Round and around we go, when we stop who the fk knows! I'm envious of you apartment dwellers about now. The grass is growing behind the mower... if it doesn't get bogged! The yard looks like a '70s punk with a green tufted mohawk gracing the centre. Me and a mate snuck out for a quick thousand-klick ride over the Cup Day long weekend and somehow managed to miss the worst of the rain. Amazing given the red and yellow splotches on the BOM radar. We were expecting to be aquaplaning most of the way to meet up with the rest of the crew. Every creek was running close under every bridge we crossed and most paddocks were temporary dams. An hour after we tucked ourselves into a dubious motel outside Albury the heavens opened as they have across Eastern Oz over this month. It goes without saying that the roads were in appalling condition. In some places, we found great washes of gravel across roads creating heart-stopping speed bumps. Or... a backhoe in the process of cleaning one up! I got to put a thousand clicks on a brand-spanking new (0.2km) CF Moto 800MT SE. Struth, you buy a $10k accessory pack and for $6.5k they throw in a bike. The upcoming issue of the AMCN Yearbook – MOTY, has the whole story. |
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Rather than get cranky about getting landlocked in my shed, I've decided to give Mario, my '74 750 Sport Ducati a bit of a makeover. Over the 35 years or so of ownership I've accumulated a swag of bits and pieces. In a moment of 4.8% inspiration, I realized there was enough to give it a change of image for a while.
Someone once remarked that blokes go hunting because it's not macho just going for a bush-walk. Maybe fettling bikes, especially old ones, are like jigsaws for blokes. |
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The original tank had rusted through in places at the base, as they do. My mate Thommo is fixing it and as soon as he's finished his new house, the whole rig will get a new set of original clothes. In the meantime, off with the single seat, on with a 'rockin' 'orse rare', Sport dual seat and a set of high-rise clip-on handle-bars. A bloke needs a project!
While I was at it, there was a bit of wiring tidying to do and cleaning of deep nooks and crannies was in order. I've remade a small 'dashboard' and added indicators as I did away with the crappy old switch blocks Ducati lumbered it with decades ago.
The problem I have next, is to get it re-registered on club plates. During COVID I made the error of forgetting to pay renewal and Vicroads don't send a reminder for club plated vehicles. You might guess that I was mighty impressed by the level of Fks given by the authorities when I appealed as a result. |
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| Stay tuned for a peak at the finished project in the next newsletter. I'm calling it my 750 GTS. |
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As you know, we try to find a reasonable, competitive price for our gear and stick to it. We don't have the never-ending cycle of Black Easter Friday Mother's Frenzy Day Sales.
But... To thank you for putting up with my ramblings throughout the year (and get a few bills paid), I thought it only fair to offer newsletter subscribers a further 10% off everything for December.
So here's a discount code to use at checkout.
Go on, fill yer boots!
Of course, conditions apply. Two shots each, no further discounts or rain checks. |
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| For locals or Mudbourne visitors, we are having an extra Saturday open day prior to the Festival of Greed and Excess. We'll be having a bit of a clear-out of samples, not-quite-right, our used clobber, various misfits and leftovers. |
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OPEN 10am to 1pm on Saturday 17th December |
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Saint Bob
If anyone deserves a Sainthood it's Father Bob. A down-to-earth bloke who's not afraid to raise the middle finger when required. He always seems to be at the coal-face of sense and helping those less fortunate than us, no matter what creed.
Motorcycle activist Damien Codognotto OAM, has been a long-time driver of various incarnations of Victorian Toy Runs. This year's event is having a crack at something different out at the Broadford track two hours north of Melbourne.
They don't want any stuffed, fluffy toys this year. If you are wanting to donate a toy, try to be creative and think of older kids. One year we took fishing gear.
Youse interstaters can still cough up via his website – DONATE TO FR BOB
Come on... match me, I chucked in a monkey ($100). |
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"Riders will come to Broadford from all over Victoria and interstate. The Melbourne run assembles at Epping.
With the floods and all the other bad things that have happened in 2022, there are too many families doing it tough at Christmas. Too many kids going without over the holidays. You can help by attending a TOY RUN near you. The TOY RUN for Father BOB will be held on Sunday, December 4. For the first time the venue is the Broadford Motorcycle Complex in Central Victoria. No tram tracks".
Contact - toyrun4frbob@aussiebb.com.au or call 0417 866 788
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Nuck'n, nuck'n, nuck'n Farcebook.
No pleasant correspondence, no warning, just dumped... no explanation. Just Zucker-Punched.
