Hi all, this is just a suggestion (hope Bert doesn't mind).
I suggest we should meet in Bicheno at the Motorcycle Museum sometime in spring (maybe September). It would be great to catch up with like-minded people (and partners too) so we can all put names to faces. Maybe post a couple of pics on the forum as well.
Oh, and to anyone who has listened to the news lately, Tasmania has been described recently by "Newyorker" magazine as a "backwater", tsk, tsk, what a shame.

I don't mind at all.
In fact I just created a new forum category for this purpose.
I hope a lot of you can meet and have a nice ride together.

Cheers

Bert

Bugger! I'm off the China for all of September, otherwise I'd be down there like a shot!

UG.

Having spent 6 years of my life in Tassie and then asked to explain to 'outsiders' what the place is like, I found it very difficult to do. Aside from the usual and ignorant jokes which get tossed round it has amazing charm and as an island a uniqueness within the Australia continent. The place is magic for riding too! Here are a few pix I took on a 3 week ride in late December, the true beginning of Summer. I think a meeting of fellow K riders at Bicheno in September would be a priority on my calendar!


Bicheno Harbour Beauty


Near Binalong Bay


Cape Hauy


Jacob's Ladder


A back road to Ben Lomond.


Liffey Falls


Cataract Gorge (where I learnt to swim)

Let the elitists write in the mags and newspapers what they want, and they will go on forever. New York's Central Park will provide you with some thrills and spills but won't offer you anything like this!

Dennis wrote:Hi all, this is just a suggestion (hope Bert doesn't mind).
....
Oh, and to anyone who has listened to the news lately, Tasmania has been described recently by "Newyorker" magazine as a "backwater", tsk, tsk, what a shame.

A huge compliment! What that means is that you have a spectacular island and very few tourists. I like to see it kept just like that

What's the haps with this good idea? Has it come to any kind of firmness or fruition as yet? A man might need to plan what isn't otherwise spontaneous. I'm staring at the map on the garage wall and thinking of a ride up through Qld, the NT, back round and down, anti-clockwise on the sunset edge of WA, then back across the Nullarbor to SA and Victoria. I reckon I might be able to catch a night ferry to Tas from Melbourne and be there in Bicheno for lunch. Who's got the reins? Or, alternatively, you could always gather up in a bunch and ride on up to the Northern Rivers and enjoy the sunshine if that suits too. The beaches are sweet and empty in September. Well, except for Victorian tourists.

Hi TWB, Nope, not too much has eventuated yet, Phil informed me that his K Bike is for sale. I've done the ride from Devonport, L'ton, St Helens then on to Coles Bay, where we stay overhight at a mates family shack (beach house) many times. I can be ready to do that ride, just give me about 15 minute's notice !
So, to summarise, not too much action here in Tassie regarding a ride, but I'm happy to be part of any ride you choose to do in this state, rain hail or shine. The whole of the East coast has recently be certified as "bike friendly" thanks to a French guy who is the mayor of Bicheno. He goes as Le Frog, interestingly enough, and I think his name is Bertrand, unsure of the surname.

Best regards, Dennis

Funny, I didn't know that I have a twin living in Bicheno. Is he crazy too?

Bertrand (THE crazy frog)

Bicheno comes under the Glamorgan Shire, the Mayor's name is Bertrand Cadart and he is also the Australian importer of Fournales suspension components (air shocks). He goes as Le Frog, and yes Bert, I'm told he is crazy as he runs a trike joy ride business (VW powered jigger) and from all reports he "delivers the goods" for those game enough to take a ride. Quite a character by all reports, also likes to celebrate Bastille day.

Tres kewl! With this additional information it must happen! We can try to meet the bloke and gather round, get a happy snap of the event and post it off to Bert, Our Original C-F, see if there's any likeness! Sign me up as willing.

Bert, here's a bio of the other "Le Frog". If I recall correctly, he was also part of the Australian company that produced the La Parisienne fairings of the 1970's.

http://thenewcaferacersociety.blogspot.com/2008/10/from-mad-max-to-mayor.html

Cheers, Dee Why

Strange thing is my CB900 had one of those fairings fitted way back when and even went to his factory to test it out.

Those fairings typically are now quite collectible due to the "Mad Max" movies.

His "company car" is a Honda Silver Wing which took quite a bit of arguing to get apparently.

Two Wheels Better wrote:Tres kewl! With this additional information it must happen! We can try to meet the bloke and gather round, get a happy snap of the event and post it off to Bert, Our Original C-F, see if there's any likeness! Sign me up as willing.

