Waikato to Wellington Winter Night Ride

[awa355]

In the early 90's, Two of us left Putaruru at midnight on a July Friday and rode to Wellington for breakfast. Brian came through from Matamata on his CX500, I was on a borrowed XS750. It was supposed to be our monthly ride for the Matamata Road Riders club. Only Brian and I were stupid enough not to cop out of the ride. It was a fantastic ride, except that at Wellington back then there wasn't a place to be found open at 6am. We rode back home that Saturday after a brief nap at respective rellies homes.

This coming July I am going to do this ride again. If anyone is interested in doing something different from a day ride, I will post up a couple of Friday dates for July, once I know which will be my weekend off that month. I'll be riding a 250 cruiser (no heated handgrips, no fairing) so it wont be a race.

Give it some thought:eek5::eek5:

[1billyboy]

Send a message to Dieselboy he might want to do it again.

[dieselboy]

Too right I'll be a starter! Did we not eat at a most disgusting greasy spoon in Courtenay Place or was I the only one stupid enough to risk poisoning myself? :confused:

[awa355]

Too right I'll be a starter! Did we not eat at a most disgusting greasy spoon in Courtenay Place or was I the only one stupid enough to risk poisoning myself? :confused:

I think it was Courtney plc we ate. I think I wrote about the XS750 with its 3 into 1 exhaust bellowing out while crossing the desert rd under a clear sky at 2.30 in the morning. I was hopeing no buggar would reply to this thread then I could've quietly let the whole idea drop. :shit:

Remember this motley lot?? It was March '89. We did the East coast ride. I covered 890k that day, on the XZ400 with my 13yr son as pillion.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/29061101.jpg

[unstuck]

I think it was Courtney plc we ate. I think I wrote about the XS750 with its 3 into 1 exhaust bellowing out while crossing the desert rd under a clear sky at 2.30 in the morning. I was hopeing no buggar would reply to this thread then I could've quietly let the whole idea drop. :shit:

Remember this motley lot?? It was March '89. We did the East coast ride. I covered 890k that day, on the XZ400 with my 13yr son as pillion.


Is the fella in the middle sitting on the heap of gravel a chap named Wayne?

[1billyboy]

I know the one on the right Brian and 3rd in on the left Ken.:shutup:

[awa355]

2nd from right sitting next to Brian is Scott Baigent. The bike is Brians blue CX. Scott rode a 650 Katana. I have got quite a few photos of the Matamata Riders group. The red haired chap was called Ken (I think).

[awa355]

10th to 13th July is my weekend off that month. With any luck, the weather will be between rain and frosts.

I will leave Putaruru at midnight Friday 10th. If it is gale force winds, driving rain, and I'm late, you guys go on ahead. :bye: :bye:

[insomnia01]

Rego exemption on Blackbird becomes live in June I wonder if pillion would be keen on a similar ride :bash: :bash: :bash: thought as much........

[awa355]

Rego exemption on Blackbird becomes live in June I wonder if pillion would be keen on a similar ride :bash: :bash: :bash: thought as much........

Go on, :niceone: Leave the heated hand grips, and electric vest at home. All you need is a hairy chest, tassels on the handlebars, and an attitude:clap::clap:
When Brian and I did this ride back in 1992, I never had a riding jacket. Think I wore work shirt, jersey, swandri jacket and a Line 7 rain coat. Jeans, over trou, and work boots. FUCK, it was a cold ride. The XS750 handled like a bitch, the rear brake was non existent. Speedo stopped working on the return trip. Fun to look back on now, not so funny at the time.

[dieselboy]

I think it was Courtney plc we ate. I think I wrote about the XS750 with its 3 into 1 exhaust bellowing out while crossing the desert rd under a clear sky at 2.30 in the morning. I was hopeing no buggar would reply to this thread then I could've quietly let the whole idea drop. :shit:

Remember this motley lot?? It was March '89. We did the East coast ride. I covered 890k that day, on the XZ400 with my 13yr son as pillion.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/29061101.jpg

I'm not sure who the guy in the hat is, the red head is Ken Stearns, next is Trev Martin, then Scott Baigent (his brother is called Wayne), then myself. The guy in the hat may be Chris Hall, not sure. Never mind the weather... Game on!:drool:

[caseye]

Hummmmmmmmm, night ride, dessert road, Welly, bunch a ex Waikatoians, shit!sounds like fun. I'm interested.
Did Dorkland to Welly on wifey's little ol 250 Lifan Cruiser 4 years ago, mid year, desert road in fluffy white stuff, left at 2pm arrived at bro's place in Johnsonville at about 2am.
Few car drivers learn't that little bikes can pass with enough momentum, Atiamuri hill was one bloody good buzz.

