Two UK travellers in Oz would like riding buddies
 

Hi

We are heading out to Oz on 20th December 2008 and riding melbourne to perth over 3 weeks on DRZ650's. All our accoms are booked along the way - we would like to ride with like minded people along the way.

Please get in touch if you would lik eto meet up - I have our list of days and places which i can post up later if that would help.

Cheers

Pat

Sounds like a bit of fun. I'm in Melbourne so if you need a spot of accomodation to launch you on the way and a tag along to the border or Adelaide I'll gladly chime in.

It's gonna be hot around that time of year too so prepare yourselves for +30-35 degree days.

Thank you - yeah be good to meet up.

What do you suggest we ride in? Would Biking Jeans (Draggin Jeans) be to hot?

Any advice would be apprecitated.

Thank you

Pat

We rode in Australia in March, as the final destination of our overland-tour. There was a very unusual heat wave (for that time of year) around Adelaide and Melbourne, with daytime temperatures topping at +45 Celsius.

We had no extra space anywhere to put our riding gear, so I did the whole trip with a black leather-suit. Yeah, it was hot - probably wouldve been hot, if I´d ridden naked as well!! The worst problem for me was the feeling of falling asleep while riding in the heat, Im thankful that I didnt. Actually wasnt so bad, when you were moving, only when you stopped if you didnt find shelter immediately, that was a little annoying.

You´ve got to drink (A LOT!), in those conditions you can easily take 1 liter of water at each stop. Also keep in mind you will lose salt, etc., as you sweat, so just plain water all the time isnt the right solution.

But there had been hot conditions on our trip many times before, this couldve been the hottest by numbers, but all in all still didnt feel as intolerable as the humid, tropical heat in Malaysia or Indonesia.

It´ll be a whole different story, if your plan is to head into the more remote regions during the hot season. Thats when you will really need to be able to carry enough water and supplies, or you may end up in serious trouble.

There are fuel stations/roadhouses about 150-200kms apart across the Nullarbor, so not really a problem crossing it on the main road.

Hi Pat

I plan to start my RTW in OZ in either November or December. Would be interested in seeing your route and schedule. You may be going a bit too fast for me though, I plan to spend 4 or 5 months in OZ.

Hot.
 

Yes.

You want vented jacket and pants at that time of year.

Most people learn when they stop to be under shade ...

You know you’re in an Australian Summer When-

The best parking space is determined by shade instead of distance.
Hot water comes out of both taps.
You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.
The temperature drops below 35c and you feel a little chilly.
You discover that in February it only takes two fingers to steer your car.
You discover that you can get sunburnt through your car window.
You develop a fear of metal car door handles.
You break a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30am.
Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, “What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to
death?”
You realise that asphalt has a liquid state.
Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to prevent them from laying hard-boiled eggs.
The cows are giving evaporated milk.
The trees are whistling for the dogs.

Source Nissan 4WD club of S.A.

------------------------------
Use suncream on your nose inside your helmet !! You may even need it on the rest of your face.

I find MX pants to be good in hot weather & basic ones can be purchased quite cheaply. You need some strap-on knee armour to go with them if you want decent protection, but that's cheap too.

Have Fun! We're planning an Oz trip for next year.

Clint

Ok Thank you - i need to rethink what i'm going to wear!

I rode in 44 degree heat in the sahara. Its going to be like that isnt it?

Can anyone tell me a good Motorcross shop in melbourne so i can buy somekit when i get out (save me travelling with it)

Thank you

Pat

Peter Stevens is a good start for gear however I'd be very tempted to buy your gear overseas and ship it over. Aussie sourced gear can get very expensive.

If you'd like I can track down some pricing for you if it would help you make a decision.

I'll PM you some other details.

Hi JustAL

Thank you for your help.

I have full MX gear here in the UK - maybe i should just bring it with me save buying it?

We have a day in melbourne on the sunday 21st December before we get the bikes - can you recomend some places to go?

Thank you

Pat

Julie Horne Photography

Make sure you bring your knee guards. The MX gear should be sweet for the weather as it will be very dry.

A Hydration bladder would be handy to sip with as you ride to keep your fluids up.

My 2c worth.
 

Hi,
Draggin Jeans would be fine. They provide quite a reasonable compromise between protection, and keeping cool, and you can wear them other times without looking too foolish.
Source a decent quality jacket with flow-through mesh panels. The suggestions to buy overseas or check with Peter Stevens in Melbourne were both valid points. ( Welcome to Peter Stevens Motorcycles )
Dri-Rider Rally-X jackets do the job and are not too outrageously priced (find them on special, they are often available discounted). Some people don't like them but mine has served me well. Well suited to dual-purpose riding.
The use of a Camelbak-type backpack makes a big difference in order to stay hydrated whilst riding in the heat. The Rally-X has a pocket in the back for a water bladder but I found using it made the jacket hang back under the weight of the water and annoyed the front of my throat.
Enjoy your ride!
Mick.

