Eildon via Torbreck River 18^th August 2002

El Nino, the weather system that upsets the farmers, may have been responsible for some dry road grip on Sunday. The weather in these winter months is still with clear skies but cool and sunny all day. The sun's angle is lower than in summer producing some "picket fence" effects at speed, commented on by Rocket Ron Johnston at one of the day's stops.

Whittlesea around 10.15 am and we have a large turn out for a medium distance ride that promises a large grin/fear factor when the route is mentioned in the Mag's itinerary page.

Honda hoons: Ben Warden, leader, CBR929, Pete Weyermayr, CBR929, Liz Oliver, CBR919, Ian Payne, CBR919, Neville Maggs, VTR-SP and joining at Alexandra, Kate Stewart, CBR250RR.

Yamaha ya-hoos: Enzo Cunico, 2001 R1, Geoff Jones, 1998 R1, Derek Atkinson FZR ageless 1000, and back after a long break, Tom Saville, 2002 R1 and Andi Sirninger, 1998 R1.

Suzuki super swoopers: Ron Johnston, GSX1200, Greg Hales, TL1000S

BMW bruisers: Rob Langer, R1150GS, Darryl Chivers, R1100S.

Kawasaki king hitter: Rhys Williams, ZX9.

Before the off, a chance to chat and view the assembled bikes: Ben's CBR giving off a whiff of degreaser, rear brake lever still bent but Cycleworks stickers displayed after a recent front fork service. Some scrape signs on the lower right fairing  indicate “U turn not completed”.

The NZ race team bikes pristine, just like those snow scenes in the travel mags. Some grumbles about their Scott oilers, however.

The Enzo R1 now on 208RR hoops, the full wets awaiting more rain. The Dunlops to be found wanting on the Skyline Road later this day.

Tom's R1 being the silver version, yum, sporting Metzler M1 tyres that required bedding in, performed on the Yea road while giving Ben a mirror full view of the flip flops, left to right at speed. Also some rather nice anodized rear sets in a fetching pink. I wonder if Andi picked the colour. Must also mention that Tom pronounced the dreaded exterior breather on my R1 "trick".

Neville's VTR-SP oozing that HRC feel, Greg not happy with the wear rate on rear Pilot but not easing off the TL's throttle much and Ron still saving for a new headlight, "bloody magpies".

Ian "Da Pres" still feeling his age in the shoulder region but later came storming through the Molesworth to Alexandra section into my mirrors at "quite a clip".

Rob and Darryl's BM's showing that German distain for all things Japanese, an opposed twin is all you really need, even if they raise their rear ends and don't squat on take off.

Rhys, on the "small" ZX9 out for a quiet cruise after a while off the Kwack. Oh yeah!  

Kate, instead of making the Whittlesea start point was having a deep and meaningful discussion with a member of the "Force" over some difference of opinion re speed in the Ringwood area. She caught up at Alexandra. Some mention of female type antics to ensure the discussion did not involve money, successful apparently.

Derek, stealth bomber, turned up somewhere later on, completely under my radar.

Ben gets a word in, appoints Enzo rear rider 1, and off we go on the first section to Alexandra. Up the twisties to Kinglake West, carving up a smaller group, then on through the National Park, Flowerdale and towards Junction Hill. Tom and Andi had stormed to the front along with Ron, who peppered me with stones but had also copped some off Andi's rear tyre. Tom may have picked up the one that holed his radiator here as he filled the leader's mirror with snarling R1. Over Junction Hill and the drone to Yea where Tom corner marked in a green cloud of coolant with Ron. Andi did some shopping for repair epoxy while Tom cleaned off the slimy stuff. Once repaired they rejoined at Eildon for lunch.

Through Yea, up the Highway to Molesworth, then turning right to blast along to Alexandra with the Goulburn river on the left and the scene of a certain ZX10 drowning on the right. I will always recall the sight of Rob Langer recovering the sunken Kawasaki, in his jocks. Legendary stuff. As mentioned above, Ian was on a mission along this section. All into Alexandra for food and fuel and the arrival of Kate's Baby Blade and her tale of a close call. The "member" had tailed her for 3 km in an unmarked car before the "deep and meaningful". The female antics employed as mentioned above apparently included "flashing her pearly whites". This first stop achieved in 43 minutes with 95 km being the distance covered. Ben's instruments giving too much info I fear. You do the maths.

