Got together with a few other Brisbane guys from the GSX1400 forum on Sunday for a blat heading north. We took the old tried & trusted route of Samford, Dayboro, Mt Mee, Woodford, Maleny, Kenilworth and then continued up through Obi Obi to have lunch at Mapleton. The only rider not on a GSX, Disco on his Beemer, led the ride out and he set a fair pace for most of the day, especially through the slower twisty sections.
We met and started the ride at Mt Gravatt Maccas and rode up the freeway, through town and on out to Samford. As I had never ridden with most of these guys before, I used this stretch to get a feel for their style of riding - something I like to do so I know where to position myself in the group. They all seemed to handle their bikes well. We pulled into the servo at Samford (the other meeting point) and hung around for about 15 mins waiting for any other riders - no one showed so we set off. I decided to position myself behind Disco up the front.
For those of you that don't know the road from Samford out to the highway at D'Aguilar, it is one of the most popular rides around Brisbane. There are some long sweeping sections as well as a fair bit of slower twisty uphill and downhill bits - it really is a fantastic road, although not the widest in some parts, and we utilised every inch of it! We were very lucky in that there were not a lot of cars on the road, so we managed to stay pretty well together.
We rolled into Woodford and stopped for coffee while trying to warm up a bit. Once we finished comparing notes and having a look over the bikes, we continued on to Maleny - another great stretch of riding although more straights which gave us all a chance to stretch the legs of the GSX's. The turn off up through the forest provided us with a great stint of corners before opening up for the last section of road into Maleny. We bypassed the main part of town and turned left towards Kenilworth. Not too far on, we pulled up on the side of the road for some pix. It was here, after the pix that Freak had to leave us, so the 6 remaining GSX's and the Beemer took off for Kenilworth.
We reached our destination but rode through, deciding to head up to Mapleton via Obi Obi. Part of this road is sensational - it incorporates a 15% incline, is narrow and twisty and splits into two seperate single lanes for a good part of the climb - didn't the GSX's (and us riders) love that!! We pulled into the pub just on midday and got us some tucker. Whilst eating we all decided to follow the same route back which was fine by me.
The ride home was as good as the ride there - we left Budge up near the turn off to the coast as he was staying up this way overnight. ODC on the cafe racer style bike took the lead from here and man, he was a hard one to try and catch. He had a little more grunt than Disco's Beemer and that made it a little more fun for me. We actually broke away from the others and eneded up waited for them a couple of times whenever we changed direction.
The last stint down into Dayboro was the highlight of the day for me - I tried to keep with ODC as he powered through the tight stuff. This was the first time I was able to test both the bike and myself but I was still a little cautious and so he was able to get away. We pulled up in Dayboro and the others followed not too far behind, got a drink, said our goodbyes and then headed back to Brisbane.
I was knackered when I finally got back home, but I had one hell of a grin on my face - what a day!!
We met and started the ride at Mt Gravatt Maccas and rode up the freeway, through town and on out to Samford. As I had never ridden with most of these guys before, I used this stretch to get a feel for their style of riding - something I like to do so I know where to position myself in the group. They all seemed to handle their bikes well. We pulled into the servo at Samford (the other meeting point) and hung around for about 15 mins waiting for any other riders - no one showed so we set off. I decided to position myself behind Disco up the front.
For those of you that don't know the road from Samford out to the highway at D'Aguilar, it is one of the most popular rides around Brisbane. There are some long sweeping sections as well as a fair bit of slower twisty uphill and downhill bits - it really is a fantastic road, although not the widest in some parts, and we utilised every inch of it! We were very lucky in that there were not a lot of cars on the road, so we managed to stay pretty well together.
We rolled into Woodford and stopped for coffee while trying to warm up a bit. Once we finished comparing notes and having a look over the bikes, we continued on to Maleny - another great stretch of riding although more straights which gave us all a chance to stretch the legs of the GSX's. The turn off up through the forest provided us with a great stint of corners before opening up for the last section of road into Maleny. We bypassed the main part of town and turned left towards Kenilworth. Not too far on, we pulled up on the side of the road for some pix. It was here, after the pix that Freak had to leave us, so the 6 remaining GSX's and the Beemer took off for Kenilworth.
We reached our destination but rode through, deciding to head up to Mapleton via Obi Obi. Part of this road is sensational - it incorporates a 15% incline, is narrow and twisty and splits into two seperate single lanes for a good part of the climb - didn't the GSX's (and us riders) love that!! We pulled into the pub just on midday and got us some tucker. Whilst eating we all decided to follow the same route back which was fine by me.
The ride home was as good as the ride there - we left Budge up near the turn off to the coast as he was staying up this way overnight. ODC on the cafe racer style bike took the lead from here and man, he was a hard one to try and catch. He had a little more grunt than Disco's Beemer and that made it a little more fun for me. We actually broke away from the others and eneded up waited for them a couple of times whenever we changed direction.
The last stint down into Dayboro was the highlight of the day for me - I tried to keep with ODC as he powered through the tight stuff. This was the first time I was able to test both the bike and myself but I was still a little cautious and so he was able to get away. We pulled up in Dayboro and the others followed not too far behind, got a drink, said our goodbyes and then headed back to Brisbane.
I was knackered when I finally got back home, but I had one hell of a grin on my face - what a day!!
Our coffee stop at Woodford
The bikes at a stop we had just outside of Maleny
All 7 of us and our bikes
The odd one out - Disco's Beemer
Mine
ODC's black one with a set of really cool looking cafe racer style bars
Lot's of bling-bling on Freak's thing!
Stopped on the side of the road coming down from Maleny
Labels: GSX, On the road
posted by Beaker at 4:42 AM
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4 Comments:
sounded like a good day , pics look ok for suzies lol
Mate, long time no hear. When we gonna catch up for a ride?
The grins on all 7 of your faces says it all. You have beautiful country to ride in.
Hi, would love to get some info on the brand of bars on the black gsx1400 fitted with the cafe racer style bars
Cheers Simon
simo1964@yahoo.com.au
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