Ron Johnston – Rider Profile April 2004

Hi Ron,

I am thinking of doing some rider profiles for the magazine and you seem to have led an interesting life. I wonder if you can answer a few questions, ideally before the next magazine. The questions are off the top of my head. Feel free to expand or answer the question I should have asked! Of course you don’t have to answer any question that you may consider private.

Ben Warden, Editor

Where were you born, date of birth, how many brothers and sisters, when did you come to Australia, why, etc.

I was born 21/10/1955 in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand. I have a sister, Ann, who is seven years older than me. When I was 13 years old I was told that I was adopted. It wasn’t until 1993/94 that I found out that I had 3 half brothers and 2 half sisters. I was the first born. From 1985 to1987 I used to work for the New Zealand Electricity Department. I arrived in Australia on 4th January, 1988. We decided to come to Australia because of Government restructuring and there probably wouldn’t have been a job for me. I came over to Australia for better work prospects and for my kids.

You are now a grandfather. Tell us about your family.

I was divorced in 1991 and led a single life there for a short time. I met Julie through the “Single Life” Magazine in October 1992. We became engaged in March 1993 and married on September 11, 1994. Kelly, the eldest of my children, is 22 this August. She has a little boy, Keon, 9 months. Daniel is 20 and is working as a mechanic in Dandenong and lives in Cranbourne. Alister lives in Lilydale and turned 18 on the 30^th April.

You recently renovated the kitchen, and replaced all the external storm water pipes and built an excellent Colour bond fence for you and your neighbour. What is your latest project?

That’s right. A Colorbond fence is the way to go. We pulled down the side fence Melbourne Cup Weekend and I put up the new fence myself to save money. The back fence was replaced Christmas 2000. We installed an IXL Tastic in the bathroom. There are plans in a couple of years to renovate the bathroom and toilet. In the latter part of 2003 we bought a shower unit, vanity unit and toilet unit. They are stored in boxes in the back room of our house. A big plus was the “Rinnai Hot Water System” which only uses gas as you use the water.

What was your first bike and how old were you?

My first bike was a Honda Z50 Mini Trail when I was 19. I got my bike licence in 1974.

How many bikes have you had, what was the best, worst, most interesting, etc

To date I have owned 22 bikes: 17 in NZ and 5 in Australia. Each bike had its own merit. When I lived at Lake Tekapo on the South Island, which is in the high country, 2500 thousand feet above sea level, my XL 250 RC pro-link was a good all rounder. It was good on the road and quite capable off road as well. At the time, late 70’s - early 80’s, my Honda 400/4 seemed a good road bike. I have owned 5 of them: 2 in NZ and 3 in Oz. I must have a soft spot for them.

The Suzuki GSF 1200 Bandit is quite a good bike for touring, two up, or chasing people on sports bikes. It might be a handful, but I manage alright.

I can’t say I have had a worst bike, but an interesting one was my 1974 Indian 125, two stroke, made in Taiwan under licence from the Indian Motor Cycle Company of America. It was temperamental to start but it used to go like a shower of shit when it did. The tank was candy apple red with a white ‘Indian’ transfer on the tank. It had a red top seat with white sides. The engine was a 5 speed with a square slide DeLorto carb using an inch and a quarter throat. Drum brakes, wire wheels and upswept pipe completed the package.

What happened to each bike, how many kms, traded, crashed, sold, etc.

Most of the bikes were traded, except a couple, which were sold. I probably didn’t do a lot of kilometres owing to the frequency I turned the bikes over. My former brother-in-law got run off the road on my FT 400 Honda, but the bike was repaired.

What is your dream bike and why?

There are lots of bikes out there so it is difficult to choose. The Britten stands out in my mind. I’ve got the Britten video at home on how John built it. The video follows his trials and tribulations, with footage of races at Daytona and the Isle of Man. It has achieved countless records. I have the seen a bike at the Te Papa Museum in Wellington NZ. The bike has a lot of potential and is innovative in design and technology. I know there aren’t many of them around, but it would be nice to have one, even if it was only parked in my shed. But why park it when you can ride it? Dreams are free, they are yours, and nobody can take them away from you.

You have had some expensive crashes recently. What other crashes have you had? Any injuries?

The only other crash I have had was in 1981. I was riding 2 up (with Joanne, my ex) with a pack from Christchurch to Golden Bay, (South Island) on my 400/4. It was an 8 hour ride and we had done 7½ hours. We came up behind an early Escort with no stop lights that was doing a right turn. The Escort had stopped a couple of car lengths back from the intersection to put his indicator on. It was too late to stop when I realised what was happening. All I could do was ride around the outside of him. Unfortunately, the left hand fork leg clipped the rear bumper and jack knifed the front wheel. The pair us became members of the 1^st Airborne Division. We ended up about 30 feet from point of impact. Talk about a knock on the head! We both walked away, but I had to get the bike picked up on a trailer because the front brake was locked on. So apart from falling off trail bikes, on the dirt, I haven’t had any other accidents.

What and where are your favourite roads?