Hi thank you all for your advice.

This trip has been booked for 18 months now - we are using 'bikes round Oz'
who have booked all the accom's and bikes.

we just have to ride and navigate.

Hope to meet some of you Oz Riders on the way!

Pat

need to get my post count upto 9 so i can PM. I cant PM people yet! sorry

Number 9 so i can now pm

Riding in the south
 

Don't get to caught up with planning for hot weather at that time of year, it could just as easily be freezing cold and wet. More likely it will be perfect riding weather and if it does get hot then you ride more in the mornings when it is cooler.

Enjoy your trip what ever the weather

good point - thank you

Hi, have fun when you are here, you will have a blast.

On the choice of riding gear, I personally would buy a pair of mesh style pants to go with the jacket. I have had draggin jeans and they get so hot in high 30s temps. When I bought my mesh pants it was so much more cooler :) Same goes for your jacket, make it mesh, they usually come with inbuilt protection, so no worries there.

Your main concern after that should be hydration. I used a camelback but it used to wreck my shoulders and neck muscles. I now have the 3lt bladder placed in my tankbag and use it constantly. An alternative to this is to tie your camelback to the tank and loop around handlebars.

Happy travelling

Cheers
TravellingStrom

what do you mean when you say 'mesh' gear - please can you give me a link to the sort of thing?

Thank you
Pat

Hi Pat

I mean that the actual jacket and pants have areas of mesh cloth to allow air flow, in amongst non mesh material, here is a link to the type of jacket I mean

Dri Rider Air Mesh Jacket

and pants

Do a bit of a google for airmesh pants and jackets, you should find all you need to know. Basically they allow full air flow but have armour protection, most with CE armour. They also have waterproof and thermal liners that zip in/out.

They are designed for road and offroad and offer a bit more protection than motox gear

Cheers
TS

Bike Round Oz Folks.
 

Pat. I am also renting a DR650 from the Bike Round Oz folks for my tour of Australia. It looks like I will be leaving the same day you arrive (Dec 21st). I have been talking with a fellow named Mark. You? He has been more than helpful. Looking forward to meeting him. Decided to do that vice shipping my DL650 over. Price seemed more than reasonable. I arrive on Aug 30th and plan to go all the way around (counter clockwise). I have 4 months so will adjust. A friend is meeting me in Darwin on Oct 8/10th to finish the ride back to Melbourne. I am bringing a Corbin seat for the DR that I won't need at home. Maybe you might want it (especially since two up). What is your route etc.? I am doing the self guided tour thing vice specific stops since with only 4 months I will have to ride a bit longer each day than they plan for their tours. Stay in touch as we progress. It will be here soon! :=)
Rick McDermed direct email rick dott mcd att verizon dott net
www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/rickmcd

Hi Rick

Yes we have been talking with mark as well.

Your corbin seat sounds a must! will it fit the dr650?

We are on a bike each not two up.
plan melbourne to perth following the coast - ruth has the map so i'll get her to put more details up. Shame you're not around when we are - it would be nice to meet up.

Yes stay in touch i'd love to know how you get on.

Cheers

Pat

Check what tank you have, my Corbin is for the IMS 20L tank and there is a different Corbin model that fits the standard tank. I'm guessing if you're going round Australia, you've already upgraded to a larger tank anyway as the original is only 13L.

BTW, I ordered mine from the US as they were about double the price in Australia, same with the larger tank.

The thing to remember about Australia is that we ARE a friendly country.

treat people with respect and a smile, and they will fall over themselves in the rush to help you.

Any where in OZ, dont hesitate to ask for help, we are willing to assist.

Let me know when you in West Oz as I'll see if I can go for a ride with you and show you some cool places over here.

Have bed and shed.....
 

In Perth. Feel welcome. Hey, did any one mention....it's gunna be Really HOT.....
Cheers, Bootlace.

Note,the stops on the Nullabor will refuse to supply water,as they only have rainwater tanks,you will need to buy (very expensive)bottled stuff,don't think it's changed since two yrs ago.

Our trip
 

Hi Pat,

We are flying to Perth and riding to Sydney via Adelaide & Melbourne starting on the 2nd Dec. Although going the other way to you we will keep a look out for you and maybe see you somewhere en route.

John & Anne

Going up the East Coast!
 

Pat. Made it to Melbourne, got the bike and headed out. Rainy and cold in Melbourne so headed north. Made it to the coast at Port Macquery (sp). Have been "riding the beach" so far. Am now in Mooloolaba. Next will be Rainbow beach then Hervy Bay (sp) for a trip out to Fraser Island. Have to be in Darwin on Oct 4th to meet a friend (who also rented from Mark) who will finish ride with me around to Perth Albany then Alice/Uluru then back to Melbourne. You can look in on the trip so far here www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/rickmcd
Rick

Temperature
 

Hay guys,

Plenty of talk about this - couple of hints from a person whose done a heap of stoooopid mid summer Australian desert riding (used to live in Alice Springs, NT and Roxby Downs, SA), now live in Perth...

