QUICK RIDE FROM WODONGA

For the first time in a while I got to go for a ride that was more than 50km. Unfortunately it wasn't on my bike. I had to ride my son's FZ6N from Wodonga to Wagga as he isn't allowed to ride in NSW again until the 22/12. Don't ask, long story.

It was, non the less, a good ride. Great weather and reasonable roads (conditions, not number of corners). Although I think the road from Cookardinia to Wagga has gotten worse since I rode it last, but dodging the pot holes sort of made up for the lack of corners.

The FZ seems a whole lot more comfortable than I remember it and it has loosened up since I rode it in July (it had 15000km on it then, it now has 20000km). It now sort of picks up speed from 100 without changing down, although if you want real acceleration, you still have to knock it back a cog or 2. It sat on 120-130 quite nicely and the new tyres (PR2s) he's put on it have certainly made the front a bit more confidence inspiring, and the rear has some real grip now. He had dunlops (don't know which 'model') on last time I rode it.

Would I own one, no. Even though it has more power than the B12, is quite a bit lighter and is somewhat more nimble, it really doesn't seem to have very much torque, and realistically I like to ride the torque wave rather than the power wave, and that nimbleness sometimes becomes twitchy.

Now that my wife is working again, I'm hoping to actually start doing some real rides soon, although if the weather heats up much more, it'll be Autumn before I venture to far from the A/C.

The last time I rode that particular stretch of tarmac I ended up with a conrod hanging out the front of the block on my mighty Katana...

How long ago was that?

I feel old now..

14 years ago, that happened.

You know, the sad thing is that the 'condition' of the road probably hasn't changed, even though the RTA have had a couple of goes at resurfacing it.

I don't doubt it for a second, mate.
Our taxes are put to far better uses (like revenue collection) in an attempt to reduce the road tolls than to worry about silly things like the actual road surface...

Why is it though that generally speaking the roads in NSW are so shit compared to Vic? I've been on 'farm tracks' in Vic that are better than some of the tramac here.

Its funny. When i go on my snowy ride, i look forward simply to the surface of the roads.
It takes about 10km to realise your back in NSW, just by the roads.