Waitomo, Kawhia loop [Archive]

haydes55

4th March 2012, 18:14

BigAl

4th March 2012, 19:19

Cool circuit, I wonder if the south loop is usually in better condition.

Was it just road works?

haydes55

4th March 2012, 20:10

Cool circuit, I wonder if the south loop is usually in better condition.

Was it just road works?

Yea, every second corner sometimes every corner for 10-20ish km had patches that were recently repaired. Hopefully next summer it will be all swept and good as new. There were also a few trees and branches fallen on the road from the weather yesterday, that was to be expected.

Forgot to mention the little gas scare, trying to find a gas station to fill up half way around the loop. Back tracked to Kawhia and found an expensive but handy located gas station. Nev was on reserve gas for 40~km :sweatdrop

BigAl

4th March 2012, 20:54

Cheers must give it a go.

nzspokes

4th March 2012, 21:06

Looks like a nice little loop, must pop down and give it a shot.

sil3nt

4th March 2012, 21:11

where was the invite to all the waikato riders :mad:

Only done that once before and it was good fun on the 250.

nzspokes

4th March 2012, 21:13

where was the invite to all the waikato riders :mad:

Both of them did the ride. :bleh:

JustNick

4th March 2012, 21:17

haydes55

4th March 2012, 21:19

where was the invite to all the waikato riders :mad:

Only done that once before and it was good fun on the 250.

Was a pretty last minute decision haha, in all seriousness though, next weekend I'm going to Te Puke for the bucket racing but the weekend after I plan on doing it again (weather dependant). Perfect road for bikes of all sizes, think I got to 100km/h once in the actual loop.

Waikato riders keen to do this ride 17th or 18th?

haydes55

4th March 2012, 21:22

Great route that, I ran it a few months back. I loved the scenery going around the harbour around Taharoa. I couldn't believe the road out to Kawhia was still in pretty average condition (I last drove that road about 8 or 9 years ago and was expecting improvements ... ).

Going to pack the togs and towel for this loop next summer! Have to agree, the scenery the entire loop was good, so unspoilt. Didn't take any photos this trip but I will next time :sunny:

nzspokes

4th March 2012, 21:23

Was a pretty last minute decision haha, in all seriousness though, next weekend I'm going to Te Puke for the bucket racing but the weekend after I plan on doing it again (weather dependant). Perfect road for bikes of all sizes, think I got to 100km/h once in the actual loop.

Waikato riders keen to do this ride 17th or 18th?

Oh, if you do PM me closer to the time. I would be in if Im clear of kids.

awa355

5th March 2012, 07:35

Just did a big ride with Nev (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/member.php/34952-roadrash_69) around south Waikato.
Great road. First half of the trip the roads were amazing, second half had alot of gravel patches and trees in the road.

Definitely doing this ride again. Highly recomended, might be best to ride out past Kawhia then return the same route to avoid the less than quality roads on the 2nd half of the loop.

Best sunday cruise in a long time :cool:

No way in the world should you ever have to backtrack any roads in this area. You take the good with the bad, all part of motorcycling. back off the throttle and enjoy the scenery, and the corners. Half this circut is comprised of highways. Waitomo to Te Anga is tight, Harbour rd has a lot of loose shale on the corners washed down off the banks. Kawhia rd has a lot of uneven surface,

insomnia01

5th March 2012, 10:07

next time turn off at Marakopa & follow that through to Awakino :2thumbsup:angry2:

awa355

5th March 2012, 13:37

next time turn off at Marakopa & follow that through to Awakino :2thumbsup:angry2:

AND! if thats too easy, ( gravel), after about 8 k's of gravel road from the Marakopa end, take a left onto Pomarangi rd. This goes from gravel to goat track. About 40 minutes of 1st & 2nd gear weaving around fallen Puangas, branches brushing your helmet. you come out on the Ngapaenga rd. Then about 15k's of fast gravel road untill the Oparure rd.

Phillmc and I did this on our road bikes,. A CBF250 and BMW K1100. I had been through the Pomarangi rd in the early 70's. It hadn't changed, ( Good King country back road).

haydes55

5th March 2012, 15:38

AND! if thats too easy, ( gravel), after about 8 k's of gravel road from the Marakopa end, take a left onto Pomarangi rd. This goes from gravel to goat track. About 40 minutes of 1st & 2nd gear weaving around fallen Puangas, branches brushing your helmet. you come out on the Ngapaenga rd. Then about 15k's of fast gravel road untill the Oparure rd.

