Adventure riding on a Triumph Scrambler

With the 2013 Triumph National RAT rally to be held in Jindabyne (NSW), I was keen to attend and traverse as many back roads and dirt trails as possible en route from Melbourne. The thought of riding through the Victorian High Country and into NSW via the Snowies was very appealing -- but one slight problem was that I didn’t have an adventure bike! And a peek into the man cave only revealed one slightly used Scrambler, which at least was the ‘right’ brand.

Undeterred by this obvious setback, I decided to push on and start planning my very own ‘mid-life adventure’. After putting a call out on the Triumph Facebook page for any other like-minded ‘unbalanced’ individuals who would like to join me, and the resulting avalanche of responses (cough, cough...) I had to make the tough call of either go it alone or not at all. Normally I’m a strong advocate of ‘never ride alone’, but as I’d set my mind on making this trip come hell or high water, I figured that if I took all the right precautions, played it smart, organised a ‘Spot Tracker’, rode well within my limits, I should be fine. And I was also banking on meeting up with other riders along the journey -- while still planning for the trip as if I was doing it solo.

As I’d heard so many stories about ‘The Barry Way’ and a variety of Snowy Mountain roads, it was a gimme for me to make tracks in that direction. So I decided to head there via Marysville to Woods Point, then onto Mansfield and Omeo, then along the Limestone Road and onto the Barry Way.
One possible problem with this route was that I’d require at least 200km range, which is the average sort of distance that I usually get around town on the Scrambler before the fuel light comes on. So I had to carry a few extra litres on board just in case. According to my research the last available fuel was at Benambra, with nothing in else until I reached Jindabyne. Although the distance didn’t appear too daunting, I had to keep in mind that due to the mountainous terrain, the majority of the ride would be a slow speed, and that the 200km could easily take me 4-5 hours to negotiate.

Next thing was to get the bike set-up for the trip. Less weight means better fuel economy, so the first thing to get jettisoned was the standard high-mounted twin exhaust system. This was replaced with a pair of Arrow two-into-two low pipes. Then it was off with the standard indicators and tail light, which would be the first things to break in a fall. I replaced them with smaller rubber-mounted indicators and concocted my own taillight set up utilising the original rubber-mounted base from the factory tail light.

Then I replaced the standard seat with a more comfortable Gel type, and fitted a set of tapered ‘fat bars’ from a Tiger 800XC. The bars are not only lighter than the standard ones, but create a far better seating position. This necessitated having the bar raisers bored out to suit the bars, but the result was worth it.

Suspension was next on the hit list, so I replaced the standard rear shocks with a pair of YSS units, which are vast improvement on the standard set-up. The standard Scrambler tyres aren’t too bad just for dirt roads, so I opted to leave them on for this trip. Unfortunately time was against me, and I was unable to have the front suspension modified in time for the ride, which wasn’t ideal.

Next was how to carry my gear. As it was only an overnight trip to Jindy I wouldn’t need much in the way of clothing, and the load was completed by a basic tool kit, roll of duct tape, spare levers, some cable ties, puncture repair in a can, spare tube, tyre levers, hand pump, torch, first-aid kit and some snacks. I also took a hydration pack along just in case.

As the Scrambler isn’t exactly designed for carrying luggage, I turned to ‘Andy Strapz’ (www.andtstrapz.com.au) to see what he could come up with for me. The resulting ‘A Bag’, with extender, turned out to be perfect for the trip. The owner, Andy, makes virtually all of his products and tests them personally in the real world. Even with a 4.5-litre fuel container on board and many kilometres of rough dirt roads, the load didn’t shift at all.

I already had a riding suit that was 100 per cent water proof and also had removable thermal liners. T proved to be a Godsend in the chilly high country mornings, as were the cotton inner gloves.

I was up early for the Anzac Day dawn service, followed by a quick brekkie and then on the road. I met up with the Triumph Oz Tiger ride in Healesville which, as it turns out, wasn’t the only time that we were to cross tracks on the ride to Jindy. The majority of the bikes were 800XCs, 800s or the larger capacity Explorers. There was also a BMW F 800 GS, as well as a Kawasaki KLR650 just for good measure.

The Tiger boys headed off into the bush towards Woods Point, and I headed in the same direction but via the dirt road. The road between Marysville and Woods Point wasn’t too bad, although it did have some deep gravel on the edges which could catch you out if you were a bit careless; keeping to the wheel tracks was definitely the way to go.

