Netrider Forums

Hug an Enjunear Day is comming up!!

Lilley — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:11:24 GMT

March 13, Be part of it! That goes for you guys on photoshoot ride...

Buying new bike questions

Ohmigosh — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:53:30 GMT

Got home from work a bit early today so went to the local Suzuki dealer and sat astride a GS500. Talked to one of the guys there for a while. He was helpful and had some advice regarding Naked vs Fairing-ed (?) and as my plan is to have the bike for a few years at least then I think the F model might be the way to go. Reasoning is that I will do a fair bit of weekend day trip riding and the improved wind protection will become a bonus in a year when I am able to do highway speeds. Buying new to avoid the pain of inheriting an older bike's problems - plus the pain of finding and collecting the second hand bike.

Had a look at the Hyosung as well but still felt drawn to the GS.

Dumb questions... (Actually they are really sensible questions as the only dumb ones are those not asked)

1. Typical order to delivery time for something like a GS is? (Should have asked the dealer - will do on Saturday)

2. Getting the bike from the dealer to home the first time. Ask a friend to ride it?

3. Suggestions on areas in Baulkham Hills, Sydney that have empy car parks that would be good to practise in?

4. Must-have accessories? Bike lock thingy? Sheepskin for combatting arse numbness? Cover? Others?

That'll do for now.

Thanks and...

Fun Ha!

My first motorcycling holiday : Sydney to Melbourne and back

neirbo — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:50:52 GMT

I thought I�d share with you my first motorcycling holiday. Originally this had been planned to be with a group of friends and we were going to go across to Tasmania and take in the roads there. Planning being what it isn�t, that went out the window and I headed off on my own after a couple of rather stressful weeks at work. My aims in doing this ride were to see some of south eastern Australia, to get to know my (reasonably) new bike better (we�ve been together since October 2009; 2009 Triumph Sprint ST 1050 Graphite), to start to cross off the �top 100 rides� in my HEMA Motorcycling Atlas, and to relax and unwind from work. At no time did I want the pressure of 1,000km days (although I wouldn�t hesitate to do them in a car), and I wanted to see a bit of the towns that I was passing through. Importantly I did not want to be �in transit� after about 6pm when light is fading, and generally I don�t do early mornings (before 8am). This was to be my holiday, my way, in my time. You may, if you read on, have opinions about other ways you would have gone, time you would take to do certain roads etc, and that�s great � go do it yourself and tell us about it.

This is my trip:

Day 1, Sydney to Batemans Bay
Total Distance: 336km
Total Fuel: 19.5lt
The day got off to a slow start taking about 30mins to get just 5km from home. I thought I�d left leaving late enough that I would miss the worst of peak hour, but seems I caught much of it. Once I got out of Sydney it was much nicer on the road and I started feeling good about the ride. Sydney to The Gong is something I�ve done before, usually on the way to Macquarie Pass and Kangaroo Valley, but today I knew there wouldn�t be time for these little side adventures. I had a destination in mind and needed to be there (having pre-booked accommodation) and wanted to preserve my �not-quite-as-bike-fit-as-I�d-like-it-to-be� arse. Also it had been a while since I�d done a decent long ride and never before have I had so much stuff with me. Both panniers full, tank bag full, and I packed a tail bag with emergency equipment (first aid kit, air compressor, puncture repair kit and some other small stuff like a sharp blade, pliers, gaffer tape etc).

My bike just before departure:

An uneventful ride, I arrived in Batemans Bay mid afternoon and headed for �Surfers Beach� where I had a bit of late lunch, enjoyed the view and answered some work emails and calls � I knew this �holiday� was not going to be work-free for long. The evening was spent with dinner at a pizza place overlooking the bay, and sleep in a cheap(ish) Motel, with blue UV light streaming into the bathroom.

Day 2, Batemans Bay to Eden
Total Distance: 366km
Total Fuel: 20.5lt
I started the morning with a coffee at the local bakery having refueled the night before. I don�t really consider myself a �coffee snob� but I do like good coffee � I drink it black, so it has to have good taste because there is no milk to cover up that awful burnt taste that so often appears when a novice is let near an espresso machine. I even packed some of those �coffee bags� as a just in case precaution, having also considered the option of taking my own plunger and ground coffee.

