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Born in Salatiga, Indonesia, I embraced the joy of motorcycle riding in Australia. My bikes are Kawasaki Ninja ZX6R, Yamaha R6, Kawasaki GPz900R, Kawasaki GPz750, Kawasaki Tengai, Kawasaki KLR250, and Viar Vortex 250
Friday, May 17, 2024
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Camping & riding di Central Victoria
Perjalanan ke tengah propinsi Victoria. Daerah yang kalau summer sangat tandus/desert. Sekitar 200km dari rumah saya di south-east
Setelah drop istri ke Airport pagi2 buta menyusuri back roads
Menginap di tepi danau Burrumbeet dekat Ballarat
Lantas riding ke daerah Grampians yang sebelah kiri peta itu.
450km round trip lumayan pegel
Maem steak, drink wine, bobok. Paginya terbangun matahari terbit
Lantas riding lagi kali ini cukup santai 80km ke kota kecil Creswick melalui track2 kecil di hutan
Meski daerah tandus ternyata banyak sekali waterholes. Sayang waktu tidak cukup untuk ciblon
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
20 years of riding - a retrospect
Thought I write this down as it might benefit to someone.
So as of this year I would have ridden for 20 years in Australia. As a new sportsbike rider at that time I did what most riders do. Trying to ride fast, went wide, and crashing. This happened within 2 months of owning the bike. My recollection of how I ride would be something like:
- Opening up the throttle on the straights, fast.
- Entering corners fast
- Braking as cornering ("trail brake" ?)
- Excessive, unnatural body positioning
- Running wide and blame the decreasing corners, seeing sand etc.
These days my riding is a very different and quite the opposite
- Limit throttle on straight roads
- Throttle while turning a corner "like a dirtbike"
- This is done by taking a wide entry (late apex)
All braking and slowing down (if necessary at all) done before the corner
Once late apex is identified, open up throttle as much as possible!
- Slow down again when exiting the corner, hence maintaining a "constant pace"
- There is no need for specific body position. Just ride naturally.
- Repeat
What I have observed is this kind of riding actually makes a great pace. I do not feel riding "fast" in fact just very relaxed and hence safe. I could see incoming danger such as cars or gravel on the road and act accordingly. As I am cornering with throttle the bike is stable and gravel simply powered on.
Thanks for reading and hope this is useful.
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Summer ride to Mirboo Nth
A quick ride report.
Started late and meeting up at Tooradin at 11pm saw 3 of us taking the back roads to Mirboo North.
An ecletic mix of bikes - vintage gpz900r, DR650, and Harley Davidson Bobber taking detour to the Gurdies - St Hellier road.
This is the gateway to South Gippsland which I love most. As the past few years the Spurs were getting really busy.
Up to Kernot at leisurely pace with our Mrs on the back then quick stop at the Glen Alvie road intersection for a yarn.
Enjoying the blue skies and twisties of Glen Alvie road, then turning left to Kongwak up to Bena.
My usual route usually take us to Arawata with 2km of dirt to Hallston, but alas we have a 4 months old shiny Harley in the mix! So off to Leongatha for brief freeway section.
Back to Hallston and cruising through fast twisties section up to that 10m of dirt which never been surfaced since I rode here in 2005. What's up with that!
In any case we arrived at Mirboo North unscathed. Few pies later we make our way back. It was now 5pm and the sun is still up on our heads. Did I say I love Victorian summer?!
To make the return route interesting we turn right after Hallston towards SeaView. Quite a bit of technical sections up to Hallora. The old GPZ just barely idling by powering on corners at 4000rpm.
Who needs a screamer.
As you can see I am alive and kicking.
Have fun.
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
The Melbürgring on motorbike
https://www.google.com.au/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1XfQFgc8HlhirPIYeDsZ8iyHaw7Sr1QU&usp=sharing
The Melburgring pays homage to the infamous public track in Germany called the Nürburgring.
It is a 500km loop stringing the best motorcycling roads to the East of Melbourne, Victoria. Starting and ending in Emerald, a quaint small village, you can either do it in clockwise or counter clockwise directions.
