How does this look for a Northland road trip? [Archive]

jonnyk5614

24th June 2015, 13:21

Maha

24th June 2015, 13:29

There is fuel at Waitiki 20 km from the Cape. Fuel up at Awanui BP before head up Far North road and you'll be sweet.

jonnyk5614

24th June 2015, 13:54

There is fuel at Waitiki 20 km from the Cape. Fuel up at Awanui BP before head up Far North road and you'll be sweet.

Sweet as.

I was actually going to take the scenic route from Russel to Whangarei - will there be any gas down that way?

IkieBikie

24th June 2015, 14:00

After Whangarei at Whakapara turn off and do the Helena Bay road upto the ferry crossing at Okiato - very scenic good roads

jonnyk5614

24th June 2015, 14:13

After Whangarei at Whakapara turn off and do the Helena Bay road upto the ferry crossing at Okiato - very scenic good roads

Yup - was on the route but for some reason google maps changed it when I embedded it :yeah:

rambaldi

24th June 2015, 14:52

Sweet as.

I was actually going to take the scenic route from Russel to Whangarei - will there be any gas down that way?

Pretty sure there is still a servo at the corner of Old Russel Road and State Highway 1. It has usually been at night when I have gone past though so it has been shut. Haven't been diving up that way in a while though so not sure if it is still there. Haven't taken the bike either but Old Russel road feels like it could be a good bit of fun on two wheels.

MD

24th June 2015, 14:57

I did Northland loop in October and detoured to Helena Bay and Russell. Didn't do the HW16 bit though.

Awesome roads up there and as I posted at the time, possibly the best roads for motorcycling in the country. By that I mean no one up north has any idea what a straight line is. Reached the point of exhaustion from flicking left, right, left, right all day and night. No concerns with petrol supply.

rambaldi

24th June 2015, 14:59

I did Northland loop in October and detoured to Helena Bay and Russell. Didn't do the HW16 bit though.

Awesome roads up there and as I posted at the time, possibly the best roads for motorcycling in the country. By that I mean no one up north has any idea what a straight line is. Reached the point of exhaustion from flicking left, right, left, right all day and night. No concerns with petrol supply.

About how far between most stops? I only have an ity bity tank on my 250 but wouldn't mind exploring up there a bit.

jonnyk5614

24th June 2015, 15:20

Any cops about?

I presume just on the looooooong SH1 straight bits up to the cape but nadda else otherwise?

jonnyk5614

24th June 2015, 15:29

Yup - was on the route but for some reason google maps changed it when I embedded it :yeah:

Aha - google maps doesn't include "drag to change route" when you embed. Fixed :)

Maha

24th June 2015, 15:39

About how far between most stops? I only have an ity bity tank on my 250 but wouldn't mind exploring up there a bit.

We used to do an annual ride to the cape taking 250's with us and never a problem was had with fuel.

Akzle

24th June 2015, 16:07

Pretty sure there is still a servo at the corner of Old Russel Road and State Highway 1. It has usually been at night when I have gone past though so it has been shut. Haven't been diving up that way in a while though so not sure if it is still there. Haven't taken the bike either but Old Russel road feels like it could be a good bit of fun on two wheels.
yes. BP at whakapara (just before teh old russel turnoff). if you miss that i think it's about 20km up, detour off old russel road to oakura there's a GAS.
the road itself. lots of off camber corners and logging trucks and fuckwits doing 70 and few chances to pass and some campers too.

but certainly a beaut bit of countryside.

Any cops about?

I presume just on the looooooong SH1 straight bits up to the cape but nadda else otherwise?

depends. every now and then they get it in their heads to block off a town. kawakawa usually.

i occasionally see them trolling on some very random roads... but if they bother even turning around, they never catch me <_<

Akzle

24th June 2015, 16:11

as a side note the fishing at helena bay is shit. teal bay is heaps prettier (neither on the main road but both on the: )
back road back down to tutukaka - mimiwhangata. few gravel bits but it's way pretty. and the mermaid pools are worth a trek.

jonnyk5614

24th June 2015, 16:12

i occasionally see them trolling on some very random roads... but if they bother even turning around, they never catch me <_<

I'm on a thou.......

Akzle

24th June 2015, 16:33

I'm on a thou.......

so why are you asking about cops?

...are you a bitch?

mossy1200

24th June 2015, 19:59

Thinking.

That's a huge distance to travel just to visit a girl 8 doors away.

jonnyk5614

24th June 2015, 22:42

That's a huge distance to travel just to visit a girl 8 doors away.

She's nuts - don't want her finding out I live 8 doors away...

george formby

24th June 2015, 22:59

I'm on a thou.......

:killingme You will probably get wasted by someone on a trailie or a Deauville then. Agility is the key up here. Countless corners posted at 45/55kmh and lots at minus 35 kmh

Matauri loop is worth a short detour and if time allows the twin bridges road from Kaikohe will give your lustful steed some corners to accelerate through.
Same with the south end of your west coast route, some delicious open sweepers.

