1400gtr.id.au

First long ride on the GTR. I had done a coupe of 3-400 k day rides. First long, motorcycle ride, for some considerable time in fact! 

I have kept an eye on the weather all week. It's obvious just being cold is also turning into rain, by the time Friday comes around. Oh well! Wet trip! No work friday so I clean the GTR, check the tyres and fluids. I spend a little time learning how to put the liners in my DryRider jacket and finally succeed. (It's a new one). The thermal under gear is selected and checked.

I have been fiddling with "Base Camp" (Garmin software) on the MAC and have made a route to Mitchell with a couple of waypoints and fuel stops marked. The Zumo 220 is about to get its weather/water certifications verified on this run.

The LOG entries "Are You Carrying" and "Let there be light" show that I have been doing a little preparation. A comfort adjustment, with handlebar risers has improved my riding comfort as well. I sort out and install the RAM mounts for the GPS and Camera. I take the camera one off and store it in the top case. The camera is not waterproof. The panniers are on. A final visual and the GTR is ready to go.

The helmet (a Shark Evo) gets a clean, the visor a clean and polish. Gloves, boots and Draggin's are ready to go. I add in an extra pair of socks. The neck warmer and the silk balaclava are checked and found okay. After a bit of a search and "mutterings" to self, I finally locate my "kidney belt"and now, I am prepared.

A "kindy nap", a evening shop (my other half is busy this weekend as well) an early "turn in" for a few more hours sleep and I am up and about a little before 0100hrs. Earlier than I had planned, but the weather has encouraged me to give myself extra time. Better early than too late to register. I plan to be successful at my first go!

At around 0130hrs I have "flashed"my Caltex Fuel Card (it came with the bike), taken a bowser shot and my ride begins.

It's raining. Left onto the Gateway Arterial - ROADWORKS - for kilometres. Finally, at Eight Mile Plains, the roadworks go away and the GTR and I start to settle in. It's still wet and of course raining, the DryRider and liners are holding up fine. The silk balaclava is keeping my head warm. The WET's over pants are going fine and my feet and hands are still dry. I give the heated grips switch a nudge to low and shortly feel a pleasant warmth, seeping into the gloves and my hands. This is my third motorcycle with heated grips. Nice! Nice! Nice!

The Motorway makes access to the Warrego Highway and travel towards Toowoomba uneventful. Rain continues. The heavies are out and about of course. Rounding up a B-Double or two on the dual lanes is easily achieved, apart from the near drowning experience of their road-spray. A small right wrist movement and the GTR has eased by with not even a flinch as the long wheelbase and good aerodynamics, keep it steady and firmly in touch with the road surface.

I am finally getting to experience the Phillip's X-treme headlight globes I replaced the originals with. The GTR has good lights even in standard form. The X-stremes are whiter (a little hotter, being 4100k, than the standard bulbs). The rain and now developing mist and fog make any real assessment impossible. I am happy with the spread and depth so far.

As I get closer to Toowoomba it is apparent that there is a defect in my preparation and an issue with the SHARK helmet in the wet. I find myself stopping on numerous occasions to address fogged glasses, fogged visor and water running down the inside of the visor, despite it being fully closed. I discover that the now damp micro-fibre cloth is excellent for cleaning and requires no other cleaning liquids. That's good because all there is is water and there is a bloody lot of that. Oh! and fog and mist. That's water anyhow. This problem is so bad that I find myself having to stop again and again, for "water/fog clearing". BUGGER! This is costing me a lot of time. Just as well I left early. I get a little annoyed at myself. I carried a "MontiChristo" stick for years to address this issue. Too late for "spit" and I don't having any washing up detergent.

Finally and at LONG LAST I reach Toowoomba. Presenting itself in its usual early AM winter garb of a "Peasouper" I "grope" my way to the Mobil at the top of the range. I discover some exorbitantly priced Rainex on the shelves and order a bite to eat and a "Cuppa". Liberal applications of Rainex are applied to glasses and visor.. Small amounts say the instructions. I prefer a little more and good vigerous polish. Trouble is my cloth is damp, the instructions recommend a dry cloth. Really! It's raining and foggy and I am on a motorcycle. A dry cloth!!!!! The instructions do say that it can be removed with water!!! For heavens sake.......I know. I should not read instructions. BUT I DO.

