The Wombat A 2006 BMW R1200GS
I had a Ducati Monster S4 at the time and after watching the Long Way Round wondered what all the fuss was about?
So I booked a test ride and fell in love at once. It's the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden.
At the time I had to order from the factory and wait three months for it to arrive, so I ordered the low seat (being short legged) the wire wheels and the chrome exhaust. I picked it up in July of 2006 (You can see the Ducati in the background)
The seat has since been replaced with the standard one after the suspension has settled and it sits a lot lower when it's loaded up. That has a sheepskin cover on it, nothing else required.
Luggage
Panniers took a long time to decide on, I considered soft and hard. I bought a set of Oxford soft sports panniers just after I picked the bike up for a ride though the centre of Australia and on to the Whitsunday Islands (they were the only ones that missed the exhaust)
After deciding to ride to the UK, I finally bought a set of Jesse Panniers from the United States, I still think they were the best choice I’ve ever made, being strong, a good size – 110ltrs in total, with good locks, and very strong mountings. The also are no wider than the handlebars, which I reckon is important because if the handlebars will go through the rest of the bike has room!!
I bought a sewing machine and made the inner bags myself from strong canvas.
A Touratech top box completed the hard luggage, while a Touratech tank bag carry’s all the valuables.
The only other mods that I have done is to add a Stebil Nautilus horn (loud!!), some engine crash bars (just in case!) A front mudguard extension to keep the crap off the engine, and lately a RAM mounting for the new Garmin Sat Nav.
The other thing I’ve purchased recently is a GS911 diagnostic tool. Ok it’s not going to stop the faults if they occur but it will give me a fighting chance of telling exactly what is wrong, and be able to organise to get the bits.
The Yamaha A 1983 XT600 Tenere
I bought this bike for an old mate of mine Mike Dorrington who wanted to come over to Australia and have a biking holiday. Instead of him renting a bike I bought this one and spent the money he gave me towards it on completely rebuilding the top half of the engine, i.e rebored, new forged piston and rings, valve guides done, new timing chan etc. A new stailess exhaust and some cleaning and we were there. He used it for four weeks around Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales and had a great time. After that it was such a nice bike I decided to keep it and it's become my daily commuter bike for the last two years. Re-spoked wheels and a new rear rack, and the fuel tank treated for rust and coated with enamel have made it even better.
Ready for Mikes Adventure
Yamaha 660z Tenere
One of the latrest Tenere's. There are just too many additions on this bike to mention, but it took the wife and I all around the north of Spain and then to Moscow. I then rode it all through Mongolia and then on to Magadan in far eastern Siberia. It's not missed a beat yet.
