Holbrook Motor Cycle Sports Club

A new annual trail ride was born over a beer on the HMCSC end of year trail ride at the Benambra Hotel. Lee Halpin of Tumut was on the way to organizing her first trail ride.

So was born the Christmas in July, Snowy Hydro South Care Flight Charity Ride.

Now it would require a few late nights, but a start point destination and finish were settled on.  Four weekends of route checking and fast forward to 23^rd July.  Lee and I are pushing a shopping trolley around the supermarket getting food for lunch and breakfast on the ride.

Saturday 24^th July.

The weather was perfect and with the bags packed in the trailer. Jezza's ute loaded with fuel drums and Murray and Angela Cook's dual cab canopy full of food for lunch, 26 dirt riders rode into the hills above Tumut. Led by Lee on her XR400 with four more XR's, two 2 stroke Husky's, 3 Kawasaki's, one TM, one 2 stroke Gasser five Yami's and the rest orange (five 2 strokes) onto the Snubba into the pines and around Yellowin Bay on the top end of Blowering Dam and onto Bodong Hut. It was wet and icy with patches of snow to play in and the red clay claimed its share of victims. It was fairly slow going but we finally got to lunch at Paddy's River Dam. The dam had an 80mm ice lid. With bikes fueled, the support headed for Tumbarumba.

 I was leading after lunch but when I got too the first corner I thought I could pick out our 4wd tracks and they'd gone in the wrong direction. Yep, we caught up just as they were heading for Paddy's River Falls. With everyone going in the right direction, it was now main trails into Tumbarumba for fuel. Ferg's old TT had done a side cover gasket. So now running a bit behind time we left the three Ferguson Brothers to fix the TT.

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We headed out and into the pines around Lake Mannus. To make up time we did a dash down the bitumen into Ourine Rd. We skirted around the Jingellic Reserve and came out through the Watson's farm to arrive at Jingellic at The Bridge Hotel at 5pm (the Fergs caught up just as we went into Watson's farm). The support vehicles had arrived and Kylie had everyone's bags waiting, so we found rooms, rolled out swags, and had showers. When we went into the pub we were greeted by 18 members of the Tumut Valley Riders Club who had ridin' and drivin' down from Tumut. They used to be a road bike riders club till Lee joined and is now steering them off the black stuff. One of the members, Narelle, had made neck warmers and they sold out in no time. The raffle ticket sellers were brilliant. The meal was traditional Christmas fare, and when everyone was full we drew 8 raffle prizes and the publican, Dave, auctioned off a bike swag brought by a rider who had forgot to put his in the trailer. Thanks Tony. The pub gave in a bottle of Jimmy for the best dressed which went to the two Bananas in Santa disguises. Well done everyone, we raised $1515 for the Snowy Hydro South Care.

Sunday morning. Who stole the sun? The fog was in. Everyone at the pub was ready to go but where were the riders from the Upper Murray Resort? Make a note: no 5 star accommodations on trail riders allowed, unless everyone stays there. Finally we were on our way but to make up a bit of time we had another 20km tar run into the pine forest of Carabost.

Morning tea was a Mick and Karen Clifford's oil farm at Rosewood. Full of slice, cakes and coffee, Mick led us out to Green Hills  pines and onto Batlow Pub. For lunch another monumental roast. Bikes fuelled, we headed for Blowering Dam along the Snubba. Some of the Sydney riders wanted an early finish so they headed into Tumut, while Lee took the rest around Tumut on her backyard tracks.

All up we covered just on 400km.We had a front sprocket change, 1 flat rear, 1 leaking side cover, a broken gear shift lever, gravel rash belly button, a riper hip bruise, and a Banana with a sore wrist. It was a big ride to go from Tumut to Jingellic and back in two days, but we did it and I thinks that's what you need to start an annual event that everyone on will talk about for years to come.

 Next years Christmas in July will be Tumut to Tumbarumba. See you all there, Murray.

