Takapari Road, Manawatu and over Pahiatua Track to Wairapa - Sat 2 July anyone?

[Aslan]

Hi - thinking of doing Takapari Road next Sat AM - top of Pohongina Valley then returning to family in the Wairarapa via Pahiatua Track - large bike friendly ride - though I plan on using my DR - anyone else keen?

Oops - 1 meant Sat 2 July

[Padmei]

I'd love to go. Maybe in the summer I'll get over there.:(

[nothingflash]

Hello there! So I guess this means you won't be doing the MMMMM this year then?

[Howie]

Hi Aslan, Could be interested in coming along, I'm still sitting on the fence about doing the MMMMM ride though so well confirm latter in the week.

[Aslan]

Hello there! So I guess this means you won't be doing the MMMMM this year then?

Love the MMMMM among the best - however I guess age is catching up with me - I couldn't contemplate riding to the start location after work on Friday night and taking leave that day was not feasible - have a great ride - cheers S

[marks]

Love the MMMMM among the best - however I guess age is catching up with me - I couldn't contemplate riding to the start location after work on Friday night and taking leave that day was not feasible - have a great ride - cheers S

Hi Stephen

I'm in the same boat as Howie
If I go riding next weekend it will be MMMMing even if I can only do the Saturday.

Cheers

Mark

[Aslan]

Hi Stephen

I'm in the same boat as Howie
If I go riding next weekend it will be MMMMing even if I can only do the Saturday.

Cheers

Mark

Cheers Mark - if you go on the MMMMM - have fun - as we both know its a great ride - sad not to be coming this year - just can't travel that far over Fri to Sun night. Best wishes Stephen O aka Aslan

[junkmanjoe]

Aslan if your passing through wairarapa more than welcome to call for a cupper,, sorry i have no bike for for we while yet other wise id join in.

JMJ

[Aslan]

Aslan if your passing through wairarapa more than welcome to call for a cupper,, sorry i have no bike for for we while yet other wise id join in.

JMJ

Cheers Joe - maybe on Sunday as I expect I'll spend Sat night at the Brother in Laws in Eketahuna


Trust all's well

[Box'a'bits]

Metvuw says its going to be a great day. And I'm itching to get out & about. :yes: Like you, I can't spare the Friday / Monday / resources to do the MMMM ride

Leaving from where? And at what time? What else have you got planned for the day, or is it a suck it & see ride?

[Aslan]

Metvuw says its going to be a great day. And I'm itching to get out & about. :yes: Like you, I can't spare the Friday / Monday / resources to do the MMMM ride

Leaving from where? And at what time? What else have you got planned for the day, or is it a suck it & see ride?

Hi Steve - great to get your response - Plan is to meet others (BMWOR member/s aboard a 1200GS at Mobil Ashhurst at 10am Sat 2 July).

By my conservative calculations we should probably aim to leave BP Paramatta - (the one with McDonalds) at 7.30am Saturday to be comfortably at Ashhurst by 10am - maybe even a time for a quick coffee at Shannon en route.

I know of at least one other 1200 GS rider (Ian) joining us plus a couple of other lurkers possibly committing (one on a WR450 'Venn' and F650GS (Bula Bill)

As to plan beyond doing Takapari Road - open to group consensus - You and I will both have ideas from rides we've done - eg Ridge Road and or North Range Road.

I plan returning to Eeketahuna (wife's brother's home) at the end of the day. Hoping to be home safe and dry by 6pm ish latest. :scooter:

PS I plan to bring my DR for this ride

[Ian.S]

Hi Aslan, unless things have changes since I left, it was Shell that had Mc D's.

Cheers

Ian

[Re-cycled]

Hi Stephen.

I heard a rumour you were plotting something, will look forward to reading how it goes.

I must be getting soft, I find myself lining up with Padmei in the "maybe in the
summer" camp. :sunny:

[86GSXR]

Hiya. Could be keen on this if you don't mind another DR tagging along :yes:

[Aslan]

Hi Stephen.

I heard a rumour you were plotting something, will look forward to reading how it goes.

I must be getting soft, I find myself lining up with Padmei in the "maybe in the
summer" camp. :sunny:

Cheers Brian - this will probably be a last ride on the DR before I put rego on hold for 3 months - Cetainly hoping to do the Dusty Butt in January on the DR and maybe Bert Munro later this year on the Bimmer

[Aslan]

Hiya. Could be keen on this if you don't mind another DR tagging along :yes:

86GSXR you're most welcome - look forward to meeting you Saturday at Mobil Ashhurst 10am


NB Others reading this thread and leaving from Wellington on Sat AM - we're leaving from the last Servo with the McDonalds at the Northern end of Paramata - 7.30am

[BMWST?]

86GSXR you're most welcome - look forward to meeting you Saturday at Mobil Ashhurst 10am


NB Others reading this thread and leaving from Wellington on Sat AM - we're leaving from the last Servo with the McDonalds at the Northern end of Paramata - 7.30am

shell mana?

