Thinking about The Grand Challenge, what bike?

[FJRider]

Piss off you bastard I'm already bidding on it, plates are dead so there would be a cost to re rego it but it would be a good choice if the price doesn't get to high

If it was on the mainland ... I would bid on it too ...

Either side stand cut out switch, or solinoid switch issues I'm picking ...

The second year i did the GC a NSR80 finished it

You would need a sense of humour to do it on one of those ... and a thick sheepskin on it ...

[nzspokes]

that would be a good bike, well serviced for the first years of its life.
electrics would have been boosted for police work.
And it has plenty of luggage space,
and another trusty shafty

those ones FJ listed, would be ok if you wanted spares,
you don't want to buy a non running non reg fixer upper,
More trouble than they are worth
They are not on the road for a reason.....

Carjam report on it looks good. I kinda like it to be honest as it has all that I want on it. A tidy up and a bit of paint would go a long way.

[FJRider]

that would be a good bike, well serviced for the first years of its life.

True ... well ... serviced anyway ... Oil and filters changed at the prescribed periods ... by the apprentice at the shops with the Goverment contract usually ...

electrics would have been boosted for police work.

Actually they weren't ... a few flashing lights and a radio were all the "extra's they had ... very little stopped time, so recharging was not an issue ....

And was it Police, or MOT use ... ???

And it has plenty of luggage space,

those panniers would struggle to hold a (cheap) sleeping bag ....

and another trusty shafty

More people should "Get shafted" ...

Good advice to those moving up to bigger bikes, from the learner stages ...

those ones FJ listed, would be ok if you wanted spares,
you don't want to buy a non running non reg fixer upper,
More trouble than they are worth
They are not on the road for a reason.....

And YOU never have ... ??? and all the bikes you have aquired were LEGAL and running ... ??? and still are ... ???

Not legal does not mean not fixable ... by somebody with ability (or friends) capable of fixing them ...

[Subike]

And YOU never have ... ??? and all the bikes you have aquired were LEGAL and running ... ??? and still are ... ???

Not legal does not mean not fixable ... by somebody with ability (or friends) capable of fixing them ...

Just because I owned and operated a business recycleing vehicles for 10 years, and in that time trashed more bikes than you have ridden.
And the implication that I acquired bikes in any other way....sad comment FJ
Add to that I am a qualified Mechanic, I don't need friends to "fix en up"
Now where does that imply that my own bikes were crap. How many new out of the box bikes have you owned FJ?
Bought new, 380 Suzuki
Bought new 1100 sportster
Bought new 250 Kawasaki LTD
Got Married, end of new bikes
Now if I was to list the other bikes I have had in my possession the page is not long enough.
My current ride? You survive two marriages and within 3 years of the last one buy a new bike...
As for the comment on the Public Service garage, that serviced Police & Mot vehicles....well.. never seen one break down in a chase.
Requirements for a garage to service a police or mot vehicle are a little more stringent than the local back yarder that you pay peanuts to.

[FJRider]

Just because I owned and operated a business recycleing vehicles for 10 years, and in that time trashed more bikes than you have ridden.
And the implication that I acquired bikes in any other way....sad comment FJ
Add to that I am a qualified Mechanic, I don't need friends to "fix en up"
Now where does that imply that my own bikes were crap. How many new out of the box bikes have you owned FJ?
Bought new, 380 Suzuki
Bought new 1100 sportster
Bought new 250 Kawasaki LTD
Got Married, end of new bikes
Now if I was to list the other bikes I have had in my possession the page is not long enough.
My current ride? You survive two marriages and within 3 years of the last one buy a new bike...
As for the comment on the Public Service garage, that serviced Police & Mot vehicles....well.. never seen one break down in a chase.
Requirements for a garage to service a police or mot vehicle are a little more stringent than the local back yarder that you pay peanuts to.

I NEVER MEAN'T TO IMPLY ANY OF YOUR AQUISITIONS WERE NOT LEGAL. IF IT SEEMS LIKE I DID .... MY APOLOGIES ... That was NOT what I meant. NOR did I intend for ANY implication ANY of YOUR bikes were CRAP. AGAIN .. MY APOLIGIES IF IT SEEMED SO. Although how YOU came to that conclusion evades me ...

I have never bought new ... in a lot of the cases , they WERE fixer-uppers ... (fixed myself usually/sometimes, with the aid of a WORKSHOP MANUAL ...) My finances never could afford such luxuries as NEW.

As I lived in Trentham for a few years (Back when Police and MOT lived there) ... I am familiar with their servicing practices (then) ...

Most of the goverment vehicles were kept untill the warranty's ran out. (Still do I think) ... much the same as rental cars ...

