Day ride - 19th September

[WuZards-Eugene]

Hey all

Im planning a day ride for Saturday 19th September as a warm up for the Grand Challenge. This will be a full days riding starting off from Caltex Rimutaka, and making our way through the less travelled routes of the waiarapa's through to Waipukurau. From Waipukurau its down to Paihiatua and back to Wellington via Alfredton. This route will cover about 650km

Keep in mind that the stretch from Masterton to Waipukurau is around 200km, so your bike should be able to do more as I dont think there is any gas stations in between.

Meeting up at Caltex Rimutaka from 0615, we will have a riders briefing at 0645 and hit the road no later than 0700. If there are riders wanting to link up with us in the Waiarapa's, then PM me or post here. There will be a 15 minute fuel stop in Masterton, and lunch in Porangahau.

These are roads are some of the best that ive seen before and is definitely well worth the trip.

[KoroJ]

You might like to consider extending your wee pootle by coming back from Waipuk, over the Saddle, onto Vinegar Hill, back to Hunterville then through to Wanganui via Fordell. That wouldn't be much over 700Km...might take you closer to 800 if you decided to return through in the Track and 'takas.

Another nice exploratory option to add a few Kms into the HB would be to continue to Waipawa and take the Middle Rd around to SH50.

[Anomaly]

This sounds intresting...will try and make it if i can.

[WuZards-Eugene]

Alright, heres a more detailed outline on the route for this trip. Just keep in mind, this is a ride for people that want to ride, not for people who want to go to Martinborough for coffee.

Starting off from Rimutex, we take of to featherston, then shoot round lake Waiarapa. We then dip off at dyerville and head down dry river road, linking up with Masterton Martinborough road. We make a turn towards gladstone then up the watertower loop (Tepurupuru Te wharau rd) off to wainuiora, then scamper off to Masterton for some gas.

After a quick stop in Masterton, all fueled up, we turn around and head down to Tinui, turning towards route 52. Once on route 52, a straight trip to Porangahau (well its actually quite twisty) for lunch.

Leaving porangahau, we head towards Waipukurau, fuel up, then make our turn towards home. A cruisy trip down SH2 until reaching woodville, where we make a run through the gorge coming out the back of palmy, then over the Paihiatua track.

Arriving in Paihiatua, we cross the road then head out to Alfredton, then into masterton. From there its the straight trip back to welly down SH2, ending Possibly at the Parrot for drinks and dinner.

If you have a look on google maps, you will then get an idea how twisty all of these roads are, and you will need to make sure your bike, and yourself are in good order before coming.

[Anomaly]

***Bump***

[Cloggy]

I just got the green light from the boss for this one.
I'll be there.
So what's the meeting time at BP in the 'nui? About 5.50am?

[StoneY]

Attendance planned- and this should be a good un
:rockon:

[Sketchy Snr]

Looking positive for me to with friends:2thumbsup

[StoneY]

Looking positive for me to with friends:2thumbsup

Damn rite bruvver- damn rite :woohoo:

[koba]

Keep in mind that the stretch from Masterton to Waipukurau is around 200km, so your bike should be able to do more as I dont think there is any gas stations in between.


Pongaroa has petrol if the guy is home, he normaly isn't in the weekends.

Definatley a good call to consider fuel consumption carefully.

[Cloggy]

Probably wouldn't be a silly idea for one of us (someone with a packhorse bike like a certain ZX10, :blip: hint :blip:) to carry some spare fuel for us sports bikes with somewhat limited fuel and carrying capacity. The Triumph does 225km comfortably and will prolly see 250km with some frugal throttle control.
Traced the route as described by W-E and turned it into a .kmz file for those who want to view the proposed trip (as per my interpretation) in Google Earth. This is from Caltex Rimutaka to Caltex Rimutaka, 642km.

[WuZards-Eugene]

I guess I could fit some gas in for anyone who requests it. Should have the pannier lock boxes on the sides by then, so there will be plenty of room. This ride is also on the KB calendar, so you can register your participation there. Im just about to create a google map of the exact route that I have planned, so hold tight.