You can't go wrong really, only SH1 is a bit sleepy & patrolled. Be tough to get busted for speeding anywhere else unless your blind. Most of the feds are parked on passing lanes causing traffic jams.

Biggest thing up here is dodgy road surface & terrified tourists. Gotta have your wits about you. Oh, at this time of year shaded corners have the dreaded green spooge between the tire tracks. Slippier than a George Forman grill.

Deep joy. Have a ball.

Oh, the Managamukas are mandatory. Prolly one of the most mind bending set of corners this side of the Alps.

Deep, deep joy.

jonnyk5614

24th June 2015, 23:06

so why are you asking about cops?

...are you a bitch?

Oncoming ones aren't an issue with a thou. ;)

Ones ahead of me aren't an issue unless you go completely blind and overtake them.

The ones hiding behind a tree with a laser gun.....

FJRider

24th June 2015, 23:23

Oncoming ones aren't an issue with a thou. ;)

Ones ahead of me aren't an issue unless you go completely blind and overtake them.

The ones hiding behind a tree with a laser gun.....

They know where their mates are ... you don't know where their mates are.

How good a guesser are you ...??

jonnyk5614

24th June 2015, 23:35

They know where their mates are ... you don't know where their mates are.

How good a guesser are you ...??

Their mates need a plate.

Get a couple of KMs up road.
Park up for 10mins up a side road.
Chuck a hi-vis on.
Carry on riding.

george formby

24th June 2015, 23:42

Their mates need a plate.

Get a couple of KMs up road.
Park up for 10mins up a side road.
Chuck a hi-vis on.
Carry on riding.

:devil2:We have a couple of orange feds up here who would probably qualify for Bathurst. Your side roads will be gravel.

Deep joy.

FJRider

24th June 2015, 23:42

Their mates need a plate.

Get a couple of KMs up road.
Park up for 10mins up a side road.
Chuck a hi-vis on.
Carry on riding.

They need a description ... if you fit ... :bleh:

At worst ... 15 minutes of your life is theirs ... and if you're legal ... they might let you carry on.

Remember .. owning a distinctive motorcycle can be your downfall.

Probably lets YOU out ... you've got a suzuki ... :laugh:

jonnyk5614

25th June 2015, 00:08

They need a description ... if you fit ... :bleh:

At worst ... 15 minutes of your life is theirs ... and if you're legal ... they might let you carry on.

Remember .. owning a distinctive motorcycle can be your downfall.

Probably lets YOU out ... you've got a suzuki ... :laugh:

First thing I did was take the stupid stickers off - a K&N Filtercharger. Please.... give me a break..... It is already a fucking awesome bike - I don't need to pretend it is supercharged.

insomnia01

25th June 2015, 07:24

:
the Managamukas are mandatory. Prolly one of the most mind bending set of corners this side of the Alps.

Deep, deep joy.

AMEN to that :ride: When Pillion & I where up there a year or 2 ago we stayed @ a B+B in Rawene across from the ferry terminal :lol: & had a ball doing the following loop, Rawene/Okaihau/Mangamuku's/Kohukohu back on the ferry into Rawene, looking at heading back up that way in Jan/Feb 2015 with a bit of luck

caspernz

25th June 2015, 09:12

Fuel isn't a huge problem up that way. The stretch from Awanui to the Cape is quite a nice ride actually, and yes I'll admit to having an early start ex Kaitaia, run to the Cape and back, refuel at the PNS at the south end of the Awanui straight and repeat the trip to the Cape.

Thoroughly recommend the Mangamukas, almost as good as the Rimutakas near Welly in my view.

jonnyk5614

25th June 2015, 11:13

Thoroughly recommend the Mangamukas, almost as good as the Rimutakas near Welly in my view.

Are we just talking SH1 north of Mangamuka?

MD

25th June 2015, 11:39

I'm struggling to remember the exact places, not being a Northland local, but somewhere near Helena bay we stopped at a beaut hillside cafe, sold lots of artworks, looked down on a bay. Brilliant biker stop.

Then later we stopped for what we were told was the best Fish n Chips shop in NZ. Nice building and you dine over the water but the food was blah, average and ridiculously expensive. Somewhere near Coopers beach area.

The run south from Cape R was a blast. One of the fastest riding sections. Amazing how fast nudging our 100kpm limit can feel on a bike. We were trying to race nightfall back to Ngunuru (no bloody chance!). So it must have been these Mangamukas that we rode in pitch darkness. Bikes have such useless lights on twisty roads. The big green Ninja has decent lights but nothing works on twisties. And get rid of those pesty possums. We took one out for you.

We had Honda Predator with us, bloody small tank but he managed fine for gas.

jonnyk5614

25th June 2015, 11:50

Should I buy one of those puncture repair things (proddy things, glue, special string, CO2) or will I be fine (within the bounds of probability :whistle:)?

BATMAN6253

25th June 2015, 12:31

Are you looking to go by yourself or a group. If group then when are you going

george formby

25th June 2015, 12:36

Should I buy one of those puncture repair things (proddy things, glue, special string, CO2) or will I be fine (within the bounds of probability :whistle:)?

