Katgirl Trip Across Australia 29 Sep 5900km DIRT

[Jason GreenMember]

You go and have fun now KATGIRL and climb that pork chop hill on your little XR I want you to do it and prove to the rest of the gang that your the girl! KATGIRL!

[katrina ratcliffMember]

6 weeks and 3 days to go….. OMG :ohmy:

Took my bike out to Sutto’s last Monday just so I could throw more money at my bike to ensure the trip is easier on my body. :side:

I have to say a HUGE BIG THANKYOU to Brian and Mal at Sutto’s for looking after me. After much tweeking they installed a Scott Steering Damper, greased the head set bearings, replaced my blinkers that hopefully will now stay in one piece and lastly replaced my alloy sprocket for a metal one.

Not only did they do a professional job on the bike but my wallet was spared a flogging.

Drove out to Belangalo Forest and meet up with CathiM and Riggs to try out the damper. I read the instuctions very quickly but best approach was to get on, find as many rocks and BIG bumps and play with the dial. Even found some sand to try out. It was amazed at the difference it made. I’m sure that by the end of my trip I would have worked out the best settings but so far so good.

I also wanted to give TB a kiss :kiss: for guiding me with these mods and checking in with Sutto’s.

The bike is booked to be crated and transported to Perth on Monday 6th Sep. Got the best deal for only $840 – ouch.

TB has kindly offered to look over my bike and educate me in the process on Saturday 4th Sep.

Jobs on the list are:

Check brake pads and disc thickness
Check Spokes
Check Wheel bearings
Check Clutch and accelerator cables
Check Clutch plates
Check Valves
Do Oil Change
Check my spares
Chew the fat
Drink Bundy and Cokes
Take photo’s
Meet Salina and kids

Can’t wait to get dirty. :S

KatGirl

[Mark BuntingMember]

I wish it was me doing this ride

Sounds like you’ve got the prep all under control Katgirl. I can’t wait to see all the photos.

I wouldn’t give TB a kiss until you get back, no telling what you might catch

Good luck with the ride

Kram

[katrina ratcliffMember]

Today was another day to spend with my trailbike but this day was going to be different. I wasn’t riding her…….. I was going to get dirty and strip her bare with the help of our OBT HONDA expert – TB.. I learnt today that TB’s stripping skills are amazing!!

I turned up at 9am at Blaxland and got to meet TB’s better half Salina and the two boys (Lachie & Kerian). After a cup of coffee and a ‘long’ chat with Salina (TB was in the carport clanking lots of tools to confirm his readiness) I was off and ready to do some stuff that I had no idea of. The bike came off the trailer and moved into position.

So first it was replacing the front brake pads and wheel bearings. I’m so glad the bearings were replaced as the new bearings were fully enclosed. The original had the bearings exposed…. Not good with expected dust and sand sections of my ride.

Then we moved towards the back…. and did the pads and bearings. The pads were defiantly on the way out ….. I must love my back brake. The bearings needed TB extra grunt skills to get them out but finally they popped out.

After that I went with Lachie to check out the ‘boys shed’. I was given the royal treatment in the explanation of the KTM and Honda bikes the boys ride. ‘Fully licked’ and hanging to go riding with them at Pacific Park some time soon. I’m sure they will give me a run for my money.

Then things became a blur but I promise I only had one bundy and coke by then…. TB was another story….

We did the following (TB did – I watched/prodded/asked “why”/ and generally got in the way/plus handed tools once I knew which tools):

Lubed the clutch cable
Lubed the throttle assembly and cables
Greased all the leaver pivots
Cleaned the mud out of the airbox and replaced the filter
Wired the grips
Replaced the front sprocket
Cleaned and checked the bash plate
Checked the folk seals
Replace the spark plug
Inspected the clutch plate
Did an oil change and cleaned the oil filter
Replaced a speednut on the right side cover.
Checked spokes
Tried to fit the Pivot Pegs on but not the right ones for the bike. Back to the drawing board.

