Toy Run - 2014

That time of year once more......Xmas....really? Already....bah!


Yet again, time for the annual MRA toy run. Get some toys, ride some road, give to kids....done.


An old mate whom I've not seen or ridden with for years was back in town after working interstate, then enlisting. He's keen for a toy run.




Added bonus? He's just bought an Ape. Another Shiver in the ranks.....game on.

We meet at my place and head off to one of the official start points in Port Melbourne. We're early this year so have time to get parked up reasonably well.



All types of bikes gather and gather. A larger turnout than last year, and - as always, VicPol were at the ready for an escort.

We'll take all sorts.....

Without breaking tradition we convoy out of Melbourne to Calder Park Raceway. Meh. It's hot, it''s a freeway - it's not for us......that's why we do it.

Once we arrive, donate some toys - have a wander around then point the bikes home.

The obligatory toy run pin.....to add to the collection.

\BitSar

Another year done.....

15T - Shakedown

It was recently chain and sprocket replacement time - why not opt for a 15T countershaft sprocket eh? Adding a little more immediacy to acceleration and bringing that punchy torque curve a little lower sounded like a great idea to me.......game on.

Living in Australia severely limits choice in terms of aftermarket parts, especially for a Euro bike. The search began. 

I found one Aussie importer - however they could only source rear sprockets for the Ape. My dealer told me it was hard enough for them to get OEM sprockets, let alone third-party alternatives........bah!

After further looking - and reading about other Ape-ists sourcing parts via a UK seller I was in business. Order placed: 1 x AFAM 15T 525 pitch sprocket on the way


A shameless plug is now required - I am a pretty organised kind'a guy (some say, anal-retentive) - so I placed my order well in advance, giving the sprocket plenty of time to arrive.

Then a month went by.........
Then another 2 weeks........hmmm - time to contact the seller.

I purchased from UK seller biketorqueracing - once contacted, the response was immediate.
Adam from BTR provided parcel tracking details and followed up with me within 24 hours. Looked as though the sprocket was en-route and already within Australia.

Then another week went by........nothing

Got back in contact with Adam - he was willing to swallow the loss and send me another part at no cost. I am astounded. What service.

Turns out when I got home from the office that very day the initial order had finally arrived after being held up with border/custom inspection - good news for both me and Adam.

So! Now time to get this part on the Ape and get going.

As a commuter, the 15T provides a brilliantly smooth bottom end. 1st and 2nd gear slow creeping work is an absolute pleasure, no chugging, very little need to feather the clutch. The transition from closed throttle to small roll on when filtering in tight places is significantly better.

When you need to pick up and get your butt out of trouble the acceleration difference is noticeable - albeit manageable.

Commuter approved modification? Check.

But how about the fun stuff.......the weekend blat - when you've got a devil on your shoulder willing you to dance?

Yesterday called for a shakedown blat in the hills - and dance we did. The Ape: 'Au naturel'

On the fast open sweepers - being a little higher in the rev range and with the shorter gearing the throttle action/response has improved - very smooth with better feedback.

Powering out of tight twisties in 1st and 2nd gear will now let the front end skip across the top of the black stuff. Snapping open in 1st as the forks unload will loft the front hoop without too much trouble - much easier than stock........that little devil was having fun.......

The only criticism I would report, minor however still valid, would be long hi-way hauls.

I returned from the hills via the freeway and constant, steady-state ~100 - ~120+ kmh speeds is less comfortable - now hovering around 6k rpm......again - MINOR gripe......but it is worth noting.

Weekend scratcher approved modification? Check.

Obviously my speedo is now out - but meh, I rarely look/care what speed is being reported. I know when to be a saint or a devil.......

All in all, the 15T modification is one of, if not the ultimate, cost effective way to make the Ape more responsive, less chuggy off the bottom and hell of a hoot to ride - now even moreso....

Game on.

\BitSar
Devil on his shoulder willing him to dance.

Another "Not Forgotten"

I've been shit.......really shit in getting Blog pieces organised.

Getting married, moving, changing jobs etc.....Bah! No excuse eh!

There is an overnighter coming shortly.
Plus new Tyres (segue to long, long, long term Pilot Road 3 review)
Plus 15T
Plus further "formal" training.

In short......not forgotten - just getting more and more busy......life huh?

Back soon.
\BitSar

Black Dog RIde - 2014

It's on again - the Annual Black Dog ride to raise money and awareness for Mental Health and Depression........and what better way to help out..........with a motorcycle rally - of course!

On the back of the Chocolate Mill run, some two weeks earlier, the day had come to put that fundraiser moola to good use - and what a cracker ride it was. Approximately 5,000 riders nation wide participated in the Black Dog one-dayer.....with approximately 400 riders on the Victoria leg.....a leg I rode and corner marked for.