And in '85 ... there weren't as many chases ...

[nzspokes]

Think my training for the event is going well. Went out with a mate today and we only did 180ks, feel ripped offby the lack of Ks today. But hes snoozing on the couch.

[FJRider]

Think my training for the event is going well. Went out with a mate today and we only did 180ks, feel ripped offby the lack of Ks today. But hes snoozing on the couch.

Just to get the idea what it's like ... do the SAME trip NINE times in the SAME day ... (under 24 hours ...

[Matt_TG]

This one ... ??? Possibly a side-stand cut-out switch issue ... ???

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-427194822.htm

My FJ did the exact same thing as detailed on that auction, in conjunction with the fuel pump failing as it turned out Bike spluttered to a stop, thankfully I was only 2 kms from home, but she's a heavy cow to push for 2 kms. Anyway, it turned out that the ignition fuse had blown, the neutral light would come on and when I pressed start the fuel and oil red lights would flash but nothing else happened. Once I replaced the fuse she turned over but didn't start. Tracked the next problem to be the fuel pump, which was not working - replaced that and all good

The above bike may have a similar fuse issue.

[FJRider]

My FJ did the exact same thing as detailed on that auction, in conjunction with the fuel pump failing as it turned out Bike spluttered to a stop, thankfully I was only 2 kms from home, but she's a heavy cow to push for 2 kms. Anyway, it turned out that the ignition fuse had blown, the neutral light would come on and when I pressed start the fuel and oil red lights would flash but nothing else happened. Once I replaced the fuse she turned over but didn't start. Tracked the next problem to be the fuel pump, which was not working - replaced that and all good

The above bike may have a similar fuse issue.

I tried to start MY FJ on the sunday of a Brass Monkey a year or so back ... in gear it was ... side stand DOWN ... oh the shame and ridicule ...

[LBD]

Just to get the idea what it's like ... do the SAME trip NINE times in the SAME day ... (under 24 hours ...

Some us gotta be barking mad

But about training....it is good for you to understand your limitations..I consider that to be the single most important safety factor for endurance riding....knowing the signs when your body wants to nod off.

The second most important thing is not letting ego get in the way, If you feel you may need a break....stop and have a break...I am a fan of the 30 minute power nap...anywhere any time.

Get up at 3 am and go for a ride out in the country on a quiet road....I know many of us find dawn and the next hour or so very difficult as the eyes strain to adjust to the changing light...for me that is when I am most at risk.

Once you understand yourself and your limits, then practicing before a run in my opinion, is not that necessary...although the riding is fun...I know others will disagree with me on that score.

[FJRider]

Some us gotta be barking mad

A pack of loonies the lot of us ...

But about training....it is good for you to understand your limitations..I consider that to be the single most important safety factor for endurance riding....knowing the signs when your body wants to nod off.

A 1000 km day ride is a good practice ride, actually two are better. One starting at 6 AM ... the other starting at 6 PM.

The mob of Elephants crossing the road ahead IS a giveaway ... If you want to sleep ... try to. If you can, you need it. If you cant, you dont need it.

The second most important thing is not letting ego get in the way, If you feel you may need a break....stop and have a break...I am a fan of the 30 minute power nap...anywhere any time.

yep ... Ego's can kill ya. What you ride is not that high on the priority list either.

You dont need a sleeping bag, if your gear keeps you warm at speed ... at night. Stopped and lying down ... it will do the same.

Get up at 3 am and go for a ride out in the country on a quiet road....I know many of us find dawn and the next hour or so very difficult as the eyes strain to adjust to the changing light...for me that is when I am most at risk.

I find the most tiring part is just at daybreak. A 10 minute stop for coffee from the flask is good. (the same way I like my women ... Hot and strong ... black for better effect)

Once you understand yourself and your limits, then practicing before a run in my opinion, is not that necessary...although the riding is fun...I know others will disagree with me on that score.

Knowing the effects of stopping ... Time stopped can never be regained. 5 minutes stopped can mean 10-15 minutes lost untill you get back up to speed... with your head in the right thinking mode.

Faith in your OWN ability is a plus. If you doubt yourself ... go home.

Dont think too far ahead. Two things on your mind ... where you get the next tank of gas, and the hundred metres of road ahead of you. Think further ahead and it will do your head in.

I have yet to hear of anybody complete a 1000 miler ... and say it was easy. If it was ... everybody would be doing it ...

[LBD]

The mob of Elephants crossing the road ahead IS a giveaway ...

I have yet to hear of anybody complete a 1000 miler ... and say it was easy. If it was ... everybody would be doing it ...

