Cape Arid by Motorbike
Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 05:14
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grunta1970
Hello all. I will be travelling around this area in Feb next year by motorbike. Its a dual sport bike, so able to handle some moderate to testing conditions. Im not sure what access will be like for me into Cape Arid and surrounds. Could someone possibly give me info on type of roads in the area, are they sealed, sand, that sort of thing. Thanks
Reply By: get outmore - Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 06:58
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 06:58
depends which part of cape arid, both the
poison creek and
thomas river campgrounds and
beach access would easily be accessable by a semi off road bike I would have thought
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Reply By: mbw650 - Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 09:29
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 09:29
I did an around Australia trip in 2005 on a Kawasaki W650, which is essentially a full roadbike Triumph Bonneville knock-off. If you are sensible Cape Arid will hardly be a challenge, I went up the coast through Yardie
Creek to
Cape Range and onto
Darwin via
Gibb River and
Litchfield without too much trouble.
My biggest problem was the fuel capacity that only managed 250ks when working hard in sand, at times I had to strap a couple of 5l containers onto the saddle bags.
Nobody could understand why I would take that type of bike where I did, but if I had a more capable bike the memories woudn't be as good due to the extra challenge.
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Follow Up By: Cuppa - Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 13:10
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 13:10
Wow! Did you actually cross Yardie
Creek on the W650? The
water would've been over the motor at least!
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Follow Up By: grunta1970 - Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 13:23
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 13:23
Depends what time of day/year i assume for Yardie. I did it on my f800gs a couple of years ago, it was barely a few inches deep
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Follow Up By: Cuppa - Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 13:52
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 13:52
Fair enough, I didn't consider the depth varying througout the year by that much. I sat & watched 4wd'ers crossing it daily for a week - very entertaining - much pacing, discussion & bravado whilst waiting for the level to drop - but all ended taking the correct line & no-one came to grief. Depth was over 2' in
places.
Great spot to
camp.
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747244
Follow Up By: grunta1970 - Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 17:31
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 17:31
Wow, couldnt imagine crossing on the bike at that depth. I had no idea how high or low it would be, lucky for me it was low. The reason for not wantintg to cross
water that deep isnt the crossing itself, its the fact that if I drop the bike, suck in
water, then Im in trouble. Was the same with
Pentecost river on the Gibb, didnt like the idea of dropping the bike and taking in
water, so I walked it across. Wish I had the balls to just go hard and ride across. Next time.
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Follow Up By: SDG - Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 17:56
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 17:56
Watched a clown a few years back doing a crossing in Deua NP. Got half way across and the bike drowned. (
water was lapping my Patrol bonnet).
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Follow Up By: grunta1970 - Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 19:34
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 19:34
I would like to think he walked across first to check it out, but maybe not lol
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Follow Up By: SDG - Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 20:19
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 20:19
Nope, but then he was one of those who did not have a brain. Racing through campsites, jumping everything he could, etc. Regardless of who or what was around, or what time it was. At one stage it looked like he was going to jump over a car driving along the road.
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Reply By: Cuppa - Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 20:30
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 20:30
We toured around the country in our bus , towing a pair of bikes behind us. A Suzuki DR250 & a Honda SL230 (for sale if anyone's interested). We didn't go into Cape Arid, only Cape Le Grande. The roads in
Cape Le grand, once off the bitumen entry road were basically corrugations with occasional patches of soft sand. No big deal. My guess is that Cape Arid roads will be similar.
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472459
Reply By: Cuppa - Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 20:33
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 at 20:33
We toured around the country in our bus , towing a pair of bikes behind us. A Suzuki DR250 & a Honda SL230 (for sale if anyone's interested). We didn't go into Cape Arid, only Cape Le Grande. We camped at
Lucky Bay (great spot) & explored on the bikes. The roads in
Cape Le grand, once off the bitumen entry road were basically corrugations with occasional patches of soft sand. No big deal with half reasonable
suspension. My guess is that Cape Arid roads will be similar.
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472460