Hello from Australia

[Highett]

Hi Everyone,
My name is Paul,
I am from the Hunter Valley in NSW
I Came across your forum by chance, thought I would pop in and say G'Day.
I enjoy a bit of local riding (Day trips) and some longer touring trips (Camping out) and some LD Riding (IBA & FarRiders).

Cheers

Here's my bike:

[stoketim]

G'day Mate and welcome

[O.C.]

aaah, a man of great taste, not only have you stumbled on the best GTR forum that there is, but I see that you've also gone and got yerself a superb GREEN GTR

Welcome to the mad house 

[Lonewolf]

Welcome to the forum. 

[coman37]

Hi Everyone,
My name is Paul,
I am from the Hunter Valley in NSW
I Came across your forum by chance, thought I would pop in and say G'Day.
I enjoy a bit of local riding (Day trips) and some longer touring trips (Camping out) and some LD Riding (IBA & FarRiders).

Cheers

Here's my bike:

Watch out mate !!  Looks like a wallaby has shat on your seat   

Coman


ps welcome

[beegee]

welcome Paul...  seems to be very hot often...?

is it safe biking there ...?  (snakes, kangooroos!... ;-)) ;
lot of miles i guess in such a big country

[Highett]

welcome Paul...  seems to be very hot often...?

is it safe biking there ...?  (snakes, kangooroos!... ;-)) ;
lot of miles i guess in such a big country

Yes it is safe here, there are risks same as anywhere else, you just need to be aware of them and get on with it or stay home.

Yes there are some very long distances to ride if you want to.

In summer it can be hot, mid to high 40c is not uncommon, you have to ride on a road that is melting to appreciate how hot it can get.


We have wild life that gets on the roads which can cause some problems, Most countries do.

In the city, towns and most regional areas its rare to have a problem but some areas especially those further out are worse than others.

On a Long Distance ride where an overnight segment is involved the area and wild life needs to be factored in, timing needs to be considered.

I am not saying we do not have incidents with wild life on the roads, on the contrary it does happen and not just with Kangaroos, stock and other feral animals are out there too.

I would rather hit a Kangaroo at speed than a Cow any day.

I had an incident with a Red Roo a few months ago, I did not come off and was not injured however the bike sustained some damage (Plastic, Headlights and Brackets etc) and rode it home, its all fixed now (same bike pictured above).

Here's a couple of photos:




Cheers

Paul

[O.C.]

Bloody hell Paul that must have been a helluva impact. good that your ok 

[Lonewolf]

I don't know how you DIDN'T come off, that must have been a fair old whack!

[Kawasmoggie]

Bloody hell Paul 
I thought a bird strike that smashed the screen on my zzr1400 was bad enough. 
Welcome to the site mate.

[JohnnyTh]

Any problem with bike overheating at all in those high tempratures?
In may in going on a trip to a warmer contry, and another Norwegian told me he had over heating issues on his Honda XX in temps above 40c

[Highett]

olde coney
Re: Hello from Australia
Reply #7 on: Today at 07:36:12 AM
Bloody hell Paul that must have been a helluva impact. good that your ok

There were two events, the first is the one pictured.
The impact occured at 110kmh and killed the Roo, the majority of damage happened here

There was no avoiding it as the roo came out of the darkness at full speed on my right side, when I saw it the only option I had was to lean into it and brace for impact.

The Bike took it very well and only swerved a few feet off course, there was no tank slapping or fight for control.

I did not get so much as a scratch or a bruise.

After assessing the bike I decided to continue at a slower speed (80kmh)

Approximately 80km down the road I got a second roo on the same side, it too came out of the darkness and I was unable to avoid it and it impacted the bike between my leg and the pannier, it too was killed on impact

The pannier was torn off, this was a smaller roo and I did not know that I lost the pannier until I turned around and went back where I found it on the road.

Although the front hanger was broken I was able to reattach it and tie it in place with a webbing strap.

It was almost day light by this time so I contiuned on to Broken Hill, fueled up and continued the 1000km ride home.

I was loaded up, a 20lt jerry can, a swag and two full panniers and a tank bag

The bike suffered no structural damage and I was very impressed on how well the GTR handled the two incidents, In my view the GTR is a very safe and versitile motorcycle.

The repair bill cracked $14,000AU.

Lonewolf
Re: Hello from Australia
Reply #8 on: Today at 08:25:34 AM
I don't know how you DIDN'T come off, that must have been a fair old whack!

Yes it was, first time I have hit wild life bigger than a rabbit or bird,

I have taken avasive action many times and had a couple of close calls.

I think if I had slammed on the anchors I would have gone down for sure, leaning in to it, taking the hit and riding through it saved me.

A lot of people including the bike shop thought the same, they also thought the bike would be written off.

The repairer said that it was the biggest bike repair that they had done, they done a very good job, found everything that was cracked or broken and replaced it all.

I picked up the bike from the repairer, fitted some Canyon Cages and Hwy pegs to it then headed off on a 9,300km trip over 12 days.

Kawasmoggie
Re: Hello from Australia
Reply #9 on: Today at 09:06:52 AM
Bloody hell Paul   
I thought a bird strike that smashed the screen on my zzr1400 was bad enough. 
Welcome to the site mate.

I have collected a large owl in the chest ay Hwy speed, damn near knocked me off the bike, they can do some damage.

JohnnyTh
Re: Hello from Australia
Reply #10 on: Today at 09:44:13 AM
Any problem with bike overheating at all in those high tempratures?
In may in going on a trip to a warmer contry, and another Norwegian told me he had over heating issues on his Honda XX in temps above 40c

We rode into a heat wave on our return trip, temperatures were in the high 40's with a peak at Lightning Ridge of 50 Degress c, the GTR handled the heat really well, I never had any overheating problems.

Staying hydrated was the challenge, we also used an evaporative cooling vest to keep our bodies core temperature down, it would have been unbearable with out the cooling vests

Overall the bike handles really well, I was riding with a mate and we were camping out and carried all our food, water and spare fuel with us.

However in the peak of the high temperatures we did motel it 3 nights so we could sleep with the Air Con, it was very hot even at night.

Below is the post ride cost anaylsis for this ride:



Cheers

Paul

[Debs]

Welcome to the mad house Paul... 

Your write up is one of the best I have read in a long time..

Ive only been hit on the arm by a bird but what you have had is amazing... Glad you were ok and was able to carry on..

Some of the places you name sound fantastic. Wish there was a road from UK to AU for us to come and have a tour. 

[O.C.]

WOW ! now that's what ya call a detailed breakdown of costs etc., 

[Lonewolf]

It sounds like the Roo's should be on their guard every time you go out, they're gonna be an endangered species at this rate. 


We're lucky back here that generally all we have suddenly pulling out in front of us is normally some knob in a souped up Corsa.