My first A4DE

[MalMember]

Another training day at home today. TB and the family came up Saturday arvo and the kids geared up while I mowed a track for them. The boys rode to nearly dark and I mowed another track for me to practice on Sunday, so I wouldn’t get in their way.

Saturday night TB showed me how to fit a mousse tube and that was hard work for me while TB had a rum. We sat and chatted about the mental side of the event and how I should ride and why. We also talked about nutrition with Donna and how we are going to setup the fuel/food stops.

Today after banana bread and hot chocolates for breakfast we got the boys and their bikes organised. I geared up and headed out in the paddock to chat with TB. He told me to do a few laps to warm up and go flat out for a few. He then clued me up on some cornering issues and told me to pick different lines and also ‘ride flat out’.

Medogrocket came for a visit and to see if I’m riding faster than him now. Not likely as I’ve never been able to keep up with him let alone be faster than him. :laugh:

I moved over to the other track which is a bit more technical than the track the boys were riding. It has off camber corners and rough ground that you can’t see for the long grass. TB set me tasks of riding different paces in different directions. All this riding took us up to lunch time and we had a big feed of salad sangas. Then it was back out to warm up the front tyre as the side knobs were ripping off and we decided to change to a new one for practice and to get ready for a ride tomorrow. Well the tyre change turned to crap with the tyre I was going to put on not fitting and my technique needed heaps of work. But we got there in under 30min and now the system is sorted I will practice more.

Special mention has to go to TBs boys for riding all day with big smiles. Especially Kieran for balsting around the track on his XR70. This kid was dragging the inside footpeg on the tighter corners and flying around the track. We didn’t take many photos, just a few of Keiran and a couple of vids.

So preparations are going well. Bike is good but still waiting for the dampner mount to arrive and I’ll fit the a new piston before hand. Suspension is working well and I’m comforable on the bike.

Kieran going hard

How to put an XR70 on a sissor lift

[Mark BuntingMember]

Good luck Mal I hope it goes really well for you. Rnd 1 of the Northern Inland Pony Express is on this week. 4 hrs Iron Man would be great training for the 4 day.

I’m looking forward to hearing more about your A4DE experience. I might even give it a go some time. What class are you riding???

Oh and thanks heaps for your help with the renta on Mick’s birthday ride

[dennis da menaceMember]

eye of the Tigger Mal :laugh: :laugh:

note, Tigger is orange and has PDS :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[GregMember]

Top idea Menace he needs a fire up song of a morning to listen to in his i pod while driving to Parc Feme

[ChrisMember]

Mal I’d also be watching some DVD’s for inspiration, I watched one of the trailrider ones last night with Tuffy in the states riding the high desert and then practising for the GNCC It was highly motivational, they make it look so easy..

Cheers
Chris.

[BrettMember]

Good Luck Mal!!!
We will be ‘right along side you’ literally,,,
The Hamster is starting to get a little nervous also,
but prep is looking good… Just gotta keep him off the piss!!!

We are Heading out this arvo, open invitation ?

Cheers
MacKa…

[MalMember]

chris72a wrote:

Quote:

Mal I’d also be watching some DVD’s for inspiration, I watched one of the trailrider ones last night with Tuffy in the states riding the high desert and then practising for the GNCC It was highly motivational, they make it look so easy..

Cheers
Chris.

Yeah I’ve been watching a few DVDs Chris. But I seem to want to drink beer and eat chips while doing it. Not that good for training.

[MalMember]

fireman wrote:

Quote:

Good Luck Mal!!!
We will be ‘right along side you’ literally,,,
The Hamster is starting to get a little nervous also,
but prep is looking good… Just gotta keep him off the piss!!!

We are Heading out this arvo, open invitation ?

Cheers
MacKa…

Thanks fireman.

The Hamster will be fine. Just load him up with winny reds and send him out. :laugh:

I’ll skip the ride this arvo mate. Have to do a bit around here. Call in for a beer if you come down this way.

[MalMember]

kram140 wrote:

Quote:

Good luck Mal I hope it goes really well for you. Rnd 1 of the Northern Inland Pony Express is on this week. 4 hrs Iron Man would be great training for the 4 day.

I’m looking forward to hearing more about your A4DE experience. I might even give it a go some time. What class are you riding???

Oh and thanks heaps for your help with the renta on Mick’s birthday ride

Thanks Kram. I looked at the Pony Express but I have to go work at some stage.

I’m riding in the Veterans class mate with 62 other riders in the class so far.

[Mick DMember]

Listen Up: Yamaha A4DE entries CLOSE on Thursday

There are only four days left to get your entry in for an event which is being hailed as one for the history books: the 32nd annual Yamaha Australian 4-Day Enduro (A4DE) being held at Portland (NSW) from April 8th to 11th.

