Fnar

[Oscar]

Are any of you Ladies going to the Far North Adv Ride?

[Taz]

When is it?

[warewolf]

Nope, unfortunately its just tooo faaaaaar

[Crisis management]

Yes darling, bring your own sheep.....



So's Ducati Jim and some bloke from Wobblington that DJ has managed to insult.....fight is on friday night!

[Oscar]

Yes darling, bring your own sheep.....



So's Ducati Jim and some bloke from Wobblington that DJ has managed to insult.....fight is on friday night!

???:scratch:

So you are going?

[Crisis management]

Yes Oscar I am going......apologies for the obtuse post and general confusion! :blink:

Looking at the weather, my plan of spending tomorrow meandering north on the gravel is looking more like a last minute sprint up SH1 to Whangarei trying to avoid torrential downpours, bugger.

I assume you are going, is this a KR contingent complete with brolly dollies?

[Oscar]

Yes Oscar I am going......apologies for the obtuse post and general confusion! :blink:

Looking at the weather, my plan of spending tomorrow meandering north on the gravel is looking more like a last minute sprint up SH1 to Whangarei trying to avoid torrential downpours, bugger.

I assume you are going, is this a KR contingent complete with brolly dollies?

I dunno about brolly dollies, but I am meeting Herr Fuhrer and the lads tomorrow morning at the KR Eagles Nest if you wanna ride up with us.

[Crisis management]

I dunno about brolly dollies, but I am meeting Herr Fuhrer and the lads tomorrow morning at the KR Eagles Nest if you wanna ride up with us.

Let me know what time your leaving the Eagles Nest (do I have to wear my genuine german army helmet?) and I will see whether I can make it or not, I have some work stuff to co-ordinate first thing so it will be on the basis if I'm there great, if not I will see you later in the day.

Be good to ride up with some others tho. :Punk:

[george formby]

We got sun shiney up here!!

[ducatijim]

Im not going.

No, its not work related, got plenty of time on my hands now.....

Just fucked up-

1) bike transporter
2) bike run-in
3) jetting on its pipe :no:
Dumb, just plain bloody dumb :no:

[Crisis management]

Bloody hell Jamie, with your garage of bikes you must be able to get one going!


Anyway, I will think of you when I am wobbling around in the rain tomorrow.....next time eh?

[ducatijim]

[QUOTE=Crisis management;1129550519]Bloody hell Jamie, with your garage of bikes you must be able to get one going!


QUOTE]

You would think so eh? Actually, no garage full, just 2 and both outta action at moment!
Anyway, knowing that I was going to be a strong maybe, I did not enter by cut-off date so couldn't go even if I was preped!

Have a gr8 one Iain.

[Crisis management]

Right, been there, done that!

A brief summary for the non readers amongst us, it pissed down friday, it was sunny for saturday & sunday and 70-ish trail bikes massacred several adventure bikes on farm trails in Northland.

It as a great venue with lots of off road sections and some neat gravel roads but it was predominately a street legal trail bike event with anyone on a large (over 650cc) bike struggling and having to miss out a significant amount of the ride. If it had been wet I wouldn't have got around much of it, as a comparison, the last CCA was easier, there was more isolated tricky bits in this and more exposure to big falls if you stuffed up.

However, I had a good time, the score was about 4 falls on the right side (the extensive KTM toolkit does not contain the bloody spanners for the wing mirror nuts), once almost drowned in a stream and several "what the hell happened here!!" moments. I was glad of the suspension, the farms were very rutted and pugged out in places and I was saved by technoligy quite a few times....640 can fly too, another discovery from this weekend...the landings weren't bad either!

So, a great venue and lovely people to spend time with but (I think) there were 10 bikes actually ridden too and from the event which is probably more telling than anything else about the target market.

I would do it again but wouldn't recommend it for big bikes unless you are really confidant. :woohoo:

[Waihou Thumper]

Right, been there, done that!

