63 days and counting…

by | April 5, 2023 | IBR2023, Major Posts, Motorcycling | 0 Comments

9 weeks today, we leave for the USA to compete in the Iron Butt Association's - Iron Butt Rally (IBR). For those of you who don't know much about this, it's arguably the pinnacle of long distance rallying in the world. This is an 11 day event where we'll be on the...
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Kawasaki Concours 1400 TPMS Replacement

by | March 2, 2023 | Computing / Electronics, Motorcycling | 0 Comments

Today I had first hand success replacing my intermittent TPMS (battery was dying on my 2017 model, it's now 2023)... A few things to note..: The TPMS is programmed using an 8 digit hexadecimal code. You can only programme the bike to a new sensor using KDS -...
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Getting ready for the Senior Butt Rally, Sept 2022 – Allen, TX, USA

by | September 1, 2022 | IBR2023, Motorcycling | 0 Comments

It's been a very busy few months. When we entered the Iron Butt Rally (2023) kicking off in June next year, we thought we had a pretty decent amount of time to prepare for it. Being based outside of the USA comes with a fair number of additional challenges above and...
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Making a Shoei pinlock fit properly

by | August 19, 2022 | Motorcycling | 0 Comments

I’ve had two friends struggle to get their Shoei pinlock anti-fog visors to fit properly. When they don’t fit snugly they can be dangerous as they’ll trap moisture droplets or just condensation between the layers and it’s almost impossible to get it to clear when that...
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Further progress with the tank riser.

by | June 27, 2022 | IBR2023, Motorcycling | 0 Comments

Further progress: A 7mm brass pipe fitting created with a bent 6mm insert, soldered then inserted through the latest riser design. Measuring how long the brass tubes need to be before they start to interfere with tank bag flange. ~23mm 1/4 inch fuel hose fitted onto...
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Concours 1400 fuel cap innards. – Disassembly

by | May 17, 2022 | Motorcycling | 0 Comments

To provide a cleaner, better inward pathway for fuel to be sent into the tank via the primary breather tube, and to avoid having to drill the tank, I disassembled the tank's cap and removed the extra bits which normally provide resistance and a valve type of mechanism...
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Success! – Fuel pump test into the Concours 1400 tank, without drilling it!

by | May 17, 2022 | IBR2023, Major Posts, Motorcycling | 0 Comments

For the Senior Butt Rally 2022 and the IBR 2023, I want to fit an Aux Tank to my Concours 1400, and aim for a fuel range of around 400+ miles ~650km. I have some wider plans in terms of what tank, how to mount it etc, and all of these are contained by not wanting to...
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TT2000 2022 – a brief report.

by | April 5, 2022 | Motorcycling | 0 Comments

Having not had much spare time since we returned from the TT, I’ve been remiss and haven’t written a report yet. In brief summary: we had a fantastic time, enjoyed ourselves thoroughly, nailed our goals to the letter. We also used a Garmin Zumo XT GPS and had no...
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Hydration system… (2 Up).

by | April 3, 2022 | Motorcycling | 0 Comments

Jug: $29 https://www.bunnings.co.nz/esky-blue-5l-hybrid-soft-cooler-jug_p0138505 Cap: Chris 3D printed Elbow: $11 https://www.repco.co.nz/en/safety-workshop-consumables/valves-fittings-hoses/fuel-oil-hoses/champion-vacuum-hose-90deg-elbow-6mm-cvc8/p/A1013147 Tee:...
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IBR Planning – notes (brain dump)

by | March 29, 2022 | Motorcycling | 0 Comments

This will be edited and added to as we get further prepared. Policies and provisions absolutely make sure we've got sorted out before we go: Insurances, especially the MedJet equiv options. Canada Insurance card SpotTracker National Park Pass AAA coverage GPS map...
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Our entry for the IBR-2023 has been accepted!

by | March 26, 2022 | Major Posts, Motorcycling | 4 Comments

It's been a fairly busy and full on start to the year so far; work was busy through Jan and Feb for both Stella and myself, leading up to leaving for the South Island on the 16th Feb for 2.5 weeks to attend the TT2000 Long Distance Motorcycle...
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Introducing ‘IBA-Ride Bonus-Bombing’

by | March 23, 2022 | Motorcycling | 1 Comment

You may never had heard of this, and you'd be forgiven because it's new, we just made it up. Here's what it's all about: Last weekend I was following a friend's (Doug Vance's) IBA Ride on his SpotWalla track as he rode a BBG - Spring Equinox ride in the USA. Having...
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Thoughts on the Garmin Zumo XT (Jan 2022)

by | January 28, 2022 | Computing / Electronics, Motorcycling | 2 Comments

The first comment I’d have about this is aimed towards people who are already used to operating Garmin GPS units. This unit does not work in exactly the same way which you will be used to, and there will be a number of changes which you’ll need to be willing to get...
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Adding in a bug-filter to my upper air-vent on my Shoei Neotec II helmet

by | December 21, 2021 | Motorcycling | 0 Comments

I'm sick of bugs getting into my helmet through the upper air-vents on my Neotec II helmet, so it's time to take the vent apart and to fit a screen filter to the air-intakes. This Youtube video shows the process and how I've managed to do it. - It was a success and...
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Garmin Zumo XT – Theme file: showing route and tracks overlaid

by | December 21, 2021 | Motorcycling | 0 Comments

This theme file can be added to your Zumo XT, and will make your active route line thinner than any track which you might also choose to have actively shown, in this way, the route will be over-laid, and you'll also still be able to see your pre-defined track...
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Content to email for an IBA NI1600 certificate

by | November 3, 2021 | Motorcycling | 0 Comments

PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THIS INTO AN EMAIL, COMPLETE IT AND THEN SEND TO: support@ibapremier.zohodesk.com Subject: NI1600 Ride Application (**your name**, NZ - SS1600K) For what ride are you applying: SaddleSore 1600K - New Zealand NI1600 Date of ride start: 9-Oct-2021...
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Auckland – Super-City Gold – 29 Oct 2021

by | October 29, 2021 | Major Posts, Motorcycling | 0 Comments

Planning / Background The IBA have an In-State series, and as a sub-part of that, they also list an 'In-City' series too. These tend to be one-offs done by special nut-jobs who are happy to ride around a single city for 24 hours, riding the minimum certifiable...
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Getting setup with SpotWalla for the NZDR North Island events (2021)

by | October 1, 2021 | Major Posts, Motorcycling | 0 Comments

SCREEN SHOTS IN THIS PAGE SHOW OLD VERSIONS OF APPS, WE HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO GRAB NEW VERSIONS - SORRY! Firstly, it should be pointed out that this is not compulsory in any way. This is entirely optional for most, but also strongly requested for the NI1600...
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Flicker lights – C14 – The making of…

by | May 24, 2021 | 3D Printing, Computing / Electronics, Motorcycling | 0 Comments

Prompted by earlier night-fall as we go into winter, and the prospect of travelling home in the dark for the next 4 or more months, I felt the need to become more visible on the motorway at dusk. Particularly in the heavy traffic heading north from Albany up to...
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IBA ANZAC Day Ride – 2021

by | April 23, 2021 | Motorcycling | 0 Comments

So, Stella said she'd like to ride an ANZAC Day Ride - So planning has been made simpler by her being happy to re-do the 2018 ANZAC ride, which was my last IBA ride on the R1... The ANZAC Day Ride is a special IBA ride which can only be done in Australia or New...
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