Solo Adventure - Through The Back Country - With Bonus Tank Slapper!

I leave Ganguddy and head off down an unknown dirt track through Goulburn River National Park.
The road makes me wish I had a 19" front wheel, but all in all, a very enjoyable day, big ride, no rain, plenty sun and thrill!
Bike: 2013 Honda CB500Xa now over 127000Km of Adventures!
Stock wheels and suspension - a few, off-road suitable & protective mods:
Evotech Performance Radiator Guard
Honda Centre Stand
Honda Hand Guards
Palmer Products Adjustable Screen Mount
Hepco & Becker Engine Guard
MOTEA Bash-plate (modified to keep Honda Centre Stand and to Mount off Crash Bars instead of sump lugs)
RHK 20mm Bar Risers
SW Motech On Road/Off Road Footpegs
Rally Raid ABS Kill Switch
Staintune Pipe
Helmet Hook
Omni-Cruise Cruise Control
Dri Rider ZXS2 Soft Panniers
Shinko 705 tyres 170 60 R17* 120 70 R17
***October 2019 changed rear to 150 70 R17***
Gear:
Airoh Commander Helmet
EVS Epic Knee Guards
DriRider Adventure Series Jacket
Shark Kevlar Jeans
Shark Xplorer Adventure Boots (Mid)
5 Sport City Gloves
Dri Rider Superfabric Wet/Cold Weather Gloves
Cameras:
Sony FDR-X3000
Drift HDGhost
Drift Ghost S
Drift 4K (2 of)
CanonSX740HS
Drone: DJI Mavic Pro
Recording set up explained here:
• My Recording Set Up - ...
Music by Captain Cranky ©urgentmusic productions - all rights reserved

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Well done. Takes nerves of steel to throttle on when your brain is screaming slow down.

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

Yep - learned that the hard way last time this happened, high-sided off the back of the bike (it spun around) and was lucky to be unhurt. I've been telling myself over and over what to do - pretty much the same as any loss of traction etc. - do nearly nothing and let the bike sort itself. Not easy when you start riding in your 50's mate!!

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

@@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger - hmm. I’ve been riding since 15, still hard for me to do the reverse of what “survival mode” yells at me.

[@BigBert]

lol I’m sure the swearing saved you 🤣😂🤣 Great job Captain

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

Thanks goodness for my Belfast childhood... learned a few cuss-words 😆 Many thanks Bert!

[@HippoDrones]

It is weird when our spidey-sense tells us something isn't right, good job you checked the navigation. I am quite envious of your gravel roads that you can explore... I know it took you 9 days to get to these ones, but Aus have such amazing motorcycling roads (even if they may rattle your teeth loose on occasion! 😀 ...and you can keep them tank slappers too 😀 well done staying upright David. That is a fare few KMs you've ridden on Falkor It knocks your confidence when you have a couple of incidents close together. Definately an adventure mate! 🙂

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

Yeah - lucky I didn't end up going on to The Antarctic or Pakistan😆 I do feel incredibly blessed to live where I do and have so much exploring opportunities Pete, just never-ending! Cheers my friend :)

[@HippoDrones]

@@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger😀yeah, that would have been a bit out the way! 😀

[@MidCoastAdventures]

Nice looking country down that way David 👍 Ps- Nice save mate 😁🙏

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

Yeah it's a lovely mix of high plains and mountain forest, been that way a few times, including Coolah Tops last year. I was relieved to be still upright. Cheers Phil.

[@MrAusadventure]

HaHa! Good save there! I have to admit it was funny with the way you edited it! I've had similar moments from the 19" front. The 21" on the DRZ makes it a lot easier! Some great back roads out there!

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

It all happened very quickly mate, was relieved to be still riding along!! Ahh yes, so many roads to go back and explore. Another one the next day en route to Nundle.

[@toby7504]

A very good save there buddy, that was a bit close. 😊☕🇧🇻

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

Thanks mate, the swearing got me through 😆

[@toby7504]

@@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger swearing makes things go smoother 🤣

[@JimPropert]

Ah, so swearing a lot is the key to staying upright. Thanks for the tip :P Nice save and I am glad you got through it.

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

Cheers Jim, I was glad too, and also glad I was brought up in Belfast, where the F word is punctuation 😆

[@CalmBiker]

I was just thinking that some of those roads look quite the challenge and then they were! 😀 The 19" front might be better offroad but it's hard finding a pair of tyres for the newer sizes.

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

So funny, you can't find the right tyres (I presume for on-road) for a 19" and I can't find decent off road ones for a 17" ... we want different things!!!

[@LenScapoff]

Nasty. I've only experienced a tank slapper once, whilst I was still a learner on a school ER500 riding on what appeared to be perfectly smooth asphalt at 60 mph (the speed limit). Fortunately, I resisted the urge to grab at the brake lever kept telling myself to relax, and the bike corrected itself, but it wasn't great for my confidence over the rest of the lesson. An early one this week CC.

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

That sounds terrifying, especially as a learner! You did well to let it right itself. Yeah, I set the date and forgot to set the time 🙄

[@seanb1081]

WOW Global warming has really kicked in if Google maps think’s that maybe you’re in Antartica ! 😁. I was out on a 220Km ride today (mostly gravel) around the back roads of Kyogle The roads look very similar to the stuff you were riding through With the 19” front wheel on my 2020 CBX500 and with MITAS EO7+ tyres front and rear the bike easily handled everything. Bike is kitted out with “Rally Raid” suspension so that also definitely helped in the rough and corrugated sections. Saying all that … your “Falkor” has been an amazing MC all the places you have ridden it over many years! 👍🏼

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

Ha ha - yes, was a bit off there with the location... For what it is, Falkor is just amazing, cheers Sean.

[@outie555]

You did well with the tank slapper, that's pretty nerve racking. Hope I don't get that on my new bikes, or any bike!

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

Cheers mate! Yeah I wouldn't wish that on anyone!!!

[@allengraydon7822]

A couple of 50c- 5c moments there mate 😮

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

Clenching did indeed occur sir!!

[@BigBikeAdventures]

Should be titled, “How to curse like an Englishman” 😂😂 I learnt a few new words.. but you do very well on the 17 front, taking it places it shouldn’t be.

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

Ha ha - well most of it was learned from growing up in Belfast... (I'll forgive you for the English remark 🤣) where the F word is basic punctuation. Yeah I've learned a few skills and a little patience and don't expect miracles, cheers Steve!

[@BigBikeAdventures]

@@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger you immigrants from the little cold isle all sound the same. 😂😂

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

@@BigBikeAdventures until we've been deported as crims😆

[@berniebne8243]

When the time comes, look for a 21" front wheel. My bike is more than adequate on the tar and the 21" front wheel is a big improvement on the gravel. I've had tank slappers on the push bike and on road bikes but all distant memories, ones I'd rather forget.

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

Yeah unfortunately - the time won't come for me - my choice - I knew I'd only ever have the money to buy one bike, look after it, and make sure it lasted. Other priorities for my dollars are always around - not complaining though, for my money I've got a great source of fun and adventure.

[@williamzoom]

Slappers are no fun but it's eventually going to happen, time to check the head bearings!

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

Bike is in tip top condition - riding it into a rut on a bend 9" deep in sandy pea-gravel with a 17" front wheel is the cause.