Rimutaka newbie

[marty]

Did 'The Hill' for the first time yesterday. On a DRZ400SM. After riding it 500km on the factory seat. NOW I UNDERSTAND!! Except for the wet run up the eastern side, the diesel spill on the east side (didn't cause me any issues though), some road works, and some line changes due to those really hard plastic markers that are nailed to the road (especially near Muldon's corner) right on the apex....

And Fields Track is in fantastic condition apart from about 1km of roadworks.

And Paihatua Track was pretty cool too.

And the hills on SH6 between Blenhiem and Nelson - holy shit they were fun at 7am this morning!

[Bald Eagle]

So what is it that you UNDERSTAND ?

[marty]

it's a bit like harleys. you don't really 'get' them until you ride one on a freeway in the USA. in a t-shirt and fingerless gloves and open-face helmet. and tassles.

rimutaka is a bit like that. everone down there raves about it, but until you've ridden it, you can't really get a handle on what it's really like. some rave about the coro loop, but i'm just bored with that now.

[blackdog]

:2thumbsup

will be a lovely ride over tonight too, you know where to meet?

[marty]

Bike is in Nelson now - I'm back in the Waikato unfortunately

[blackdog]

Bike is in Nelson now - I'm back in the Waikato unfortunately

you'll be back :lol:

once is never enough...

[Ocean1]

rimutaka is a bit like that.

The SM would have been right in it's sweet spot, good that you did it now.

As you can see, though, it's about to be a whole lot more suitable for the R*/GSX/CBR/ZX* brigade.

[marty]

yeah the SM constantly surprised me - 5th gear most of the time - just sitting in the rpm range that it liked - not sure what it was (no rpm gauge) but who cares - it was what it was! it ran out of revs too quickly in 4th and didn't really make any difference. interestngly, it didn't like doing 50km/h in 5th - laboured really badly. preferred 3rd, but it is really loud!

happily cruised on the flat at 110-115 indicated. actually it would do 110-115 just about anywhere! probably about 5km/h slower in reality. no change-down to overtake when doing 100km/h and actually quite snappy when doing so!

[Madness]

Nothing beats the Rimutaka Hill on a good day except the Rimutaka Hill on a good day when the Police close the road on both sides and you're stuck at the summit with 3/4 of a tank full of gas. I nearly ran out I had so much fun.

[marty]

i wish i had have got a pic of the 'MOTORCYCLISTS - THE ROAD IS NOT A RACE TRACK' signs.

[C.Linnell]

I haven't done Rimutaka, but an awesomely fun North Island road is the Mountain between Mangamuka and Kaitaia. Seriously.

http://goo.gl/maps/DKTi

[Gone Burger]

rimutaka is a bit like that. everone down there raves about it, but until you've ridden it, you can't really get a handle on what it's really like.

Bingo - right there. Welcome to the taka fan club mate. I love having that playground in my back yard. :niceone:

[Banditbandit]

If you like the Rimutaka Hill - have a look at the Waioeka Gorge between Gisborne and Opotiki ..

[marty]

done that. it's ok :)

[sinned]

If you like the Rimutaka Hill - have a look at the Waioeka Gorge between Gisborne and Opotiki ..
I hill (especially Rimutaka Hill) is very different to a gorge (referred to in the US as "twisties"). There is nothing like a nice hill climb and Rimutaka is very nice, and was so much better before the yellow no passing lines.

[jimbo_on_travels]

Rimutaka hill is over rated - you more often than not get stuck in traffic in either direction.. I think the road from Pauatahanui up Paekakariki hill is much more of a fun ride. Also Tablelands out the back of Martinborough to Gladstone is a worthy mention in this neck of the woods..

[fatboyzed]

Wana try a real hill do the takaka hill.
I use to think nothing could beat the rimutakas but this was orsome, twice as long and a shitload more corners.

[MIXONE]

Wana try a real hill do the takaka hill.
I use to think nothing could beat the rimutakas but this was orsome, twice as long and a shitload more corners.

My major complaint about the Takas is the fact that it's about 50 km too short.Same with the Piecock Hill.

[fatboyzed]

I dont think it matters what hill you do they are all to short, but the takakas done it for me untill i find a replacement.

[marty]

geez - i just enjoyed it for what it was.

there's:

Kaimais (super fast on the western side)
Piecock Hill - windy and dangerous
Akatarawa Rd - like Piecock Rd
Most of the Coro Loop climbs - mad as
Climb out from Opononi to Tane Mahuta - super fast
Raglan deviation - western side short but tight and fast

plus 100's of others - everyone has their favorite. As I said - I can see why people rant about the Takas

[Maha]

Reading the title I thought you went inside...:corn:

[Gone Burger]

Wana try a real hill do the takaka hill.
I use to think nothing could beat the rimutakas but this was orsome, twice as long and a shitload more corners.

Three of us did it a few months back... two sports bikes and me on the cruiser. All sat down at the backpackers after coming back again and had motion sickeness. It was awwwwwwwesome! Cracked me up, the ground felt so unstable, and that was before our first drink. Cant wait to do that hill on a sports bike

[blackdog]

Three of us did it a few months back... two sports bikes and me on the cruiser. All sat down at the backpackers after coming back again and had motion sickeness. It was awwwwwwwesome! Cracked me up, the ground felt so unstable, and that was before our first drink. Cant wait to do that hill on a sports bike

ok u r just sick as a cruiser rider keeping up with the boys on their SB's!

you have come so far in so little time since the saggy chain on the old beasty. (i'm not going to admit that you are quicker than me with half the power on an open forum)

if i don't see ya before then, are you coming on the 19th?

[Gone Burger]

ok u r just sick as a cruiser rider keeping up with the boys on their SB's!

you have come so far in so little time since the saggy chain on the old beasty. (i'm not going to admit that you are quicker than me with half the power on an open forum)

if i don't see ya before then, are you coming on the 19th?

Hahaha I never said keeping up, but I wasn't far behind. That was a great ride for wearing down the bolts on the bottom of the pegs.

You remember the saggy chain beasty? Gues what... I'm thinking of getting one age. Just kidding. Will definately be seeing you on the 19th (big thumbs up there doll, you rock!), but I will be asking someone to take me as a pillion as the mighty Boulevard is up for sale and I am not putting any more k's on the clock. 22500 in 8 months is enough. Whoops, how did they get there?

[Elysium]

I learned to check the weather report before going up. Was not fun when a thunderstand hits halfway up, 100km/h winds and diesel on the road throughout the trip.