obsessive void

SSS Pulsar carbon fibre door pillars

2012-01-21T10:35:00.000+10:30

I had some spare carbon fibre wrap left over so the door pillars got the ricer treatment. Also did the rear door ends to follow the window shape aka 'jdm vzr style'. Came out pretty sweet I reckon.

1.3m backyard vert skate ramp virgin run... it works!

2012-01-19T14:48:00.001+10:30

1.3m vert rampage

2012-01-12T09:42:00.002+10:30

I had some scrap chipboard left over from some shelves I made in the garage and thought it would be good to have another skate ramp in the back yard - something with a bit more vert to challenge me a bit more and one to match my big 1.4m ramp at the other end of the yard. I'm not quite getting enough speed after dropping in from my small quarter to do stalls or any tricks on the coping of the big ramp, but a good vert ramp should solve that problem nicely.

I started with the sides (4 chipboard shelves screwed together) and matched the curve of my small quarter ramp and extended it upwards to make it vert. Then I just cut out the curve with a jigsaw and made a mirror of the first side for the other side. Next up I braced the sides together with some good solid wood I scrounged up from pallets and stuff on the bottom and sides and started lining the curve with planks to give the ramp surface strength. I found the trick is to use as many planks as possible attached on the vertical side and they give the most strength for downward force - the last thing you want is to land an ollie on the ramp and punch through the surface. The stronger and more solid the surface the more pump you get off it too which is what I was after. Once the surface was lined with planks all the way to the top it was time to attach the ply. This was the only bit of wood I bought and I used 9mm ply from the hardware store. It can be a little tricky to get it to match the curve and in my case a vert curve is even harder. I suggest propping up the ply against a wall and using heavy bricks and hot water to pre-bend the ply over night. Be patient and don't rush it or it will snap - trust me. It doesn't have to match the curve exactly but the closer you get it the easier it is to attach it to the curve. Once the ply was attached all that was left was to cut out the small sections at the top for the coping, attach a small section of flat steel at the bottom for the entry and paint that sucker with deck oil to protect it from the elements and give it a little bit of slip. I prefer my ramps with a little bit of slide versus grip plus it doesn't shred you to pieces when you bail from a trick and end up sliding down the ramp on the side of your face.

I gave it a quick skate yesterday after work. It needs a few adjustments (coping a little too proud) but I'm able to tap the coping with my wheels and get some good solid pump off it - enough to land a stall with a grab on my 1.4m ramp at the other end. Go Skate!

Took me a little while to see it at first... Nice effort

2011-12-28T10:18:00.000+10:30

Skate ramps resurfaced

2011-12-17T07:27:00.000+10:30

I found some big sheets of 9mm ply and resurfaced my skate ramps last week. Super smooth all the way to the top now and really good feedback from the hard surface. Every single movement translates back to the board and since lining them with ply, ive been nailing all sorts of tricks I couldn't do before. Already got plans to make another ramp that will attach to the smaller one to make it twice as wide and double the height for grinds and stalls. Go skate!

Xbox 360 custom cooling system

2011-11-10T21:57:00.000+10:30

I got sick of my circa 2006 xbox 360 sounding like as jet engine when trying to watch a movie so decided to rig up a cooling fan to pump some fresh air into it and get it's internal temp down a bit. Basically the 360 will spin the exhaust fans faster the higher the temp and in turn sounds like a plane taking off in your lounge room.

I used an old 12v xbox fan I had lying around (any pc case fan will also do the trick) and wired it up to an old 5v dc phone charger I found in a box. Running it at reduced voltage means less rpm which means less noise - this is good. The new fan only makes 21 decibels, cost $0 and took about 10 mins to make. It dropped the temp of the 360 a stack and in turn lowered it's total fan noise from 46 decibels to 33.5. Can barely hear it now - sweet.

Seaford Skate Park pics for sk8r.com.au park guide

2011-10-21T10:28:00.000+10:30

2011-10-21T08:43:00.000+10:30

Some shots of the Hallett Cove Skate Park as decorated by the locals...

Adelaide City Skate Park at night

2011-10-15T22:34:00.000+10:30

A few shots I took of the park last night for www.sk8r.com.au. Good times!