From Woods Point it was back on the tarmac and onto Jamison for a refuel and then onto Mansfield, Whitfield and back onto the dirt to Cheshunt.
The dirt road from Cheshunt to Dandongadale is great fun, and is an easier ride than the Marysville – Woods Point Road. From Dandongadale to Porepunkah I discovered a track called the ‘Goldie Spur’ which winds its way around the base of Mount Buffalo. It rises to about 700 metres in places, and although quite rough in parts is nothing that a well driven two-wheel-drive car couldn’t traverse (in the dry at least). The views that it gives across Buffalo is just stunning.

From Porepunkah it was through Bright and up and over Mount Hotham to Omeo. Mount Hotham was recently ravaged by bushfire and it’s quite a sight to see the contrasting burnt-out sections against the lush green mountain sides. There have been quite a few landslides as a result, and work is underway to repair the road.

The ride across the top of Mount Hotham was freezing, with fog and snow thrown into the mix, but as I descended to lower ground the sun began to shine and thawed my frozen limbs.

Upon reaching Omeo I once again came across the Tiger crew, which had stopped for morning tea and to top up their tanks before heading onto the Limestone Road and then the Barry Way. I decided to stick with the Tiger team for the remainder of the ride to Jindabyne, as the old ‘safety in numbers’ saying was ringing in my ears. I ensured that I filled my extra fuel container in Omeo, as the next available fuel would not be until Jindabyne, some 210km away to the north.

From Omeo it was onto the ‘Benambra – Corryong Road’, which is sealed up until Benambra -- but it can be bypassed via a dirt shortcut along ‘Old Mcleinster Road’. This shortcut actually becomes the Limestone Road, which takes you directly into the high country.

From the relatively flat Savannah type plains between Omeo and Benambra, we started climbing our way upwards and onwards towards where the Limestone Road and the Snowy River Road intersect, which is approximately 13km south of Suggan Buggan, where we were to regroup and have lunch.

Although only 113km from Omeo to Suggan Buggan, with the terrain it took us around three hours to reach the rest area. The road (if you can call it that!) is a mixture of fast, hard-packed clay to exposed rocky plateaus and gravel -- and sometimes all three in a matter of metres! It’s also heavily corrugated in places and you have to be on your guard for exposed rocks randomly protruding out, just waiting to buckle a rim or puncture a tyre.

There were plenty of over the crest ‘oh shit’ moments as the road suddenly went right or left, and a number of bikes unfortunately speared off into the bush. Fortunately all their ‘off-road’ excursions were into deep ‘bike catching’ bush and not over any of the sheer drops that we were to encounter later in the day.

After regrouping and having lunch at a great little picnic ground just north of Suggan Buggan, we pushed on along the Snowy River Road which becomes the ‘Barry Way’ as you cross the Victoria and NSW border, which ambles alongside the magnificent Snowy River. The scenery is just jaw dropping, and you have to be willing to either take your time to take in the view, or concentrate and keep focused on the track ahead. The sheer drops to the valley below could see you disappear off the face of the earth and into the abyss below ie doing both just isn’t an option!

From the Vic/NSW border it’s just over 70km to Jindabyne, with the last few clicks sealed road again. We arrived into Jindabyne and the ‘Station Resort’ -- where the National RAT rally was being held -- tired and dusty around 4:00pm. I had been on the road since 7.00am.

There were a few surprised faces when they saw the Scrambler roll up at the resort among all the Tigers! Covered in mud and dust, at least it looked the part.

Triumph Australia hasn’t held a national rally for some years, preferring for its dealer network to hold its own events. However, back by popular demand the Jindabyne event was great success, with numbers nudging the 400 mark. Activities included a Show ‘n’ Shine, gymkhana, mystery ride, an Explorer engine ‘strip’, gala dinner and awards ceremony.

Heading home, we (friends of mine from Western Australia that I rode home with) decided to head home via Thredbo and along the awesome Alpine Way to Khancoban, Tallangatta and across to Beechworth, Oxley and the back way across to Mansfield via Whitfield and then Melbourne via Yea and Yarra Glen.

Five days and approximately 1750km later and I rolled back up the driveway a little weary, but all the better for my own little mid-life ‘adventure’. I guess the moral to this story is that it doesn’t matter if you don’t have the latest or greatest adventure bike, what matters is that you get out there and give it a go. With the right planning and precautions, you can get out among some of the most spectacular scenery and ride some of the most awesome roads that this great country has to offer.