Pink?...Truth be told Elephants are not my nemisis...I am more of a Camel bloke....late one night on a very quiet country road, when I was a little weary.... there was a camel right in the middle of the road, in the head lights. (Toyota) On the brakes...then I thought Camel? I must be halucinating....then , as I watched it lope sedately off into the meadow... I remembered where I was.

Its not easy and thats why we do it...for the fun... the challange...good times...bonhomie on KB dribbling about our acheivements...MLC... and other really wild reasons that made sense at the time...

[FJRider]

Pink?...Truth be told Elephants are not my nemisis ...

Its not easy and thats why we do it...for the fun... the challange...good times...bonhomie on KB dribbling about our acheivements...MLC... and other really wild reasons that made sense at the time..

Oh the things you may see ...

mmmmm ... even at the time ... making sense of it usually eluded me ... however ... I did it anyway.

It was only fun after you finished ...

During ... there was too much to do and think about ...

As for the bad/scarey times DURING ... I prefer to forget. Otherwise I'd NEVER do it again.

Funny things memorys ...

[Pedrostt500]

Reading some earlier posts on this thread, about blowing head lamps, here is some thing i made up and fitted to an old XL500, and worked reasonably well for a 6volt system. ( there is a thread with pics in classic bikes, though you may need to search a bit for it.)

Buy a driving light set that uses, MR16 halogen bulbs from an auto sparky or repco or Supa Cheap,
Buy 2 MR16 LED CREE LED ( Cat No ZD-0352 ) they are about $ 70.00 each from Jay car, they put out 270lm each for brightness, take the halogen bulbs out of the driving light set and fit the LEDs, and mount to your bike as you see fit, I wired mine into the park light circuit, and fitted a fuse, as a precaution. these lights worked well but were no substitute for a head lamp, but would get you out of the crap, utill you could fit the spare bulb you carry with you.

I did a lot of driving between CHCH and Aucks about 7 or 8 yrs ago, some times we could be driving for up to 48 to 52 hrs at one time ( no we wern't driving trucks), I found plenty of fresh cold drinking water, was the best for keeping awake while driving for long hours, to many Vee's and the likes just crashed the body into a worse place than where you started, lots of coffee and no doz had a simmilar effect. There is no substitute for sleep, so as said above a power nap is a good thing.

I think good preperation of both bike and rider is a good thing, service and tune the bike, new or near new tyres won't let you down as near bald ones will, and carry a few spare bits in your tool kit, ie head light bulb, spare break & or clutch leaver, a roll of insulation tape, a few cable ties, a spare chain link joiner, etc.
As for the rider some mental preperation is not to be over looked, as well as doing some practice Ks.

[Gremlin]

Think my training for the event is going well. Went out with a mate today and we only did 180ks, feel ripped offby the lack of Ks today. But hes snoozing on the couch.

Just remember, re distance, it's also cumulative. Ie, 360km isn't just 2x 180km when you get to 800+km. I also find that going over the 1000km mark and towards 1600km is much more difficult than doing 1000km.

Some us gotta be barking mad

But about training....it is good for you to understand your limitations..I consider that to be the single most important safety factor for endurance riding....knowing the signs when your body wants to nod off.

Get up at 3 am and go for a ride out in the country on a quiet road....I know many of us find dawn and the next hour or so very difficult as the eyes strain to adjust to the changing light...for me that is when I am most at risk.

Once you understand yourself and your limits, then practicing before a run in my opinion, is not that necessary...although the riding is fun...I know others will disagree with me on that score.

I believe one of the hardest periods is shortly after your body is convinced that on a normal timetable you should now be asleep. Because I sleep at variable times, around 9-10am my body believes the emergency is over, someone is now taking over, and it's time to sleep. Hence, I struggle at that time, but I'm fine during the night, dawn etc. Other thing is terrain. Give me a twisty road, I'm wide awake. Straight roads are absolutely my nemesis, and this can literally cycle as I encounter different terrain.

I think practising is important. I put it under the category of ride fit, which, when doing these distances, really is a factor. Anybody can sit on a seat for an hour or two, but try doing it for 10+ hours. The more you do it, the easier it is, both physically and mentally. Essentially, it's just like training for a marathon or suchlike.

btw, I'm not crazy, you're all the crazy ones

I have yet to hear of anybody complete a 1000 miler ... and say it was easy. If it was ... everybody would be doing it ...

Actually, I found the 2010 Grand Challenge quite easy. Trotted home in 17h 40min I think, didn't have the usual "why on earth am I doing this?" etc. Ride was actually easier than some of the training ones, but I had done 8000km of prep riding in the 1-1.5months prior.