Fuel at the bowser and a walk in the rain with my helmet off to pay for the fuel. How can you not have a covered walkway from the bowsers to the shop in a place like Toowoomba? You can freeze, cook or drown in this place, depending on the time of the year. BUGGER!... double BUGGER! its well after 0400hrs. Plenty of time. The GPS is nattering away in my ear (bluetooth) and I am following its instructions. Visibility is poor due to fog and rain. Hang on is that the Toowoomba Hospital? That is definitely the Mobil service station I left a little while ago! The Zumo's taken me on a tour of Toowoomba! No it's not fatigue! I have an innate trust in technology and I was concentrating on the road due to the poor conditions. I take navigation control and head off in the right direction. After a few k's the Zumo decides that I was right and all is well in the tech front.

Toowoomba is behind and it's out towards Oakey. Still raining but the temperatures up a degree and the fog has disappeared. The fogging issue is manageable. A little traffic is around as the locals start their commutes and also there is the late morning "getting home after a night out" with the associated risk of 'Drinking and Driving". Careful is the word. A stop at the Oakey turnoff for a visor glasses clean and then on to Jondaryan and beyond. A few kilometres out of Jondaryan the "beyond" bit comes to a halt as I do a U turn and proceed back towards a motorcycle well off the road, with two persons walking around it. As I stop on the roadside I realise that there has been an accident. The motorcycle, a GoldWing, is much worse for wear. At least the two people are walking around. The bike gear is a little tattered and torn though. Surprise!Surprise! Not a pleasant one, although it is a relief to see every body walking around. It is a good mate of mine and his wife. Thankfully they are okay. They were off for the ride as well. A couple of other motorcycles make a U turn and stop. More riders....Good to see. Mates wife needs a little first aid to a lower leg injury (no break) and in due course the ambulance, police and tow truck arrives. 

The Police Officer has pleasantly done his duty (getting called out at early AM cannot be pleasant, particularly in this weather), the Ambo's have had a look at the leg and the towy says everything will be fine. The Ambo's depart with mate and wife. Time to be off. I know have the FarRide bits and pieces and log sheets. A couple of hours or so has passed. Mitchell before 1100 hrs.

Still quite wet, I settle in for the cruise. Having fuelled at Toowoomba, it's Chinchilla for a splash as I left the GTR idling on the side of the road with the hazards on for some time. A splash at the Caltex with a cheery hello and a flash of the fuel card. Visor and glasses clean with a comfort stop. Give the K rider a wave as he returns for fuel having passed as I was refuelling. There are bikes around now. The planned FarRider invasion of Mitchell is occurring. The rains stopping. Bloody wonderful! Is that the sun?....A cruise into Mitchell on the usual poor Queensland excuse for a highway. Glad I spent some time sorting the suspension on the GTR. It behaves well on this, rough old highway.

Lots of motorcycles. Lots of motorcyclists. This is the place. Into the Motel to have a chat with the Manager and staff. Sort out the table they have kindly set aside for the ride registration. A announcement to the gathering that the team leader has been involved in a accident. All is well though and I will be performing the log in duties.  I get a helping hand and all goes well for the 30 minute log in window.

Eat and socialise. Great atmosphere. Good conversation. The common denominator being motorcycles and the ride. Good stuff. I don't stay long. A bit of chat with a few, an announcement or two and I leave. First need is some dry socks. That attended to I am off to the local Caltex...all that pre paid fuel.....clean the headlight, taillights,indicators, visor and glasses. The suns out. Bit of a cool breeze with occasional gusts though.

I am an hour out and its a lunch/fatigue issue. I only had a small lunch. The second plate of soup, more roles and the Pav and fruit salad....well....deal with the issue. Roadside layby a walk...a energy bar or two and good drink of water...much better. The GTR awaits. Poor thing really is dirty. No sunday only rides for "Come by Chance". The real world is to be its experience.

Onwards. Suns down and Dalby brings with it much traffic and a splash at the Caltex. Mix of heavies and sunday drives. Work the traffic and maintain the average. The Zumo indicates an early evening arrival. Toowoomba and no need for fuel. Down the range. A four wheel "tryer" or two, but I stay relaxed and enjoy the fact that it is still not raining. Heated grips are up about half and the hands are nice and warm. The dry sox are doing their job as well. The GTR and I are feeling comfortable. A good cruise on the divided highway into Brisbane. My fellow motorists behave reasonably well. I stay alert, aware that it's been a long day and that there is a fatigue factor to manage.

The journey to residence is all divided and motorway. The bikes registered for tolls, so no issues. Into the drive. Swing the leg off in the shed and the GTR goes easily onto the centre stand. Idles smoothly with a soft rumble from the "Leo Vince". Engine off. Have a stretch. Put the shark in open face mode and inside to say hello.

Good ride. I look forward to my next distance ride.

Edited 23/10/10 to address Trade Mark issues. Comments are disabled for this page.