Motorbikers vs 4wders mindset

Nicely put olcoolone. As I said, it was only an observation from me, not a judgement, and you have just added alot more to what I was trying to say, thanks

I'd have to agree with your observations Grunta. A majority of posters on this forum are quite conservative.
Some posters get quite remote & push the limits, but they would be a minority of posters. It seems to be an all encompassing forum.
Not trying to put anyone down here.
To each his own.
I personally am reasonably conservative myself these days.
But with motorbike riders it is another story. There is a big difference in attitude between car drivers & motorbike riders.
I would go out on a limb & say that motorbike riders like to live on the edge & relish a challenge. You gotta have a competitive streak in you to ride a bike. I don't mean that you necessarily try to compete with others, but rather you try to do it better or faster or harder than the last time.
It's 20 times more dangerous than driving a car for starters, so just making it to your destination is a small challenge on it's own.
There a bit like I would imagine mountain climbers would be.
Then when you loose the spirit you drive a car.
Then when you realy loose your courage you carry that much emergency equipment & just in case stuff that you need to upgrade the suspension.

Your wrong about most motorbike riders just wanting to get from point A to B in the quickest time Olcoolone. Did a 9 day journey with a crew on our harleys and mate , although we fanged em when the time was right, we took our time and smelt the roses. Why try and end the tour in a hurry? Met quite a few riders on adventure bikes (bmw,s, yammies and assorted bikes) all carrying heaps and quite a few had been on the road for over 3 months. Two chaps were into their second year. Living off what their bikes could carry. I couldnt do it! Handling a motorbike is way harder and more physically challenging than any 4 wd. You see many 4wd rigs with vans on the roads but I always admire the bikers for taking the harder alternative. I dare say there are many older drivers who would love to be able to jump on a bike and head out bush.

cheers

Well Harley riders are a different breed again.... And I think you misunderstood what I was saying; 4x4ers will in most cases set up base camps and camp in one area for a few days to a week at a time but on the other hand most bike riders are on the go to get to point A to B quickly (different then getting somewhere in the quickest time... some thing I didn't say!)

You very rarely see a bike rider pulled up at 2 in the arvo... camp set up relaxing on their chairs with stubby in hand do you.

And again you very rarely see a bike rider away from civilisation for more then 3 to 4 days before they have to get restocked.... unless they carry 60+ lts of fuel have a fridge and dual battery system, cooking facilities and room for the rest of their stuff.

Most long distance bike expeditions always have backup vehicles close by.

So what remote areas and dirt roads did you take the Harley's on?

And one other thing I think what grunta and myself was talking about is a different type of bike touring then your talking about.

As you know Ocoolone harleys are not made to go offroad, so dont be facetious! You dont have to go off road to go touring. Just because many people own 4wd,s doesnt mean they,ll see dirt. Yes I did get mixed up when you said bike riders get there as quickly as possible, this to me is the quickest time ! I thought you were talking about bike riding in general. One last question though, how is your average harley rider different.
cheers

"As you know Ocoolone harleys are not made to go offroad, so dont be facetious!".... no need to get defensive.... suppose you right there are many 4x4's out there owned buy Poseur and the bike world is no different!

Bigfish if you don't know the difference between Harley riders and others I'll give you a quick lesson..... Harley riders are more cruisers and have a tendency to follow an image and according to most the only bike ever built was a Harley.... how many Harley riders do you know who wear full face helmets and full leathers using proper riding boots and gloves in 35 deg temps?

There are many different types of riding categories.... sports bikes, tourers (bitumen and cross country), cruisers, moto cross, scootrtboys, cafe racers, nakeds and yes Harley riders..... yes we are all bikers but all different.

And as people get older there style of riding changes.... when I was younger all I cared about was having the quickest latest model biggest monoing bike I could buy... my next bike looks like being a sports/tourer maybe a BMW k1300S and I don't even mind some of the cruisers either.... might even look at a Vrod or Night rod.

But then again I still have some of my youngers years still in me so maybe a GSXR1000 or R1.

It gets to a stage where you really need a few bikes to cater for one's desire...

Agree with ya regarding needing several styles of bike...only money prevents me, like most I suppose. However you are wrong about the harley riders and an image. When we did our last trip, only 4000 klms in 8 days, everyone had a leather jacket, all had kevlar jeans and only 2 didnt have full face helmets. At the first bike shop in Darwin full faces purchased. Everyone had leather boots. Lets face it ..if you dont have the correct protective gear , your an idiot. Some people wear half helmets when cruising. Personally I think it is a posseur thing. We live in the top end and riding in 35 degrees is common. I belong to several harley forums both in Oz and overseas. The perception you have is also one that the media like s to stick to as well. The biggest seller at the moment for harley in not a cruiser. The 48 is an around town bike. Harley at the moment are targetting more women and younger riders with bikes to suit. Most harley riders love their rides. I think most acknowledge the other makes out there but have decided that the harley is for them. Triumph, Ducati , BMW, Kwaka, Victory have some great bikes out there that have seen many harley people purchase. I live in a mining town and I suppose there are several dozen harleys around the neighbourhood and I,ll guarantee that if I lined up every motorbike rider in town You would struggle putting faces to makes. Many mine workers, doctors, technicians, truckies, nurses own these rides.
I thought of the night rod but after 40 + years of motorcycling I realised I dont need the speed. Thought of the Jappas and the BMW but decide that during my life I wanted to see what a harley was all about. Best decision I have made in many years. I think it is a sad day when one group of riders start slinging it off about another group. Motorcyclists cop too much crap in the papers already without adding fuel to the fire.
I take my hat off to these younger blokes riding around Oz.