A brief summary for the non readers amongst us, it pissed down friday, it was sunny for saturday & sunday and 70-ish trail bikes massacred several adventure bikes on farm trails in Northland.

It as a great venue with lots of off road sections and some neat gravel roads but it was predominately a street legal trail bike event with anyone on a large (over 650cc) bike struggling and having to miss out a significant amount of the ride. If it had been wet I wouldn't have got around much of it, as a comparison, the last CCA was easier, there was more isolated tricky bits in this and more exposure to big falls if you stuffed up.

However, I had a good time, the score was about 4 falls on the right side (the extensive KTM toolkit does not contain the bloody spanners for the wing mirror nuts), once almost drowned in a stream and several "what the hell happened here!!" moments. I was glad of the suspension, the farms were very rutted and pugged out in places and I was saved by technoligy quite a few times....640 can fly too, another discovery from this weekend...the landings weren't bad either!

So, a great venue and lovely people to spend time with but (I think) there were 10 bikes actually ridden too and from the event which is probably more telling than anything else about the target market.

I would do it again but wouldn't recommend it for big bikes unless you are really confidant. :woohoo:

Glad you had a good time Iain. Yes, those mirrors are the first to go. :)
Nothing worse than riding and it or both flapping around and turning like a merry go round.
I got used to taking them off and putting them into my pack, when I remembered that is...:crybaby:
They took a hammering and I was glad I had the protectors on the bars too...

[ducatijim]

Hmmm, that has a deja vu ring to it for me!

Such a pity my bikes were( are) broken.:Oops:

[Eddieb]

Doesn't sound like much of an adventure ride then, just an organised trail ride for plated trail bikes.

[Crisis management]

Hmmm, that has a deja vu ring to it for me!

Such a pity my bikes were( are) broken.:Oops:

Your mate Des was there too...not quite the oldest rider, there was one guy on a Gas gas 200 who was 68!


Doesn't sound like much of an adventure ride then, just an organised trail ride for plated trail bikes.

That was pretty much my findings but for the mid sized bikes it was do-able and I enjoyed the challenges as well as getting to enjoy the ride there and back. It was good to see what the bike was capable of (and what the rider was not capable of!) and I would certainly do it again.

To keep it in perspective, there were DR650s, KLR650s and a F800GS that did the same bits I did so for that size bike (up to 200kgs?) it was certainly ridable.

[Waihou Thumper]

Doesn't sound like much of an adventure ride then, just an organised trail ride for plated trail bikes.

I think it always has been sort of like that Eddie. I think Jim said the same, there are bikes that aren't even road legal, just throw on the plate and it becomes a trail ride. I wonder if there any checks for that sort of thing or they just took the entry fees and wanted a big turn out? I guess if you were organising it you might turn a blind eys if someone turned up with borrowed plates and a bike to ride but wanted to part with a couple of Hundred?

[warewolf]

Doesn't sound like much of an adventure ride then, just an organised trail ride for plated trail bikes.
C'mon chaps, don't be so dismissive of someone else's definition of adventure. :bash:

This forum is heavily biased to the adventure/road end of the spectrum rather than the adventure/trail end. As far as I'm concerned, if it requires road rego it's an adventure ride, whether big bikes can hack it or not. No road rego = trail ride. Fairly simple and clear demarcation.

Some ppl pride themselves that their chosen mount can do hours of motorways well; others that they can do gnarly single-track. Either way, it's still adventure...

[Oscar]

C'mon chaps, don't be so dismissive of someone else's definition of adventure. :bash:

This forum is heavily biased to the adventure/road end of the spectrum rather than the adventure/trail end. As far as I'm concerned, if it requires road rego it's an adventure ride, whether big bikes can hack it or not. No road rego = trail ride. Fairly simple and clear demarcation.

Some ppl pride themselves that their chosen mount can do hours of motorways well; others that they can do gnarly single-track. Either way, it's still adventure...

It was an Adventure Ride by any definition.
I rode my 950 to it via some interesting backroads for a total of about 1100kmsfor the weekend.