With temperatures in the 40’s this year’s annual Holbrook bike club end of year trip looked like a tour of high country swimming holes on bikes. But as if on cue, in the week leading up, 40mL of rain was dumped on the high country and temps plunged into the low 20’s. Everyone meet up at the Dart pub on Friday night for tea. Five riders from Griffith – Pete, his son Jason, Andrew, Michael and Nicholas; Paul from Batlow; Lee, Tracy and Andrew from Tumut; Tony and Ian from Tumba; Brian, John, Murray and Kim from Holbrook; Pete, Theresa, Callum, Ben and Sophie (support) from Woomargama; Red and Julie May (support) from Walwa; and Euwen (support) from Myrtleford.

   After last year’s sub Antarctic weather, we left in the cool fine conditions out of the caravan park, across the Mitta River and straight into an overgrown track - Humpy’s TK - which came out just before Six Mile, then onto Lightning Creek. We met the support vehicles at the corner of Dunstan’s and Omeo Hwy for smoko. The tracks were perfect. This year we got to do Sugar Loaf Hill (last year it was fogged and snowed in), then down Snowy Log Rd into Kangaroo Ck TK and lunch at Glen Wills Cemetery. For lunch (Theresa and Julie May did a great job of setting out my poor attempt at food buying and making our meals look five stars). After lunch it was down Knocker TK and into Burnside TK. There were lots of trees down but they were all passable over, around, up and under. I got to an intersection and waited for the next rider. Michael pulled up and said ‘you better come back dad, Kim’s hurt her foot’. She’d hit a forked branch which went in her back wheel, pulling her bike around and jamming her foot. With a bit of chainsaw work we soon had Tony’s Ute to Kim. We loaded her in and I drove her out to meet the ambulance with Euwen on my Gasser. The 000 people really stuffed up and sent a helicopter which got lost because 000 did not give them Theresa’s map reference. When they finally found us the ambulance from Tallangatta pulled up 5 minutes later. Kim was put in the road ambulance and went to the Omeo hospital, one very pissed off helicopter headed back to the La Trobe Valley nearly out of fuel. 000 will get a bum bruising over this one as the police got lost as well trying to find Kim’s accident site. The Benambra pub was great with top service. We had a wow of a time while President Kim was stuck in the Omeo hospital.

   With bellies full of bacon and eggs and in a light drizzle of rain we went to the store to fill up (the light rain had started at 9.30 the night before). Detour Trail Tours were pulled up across the street trying to warm up after having ridden from Omeo up the black stuff in the rain. They were then going along Limestone. After checking with Lyndon we headed for Bowen Mountains, the drizzle stopped just as we turned into M^cKenzies Rd. We did a loop around then down Scrubby Ck (very steep), up Spring Hill TK (steep), onto Lee’s, then followed Range Rd and Splitters back to M^cKenzies (these tracks were perfect and some of the best ever riding), down to Benambra and out to Taylors Crossing for lunch. As we arrived Theresa left to get Kim from the Omeo hospital (they beat us back to Dart by 5 minutes). The crossing was nipple deep, so we put the bikes over via the foot bridge (see photos).

   We headed up Four Mile TK but I saw this freshly groomed trail with the best shaped spoony’s. So I took it. We ended up at the Knocker Link TK, so we hung a right onto Tom’s Link TK. It wasn’t freshly groomed but a challenging over grown, single track with downed trees and logs with an treacherous red clay downhill at the end: no one made it down without an off.

   We had a gather at the Wombat Post Office, and then it was up the big climb of Wombat TK, along Razorback to Six Mile, and more lovely red clay. Red reported a few off road excursion marks when they came through behind us in 4wd’s. With bikes loaded and Kim in the back of the wagon, goodbyes said, it was off to Albury Base. Outpatients were pretty quick for a Sunday and with no major breaks, Kim was on her way home (her foot was black by Monday). Weather was perfect for bike riding and a top weekend was had by all. Next year, the end of year Holbrook Bike Club trip is from Corryong over Pinibar – Washington Winch and stay at Benambra, and Sunday return via wheelers hut.

Thanks Muzz for the report - Photos to come.