Yep the Caring Understanding platform (remember when they were shoes?) just dumped the Andy Strapz page. We never used racist, sexist, offensive content. Never even bagged out Trump... |
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As you've probably noticed by now, I'm no fan of computers. They promise so much yet deliver so little. Unfortunately this is almost 2023, a set of numbers I look at now that seemed so much like a Sci-Fi date when I had hair (and, lot's of it). Without a basic knowledge and skill with them we get marooned in the past.
Similarly, Farcebook and Instaspam are pretty important to modern business survival and I've been dragged back, kicking and screaming into it.
The next step is to re-establish our follower base, so please take a moment or two to click links, follow, like and share (and whatever else you might think of to spread the word). |
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Anti Soggy Socks While I'm on the topic of boot filling, I've had a pair of Sealskin Socks for years, they were expensive and felt like wearing a wetsuit but they worked! I used them frequently when I wore off-road-type boots.
The new generation has come quite a long way in that they now feel much more like a sock than a surf bootie. After the usual post-COVID wait, we have a reasonable stock at present.
Unfortunately, they're still a bit pricey, but hey, what price dry warm feet?
More info here |
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| I just had to have this T Shirt as a 'workshirt'. |
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Plonk Preservation Still on the topic of getting full, 'tis the season to get jolly, after all.
We have a stock top-up of the amazingly effective wine preservation system - Platypreserve, arriving next week.
When I open a bottle of plonk, it gets time to air and goes straight into one of these jiggers. I exclude the air and can enjoy a glass of red courage as long as I have the won't power to leave it.
They make great Chrissy Prezzies.
Grab one or two here |
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We finally got our grubby mits on a CRF300 and did a frame set to suit Avduro Panniers. In true Honda fashion, they left us bugger all places to mount them so we designed around a BnB Offroad rear rack. We've made sure we have some of both in stock ready to go.
More photos and info here |
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Lukey Luke Hangs Up His Popped Tyres |
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| Luke puts our gear through it's paces |
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Professional stunt rider "Lukey" Luke Follacchio will be appearing at the Phillip Island at the final round of the 2022 Motul World SBK Championship from Friday the 18th through Sunday the 20th November 2022.
This year's WSBK weekend will have a special meaning for the Melbourne-based rider as over the years as World Superbike at The Island has been a regular event for Lukey and fans alike and it makes a triumphant later-than-usual return to the race calendar after an absence from Australia of two years.
It will also have a very special meaning for Lukey and his many supporters as it will also mark Luke's final professional stunt riding appearance ahead of his retirement on Sunday evening.
After a professional stunt career spanning nearly 20 years, the father of two has elected to finish on his own terms. In recent times, his recent business ventures have, by necessity, taken more of his time and taken away from the vital stunt rider training and practice that staying at the top of the sport demands.
"Lukey" Luke Follacchio: "I feel particularly blessed to be able to end my career this way. While the old body isn't 100%, I am still able to give my everything at shows and this final weekend is going to go big!
"It's been an amazing journey and there are so many people to thank. If young me could see what I've been able to do, where I have been able to perform, and the friends and fans I would make along the way- well, like me, he'd be pretty stoked!"
"My family have been there every step of the way from my early days to now and without them I would never have been able to make this strange sport my career. "It's impossible to adequately express my gratitude to all of my sponsors along the way. I've always tried to give more than I have received and never taken their generosity and support for granted.
"Finally, to my fans and followers- thank you! When I started there was no Facebook, no Instagram and I wrap up my career with some three-quarters of a million fans worldwide! While I love having this sort of social following, nothing bears seeing people at events and putting on the best possible show for them. It's still my greatest thrill. "So while it's a great time to look back, I am determined to have a huge weekend at The Island- one last time!"
For all of the retirement talk, this weekend is not the end of Lukey’s involvement in the motorcycle industry. Fans will still be able to follow Lukey and his antics in motorcycle news and media as he takes up a brand ambassador role with Peter Stevens Importers (PSI) |
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| Not long after this stunt I got on the back for laugh. |
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| I'm sure you'll join me in wishing all the best for him and his young family's future. Thanks for the thrills mate. |
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Zuming On
Last newsletter you might remember me bangin' on about the odd things Garmin did with their Zumo XT GPS pack. We decided that we can fix one of the issues by making a bag for the unit once it is removed from the bike. Made with Cordura outer and car headlining inner it should keep it from being scratched and chipped in a bag or pocket.
Valued at $42, we'll include one with every unit sold. For those who already have the GPS, they are also available to purchase on their own.
Go here to buy a pouch or GPS
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Sena Top Up
After what seemed like another interminable wait, Sena have finally received stock and we've had a top-up.
Grab yer self a Chrissy Prezzy while I still have some on the shelves – click here |
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That's about all I got this month.
Just one last share, my son got married last weekend. I think he has the motorbike bug!
Copyalater
Andy |
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