Distance: 631km Route: <iframe src="http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1836910/embed" height="768px" width="80%" frameborder="0"></iframe> A handful of pics:
Keep them coming, mate. Terrific photos. You're doing the trail marking for all of us in Tassie What's the story with the bush bashing car? Tim
Nice ride reports fella, so, what's your thoughts on doing said track on a 950 katie by a fairly experienced rider, athough I usually give up before the bike does but I do have a 520 I could cart down, just have to do a lot more tracks to make the trip from the norf east worthwhile. PS I think the wombat might have come out better than you.....
Thanks.. The car was off the side of the Marlborough Hwy (Tassies only dirt Hwy)... It wasn't till I got off the bike I realized the trees had been down for a few days, or more... It looked like they hit pretty hard, and by the red front on the car it looks like it wasn't their first crash... It seems they've abandoned it... Nice tree imprint in the number plate: Lucky they had airbags: Not a fan of checking wrecks :eek1 Here's another scarier one from near Little Swanport: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc1TP0jn42M I assume the cars would have been removed by the police if there was any serious injuries...
Thanks I only did the northern end of the Saw Back track, which the 4x4 people say is the worse part, and I'm confident you'll have no issues on the 950... (The 950 seems to be a similar size and weight as the Tenere, and more capable) I called Parks and Wildlife on Tuesday about it, they were heading out on Wednesday to check for fallen trees and such... They told me to call back tomorrow to find out when they'll start handing the key out again... I'll report back on the condition of the rest of the track in the next couple of weeks... :)
Hi Flickit, I plan to use the trust iPhone for navigation to......when I get one that is. Can I ask we're you got the maps from or more like where to find them. Btw keep the RR coming they are great, once I have GPS I'll be doing some more exploring, they take the lost factor out Cheers Jason
Hi Windy, I use the Memory-Map app, I did a long-winded post about it the other day in this thread: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=19930487#post19930487 From what someone else said in that thread, it doesn't run too well if you use the 100k or 25k maps, I can't confirm this as I haven't used them, but it's fine with the free 250k maps... They show most roads/tracks, and that's what I use most the time, it's just when you get into the large forests that have a maze of tracks that more detail is handy, MM generally shows the main tracks through the forests, just not all the minor tracks... Another screen shot to show the detail up your way: :)
I've been a bit concerned about how vulnerable the water pump is, the Yamaha alloy skid-plate offers no protection, the pump hangs out the side... (the waterpump already has a couple of dings from rocks being thrown up by the knobbies)... Damage from dropping it in rocky terrain is also a concern.... I've got some SW crash bars on the way, I'll install them before deciding what to do about long term pump protection... For a bit of short-term protection I've done this... No doubt some paint will be worn off by dust/gravel/mud sitting between the pump and the rubber, but that doesn't worry me... I've done 1 gnarly ride since doing this, the rubber is a bit scuffed so I think it is worthwhile protection for "me"... I dropped the bike a few times but it was always to the left, so the left case is a bit scuffed and missing paint... By the damage to the left I'm confident if I had fallen to the right the rubber would have helped reduce potential damage.. . Paranoid? maybe
2012-10-29 Saw-Back Odo Distance: 294 km Since doing the ride out to Adamsfield I've been itching to do the Saw Back Track, it's the alternate Adamsfield access track, it's closed over winter so it doesn't get too chewed up... Early in the week I called Parks and Wildlife to find out when it would be re-opened, they were heading out there on Wednesday to clear any fallen trees and said it "should" be open after that.... Friday I woke at about 3am, I couldn't get back to sleep, and I had no plans for the day, so I decided to head out to Mt Field, and if the Saw Back track was open, grab the key and go do it... I originally planned to find someone to come along with me on this ride for safety, but I don't really know anyone, and I was reluctant to drag someone of unknown ability into a potentially hard area.... I didn't want to get someone else in trouble, or have to turn back at the first obstacle.. So off I went, solo as usual... The Saw Back track is considered fairly hard, I was under the impression the northern end was the worse part, I did that bit a couple of weeks ago with no problems, so I figured the rest would be no issue: http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=2522 "4WD access is provided by the Saw Back track. People using this route must be experienced four-wheel drivers with high clearance vehicles. There is a particularly steep and slippery section on the Saw Back track just before it joins the Adamsfield track." Route: <iframe src="http://ridewithgps.com/trips/999717/embed" height="768px" width="80%" frameborder="0"></iframe> I couldn't