[WuZards-Eugene]

Alright, heres a link to the nearly exact route that I have planned out (google).

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Caltex+Rimutaka+upper+hutt&daddr=Western+Lake+Rd+to:Dry+River+Rd+to:Martinbor ough+Masterton+Rd+to:Masterton+Stronvar+Rd+to:Rout e+52+to:Porangahau+Rd+to:Takapau+Ormondville+Rd+to :Mangahei+Rd+to:Pinfold+Rd+to:-40.298381,175.817814+to:Fitzherbert+East+Rd+to:Man gaone+Valley+Rd+to:Route+52+to:station+sports+cafe&geocode=FY26jP0diMdvCiGERoID9Oux5A%3BFQu6i_0dggJyC g%3BFawziv0d8at0Cg%3BFUk8jP0dRah3Cg%3BFdL8jf0dAqZ6 Cg%3BFVquk_0dgDR-Cg%3BFRh1nf0d0OCFCg%3BFTdlnP0dLQGCCg%3BFUkfmv0derS BCg%3BFYatmP0dP8p7Cg%3B%3BFcQqmP0deq14Cg%3BFehBlf0 ddmV7Cg%3BFRCMkv0djkN7Cg%3BFUAmi_0djZ5sCiETulPZjTH hig&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=10&sz=13&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13&sll=-40.325215,175.858154&sspn=0.099332,0.15398&ie=UTF8&ll=-40.33189,176.120453&spn=0.198644,0.307961&z=12

[WuZards-Eugene]

I just got the green light from the boss for this one.
I'll be there.
So what's the meeting time at BP in the 'nui? About 5.50am?

As there is a few of us coming from the nui, about 5.50am sounds good, I'll make sure im there before you this time :rockon:

[nana_mac]

You dont have to come into the Masterton Castlepoint main Rd turn off, just after turn off the Westmere road at the Wainuioru school and hall take the next right Te Parae rd, gravel, comes out at the Tauweru on the Masterton Castlepoint Road rather a few corners here.

[StoneY]

You dont have to come into the Masterton Castlepoint main Rd turn off, just after turn off the Westmere road at the Wainuioru school and hall take the next right Te Parae rd, gravel, comes out at the Tauweru on the Masterton Castlepoint Road rather a few corners here.

GRAVEL! Ill be on my Duc- no can do gravel-

No gravel on your route is there Wuz?

[WuZards-Eugene]

theres only one stretch that I still have to recon, however, the rest of it, no gravel. Might go over on the XR in the weekend and check it out. Thats the stretch from Tinui to route 52, only part I haven't done yet. Theres new seal before pongaroa, but its mostly set in, I didn't have any problems when I went through there last, so it should be quite clear for the ride.

[StoneY]

theres only one stretch that I still have to recon, however, the rest of it, no gravel. Might go over on the XR in the weekend and check it out. Thats the stretch from Tinui to route 52, only part I haven't done yet. Theres new seal before pongaroa, but its mostly set in, I didn't have any problems when I went through there last, so it should be quite clear for the ride.

When i went to CP 2 months ago to do a photo shoot on the Duc I tried to take Tinui to Alfredton- 12 ks into that 33km stretch hit gravel- big brown softstone lumps- had a farmer cahse after me on his quad to turn me back

22kms of solid gravel he said-
Thats the tinui-Alfredton road- dunno bout the others

[mashman]

GRAVEL! Ill be on my Duc- no can do gravel-

No gravel on your route is there Wuz?

I reckon my Italian could do it :jerry::jerry:

If i can get the go ahead i'm gonna need a fuel pack mule as i've the Prila is a greedy bitch... Seen the light come on at 170k's before, but really really not sure how much further she could go... perhaps i should experiment before then...

[WuZards-Eugene]

Im just about to change the route a bit, theres alot of gravel through there. Will update route now. I dont want it to be extreamly difficult.