Day 1: Phill did not officially finish work until 9.30am, so we left about 10.30am. Today was a cruise along country back roads and lanes, seeing crop upon crop and only one mob of sheep. Lunch was at Kondinin then onto Pingaring through Dragon Rocks nature reserve, and a few drinks at Hyden Pub. Tonight we stayed at Wave Rock Resort; it is set in the middle of a salt lake – five stars. They certainly use trick photography on Wave Rock as it is a quarter of the size when you get to it.

Day 2: Back lanes through more crops, past Lake Carmody, for 30km till we get to the start of Holland Track. This was an awesome ride of 200km of sand track cut through low scrub country with more ups and downs than a Collingwood season and more twists and turns than an Agatha Christie novel. The last 40km into Coolgardie was on a mine haul road. We were at the Coolgardie Pub by 5pm. This was a big day and not many 4 wheel drives would attempt this track in one day, well done Doug and Reg. That night we met Taffy the barman who told us he could drive from Zanthus to Balladonia in an hour and a half!! One day our paths will cross again Taffy.

Day 3: We left Coolgardie Pub and Taffy still asleep on the upstairs lounge early following mine haul road too Kunanalling Mine ruins for breakfast following haul road through “Corluie Station” Credo National Park, Bardoc Mine, we stopped at Siberia Mine, when gold was discovered more miners died getting there than made it due to lack of water and food. We stopped at Orabanda pub for lunch and the worse beer of the trip, the bikies should have shot the publican instead of the publican shooting the bikie. The pub has been rebuilt after the bikies fire bombed it and the stone walls still carry fire scars. Onto Broad Arrow Pub, where the walls have been taken over by signatures, from there we followed the gas pipeline and railway into Kalgoorlie, 40km of challenging track. A week before we started everywhere we rode had received a good soaking so all drains and bog holes were still quite damp and the roads and tracks only had minimal dust, resulting in only needing to change the air cleaners twice on the whole trip (TTR once and three filter skins, when I got home the filter was still fine after removing the skin).

Day 4: After a night on the town and skimpys in our dreams we had a sleep in, did the bike maintenance thing, then headed out to The Big Pit. Peter “who has sold out for the big dollar” Garrett’s song “nothing as precious as a hole in the ground” really does sum it up; this is mining on a huge scale.

Day 5: We left Kalgoorlie and headed east along transcontinental railway line for 40km. We stopped for breakfast at Randell. We then jumped across to the North side of the line to follow the service track for the next 150km. This track had everything from bog holes and deep sand to leaf covered trail through bush just before Zanthus. We crossed back onto the South side of the line for lunch at 1pm. With 200km still to go we set off (safe in the knowledge that Taffy drove it in less than 2hrs) the first 100km was a hoot with nice flowing sandy track. John had a close encounter with a camel and rode beside it while the camel snorted and spat at him. At this point Taffy’s claim was looking shaky as it took our 4wd just over 2hrs to do the first 100km. John took off from the regroup with me in pursuit but after 5km the nice flowing sandy track had turned into a series of 8 wide, knee deep bull dust ruts. This really was challenging riding for the next 90km. John had another close encounter, firstly with a kangaroo and then with about 100m of high tensile wire that wrapped itself around his back wheel about 20km before Balladonia. It took us that long to cut it off that the 4wd caught up. We got to Balladonia Road house just on dark, by the time we had showered and locked up the bikes we nearly missed tea (Taffy we will find you one day). Accommodation rated one star.

Day 6: We kept heading south on Narrambinia Stock Route passing through gates covered in bras and panties (backpackers leave their mark everywhere). This was a fairly rough track with the biggest council signs we have ever seen warning us of the dangers all the time. After 200km we emerged into farming land, wheat paddock after wheat paddock (paddocks about 1000ac each). Phill’s 4wd solar panel on top broke a bracket, but with a strap and a stick off a mallee tree, Reg had it secured. (Reg flew out of Esperance the next day to meet his lady friend in Broome but the stick stayed in place for the rest of the trip). At Beaumont we stopped for lunch and so did the TTR with a cracked side cover. Luck was with is as the Esperance show was on sp we did not have to wait long and a local farmer picked up the TTR and myself and took us to Esperance. The rest of the group headed for Gibson Soak pub. The 4wd and I got there at 5pm, with the TTR fixed. Gibson Soak puv accommodation scored 4 stars.