Our crew had a R100GS, a Cagiva Grand Canyon, a DR650 and a new Tenrere, and we did most of the trail sections (well I did, but the Beemer shit itself). Like Iain said, the off road bits were perhaps on the limit for big bikes (I too fell off four times), but it was an interesting challenge.

[warewolf]

but the Beemer shit itselfGeez, that wasn't the uber-fartzen-fuhrer's AGAIN, was it? :pinch:

[Oscar]

Geez, that wasn't the uber-fartzen-fuhrer's AGAIN, was it? :pinch:

I can neither confirm nor deny the fact that it shit a drive seal...

[Crisis management]

I wonder if there any checks for that sort of thing or they just took the entry fees and wanted a big turn out?

NO, you're wrong in this case Mark, it was clearly spelled out what you were getting into and the bikes were all road legal, I was just surprised at the number of trailers involved. I obviously need to get out more!


C'mon chaps, don't be so dismissive of someone else's definition of adventure. :bash:


+1. Well said Colin.


Oscar, I was wondering where you lot got to, sorry to hear about the big red explosion.....

[clint640]

NO, you're wrong in this case Mark, it was clearly spelled out what you were getting into and the bikes were all road legal, I was just surprised at the number of trailers involved. I obviously need to get out more!
.....

I think most of the commercially organised adventure rides are basically trail rides with a few road sections. When I first got the 640 in 04 I went on a Britton one at Rotorua - allegedly big bikes welcome, I thought if they are inviting people on the big pigs I should be ok even though I was still getting my dirt legs on the KTM. There were about 6 of us that actually rode there out of 200 - I struggled through a lot of it on the 640 & felt sorry for the 2 poor bastards that had turned up on BMW GS's.

The organisers of these rides must have got sick of hauling big bikes out of bogs etc though as now they are usually labelled as trail-adventure.

Cheers
Clint

[warewolf]

Yep, very few ppl ride to adventure trail rides, but hey if you are used to trailering your bike everywhere, riding it there seems unusual. Plus ppl would rather fit fresh knobbies and not cut them up on the road ride to get there, and/or travel in the comfort of a car for the knackered trip back.

[Waihou Thumper]

NO, you're wrong in this case Mark, it was clearly spelled out what you were getting into and the bikes were all road legal, I was just surprised at the number of trailers involved. I obviously need to get out more!

....

:bash: Sorry, okay, understand now...:Oops:Shut Up Mark!

[ducatijim]

[QUOTE=warewolf;1129556102]Yep, very few ppl ride to adventure trail rides, QUOTE]

This is wot I have found in the past and been severely scolded for criticising a glorified trail ride, complete with psyudo regd bikes, that has been advertised as an adventure ride.

Yes, I know, an adventure ride is wot you find it/make it to be.

Of course, Brittens missed out on 40 or so folk like me who now know better and don't want to do an expensive 'trail' ride, particularly on big, duel purpose bikes. But better that for them, than to miss out on the 70 'trail terrorist' types who had a ball and helped pay Mikes bills. That is wot the majority want, thats wot commercial operators will provide.

Hence my dig at someone last week on here; these trail terrorists are the ones who make it hard for us poor unskilled folk by setting the bar ever higher.

Thats why I have no friends and make my own adventures.:yes:

[Eddieb]

This is wot I have found in the past and been severely scolded for criticising a glorified trail ride, complete with psyudo regd bikes, that has been advertised as an adventure ride.

Yes, I know, an adventure ride is wot you find it/make it to be.

Of course, Brittens missed out on 40 or so folk like me who now know better and don't want to do an expensive 'trail' ride, particularly on bike duel purpose bikes. But better that for them, than to miss out on the 70 'trail terrorist' types who had a ball and helped pay Mikes bills. That is wot the majority want, thats wot commercial operators will provide.

Hence my dig at someone last week on here; these trail terrorists are the ones who make it hard for us poor unskilled folk.

