Lake Eppalock                     Sunday 15th  May 2011

Damir Djikic

Honda CBR1000

Cliff Peters

Kawasaki ZX1200R

Misho Zrakic

Honda CBR1000

Jason Wilson

Kawasaki ZX9

Tony Stegmar (rear #1)

Honda CBR1000

Richard Paulson (1st ride)

Kawasaki Versys 650

Paul Southwell

Honda CBR1000

Chris Truong (1st ride)

Kawasaki GPx250

Nigel Oman (1st ride)

Honda CBR1000

Phill Hotschilt

Suzuki GSXR1300

Ron Johnston  (rear #2)

Honda CBF1000

Rob Jones

Suzuki GSXR1000

Collin Lacey (1st ride)

Honda VTR1000

Darryn Hutchinson

Suzuki GSXR1000

Ben Warden  (lead)

Honda CBR954

Duane Rafferty

Suzuki GSXR1000

Pina Garasi

Honda CBR600

Eddie Simonis

Moto Guzzi 1200S

Geoff Jones (rear #3)

Yamaha R1

Marc Marais

Triumph 675

Due to some foolishness around a printing press I have had an  extended Easter break and was not able to lead the Jamison ride on Easter Sunday; thanks to Pierre for stepping up to the plate.

I always enjoy the sounds of Pierre's 1098 including the dry clutch rattle and as the R1 had developed some clutch slip at peak torque revs, I revisited the various forums during my hand mending period and did the PayPal thing and assembled a complete clutch kit. Some reading on the dos and don’ts of removing the clutch damper spring along with its seat and the piece of piano wire that acts as a retainer.   Act in haste as usual and decide to remove said damper system.

Hand use nearly back to normal so on Saturday preceding the ride I remove fairings and clutch cover and begin. Pretty simple really: remove diaphragm spring retainer and spring; remove seven friction plates and six steel plates to expose the wire retainer. Compress the end clips that are inserted into a drilling in the inner clutch hub; remove the wire and another steel clutch plate along with the damper spring and its seat. Remove one more friction plate that has a larger inside diameter to accommodate the damper comes off. The damper is there to soften the clutch take up and the risk of removal is a harsh clutch take up. I guess I will find out soon enough.

Soak the new clutch plates in oil and begin reassembly.   Eight friction plates, all the same inner diameter and seven new steel plates go on as does a new diaphragm spring. Refit the clutch cover. Reconnect and adjust the clutch cable and refit the fairings.  Do a delivery job for Val on the bike to return a pair a reading glasses to Hillside and all seems OK in the clutch department. The real test will be tomorrow's ride.

Cool but no sign of rain. I do the easterly blast to Whittlesea where a very large group gathers for the off. In marquee quantity: nine Hondas, four Kawasakis, four Suzukis, one Moto Guzzi, one Triumph and one Yamaha.

Ben does the pre-ride stuff and reminds us all of the wetness on the run up to Flowerdale. Tony gets the first rear rider gig and we set off. I tuck in behind Ron and enjoy the sweepers, taking note of the regular wet spots. Clutch seems OK but no peak torque revs applied yet.

Corner markers at Flowerdale and then that grouse blast to Strath Creek. A stationery car drops speeds in case its camera equipped. Then on the gas up the twisties to start the run past the Motorcycle Complex and on to Broadford. Roads dry from here but with areas of fine gravel to keep one's mind on the job.

Jason on the ZX9 has a right footrest bracket mysteriously let go and pulls up with a few riders to carry out repairs. Cable ties prove not up to the task so Jason resorts to that famous Aussie fix: fencing wire.  Job done. I still don’t know what he used to get the length of wire required; maybe he carries wire cutters just in case.

Pyalong comes and goes and very soon after we arrive at Lancefield; first stop, fuel, food and talk the talk.  Cliff, Phill and Duane join here.  Ron takes over rear rider duties from Tony.

Up the Bourke and Wills Track, with its suspension testing surface, to Mia Mia.  Then across the historic bridge and into Redesdale. Head north to the Lake Eppalock dam road which continues to meet the McIvor Highway at Knowsley. Drone down to Derrinal, then onto the swoopy run back towards Mia Mia followed by lunch break at Heathcote where a rather spectacular photo is taken by Jason of the assembled twenty bikes. [See new banner on Club web site pages …Ed.] Fuel for some, then down the Northern Highway to Tooborac.  Turn right towards Emu Flat. Clutch testing completed earlier trying to keep ahead of Paul on the section into Heathcote, I let Ron loose and take over rear rider.

Emu Flat to Pyalong also had some gravel. Then a re-run of the Pyalong to Lancefield road.  Paul left here while fuel was taken onboard by others. Some action on the fuel warning light scene. On to Romsey and the blast to Wallan. All in okay with no issues as Eddie had on his last ride.

Thanks Ben for leading and to Ron and Tony for rear riding. Round trip of 345km.

I had a final test run on the way home with Cliff through Darraweit Guim to Bolinda.  Fast roads indeed.



Geoff Jones