Day 7: We followed the railway line 20km back into Esperance. John, Doug, Lou and Neil did a 2hr tour of Esperance, as Phill and Ray watched the bikes in front of the Bakery, while I went in search of some kneed-it. Now Phill had told us what W.A. stands for – Wait A while and it will get done. I finally found some kneed-it as all businesses in W.A. run 9-5 five days a week (I bet the heart attack rate in W.A. is far lower than here). Leaving Esperance we followed from roads to lunch near Munglinup (this was the start of up country) through States National Park – Jerdacuttup Lakes National Park to Hopetoun. The town was built up to accommodate a BHP mine but it never opened so 300 houses are slowly being sold out to Grey Beards. The town has a new school – hospital – and – sporting grounds that make Wagga Wagga’s look like the back of Bourke. The pub in Hopetoun sits opposite a 90 mile beach and break water to the right the view makes Narooma’s million dollar view pub look like a $5 view: 5 stars.

Day 8: heading out of Hopetoun through Jerramungup – Amelup and through the Stirling National Park. Phill stopped to talk to a lady looking at plants on the side of the track and she told Phill had enjoyed the day so much more if he slowed down a bit and took the time to smell the flowers. Luckily he did not follow her advice and we made good time into Albany. John took a wrong turn and ended up 10km away at the beach, a few phone calls later he made his way to us. That night John and I found out that it is not a good idea to drink a stubby while walking down the street in W.A. Thanks good cop, bad cop

Day 9: After a tour of the whaling station last one to close in Australia, we headed off towards Denmark and the start of forest country and great fire roads through Mt Frankland National Park Shannon National Park. The trees are huge and water in running everywhere with some pretty deep river crossing and sign up telling 4wdrivers to put on head lights. We finished through the Gloucester National Park and Gloucester Tree Fire Tower. We had the intention of climbing but when you get there it is huge so we though it wasn’t safe to climb it in bike boots [Kim: “they are all big chickens”]. We stayed at Pemberton Pub – 5 stars.

Day 10: Today for breakfast we had Marron at a friend of Phill’s, ES who is partner in Narrogin Hay. On the way out to his place we went through Warren National Park and past the Bicentennial Tree Fire Tower. ES weekender used to be a fish farmer. The dam covers 30 acres and 60 feet deep and also happen to be crawling with Marrow which is a sort of a cross between our Yabby and a Murray River Cray and are a dam nice eating – thanks ES. After we could eat no more, we headed for Beedelup National Park. Once through we found a parking bay for some oil and bike maintenance, and then headed along the power line track on the edge of Gingilup Swamp National Park. It lived up to its name. I’ve never ridin such a wet track, but the depth of the water never got over the foot pegs. That was until 300m before the end. John and I pulled up we where a fair bit ahead of the next and looked at the last 200m swamp. It was covered in a green slim looking weed. So in I went and it kept getting deeper and the green slime was like trying to push through Bickley’s tea tree at “The Pines” with the water up to the seat of the TTR at full throttle just got through coughing of spluttering. I looked around and John KTM emerged out of the green slime coughing and stopped just on the edge. The bikes where encased in green slime weed and looked like something out of a Hitchcock film. A few minutes later the others pulled up. John and I yelled and waved our arms at them to stop but they thought we were playing silly buggers. Lou came in first but managed to get out of the wheel rut on the side and in a roost of mud and slim made it over. Neil followed our route and got across coming out covered in green slime with a bit of help from John who waded in for rescue. Phil wasn’t so lucky and took the other side wheel rut, got crossed up and both Phill and the 400 disappeared under the green slim. Ray was the luckiest and the CRF stalled at foot peg depth. I pushed a track around the edge and got the CRF over. Then John went in search of the 400, rescuing Phill and the bike. We got it started, rode out onto the road and there was Doug with lunch, and another oil change for the 400. Every time we went near Doug through he would move back a step, green slime sticks too everything. With lunch eaten we set off to explore Scott National Park with John on the lead, he does not notice the change of name for the trail and he went on and ended up in Kurdardup. We spent the next couple of hours looking for him until a message came in on the phone from the little boy lost. So with a few directions from Lou he found his way to us near Margret River.

