Wow where did the month go.

Update: FarRide #9 at Nambucca Heads was last weekend, really good roll up and 50 riders completed it as per the rules but approx 60 riders there.

Had an offer to use Continental tyres on Roo and two sets supplied at this stage so am keen to see how they wear. So far with approx 3000klms on the first set they feel really good, secure in the bends and with a lot of rain riding they are solid.

Fitted the Hella FF50 driving lights that I had on Griff my 1000GTR, fitted with brackets supplied by Glenn a member and mate in WA. Still to wire them up.

Street Pilot 2730 GPS is playing up with no touch screen working, onto Garmin about that.

Talked with Robert from Kawasaki today about what support they can give. Given the slow time we are having I understand they can't be giving away stuff just now but should be able to report some good things in the next few days. Seems they will supply me with a bike for the period I have Roo shipping to the US so I still have a bike to train on. Plus other stuff which I will post when I have it confirmed. They were great during the August 2007 to Aug 2008 period with allowing me to ride Roku their 1400GTR at no cost.

Money is still tight but I hope all will work out as sales have definately improved over the last 2 months.

Oh almost forgot, the seat on Roo is down at Brisbane at John Moorhouse Ergo seats getting the full make over. Will be great.

Aussie Day

Well it's Australia Day public holiday here today, overcast and raining.

Have confirmed with Jerry that the only TOLL pass I probably need is a EZpass so will organise that and pay cash (will they take aussie dollars haha ) for the rest as few Tolls in the west.

I get Roo serviced on Wednesday, oil and filter for the Nambucca Heads FarRide. 74 registered so far from every state apart from NT and TAS. Glenn has a proto type for the driving light brackets that look excellent and should work well with the Hella FF50's on them under the mirrors.

Getting the cable made up by Dale at DMME for the CB radio as the US do not use UHF. Will fit an old CB I have laying about inside the topbox. Put power to the topbox also for the laptop and charging mobile etc.

Had talks with the guys at McLeods about Maxxis tyres, they approached me about using them so I may to see how they go. Gas Imports have not replied to emails of feedback on the PR2's although I got 21,000klms out of them. Also had a mate say he would look into the Conti's again.

Well it's 2009 already

So I must make sure to keep this on track and updated........ I really must.

The bike is 90% ready for the IBR as August is getting close. I have to ride to Brisbane later this week for a photo shoot for GetRouted.com.au who are shipping my bike to the US. Dave will use it for marketing as he is one of my sponsors helping me defray some of the shipping costs with a most excellent price. There is still room for more bikes should anyone want to come ride the US, costs are quite reasonable a bike my size is $2950 from memory but check that.

Aux fuel tank is done and tested, I altered the overflow today as the bulkhead fitting for it was reaching down inside the tank too far and I was unable to completely fill the tank, should be good for 20litres now. Plus changed the braided overflow line to normal rubber fuel line so it doesn't damage my bike where it touches on its way out the rear of the bike as per regs.

I have the Garmin Street Pilot 2730 from the US with US maps, this will be my routing GPS and my Garmin Quest ever faithful (damaged it when it went flying on the way to St George recently but works still) will be for my overall data and stats.

Driving light brackets are being made by Glenn my mate in WA so when they arrive the Hella FF50's will go on. I wanted HID's but lack of $$$$'s stopped that.

Checking on how I will handle the mobile phone now, get one when I get there or who knows.

Looks like I will fly into LA and drive up to Portland where my bike will be.

About all for now but will endevour to update weekly at least.

Update - yeah I am slack

I realised how bad I am at this so here is a summary and I WILL try to get a better post up soon.

Weekend of 18th-21st July I rode from Cooroy Qld to Adelaide to Melbourne to home, 5300klm in the 4 days. Adelaide was for a ride for a young lad Jayden who unfortunately died a few days later. Melb was for the 28th BMW Icicle Ride, a midnight till dawn ride.

Weekend just gone 1st-4th August I did the Border Run again, across the Nullarbor to Border Village (just a truck stop) on the SA/WA border. This was the 32nd running of this ride and my 3rd in a row. 6100klms in the 4 days.

Will try and do some better posts tomorrow.

John Stamnas recently offered to put braided brakes lines on my bike Roo so today off I go to get this all sorted. Silly me as it seems the 1400GTR beaut bike that it is already has braided lines apart from the clutch line.

So John got one of his guys busy making a replacement for that. The end result is a much smoother clutch and I must say I wasn't expecting any benefit other than having him on as a sponsor. The stock bike has a very good clutch and feel but the braided clutch line is sooo nice and the feel is much better than stock IMHO.

Bit more bling that works. Plus he wants to stay involved and do the fuel lines for my aux fuel tank when I get it here so that's a bonus.

