Micko O’Byrne — The Organiser
Vintage: 1953
First Bike: Suzuki 250 Hustler
Bike Trips: Lots!! About 10 Trans-Australia crossings on the tar. A serious trip once from Darwin to Brisbane in 1974 in the worst wet season in 30 years, half on the dirt, meaning MUD, on an XS 650 Yamaha twin.
Bikes Owned: Suzuki 250 twin, Suzuki 250 Trail, Yamaha 175 trail, Both used as mounts while chasing cattle and bufffalo in the Territory in the 70’s. Honda XL 350, Yamaha XS 650 twin, Honda CB 750, briefly, Ducati 750 Super Sport, Moto Guzzi 750 Twin, BMW R100/7, BMW K100, BMW K1100LTSE, BMW K1200 GT Suzuki DRZ400, and a few others I can’t remember!
Longest Bike Day: 1645Km on Nullabour crossing
Best Bike Day: First day I rode the Great Ocean Road wih Miles Kennedy, Apollo Bay to Lorne.
Most Memorable Ride:Manjimup to Nannup with Luke Kennedy on his Triumph Sprint, I was on the Gold Wing.
Most Fun Days: Trips to Phillip Island especialy when my son Liam started coming along.
Worst Bike Day: Sydney to Brisbane in one day on XL350 single in the poring freezing rain. Stopped for fuel, fell asleep at the pump and fell off the bike, just lay there to cold to get up.
Miles Kennedy
Vintage: 1948
First Bike: 50cc Itom 1962
Bike Trips: 450 Honda throughtout South Africa, Swaziland, Mocambique, Zimbabwe 1968 onwards. Harley Ultra Electra Glide across USA from Los Angeles to New York for Harley Davidson’s 95th Anniversary. Extensive road travels in New Zealand. 15 trans Australia crossings – all bitumen – most recently on BMW K1200GT.
Bikes Owned: Too many to remember! In past few years: Triumph Sprint 1050, Thruxton, Tiger.
Yamaha FJR1300, Royal Star Venture with sidecar, XT 250. Harley Davidson Ultra Electra Glide. Dyna Wide Glide.
1500 and 1800 Honda Goldwings. BMW K1200 GT.
Longest Bike Day: 1645 kilometres in one day across Nullabor returning to Perth from MotoGP at Philip Island
Best Bike Day: Road riding with Micko O’ Byrne before we were taught that Speed Kills.
Worst Bike Day: No such thing.
Modifications to Bike: Barkbusters, 28 litre Safari Fuel Tank, Scott Oiler, Eagle Screens Windscreen, Whipps Tail Rack and Bash Plate, Australian Cumfy Seat, Good Wool Store Sheepskin Seat Cover, Tom Tom Rider, Magellan 2000, DriRider Tail Bag, Wolfman Tank Bag. Maxxis Tyres and Heavy duty tubes, Oxford Heated Grips ( can you believe it!), Sprocket and Chain.
Riding Gear: DriRider Rallycross Evo Coat, Thor armour, DriRider RallyX Gloves. BMW boots and Pants. Shoei Hornet DS Helmet. POD Mx knee guards. Fox Socks.
Why?: It seemed a good idea when Micko and Liam O’Byrne came up with the idea! We have all riden road bikes together on long trips where we thoroughly enjoy ourselves so we thought we would push the envelope a bit more while we still have the strength to push the starter button! This trip from Cape Leeuwin at Augusta in Western Australia diagonally through the centre of Australia to Cape York in Far North Queensland has really taken a lot of planning and organisation. It is about 6700 kilometres, and then about another 1000 clicks back to Cairns. With 8 Bikes and 2 vehicles, we have to provide plenty of fuel, water, food and so on as we are camping out many nights. Because of the remoteness of some of the areas we have to also carry fairly extensive medical equipment – which alone has cost over $3,500. Hopefully we wont need to use any of it! So its really an adventure with good mates, seeing more of the best motorcycling country in the world!
Terry Allen
Vintage: The elder statesman of the group, being born in 1944.
First Bikes: Many years on sheep stations in the Black Hills of Sandstone, where motorcycles were the bread and butter machinery. Started on a BSA Bantam, which was used to ride to school approx 2 km from home. Found it easier to walk however and got sick of changing spark plugs after they oiled up. This in about 1955. I got promoted to a 1955 Ariel 600cc side valve, and sat on this for hours at a time mustering sheep and brumby horses. Also had access to a BSA 350cc BB31 of about 1956 vintage. I still own both machines and have restored them. Ventured into a Yamaha 125, and several Yamaha AG 175’s. Moved jobs in 1980 and stopped all motorcycle activities.
Bike Trips: Miles Kennedy introduced me to a modern 2000 Triumph Bonneville about 5 years ago, which I just had to have, and my 20 year stalled riding career restarted. I enjoyed riding the Bonny so much I decided to get serious and ride to Phillip Island with the Kennedy troup. Purchased a Yamaha FJR 1300 and have now made the trip twice. Fortunately I have never had any serious mishaps, although I suffered a few exhaust burns when the big british bikes fell on my legs and I was to small to lift them off quickly. Learnt quickly how to separate oneself from the bike when due to crash.
Why: The Cape to Cape is a new challenge, shared with friends of similar interest and I am looking forward to it.
I am am doing it because I ( think I) can.
