RIDING THE SPURS

WORDS & PHOTOS: HEALTHER ELLIS

THE REEFTON SPUR AND BLACK SPUR ARE TWO OF AUSTRALIA'S BEST MOTORCYCLING ROADS AND ARE RIGHT ON MELBOURNE's DOORSTEP.

FOR A SMALL STATE, victoria has much to offer both the road and off-road motorcyclist. When i moved to the yarra ranges from Far north Queensland in 2001, I knew I had arrived in motorcycling nirvana. So, after 23 years riding the Spurs (the Reefton Spur and Black Spur), I know these roads well. I know the corners. I know the few sections where you can overtake – safely. I know where the police like to nab those speeding riders who don’t know where they can get away with it. And i’ve seen the road evolve over the years from no guard rails and regular diesel spills on the bends from logging trucks. Fortunately, the log trucks are long gone but the oil slicks, forest litter and mould, where the road, in perpetual shadow in winter, turns green, are all still there… on occasions. i’ve ridden the high sections in snow and used the Spurs to practise my corning for post-classic racing in times past. But most of all, i just enjoy riding the spurs for the sheer pleasure of its corners and smooth tarmac fringed by tall mountain ash forest and tree firms. as a motorcyclist, I’m lucky as the Black Spur and Reefton Spur are on my door step. i call it the loop. My favourite time is a week day on a balmy summer evening with daylight till 9:00pm and when everyone is home eating dinner and it is just me and the odd swamp wallaby.

Left: The Black Spur and Reefton Spur loop if riding from Healesville to Warbuton.

Above: Like many a motorcyclist (LtoR: Daryl ‘Shek’ and Dave), have found motorcycling nirvana in Victoria’s Yarra Ranges and called the region home.

Below: The 10km ride into the Lake Mountain Alpine Resort should not be missed for its few tight corners, sweepers and stunning views.

Bottom: The Reefton Spur is a popular haunt for all riders, but especially those on sports bikes.

The Black Spur starts at Healesville, 60kms east of Melbourne and ends before Narbethong. From there it’s a pleasant ride through farm land through the top of the Yarra Ranges, the end of the Great Dividing Range. In Marysville, most riders stop for a coffee. Most pull up at the Marysville Bakery where there is plenty of bike perving on offer. Up to 40 motorcycles can be parked out the front on a sunny weekend. The quieter option with outside seating to soak up the winter sun is at Freshly Blended, a quaint little café (and where all the locals go). Access is via the car park behind the Marysville Bakery or a narrow laneway from the main road.

From Marysville, riders head up towards Lake Mountain and after a steep climb and mostly gentle sweepers with some great views, reach the Lake Mountain turn off. Don’t ride past but enjoy the 10km ride in and back for a few tight corners on mostly smooth tarmac to the Lake Mountain Alpine Resort (out of snow season there’s no entry fee). There’s a few pot holes just after the turn off, but the bigger ones are marked with a yellow and pink ring of paint so you’re easily forewarned. There’s toilets and the café at the Alpine Resort. Out of snow season, the cafe is sometimes open but after a quick stop to stretch your legs, just turn around in the huge car park and head back out. As you head down the Reefton Spur, the road narrows dramatically, so don’t take the corners wide as you could come to grief with oncoming traffic. Unfortunately, most of it will be other riders who have this inconsiderate habit and inexperience of taking corners wide. But there are a few rogue 4WDs too. There’s also some fairly extensive patches of pot holes to dodge, especially at the top of the Reefton. Most are marked with paint so can be seen even in the shadows, but some aren’t. I hope all have been repaired by this spring. There’s no excuse as the Reefton Spur is one of the 200 popular motorcycle roads tagged by VicRoads for extra special maintenance and repair funded through the Motorcycle Safety Levy, which you all pay ($78 on one bike only), on your motorcycle registration.

Above: Look out for regular motorcycle charity Show‘n’Shine events in the Yarra Ranges, such as the Machine On The Green in Healesville. Below: Fortunately the pot holes on the Reefton and Lake Mountain road are clearly marked before being repaired. But we are still waiting.

Right top: On a sunny weekend, the Reefton Spur is abuzz with riders. Right bottom: Enjoying a quiet moment on the Black Spur on my Triumph Thruxton. Go early to avoid weekend traffic.

The Reefton Spur is the 20km that runs down the ridge from just after the Lake Mountain turn off to Cumberland Junction. Here you will often find a group of sports bike riders who use this as their turn around for their runs up and down the Reefton. My preference is to ride up the Reefton Spur as most of the bends are righthanders so you can see what’s coming. The boy racers on their sports bikes are not as ‘kamakazee’ as in times past mostly due to the police hammering them. Regular riders know only an idiot will let loose on the few short straights. Plus, those sections littered with potholes in recent times have also slowed riders down. However, the Reefton Spur is still one of the top roads for motorcycle crashes in Victoria; some ending in fatalities. As your making a day of riding the spurs you’ll likely stop at the Reefton Pub (44kms from Marysville) for lunch. With new owners have revamped the menu with a modern Australian theme including a few Thai options with good sized servings. You won’t be disappointed and I personally recommend

The entire run of the Black Spur and Reeton Spur if you start in Healesville and end in Warburton is about 100kms but there are so many fantastic motorcycling roads to explore in the Yarra Ranges region and beyond and all are about an hour from Melbourne. On a sunny weekend, these roads are often overrun with both motorcyclists and drivers and if you get stuck behind a line of cars, what’s the fun in that? Unless, of course, you’re confident at picking off the cars strategically. And I must admit, I often find that challenge rather satisfying. However, not when an irate driver sees me as queue jumper and inconsiderately closes the gap just as I pop back in. So, if you’re out for a weekend ride, you really need to ride these roads, especially the Black Spur before 10am. The earlier the better. Then you’re pretty much guaranteed a good clear run to blow away the week’s accumulated stress. I call it therapy.

To read more about Heather Ellis and to purchased her motorcycle books: Ubuntu and Timeless On The Silk Road visit: www.heather-ellis.com Amm