Phillmc and I did this on our road bikes,. A CBF250 and BMW K1100. I had been through the Pomarangi rd in the early 70's. It hadn't changed, ( Good King country back road).

Being on a motard my bike is made for that :cool: need to sort me out some dual purpose wheels though. Then I can give it shit on the gravel haha. Saw a guy on a KTM dual purpose bike today in Putaruru and he stopped in Cambridge (where I just happened to be having lunch :msn-wink: So I had a little chat with him about this loop and he was saying he just got back from riding Taupo all weekend, through the gravel. He came from Auckland so must be some good riding :scooter: Could be worth a weekend trip once I get some new rubber.

slofox

5th March 2012, 16:08

Both of them did the ride. :bleh:

Oioioi nuff of that sorta stuff - you'll be renamed to nzpokesintheeyewithasharp stick if'n ya not careful. There's at least three of us here y'know.

next time turn off at Marakopa & follow that through to Awakino :2thumbsup:angry2:

Wot 'e said! Then ya can come back through the Awakino Gorge...

haydes55

5th March 2012, 16:25

Oioioi nuff of that sorta stuff - you'll be renamed to nzpokesintheeyewithasharp stick if'n ya not careful. There's at least three of us here y'know.

Wot 'e said! Then ya can come back through the Awakino Gorge...

Check this map (http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?saddr=Hamilton+East,+Hamilton&daddr=-38.23562,174.84108+to:-38.33427,174.72929+to:-38.3460873,175.0735391+to:Cambridge+Rd%2FState+Hig hway+1&hl=en&ll=-38.125915,175.25528&spn=0.612538,1.352692&sll=-38.349827,174.782492&sspn=0.004771,0.010568&geocode=FTZdv_0dfL9yCimrDna_0RhtbTGA3qJDYe8ABQ%3BF RySuP0d-NxrCik9CKEzsUkTbTEgWpsGYe8AEw%3BFcIQt_0dSihqCil3Qe Eh4kQTbTGg1AoHYe8AEw%3BFZnitv0dA2lvCin_qoq7UrBsbTE Q1psGYe8AEw%3BFUbQvv0dJrZzCg&mra=dpe&via=1,2,3&t=m&z=10), Is that the route you mean?

If so I think dual purpose wheels, no point going with street bikes if they can't keep up :nya:

Although not too keen on doing this route solo, esp out of signal.

slofox

5th March 2012, 16:44

Check this map (http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?saddr=Hamilton+East,+Hamilton&daddr=-38.23562,174.84108+to:-38.33427,174.72929+to:-38.3460873,175.0735391+to:Cambridge+Rd%2FState+Hig hway+1&hl=en&ll=-38.125915,175.25528&spn=0.612538,1.352692&sll=-38.349827,174.782492&sspn=0.004771,0.010568&geocode=FTZdv_0dfL9yCimrDna_0RhtbTGA3qJDYe8ABQ%3BF RySuP0d-NxrCik9CKEzsUkTbTEgWpsGYe8AEw%3BFcIQt_0dSihqCil3Qe Eh4kQTbTGg1AoHYe8AEw%3BFZnitv0dA2lvCin_qoq7UrBsbTE Q1psGYe8AEw%3BFUbQvv0dJrZzCg&mra=dpe&via=1,2,3&t=m&z=10), Is that the route you mean?

If so I think dual purpose wheels, no point going with street bikes if they can't keep up :nya:

Although not too keen on doing this route solo, esp out of signal.

Yep. Perzackerly that route.

I did it solo on my SV650S. Didn't get eaten by goblins or anything. There's only about 11km of unsealed road IIRC. Course, the day I went it had just been graded so no wheel tracks to ride in...wouldn'cha know it!

haydes55

5th March 2012, 16:58

Yep. Perzackerly that route.

I did it solo on my SV650S. Didn't get eaten by goblins or anything. There's only about 11km of unsealed road IIRC. Course, the day I went it had just been graded so no wheel tracks to ride in...wouldn'cha know it!

No washboard roads though!

I will need to test my reserve works ( haven't had to use it since I got the bike), My bike has a range of about 130km on my 7L tank and a 4L reserve That I haven't used. Will drain it and put fresh juice in it. Should be plenty of gas (will fill up at the station on the way to Kawhia).

