Page 17 - Riding On No.157 Summer 2022

G’day there fellow members, I’m laid up at the moment due to rear tyre howled like a
a motorbicycle misadventure. I was inspired by that story from banshee on the tar.
Ken Rubeli about the electric Super Soco and thought as a half
crafty injeneer, I could make me own electric cycle. I was getting a tad
frantic not bein able to
I dragged out me old Speedwell pushy from the back of the big shut this demon off and
shed and made some repairs so it’d roll easy like. realised that a big red
roo was standin in the
I pulled the 12 volt motor out of the disused washer machine I road and hadn’t heard
fixed up for me missus, Shaz. She pushed it out of the laundry me comin. At the last
because it was chuckin the clothes out of the tub on the spin minute big red turns
cycle. I guess it had a tad too much grunt for the job eh? and at seein me bearin
down on him he jumps
Anyways, I welded a few brackets here and there on the frame straight up, then, he
to hold 3 car battries and then added a mounting bracket where lands in me lap!
the peddles used to be so that I could drive the chain to the
rear wheel. I even put some chunky new tyres on the rims so it Here we are, barrellin
was lookin pretty flash I can tell ya. along at 85kph and
he’s in a place on me
I couldn’t figure out how to fit a throttle control like is on me reserved for Shaz on
DR650 so I got a big light switch off the wall of the disused cuddle nights! Big red’s
dunny. I figured I could just flick it on and off as I needed nose is between me eyes and his front legs are around me neck
power or not. and his hind limbs are about me hips and he looks more scared
than I am. Well, we hit Flubbers Dam at full tilt and we’re both
I rolled it out of the shed and put on me motorbike helmet, lucky not to drown!
jacket and gloves because I’m big on the safety thing. I got
comfortable on the seat and put 1 foot on the newly welded Last I see big red he’s runnin off down the valley and I’m lookin
foot bar, then I threw the switch. The whole shebang lurched like I done 20 rounds with Mike Tyson!
forward quicker than Bob Hawke can sink a pint of beer and I
took off up the driveway barely able to hang on. Think I’ll leave that electric bike stuff to the experts!
Now I did fit a speedo to the machine and once I could finally Cheers, Axle Wrench.
ride straight I saw that it was showin 85kph !!! What was worse
was the switch had come adrift of the handlebars and was
swingin about on its cable like a yoyo doin tricks! I went out
over the cattle grid at the end of the driveway at full tilt and the

Book Review – King of the Cape by Roy Kunda

When I received a phone call from Ian This book is a cumulative story of Roy’s ad-
asking if I would like to do a book review, ventures over 30 years of touring in North
I was hesitant in saying “yes” to start with, Queensland. His stories about some of his
as I do not read books at home, only while adventures are quite funny, especially about
we are on holidays do I get a chance to the water crossing and the bike mirrors.
read anything. The other funny story was about Bobby
from the UK.
While this book is not riveting, I found it
remarkably interesting. After reading the Roy’s advice on safety also relates to riding
first testimonials, I was inspired to continue your motorbike on the ‘black-top’ and driv-
reading this book. ing your car. He has a checklist of tools to
carry when adventure riding. This checklist
Cape York has been on my bucket list for would also help you when touring on the
many years, but not having a 4WD it has ‘black-top’. What Roy says in this book, is
been out of my reach. After reading this what my husband, Phil, has been saying all
book, Cape York is back on my bucket list. along – ride to your capabilities. You don’t
Hopefully it will be in 2024. I just need to have to be the fastest in the pack. Just
talk my husband into doing it. Good luck enjoy your ride and stay alive.
there!
When I finished this book, I had a smile on
Roy caters to riders of various skills – from my face. It was a pleasure to read. Thank
novices to experienced dirt riders. All tours you to Roy and Renae Kunda.
have a tour guide and backup support
vehicle. Lainie Maslen #66348

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