Neville appointed rear rider number two from Alexandra across Skyline Road where all get through OK except Enzo who, while doing some tyre testing on a right hander, finds some limits and decides to put the R1 up a bank using the undergrowth and loose dirt to do the braking, much to Darryl's surprise as he came around the corner. Darryl described the scene by pointing to the sky and saying "He was up there"! Meanwhile Enzo picked the R1 up, rolled back down the cliff face and proceeded on, Darryl shaking his head in disbelief. Damage later summed up as "minor cosmetic". 

Through Eildon and along the Goulburn Valley Highway, which feels like the Walwa road here, to the famed 38 km Torbreck River Road. Now I recall where Derek turned up. As I corner marked with Ian there was the distinctly unfaired FZR1000.

Down to the bridge for a break that always seems adrenaline loaded, big eyes, loud fast talk, and much moving about, ready to do it all again on the re-run back to Eildon. Noted on the run in, while keeping an eye out for 4 wheel drives on the piece of road you want, was a group of 4 wheel bike thingies going the other way.

At the Mt Pinninger turn off the Highway just before Eildon there was another group, the ones Tom and Andi had come to Eildon with, corner marking. Rhys thought they were us for a moment, then realised his mistake, but by then had the bike set for a right turn. Deciding at the last minute to not turn, he then realised there was an on coming car on the bit of road he was using to run wide. To tip in hard or run wide, that age old decision. Run wide it is - off the road onto the grass, telling himself "be smoooth, be smoooth" when up comes what looks to be a ditch of the quick stop variety but turns out to be ZX9 friendly and has a muddy run up that Rhys powers out of. Only sign at lunch is mud on the rear tyre all the way to the rim and a sheepish grin.

All back after the return run to lunch break at Eildon where Tom and Andi rejoined. Tom gave the interesting view that the surface of the Skyline Road breaks away under the provocation of a hard ridden sports bike and causes side slip. White ball bearings as well as that green stuff on the south side coming down to Eildon. Sure did cause some intake of breath after all the dry stuff prior. In the groove, then in the green wet moss.

Derek appointed rear rider number three as Neville left for home. A tour of the dam wall to note how far down the water level was, El Nino at work again. Then past the Mt Pinninger turn off and on to Thornton and Taggerty. Meanwhile back in Eildon, Derek and Ron endure some more encounters with the "Force" with more discussion about speed limits, etc. Again, no money changing hands. A radar trap on the Maroondah Highway south of Taggerty (same Eildon cop working real hard) passed through safely thanks to oncoming flashes and a drone down to Buxton for that grouse run to Marysville, Ron's favourite. On through the Spur, mixing it with the traffic, raising motorcycling's profile with the Sunday drivers to new levels and finishing the ride at Healesville. Photo opportunity taken, goodbyes said, then an extremely brisk run through Yarra Glen to the Christmas Hills Road in close company with Ben, Greg, Enzo,  Rob and Darryl who had the BM sparking off the centre stand on the run up out of Yarra Glen and the rev limiter banging away as a passing move was made on Enzo's R1.  Eighty kay limit on this piece of road and the one thing I refused to look at was the speedo. Ignorance is bliss.

Thanks to Ben for the lead, the three rear riders and a mention of Ms Vice who was the first choice for the write up. You owe me one, but have a great trip to Europe, and do a write up on it when you get back

Geoff Jones R1

Email news from Liz after leaving the ride:

We almost got taken out by a wallaby (animal - not rugby player from losing team) on the way home from the ride. It bounced out in front of the car ahead of us. Pete almost hit the car (did a good stoppy). Then the bloody thing hopped down the road ahead of us for about a kilometer. It almost took another bike out that was coming the other way. Most exciting.

Email news from Darryl re side-stand:

Had a good look at it and found that the dealer had, when they installed the exhaust, placed the centre stand stop on a different spot. On the standard bike it rests against the exhaust (catalytic converter). On my bike they had drilled and tapped a hole in the centre stand and put a rubber stopper in and let it rest against the frame. Anyway I cut the rubber stopper down by about 8mm and bingo, the centre stand end is 30-40mm higher. I have not scraped since, even over some large bumps.

I wanted to try it out on Sunday so I did not go on the Club ride. Instead I just did the usual Yarra Glen, Healesville, Black Spur, Alexandra, Molesworth, Yea, Flowerdale, Kinglake, Yarra Glen loop. Quite a difference believing that the bike has no cornering limits.