HONDA AUSTRALIA:

After a glorious day of ‘perfect riding’ in the New South Wales Alpine Region, Gerard Reichert nearly chose to keep enjoying the roads instead of getting back to Thredbo for the presentation to the winner of the 2009 Honda sponsored Snowy Ride grand prize.

Fortunately, the Victorian bank employee and his crew of good mates made it in time to put in their entries for the draw of Honda’s premier sport touring motorcycle, an ST1300 worth approximately $25,000.

“I wasn’t holding my breath, but was hopeful to maybe win a comfy seat cover for the VFR800,” Gerard said about his win.

“When they announced the winner was from Victoria I paid a bit more attention. When they started saying my name, I can’t remember my exact words, but according to my brother, the edited version went something like, Holy Crap, that’s me!”

“After a big celebration on Saturday night, we rode home via the scenic route. We left at 7 am and I got home at 7:30 pm, travelling approx 1200km. It took me a few days to recover from that. I was wishing I had the ST1300 on the return trip!”

Gerard’s initial impression of the ST1300 upon picking it up from Honda’s Head Office in Campbellfield, VIC was its size and presence.

“Despite its physical size, it is extremely well balanced, even at slow speeds,” he said. “Best of all, it’s comfortable. It’s not just the seat that makes it so comfortable, it’s the whole package, including being able to adjust the screen height whilst riding at highway speed to deflect most of the headwind and reduce wind noise.”

“I have been riding for years, ride to work every day and will pretty much ride in any condition that Mother Nature throws at me. Driving into the Melbourne CBD isn’t really an option with heavy congestion coming in from the south east.”

After riding a 250cc for quite a few years, Gerard purchased a Honda VFR800 brand new in 2005. “The VFR now has 84,000 kms on the dial and is still going strong, but I’m so happy with the ST1300 and am already looking at some after market bits for it, similar to what I had on the VFR.”

Gerard said the whole Snowy Ride experience would not have been possible without his wife Wendy giving him “permission to go away for a boy’s long weekend”, and for looking after their 21 month old daughter.

“Thanks also to all the communities, volunteers and sponsors involved, including Honda and the Steven Walter Foundation for making the weekend possible. It’s a truly remarkable event for such a worthy cause.”

Honda has been involved with the charity event as a major sponsor for 9 years, with proceeds going to support research into children’s cancer.