I had been worried about the road south as the previous two weeks of rain in NSW had apparently closed the Princes Highway. I stopped in the at the local police station and asked their advice on heading directly south towards Bega, or heading up the Kings Highway towards Cooma, then turning south. Neither impressed the police as options and I kind of got a �just turn around and go back where you came from� look from the terribly enthusiastic policeman that answered my questions with what I can only describe as the least animated response I have ever seen. Again, a mostly uneventful ride towards Bega, though the scenery at the coast was fantastic. I�m sorry I didn�t take any photos from here because they would have been worth it. In my defence it was a bit hazy. Before Bega I turned West and headed for the Monaro Highway and up Brown Mountain (for those checking this on their HEMA Australian Motorcycling Atlas (3rd Edition), in the top 100 rides version this is number #17). I stopped briefly before (east of) Bemboka to take in the amazing greenery, and again in Bemboka to take a look at some historical stuff about a great-great-great-great uncle who had come over from South Australia after being shipwrecked and set up home in this part of the country. Brown Mountain was great, although the roads could use some flattening out � the corrugations make for a bit of a rough ride in places, especially on corners. Well worth the effort though.

That view east of Bemboka:

My bike taking a bit of a rest, at that view east of Bemboka:

At the Monaro, I turned south and headed for Bombala where I had some lunch and refueled. Going further south I turned East towards the coast on Mt Imlay Rd (HEMA Ride #43 in part, #26 in full]. At this turn I also discovered that the life of my iPod was coming to an abrupt end and I would soon be down to tunes from my iPhone only (thankfully both loaded with the same music and playlists before I left home). This road was truly amazing � and I had nothing to fear with the logging trucks on the road. No cars to be seen at all. This was mostly big sweeping bends and generally pretty good vision around them. You�ll want to do this road more than once!
The evening was spent in Eden at another Motel, this time without the blue UV light. I even took a swim in the hotel pool after such an enjoyable day. The view south from the look out reminded me so much of the Australian �Tomorrow� series of books by John Marsden, especially with a naval vessel trawling around the bay.

Day 3, Eden to Cowes
Total Distance: 576km
Total Fuel:29.8lt
Again, having filled up the night before I was able to load the bike quickly and hit the road pretty early � my pacing goal was Lakes Entrance for lunch and Cowes by 5pm. I stopped for coffee in Cann River as I was starting to feel the pain of a couple of continuous days on the bike. Back on the bike I was in Lakes Entrance by about 11.30am giving me enough time to fill up before grabbing some lunch and a couple of snaps of the water.

The road from Eden had been pretty typical of what one has come to expect from Highway 1 � not terribly interesting. The benefit to this however is big wide curves that require little effort to lean the bike over and get around, and when the time comes to overtake there is good visibility and generally little need to speed up for it, just pull out and keep going. Being the A1 the road surface is also in pretty good quality, although as with every other road on this trip, I did get stopped for road works. I took the A1 to Bairnsdale then Sale, then switched to the A440 (South Gippsland Highway) refuling in Yarram, followed the road to Koonwarra (HEMA ride #57), took a back road across to B460, went through Inverloch and Wonthaggi, then caught sight of Phillip Island.

I took a break after I arrived on the Island at the information building � more so to refresh my legs before trying to navigate what was suddenly a �metropolis� in comparison to some of the towns I had been through. I also took the opportunity to weigh up booking a hotel online or just fronting up. I checked the online price so I knew that the walk up price would be good or bad � and got a better deal by just walking up and requesting a room. The lady at the counter apologized that she had no ocean view rooms left, and I said I didn�t care too much for the view, I just wanted to a room with a soft bed and hot running water. Sometimes, I�m easily pleased. To my great shock eating on the island was far more expensive than I could possibly have imagined. I was knowingly a week earlier than the superbikes so I had expected that prices would be at �normal� rather than �tourist�, but alas no. Anyway, if you like Italian (er, pizza or pasta) you�ll love eating in Cowes, just remember to take more cash than you expected. I avoided penguins and sea lions � having witnessed several tourist buses and being adverse to the smell of aged tourists.