Thats why I have no friends and make my own adventures.:yes:

+1 and some good choices of words. To me any event thats designed around riders with plated enduro weapons which are trailered to the ride is as you put it a glorified trail ride, even if it is an adventure for the riders concerned

[Oscar]

This is wot I have found in the past and been severely scolded for criticising a glorified trail ride, complete with psyudo regd bikes, that has been advertised as an adventure ride.

Yes, I know, an adventure ride is wot you find it/make it to be.

Of course, Brittens missed out on 40 or so folk like me who now know better and don't want to do an expensive 'trail' ride, particularly on bike duel purpose bikes. But better that for them, than to miss out on the 70 'trail terrorist' types who had a ball and helped pay Mikes bills. That is wot the majority want, thats wot commercial operators will provide.

Hence my dig at someone last week on here; these trail terrorists are the ones who make it hard for us poor unskilled folk.

Thats why I have no friends and make my own adventures.:yes:

I tend to agree with you.
It was an adventure for me because of the ride there and the company, but I have to say that (despite it's advertising), it is not a ride for big bikes.

Apart from being expensive and not really catering for big bikes (it's a Catch 22 - if you don't attempt the trail bits, there's not much left) I also have issues with some of the heroes on trail bikes. It is not a ride I would repeat.

The irony is that the last FNAR I went to several years ago was much the same, and I said so in KRN - and promptly set the record for outraged letters to the editor.

[Oscar]

Oscar, I was wondering where you lot got to, sorry to hear about the big red explosion.....

Vege managed to nurse it home, and we carried on.

After highsiding for the third time, I decided that enough was enough, so we skipped the last trail section and legged it straight back to our luxurious accommodations. Unfortunately the last tennant had left an almost full bottle of Bombay Sapphire in the freezer, which Osbourne and I promptly polished off...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

That's why you didn't see us at the dinner...

[rogerh]

All pretty good comments, and seems like lots of people have learned the same lessons I am getting (or have learnt the hard way)

I do like
- the adventure/trail side of things
- cheap;)
- An experience compatible with the odd "senior moment"
- The occasional (or more) ride with my wife and kids

I do not like
- Wearing knobblys out on the way to a distant ride
- Trail terrorists
- Broken bones
- Macho bullshit and one-up-man-ship (is that a word?)

To date by far the majority of riding has been on my own, (means I can be stupid when I feel like it:yes:) but group rides are good when they meet these criteria. In the last 20 odd years this has only occured, on the occasional ride I have been on, that has been organised here.

This leads me here in what little spare time I have. Other may have different criteria, but I suspect there is a little common ground here for some.

[Oscar]

All pretty good comments, and seems like lots of people have learned the same lessons I am getting (or have learnt the hard way)

I do like
- the adventure/trail side of things
- cheap;)
- An experience compatible with the odd "senior moment"
- The occasional (or more) ride with my wife and kids

I do not like
- Wearing knobblys out on the way to a distant ride
- Trail terrorists
- Broken bones
- Macho bullshit and one-up-man-ship (is that a word?)

To date by far the majority of riding has been on my own, (means I can be stupid when I feel like it:yes:) but group rides are good when they meet these criteria. In the last 20 odd years this has only occured, on the occasional ride I have been on, that has been organised here.

This leads me here in what little spare time I have. Other may have different criteria, but I suspect there is a little common ground here for some.


There are good organised rides for big bikes out there - the obvious standout is the CCA, and some of Bruce Marshall's efforts in Taranaki and the Pukemanu rides were fantastic too.

There are only a few organised events I would bother with now (unless, like the FNAR, I am commanded to go by Herr Publisher) and like you we decided long ago that the best rides were those we organised ourselves.

[rogerh]

There are good organised rides for big bikes out there - the obvious standout is the CCA, and some of Bruce Marshall's efforts in Taranaki and the Pukemanu rides were fantastic too.

There are only a few organised events I would bother with now (unless, like the FNAR, I am commanded to go by Herr Publisher) and like you we decided long ago that the best rides were those we organised ourselves.

