Eildon via Torbreck River MKII Sunday 25^th January 2009

Slaying Demons

Peter Jones (leader)	Yamaha R1	Mark Welland	Honda CB1300
Simon Trubiano	Honda CBR929	Tobi Quin (3^rd ride)	Triumph 675
Chris Pointon	Suzuki GSXR1000	Bruce Fleming	Suzuki GSXR1000
Ken Goederee	Honda CBR1000	Geoff Jones	Yamaha R1

Peter Jones R1 had a “minor cosmetic” when last leading this ride, so today is a chance to rerun the offending piece of the 37 km “High risk motorcycles” signed section. Seven keen spectators joined Peter at Yarra Glen to witness the slaying, quite a good turn out considering the booked out Jindabyne epic over this Australia Day long weekend. Honda not quite dominating the group, bucking the recent trend.

So with the last model of the five valve R1s leading and the first model of the five valve R1s at the rear we headed for the twisties. Not long to wait as we took the Chum Creek Road to Toolangi and the Myers Creek Road to Healesville. Left onto the Maroondah Highway which morphs into the fabled Black Spur, now posted at 80 km/h but still a tasty piece of resurfaced sport bike heaven. Clear and warm, strong light levels and a very clean road surface despite the recent wild winds. Cruise through Narbethong and then right to Marysville for the first break.

Ken left the ride here after doing the snack thing at the bakery as he was in the middle of installing a large split system air-conditioner picked up at the Christmas sale at Harvey Norman. On the subject of Ken, it needs to be noted that a simple act of lending Peter the latest CBR1000 for a short blast recently has caused a search for the same handling performance from the R1 as the CBR delivered. Peter’s forks were recently serviced at Kruze Tune but not fitted to the bike so after the “Road to Damascus” moment on Ken’s missile, Peter took the R1 back to Kruze Tune and had the front set up with adjusted static sag and the forks dropped through the triple clamps by 5mm. He seemed happier with the turn in but still recalls the CBR experience with awe. Ken commented on the rear suspension on Peter’s R1 as being top draw, $2000 Ohlins the way to go. Ohlins on R1 not suitable for CBR, another reason to keep the Yamaha and get over the CBR lust thing

Marysville to Buxton along the river then back onto the Maroondah to Taggerty. This section has a rather nasty memory for me: when last rear riding, catching up to the group resulted in a costly exchange with an oncoming radar equipped TOG XR8. No problems this time.

Off the highway at Taggerty, then onto the dragon’s lair. Actually the road is the Eildon Jamieson road according to the Country Road Directory. Mt Torbreck at 1514m is located about five kays off to the right of the road as you travel to the end of the bitumen at the bridge over the Taponga River. All through OK although Chris did a touch of dirt off the edge of the bitumen on one corner in close company with Mark.

Stop at the bridge for a short break but as the temperature was now high, back onto the bikes to Eildon and lunch. Past Peter’s corner successfully, the Dragon now despatched

Lunch taken inside one of the eateries out of the sun, talk the talk Club style which I find is one of the highlights of being part of the MSR. We then tackle Skyline Road to Alexandra at elevated oil temperatures. Whanregarwen Road, better known as the Molesworth Road, another Club “defining moment” piece of road enjoyed by Mark on the CB1300 delivers us to Yea for a short full stop under the gaze of two bike mounted members having a break from tax collection before the blast to Kinglake West and ride end.

322 kilometres completed, no incidents to report. Thanks for the ride Peter and to that other bloke for rear riding, double points today.

Geoff Jones