Reserve.........

Finally!

I got out for a good ride with some friends on Saturday..........great day out - covered just over 250kms...nothing too big..

We met at my place around 9am and hit the coastal road towards the Mornington Peninsula......stopping in Mornington for caffeine, regroup and to meet with another mate and his brand new Husqvarna Nuda 900R.....

We had a group of 6, on 5 bikes - one pillion on the GSXR1000, the Nuda, the Duc, my Ape and a Kwaka =D.................game on!


From Mornington we took off down the esplanade road which tacks along the cliff-side, over Mt Martha and into Safety Beach.


From here we hit Arthur's seat for a couple of runs up and down......myself and the Nuda riding off the front, having a play and really using that low down torque to drive out of the corners........nice indeed.



The day continued down to Shoreham and Flinders, over Red Hill, then into Cape Shank and back out to Balnarring - the Nuda pilot......who lives in this area......found us some very nice twisty roads to play on - albeit with a few potholes......still fun and fast.....



At Balnarring we decided to call it a day and start our way back to Melbourne CBD........the Kwaka rider takes the lead back to the Freeway.....before heading off the nominal question is asked..."Fuel?".............nah! She'll be right......we all decline the offer......


RESERVE!

By the time we hit the Freeway my low fuel indicator blinks on.....no problem.......it comes on very early, it's not until the ODO starts the count up of kilometres travelled on reserve until you get worried........oh shit.....I look down......3.5kms counting up.....great!

Riding past the leader I point to my tank and give him one of these to signify I am running low on fuel.....

Reserve count now at ~25kms......I'm getting the yips.....


I have heard that Shivers have about 50kms on reserve.....but I don't want to find out the hard way.....especially not on the Monash Freeway inbound....


By the Toorak Rd off ramp I am sweating bullets.....I chicken out and take the exit......I know there is a BP about 2kms from this exit which has sweet, sweet fuel...........35kms on reserve....and counting

Looking at my fuel readings I am not expecting to be near empty:

Total distance travelled = 252.0kms












Average fuel consumption over distance ~ 5.0L/100kms
(just under, 4.9)


Now - the Shiv has a 15L tank, so if I am using ~5L per 100kms and have clocked up ~250kms I should have about 2.5L to spare......so why on reserve so early!?


The fuel amount at the bowser tells a different story.......I squeeze in 12.98L with tank topped off.....to be honest....probably slightly overfilled......at least the fuel readings are somewhat accurate!




The moral of the story? 
Never say no to a fuel-up offer........AND the reserve reading on the Shiver is like an over-anxious back seat driver.......a nuisance which breaks your concentration but is hard to ignore......

\BitSar




EDIT.................

Vision of the hill climb from the Kwaka.............the Gixxer is in front of the camera.....then the Ape + Nuda....the rest is history :D

--> This guy can handle that little Ninjette eh! Gold!

Slack

A post for post sake.......in a way.

It's been busy times of late with work and life etc......other than commuting and minimal weekend blats my riding has suffered.......bummer.

I've got a "long term review" in the pipes for the Michelin PR3's coming so stay tuned on that one.

Other than that - thanks for reading guys and gals.......there is more riding to be done - some overnighters are also planned - see how the Ape goes with some light touring.

FYI - still loving the bike.............she's a good egg.

\BitSar

Jinxed............

A couple of weeks ago I headed down to the old stomping ground and a bit of practice.......

I love these guys and gals........the best people.......

As it happens I got talking to a good friend about bikes, as you do, and for some reason we go onto indicators.........

He rides a lovely black on black 2012 Triumph Street Triple R......a magnificent looking thing......turns out (pun intended) that the indicators are identical to those on the Ape....and the Ducs.....and the Ape APRC RSV's....etc...etc.....

They have been known to fail on the expansion section between the mount and the indicator housing.......

On the day myself and my mate were discussing the "known issue" - my reply......."Nah mate....no problem with mine.......thanks for the heads up though"

JINXED

Got off the bike the following Monday at work and realised I had a broken indicator stalk...........indicator itself still works......

All under warranty and the dealer is being very good about it so no love lost.......

And hey.........mate (you know who you are)......I've got a spare globe now!

Good times indeed..

\BitSar 

Rain Mode

I was watching the radar closely last night while sitting at the office...............bloody hell.............a nice fat band of rain on the way.....