Favourite roads. Good question! It all depends on which part of the state you are riding on at the time. Favourite local roads include Gladysdale to Noojee and some of the roads in Gippsland. On the other side of town, Whittlesea to Yea and Strath Creek to Broadford. If we move over to Mansfield and Whitfield, then we have the roads in the Alpine region, Myrtleford, Bright, Tallangatta. Hotham to Omeo is a great road because I can use the 1200 to its full potential with those long wide, winding roads with big sweepers. There are other roads too numerous to mention, but if you are a biker who can forget the Reefton and Black Spurs; they are written in the bikers Bible as a must see item or else!

List some of the best times, places or people you have met while riding?

Best times…the one time that stands out in my mind, was a couple of years ago when Rob Langer did a ride and we came back through Yea to Kinglake West. After leaving Yea, I was riding along, minding my own business and being passed by everybody else. It wasn’t until we got to Junction Hill that I snapped out of it and hit the gas, passed a few people on the way up and over the hill and caught up to Rob. As we passed a group of people that were not on our ride, one of the riders was on an R1 and he gave chase. That day, I literally rode the wheels off the Bandit. I was chasing Rob and the R1 was chasing me. Every time the bloke on the R1 got a sniff of my exhaust, I just went down a gear and left him in my dust. Bruce Saville knows the person, and said he was an accomplished rider. I bumped into him sometime later, and he told me that he had been riding to the best of his ability and could not catch us. To add insult to injury, he told his mates that he had been beaten by a bloke on a BMW as well.

I have met different people in different places, some were interesting, some were not, but that cuts both ways. It’s always good to go somewhere where you haven’t been before or get there via a different route.

When did you join the Club? What bike were you on? How did you find out about the Club?

I joined the Club in May 1995 and I had the 400/4. I had picked up an itinerary from a bike shop! Without checking the records I think my first ride with the Club was over the Reefton. It may have been raining, if not, the roads were wet and I fell off the bike. The tyres were TT100s: hard as hell, and probably original fitment. I damaged the new exhaust, pushed in the points cover, broke the mirror and damaged my pride, but other than that it was rideable and we carried on to wherever we were going.

Who were the people who stuck in your mind and why?

Danny Kosinski. The man with that VFR 750. A testament to Honda’s engineering and Danny’s ability to keep it going.

You joined the Club, according the records, on the 19^th May 1995, and are coming up for 9 years. And you have recently joined the Committee. What is it about the Club that keeps you coming back for more?

It’s good to ride with people you know: a group of people who enjoy riding bikes, who get out there and ride. I enjoy the mateship. There is nothing worse than riding somewhere on your own; you can’t share the enjoyment, compare notes on roads etc.

What have been some of the best (and worst) rides with the Club? What incidents have you been involved in?

Most of the rides are pretty good, sure we have a few hiccups along the way, but that goes with any thing and it all comes down to what you make of it.

What would you say to a new rider starting out today? What are some of the pitfalls, benefits?

Before you buy a bike, what do you want to do - on road or off road or both? Decide from there. Firstly, how much are you going to spend? Look at a broad range of bikes within that price range, make a list and go and check them out. Road bikes: sit on them and make sure your feet are flat on the ground and that you feel comfortable. It’s no good sitting on a bike but only keeping it upright with tippy toes; that’s an accident waiting to happen before you start. Trail bikes are a little different but the principle is the same, when you find a model you like, go and test ride a few of them until you find one that suits you.

When starting out you have to keep your wits about you, give yourself plenty of room, and watch for people in cars, because they can have a habit of pulling out in front of you, lane changing, and of not noticing motorcyclists. In the wet be very careful: avoid white lines and tram tracks. Also, when riding you not only need to think for yourself, but the people behind and both sides of you. Always look for a way out in case of an accident, and most important, BE PREPARED. Leave nothing to chance, and you will be surprised at how much better you will be.

When you’ve learnt to ride properly the benefits are enormous: wind in your hair, bugs in your teeth, (just kidding). Real benefits are the freedom of riding a motorcycle, enjoying the fresh air, not surrounded by bodywork, getting a mean lean in the corners and not getting stuck in traffic jams. Just be sensible and stay upright.

Anything else?

These are the bikes I had owned over the years since 1974: Honda Z50A, Honda ST90 x 2, Honda MT250 Elsinore, Suzuki DS80, Honda C50 Step Thru, 1974 Indian 125, Honda RS250, Honda CL 175 Twin, Honda FT400, Honda CB 250 RS, Honda XL 250 RC, Honda CB400/4 x 5, 92 Honda CB750 Retro, 96 Suzuki GSF 1200 (Bandit). And another 4 I can’t remember.

In 1995 I came off my 400/4 on the Reefton Spur.  Bike rideable, no injuries.

In 2003, April 25^th came off the Bandit GOR at Lorne. Trailer job, no injuries.

In 2003 Dec 21 I came off the Bandit on the Powelltown - Noojee road. Trailer job. Injured right hand, tore skin on left fore arm. 

Over the years I have been involved in quite a few bike recoveries, both mine and other members’ bikes.

Thanks Ron.