - or lots of whisky and firewood on the trailer with the bike.

All of the above are at Randy's discretion, obviously 

The UK being as small as it is, easily justifies the term trailer queens for those that tow their bikes to events.
Having ridden all over the US, I still used the term freely to mock the supposed girlie men.
However, as I've aged a bit, I can see the sense in trailering to a riding event, even though I've still always ridden.  (don't have a trailer)
A couple of years ago, after riding to a central rally, the last thing I wanted to do was razz round the curves of unfamiliar roads early the next morning, so I ended up missing a day group ride which was the very thing I had gone to do.
Upshot is rallists attending rallys in the US or Australia should qualify for some clemency before being tarred with the effeminate slur.
Obviously it will have to be taken on a case by case basis. I look to the forum to suggest a suitable threshold pre-rally travel distance.
That is all.

In my younger days I considered anyone riding slower than me, a smaller bike than me or less distance than me wasn't doing it right and was missing out. I also believed that anything less than two limbs in plaster was no excuse for towing to a rally. However, as I've aged, I've mellowed and now have a much kinder attitude to my fellow riders I now accept one limb in plaster as sufficient reason.

People own and enjoy their FJ's for all sorts of reasons, riding is just one of them, and it happens to be mine. I love the social side of a rally and catching up with everyone but for me, it's all about the ride. A few years back we had the rally only 350km from home, I felt short changed that is was so close and the ride there was little more than half my normal Sunday ride.

The last FJ rally I went to I rode 5000km in 6 days and was champing at the bit on the one day I was there, despite going on the rally (group) ride. The last Manshed Day I made a day trip of the just under 1000km, and I'm sure there are plenty who ride further and more often. I also know FJer's who'd be lucky to do 1000km in a year, some who even find the riding a bit of a chore but love the group and the socialising, some for whom their bikes are unashamedly garage/trailer queens etc. As long as they're having fun with their bikes, that's all that matters.

It's true what I said about mellowing with age, segments of the motorcycling community that once made themselves objects of derision by their choices, I now see in a different light. I figure, if they're not sitting on the couch watching TV, good on them, they deserve some respect for at least getting out and having a go.

Whatever it is that gives folks the greatest joy from their FJ is OK with me, I don't knock anyone, well, except those trailering their bikes to rallies.

Noel

[aviationfred]

I think that I have found the solution for taking multiple bikes to a Rally. Tomorrow, I am departing for the Central FJ/VFR Rally. The distance from home is 514 Kilometers/320 miles. I am taking Casper (1990 FJ1200) and Minnie (1990 VFR750). The VFR will be on a trailer, towed by a friend with his 2014 VFR800 keeping Minnie company, and I will be riding Casper to the Rally.


Fred

Photo is of taking 3 bikes, 1609 kilometers/1000 miles to 2 different Rallys.