[Aslan]

shell mana?

thanks BMWST - for the aviodance of doubt, the last servo on the left leaving Mana - with one with the McDonalds attached

Looking forward to it - cheers Aslan aka Stephen O

[oneofsix]

thanks BMWST - for the aviodance of doubt, the last servo on the left leaving Mana - with one with the McDonalds attached

Looking forward to it - cheers Aslan aka Stephen O

yeap that's the Shell at Goat Point, Mana. Next servo on left on SH1, heading north out of Wellington, is the BP at Paraparaumu and there isn't any Macas attached to that one.

[Box'a'bits]

shell mana?
So, are you coming?

See you all at 7.30ish :blink:.
Don't worry if I don't talk to you much first up - I don't do mornings...I'll need the coffee to kick in.

Steve

[BMWST?]

So, are you coming?

See you all at 7.30ish :blink:.
Don't worry if I don't talk to you much first up - I don't do mornings...I'll need the coffee to kick in.

Steve

will make the effort!is it all sealed or gravel(ie strret tyre frindly)Hellishly early for a sunday!

[andy mac]

:bye: You'll be able to sleep in tomorrow, as they were going today.

[andy mac]

:bye: You'll be able to sleep in tomorrow, as they were going today.

[BMWST?]

:bye: You'll be able to sleep in tomorrow, as they were going today.

:facepalm::facepalm::facepalm:

[86GSXR]

Great ride, LOVED that road, definitely on the revisit list. Nice to meet you all. A few pics below :)

[Howie]

Great ride, LOVED that road, definitely on the revisit list. Nice to meet you all. A few pics below :)

Glad you enjoyed the trip, Just got home, did Wharite peak, and North range road as well. Time to thaw out now.

[Box'a'bits]

Glad you enjoyed the trip, Just got home, did Wharite peak, and North range road as well. Time to thaw out now.
What was Wharite peak like Howie? Good job you didn't wait the 10 mins until we went to the end of the road & back - it was more like 3/4 of an hr or more. Knarly, but good fun. We did North Range Rd on the way back as well, home after dark.

Seven of us started from Mana (Stephen, Neville, Bruce, Howie, Ian, ?), picked up Mark S at Shannon. Robin & 86GSX at Ashhurst. Graham Flyger also rode up but didn't accompany us.

Looks like the Manawatu almost had a frost. It was cold. And the weather didn't cooperate & clagged in. Aslan took us for a bit of a magical mystery tour of the upper Pohangina Valley, but it was a bloody good gravel road, so who the hell cares.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LQ2goEziT2g/Tg7OBbkX0pI/AAAAAAAAH9o/aNW-SvyimKc/s640/DSCF1808.JPG

Lost Robin at the bottom of Takapari Rd. He deicided not to go up with us, given he was running a road oriented front tyre.

Takapari Rd was clouded in, which meant we got wet on the way, & didn't get the views, but hey, its an excellent ride. There was snow clumps nr the summit. We all stopped at the A-Frame for a warm up & pictures. Did anyone get a pictuire of the snowman on the way back?

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V1LrP8GOmPE/Tg7OEK1A1nI/AAAAAAAAH90/T6_7KmzKk50/s640/DSCF1810.JPG

The group split into two, 4 going back, but Ian, Stephen, Mark & I decided to get to the end of the road. The road deteriorated markedly after the A-Frame Hut, with large erosion washouts & some sections with large rock loose. We stopped when the road did - there was tracks going into a bog. I wasn't successful in getting Mark S to 'test the water' for us.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ts93RgWJ6lE/Tg7OJDuDm6I/AAAAAAAAH-A/RnqamkOuZuY/s640/DSCF1813.JPG

Coming back was even more fraught than going. Is that clutch I smell?

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZJQWX6AHRQ0/Tg7OMb7SETI/AAAAAAAAH-M/SW5gt-cOALc/s640/DSCF1815.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-waXMI7aw_xo/Tg7OS_NUM2I/AAAAAAAAH-c/EBHs9fRR09w/s640/DSCF1819.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JYwKMyELyT8/Tg7OYthkWII/AAAAAAAAH-s/eKLDTyq7sNY/s640/DSCF1823.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EP2IYbK5Eb4/Tg7OaF_8ahI/AAAAAAAAH-w/NEuJPa9-SEU/s640/DSCF1824.JPG

Back down, someone needed a tow to the gas station, & then the fab four headed off to Ballance for a coffee & lunch. Attacked North Range Rd, the Lower Class Road attracted the riff raff, & we proved it isn't a dead end. Also fairly sure the 'temporary' 20km warning sign has been there a while - its growing moss. One dab in the middle of a huge mud puddle on the way thru, when the front washed out. Fortunately that was sufficient.

Home by dark, bloody cold.

