.

[Richard Hughes]

G'day Ben, you can count me in for this one .
Had a ball on the Karijini trip, so I'm all for another trip.
More dirt the better.
Cheers Richard.

[kev]

Can't miss this one, I was really sad when I had to turn back after one day and you all went north. I just have to decide if I want to tackle it on my K100RT. I could pack low and light. There is long travel in the suspension and with different tyres, it could be OK. A dirt bike woulk be fun but I can't stand the thought of selling my K as it is so brilliant. Then again it is a BMW so will go anywhere. I am heartened by your comment that the roads are 2WD capable.
Kev

[wightman]

My '82 R80G/S goes through for registration this week so this is the sort of trip it needs to get onto. Just got to work on getting myself away from the %&***g office! John

[kev]

Well count me in. Time off work approved and my new bike is ready (almost). Some may have seen it on Sunday at Farrell's. It is a powerful beast with a low centre of gravity and quite spritely. I call it a naked hybrid, K100GS! Only one I have seen in Perth.
If there is any interest, I could leave even earlier than Monday, seems a shame to sit around on the weekend not doing anything. Have the days off at the end of the trip to shower, wash the bike etc you know the sort of thing.
Will have a test run to Albany for the hill climb (weekend, not competition), just to see how hard it will be to hang on without the touring faring.
Any advice on tyres for the trip?
Kev

[_Wilks]

Two more Ben - myself and a mate with a KLR650.

I gotta say Kevs suggestion makes sense. My GS is also the Mon-Fri commuter - I have to clean it after a ride otherwise my St Georges Tce clobber gets dusty (can't have that can I?). Happy to leave on the Sat or Sun if the group agrees.

Shane

[2volts]

Any advice on tyres for the trip?Kev

In my experience, they are essential.
pete

[2volts]

The K100 is a road bike and tyre options for gravel are very limited.

rear 130/90 x 17
Metzeler Enduro 1
Metzeler Tourance
Bridgestone Trailwing TW42, TW48
Dunlop D607
Continental TKC80
Continental Escape
Heidenau K60 http://www.reifenwerk-heidenau.de/profi ... K60%20rear

front 100/90 x 18
The only one I can find is 90/90 x 18 Heidenau K60 http://www.reifenwerk-heidenau.de/profi ... 60%20front
Generally there's no equivalent/corresponding tyres for 18" front rim to the rear tyres above, which for the GS type bikes are 19" or 21".

The front is more important than the rear when off road confidence is what is being sought. Where the front goes, the rear will follow.

pete

[kev]

Thanks Pete,
Tyres for bikes have an interesting front tyre, Metzeler Enduro 3 Sahara for $105 fitted. Thats an 18 inch.
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/2/ ... -Tire.aspx
Of coarse I would use a rear also.
Kev

[kev]

Tires,
Sadly nobody I can find makes 100/90 - 18 dual use tire.
Kev

[Richard Hughes]

Just a thought, is it an idea to look at doing the Holland track as part of the trip, maybee on the way up from Hyden to Coolgardie, more dirt!
Or will this mess up the plans Ben?

[pejie]

did holland track earlier in year on 1150GSA & got stuck in storm that made it really difficult - very very slippery when wet. Scrub is close to track & you have to ride in the wheel ruts most of the time, especially in the sandy sections. Put a wheel up in the centre to get around a tree or thicker scrub & you're going down - I did anyway. Also some very deeply rutted sections where you have to go off the track to get through. The 1150 really used a lot of fuel to so work out your fuel really well. It is one of those icons that needs to be done. Plenty have done it on larger bikes fairly easily & you will certainly come out the other end a better rider. One bit of advice is I don't think anyone has done it with hard panniers. PM me if you need high quality soft bags or ben has my contacts - gotta start new business somewhere. Exploroz has good track notes for track. Have a good trip catch up with you guys one day.

[Richard Hughes]

Thanks for that, I will do the Holland track one day, as far as where we go, I don't care!, I'm just happy to be on the ride.

[kev]

We all have different paths to travel and that is precicely why this club is so great. There are not 2 similar people in the club.
Oh, but the bikes are the same, you might say, but upon closer inspection, there aren't 2 similar bikes in the state. The personality is quickly imposed on the preferred transport of delight, so although some claim to be "K" men or GS'ers, there ends the similarity. Look at the spectrum, the ultimate touratec rep to Mr gadget to gizmo king and the kings of the dirt. There are die hard GSers who have almost travelled around the coast of australia on the beach, and those who have done this to the world. Then the numerous lucky bastards who regularly see skies filled horrison to horrison with stars. Could you imagine running out of fuel on the nullabore now living in the north of South Island with a honey you met there.
Yes the bikes are great, but at the end of the day all it really means is that the lights are on and somebody is home. And I for one have found that the last 14 months of membership has put me in front of a LOT of people I love to spend my time with.
Some sceptics think you can't convert a 20 year old K100RT to a dirt bike. Well think about it. I broke a mirror, an indicator and a crashbar. Nothing new there, it means I get out a bit. It isn't BMW's fault I have soft ribs and am a bit of a woos. I had a great time though. The nurse in the ambulance was great, the one in Waroona hospital was even more accommodation and the Nurse in Geraldton was fantastic even if we did book a bus ticket for 8.30 to Perth on Tuesday instead of Monday. There was a spare seat and it was sorted. Thanks for the stream of support encouragement and ribbing I received, and now I am in Perth contemplation my next bike. I will be in touch soon to let you know of my next adventure.
Kev

[2volts]

Kev

Get well soon.
Like you say, "live 'life".

pete

[Richard Hughes]

Cumagutza Kev, On the trip we all had our little moments, I bent my rim on a big wash out, On another type of bike I may have come off. The GS's are great bikes, Kev you were just unlucky, I give you a full 10 points for effort. When Jono and I came across a motionless body next to a bike and bits all over the road, we both thought the worst, then when we first saw you we both thought you were alot worse off than you were( Lucky as I was looking for a big rock to put you down, you started talking just in time).
It's a shame you did it on the first day as you would have enjoyed the rest of the trip especialy the skimpy's, so get better, toughen up and start planing the next trip.
FIIG Richard