Whose keen to come? 17th or 18th, which ever day is preferred. :2thumbsup

Marmoot

5th March 2012, 20:06

Was it just road works?

It's the season. Every late summer - autumn they always do that.
Maintenance, as well as burning budgets to ensure they are seen to "need that much money" so the next year it's not cut.

roadrash_69

6th March 2012, 19:45

Just did a big ride with Nev (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/member.php/34952-roadrash_69) around south Waikato.

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?saddr=Hamilton+East,+Hamilton&daddr=-38.23562,174.84108+to:Cambridge+Rd%2FState+Highway +1&hl=en&sll=-38.021365,175.230605&sspn=0.613417,1.352692&geocode=FTZdv_0dfL9yCimrDna_0RhtbTGA3qJDYe8ABQ%3BF RySuP0d-NxrCik9CKEzsUkTbTEgWpsGYe8AEw%3BFUbQvv0dJrZzCg&oq=waitomo&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=10&via=1&t=m&z=10

Great road. First half of the trip the roads were amazing, second half had alot of gravel patches and trees in the road.

Definitely doing this ride again. Highly recomended, might be best to ride out past Kawhia then return the same route to avoid the less than quality roads on the 2nd half of the loop.

Best sunday cruise in a long time :cool:

woohoo didn't realise it was that much of a loop the back roads sure do take awhile to get through...

259385

Anyrate I second the best sunday cruise .. had a bit of everything:

maniac car drivers overtaking haydes55 while he was overtaking ...
cars on our side of the road...
trees on the road ..
parts of cliff on the road ..
new road works .. everywhere
dead animals on the road ..
live animals on the road .. horses, and bulls

The weather was perfect.

Coro loop sounds like a plan ... anyrate up for another ride out that way soon

haydes55

6th March 2012, 19:50

woohoo didn't realise it was that much of a loop the back roads sure do take awhile to get through...

Anyrate I second the best sunday cruise .. had a bit of everything:

maniac car drivers overtaking haydes55 while he was overtaking ...
cars on our side of the road...
trees on the road ..
parts of cliff on the road ..
new road works .. everywhere
dead animals on the road ..
live animals on the road .. horses, and bulls

The weather was perfect.

Coro loop sounds like a plan ... anyrate up for another ride out that way soon

Also butterfly in my face and a bee inside my helmet with me :sweatdrop The first half was brilliant riding, second half was more adventure riding haha

roadrash_69

6th March 2012, 20:12

Also butterfly in my face and a bee inside my helmet with me :sweatdrop The first half was brilliant riding, second half was more adventure riding haha

oh yeah how could I forget the bugs .. :dodge:

carver

6th March 2012, 20:19

I have not done the kawhia GP in ages.
The DRZ-SM ate it up, used to grind the pegs on the 1st ER.
Sidewinder had a tankslapper so bad this bars dented his tank there too.

Most bins wins

haydes55

6th March 2012, 20:30

Most bins wins

I plan on no bins on the road. If we include speedway crashes I win, was always told since I started when I was 12 "If you don't crash you aren't trying hard enough"... Needless to say I definitely tried hard enough. Alot.

carver

7th March 2012, 05:30

I plan on no bins on the road. If we include speedway crashes I win, was always told since I started when I was 12 "If you don't crash you aren't trying hard enough"... Needless to say I definitely tried hard enough. Alot.

does not sound like your trying hard enough on the road then

slofox

7th March 2012, 11:46

does not sound like your trying hard enough on the road then

What was your best Raglan/Tron time Carver? (If you wanna tell me that is...)

insomnia01

7th March 2012, 11:55

What was your best Raglan/Tron time Carver? (If you wanna tell me that is...)

This onetime, at Bandcamp, Sidewinder, like, you know pulled out....:puke:

slofox

7th March 2012, 12:03

This onetime, at Bandcamp, Sidewinder, like, you know pulled out....:puke:

Hehehe...I bet he did.

carver

8th March 2012, 05:39

What was your best Raglan/Tron time Carver? (If you wanna tell me that is...)

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/73465

Best ride to ragtown...or one of them

I never kept a time, maybe 25min on the GSXR1000, but I have never done a balls out run!

slofox

8th March 2012, 06:11

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/73465

Best ride to ragtown...or one of them

I never kept a time, maybe 25min on the GSXR1000, but I have never done a balls out run!

OK...can't say I've ever done it flat out either, being so "sensible" y'know...:whistle: