As some of you may know, I am stuck in Townsville for a while. I wanted to bring my Baja up here to go exploring North Queensland, but things
didn't quite go to plan.
So here's plan B, finally get my bike licence (been riding since I was a kid and has my learners for 8yrs 
) and get a bike.
So I have ended up with what's probably the Baja equivalent of bikes. A bike style born from desert racing (Paris-Daker style). A Honda NX650
Dominator. You may notice it has a long range tank and gearsack on the back.
So far I have decided that when riding on:
* highway, I would rather be in a car
* corners, definitely the bike, so much fun
* dirt, also the bike (only just from the baja), the bike is so smooth
* sand, definitely the baja, the bike is dangerous (a near full long range tank and a pillion didn't help, and yes I did crash :puke).
It looks cold, but its not. The jacket is to save skin in case of an accident. The jacket is a mesh type one that breathes so I don't get hot in the NQ weather.
yeah it's aircooled.
as for $, we all need to keep some things to ourselfs
Now all you gotta do is;
-shave your head.
-grow a beard.
-get half your teeth pulled out.
-chip the other half.
-gain about a hundred pound.
Then maybe, just maybe, you might look like you belong on a bike........
The attitude, you can't fake..
I miss my bikes - I sold them for my degree. Not sure yet if it was a fair
swap.
I loke the Hondas but grew up with the Kawasakis's. Started off with the KLR250 and when up to a 600 which I later took out to 650 with a 650
head. Very reliable bikes the desert racers but the long range tanks are a hassle in the soft stuff. Thats why I like the 250 so much - It was light,
powerful enough (just) and never missed a beat. Unfortunately there watercooled but you would never know it as it all self contained.
I made my way up to the BMWK100 (Ex-police) which was luxery for the longer road distances but was a pain on unsealed surfaces of course. It had a
stereo, phone, plugin spotlight / camp light, AM Twoway radio and heaps of hide-a-way holes and pillion room. I never got up to the Dakar version on
the BMW but I'm still young, and like VW's - everything but the paintjob gets better with age.
Your blazing the same trails I used to explore when I was a lad and in the Army Wes. I covered most of Northern and Central Queensland by bike and I
doubt much has changed. Except a few extra terrorists, whoops Victorian (caravan towing) tourists!
I punted around on a Honda XLV750 for a couple of years. The NX would be very similar-it used to be the XL600 back then. I have also owned an R100GS but I reckon they are road bikes & are too heavy to do what yours does. I used to love the high seat posn- I'm about 5ft10 but I could only just get both feet on the ground. Some of those Paris-Dakar types must come with a step ladder for the short arses to mount up!Don't ya just love that luvverly low down torque? Whilst road bikes scream away, those plonkers just grunt & keep up anyway. The only complaint I had ( and it's not real fair!) is that they can get tiring on a long trip on the tar-dual purpose bikes can't do EVERYTHING real well.
Really looks like it belongs both on and off-road. A great combination bike. Looks cool and the indicators are well molded into the body so they
don't get torn off and stuff like when you mount them on full off-roaders.
Did I mention that it looks cool...?:thumb
sweeet..... nice torquey 650 = wheelies at will.
You arent short of a quid are you Wes ? 
When do you think you'll get the Baja up there ?
I won't bring the Baja up, I am due back in Brisbane around May and will see the Baja then.
As for $, well I had a house deposit saved up but decided I had found a better use for part of it
The torque is fantastic. I have always liked dirt bikes. Then when I got my licence I rode a VF400 road bike. It was heaps of fun and almost turned me
to road bikes. But then I test rode this baby and remembered why I liked dirt bikes. The riding position is heaps better, the torque is great,
throwing it through corners is fun too. And of course the wheelstands (sometimes to the disapproval of my pillion, Bajawes_ette).
I'm still getting my brain used to the fact I have the HP to overtake anyone anywhere in a ridiculously short space of time.
Oh, and I though I better put a VW in this post. It parked near me on Magnetic Island.
[Edited on 27-1-2003 by Baja Wes]
Baja Wes and Bajawes_ette on Magnetic Island. Some great bike riding over there.
Hmmmmm.... Beaches!
Funny how you only miss somthing when it's too far to visit anymore.
Don't miss the humidity though.
Hey Wes,
Bike looks great, glad it worked out for you.
Cheers