Circumnavigation of Oz

chrisk said:
Ha, I?m trying to remember what happened to that trailer, towed really good.

Road is sealed all the way to Cooktown and almost to Cape Tribulation.
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At that time of year you could easily ride all the way up the coast (via Cape Trib & the Daintree) to Cooktown. Would be surprised if you managed to get the tyres dirty let alone wet..
 
How much dirt are you planning on? Why not fit touring oriented tyres? A 4.10 semi dirt rear won't last long on those abrasive roads, and any tyre will be wearing very square, not many corners once you leave the east coast, and not many on the main highways either.
If you can fit it in, heading further north from Townsville, you can take any of the roads up to the escarpment either the Palmerston to Millaa. Gillies to Atherton, Kuranda Range or the Rex to Mt Molloy and head out west towards Normanton and come in at Cloncurry to the main artery. A smaller road unlikely to have radar cars, and for me more interesting.  https://drivenorthwestqld.com.au/themed-drives/north-west-loop/
If you plan using a tent sometimes or relying on accommodation all the way will also have a say in where you can plan your stops. A faster trip would mean not planning on having food and cooking stuff with you which is more luggage and time.
I am sure plenty on here know of great places to stop that aren't that well known. It will also be pretty bloody cold at night at that time of year even up north.
Are you planning on doing this ride solo?
 
Vince said:
At that time it all wasn't bitumen and that was when there was a gap of approx 350 to 400ks between fuel stops somewhere in northern WA. Sometime in the late 70s early 80s, this was happening.
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I did it in the late 70s and there was almost 600 km of dirt between Broome and Port Hedland. And I don't mean nice firmly packed gravel. It was mostly loose sand, bulldust and occasional massive mud holes. I did most of that distance in first or second gear. Some of it paddling along with my feet to hold the bike up in seemingly bottomless bulldust that went on for mile after mile. Not much fun on a Kawasaki Z1 with road tyres, a load of luggage and a girlfriend on the back. It took a couple of days and nearly broke me physically and mentally.

You might need to carry extra fuel on that stretch. Sandfire Roadhouse is in the middle and it's nearly 300km to the next fuel in either direction.
 
All pretty open at the moment Tippie, early planning stages.  My cousin Ross was keen, but now we are starting to plan it, he is getting cold feet.  So might be solo.  Camping is an option, but cooking food, hmmm. 
 
Thanks Cam, there seems to be another couple of stops there now looking on google maps.  You can see the dotted line down the middle of the road, not sure its dirt now.  Good point about the road versus the off road/ adventure touring tyres.  Maybe better to go with road tyres.
 
Lee lived above Millaa Millaa lookout for a few decades so knows the Tablelands intimately. Lost count of the number of times you've ridden the Gillies, n'est ce pas, bruder?!

I agree about the non-need for off-road tyres. I rode the SF1 on road tyres from Darwin to Perth in 1975, but was offered a lift on that stretch from Broome to Port Hedland by a bunch of geologists heading south before the wet.

I rode the Halls Creek to Fitzroy Crossing dirt (290km) - it was bone dry and I loved it, fanging along at a nice clip but having to flatten it in some of the bulldust sections when I'd feel a potentially nasty weave setting in ... probably coming out the other side at 140+! Only way to handle it though. The guys in the trucks drove it pretty hard and to me the dirt looked similar to what I'd already ridden.

I've heard it's a nightmare once wet (as you discovered Cam). Also being on the brilliant dirt-handling SF  :D  helped c/w battling with a pillion and a fully laden Z1!! I can still feel your pain, Cam - some residual damage there!!  :o. It's all sealed now, so it's all just history.

Bear in mind that an SF should give a much better range on a tank than a triple. I never carried extra fuel anywhere from Melbourne to Cairns, Darwin, Broome and south then over the Nullarbor.

Trip sounds awesome, Marty - wish I could join you!! Why is your cuz chickening out??!!!
 
Meant to comment on the donor bike, Marty. I take it that even after doing that to the front end the mighty SF frame was still straight? Bars look similar in height to the original excellent Euro touring bars that SFs came with - maybe a little wider?

Don't reckon you'll need to extra ground clearance you're building in, Marty, but if it means you can lower the pegs for your long legs it could be a good idea.
 
Piranha Brother 2 said:
Don't reckon you'll need to extra ground clearance you're building in, Marty, but if it means you can lower the pegs for your long legs it could be a good idea.
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Perhaps it would be a good idea to wear roller skates Marty. Then you can stretch your legs and rest your feet on the road.  :D

Seriously though, a set of forward mounted footrests like the Harley boys use can be a welcome relief while sitting for hours in the saddle. Being able to stretch your legs out for a little while is almost as good as stopping for a rest.
 
Yes the frame took a hit when Dave smashed  it, but they are built like the harbour bridge. Just fitted the new headstock bearings, front doesn?t show any ovality, not like my 3c after it?s prang.

Footpeg height is the issue, I?m building in an extra inch on the seat, and with the Sfc 2-1 I can drop the pegs. Might look at the setup of the rear brake laver today.

I watch others ride along with their feet dangling and not touching the ground, not for me that trick. Roller skates eh? 
 
If you're on long dirt bits I don't think it matters much what tyres your bike is running, No1 they close the road and there are big fines if you get caught especially if your ripping it up in a 4 wheel drive and No2 the mud builds up and stops you real quick. Smart people just don't move if it's wet
 
martymoose said:
Good point about the road versus the off road/ adventure touring tyres.  Maybe better to go with road tyres.
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Dunlop K70s are what I'd call a good 'compromise' tyre. Used these on my TR6R 650 Tiger when touring around the western USA a few years back: good grip and mileage over a fair mixture of sealed/non sealed roads and forest tracks...
 
I?m bored, and am thinking of taking a bike for a few days spin to clear some half stale fuel through.

I was thinking SA but borders are closed again ....... so, maybe I?ll ride up and see what all the fuss is about the Gillies. Up for a couple of days blurt Shajota?
 
chrisk said:
I?m bored, and am thinking of taking a bike for a few days spin to clear some half stale fuel through.

I was thinking SA but borders are closed again ....... so, maybe I?ll ride up and see what all the fuss is about the Gillies. Up for a couple of days blurt Shajota?
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(Just seen this) Always up for a ride, if you are serious Chris.
Of course I am 1,100kms closer so easy for me :D
It is also the wet season so you will get wet, but riding in the rain in the North is just par for the course this time of year. (rains warm, dry quick). The only issue is if the monsoon really came down and roads started to be blocked.
Depends how soon you are thinking, probably get away with it before normal issues a bit deeper into summer. (Had a quick squiz at long range forecasts) 
 
Mate, I see a low, possibility of it turning into a cyclone...... dunno if I?m that game. Might head for Longreach or similar. I need to get out and kill some miles though.
 
chrisk said:
Mate, I see a low, possibility of it turning into a cyclone...... dunno if I?m that game. Might head for Longreach or similar. I need to get out and kill some miles though.
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Low pressure troughs are normal monsoon activity, no significant lows around just yet. (Of course can change quickly)
A Western run hey. Thought you Southerners didn't like the heat :o :D
Let me know what you decide, ya never know, Longreach is only 800 odd kms from here.
 
Exactly right Jim. But you can keep those lows.
The last time we had one of those 950 lows around here the result wasn't pretty :(
Edit - Sorry Marty (But Chris K started it ;))
 
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