I was just wondering if anyone from the GS family are heading down to Phillip Island for the Moto GP? If so, when and for how long?

I will talk to you about it tomorrow. Just quickly, I am trying to talk two of my mates into riding down on Friday to watch practice. They usually go in the car as Nigel's VFR800 has not been running for a couple of years. I gave him a lecture and hard time about it on Friday night when we were having a drink together. If he can get it going in the next ten days we may ride down. I will check with them but I am sure that you would be welcome to join us. 

Macka

Sounds good. I'm sure the 'motor bike whisperer' will get her going!

Rashy and Hughesy, it was great to finally meet you guys today.

My apologies again for being a few minutes late. When I got home I confirmed that reason for the "no start" condition this morning was, as I surmised during the day, the side stand safety switch not being fully pushed in by the side stand. When on the centre stand I could see that the "dry" pivot bolt was preventing the side stand from fully retracting. It appeared to be up but was stopping just a few millimeters short. That was enough to allow the safety switch to stay "on". A little squirt with penetrating oil and it was fixed. It has never happened before and I think the reason that it happened this time is because after the last time I rode the bike I gave it a thorough cleandown including hosing down the lower areas to remove some light mud/dirt. The bike was then polished and parked on the side stand for a month without being moved while I played with the other bike. During that time the side stand pivot bolt must have partially rusted.
It is now fine.

Now back to more important stuff. I enjoyed the ride, coffee and "get to know you" today very much. I hope that we can do it again soon. It is a pity that none of the others on this thread joined us for a near perfect day (WHERE WERE YOU OTHER GUYS?). Hughsey, as you and I both have regular long weekends I would be happy to get in a Friday or Monday ride with you as I do with a couple of other mates when the weather is good. Some of them are like us and happy to ride under the speed limit so you will have no trouble keeping up. This Friday is out as I am already committed to a ride to Yark. We will probably go up through the "Spur" as we did today and I will probably use the Honda if I have it all back together after the Major Service. The GS is MUCH easier and cheaper to maintain!  The weather looks good for that day. I will keep in touch with regard to the MotoGP Friday ride.         

Rashy, your bike is sooooo new that it reminded me of mine two years ago. The colour is almost the same as my Honda, perhaps just a little lighter than mine. Your suggestion of the route change was a good one for obvious reasons with which Hughesy and I agreed. Keep in touch and let me know when you want to meet-up again.

Thanks for a very pleasant day.

Macka 

Well, the moral of that story is......don't leave it so long between rides!
Yeah it was such a great day and the company was superb. I think we are going to have some good rides together. Did you see the two GS500's on the left in Healsville? Speaking of which, that's really biker city isn't it?
I took the student into Fitzroy for some jazz and nibbles in the sun this afternoon...what a day! Think I'm going to have to ride to work though....I'm in Brisbane (actually Gold Coast.... Mister? Coffee??) next weekend, so I'll have withdrawal symptoms from the bike if I don't get a few rides in during the week.

You are right Hughesy. Perhaps Suzi was punishing me for my infidelity with the Honda 
I did not notice the 2 GS Twins on the left. Healesville is always full of bikes on a sunny weekend. I usually prefer a quieter stopping place so that is why I go to the Spur Cafe. On a Friday or Monday I will stop in Healesville when there are few other bikes around. I prefer a quieter environment. I am happy to ride with you guys anytime you want company. Thanks again.

Cheers,
Macka

Hi Guys

Was a great ride on Sunday. Had a lot of fun. It was great to meet the both of you. Lets do it again real soon. Maybe a couple of the other guys wll join us next time.

Cheers

'Where were you other guys'

Speaking for myself, I saw the post about it and would have liked to join - but for a lazy bugger, I had quite a bit on!

Well VDN, keep an eye out on the Forum as we will do it again soon. Come and join us next time. Rashy and Hughsey are nice blokes and easy to get along with  I think that I am too but you would need to ask them about that. It was great to have three GSs together. It would be better still if we can get more together and start something big. Perhaps we can come over towards you next time if that would make it easier for you to get out of bed on a Sunday morning. Keep in touch.

Macka

Absolutely. I'll keep an eye out.
Imagine, a big pack of GSs together... The Rozzers would start a task force!

Yeah, the bike whisperer......he's a great bloke.

Hey guys .. There is usually a ride on the saturday morning from Cranbourne to the track .. I think it starts about ( 9 ish but don't quote me on that .... i would like to go for the practice on Sat...

To Hughesy first, I have spoken to my friend who was going to PI on Friday. He cannot get the day off because he is having the following week off on annual leave, so he won't go. He is also slack and has not got his vfr800 going.  Because of that I will also not go.

To Smeggles, sorry but I cannot go on Saturday.

I had a good ride yesterday up to Yarck for lunch and back there were 21 of us there. The bike is covered in cow poo at the mo due to the rain and back roads. I will give it a good tub tomorrow morning.

Macka

Cool thats ok ... for those who are going they shut Cranbourne high street at 8.30 am and they flag them off at 10.00 am but you have to be there by 9.30 to get a run....

No worries Macka.
Smeggles, I could be going down on Saturday, but more likely, I'll head down Sunday morning. I'll certainly let you know if I do end up going on Saturday and we could hook up.
Macka, I'd be interested in how you go about cleaning the bike? Especially, what's important to do?

How long have you got. I'm a fussy bugger so I spend a lot of time cleaning every nook and cranny. The GS is known to suffer from rusting if you don't look after it. Next time we meet I will give you the run down.

Macka

My cleaning routine is: Sponge bath 

To anyone who feels like going on the saturday Bear and  i will be outside Cranbourne KFC next to the church at 8.30 am with a group of Ulysees members ... we are just going for the ride and a coffee in Tooradin - Cowes... Lang Lang  then home to watch it on the telly... Cleaned about half a teaspoon of mud out of the float bowls of my carbies -after picking quite a bit of crap fuel on the batton relay to S.A. - blew out all the jets and used carby cleaner and a spraygun cleaning brush kit on them ... seems to have picked up quite a few spare horsepower ... bloody nice to ride again now ... took it for a 20 km shakedown and it performed really well...

Hey Smeggles, I know it is a controversial subject here but I have had a filter on my fuel line since I bought the bike and have never had a fuel problem of any kind. Some say that it restricts fuel flow but it should not be a problem unless the bike has a massively increased fuel demand due to exhaust and jetting changes. If it clogged up and caused fuel starvation GOOD. It has then done it's job and kept the carbies clean. 

Macka   

I agree with you  Macca  I dont think a fair size filter in line will restrict the fuel flow i am looking round for the right model to fall into my clammy hand ... trip to super chump auto is on the cards... made myself a super long screwdriver to turn my fuel tap off and there is plenty of space between the tap on the frame and the carbys so another little job to be done....