Triumph 800 - Travel and Gear Review

A week's trip to the Gold Coast and Beaudesert to catch up with family and friends and test some of the gear fitted - Michelin Anakee III tyres, SW-Motech chain guard, BMW Ralleye III pants.

Thursday 17th April

Home to Nymboida Coaching Station

Odo start: 41245
Odo finish: 41919
Total: 674km
Depart: 7.00am
Arrive: 4.30pm
Breakfast stop at Singleton 9.30am
"Somewhere to Meet" cafe. Coffee is excellent as is the raisin toast.


Petrol
Muswellbrook BP10.39am
41495km
252km
Premium 95
12.22 l @ 164.4c/l = $20.05
Km/l = 20.6


Lunch at Uralla 1.40pm 241km


Petrol 
Armidale 2.35pm
41763km
268km
Premium 95 
12.01 l @ 171.9c/l = $20.64
Km/l = 22.3


Overnight at Nymboida Coaching Station overlooking the river. 2 double beds with spa bath $140. Excellent dinner and Grafton Bitter to wash it down.

Arrive 4.35pm
Odo=41919km
Trip=155km

Friday 18th April

Nymboida Coaching Station to Kingscliff
Odo start: 41919
Odo finish: 42186
Total: 267km
Depart: 7.00am
Arrive: 12.30pm
Breakfast stop at Grafton 7.30am
Coffee in town centre was excellent as was the raisin toast.


Petrol
Grafton Caltex 8.00am
41961km
198km
Premium 98
9.38 l @ 170.9c/l = $16.03
Km/l = 21.1


Early lunch at Uki Cafe 10.40am - well worth a stop - an absolute gourmet experience.

2 nights at Kingscliff.
Arrive 12.30pm
Odo=42186km
Trip=225km 
Overall Home to Kingscliff = 941km

Sunday 20th April

Kingscliff to Beaudesert
Odo start: 42186
Odo finish: 42283
Total:  97km
Depart: 11.30am
Arrive: 1.30pm 


Petrol
Nerang BP 12.00pm
42227km
265km
Premium 98
12.93 l @ 174.9c/l = $22.61
Km/l = 20.5
Morning tea at the Outpost Cafe at Canungra - lots of bikers stopping here.

Arrive Beaudesert 1.30pm.
Odo = 42283
Trip = 55.8

Wednesday 23rd April

Beaudesert to Hopkins Creek
Odo start: 42295
Trip = 68.5
Odo finish: 42393
Total:  98km
Depart: 11.00am
Arrive: 12.30pm 
Odo = 42393
Trip = 166.1

Thursday 24th April

Hopkins Creek to Belmont North
Odo start: 42393
Odo finish: 43095
Total: 702km
Depart: 6.25am
Arrive: 4.45pm


Petrol
Murwillumbah Mobil 7am
42417km
190km
Unleaded 91
8.73 l @ 170.9c/l = $14.92
Km/l = 21.8
Breakfast stop at Woodburn 8.20am - next door to a German Bakery cafe - the raisin toast was the best so far.


Petrol 
Coffs Harbour 10.40am
42694km
277km
Premium 91
12.45 l @ 151.5c/l = $18.86
Km/l = 22.2


Petrol 
Port Macquarie 1.07pm
42861km
157km
Premium 98
6.59 l @ 174.9c/l = $11.53
Km/l = 23.8


Petrol 
Hexham  3.55pm
43063km
212km
Premium 98
10.17 l @ 177.9c/l = $18.10
Km/l = 20.8

Overnight at Belmont North.
Arrive 4.45pm
Odo=43095km
Trip=31.8km

Friday 25th April

Belmont North to home via Redfern in Sydney for lunch at Pitt St Diner - another detour well worth the effort.
Odo start: 43095
Odo finish: 43311
Trip = 248.5km
Total: 216km
Depart: 10.40am
Arrive: 3.45pm

Total trip = 2066km 

Gear Reviews

Michelin Anakee III tyres

I fitted the Anakee III's about 4000km ago and this is their first touring test two-up with gear. They track well and were fantastic through the windy roads to Nymboida and in the Gold Coast hinterland. No wear detectable so far, but I won't be buying them again because they are so noisy. They really howl loudly - we turned heads passing through some towns with just the noise we were making.

SW-Motech Chain Guard

What do you say about a chain guard? Well it doesn't rattle like the original plastic one and being a bit longer, it stops the chain throwing off stuff onto the panniers and pillion. Tick - worth the price.

BMW Ralleye III pants

I bought these for the Adelaide trip last year so they're about 20,000km old now.

They feel good sitting on the bike but doing anything else, I find them a real pain. Walking to a cafe or out to a lookout is uncomfortable. 

I also find them way too hot with the Goretex lining in place so I mostly ride without them in place. Which is fine, except that it is no quick task to fit the lining on the side of the road when it starts to rain - meantime I'm getting wet which makes it harder to slide your legs back into the pants. 

For $750, I think BMW could do better really.