[WuZards-Eugene]

Alright, new link for where we are going, took out the Masterton - Tinui - Route 52 stretch, and added in a detour after waipukurau, and also a detour around the Manawatu gorge main road. Google says 703km, and lots of hours riding. I love it already.

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Caltex+Rimutaka+upper+hutt&daddr=Western+Lake+Rd+to:Dry+River+Rd+to:Martinbor ough+Masterton+Rd+to:Masterton+Stronvar+Rd+to:Rout e+52+to:Porangahau+Rd+to:Takapau+Ormondville+Rd+to :Mangahei+Rd+to:Pinfold+Rd+to:-40.298381,175.817814+to:Fitzherbert+East+Rd+to:Man gaone+Valley+Rd+to:Route+52+to:station+sports+cafe&geocode=FY26jP0diMdvCiGERoID9Oux5A%3BFQu6i_0dggJyC g%3BFawziv0d8at0Cg%3BFUk8jP0dRah3Cg%3BFdL8jf0dAqZ6 Cg%3BFVquk_0dgDR-Cg%3BFRh1nf0d0OCFCg%3BFTdlnP0dLQGCCg%3BFUkfmv0derS BCg%3BFYatmP0dP8p7Cg%3B%3BFcQqmP0deq14Cg%3BFehBlf0 ddmV7Cg%3BFRCMkv0djkN7Cg%3BFUAmi_0djZ5sCiETulPZjTH hig&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=10&sz=13&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13&sll=-40.325215,175.858154&sspn=0.099332,0.15398&ie=UTF8&ll=-40.33189,176.120453&spn=0.198644,0.307961&z=12

[StoneY]

I reckon my Italian could do it :jerry::jerry:

If i can get the go ahead i'm gonna need a fuel pack mule as i've the Prila is a greedy bitch... Seen the light come on at 170k's before, but really really not sure how much further she could go... perhaps i should experiment before then...

Mate- my Duc OR my Suzy CAN do it- I just WONT do it to either of em:argue:

Bone jarring dusty rutty farm tracks are adventure bike roads not superbike roads sorry-
And im no pussy I just want my machines to stay in good nick - they cost enough as it is!:Oi:


Anyway my Duc has 320km range on 98 - ill bring a syphon with me to cover anyone needing 2 or 3 liters at the end can count on some help from me - rather than JUST filling Wuzzies paniers
:clap:


If I had an XR like Wuz has- anywhere anytime anyhow- legal or not- see you there!

[mashman]

Mate- my Duc OR my Suzy CAN do it- I just WONT do it to either of em:argue:

Bone jarring dusty rutty farm tracks are adventure bike roads not superbike roads sorry-
And im no pussy I just want my machines to stay in good nick - they cost enough as it is!:Oi:


:girlfight: I know what ya meant, calm down calm down eh eh eh!!! If i get the green light i may well need some of that fuel...

[StoneY]

:girlfight: I know what ya meant, calm down calm down eh eh eh!!! If i get the green light i may well need some of that fuel...

hehe that is calm- didnt they warn you in Scotland about us antipodeans- passionate is the understatement lol
All good bro (it may have sounded harsher than I meant when read aloud)
;)

[mashman]

hehe that is calm- didnt they warn you in Scotland about us antipodeans- passionate is the understatement lol
All good bro (it may have sounded harsher than I meant when read aloud)
;)

Oddly enough no, but i knew that already... i had an old "ahem" friend that was a kiwi and she used to crack me up when she flew off the deepend... you're almost as bad as the Celts and that's saying somethin (never marry a Celt if you want to live)...

ha ha, no need to get all defensive, i gotcha!!! there's just no fun in playing along :niceone:

[WuZards-Eugene]

Mate- my Duc OR my Suzy CAN do it- I just WONT do it to either of em:argue:

Bone jarring dusty rutty farm tracks are adventure bike roads not superbike roads sorry-
And im no pussy I just want my machines to stay in good nick - they cost enough as it is!:Oi:


Anyway my Duc has 320km range on 98 - ill bring a syphon with me to cover anyone needing 2 or 3 liters at the end can count on some help from me - rather than JUST filling Wuzzies paniers
:clap:


If I had an XR like Wuz has- anywhere anytime anyhow- legal or not- see you there!

