Motorcycle road trip

[crash3]

Hi all

I know there's some other motorcyclists on here, and I'm keen for some opinions.

So I've decided I'm finally going to do the trip I've been dreaming about for a few years now - riding from the family home in Tomerong (just outside of Jervis Bay, NSW) to the family holiday home in Port Douglas, QLD during our next family trip.

I'll be making a round trip of it, inland on the way up and down the coast on the way back.
I've allowed approx 700km per day, planning to camp at main towns with the one person swag, carrying minimal luggage in side cases including camp stove etc (the wife will take a few more clothes for me in her suitcase when she flies up).

I'm riding my '18 XSR900, so fuel range I've found to be maxed out at 280-300 km, hence why I've planned my stops so rigidly at 250k's. Will also carry a small external fuel canister to get me an extra 50 or so kays if needed. This fuel range also means that fuel stops should be around the 2 hr mark when I should be having a break anyway.

Previous large trips have been 5ish hours, 500km a day, which were no trouble at all. I've also bought an Airhawk seat cushion to help with comfort too, and a summer mesh jacket, as I'll be doing FNQ in February, among other things.

So, I won't bore you all with my exact packing list (as I've not completely finished yet), but tell me your thoughts. Am I too ambitious for my first large solo trip? Any places I should see on the way? Any places to avoid?

 

[Dales Cannon]

Not interested in any side trips along the way?

 

[LPG]

Where are the pics of the bike test loaded?

 

[crash3]

Not interested in any side trips along the way?

Mayyyyyybe. Depending on how I go for time & energy. I know I'll be pushing past some fantastic MTB trails, but including the bike on the packing list would be..... ambitious.

Where are the pics of the bike test loaded?

Coming soon! Side case racks will arrive this week, then will pick up some saddle bags. Soon after will be first time test run for camping off the bike. I've some camping, and some bike trips, but never camped off the bike.

 

[LPG]

Mayyyyyybe. Depending on how I go for time & energy. I know I'll be pushing past



Coming soon! Side case racks will arrive this week, then will pick up some saddle bags. Soon after will be first time test run for camping off the bike. I've some camping, and some bike trips, but never camped off the bike.

Awesome. Ive done heaps of pushbike touring/camping trips and bought a motorbike years ago thinking that it would be manageable to fit trips in on weekends if I had a motor as I transitioned from a Uni student with big blocks of holidays to full-time work. It didn't work out that way and the bike was sold to get a MTB instead but the one trip I did to buy the bike was awesome. I rode about 700km from central NSW to Sydney via minor roads on a DRZ400 with a hiking bag strapped to the back 2 days after getting my L license. I gave myself 3 days so I wasn't pushing it too much and had a good time. I never got another trip in and realised that riding the MTB was easier to fit with everyday life.

My only tip (which comes more from a pushbike point of view but is probably valid) is spend more time on the minor roads. Highways don't give you the real feel of a place which is why you ride a bike.

 

[Dales Cannon]

Injune is on the edge of Carnarvon national Park. Are you staying at @Minlak place in Bundy?

 

[crash3]

My only tip (which comes more from a pushbike point of view but is probably valid) is spend more time on the minor roads. Highways don't give you the real feel of a place which is why you ride a bike.

This is definitely my plan. The sights are nicer and the roads are more fun when you're not on a freeway.

Injune is on the edge of Carnarvon national Park. Are you staying at @Minlak place in Bundy?

Sounds like there'll be some decent roads around Injune then. If he lives at the distillery then maybe haha

 

[Stredda]

I did a trip with my wife many moons ago from Townsville to Tassie and back. From memory we took 8 days in each direction and similar to you went down the coast one way and more inland in the other. We didn't camp, just found cheap accommodation at pubs and motels and we didn't do much more than 500km per day as we wanted to have a look around as we went.
I had written my CBR600 off a few weeks before we went so, I had to ride our old Suzuki Across 250 and my wife rode her CBR600. The little old Across did a great job and I traded it in at Brisbane on the way back up to Townsville on a YZF600.
We did some day stops along the way like whale watching at Harvey Bay, Philip Island GP to watch Mick Doohan win his 5th title, then a wedding in Tassie and the Indy cars in Surfers. It was an epic trip!
We just had all our stuff in our Gearsack bags, I had a Rivit Rain suit that was handy when it got cold a few times. Bought out day's worth of food at the supermarkets along the way and kept it fairly low budget.
We found some of the big highways boring and I nearly nodded off a few times, so that's something to think about. Keeping on the more twisty back roads was way more enjoyable to ride.

 

[crash3]

I did a trip with my wife many moons ago from Townsville to Tassie and back. From memory we took 8 days in each direction and similar to you went down the coast one way and more inland in the other. We didn't camp, just found cheap accommodation at pubs and motels and we didn't do much more than 500km per day as we wanted to have a look around as we went.
I had written my CBR600 off a few weeks before we went so, I had to ride our old Suzuki Across 250 and my wife rode her CBR600. The little old Across did a great job and I traded it in at Brisbane on the way back up to Townsville on a YZF600.
We did some day stops along the way like whale watching at Harvey Bay, Philip Island GP to watch Mick Doohan win his 5th title, then a wedding in Tassie and the Indy cars in Surfers. It was an epic trip!
We just had all our stuff in our Gearsack bags, I had a Rivit Rain suit that was handy when it got cold a few times. Bought out day's worth of food at the supermarkets along the way and kept it fairly low budget.
We found some of the big highways boring and I nearly nodded off a few times, so that's something to think about. Keeping on the more twisty back roads was way more enjoyable to ride.