In amongst this Salina provided an awesome lunch which was supplemented with …… yes…. Bundy and Coke and some wicked brownie’s that were begging to be eaten but alas my will power stayed strong….. I just wish I had the same will power when it comes to Bundy’s.

Then we got to do the valve checking twice. The first time was to demonstrate how not to do it. The benefit was hearing the engine and confirming it didn’t sound right so off it all came and another check of the valve clearance. Sure enough the second time was successful.

I only had to do two runs to Penrith for bits (front sprocket & speednut for back side cover). That gave TB some breathing space as there were times I was invading his personal space whilst he worked away.

All finished at 4.30pm with bike on trailer.

After giving TB a big hug and sloppy kiss to say thankyou I felt elated that I learnt so much about my bike, got to get dirty and now feel totally confident the bike is ready for the trip.

Monday it’s off to get crated and shipped to Perth.

Thanks TB for your guidance, technical skill, patience, laughter and for being a bloody nice bloke to give your time to me today. If something bloody well goes wrong I’m blaming you but I suspect she will purr like a pussy cat all the way to Airlie Beach.

Thanks also to Salina for opening up your home and I know I could seriously enjoy some girlie chats with you in the future.

Thanks to Lachie for taking some of the action shots today.

To Lachie and Kerian – watch out … when I come back I will kick your arse around Pacific Park.

Photo’s coming…. Just uploading to photobucket as I type.

25 Days to go…..

[GregMember]

Christ we did more then that didnt we :ohmy: :laugh:

Thank god you went to Penrith when I pulled the clutch out, getting the side cover back on was a pain in the arse :dry: I took photos of the clutch but not me doing wheelies on it

TB

[katrina ratcliffMember]

Action shots……..

Bike stripped:

Brake Pads replaced:

TB’s photographic skills of Kat in action:mmmmm

TB in action:

Wheel Bearing discussion:

Rear wheel bearing being difficult:

Clutch Plate featured with #3 Bundy & Coke…. God I hope it went back on the right way:

The grips getting special treatment:

Clutch Plate inspection:

[GregMember]

KatGirl wrote:

Quote:

Today was another day to spend with my trailbike but this day was going to be different. I wasn’t riding her…….. I was going to get dirty and strip her bare with the help of our OBT HONDA expert – TB.. I learnt today that TB’s stripping skills are amazing!!

I turned up at 9am at Blaxland and got to meet TB’s better half Salina and the two boys (Lachie & Kerian). After a cup of coffee and a ‘long’ chat with Salina (TB was in the carport clanking lots of tools to confirm his readiness) I was off and ready to do some stuff that I had no idea of. The bike came off the trailer and moved into position.

So first it was replacing the front brake pads and wheel bearings. I’m so glad the bearings were replaced as the new bearings were fully enclosed. The original had the bearings exposed…. Not good with expected dust and sand sections of my ride.

Then we moved towards the back…. and did the pads and bearings. The pads were defiantly on the way out ….. I must love my back brake. The bearings needed TB extra grunt skills to get them out but finally they popped out.

After that I went with Lachie to check out the ‘boys shed’. I was given the royal treatment in the explanation of the KTM and Honda bikes the boys ride. ‘Fully licked’ and hanging to go riding with them at Pacific Park some time soon. I’m sure they will give me a run for my money.

Then things became a blur but I promise I only had one bundy and coke by then…. TB was another story….

We did the following (TB did – I watched/prodded/asked “why”/ and generally got in the way/plus handed tools once I knew which tools):

Lubed the clutch cable
Lubed the throttle assembly and cables
Greased all the leaver pivots
Cleaned the mud out of the airbox and replaced the filter
Wired the grips
Replaced the front sprocket
Cleaned and checked the bash plate
Checked the folk seals
Replace the spark plug
Inspected the clutch plate
Did an oil change and cleaned the oil filter
Replaced a speednut on the right side cover.
Checked spokes
Tried to fit the Pivot Pegs on but not the right ones for the bike. Back to the drawing board.