find any info about what time the visitor center at Mt Field opened, but since they close at 3pm, I figured they must be open fairly early... I was wrong, I got up there around 7:30am only to find they don't open till 9:30... To waste some time I rode the 16 km road up Mt Field to Lake Dobson/Fenton and back. (52 to 83km on the route) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt_Field_National_Park http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=3589 Lake Fenton: I still had a bit of time to waste so I headed across the road from Mt Field and up Cassons Rd and poked around Blue Top Rd and the other forestry tracks around there... (85km to 100km on the route) Some of the tracks are good, some are a bit crappy and interesting: (I didn't take many photos so I'll just use some GoPro video screenshots to fill in the gaps) Arrived back at Mt Field at 9:30 to be told the computer still shows the Saw Back track as closed ... She went and checked with someone else and returned with the key and permit forms in hand, it was open Filled out the forms and left them with a $300 credit card imprint for the key deposit.... and off I went The Saw Back runs off Gordon River Rd at 147km on the route: The first part of the track was pretty good, but it wasn't long before it turned into VERY slippery clay with 4x4 trenches up each side... It seems safer to stay in the trenches rather than balancing on the slippery ridge in the middle, but when you're in the trenches you have to deal with all the over grown trees, and try not to pin a leg between the bike and the bank at the side... Through the day I often tried to ride the center part of the road, it was faster, but generally ended in a drop... It wasn't long before we were laying down for a rest Part A, a 10 min video of the start of the track, it's starts getting crappy towards the end, with the drop in the last min of the video: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UPUnBuN13_8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> I was having to lug the engine more than I would like, I've still got the original gearing, it wasn't ideal, the slowest it would go was still too fast... (I have a 14 tooth sprocket on order, which will help) The clay was evil stuff, it wasn't long before the Tenere was laying down again: (Being so tall and heavy, once it starts to go down, there's no stopping it) Saw Back Track B, about 10 mins, more clay, ending at the dreaded bog hole, a drop about 2 mins in, excuse the girlie giggling, I knew it was going to happen: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-XHa9Z4OPA4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> (after the second drop I discovered the key needs turning off and back on, after a drop, before the bike will start again) At about 150km on the route, 3km into the track, I came to this evil bog hole: I considered turning around, but I came out here to do this track, not run home with my tail between my legs at the first hurdle... I wandered around here for a fair while considering my options... The bank at the left looks flat, but it was a bit of a slope, and as slippery as hell, at the end there was a narrow bank between the trees and the bog hole which I didn't think I had any hope of getting around while staying upright... I figured I was better of starting down in the bog, rather than end up falling face first into it with the bike upside down in the water.... I tried checking the depth with a stick but it was very questionable so I waded through and back.... Most was around knee/wheel deep... It seemed doable, even though I've never been through something this deep before... I psyched myself up, telling myself.... "Just keep going, keep the momentum up, don't think about it just do it, plow through, youuuuu caaaaan dooooo eeeeeet" ..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMFg2aU3x4o And in we went: Part C - The Sinking (90sec video) <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zYFu_NTgsQY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> I sorta got into a bit of a panic when the front wheel dropped down into the hole, I just wanted to keep going... Probably good I didn't bounce the front wheel out, with the rear wheel in the hole the air intake would probably be well under water Turns out the front wheel ended up in a small deep hole which I missed when I walked though... The bike was standing up solid, with the front wheel firmly located in the hole... I think the hole was dug by a narrow 4x4 tyre, or another bike, it was a nice wheel size... A good lesson to learn, walk heal to toe through the exact route you plan to ride Shit happens It was clear the bike had sucked in some water, but first priority was getting it out...By sitting on the bike and digging my feet in, I managed to jerk the front wheel out of the hole, then I found the best method was to hold the bars in the middle with 1 hand, and put my shoulder into the box on the back to push it out... It was hard, but easier than I expected considering the bike weighs well over 200kg... The box on the back adds high up weight, but it sure makes the bike a LOT easier to push backwards... With the bike in the shallows out of imminent danger, I had a break and a walk around: There was a drainage trench at the side that was clogged with debris: I cleared it out to try to drain