Day 11: A whole day off the bikes so we all got in Phill’s cruiser wagon and headed for Karridale bakery for breakfast, then down too Cape Leeumin Light House. We followed the Tourist Drive back up the coast and our day of 3 wineries, 5 boutique breweries, a cheese factory and chocolate factory started. We finished the day at Cowaramup and thats about the condition we were all in.

Day 12: Or was it still day 11, I do not know. I went close to a swim through but cheated and had an hours sleep. The backpackers I lead astray there were still asleep in the park where I’d left them a couple of hours before with them telling me how they had to go to work and serve at shops, clean pubs, pick fruit and work at wineries – yeah right! We left town and rode through Whicher Range state forests lots of logging going on. Stopping at Kirup pie shop through more state forest onto a road just out of Boyup Brook and headed towards Duranillin leaving Up country, forests and cattle behind and back into cropping and Narrogin to load up the bikes before tea.

Day 13: All trips come to an end. So after a tour of Narrogin Hay exporters by Des, we said our goodbyes with John and I off to Perth to load freight for Melbourne on Monday. The rest were off to Fremantle for lunch before flying out for Melbourne at 10.30pm. The trip home: well that’s another story. 
 

Murray Jones Walwa Trailride.

Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th May.

Contact Murray to reserve your spot on this Ride.

Two Days of Riding in the forest around Walwa, Victoria. Staying the Night at Walwa Pub.

Motorcycle Registration and Roadworthy Motorcycles Essential.

The Jones family are to trail riding, what Bill and Barb Sullivan are to road bikes ... the ultimate in adventurers. Here's Muzza's take on Christmas riding in Far Northern NSW. Thanks Muzz. Sound's like you had a ball.

With all the rain and floods in Northern NSW and Southern QLD this year was looking to be perfect for taking our bikes on our Christmas trip to Debbie’s mum’s and we weren’t disappointed. So with Debbie having to be back for work and Ben for a job interview, we travelled up taking Ben’s Ute and the wagon with Kim’s WR 250F, Ben’s WR 250 Husky and my GasGas 300 EC in tow. 

We arrive on Christmas Eve at 1pm to get ready for Christmas day, which is a family event at Debbie’s mums under the massive willow tree in the back yard. Christmas night the evening thunderstorm ritual deposited 30 points of rain in readiness for a ride on Boxing Day. 

26^th Dec 7am
A nice overcast morning with mercury on 18° we rode out of Inverell taking Rifle Range Road into an old gravel quarry. Straight away we headed off road onto a ripper single line Enduro track. After many turns and a bit of off track, we picked up the main trail just before Stannifer. We turned towards Old Mill up the bitumen and into Mt Topper State Forrest where it was a mixer of Pine Forrest and Bush, with tracks going in all directions into Old Mine sites. There were Enduro Arrows up as the Inverell Club holds Enduro’s there as well. On the Northern side just at Middle Creek we came onto an old Quarry where a ripping m/x track has been laid out with a deep sand surface. Ben had a ball tearing around it. We headed back the same way, this time taking single line on the other side of Old Guyra Track finishing into Rifle Range Road, arriving back at 12:30 with 130km of awesome trails on the clock. We are sure to go back and explore some more out that way. 

