I have even more respect for these machines after completing a ten day circuit in the South West of WA. My ex Uni mate from Cape Town days and a friend of his are both elec engineers and we know how little feel they can have for things mechanical - don't we??? The one was entrusted with my '85 k75c and the other was only allowed on my DR650....
I rode my '85 RS and mate from Rockingham brought along his late eighties (I think) RT. We were regularly getting fuel consumptions of slightly better than 5litres per 100km with the two '85 models and the only heartsink on the whole tour was due to one FICU PLUG working loose on a particularly bad section of corrugated dirt road approaching a caravan/camp site at a beach east of Albany. Of course I have convinced myself that the clip cannot have been properly engaged....
We treated them (the Germans) to an out an return ride on the wonderfully firm sands of the 22km section of beach between Esperance and Cape Le Grange (I've never seen sea that blue!)
Admittedly - none of the bikes was made to carry much more than the one rider (Franz is a +100kg beer drinking Bavarian and I am the same - though in my case it must be the Boer Wors...)

So come on Gents (and ladies). Why go to Ireland? Come and help me with the job of justifying ownership of five K bikes to my wife of 33 years (coping with the POX VIRUS in the last 3 years has been tough)

So come on Gents (and ladies). Why go to Ireland? Come for the welcome, the genuine Guinness and the Christmas pudding. Come and help me with the job of justifying ownership of five K bikes to my wife of 33 years (coping with the POX VIRUS in the last 3 years has been tough)

Guess what? We might be one of the smaller countries in the world, we might have to be the second biggest natural harbour after Sydney, but we got the worlds longest coastal route and the best welcomes.

So, on yer bike and get movin'! And bring the missus, she will love it. No bike to bring? We will find you one.

http://www.wildatlanticway.com/explore-the-route/#53.495417|-10.183533|7






Do it before you get too old.

rawdonball wrote:
So come on Gents (and ladies). Why go to Ireland? Come and help me with the job of justifying ownership of five K bikes to my wife of 33 years (coping with the POX VIRUS in the last 3 years has been tough)

Your trip sounds wonderful and you make a very generous offer, Rawdonball. I hope you do get some visitors to help you deal with the KPox. I wonder though, is the problem the KPox or the long suffering wife? Can't help you much with the latter!!

The only mistake you made was making it a challenge to the Irish Eccentrics, and duly got a barrel full from Olaf! 

Truth is, the forum connects us all in many fantastic parts of the world (with their own pros and cons) and the opportunity to travel and meet other members is a wonderful thing. If they have spare K bikes, so much the better!

One day, I will get over to Australia and definitely will factor a visit to WA in my plans. After all, none of us are qualified to compare it with a visit to Ireland (or anywhere else), until we've done both!!

Rawdonball

You have a lovely place to ride in there and we surely know the value of nice places. I have to agree that when you have such nice places near you, why travel. You see what we have and some of us don't travel because of it.

I wish Australia and Ireland were closer so we could explore places like the Great Ocean Road.

But the welcome is here for you anyway.

sounds like a great offer there Rawdonball. 
A return flight Sydney to Perth would be a great weekend option for anyone contemplating a ride there.
all you may need is helmet , gloves and jacket as carry on luggage.
a trip across with the sKroll would be ideal.

The Blue of the sea around Esperance and all across that South Coast is really something else.
I remember standing in the headland at Lucky Bay, just east of Esperance, watching 6 humpback wales playing in the sea probably about 500ft below while making their way into the bay.
The time we spent in the SW corner of WA was one of the highlights of our 8 years travelling in a caravan round Oz.

Actually guys (and girls) I think it would be pretty cool to have a sort of share arrangement for like minded people to share our bikes where we live. 

I am happy to loan my K to members when they get to Western Australia.

I truck my bike to the Eastern states of Australia to ride the best roads there and I think it would work to borrow a bike.

