XS1100 RALLY – May 5th & 6th 2012 - Bourke NSW

[Eveready1100]

Just a quick message to say thanks to Geoff & Michelle for the long distance trophy. I was conned about the shirt thing (thought they were going to take a pic of the bikes together or something) then they dropped this on me. I saw the look on Michelles face and new she meant business so i begrudgingly accepted the trophy, even though they did travel further than me.
IT'S BLOODY GREAT!!!! Thanks heaps!

And to show that I haven't chucked it in a corner somewhere to be forgotten about.......







There it is mounted on the wall above my bikebar.
Now I've started something. All the other photos and things resting on the shelf will have to be hung to finish the area off, and those blocks are damned hard!

P.S. Note the little keg in the corner? QUEENSLANDER!!! Go the maroons!!!

[XSokieSPECIAL]

 Looks like y'all had a real good time and everyone got there and back home safe. That's a good thing. That crew looks a lot like the people I see at rallies here in the states. I suppose you could take that as either a good, or a bad thing.

 Great write up Bryan. You remind me of trbig from .com in a lot of ways. I think we would ride together a lot if it was possible.

 Xtain, sorry about your scoot. Oh, well.......stuff happens. It kinda sounds like your cam chain slipped and you may have bent some valves.

 Anyway brother, I just have to say that you look a lot like Willie Nelson in those pics. 

 I'm headed to San Antonio, Texas next weekend for a little rally there and I'll try and get some pics and video.

[steptoe]

 

[AussiXS11G]

Finally.... the videos from Bourke....
Back O'Bourke
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev3nqVUxk1Q&feature=plcp
Line up at Kidmans Camp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLVZlwV-QVs&feature=plcp
Looking behind 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vySdcL3jEo&feature=plcp
Looking behind 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwqOZfDGUtY&feature=plcp
I mailed those discs this am BTW

[dahcar]

Great writeups & pictures Bryan, Mr & Mrs Steptoe. Eveready is very deserving, fantastic ride.
I personally had a great time, & recommend all to join in next time. Cheers Dennis

[Jonesy]

Excellent write up and pics mr & mrs steptoe
and congratulations to Eveready, highly deserved longest distance award

[steptoe]

Steptoe  and Mrs steptoes’ story
Our ride started a bit before 7 Thursday morning, after not hearing from rhodie, and not being able to contact him,
In perfect riding weather we travelled the first leg, some 368klm to pick Bryan up at his place, more or less on the edge of Brisbane,  from here the ride and the “rally” became real, maybe because we were heading into the outback,  maybe all the planning had come to a close and it was time for it to happen,
Anyway, onward  and outward, or is that inward, long straights and flat roads are awaiting,
Friday  morning started well enough. The sun came up. We packed the bikes and readied for the days ride, next thing to do was pull the clutch in and take off,,  How many of you have tried to get  a 2 up and loaded bike off the line with out  a clutch cable,  Bryan did a stella job by pushing us a couple of times before running back to his bike to join us, it was all going well till somebody in a cage decided to stop and wait for a car park  in Morees’ main street. I had to stop, the only way to get it rolling again was to sit on the starter and hope it didn’t  go pear shape while hopping and jerking  and wobbling down the street waiting for momentum to do its job, all went well thank goodness and got us to a bike shop were the new cable was made,
The final 650 klm of the day went without a hitch, rolling across an outback that was in peak condition after having a couple of good floods and lots of rain over her,
On arrival at Kidmans Camp, accom was sorted, who was in what rooms with who and tea was being prepared.  A couple come in 2 times a week and do a camp fire tea to help raise money for cancer organizations,  after that was a bit of a chat and a couple of beers around a fire drum till our eyes started closing.
Saturday morning saw a beautiful clear day, perfect for getting to know site members face to face,
 

Michelle thought it fitting to start the day off right, with a fruit salad platter, and bacon, eggs, sausages, cooked tomatoes, and baked beans with toast,



 during brekky it was often heard “eggs going begging” that was Eddy he’d put his hand up to help with the cooking of eggs and sausages on both mornings , thanks mate

The morning was spent working out how we were going to spend the morning,






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLVZlwV-QVs&list=UUqCdX9R5nN4HFkLWHPy0Gvg&index=1&feature=plcp
 it ended with Bryan who had a video mounted in a few different points, riding point and the rest of us rolling past him, then he rode past us
Add a few photo’s in front of the” back o bourke” information centre

 and a walk thru a real outback town local show  filled in most of the day, then it was back to camp for a couple of beers and nibblies, another Michelle touch, jatz crackers with several cheeses and dips as well as 2 bags of potato chips 
We found the local bowls club had a courtesy bus that seats 18, they also had a chinese restaurant and on saturday night an all you could eat buffet was on, that with a few more beers and we were primed for the “presentations“  part of the evening,

