Ben Warden – CBR929RR (leader) Ian
Payne – CBR929RR (rear rider)
Wayne & Joanne Nimmo – Suzuki Hyabusa Dave Nimmo & Tina – GSXR1000
Chris Burns – TL1000R Kate
Stewart – CBR250RR
6 bikes, 8 people.
What a dilemma, here I was scheduled to lead
this ride on a brand new bike, less than 1 week old and only 55 kays on the
clock. I didn’t even know where the reserve tap was and it’s raining! Best to
go to West Gate Servo and hope that everyone stays home to watch Bathurst! But
then Kate fronts up, then the Nimmo’s, Chris and finally Ben. After some
discussion I get Ben to take over as leader and I elect to go rear rider. At
least from this position I can become accustomed to the new bike without any
pressure!
We head off over the bridge and down the
freeway to Grieve Parade then along Doherty’s road. About half way we are
confronted with “detour” and “roadworks ahead” signs but we continue on until
the road is completely blocked off! Being on bikes we can squeeze through and,
although not knowing what lies ahead, we continue on to the end! Here we are
met with another roadblock that must be dismantled to allow us through! Who
said the Touring Club isn’t adventurous!
Now back on familiar roads we pass the Melton
Reservoir, Exford, Glenmore and the famous MSTCV Hill Climb at Mt. Wallace. We
then head to Anakie, Maude, Steiglitz and Meredith. Well that was the plan
until Kate ran out of petrol! It seems she had left the CBR’s tap on reserve
the last time she had filled up and therefore had no warning of how low on fuel
she was. The tank was so dry that no amount of leaning the bike produced any
fuel. Chris rushed off to get some and we quickly had her on her way.
Fortunately we had only been a few kilometres away
from Meredith so very little time had been lost. We quickly rejoined the others
in the pub for our counter meal. The first thing that struck me about this
country pub was how empty it was! When I had rang a couple of weeks before I
was told how busy they are on the weekends. The second thing I noticed was the
large projection TV was showing an upsidedown picture of the Bathurst car race!
This is quite normal we were told, in fact sometimes its shown the correct way
up but the writing is in reverse!! The publican was trying to correct the
picture and eventually with Ben’s help it was fixed.
We ordered our meals and settled in for a bit
of socialising and learnt that Wayne and Joanne now live in Bacchus Marsh,
Balls Performance Bikes have had a “fiddle” with the Hyabusa and it now goes
VERY well! Kate has been all over the countryside side showing friends the
great bike riding roads and couldn’t believe that “that skinny, bumpy, twisty,
steep piece of road” is the Club hillclimb!
All too soon it was time to leave with Ben
deciding that Werribee would be a good central location to finish. We headed
off to Durdidwarrah, Anakie Junction, then past the Ford Proving Ground to
arrive at Werribee. We stopped at the first service station and this is where
the ride finished. It was while at the servo we noticed Chris’s TL was showing
us how modern motorcycle tyres are constructed! His rear tyre had worn down to
show the cris/cross belt construction!
What a day: from my initial doubts it had
turned out quite well with no rain, good company and good roads. But what I had
noticed was how hard the suspension was on the new bike. Ben offered to help
reset the front and rear to a more compliant setting so, with the added bonus
of coffee and cake, Kate, Ben and I headed to Oak Park.
Thanks to Ben for the know-how, Julie for the refreshments, and the others who came along and made the day a success.
Ian Payne
(Honda CBR929RR)