1. Water (already talked about throughout)
2. Stopping in shade once you hit the Nullarbor (stands for No-Trees) is impossible unless you stop at the service stations - use and abuse there air-con!
3. Cotton is usally a no-no when it comes to outdoors, but it is because of this it is ideal for this type of travelling. Cotton will not retain heat once it is wet (hence you don't want it in the snow as it will 'pull' your body heat away), BUT, 40 degrees celsius at 120km/h with a drenched shirt and the jacket slightly open, you will have aircon...:) This trick got me and my wife from Pt Pirie too Roxby Downs on a 50c day (just). Wet your shirt (if possible) at the sevice stations along the way - they will ask for a donation for the showers.
4. Oil!! Your Oil cooler is going to be working overtime. I have owned DR650s - love them to death, and they have never failed me any conditions - just keep the oil up and fresh.
5. Don't ride at night. Seems like a good idea, until you see the 6 foot kangaroo or 8 foot camel bounding towards you...
6. DO NOT ride in a short sleeved, shorts, t-shirt or anyhting like that. A - we all know how unsafe it is (riding and sun), and B - you will actually be hotter.

Anyway, have driven/ridden all around that area, so if you need any advice, let me know.

Gazza.

Damn your traveling the same sort of time as me but heading the wrong direction :(

Hello

Im starting my six month tour around Australasia this Sunday coming ( 16th ) when i fly out to Melbourne...got a DR600 hired for the next six months.

I have got no set in concrete route or plan, so will be happy to double back on my route and meet up with you when you arrive....Ive also got the bike hired from the same company.

Only thing is, as this is the first stage of a year long trip...im keeping to a budget, so im doing the peasent thing and camping out to keep my costs down.

Hopefully meet up with you soon.

Andy.....im not really called BaldBaBoon

Too hot!
 

Hey Pat,

Everyone seems to be saying that it's too hot to ride around those dates mate. Really mate if you likr yo ride you wont worry about the heat. But yes like they say drink a lot of water! if your pee turns yellow your not drinking enough so just keep pouring it thru you. If your pee is brown then you pretty well buggered mate!

For the day in Melbourne, spend it in the pub mate, as it's apparently too hot for anything else....... Ok enjoy your ride. I eill be riding into Australia in January.

Cheers.

Nah, never too hot to ride in Australia. I've done:

Melbourne - Broken Hill - Alice - Broome - Perth - Adelaid - Melbourne in November, 13,000km in 15 days.

Darwin - Mt Isa - Bourke - Melbourne in December, 5,000kms in 5 days

Melbourne - Bourke - Mt Isa - Cooktown - Brisbane - Melbourne in January, 10,000kms in 4 weeks (yeah, I know it was slow - I had a pillion! :laugh:

Melbourne - Adelaide - Ayers - Rock - Alice - Adelaide - Melbourne (when the Stuart Highway was still dirt) on a Ducati!:cool4: in January. 6,000kms in 8 days.

.... and many more long distance rides during the summer months - including a week long ride through outback NSW every year for the last 10 years over the Xmas break.

Never too hot. :)

Garry from Oz.

In Halls Gap in the Grampians at the moment.....firt time ive seen a blue sky and hot weather since i got here.

Keep an eye on the weather reports for the great ocean road if your doing that, Up until yesterday the weather was 70kph+ winds and rain and rather cold temps....should be warmer before you get here though.

" Cotton is usally a no-no when it comes to outdoors, but it is because of this it is ideal for this type of travelling. Cotton will not retain heat once it is wet (hence you don't want it in the snow as it will 'pull' your body heat away), BUT, 40 degrees celsius at 120km/h with a drenched shirt and the jacket slightly open, you will have aircon...:) This trick got me and my wife from Pt Pirie too Roxby Downs on a 50c day (just). Wet your shirt (if possible) at the sevice stations along the way - they will ask for a donation for the showers. Oil!! Your Oil cooler is going to be working overtime. I have owned DR650s - love them to death, and they have never failed me any conditions - just keep the oil up and fresh.
.. DO NOT ride in a short sleeved, shorts, t-shirt or anyhting like that. A - we all know how unsafe it is (riding and sun), and B - you will actually be hotter.

Anyway, have driven/ridden all around that area, so if you need any advice, let me know.

Gazza.[/QUOTE]

+1 on the above.
keep covered in the heat-thickcotton is gr8-its like being in a tent and not in direct sun/u will get cooked. the reason u dont see bedouins in the desert walking around half naked.sweating is cooling.just drink water/add some sports stuff powders like garorade to the water-for essential salts replinishment.its like $8 in the big supermarkets.
oil-use heavier oil as it breaksdown in heat-like 20w-50 or something.

You want vented jacket and pants at that time of year.