Their first view of Adelaide was through the double glazed jet airliner window as the Poms dropped through the cloud. Initial thoughts were ones filled with typical motorcycle enthusiast’s slant, “wow look at those hills bet they have some good roads for riding motorbikes!” The thought was just that, until the geek cuz was talking about his neighbours and their loud bikes. “Yes they ride motorbikes, some Ducati and black Ninja things?” When mentioned in one of the over the fence conversations the offer went out for a Monday ride on the SV affectionately known as the “Blue Streak” and the “Black Ninja”. The “Black Ninja” is a famous inter-neighbour story, that came about when they [the neighbours] were on an out back adventure holiday in the NT / WA some time back. We were looking after their mail and garden duties when MrsD acquired the ZX7R and in one of her texts said “I have black ninja!!” Our neighbours totally non-biker types wondered for days W.T.F. is a black ninja?? I digress to give some depth to the story line and term “black ninja”.
The offer was accordingly and enthusiastically accepted, the clock ticked down on a strange visitation for the pure Poms to a Desmo’s playground of tight twisties, short straights, sweeping corners, throw in a lunch at small country town bakery and you have a day to remember?
Monday arrived and bikes were fuelled, chains lubed, the beasts were ready for what was a perfect day for riding with temperatures in the low twenties. It was dry and comfortable slight cloud cover negating the glare and harsh light associated with summer riding on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Shortly after 10 the Poms arrived casting an eye over the steeds lined up in the driveway Rob went for Kimmy the black Ninja a far cry from the Trumpy Bonneville he rides back in Wales, Tracy saddled up to the blue streak not that different than the 904 monster she runs back in the mother country apart from the distinctive sound of a Duc.
After a few stories of things to watch out for when riding in Australia. Like the funnel web spider that makes its home in stationary bikes exhaust only to be agitated when they are started. Eventually working their way up to the exposed skin on the back of the rider’s neck where it sticks its fangs in with the pain of twin white hot pokers. Not to mention the venom of this critter that has the potency to kill numerous full grown healthy adults but it only eats insects. The flying insects and heavy weight mammals but worst of all the Adelaide hills and environs cage driver. Nasty critter comes in every imaginable colour and size, possessing the uncannily knack of being right where you want to be at the worst possible time. Not to mention the killer bee swarms that you encounter at 100KPH and they sting you to death within minutes.
The last horror sort of came true, with Rob copping a bee sting to the neck when riding through Mylor. It was extracted at Crafers, really embedded in the flesh so much so that it was bent at 90 degrees and required Tracy’s long finger nails to extract it as the old wipe the key over the sting to avoid pumping the poison out of the sack was ineffectual, he did however keep it as a souvenir. That was seven hours away and we had not even warmed up the bikes yet.
With the basics covered and a troll through the riding gear everyone kitted out with helmets, leathers etc. it was time to hit the road. It was an uncrowded Greenhill road that greeted the trio and an easy climb up and over the hills face. Desmo first leg was to take in our most travelled 30 odd Ks of twisted bitumen the famed Lobie road it was a splendid cool run through the hills and under tree covered road stippled with vague shadows. The ride had taken us past Camelot Castle through Forest Range, Lenswood and culminated stage one at Lobie for coffee at the Amberlight. It was a quiet Amberlight with no other bikes there when we arrived and only a 749 by the time we were ready to leave. Rob and Tracey liked the café feel of the place with a bike slant atmosphere. Having negotiated probably the most technical road we were going to encounter with no problems it was on to Birdwood and Bills bikes and bits for a look into South Aussie motorcycling memorabilia. We had a great run out to Birdwood no traffic had marred our progress to this point and it was an omen that followed us all day. After a look through the window in Birdwood being a Monday Bills was closed so not to waste any time it was back along the Mannum road towards chain Of Ponds. That is a great road to meander along stopping at the Giant Rocking Horse for a quick photo before heading to the mad mile turn ripping though that nice twisty few K’s back on to the Gorge road through Cudlee Creek right onto the road to Lobie then right again on Fox Creek. We all know what a great road that is with its nice sweeping curves then the quick climb at the end before a scenic run though the orchids and vines of coldstore road to Lenswood.
