Friday, October 17, 2008

My Expenditures (As of 17 Oct 2008)

Okay, here's the latest scoop on how much It has cost me for this pilgrimage.

"Accomodation & Meals"
Tent = 40 bucks
Sleeping Bag = 87bucks
Stove = Free
Gas Canisters = Free
Total = 127 bucks

Riding Gear
Helmet = Free
Gloves = Free
Pants = 30 bucks
Jacket = 90 bucks
Total = 120 bucks

Bike stuff
R-class License = 670 bucks
Soft padded Panniers = 80 bucks
Total = 750 bucks

Navigation
GPS(76CSx Awesome!) = 330 bucks
GPS CN NT Micro Sd = 71 bucks
2Gb Sandisk Micro Sd = 8.50 bucks
Compass = Free
Total = 409.50 bucks

Current Total as of Oct 2008 = 1406.50 bucks

Hopefully, when I come back from Japan I can get my bike and take a couple of weekender solo trail ride and camping trips. Just for the experience of it. I'm been dissuaded from riding the bike around and been advised to go in a cager instead but I don't expect those people who don't ride to understand the real feeling and excitement of riding so I'm not going to rough it out with them.

My Life Without a bike but with a license....pfff!

Yes, it's been awhile. Being a uni student I really have a life elsewhere out of being online (Liar!). Hence the rarity of a post. I reckon my posts are like endangered tigers.... If you see it you should convert to become a nun.

Anyway, couple of updates, so basic bike gear ( Jacket, Gloves, pants, soft tailbag, helmet) are all here. And.... I passed the R-license test ( 1/2 a point take that biatch... by biatch I mean the Licensing people...no offence dun take my license away...)! I'm ecstatic since I had quite some problem with my Figure 'O's. Well, Japan next, maybe a souped up CB250 or CB400 would be nice! Even a small scooter will be up. Oh yea, My GPS finally arrived. I've been playing around with it like bringing it to uni and everywhere I go. It's a Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx and looks like a old handphone from the early 90s. If I drop it in water.... It floats! How cool is that!.... no really eh... :D

Friday, September 12, 2008

My one step forward

Okay, here's the latest scoop
1. Jacket's here, alittle dirty but it's worth every 90 dollar cent I spent on it.
2. Wrote a sponsorship request to Yamaha (slim chance but hey, miracles happen!)

Sourced out the camping "road side accomodation" already, tents gonna cost me a HEFTY 34.35 bucks (Fwah!!!) and sleeping bag, looking at around 87 bucks. I've decided I'm going to just go with the flow and relax on not stressing out over the minute details (for now). So, Just debit the shit out of my account man!

Bussi Jetty tomorrow morning!

Cheers and I'm going to enjoy my respite from this so-far hectic semester

Saturday, September 6, 2008

My Forward Advance with Indian Oh... so cheap Bags

Okay people, listen up I'm a cheapskate and I am not shy to admit that... Everything about this trip is try and be as cheap a bastard as you can. As such, I have sourced out 'made in india... made in india...california...." soft case panniers. I'm almost about to commit my money into buying them for a cheap cheap 40 bucks(shipping's another 20 I think) without first having even gotten my bike.

Also, I spoke to Son down at SMARTRIDER today about taking that wretched Moto maintenance repair courseand it's going to set me back around 120 bucks. Did do a course in Army but then again, that was two years back so seeing how I've never torn apart a motorcycle before and touched the... body (grrr....) I think I should do a "refresher".

Next, met a guy from PSB, interesting nickname;Dubs, to try on some touring pants. It turned out to be a little big for me and it'll set me back 70 bucks. So, I'm going to settle for my army camo pants and get a pair of reliable knee and shin armored guards to wear over/under them pants. I figured, if I can save a little while it serves the same purpose then Do IT!(say it like Ben Stiller in Starsky and Hutch, it's fun!). By the way, Dubs you are one helluva big fella! I wouldn't be caught swearing at you drunk with my pants around my ankle even if someone paid me to Do IT!

