Dave Heinemann 🇦🇺One month to go before my biggest motorcycle trip yet! 😁
One week to go before my biggest motorcycle trip yet.
I bought a touring bag that straps to the sissy bar. Now I have more luggage space than ever! I've also added a Sena 60S intercom to my Arai XD-4 helmet.
Not looking forward to the heat though. My route will take me through areas that have recently reached 40°C (104°F), and it isn't even Summer yet. 😬
Day 1 is done and dusted. Just under 500 km (310 mi) in just under 6 hours. Beautiful day for riding, but saw very few other riders about.
Day 2 is done. 518 km (321 mi) in around 6 hrs 40 m.
I'm travelling down the Leichardt Highway. It's mostly straight and would be perfect for cruising if it weren't so bumpy and full of potholes. On the upside, there's been basically no traffic.
Peak temperature of 37°C (98.6°F) was really toasty, but at least the humidity is just 35%.
Best part - I'm getting 4.5 L/100 km (52 mpg) fuel economy - much better than usual.
Day 3 is done! 479 km (298 mi) in a bit over 6 hours.
I almost thought I wouldn't make it to my motel tonight.
You're not gonna believe this, but when I woke up in Goondiwindi QLD this morning, my Harley had fallen over in a sinkhole! 😬
So I woke up yesterday and found my Harley like this.
I saw something black underneath and thought the sump had been punctured, but it was actually a sinkhole that opened up right under the jiffy stand!
Besides scratching up the engine case, it ripped the jiffy stand spring apart, leaving it unable to retract without flopping back down.
But worst of all, the hazard lights turned on and flattened the battery overnight, leaving the bike unable to start.
1/5
I bought roadside assistance from National Motorcycle Alliance just two weeks ago, so that was lucky.
Unluckily, they didn't know how to get to the battery to jump start it because it was buried under the shock and a bunch of cables.
Meanwhile, I called Thomas Lee H-d in Moree, 90 m away, to see if they could fit a new jiffy stand spring, but they wouldn't be able to get one until tomorrow.
This was starting to look like a significant delay to my schedule. 😬
2/5
Thomas Lee Harley-Davidson at least explained how to jump start the Harley: connect postive using a screwdriver to reach the terminal, then connect negative to the frame.
"It's not the right way to do it", they said, but it's the easiest way considering how difficult it is to reach the battery.
And it worked! We got the Harley started, so I zip tied the jiffy stand up, threw on my gear, and hit the road, trying to make up for lost time.
3/5
But I noticed the check engine light was now on, and I was worried maybe the battery wasn't charging and could leave me stranded again.
Thomas Lee Harley-Davidson was on my route, so I dropped by to see if they could check my bike out.
Not only did they check the battery and glue up my torn throttle grip, they also pulled a spring from another bike to install for me... all in under an hour! The engine light was just from being jumpstarted, they figured.
4/5
In the end, I was only delayed a few hours and was able to get back on schedule for my accommodation that night.
Thanks heaps to Thomas Lee Harley-Davidson in Moree. They were awesome.
Here are some photos of a sick custom they had on the floor.
5/5
After getting my Harley fixed up, I made a beeline for my next stopover, Dubbo, New South Wales.
Here's the view from the Newell Highway between Moree and Narrabri, one of my favourite stretches of road. It's straight, in great shape, and the surrounding are flat. You can just sit back, cruise, and enjoy the view.
Mendooran to Dubbo has this 50 km (31 mi) stretch of road that's almost straight if not for the rolling hills.
Day 4 is done.
The Harley has been flawless since Thomas Lee H-D fixed it up. The tyres are getting worn out though, so I'll need to get them replaced at my destination... Melbourne!
Tomorrow is the final 450 km (280 mi) leg of my journey down.
Day 5 is done! After five days and 2,300 km (1,429 mi), I arrived in Melbourne! 🎉
Gotta say, I massively underestimated how bad Melbourne traffic is. It took me an hour to ride 21 km (13 mi). The clutch and rear brake sure got a workout.