From Lenswood we took the road out towards Swamp Creek and turned left on the track that runs up to Johnston’s past the racecourse in Oakbank, a lovely country lane with lots of trees and curves to keep it scenic. From there it was a bit of straight road that took us into Balhannah and onto Hahndorf. Exiting Harny past the oval and on to Echunga another 100KPH road that has easy sweeping bends and some alright country to boot. Once through sleepy Echunga we hit the Mackie road always a must for visitors and even though we only took it as far as Mackie it is still a thrill with its constant apexes and short straights making it a true motorcyclist’s road.
As the sun at its zenith it was an easy sprint out of Mackie to the famous Meadows bakery for some good old southern fare. The Poms were impresed by the Cornish pasties that were full of vegies and meat as the ones back in the mother country were as big but with a 60% air gap where the filling goes. Delete that from the story as we don’t want the bakeries we visit catching wind of that sort of practice. So after a pot of tea and our Aussie pasties it was on to another jewel of the great southern land in the Bull Creek, Ashbourne roads. It was a dream run down the Creek and Ashbourne roads totally devoid of traffic as had most if the run so far had been, to roll into the Garage for a meeting with Marylou as well as her team of dedicated crew for a coffee a yarn and some good old tyre kicking.
After a couple of photos it was time to hit the road again with a choice run back to Sterling along the Strath-Mackie-Sterling road. The Poms were very excited about this as both had got the feel of the bikes by now Tracy saying that the SV thou was a better bike than her 900 monster back in Wales to ride, wash your mouth out girl it’s Desmo you are talking to here. It could just be that the roads are far better here for riding than the blind and narrow hedge row “B” roads that they tackle. Any way it was a great fang back to Sterling an interesting road that had plenty to offer the visitors. With Rob really getting into the Black Ninja of MrsD’s, likening it to a staffie bull dog nipping at the heals of Tracy on the Blue Streak. You could hear the 4 into 1 Hindle exhaust wailing up in the rev range as the 750 powered out of the linking apexes that make up the meandering route to Mylor. The Hills towns were picturesque with a 25 degree day on offer made for a perfect ride though and the 60 to 50 KPH roll into Bridgewater-Sterling gave the tourists ample time to take in the surroundings.
There was one set of must do twisties that had to be taken in, a ride up over the summit from Crafers and down Greenhill road with the180 degree city views on a clear late afternoon with enough cloud cover to keep the sun out of ones eyes so to give our northern biker brethren the total picture post card view to take back in their minds.
It was a long day totalling 350 plus Ks of some of our finest roads doing the equivalent of a ride around Wales in just over eight hours. When the three of us wheeled into the Desmo’s for a wine, CC & coke with MrsD who had just arrived home from a 12 hour shift at work the smiles were etched in place as were the memories of an unexpected visitation of a day on the Adelaide bikers playground. I guess the ride is not defined by it’s technicalities but by the individual essence the rider and even a pillion experiences.
Desmo
The offer was accordingly and enthusiastically accepted, the clock ticked down on a strange visitation for the pure Poms to a Desmo’s playground of tight twisties, short straights, sweeping corners, throw in a lunch at small country town bakery and you have a day to remember?
Monday arrived and bikes were fuelled, chains lubed, the beasts were ready for what was a perfect day for riding with temperatures in the low twenties. It was dry and comfortable slight cloud cover negating the glare and harsh light associated with summer riding on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Shortly after 10 the Poms arrived casting an eye over the steeds lined up in the driveway Rob went for Kimmy the black Ninja a far cry from the Trumpy Bonneville he rides back in Wales, Tracy saddled up to the blue streak not that different than the 904 monster she runs back in the mother country apart from the distinctive sound of a Duc.
After a few stories of things to watch out for when riding in Australia. Like the funnel web spider that makes its home in stationary bikes exhaust only to be agitated when they are started. Eventually working their way up to the exposed skin on the back of the rider’s neck where it sticks its fangs in with the pain of twin white hot pokers. Not to mention the venom of this critter that has the potency to kill numerous full grown healthy adults but it only eats insects. The flying insects and heavy weight mammals but worst of all the Adelaide hills and environs cage driver. Nasty critter comes in every imaginable colour and size, possessing the uncannily knack of being right where you want to be at the worst possible time. Not to mention the killer bee swarms that you encounter at 100KPH and they sting you to death within minutes.
The last horror sort of came true, with Rob copping a bee sting to the neck when riding through Mylor. It was extracted at Crafers, really embedded in the flesh so much so that it was bent at 90 degrees and required Tracy’s long finger nails to extract it as the old wipe the key over the sting to avoid pumping the poison out of the sack was ineffectual, he did however keep it as a souvenir. That was seven hours away and we had not even warmed up the bikes yet.