N15 Pulsar SSS Sideskirts, Carbon Fiber and JDM Grille

2011-10-12T08:23:00.000+10:30

Sideskirts painted and fitted. Custom carbon fiber front lip. Custom carbon fiber rear lip. Custom carbon fiber rear door panel. JDM dual slat front grille. Just needs a SR20DET dropped in to finish it off…

Sideskirts for the SSS pulsar

2011-10-01T18:29:00.000+09:30

Jayne got me some sweet sideskirts for my SSS pulsar off gumtree for fathers day for a steal - less than 1/4 the price of new ones. The girl I got them from had some bongo smash into her parked pulsar completely writing her car off with a twisted chassis. The skirts just needed a little bit of fiberglass repairs then a splash of paint and they were good to go. Stoked with how they look.

SSS Pulsar JDM front grille

2011-10-01T13:01:00.000+09:30

Never liked the oem grille. Found this rare japanese one on gumtree for cheap off a written off pulsar.

Rings welded to the piston...

2011-09-04T13:05:00.000+09:30

The oil pump on my 72cc skoot failed so the rings welded themselves to the piston at 9000rpm from massive oil starvation - not to mention volcanic heat. Normally you'd just throw it away and get a new engine but I've got a spare set of rings so I'm going to sandpaper the surfaces a bit and give it another shot. Looks like premix oil from here on in...

Quads and LEDs on the SSS

2011-08-18T21:53:00.000+09:30

Quad taillight mod and LED headlights on the SR20 SSS. hanging out to get some extractors on it. Redline is 8000 rpm and loves being there...

Ford focus RS 500

2011-08-18T09:33:00.001+09:30

340 bhp and matte black darth vader paint. Awesome on so many levels.

Atomik Nitrous 160 detail

2011-08-14T07:53:00.000+09:30

Atomik 160

2011-08-13T12:54:00.000+09:30

yeah, ok. I know its not a real bike but for $600ish brand new delivered it'd be a stack of fun. A guy I knew had one and it popped wheelies in first, second and third and topped out at about 90km/hour. And I like fixing stuff which is handy cos I've read these things need a bit of love... Then again so do all dirt bikes. Christmas is coming if youre feeling generous... :)

Lego pirates!

2011-08-13T11:43:00.001+09:30

Watch "Lego Pirates of the Caribbean Debut Trailer [HD]" on YouTube

Started playing lego pirates this morning with reeve. This game is awesome! Graphics are insanely good. Looks and feels just like real lego. Gonna have to get lego star wars too...

Carbon fibre gear knob on the SSS.

2011-08-13T10:23:00.001+09:30

Because rice is nice...

Cars I wish I had to fill the 30 car garage I also don't have...

2011-08-13T10:22:00.001+09:30

Been playing bulletstorm on 360

2011-07-26T15:23:00.001+09:30

Watch "Bulletstorm Trailer" on YouTube

Pretty cool game. Feels like a less serious first person version of gears of war, well sorta...

2011-07-23T16:30:00.000+09:30

Weathers getting better. Skate bearings cleaned and ready...

KTM 125 street. Want one. Make that two so a mate can ride too

2011-07-20T23:40:00.000+09:30

Perfect day. Garden looks good after a quick cleanup. Queue the japanese chillout.

2011-07-16T13:48:00.000+09:30

Saw this on a car forum this morning. My CRX looked exactly like it back in the day. Such a great car.

2011-07-09T10:54:00.001+09:30

Here's one I painted earlier today...

2011-07-07T22:14:00.001+09:30

Henley beach jetty

2011-07-07T13:05:00.000+09:30

finally getting there. 47mm big bore kit done, head bolts torqued, good compression, good spark just need to tune the carby and take this screamer for a test run...

2011-07-07T09:04:00.000+09:30

Bonfire night deep south at Mt Compass with the boys

2011-06-25T00:46:00.000+09:30

Thought I better lid up before I put a crack in my nog coming off a vert at the park. MONSTER stickers always add instant street cred...;)

2011-06-16T11:10:00.001+09:30

'11 Honda CBR 600RR. Droooool...

2011-06-15T14:23:00.000+09:30

FAIL! Doorknob taken off to stop warehouse staff using the nice new admin office toilets.