[awa355]

Hummmmmmmmm, night ride, dessert road, Welly, bunch a ex Waikatoians, shit!sounds like fun. I'm interested.
Did Dorkland to Welly on wifey's little ol 250 Lifan Cruiser 4 years ago, mid year, desert road in fluffy white stuff, left at 2pm arrived at bro's place in Johnsonville at about 2am.

On a little bike it gives a greater sense of achievement than sitting in a lazy boy with all the plug in extras. This ride on a full dressed tourer would be pretty much a non event. My bike is a basic 250 cruiser, no windshield, no heated grips. Give it some thought, still 2-3 months away yet.

[unstuck]

I have done the trip from Pakiri to wellington on my 400 impulse heaps of times back in the late 80's early 90's, usually leaving at or just before midnight. Back then just about the only other vehicles I saw were trucks, some very cold nights, but helped to keep you awake.:Punk::Punk:

[insomnia01]

Are you heading to a particular place in WellyWood, having breakky then turning around & heading home or staying over night ?

[awa355]

Are you heading to a particular place in WellyWood, having breakky then turning around & heading home or staying over night ?

No particular place to finish at. I'd like to end up down around the waterfront if there is a breakfast joint open. As for returning, I will probably be wanting to crash (as in sleep, I am in my 60's now) somewhere for a few hours. Last time Brian and I had family to head for. We each made our own way home. I returned to Putaruru that afternoon.
This time I wouldn't mind staying somewhere and maybe exploring the coastline the next day. Had thought of riding over the Rimutaka, and tiki touring around the Lake Ferry area. That may depend on whether I've thawed out by then. I will have Fri-Monday to get back.

[r6rchris]

Go to the Spruce Goose chaps. It's right on the drink at Lyall Bay down the airport runway end. Can't miss it. Big new cafe and really good food. Open from 7am daily :msn-wink:

[awa355]

Thanks for that but might be too far through the city. If we hit the waterfront after a long cold miserable ride, probably the first hot food place off the motorway will do.

[dieselboy]

Okay, how about some commitment here guys, we are only two weeks away from doin' it!
What do you reckon Arthur, meet at 'Z' Putaruru at 11.45?:brick:
PS I have succumbed to the indignities of age, I do have heated handgrips and a small fairing!:cold:

[jonnyk5614]

On a little bike it gives a greater sense of achievement than sitting in a lazy boy with all the plug in extras. This ride on a full dressed tourer would be pretty much a non event. My bike is a basic 250 cruiser, no windshield, no heated grips. Give it some thought, still 2-3 months away yet.

Froze my tits ofd doing it on the 250 GSX a while back.
Rained the whole way and my riding gear wasn't waterproof!

Did it in 6:45 thou and made a video... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS4detcy3jY

[awa355]

Okay, how about some commitment here guys, we are only two weeks away from doin' it!
What do you reckon Arthur, meet at 'Z' Putaruru at 11.45?:brick:
PS I have succumbed to the indignities of age, I do have heated handgrips and a small fairing!:cold:

I opened my big mouth so I guess I better front up. :brick::brick: I will catch up with you before then, Brian. Most likely be just us two. On the 250, I will be cruising along between 90-100kph. The smaller bike will be a lot easier to keep up a steady pace than that heavyweight XS750 custom I used back in '92.

:scratch:No full moon this time. I might try to knock up a form of windshield before the Friday night. Thought about heated grips but I'm not sure about the electrics handling the extra output. Then decided it's cheaper just to "harden the fuck up".

[eldog]

No particular place to finish at. I'd like to end up down around the waterfront if there is a breakfast joint open. As for returning, I will probably be wanting to crash (as in sleep, I am in my 60's now) somewhere for a few hours. Last time Brian and I had family to head for. We each made our own way home. I returned to Putaruru that afternoon.
This time I wouldn't mind staying somewhere and maybe exploring the coastline the next day. Had thought of riding over the Rimutaka, and tiki touring around the Lake Ferry area. That may depend on whether I've thawed out by then. I will have Fri-Monday to get back.

go for the Rimutaka and Lake Ferry then head home via Kimbolton and Waituna West that would be my pick.

[Maha]

Sound an epic ride, reminds me of days past when gijoe would ride for hours and hours just because. Heading to Wellington from Auckland via Gisborne.

[eldog]

Sound an epic ride, reminds me of days past when gijoe would ride for hours and hours just because. Heading to Wellington from Auckland via Gisborne.

