Hi to all. Just joined after reading a Sparda (VT250) VIN thread. That's the great thing about these forums, so much knowledge only equaled by so many un-knowledgeable. Political correctness - well you can bash that! You'll void your insurance if you do that! - well you can bash that as well! "I wouldn't do it" - then don't! I respect those who keep their opinions to themselves - unless asked - and then I value their opinion! Righto, now that I have alienated some and given a laugh to others let me introduce myself - I am old, I have more years behind me than in front of me and been riding (legally) since the early '80s Have cranked out some big Kms on small bikes the most notable was a CBR250 from Perth to Brisbane in 3 days. Bought the bike unseen over the net, flew to Perth, spend a day servicing, prepping, packing and gone! 4300km or 1430km per day ave. Rode a China Bike through the Desert coz someone reckoned it couldn't be done and it wouldn't last - well it did and it did! 5600km i 8 days from Perth to Brisbane via Great Central Roar, Oodnadatta and Birdsville Tracks. From my Spada posting: We currently have 4000cc's of VT Honda's in various iterations and a VTR1000 that I told my wife was the USA version but made bigger to cart the 'over sized' Americans around - it's worked so far. I was never a Honda fan after the great debacle of CB360 ownership in 1983, totally against Honda from that year forward. Looked at the just released VT250's as I was riding (pushing) 60km each way to work each day and as a youngster had very little coin to drop on one and Honda wanted a premium price - yet another nail in the Honda ownership coffin. Ended up with an XL250S but that's another story. Fast forward 2 generations and I can now afford my 'dream' bike(s) which started with an '83 model then '84, '85, Integra.....well you get the picture V Twin Hondas, have the last of the line VTR250efi which is a great bike. I line them up like little soldiers in the shed then review the lineup with scotch in hand, sometimes polish but mostly scotch - Johnnie Double Black to be precise. The XR250 line (5 of) is reviewed with beer not scotch as I wouldn't insult them with any sort of refinement and the BSA lineup is reviewed with disdain - something to do with the 26TPI AYC (British Cycle Thread) with 55 Degree included thread angle I suspect! The FE is close to my favorite ride especially when the roads are smooth, 9k+ on the tach and bends are tight but I need to preserve this bike for a few more years hence taking the Spada out of the closet, OH, and I'll need to do the carbs, change the oil, filters, coolant, flush the radiator, pop the covers to do the valves, and remove any rat/mice infestation. On reflection life was so much simpler setting the CB360 points and walking a bit! See you on the other side inmates!
I bought a CB360 when I lived in Perth from a guy named Gavin Frizwell. I too had a certain disdain for them based on what I observed in my younger days. I had a RD350 and mates had Kawasaki triples - a 350 and multiple 500s. That 360 in Perth completely changed my mind about the little beasts. Typical of the era they had a bullet proof crankshaft. Not typical of Hondas of the era it had a superb 6-speed gearbox and a big clutch. It ended up with GSXR1100 pistons taking it to 470cc. Gavin was the man at Hurricane Heads and the bike had been his plaything for a number of years. At Wanneroo it gave a big hurryup to the local shop Kawasaki Z500 and a few others. I have often thought about riding some of the more remote parts of Oz.
Hi Mike, I have a soft spot for the Kawasaki brand, my first ever ride was on a 350 2 stroker - what a buzz for a 9 year old! First bike was a KM MC1 90cc that I rode many places (both legally and other) at the age 13, I have 2 awaiting resto in the shed now. I have my original '85 GPZ600R in the shed as well. I have had a look at your creation and quite impressed, always thought the kiwi's were an inventive bunch. Also have 3 KLE500's, 2 in Brisbane 1 in Perth for some big km days as I was prepping for another cross country trip Sep 2021. This one from most westerly point to most easterly point 4 days, no support, no stashing fuel/spares, no help of any kind - the twist is its on an XR250! Maybe this is the one you want to come on? If not, lob into Brisbane and I can russel up a bike for you and some places to go. Any ride is a good ride!
There is a group who do an east west run every so often on Posty bikes, very funny reading. 5 days if I remember rightly but they don't do the French Line in the Simpson Desert. It would be in the top 5 difficult rides in Oz. 530km without fuel, 1200 sand dunes 1/2 billion flies.
I was going to say that was less flies than expected. Love those views over desert or down the deserted road. That's the sort of destination I like, not so much the city/towns, unless they are little interesting outback lots of history sort of places
