Dipping toes in the gravel

[shafty]

Long time roadrider from rural King Country sees a good value DRZ400SY advertised in Christchurch, pushes BuyNow, flies down and rides it back....

Loved the ride, despite less being more vague on the road than the ST1300 in the handling department

Pretty high seat too, so I mount and dismount via the foot peg on the side stand, despite not being a shortie

Great ride home, really stoked with its grunt and road speed - it does 146km/hr apparently, and the thumper sound was great through the Kaikoura tunnels

Back in the King Country now, and had a box of beer to deliver near Aria, so on the Matiere > Aria road, also known as The Goat Track, and, yeah, I can see the fun you Guys have on gravel - after decade of grimacing whenever big stretches of gravel appeared while riding bigger road bikes

Beer delivered, and the return trip via Waitewhenua Road, which pops out near Ohura, back over the tarseal to home - loved it, despite one off road excursion while day dreaming (phew)

Looking to learn more..... Cheers

Ps a good road, no corrugations (Awa)

[fridayflash]

its all good fun eh shafty, gravel trips add a new dimension to your day lol, and less cops out in the back blocks too. btw..dod you fly down and ride it back? only way to travel mate!

[shafty]

its all good fun eh shafty, gravel trips add a new dimension to your day lol, and less cops out in the back blocks too. btw..dod you fly down and ride it back? only way to travel mate!

Yeah, I flew and rode - great trip

[dino3310]

will have to catch up again on marks KCR ride join in this time:2thumbsup

[shafty]

will have to catch up again on marks KCR ride join in this time:2thumbsup

Sounds good Dino

[oneblackflag]

Nice bike, looks damn good with that box on the back:drool:

[CrazyFrog]

Welcome to the Dark Side.:woohoo:

How's yer arse after the road trip up from Christchurch? Most owners mod the seat for longer distance stuff.

Might look you up next time I visit my uncle in Taumarunui :niceone:

[Jantar]

Now you can really enjoy ALL versions of motorcycling. Although as I remember, you weren't that slow on your ST in the gravel. :D

[cynna]

st's can go anywhere (well it might not be an st but something similar) - saw these guys going through lees valley a few months ago


a mate of mine from chch was after a drz - I will let him know he missed out on this one lol

[tri boy]

Good move shafty.
You have some great gravel and tracks near by. Enjoy.
KCR catch up sounds the biz.

[awa355]

I like the bike. ideal for your country.

Thanks for the PM update on Waitewhena road. Boxing day, I'll be doing the back roads to Tekuiti then Mangapaehi wamiha back road to Taumarunui. Down the Lost Hway to Wangamomona for lunch. From there I'll return via Ohura Aria Piopio. I have your ph no in case shit happens. Should fill in the day on the scooter.

[shafty]

Welcome to the Dark Side.:woohoo:

How's yer arse after the road trip up from Christchurch? Most owners mod the seat for longer distance stuff.

Might look you up next time I visit my uncle in Taumarunui :niceone:

Yeah, bit of a sore ass but the frequent refuels between Chch and Picton broke things up a bit....missing the 29litres the ST carries......


Now you can really enjoy ALL versions of motorcycling. Although as I remember, you weren't that slow on your ST in the gravel. :D

Cheers Malcolm :wacko:


st's can go anywhere (well it might not be an st but something similar) - saw these guys going through lees valley a few months ago


a mate of mine from chch was after a drz - I will let him know he missed out on this one lol cool mate, just a bummer if they tip! When I phoned about the bike, the Guy said he had 30 emails about it that day, so I pissed around no longer, lol


Good move shafty.
You have some great gravel and tracks near by. Enjoy.
KCR catch up sounds the biz.

Yeah, cheers Triboy, best I get some practice and better riding gear!


I like the bike. ideal for your country.

Thanks for the PM update on Waitewhena road. Boxing day, I'll be doing the back roads to Tekuiti then Mangapaehi wamiha back road to Taumarunui. Down the Lost Hway to Wangamomona for lunch. From there I'll return via Ohura Aria Piopio. I have your ph no in case shit happens. Should fill in the day on the scooter.

No probs Arthur, crept I'll be at the Cemetery Circuit Boxing Day - enjoy yourself tho Mate

[Waihou Thumper]

Fun, ain't it...:)
Ever wondered what you missed all of these years? :)
All of a sudden NZ is a bigger better place with more to see and do....

[Motu]

I'll be doing Poipoi to Ohura sometime between Xmas and New Year too, sounds like the area is getting crowded!

[fridayflash]

a mate of mine from chch was after a drz - I will let him know he missed out on this one lol

theres a cheapish one on trademe at the mo in his neck of the woods....it should be very near the reserve now

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=677306571

[shafty]

I'll be doing Poipoi to Ohura sometime between Xmas and New Year too, sounds like the area is getting crowded!

Cool Man, pop in to the Matiere Club to settle the dust!


