guzzler

I spend quite a bit of time on the roads here and am constantly appalled by the idiots I see every day.... Look forward to retirement and not having to spend as much time in Melbourne ( and I only go to the outer south eastern suburbs )!

G'day Mick. Yeah mate, I've driven and ridden all over Oz too and Melbourne drivers are easily the worst. My mates in WA, workmates from NSW Qld and SA all think the same.... Add in the roadworks EVERYWHERE ( but not actually improving the roads ) and it's bloody ordinary! Cheers

You know I forgot about the reversing camera and alarm systems.... Yeah, it's just typical of the crap attitude of today's drivers, and Melbourne is about the worst place in Oz for it. Cheers

Bloody hell mate whatever happened to common sense eh..... I can understand and condone it IF there was significant damage but jeezuz that case should've been thrown out upon your neighbour making good any damage.... Gotta say I was ropable as I left the place but the more I thought/think about it I wonder if the arsehat who hit my bike actually realised what they'd done! But in this day and age and MELBOURNE I wouldn't be surprised if they knew about it!! Anyway, I'm just RAPT that the bike wasn't knocked down and damaged. Cheers

G'day folk's. On my way home from the hospital after visiting Dad yesterday, I stopped in at the servos to grab a burger at Maccas ( late lunch ). So I park the bike in the car-park and in the middle of the bay as you do to avoid car doors etc and in I go. So 20 minutes or so later I come out and am doing up the jacket and about to put my helmet and gloves on and notice a couple walking round it and looking at the bike, then they notice me and come over ( I was about 20 metres away )and start telling me that some arsehole just backed into my bike and drove off never bothering to stop to see if any damage or whatever! Instant panic but what the fook, bike is still standing and can't seem to see any damage or sign of impact.The bloke followed me back to the bike and explained the shithead reversed back and nudged the front wheel pushing the bike back about 8 to 10 inches and showed me the scrape mark the side stand left on the concrete. Dumbfounded I quickly checked the bike over and thanked matey for telling me as would never have even noticed it or known. Talk about dodging a bullet! Anyways I gave her a bit o welly on the fun part ( well the part without any mobile chicanes - bugger ) of the road home, and no handling issues at all. Then when I got home gave her a good looking at and the only damage if you can even call it that is a 5 or 6 millimetre scrape on the very front of the front mudguard. It's not really even a scrape but just sorta pushed the paint back a little without breaking the surface of the paint.If matey hadn't told me about it I would've assumed that it was a stone chip when I eventually found it. So, from now on I'm gunna be parking the bike next to the bloody front door and not anywhere near where we share space with the imbeciles and their conveyances.... End of rant folk's but be wary of where you leave your bike eh! Cheers

Jeez, can't believe I forgot the Nooj ( Noojee Hotel ) just up the road from Nayook Doc Cheers

Bloody great idea for a topic mate! Wish the hell I could post some but after my emails were hacked I need to get this sorted out so I can get back to sharing some photo's. Anyways myself and a couple of mates do this as well ride stop at a pub for lunch where I'll have a soft drink, mates have a light beer and continue on. If we're on a weekend or long weekend ride we'll do the same ride during the day park up about 4 pm ish and head to the pub. Yep, we've got quite a few rippers down here, been past the Flowerdale but never stopped there however can recommend these.. The Dargo Hotel (the real one), The Wally Pub ( Walhalla ), The Poowong pub, The Tarwin Lower ( outside on the deck / balcony overlooking the river) The Tolmie Inn...The Blue Duck @ Anglers Rest to name a few... Cheers

I also have a thing for big singles having ridden an SR500 (road version of the XT) from Melb to Darwin back in the day... Yeah, it had a nice thump and it was a hoot at idle with the front wheel shaking or rocking back and forth, but if you want VIBES you can't beat a big ornery two stroke....! I vividly remember hammering a mates PE400 ( detuned RM motocrosser ) along a back road in NZ, she was flat out somewhere near the old ton and by bloody hell I thought it was gunna shake every filling outa my teeth and hands were useless for some time after the ride.....Loved it! Cheers

I reckon it looks bloody good too.... A custom seat AND able to keep the cowling win/win! However, I'm with Phil on the leather... Cheers

Think I'll stick with my old one....V11 that is. Although, maybe with a seat hump, clip ons and a wee fairing oh and some decent pipes if the current greenie gets too much as the years march on! I won't give her up easily though.... Cheers

I just saw these the other day and agree they do look good, especially in the teal colour! Often thought if I could ever have a second bike a 500 bullet in teal would be great for the back roads round here as they are very like rural England in many spots, but these are no more. This 650 could be good too! Hoi lottery gods....I'm getting tired o waiting for my numbers to come up!! Cheers

I still don't know what to make of this new V100.... But the blue does look good on it though. Cheers

Mate. It looks BETTER than brand new condition...! Gotta love how greenies just GLOW in the right light eh. Cheers

I always think that this fact sums it up.... In the year of my birth ( 1960 ) the worlds population was 3 billion people, now in my 64th year it is 8.1 billion! The world is a very different place now and can only hope that that it doesn't sustain this sort of growth..... Cheers

Last day of my holidays and just managed to sneak out for a wee 120 kay ride...to be sure to be sure! Sure enough, this latest and probably last tweak is a ripper! Just love how she handles now! Almost time for a glass in front of the fire.... Yep, near end of October and we've still got the fire on. It was 10-12 degrees when I was out an about and 13 now at near 3pm, still I've got a nice wee inner glow on ha ha Cheers

Phew wee....think I'll keep my feet and wheels on the ground!! Cheers

Cheers Doc, yeah I thought it best to measure it this way too....ie not including the cap. Be interesting to hear about the long frames eh.