Anyone who would like me to carry gas for them is more than welcome to PM me, as long as I have an even weight I dont mind. I know that a 5 litre can will fit in one pannier, ill check tonight if I can fit two in each.

I havent tried the XR on any gravel roads yet (I dont consider the akatarawa forest to be a road.) Was drooling over a 22 litre tank for her yesterday. Ahhh, if only I had $560usd to spend on replacing a perfectly good fuel tank.

[StoneY]

Oddly enough no, but i knew that already... i had an old "ahem" friend that was a kiwi and she used to crack me up when she flew off the deepend... you're almost as bad as the Celts and that's saying somethin (never marry a Celt if you want to live)...

ha ha, no need to get all defensive, i gotcha!!! there's just no fun in playing along :niceone:

is a kiwi of celt ancestry (even got the red top to prove it):devil2:

[junkmanjoe]

hi there chaps.. WuZards-Eugene, mate the road you have down called dry river road, it runs in to blue rock road, which is gravel , and the ruakokoputuna road is gravel and te muna road is gravel as well.. and castle hill road from tinui is gravel also.

other than that mate , you should get home in the dark for sure...

JMJ

[WuZards-Eugene]

Cheers for that, its not too often that the Google car goes down the gravel roads, I guess we could make this part optional.

Ive just tested the panniers, and I can fit two 5 litre containers (the square red ones) in each panier box. Who's bringing the fire extinguisher :lol:

[Cloggy]

Excellent Eugene, I guess we may need to go straight ahead at Dyerville to Martinborough to avoid the gravel and omit that little detour. Although on Google Earth the gravel doesn't look too bad, who knows how much it has changed since then. The rest of the route looks the bee's knees. Looking forward to it.

[junkmanjoe]

our group was there last Saturday,
adventure riders group,
and mate gravel is gravel.. all though we average around 80-100kmph on the rocks..

JMJ

[BMWST?]

what sorta speed you guys ride at?I know the roads are windy.I dont like pushing the ol beemer over 120 indicated which is maybe only 110 km hr actual....if i fill up at Masterton i will have a few litres spare....

[aer0]

would love to come, but i only get 220kms per tank at the most so dont think i will risk it

[WuZards-Eugene]

what sorta speed you guys ride at?I know the roads are windy.I dont like pushing the ol beemer over 120 indicated which is maybe only 110 km hr actual....if i fill up at Masterton i will have a few litres spare....

We won't be pushing it too fast. A majority of the sections we will be doing you would have to be pushing pretty hard for 120kph. Some parts we could split into smaller groups for those who want to go a bit faster for a while (the stretch from Porangahau to Waipukurau is good for that).


would love to come, but i only get 220kms per tank at the most so dont think i will risk it

As noted, I can carry gas for ya, We will be stopping at Porangahau for lunch, so gas can be thrown in at the same time. With the Tinui detour taken out, it is roughly 200kms from Masterton Mobil to Waipukurau BP.

[StoneY]

Still very keen to come guys- but absolutely no way I am navigating any gravel sections-
If I had a GSX 1100E or F fine-
Not on my GSXR or my Duc- not worth the grief

Otherwise Ill peel off at Masterton and head to mates at lake ferry to get pissed!
:P

[Anomaly]

eugene as I told you last weekend you may way to to a trial run this weekend to check everything out so you can ease peoples minds about the gravel...Ill be ok im on your XR but others with nice bikes may not want to go on gravel.

[Cloggy]

The only gravel bit left seems to be the little detour at Dyerville. Easily avoided by those who don't want to risk it. Those that do can go this way and we'd meet up again just outside of Martinborough. Other than that I couldn't see any gravel on any other sections of the ride by looking on streetview. Most of the roads seem to be of a good standard with centrelines (so they are no goat tracks).