[Howie]

What was Wharite peak like Howie? Good job you didn't wait the 10 mins until we went to the end of the road & back - it was more like 3/4 of an hr or more. Knarly, but good fun. We did North Range Rd on the way back as well, home after dark.

sounds like I might have to do a trip past the Hut on a nice summers day when you might get the views as well.

The road up Wharite peak was about the best I have seen it out of the three times I've been up there. we were just clear of the cloud level at the road end, and there was a cool breeze blowing. You could see Ashurst, but not as far as P/north.

North Range road was fun a bit wet in places, but it would have to be the least windy trip I've done through there.

[ianxreed]

Totally excellent day out guys, best for a long time. I think today I'll mainly be reaching for the water blaster!!!

[marks]

Thank you Aslan for organizing an excellent day out.

And thank you BMWRSNUT for telling me to get my shit together when I was about to turn around and head back down when I was getting very cold and wet (didn't wear enough layers...)

Awesome lumpy track past the hut

quite a challenge for the bigger bikes - it was fooking steep in places....

Ian on his 1200GS
http://webcoda.com/images/bike/IMG_8969.640.JPG

Steve on his airhead
http://webcoda.com/images/bike/IMG_8976.640.JPG

[nerdneh]

Hi - thinking of doing Takapari Road next Sat AM - top of Pohongina Valley then returning to family in the Wairarapa via Pahiatua Track - large bike friendly ride - though I plan on using my DR - anyone else keen?

Oops - 1 meant Sat 2 July
Hi ,Could please tell me the condition of this road and the others you rode. Are they affected by rain etc? A friend & myself are keen to ride this area when we come north. We will be riding a Transalp & DL 650 V/Strom. Many Thanks.

[Box'a'bits]

Hi ,Could please tell me the condition of this road and the others you rode. Are they affected by rain etc? A friend & myself are keen to ride this area when we come north. We will be riding a Transalp & DL 650 V/Strom. Many Thanks.
If your bikes are set up so you can stand on the pegs, this is an advantage. You really need a D/S knobby front if you are going thru North Range Road

Takapari Rd is steep in places, mostly rocky / gravel, but with the odd bit of mud thrown in at odd inopportune moments. Fairly wide, so you can pick lines etc. The road deterioates after the A Frame hut, after the summit (see the photos Mark_S put up).

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XtRHQkZxBuo/SwTpQkiueKI/AAAAAAAAA-w/92qH9z5WSCs/s640/DSC00518.JPG

View down onto Dannevirke

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0pTRmXhKFZ4/SwTpPpOQC3I/AAAAAAAAA-s/vyR9hZZvzkU/s640/DSC00517.JPG

Takapari Rd is a semi alpine area, so you'll need layers. Otherwise the road is not really impacted too much by weather.

North Range Rd is easy gravel past the wind turbines, then deteriorates to unmaintained road after. Muddy at the southern end, but with an underlying gravel base thru 95% of it. Given the Wind Turbines -expect wind.

Brilliant roads.

[86GSXR]

Hi ,Could please tell me the condition of this road and the others you rode. Are they affected by rain etc? A friend & myself are keen to ride this area when we come north. We will be riding a Transalp & DL 650 V/Strom. Many Thanks.

+1 on BMWRSNUT's post above.

North Range Rd has huge muddy puddles the width of the road this time of year, I was up there today.

Also, if you're looking for more roads in this area, try Watershed Rd, ZigZag Rd and Ridge Rd. These are gravel and run along the western side of the Pohongia Valley through to Apiti. They're in good condition and run though some brilliant hill country with amazing views.

[NordieBoy]

Hi ,Could please tell me the condition of this road and the others you rode. Are they affected by rain etc? A friend & myself are keen to ride this area when we come north. We will be riding a Transalp & DL 650 V/Strom. Many Thanks.

Which will you be riding?

[nerdneh]

If your bikes are set up so you can stand on the pegs, this is an advantage. You really need a D/S knobby front if you are going thru North Range Road

Takapari Rd is steep in places, mostly rocky / gravel, but with the odd bit of mud thrown in at odd inopportune moments. Fairly wide, so you can pick lines etc. The road deterioates after the A Frame hut, after the summit (see the photos Mark_S put up).

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XtRHQkZxBuo/SwTpQkiueKI/AAAAAAAAA-w/92qH9z5WSCs/s640/DSC00518.JPG

View down onto Dannevirke

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0pTRmXhKFZ4/SwTpPpOQC3I/AAAAAAAAA-s/vyR9hZZvzkU/s640/DSC00517.JPG

Takapari Rd is a semi alpine area, so you'll need layers. Otherwise the road is not really impacted too much by weather.

North Range Rd is easy gravel past the wind turbines, then deteriorates to unmaintained road after. Muddy at the southern end, but with an underlying gravel base thru 95% of it. Given the Wind Turbines -expect wind.

Brilliant roads.
Many thanks for you prompt reply. Our bikes will be shod with knobbys. Great pics, interesting area to explore. Kind regards.

[nerdneh]

Which will you be riding?

Hi Fran, The DL 650.