Some parts of his bio could apply to mine too. I got drafted in the French navy, then opened a motorcycle dealership and we sponsored a small racing team. I sold the business to my partner and traveled the world for 2 years (had to work in Ivory Cost to replenish my wallet). I finally established my new home in Canada.
I even had a brief run at making fairings (I made this one for my 750GT) This a modified version of a commercial fairing. I made the original mold with plaster bandage used by doctors when they cast a broken bone (close enough to aluminum foil).
When I sold the bike, I gave the mold to the new owner. I was told that he crashed the bike and at one point was riding with part of the mold installed on the bike
(this is me with a lot more hair than now ).

Le Frog is also a member of the Thylacines Motorcycle club an east coast (Tasmania) club affilliated with the Ullyses. I've met him a few times and can vouch for the above comments and "craziness" of this frog (in a nice way!).
Put me on the list of attendees on the proposed ride, not that one needs much of an excuse to visit the beautiful eastcoast. cheers G

Yesterday I was visiting a friend who spend the winter (your summer) in Australia and inquired about the cost of a trip to your part of the world.
Not cheap... About $2,500 and at least 36 hours traveling (including a 12 hours stop in L.A"). Sorry, but this year I don't have the $time$!
Kudos to Dennis for starting this thread. It's really nice to see that people from this forum will be able to ride together. I hope that it will work and it could become an annual event.
If you don't send pictures, you will be banned for ever!

Hi Bert and firstly excellent job on the fairing and $2500 from Canada especially from the East coast is dirt cheap (assuming it is return) in comparison from this end of the world although the 36 hours could be a bit much.
Just have to figure out how to sneak the bike on.

phil_mars wrote:Just have to figure out how to sneak the bike on.

Why? I was planning to borrow yours for a long test ride! Are you selling yours? I think I read somewhere that you are.....
I have friends who traveled 'down under' and they were able to rent BMW bikes (not K bikes)

Well it has not sold yet so you never know..... but yes you can certainly rent a R1200GS or F650 locally although to coin a phrase not cheap.

OK men (and ladies), I think it's time to firm up some arrangements for a meeting and ride. TWB is hinting at including Tassie in his circum navigation of the largest island on the planet and I'm not able to make it during late October (last 2 weeks), apart from that I'm free (so to speak).
I'm 25 minutes from Devonport and Spirit of Tas ferry terminal, my home town is Railton. Lets get the correspondence happening and bring this all together. I reckon Bert will end up down here in 2011, we'll look after him in typical Ozzie style.
Everone's welcome,
Best regards,
Dennis

I'm leaving on Friday the 3rd of September with the return time being relatively open. I had been thinking the 2nd week of October would be the end of the ride, giving myself enough time out in WA for a dingo's brekkie - a good look around. The Phillip Island MotoGP is on the 16th/17th and I'd like to get there this year to see Jorge take the championship and Stoner pip Pedrosa for 2nd! That looks like the weekend of the 2nd/3rd or 9th/10th of October are in the cards for me, with a tendency towards the latter weekend, if that helps in any way towards planning. Tassie is a really beaut place to ride, and bring yer wets, but think Springtime sunshine! If it can't go that way then maybe next year for me. Goodonyas.

OK Dennis,
25th of sept is out for me, a 70th birthday and a 50th ( Do you know Louis Stevens? Just thought i'd ask) on that day. 4th also, a 90th, 5th is good and other weekends between also free so..... wanna make the call? G

Hi all, yep we need to make it happen, a day trip and meet and greet I reckon. Late September, weekend of 25/26 is ok for me, as are the October weekends 2nd/3rd and 9th/10th.
I haven't been to the Bicheno Motorcycle Museum yet, but have been told it's worth a look. Bicheno would be reasonably central to North & South as a meeting place, about 3 hours ride for me from Railton.
I'm happy to go with whatever people suggest really. If it suits, and rather than bogging down the forum, my email is
dennis.brown@exemail.com.au (checked daily)
Just installed some new steering head bearings and it has really made things sweet, so I need a trip real bad.
Oh,.... yeah, for interest, no need to go genuine, just go out and buy 2 x SKF or FAG 320/28X taper roller bearings, they'll be about half the price of the genuine BMW items, which are SKF brand. But you need to buy a new metal cup for the bottom of the assembly if you damage it getting the bottom bearing of the stem.