[WuZards-Eugene]

OK everyone, here is the EXACT route that will be taken (Missed the stop in Masterton mobil, google kept crashing when I added that in). There will not be any gravel roads. Also, ive created my own set of road directions to follow, so those will be available to all participating, just in case (the google instructions look pretty frightening).

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Caltex+Rimutaka+upper+hutt&daddr=Western+Lake+Rd+to:-41.295607,175.239401+to:Lake+Ferry+Rd+to:Martinbor ough+Masterton+Rd+to:Masterton+Stronvar+Rd+to:Rout e+52+to:Porangahau+Rd+to:Takapau+Ormondville+Rd+to :Mangahei+Rd+to:Mangahei+Rd+to:Pinfold+Rd+to:Saddl e+Rd+to:Fitzherbert+East+Rd+to:Mangaone+Valley+Rd+ to:Route+52+to:station+sports+cafe&hl=en&geocode=FYy6jP0dh8dvCiGERoID9Oux5A%3BFQu6i_0dggJyC g%3B%3BFTyhiv0dy4t0Cg%3BFUk8jP0dRah3Cg%3BFdL8jf0dA qZ6Cg%3BFVquk_0dgDR-Cg%3BFRh1nf0d0OCFCg%3BFTdlnP0dLQGCCg%3BFUkfmv0derS BCg%3BFUEDmv0d0tKACg%3BFYatmP0dP8p7Cg%3BFfwXmf0dt8 R6Cg%3BFcQqmP0deq14Cg%3BFehBlf0ddmV7Cg%3BFRCMkv0dj kN7Cg%3BFUAmi_0djZ5sCiETulPZjTHhig&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=14&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15&sll=-41.306053,175.240946&sspn=0.048937,0.07699&ie=UTF8&ll=-41.312371,175.22541&spn=0.195729,0.307961&z=12

[Anomaly]

***bumb***

[StoneY]

Looks good- no gravel on those legs that I can see-

Im keen- but may still have to jump out early- will know on the day but doing the first half minimum:done:

[Laxi]

wuzard just told me about this 1 at the bears meet! as long as I get a few things done to the bike and sort the gas, I'll be in.

what sorta speed you guys ride at?I know the roads are windy.I dont like pushing the ol beemer over 120 indicated which is maybe only 110 km hr actual....if i fill up at Masterton i will have a few litres spare....
i can stick with ya on my 250 (in case you need a push at any intersections:innocent:) and if anomalys on the XR shouldn't be pushing the envelope too much:niceone:

[Insanity_rules]

The 19th you say Eugene? MMMmmmm!!!!!!!!!

[WuZards-Eugene]

The 19th you say Eugene? MMMmmmm!!!!!!!!!

Yes, the 19th insanity, the 19th. We will all come bowling in for a coffee if you don't come with us.

[Insanity_rules]

Yes, the 19th insanity, the 19th. We will all come bowling in for a coffee if you don't come with us.

I wouldn't mind if you all came bowling round for coffee if I did come.:chase:

[Laxi]

I wouldn't mind if you all came bowling round for coffee if I did come.:chase:

wouldn't take much to change the meet-up from rimutex to yours, anyone for some motox before hand? just to make sure the boots are good n muddy

[BMWST?]

i am out,gonna be doing a training course the next day,that will be tiring enough for me!

[Insanity_rules]

wouldn't take much to change the meet-up from rimutex to yours, anyone for some motox before hand? just to make sure the boots are good n muddy

Jesus the Mrs would spit at that time of the morning, maybe after.

[fi5hy]

Alright, new link for where we are going, took out the Masterton - Tinui - Route 52 stretch, and added in a detour after waipukurau, and also a detour around the Manawatu gorge main road. Google says 703km, and lots of hours riding. I love it already.]

Good route guys you still have to stop for gas in Masterton as bikes like the vtr1000 will not make it on 52 they run out about 4 kms short been there done that about three times. I have done those roads many a time you guys are in for a treat.:woohoo:

[Cloggy]

<img src = "http://www.ricesigns.com/real_pictures/bump_signs.jpg">

This ride is still on right?