Fun, ain't it...:)
Ever wondered what you missed all of these years? :)
All of a sudden NZ is a bigger better place with more to see and do....

Yeah Mate, just need to build the skills then the back roads are my oyster!


theres a cheapish one on trademe at the mo in his neck of the woods....it should be very near the reserve now

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=677306571

I paid $3500, with 14,000 on the clock, if that helps - great value I reckon....

[fridayflash]

I paid $3500, with 14,000 on the clock, if that helps - great value I reckon....

thats good buying...your looks very tidy, that other one would be an ok buy at $3100 or so buy needs a good scrub up tho, mileage is good
ive got a mate who's done 60,000km on his and it still runs clean oil. are those 's' models a cv carb? if so theyre super cheap to run...up to
26 km per litre with minor carb,airbox and tailpipe mods, and needle position on the lean side:niceone:
which matters if your running standard sized fuel tank

[ducatijim]

Welcome to the other side buddy!
Firstly, don't let me see your bike again with that abomination of round black rubber up front, go NOW and order a Pirelli MT21, 90/90/21. Like now.
OR, you will end up going off road again, soon.
We need to get together, like I threatened when we last met, but, I have a job at the moment, doing roughly what you were in tha US.
I am hanging out to get your way, pm me your fone number and I will give you a bell soon.
Enjoy.

[dino3310]

Cool Man, pop in to the Matiere Club to settle the dust!



Yeah Mate, just need to build the skills then the back roads are my oyster!



....

fantastic stop mid trip for a brew:yes:

some of those roads around yours would be the best around, and theres a lot of them, like ADV central:scooter:

Will try and jack up a pootle down around there with triboy this summer

[240]

Nice bike mate enjoy ! :cool:

[shafty]

Welcome to the other side buddy!
Firstly, don't let me see your bike again with that abomination of round black rubber up front, go NOW and order a Pirelli MT21, 90/90/21. Like now.
OR, you will end up going off road again, soon.
We need to get together, like I threatened when we last met, but, I have a job at the moment, doing roughly what you were in tha US.
I am hanging out to get your way, pm me your fone number and I will give you a bell soon.
Enjoy.

Thanks Jim, that's the sort of advice I need - and for the rear?

Am thinking I'd like it lowered a bit too, to avoid an embarrassing
slow - mo tip over on rough ground

Will PM you, off road tripping today ~ back at New Years and
I'm in to harvest work straight away also!

Work is the curse of the riding Man huh

Anyway Merry Christmas everyone, time to check me sack :love:

[Waihou Thumper]

Anyway Merry Christmas everyone, time to check me sack :love:

Too much information there....:shit:
Oh, that sack...got'cha! :)

[_Shrek_]

Anyway Merry Christmas everyone, time to check me sack :love:

sick bustard, :msn-wink: merry Christmas & happy new year to you & yours :apint:
anyway are you heading down on the new one or the roadie? that way we can work out some thing till then don't work to hard

[shafty]

[R RATED][/R RATED]
sick bustard, :msn-wink: merry Christmas & happy new year to you & yours :apint:
anyway are you heading down on the new one or the roadie? that way we can work out some thing till then don't work to hard

Bad news on that front Shrek, ferry tickets are booked for a month
riding South Island roads in February but Jude has just heard
her broken heel hasn't mended properly so it's lookin like surgery
.......we're gutted.......:brick:

[Jantar]

[R RATED][/R RATED]

Bad news on that front Shrek, ferry tickets are booked for a month
riding South Island roads in February but Jude has just heard
her broken heel hasn't mended properly so it's lookin like surgery
.......we're gutted.......:brick:

Gee, that's bad news for Jude. I hope you have someone to help look after her while you come south. :innocent:

[_Shrek_]

[R RATED][/R RATED]

Bad news on that front Shrek, ferry tickets are booked for a month
riding South Island roads in February but Jude has just heard
her broken heel hasn't mended properly so it's lookin like surgery
.......we're gutted.......:brick:

just talk'n to mrs S,

looks like we will be making detour on our way back from the north, that way I can show K some more of the country she
has not seen :Punk: will be after the 22nd March if that suits

:shifty: if you're not using your tickets :whistle:

[shafty]

Gee, that's bad news for Jude. I hope you have someone to help look after her while you come south. :innocent:

Cheers Jantar - Jude has actually said more than once, grab a Mate and go anyway.....She's a Keeper!


just talk'n to mrs S,

looks like we will be making detour on our way back from the north, that way I can show K some more of the country she
has not seen :Punk: will be after the 22nd March if that suits

:shifty: if you're not using your tickets :whistle:

There's a room and garage here for ya Mr and Mrs Shrek!

[Jantar]

Will Jude be oK for you both to come south in april? I'm thinking Uly AGM and warbirds.

[shafty]

Dunno Mate, in 10 days or so we'll know the prognosis.....great idea though - everything's up in the air til then

It prob scuppers another season driving in Texas this year, but we'll find an upside .......