2011-06-14T14:34:00.000+09:30

Kym showing us the finer points of how to build a good BMX dirt kicker. I showed everyone the finer points of getting good air then eating major dirt.

2011-06-12T16:47:00.000+09:30

Eli and Reeve bustin out style on my board. Talk about naturals

2011-06-12T14:05:00.000+09:30

Rockin the skate park at Victor Harbour! Good times

2011-06-11T13:45:00.001+09:30

This is Intents!

2011-06-10T09:45:00.001+09:30

Naruto Shippuuden finally getting to the good stuff. How many years now since him and sasuke fought?

2011-06-09T10:40:00.000+09:30

I had my suspicions with the cheapo gaskets that came with my 72cc big bore kit. Should be showing 135 to 150 psi. Time for a rebuild...

2011-06-06T17:39:00.001+09:30

NingNing - The Digital Insite Delivery Skoot

2011-01-27T10:51:00.002+10:30

50cc two stroke Hyosung SF50 Rally. 70km/h top speed flat out which isn't bad seeing as these things are factory restricted to 50kph. I changed the transmission rollers to about half the weight so it revs out a stack more now and even does a nice burnout on my garage floor. Screaming out for a big bore kit and some carby work but still a stack of fun and great for deliveries and advertising drop offs. Got my last bolwell gypsy skoot to about 95kph after all the mods n stuff - keen to see what this little two banger can do. Reeve appropriately named it "NingNing"

Fresh BMX track war wounds

2011-01-02T17:53:00.000+10:30

I thought I'd show Reeve how you nail a really good dirt slide off a bmx jump at full speed today. Beautiful entry, Perfect execution with a textbook dismount. Is Nitro Circus looking for new members??

Merry Nitro Christmas!

2011-01-01T21:24:00.000+10:30

My HSP Atomic Warhead Nitro RC car finally arrived today. Churns up dirt like no ones business at the bmx track and left some nice black rings on my garage floor. Absolutely hauls in a straight line too not to mention the insane noise it makes and the plumes of blue smoke it makes under full throttle. Thanks babe!

Last shots of the N15 Pulsar sedan...

2010-12-27T10:48:00.000+10:30

The Digital Insite Pulsar N15 sedan needed some good night shots as a send off before it goes to a new owner. She's been a good little ricer and stack of fun over the years. Maybe one day you'll grow up to be an R34 little one...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Nitro RC heaven is just 30 seconds away...

2010-12-26T18:29:00.000+10:30

Hangin out for my HSP Atomic Warhead Nitro radio controlled car to arrive in the mail (late christmas present). The local BMX track 30 sec up the road from my place is gonna be filled with the sweet smell of nitro-methanol real soon... yeeeeehah

Digital Insite N15 Pulsar Sedan cleaned up and ready to sell...

2010-12-05T13:56:00.000+10:30

*Sniff*... sorta sad to see old faithful go but I've recently moved onto bigger and better things.

I snagged a white SSS pulsar hatch a month ago for dirt cheap and I'm going to get the T28 turbo I got off ebay fitted to it sometime in the future as well as a bodykit and sound system etc.

The SSS drives so much better than the 1.6L sedan and the 2.0L engine really does go well when you give it the beans - not to mention the countless other parts that are stacks better on the SSS.

Anyway - Digital Insite stickers all gone and ready for some young punk to take it away.

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Race Suspension and new taillights for the Digital Insite Pulsar

2010-09-01T18:10:00.002+09:30

I cracked out the rattle gun and did the front struts (new shocks and springs) on the Digital Insite N15 Nissan Pulsar in about 2 hours flat today. Me and a mate did the rear ones last week in a few hours. The ones we pulled out were completely STUFFED. Didn't even come back up when you pushed them all the way in - think the oil had completely leaked out. How long have I been driving with no shocks???? heh heh. Pretty easy job - just a little awkward for the back ones but all up a no brainer. Also chucked some paint on the tail lights last week to try out a new design for the lights. Drives little a little pimped out go-kart now. Giddy up.

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Mini Rampage

2010-09-01T18:01:00.000+09:30

My big quarter-pipe skate ramp was getting a bit lonely so I decided to try my skills at making another one about half the height as a practice ramp for lip tricks and stuff.

