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Off Centre Run 2016 Sat Aug 06, 2016 8:17 pm
AL-58
Life time member
I'm leaving tomorrow for Mungerannie. I haven't been to an OCR since '92 at Stonehenge(QLD).
Whats an OCR? Back when the Stuart Highway up the middle of Australia finally got sealed in bitumen, some of the more hardcore (mostly BMW) riders decided that the Centre Rally in Alice Springs was now too easy to get to. So they invented the Off-Centre: somewhere away from the centre, at least 200kms of unsealed roads in any direction, must have beer, food and fuel. This was in the era when BMW riders were the first motorcyclists to traverse the Gunbarrell Hwy unassisted, at that time it was a fairly unmaintained, forgotten road. The first 'OCR' was in Innaminka It's been happening every even year since. The event raises funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and unfortunately many of the riders sometimes need their assistance.
This year at Mungerannie, there has been lots of planning for how to get there and how to come home, but its all gone to shit as many of the roads are closed due to rain. I was hoping to ride the Birdsville Track on the return but it looks like its just too wet.
The sidecar was fully stripped, intention was to replace the motor but that didn't go to plan. So after being stripped and reassembled twice it now has a new clutch, induction system now fully sealed so its idling properly at last. Fresh air filter, replaced clogged radiator, cooling fan running reliably off a switch, new oil sight glass, rear main seal, O-ring and timing case seal replaced, no oil leaks now.
It hasnt had a lot of road time so I am crossing my fingers and hoping a little, theres always some niggling doubt when everything is completed at the last minute.
So packing for me and the dog today. Lets see what I forget
Photos will be posted when I return, there will be more than a few K sidecars out there.
Oh, if your'e wondering where the OCR will be held in 2018, that will be decided next Saturday night. Getting harder every year as more and more outback roads get sealed. It is open to riders of any bikes, not only BMWs, if you know about it that is your invitation. Bikes to be ridden there and home NOT trailered.
You can follow the event here if interested, find out who made it, who didn't etc:
Off Centre Run
Al
Whats an OCR? Back when the Stuart Highway up the middle of Australia finally got sealed in bitumen, some of the more hardcore (mostly BMW) riders decided that the Centre Rally in Alice Springs was now too easy to get to. So they invented the Off-Centre: somewhere away from the centre, at least 200kms of unsealed roads in any direction, must have beer, food and fuel. This was in the era when BMW riders were the first motorcyclists to traverse the Gunbarrell Hwy unassisted, at that time it was a fairly unmaintained, forgotten road. The first 'OCR' was in Innaminka It's been happening every even year since. The event raises funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and unfortunately many of the riders sometimes need their assistance.
This year at Mungerannie, there has been lots of planning for how to get there and how to come home, but its all gone to shit as many of the roads are closed due to rain. I was hoping to ride the Birdsville Track on the return but it looks like its just too wet.
The sidecar was fully stripped, intention was to replace the motor but that didn't go to plan. So after being stripped and reassembled twice it now has a new clutch, induction system now fully sealed so its idling properly at last. Fresh air filter, replaced clogged radiator, cooling fan running reliably off a switch, new oil sight glass, rear main seal, O-ring and timing case seal replaced, no oil leaks now.
It hasnt had a lot of road time so I am crossing my fingers and hoping a little, theres always some niggling doubt when everything is completed at the last minute.
So packing for me and the dog today. Lets see what I forget
Photos will be posted when I return, there will be more than a few K sidecars out there.
Oh, if your'e wondering where the OCR will be held in 2018, that will be decided next Saturday night. Getting harder every year as more and more outback roads get sealed. It is open to riders of any bikes, not only BMWs, if you know about it that is your invitation. Bikes to be ridden there and home NOT trailered.
You can follow the event here if interested, find out who made it, who didn't etc:
Off Centre Run
Al
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'93 K1100LT
'08 F650GS (798cc)
'19 R1250RS
+ another boxer engined motorcycle and sidecar
"When I'm too old and too foolish to handle a sidecar I'll buy a Sportsbike"
I have pics of some more K sidecars that were there, but my internet connection is a bit flaky atm, I'll upload them slowly and post more later. There was a nice K75GS conversion there too, didnt get a photo unfortunately.