It had been jonesy who’d had the idea for several awards along the line of  rally awards, I sent him some old pistons which he polished, cut into sections, then engraved  and wired to polished paling timber

NAMES ARE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT
Peoples choice was won by Jeff with his outstanding standard, Xtian  presenting to Jeff

Oldest rider/bike combo was won by scarfey  , accepting from Jonesy, with Bryan hamming it up in the back

Bryan {aussi11g} presenting  youngest rider/bike combo, to me

Xtian presenting Michelle with her Longest distance pillion

Longest distance travelled was won by us, from Ev by 48klm
And one for Xtian for setting up the site accepting from me on behalf of 147 very apreciative members

As you know Ev rode from home to bourke  in 1 stint overnight, he also rode home in 1 stint, getting home @ 3.30am after leaving bourke at 9.30am day previous,
For the record, there is no way, morally, ethically, validly  I could hold onto the longest distance award, so I called Ev, next time he came over to bring his XS shirt,,
And here he is receiving his longest distance award,,

So there you have it, our first National XS rally has been a roaring success, may these stories inspire many more members to attend our next one

[coe1948]

   Jonesy the highest speed i have done in a controlled enviroment in the outfit was 155kph,but it was a good trip home,i might ride to Perth Next

  Regards Dale

[Jonesy]

Hey Dale
 that would've been an epic ride on the side car, what sort of speeds did you open her up to?

[coe1948]

    I had a great time at the rally,good people with a real passion for XS 1100's.My outfit performed faultlessly during the adventure and i really enjoyed the long ride.I was glad that i made the cradle to hold the jerrycan with extra fuel because we ended up using it especially on the 250k stint between Cobar and Bourke i can not wait for the next XS 1100 adventure

  Regards Dale

[Eveready1100]

Great write-up mate! Nice to have all the pics of the choice locations to help immortalise the trip. I only got a couple on the run down being mostly in the dark and all that, so I'll use this story as a reference when talking about the trip to my kids.
We're really sorry we couldn't stick around for longer, Jonesey, but work commitments for Geoff and myself forced our hands. Maybe next year, eh? Might need a change of employer to do it, though.

[AussiXS11G]

Jonesy....I don't know how you blokes do the cold......not that I like the heat much better...
I look forward to seeing you all again
B
BTW
pm me whoever wants a disc with videos and my pics from the weekend

[Jonesy]

Excellent write up Bryan.
Yeah it was a pity the QLD'ers didnt stay the extra day.Sunday was really relaxed with banter and tyre kicking and a few quiet ales.

did I tell you how cold it was in Bathurst on friday morning.
Thats ice on the gloves after riding 15min into town to hook up with Spike


Sunday night at the North Bourke truck stop for a HUGE feed
No wonder Spikes not allowed out very often


Outside after the feed and more casual yarning

[AussiXS11G]

WARNING - content may offend - contains images of the very attractive 1980 G model machine

BOURKE, MAY 2012, XS1100 AUSTRALIA RALLY

Thursday, May 3rd
Geoff (Steptoe) and Michelle arrive from Bundaberg at around 11.30am with concerns for Rhodie55 who was riding down from Townsville to meet them at their home on Wednesday night. We were unable to contact him. We decided to stick with the plan and under a bright blue sky headed across Brisbane and west onto the Cunningham Highway towards Cunningham’s Gap and Warwick.


As soon as we crested Cunningham’s Gap (after a spirited ride up the range) we rode into RAIN. We stopped for food and fuel (and donned wet weather gear) at the servo just out of the forest. Thinking dark thoughts we carried on towards Warwick. Within a couple of kloms the rain had stopped and we rode through Warwick still on the Cunningham Hwy to Inglewood where we stopped for fuel.
Then we were on again thru Yelarbon, then Goondiwindi and a few kloms south to Boggabilla for the night. We enjoyed a few drinks at the Wobbly Boot Hotel (a short walk from the motel) entertained by the publican and locals.
I think it was here that we learned that Rhodie55’s machine had failed him by developing a serious vibration. He had made it to Brisbane but then turned back.

Friday, May 4th
Up early for a planned 7.00am departure I checked my oil and topped it up…..forgetting to replace the oil filler cap until I was 5km down the road. Of course it wasn’t still on the engine case where I placed it so I turned back to search for it. (This is the second time I have done this.) I found it but it had been run over, the thread was knaffed and it was no longer round and did not fit the hole. After some Macgyvering and a tube of silicon I was ready to carry on.

 Steptoe on the other hand had loaded up, started up and pulled in the clutch to engage first only to have the clutch cable break!
So we rode south west on the Newell Highway towards Moree. We again fuelled up and then found Thomas-Lee M’cycles where I was able to buy a new oil filler cap ($41!!) and Steptoe had a new clutch cable made. This was a great result and a very worthwhile stop.

Riding south west under a bright blue sky, now on the Gwydir Highway, we soon came to Collarenebri where we stopped for fuel.