Came out sweet and makes a cool little halfpipe when they're opposite each other in the garage. I'm finally nailing some good stalls, rock to fakie's and rock'n'rolls now - yeehah.

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Grip Paint and Graphics

2010-07-20T17:50:00.001+09:30

The masonite on my quarter-pipe was just a little too slick and slippery so I decided to put a coat of grip paint on it. I used just normal house paint with a few cups of sand I nicked from my son's sand pit and mixed it in with the paint. Came out nice and thick and coated the ramp really well. Stacks of grip now all the way up - and especially when you come off the lip on an angle trying to land something a bit gnarly. It looked a little bit plain in just cream grip paint so I knocked up some logos and whacked on some graphics with a few spray cans lying around to funk it up a bit. While I was there I did a new design on the bottom of my skateboard too. Oh yeh, the steering wheel is off my old '88 Honda CRX so that Reeve has something to play with and makes for a good handle when I'm flipping it on it's side. Go Skate!

Nitro Circus Live 2010

2010-05-28T23:41:00.000+09:30

Just got back from Nitro Circus Live 2010. Awesome night - The guys and girls were pullin some mega gnarly tricks on BMX, skateboards, dirtbikes and even a backflipping wheelchair. LOVED the FMX stuff - especially the whips on the dirtbikes. Massively impressed by the double front flip on the BMX off the giganta-ramp too. Yeeeehawwwww!

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Coping Well...

2010-05-14T14:32:00.001+09:30

Finally starting to feel a little better after 6 days of flu, laryngitis and vertigo! I bought a sheet of 8mm flat steel for the bottom lip of the ramp and screwed it in place a few days ago.

Makes the entry to the ramp from the garage floor butter smooth and you don't lose any speed on the bump now.

The long ply sheets you can see are entry ramps to cover the bump from the driveway to the garage - I'm putting a curve in them to match the driveway using the old 'bricks and boiling water trick'.

I also cut out the steel coping for the top lip of my ramp today from some old gates I had lying around before the extension started.

Just gotta screw the coping in place and put a few more reinforcements to the curve and were done!

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

30 going on 16...

2010-05-04T22:21:00.001+09:30

I cut out the top for my ramp out of chipboard today and screwed it all in as well as some extra supports for the curve to give it even more strength. I had to trim up the masonite a little bit to get it to fit right but had it screwed in and lining the curve in no time. Even got to give it a quick skate this arvo while it was pouring rain outside. I had a few sheets of ply left over that made a really good run-up for the ramp coming down the driveway into the garage. The trans is absolutely perfect and has awesome pickup when you're coming back down fakie. I was easily getting the front wheels up over the lip at about 3/4 speed coming down the driveway without any pump at all. Just needs the coping on the top now then I'll really be able to rip into it hard - can't wait.

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Quarter pipe's about halfway there now...

2010-05-02T07:23:00.000+09:30

Screwed in a few more supports on my skateramp today as well as some vertical reinforcements for when you drop in or get some air off the coping. I laid the masonite over the ramp too and it fits like a glove. Just gotta sort out the coping with my angle grinder, the top section and then screw in the ramp sheet and a bit of steel for the bottom lip now. Not to far off now...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Got a good start on my skate ramp today

2010-04-29T17:40:00.000+09:30

I had the arvo off today and being the workaholic I am I cut all of the support beams to size, nailed and tek-screwed them to the sides of the ramp. Awesome seeing it take shape - can't wait to drop in on this puppy and pull a rocknroll off the coping. Garage skate nights are on the books...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Pergola done!

2010-04-22T22:17:00.001+09:30

They screwed in the last sheets of laserlite and finished off the pergola today - can't wait till it rains this weekend.

Gonna be awesome having this huge undercover area joining the house to the extension.

Skirting boards are on, down-lights, outdoor lights, phone and electrical all wired in and up and running.

Just have to sand and paint the skirting and doorframes + some paving outside and were done!

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

6 weeks in and almost done!

2010-04-20T08:56:00.002+09:30

After 4 nights till midnight and last Friday night till 3am all of the painting is done! Pergola all painted and interior + feature walls all done in a few coats.