Corner marking is a great way to get involved in a large ride such as this - essentially you are in a fast bunch of riders ahead of the main pack - in this case ride leader plus ~10 corner markers ahead of  ~390 participants + TEC.

As the route plays out, large group rides tend to get spaced out quite significantly due to the different skill levels, riding styles, type of bikes involved - this is where corner markers become critically important.

The ride leader will "drop" a corner marker at an intersection or key turn-off of the ride.....your job is to do a funky chicken dance and direct the main bunch through the corner......fair enough........the FUN part is when you are swept up by TEC (tail-end-Charlie).......as a corner marker this means.......GTFO - hammer time back to the group!

The first leg of the ride started in Pakenham - some 60 kms from home......another boring slab was in order.

A riding mate of mine arrived at my place at 8am - we hit the black stuff immediately, engaging "cracking on mode"...........
done and done.

This leg took us out through East Gippsland - it was getting very cold - but the scenery was amazing.......that said, I was happy to be dropped on a corner just before the Inverloch turn-off.....I was frozen, my hands were like blocks of wood - time for a corner marking chicken dance........

The second leg tracked along the coast near Cape Patterson, thankfully the temperature started to rise.



In defrost mode - and having been dropped on a corner I applied liberal use of throttle to catch the main bunch.....fun times..






All said and done - another great run this year. A great turn out for a fantastic cause.
We pulled into Warragul and the ride is over - now I've just got another 120kms to get through before I'm home......

I wrangle up a crew of 3 other experienced riders who are of the same mind, fuel, helmet, GO! We convoy home, making good time.

By 5pm I've got my head out of the lid, I'm on the couch with a beer and some ~400kms complete......and all for charity.......not a bad way to give something back I should think.

The main bunch at the regroup point between leg1 and leg2

Well done to all riders who participated.....see you again next year.....I'll be the one doing the chicken dance on the corners.....

\BitSar

----brakkkkarrrk

Chocolate Run - 2014

Sooooooooo!

It's been ages since I've posted - this is not due to a lack of riding, this is due to a lack of anything resembling free time......bah!

But alas, it's Saturday morning and I have a small window of time to smash out some blog pieces - so here goes.

Sunday 9th of March 2014 was the annual Chocolate Run to the Mt. Franklin Chocolate Mill. This ride is traditionally a fundraiser ride for someone/something within the community.

In the past we've raised money to send an Athlete to the Para Commonwealth Games, donated to families who've had rider down, rider out situations and needed all the help they can get, to this year's run - raising money for the Black Dog Ride for mental health......... a worthy cause indeed and a great excuse to hit the hills with some old riding friends........woot woot.....

We had a good turn-out this year with approximately 40 riders - no larger than last year, in fact maybe slightly smaller......no matter - just ensures the tempo is kept a little higher and ample throttle is the name of the game.

We met off the freeway out west of Melbourne and pointed the bikes north.......get that first boring slab out of the way.

The first regroup at Woodend - take on some fuel, get some lunch, empty the bladder.....continue.....pretty standard issue.





Heading out of Woodend on the way into Daylesford, Hepburn Springs I am near the front of the bunch - Suddenly a frantic sequence of tail-lights flicker from the riders ahead......something's up.....they're all on the anchors......I immediately back off.

As I hit the crest I see the culprit - one very scared, very skittish, juvenile skippy (eastern grey Kangaroo for the international readers).......as EVERY Aussie rider knows, skippys are a dangerous prospect, not only are they a heavy and powerful animal, they also have ZERO road sense or spatial awareness, making them extremely unpredictable.....

This little fella crossed the road through the bunch no less than 3 times before finally somersaulting itself over a wire fence and back off into the bush. Poor little skippy - no Riders or Roos were harmed.

NB** This is not my footage or my bike - this footage belongs to a rider who participated in the Chocolate Run - original link here: youtube
                  This was the first pass the Roo made through the group, you can see it on the left as this rider avoids it. It was closer than it looks - trust me on that one.

Continuing out to the Chocolate Mill the ride played out as expected on our familiar route......we arrive, park the bikes and take a load off.....

A lovely KTM SuperDuke 1290R came along this year.........damn.....I need a towel

The Ape made an appearance

The bikes parked in the shade at the Chocolate Mill

Another good run this year - we raised enough money for the soon to follow Black Dog Ride - but who needs and excuse eh?

\BitSar

--easy now skippy

Mini me......

Couldn't help myself.....

Came across this:

Nice little scale replica to sit on my desk.......

I've been quiet for a while - busy times.....alas - I have some posts almost ready to go...

New boots are being broken it, I have a fund raiser ride tomorrow and the subsequent charity ride in 2 weeks time.....

\Bitsar

**Slack (again) but for good reason.