Kat & I rose on Saturday and decided to take a spin down the coast on the GSX. This was the first time I had ridden with her on the back of the new bike since getting it. We headed from Kingslciff down to Cabarita Beach where we stopped to checkout some of the surfing, and then turned inland towards Mooball. The GSX ate up the twistie roads and was a dream to ride two-up - no noticable difference in power and only a slight difference in handling. We reached the old Victory Hotel tee intersection at Mooball and headed to the Moo Moo Cafe down road to the left for a coffee - that's the one painted up like a cow! This place is like a mueseum - it is an old servo with the workshop area converted to a coffee shop as well as shop for older style furniture. Out the back there are a few farmyard animals to keep both kids and adults amused. We sat out the back and watched the chickens wandering amongst the tables feeding. With coffee finished, we decided to ride the highway for the 30km squirt back up to Kingy.
On arriving back at Kat's place, I rang Grizz who told me he and a couple of others were heading up to Springbrook for a ride. Kat had planned to spend the day with her daughter, so I decided to meet up with them at Canungra. Within about 15 minutes I was heading up the M1 towards Nerang. Took exit 73 and headed inland towards Canungra along the Beaudesert-Nerang Rd, arriving at the pub at about 11am. About 10 minutes later Gizz & Panda, Jim & Tracey and Dodge showed up. We downed a drink and then headed off along one of my favourite roads - up and over Beechmont, Lower Beechmont and then to Advancetown.
As the others were riding two up, Dodge and I took off. I did this road not that long ago on the VTX, but it is a different story now - the GSX loves to corner and I put her to work just trying to keep Dodge in sight - for what his bike is it can really get up and go. As I am still getting used to the feel of the GSX, I was taking it relatively easy but it was still heaps of fun. We decended through Lower Beechmont and then onto the Advancetown Pub. The others pulled in a few minutes later and we decided to head down the Numinbah Valley and lunch at the "Cafe with the Bowser" (can't remember it's name). Again Dodge and I took off for a bit of fun on the sweepers along the Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd. Opened her up a little on the straight stretches and shot from 120 to 180 in no time. It was on this stretch that I really got a feel of how well the GSX corners and being able to really power out of them - there is nothing like moving from a cruiser with limited ground clearance and onto a bike that handles the tight curves with ease. Magic!
Pulled into the cafe with the others coming in about 10 minutes later. Ordered lunch and then sat down to eat. A few others pulled in on their BMW's (must have been a club) a little later but other than that it was quiet. We made a decision over lunch to head up to Springbrook and so once finished we headed back along the Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd to the Springbrook turn-off and then began the ascent. This road was fun with sweepers and some tight turns all the way to the Gold Coast-Springbrook Rd. Turned right and headed further up and into Springbrook then onto the national park and Purlingbrook Falls. These falls are spectacular - if you desire you can actually walk down to the valley floor and beneath the water as it hits the rock pool. We stayed up the top and took in the vista from the lookout watching others way down at the base. After taking it all in we headed back to the bikes and began the journey down towards the M1.
The road back down towards the Gold Coast is about as challenging as you will find anywhere in the hinterland. Lots of switchbacks and some very slow, single lane sections, all of which I enjoyed. It was on this stretch that I forgot to lift my feet from beneath the gear lever and caught the tip of my boot on the road as I passed through a tight corner. No damage done, just a bit of a scare and I learnt from that one. Dodge and I pulled in at the military mueseum down the bottom and a few minutes later were joined by the others. We had a bit of a look at the display of guns, swords and badges in the reception area but decided against paying the $7 to walk right through. We said our goodbyes and rode out towards the M1 - it was here that I headed south to Kat's while the others turned north.
Was a great day to be back in the saddle and with over 350kms under the belt I am feeling a lot more at ease on the GSX!
On arriving back at Kat's place, I rang Grizz who told me he and a couple of others were heading up to Springbrook for a ride. Kat had planned to spend the day with her daughter, so I decided to meet up with them at Canungra. Within about 15 minutes I was heading up the M1 towards Nerang. Took exit 73 and headed inland towards Canungra along the Beaudesert-Nerang Rd, arriving at the pub at about 11am. About 10 minutes later Gizz & Panda, Jim & Tracey and Dodge showed up. We downed a drink and then headed off along one of my favourite roads - up and over Beechmont, Lower Beechmont and then to Advancetown.
As the others were riding two up, Dodge and I took off. I did this road not that long ago on the VTX, but it is a different story now - the GSX loves to corner and I put her to work just trying to keep Dodge in sight - for what his bike is it can really get up and go. As I am still getting used to the feel of the GSX, I was taking it relatively easy but it was still heaps of fun. We decended through Lower Beechmont and then onto the Advancetown Pub. The others pulled in a few minutes later and we decided to head down the Numinbah Valley and lunch at the "Cafe with the Bowser" (can't remember it's name). Again Dodge and I took off for a bit of fun on the sweepers along the Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd. Opened her up a little on the straight stretches and shot from 120 to 180 in no time. It was on this stretch that I really got a feel of how well the GSX corners and being able to really power out of them - there is nothing like moving from a cruiser with limited ground clearance and onto a bike that handles the tight curves with ease. Magic!
Pulled into the cafe with the others coming in about 10 minutes later. Ordered lunch and then sat down to eat. A few others pulled in on their BMW's (must have been a club) a little later but other than that it was quiet. We made a decision over lunch to head up to Springbrook and so once finished we headed back along the Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd to the Springbrook turn-off and then began the ascent. This road was fun with sweepers and some tight turns all the way to the Gold Coast-Springbrook Rd. Turned right and headed further up and into Springbrook then onto the national park and Purlingbrook Falls. These falls are spectacular - if you desire you can actually walk down to the valley floor and beneath the water as it hits the rock pool. We stayed up the top and took in the vista from the lookout watching others way down at the base. After taking it all in we headed back to the bikes and began the journey down towards the M1.
The road back down towards the Gold Coast is about as challenging as you will find anywhere in the hinterland. Lots of switchbacks and some very slow, single lane sections, all of which I enjoyed. It was on this stretch that I forgot to lift my feet from beneath the gear lever and caught the tip of my boot on the road as I passed through a tight corner. No damage done, just a bit of a scare and I learnt from that one. Dodge and I pulled in at the military mueseum down the bottom and a few minutes later were joined by the others. We had a bit of a look at the display of guns, swords and badges in the reception area but decided against paying the $7 to walk right through. We said our goodbyes and rode out towards the M1 - it was here that I headed south to Kat's while the others turned north.
Was a great day to be back in the saddle and with over 350kms under the belt I am feeling a lot more at ease on the GSX!
Cabarita Beach earlier in the day
Cabarita again
At the pub in Canungra
Leaving Canungra
On the road
Advancetown Pub
The bikes at Springbrook
Portrait time
Long way down
The falls showing a couple of people way down the bottom
Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to reach the pedals on this piece of shit??
Labels: On the road
posted by Beaker at 7:17 AM
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