Day 4, Cowes to Melbourne
Total Distance: 150km
Total Fuel:8.3lt

Cowes Beach at sunrise:

Regretfully I had not filled up the night before, but it wasn�t too much of an issue to do it before heading to the track to be a little bit of a tourist. Impressed by the whole set up, I was disappointed that I was hundreds of meters from the actual track and couldn�t do my own victory lap � at least at Bathurst you can take your own tour of the track, even if it is at 60kmph. Then I headed North towards Melbourne (A420 & M420) and joined the throng of motorists (mostly B-Doubles) on the M1, but was overjoyed at being able to use this one road to get right into the CBD (Exhibition Street) without the need to fire up the GPS and navigate suburbia. I lunched with some colleagues and checked into my accommodation mid afternoon � a glorious weekend ahead.

Days 5 and 6 in Melbourne
I spent the first of my two rest days without touching the bike. I had meant to lube the chain the night I got in, but didn�t. Oh well, guess it means I have to at least take it out a bit to get the chain warm on day 2. On day 2 in Melbourne I did a few laps down Punt Rd to St Kilda and mixed it with the local Japanese bikes and Harleys on Acland Street.

Sunday evening just north of St Kilda:

G'day

b12mick — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:45:52 GMT

G'day, I'm Mick. I ride an 02 bandit 1200s, hence b12mick. I've been riding since 1996. Even though I was late coming to bikes properly, I think it was inevitable. My dad rode in the late 40's and early 50's. My sister and her husband both ride and since I started riding my wife now rides, as does my eldest son and no doubt the youngest will also ride. My brother is the black sheep of the family, he doesn't have the co-ordination to ride a bike, so he races MG's instead.

The stats caught up with me this afternoon.

rc36 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:46:37 GMT

I'm nursing a very sore and battered body tonight. A little quiet joyride this afternoon ended in a big "off". Can't explain what went wrong. I was probably only doing 30 clicks following a couple of slow-moving vans down hill. I just touched the front brake so that I could keep a safe distance from them and the front wheel just tucked under.

The bike skidded quite a few metres with my left leg trapped under it. When it came to rest I couldn't lift it up, my shoulder was so sore, so a friendly passing motorist helped me and I bump-started it and rode it home. Quite how I got the 20-odd k's from there to here I really don't know.

The bike is very battered on the left-hand side and, once I'd got out of my riding gear, I realised that I was more injured than I first thought. My lovely daughter called my wife and took me to Casualty where I underwent the gamut of tests, X-rays, evaluation of the neck and vertebra, etc.

The good news is that there isn't anything broken, but I've banged up my ribs and left shoulder and moving even the smallest amount is hugely painful. The doc says that it will feel worse tomorrow (thanks).

My helmet is trashed (5 years old so due for replacement anyway): my Joe Rocket jacket is also finished. My Draggins are badly scuffed but can probably be rescued and my new Falco boots are scuffed but re-useable and did their job, as did all the rest of my gear.

A moderately long recuperation they reckon and a fight with the insurance company to prevent them from writing BBII off, I expect.

ATGATT is the message yet again.

Too sore to take any pictures, I may do that tomorrow.

BUGGER!!!

Off your restriction?

Eav — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:40:00 GMT

Hey all

Just wonder for those who just off the restriction, does VicRoad send you a new license automatically or you have to call them???

Thanks in advance :biker:

Motorcycling/Scootering in Bali

uncosnail — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:21:24 GMT

I have been in Bali for about a week and a half now, getting around using scooters, both manual and automatic. Costs about $5.00 a day to hire.

Not really sure about the road rules, but you sort of do a moving give way and a moving merge sort of thing. You can turn on red lights.

The average speed is about 40km/h. Which is why you can get away with giving way on the move.

