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

Finally got a decent ride in.  Wagga, Howlong, Conago, Wanganella, Conargo, Corowa, Wagga Wagga.

The virus restrictions here mean that I can't cross into Victoria without self isolating for 2 weeks when I come back.  That's because Victoria is viewed as a hot spot by NSW government.  Despite that, there is a border 'bubble'.  My home is about 50km north of the bubble. A Victorian mate, Uncle Gra', lives inside the bubble, in Victoria.  He's allowed to cross into NSW, provided he stays inside the bubble, and go home.  Just needs to fill out an on-line form and display it.

Graham plotted out a route and rolled it onto his roller.  Every back track, channel track, farm track & long paddock he could find, that kept us off the bitumen.

It worked mostly.  He made a couple of errors on his notes and then a coupe of errors reading his notes.  My Zumo kept a track log while I just followed along.

Having filled up at Howlong, we expected we'd need to refuel at Conargo, there being no more fuel on the route until we ended up in Corowa.

Best laid plans of mice....

Graham not getting anything at Conargo.  The store is being renovated.  No fuel.

The bowsers were dry.

 

 

-- Edited by tripodtiger on Saturday 24th of October 2020 01:15:11 AM

Getting late in the arvo by now.  Riding into the sunset I was wishing for a peak on my helmet.  The soil turns black, which is impassable when it's wet.  It was dry after recent rain and the wheel tracks were reflective.  At one point I dragged my foot down to confirm that it was dry before I rode of the edge back into the track.

 

The fuel issue wasn't resolved by the time we reached Wanganella for a feed, a beer, a camp and a sleep. 

Billabong Creek is the longest creek in the southern hemisphere.  Commences on the northern side of Woomargama National Park, near Wantagong then flows west through places like Walbunderie, Jerilderie, Conargo & Wanganella, joining up with the Edward River at Moulamein.  See how you Europeans like pronouncing those names.

An our road building authorities persist in aligning the reflective signs directly back at approaching drivers.  So bright it's really difficult to see past them at night.  Not good if there happens to be a 'roo or a cow wandering on the road just past the sign as you approach.

There was just Graham and I and a couple in their 'van at the van park.  Well, it's a paddock with the water and power at various sites plus a shower & toilet.  Pretty quiet.  We wandered the couple of hundred metres, over the bridge, to the store for a meal and some beers.  Unfortunately I had to drink that pale stuff that seems to be most popular.  It's arguable that Toohey's Old is the best dark beer over here (Cooper's Dark maybe better.  White Rabbit is better but it's a craft beer, so exxie).  I have to say, some of the dark ales and Porters in Europe are just so much better.  Anyway, off track.  Wondering when I'm going to be able to get back there.

The store owners were fantastic.  They seemed to appreciate the lifestyle / business that comes with a remote store.  Normal hours are 9 to 7.  We'd said we'd be back but didn't arrive until 6.45.  No matter.  We got a cooked meal and some beers and they sat with us, having a red or three until nearly 9pm. 

Breakfast in the morning at 9.30 and we just chatted until about 11am.  It's just really good to not worry about what time it is.  And to chat to someone different.  And watch the gorgeous young baby doll girl wandering to an from her 'cruiser in her short dress and riding boots.  I was distracted.  No photos, fellas.  Graham said we're too old for all that.  True.  Pity.  ("For the first three quarters, I wasn't even born")

I'd been getting about 330-350km to a tank up to this point.  The difference was I was following Graham, who just potters along and doesn't twist the throttle that much.  When I looked inside the tank, after 200km, it was still more than half full.    Graham had 2 litres left after he filled from his jerry cans.  Keep that for 'ron, Justin Case.  

Pulled up looking over a billabong off Billabong Creek just for a squiz.  There looked to be ample opportunity to get off the track for some stealth camping.  There is no traffic about, as the road is just across the paddocks through farms.   Really easy riding.  Just keep your eyes up because there are a few cattle grids with turns immediately afterwards.  Suggested that you get up on the pegs to try and see past the grid.  They are always elevated over the surrounding ground level.

We had a fairly long discussion about fuel, going back to Deniliquin or not, there being no fuel on the route, making a diversion to Finley or whatever.  Still, there seemed to be plenty left in the tank.  Decision was made to just press on and see what happened.

Interesting thing then was that we were only 15k from Deni when Gra' turned east, following his sheets.

Really interesting from then on.  More turns than a pig on a spit.  We were heading generally south of east.  That meant heading north, south and, I'm pretty certain, west.  But fun gravel and natural terrain soil.  Even a bit of mud from a leaky irrigation channel.  Both hating the thought of mud, we went around it through the scrub. 

A couple of the tracks, signposted 'road', were so over grown that you could barely see the twin track.  Actually, they were the most fun as they tended to wind through the trees, making the ride more interesting.  It was most interesting when Graham dived from the left track to the right track and basically stopped in a sand drift.  Fortunately I ride a good distance behind.  Unfortunately, I'd just got on the gas to get through the sand. I did miss him.  It wasn't pretty.  I hope it's on my gopro.

 

Kept riding, waiting for it to run onto reserve.  Which it did at 441km.  We threw the couple of litres in and that got me another 25 or so on the main (so it was more like a litre).  Back onto reserve and still 40 or so km to Corowa.  By the time we got there, I was weaving from side to side to pick up fuel.  Lunch at 4'oclock to quiet the worms.

Another job is to find out where 'empty' is and measure and mark the tank.

Graham went back to the covid ridden 'DanLand' (Victoria - Australians will get the joke. And its a joke, don't get annoyed) and I figured I just have to slab it home.

