A forum for owners of Yamaha TTR250 trail and enduro bikes!

TerryK · Super Guru

Victorian High country ride March 2018

mossproof · Super Guru

Have a good trip. Look forward to hearing about it.

ttr steve · Super Guru

Yep keep us updated. smile

TerryK · Super Guru

We leave Adelaide Sat am, stop overnight somewhere near Melbourne & get into Dargo Sunday, five days riding Monday to Friday & leave Sat am. 2400-2500kms travel & around 1000kms on the bikes. Not sure if we will get home late Sat or not.

Various bikes
4 x DRZ400
2 x TTR250
1 x WR250R
1 x WR450F
2 x KLX250/300 perhaps 3
1 x CRF250L
1 x BMW 650 Dakar
1 x BMW GS1200
1 x KTM 500

Will be a big trip but worth it I'm sure

Cheers Terry

Gerry atric69 · Veteran Member

Assume Arnold Swarzenneger will be riding the BMW R1200GS !!

-- Edited by Gerry atric69 on Sunday 11th of March 2018 02:05:55 PM

TerryK · Super Guru

Gerry atric69 wrote:
Assume Arnold Swarzenneger will be riding the BMW R1200GS !!

-- Edited by Gerry atric69 on Sunday 11th of March 2018 02:05:55 PM

Richard is pretty good on the big GS but I'm sure both him & the bike have their limits

ttr steve · Super Guru

Wish I was on the list!

Kaos · Senior Member

Awesome Terry, you will have a ball. High country trips are the best.
As a precaution I usually chuck a spare aircleaner in my backpack in a plastic bag because of all the rocky river crossings. Someone in the group usually tips over, touch wood I haven't needed it yet. However being straight after summer and its so dry I reckon you won't need it for water, the rivers will be low' It will be a bit dusty, but you should be used to that!!
Our group had a trip planned for late March out of Mansfield but it has fallen through,, so I will have to plan another .
I usually take my WR250F on those trips but the TTR will do any of those big hills that the other bikes manage.

Enjoy

TerryK · Super Guru

Kaos wrote:
Awesome Terry, you will have a ball. High country trips are the best.
As a precaution I usually chuck a spare aircleaner in my backpack in a plastic bag because of all the rocky river crossings. Someone in the group usually tips over, touch wood I haven't needed it yet. However being straight after summer and its so dry I reckon you won't need it for water, the rivers will be low' It will be a bit dusty, but you should be used to that!!
Our group had a trip planned for late March out of Mansfield but it has fallen through,, so I will have to plan another .
I usually take my WR250F on those trips but the TTR will do any of those big hills that the other bikes manage.

Enjoy

Staying at the Dargo river inn & riding out from there each day, Billy goats etc. The weather looks perfect with Monday 30c & the rest of the week will be 25c

Been over to Mansfield a couple of times in the car & that might have better as it closer than Dargo, two of the guys did a trip over a couple of months ago with AMTRA & they know their way around so all good.

Terry

TerryK · Super Guru

Bikes loaded ready for the trip on the weekend, all blue of course 2 x TTR's & 1 WRR

Terry

TerryK · Super Guru

Got back last night from Dargo in the Victorian high country, 2300kms in the car & 1000kms on the bike. Great tracks, river crossings, views & bloody big hills, rain forests, twin tracks etc.

we had one drowned DRZ, cracked sub frame & a chain guide that looped around the chain/ sprocket on a TTR, sore body parts but a really good time.

I took both the TTR & WRR but ended up only riding the WRR, my mate Dave rode his TTR everywhere

Should be able to load some video once I edit it

Cubber · Super Guru

Very good sccenery with nice panoramas and trees as far as you can see.

Well done on posting your pictures the correct way round.

Some local lads here in Devon were out recently now that spring has arrived.

They were surprised when they met this on some of the lanes here .......

I'm looking forward to seeing your video. smile

Martyn

Base · Senior Member

Great pics Terry and beautiful country up there. Looks like a great trip. Love to get my bike up that way sometime.

Roll on with the video.

TerryK · Super Guru

Just adding a few more, hope you don't mind non TTR bikes, the camera does not show the true angle or height of the hills

ttr steve · Super Guru

Awesome pictures, poor old DRZ

Keep up the good work matey.

Steve

TerryK · Super Guru

Video from Tuesday, misty & raining but still fun

TerryK · Super Guru

My mate Dave on his TTR following me on the WRR, the sound is not good as he has the gopro on the bars

TerryK · Super Guru

Dave on the TTR crossing the creek

TerryK · Super Guru

Me on the WRR behind Dave on the TTR

TerryK · Super Guru

And another video

TerryK · Super Guru

Few more photos from the trip

Janos on the WR450F

Tony on another DRZ

Left to right in the picture, Tony led most of the rides on a DRZ, Gary rode the KTM 500, he gave me a ride....what a machine, Kym crashed on the 1st day & rode the rest of the week with 2 broken bones in his foot

The guy to my right knows his way around the high country, he's been riding it for 30yrs

Me on the left of picture, blue jacket, the guy to my left setup the ride

My mate Dave, rides the TTR seen in the photos & videos, we have been riding together for 40yrs

