Harley-Davidson News and Events

Brad 'Freddy' Fittler is more commonly known for his Grand Final wins and talent on the NRL field than the skills he displays on a Harley.

A motorbike rider since the age of 19, Brad called in a favour with his mates at Trivett Harley and put these skills to the test in a ride of endurance along the Great Ocean Road.

Follow Brad on his journey with his detailed travel diary, tips for first time road trip travellers and a few celebrities he meets along the way.

Melbourne:

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”

If I could give any life advice it would “be nice to everyone” because you never know, someone might loan you a Harley-Davidson to ride down the Great Ocean Road. You Beauty!!!

Just made my last phone calls! It’s a funny thing riding a bike; in the back of your mind you know it could be your last. Maybe that’s the buzz.

Torquay:

WOW……
That was intense. 60km’s of freeway is no way to start a ride, especially when you do it with an open faced helmet! BIG MISTAKE, BIG MISTAKE!

I thought it would have been more relaxing, I didn’t know what to think about, kids, Marie, football, riding for the 30 metre long stretch that nearly blew me over the guard rail, and another one and another one “oh” that was a cement truck.

The coffee and time to take in the first leg was needed. Felt like I’d just played an Origin game. It also allowed me to reconsider my clothing. Jeans with padded knees and a padded arse was not going to be enough. First investment, one pair of the thickest and best ski pants.

Feeling now like a warm crumpet, I headed off for Lorne which was another 45kms. Had a quick detour and took in the first piece of coast, lovely little beach, surf beach. Can you believe they call it Surf Beach, obviously no marijuana back then when they named that beauty, no imagination.

The ride down to Lorne was beautiful, a totally different experience to my first along a freeway. All of my original thoughts had subsided and were replaced with emptiness. The beauty of the picture which is laid out all around you and the feeling of a well made motorbike pulling you out of tight bends confirm that this was going to be a memorable experience. My timing was perfect, getting into Lorne as the sun was setting, a gorgeous clean town which is slowly being modernised by overpaid architects and guess what I pulled into? The most modern, brandest, newest, hotel there was MANTRA, a resort style hotel which has overtaken a massive slice of the Lorne coastline like a visiting weed, but a very nice weed. Luxury not needed but appreciated. Good bed, room service, Australia versus India on the tele, other than a well deserved sleep, what more can a man ask for?

Tips:

• Open your mouth when riding otherwise lips dry up and stick together “Busters”.
• Don’t ride on freeways with an open faced helmet.
• Put your gloves on after your helmet.
• When you fly towards birds, close your eyes, squeeze your butt cheek, that seems to make them miss you.
• Put the bike in neutral when you stop.

Lorne:

Woke up to a beautiful morning with a massive blanket of grey cloud taking over the sky, maybe got 2 hours. Sitting on a veranda eating some cereal looking over a tastefully designed tennis court, lush green lawn, 4 foot hand built stone fence and manicured gardens. Felt like I could be in Mississippi in the days of slavery, but the waiter is white which makes me smile, thank god I live in Australia.

Apollo Bay:

One of the bigger towns along the Great Ocean Road, pretty special town. The ride down from Lorne was spectacular. On your left was picture after picture coastal scenery. Every bend you pulled around opened up another magnificent snapshot nearly the same as the one before but just different enough to take you breath away again.

The bike was an experience. Leaning the 300kg machine into he windy corners and slightly twisting the throttle to allow the 98 cubic black drags you back to upright ready for the next corner is something only a Harley owner can proudly say they have witnessed. The “s” bends were my favourite. Once I felt confident enough to give it a good lean you would have sworn you were on a mountain bike. The bike got lighter and lighter the more familiar I got with Road Kings personality. There is a great saying “Familiarity breeds content”. Yes very true, I found out a few times. Once getting lazy and using the back break, pushed down hard and had a back wheel wobble, then 10 minutes later either a large bug or a small bird closer to the latter, hit me in the chin. Thank God I had the full face on. I had to stop and change jeans.

From the start of the day I have covered 150kms which is plenty for one day. Amongst that, stopped several times for photos, drinks or just to admire the scenery. After checking into a hotel I decided to visit the “12 Apostles” towards sunset, get a different look. Silly me, the sun sets behind the Apostles. I can’t call it the “12 Apostles any more there is only 7 or 8 left.