The route can be divided into a few sections:
Emerald to Gembrook
Gembrook to Healesville
Healesville to Marysville (The Black Spur)
Marysville to Warburton (The Reefton Spur)
Warburton to Noojee
Noojee to Trafalgar
Trafalgar to Mirboo North
Mirboo North to Korrumbura (The Grand Ridge Road)
Korrumbura to Glen Forbes (South Gippsland)
Glen Forbes to Tooradin
Tooradin to Emerald
Wednesday, October 04, 2023
ChatGPT Motorcycle Planning
If I was travelling the Indonesian island of sumatra for 15 days by Motorcycle starting from lampung and ending in sabang, what would be the best time of the year to visit and what key locations and route would, should I take to see the most the island has to offer
ChatGPT answers:
Traveling from Lampung in the southern part of Sumatra to Sabang in the northernmost tip of the island by motorcycle is an ambitious and rewarding journey. Similar to the previous suggestions, the best time to embark on this adventure depends on your weather preferences and road conditions. Generally, the dry season is the most suitable time for motorcycle travel. However, since you'll be covering a long distance from south to north, you may experience some variations in climate along the way. Here's a suggested route and key locations for your 15-day motorcycle journey:
Best Time to Visit:
- The dry season in Sumatra typically runs from May to September and is generally the best time for motorcycle travel. During this period, you can expect less rainfall, making the roads safer and more accessible.
Route and Key Locations:
Day 1: Lampung
- Begin your journey in Lampung, explore the city, and ensure your motorcycle is in good condition.
Day 2-3: Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park
- Head northwest towards Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park.
- Explore the park, known for its diverse wildlife and lush rainforests.
Day 4-5: Bengkulu
- Continue north to Bengkulu, a coastal city with historical and cultural attractions.
- Visit Fort Marlborough and enjoy the beach.
Day 6-7: Padang
- Ride north to Padang, the capital of West Sumatra.
- Explore the city and sample delicious Padang cuisine.
- Consider a side trip to the Mentawai Islands if you're interested in surfing.
Day 8-9: Bukittinggi and Lake Maninjau
- Travel to Bukittinggi, known for its Minangkabau culture.
- Explore the city and visit the scenic Lake Maninjau.
Day 10-11: Harau Valley
- Explore the picturesque Harau Valley, famous for its stunning rock formations and waterfalls.
Day 12-13: Lake Toba
- Head to Lake Toba, one of Sumatra's most famous attractions.
- Explore Samosir Island, visit traditional Batak villages, and enjoy the lake's beauty.
Day 14-15: Banda Aceh and Sabang
- Continue north to Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh Province.
- Visit the Tsunami Museum and explore the city.
- Take a ferry to Sabang, where you can explore the beautiful beaches and natural attractions on Sabang Island.
Before your trip, make sure you check for any travel advisories, road conditions, and necessary permits. Ensure your motorcycle is well-maintained, and you have appropriate safety gear. This journey will offer you a diverse range of experiences, from lush rainforests to cultural encounters, and a chance to explore the natural beauty of Sumatra. Enjoy your adventure!
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Seasonal Road Closures in Victoria GPX File Download
In Victoria, some offroad/4wd tracks are closed between June and November. And while the information is publicly available in DWELP website, it is not very useful to do real navigating on the tracks.
I've painstakingly entered those information as GPX file which you can import to your GPS device of choice (I personally use OSMAND). The GPX file can be downloaded here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qL8JJkHAsOVEzInNNZubW0cXnch5ZJsK?usp=drive_link
I've also upload it to Google Maps:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1hsNt2q9_s5Wb_V-vqVEF-0mJICFel5A&usp=sharing
Happy trails!
Logs:
3/10/23 Completed all of Victoria
22/9/23 Completed all of Eastern Victoria
21/9/23 Uploaded initial version, covering eastern part of the High Countries
Completed sections:
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Thursday, December 01, 2022
Big Eastern Loop
Big Eastern Loop
Hi guys Friday's weather looks to be a cracker ☀️ Meet at Gembrook bakery for @9am departure. If these doesn't send shivers up your spines I don't know what will!
Medium pace and respect of speed limits. Technical roads.
