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Post by wayne on Aug 24, 2017 18:32:14 GMT -5
Think I'm going to have to start planning my move to live in the US. You guys have some awesome riding adventures there! And big trucks And you don't have "riding adventures" down under? When I did a 2000 kilometer ride there about 10 years ago, I didn't get bored, and really didn't see much of your teeny little country... Just sayin... Best, Thanks for saying Jess but.......... I"ve done 10,000 road miles in the US and similar travelling in Australia. While we have some beautiful sights and some really unique stuff, it's just all SO FAR apart. Uluru (Ayers Rock) is 1000 miles from the closest city and there's pretty much nothing in the way of population centres in between (or anything else). I can see why most of you blokes never really leave the country. Our 7,000 mile tour of your national parks was literally jaw dropping in places. The tangle of geology in the continental divide is just outstanding. I've also flown across, up, down and over all of Australia. Some of it in very small planes where you get the best view. I've done a fair bit in the US as well including LAX-JFK on a blue sky perfect day. On another flight, I'm sorry (for us Aussies) to say I saw more terrain change and far more interesting features SFO to Vegas than I have Sydney to Perth (the latter being around 2,500 miles). However, if you like comparatively empty spaces, empty roads and very few people, our outback is the place for you. Apologies if I've put this up before but have a look at this if you've got 4 spare minutes. No finesse, made for the participants, highlights on a bike trip Syd to Perth ("Mum" is the wife).
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Post by wayne on Aug 24, 2017 18:40:38 GMT -5
Think I'm going to have to start planning my move to live in the US. You guys have some awesome riding adventures there! And big trucks I understand there are trucks the length of a train in Australia? Tim Yes, a very short train, but yes......... .........unless you own a Suzuki Jimny 4wd and are trying to overtake.............then it's a pretty darn long train.
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Post by pmcburney on Aug 24, 2017 20:51:13 GMT -5
In the mining regions of Western Australia, it's not uncommon to see three-trailer road trains towed by a massive prime mover with twin-steer (for braking, apparently).
They don't hang around either - 60+ MPH is the norm on the open road and to pass them in almost any vehicle is fraught with a bit of danger because of their length (up to 176 ft) and the amount of air they displace!
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Post by goandy on Aug 26, 2017 5:23:32 GMT -5
Whilst we have some nice riding on the east coast and down in Tasmania there's not so much where i live in Western Australia. Lots of long straight bits of road with red dirty everywhere. The first couple of times is great but best done in a comfy car with air con and large amounts of steel between you and stupid kangaroos, cows, sheep, weld horses and camels which invariably walk in front of you...
All my trips in America have involved changing scenery and amazing sights...
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Post by don07tncav on Aug 26, 2017 15:46:50 GMT -5
Enjoyed the video. Wonder why shortcuts always turn out like that??
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Post by timpa136 on Sept 3, 2017 16:52:49 GMT -5
I had a great time riding with John and his blog says it better than I ever could. As a highlight of that ride, I asked Suzuki experts Don and Tim to each have a turn riding the GT750 to confirm she's ready for another Alaska trip. Both agreed she is fit as a fiddle, which thrilled us both to no end. There's just a minor gig on the front brake, which, while able to stop me faster than road conditions may warrant (see the posts below), remains a bit spongy. We discussed options for clearing that up.
Swapping bikes gave me an opportunity to have some quality time riding Tim's excellent 1976 Suzuki RE-5. The unique way the power rolls on with the unique rotary engine gave me some concern at first, thinking maybe I'd done something wrong or left the enricher on, but I quickly got used to it and discovered the incredible smoothness of the bike, especially at highway speeds. Some bikes are designed for the track, but this one is built for highways and open spaces. Despite its slightly smaller displacement (versus the Buffalo), the RE-5 happily hums down the road with plenty of torque to hold speed on mountain grades and headwinds. I told Tim I could ride his RE-5 all day long, but eventually we swapped back for the long, chilly night ride back to our lodge in Dayton.Tim Thanks John, I sometimes take for granted how well our bikes compare in comfort, handling, stability, confidence,dependability, driving satisfaction,
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Post by timpa136 on Sept 21, 2017 10:29:02 GMT -5
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Post by timpa136 on Sept 21, 2017 11:07:25 GMT -5
Wayne says.... Yes, a very short train, but yes.........
.........unless you own a Suzuki Jimny 4wd and are trying to overtake.............then it's a pretty darn long train.
Surely you must be referring to the later 4 stroke Samuris, The early 2 stroke Suzukis would get around that in no time.
Tim
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Post by wayne on Sept 21, 2017 17:28:39 GMT -5
I own a moderately modified 1.3 litre Suzuki Jimny. Descended from the 4 stroke Samurai/Sierras. Fabulous off road, but as the journalistic reviews often say, the trouble with a Jimny is the "getting there". Once off road, they're great.
And yes, I've competed against an open top 2 stroke LJ. They're unbeatable. Driver can check placement of ANY wheel by sticking his head over the appropriate corner while still in the driver's seat.
PS Yeah, that ad's pretty impressive.
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Post by don07tncav on Sept 22, 2017 3:16:13 GMT -5
Wonder how stopping the thing went?
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Post by timpa136 on Sept 22, 2017 9:23:38 GMT -5
If you were in an open top 2 stroke LJ. you could just drag your feet.
Tim
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Post by timpa136 on May 24, 2018 10:37:02 GMT -5
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Post by timpa136 on Jul 5, 2018 13:30:32 GMT -5
Happy to report we had a great time as planned. John went on to the artic circle, the GT pulling willingly. I even got to ride it covering my 50th state on a Suzuki excluding Hawaii where we rented a brand X (he-he) Tim
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Post by timpa136 on Jul 11, 2018 9:34:04 GMT -5
I am most happy to report Johns back. Here is a brief clip.
So we finished the tour in grand fashion (last night at 6:30), with no need to "limp" anything but that gross mess inside the right rear turn signal. Even the rear tire could easily have gone another 1,000 miles. Suzi finished STRONG! Me too, for that matter.
EDIT:
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