Outback blast

[ME 109]

What better way to celebrate my RS's 30th birthday than to put it up against 7 late model GS's through some tough Aussie outback roads.
The 'ol gal was a hand full at times, while being thoroughly enjoyable most of the time.
No punctures, no break downs, no worries.
There were quite a few ass puckering moments through sand sections, the longest being about a five kilometre stretch.
The first dirt road section was really muddy and slippery due to rain that was bucketing down as we were riding it.
45 kilometres of progressively worse road.
The last 1.5 kilometres was mind blowing mud. The roads in the outback turn to absolute shit when they get wet.
Mal from Dubbo joined us for an enjoyable Friday night on his 100/7. Sorry about the mud Mal!!

Here's a few pics.
More pics etc when I'm allowed back on the puter.







Me and my brother Ken, I'm the goose on the left.

[Ross]

Great to see your sexy 30yr old standing out against all those fat pig oilheads mate.

[Sibbo]

How did those tires go Jeff , nice road tires but tricky in the mud ?

[ME 109]

How did those tires go Jeff , nice road tires but tricky in the mud ?

Front and rear nobbies would have been handy in the slop. It was like riding with two flat tyres at times.
In the dry sand, road tyres would have performed much the same as nobbies.
Third gear, about 5000 rpm, 70- 80 kph was the only way to tackle the deep sand. If I stopped, I wouldn't have got moving again.
If there were straight tyre tracks to follow, it was a matter of staying in the track.
If the tracks criss crossed through the sand as they often did, it was ass puckering running through it!
If I slowed, the front would start to wollow and go pear shape. On the gas was the only way.

Menindee to Ivanhoe is about 200 k's of anything from 20 kph to 150 kph.
Freakin' constant scanning 50-100 metres ahead.

The GS's do handle the sand better, but not perfect either.

We rode from Nymagee to Cobar, Louth, Tilpa, Wilcannia, then bitumen to Broken Hill and Silverton.
Silverton back to Broken Hill, Menindee, Ivanhoe then bitumen the rest of the way home.

[Sibbo]

Nobbies would be the go for the whole trip I'd say , no real disadvantage on straight flat tar or sand but damn useful if it got slippery . My girl slides something horrible on mud ,I'd need big lumpy things !

My ST would bye a lot lighter to pick up than a big GS although an 800GS would be sweet ( did I say that ? ).

[dougie]

Jeff -
you need a "DIRT BIKES ARE FOR WIMPS" bumper sticker.

[SteveD]

Excellent Jeff. Looks like a lotta fun.
Why the suit jackets?

[dougie]

Excellent Jeff. Looks like a lotta fun.
Why the suit jackets?

Why not?
Aren't Aussies always serious and formal?

[Deleted User 62]

Excellent Jeff. Looks like a lotta fun.
Why the suit jackets?

Why not?
Aren't Aussies always serious and formal?

Nah, those are de rig... err, for when they "tux" in behind the fairing! Good stuff, showing the Geeesses how it's done!

[ME 109]

Why the suit jackets?

To stand out from the crowd Steve. It gives the other blokes a bit of a laugh.
And, me and Ken got served first at Silverton hotel.