This tour was organised by Colin Bayman of the Perth adventure riders. They had organised 2 tours over 2 separate weeks, with each having group of 8 riders to be lead by a guide around just about every track and road in Bali with 8 hr days over 4 days. There is no way someone who was not a local could navigate their way around like our German guide Hogar managed taking us up and down mountain trails and providing us with great vistas.
The tour provided Honda and Kawasaki 250 cc trail bikes, a hotel stay each night with breakfast, bike insurance and our guide for the 4 days for just under $800.
The ride consisted of a incredible range of riding up and down very steep mountain trails with various surface conditions, tight switch backs on blind corners and continuing first gear follow up continuing tracks. The brake fade due to the brake fluid boiling when negotiating the incredibly steep descents had to be kept in mind or the risk of total braking loss was likely. The oncoming and passing of vehicles on the narrow tracks with vertical drops on the sides left some puckered up moments and the occasional surprise of a oncoming truck or other large vehicle had the Adrenalin levels going into overdrive. The loose gravel on blind corners meant for picking a careful line to avoid the front end sliding out. Stopping on the steep ascents caused some problems with the brakes failing to hold the bikes which would end up sliding backwards if the back wheel was not quickly stopped also with the stall kill button technique.
Overall I learnt a lot with riding small bikes on these tracks. Although being exhausted, mentally and physically at end of each day it was a positive experience and great adventure.
Also it was a pleasure to ride with a great bunch of blokes from PAR.
Bill