Going to do something even more epic than this at Xmas, just over a couple of days :bleh:

In the planning stages at present.....:weird:

so got some :apumpin: to do.

Keeping an eye on this thread as it is approx. 30% of the ride I will be doing.

hence all the posts about training, fatigue, gear, fuel etc

appreciate all the help from fellow KBers

[Maha]

Going to do something even more epic than this at Xmas, just over a couple of days :bleh:

In the planning stages at present.....:weird:

so got some :apumpin: to do.

Keeping an eye on this thread as it is approx. 30% of the ride I will be doing.

hence all the posts about training, fatigue, gear, fuel etc

appreciate all the help from fellow KBers

Will you be doing it on the big boys bike Lance?

[eldog]

Will you be doing it on the big boys bike Lance?

no, still in storage, just waiting for me, shining in the darkness. I haven't quite got the skill for her yet. She is 70-80% complete of the mods I planned right at the beginning. (electrical stuff left) Its the control of the throttle and cornering I am working on, but that's me, time/practise/confidence, using another bike for that.

but it will be on a black beauty just the same. :cool:

If I get the chance and you are free might go via mangakino on my way south or north.

[awa355]

go for the Rimutaka and Lake Ferry then head home via Kimbolton and Waituna West that would be my pick.

As it is now, with a looming redundancy in the next couple of months, I wont have money for the luxury of staying down there, so will start heading back that morning. I don't know anyone down at Wellington but have a place back at Fielding I can crash for a few hours kip.

[eldog]

As it is now, with a looming redundancy in the next couple of months, I wont have money for the luxury of staying down there, so will start heading back that morning. I don't know anyone down at Wellington but have a place back at Fielding I can crash for a few hours kip.

that's a bummer.

for years I have had to live with the fact that my place of work could fold.

stop at fielding on the way down, rest. Carry on to welly, then further afield, back to fielding, rest, then home again.

have a good ride :headbang:

I have to plan my stops etc, so trying to get my ride fitness up.
Planning first, getting the bike setup for a long journey, then ride fitness time.

[awa355]

I'm going to pull the pin on this ride (for now). I should find out late next week what date my redundancy takes effect from. Probably wont have my mind tuned into the ride like I should, so am putting the breakfast run off for a while.

[eldog]

I'm going to pull the pin on this ride (for now). I should find out late next week what date my redundancy takes effect from. Probably wont have my mind tuned into the ride like I should, so am putting the breakfast run off for a while.

Cancelling your ride - Totally understandable.

Nothing in life is certain, that much I have come to understand.
and be careful what you wish for.

Redundancy - I hope I never have to face it. But in reality its there all the time.
I just work in the hope it never happens.

Plan your ride, just don't put it off for too long, you never know whats around the corner.

[Maha]

Nothing worse than and epic ride as such, when your mind is not on the job, good call Arthur.

[awa355]

Nothing worse than and epic ride as such, when your mind is not on the job, good call Arthur.

Thanks, actually, a night ride in the warmer months to Welly for breakfast would be far more fun and likely to get others more interested. As good riding mates have said, we've done the 'Hard man' rides before. We are now at the age where every ride should be for enjoyment and not a challenge, and my work outlook is a worry right now.

[eldog]

where every ride should be for enjoyment and not a challenge, and my work outlook is a worry right now.

every ride should be for enjoyment :niceone:
a small challenge is always good, makes for sense of achievement (just not too much as failure can be devastating:spanking:)

work outlook - treat it as an opportunity (yeah I am the one to talk:weird:)

I have to work up again to do longer rides again once my arm heals and I get the bike back in order.
Got some planning to do.

Suggest you do some planning for those trips you would like to do. Keeps you occupied for a bit if you are like me, depression is a sink hole.

You are better to ride when you are in a good headspace.
I found this out during a group ride, I was much better off leaving. :2thumbsup

[caseye]

Well awa355, that is a real bummer, work situation I mean.
Hope it comes right for you soon, these last ten years I've been made redundant 3 times, off work for a combined total ( busted a leg and took nearly a year to get back from ACC what they denied me initially) of about 24 months, sucked big time, but kept plugging away, got back into the swing and now am working with a great bunch, but as always these days there are no guarantees.
As for a Summer night ride, Yeah, much better idea for us older buggers,nothing to prove, just to enjoy the trip with some good buggers.
Wanted to come do this with you, but wasn't going to be able too this time around, so now, more time, better weather and maybe a couple more to do it with, win ,win here.