Then back on the bikes and south to Walgett on the Castlereagh Highway. At Walgett we stopped for lunch and fuel.

West towards Brewarrina on the Bourke-Brewarrina Road – the first 30 or so kloms slow due to road works after the recent floods. Fuel at Brewarrina then we rode on to Bourke arriving there at about 4.00pm. I was the first to arrive at Kidman’s Camp so I found the room and unpacked.


Geoff and Michelle had hired a car so they picked that up. Michelle did a food/drink shop and then headed out to the Camp. I must say that their accommodation was most salubrious.

The Melbourne crew were next to arrive along with the news that Xtian’s machine had failed about 30km from town on the Cobar road (Kidman Highway). So melbxs, coe1948 and I headed out to pick up and lend support. The sun disappeared, it got very cold, and the rabbits beside the road were nearly 1800mm high – 60km out from Bourke we realised we were given bad directions and returned to Kidman’s Camp to learn that they were 30km out on the Nyngan road (Mitchell Highway).
The Sydney crew soon arrived and with Xtian’s machine arriving on a truck we settled in to camp life around the camp fire. Scotty and Paul (nominee) camped near the camp fire area with Clutch joining them later.



Saturday, May 5th
Up early and scoped out the other guys machines……




A great collection of several year models, mostly in standard trim (not modified) I like the colour of Xtian’s, envy Dale’s outfit,


 and liked that Scotty’s machine is basically the most original. I reckon the sport riders (that seat??) must be disappointed that they don’t own standards but enough of that.
Errol (Eveready1100) arrived after riding basically direct from Childers – guts effort mate.

We went for a ride out on the Mitchell Highway and I took some video of the bikes rolling along then to the Back o’Bourke exhibition centre for some photos then lunch.





Saturday afternoon was taken up chatting, tuning up, tinkering etc. Saturday night we got the courtesy bus to the Bourke Bowls Club for a meal and drinks. Thanks to Paul for the rums… Jonesy had fabricated some very attractive trophies using pistons supplied by Steptoe and these were awarded at dinner.







Sunday, May 6th
Geoff and Michelle, Errol, and I set off at around 8.30am heading east towards Walgett.

We stopped briefly at Brewarrina for fuel (well the bikes with the little tanks took on fuel anyway) then on to Walgett where we all fuelled.

 I said my good byes there and struck out alone, north on the Castlereagh Highway, towards Lightning Ridge.

 I hadn’t been this way since 1973 so I stopped at Lightning Ridge for fuel and lunch, had a nice chat with a jeweller who had an XS11 back in the day, bought a nice opal charm for my darling, and then headed north again towards St George through Hebel and Dirranbandi.






 I had intended heading straight to Bollon where my brother is the copper but time was against me. The St George Show and Rodeo was on and the pubs were shut so it was motel accommodation and a very nice meal at the rather posh restaurant.


Monday, May 7th
Up at 6.00am, fuel up and off west to Bollon….. goats, emu and kangaroos still moving on the road, even a few dead pigs (bloody huge ones too) I rolled in to Bollon at about 8.15am – not much to see there

 – Bro was out of town at a fatal helicopter crash site with an investigation team so we had to make do with a lengthy phone conversation during which I extolled the virtues of Lucrezia and her reliability…..A big mistake as it turned out. 40km back towards St George she began running rough finally running on two cylinders. I determined that the LHS coil was not supplying spark to cyl 1 and 4, and assumed a loose/broken wire from the rough roads. Off with the seat and tank and hey presto….there it was…. I lost about an hour by the roadside with only a half dozen vehicles going past – all of whom checked that I was ok.



 Back on the road and into St George for fuel again then off towards Chinchilla and friends. I had intended heading east on the Moonie Highway to Westmar then north to Condamine then north east to Crossroads and then Chinchilla. Unfortunately, I missed a turn and found myself at Surat having headed north towards Roma on the Carnarvon Highway.


 No worries I thought, turn east 32km north and still get to Condamine. This was not to be as a bridge is out on this road so it was on wards north to the Warrego Highway and traffic, roadworks and a slow trip east through Jackson, Dulacca, Miles (stop for fuel) and finally Chinchilla.


 The floods out there have really done the roads a damage.At Chinchilla I stayed with Friends on their 300 acre property.
Tuesday, May 8th
After a night on the farm, off towards home and into the traffic again on the Warrego Hwy.




 I stopped for food at Dalby, fuelled at Toowoomba then headed down the range turning north at Blacksoil onto the Brisbane Valley Highway stopping at Fernvale for coffee.

 Then I rode north again turning onto the Wivenhoe-Somerset Road, then right again onto the Northbrook Parkway up and over Mount Glorious, down into Samford and home to Albany Creek at around 2.30pm.
Round trip – 2591.6km
Fuel – 199.721 litres
Oil – 1 litre
I had a great time, my only regret is that I should have stayed in Bourke for another day getting to know the guys a little better.