Flooring went in on Saturday and looks awesome. I wired in my under-eave downlights and outdoor speakers (hooked up to the xbox speaker output inside) last night too. Pergola sheeting going on today - not much left till its finished now. Pretty sure it's just the final electrical fix and skirting boards, little bit more painting then its time to move in... Not bad for 6 weeks!

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Paint ya wagon

2010-04-11T07:42:00.001+09:30

BIG day of painting yesterday! Front render, gutters and all of the massive beams for the pergola all painted. Pergola should be going up this week as well as lights and final electrical - can't wait! Might buy some paint and start painting the inside today too.

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Rendered!

2010-04-10T08:05:00.000+09:30

The front's rendered and gyprock's all flushed and ready to paint. Stormwater pipes are in and pergola brackets are up ready for the beams to go in. Painting this weekend!

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Prime Ribs

2010-04-07T14:41:00.002+09:30

Nothing broken this time. Looks like I live to ride another day. The "alien snake thing" living inside my chest in the first picture does concern me a little though.

Close call - time invest in some body armour me thinks...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Saturday thrash down South on the XR400

2010-04-03T17:14:00.002+10:30

Just got back from a good thrash through a stack of dirt roads and trails in the winery district down south. Good to finally open up the old girl and get her up over 100km/h on some dirt - nothing like that floaty feeling on loose gravel with trees blurring by. We found some awesome hill climb tracks they use to test 4WD's and gave them a good hammering. I took a tumble going up a sandy track - probably going way, way too fast. My front wheel hit a tree root hidden in the sand and flipped the whole bike forwards sending me flying a good 3 or 4 meters. I took a handlebar in the chest on the way over but no broken ribs from what I can tell - just feels like someone's punched my lung REALLY hard. I landed on the track flat on my back with the bike right beside me - upside down. Got a few things to fix on the bike - mainly the rear section being bent to the right a good 3 or 4 inches - but nothing a good bash wont fix. Got her home in one piece so that's the main thing. Thankfully Dave saw the whole thing so it wasn't a waste - Nothing worse than doing an awesome stack and having no one there to see it! I heard a saying once "if you go out on dirt bikes and your bike or yourself isn't broken when you get back - you weren't riding hard enough..."

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Like a nice padded cell...

2010-03-29T17:14:00.000+10:30

Insulation today, gyprock tomorrow. Reeve helping clean up for the big move in...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Roof tiles on, electrical all done and I made up a gate for the side - big week!

2010-03-26T13:04:00.001+10:30

next up - insulation and gyprock. Nearly finished!!

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

CAT5 and Coax cabled in...

2010-03-22T22:15:00.001+10:30

aint no point buildin a spankin new office and rumpus room without havin the internets!

roof frame all extended from the main roof - just the tiles to go on now. Gettin closer...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Brickwork done and gutters on!

2010-03-17T12:55:00.001+10:30

Just eaves, roof tiles, services, gyprock, painting and flooring to go. Not far to go now till we start moving stuff in...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Black wheels on my Honda XR400

2010-03-14T14:30:00.002+10:30

My XR400 hasn't had a great deal of attention lately with all the building going on and stuff so I thought I'd give it a birthday with some black wheels 'KTM style'. I took it for a quick thrash yesterday to give it a wash and couldn't resist hammering it in the dirt beside the highway on the way home - it was clean for a few minutes there...

Just gotta sell my XR250R now.

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Started my Skate Ramp today

2010-03-13T18:34:00.001+10:30

Reeve and I got a start on our quarter-pipe skate ramp today. After about 10 minutes of calculations, I came up with a 400mm top, 1200mm height and a nice 5 foot curve for the transition. It's gonna be a sweet ramp when its done with a good gradual trans and a nice 1.2m drop in - can't wait to try it. Pretty easy stuff really - do the maths, draw your curve, cut one side with the jigsaw then lay it over the off-cut, trace and draw the other side and all the hard work is done. Now I've just gotta cut my supports to 1165mm and drill and screw them in along the curve, top and back. I'm gonna do the supports about 5 inches apart along the curve for extra strength. Once all the supports are on, its just a case of laying the masonite on the curve and screwing it into the supports. Then I'll put some ply or chipboard on the back and top and give it a splash of paint and it's ready to rip!