27^th Dec
The sound of rain on the roof woke me at 2am and again at about 4am. When the alarm went off at 5:30am the rain had stopped and the sky was starting to clear. We had the wagon packed and bikes loaded the night before, so by 6am we were on the road heading for Glenn Inness. We pulled into the Shell servo at Glen Inness to get some extra fuel as Inverell was out of Premium and nearly Unleaded, plenty of E10 but the bikes don’t seem to like it much. We took the Gwydir Highway then onto the Old Grafton Highway, which on an adventure bike would be a hoot (we saw plenty later in the day). Making our way to Dalmorton we passed Mann River National Park – Barrool National Park and Guy Fawkes National park. We saw no trails; this is truly extreme mountain country. After 83km, just before the Convict Tunnel (a 50m long tunnel cut by hand through a cliff on the edge of the Boyd River by convicts), the valley had opened up and the landscape had changed from sheer cliffs to rock free mountains, very similar too the riding near Dartmouth. We pulled over on the side of the road in cattle grazing land next too the river.

9am
The plan was to ride around Dalmorton Forest in a loop track back to the car. We only made it 15km. We headed left but were confronted with a plethora of tracks of old snig trails and cattle tracks; the only trail we rode twice was the climb up from the Boyd River. When we got back to the car for lunch and fuel we had covered 125km of leafy single tracks in cool, dust free (according to the lead rider) riding. After a break we crossed the Boyd River at Dalmorton (a loose collection of hippie squats and weekenders) for the Black Slate Forest, which my map said was State Forest. Unfortunately it is now National Park with its locked gates and unmaintained fire trails. After an hour and only a couple of good trails we headed back to Dalmorton. Over the river we turned right and headed 12km down the Old Grafton Highway towards Nymboida looking for an entrance track back up into the Dalmorton State Forrest area. After a couple of dead ends we pulled up at a promising looking overgrown trail going up a ridge that would make a Billy goat puff. I got out the G.P.S to see if it was near our turn off and, while we were checking our position, we saw 14 big adventure bikes go past. Up the goat track we went and after a few k’s we hit our main trail. We went up it till we turned of onto Blacksmiths and, followed it till we hit our trail that came up from the car, being tempted by even more tracks turning off to the left or right. 

We got the bikes loaded and just as we started the 2 ½ hour drive home it started to rain. We all agreed we were coming back here to ride again. 189km of riding for the day. When we got to Glenn Inness we went to 3 servo’s before we got fuel for the car (fuel light was on) to get back to Inverell at 6:30pm. 

28^th Dec
It had rained nearly all night. Luckily Inverell has a Caltex Depot, so we got fuel as we headed out of town at 9am, as the sky began to clear. Today we headed for Kings Plain National Park, a leisurely 40km out of town. The drive out there turned out to be nearly better than the ride, the smell of wet carpet is nearly gone from inside the car as some of the causeways the water was up the doors of the car. 

Kings Park National Park turned out to only have 30km of fire trails. If it had been dry it would have been pretty disappointing riding, but with the little creeks running like rivers and most of the trails running like creeks we had a pretty good slip sliding time. Ben’s WR 250 was not a very good submarine, but with no boot on the bottom of the air box, it was a full dewatering exercise. We made it home by lunch time. 

29^th Dec
Ben and Debbie headed off for Holbrook, Granny, Mark, Darcy, Linton (a cousin) and I went to Copeton Dam for an afternoon on the big water slide. 

30^th Dec
Kim and I headed out of town to Rifle Range Road to explore some more tracks. This time we followed a single line track down Middle Creek till we could go no further. So we had to turn back and we weren’t looking forward to having to go up some of the drop offs. We went back, then about 200m up I saw a walking track sign on the other side of the creek and, after a look, we found a place to cross over. Some 10km of walking track later we were back on the Old Guyra Road. We went into Mt Topper, off the Tingha, Guyra Road, took different tracks through the middle then back home on the Old Guyra Road, another 123km for the morning. 

31^st Dec
Mark and Darcy played golf in the morning, while I went in the car to check out some more riding. Looks like Kim and I are going to Gilgai tomorrow. 