The manual scooter has 4 gears, you have a pedal that has a pedal at the front and one at the rear but sort of joined together, you press with your toes to go up gears and your heal to go down gears. It has a gear indicator and no clutch.

If you want to go around the twisties as fast as you can, then forget it because often vehicles coming the other way will cross over as they come or there could be chickens, dogs, monkeys, people, etc in the way.

The scenery is really nice. The speed limit is 60. The traffic flows really well. Everyone filters, it is expected. You ride on the far left side of the road, so people and other vehicles can get past. Its not uncommon for other bikes to ride in your lane but coming the other way.

If the road gets too crowded, then you use the foot path, especially during a ceremony when the road gets blocked off. I actually feel more comfortable filtering on the move here then in Australia.

There is one bike for every 2 Balinese. Its not uncommon to see up to 4 people on one scooter. They are mainly 125cc. Bikes far outnumber cars. As you will see in the photos below.

I had a go at pillioning Phil, and of course it rained, I don't do things by halves. It felt a bit wobbly at the start but then I got used to it. He said never again because he got a bit nervous when I filtered past a truck, with a 6 foot ditch on the other side. Here I mainly filter on the left with one foot on the footpath, can squeeze in easier that way.

Today Phil came off, he decided to stop at the side of the road, near a bridge, and he suddenly got his hand stuck on the throttle and he went over the edge with the bike. He is ok and so is the bike. He fell about 5 feet into water. Then we got everything off the bike and pushed it through the creek and up a trail, luckily a mechanic was only 200m away, and he fixed up the bike for $5.00 :)) Took him about an hour, to bleed brakes, change oil etc. There were no other damage which is amazing.

The scooters here are Yamaha and Honda's. They have bigger tyres than your regular scooters. Phil is at home at the moment putting his ankle up, it is a bit swollen but no other injuries. My camera doesn't work anymore.

To see photos of Bali and bikes click on this link.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...2&l=9b8aa8d93e

Centrelink 'Intensive Activity'

fekkinell — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:01:29 GMT

I haven't had a job for a while because of an illness that lasted a few months. (Massive anxiety disorder, now under control)

The job network people made me undertake an assessment to demonstrate this illness, then granted me a few months reprieve from activities, which I never got.

To top it off, nobody seems to recognise the off-campus course I am doing (cert IV - small business management) as an 'approved activity'. So now I have to sit through absolute twot like 'how to set a goal', 'presentation for males' and other pre-school lessons that I haven't witnessed since they taught us how to wipe our arses in kindergarten.

Anyone else had to sit through this unhelpful, patronising crap before and what was your opinion of it?

:busting:

jap import

casho79 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:48:32 GMT

Gday guys, my first post....so be gentle...

Ive been reading alot of the threads on importing a bike from japan, but a lot are focusing on import duties only.

The info i am after is what is actually involved once the bike is here.

If i import a trail bike, does it need a compliance plate if its never going to be registered?

New to Netrider and to Aussie!!

tubbsy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:11:27 GMT

Hi all, landing in Sydney to live from New Zulund in 2 weeks and have been scouring e-bay and the like for a decent bike. One thing that is confusing the fark outta me, what the heck are green slips and pink slips and blue slips, and what's with all the hassle of re-registering a bike from a different state?

Sucks a lot of the fun out of buying one far away and riding it home don't it?

3 year old shoots herself

Tweetster — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:13:46 GMT

A girl has been killed after picking up a loaded gun, apparently mistaking it for a Wii Remote gun-style controller.

Three year-old Cheyenne Alexis McKeehan from Wilson County Tennessee died from a single self-inflicted shot to the abdomen from a .380 calibre semi-automatic pistol.

It's believed the loaded firearm had been left in the living room of the girl�s house, after her stepfather thought he had heard a prowler outside.

Source:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/6...hot-wii-mix-up

...Oh!.. this is so sad...

Hi everyone

Ohmigosh — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:29:31 GMT

New to bikes. Old to life.