the water level down a bit: I dragged the bike out a bit further then started pulling it apart... I drained the airbox, about 1/2 a cup of water came out the drain, then off with the top-box and seat: The inner filter was fairly wet and full of mud, a combination of the muddy water and the dust that was already in the filter, the outer filter was a bit wet, and there was a bit of water around inside the airbox: There didn't appear to be any water up around the engine side of the airbox outlet ... I wiped the filters off and soaked the water out with rags... (I wrap a lot of my tools and such in rags so they don't vibrate together, so I always have plenty)... I Pulled the spark plug out and cranked it over, some mist came out, I think that might have been fuel and not water... It seemed no water actually got into the engine With the spark plug and air filters back in I hit the GO button she instantly jumped to life ... The exhaust must have had some water in it, a bit blew out when it started, and she blew steam for a min or so... I let it warm up and dry out for a couple mins then shut it down..... Checked the oil, it appeared water free :huh Impressive, I'm amazed an engine be fully submerged for a while and not get water in it.... While I was dragging it out of the water I was thinking about the oil, I was sure it would have water in it, I figured I'd just ride till I got phone reception and call someone to bring me oil so I could change it on the side of the road.... Turns out it wasn't an issue, I checked the oil numerous times through the day and it seemed water free... The bike has 5500km on it now, 4500 since the oil was changed, it's a bit discoloured, so I'll change it before the next ride just to be safe... ****** To be continued*******
This is a bloody good thread I'm planning to take a trip to Tassie on my Strom and this is definitely providing sufficient inspiration. Keep it up
I considered turning around and heading home, but since the bike seemed 100% ready to go with no ill effects from the drowning, the only option was to battle on! I was at the water hole for around 2 hours all up, and I had drained it down a fair bit... The level was up at the stick to start with: (take note of the bank at the left, it looks flatter on video due to the wide angle lens) I was all set to head back into the water when I realized the left bank had dried out a fair bit, it seemed ridable now.. (it was a warm day and the sun had been on it for a couple of hours).... There was a couple tree branches blocking the narrow bank at the end, this is a conservation area, part of The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, and I do my best to stick to the "Leave No Trace" guidelines, so I was reluctant to break the branches off.... I ended up braking a couple of dead branches off, and I tied a couple of the living branches back out of the way with reeds so I had a fairly clear route... Part D, 10 min video, around the water hole and onward to a couple more knee deep holes: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/giXSQzVMpRs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Part E, 2 min video, and another drop: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Go0q-aYGM9E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> At least it was a nice day: This little mud hill turned into the hardest part of the day, if I had just stayed in the left trench and followed it up I would have been ok, but I tried to ride up the middle and dropped it.... Then dropped it again trying to get back over to the left... Then I gave up and just headed up the right hand side which was impossible: It's not much of a slope, but it gave me a lot of grief: Part F, 10 min video, drop at the start, the rest is just me thinking and struggling to move forward: (probably not worth watching unless you enjoy watching someone suffer) :huh <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rexAvFAmELA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> I spent close to an hour here, I tried things like packing dead bracken fern in the trench to get traction but it didn't help... The main problem was, people had packed the trench with tree branches which were embedded in the mud paralell to the trench, the knobbies couldn't bite in and get traction: I eventually gave up on the right hand side, pushed the bike back down through the mud, then ran up the left side, wish I had done that to start with! Part G, 1 min video, Success made it <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7Lq8peO3dZw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> So annoying... but educational I continued on, the track was still fairly bad but it seemed easy after the earlier dramas... I forgot to turn the camera back on, so there's a couple of mins of missing footage.... Along here there was a couple of decent water holes, I managed to skirt around the edge of one, I turned the engine off and grabbed the trees to pull myself around: The next one had a bit of a drop off to get into it, knee deep, it was a bit scary, but no drama: Part H, 11 min video, the couple of water holes are in the middle, then the clay ends and the track opens up a bit and turns to white gravel: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kevd3Sjx7FA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> To be continued... ... .. .
