Great Ocean Road Ride

[djump]

Just thought I’d share my latest adventure. 4 Days, 3 Bush Camps and 1827.7K’s of some of the best Aussie Roads.

After getting a couple of extra days off from work I decided 4 days was enough to do the “Great Ocean Road” in Victoria, so I packed up the M and headed off J.

Day one I rode from Adelaide down the South coast, through Mt Gambier and into Victoria. I stopped just past Nelson. Eventually I set up camp by Glenelg River in the National Park.

Day two and within 20 minutes I got a speeding ticket, (Dam Vic Cops), he was trolling for South Aussies coming over the boarder who didn’t drop down from 110 to 100 kph, my speed 109! Anyhow, bugger that ruining my day……to the road (at 100 J). I cruised down the coast to checkout the main event.

The Road from Portland to Warrnambool was pleasant but the really specky stuff starts after Peterborough with the Bay of Islands, the Twelve Apostles etc, and then the good curvy stuff happens as you go inland and hit the Hills to Apollo Bay. Stayed the night in Otway Ranges awaking to my tent being completely frozen!

Day three and I finished the Great Ocean Road through to Lorne. This was by far the best part as your right on the coast with sea spray in the air , just watch the slippery bits and all the international tourists! I headed inland cruising through the back roads of Vic to the Grampians where I spent the last night. (Had to avoid a lot of Roos through this area).

Day four started with a ride through the Curvy roads of the Grampians (I couldn’t believe it but I saw my first ferial Deer here!) with trouble free fun riding and then on to highway for the 400k’s back home.

All up the M was perfect, didn't miss a beat and started easily even on the frozen mornings. Mods that would have made things better; seat comes to mind pretty fast, I’ll look for a local upholsterer as there is no real cost effective option available. The last 300k’s really killed my right arm, might look for something to use for holding the throttle open, or even better does someone have and use an electronic cruise control?

Cheers all

[jpwM50]

What a beautiful ride, nice scenery. Too bad about the speeding ticket, that's pretty sad, 9kph over, what's that maybe 4mph? for the US guys.

[RicoChet]

Beautiful!

[RedFifty]

Nice Photos! I'll have to add Australia to my list of places I have to visit.
-Red

[Peekaboo]

Sweeeeeeeeeeetttt!!!!

[djump]

Thanks Guys, glad you like the shots. This was truely a great ride, even if I was a bit sore today

For those that like the visuals here are some more shots

Cheers

[Ext1jdh]

Gorgeous shots.

I'm using a cheapo throttle lock I grabbed from cruisercustomizing. I wouldnt recommend it, but if you're in need of something like that spend the money and get a brakeaway.

[big ears]

Great memories of Apollo Bay and Cape Otway. Online tourists should look at The Great Ocean Road Home Page & Australian Motorcycle Tours Great Ocean Road Motorcycle Tour
Look out for desiel spills in winter though!

[Clint]

Sounds like a good ride. I'm using a palm rest and a fat o-ring on my throttle. It worked very well, but the best thing is just getting your muscles in shape.

[djump]

Cheers again Guy's, this was also a good ride for trying out everything for my trip to Philip Island for the the Aussie GP in September.

I wonder who else on this Forum will be there

Ext1jhd, what is a brakeaway? and Rowdy, is the palm rest the type that comes with the ISO grips?

[blackie1491]

Great pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[Ext1jdh]

Brakeaway is a throttle lock that attaches to the brake lever as well. When you grab the lever it releases the lock. It's a bit pricey though
BrakeAway Motorcycle Cruise Control

[Toolboy]

Hey Djump,

Thats my old stopping ground, being an ex Geelong Boy, if the surf was bad then i rode my Katana to Apollo Bay an back...lol.. i just about lived down that coast, now i live in the outback and pine for the ocean and that road,,waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[big ears]

Hey TB, at least in the Territory you can wind the bike up to top speed legally!

[djump]

Thanks Ext1jhd, that may be just what I need, not cheap as you mentioned but it may be worth it, looks like a nice piece of engineering. $189US at:

BrakeAway Products Motorcycle Cruise Control for Suzuki Boulevard M50

Thats about $260AU+freight

Hi there Toolboy, glad to bring back some memories Trust me there where plenty of local riders out and about enjoying the day when I went through.

OK last shots, I promise (They take to long to up load with my dial up!)

[Ext1jdh]

Call me Joe, its a lot easier than ext1jdh. Yeah the throttle lock makes a heck of a difference. Its not necessarily safe, but when you get on those long straight open roads it helps quite a bit.

[djump]

Done, thanks again Joe

[djump]

Well I was looking at the breakaway product and wondering where to get another $240AUS and my flat mate pulled this out of his cupboard

I put it on with a few modifications (was for 7/8 handle bar and the bar had to be shortened) and you ripper. I have no idea what its called but it has M.E. Supervista written on it.

Tried it out yesterday and it'll work great for my 3000k trip coming up next month when I cruise to Phillip Island and then on to Sydney via the East coast

[mike79]

that forest must have been pretty sweet to ride through

[MrvanH]

I have the same cruise control, and flipped it over so that the part with the set screws was over the end of the grip. It gave me some extra room on the throttle. Just throwing it out there...Great pics by the way!