The race, being orgainsed by one of the country’s premier enduro clubs: Oyster Bay Motorcycle Club (OBMCC), will truly be “one for the riders”.

No late entries will be accepted. Download supplementary regulations now from http://www.a4de2010.com.au

One racer especially looking forward to the event is leading Championship E1 Class competitor, Ben Burrell (Ballard’s Wellard Yamaha).

“I live at Parkes, which is pretty close to where it’s being held… we travel a lot over the course of the year, so to have the four-day just down the road will be great,” Burrell said.

“It’s also super exciting because it will be my first A4DE, I’ve been to a few to watch now, but haven’t been old enough to ride one.

“I’ve ridden near where the four-day is being ran and it’s gonna be some good riding.

“I’ve heard a lot about the tracks and it sounds like there’s gonna be heaps of good trail and special tests… I can’t wait to get out on the trails and rip up the tests at the four day.

“Apparently there’s gonna be heaps of fresh trail every day, too, so it will be an awesome event not just for serious racers but also for trail riders who want to be a part of it – the atmosphere at a four-day is awesome.”

A4DE Course Coordinator Rick Braico said riders would enjoy fresh trail every day and a total of eight special tests.

“I encourage everyone who’s been to a four-day or considered it to get your entry in – this will be a great event,” Braico said.

“Four of the tests are grass tracks and four are enduro tests, each will only be ridden four times to ensure they don’t get too rough or worn.

“We’re making the course so riders have an honest day’s ride. When they get off the bike they’ll be tired, but it won’t be impossible.

“It’ll be the way an A4DE is supposed to be: a tough endurance race that most riders can finish and those who do finish will feel a real sense of accomplishment.”

The 32nd annual A4DE will be held at Portland (near Lithgow, NSW) on April 8th to 11th, 2010.

Entries will be capped at 350 riders and close on Thursday (March 25th), supplementary regulations are available from http://www.a4de2010.com.au.

The event boasts the following classes: E1 (100cc to 150cc 2-Stroke & 150cc to 250cc 4-stroke), E2 (175cc to 250cc 2-stroke & 275cc to 450cc 4-Stroke), E3 (290cc to 500cc 2-stroke & 475cc to 650cc 4-stroke), Veteran’s (Over 35-years), Master’s (Over 45-years) and Women All Powers.

There is also a state-versus-state, club-versus-club and manufacturer-versus-manufacturer element to the race, with senior, junior and club teams from each state and trade teams going head to head.

[MalMember]

Well now I’m in the final preparations for this event. Yesterday TB came up to assist with installing a new piston in the Husky. It didn’t really need one but I had one there and bought the gaskets and just to be sure the bike is in the best condition to finish. This piston will stay in the bike for around 4000km hopefully.

I would like to know what peoples thoughts are on running in the new piston. One I heard of was to run the bike around the paddock gently, then stop and let it cool down. Then repeat the process and work the engine a bit harder. Do this a few times and the piston should be ready to be worked normally.

My steering dampner bar bracket finally turned up. Thanks TB for helping me out there . I fitted the bracket and dampner up yesterday as well and will be out testing later today.

Just need a new set of wheel bearings and she’ll be good to go.

One thing I’m not happy with is the price of Husqvarna genuine parts in this country. It is just ridiculous to expect us as bike owners to pay $520 for a piston every 800km just to keep the warranty. And then you have to pay $70 for 2 cyclinder head ‘O’ rings :ohmy: . To add salt to the wound I ordered a spare gear lever just in case I break mine and it was $155 for a piece of cast crap that I have to modify so it doesn’t rub on the clutch cover. :angry: I won’t be buying any more geniune parts from the importers. :angry: :angry:

Thanks TB for all your help and advice preparing me and the bike for my first of many events. Thanks to Mal at Suttos and Suttos for the great deals and advice over the last few months.

Old piston

Bore

Power Valve

Dampner

[timMember]

Beautiful beautiful rain up here at Portland, this is going to make the conditions great for the 4 day (just so long as it’s not raining for the event) just looked at the map for the first day, knowing the area’s that they are taking us now has got me worried about not running mooses, to late now!! the first day is going to be talked about for sometime, bring it on hey Mal

Also hat’s off to all that are setting up the event, saw a couple of guy’s out in the pouring rain setting up the showground and I bet there are many out in the forest getting soaked, thanks for their efforts

[alanMember]

hope you blokes are fit 232km first day with 9 tests not all timed but wonder if the next two are as big have fun.its up on the 4day web site

[MalMember]

Yep looks like a big day. But I think we are well prepared. There’s nothing in the trail sections that we haven’t ridden before. Some of the hills might give us the shits if it’s wet, but everybody will be in the same boat.

I’m looking forward to it now after all the preparation I’ve done. :woohoo:

[simon burkeMember]

GO GET EM MAL :woohoo:

BOL :woohoo:

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