1^st Jan
There’s nothing like a good ride to clear the head after a late night. Kim and I headed out the Old Bundarra Road. Where at the end before it hits the Gilgai Road there is a nice little piece of bush with cattle, 4wd tracks running in all directions. The area is only about 100ac but we spent over an hour criss crossing the trails. We then headed into Gilgai and into the Goonoowigal Conservation area with the aim of getting over to the Old Guyra Road. This area is a range of tracks and I lost Kim. She was about 100m behind me but didn’t see me go onto a single line track. I went about 5km and a black snake was across the track. I slowed to get around him and he reared up to strike, so I stopped just past him and waited for Kim but there was no Kim. So back around the angry snake and I headed back to find her. When I got to where I’d turned, no Kim. I rode up the main trail, no Kim. So I headed back towards Gilgai, no Kim. I rode back to the start of the single track and there was a very relived to see me Kim. So we headed of on the main trail and came out at Stannifer. Several attempts to get across to the Old Guyra Track in which we kept hitting hobby blocks with locked gates. I was starting to run low on fuel. We went through Stannifer onto the Old Guyra track and straight back to Inverell, coming in on the Rifle range Road. All up I covered 93km for the morning and Kim 81km. it hasn’t rained now for 2 days and it’s starting to get dusty so we might have a day off tomorrow unless it rains tonight. 

2^nd Jan
No rain but a lovely cool morning. We headed out to Rifle Range Road and spent the morning exploring all the lovely walking tracks the NPWS have adopted as theirs (they would have started life as Enduro tracks). This morning we started the tracks with ½ a dozen mountain bike riders, these are great trails with lots of sharp little drop offs down boulders and into creeks, quite technical riding. 

For lunch Kim, Mark, Darcy, Linton, Granny Heady and I drove up to Ashford. We had hamburgers at the bakery store then drove out to Pindarie Dam to check out the new wall, as they’ve raised the dam height so now the old Dam full would be 13% of the new dam height. 

3^rd Jan 8am
Today Kim and I were on a mission to find a way across the Goonoowigal from the Old Guyra Road too the Gilgai, Stannifer Track and this time we where successful. Along the way we rode some excellent tracks that looped out from the back of a bush block at the back of Stannifer. 

4^th Jan 8am
Our last morning ride, so with a bit extra fuel in the back pack, Kim and I headed out to Rifle Range Road to start a loop using the trails of the last week to link up Goonoowigal and Mt Topper. We covered 100km of 90% single trail and rode about 20km of a 40km Enduro loop the Inverell club had marked out at the back of Mt Topper State Forrest and some more new trails we hadn’t ridden before. One being up there as the knarliest rocky downhill you could imagine. At the start of the week Kim would have frozen at the top and most of the people we usually ride with would have turned back to go another way, but we made the nearly 1km trail, turned rocky creek, too the bottom without crashing once (well done Kim!). when we pulled up back at Granny’s at 1pm the only bit of riding were we’d used the same route was the last 3km back into town on the Rifle Range Road. It’s now time to pack up for the long drive home tomorrow.

Saturday 13.12.08

I was lucky enough to get an invite to the Wodonga KTM ride day. Dealer principal John Hill had access to the Albury Wodonga Motorcycle Clubs Causeway Race Tracks. About 40mm of rain had fallen in the previous 24hours and the tracks were quite slippery. The course included some parts of the freshly groomed motocross track and some sections of the enduro loop used by the National Off Road. 

First off I rode the 2008 250EXC-F. This bike was exactly what I expected from a 250 four stroke. The power comes gently from the bottom end and builds to a healthy top end. On the tighter switch back sections of the single-track, the bike feels a little slow, with a lot of clutch needed to launch out of corners. On the more open flowing single-track its top end delivers a rewarding turn of speed. Combined with the light weight and good stable handling, this bike is very easy to ride and a lot of fun. 

Next ride 2009 250 SX-F. A rare chance to ride an MX 250 four stroke.