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

About 1/4 of the brickwork done...

2010-03-12T18:21:00.001+10:30

Starting to look like a real extension now and not just some lean-to greenhouse...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Frame just about done...

2010-03-10T16:48:00.001+10:30

Windows and sliding door fitted and frame almost complete. Brickwork starting tomorrow. Man, these guys are fast...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Taking shape...

2010-03-09T17:30:00.002+10:30

The guys ripped into it today and knocked up the frame for my new office and the rumpus room. Yeeehah.

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

A huge stack of wood, sliding doors, windows, and a portaloo. I have a sneaking suspicion that the frame might be going up soon...

2010-03-05T18:27:00.001+10:30

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Freaks, Mind Readers and Corn on a stick...

2010-03-03T08:54:00.000+10:30

Just got back from the Adelaide Fringe - Really cool how they've transformed the park into the Garden of Unearthly Delights with all the wacked out sideshows, tree lights and other freaky fringe stuff. We saw "Philip Escoffey: Six Impossible Things Before Dinner" the mind-reader guy and have to say - very impressive - Especially the very end bit...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

The concrete boys were here at the crack of dawn pumping the new slab - can't believe how quick this is happening. Giddy up!

2010-02-27T15:10:00.004+10:30

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

New stormwater pipes going in...

2010-02-27T15:10:00.003+10:30

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Plastic down - just about ready to pour the concrete...

2010-02-27T15:10:00.001+10:30

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Reeve and Maison at the Park

2010-02-27T15:09:00.000+10:30

A few pics of Reeve and his cousin Maison at the park this morning. It's funny how things change - a few years ago my ideal Saturday morning would have been a good sleep in, watch some Rage and play some Xbox360 till lunchtime. Today though - I didn't want to be anywhere but here with my boy.

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Trenches for the new slab being dug today. Pouring concrete on sat - might be finished in 4 to 5 weeks!

2010-02-24T11:57:00.002+10:30

They said it was gonna be quick but this is insane speed! I might be moving into my new office and playing xbox with the boys in my new rumpus room in about a month. Got a feelin the INSITE GAMES nights might be returning soon...

It's all happening! Reeve is so excited to have a real DigDig in our back yard. Almost as excited as me...

2010-02-22T13:14:00.001+10:30

My honda XR250R is for sale!

2010-01-31T13:03:00.000+10:30

Here's a few shots of my Honda XR250R I took before I chucked it on ebay yesterday. Sorta sad to see it go - but having a black XR400 and a white XR250R is a bit of overkill - even for me...

ebay link here > http://tinyurl.com/ylotpmn

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Honda XR400 washed and shiny (for now...)

2010-01-07T23:06:00.002+10:30

It's too hot for riding today so I thought I'd take a few pics of my XR400 while it's clean for the moment - it usually doesn't stay that way for long...

Almost got my XR250R good to sell - just gotta get the kick-start lever welded up and wire in a few lights and she's going on ebay.

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Surfing at Long Beach in Robe SA

2010-01-02T17:45:00.001+10:30

Surfing a few of the waves in off the shore at Long Beach, Robe SA on our camping trip. My 2nd time ever - the last time was the 1/2 hour aquatics lesson in year 7 at school so it's been a while. Thanks to my 'bro-in- law' Luke's tips from Sanctuary Surfers I managed to stand up on the board after about 15 mins and rode a few 1 metre or so waves in from about 100m out. Great fun - itching to buy a board and wetsuit now. Looks like all that skateboarding came in handy for something...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Wringing the XR400's neck with Nuno and his '09 CRF450X

2009-12-28T14:39:00.001+10:30

Just got back from a thrash out on my XR400 with my neighbour Nuno and his new '09 CRF450X. Man, its hot out there in the sun with all your gear on - talk about a weight loss program! We nailed a few sweet jumps off the kickers and hammered the bikes hard up the loose rocky hill climbs. The XR400 performed brilliantly - hills, water crossings, jumps - the lot. Just so much torque - It feels like its got about 5 times the torque of my XR250R. My love for Honda XR's deepens yet again...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

my Honda XR250 nearly ready to sell...