Then, I caught up with an ol' friend, Janni, from high school at Cottosloe for a chat and some dinner. I had called him a couple of days ago to check if he'll be a willing slave to helping me do up the bikes. One thing led to another and now, he might be my riding buddy, although he'll probably only ride a 250 to Adelaide or Can-dbury-berra and fly back to be in time for uni. We'll see... I mean the bloody trip is 30 MONTHS AWAY!

Anyway, here's my own "cheap bastards guide to traversing Oz":

1. Don't buy them fanciful gadgets!
2. If it's not brokenn don't fix it (same goes for your bones)
3. Derive entertainment from yourself. Go ahead, play with yourself, it's much cheaper
4. If you have something at home that serves the same purpose, don't waste your bloody money buying a newer one. That just makes you a bloody fool. (Gotta remind myself about that)
5. Budget well and keep to the budgets
6. Refer to the abovementioned 5 and remind yourself that only fools spend money they don't need.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Route Planning Part 1.

So, It's been a busy few days. Spoke to Anni today, who happens to be an angel as she answered my question one by one. Back when I was still in my mom's hymen, Anni did the exact route I had in mind but on a Van instead of on two wheels. To sum it all up, Nullabor = Baaad.... cos it's so haaarsh. It'll be pretty stupid to do it yourself was what she said, so I asked sis if she was interested in rounding Oz with me instead. We'll have to source our some maps to really plan an exact route... Library maybe?! Lacking sleep, I am just wondering around a living dead browsing other people's wonder story and just drawing experience from their trips.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=377758&page=2

and

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173971&page=1

Despite the words of caution, I still pretty optimistic about making the trip. For now, The trip would start from Perth head clockwise, up to Darwin down Ayers Rock, Take Highway 1 through to Adelaide and the whole of the east coast.... the rest I've yet to give it much thought.

Oh the second article is really quite a read! In the meantime, Hang loose, enjoy the weekend and go nuts! ;)

Sunday, August 31, 2008

My Stumbling Blocks

Okay, so I'm a Looong way from being able to complete the trip. As a privateer, the major obstacle faced is ultimately cost, I know I'll have the luxury of time but really, finances will be my biggest poo-poo.

Anyway, here's my list of wombat-blocking:

Yet to:
Purchase the god-damn maps
Purchase the Protective Gear
(Jacket or Armour?)
Helmet..check!
Gloves... check!
Pants... check!

Route planning
Raise the funds for the trip.
Amass enough knowledge about off-roading.
Medical and first aid training
Basic Motorcycle Repairing
Basic Off-road Course
Decide on the bike of choice and finally,
Naming the Wheeled beast (I'm leaning towards Wombat-Killa)

At this point of time, my bike options are KLR650, Xr600, XL600, Yamaha Tenere, Africa Twin, Nx Dominator and Xt600e. With my limited fundings, I'm only able to set aside around the 3k mark so, my only viable option is to purchase an older model (88'-97'), do it up, splash out the cash to rebuild the engine, self-repair and replace minor damages like mirrors, electronics and levers, etc and upgrade on the weaker parts of the machine; like fitting a stronger belly pan.

I've to also keep in mind the engine capacity of the 2 wheel wombat killer; I leaning towards the xt600 or the tenere due to the reliability and reviews on it's ability to withstand the rough. A 250 will be much cheaper BUT, I have my doubts about it's ability to cruise comfortably and tolerate the stress placed on the frame by all the luggages and strap-ons(nope, not the dildo-type... think more towards... Cargo Netted 2-man Tent), the last thing I want to be left with is a cracked frame, or worse!

I really wonder if I'll succeed in doing this....

My Start

This is the story of a yellow fella mapping his grand quest of straddling a hot rod around the land of Kangaroos and Wombats. Hopefully, he'll be seeing more wombats than riding into them.

In early 2008, a naive Singaporean decided, against the better of other people's judgements that he will see out a conquest of Australia's outback, cosmopolitian city life in the East and shit at Ayer's Rock to make it bigger before returning back to the West!

In the ensuing few months, follow him through the dreams, planning and preparations for this grand voyage. Hopefully, just hopefully, he will follow through and execute this trip to make his so-far meaningless existence alittle more of a pin-prick on God's arse. (Evolution still rules I sorry to say..)