You're not from Canberra are you Ricecooker? We have one here in the ACT. I've just recently done 10 000kms in 12 days in a big loop that took in Ayres Rock and Rockhampton, Port Peirie and Broken Hill. I got to the point where I baby the busa when I am at home, but sometimes it has to work like a tractor. If there was no premium, she just had to cope.

The roadkill was astounding on my last trip, along with the birds of prey. I found early on that the smaller kites could be scared by the horn if you got on it soon enough, but the damn wedge tailed eagles aren't scared of ANYTHING. If you are an apex predator, why would you run? Early on, someone told me that they take off into the wind, that was really helpful advice, but I still nearly wore one as a hat coming into Glendambo, it took off really late, I had the head down and tail up on the busa trying to pull it up and the wedgie put one claw on my front guard, one claw on the headlight, one claw on my helmet and pushed off into the sky, no doubt giving me the finger as he flew off. bastard used me like a ladder.

We are heading off the last two weeks of September. Just getting the bikes ready now.