Great ride: Melbourne to Sydney

[yuckhil]

G'day all,

A note on my experience screaming a GSF250VY up the east coast, from Melbourne to Sydney.  It was just before NYE, and the roads were nice and quiet.  Through rain and hail and bugs and wombats.  Well, no wombats, luckily.  In fact I saw hardly any roadkill.  Or heavy traffic.

One downside to the ride was the 8,500 RPM that she churns to stay at 100 kph.  I've been planning to lower my sprocket ratio for quieter freeway runs, but didn't get around to doing it before the trip.  I found that sixth gear struggles to stay at 100 kph on steepish climbs, unless you really open up the throttle.  Fifth gear copes easily, but after riding several hours at 8,500 I'm hesitant to push the revs higher.  Hence, I now think it's better to stay with the stock ratio, unless a lower ratio improves in-city fuel consumption.  Thoughts, anyone?

I bunked down at Eden, which was absolutely full; I finally found a very homely B&B just past the strip.  'Almost Paradise' actually is a big home, and the resident couple rent out the spare bedrooms.  Very clean and comfy and $50 for the night.
Once you're into NSW, the ride changes noticeably.  Although the flora is interesting, the roads are somehow less appealing.  I think the shoulder gets narrower or something, or else my butt started aching, but I didn't enjoy the second day as much.  Also, something (in the valve-train?) developed a loud ticking noise in sync with engine RPM and fuel consumption increased about 20% thereafter.

Overall, a very enjoyable ride and highly recommended.  I'm only sorry I never got down the Great Ocean Road while I was in VIC.  Maybe next summer.  Now, I have to go through the re-reg rigmarole at the RTA and drop her off for a service.  I'm in Roseville, a few km north of Artarmon and have heard good things about Lloyd Penn Motorcycles.  Thoughts/suggestions, anybody?

Thanks for reading and have a great 2008!
CheerS!

[B6mick]

Firstly gday, and a belated 

The wee Suzuki 250 scream pot, great ride, and bloody reliable engine, we had 2 off its predecessor the across as courier bikes, both had well over 150,000 ks on them when we sold them off, (I’m lead to believe the newer bandit motor is even better) hardly ever had to put a spanner to them.

But Melbourne to Sydney by the way of the coast, in 2 days would just about put you in the iron butt club. In fact on a 250 I think it should. 

Funny part is we must have crossed paths, we left Eden, new years eve, heading back to Melb Via Buchan Caves and Lakes Entrance.

[aussiebandit]

I second the 

You must be mad, or just unbelievably dedicated, riding a 250 from Melbourne to Sydney along the coast roads in such quick time

[swagzz]

only 1 thing to say other than Hi
     get a sheepskin,even if you have to Umm borrow it off a kiwi