Nelson Rideouts - Where next?

**cooneyr** · 20th October 2008, 07:26

Originally Posted by Padmei

...Underground I love your Africa twin. I've been looking them up on the adv rider. It sounds like they're rare as hens teeth. How do you get on with parts? Also when did they stop making them & change to the transalp?....

There is a few @ around NZ but not many. Started of as 650 (RD03 model) like UG has then enlarged the engine to 750 making the RD04. The RD03, RD04 and Tranny can pretty much share any body work, tank, etc. The frames are very similar. The RD07 came next which has some significant changes to the frame and was followed by the RD07a. The @ is a tougher better suspended, more powerful version of the Tranny (or the other way around not sure which actually cam first). No idea why Honda made two very similar bikes. Tranny started out as a 600 and was maxed out at 650.

The RD03 has the best suspension of the lot (supposedly) and the RD04 is very similar. For RD07/a the sus travel was shortened significantly hence the RD04 is thought of as the one to have as it has the better suspension with the 750 motor. Uber reliable - guy in ausi with 245,000kms on a RD04 (ATgreg on Advrider) with a single motor - carbie rebuilds and top end rebuilds excepted. About 65ish hp and pretty good torque - 3 valve heads.

Anyway enough dribble the Super Tenere (S10) is a better bike even if it has a weaker frame (when treated roughly with a full load), more prone to burning oil due to 5 valve head but has more mumbo (75hp)

. Still not that common in NZ and due to the lack of marketing hype compared to the @, the S10 is often a lot cheaper in Europe. Though of as a very under rated bike in Europe.

I take dakar wins to be the definitive guide about these bikes

The race version of the @ won the dakar in 86, 87, 88 ,89 i.e. 4 years. The S10 race version won the dakar in 91, 92, 93, 95, 96, 97, 98 i.e. 7 years. Of course the homoligation bikes are noting like the dakar bikes

Cheers R

**JATZ** · 20th October 2008, 17:38

**NordieBoy** · 20th October 2008, 18:30

Gonzo dipping his beak.

CrazyFrog dipping his legs.

Nerdneh dipping his legs.

Shane dipping his knob(s).

Gonzo getting a bit more wetterer.

Shane trying to keep his feet dry.

Bridges not good enough for you eh?

I've always liked this bit.

The crew

and steeds

at Pelorus.

No, I've never worked in the forestry. I wear it 'cause it looks sexy.

**NordieBoy** · 20th October 2008, 18:42

Finally. The turn off to Patriarch...

The view from the lookout over the Wairau just past lake Chalice.

From here the pics just get repetitive.

Rocky outcrops, shaley slopes and the track.

Around each corner ever cooler shapes, colours, smells and surfaces...

**NordieBoy** · 20th October 2008, 19:02

A lone DRZ on the precipice contemplating ending all the punishment.

As we stand around waiting for it to get on with it.

Woo hoo! Snow!

or is it dandruff?

The clouded

the non-clouded

and partially clouded

views from the summit.

A lone TT350...

**NordieBoy** · 20th October 2008, 19:11

And it's back down we go...

The Africa Twin followed by the DRZ400sm.

I may fill in some words later but for now...

**CrazyFrog** · 20th October 2008, 19:12

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Around each corner ever cooler shapes, colours, smells and surfaces...

Would you be referring to the half rotten wild pig carcass left on the side of the track??

**NordieBoy** · 20th October 2008, 19:17

Oh dear. Onamalutu looks out of the question.

They've even removed the bridges.

The Kiwi is closed too.

Ummm... Nothing to see here. Move along please.

And back through the boring old Maungatapu to home...

9 hours after we left...

I've got to go back up there with some good tyres. That was fun.

The rest of the 115 pics I kept are HERE.

**NordieBoy** · 20th October 2008, 19:21

Originally Posted by CrazyFrog

Would you be referring to the half rotten wild pig carcass left on the side of the track??

I only saw/smelled it on the way back but whew!

**JATZ** · 20th October 2008, 20:09

Now I feel even worse after piking out, bathroom looks much better with a coat af paint though.
How far past the D.O.C. sign on Patriach did you get ?

**buggsubique** · 20th October 2008, 20:36

great pics - looks bloody nice up there! Still want to try and get up there soon. Might drag Zerax up there one weekend.

Thanks for posting the photos Fran.

PS nice lookin Z Ward! Going alright for ya? Have a bit of a play on it in the shingle?

**NordieBoy** · 20th October 2008, 20:48

Originally Posted by JATZ

How far past the D.O.C. sign on Patriach did you get ?

What DOC sign?
All the way to the top.

Originally Posted by buggsubique

PS nice lookin Z Ward! Going alright for ya? Have a bit of a play on it in the shingle?

Looks like it goes well but needs the rear wheel balanced.
I passed him out of Havlock and it was bouncing around and I thought OK he may be in a rough bit of road but the front was nice and steady.

**Padmei** · 20th October 2008, 21:04

great photos Fran.

Thanks for sharing.

**CrazyFrog** · 20th October 2008, 21:22

Originally Posted by buggsubique

great pics - looks bloody nice up there! Still want to try and get up there soon. Might drag Zerax up there one weekend.

Thanks for posting the photos Fran.

PS nice lookin Z Ward! Going alright for ya? Have a bit of a play on it in the shingle?

Yep, the Z goes sweet, esp power sliding thru corners all the way up Staircase Rd to Patriarch. As Nordie said, my rear tyre was a bit outta balance, just a bit lumpy on the seal, didn't notice it on the gravel.
Cheers for the photos too Fran, I got some as well, but I'm not the snap-meister you are. Pays dividends tho, nice to share the spoils of our day out.