 

I didn't however.  I had a wonderful ride up some connecting back tracks through the vicinity of Brocklesby, Goombargana, Walbunderie and Henty, including a really quick run up Ryan Stock Route.  Somewhat sadly, I couldn't say that I went past Burrumbuttock on this trip.

 

That's about it.  I did slab it the final 60k from Henty, given that it was getting late again and I'm loath to clobber skip at any point, let alone on a back road whilst on my bike.

I did get some beautiful views, only stopping for a couple of quick snaps.  Mainly for the green, which is different to how it's been the past few years.

Now it needs the filter cleaned and an oil change. 4000km is probably too far.  I'll be doing them at 3000 from now on.

 

Someone can tell me how to rotate the photo.  There is no rotation button in the 'edit photo' pop up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-- Edited by tripodtiger on Saturday 24th of October 2020 02:20:37 AM

I enjoyed reading that, save for Ron Later-on! love that saying

Thanks for posting

 

Finally, finally, finally - I've confirmed that the clatter was the chain on the upper guider roller.

I found some time between the other bikes to go back to it, rather than just try and ignore it. 

Some time ago, I put on a roller from some motocross bike.  Didn't seem to change the noise at all.  Then the plastic wheels disintegrated and I was left with the bearings sitting on the bolt.

I pulled the bolt out and replaced it with a piece of aluminium, set a bit higher and extending back to the frame over the swingarm pivot.  Yep, the noise was present but different and the aluminium very quickly got some score marks in it.

 

The aluminium thing got pulled and I went from 50T to 47T on the rear sprocket.  Peace at last.

 

Fresh oil & filter, clean air filter, new tyres.  Missed out on a weekend away 'cause it was predicted to belt down and blow.  It did.

 

 

 

 

I'll have to scroll back through and find out when you actually told me to look at the top roller set up.

 

Since my last time here I've had another bit of a ride.  2k to Mt Gambier and back for the Historic Master of Mac Park meeting.  I really like Mac Park, this was the first time I've been there without the historic race bikes in a trailer.  2 days each way and 2 days for the meeting. 

Really good ride, once I passed Tocumwal and got into the Millewa Forest along the Murray River.  Not been there in over 20 years, after spending several months going there routinely as part of a team investigating a triple murder (I'm sufficiently over it all now to openly admit my previous occupation, that's a good sign).  I always new there was good riding through there.  Just not much good photography or videos - it's just trees.

Slabbed it again to Elmore (Vic), where I went to the wrong place for lunch.  We waited for each other, separated by 200m.  I even rode past him, looked straight past his 701, did a ewey, then rode past again to the bakery.  He didn't ring, just rode up about 10 minutes later.

Really good route with lots of everything.  Including some deepish sand.  I've always avoided it, as much as possible.  By the time we got to Mt Gambier, I reckon I was going through it quite well.  It proved, if it was required, that steg pegz are a great thing that I should make for it.

Packed up for day 2.  The trees are a brilliant colour.

 

We bumped into the 'Back Roads' television show crew, at Rapunyap.  Unc was star struck by Heather Ewitt.

A school memorial.

On the north western side of The Grampians.

 

We followed Unc's road book, that he made from Rally Navigator.  At least until he missed a turn or whatever and I used my Zumo to find out where we were and how to get back onto his route.  Bitumen where we couldn't avoid it, lots of gravel roads, sunlight & dust in our eyes, some winding hilly bits, over grown fire trails and long disused road reserves that only once ended up with a locked gate.

 

 

 

Me and Fogorin near the end of page 2

I've been toying with the idea of a "What's the source of that rattle?" thread for a while!

Looked like a great ride out, except for the shock shock! Did something actually hit the airbox? Nice bit of welding!

 

 

Got the replacement O ring.  Did the video over again, without back ground music.

 

-- Edited by tripodtiger on Monday 8th of August 2022 07:49:47 AM

-- Edited by tripodtiger on Sunday 14th of August 2022 07:09:38 AM

Nope. It came from a paddock outside Wagga.

I've been using Pete for suspension work for a few years now. Met him through Leigh, the sidecar mate. He supports historic road racing, SART & ASBK. He and his missus are nice people too. There is a very friendly HRR community in SA. I do wish I lived there. The fact that there are so many gravel roads around the place is another enticement.

Geez that took some time and repeated effort.

Things I've learnt.

Don't use a 'should do' O ring. It probably wont.
Just get the oem one. Yes, it's something like 600 times more expensive than the $0.20 that an O ring should cost. The pay off is when you don't have to start again.

Do use the correct size copper washers for the rear oil return fitting. The diameter of the bango/bolt is small than the front & top fittings. I used the same size copper washers, 'cause it still covered the head of the bolt but, as it's tightened, the washer does not centre on the bolt. Hence, it leaks. And you have to take the header off yet again.

Fixed until next time. 20 years? Reckon I wont worry by then, at 82 I don't think I'll be able to lift my leg over the seat.

Good to hear from you Ray and that you are still upright and moving!

I know what you mean about solitary riding. I have no interest in it whatsoever, When I was into restorations, it was always a bind having to motivate myself to put mileage on the bikes to run them in - yawn!!!!

Brian

A good mate of mine has a crf300L. It is a good trail bike once you have splashed the cash for suspension that works, and is very light on fuel use. As a replacement for a ttr though, it is noticeably larger, heavier, less nimble. Don't get rid of Lil' Blue 'till you've tried one, then don't get rid of it anyway - it's what they call a retrograde step.