Bikes Owned: My hobbies are restoreing old bikes and I have the ariel 600 VB mentioned above, an Ariel 1950 red hunter 500cc, and ariel WNG 1942 350cc ( 1000 miles only), an Ariel 500cc 1951, a Matchless 1952 350cc and two BSA 350cc BB31’s. All restored except the WNG and one of the BSA’s.
Liam O’Byrne
Vintage: 1986
First Bike: Honda XL185
Bike Trips: 2x Perth to Phillip Island trips on FJR 1300
Bikes Owned: Honda XL185, Yamaha R6, Yamaha FJR1300 and Suzuki DRZ 400
Longest Bike Day: 1100km aprox
Best Bike Day: 1. Great Ocean Road pegs down on most corners. 2. Riding a scooter off a bungy tower.
Worst Bike Day: Going to the lockup for being spotted with front wheel not in firm contact with the road surface on the R6.
Modifications to bike: Black. Barkbusters, 28 litre Safari Fuel Tank, Airfilter, Pivot Pegs.
Riding Gear: Shoei Savage TC6 helmet 2x Oakley Crowbar goggles, Dianese Wave body armour, fox gloves x3, Shift jersey and pants, Alpinestar Tech7 boots, Fox camelback, Launch POV1 Helmet Cam
Why?: Still unsure, but I believe life is about experiences and this will be one!
Trevor Mackinnon
Vintage: 1954 (one of the younger riders in the group).
First bike: Yamaha 175 Trail
Current Road Bike: Triumph Speed Master. Currently re-storing 1974 Triumph Bonnie.
Bike Trips: Ride from Perth to Philip Island for the Motor GP. A lot of fun, wonderful scenery and great bunch of riders. Really looking forward to the Cape to Cape ride, by far the biggest/longest bike ride adventure for me to date.
Local off road riding: Jindong, Donnelly River, Bears Track, Yallingup and surrounds.
Hobbies besides motor bikes: Fishing and golf.
Hopes: Have a fantastic time, see amazing country and raise some money for charity.
Iron clad directive: Stay intact and come home safely to wife and three kids.
Mark Okeby
Vintage: 1953
First Bike: Honda C90 Sport (and some learners think a 250 is below their requirements)
First Dirt Bike: 1971 TS250 R followed by a street registered Suzuki TM250 a two stroke with a narrow powerband like a switch.
Bike Trips: Started on the open road 40 years ago on the C90. Rode hundreds of k’s on the Ts250. Raced the TR 250 without much success. Heaps of short rides on the bigger bikes and 3 times across Australia on the road.
Memorable Rides: The Variety Club Bike Run’s organized by “Fatboy” would be right up there. Great people, great fun being out there in country WA raising money for children. Can’t leave out the South West of WA, the Nullabour, Adelaide Hills, The Grampiens, the Great Ocean Road and the Great Alpine Road.
Road Bikes owned: Suzuki Katana 1100 (silver), Suzuki DRZ400E (yellow), Kawasaki GPZ 900 (red), Kawaski ZX750 (red), Kawasaki KLR 250 (red & white) , Honda VTR1000 (red), BMW K100R (silver green), BMW1200RT (red), Ducati 998 (red), Ducati 1098s (red).
Why: Still asking myself that question and I suspect I will be asking myself that question a few times on this ride, especially when facing deep sand, river crossings or slippery wet clay. But I guess the answer is because it’s a challenge.
Stuart Kenny
Vintage: 1952
First Bike: Yamaha DT 250 1973
Bike Trips: Riding mountain trails and tracks around Walhalla and Licola area in Victoria in the early 70’s followed by a transfer to Port Hedland where i rode station tracks from Hedland to the DeGrey River.
Bikes Owned: Yamaha DT 250,BMW K1200,DRZ 400E
Longest Ride: 2008 trip to Phillip Island 950km Nallaboour crossing from Esperance to Eucla.
Best Bike Day: They have all been good
Worst Bike Day: It could be the day a few weeks ago when i took a spill and broke my collar bone and two ribs but i have vivid memories of a friend who sustained permanent head injuries as a result of an accident in an enduro event we were competing in at Newman in WA in the late 70’s
Why: Because i can!
Justin Clarke
Vintage: 1969
Fist Bike: Yamaha RD125
Subsequent bikes: Honda XR200, Yamaha XT350, Kawasaki KLX650
Average of bikes at acquisition: 10 years old
Memorable rides: exploring the curiosities and side tracks off the Mitchell plateau Road on an overloaded XT350. Wandering through the back country of NZ’s Southern Alps – surrounded by peaks and sunshine.
Why: Site-seeing in ultimate style!
Les Kimberley
Vintage: 1951 (Honestly)
First Bike: Cyclops: Street Blazer. Enjoyed a few years Trials riding at club level in the early 70`s riding a Mick Andrews replica 250cc OSSA. Enjoyed many years racing Speedway and Go Karts. No claim to fame or achievements’ on two wheels, thus the move to four wheels.
And where do I fit into this adventure: Support vehicle pilot. Cook. Assistant, regardless of the task to those less fortunate to myself (I have: 4 Wheels. Air Conditioning, Heating etc).
Bruce Ingham
Vintage: 1957
First Bikes: (although I will have my right foot not hand on the throttle this trip): Mid 50’s 500cc Ariel with no kick start lever, 250cc CZ with a blown gearbox – took 3 months to get parts to make it go.
My Role on the trip: If something breaks, fix it. Recruited by Micko as the support mechanic. Qualified for the position after numerous motor bike, motor vehicle and aircraft recovery missions over many years.
Why: It seamed like a good idea at the time – and now I think it could be quite challenging..