MD
16th April 2005, 20:24
Not sure how many of you have wandered the wilderness that sits east of HW1 from Hunterville and Mangaweka. Fantastic scenery. Good roads but take care, hazards around every bend, loose chip, rock falls and lots of gravel repair patches unsignposted of course. If you could trust each blind corner to be clean and clear they would be good on a sportsbike but not safe enough. I did this area on the Triumph America in January and that was the perfect bike for slowing down and enjoying unknown roads.
Anyway took off early on the Blade today and covered 800kms. Wgtn-Shannon-Palmy Nth-Ashurst-Utumoi-Apiti-Vinegar Hill-lost for awhile-back to Fielding-through Manawatu gorge-Paihiatua-Masterton-Wgtn.
Apiti had a gas station no less! Took advantage of it but the Blades got a good tank range.
A highlight was stopping the lady on the new Speedtriple from Wgtn for a chat in Carterton. The S3 looked small from behind when on the move and seemed to be getting along well. Cool to see one out on the road.
Had a sobering reminder not to fool around on unknown roads. Turned down a side road, decided to pop just a little wheelie in the middle of nowhere. I could see the clear road ahead turned right soon so started to put the front down at xxx kph to discover in the fading sunlight that the road was about to change to rough gravel in 2 seconds. Ah the joy of the Blade's fantastic front brake lasted..., well about 2 seconds, before I had to release it and trust the rear could keep it all straight and slow me before the bend. Well I'm still here, a bit of scary rear wheel drifting on gravel is good for the soul. Probably not at speed though. Those Diablos can handle any surface!
Lowlight was a large group of Harleys and assorted old and new Triumphs coming towards me around bends. What is it with these born again biker types that should stick to a Bambina or Vespa. Lots of apehangers, don't think it was a patched gang but whatever they belonged on American bikes because they have no concept of riding on the left side of the centreline. Again and again I could see some inexperienced twit struggling to get his bike around the bend. One prat stuck his right boot out at me in a 'piss off' gesture move further over. Minor point mate, yes I was leaned well over and going at a pace they could never imagine but I was well on my side of the road, at a comfortable pace for me, and already giving them extra room. I think he expected other road users to pull over and stop until they struggled pass.
Lastly, the weather was great. Got home to a cold bourbon and hot bath- reaches for another bourbon.MD
Anyway took off early on the Blade today and covered 800kms. Wgtn-Shannon-Palmy Nth-Ashurst-Utumoi-Apiti-Vinegar Hill-lost for awhile-back to Fielding-through Manawatu gorge-Paihiatua-Masterton-Wgtn.
Apiti had a gas station no less! Took advantage of it but the Blades got a good tank range.
A highlight was stopping the lady on the new Speedtriple from Wgtn for a chat in Carterton. The S3 looked small from behind when on the move and seemed to be getting along well. Cool to see one out on the road.
Had a sobering reminder not to fool around on unknown roads. Turned down a side road, decided to pop just a little wheelie in the middle of nowhere. I could see the clear road ahead turned right soon so started to put the front down at xxx kph to discover in the fading sunlight that the road was about to change to rough gravel in 2 seconds. Ah the joy of the Blade's fantastic front brake lasted..., well about 2 seconds, before I had to release it and trust the rear could keep it all straight and slow me before the bend. Well I'm still here, a bit of scary rear wheel drifting on gravel is good for the soul. Probably not at speed though. Those Diablos can handle any surface!
Lowlight was a large group of Harleys and assorted old and new Triumphs coming towards me around bends. What is it with these born again biker types that should stick to a Bambina or Vespa. Lots of apehangers, don't think it was a patched gang but whatever they belonged on American bikes because they have no concept of riding on the left side of the centreline. Again and again I could see some inexperienced twit struggling to get his bike around the bend. One prat stuck his right boot out at me in a 'piss off' gesture move further over. Minor point mate, yes I was leaned well over and going at a pace they could never imagine but I was well on my side of the road, at a comfortable pace for me, and already giving them extra room. I think he expected other road users to pull over and stop until they struggled pass.
Lastly, the weather was great. Got home to a cold bourbon and hot bath- reaches for another bourbon.MD