More photos to come! I haven't finished posting my photos from the journey down yet.
This is the House of the Gnomes in Alectown NSW, a short ride south of Dubbo.
TwoWheelsInThat's a great photo, mate.
I've ridden that one too. Need to get west again.
Matt Lacey@dHeinemann I miss Aussie roads :(
Nathan Arthur (OLD ACCOUNT)@dHeinemann wow, what an adventure! I’m glad it worked out ok. Great to have people help you like that :)
Gareth@dHeinemann That’s impressive service.
edvansits the things that happen that made your trip an adventure you will remember.
Es sind die Ereignisse, die auf deiner Reise passieren, die dich an das Abenteuer erinnern werden.
@brickflyer Absolutely! It's what I love about road trips. You never know what could happen.
Frau Schattenspiel
Kev Quirk@dHeinemann what are the chances of that?!
@kev It's crazy. Hopefully this is the last time it happens! 🤣
Frank@dHeinemann Wow!?! Glad you can continue, but that is such a freak occurrence! 🤯
@fschaap It's crazy. I'm glad I have crash bars installed, or it'd probably have been a lot worse. 😬
The fuck?!
Glad you going again!
Glad you going again!
Rachel Lawson@dHeinemann weirdly, I’ve actually had this happen to me!
@rachel Sounds like we've both had bad luck. 🤣
I'd love to hear about what happened to you and your bike.
@dHeinemann was in Morocco. Parked it up outside a place I was staying, popped side stand down, leaned over and the ground just broke up. I ended up kinda squashed against the wall and it was all rather hilarious tbh.
Was just a huge hole about an inch below surface.
Was just a huge hole about an inch below surface.
@dHeinemann That sense of space is what I remember best of travelling Australia. Have another great day tomorrow!
@dHeinemann give us an overview of the trip? How many days? Any special destinations? How much distance?
@narthur I'm on a 5-day, 2,300 km (1,430 mi) trip to Melbourne! 😁 It's two whole states away from my home in Queensland. I'll be seeing some concerts, and catching up with family & friends.
@dHeinemann who! Sounds awesome!
@narthur I'm seeing two King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard concerts, then Molchat Doma. Can't wait!
Patrick@dHeinemann nice! But 500 K a day? Out of curiosity as I don’t ride motorcycles: does it hurt to sit afterwards?
@lordkhan A little bit! 🤣 But I have a pretty comfortable seat on my bike, so it's not bad. After relaxing at the motel for an hour, I'm all good. I can do this for days - this is going to be a 5-day trip.
@dHeinemann wonderful! That’s what I love about trips through Australia: you can go those lengths without leaving the country. In Europe I would have already been through 5 countries.
Edit: that’s also a great thing about Europe, don’t get me wrong 😂
@dHeinemann Ooof! Do you have a hydration pack too? Best to keep moving in that heat and drink a lot (obviously). But the trip will be awesome I am sure!
@fschaap No hydration pack, but there's enough room in my panniers for plenty of water. Hydration is important!
Jorijn Schrijvershof@dHeinemann have fun! Share lots of stories and pictures.
@jorijn Absolutely! 😁
Safe trip, lot's of great experiences!
@brickflyer Thanks. I can't wait! 😁
LeeRayl@dHeinemann don’t fall asleep with that sissy bar pad.
Let me know how the S60 is. Thinking of picking up the mesh add on for my Outrush Sena Helmet. Make sure you have a bit to play with the settings.
Arnan@dHeinemann unless you’re sleeping in a tent, you’re bringing too much stuff 😉
Steve West-Fisher@dHeinemann no sissy bar, but in August I got a bag that sits on the back seat and straps down to the frame. Worked out really well for the Green Mountain Rally, and I like the size so much I used it for my luggage on my Thanksgiving trip to my parents.
@dHeinemann where are you headed?
@arnan Last time, I rode down to central New South Wales. This time I'm riding all the way to Victoria, the next state over. 😁