With the basics covered and a troll through the riding gear everyone kitted out with helmets, leathers etc. it was time to hit the road. It was an uncrowded Greenhill road that greeted the trio and an easy climb up and over the hills face. Desmo first leg was to take in our most travelled 30 odd Ks of twisted bitumen the famed Lobie road it was a splendid cool run through the hills and under tree covered road stippled with vague shadows. The ride had taken us past Camelot Castle through Forest Range, Lenswood and culminated stage one at Lobie for coffee at the Amberlight. It was a quiet Amberlight with no other bikes there when we arrived and only a 749 by the time we were ready to leave. Rob and Tracey liked the café feel of the place with a bike slant atmosphere. Having negotiated probably the most technical road we were going to encounter with no problems it was on to Birdwood and Bills bikes and bits for a look into South Aussie motorcycling memorabilia. We had a great run out to Birdwood no traffic had marred our progress to this point and it was an omen that followed us all day. After a look through the window in Birdwood being a Monday Bills was closed so not to waste any time it was back along the Mannum road towards chain Of Ponds. That is a great road to meander along stopping at the Giant Rocking Horse for a quick photo before heading to the mad mile turn ripping though that nice twisty few K’s back on to the Gorge road through Cudlee Creek right onto the road to Lobie then right again on Fox Creek. We all know what a great road that is with its nice sweeping curves then the quick climb at the end before a scenic run though the orchids and vines of coldstore road to Lenswood.
From Lenswood we took the road out towards Swamp Creek and turned left on the track that runs up to Johnston’s past the racecourse in Oakbank, a lovely country lane with lots of trees and curves to keep it scenic. From there it was a bit of straight road that took us into Balhannah and onto Hahndorf. Exiting Harny past the oval and on to Echunga another 100KPH road that has easy sweeping bends and some alright country to boot. Once through sleepy Echunga we hit the Mackie road always a must for visitors and even though we only took it as far as Mackie it is still a thrill with its constant apexes and short straights making it a true motorcyclist’s road.
As the sun at its zenith it was an easy sprint out of Mackie to the famous Meadows bakery for some good old southern fare. The Poms were impresed by the Cornish pasties that were full of vegies and meat as the ones back in the mother country were as big but with a 60% air gap where the filling goes. Delete that from the story as we don’t want the bakeries we visit catching wind of that sort of practice. So after a pot of tea and our Aussie pasties it was on to another jewel of the great southern land in the Bull Creek, Ashbourne roads. It was a dream run down the Creek and Ashbourne roads totally devoid of traffic as had most if the run so far had been, to roll into the Garage for a meeting with Marylou as well as her team of dedicated crew for a coffee a yarn and some good old tyre kicking.
After a couple of photos it was time to hit the road again with a choice run back to Sterling along the Strath-Mackie-Sterling road. The Poms were very excited about this as both had got the feel of the bikes by now Tracy saying that the SV thou was a better bike than her 900 monster back in Wales to ride, wash your mouth out girl it’s Desmo you are talking to here. It could just be that the roads are far better here for riding than the blind and narrow hedge row “B” roads that they tackle. Any way it was a great fang back to Sterling an interesting road that had plenty to offer the visitors. With Rob really getting into the Black Ninja of MrsD’s, likening it to a staffie bull dog nipping at the heals of Tracy on the Blue Streak. You could hear the 4 into 1 Hindle exhaust wailing up in the rev range as the 750 powered out of the linking apexes that make up the meandering route to Mylor. The Hills towns were picturesque with a 25 degree day on offer made for a perfect ride though and the 60 to 50 KPH roll into Bridgewater-Sterling gave the tourists ample time to take in the surroundings.
There was one set of must do twisties that had to be taken in, a ride up over the summit from Crafers and down Greenhill road with the180 degree city views on a clear late afternoon with enough cloud cover to keep the sun out of ones eyes so to give our northern biker brethren the total picture post card view to take back in their minds.
It was a long day totalling 350 plus Ks of some of our finest roads doing the equivalent of a ride around Wales in just over eight hours. When the three of us wheeled into the Desmo’s for a wine, CC & coke with MrsD who had just arrived home from a 12 hour shift at work the smiles were etched in place as were the memories of an unexpected visitation of a day on the Adelaide bikers playground. I guess the ride is not defined by it’s technicalities but by the individual essence the rider and even a pillion experiences.
Desmo
