Postie Bikes across the Nullabor
The Desert Storming Posties are developing a cult following with this year’s “Hardcore Nullarbor” event further cementing their reputation for successfully taking Honda’s CT110 motorcycle to the extreme.
The Desert Storming Posties are developing a cult following with this year’s “Hardcore Nullarbor” event further cementing their reputation for successfully taking Honda’s CT110 motorcycle to the extreme.
In previous years, the Desert Storming Posties have traversed coast to coast across Australia, as well as from Birdsville to Alice Springs in order to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctors (RFDS).
This year’s event – which wrapped up last week – saw 28 riders rattle their postie bikes From Glendambo, SA, to Perth, WA across the world’s largest chunk of limestone, the Nullarbor Plain. The event was a “huge success” according to organizer Phil Hodgens, raising $56 000 for the RFDS in the process.
“From Glendambo, we traced the transcontinental Railway 400 kms west through deep sand to the deserted railway siding of Watson,” Hodgens said.
The group then swung south onto a rocky twin track across the treeless plains of the Nullarbor, skirting huge sinkholes that dropped to an underground labyrinth of limestone caves. The next day, the Posties traced the towering cliffs of the Bite, where the desert meets the sea, on a faint sandy track before swinging inland to the Old Coach Road.
“The track was in bad condition and we did have a few riders take a fall, but the majority kept going much to their credit. After that we dropped off the Nullarbor Escarpment at Mudrabilla station and held it absolutely flat out for 200 kms of tar to the Cocklebiddy Roadhouse.”
From here, they headed out to the cliff tops once again, Hodgens continued to explain. “We found ourselves on a rocky overgrown track that pounded the suspension and hammered the rims into 50 cent pieces, but the little postie bikes would not quit.”
The track turned to deep white sand and the bikes had to cope with loads consisting of extra fuel, water, plus the riders and their camping gear.
“We came upon the beach to find the tide high so the little postie bikes were swamped by waves as they skirted the Bilbunya Dunes of Israelite bay which tower up to 80 metres high.”
“The rain didn’t let up, but we continued north from the deserted Israelite Telegragh Station and the swampy Wallum country of Cape Arid. We were a bit concerned about the bottomless bogs, but everyone managed to push on.”
“From Balladonia, we opened up the throttles to about 80 kph through Norseman and Hyden for a quick look at Wave Rock before our final challenge, the peak hour traffic of Perth!”
The amazing journey covered a total distance of over 3500 kms through some of Australia’s most remote and inhospitable country.
“While there were some mishaps, all of the bikes made it to the finish without mechanical failure which is an awesome testament to the reliability of the little Hondas,” said Hodgens. We would like to thank Honda for the very generous support, especially the spare rims that were needed on the little bikes in the very rocky going.”
“Rob Wheeler from Desert Tracks Motorcycle Tours also gave us great help with the support vehicle and his patience!”
