Jindivick Sunday 27^th June, 2004 by Ben Warden

Honda CBR929 Ben Warden KTM 950LC4 Rob Langer

Honda CBR929 Simon Trubiano Kawasaki ZX12R Paul Grosser

Honda CBR954 Paul Southwell Honda VTR1000 Bill Wee (2^nd ride)

Suzuki GSXR1000 Danny Kosinski Harley Buell Nigel Hellyer

Yamaha TRX850 Peter Rykenberg Aprilia RSV1000 Ken & Louisa Wright (rear)

Kawasaki ZX9R Mick Bosworth Suzuki GF1200 Ron Johnston (leader)

Suzuki GSXR750 Matt Clark 13 bikes, 14 people

Yarra Glen 10 am start saw an excellent number of riders dressed in their thermals and ready for action. It was forecast to be the best day between a group of poor riding days. It was fine and sunny, though a strong north west wind would blow all day.

A few irregulars had appeared including Ken and Louisa, back for their first Club ride in 6 months, most of that time spent waiting for the bike to be repaired. Pete Rykenberg was out for a ride as well, after being off the scene also for 6 months, organising his future life with soon to be wife Sarah. Bill Wee was back for his second ride of the month, the first ride to Loch at the start of the month a baptism of fire, or in this case, likened to a trip to Antarctica, resulting in him catching the flu and having a week and a half off work. Mick had a leave pass. Ron, just back from Queensland and 5000 km in the car was keen to talk the talk. We eventually hit the road at 10.15am, Ken and Louisa picking up the rear riding duties.

Ten minutes into the ride and we had our first incident, on the Old Healesville Rd, at the 45 km/h esses just before the T intersection. When I got back to the scene Rob was parked at the side of the road, bike barely scratched. Surprisingly, he was holding the front brake calliper in his hand, complete with a long length of brake line. He remembers applying the front brake lightly entering the corner, only to hear a loud bang – as the calliper became loose from its mount, gripped the disk and was dragged around until it smashed into the fork, shattering in the process. Rob, the comical genius, added his own deft touch. After pulling up on a slight slope, the bike began to roll backwards. Left foot on the ground, now unable to reach the rear brake, he grabbed a handful of the non-existent front brake, with the inevitable consequences. A reverse crash! The bike was quite rideable and Rob figured he could limp home just using the rear brake. I thought that would be the last we saw of him for the day.

Back on track I soon caught the group heading through Healesville. At the top servo Danny was camped, having left late but anticipating the ride route through Healesville. His GSXR appears to be morphing into his old VFR after toppling over in the garage and smashing the mirror and blinkers, all currently held together with silver packaging tape.

On to Yarra Junction where Bill went straight at the lights, missing the right turn to Powelltown. I signalled to Paul I would catch him while the rest carried on. The traffic was heavy but soon enough we were pursuing the ride again, Paul having waited for us. I was concerned for Bill so waited at Powelltown so that Bill would know he was still on track. At this stage the roads were wet, as if it had just rained, and it was dark and very cold. A couple of people complained about the lack of grip but I felt quite comfortable, maintaining a fast pace. By Noojee we were all back together again.

Just out of Noojee we turned right up Tim Walker’s favourite twisty section. It was covered in leaves, twigs and bark after a storm. It was wet, pot-holed, corrugated and very tight with the odd local driver flying down towards you. Paul and I corner marked at the top where Paul declared it the winner-to-date of the “Goat Track of the Year.” Thank God for Ohlins. After riding this section, any other road feels great.

Back on the main drag we headed for Neerim and then Jindivick. At last the roads were dry, the weather warming, the sun shining and spirits rising. People were getting on the gas! At Jindivick we turned left and south to Drouin West. I caught Ron reading the map and reassured him he was on track. Left here, next right at Bandy Creek and we are in Drouin. Look our for Nigel’s corner.

