Queen's Birthday - back road to the Brass

[SE950]

Anyone out there, two up, keen on coming for a ride, stay in hotels, sat-sun, leave Sat, ride home Monday, have a look around the area, wanting too ride with another couple

[BrendanZX9R]

Anyone out there, two up, keen on coming for a ride, stay in hotels, sat-sun, leave Sat, ride home Monday, have a look around the area, wanting too ride with another couple

Hey there. I'll be heading down sat and back Sunday with a few mates. We're staying at the omakau pub. What way are you heading down?

[SE950]

depending on snow, black forest - omarama saddle, deep snow haka- danseys, a look around poolburn sunday, monday thompsons gorge track, I will be on nobbly tyres two up. cheers ian

[BrendanZX9R]

sounds good. We'll be heading down the same way and will make a call on the day if we do omarama saddle or danseys.
But it might pay to check omarama saddle isn't closed by then? We had planned to get to fairlie around 10. I guess we'll see each other on the road?

Our plan was to come straight home Sunday.

[XF650]

I've always said that those who go to the Brass & don't tent it, should only get a pink badge.

[Erelyes]

I've always said that those who go to the Brass & don't tent it, should only get a pink badge.

Some people last year didn't tent it. Cos the fuckin' things blew away :Punk:

[BrendanZX9R]

I've always said that those who go to the Brass & don't tent it, should only get a pink badge.

Haha! Fair enough! Although I have to say that the delicious steak dinner and electric blanket at the pub would help me deal with being issued a pink badge......

[James Deuce]

It's gonna be more like the Bikini Monkey this year.

[SE950]

I've always said that those who go to the Brass & don't tent it, should only get a pink badge.

perhaps then you are not lucky enough to have a wife or partner willing or trusting your riding enough to go on the back of the bike with you. Our intention is not necessarily to attend the rally but to meet other like minded adventure riders that may be in the area at the time. Going together on these trips is enjoyable and to give up a what could be cold wet night in a tent for somewhere warmer is worth the compromise!!

[James Deuce]

perhaps then you are not lucky enough to have a wife or partner willing or trusting your riding enough to go on the back of the bike with you. Our intention is not necessarily to attend the rally but to meet other like minded adventure riders that may be in the area at the time. Going together on these trips is enjoyable and to give up a what could be cold wet night in a tent for somewhere warmer is worth the compromise!!

Settle down Nancy, it was a joke!

[XF650]

perhaps then you are not lucky enough to have a wife or partner willing or trusting your riding enough to go on the back of the bike with you. Our intention is not necessarily to attend the rally but to meet other like minded adventure riders that may be in the area at the time. Going together on these trips is enjoyable and to give up a what could be cold wet night in a tent for somewhere warmer is worth the compromise!!

Just saying the Brass Monkey is all about being tough & coping with the elements (plus having a bloody good time!). Sure the ride there and back is part of the challenge, especially the Adv routes. However the Rally is more than just the ride & I reckon the (real) Badge should be earned by tenting it as well. Sure I have Adv riding buddies who prefer electric blankets, heat pumps, hot showers & even a flush toilet, bless them. But I believe their Brass experience doesn't qualify them for a Rally Badge, just a pink one.
Heaps of couples camp on site & I bet they are much warmer than the rest of us - I'm very envious. However when doing the Adv routes that time of year, not sure I would want a passenger. But I did once carry a road kill Wallaby for a while - does that count?
The Brass site is near the coldest place in NZ. There are other Rallies at warmer times if you don't like the weather at that time of year.
I say Tent it or Pink it.

[Madness]

I think this could be a covert swingers thread & I don't mean sidecars.

[BrendanZX9R]

Just saying the Brass Monkey is all about being tough & coping with the elements (plus having a bloody good time!). Sure the ride there and back is part of the challenge, especially the Adv routes. However the Rally is more than just the ride & I reckon the (real) Badge should be earned by tenting it as well. Sure I have Adv riding buddies who prefer electric blankets, heat pumps, hot showers & even a flush toilet, bless them. But I believe their Brass experience doesn't qualify them for a Rally Badge, just a pink one.
Heaps of couples camp on site & I bet they are much warmer than the rest of us - I'm very envious. However when doing the Adv routes that time of year, not sure I would want a passenger. But I did once carry a road kill Wallaby for a while - does that count?
The Brass site is near the coldest place in NZ. There are other Rallies at warmer times if you don't like the weather at that time of year.
I say Tent it or Pink it.