The handlebars are lower and the seated position much further forward for a more aggressive ride. The power delivery is a fair bit snappier than 250 EXC-F. The fork is just a bit firmer and would tire a rider on long single-track sections. The 250 SX-F handled the acceleration and braking bumps a little better and could be made into a good woods bike with some minor adjustment to raise the Handlebars. Power comes on strong from the Bottom End and gets straight into the Top End. A bit more wheel spin here on the slippery track probably reduces the advantage of the extra power. 

2009 250 EXC-E electric start two stroke “Hallelujah”. This feature alone will convince more riders to purchase the 250 two stroke. The engine starts the instant you hit the button and settles quickly into a nice rounded idle. This bike was fresh out of the crate, barley run in. It will benefit from a needle adjustment on the carby to brighten up the Bottom End. I found the power quite gentle in the Bottom End and even into the midrange. No hit of power yet. Top End comes on smoothly, no hit here either. This bike is deceptively quick, as I found out three turns into the single track. I had slightly over-shot the corner. The next lap around same corner same overshoot. You really could ride this bike all day and not tire of the smooth power. Handling is typical 2 stroke Enduro, Light, with sharp Steering. You get a lively ride, you really have to be on your game to ride a 250 2 stroke fast, There is a lot more deflection from single track Ruts. So extra concentration is required to keep the bike tracking straight.

Time for the bigger bikes.

2009 450 EXC. I wasn’t too confident taking the 450 out in these conditions. There were exposed roots, slippery logs and light rain falling. But to my amazement the 450 was very easy to ride. On the switch back section of this single-track the extra power is on tap straight away, I love this type of power delivery. When you turn the throttle by quarter turn mid corner, a burst if strong smooth power propels you to a clean exit, no excessive sliding just hooked up and ready for the ruts and breaking bumps ahead. Great bike stock standard, you fair dinkum could ride this as is, engine is crisp, suspension very smooth, the front end is stable and does not push or dive under braking. 

2009 450 EXC (Modified) this is John Hill’s own personal bike, some mods here exhaust, handlebars, suspension settings, sticker kit etc. The exhaust note on this bike is awesome. Power is stronger in the bottom end and stronger all the way thru. In these wet conditions the extra power did not necessarily mean quicker lap times. Suspension was noticeably plusher over small trail obstacles, and the bike remained well settled on rough straights. It was worth riding Johns 450 just for the sound alone. 

After riding the two 450’s I felt confident I could handle an open class enduro bike. 

Enter the 2009 530 EXC. I was straight away amazed at how well this bike handled the slippery track. The power of the 530 is fantastic, very smooth, loads of traction and bucket loads of torque. I was surprised to find the front wheel lofting skyward despite the lack of traction on the slippery surface. Handling is outstanding, the bike turned and stopped easily and handled slippery trail roots and logs without deflection or excessive sliding. 

Back on the 2008 250EXC-F just to confirm what I already knew. I love the 450’s and even the 530. 

The good thing about KTM’s is you really can take them straight to a racetrack and they are set up for it. You know ‘Ready to Race’ 

In conclusion.

The 250 EXC four stroke really suits Juniors and riders with less experience. They have great handling and smooth power, but the great thing is the Top End here will reward a hard charging rider and you can compete against bigger bikes.

The 250 EXC two stroke is easy to ride, much more mellow than I expected, don’t relax here though as it’s very fast, you just don’t notice it.

I loved the 450 EXC, despite my initial reluctance. You really can race these bikes at any level, Club, Interclub or Open Enduro. The power delivery is amazing. It just hooks up and drives hard even on slippery surfaces.

The 530 EXC surprised me the most. It is a lot more manageable than I believed it would be. Check out a 530 EXC outstanding. 

From these bikes here today I would choose the 450 EXC in stock trim, I just loved the surge of power you get on the corner exits, very rewarding 

What a great day

Thanks to the team at Wodonga KTM  -    Dealer Principle John Hill

• Workshop ace Glen Fairweather
• Sales Kristy Gillespie

Check out our sponsor page for contact details. 

John Hill also manages a fleet of Hire KTM’s, you can hire one for a day, a weekend, even a week. So if you want a taste of off-road action, ask John about his hire bikes. 

Greg Webb