Did the NSW pre-learner last week with Stay Upright at Rouse Hill.

Did my DKT yesterday.

Got some bright new yellow plastic L's and nowhere to hang them.

Researching bikes. Going to go shopping soon.

Been lurking here for a while reading all sorts of interesting (and scary) stuff.

Very impressed with the general friendliness and support that is shown and I am looking forward to being a part of it.

Fun Ha!

Biker gang/club with red cross

Bugjuice88 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:54:39 GMT

What biker club/gang has a red cross?

Best news headlines...

Tweetster — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:49:36 GMT

THE YEAR'S BEST [actual] HEADLINES

Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
[No, really?]

Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
[Now that's taking things a bit far!]

Is There a Ring of Debris around Uranus?
[Not if I wipe thoroughly!]

Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
[What a guy!]

Miners Refuse to Work after Death
[No-good-for-nothing' lazy so-and-so!]

Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
[See if that works any better than a fair trial!]

War Dims Hope for Peace
[I can see where it might have that effect!]

If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
[You think?]

Crack Found on Governor's Daughter
[Imagine that!]

Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
[Who would have thought!]

Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
[You mean there's something stronger than duct tape?]

Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge
[he probably IS the battery charge!]

New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
[Weren't they fat enough?!]

Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
[That's what he gets for eating those beans!]

Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
[Taste like chicken?]

Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
[Chainsaw Massacre all over again!]

Hospitals Are Sued By 7 Foot Doctors
[Boy, are they tall!]

And the winner is.........................

Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Found Dead

Waterproof iPhone case

ResmeN — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:57:38 GMT

Hi Guys,

How do you guys keep your iPhones/iPod Touch or any phone for that matter dry while listening to music on them when riding in rain?

Last weekend when it rained heavy I was listening to music while riding my bike and nearly lost the phone in the process. The phone was in the chest pocket and I have to keep the liner unzipped a bit to put it in and out of my pocket to access it and water seeped thru and the phones speakers stopped working for 1/2 a day then came back again.

I don't want to risk it for the future when it rains again. What do you guys say about cases like these:

http://www.over-board.com.au//catalo...mall.p103.html

or

http://www.andystrapz.com/productdet...id=111&BACK=68

[Vic] Police KTMs

TonyE — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:04:28 GMT

Spotted about half a dozen cops this morning in blue overalls on the KTMs they use for off-road use. They seemed to be doing some sort of training run out of Dawson Street (Brunswick).

Just a heads up because at first sight you may not recognise them as cops. I may not have noticed except they were in a group.

13 yo girl shot in road rage incident

robsalvv — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:44:43 GMT

Only in America... and probably here too if we allowed guns:

Sad story :(

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
http://www.khou.com/home/HPD-14-year...-86336722.html

Man charged in 13-year-old girl's shooting death says he fired in self-defense

HOUSTON�A man accused of killing a 13-year-old girl after a road rage incident told police he fired his gun in self defense.

Richard Calderon, 24, is in the Harris County Jail facing murder charges. His bond is set at $50,000.

Police say Calderon shot Alexis Wiley, the daughter of a TSU police officer, in the head as she was on her way home from a high school basketball game.

The fatal shooting happened late Wednesday in the 14000 block of Fleetwell in southwest Houston.

Police said the victim had just left the game and was riding in the backseat of her mother�s car when a Cadillac ran a stop sign and hit them.

Investigators said the Cadillac, driven by Calderon, kept going after the crash. Wiley�s mother decided to follow the suspect down Fleetwell to get a license plate number.

As the mom followed, police said Calderon turned around, got behind the mother�s car, pulled out a gun and opened fire.

Wiley was shot at least once in the back of the head. She was rushed to Memorial Hermann Hospital but doctors weren't able to save her.

Wiley's classmates at HISD's Johnston Middle School were shocked Thursday to hear that she had died.

"It's been a really sad atmosphere here and everybody misses her," said Mia Delafuente, an 8th-grader at Johnston. "Everyone knew her as the goofy, fun girl."

Nearly 100 students talked with grief counselors at the school Thursday.