Gembrook
Black Spur
Reefton Spur
Noojee (coffee)
Icy Creek
Thorpdale
Mirboo Nth (coffee)
Hallston
Tetoora
Glen Alvie
Almurta
Glen Forbes
St Hellier
Tooraddin (coffee and home)
Wednesday, November 02, 2022
Thursday, October 13, 2022
Weather climate La Nina / IOD
https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/bureau-of-meteorology-predicts-the-end-of-la-nina/news-story/b0261966987e42f7079a809f39380b7c
Sunday, October 02, 2022
Thursday, February 24, 2022
Thursday, December 16, 2021
6 ways to get to Canberra from Melbourne
Route 1 (Hume)
Melbourne - Albury - Canberra
https://goo.gl/maps/eNeWeJeDCpi2zi4k7
Route 2 (East Coast)
Melbourne - Narooma - Canberra
https://goo.gl/maps/U2mrHDrowPTTdSjY8
Route 3 (Great Alpine Rd)
Melbourne - Yea - Whitfield - Bright - Cooryong - Canberra
https://goo.gl/maps/YHo5fQd3kgorcSE26
Route 4 (Snowy Mountains, some gravel)
Melbourne - Ensay - Adaminaby - Bolaro
https://goo.gl/maps/191tjH9Bgwn944tp6
Route 5 (Barry Way)
(Melbourne - Buchan - Suggan Bugga - Barry way, heaps of gravel)
https://goo.gl/maps/xNwDf1oyuXE2WRJv9
Route 6 (McKillops Bridge) - variation of route 5
(Melbourne - Orbost- McKillops Bridge- Barry way, heaps of gravel)
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Substitusi Part Viar Vortex 250cc
Update: 28/7/2022
SUBTITUSI PART VIVOR
1. Canvas rem depan :
-bajaj pulsar P 220 cc (pnp) Rp 20.000-40.000
-cbr 250 old
-honda supra (dgn sedikit penyesuaian)
-suzuki inazuma
-(bendix MD 28) *terlalu tebal
- megapro new (part # FP-06455-KPP-2700, perlu potong/gerinda)
Canvas rem blkg
-cbr 250 old
-Bendix MD29
-Mega Pro (diseauaikan)
-suzuki inazuma (pnp)
2. Rantai :
type 520 bisa ninja 250 atau yg lainnya
3. -Gear depan? = viar cross 250x
-Gear belakang?
4. Silinder :
WR250 / Viar CROSS X 250
5. seal usd viar vortex
-thunder 250
-ninja 250
-Yamaha Byson (Rp. 40 ribuan)
6. Kiprok :
-kiprok ninja 250
-thunder 250 (tidak pnp tapi sistim sama)
7. Accu :
accu ninja 250
Atau aki lainnya tipe AGM 12V kap 9-11 amp atau aki ITOBATT YTX9A
8. Kopling set :
viar cross x 250
9. Kanvas kopling :
-viar cross x 250
-kawak ninja 250 (dipapas sedikit llingkaran luar nya) harga -/+ 500rb
10. Master kunci kontak :
rx king
11. One way starter :
-honda tiger
-kawasaki harga -/+ 350 ribu
12. Tensioner rantai keteng :
a. yamaha R25 harga -/+ 160 ribu ori
b. Yamaha MX, Mio dll kode : E2210-10
13. Bendix starter :
viar cross x 200/ viar karya
14. Anker/gear dinamo starter :
honda tiger
15. Busi :
BRISK Cooper Racing AR12C ( +-Rp.50rb) KAWASAKI W175
16. Bearing/laher roda :
2 Pcs - Kode 6302 - RS/KZ
Belakang
4 pc (2 set) Ukuran 6302 dan 6202
17. Kabel kopling :
kabel rem belakang motor matic
18. Master rem belakang :
-supra x 125
-satria FU ( isi nya saja)
19. Karet rumah kopling :
yamaha scorpio baru (di papas sedikit) harga Rp 30.000
20. Speed sensor/gear speedo :
yamaha byson (modif sedikit ngecilin nok, menyesuaikan dgn nok vivor)
21. Seal waterpump : vario 110