2009-12-27T19:34:00.000+10:30

Now that my XR400's all up and running - I've just gotta fix up a few little things on the XR250 (brake light, rear indicators & kick lever) and she's ready to sell. Came up looking pretty slick after a good clean and with the new headlight and seat cover on. Hoping it fetches a good pretty penny on ebay...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Gnarly carbon fibre headlight for my Honda XR400

2009-12-08T19:11:00.000+10:30

Have to say - this new carbon fibre headlight makes the XR400 look gnarly as. Arrived today from Israel for $31 inc postage. I love ebay. Took about 15 mins to fit and wire in.

Next up - cleaning up my XR250R to sell....

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

"check out my new weapon - weapon of choice...."

2009-11-21T20:13:00.001+10:30

Queue Christopher Walken and Fatboy slim...

Picked up my XR400 today so my XR250R will be going up for sale after I clean it up a bit. The 400's got a completely rebuilt engine (piston, rings, bearings, bottom end etc) so it's got loads of compression and runs as tight as a Scotsman in a global recession. Feels like it's got about twice the power of my XR250R. Took it for a quick thrash today and pulls the front wheel up on dirt under semi-hard throttle - love it. Gave Dave's GasGas EC250 a decent run for it's money too. Doesn't feel much heavier than my XR250 (same frame - bigger engine) but handles a stack better thanks to nice tight shocks and good brand new tyres. I'll up a video soon...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

New headlight for my '96 XR250R

2009-11-18T15:35:00.000+10:30

My new headlight arrived off ebay today all the way from Tel Aviv, Israel - it got here in about 8 days which is pretty good I reckon. I got stuck into installing it straight away and had it on the bike in under 1/2 an hour. Looks only a million times better than the original headlight and should help me fetch a good dollar for it when I sell the bike soon. Just needs a metal mulisha decal on it or something - looks a little sparse right now. Funny how you make things look their best right before you sell them eh?

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

new Shock Sox for my XR250R

2009-11-11T15:50:00.000+10:30

The fork gaitors on my Honda XR250R were looking a bit thrashed and tattered so I went off to the bike shop to buy some new ones and saw these new 'shock sox' fork boots. They attach with velcro and zip ties and can be removed and cleaned anytime you like. Stacks easier than removing the wheel and forks to put old-skool gaitors on. I reckon they look heaps better - got em for $12.95 - bargain!

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

New Signage on the Digital Insite Pulsar

2009-11-11T10:56:00.000+10:30

Just a few snaps of the pulsar after I washed it the other day. New signage is very sparkly in the sun.

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Vid from our Moto Bash up at Morgan SA

2009-11-06T16:59:00.000+10:30

Finally managed to squeeze in some time to edit and upload the GoPro headcam vids from our Morgan Motocross trip up by the river last weekend. Another CRAZY week at work - apologies if the editing is a little rough in parts - trying some new software for the first time. N'joi the vid.

MORGAN MOTO : Swirling Dust, Angry Motos and 33 degree heat... giddy up!

2009-11-01T09:21:00.000+10:30

Just got back last night from our massive dirt bike bash up at Morgan by the river. So many crankin dirtbike tracks up there - you barely see the same place twice - even in hours of riding. We had about 8 or so bikes all ranging from an old XR200 to some big 650 kwackas and Huskies. My XR250R held up really well against the big bikes - mostly due to the mods and smaller front sprocket I reckon. The loose dusty tracks and dry sandy creek beds made it super easy to to get the back wheel out on every corner and made for a solid workout fighting the handlebars to keep the bikes upright. I nailed one hill climb the whole way up only on the back wheel and pulled a huge mono at the top - nearly landed on one of the other guys in the process too. In the end the heat got the better of us so we went for a splash in the river to cool off - anyone whose done moto wearing boots, armour, goggles, pants and a jersey in 33 degree heat while thrashing bikes for a few hours will know the feeling! A few bits missing from the bikes and the usual aches the next morning but no broken bones or missing limbs so I call that a win.

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Say Cheeeeeese!

