Spring Hill Sunday 5^th April, 2009

Paul Farnsworth (1^st ride)	Honda CBR1100XX	Paul Southwell	Honda CBR1000
Misho Zrakic	Honda CBR1000	Ben Warden (leader)	Honda CBR954
Peter Jones	Honda CBR1000	Ern Reeders	Honda CBR954
Ken Goederee	Honda CBR1000	Pina Garasi	Yamaha R6
Dave Ward	Honda CBR1000	Cameron Stevens	Yamaha FZ6
John Rousseaux & Kate Stewart	Honda CBR1000	Cliff Peters	Kawasaki ZX10
Chris Pointon and Suzie (rear)	Suzuki GSXR1000	Bronwyn Manifold	Kawasaki Z750

As everyone would be aware, I am now the proud owner of a 2008 model Honda CBR1000RR. I found a bargain at Taylor Motorcycles, a very majestic looking maroon and silver CBR with 1900 kms for a measly $16,000 ride away. I had failed in my attempt at getting my beloved R1 to have the same sweet handling characteristic as the CBR, so I had to buy the Honda. Other than an insatiable urge to ride on foot paths and getting chased by the odd dog, everything is working out with this new relationship.

The Spring Hill ride was the first introduction the bike had to the Club. I left home early on the first day after the end of daylight saving, riding via Warrandyte, Kangaroo Ground and St Andrews. St Andrews to Kinglake was my first exposure to the devastation caused by the bush fires. I was overwhelmed by what I saw: houses I previously rode past with their occupants busy in their gardens, now burnt to the ground. No more house. No more garden. No more bush. No more trees. Just black stumps sticking out of the ground. It was like riding on an alpine road, such as Charlottes Pass, but the ground was black instead of white. I imagined the horror people went through when faced with the fires and it upset me. I will always remember Black Saturday and how oblivious I was to all the devastation that went on around me and in all the places I love to ride.

I arrived in Whittlesea at about 9 am, riding past the service station where I saw Misho and Pina waiting; very early for them I thought. I needed a coffee after a very emotional ride through Kinglake so I didn’t even think to stop and ask them to join me (sorry about that). I went into town and grabbed a coffee, Misho and Pina eventually joined me, and later Ben. We all had a yak, talked about CBR magnificence and eventually went on to the servo to join the others. We could only conger up nine CBR’s for the day of which five were ‘08 models. We should change the name of the club to Australia Post!

Leg 1: Whittlesea to Kinglake West up through the magnificent sweepers with a new 80 km/h speed limit. Then on through Flowerdale, observing all the destruction from the bush fires. It was good to see some people getting on with their lives, rebuilding, living in tents and cleaning up the mess. We eventually got to the turn off to Strath Creek, where the affects of the fire seemed to end and everything was normal again. The wick was turned up and the Honda motor pressed. We continued on through to Broadford, Pyalong, and Lancefield. I only know this because Ben told me.

First stop was at Lancefield for food and more discussion about CBR magnificence. Cameron and Dave asked me what bling was going to be added to the new bike -as if I’m some sort of bling king! I replied none, other than a pipe, braided lines and not sure what else. They found great amusement in my response. I noticed Dave and Cameron have a number of blingy bits on their bikes, so people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones!

Leg 2: We headed up the Burke and Wills Track? (Ben, you can’t expect me to believe we went on the Bourke and Wills track. Sort of... There is a propeller shaft mounted on a stone monument another 20 km up the road marking the spot where Burke and Wills crossed, on one of their epic journeys …Ed.) Kyneton, Carlesrhue for fuel, upper Coliban Reservoir towards Spring Hill, north towards Lauriston, south till we hit the dirt (next road was shown on the map as made, retrace 4 km back and on to Lauriston, Drummond heading for Daylesford, and left to Spring Hill. I was feeling more comfortable on the CBR now, getting used to its characteristics, which I didn’t believe Honda’s had, but yes, they are there, though very unobtrusive compared to the R1.

Misho passed me, at pace, through some nice 60/70 km/h sweepers. I pushed myself to keep up, which I did, but I was a little out of my comfort zone. The bike had no issues: the more I rode, the more confident I became. I feel much safer at speed on this bike than the R1, and the R1 is the perfect example of stability. It just doesn’t like corners as much.

We eventually got to Trentham for lunch where we were joined by Kate and John on their (you guessed it) `08 CBR1000RR. It was like a Honda CBR convention on the main street of Trentham. We talked bike talk, ate bike food. It was Nirvana.

Kate and John missed the start – got lost around Strathewan heading for Whittlesea, then went to the “old servo” – but were already 15 minutes late and we had gone by that stage. They called Ben in Lancefield who told them to meet us at Trentham for lunch.

Leg 3: Ben said we are going to Bulla. I thought we’re no where near Mt Buller (you can’t be serious) but like an obedient student of the master I didn’t question him. I just followed. From Trentham we hit some heavy rain; luckily I put my wets on before leaving as it really poured. The rain stopped as we passed over the Western Highway. I’m not sure if that’s before or after Blackwood. On through Greendale, Myrniong, Bacchus Marsh to finish at Diggers Rest, a shitty little town full of Bogans. We parked outside the general store with noisy Commodores driving past. We talked more, then said our goodbyes till the next ride. Thanks Ben for another great day and to the new CBR for a great ride.

Final words on the CBR - which my daughter calls “The Pug”:

This is a magnificent handling bike. It is amazingly easy to ride. It’s comfortable, predictable and smooth. I will never get sick of riding this bike. I remember telling myself “next time I get a new bike I will get the suspension sorted first.” That was the mantra and a common sense approach for sport bike riders. This bike handles so well I don’t want to stuff it up for fear of losing it. I haven’t had better, so I don’t know what better is. I think I need to speak to Dave and Paul on this subject some more.

When I first got the bike it seemed a bit lazy from the bottom of the rev range and that exhaust is a pain, with its change in note at 4000 rpm. I have since fitted an Arrow slip-on exhaust which significantly improved the bottom end response but enhanced the on/off throttle snatch from the fuel injection which makes it a pain in the arse riding around in the city. I won’t be able to tolerate this for long so I’ll get the fuel injection mapped which will also improve the mid range by about 10hp.

I also think the brakes are a bit spongy but they still stop extremely well, they just feel spongy. So I’ll fit braided front brake lines to firm up the feel.

Peter Jones