While at Aaron my mechanic Hyperformance Motorcycles Eumundi the rep for Michelin comes in and after a short chat seems he knows about my rides. He offers a set of tyres for Roo and I kindly accept. Will let you know how they are.

Updating a few things.

19th May I got Spot, personal satellite tracker Link and its working as sold. I will have a tracking link on my site in due time. Plus thanks to some clever online mates a program has been created to store and view these longer that Spot currently allows.

The promo visit to Pro Kawasaki Nerang went very well by the way.

Late last week I also received from the US the cruise control and heated grips for Roo, looking forward to getting time to get these fitted.

I will be ordering the aux fuel tank for Roo sometime in the next couple of weeks. Will have a new rear rack made to extend the stock one forward over the pillion seat to create a platform to mount the 5gal (20litre) tank. That will bring the total up to 10.8gals which is well under the Iron Butt Rally max of 11.5gal so all should be sweet.

I leave Friday evening to ride to Townsville for part of the Ulysses AGM there. I will be doing this for Kawasaki Australia and will be at their stall for Saturday only as I ride the 1260klms home again Sunday.

It's almost 9pm and I head to Pro Kawasaki Nerang in the morning for a promo day with Roku the 1400GTR that I ride for Kawasaki Australia.

This week has been interesting. I went to visit John Stamnas who does the braided brake lines and he offered to do all the lines on my bike, great guy. So he comes on as a sponsor also.

Looks like I also have the shipping of my bike to the US sorted after a very kind offer from Dave Milligan of GetRouted.com.au at a huge discount and come on board as a sponsor.

I found a local company that can make the special brackets to mount my aux fuel tank so that's good.

But the best thing was a story in the Courier Mail newspaper and online from an interview on Monday.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23670532-5010760,00.html

Not bad at all apart from some mention of race which it certainly is not.

Iron Butt Rally 2009

I have decided to try and blog this as it happens or unfolds.

On the 15th April I got the email from the IBR saying I had been selected for the 2009 Iron Butt Rally. This is an achievement in itself as there are only about 100 ride spots and thousands apply each time.

I have already started training and will be increasing that in distance on the bike and physical training for myself.

I will be riding my Kawasaki 1400GTR I purchased last July for this purpose in hope of selection.

Mudgee roads

Got home at 5:30pm yesterday Sunday after riding from Mudgee. Little over 1000klms in the 11hrs. But the tough part was doing it after the evening before wow them Mudgee people sure can drink.

I flew to Sydney, collected Roku, rode to Mudgee all on Friday. Saturday the Toy Run and Poker ride were on so bright and early there I was at Mudgee Kawasaki. Top day with about 300 bikes. Rode about the countryside to Sofala and other places approx 280klms.

The night partied on till wee small hours, had an absolute ball. But oh my aching head lol

Fly day - oh it's Friday

Once again for two days running to pop down to the newsagents to see if the new Australian Road Rider mag is in as all my mates in NSW are saying what a great article it is. But NO!! not here yet grrr

I fly out to Sydney today to pick up Roku (1400GTR) to head to Mudgee this evening for the toy run. Toy Run is tomorrow Saturday. Then home with it to Qld Sunday after a stop over Saturday night at a mates place in Scone NSW. Hope to get a copy of the mag while in NSW.

Rainy days ...

Saturday here now and catching up on a few things.

Did some changes and updates to my web site davojones.com this afternoon. Had to go to the office this morning so did a rare thing and rode the bike. Most people in the town wouldn't know I have a bike as I never ride it around locally, I do trips.

All is looking good for next Friday to Sydney, looking forward to getting back on Roku. Funny thing is that I have so far done 11,000klms on it and only 8500 on my own 1400GTR. I feel more "connected" to Roku at this point. But lots of years and many miles will be done on my own (yet to be named)

I scored a Muzzy muffler for mine this week at a "couldn't say no price", a SS one and it will look great as well and be much lighter, plus a nice note to it.

Bar risers and front guard extender are on the way also from the US. About it, nite all.

21st November

Yesterday I got the email from Kawasaki Australia outlining what we have agreed on for Roku's next ride. They will fly me down to Sydney on the 7th December where I collect Roku. Saturday the 8th I will be at the Mudgee Toy Run and then ride Roku back to my home in Qld. I will then prep the bike for the Perth ride leaving the 13th of December and arriving at Mack1 Kawasaki at 10:30am Saturday the 15th December. Plan is to leave Monday to ride home.

2nd Nov. 2007

I left home at 9:30am and rode to Sydney for the Australian Motorcycle Expo. I stopped over at Don's at Taree. Rained about 75% of the way but a good run.