Eating Places -

[aussiebandit]

Well guys, got  back from what can only be described as one of the most boring f$%&^ed up rides I've ever been on.  We covered around 200km but there was only around 40km of corners.  Boring as bat shyte. In fact only two good things came out of it.  

1.   We did find a nice place to eat.  So if any of you are unfortunate enough to be touring around the western part of the Riverina I can highly recommend the Ex Servicemans Club in Lockhart.  It's a Chinesse eatery - as most of these seem to be - with some Aussie meals, a good kids menu, and a very reasonably priced Lunch Specials Menu.  Average main meal is around the $15.00 mark.  The Lunch specials and kids menu average is $7.00.  The servings generous to say the least.  Most of us struggled to finish the meals.  Oh and the beer is cold.

2.   For the 211km I used 12lt of go juice - in theory that means I can get 350km on a tank.  I doubt I'll ever get such good milage again.

As for the ride, the least said the better.  Hell, even my 10yr old said it was boring.

[B6mick]

Well mate at least you got to go for a ride.

I got home friday night after work, with all intentions of pulling the front end down, replacing the head stem bearings fork seals, in the course of the evening, and part of saturday. So on sunday I could ring up our new member from up in the hills, and head out with him and his mates down to PI for the stone run........

Ya know what they say about making plans, and that bloody murphy struck again. I had the new head stem bearings, fork oil, fork seals.
The one thing I didn't have nore did I think that I would need, new dust seals. I knew I was in pooh when I levered the old dust seal out and it collapsed on its self. The rubber seal had perished and the steel ring thing inside had rusted away. I rang my local suzuki dealership, no go, will order them from suzuki aust monday should have them tuesday. Well stuff me standing, I ring them today (monday) have you guys ordered them in. Oh yeh they will be 3 weeks. Then somewhere in the old grey matter I remembered have an old style Ducati dust seals lying around in the shed. And the second best part is it only took 2 minutes to find them. The best part is they fit. I must have known, hmmm like 25 years ago that they would come in handy one day. The worst part it I didn't remember them on saturday. Gee and I forgotten about owning that piece of junk GT860 way back then.

[aussiebandit]

Isn't strange how shyte like that happens.

Is there some sort of strange cosmic commonality between Ducati's and Suzuki's, or is it just plain dumb luck.

When the Treasueres Ducati lost the gear knob thingy, I found out that the Ocky tie down lugs on a B12 (the ones you take of to fit a rack) fit straight into the Gear change shaft of a M750.

Oh well, at least you won't be without the bike for 3 weeks, and another upside is that YOUR dealer actually remembered to order the parts.  Our local Suzi dealer doesn't even stock a Suzuki bike, let alone spare parts for one.  Rumour has it though that they will be/have lost the dealership, there is another bike shop trying for it, but their bank isn't playing the game at the moment.

[B6mick]

Rumour has it though that they will be/have lost the dealership, there is another bike shop trying for it, but their bank isn't playing the game at the moment.

Oh yeh, suzuki aust do not pull any punches when it comes dealerships, you tow the line or get out.

[aussiebandit]

I'm actually surprised they've lasted this long.  They haven't had a new Suzuki on the floor for at least 18 months.  Plenty of Honda's, Ducati's and KTM's.

One guy I know of went in there got a quote on a new VSTROM 1000, then jumped on the net and got one shipped down from the Gold Coast for $2000.00 cheaper including the transport, and they even threw in a $50.00 petrol voucher.  And, they got it to him quicker than the local guys reckoned they could "'cause there's none in Australia mate".

There's other stories I've heard were people have written to Suzuki to complain about them.  You go in looking for a Suzuki and all they want to sell is Honda's or Ducati's or KTM's if your after a dirt bike.

The sad thing is that 3 year ago when I bought the B12 from them I couldn't have faulted the service I got.  The salesman could easily have sold me the GSX1400 along with aftermarket screen, rack, etc etc.  But, after talking with him he said "Mick what you really want is a Bandit, they've a decent half fairing, better handling around town and a fatter mid range, plus they're 2 grand cheaper......which colour do you want"

That bloke left about 6 months later, the two guys in Spares and Service left not long after.  Now, unless you're into dirt bikes they don't really want to help.

Needless to say I've taken my business elsewhere.  Now I'm getting good customer service and reasonable prices - granted not always genuine, but I've never been a stickler for genuine anyway, shyte I don't ride a HD.

[B6mick]

I've never been a stickler for genuine anyway, shyte I don't ride a HD.

I can tell ya for fact, after 20 years of owning and running a HD, the very last thing ya put into a Hardly Dangerous is, genuine stuff, its twice as likely to break down, and at twice the price. thats if it fits at all. Bloody Hawgs my foot, more like a regular pain in the butt. Gee I have one thing to be happy about my first wife screwing me over, she forced me to sell it, and with the very little money I was left with I just managed to afford a 2nd hand fj1200. God bless her, it was the best thing she ever did for me.

[aussiebandit]

I've said it before, I'll say it again.  I can't complain too much about HD's, they bought the Bandit and the Treasurers M750.

But it's Toyata's that let us by a newer car - and for a change we actually bought something she sells - a Camry.