Family friends described Wiley as a teen who lit up the room.

"She did not deserve to die like this,� said family friend Deboroah Solomon, known to Wiley as "Aunt Dede." �She's only a child. I do forgive him for taking a life and may God have mercy on his soul."

Another teen passenger and Wiley's mother were not hit, police said.

"It doesn�t look like the victims did anything to bring on the shooting. They didn�t participate in any way in any kind of violent act. They were just trying to pursue the person that struck their vehicle and get the information off that vehicle," Sgt. Robert Torres of HPD Homicide said.

Investigators were able to get a description and the license plate number of Calderon�s vehicle from Wiley�s mother.

A short time later, they said they found Calderon at his home, which is near the site of the shooting. According to police, Calderon told them he did something bad. They found a gun inside his home.

Calderon does not have a criminal history, and he has a concealed handgun license.

In a written statement, TSU Police Chief Roger Byars said officers from his department went to the hospital after the shooting to be with Wiley�s family.

"As Chief of Police for TSU, and speaking on behalf of all members of the department and indeed all members of the TSU community, the officer�s entire family are in our thoughts and prayers as they deal with this senseless tragedy," Byars wrote.

Calderon is scheduled to appear in court Friday morning.

Spada: What to look for?

Lilley — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:26:42 GMT

Been given an offer on a spada, 2 g's. I will be going to have a look and ride of it sometime in the next few weeks (it's at dapto, bit out of the way). Is there anything I should be looking for. Owner says its in good nick, but that's what they all say. Most common thing I've heard is about cam chain/ tensioners, how do I tell if that's bung?

FS: CBR250rr Syd

gus_man — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:51:16 GMT

Hey guys due to some financial difficulty I have to get rid of the bike. It's not forever but at the moment I cant keep it which really sucks because I love this thing. It's a '94 model with 69xxx km's which are all original. It does have a few scratches here and there but it runs perfectly and has never missed a beat. It was imported 9 years ago and the owner I bought the bike off had owned it for 8 years. New plugs, oil, brakes bled radiator flush and air filter done 2 months ago as well as a carby inspection. Rego until October 2010. Always garaged.
Located in Blacktown, NSW.

I have it for sale for $5,000 elsewhere but i'll take $4,500 ono for netriders.

Attached Images

	P1013331.jpg (27.7 KB)
	P1013335.jpg (20.1 KB)

jacket, boots, gloves and sissy bar

moogar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:50:01 GMT

Heyas

I'm off to the USA soon, and I thought i'd try and pick up some cheap[er] gear, particularly leather jacket, boots and gloves.

I don't want to look like moving advertisement or a silly sports bike rider I was wondering whether people had a suggested brand or make of jacket and gloves that might suit the cruiser look?

I was thinking maybe the Icon Retro Daytona or the DMH Daytona, but I have never tried on Icon stuff for size.

Any recommendations on gloves and boots? Again looking for leather, and a fairly simple design.

Also I wanted to pick up a decent sissy bar for my Roadliner, aside from the Yamaha stuff can anyone else recommend a decent brand to look at?

Cheers

EOI - The Gippsland Gyrate

cjvfr — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:41:49 GMT

Talking to Ree on the Jindabyne trip we briefly discussed a Gippsland overnight ride. Probably a weekender at this stage out and back. Staying overnight somewhere, :) you can see I have thought this out. So I am seeking Expressions of Interest

Possible Dates? ( May 1st - 2nd, May 22nd - 23rd )
Possible Routes?

I am thinking accommodation at the Tarra Bulga Caravan park, they have On site cabins that should be OK. Caz gave them a thumbs up having been there before.

They are HERE

Interested:

MVrog
Stewy - Day ride Only
Cjvfr
CFVFR - Day Ride Only
Mouth - Possible Interest
Robsalvv
Crowey
Ree
Rocket60
Bamm-Bamm - Day Ride Only

Gy"rate (-r&asl;t), a. [L. gyratus made in a circular form, p. p. of gyrare.] Winding or coiled round; curved into a circle; taking a circular course.

