Biking travel adventure Part 3 - Australia

[AceOfHearts]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 13 March 2024 at 12:20

[Google [bot]]

G’Day and welcome to Australia.
That looks pretty good and a good price, those sort of things are getting a bit thinner on the ground as they’ve often had a succession of young hoons for owners.

Presumably you’re not touring the country on that, you know not to ride outside of the cities between dusk and dawn?

[moto_traxport]

Google [bot] said:

G’Day and welcome to Australia.

Presumably you’re not touring the country on that, you know not to ride outside of the cities between dusk and dawn?

Go on then, I'll fall for it - why not?

Only ask as the only Kangaroo hit I saw after a full lap of Oz was a fair bit after dawn and despite being told not to drive across Nullarbor Plain at night and having to ignore that advice (overheating 500k kms campervan) I didn't get many incidents of eyeshine at all despite all the doomsayers. The main causes of the bike crashes I came across seemed to be oily roads caused by eucalyptus tree sap.


P.S. Go, go, go Ace of Hearts - living the dream! Must sell everything again again and actually live for more than a few weeks a year.

[Google [bot]]

It’s perhaps over-cautious and more applicable to the top end, but it’s good advice. On the bike there’s some roads I won’t ride at night and will take different routes due to roos and drop bears.

[Google [bot]]

You’d have been better grabbing something cheap secondhand wouldn’t you? Not the helmet of course. Well, your money. Enjoy sir. As you’re about for a while you’re probably going to want a mesh jacket too - just ordered mine in anticipation, last summer about killed me.

[AceOfHearts]

Google [bot] said:

You’d have been better grabbing something cheap secondhand wouldn’t you? Not the helmet of course. Well, your money. Enjoy sir. As you’re about for a while you’re probably going to want a mesh jacket too - just ordered mine in anticipation, last summer about killed me.

Am i likely to find a secondhand suit in the right size for under £300 though? I will have a look on Gumtree and Ebay but i can always take it home with me either way.

[creampuff]

Are you getting an Australian girlfriend to put on the back?

[AceOfHearts]

just managed to pick up a 2 piece Alpinestars leather suit and a textile Dainese jacket for £160 off facebook. The suit is blue so I will be rocking the mismatched 90's leather / bike vibe

Edited by AceOfHearts on Tuesday 16th October 03:39

[Dakkon]

Nice bike, keep us posted

[rodericb]

Google [bot] said:

You’d have been better grabbing something cheap secondhand wouldn’t you? Not the helmet of course. Well, your money. Enjoy sir. As you’re about for a while you’re probably going to want a mesh jacket too - just ordered mine in anticipation, last summer about killed me.

If you do get a mesh jacket, get one with in a light colour.

When it gets truly hot I've found my old early 2000's Alpine Stars parka to be the most comfortable. It has a satin lining, is light to wear and on the really hot days body temperature air trapped inside is cooler than whats outside! It's so old it has the zip-off sleeves. I've got a Dainese Air Flux jacket which I don't wear much - half due to it being black and the other half being it's 'scratchy' inner lining (uncomfortable in the heat). On the days that it is comfortable, it'll be freezing in the evening.

If it's a stinker of a day and you see someone on a 999R wearing an ancient old blue Alpine Stars parka that'll be me!

[Google [bot]]

Yep, just hope I’ve guessed the size well.



I’ll look out for you, keep an eye out for hi-viz helmet ol’ CBR6.

Well done op, there are some good deals on fb/gumtree, just have to roll the dice with transaction quality. You seem to be doing some good buying down under

[Google [bot]]

Exciting times.

[Fleegle]

I really enjoyed my time on the bike in Oz, although has to be said that once out in the sticks, some of the driving leaves a lot to be desired.

Watch out for the booze buses heading towards the Christmas period and ffs don’t try and crack a joke with traffic cops, they are the most humourless fecker son this planet

Looks like you bagged yourself a cracking little bike there

[AceOfHearts]

Thanks guys

I rode it back from the test station and the noise is so dramatic compared to the actual speed its doing

I feel like its going to be a lot of fun!

Edited by AceOfHearts on Wednesday 31st October 02:04

[dukeboy749r]

Amazing what some TLC, and a little bit of spannering knowledge, can achieve

Well done and a great read!

[jbswagger]

Off topic but what hostel are you staying at in Melbourne?

I did the working holiday thing in 2000 and met my now wife in Lords Lodge.

[wsn03]

You just need to pull some really fit heiress with big knockers and I'll manage to totally hate you. Nice bike.

[AceOfHearts]

jbswagger said:

Off topic but what hostel are you staying at in Melbourne?

I did the working holiday thing in 2000 and met my now wife in Lords Lodge.

I am at 'The Hub' in North Melbourne at the moment but spent my first few weeks at 'Landing Pads' in Brunswick.

I have a room in a share house organised that I am moving to on 14th November which I am really looking forward to, it has secure parking for the bike and a swimming pool! That's in Northcote

[AceOfHearts]

wsn03 said:

You just need to pull some really fit heiress with big knockers and I'll manage to totally hate you. Nice bike.

Thanks, I will try my best

The plan for today is to carry on trying to get a job, i have been burning through savings at a pretty alarming rate so now I have the bike and long term accommodation sorted, working is my next highest priority

A note to anyone thinking of coming to Melbourne after Asia, its really not cheap!

[fttm]

Good read OP , my cousin and his wife are currently riding their bikes from Darwin to Melbourne to visit their eldest son , 600kms North of Alive Springs this morning . I think they're bonkers and would rather fly , but they seem to be having some craik .

Edit , they're now at the Kulgera roadhouse making good progress , only 28c today as opposed to yesterdays 41c .

Edited by fttm on Wednesday 31st October 04:18