G'day Mate I did see your post about that! Just out of curiosity...how did you measure the 15mm? I have 15mm from the top of the fork cap to the triple clamp. Given that the cap is 3mm means I have 12mm of actual fork above them. I'm pretty happy with it like this! Cheers

Update. G'day folk's, yesterday I had the forks moved up in the triples by another 4mm to make a total of 12mm (this is 12mm of fork plus the 3mm cap by the way as some seem to measure differently) and I have to say that I reckon this is the last piece in the puzzle for me! As I've mentioned earlier it was pretty bloody good at 8mm in the corners but felt the front was still a little vague / light cruising around without positive throttle input. I've only had one ride since, but I did manage to give her a bit of curry and I am chuffed with the handling now. The front is planted in a straight line and even more planted with greater feel and feedback through the bends! Everything I was trying to achieve! Thanks to all who have guided me in this as like many I was clueless about suspension! In summary to all this I reckon it started when I went from a 170/60 to a 160/60 rear tyre which is 6mm smaller than the former which alters the front / rear balance in an already skewed to the rear set-up. Then factor in the flaw in the compression fork leg which I tied to overcome with Progressive springs exacerbating the lack of feel there especially with no damping due to very old fork oil and then gaining an extra 10 kilos of body weight over the period and just to add to it wearing a backpack with about 10 kilos in it.....I rode her like this for some time in some pretty hairy situations and she was still ok if you rode accordingly. But bit by bit I reckon I've got her just so now (for me) and can't wait to get out there and really enjoy the ride! I don't feel like I have to compensate for any handling issues now! Sorry if this has been a bit long winded but just wanted to share how I got my bike sorted. Cheers Guzzler. Ps It's a 2001 Red frame and have the forks up thru triples by 12mm, the Guzzimoto fork fix (blocking the oil blowholes in Comp leg) Linear .95kg springs (I'm 90 ish kilos) The Comp is +4 and Reb at +12 from full soft ( set by adjusting from full hard ) Hyperpro steering damper set at + 4 and a Hyperpro 460 emulsion shock ( standard length 280mm ) which is set at + 28 of 50 clicks of rebound (comp/reb set in a fixed ratio) plus 15mm of preload on it..... And fresh oil ha ha...

Ha ha Yeah, it can be a little challenging can't it....

Yeah, it's gaining popularity here too mate... But then again anything American will eventually thrive here too! You're right about it's pagan / Celtic origins. It seems to have originated from the Celtic tradition of Samhain. Funny in that I have an Irish background and the concept was never even mentioned let alone celebrated and agree that it's another moneymaking endeavour.... Still if the neighbourhood kids enjoy it then no harm done. Cheers

G'day mate We missed it thankfully but believe the storm was an inch of rain and the hail all in a crazy 10 minute burst then settled to a normal rain storm..... We got home Wed arvo missing this, but it hit Casterton Wed/Thurs and Melbourne city later when the whole state of Victoria copped similar multiple freak storm fronts. I just drove through some of it yesterday ( Friday am ) when I had to go and visit my Father in hospital in Frankston. When I picked up my brother in Langwarrin the stormwater drain close to the house was within inches of overflowing and moving like a category rated raft able river!! Then when we got outa the hospital only drizzle and blue sky...w t f ? I got home about 3pm and my wife got a message on her phone to say be prepared for power outages for some time due to the next feral front but thankfully ( again ) this front parted like Moses and the red sea when it got to Drouin! So far this morning still have power and all seems ok. I really felt sorry for the few bikes I saw heading for Phillip Island and the GP this weekend too! Once again the weather looks like ruining the weekend? Even ole mate Dave tells me he was supposed to go down but has pulled the pin and will be watching it on TV. Ha ha, as will I !! Cheers

Thanks Mick. Bloody glad we missed that eh!

G'day Mick Just back on Wed. No, we avoided the city of churches but skirted round it...Mannum, Hahndorf, Goolwa and Victor Harbour then Portland on the way back managing to get home before the statewide storms! We missed the 25mm of rain in 10 minutes and cricket ball sized hail in Casterton by a day but it's now just hitting Melbourne and heading for us in Gippsland. I wish I was able to post the TV news footage from Casterton but beyond my abilities I'm afraid. Anyways we had a great time over there. Only Hahndorf and Victor Harbour were crowded but this is due to small streets limited parking and most of Adelaide flocks to these places on weekends when the weathers good. Absolutely nothing like the congestion of Europe and Nth America though! I remember when I first left NZ back in 1980 and feeling claustrophobia for the first time of my life in the small, overcrowded streets of London! And that was then so hate to think what it's like now...! Gotta love the wide- open spaces and small populations down under eh! Now, I have a week left before returning to the grindstone...bugger they go quick don't they. Cheers

Only two....? Cheers and away we go to SA...