It's a big country - Ride report
#1
10-28-2009, 12:35 AM
It's a big country - Ride report
Well, I did it. 
7601.5 km's
or 4721.5 miles.
That was the total distance covered on my trip to Phillip Island to see the 09 Aus Moto GP.
Well not on the KLX.
Nope, done on the Honda CBF1000.
Before I get into the ride report and pics etc, a few facts and figures.
The 7601.5 km's was what the GPS showed as the total distance covered.
The odometer on the bike showed a total distance covered of 7815 km's.
A 2.8% margin over the GPS.
So, which one was right?
IMO it is the GPS.
When using distance pegs as a guide, the GPS was consistently spot on.
Therefore all the stats below are using trip data provided by the GPS and not the bikes odometer.
Total fuel used was 389 litres or 102.77 US gallons.
That gives the average fuel consumption of 5.12 litres per 100 km's or 46.23 miles per US gallon.
The majority of the trip was at a steady 125 kph and there is very little in the way of anything to slow you down.
There was the usual towns and a few hours spent in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, but generally, and as you would expect, it was mostly a steady throttle.
There were also a few stints where we upped the anti to around 150 kph for an hour or 2 and the odd blast at 200 kph, but in the scheme of things it was mostly 125 kph or so, steady.
For comparison, Rob's 1100 Blackbird consumed around 20% more fuel. 466.5 litres or 123.25 US gallons for the same journey.
The longest stint I did was 294 km's and it took 14.4 litres of fuel at the next stop.
The most covered in 1 day was 896 km's.
Average speed over the journey was 99.3 kph.
Top speed achieved was 208 kph.
(interestingly the bikes speedo showed over 225 kph but I used the GPS speedo)
(This I believe was the maximum possible. I tried half a dozen times to see just how fast the bike would go and couldn't better the 208 indicated by the GPS. The speedo was showing just on 230 but that just shows how inacurate they can be at those speeds. That is with around 25 kgs of luggage in the panniers)
The bike was perfect for the journey.
The cruise control worked perfectly and was invaluable for a trip like this.
Not only was it useful to hold a steady speed on the open road, it also was very handy when slowing right down to pass through a town. You could press the button and relax, look around, stretch etc, knowing your speed was not creeping up.
It may also have contributed to the excellent fuel economy.
OK, now for the trip proper.
7601.5 km's
or 4721.5 miles.That was the total distance covered on my trip to Phillip Island to see the 09 Aus Moto GP.
Well not on the KLX.
Nope, done on the Honda CBF1000.
Before I get into the ride report and pics etc, a few facts and figures.
The 7601.5 km's was what the GPS showed as the total distance covered.
The odometer on the bike showed a total distance covered of 7815 km's.
A 2.8% margin over the GPS.
So, which one was right?
IMO it is the GPS.
When using distance pegs as a guide, the GPS was consistently spot on.
Therefore all the stats below are using trip data provided by the GPS and not the bikes odometer.
Total fuel used was 389 litres or 102.77 US gallons.
That gives the average fuel consumption of 5.12 litres per 100 km's or 46.23 miles per US gallon.
The majority of the trip was at a steady 125 kph and there is very little in the way of anything to slow you down.
There was the usual towns and a few hours spent in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, but generally, and as you would expect, it was mostly a steady throttle.
There were also a few stints where we upped the anti to around 150 kph for an hour or 2 and the odd blast at 200 kph, but in the scheme of things it was mostly 125 kph or so, steady.
For comparison, Rob's 1100 Blackbird consumed around 20% more fuel. 466.5 litres or 123.25 US gallons for the same journey.
The longest stint I did was 294 km's and it took 14.4 litres of fuel at the next stop.
The most covered in 1 day was 896 km's.
Average speed over the journey was 99.3 kph.
Top speed achieved was 208 kph.
(interestingly the bikes speedo showed over 225 kph but I used the GPS speedo)
(This I believe was the maximum possible. I tried half a dozen times to see just how fast the bike would go and couldn't better the 208 indicated by the GPS. The speedo was showing just on 230 but that just shows how inacurate they can be at those speeds. That is with around 25 kgs of luggage in the panniers)
The bike was perfect for the journey.
The cruise control worked perfectly and was invaluable for a trip like this.
Not only was it useful to hold a steady speed on the open road, it also was very handy when slowing right down to pass through a town. You could press the button and relax, look around, stretch etc, knowing your speed was not creeping up.
It may also have contributed to the excellent fuel economy.
OK, now for the trip proper.
Last edited by neilaction; 10-28-2009 at 08:17 AM.
#2
10-28-2009, 01:06 AM
The first day is getting from Perth to Norseman, around 800k's.
Nothing to report here as this is just getting to the start line really.
I got a message from the "leader of the opposition" (wife) to say keep an eye out for my mum and dad. WTF, what chance of bumping into your in-laws way out here. But I did spot them about an hour out of Norseman, spun the bike around and pulled them over.
They are on a 6 month trip around Australia and just happened to be on that part at the same time as me. mmmm No where to hide.
Does the place Balladonia ring any bells?
That is where Skylab crashed in about 1979.
They have made a bit of a tourist attraction out of it.
Now, we packed fairly light.
Me with just to 2 x 33 liter panniers and Rob with a tank bag and big bag strapped to the seat area.
But not everyone packed so lightly.
I was thinking of him when the cross winds picked up.
