A Random Ride Pics Thread.... Post 'em up!

[grog]

Couple of good lookin roosters, well done on meet up

[Globalrider]

Great photo @Notty. Was it cold there ? I noticed you both have puffer jackets on 🥶🥶

Our winter (nearly) here - the wind has a bit of a bite to it! Up to LHR today the back to VCR 18th (non-stop flight) - must get out on the 1400 before the insurance runs of on 4th November, then she goes to sleep for the bassmonkey weather.
Great meeting Notty (and better half) yesterday - we'll be back in the Spring to tell more stories! Cheers!

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Nor really a random ride, as we'd been planning it for a week or so.

Took the Bride and my Bavarian Mistress out for the weekend for a run down south. 

Was the Brides first long trip as a pillion and I must say, she took to it like a duck to water.  We took all the back roads for a leisurely run with the overnight destination being Margaret River, in the heart of WA's wine growing region. Perfect weather, 26-27 deg C and clear blue skies.

First day was from home to Serpentine, to Pinjarra to Harvey, then on to Brunswick before a lunch stop in Bridgetown.  Then the valley run to Nannup and onto MR in the afternoon.

Dinner in MR and a nice bottle of red, the next day breakfast in Cowamarup, then onto Gracetown, Yallingup and Dunsborough, before lunch stop in Busselton, before the cruise home.

Rolled into the drive at 5:30pm Sunday a bit tired but happy.

Bike ran flawlessly, fully loaded no issue, trip computer showing 5.3l/100km and we covered over 500km.

The Bride said she enjoyed it and was looking forward to the next trip.

[KiwiCol]

My bike is currently on a "random ride" but I'm not. 

The story:  My brother & 2 of his mates (and their wives) started a round the South Island roady last Saturday, I met up with them on day 1 at Berlins & rode through the gorge with them, the 2 mates & their wives carried on towards their overnight stop at Punakaiki (about 45-50 min south of here) while my brother & wife came round home for a visit & catch up.

We hadn't been home long & they got a call to say one of the riders were down (he was fine though) & the bike is busted, coolant hose punctured & leaking, throttle cable snapped & indicators busted and do I have a trailer?
They said they were about 15 min past the turn off & I figured they'd probably be between Big Totara river & Little Totara river (which is exactly where they were) So we get there with the trailer, load up the bike & I take it back home.  I offer my bike as a replacement for them to continue their trip, they say they'll go on to the hotel and consider their options.

Later that night I get a call and they will accept the offer of the bike, but don't know how they'll get it back to me, I said well I'd quite like it back here and not left hundreds of k's away, so they worked on a new plan.

I was a bit concerned for them & the bike because the guy who came off is only used to a DL650 & my bro rides a 900 Thruxton, both significantly lighter and less power than the GSX, and I know they tend to swap bikes on rides like this. 
I had a talk to the bike before they arrived to collect it & told it what was happening & asked how it felt about it, it was excited & promised to behave & look after the newbies, so I set about readying it for the trip for them.

Next day my bro arrived as pillion on his mates GSA, he's going to ride my bike and Greg will ride his. They collected my bike & headed off back to the hotel to collect the others and continue their trip for the day to Fox Glacier.

I thought during the day yesterday where they'd be and wondered how they were getting on.  Just after teatime I get a pic of the bike and my brother at Fox Glacier Hotel.  He has the silliest grin on his face I've ever seen! which I recognised straight away, that's the GSX1400 grin!! & I knew what sort of day he'd had.
I know now he'll have a great trip, and so will the bike.

All going to plan, I should have it back (in 1 piece) next Saturday.

[grog]

Youre a very trusting/generous bloke Col.

[Kiwifruit]

That's a great spot I love Punakaiki, lovely ride along that coast.
Did you give them the quick one or the blue one Col 

[KiwiCol]

Some pic's of the bikes solo journey thus far.

First stop away from home, Fox Glacier accommodation


Makarora, after going through Haast Pass. (Dave Barmy will know this place / route)


Rooms at Alexandra, 2nd night away from home.



There's just a subtle subconscious shift in these pics, first one has the wee 900 Thruxton (his bike) to the fore, but subsequent shots he's got the GSX to the fore!   I reckon there's a subtle mindshift going on there as I know he's liking the power and the ride in general. He might move to a muscle bike.

[KiwiCol]

last night the bike spent the night at Tekapo, awoke this morning to -1 and a dusting of snow & frost. Bugger riding in that, but they're heading off to Hanmer, where the expected high is just 6 degrees!    They're going to be damn cold by the time they get there, if they get there as the road is closed from Waipara to Hanmer at the moment. 4½ - 5 hours of freezing riding, yeah nah, think I'd be delaying for a day.

[GSXKING]

Is this normal or has global warming changed the weather 🙀🙀

HOW DARE YOU 🥸

[Globalrider]

No such thing a climate change or global warming - its just cyclic! 

[Kiwifruit]

The dinosaurs were warned about global warming and they took no notice. They continued driving their cars, flying around the world having expensive holidays, they didn't even try to stop farting. Just look what happened to them. If they could've payed a Carbon tax they'd still be here.

[KiwiCol]

Those temps were 'out of the blue' for this time of year.  Down this way we say 'no frosts after Labour weekend' and garden planting begins.  We had a slight frost this morning at home in Westport, hope the tomatoes survived.

They made it to Hanmer yesterday as the road re-opened before they got there, but unfortunately the bike was dropped on arrival. Some scuffing to the engine covers & bars.  Haven't seen it in person yet, but hoping to be able to buff it out?     His leg didn't work as expected when he went to put his feet down when he stopped & he & the bike fell over.  I know how it happened, they'd have been so cold the body freezes up, had it myself at times, so I understand how / why it happened, it's still a shame that it did.
It's due back home to me about 11am today, so I'll get a look at the 'carnage' then. She'll be due a wash n oil change too . . .

[GSXKING]

Oh dear 🙀
I hope he and the bike aren't too bad.
You're very generous in lending the bike in the first place 🥇

[Hooli]

Oh bugger, hope there's not much damage.

[KiwiCol]

The bike is all good, only minor scuffing on the generator cover & the bar end weight, I think the tank was saved by the body underneath it!! 
I'll set about cleaning her back up, as she's a very dirty girl at the mo, Hooli would be proud . . . 
He had a great time on the bike and said it was a great touring bike, better than his Thruxton & the seat was comfortable all day.  So, pleased they had a great week away & covered approx 2500km's.