The track turned into what I like, rough, with enough obstacles to be entertaining, but very little risk of getting stuck... The next section was mainly white gravel/dirt/rock, heading down hill, with one crazy steep rough section: With the standard gearing I couldn't go slow enough for this... So I killed the engine and paddled my way down, feet out, using the clutch to brake the back wheel: Not sure I'd even try riding a big bike up it, lots of loose rock and gravel.... Lots of small water holes, only 1 biggish one, it wasn't very deep: A few little creeks: Part I, 16 min video, the steep hill is about 2 mins into it, a decent water hole about 8 mins in, <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4OJH9NIj8hg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> What a beast! The last part of the Saw Back Track is just a nice undulating rough track, thoroughly enjoyable ride, nothing hard... Nice scenery with the Saw Back range on the right, little creeks in all the valleys, no issue, if it was raining hard these might be a bit more of a challange: Part J, 12 min video, to the northern end of the Sawback track <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PwIaBEKqf7o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> So, that's the Saw Back Range Track, a good challenge, educational for a noob like me, "character building" as some say That's it for now, I'll add 1 more video and write a bit of a conclusion later... If you've made it this far, you're doing well, Thanks for reading
Just found this! Looks like you have the right bike and the right places to ride! Thanks for posting I'll be looking out for more of your ride reports
Thanks for the comments I forgot about the last part of this ride report, guess I better finish it before adding the next one: Part K, 8 min video, from the end of the SawBack track through Adamsfield to Clark hut: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/M6Qys17bFJA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> After this ride I removed the wheels and suspension linkages to check for water and repack them with grease, and I gave it an oil change... Surprisingly no water got in anywhere ... This track turned into a bit of a nightmare ride, it was more effort than I enjoy, but I have no regrets, I learned a lot ... Would I do it again?, yes, but at a drier time of the year (the clay was just evil)
I ordered a bunch of stuff from Off-The-Road in Germany, rear-racks, crashbars, center-stand, tall screen, 14-tooth front sprockets, spare clutch cable/cush rubbers/chain slider/oil-filters/screen-screws... I wrote a bit about the gear over here: (prices, weights, opinions) http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=20193744&postcount=4010 Also added a cig-lighter outlet and switch in the side of the dash, wired straight to the battery: Removed, cleaned, and covered all the engine mount bolts with copper-anti-seize: (They don't make them like they use to) Also installed new rear brake pads, the original Brembo ones only lasted 5000km... :)
Throughly enjoying the RR, keep them coming. They are a great future reference for doing Tassie myself one day. Then again we could move down south a bit further.........Hmmmm The RAN needs to look into using Tenere's, they make great submarines by the look of things.
Nice road report Flickit. I had the same problem with my big bike tiping over, so I bought a 300 lbs unit to get around on so I'm busy picking my heavy weight off the ground. I thought I had better tell you about steal and aluminiun with copper slip. This is not a good idea. The copper coat adds more oxidisation into the metal. Nickle coat is the better of this plan when choosing a anty seize. The heavy duty people at Finne/ Catapiler use nickle coat any time they work with steal and aluminiun. I'm sure there is info on the web regarding this. Keep up the good work, and watch out for those bottom-less holes. From Jeathrow Bowdean in Western Canada