The crew

My mate Dave, top of a hill & about to go even further up the mountain on his TTR, you can see the track behind him

My WRR in the mist

-- Edited by TerryK on Monday 26th of March 2018 10:47:53 AM

TTRfan · Super Guru

Great videos and photos Terry - thanks for posting them up biggrin biggrin biggrin

TerryK · Super Guru

Cheers Brian

-- Edited by TerryK on Monday 26th of March 2018 12:17:10 PM

TerryK · Super Guru

We lost a BMW 1200 on a big hill the other day, we could not get the riders up as it got steeper & steeper, we sent Janos up on the WR450, we went around the top & send 2 guys down to clear the track, Richard the BMW rider said he would not come down....anyhow Janos caught up with him in the end & had a rest on the mounds hence the video is in 4 parts.

Parts 2, 3 & 4 are uploading

TerryK · Super Guru

Part 2

TerryK · Super Guru

Part 3 of the hill

TerryK · Super Guru

Part 4 of the hill & Janos finds the BMW

TTRfan · Super Guru

Wow - that hill looked great fun biggrin biggrin

TerryK · Super Guru

TTRfan wrote:
Wow - that hill looked great fun

And it got even steeper further up with rocks

Terry

TerryK · Super Guru

Dave riding the TTR up a long hill, in fact a really long hill, I was in front on the WRR but pulled away in the dust

TerryK · Super Guru

Dave on the TTR going down Conways, it's a long downhill & I uploaded at 2 x normal speed to reduce the time & size of the file, the camera does not do the hill justice

mossproof · Super Guru

That Beemer was well parked!
What a glorious trip. As I look out at the rain and mud in the yard, I'm yearning for warm dry days on the bike again. Thanks for taking the time to put these on line. Especially like the ones involving other bikes/riders rather than just a rider's view of the trail.
Cheers,
Simon.

TerryK · Super Guru

Thanks for the reply Simon, it was my 1st time in the Victorian High country & was beyond what I expected , didn't get as many photos as I would have liked, one minute we would be on a steep rutted hill then a rain forest, just trail bike heaven.

Didn't get to ride the TTR but I let my mate Dave ride my WRR a few times so I rode his TTR so I guess it is ok on this forum then.

Always nice to see riding areas from around the globe, some of the hills were so steep it was impossible to walk but the video & camera don't show that, I really enjoyed the rain forest sections.

Going to try & get out on the TTR tomorrow & might post a few photos if it works out

Terry

TerryK · Super Guru

Going home we went North before turn to the West & South, we hit 1680mtrs on this dirt road just before hitting the Alpine highway

John's KLX250/ 300 with my WRR at the top of Blue Rag helipad

Dave's TTR at Blue rag

John came off on the way to Blue rag & hurt his ankle, so we loaded the bike in the back up ute for the trip back to Dargo

The lads, I'm on the right of screen on the WRR

Another KLX250/300 crash, Kym broke two bones in his foot

10 minute rest

Dargo general store & fuel stop

Dargo hotel

Fueling up for the day

on the way to Blue rag

Top of Blue rag, rest time after the climb

Top of Blue rag,you may be able to see where we came from in the distance

Kaos · Senior Member

Nice Terry,

Great place to ride its so vast and hilly, looks like the weather was kind to you as well.
Those climbs just go on forever the cameras never show the true steepness.
And the long downhills, you wonder how much longer can the brakes keep working.!!!

Thanks for posting.

Base · Senior Member

Great to see all the photo's and vids, very inspirational and im very keen to get up way sometime after looking at them all. Looks like you went with a good group of guys and were all well equipped. Had any of the group been there before, or was it a first for everyone?

TerryK · Super Guru

Both Gary & Tony had been there many times & know their way around, Tony has been riding over there for 40yrs well that's what Gary was telling us LOL

Really good group of guys & great trip, can't wait to go back

Terry

TerryK · Super Guru

Cam, Gary told us we need either new or near new tyres for the trip, he wasn't joking I fitted brand new MT21's on the WRR for the trip & the rear tyre is now stuffed after clawing up the hills.

Lower gearing than stock is needed as well, I run a 13T on the front of the TTR as did my mate Dave but the standard gearing on the WRR made it a little harder on some of the hills.

I was just going to take only the TTR but Gary talked me out of it & ended up taking the TTR & WRR but only rode the WRR

As for the brakes at the end of the downhill, they were very hot with a slight tinge of blue, I was going a bit quicker than Dave on the video, plus the brakes on the WRR are better than the TTR.

The worst downhills are not even on video, very steep & rutted with some bulldust & rocks thrown in for good measure, we were based at Dargo River inn, bit further to go for us SA riders but well worth it in the long run.

The local riding around here will seem very boring after this trip.!!!!