Bloody hell, an across 250 over those k's is an effort, well done.
I do also have rain covers for jacket and pants, along with some bright yellow silicone shoe covers, so I can hopefully keep as dry as possible.

Definitely, definitely keeping to back roads where possible. Why see the country if it's flying past from a freeway?

 

[tubby74]

I had to ride our old Suzuki Across 250

didnt those things rev to around 18,000? and you did how long on the highway?

 

[crash3]

didnt those things rev to around 18,000? and you did how long on the highway?

Yeah they do, I nearly bought one last year but I got there too late. I love those Japanese 250cc four cylinders, what a concept for a motorcycle.

 

[Oddjob]

Not relevant to you but there is some great off road riding near Barrington tops and through the Hunter into Wiseman's ferry. There are some great B roads around Tamworth though.

I would recommend: chain lube, puncture kit, steering damper, Kaoko cruise control, Andy strapz.

Sent from my M2012K11AG using Tapatalk

 

[oldcorollas]

if you don't have cruise already, these are magic and worth every penny and farthing.. (have one on my CBthou)

Cruise Control for Yamaha XSR900 TBW to 2021

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[silentbutdeadly]

W

Hi all

I know there's some other motorcyclists on here, and I'm keen for some opinions.

So I've decided I'm finally going to do the trip I've been dreaming about for a few years now - riding from the family home in Tomerong (just outside of Jervis Bay, NSW) to the family holiday home in Port Douglas, QLD during our next family trip.

I'll be making a round trip of it, inland on the way up and down the coast on the way back.
I've allowed approx 700km per day, planning to camp at main towns with the one person swag, carrying minimal luggage in side cases including camp stove etc (the wife will take a few more clothes for me in her suitcase when she flies up).

I'm riding my '18 XSR900, so fuel range I've found to be maxed out at 280-300 km, hence why I've planned my stops so rigidly at 250k's. Will also carry a small external fuel canister to get me an extra 50 or so kays if needed. This fuel range also means that fuel stops should be around the 2 hr mark when I should be having a break anyway.

Previous large trips have been 5ish hours, 500km a day, which were no trouble at all. I've also bought an Airhawk seat cushion to help with comfort too, and a summer mesh jacket, as I'll be doing FNQ in February, among other things.

So, I won't bore you all with my exact packing list (as I've not completely finished yet), but tell me your thoughts. Am I too ambitious for my first large solo trip? Any places I should see on the way? Any places to avoid?

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We drove most of that way on our trip to the Atherton Tablelands a couple of years ago. It's not very exciting. In fact, I'm convinced that most of western Queensland is intentionally dull so as to make it less of an issue to cover it in cattle or just dig it up. There are, of course, some fantastic spots. Unfortunately, they are few and far between.

We started driving back along the coast but the Bruce isn't much better and we bailed at Innisfail for the hills (amazing roads) before dropping back into Townsville then bailing again to ditch Rockhampton...and stayed inner west till Toowoomba then bailed west for home.

The drive is easy enough but not the feature that I thought it might be unless you are seriously into the ecology of an otherwise monotonous landscape.

 

[Dales Cannon]

Couple of thoughts on camping locations:

Injune - ride the extra 60km and stay in Carnarvon. Takarakka is decent with facilities.
Mt Coolon - ride to Eungella and camp there unless you have a spot at Coolon already sorted. I am not sure the road is ok for bikes. The back run to Collinsville is probably a no.
Bundaberg - pick Woodgate, Elliot Heads, Bargara or Mon Repos in lieu of township Bundy.

As for fuel at Yandina the BPs just south near the Nambour / Maroochydore exit are typically cheaper fuel than in town and less off the highway though the Shell at Wild Horse Mountain / Johnstone Rd has decent coffee and a place to sit.

 

[crash3]

Couple of thoughts on camping locations:
Injune - ride the extra 60km and stay in Carnarvon. Takarakka is decent with facilities.
Mt Coolon - ride to Eungella and camp there unless you have a spot at Coolon already sorted. I am not sure the road is ok for bikes. The back run to Collinsville is probably a no.
Bundaberg - pick Woodgate, Elliot Heads, Bargara or Mon Repos in lieu of township Bundy.

As for fuel at Yandina the BPs just south near the Nambour / Maroochydore exit are typically cheaper fuel than in town and less off the highway though the Shell at Wild Horse Mountain / Johnstone Rd has decent coffee and a place to sit.

Some pro tips in there
Thanks DC

 

[Stredda]

didnt those things rev to around 18,000? and you did how long on the highway?

Only 16,500RPM the CBR250 would do 18k!

 

[Minlak]

Only 16,500RPM the CBR250 would do 18k!

I fucking love CBR250's -
Non motorbike person - OMG how fast is that guy going listen to that!!!
Bike person - mmm he is about to hit 40kms/hr any second now

 

[Stredda]

I fucking love CBR250's -
Non motorbike person - OMG how fast is that guy going listen to that!!!
Bike person - mmm he is about to hit 40kms/hr any second now

Yeah, you sound like you are absolutely flying but you might only be doing 60KPH lol

 

[dancaseyimages]

Also pack some roll on deodorant (just for pit and lunch stops) and t shirts that are decent/good and breathable, nothing worse than feeling super sweaty day after day on the bike.
I've done a few trips with people and they can clear out a pub in the hotter months with BO and the Deo is at the bottom of their bag.