cape york 2 up?
 

Right following a drunken conversation :oops2: i've agreed to do cape york with a pillion on my standard suspension XT 600, i have quite a lot of gear (55kg including panniers and racks) and the person comming is not exactly light (didnt ask her what she weighed but am guessing 70-75kg ish). I presume the old telegraph road is out but what is the state of the main unsealed road? Has any one done it two up on an xt or similar? Is it just a case of taking a bit more time about it? Or am i totally nuts, need to eat a little humble pie, stop thinking with the second brain and tell the girl that its not happening? Oh and to top it all off i should be leaving Townsville this comming monday morning (15 oct07) so i have to make the decision quick. Please your opinions and thoughts as i dont have a clue.

Thanks George

Bugger, probably a bit late this posting on the 15th, but never mind. :)

If it's not been raining (and the road crews arn't spraying water all over the place), I reckon you'd be able to manage the bypass track fairly easily. You certainly wouldn't want to be setting any speed records, but by taking it fairly steadily I reckon you could make it without too much trouble.

Just watch out for potholes when approaching some of the roadhouses, I cracked the frame on my XT by not spotting a big track-spanning hole in time. :rolleyes2: (and that was one up)

Be aware that if it rains while you're up there, the return trip will be a completely different beast. It only takes a little bit of water and a few road trains, to turn what was semi-reasonable into a quagmire of slippery slippery stuff. :mchappy:

a million thanks and a bottle of whatever you fancy on me
 

no as it turns out there was a few to many drinks last night and am slightly hung over today to say the least :rolleyes2: result is am still in townsville. many thanks for the post, have checked out the web site and you have put my mind at rest. the journey will be steady this time and as it looks like i'll be changing my passport for one with a drop bear on it (am a brit as well) i can always do the good bits in a year or two. turns out that we had roughly the same idea about the extreme points and the rock in the middle, only its going to take me a bit longer than you.

many many thanks George. :clap:

Oh if your still in AU or are comming over here again i owe you several drinks and whatever else i can help you with or even if its just for a ride and a few tales. (i'll be on magnetic island for the next 3 months) i'll pm you with my email.