Roll-your-own two-stroke sportsbike?

duncan_bayne — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:09:31 GMT

So I have a 2007 Mito with about 11000km on it ... I've heard that the engine will be in need of a freshen-up by about 20K, especially given that I use it mostly for scratching (and even my commuting is ... revvy ...)

I'm pretty sure there is zero chance of any manufacturer coming to the party with a large-capacity two-stroke sportsbike, so: come the need for a 20K freshen-up, I think I'm going to turn my Mito into one of these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07alsur20-k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mxYPR02cI8

I have heard of RZs set up for drag racing making in excess of 75HP, so I figure 50HP is a reasonable target given a ground-up rebuild of the donor engine, decent expansion chambers, etc. etc.

That should be double the power of the Mito with only a little more weight ... but a whole lot of work. Still a lot cheaper than buying an 80s 500 and fixing the chassis, brakes, suspension, wheels ... basically everything other than the engine 8-[

That said I'd give the Mito a bit of a going-over in those areas as well ... new shock, rebuilt forks, but nothing like the kind of surgery you'd need to coax modern handling out of something like an RD500.

To be clear, I'd be looking to take a donor engine, the Mito, and a wad of cash to someone mechanically literate ... I can stretch to changing a chain, and that felt like something of an accomplishment ](*,)

So ... has anyone tried anything like this in the past? Care to share any wisdom about having bespoke bikes made? Any shops to avoid or any you'd recommend? Thinking of going to Clive Carter, as he races classic strokers, & is in fact currently servicing the aforementioned Mito ...

[SYD] Good service workshop near Chatswood?

pertuan — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:50:09 GMT

Hey guys. As the subject says, can anyone recommend me a good service workshop for my Hyosung near/in Chatswood?

Sunglasses

Mr Messy — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:43:44 GMT

Hey guys!
(Yes i tried searching...)

I bought myself an open faced helmet today, just for warmer days :P.
Instantly i realised that i need to get myself a set of sunglasses that suit the helmet - ie ones with padding that stop crap from getting in my eyes!

Im doing a bit of a hunt online for likely products, and have included a list below of the best ones ive been able to find.
If anyone has any experience with these, or can suggest a nice set of sunglasses to do what im doing, id love to hear about it!
Preferrably id like polarised glasses with at least a low impact safety rating.

Ta!

http://www.fuglies.com.au/polarised_...unglasses.html <--- these are polarised and safety rated, but im not sure the padding they have would be sufficient to protect at 100kph+ with the wind/dirt/dust in the face.
http://cometeyewe.cart.net.au/details/2199387.html <--- these arent polarised nor safety rated, but they cover the padding base well i think... plus id be able to see as i drowned after riding into a lake...
http://cometeyewe.cart.net.au/details/2199383.html <--- this one might be a winner... but id really like to keep polarised sunnies :P.

Another 4WD Bully

Shambles90 — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:58:11 GMT

So i haven't been riding long, picked up my first road bike a month and a bit ago and during the week last week was riding to uni down the eastlink towards Frankston from ringwood. Must've been around 10:30 i had just changed lanes into the right lane to overtake a car and a 4wd who was in the same lane as me changes aswell. As we both overtake the car which was infront of me he starts creeping closer and closer to me till i can almost make out the stains on his teeth in the side mirrors, now im always wanting to get out of the way of people like this when im on the bike but the cars on the lane to the left of us were one after the other at the time so i had to pass another 3 cars before had a good safe opportunity to change back into that lane. The whole time the 4wd drive edging closer and closer finally as i indicate to go back into that lane and let the 4wd pass the 4wd drive backs off and before i make it back he floors it and puts his car on half the outside shoulder to overtake me, and then as clearly that wasn't satisfying enough he breaks to pull up next to me puts down the passenger window and starts shouting and giving me the finger, and as if thats not enough he then proceeded to swerve his car towards me to intimidate me. After finally getting his sanctification he goes off flying down the freeway. Needless to say when i got to uni it took me a couple minutes to gather myself