Day on the DIRT Newbies - Stromtrooper Forum : Suzuki V-Strom Motorcycle Forums

Tweed-Strom · #1 11-24-2012, 02:25 AM

It was a great day for a few Vstrom riders today and was many thanks to suzystrom for taking the time and putting in the effort to show a few basic skills too a few fellow vstrommers to help them appreciate the offroad capabilities of their bikes.For a few of us that own vstroms riding offroad can be a very difficult and nervous experience often ending in dents and scratches on the bike ,bit of bruising and skin off here and there and the promise of not going to do that again for while.With a little patience and organising from steve c of the gold coast gravel riders it gave a few us the confidence and a few basic skills so going on the dirt was not a hallowing experience.A post was sent out a few weeks ago to groups of riders to attend to a slow mo skills and practice session at a very quiet deadend road in the hinterland We meant at the required place and were shown a few basic offroad riding drills and manoeuvres which could be practiced at home and in the carparks and when the chance arose on some quiet roads (dirt).We got together this morning at the arranged meeting place (tweedstrom,suzystrom,vman,and gottawee plus two other riders on bmw`s gino and martin) bikes fueled and ready.Leaving the macdonalds at nerang at 8.00 from there headed into the hinterland 20 min down the road speed trap steve warned us about them 5 min around the corner pulled over and RBTed.Then on to Tyalgum for coffee and stretch of legs from there was onto Brays Creek road little stop let some air out of the tyres then was on the dirt on Byrell cr road into the Mebbin forest the first few klm`s were a bit of finding and getting comfortable what suited us best when to stand up and when to sit down (with me personally finding out that my bike needs a few minor things added and a adjustment here and there to find that happy medium ).From there we hit a short stretch of bitumen and onto the border ranges and more tracks and some spectacular scenery from there we made our way down the mountain onto a plateau and a little bit faster roads and a few obstacles which were not scripted but teamwork and perseverance paid off and onto town of Kyogle we did go from there we all had some lunch and supported the local community in own little way .The others were going onto, some more spectacular views and camping for the night I unfortunately had to return home for another engagement .Many thanks from myself and probably the others as well to steve c (the other one ) for taking the time out to introduce myself and the others with the basic necessities to do this adventure (well was for me) and leading the ride at such a pace that I did not feel I was pushed to keep up am sure suzystrom will complete day 2 plus pics in the not too distant future .
Many thanks steve

PeteW · #2 11-24-2012, 07:38 PM

You were lucky, when I rode past today they were busy handing out performance awards to a large group of guys on sports bike.

Not a good weekend to be speeding for sure.

Pete

spottedninja · #3 11-25-2012, 03:43 AM

I was told there was a huge group of Vstroms when i arrived at the nerang maccas for the BRC ride.

SuzyVStrom · #4 11-25-2012, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteW

You were lucky ... Pete

Well, not really 'lucky' - rather, prepared. We said at the beginning of the ride that there were often police on that road and that we'd stick to the speed limit. Paid off big time. The first was just over the crest of a hill and the second just around a corner. If we had been 'flying' we would have been caught & done as a group. Big bucks.

As it was, we stuck to the speed limit and had time to admire the country side. Got plenty of faster corners and thrills after we'd left the pavement - and ain't that the wonderful thing about off-road adv riding!

More pics and ride report to follow.

Dansanchez01 · #5 11-25-2012, 06:53 PM

great!

Sent from my iPhone using Motorcycle.com Free App

SuzyVStrom · #6 11-25-2012, 07:27 PM

Hey TweedStrom, tx for the comments. Glad you had a good time.

A few pics.

Gino & Ang (Gotawee) "keep blowing, keep blowing" while Hugh (VMan) looks on.

Gino, Ang and TweedStrom

Martin, Hugh, Ang, Gino, TweedStrom

SuzyVStrom · #7 11-25-2012, 07:32 PM

Ang (Gotawee). By the end of the day she was riding one-handed along the gravel taking photos!

Her PVC tool-tube kept bumping the chain-guard when the suspension bottomed out.
She asked, "How big is the average tool-tube?"
I said, "From what I've seen, mine is definitely bigger than average, but I can't speak for the others."

"Well! It's quite exciting - this dirt stuff!" - TweedStrom (yelling through his helmet)

Errr, a 'clothes-line' pole? Good idea.

Hugh: "Beer time!" Peacock Creek campsite, Richmond Ranges.

gotawee · #8 11-26-2012, 12:41 AM

I'd like to thank Steve for organising this great weekend we have just ventured on and survived

I think it will take a few washes before Sparkles is clean again

I will post some pics when I have gone through them as I have taken a total of 210

and a video but I don't know how to load that it is in some weird format AVCHD Video

it does play through media player on the pc though. If anyone can assist with this that would be great.

It was great to meet up with everybody again and a good time was had by all

Cheers Gotawee