[porky]

Not to keen on steps 10 and 11. Last time i checked you got yourself a water crossing :Oops:approx 2metres deep and a gravel road.:argh: Blow to the end of east west turn right over bridge turn left head to martyborough

[WuZards-Eugene]

This ride is still on right?

Yep, Rides still on. Prey for good weather. Might start prepping the ZX10 after I clean up the XR (It got extreamly wet and muddy in the Akatarawa's over the weekend).

Everybody start making your booking for gas if you need it.

[WuZards-Eugene]

Not to keen on steps 10 and 11. Last time i checked you got yourself a water crossing :Oops:approx 2metres deep and a gravel road.:argh: Blow to the end of east west turn right over bridge turn left head to martyborough

Sorry, slight error with the route mapping, google seemed to like that way more. Has now been corrected. Didn't actually plan on going down that part. Cheers for pointing it out.

[StoneY]

Ah iI have to pull out Wuzzer mate-

Dukes due a valve service which I cant get done in time as well as a new rear tyre after my fuckin axle came loose and chewed the fuck outta my BRAND NEW sprockets, chain, tyre, and ruined my swingarm powdercoating (grrr fuckin lazy bike shops) and Suzys down for some plastic welding and mirrors after a low speed off......

I wont have a reliable ride for this epic sadly

Enjoy those who do go- my own bad planning has bit my ass hard

[WuZards-Eugene]

Everything is set to go, just need to know if anyone would like some gas brought along. I will take two 5 litre cans with me just in case. All we need now is the weather gods to baptise us in sunlight on the day.

[Cloggy]

The weather looks like it may play along. Currently just some early morning showers.
Looking forward to it.

[Cloggy]

So still 5.50am at BP in Wainui for those who come from Wainui and 6.15 at Rimutex for any other brave enough souls?
Who is still keen, this thread has gone quiet.

However....
If it is wet in the morning, I am out. The Daytona on slicks (or near enough to) is no fun on wet roads. Scares the crap out of me.

[WuZards-Eugene]

So still 5.50am at BP in Wainui for those who come from Wainui and 6.15 at Rimutex for any other brave enough souls?
Who is still keen, this thread has gone quiet.

However....
If it is wet in the morning, I am out. The Daytona on slicks (or near enough to) is no fun on wet roads. Scares the crap out of me.

Ill stop in at 550, then head straight up to rimutex.

Little bit moist, but should be ok.

[Cloggy]

No, too wet for me. The rain radar shows rain almost all the way up to Hawkes Bay. Not worth risking dropping the bike on a greasy wet patch somewhere.

[Hawkeye]

Well I intended going along on this as a warm up to the 1000k challenge later in the year. But the Gixxer is in bits at the moment and I've been laid up in bed for the last 3 day's with cold, ear ache, chest infection and generally feeling crap. I don't think spending the whole day in the saddle would have been a good idea. (Hard to see out of the visor after you have sneezed and coughed all over it).

Hope you guy's enjoyed the day.

[Cloggy]

In hindsight we should have just delayed this trip by a day or a week.
Hardly slept last night as I was keeping an ear out on for the expected rain. Gutted when it finally arrived. Then that was made worse when I woke up an hour or so ago to some sunshine.
The rain looks like it is moving up the country though so it may have followed us around for the morning at least.

[WuZards-Eugene]

Ended up being a rather short ride. Me and TTNZ were the only ones game enough. Left Rimutex at 7 and headed over, keeping a moderate pace over the rimutaka's then off round the lake, cruising along steadily.

Coming along Martinborough-Lake Ferry road I came over a rise that then gently curves off to the right, hit a still patch of water right in my path. The ZX then aquaplaned across it at about 130k, back wheel then spun up, sending me into a massive right hand sideways drift, and TTNZ now staring at the whole right hand side of the ZX. I dropped the throttle in an instant, the rear end then spun out the other way, not quite as far. I held on fearing the worst. The bike then jiggled a little, moving left and right, then it straightened up.

