Newcastle to Darwin via Vic and S.A

[Sid Mitchell]

Well about time I posted my 7000+ km ride on the black 2011 ST1300
Flew Darwin to Sydney Friday night 5th March 2020. Saturday morning saw me off to Motociclo to buy a Dry Rider waxed cotton jacket. I shat myself when I found out the current price of a Belstaff replacement for my old one ($1200+ ) I'm now a fat bastard and it must have shrunk over the years...well that's my story anyway. Then off to MCA warehouse in CBD to buy Helmet, gloves, tools, compressor, tyre kit and battery pack. Train to Newcastle to pick the ST up that arvo (Saturday) and quick familiarisation ride of 50km. Odometer was 33628km. The seller had thrown in a fee jackets and gloves so gave them to my young fella who was on deployment to RAAF Williamtown at the time - too small for me! Full luggage kit including pan euro top box, all with Honda liner bags plus a tank bag thrown in also. 0400 start next morning (Sunday 7th) to Temora via the Hume - love my airshows. Up to a mates place near Mudgee that night so 996km knocked over on day one of bike ownership. Back to Newcastle for some local riding ovefxs few days and to buy camping kit - Furno360 cooking kit, then to Kmart for a rechargeable pump, airbed, 3 man tent and tarp.
Off to Scone for the day on Thursday 11th to look at a spitfire and hurricane warbirds. Saturday 13th off to Hunter Valley Air Show.
Monday 15th headed to Cootamundra for the night. Wagga RAAF Heritage museum Tuesday 16th to reminisce about my RAAF training days and down to Myrtleford in Vic for the night at a mates place - much red wine downed.
Quick run scross to Bendigo to my brothers place and another night on the turps 17th. Next day stop at Hnill RAAF Base Museum and on to Adelaide for the night of 18th March.
North from Adelaide on the 19th to camp at Bon Bon rest area with a detour at Spuds servo to look at Woomera and the Missile Park being repainted for the RAAF's Centenary year.
20th saw the Bon Bon to Alice Springs fun for a night or two.
22nd was the long run of 1071km from Alice Springs to RAAF Base Tindal (son had returned from deployment in Williamtown by then)
The last day was the 330km ride from K-town to Darwin - probably the shittiest road conditons of the whole 7000km trip.
Odometer 40895km. An engine oil plus filter and a fresh refill of the diff oil all sorted first day back home. New back tyre on the books but bloody hell.... the bike performed perfectly and so easy to ride even on gravel roads and through some twistys over the great dividing range back roads.
If my body could handle it I would coukd have jumped back on and ridden to Perth.
Upgrades- could do with cruise control (we all know this anyway). New seat will be on the cards also.... not bad if you are only doing 500km a day with a fee stops planned.
I wasn't a fan of tank bags but have gone to the dark side - a usefull accessory indeed especially when it holds so securely using the magnets.
Best tank range was 540km with 40km to go on the gauge/trip meter - on the Ararat to Adelaide leg - pretty flat countryside. Mostly getting 17-19km/ltr at about 120kph.

[Williamson]

Well about time I posted my 7000+ km ride on the black 2011 ST1300

Impressive first coupla weeks.

... Up to a mates place near Mudgee that night ... 

We had an RTE later that week.

... Off to Scone for the day on Thursday 11th ... .

I was there on the Wednesday.

... Tuesday 16th to reminisce about my RAAF training days and down to Myrtleford ...

I was there on the Monday.

...  New seat will be on the cards also ...

Sounds like you need a RDL saddle - as per other thread.

[StinkyPete]

Thanks for the report Sid.   If I can't be riding, I love to read about the adventures that others are having.

[Biggles]

That's an outing to kill for- all that great travelling with airshows and museums thrown in!
You're right about the bike- there are few as good as it in its class- a Sports Tourer with range.  And then there's the affordability of ownership.
What RON fuel have you decided to use?  And if you can't get it...?

[Sid Mitchell]

Cheers for the comments all. Forgot to mention I ticked off one from the bucket list.... a lap of Bathurst on the first day. So weird doing it at 60kph as the 'wallopers' were out and about. Pretty impressive how the Brock's and Harvey's plus others threw those old commodores and fords around such a narrow track at breakneck speeds. Balls of steel indeed!
In response,
I will chase up the saddle/seat in the other forum. Heard Corbin and Sargent(?) make a good seat also - supply and excessive $$$ will be the main concern.
Biggles - I used RON 98 and RON 95 (when 98 was not available.) Had to use about 10lt of RON 91 mid-South Australia to top up the tank of 98 - nothing higher available at the time but no obvious difference.
New 180 fitted to rear today - off to get green slip then pits for compliance check and rego on Monday... not looking forward to handing over the 'hard-earned' for rego but what else can we do.

[ruSTynutz]

I will chase up the saddle/seat in the other forum. Heard Corbin and Sargent(?) make a good seat also - supply and excessive $$$ will be the main concern.

I bought a Sargent seat some months back and so far I'm finding it an improvement on the original. 
I also reckon it looks much nicer than the original seat as well...

Oh, and the good wife has given it her stamp of approval for comfort and looks too!

https://www.amcmotorcycles.com/contents/en-uk/d2679_honda_sargent_seats.html