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Rides Events Clubs Groups Karuah River Rally. 9th to 11th February 2018

Discussion in 'Rides and Events - Clubs and Groups' started by Bob Sykes, Jan 16, 2018.

  1. Bob Sykes

    Bob Sykes Well-Known Member

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    I’m thinking of going, a friend of mine suggested it. A no-rush bike trip on a 37 year old 250 single sounds like fun. I haven’t been to a rally for a while. I’ve just got to sort out a few things so I can set off early Friday morning. Anybody else here going?
     
  2. Bob Sykes

    Bob Sykes Well-Known Member

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    After 826kms of stifling heat, thunder, lightning, rain, some dirt roads, good laughs, beers, a cigar or two, nothing fell off, nothing broke and it got me home.


    DSC_0192.JPG DSC_0193.JPG DSC_0195.JPG 15183093645368205383202386688437.jpg
     
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  3. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    Good work there Bob.
    Glad you enjoyed the ride, and arrived home safe. Best way to travel I think.
    How was the rally? Going to do a write up? Been many years since I was last there (early 1980's).
     
  4. Andych

    Andych Moderator Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    Quite a ride on your little CB250RS, especially loaded up like that. Looks like you had a good time.. and its great the CB handled it so well. Great work :thumb_ups:
     
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  5. Jo Verhelst

    Jo Verhelst Forty2 Contributing Member

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    the little cb's are a verry sturdy breed, I use mine as a daily transport almost hole year round, it's always parked outside and get's abused, never misses a beat, easy and cheap in maintenance, i wouldn 't trade it for a newer 250cc, just love the little thing.
     
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  6. Bob Sykes

    Bob Sykes Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Murdo, I will give a few details of the ride for anyone interested. I didn't stay for the whole rally as my friend and myself had family commitments, and it was so hot we timed our trip home to avoid the hotter part of the day. The Frying Pan campsite itself is very nice, about 28kms north of Dungog - most of it dirt, so if you can get your supplies at Dungog before you head out then do it. Going backwards and forwards for supplies can wear you out. There are drop toilets, plenty of shade for campsites. No mobile phone coverage. Still, that's what you go camping for - to get away. Everybody seemed friendly enough, plenty of expensive looking BMW "adventure bikes" around.

    The Trip: After changing the oil the night before I set off from Coffs in the morning and stayed on the Pacific Highway A1 till Nabiac, the longest trip the bike had done with me up to that point was a 60km Bellingen return, so I set a 5500rpm limit until I felt things were settled, I was not the hindrance to traffic I thought I would be and the bike was running beautiful. Pit stop at Port Macquarie Service Centre for coffee ( that is where the 2 clean & loaded pictures were taken ). Headed inland to Gloucester, boy did the temperature go up then! It was in the 40s and I was looking forward to a drink at Gloucester, the engine felt good but mechanical empathy stopped me from asking too much due to the load and heat. It went onto reserve halfway between Nabiac and Gloucester at 266kms travelled, so I had to do another 25kms on reserve! Bad planning on my part I admit seeing as I had no idea of reserve range. As it turned out we made Gloucester with fuel to spare, quick maths at the servo - 291kms @ 10.15 litres used = approx. 80mpg or 28.66kms/litre, so now I know!
    After that recovery stop on to Dungog, meet up with old school mate Rick on his DN01 Honda (two more different bikes you could not find) get the map to the camp site and off we go. Survived the stormy wet Friday night and had a good relaxing time.
    I set off later in the day on the trip home hoping it would be cooler, I checked the oil, sprayed the chain, the bike started easily and we were underway. The curvy road south of Gloucester was a lot of fun and took your mind of any aches and the heat. About 10kms from Nabiac the temperature dropped nicely and the Honda's engine seemed to appreciate it. Back onto the A1 heading north and I knew my fuel range, the temperature had dropped nicely, so I upped my speed because the engine felt so much better. I sat on 6000rpm with spurts up to 6500-7000 now and again, I still had to get home! After a fuel stop at Kempsey Puma Service Centre I cruised on home just before it got dark.
    I probably overpacked, but circumstances dictated I had to get home so I took plenty of spares, tube, chain breaker, chain links, tools, plugs, tyre levers, oil etc. I packed the smaller silver tent you see in the photo, self inflating mattress, sleeping bag, fold up chair, cooker & gas, solar light, small tarp and spare clothes. DSC_0200.JPG DSC_0198.JPG
    We did 826kms (the odo says 822 but the first fuel stop was out of town), the oil top up was 150ml, a good effort for a 37 year old bike, it now deserves a good clean and some money to be spent on it - maybe some random gadget off eeekbay!. Lots of fun. DSC_0202.JPG
     
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  7. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    Thanks Bob, nice write up.
     
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