Am I dreaming?

rawdonball wrote:I have even more respect for these machines after completing a ten day circuit in the South West of WA. My ex Uni mate from Cape Town days and a friend of his are both elec engineers and we know how little feel they can have for things mechanical - don't we??? The one was entrusted with my '85 k75c and the other was only allowed on my DR650....
I rode my '85 RS and mate from Rockingham brought along his late eighties (I think) RT. We were regularly getting fuel consumptions of slightly better than 5litres per 100km with the two '85 models and the only heartsink on the whole tour was due to one FICU PLUG working loose on a particularly bad section of corrugated dirt road approaching a caravan/camp site at a beach east of Albany. Of course I have convinced myself that the clip cannot have been properly engaged....
We treated them (the Germans) to an out an return ride on the wonderfully firm sands of the 22km section of beach between Esperance and Cape Le Grange (I've never seen sea that blue!)
Admittedly - none of the bikes was made to carry much more than the one rider (Franz is a +100kg beer drinking Bavarian and I am the same - though in my case it must be the Boer Wors...)

So come on Gents (and ladies). Why go to Ireland? Come and help me with the job of justifying ownership of five K bikes to my wife of 33 years (coping with the POX VIRUS in the last 3 years has been tough)

good on you  rawdon ...amazing stuff

Hi Charles, must say - I was on a complete high when I got back to Bunbury. I just love that open wheat belt country - so much SPACE!
My comments about Ireland were mainly an attempt to get a response from Roskko. Actually - I find myself in the same boat as my German mate with the 1150GS is fixing up a '90 model Africa Twin so he can take me riding in Bosnia and I haven't been to Broome yet (in my own State)

I know we can't match the Irish for 'welcomes'!!!

I don't know about that.

I have been very impressed by the welcome to the forum from those 'own under'. It was as Irish as they come.

We are very much looking forward to seeing Rossko over here too.

Have a look at this review of the Wild Atlantic Way. Its very factual and some great comments.

http://www.roadtrooper.com/the-wild-atlantic-way-for-bikers-overview/

How about a similar type of review for some of the Australian routes? I have been reading the comments on the forum and the only issue for us is the distance to get there.

Nice country!

Pity about that grey stuff that never seems to be far from the top of the mountains (there is that blue stuff behind it - right?)

Seems to be as perennial as the "flies" in Oz, but it's these hardships (climatic and other) that make for special people...

adv rider has some stunning ride and travel reports around aussie

can be hard to find specific reports at times

rawdonball wrote:Nice country!

Pity about that grey stuff that never seems to be far from the top of the mountains (there is that blue stuff behind it - right?)

Seems to be as perennial as the "flies" in Oz, but it's these hardships (climatic and other) that make for special people...

We are lucky, flies are not too bad but we get buggers called 'midges' which are probably the same thing and are an Irish form of cannibal/carnivore.

When we get that blue stuff [and it is always there] it makes it all worth it.

In between we just settle for the black stuff .

Truth is that anywhere you have beautiful country it be green it must have some rain and cloud.

Of course the invites still stand!!

rawdonball wrote:.....
So come on Gents (and ladies). Why go to Ireland? Come and help me with the job of justifying ownership of five K bikes to my wife of 33 years (coping with the POX VIRUS in the last 3 years has been tough)

I have fond memories of travelling around that area back in the mid 70s in an old Zephyr. It had no floor in the front which wasn't good when it rained. Hey... I was only 19
I'll get over there sometime in the near future Rawdon but I'll be wanting to get up to the Kimberlies so it will probably be BYOB.

Cheers mate

Kaptain Holister wrote:

rawdonball wrote:.....
So come on Gents (and ladies). Why go to Ireland? Come and help me with the job of justifying ownership of five K bikes to my wife of 33 years (coping with the POX VIRUS in the last 3 years has been tough)

I have fond memories of travelling around that area back in the mid 70s in on an old Zephyr. It had no floor in the front which wasn't good when it rained. Hey... I was only 19
I'll get over there sometime in the near future Rawdon but I'll be wanting to get up to the Kimberlies so it will probably be BYOB.

Cheers mate

This is a bike forum. Tongue in cheek correction that I couldn't resist........I think this is a great thread and surely one wife and 5 Ks is called balance?

Mid 70s for me was a 19 year old on a CB500-4 on those Wild Atlantic Way roads and funny thing in 1975 and 1976 we got 2 consecutive drought summers hat were perfect for wild camping on the many beaches along the way....cured any thought I harboured of travelling far despite being 15 minutes from a ferry to mainland Europe.

it also wasn't good when it rained, the well known Honda life saving wet riding feature would kick in. Metal plug caps would short out bring it back to 3 cylinders.

You only live once and my advice is head west and do that trip and enjoy it, its still Australia, but one can only do those while the body is still in good shape.