Now absolutely shitting myself thinking "Holy shit, how the fuck did I survive that one". I slowed down a bit, thinking about pulling over straight away, then decided, no Martinborough just up the road, I'll pull in there.

We stopped in Martinborough and checked the tire tempuratures. My front was nice and warm, however the rear was stone cold. We then had a coffee and a few ciggys, then canned it and headed back to welly.

I now know never to get touring tires, and am quite happy to pay the 600 odd dollars for diablo stradas, which I have never had anything like that happen before.

[Laxi]

shit dude! glad you came out unscathed :niceone:

[Quasi]

Shit Mate - major heart stopping moment. Glad to hear that you were able to save the day and no damage or man or machine

[Cloggy]

Glad to hear you survived that one Eugene. Holy shit.
Now that is exactly the reason I pulled out. I had a bad feeling that going on that ride in the rain would end up in tears for me.
You have a shitload more riding experience than me. In a similar situation I might have panicked and done something stupid.
I am still keen on the same ride, just on a better day. Today would have been bloody awesome for it.

[KoroJ]

............Coming along Martinborough-Lake Ferry road I came over a rise that then gently curves off to the right, hit a still patch of water right in my path. The ZX then aquaplaned across it at about 130k, back wheel then spun up, sending me into a massive right hand sideways drift, and TTNZ now staring at the whole right hand side of the ZX. I dropped the throttle in an instant, the rear end then spun out the other way, not quite as far. I held on fearing the worst. The bike then jiggled a little, moving left and right, then it straightened up.

Now absolutely shitting myself thinking "Holy shit, how the fuck did I survive that one". I slowed down a bit, thinking about pulling over straight away, then decided, no Martinborough just up the road, I'll pull in there.

We stopped in Martinborough and checked the tire tempuratures. My front was nice and warm, however the rear was stone cold. We then had a coffee and a few ciggys, then canned it and headed back to welly.

I now know never to get touring tires, and am quite happy to pay the 600 odd dollars for diablo stradas, which I have never had anything like that happen before.

No tyre will save you from that sort of thing! It's great that you were able to enjoy a coffee afterwards but!!

Steve & I put our ride off until today and it was fantastic weather....except for the -7C on the Desert Rd at 0530.

[Kennif]

No tyre will save you from that sort of thing! It's great that you were able to enjoy a coffee afterwards but!!

Steve & I put our ride off until today and it was fantastic weather....except for the -7C on the Desert Rd at 0530.

Silly boys!! Silly silly boys! But hey - I hope youse had a great time.
Kennif

[KoroJ]

Silly boys!! Silly silly boys! But hey - I hope youse had a great time.
Kennif

Yep. 1236Kms (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/blog.php?b=1073 refers)

[BMWST?]

Ended up being a rather short ride. Me and TTNZ were the only ones game enough. Left Rimutex at 7 and headed over, keeping a moderate pace over the rimutaka's then off round the lake, cruising along steadily.

Coming along Martinborough-Lake Ferry road I came over a rise that then gently curves off to the right, hit a still patch of water right in my path. The ZX then aquaplaned across it at about 130k, back wheel then spun up, sending me into a massive right hand sideways drift, and TTNZ now staring at the whole right hand side of the ZX. I dropped the throttle in an instant, the rear end then spun out the other way, not quite as far. I held on fearing the worst. The bike then jiggled a little, moving left and right, then it straightened up.

Now absolutely shitting myself thinking "Holy shit, how the fuck did I survive that one". I slowed down a bit, thinking about pulling over straight away, then decided, no Martinborough just up the road, I'll pull in there.

We stopped in Martinborough and checked the tire tempuratures. My front was nice and warm, however the rear was stone cold. We then had a coffee and a few ciggys, then canned it and headed back to welly.

I now know never to get touring tires, and am quite happy to pay the 600 odd dollars for diablo stradas, which I have never had anything like that happen before.

lucky you didnt highside(which the stradas might have done)Maybe the "touring" tyres need a slightly lower pressure?And or still new and bit slippy?
Glad you came out ok WuZards!