Highlands 23^rd January, 2005

BMWR1150 GS Rob Langer (leader) Honda CBR1100XX Martin Hastie (rear)

Buell 1200 Nigel Hellyer Honda CBR600 Jason Miller (3^rd ride)

Yamha R1 Geoff Jones Honda CBR954 Paul Southwell

Yamaha TDM850 Ern Reeders Honda CBR929 Ben Warden

Suzuki SV1000S Orlando Iluffi Honda VFR750 Renzo Cunico

Yamaha R6 Joel Haley Honda CBR1100XX Wayne Pope/Annette L.

Suzuki GF1200 Ron Johnston Suzuki GSXR1000 Lyn Duncan

Suzuki TL1000S Grant Yamaha R1 Stoimen Stojanov

Fine weather, the motorcyclist's friend, it seems judging by the large turn out for Rob's Highlands ride. Seventeen people on 16 bikes gathered at the Whittlesea Liberty fuel stop. Good to see so many new faces and also some old ones (old as in "long time, no see"). The starting grid as follows, first name basis as I did not record details during the day, maybe Mr. Editor can fill in the blanks, after all we all like to see our names in print, 15 minutes of fame and all that.

 Rob BMW 1150GS, leader,

On Suzukis of various models, Lyn GSXR1000, Ron 1200 Bandit, Orlando SV1000 and Mr Mystery on a TL1000, who was that man?

The Honda sub-group, Paul CBR954, Ben CBR929, Jason CBR600, Enzo VFR750, Wayne and Annette Black Bird, Martin Black Bird, rear rider

Yamaha, Valentino's bike of choice Stoiman R1, Joel R6, Ern TDM850, Geoff R1

Being different, but not for long, Nigel Buell

Short and sweet pre-ride given by Rob, Martin takes Rear rider and write-up goes my way and we are off on the first leg to Lancefield. Up those well surfaced sweepers to Kinglake West and into the tighter stuff through the Kinglake National Park to Hazeldene and onto the corner markers at Flowerdale, left turn and on to Strath Creek. Rate of progress along here setting the "tone" of the day's ride. Much good being done to the contents of the 16 bike's sumps as the contaminants built up by stop/start riding are boiled off as the engine revs and temperatures rise, heart rates on the up also, I guess.

Ron noticed some interesting tyre marks on the road and a VT Commotose on its side off the road, club members all through OK except Nigel who detected some unwelcome sounds that seemed to indicate clutch problems but turned out to be a failed speedo drive gearbox. He limped into Strath Creek and retired the Buell, phoning home for recovery van attendance. Wayne and Annette stayed to assist the loading and were to meet up with the ride at Yea.

Strath Creek to Broadford, the sump cleaning continuing with no let up, my mirrors full of Ron's Bandit in full on "cleaning" mode. On to High Camp were a short dog-leg gets us across the Northern Highway and onto the Lancefield road. The only oncoming vehicle on this section being a finger shaking member of the force in a divvy van, thankfully not radar equipped.

Mt William on the left, then Goldie North and we roll into Lancefield for first break under the trees near the general store. Mr Mystery on the TL1000 departed here, I filled up to avoid not making Seymour which was to be the scheduled fuel stop. Fuel of the fast food type also taken on, but the drink of choice seemed to be water, the day now warming up to be quite uncomfortable when stopped, the wind chill factor, when on the move, very welcome. If you needed more, the right hand could deliver the required cooling rate.

Baynton via the Burke and Wills track with its series of sweepers on the climb out of Lancefield, then on to Emu Flat and a short section of gravel to again cross the Northern Highway at Pyalong. Through Glenaroua to Seymour where a short stop for fuel was taken and Martin decided to lay his Black Bird down on the nature strip for a short rest, all that oil conditioning pace starting to take its toll. No damage, apart from pride.

We pick up the Highlands road out of Seymour and do an extended run on some recently tarred sections featuring some tighter going to Caveat and then to the Maroonda Highway at Yarck. Drone down to Yea, watching for the "Man", onto the medium strip in the shade until the "Man" asks us to move the bikes off the grass. Wayne and Annette rejoined here and an extended lunch break was taken.

Rob had given the ride finish point as the Warrandyte bridge via Kinglake and St Andrews but noted that Kinglake West and Whittlesea would be an alternative finish.

Junction Hill the reward for a steady drone out of Yea in case the nice police man who wished us well after the removal of the bikes from the grass turned out to be behind a radar down the road. It was noted he inquired as to where we had been and where we were going. The more experienced in these type of encounters sure there was a hidden agenda. No sign of our friend so the pace returned to oil conditioning level. I was now getting the R1 oil level light blinking so levels were changing in my sump, an R1 type of thing, according to the web Guru's.

Running with Lyn on her GSXR I noticed her rego holder flapping, then blow off, so a quick U turn to gather it and sticker to return it at Kinglake West, the ride finish point for me and some others. I noticed Ben, Lyn and Ern and Martin also left here.

Home via the Eden Park twists with Ern, who headed for Epping, my route home being Wallan, Darraweit Guim, Bolinda, Riddells Creek and Gisborne. Home around 4pm and fighting to stay awake once off the bike. I notice Ben has the ride as 350K, 450K home to home on the web

Thanks to Rob for the lead, Martin for doing the rear rider role and to the rest of you oil cleaners for another MSTCV type day.

Geoff Jones (Yamaha R1)