South Island Passes Ride 2008

**Ruralman** · 7th August 2007, 16:40

Many of you will have read or know about the ride a group of us did over all the Sth Island Passes (26 of them) in Feb 07.
This was a great ride with a core group of 5, joined by an Aussie and a yank for a couple of sections and by many other KB'rs for part days or at our night time stop overs.
They were big days with 7-10 hours riding and included all the passes on the main roads as well as the back country ones with my personal highlights being the run through Molesworth and the trip around Lees and Okuku pass led by Plug. One other highlight not involving a Pass was the trip from Nelson to Pelorus bridge over the Mangatapu Track.

What we talked about at the end of that ride and have discussed a few times since is to do the same trip again this coming Feb - but to do it in reverse. The meeting point on day 1 being either Palmerston or Naesby and the first Pass being the Danseys, with the last Pass being Myers and the last night being probably either Waimate or Oamaru or some country pub in that area with enough accomodation.

So who is interested??. The trip will probably be the week after school goes back unless thats a real problem in which case we could probably bring it a bit earlier, but Feb weather seems to give the best chance of a "dry run" (I hope that doesn't bloody jinx us!!)

**Crisis management** · 7th August 2007, 17:01

Might be keen, s'long as I can find my passport.

However, how long a trip are we talking here, one week or three months?

**timg** · 7th August 2007, 19:41

Originally Posted by Crisis management

Might be keen, s'long as I can find my passport.

However, how long a trip are we talking here, one week or three months?

Do they still let norf islanders in??

From memory it was 5 days to cover the passes. There's a couple of excellent threads on the ride (search South Island Passes) with last years itinary and pics etc.

Originally Posted by Ruralman

So who is interested

Me! I'll certainly join in for some of the portions close to home & would love to join you folks for the whole ride finances & time allowing.

Seemed like you guys had awesome fun & a great ride. Cheers, Tim.

**MyGSXF:Me** · 7th August 2007, 19:48

Let me know when ya's get up this way again..!!!!

Had a great time joining in with the ride last year!!

Jen

**Ruralman** · 7th August 2007, 20:59

Originally Posted by Crisis management

Might be keen, s'long as I can find my passport.

However, how long a trip are we talking here, one week or three months?

5 days for the Passes plus 1 day to get home for us

Originally Posted by timg

Me! I'll certainly join in for some of the portions close to home & would love to join you folks for the whole ride finances & time allowing.

Seemed like you guys had awesome fun & a great ride. Cheers, Tim.

Start saving, you'll have a ball. We stayed at backpackers which kept the costs reasonable and saved having to take a tent. Just as well everything was prebooked though because everywhere was choka

Originally Posted by MyGSXF

Let me know when ya's get up this way again..!!!!

Had a great time joining in with the ride last year!!

Jen

Of course - we're all sleeping at your place this time, taking you up on those offers you made after the 6th drink at that bar in Picton

**Moki** · 7th August 2007, 22:39

Hmmm,

I'll check with SWMBO to see if this qualifies for an excuse to get way for while. Sounds like a blast

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 7th August 2007, 22:52

I and a few of the Dunedin crew may meet yah for a day ride somewhere again...

**RedKLR650** · 8th August 2007, 00:18

Originally Posted by Ruralman

Many of you will have read or know about the ride a group of us did over all the Sth Island Passes (26 of them) in Feb 07.
This was a great ride with a core group of 5, joined by an Aussie and a yank for a couple of sections and by many other KB'rs for part days or at our night time stop overs.
They were big days with 7-10 hours riding and included all the passes on the main roads as well as the back country ones with my personal highlights being the run through Molesworth and the trip around Lees and Okuku pass led by Plug. One other highlight not involving a Pass was the trip from Nelson to Pelorus bridge over the Mangatapu Track.

What we talked about at the end of that ride and have discussed a few times since is to do the same trip again this coming Feb - but to do it in reverse. The meeting point on day 1 being either Palmerston or Naesby and the first Pass being the Danseys, with the last Pass being Myers and the last night being probably either Waimate or Oamaru or some country pub in that area with enough accomodation.

So who is interested??. The trip will probably be the week after school goes back unless thats a real problem in which case we could probably bring it a bit earlier, but Feb weather seems to give the best chance of a "dry run" (I hope that doesn't bloody jinx us!!)

Hi Bruce,

Early Feb would be great for me, but anytime is fine, just let the crew know as soon as you've finalised some dates. Last year I was only able to make the first day, so at least this time I will be able to do it properly :-)

Cheers Stu

**young1** · 8th August 2007, 08:39

is this ride suitable for big bikes? I don't know the passes at all, how extreme do they get?

**Ruralman** · 8th August 2007, 09:04

Originally Posted by young1

is this ride suitable for big bikes? I don't know the passes at all, how extreme do they get?

Definitely suitable for big bikes - we had a Tiger, a V Strom 1000 and a GSA1200 on the trip last year. The two of us on the 650's had them working pretty hard on the highway sections!!!
Your big KTM will be ideal, in fact I wish I had one because its probably the perfect bike for a trip like this. If I manage to trade up before then it will be to a Tiger probably.

**young1** · 8th August 2007, 09:18

Cool I am definitely keen.

I will look at the details from last years ride when I get home tonight!!

**PeteJ** · 8th August 2007, 12:58

As long as it's not the last weekend in January 2008 - riding in Australia - I'm in.

I haven't done any of the southern Sth Is passes since the mid 1970s, and am looking forward to riding in luxury on a bike with more than 5cm of suspension travel...

Cheers

Pete

**Ruralman** · 8th August 2007, 21:53

Originally Posted by PeteJ

As long as it's not the last weekend in January 2008 - riding in Australia - I'm in.

I haven't done any of the southern Sth Is passes since the mid 1970s, and am looking forward to riding in luxury on a bike with more than 5cm of suspension travel...

Cheers

Pete

Great to hear from you - if you end up being tight for time you could do the Banks Peninsula ones and the Mackenzie country ones on your way down to our start - you'd then finish in ChCh rather than oamaru - still best if you can join with the group for the whole thing though.

**mbazza** · 9th August 2007, 19:32

I am a big cry baby. Week after school goes back. Bugger, I have to work then! Very interseted, but cannot do! Have a great time. Cheers.

**fleethaul** · 11th August 2007, 21:18

Am talking to the Duck 01 on Skype. he is in Kununurra, WA.
How would a "saddles" ride go, we would both be keen, especially if we cover the "passes" on the way.