Xmas Camp

Thanks to Cliff and Danny who provided their usual fast and efficient tyre changing service. I checked before I left home that Cliff was bringing the tools. Paul Southwell had a new set of race tyres fitted as did Misho. Cliff and Danny swapped an untold number of tyres on their bikes.  They also assisted Ben in the replacement of his speedo internals when it clocked over 100,000 km – but stopped at 99,999 as anticipated.  A complete 954 nose cone dismantling (top fairing, mirrors, blinkers, subframe, instrument panel) was required to get to the back of the instrument panel and hence disconnect it.  Paul Southwell supplied the donor instruments care of his old 954 crash damaged bike (Thanks Paul) and now the speedo only reads 57,000 km.  It took nearly 1.5 hours on the tools to do the swap due to the fiddly nature of the inner and outer fairing panels but the result was excellent. Thanks Cliff and Danny.

Other mechanical work included swapping batteries with Ian’s bike as a semi-conclusive test that the stator had failed, not his battery.  A later voltage test indicated 12.6 V across the terminals, not the expected 14.4 (with motor going) confirming the theory.

I also brought a spare rear wheel for when the rear tyre wore out. The ex-Renzo 4 year old Bridgestone 020 was hard as a rock but with plenty of tread depth I thought ideally suited to the very hot road conditions.  With a very stiff side wall (probably suited to Blackbirds and the like) it slipped and slithered over any road surface irregularities such as ripples mid-corner.  It lasted 2.5 days or just over 1100 km but did give me an advantage on the slippery roads later in the week when I just thought that this behaviour was “normal”!  I practically had to change my riding style when I fitted the Pilot Power shod spare wheel, the grip was so much better.

Sleeping in a tent has its advantages as it cools down very rapidly at night whereas those in cabins or rented houses suffer for much longer, the solid structures holding the heat. With clear skies the temperature plunges after sunset making sleep easy with overnight temperatures down to 12 deg.  Ear plugs are a help as well!

Twenty six people attended the club camp but only 10 people were in tents. Other accommodation modes included a campervan, caravan park cabins, a rented house in Porepunkah and a rented caravan in Bright.  It looks like we will only need two sites under The Willows next year. A deposit has been already placed.

I suffered a heart stopping “moment” on the last 50 km/h right hand corner at the bottom of a long, steep downhill straight heading for Omeo. Trying to avoid a potentially slippery patch at the entrance of the corner I entered too narrow and hence ran wide on the exit. The brain overcame the adrenalin charged fear freezing my movements, forcing more counter steering input, laying the bike over even more extremely. Of course the bike thought nothing of it, nowhere near its limits. That is the beauty of modern bikes; they have more ability than you do and when asked, deliver. Dave thought it was a great laugh.

As many as 10 bikes participated on the day rides making for lots of fun sharing the brilliant roads and scenery.  The one time we didn’t use the Corner Marking system, the ride broke down. From that point, I vowed always to use it, no matter how experienced the riders are.

Ben Warden