In amongst this Salina provided an awesome lunch which was supplemented with …… yes…. Bundy and Coke and some wicked brownie’s that were begging to be eaten but alas my will power stayed strong….. I just wish I had the same will power when it comes to Bundy’s.

Then we got to do the valve checking twice. The first time was to demonstrate how not to do it. The benefit was hearing the engine and confirming it didn’t sound right so off it all came and another check of the valve clearance. Sure enough the second time was successful.

I only had to do two runs to Penrith for bits (front sprocket & speednut for back side cover). That gave TB some breathing space as there were times I was invading his personal space whilst he worked away.

All finished at 4.30pm with bike on trailer.

After giving TB a big hug and sloppy kiss to say thankyou I felt elated that I learnt so much about my bike, got to get dirty and now feel totally confident the bike is ready for the trip.

Monday it’s off to get crated and shipped to Perth.

Thanks TB for your guidance, technical skill, patience, laughter and for being a bloody nice bloke to give your time to me today. If something bloody well goes wrong I’m blaming you but I suspect she will purr like a pussy cat all the way to Airlie Beach.

Thanks also to Salina for opening up your home and I know I could seriously enjoy some girlie chats with you in the future.

Thanks to Lachie for taking some of the action shots today.

To Lachie and Kerian – watch out … when I come back I will kick your arse around Pacific Park.

Photo’s coming…. Just uploading to photobucket as I type.

25 Days to go…..

And after all that remember to wash the bloody bike girl and lube the chain :laugh:

TB

[katrina ratcliffMember]

“wash the bloody bike girl and lube the chain”

I thought the bike was clean…. but not to your standards!!! OK… will get an old toothbrush and go over the bike and find some lube for the chain…. man you’re a hard task master.

[GregMember]

I actually stripped the clutch assembly pulled the plates and inspected them. They measured up ok but I forgot to photograph them out and only remembered the camera when I had tensioned down the pressure plate

Was a great day, cheers for the bundys Kat you didnt have to I enjoy working on bikes (hell I got to or Mick’s bike would never get done ). Kids will be looking forward to racing you at pacific park :laugh:

TB

[GregMember]

KatGirl wrote:

Quote:

“wash the bloody bike girl and lube the chain”

I thought the bike was clean…. but not to your standards!!! OK… will get an old toothbrush and go over the bike and find some lube for the chain…. man you’re a hard task master.

Not for me, for ol mate that gets the bike in Perth you dont want any grief from him He will be giving it the once over before you get there wont he :dry:

TB

[Jeffrey SmithMember]

Brake Pads replaced:

I was thinking the chain was looking pretty ordinary, oil it good Kat.

[katrina ratcliffMember]

Thanks Jeffro for your feedback on the chain….. I got a verbal bashing from TB on that one. I degreased the bike today and lubed up the chain. Made sure I didn’t get confused on the lube…. being blonde and all….. but seriously all good today. The bike is on the trailer tonight and ready to drop off tomorrow for its long trip to Perth.

[Mick DMember]

Trailboss wrote:

Quote:

I enjoy working on bikes (hell I got to or Mick’s bike would never get done ).

TB

:angry: :ohmy: man, you are full of it sometimes. :laugh: Another one of your little traps mate??

[GregMember]

micknmeld wrote:

Quote:

Trailboss wrote:

Quote:

I enjoy working on bikes (hell I got to or Mick’s bike would never get done ).

TB

:angry: :ohmy: man, you are full of it sometimes. :laugh: Another one of your little traps mate??

A little from column A and a little from column B (you dont want examples or witnesses Mick you know you dont )

TB

[Dwayne OMember]

GOOD LUCK WITH IT ALL KAT

Not long to go now, I`m sure it will be the trip of a lifetime :woohoo:

[Author]

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