Tenere 700, take a backseat for now

[winddown]

I bought this today, will pick it up tomorrow in my hiace, they assure me it'll fit in on its side.  I just can't get into the power sliding and rear brake sliding and all that on my T7, no confidence, too scared of wiping it out.  But this little beast I threw all over the place when I diverted off my "programmed" test ride into a dirt carpark.  I even darted over a grassed median strip on the way back to avoid waiting at a red light, I think it has a mind of its own?  It really just wants to get offroad, and drag me along for the ride lol.

 

I'm looking forward to practicing in the gravel now whereas before I faced it with trepidation.  60Yo, zero offroad experience.

 

[Bugs]

When I outfitted my family with bikes back in the 90's, we got an XT225 for my wife who had not ridden before. Not only a cool starter dirt-bike, I think it's a great bike overall. Light, low seat height, tractable power, handles falls well, easy to maintain, reliable and economical. It's not a rocket, but it can do nearly-everything reasonably well from commuting on the highway to the forest trails. It soon became one of my favorites. I started many of my nieces, nephews and my kid's friends on this bike and had nothing but great experiences. Keep the battery charged! (But if you don't, it's easy to push-start.)

 

Enjoy!

 

 

[winddown]

1 hour ago, Bugs said:

When I outfitted my family with bikes back in the 90's, we got an XT225 for my wife who had not ridden before. Not only a cool starter dirt-bike, I think it's a great bike overall...

Keep the battery charged! (But if you don't, it's easy to push-start.)

 

Enjoy!

 

That's a good wrap Bugs, and thanks for the tip on the push starting, the battery was kinda flat I noticed lol.

[Hibobb]

@winddown the fun-factor with that smaller bike will be very high. Not worrying as much about falling will increase your confidence lever 3x. Well Done!!

[winddown]

There are quite a few dirt roads and tracks just 5 minutes out of town from me and I have some regular circuits I go on weekly.  The old practice practice practice adage is certainly true with gravel riding, I find myself relaxing into the rides now and not thinking about the techniques I have been learning, none of which I am much good at yet, but I just cruse along and find that things are falling into place.  I'm getting good at braking in a hurry, I practice that a lot, and I am taking the corners faster now though I'm not pushing, it's just happening that way.   

 

I take the T7 out as much as before too, but ride it even slower than I do the 250.  No race happening here, just the thrill of being under the blue sky and exploring places I haven't ever seen before.  It's another world when you get off the bitumen.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 9, 2022 by winddown

[Rider 101]

yeah, no need to race. No trophies if you end up in an ambulance. Just enjoy the scenery and the ride.

Heading your direction tomorrow. We will slab it to up the New England then down Waterfall and Summerland Ways to Casino for the night. Friday we will head over Lions Rd and on to Eagle Farm for new tyres before the B2B on Sunday.

[winddown]

3 hours ago, Rider 101 said:

Friday we will head over Lions Rd and on to Eagle Farm for new tyres before the B2B on Sunday.

 

Yeah it won't take me long to get up to speed, and I'm retired so plenty of spare time.  I'd be out riding right now "11am" but there is a howling wind with gusts up to 30km/h.  The roads will still be there tomorrow

 

Better check that lions Rd Rider

 

Roads update – 3 August 2022

Lions Road remains closed north of Murphy Standfield’s culvert to the border, however crews have started work to re-open the road. Council will keep everyone informed of the progress.

Kyogle News - Roads update – 3 August 2022 2022

---

osition the large crane needed  to lift the pipes into place in such a way to allow the road to stay open. However, expect delays if you choose to use the road today and tomorrow.</p> <p>Council finished work on...

 

[Rider 101]

Looks like plan B whatever that is

 

 

edit Casino, Woodenbong, Rathdowney and to add a bit of interest Mt Glorious T junction and come into Eagle farm from the north

Edited August 10, 2022 by Rider 101

[winddown]

On 8/10/2022 at 11:03 AM, Rider 101 said:

Looks like plan B whatever that is

 

 

edit Casino, Woodenbong, Rathdowney and to add a bit of interest Mt Glorious T junction and come into Eagle farm from the north

 

Well if it was me, and my goal was to take a low traffic run into Brisbane, I'd go up the summerland and turn left, head through woodenbong to White Swamp Road, a nice dirt road, and follow it back across the border.  I turns into Carneys Creek Rd and that runs into Boonah, then on into the back of Ipswich, Yamanto, then up onto the Cunningham HWY down into Briso.  The My Lindsay highway is a pigs breakfast after Beaudesert, narrow, all new suburbs, and traffic jams in peak hours.   There are dozens and dozens of traffic lights that way, only two going through Yamanto then a freeway run right into the southern suburb of Moorooka in brisbane.

 

But don't be tempted to branch off White swamp to take the head road down, it's closed, landslips.

Also the Hema maps are pretty screwed up I have found, they show White Swamp as a track after it crosses the border but it's a good graded road all the way.  I like the Hema because it's uncluttered but it's shockingly inaccurate around here.

 

 

 

White Swamp Rd

 

 

 

 

Boonah Yamanto Road

 

Edited August 11, 2022 by winddown

[Rider 101]

We ended up in Woodenbong on the Thursday night as all accommodation in Casino and Kyogle was fully booked for tradies and families that lost their homes in the recent floods. Friday was a quick run across Mt Linsay to Boonah then skirting Ipswich and on to Mt Glorious before heading into Hamilton. Good run. I have just got home from the B2B so will sort photos and post up later.