We met a lot of guys riding all types of bikes going over for the same thing.
This guy built this himself. Some sort of clone Harley with sports suspension and running gear. Didn't look to compfortable but he made it.
If you look close you can see a bottle of oil strapped to his luggage.
That made me laugh.
Us
Various sections of the Nullarbor double up as an airstrip so it wasn't a big surprise to see a plane I guess.
Eucla, just short of the WA border and nearly half way.
And what's a big horrible biker doing with such a pretty breakfast?
The trip over was brilliant.
Bumping into different guys in the pub each night.
All with a different story to tell and reason for doing the trip.
But all of us with one goal in mind. The Island.
To be continued..........................
Nothing to report here as this is just getting to the start line really.
I got a message from the "leader of the opposition" (wife
) to say keep an eye out for my mum and dad. WTF, what chance of bumping into your in-laws way out here. But I did spot them about an hour out of Norseman, spun the bike around and pulled them over.They are on a 6 month trip around Australia and just happened to be on that part at the same time as me. mmmm No where to hide.
Does the place Balladonia ring any bells?
That is where Skylab crashed in about 1979.
They have made a bit of a tourist attraction out of it.
Now, we packed fairly light.
Me with just to 2 x 33 liter panniers and Rob with a tank bag and big bag strapped to the seat area.
But not everyone packed so lightly.
I was thinking of him when the cross winds picked up.
We met a lot of guys riding all types of bikes going over for the same thing.
This guy built this himself. Some sort of clone Harley with sports suspension and running gear. Didn't look to compfortable but he made it.
If you look close you can see a bottle of oil strapped to his luggage.
That made me laugh.
Us
Various sections of the Nullarbor double up as an airstrip so it wasn't a big surprise to see a plane I guess.
Eucla, just short of the WA border and nearly half way.
And what's a big horrible biker doing with such a pretty breakfast?
The trip over was brilliant.
Bumping into different guys in the pub each night.
All with a different story to tell and reason for doing the trip.
But all of us with one goal in mind. The Island.
To be continued..........................
#6
10-28-2009, 07:47 AM
They close off the streets around the main area of Cowes and it's a bikes only zone for a few days.
Everyone heads there at the end of the day and.... well...... drinks beer.
Fortunatly that suites me just fine.
Check out this dog.
Rides on the Bussa everywhere.
Only 3 legs and is as old as the hills. Very cool.
There was some great old school bike racing as well as Superbikes and the GP circus.
Valentino's Yamaha
Anyone got a spare $A105,000 lying around?
Then this could be yours.
Some classic Austin Healey's were used to parade the stars.
Here's your boy Nicky Hayden.
Pity he got smashed in the first corner on race day and never recovered.
I have to thank my wife for organising my ticket.
Superb location right above the pits. Awesome.
At night it was party time.
Did I mention there was beer?
The day after the race we tried to weazel our way into and onto the track.
Nup, no way we were getting in.
To be continued........................
Everyone heads there at the end of the day and.... well...... drinks beer.
Fortunatly that suites me just fine.
Check out this dog.
Rides on the Bussa everywhere.
Only 3 legs and is as old as the hills. Very cool.
There was some great old school bike racing as well as Superbikes and the GP circus.
Valentino's Yamaha
Anyone got a spare $A105,000 lying around?
Then this could be yours.
Some classic Austin Healey's were used to parade the stars.
Here's your boy Nicky Hayden.
Pity he got smashed in the first corner on race day and never recovered.
I have to thank my wife for organising my ticket.
Superb location right above the pits. Awesome.
At night it was party time.
Did I mention there was beer?
The day after the race we tried to weazel our way into and onto the track.
Nup, no way we were getting in.
To be continued........................
#7
10-28-2009, 08:05 AM
Rode the Great Ocean Road on the way back, all the way to Mt Gambia, before heading North to Port Augusta.
What an awesome road with awesome scenery.
And a few looking down on the Great Australian Bight.
I took a lot more pictures but you get the idea.
Once we left Mt Gambia we put in a few longer days and got back home a day early.
The whole trip was 15 days, home to home.
For the locals, on the way there we ventured inland a bit on the way from Port Augusta to Horsham, through the Clare Valley and hills to the east of Adelaide.
Perfect bike riding roads although the weather was a bit patchy that day.
One time in particular turned real nasty with driving rain and very gusty cross winds.
That will focus the mind at 110 kph with a 3 trailer road train coming the other way. Make that about 60 road trains in 2 hours.
All in all it was a great trip.
I might even do it next year.
Oh, we have our own unique hazards down under.
What an awesome road with awesome scenery.
And a few looking down on the Great Australian Bight.
I took a lot more pictures but you get the idea.
Once we left Mt Gambia we put in a few longer days and got back home a day early.
The whole trip was 15 days, home to home.
For the locals, on the way there we ventured inland a bit on the way from Port Augusta to Horsham, through the Clare Valley and hills to the east of Adelaide.
Perfect bike riding roads although the weather was a bit patchy that day.
One time in particular turned real nasty with driving rain and very gusty cross winds.
That will focus the mind at 110 kph with a 3 trailer road train coming the other way. Make that about 60 road trains in 2 hours.
All in all it was a great trip.
I might even do it next year.
Oh, we have our own unique hazards down under.
Last edited by neilaction; 10-28-2009 at 08:10 AM.
