Pete Weyermayr Honda CBR929 Liz Oliver Honda CBR919
Greg Hales Suzuki TL1000S Dave Ward Yamaha R1
Rob Langer BMW R1150GS Trevor Harris Yamaha FJ1200
Ben Warden Honda CBR929 Giri (1st
ride) Honda VFR750
Darryl Otzen Aprilia Falcon 1000 Mark Easterbrook Ducati 750SS
The Club gathered at the
usual place in Yarra Glen, a few more twins of late giving it a healthier
sound. (Note: this is being written by a Ducati owner.) There were 10 bikes on
a day which was cool, overcast, but thankfully dry. Pete was lead rider and
Trevor Harris rear rider on his FJ1200.
We took off from Yarra Glen
and were soon amongst the twisties heading through Healesville up to Toolangi
and on through to Kinglake. Myers Creek Road wildlife watched as the bikes
paraded past causing some consternation lest Skippy should choose the moment to
bound across the road.
On to Broadford and the
bikes were keeping a pretty steady pace. At Broadford lunch is served, ordered
from the café and consumed on the sidewalk, the sky trying to rain but not
quite making it.
We then departed to Seymour
with the roads a little more open. On reaching Seymour we wound our way through
the town, Liz keeping an eye out for hidden cameras. Soon we were off the
highway and back in the countryside riding on some fairly narrow roads, heading
for Highlands. We were riding beneath towering gums. There was a good
collection of tight and sweeping bends. Unfortunately it was to be the scene of
misadventure for Giri on his recently acquired 750 on his first ride with the
Club.
Approaching a right hand
bend a 4WD ute was a little wide on the unmarked road. I was directly behind
the incident. There was a cloud of dust and, as I went around the corner, I saw
Giri standing next to the remnants of his VFR. I quickly rode back to the
corner and with Trevor, surveyed the scene. The bike had lost its plastic
coating and the rear brake lever was bent awkwardly. After checking Giri was
okay, I set off quickly to find the rest of the troops and inform them of what
had happened. The first corner seemed a long way off but everyone was waiting
there and, after a quick discussion, Ben and Rob went back to assist.
Ben and Trevor taped the
bike back together and Rob straightened the rear brake lever as best he could,
making the bike rideable. Ben, Trevor and Rob then accompanied Giri back to
Seymour and the Hume Highway. Trevor and Rob took the Tallarook exit and headed
back to find the ride while ben continued on down the Hume. Meanwhile the rest
of us rode though some beautiful countryside uneventfully to Yea and Kinglake
West where we stopped for coffee and waited for the arrival of Rob and Trevor.
They arrived a little later and gave us the details of the duct tape repair and
Ben’s chaperone duties. From there we all dispersed to home.
Mark Easterbrook (Ducati 750
SS)
Giri travelled at a steady
80 km/h down the Hume and parked his bike at a friend’s house, ringing me later
in the evening to report his safe arrival and apologise for the inconvenience
he caused. I suggested he consider getting some rider training as he had only
been riding the VFR for a week, stepping up from a 250. He agreed. In the
interim he is off to India for a week to attend a wedding.
The crash caused some considerable soul
searching amongst the Committee members on the ride, as we were concerned about
his well being from the moment he arrived. Various pieces of advice had been
proffered throughout the ride, but youthful exuberance, inexperience and a powerful
machine are a dangerous cocktail. It was amazing he walked away, completely
unmarked –wearing only jeans and runners! …Ed.