Blog: May 9. Done some bike stuff.

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It’s been a busy week with work, but I haven’t been on a bike.

First I had to drop work’s BMW to the dealer in Port Macquarie, which was no big deal, but it’s still half a day lost no matter what I do. In fact, with the roadworks and the traffic, it took a little longer than that.

The next day I had to bolt to Sydney for a few days to tidy up some work bits and pieces, which included a visit to Yamaha and Ficeda. Sean Goldhawk – the media contact at Yamaha Motor Australia for nearly a decade – denied any knowledge of an updated Tenere 750 twin, as mooted in Australian Motorcycle News. That’s a shame really, because the adventure and dualsport market seems to be gravitating to the 750cc-800cc capacity, and there’s no doubt the current Tenere could use a freshen up.

I really just sat there like a bump on a log during the Yamaha interview. Sean and I know each other well, and if there was anything he thought it was worth me knowing for work, he would’ve made sure I knew.

Still, it was a pleasant visit. Sean’s a good-natured, happy bloke with a keen eye for a laugh, so it’s always good to say hello.

From Yamaha I had to drive all of about 100 metres to Ficeda, which everyone insists is a separate entity from Yamaha, but is in a large warehouse on the same site as Yamaha Motor Australia. It has separate security and boom gates and so forth, and different personnel, but the association has always been close. I went in to see Dave Maddock – another nice bloke who’s quick to laugh – to have the visor retrofitted to my shark helmet. Dave told me how simple it was, and how anyone could do it, but when I started trying I ended up with tiny little screws and Torx fittings scattered all over creation, so I swept everything into a plastic bag and took it to him. I was pretty happy to see him scratching his head and saying how he hadn’t done one for a long time.

He got the job done, we had a very pleasant chat, then I headed back to the Sydney office, finished what I had to do and headed home.

The only close encounter I had with an actual bike was a new side panel turning up for the Dominator. Only $423!

Geez. Sometimes I catch myself cursing the cost of things on that bike, and then I remember what it would cost me to replace the same parts on a modern bike. I think I’m doing well with the good ol’ Honda. I recently had a clutch kit, cam-chain tensioner and cam chain replaced. Imagine what that would’ve cost on a modern bike! I’ll stick with the Dominator for a while yet, I think…unless Honda does in fact release a new bike called a Dominator next year. I’d have to have a look at that.

I joined a Facebook group called the Northern Rivers Adventure Bike Riders – I think that’s what it’s called – and I see the Ramsays, Pottsy, AC Newberry and a few other familiar names and faces popping up there. If you’re looking for a local group who seem to be getting things done, have a look at the group.

TF

PS: The pic at the top doesn’t have anything to do with anything. It’s just an old pic from when I had a few less grey hairs. I’m pretty sure it was 2006 on my first-ever ride with Marty HC and his crew…seeing I was on a bit of a nostalgia kick last week. TF

One Comment

  1. I was wondering who that young good looking bloke with the husky was, must have been the first ride, you let me do a long lap on that bike

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