Ride in the rain forest

[roverfj1200]

Report from Queensland Australia.

We have had a lot of rain here over the last week but I just got my KLR and I want to ride it "in the dirt. Not sure if the roads would be open or not so I headed out to see. I headed west from my place to Dayboro and then onto Lacey ck rd. This takes me into the D'aguilar Nat park only some 35km from my door.



With the rain all the creeks where flowing quite fast. Once off the black top I hit the first of many crossings this one took me a bit buy surprise as it was about 800mm deep. The klr seemed happy with the water only thing I felt was that first gear was a bit tall.



Plenty of these little ones to cross. Having been off dirt bikes for over twenty years I felt lost and every slip of the wheels had me jumpy at first. The difference from road to dirt is such a big one. I started to get into it and sliding the rear with a leg out started to come back to me.



I had to keep saying to myself slow down as I started to get quite cocky. North of Woodford parts of the track where covered in a red clay. Hard packed clay and water makes for a slippery time. I dropped in to a washout and was lucky to keep the bike upright. Sure put me back in my place...



Well north of Conondale somewhere I chose a track marked 4 wheel drive only. and headed toward Kenilworth. BLOODY HELL. The track had about 10km of fresh dozer work and had about 100mm of slop on top of slime. Was hard work sliding around with both legs out trying to keep it upright."BLOODY HARD". Not knowing how much of this slop there was I pushed on and on and on. As I said about 10km worth. Finally I got out onto some better roads and head to Kenilworth.





Back on the black top I headed home along some good bike roads. I sure got a shock when I found myself flicking the 650 around and ripping through the twisties. Even with knobbies on the KLR was fun.



Well I must say I have fallen in love with this budget priced surprise machine. Feel now I have made the right chose in bike for the planned big trip.

More Pix http://s576.photobucket.com/user/roverfj1200/library/KLR?sort=3&page=1

[TexasDave]

Great trip and great scenery. Wish I was along for the ride. I see the Mrs was smart enough to stay out of the mud. Thanks for the pics.  Dave

[Bones]

Great pics Richard, used to do a fair bit of trail riding myself when I was younger, a group of us used to camp at Mt Flinders and ride all the tracks around that area, great fun and something I wouldn't mind getting into again. Have you been on that track at Gheerulla near Kenilworth yet, no idea where it starts or ends up, but supposed to be a good track.

Those plastic tanks each side of your bike, are they for fuel and water.

[roverfj1200]

Those plastic tanks each side of your bike, are they for fuel and water.

Yes have rotopax mounts on the sides will purchase bigger ones soon.

Don't know about the track you mentioned.

Cheers

[Bones]

Here it is.

http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/mapleton-falls/pdf/map-gheerulla-trail-bike.pdf

[roverfj1200]

Here it is.

http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/mapleton-falls/pdf/map-gheerulla-trail-bike.pdf

When we going..

[charleygofast]

Nice report! Beautifull pics, love that KLR, I'm sure you do too!                                                                                                                                 Cheers!                                                                                                                                                                                               Charley

[CanDman]

great stuff Rich !!!
Kev

[Bones]

Here it is.

http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/mapleton-falls/pdf/map-gheerulla-trail-bike.pdf

When we going..

It'd be great, but I don't own a chook chaser or in fact ridden one in about 25 yrs, and not sure the FJ is quite up to it.

[X-Ray]

I am absolutely dying to get back and do some trail riding like that. Ever since I traded my 600 Tenere in for the FJ some 20 years back, I've missed it terribly. But, good bikes like you have now Rich are plentiful on the second hand market, and even new aren't expensive. Only thing is I would have to buy new dirt gear.

Now, when's my next bonus coming......

[oldktmdude]

   Just spent the day riding tracks and single trail with my son on my GasGas 300 2 stroke. Had an absolute ball. Boy am I gonna be sore and sorry for myself  tomorrow, I haven't been on my dirtbike for over 12 months.  We have the opposite problem to you Richard, it's bone dry down here. We could do with 6 inches of rain. Great pics mate, these chook chasers sure are a lot of fun.
                                                                                                                               Regards, Pete.    

[ken65]

Gday Richard, How do you not get lost on those tracks?   Do they show up on a gps .
I used to get lost in the forest a bit up behind Imbil .
Always made it home eventually but once i was just about out of fuel by the time i got home..

[Horse]

YEH, this is what I'm talkin about , Great stuff  gunna plan a different ride weekend now. There's even a camp site right there, pub just up the road ,& & & & & lets go !!!!!

[roverfj1200]

http://s576.photobucket.com/user/roverfj1200/library/KLR/two%20dayer?sort=3&page=1

[The General]

Great pics Richard, used to do a fair bit of trail riding myself when I was younger, a group of us used to camp at Mt Flinders and ride all the tracks around that area, great fun and something I wouldn't mind getting into again. Have you been on that track at Gheerulla near Kenilworth yet, no idea where it starts or ends up, but supposed to be a good track.

Those plastic tanks each side of your bike, are they for fuel and water.

This pic was taken on that track....nice area, just watch out for fallen trees if you get above 3rd gear around those clay based corners...The tree size and your speed will decide wether best to go straight through or ta lay it over... and pray.