Most bikes refuelled but I headed straight for the corner shop to beat the rush. Ham and salad roll and a couple of warming dim-sims to carbohydrate-load did the trick. It was 11.45am and our first stop after 130 km. May as well call it lunch. Bill was as enthusiastic as ever, now wearing thermals to keep the cold at bay. The key question on everyone’s minds was how far to next fuel? I figured it was only another 120 km and didn’t bother refuelling, likewise Mick on the economical ZX9. Another hot topic was Rob’s calliper. Rob had noted that he had had the wheel out (and hence the calliper removed) during the week, presumably for a tyre change. Maybe he hadn’t done up the mounting bolts?

Ron was poring over his map. Despite the initial plan to head to Thomson’s Dam, the extra 42 kms would consume too much sunlight and time, given that today was close to the shortest (Sun)day of the year. Sunset was around 5pm and difficult riding conditions exist well before that. Of course, no fuel at Rawson only added complexity to the equation, but I noted to Ron that Erica had some on our last visit.

From Drouin we headed south, veered left at the Y junction and then hard left for Lardner past the large green and white signed, multiple poultry farms. The roads were straight. A right left jiggle picked up my favourite run into Yarragon. Over the railway line and then parallel to the Highway to Trafalgar and Moe, careful to keep the speed in check, a howling tail wind pushing the speeds deceptively high.

Around Moe and heading for Walhalla before turning right and picking up the sweeping, big dippers running into Yallourn North and the spectacular views across the Latrobe Valley. Visibility excellent, power stations gushing white sulphur dioxide and steam. On to Tyers before turning left and up the hill. A great logging truck road with little traffic on a Sunday, surface mainly dry, fun factor rising fast. Through Rawson to regroup and fuel at Erica. I lined everyone up for a photo, hopefully the front cover of this magazine.

Just as we were about to leave, who should roll in but Rob Langer on his R1200GS. He had headed home, mounted up on the BM and taken the Highway to Moe and then headed all the way to the Thomson Dam wall, noting the greasy conditions, further justifying our decision not to go there. I took a few more photos while Rob gathered his wits. Rob noted that the calliper mounting bolts were still intact. The calliper appears to have spontaneously fractured – very nasty if it is true.

The road was now wide and fast as we headed for Moe. At the right turn to Willow Grove, Ken and Louise and Pete Rykenberg continued south to Moe and the security of the Highway offering a speedy trip home. Meanwhile, the thinning bunch of entrepid sport tourers plunged onwards. Rob was now rear rider. We were making good time as the sun crept ever lower. I was looking forward to the tight twisties and the shade they offered. Amongst the twisties now I came up behind Nigel getting along at a fair clip and decided to follow. After a while we caught Paul G and Paul S, nose to tail. And shortly after that Danny tacked onto the end making a 5 bike freight train. The Harley has plenty of usable torque exiting corners. Left at the junction before Ron and I rolled into Noojee at 3pm, the rest not far behind.

Bill arrived with visible scratches to his red VTR, a blinker missing and various cracks to the fairing, mudguard and engine cover. He had over-corrected, avoiding a rock mid-corner and crashed at low speed on the slippery road side verge. Oggy knobs had saved the pipe and more serious fairing damage. His leathers had repairable scuff marks. Bill expected to be sore but was unhurt, surprised and grateful for the effectiveness of his full leathers – internal armour, etc. I noted some oil and pointed out a pinhole in his engine cover. As the rate of loss was very low, he decided to continue on to Yarra Junction for another inspection, keeping a weather eye on the oil pressure (level?) light. That was the plan. Paul Grosser headed for Warragul and home.

We made good time to Yarra Junction, the sun now very low and blinding at times. Bill made it okay, oil now blowing back over his pipes and frying, other oil finding its way to the edge of his rear tyre. He said the time for leaning over today had passed and hence it wouldn’t be an issue. We disbanded and went our separate ways. Simon and Paul Southwell followed me as far as Yarra Glen before we lost each other.

Thanks Ron for leading and Ken and Louise for rear riding duties. The route length from Yarra Glen to Yarra Junction was 370 km, but from home to home 454 km. Nigel would be closer to 600km for the day. Home by 5.25 pm in almost darkness, the bike clocking over 117,000 km, front tyre pretty shagged.