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Targa Tasmania 2009, here I come!

Kept meaning to blog about this earlier, but haven't had a chance. Anyway, it's late now and I've got to wake up in less than 5 hours, so it'll be a quick one.

I'm going to Targa Tasmania 2009!!! Back with Paul Bergmann (my driver last year in the little Ford Escort), but this time in nothing less than a bright orange and purple 1995 Skyline GTR :D

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I'm so excited :D

Hard Luggage

After getting the Versys I spent a few days researching different options for hard luggage. One of the things that had annoyed me about touring on the SV650 was the inability to lock anything on the bike. Soft panniers and a Ventura bag made it difficult to keep anything secure, but I did not want to fork out for hard luggage on a bike I knew I wouldn't keep in the long run...

At first I was tempted to go with the Givi range (easily available), but while the racks were cheap, the luggage was amazingly expensive. And then I heard that the top case rack had a weak point that frequently failed, so that threw that idea out... I liked the look of the OEM rack (made by SW-Motech), but the design allowed the top plate to be removed easily even while the box was bolted down to it. Out the window too. Next on the list? Hepco & Becker, from Germany. Expensive but well designed racks, relatively cheap boxes. Hardly cheap actually, but cheaper than the Givi alternatives.

Lowered seat for a Versys

Couldn't find a cheap OEM lowered seat, and didn't see the logic of paying $800 for a new one, so decided to get my seat butchered. Asked around, got pretty much unanimous recommendations - John Moorhouse Ergo Seats

Called John, eventually got through, arranged to go see him. Rode over there and he took a few photos and made an appointment the following weekend to "do the deed". What a long week it was...

So bright and early Saturday morning I rode to his workshop, and thus it began:

Cut out the old foam, fill in the gaps in the seat pan...