I thought I'd pick a gap and try to get home...............I didn't have my wet gear today......this morning was hot and sunny......but you know Melbourne.......very unstable weather.

Turns out I left at precisely the WRONG moment......my gap had become a large sweeping front of rain, wind and lightning which obediently followed me all the way home.....

I don't actually mind riding in the rain.......the only thing I don't like about it is it makes the bike bloody filthy. 

In the past I used to avoid riding in the rain like the plague.....these days I just select "Rain Mode".........both on bike and in mind.........relax and get on with it. 

After riding in bad conditions over the years you learn to adjust your style accordingly.......cornering with less lean angle......using more engine braking and less active braking.........increasing your buffer from all four corners.....being SMOOTH.......all techniques which will help to keep the rubber road side down......

Riding in the rain isn't all the bad.......just select Rain Mode ---> Both on Bike and in Mind.

\BitSar

--Dried out now.......last night I swear I thought I was a Duck.......

Toy Run - 2012

Each year the MRA in association with the Salvos organise a Toy Run charity ride..................
Each year I ride and bring a Toy donation for needy kids and their families..........a good excuse for a ride eh?

***

The guys met at my place for a Man's breakfast whilst we got the bikes ready and strapped on the tail-bags full with our gifts.....................almost like Ye'old St.Nick with his sleigh and sack...........although, I think our rides have just a little more horsepower...........

We headed to the official meet point in Port Melbourne where hundreds of bikes were congregating......all manner of decorations and costumes........riders really do have big hearts.....

As the Port meet point is an official start location it attracts a large amount of riders making travelling in convoy quite difficult...............VicPol get involved and help to get the bikes out to Calder park safely.................they even let us through against Red lights....shepherd us onto the Tulla Freeway without having to wait........and.......turn a blind eye to some of our Mods...........thanks boys!

We arrived at Calder park Raceway.........

Once at Calder park we give our Toys......talk to vendors and see the displays.......

Each year there are Stunt and Trials riders who amaze the crowd...........but that's not the reason why we do it......this ride is for the kids........but hey.....a little rider-entertainment can't hurt eh?

Thanks for the ride fellas......

\BitSar

Caramel

Work has been pretty dismal of late.......

I'm not complaining per'se........I still have a job.......but morale is at an all time low..........

It has officially been Summer for 7 days now.......that's an entire week! Shhhhh don't tell the weather Man......it's been bloody cold..................well - until today

SO! What would an avid Motorcyclist do after a week full of Corporate and Unionised bullshit on a warm Summer night?

Put the hammer down...............of course.......

The sky was Caramel........

Remember........no matter how things first seem........there is always Motorcycling.......

\BitSar

Anti-SMIDSY campaign

Unfortunately I had a great SMIDSY this morning...............I can't believe how some people react when they've committed the SMIDSY sin......

I was waiting to turn right through a busy CBD intersection, I had a large queue of cars behind me also wanting to turn right.......

The on-coming traffic was very heavy, so much so that the intersection was barely clear........

The lights turn from green to amber......I creep forward, stand the bike up and balance her through rear brake, throttle and clutch manipulation......rocking, rocking, rocking.....

I see a woman in a Silver Astra hatchback entering the intersection.......no intention of stopping......I'm still balancing and edging forward VERY slowly as I rock the bike......I catch her eye to eye.......she SMILES!? and waves......the lights turn from amber to red......the bonnet lifts......she's on the gas...........slams on through intersection.....running the red.......

Shaking my head and thinking what hope do we have I continue my LEGAL turn through the intersection......live to fight, and ride, another day.......

What really gets me about this is the driver attitude........She clearly saw me and had time to smile and wave.....as if to say "I know, I'm sorry I'm performing a potentially deadly manoeuvre..........I'm sorry you might not get home tonight to see the Missus.......but I've REALLY got to make this light.....you understand, right?"

Wrong.......

The silver lining to my rant?..........................Over the last couple of years a prominent Law firm, Maurice Blackburn, have been campaigning against the SMIDSY killer........

Each year I buy a couple of T-Shirts for myself and fellow riding buddies.....all proceeds go to supporting riders and their families with Pro-Bono legal fees etc.......

Maurice Blackburn are also doing a fantastic job with some very simple, effective and meaningful ad instalments in response the recent almost fraudulent TAC campaign.......

C'mon guys........stop the SMIDSY

\BitSar