Willy's 2016 Manual AT

Really sweet mods there Willy....love the FL trails, although the deep sand keeps things interesting!

Thanks Wolfe. I'm heading to NC tomorrow to visit my dad & ride some nice trails in Pisgah & The Great Smoky Mountains.

I see you’re an IBA guy...my buddy finished middle of the pack last year on his K1600. That rally is nuts.

Hola Wolfe, I just did the qual ride with a buddy, 1k miles in 24 hrs or less. That gets you a license plate frame you can see in the picture above, a nice little medal and an IBA number you can impress your friends with, if they're the impressible type. That rally is the next level of insanity. I follow the daily posts when they're rolling. Hat tip to your buddy for finishing. That's a real achievement. Many riders in the rally ride Yamaha FJRs. I bought my Feejer with an eye toward running an IB rally some day. I rode this qual ride on my Feejer. It was a fairly easy day I suspect compared to my buddy on his Kawi Ninja.

Here's the route we took - it was a perfect autumn day in CA-NV for it. Our only big mistake was rolling onto PCH late in the ride. We got stuck behind a 35 mph cager for almost 45 miles. But it was nearly a full moon and the light on the surf made this leg memorable.

Nice machine riding resume.

DoubleThumper said:

Nice machine riding resume.

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Thank you sir. That was a long day. The last 100 miles from Ventura to Santa Clarita on CA 126 (bottom of the map above) were a blur. I stood on the pegs of my FJR for almost half of that leg to keep focused. My riding buddy looked a little wiped out at the end. I imagine I did too. But this ante pales when compared to the IBA rally event. Every 2 years these guys hold an 11,000 miles in 11 days (with rest days mixed in) points rally. That ride is a real challenge. Just finishing all 11 days successfully is an accomplishment like surviving H*ll Week at BUDS. It truly is an insane ride.


Let me know if you're ever in the Daytona Beach area and we'll hook up. Cheers my friend.

Now that looks like a fun ride!

Peter Vrednbrg said:

Now that looks like a fun ride!

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It was an awesome ride Pete. it was a long day but very satisfying when all was done.

I feel like such a noob... but I’m working on it. So much to look forward to!

Peter Vred said:

I feel like such a noob... but I’m working on it. So much to look forward to!

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Don't sweat it Pete. It's far easier to ride the harder rides with others who push the envelope as well. We challenge and support each other to reach our collective goal(s). My best recommendation is to find someone to ride with who shares your 2-wheel need to succeed. Wife, friend, office mate, soul mate...it doesn't matter who they are. This ride was not that tough because I had a good riding buddy along.

But you have to get out there and ride. My buddy & I planned this ride for 2 months before we headed out. When the date came around and the weather was perfect, our only mission in life that day was to complete the Saddle Sore 1k ride. That attitude helped us overcome a lot of the discomfort.

Really nice and well sorted ride, Squire

Sled said:

Really nice and well sorted ride, Squire

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Thanks, Sled. I'd love to get down your way someday and ride some of the sights. What could you recommend a Yank try to take on for a 2-wheel adventure? I would think a four or five-day ride built into a 2-week stay. And I'd likely rent a machine instead of trying to ship Ol' Red down and back.

Reach out if you're ever in the Eastern US. I can recommend some glorious scenery and sights.

oops

WeeWilly said:

Thanks, Sled. I'd love to get down your way someday and ride some of the sights. What could you recommend a Yank try to take on for a 2-wheel adventure? I would think a four or five-day ride built into a 2-week stay. And I'd likely rent a machine instead of trying to ship Ol' Red down and back.

Reach out if you're ever in the Eastern US. I can recommend some glorious scenery and sights.

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Hi WeeWilly
May I suggest options. Riding up the coast from Brisbane with the destination being Cape Tribulation passing threw the Daintree forest. 1800km! (one way)
There are many options but the two main reasons for starting off in brissy, is overseas flight connections and hiring a decent bike.
To enjoy and with r&r probably 10/11 days. Or more time if you want to return via inland routes, looking for dirt.

You could connect and fly into cairns and head to Cape Tribulation 202km or just the Daintree in 2 hours, taking time out to explore.
The only thing is doing it on dirt bike out of Carins. But you could go much further north also

Ive never been passed Port Douglas, north of cairns, great accommodation there. (Raddison, Sheration etc) Im told the Daintree wilderness is nice,
bus tours etc from PD, depends what your in too. Say 4 or 5 days in Port D and 1 or 2 Cairns, (doing the Karanda mountain train to hippie town.)

From Brisbane you could also hook into a Black Dog Tour, Usually short 1 to 5 day tours, bail out when you want too.
Or on FB, the SEQ Africa Twin Owners or the Aussie Africa Twin Owners run tours as well.

Another option is going to the Red Centre to a city/town called Alice Springs for the Finke Desert Race, a 2 day event.
Held early in June, Its 2,500km from brisbane. (Dodgin big red roo’s) While your there you have to go to Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock) another 450km.

Time of year is worth considering too. Suggest June to October, our winter and into spring for the above.
Winter temps in Brisbane may get down to 10/12 degrees C, mostly 15 in early mornings by 8am its glorious.
Cairns winter temps 16/18 C early mornings. It only briefly. Im thinking similar to Florida?

If November threw March suits better maybe go south, can recommend Tasmania.
On a bike you could do the Island in 4/5 days. It’s a nice quiet place.

The US dollar goes a long way here.

We (the wife a I) love exploring the south Is of New Zealand, been there 4 or 5 times and going back is soon as where allowed.
Mostly in winter so we hire a tintop. The South Island is a quiet place and not over governed like Oz.

We have been to LA three times and 10 days in Las Vegas, man that place is just great. Six weeks in Michigan and then into Canada and BC.
We have close friends that tell us “ you got to go to New Orleans” saying the music scene is jumping.
Also other friends in Atlanta.
So Florida would be great to see and definitely on the cards!

Anyway make sure you give me plenty of warning I may be able to join in!
Hope this make sense!

Regards Paul Sled

All I can say Wee Willy is you are the man/biker! Nice Africa Twin set up. I only dream about rides like you are doing. My longest day, at 32 yrs old, was 800 miles across US southwest on an 86 Gold Wing Aspencade Sei. The most comfortable gold wing I have ever had. The stock seat was perfect for me. These days the hands start screaming at me and even if i medicate the pain, the loss of feeling is unnerving. The point is you have my respect as an accomplished, passionate rider.