2009-10-25T06:33:00.000+10:30

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Honda XR250R and Gas Gas EC250 - Saturday Arvo Motocross

2009-10-17T22:12:00.002+10:30

Here's a few pics and vid of Dave and me out on the bikes today hitting some of the little kickers down south. I just fitted a new 12 tooth front sprocket in my Honda XR250R today (factory spec is a 13 tooth) - I reckon it lost about 10km/h off its top speed but gave the bike stacks more torque down low in the gears. Wheelspin in every gear now on the loose stuff and stacks easier to wheelie and drift the back out on dusty trails. $20 performance mod - Lovin it.

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

The Black Bullet (my 70cc PGO Gypsy Scooter) is no more - sold today for $1500

2009-10-14T21:45:00.003+10:30

Sorta sad to see the old girl go - had so many great times on that little bike. Started its life as a yellow old banger I got for $900 and ended up as the black bullet - best ever top speed 96km/h (right before the crank sheared off). Rode it all the way to Willunga and back, on Moana beach, loads of dirtbike trails and hills - not to mention countless wheelies, drifts and burnouts. I blew up the engine and snapped the crankshaft clean off the flywheel - then proceeded to completely strip the bike down on a tarp in the backyard - split the crankcase in two and rebuilt it with a new crank and new 70cc piston kit (thanks for the help Dave!) . Pretty much rewired all the electrics too including underbody LED's, LED taillight and blue Xenon headlight globe. I even put a knobbly rear tyre on it for the offroading stuff we were into at the time. Best fun on it? would have to be either laying down black rubber rings doing donuts on a concrete slab with dirt bikers watching and cheering on - the countless hours of modding and tuning a two-stroke engine to get the max power output - or taking it through the mud and climbing hills in the Christies creek paddocks. Was a bit surprised to get top dollar for it in the end after all it'd been through - but hey, its no ordinary scooter - its the black bullet. Onto to bigger and better things. Gonna put a new front sprocket in my Honda XR 250R on the weekend - should be fun...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

New front sprocket for my Honda XR250R

2009-10-14T17:21:00.000+10:30

I decided that the XR250R needed a bit more poke so I bought a new front sprocket today. Once It's on I reckon I'll lose about 10km/h off the top speed but it'll add what it loses down the bottom of the rev range as torque. Cheap and easy performance mod for $20 - wheelies and burnouts here we come...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

De-Motivationals...

2009-10-14T10:34:00.000+10:30

My new Globe Skate shoes arrived off ebay today - dirty gump steeze all the way...

2009-10-14T01:05:00.000+10:30

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

XR250R new BarkBusters fitted and Custom 'Dakar Style' Headlight Skin

2009-10-04T18:11:00.000+10:30

Took a few snaps of the XR250R today after finishing my custom 'Dakar Style' headlight skin and fitting the new Barkbusters I got for fathers day - Thanks Reeve and Jayne. Hopefully there'll be less clutch and brake levers snapping off now when I don't quite land those big jumps...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Reeve and 'the Big Broom Broom' (My XR250R)

2009-10-04T18:09:00.000+10:30

Just one year old and he's absolutely addicted to my XR250R dirtbike - gonna have to get him his own little peewee 50 real soon I think...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

'Big Drain' Railway Track on Honda XR250R

2009-10-03T17:58:00.002+09:30

Exploring the 'big drain' Railway track on the XR250R just outside Machu Picchu, Peru...

FOX motocross / skate elbow and knee guards

2009-09-30T12:34:00.002+09:30

My new FOX Motocross/Skate knee and elbow guards arrived off ebay today - and less than 1/2 the price of the shops!

Gonna come in handy when pullin air on the XR250R and hittin the local skate ramps....

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

You can't park there...

2009-09-29T12:38:00.000+09:30

ouch...

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Me and the boys on our bikes before we headed out into 'The Crater' last weekend...

2009-09-22T20:46:00.004+09:30

Me on my Honda XR250R (left), Dave on his GasGas EC250 (middle) and Ross's Ute with his Yamaha YZ250F (right) just before we headed up the street into 'The Crater' for a thrash

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net

Custom "Digital Insite" FOX Motocross Helmet for my Honda XR250R

2009-09-22T19:29:00.001+09:30

I had a few decals left over from when I did the signage on the work car and thought my FOX motocross helmet could do with a bit of 'branding' - yeeee haw!

- mark
www.digitalinsite.net