I would like to get to the CCA, as I did a lot of riding on some of that dirt 20 odd years ago. Lived at Makara (worked at Quartz Hill) for a number of years and had a lot of opportunity to ride out there and around Karori, Makara High etc. Almost all on my own then too.

Planning that far ahead is challenging for me, but I would be OK with orders to those events if I really had to :cool:

Riding to distant events can be fun, not the least of which is the people at gas stations looking at you funny when you ride in on a perfectly running bike, then lie you bike down and change tyres at their air pumps :laugh:

[warewolf]

Unfortunately, the more 'trailie' a ride, the more unsociable twats there are. Dunno why that is :scratch:. I do quite a few organised trail rides, for my own enjoyment I've learned to give the wallies some space - either get out in front or wait till they f#ck off. Both on and off the trail! It's not enough to keep me away, they are great weekends away riding with mates.

The great thing about the adventure/road ppl is the sheer lack of twunts* :2thumbsup

* Except for that warewolf fellah :oi-grr:

[NordieBoy]

Thats why I have no friends and make my own adventures.:yes:

You're just a talentless tryhard.

:oi-grr:

[NordieBoy]

Yep, very few ppl ride to adventure trail rides,

Or even laidback trail rides :2thumbsup

Got to get the KB crew out to some more :woohoo:

[Woodman]

Unfortunately, the more 'trailie' a ride, the more unsociable twats there are.

* Except for that warewolf fellah :oi-grr:

Dirtbike version of boyracers, and I like that "twunts" word. Gonna use it tomorrow.

[Padmei]

Or even laidback trail rides :2thumbsup

Got to get the KB crew out to some more :woohoo:

Mwahhahahaahahaha
Let the carnage continue...

[Padmei]

Was this Far north Trail adv ride similar to what one could expect at the Yamaha safaris?

[Woodman]

Mwahhahahaahahaha
Let the carnage continue...

My fairing still sits an inch to the right from the last one.........:weep:

[NordieBoy]

My fairing still sits an inch to the right from the last one.........:weep:

And an inch to the l..l..l..l..l..left :dodge:

[marks]

And an inch to the l..l..l..l..l..left :dodge:

I will not be drawn in to this stupidity.....:whistle:

[bart]

Unfortunately, the more 'trailie' a ride, the more unsociable twats there are. Dunno why that is :scratch:.


Hahaha. I must agree. My recent experiences with organised trail rides haven't been that good. :girlfight:

They're starting to pull crowds of 300+ riders in this area. It's absolute chaos. And everyone wants to be a Crusty.

:calm:

[Bass]

I tend to agree with you.


What? What?
Well bugger! There goes one of my main sources of entertainment.

[ducatijim]

You're just a talentless tryhard.

:oi-grr:

Why, thank you Fran, I rarely get compliments.

ps. think I may have made the tryhard redundant now.:scooter:

[Oscar]

What? What?
Well bugger! There goes one of my main sources of entertainment.

Meh...even a broken clock is right twice a day...

[NordieBoy]

Meh...even a broken clock is right twice a day...

Unless it's digital...

[NordieBoy]

Why, thank you Fran, I rarely get compliments.

ps. think I may have made the tryhard redundant now.:scooter:

Off to work on talentless now?
Make sure there's mud and a video camera when you do :woohoo::scooter:



I'm only an apprentice tryhard.
A trymedium if you will.

[Bass]

Meh...even a broken clock is right twice a day...

That's better.
You had me worried there for a moment.

[ducatijim]

[QUOTE=NordieBoy;1129557566]Off to work on talentless now?
QUOTE]

Oh no, that comes without thought or effort on my part, you could say even, that I am very experienced at talentless.

No no, off to mow the lawn actually :bye:

[Racing Dave]

Was this Far north Trail adv ride similar to what one could expect at the Yamaha safaris?

The Safari is based on big bikes, with trail options, as opposed to the FNAR which is trail based with big bike by-passes. Also, the near certainty of fine dry weather allows those big bike riders more chance of avoiding carnage.

Cheers,
Dave B