It was extremely beautiful though and to top off the experience a whale had beached itself at the base of the Apostles, it was a bit sad but hey, it was his decision, each to there own. Plan on going back at sunrise and start my adventure back.

Tips:

• Put your gloves on after your helmet (again).
• Don’t park front wheel first down a hill.
• If you close your eyes and squeeze your butt cheeks, birds can still hit you in the face.
• If you want to ride a bike, forget being a Buddhist Monk, I killed 200 mosquitoes, 2 butterflies and one bird.
• A Harley Road King is very cool, me on a Harley Road King brings it back to the field.
• The less you try to look cool, the cooler you will look.

12 Apostles:

Up at 6am to try and catch the morning light which I got, but I didn’t count on the morning temperature, freezing. Expecting to run into mass crowds at the Apostles but was pleasantly surprised to find one other car. Can you believe that, the best time of the day, Australia’s greatest monument and no-one there Boo Hoo!!! Well the whale was, it hadn’t moved.

Pretty special moment just me and the 8 rocks but there is a time limit and a photo limit you can spend with something that doesn’t move or talk. So off I went, 90kms on the greatest designed roads for a motorbike.

The first 60km is spent in a rainforest with windy roads covered by trees, still with a trace of last night’s dew. That’s all I needed, this was my moment of truth. I climbed further up the bike, pulled my knees and put my head down. Bend after bend, deadly concentration, hitting the apex and then naturally guided the outside of the lane.

It was like the bike knew the road…. maybe in a past life, it never missed a beat.

I kept the reins pulled tight, never getting out of 3rd gear and letting loose when the road allowed, but never giving it the luxury of taking control, this was my ride, smash it back into 2nd, lean deep to the left and accelerate out, getting upright only enough time to catch my breath assess the next manoeuvre and tear into it.

I felt like a RM80, the way you could slice through the “s” bends giving a gentle buck every time got too adventuristic, reminding me of my limited limitations.

We were as one. To say that 60km stretch was an experience, would no do it justice. Let’s just say we had a moment.

Pulled into Apollo Bay for some much needed brekkie and 2 cups of coffee, one for me and one for my mate. Next 50kms to Lorne is back to the coast, possibly the windiest stretch of the Great Ocean Road. I was surprised at my delight when a car pulled in front of me, it was like God was saying something “No Brad aint the time”. Thankyou.

Spent the next 30kms cruising behind a tourist ”aren’t we all”, but enough was enough and I think my fellow tourist could hear the frustration in the bike so they politely pulled to the side and allowed the beast past, I didn’t let them down, gave the throttle a rev and raced past them.

The effect of the coffees had now subsided and it was time to test my skill, not speed. With a 100 foot drop on the right hand side this was no time for recklessness. Apart from the obvious being the ocean, the big difference between this leg and the last was the other cars. They were absent coming through the forest.

The trip to Lorne went without hiccup, perfect lines, perfect scenery and a perfect cup of chamomile tea to balance the emotions on arrival. A morning I will never forget. I have a belief on life. No one has convinced me on life after death therefore, I’m going to get everything out of like I possibly can.

Well, it felt like I just ripped a big chunk out of it this morning.

Lorne:

Spent the day in the coastal town, my second stay, my favourite place along the “surf coast”. Checked into the same motel, headed into town for some lunch and a much needed chill session, some times you forget your on holidays.

Grabbed a book and nestled into the corner of a nice little bohemian coffee shop. I ordered a Mezze plate and chicken salad, trying to look as cultural as I possibly could. It lasted about 2 hours before my arse started to itch and I headed back to the room for a marathon movie afternoon. Thank God for Foxtel….and room service.

Packed up my gear in the morning, sat on the same Southern Carolina decking for breakfast and headed off as soon as I could. This place is like living in New Zealand, there is always a looming dark cloud keeping a motorcyclist feeling a little rushed.

The ride to Torquay “home of Bells Beach” is broken into dramatic cliff cornering, loping bends and dead straight road. Give me the corners any day. First step was Bells Beach itself, needed to check out the surf because part of my lose plans were to catch up with Damien Hardman, who has moved from the Northern Beaches to Torquay with Rip Curl. I must say I was pleased to see 2 foot waves, no broken neck coming my way.