Wow you feel quite strongly about a badge! I guess I'll just have to wear my pink badge with pride whilst I'm warm and dry with a belly full of decent food.

Good on you guys for tenting, that's the hard way to do it so kudos to you, but I thought the brass Monkey was about bike's and riding not badges

[James Deuce]

I think they should get the badge tattooed on their pink bits.

[Jantar]

sounds good. We'll be heading down the same way and will make a call on the day if we do omarama saddle or danseys.
But it might pay to check omarama saddle isn't closed by then? We had planned to get to fairlie around 10. I guess we'll see each other on the road?

Our plan was to come straight home Sunday.
Have to hope the snow melts by then. At the moment you would have trouble going over Danseys. Omarama Saddle and Thompson's Track are out of the question.

[BrendanZX9R]

Have to hope the snow melts by then. At the moment you would have trouble going over Danseys. Omarama Saddle and Thompson's Track are out of the question.

awesome, thanks for the heads up Jantar. We'll play it by ear and make a call closer to the time as to which way we go.

[Jantar]

Snow this early rarely stays for long. Already today the snow line has gone up a few hundred feet from yesterday. I'll keep my eye on this thread and post an update closer to the time.

[BrendanZX9R]

Snow this early rarely stays for long. Already today the snow line has gone up a few hundred feet from yesterday. I'll keep my eye on this thread and post an update closer to the time.

Cheers. Thanks for that

[SE950]

Snow this early rarely stays for long. Already today the snow line has gone up a few hundred feet from yesterday. I'll keep my eye on this thread and post an update closer to the time.


2010 it was axel deep snow over Omarama saddle, Sunday the Danseys was close, so Thompsons track was our next way out wheel deep snow, the last of the three saddles was hard work pushing the 450 through, and sending him down parts that looked like no return, lucky the snow was still soft and we got to the main rd, we had to go through the Lindis behind the sand truck, fun times, and we got the 'stayed the night' badge 180mm of snow under the tent. In the passed if it snows early May and no more snow it should be good, unlike 2010. Do u Jantar live near bye, Cheers

[BrendanZX9R]

I see the pig route from palmerston to kyeburn/ranfurly is closed due to snow. I imagine that this will open today/tomorrow. Anyone have any idea as to whether Danseys will be cleared by Saturday?
I imagine that McKenzie and haka pass shouldn't be a problem, the worst of the weather seems to be further south.

[XF650]

Jatz called in on his way to the Brass, with a sick looking E10 front. Had a rummage in my garage & found a fairly decent D605 that he got fitted at local Suzy dealer.
Pic shows a happier James about to head south with local rider Craig, who kindly offered to show him some adv routes to the Monkey & beyond.

[JATZ]

Jatz called in on his way to the Brass, with a sick looking E10 front. Had a rummage in my garage & found a fairly decent D605 that he got fitted at local Suzy dealer.
Pic shows a happier James about to head south with local rider Craig, who kindly offered to show him some adv routes to the Monkey & beyond.
Cheers Struan, the tyres going well :D
I'm not happy about the fitting charge, but sometimes "tourists" get shafted.
Not to much gravel on the way to the brass, McKenzie was shut (guarded by an angry digger driver) and so was Danseys. The road through/past Elephant rocks was cool, as was the pig root though
I'm sitting in tar now now hoping the fog clears (not likely :( ) before heading into Milford :niceone:

[RMOTO]

Not to much gravel on the way to the brass, McKenzie was shut (guarded by an angry digger driver) and so was Danseys.

My plan of parking up in front of a warm fire at Danseys Pass Coach Inn and a good pub feed were foiled by a locked gate and a few feet of snow =( It was getting late so I ended up staying at Danseys Pass Holiday Park. Good little cabins for the price

Lots of riders out on the road, cracker weather =)

[SE950]

you should've come with us we did it two up, its called adventure riding

[SE950]

https://scontent-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t1.0-9/10421599_601238886650908_3219605565416876711_n.jpg

[SE950]

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[RMOTO]

you should've come with us we did it two up, its called adventure riding

Adventure riding? Never heard of it

[JATZ]

Just walked in the door at home after taking some back roads to the brass..... and home :D