Goulburn to Bathurst

via Crookwell

Just looking on google maps . I have travelled via Oberon and there was a
lot of dirt. Anyone know the road north of Crookwell ? Dirt / Sealed ?
More importantly is it a good enjoyable ride ?

 

Hi Will - when we went up north back in March, we took the Taralga Rd out of
Goulburn to Oberon. There was some dirt, but it was actually pretty 'good'
dirt, only a few kilometres of it, and overall a really good ride. There are
some pretty steep and twisty bits between Taralga and Oberon, and the
Goulburn-Taralga road is a pretty ride.

Haven't tried the Crookwell - Bathurst run, but have heard from others that
you really need to be pretty comfortable on dirt to bother with that one.

betty

 

If I recall correctly (last time I travelled via the Crookwell route
was on the way home from Damien's mother's funeral a few years ago)
there are a couple of stretches of dirt, maybe 10-15km in total? If
it's been a while since they were last graded they can be pretty
rocky, but if taken at a sensible speed (I'd suggest <50km/h) you'll
have no trouble.

Apart from the dirt, it's an interesting lightly-trafficked road.


BTH

 

Thanks but as their will be Harleys I dont think dirt will be the go

 

When was the last time you travelled it? There was less than 40km dirt when
I went through in March.
(And it was good dirt and the rest of the roads were great)

 

I travelled that road about 5 years ago and it was a fair bit of dirt and I
hated it. Remember a big sign in a paddock about please complain and help us
get the road upgraded......

so how much dirt is there now ie is you few k's closer to 20 ?

 

Pffft! http://users.tpg.com.au/smokey61/2betoota.jpg

 

Simple then;
Goulburn -> Parramatta -> Bathurst!

 

Goulburn -> Malabar -> Parramatta -> Parklea -> Bathurst ?

JL
(but only if they're 1%ers )

 

So the dirt *begins* between Birdsville and Betoota?...

 

Aww now...Harleys go fine in dirt

Finding mainstream Harley riders brave enough to ride them off the beaten
track is a bit like finding a GL1500 rider who knows what their top speed is

 

http://www.davebarr.com/

 

Last time was on the Daytona so thats about 5 years ago and I hated every
millimeter of that dirt road.....and I agree about the rest of the roads

 

Yep! the corrugations tend to mess up their training wheels...
G.

 

There's only about 5km of dirt left along the whole Taralga-Oberon road,
and that little bit is all graded in preparation for the upcoming
sealing of that remainder.

Conversely, there is still about 20km+ of varying quality dirt on the
Crookwell/Abercrombie road.

 

Then take the Taralga road. There is only a pissy amount of dirt left
now, all nicely graded in preparation for iminent sealing, and even a
Harley wouldn't baulk at it now. Loads more dirt the Crookwell way
though, definitely no-go for Harleys!

 

Thanks Damien.......... I will send an email to the organiser telling them
thats the way I will be travelling ...well maybe

 

When is the ride actually planned? Since I live in Goulburn, and my dad
lives in Bathurst, it might be a good excuse for a ride myself, provided
I've actually got the bike registered again in time!

And that way I'm also easily available for a lynching if anyone isn't
happy with the intel.

 

End of October .... actually the ride if from Wollongong to Bathurst
but no way will I travel the Great Western Hwy over the mountains. So its
either via Goulburn or the Bell Liner Road then back across to the GWH and
then on to Hampton then Oberon then Bathurst

 

My wife drove back to Bathurst from the southern highlands today,
through Goulburn, Taralga, Oberon. There is only 5Ks of dirt, goodish
surface. This is the same as I found it riding to Gbn and back a few
months ago. My old (81) Suzuki GS1000G managed well, and it's not
generally happy on dirt.

The road through Crookwell still takes you over 30 or 40 Ks of dirt
spread over 4 sections, some of it very corrugated, especially on rising
corners.