Hi Guys,
Returned home safely from the Phillip Island MotoGP trip last week.....
What a trip that was and what an experience indeed. I can certainly tick this off my bucket list because I think this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for sure!
For a complete novice rider like me (on red Ps), this trip was like "baptism by fire" LOL :confused:
On the trip from Sydney to Phillip Island, we have experienced everything there is to experience in terms of weather....it started it off with gusty winds throwing me left and right until one of the other riders in the group kindly gave me handy tips on how to stabilize the bike against the wind, so I thought OK, now I can enjoy the trip a bit more but nope, from the section between (Omeo, Victoria) and Phillip Island it started pissing down so heavily that it gave me the feeling that God was following me all the way to Phillip Island with a fire hose and intentionally pointing the nozzle in my face :laugh:
Oh, from the section between Cooma, NSW and Omeo, we went through Mt Hotham and all I can say is that by the time I got to the top of the mountain my pants were wet (not from the rain mind you!), the road up there was full debris and sticks, so not only I had to completely get a grasp on perfecting cornering (which I stuffed-up a couple of times and scared myself and oncoming tourist cars), but I also had to make sure I don't end-up over the edge with these sticks causing the bike to slide all over the place.
You would think that would be enough "torture" for the newbie.....but nope
Last but not least and as soon as I entered Phillip Island and luckily still wearing the wet weather gear it started hailing! And for the last 10 minute drive across the bridge leading to the Island the wind got so strong that I was leaning the bike against the wind almost on the same angle as the race bikes on Moto GP. :thumb:
Unbelievable stuff and I really thought I would never make it there in one piece!
All that gloom aside and after attending the GP for the very first time and hearing my most preferred sound of racing bikes zipping by, I thought, this was well worth the effort for sure! :thumb:
The trip back to Sydney was MUCH MUCH easier with sunny weather and no wind all the way to Cooma (yes, I did ride from the Island to Cooma in one go!) and then from Cooma to Nowra (when it started bucketing down all the way to Sydney)
My GS500F never missed a beat during this trip and I was actually very proud of its performance for the close to 2,800kms I covered. :bowdown:
Here are some pics:
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/jalalski/th_PI_12_zps2e93b2d8.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/jalalski/media/PI_12_zps2e93b2d8.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/jalalski/th_PI_10_zps4a5e5e10.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/jalalski/media/PI_10_zps4a5e5e10.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/jalalski/th_PI_11_zps235a2ad3.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/jalalski/media/PI_11_zps235a2ad3.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/jalalski/th_PI_9_zpsa6ccf16f.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/jalalski/media/PI_9_zpsa6ccf16f.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/jalalski/th_PI_8_zps682eb1a9.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/jalalski/media/PI_8_zps682eb1a9.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/jalalski/th_PI_7_zpsec800892.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/jalalski/media/PI_7_zpsec800892.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/jalalski/th_PI_6_zps1bcd3bbe.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/jalalski/media/PI_6_zps1bcd3bbe.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/jalalski/th_PI_5_zps9b0184f9.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/jalalski/media/PI_5_zps9b0184f9.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/jalalski/th_PI_4_zps976c9a97.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/jalalski/media/PI_4_zps976c9a97.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/jalalski/th_PI_3_zps456cbdd3.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/jalalski/media/PI_3_zps456cbdd3.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/jalalski/th_PI_2_zpsbe1095af.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/jalalski/media/PI_2_zpsbe1095af.jpg.html)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/jalalski/th_PI_1_zpse4b9d6f8.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/jalalski/media/PI_1_zpse4b9d6f8.jpg.html)
Well done. The roads in the Southern/Victorian alps are fantastic when the weather is good.
nice work I'm hoping to go next year from Adelaide a test of endurance although I hear the great ocean road calling
I bet it would be an awesome ride from Adelaide indeed. We had a mate with us from Adelaide and he came in his Harley ;)
I only had 2 minor problems at over-night stops, the first one was a blown fuse due to me fiddling with the LED strips which I fitted prior to the trip and it took me ages to find the single 20A fuse that it hidden behind the fairing :)
The second problem happened on the way back from Phillip Island when I parked for the night and then the ignition key simply would not turn no matter what I did. I thought am gonna get stuck in the middle of the road so I started to gently wiggle the key in different directions and the bike started all of a sudden :)
I haven't come across this problem here on the forum, so will let the servicing guys know next week, so they can have a look at it.
Quote from: Jalalski on November 02, 2013, 02:29:49 AM
The second problem happened on the way back from Phillip Island when I parked for the night and then the ignition key simply would not turn no matter what I did. I thought am gonna get stuck in the middle of the road so I started to gently wiggle the key in different directions and the bike started all of a sudden :)
I haven't come across this problem here on the forum, so will let the servicing guys know next week, so they can have a look at it.
I've never herd of that happening lol maybe its got a bit of a prankster in it
The mechanic told me that ignition key cylinder had a bit of rust in it from the rain and being parked outside for the duration of the trip, so a quick squirt of the trusty WD40 solved the key problem.
The GS got given a spotless bill of health for the 6K service ;)
Quote from: Jalalski on November 08, 2013, 02:46:50 AM
The mechanic told me that ignition key cylinder had a bit of rust in it from the rain and being parked outside for the duration of the trip, so a quick squirt of the trusty WD40 solved the key problem.
The GS got given a spotless bill of health for the 6K service ;)
makes sense, if its supposed to move and it doesn't use the WD40, if it moves and it shouldn't, use the duct tape.
gotta be happy with that you gotta plan some more long rides for summer
I wish I could, but I gotta give some time for the wife and kids, otherwise I'll be in trouble ;)
Quote from: Jalalski on November 08, 2013, 05:35:22 AM
I wish I could, but I gotta give some time for the wife and kids, otherwise I'll be in trouble ;)
boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo hahahaha actually I'm running out of excuses for the missus to go riding aswell