Mate before ya hang up your cue...at least take a harley for a test ride and see what ya reckon. Thats if you havent already. They really have come a long way. Thats why people buy them 95% of the Jappas and European bikes come decked out with everything that truns, whistles , hoots etc. The harley if like purchains a coloring book and leaving it up to you as to how to fill it in!
Anyway enough ranting. Good thread this ona and enjoy your travels.
cheers

Yeah a Harley is on my list to look at and so is the Suzuki Boulevard.... Hugh following in the USA, a mate who owns a few factory super bikes (real raced one with a strong history here and overseas) is on his second Boulevard and is sourcing hi performance gear out of the states for it.

Harleys have come a long way in the last 10 years..... after nearly being bankrupt in the 90's they had little choice but to offer what the masses wanted hence the Vrod and the start of a new breed of Harley.

Yes all bike riders get bad press and the worst thing at the moment here in S.A is the media jumping on the band wagon re: bike crashes.... the sad thing is there has been a large increase of people buying scooter type bikes that can be used on a car licence.... these people have ZERO experience with no formal training yet if the crash they come under the bike heading in statistics.

bmw f800gs. At times I think a 1200gs would be nice for the longer distances, its a big bike and nice for cruising, but when it comes to the trickier stuff Im more than happy to have my bike, just a little more nimble.

One of the other differences between cars and bikes is what they think of the road conditions. I found the GCR pretty tough going. Soft patches, corrugations, rocks on the road etc. Almost came off numerous times. Then when you get to the roadhouse and start chatting with a 4wder they say "roads in good nick hey". haha. whats good for a car isn't always good for a bike.

Also in reference to oclone above, i tend to "smell the roses" more when I'm riding as I need more frequent stops for a rest.

wizzer

I was going to say that about the info you get from 4wders in regards to road conditions. You have to be more specific when asking someone driving a cage when you need bike info.

sorry grunta, one more question. are you doing a blog or something like that? i would like to know hoo the bmw handles the road. I'm thinking of upgrading to the bmw 800 or triumph 800 early next year.

wizzer

You can ask as many questions as you like. When you say how does it handle the road, you mean off road or on?. Either way, I dont have alot to compare it to, this is my first bike for quite a few years, and my first dual sport. I have been in Aus for 10 years now, from Nz. I have always had a passion for travel, but always overseas. A couple of years ago I decided I wanted to start travelling around WA, and thought that a bike would be a great way to have an adventure. So I guess you could say that Im a passionate traveller who got the bike to supplement my adventurous travel style, not because Im passionate about bikes. Backward maybe, but it works for me. It was a big learning curve for me, I dont think dual sports are easy, especially in the rough stuff, sand especially.

Back to your point, like I said, first bike for a long time so not alot I can say. I have no probs doing the long distances on it. Plenty of power, crap seat, will sort that out for this trip.

I meant i would like to know how your f800 handles the great central rd.

My dual sport is a vstrom 650 and the seat can become very uncomfortable. I now use an airhawk and wouldn't ride a long distance without it.

cheers
wizzer

Sorry wizzer, i totally misread your follow up about the bike handling the road. A blog, hmm, too much like hard work for me, but I can let you know when I get back. I did the kimberley and Dampier peninsula on the beemer a while back, about 9000kms, 2000km of that off road. Sand up Dampier peninsula,, Gibb river road, Bungle Bungles. I thought it handled the conditions well, well for my abilities at least. Ironically, I got told by alot of 4wders at the time that the GRR was very rough, and to take it easy. For me, it wasnt really any slower than riding the blacktop, and in some parts much fasterYes, an airhawk is my next purchase, and if I wasnt such a tight arse, I would purchase a steering Damper, not nice in the sand when the steering starts going haywire.

Didnt think you were a real 4wder Rocker, "go for it' isnt something I have heard on this forum for my travel plans ;-)

The most luxurious things I will probably take will be an evaporative vest, and Im looking for a micro table so Im not eating red dust for dinner everyday. :-)

We gave these guys a helping hand with a flat tire. The guy on the Triumph only had Semi Road tries fitted and they did not like the sharp rocks.

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Another ADVrider user, good to see Pezza, its my main source of info for my bike

Just read your ride artical. Mate well done great trip and great pictures.
I have been to most of the places you mention except west of the Olga's.
I take my hat off to you I could never do that trip on a bike.

Cheers
Wayne B

Jesus Pezza, if you didnt stop and take photos every 5 minutes you could have made the trip in half the time ;-). Excellent report man!. You are now official my go to man for any information required in regards to my trip lol. I do have a couple of questions, I hope you dont mind

Wayne B. Yep, that’s where the bit about ‘experience’ (or lack thereof ) comes into it. It’s amazing how many people I see heading off road locally with only standard or "’heavy duty’ tubes just to save 20 bucks, and invariably have nothing but tyre problems, but to go into the type of roads in your pic with the same setup. . . . . . there’s just no excuse.
Thanks for the compliment on the ride report .

Grunta. Lmao ! Mate if I didn’t stop every 5 minutes to take a pic you wouldn’t have made it to the end of the RR, *booooring .
You’d be surprised, I didn’t stop all that often, there’s a lot of nothing in between those pics out in the desert.
Shoot as many questions as you like mate, I’d be glad to help out.
Not a member any more here so just MM me through ADV rider and I’ll flick you my email or just use the PM on that site.

Cheers
Pezza