Checked into the pub and if the weather permits might go for a spin. Can’t help but get the feeling that the trip is coming to an end, especially the cornering, boo hoo!! I must say my mouth needs a rest from blisters on my lips to bite marks in my cheeks. Brushing my teeth is like some Japanese torture test.

Well, Torquay wasn’t big enough for both of us. I had a kip, Damien was in trouble for smashing himself at the AFL and Rugby League Grand Finals, so figured it would be best if I left the “surf coast” behind me. With only 90kms ahead to Melbourne, it looked like the English weather was going to hold and I’d be tucked into a hotel room watching a movie before 7pm.

Was I wrong!!! 50kms out and right on darkness it decided to test my 5 days experience on a Harley. Where was God now? At first it was steadily light, the road was getting shinier and shinier by the kilometre and I was just starting to think, why on earth haven’t helmets got windscreen wipers? Now there is an invention that makes sense! Actually, originally it was extremely peaceful, the wet darkness in front, the side mirrors filled with a beautiful orange purple sunset.

One massive advancement in the motorcycle world I’m sure is the wet wether gear, amazing! Steadily light soon turned into constantly thick, vision became tricky and the car in front’s roosters’ tail was my only guide. It was now I realised this was my final test, so I gritted my teeth climbed up the bike and started to cry. That’s what I wanted to do, but even as the rain steadily increased I felt quite safe. When there were cars either side I tended to grab the handlebars a tad tighter and although you could barley see the lanes, the rooster tail in front guided the way.

That was of course until I had to get off the freeway. To boot I had no idea where the hotel was. People keep telling about the grid system in Melbourne and how easy it is to get around. One word, map. Pulled over into a garage, rang the hotel and got incorrect directions and got lost again. Finally I found it, one relieved little boy.

I passed.

Melbourne:

Crap day abut sorted out tickets and itinery for the Grand Prix at Phillip Island. What timing! I was originally planning to double the brother-in-law down but the weather scared me away, I was not ready for that hurdle just yet. I was told the drive was going to take anywhere between 1 1/2 to 4 hours due to its isolation and traffic. So wet, set the clocks for 5.30pm.

The alarm goes off, I’m already packed like a 10 year old going in holidays and I’m pumped! I am looking to compare my riding style to that of the World Champ, Casey Stoner. The drive takes a little over an hour and it feels like we’re the first there, great advice. It did give us plenty of time to chase tickets and passes which were like hens teeth. Finally getting settled in this ridiculously illegal position, a turn away from the straight, positioned neatly next to ten photographers, couldn’t believe it, prime location.

Here they come, first practice…Wow! do they push the limit. Without seeing first hand the speed in which they brake, hit and come out of corners and the position they get there bodies into, parallel to the ground, you wouldn’t believe it! Amazing courage and concentration!

Well it wasn’t long till we scabbed our way into the pits and had an opportunity to check out the bikes close up and have a chat to a few of the riders. Non other than the man himself “Casey Stoner”, what a champion! I caught him as he was getting a massage on that huge frame. I knew Jarrod his masseur and also met his wife Adrianne, a very impressive couple. I also got an insight into the technology behind the bikes when I visited Chris Vermeulen ’s set up.

In short they have the technology to take 80 readings from the bike, at all times during practice or qualifying. Pretty impressive stuff. By the end of the day I was ratted and the drive home which again only took 1 hour 20 minutes felt like 3 hours. Big Day.

Took the bike on a cruise to St Kilda, beautiful spot down on the bay, full of action and obstacles! Joggers, pushbikes, roller bladders and worse of all….. the dreaded tram. Just dreaming of being back on the coast, and reefing out of an “s” bend.

Decided against taking the Phillip Island drive back on (minor regret) and instead sat in my room and watched the 3rd Australian, Casey Stoner take out an Australian Grand Prix. Started 3rd on the grid, took the lead by the 1st bend and was never in doubt, won by 6 seconds. At 22 he could become one of the greats. Chris Vermeulen also had a great race coming 8th, it was a big day for the Aussies.

I’ll be dropping the bike off tomorrow and ending an excellent experience. That’s what they are, when all is said and done, life is made up of back to back experiences, and I am extremely grateful to Greg and Graeme for allowing this most memorable experience.

Last Tip:

• Experience the thrill of a Harley-Davidson.