[Chris HaywoodMember]

Going to have to pike too WKD. Didn’t get at my bike today to put it back together from some mods I’ve been doing. Apologies.

Chris

[Chris HaywoodMember]

Sounds like a nice run to get back into it after Xmas. I’ll try to get there.

Chris

[Chris HaywoodMember]

Yep a really top morning out. I haven’t ridden for a couple of months and have changed a few things around on the bike since then – tyres and steering damper especially – and it all seemed to work well.

Good to meet up with new blokes.

Chris

[Chris HaywoodMember]

I had a 96 model for 4 years, used for commuting and the occasional weekend away on ADV pissups and such. Sold it just recently as it was coming up for some money and I decided to move on. They are a great bike and I would have another one any time.

It’s much more a civilised trailbike than a converted road bike (like my current Transalp). Steer well on rough ground. Good ground clearance, really low 1st gear, simple and tough, low vibes. Blokes say you should get 80k from them before a top end rebuild. Mine had done nearly that and was just starting to use a bit of oil now and then.

Only exception is the bodywork. Its thin and the tabs on the fairing panels would have cracked off for sure. But at the same time the bodywork makes it an excellent tourer. Surprisingly protective. Suspension is basic but ride it within it’s limits and it will be fine, or spend some money on a shockie rebuild and cartridge emulators.

Have a look on the ADV website as has been mentioned. Couple of threads there.

The swansong for mine was a 2 week dirt road tour through NE NSW. Couldn’t have a better bike to do it on.

Chris

[Chris HaywoodMember]

champo35 wrote:

Quote:

hia chris.

sorry to get off topic.

i like teneres. do you still have it? in case you don’t know, me and tb have NXs.

Yes mate. Ploughs to work and back all the time, (120k round trip) the does the odd adv ride as well. Can’t kill it. Here crossing the (very empty) Karuah R up behind Dungog.

Off for a couple of weeks touring doing a big dirt loop in Nthn NSW for a fortnight soon.
Enjoyed your yarn about the NX around the Barringtons. Some nice stuff up there.

[Chris HaywoodMember]

champo35 wrote:

Quote:

I didn’t realise that we had a dr650 out there until I looked at the photos. I know I would struggle with our brp on those trails. Well done mate. But who are you?

G’day Champo,

He’s Steve, a mate from a couple of doors away. He was there with his son on the DRZ250 on their first organised trailride. I don’t ride with him a lot but we have done a few adv rides to places like Sheepskin and California Hut on my old Tenere and often in company with another mate on a Domi.

He did well didn’t he! Had a spill in the gully you rode Traceys bike up but was looking for lower gears the DR didn’t have :cheer: Should get him on a proper enduro bike – he was looking closely at some one the run.

[Chris HaywoodMember]

Al thanks for putting this ride on. And a big one to Glenn for sweeping. I know I’ve done it or something like it with you a few times now but it’s a great social run and it was good to have a couple of mates along (Steve and his son Josh) on their first organised trail ride. They both really enjoyed it even though Steve said he was looking for lower gears that weren’t there sometimes on the DR650!

We rode to the start from Cooranbong along the Sugarloaf Range Trail so we were nicely warmed up by the time we got there and it was good to meet up with some of the names I’ve become familiar with from OBT.

In the “wierd and wonderful” department was the DUST :ohmy: I can vaguely remember riding in clouds of the stuff all the time but the last couple of wet years have spoiled us rotten.

It’s interesting to note that even though none of the terrain is all that difficult you can use the time to practice up on a few things (today was “on the pegs day..”) and dealing with the traffic of all abilities puts the onus on you to be respectful of other’s fun when overtaking. I’ve had a couple of incidents lately when simple passes I’ve made could have ended in tears when either me or the other rider have gotten crossed up at the wrong moment so I’m a bit sensitive about it I guess.

Anyway a good day out and with it being dry the bike didn’t even get smothered in that grey sticky crap that passes for mud at Sugarloaf.

[Chris HaywoodMember]

I think it was AJ Roberts (CRF 450)doing his shoulder.

Go Dave and Go Ecks! Great effort so far for some ordinary blokes living the dream.:lol:

Dave is reported as having finished the first section today in pretty good time so no dramas by the look.

[Chris HaywoodMember]

I’ll be there Al, maybe with one or two others.

Chris

[Chris HaywoodMember]

Haven’t worn goggles for normal trail rides for years. So many times they’re hung off the end of the bar because they’re all fogged up.

Wraparound industrial safety glasses are the go. If they fog they clear in seconds. For very dusty rides I use goggles, but dust and fog generally don’t happen together.

Not much good for people with specs though.

[Chris HaywoodMember]

Thanks for the welcome people.

Mr Ecks – Yilgarn was quite surreal. Short story….I had to cancel because I couldn’t get my bike home again, but I was going that way on hols anyway. SafariBerg the organiser rang me at Broken Hill lending me his spare Husaberg 650, the Team gear, and all for free, since I was going that far anyway and to get another rider on the startline (or not refund my start money!). A wonderful gesture and what turned out to be a fabulous motorcycle. MD roadbook holder…MMMMMMM…

There was an unduly large number of retirements and carnage victims so by a modern miracle I came 9th outright after one of the hardest /best days I’ve ever put in on a dirt bike. I’m very reluctant to tell anybody , because people might think I can ride, and that would be wrong. 55/85 at Condo is more accurate.

The 250 will be fine for Condo. Look forward to seeing you there if not earlier.

[Author]

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