OzSTOC
General Category => LONG DISTANCE RIDING, Proper preparation, Safety and Tips => Topic started by: alfy12 on February 07, 2024, 09:31:49 AM
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Hi guys,
First post here. Planning on heading to Cameron's corner with some mates. Has anyone done this trip on an ST? I would fit suitable tyres and soft panniers incase of an off. Any thoughts appreciated.
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I've looked at doing it, but not on an ST. I doubt the roads are ST friendly.
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That was my thought as well. My mates reckon it will be fine but they ride BMW GS adventure bikes. I also have a Boulevard C50 cruiser but I don't think it is suitable either.
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The 1100 is not suitable for rough dirt roads.
I have ridden on a few dirt roads while marshaling for push bike events. The steering is terrible, and the is way too heavy..
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Can't speak for the ST1100, but the ST1300 is capable on gravel roads. More capable if the road is in reasonable, graded condition. The rider's ability is an important factor, and how many km of gravel road. I'm comfortable with good gravel and shorter distances.
This was about 30km each way, to and from the Cold Flame Rally 2021.
(https://i.ibb.co/k0Gzz0Y/IMG-4689.jpg)
The trip to the Cold Flame Rally 2023 was more eventful, 50m of gravel road works brought me unstuck.
(https://i.ibb.co/h9S5tGJ/331177533-552169197010357-7435797214076722846-n.jpg)
Providing the road surface is not slippery wet, gluggy clay, ridden sensibly, slowly an ST will get anywhere.
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Perhaps i should clarify a bit. On loose gravel the bike is very jittery. Yes is can be traversed, but the effort and concentration required was very tiring. I would not attempt a ride of any great distance as it is too exhausting. Keep away from the soft shoulders, the is an 1100 magnet hidden in there..
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I've done that trip in a 4WD, and do not consider the roads to be suitable for at ST. We came across a motorcycle trailer that had been pulled by a big "adventure" bike and the the suspension on the trailer was broken by the corrugations. The tailer had been abandoned...
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Out of interest, how far would you guys take an ST on that road. The farthest west I've done is Cunnamulla. According to Google the road looks passable out to Thargomindah, but there's no street view beyond Thargie.
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From Queensland not sure. From NSW (Broken Hill) I am led to believe the Silver City Highway is now sealed until the border.
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.... According to Google the road looks passable out to Thargomindah, but there's no street view beyond Thargie.
Probably means that it's not sealed.
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Thanks for your input guys. I think I'll just follow the adventure bikes in my 4wd.
I'm not a great dirt bike rider so that wouldn't help.
Cheers
Alf
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If you arent a dirt bike rider, then you sure dont want to try it on an 1100...
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I reckon whoever owns this ST would give it a go! :grin
(https://i.ibb.co/Rzjt2Dm/ST1100-Dirtbike.jpg)
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Out of interest, how far would you guys take an ST on that road. The farthest west I've done is Cunnamulla. According to Google the road looks passable out to Thargomindah, but there's no street view beyond Thargie.
The road is sealed all the way from Cunnamulla,Thargomindah over the QLD/SA border to Innamincka
Travelled in March 2021 would rate road surface reasonable to good
The road around through Eromanga back to Quilpie Charleville is the same
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I find the 1100 handles better than the 1300 on dirt roads.
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There are very good dirt roads and there are shockers. Like Pete I've taken a 4WD out on the Tibooburra to Camerons Corner road and the corrugations were so bad it shook the driving lights off my mates bull bar. There are two issues taking bikes out on dirt, the first is weight - any amount of sand and handling goes out the door and a fun day can go pear shaped very quickly and I think we'd all agree the ST's are not light bikes. My V-Strom is more than 100kg lighter and it would still be a handful on some sections of that road. The second issue is suspension. The ST has limited suspension travel and is ideally suited for fast touring on well formed sealed roads. You will shake the sh!t out of an ST on the Cameron Corner road.