Bloody Spanjard

Cornering therapy from Mackay to Tasmania and back 🏍️

Posted on 10/12/2024by Bloody Spanjard

This is the summary of my last escapade with Cath, my best riding buddy from Brisbane. We met in Monto and rode together to Tasmania and back, covering an average of 800 km/day. We usually travel without a schedule, enjoying the thrill of cornering and stopping in random places.

We rode all the windy roads we found in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria on our way to Tasmania, where we spent five days, and then went back trying different twisty ways, completing a total of 10,200 km in two weeks.

Sunday rides

Cafe Eden in Eungella 🍔

Posted on 14/07/2024by Bloody Spanjard

It was 9:00 am and I was still in bed wondering what to do and where to go. Woke up early as usual but wasn’t feeling very social, so I decided to skip the organised ride programmed by our wonderful local group and go for a Mar-style ride.

The idea was to enjoy the twisties on the way to Eungella, visit the local markets and then have lunch at Cafe Eden, a lovely spot located in Eden Hills Farm, a regenerative cattle farm at the top of the hill that I found in one of my gazillion interactive maps searching for roads I haven’t explored yet.

With my good friend and avid rider Mattie

Leftover screws Tips and tricks

Little inconvenience on my way back home 🪛

Posted on 29/04/2024by Bloody Spanjard

Introducing one of my best friends, the puncture repair kit. Handy and useful, a life saver in the most unexpected situations, especially combined with a portable air pump.

If you don’t have a pump and the closest servo is not that close, here we go with Mar’s homefix of the day. I know it’s pretty unorthodox as all my crazy ideas, but will give you those extra kilometres you need to get to the service station.

Leftover screws

Setting up your home workshop 🧰

Posted on 15/04/2024by Bloody Spanjard

Whether you are learning the basics or building a motorbike from scratch, you will need to set up a working area and get some tools to work efficiently on your motorbike. Remember the most important part of learning is having fun, so make sure you feel comfortable in your working space.

My garage is small. I have to play Tetris with six motorbikes. However, despite the lack of space, I’ve set up a nice home workshop without spending zillions of dollars.

Leftover screws

Restoring Lemon, Lime & Bitters 🔧

Posted on 25/03/2024by Bloody Spanjard

Two years ago, while riding back home from work, I found a 2007 Kawasaki KLX250S in a random property. It was sitting in someone’s backyard, uncovered, exposed to harsh inclemencies and getting rusty.

The battery was charged and the engine was running great. The previous owner assured the motorbike never had any major issue so, after ~~offering some dollars~~ a nice chat, I brought it home with me.

The darker the night, the brighter the stars

Motorcycle diaries

Verbena’s new heart 💙

Posted on 21/08/2023by Bloody Spanjard

Plenty of things have occurred since the engine of Verbena, my beloved 2006 Triumph Sprint ST 1050, seized up in February during a Sunday ride.

After a six-month crusade renting all-kind motorbikes, unsuccessfully trying to find another sport tourer that says “buy me”, I finally purchased a completely different bike that I was not sure if I was going to enjoy: 2012 Triumph Tiger Explorer.

Motorcycle diaries

Chain and sprockets replacement done! ⚙️

Posted on 26/07/2023by Bloody Spanjard

What a great stay at Mater Private Hospital Redland with this awesomazing young lady and exceptional rider, my friend Grace, who flew from Chiang Mai to Brisbane just to ensure I don’t jump on a motorbike right after getting my knee fixed.

Visitors are not allowed to stay in the room after 8:00 pm, but Grace was that helpful and caring that the nurses made an exception and granted her permission to stay overnight. They provided her with a blanket and a pillow, and she managed to sleep in a tiny sofa. Doesn’t she deserve a huge property in Heaven?