Glad some of you have enjoyed the photos & videos of the trip, it's nice to share to others around the globe what we have here in Australia

Cheers Terry

TerryK · Super Guru

Kaos wrote:
Awesome Terry, you will have a ball. High country trips are the best.
As a precaution I usually chuck a spare aircleaner in my backpack in a plastic bag because of all the rocky river crossings. Someone in the group usually tips over, touch wood I haven't needed it yet. However being straight after summer and its so dry I reckon you won't need it for water, the rivers will be low' It will be a bit dusty, but you should be used to that!!
Our group had a trip planned for late March out of Mansfield but it has fallen through,, so I will have to plan another .
I usually take my WR250F on those trips but the TTR will do any of those big hills that the other bikes manage.

Enjoy

Yes you were right about the dust & the river crossings as we had one DRZ take in water. I took two spare air cleaners ready to go as both the TTR & WRR use the same but didn't have to use them.

On one day we had both rain & dust at the same time making a hard to see to say the least, Tony & Gary were over late last year & could not cross the river as the lever was too high so you are correct once again.

I have visited Mansfield twice in the car & a mate of mine had ridden out from there, Dargo was a bit further for us but worth it in the long run

Cheers Terry

Base · Senior Member

From memory I think I'm running a 13/51 on mine, anyway she tops out at 95, but only ever sees the dirt.

Pretty happy with the TTR for the riding I do, no boy racer anymore and it hurts too much when you fall of going fast. Nice and easy to work on as well, simplec air cooled engine which is pretty bullet proof and no radiators and hoses to worry about either.

Is there much the WR will do that the TTR cant? I guess there's a bit of weight and power difference.

-- Edited by Base on Saturday 31st of March 2018 09:43:44 AM

TerryK · Super Guru

Base wrote:
From memory I think I'm running a 13/51 on mine, anyway she tops out at 95, but only ever sees the dirt.

Pretty happy with the TTR for the riding I do, no boy racer anymore and it hurts too much when you fall of going fast. Nice and easy to work on as well, simplec air cooled engine which is pretty bullet proof and no radiators and hoses to worry about either.
Is there much the WR will do that the TTR cant? I guess there's a bit of weight and power difference.

-- Edited by Base on Saturday 31st of March 2018 09:43:44 AM

It's more like the WRR does most things a little better, power is better but with more REVS, brakes are better, fuel range is better but the TTR is still a sweet bike to ride & way too good to give away.

Cheers Terry

TerryK · Super Guru

Kym recorded me crossing a river in the high country, only a video from the phone, sorry but it's on the WRR

Cheers Terry

TerryK · Super Guru

That's it folks, don't have any more photos or video (thank god they say) great trip, Victorian riders have it made with areas like this 300kms from Melbourne & REC rego as well.

I know you may frown with the fact I was on the WRR for the whole trip but we did have a TTR & I rode it so I guess it might just scrape through, BTW I rode Gary's KTM 500, what a machine, 108kgs with 60 odd HP & traction control...no wonder he could get up the hills easy.

Hope you enjoyed the photos etc.

About to get dressed to go out with a mate to show him around the dirt roads & summer tracks...last rode with him in 1975, it's been a while, for you UK riders it will be a clear sunny day with a high of 32c perfect, well close anyhow

Cheers Terry

Cubber · Super Guru

Thanks for all the pictures and videos, Terry. Superb!

It's certainly a scenic trip for you to remember and share.

Thankfully the pictures are all the right way up, quite an achievement in itself. biggrin biggrin

Will you be doing it again sometime? confuse

Martyn

TTRfan · Super Guru

Don't apologise Terry - your photos and videos are great!

Brian

TerryK · Super Guru

Cubber wrote:
Thanks for all the pictures and videos, Terry. Superb!
It's certainly a scenic trip for you to remember and share.
Thankfully the pictures are all the right way up, quite an achievement in itself.
Will you be doing it again sometime?
Martyn

Yes Martyn we will do it again & will know what to expect next time, it is an unreal area to ride in with tracks that go for miles with huge hills, rain forest etc. Best riding I have done & sure there was a few times when I thought "what the hell are I doing here " Going up steep hills where you struggle for grip & run out of RPM & hope your not already in 1st gear but then you come down a hill that has the brakes on the limit, the tyres fighting for traction & rear brake chatter that's trying to stall the engine...once at the end there is a feeling of relief only to hit another.

Looks like we might go every 12 months or so, it's around 1100kms from home to Dargo each way so it makes it a huge trip but we did come back in one day, left just before 7.00am & got to my mates place before 8.30pm.

If you look on Google earth we stayed at Dargo, that should give you an idea of where we were, pictures right way up !!!! might be more good luck than skill...bit like my riding really.

Cheers Terry

TerryK · Super Guru

TTRfan wrote:
Don't apologise Terry - your photos and videos are great!
Brian

Thanks Brian, means a lot to me

Cheers Terry

TerryK · Super Guru

TerryK wrote:
My mate Dave on his TTR following me on the WRR, the sound is not good as he has the gopro on the bars

Did you see the lovely river we were crossing, full of rocks in the bottom, the crossing right at the end was nice

Terry

TerryK · Super Guru

I found some video from Janos on his WR450, shows the landscape pretty well

Leaving Blue rag helipad

on the way down from Blue rag

This is just out of Dargo 10 minutes from where we were staying

Cheers Terry

TerryK · Super Guru

Can you see how high we are, it really is the HIGH COUNTRY

Cheers Terry