I recently had to ride home on a Holts aerosol repair. Tire weld? Worked a treat. Tire was still inflated days later when I rode to the shop for a repair. Super glue works well on nails. First puncture in 25 years.
Better off looking at it than looking for it. Carry a tire weld spray all the time now guaranteeing I won't need it.
Chip shop is in Mangonui and yup, it's not what it was. Helena Bay Cafe is right on the road side at, you guessed it, Helena Bay (Old Russell Road).

And yup, heading North over the Mangamukas you are on SH1, gets fun after Okaihau. You go through Kaitaia and keep going to the cape. If you turn left or right after Awanui you will get wet.
Mangonui is on SH10, boring. Not Mangonui, SH10.

jonnyk5614

25th June 2015, 12:40

Are you looking to go by yourself or a group. If group then when are you going

By myself.

caspernz

25th June 2015, 14:03

Are we just talking SH1 north of Mangamuka?

Correct. Yes it's the main road, but worth a mention for a dry daylight run.

Should I buy one of those puncture repair things (proddy things, glue, special string, CO2) or will I be fine (within the bounds of probability :whistle:)?

Better to have a string repair kit just in case. Just FYI, still plenty of areas where cell phone reception is no go.

By myself.

Best way to do it, or maybe that's because I prefer it that way myself.

WNJ

25th June 2015, 14:41

:killingme You will probably get wasted by someone on a trailie or a Deauville then. Agility is the key up here. Countless corners posted at 45/55kmh and lots at minus 35 kmh

Oh, the Managamukas are mandatory. Prolly one of the most mind bending set of corners this side of the Alps..
Did Hamilton to Ahipara a couple weeks ago to see olds, Mangamukas is fantastic bit or road ride it every couple of weeks never sick of it, especially when riding around a " Ooooh THOU rider "on the way up cause they cant throw the bike around quick enough :nya: happens a lot I suspect and I have done it more than a couple of times on the 636 :motu:

FJRider

25th June 2015, 21:57

It is already a fucking awesome bike - I don't need to pretend it is supercharged.

It's a suzuki ... pretend ... is what suzuki riders do ...

get over yourself ...

nzspokes

25th June 2015, 22:10

Did Hamilton to Ahipara a couple weeks ago to see olds, Mangamukas is fantastic bit or road ride it every couple of weeks never sick of it, especially when riding around a " Ooooh THOU rider "on the way up cause they cant throw the bike around quick enough :nya: happens a lot I suspect and I have done it more than a couple of times on the 636 :motu:

Or they dont feel the need to race on a public road, more so some guy on a little 600.

mossy1200

25th June 2015, 22:20

Did Hamilton to Ahipara a couple weeks ago to see olds, Mangamukas is fantastic bit or road ride it every couple of weeks never sick of it, especially when riding around a " Ooooh THOU rider "on the way up cause they cant throw the bike around quick enough :nya: happens a lot I suspect and I have done it more than a couple of times on the 636 :motu:

Your signature sums that up perfectly.

jonnyk5614

26th June 2015, 00:21

It's a suzuki ... pretend ... is what suzuki riders do ...

get over yourself ...

I don't need to pretend - I grin from ear to ear every time I ride it. I know there are faster/better bikes out there and I don't care :D

baffa

26th June 2015, 10:59

Also keen on this

jonnyk5614

2nd July 2015, 14:02

Awesome ride. Got up at 5am yesterday and filmed this also.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv9d0T68W_g

george formby

2nd July 2015, 14:36

Awesome ride. Got up at 5am yesterday and filmed this also.

Nice. Confirms why I love living up here.

Maha

2nd July 2015, 15:05

Did someone flog the vagina liner?

jonnyk5614

6th July 2015, 10:25

Some pics - awesome trip, great roads, good weather, great bike, no cops, loved it.

Bike performed perfectly on tarmac, chip seal, gravel, mud, sand and the Te Paki stream (yeah - got too far up 90 mile beach and couldn't be fucked turning back).

The bike needed one hell of a clean though!

A couple of photos below....

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313457

313458

313460

jonnyk5614

6th July 2015, 10:32

Encountered some dumb-ass Germans at the bottom of the stream.

"Can you help us".
"Well, I'm on a bike and I can't even use the foot-stand in the sand so how about no."

Here is what they'd done - they had apparently reversed here from further up:
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And this was the expanse of options (and suggestive tyre marks) available to them. Sorry about the dirty lens GoPro photo.

313464

george formby

6th July 2015, 13:56

Did someone flog the vagina liner?

No, the Vagina Liner is sat on it's mooring. Seaman Staines is doing the winter maintenance on it.

Love your pics, not taken with your phone I would guess.

I miss watching tourists get stuck on 90 mile, my two favs were a Porsche and a Merc. The Merc poked out of the sand for years.

Where did you get onto the beach?

Maha

6th July 2015, 13:59

No, the Vagina Liner is sat on it's mooring. Seaman Staines is doing the winter maintenance on it.

Roger that cabin-boy....I mean um, okay :cool:

george formby

6th July 2015, 14:34

Roger that cabin-boy....I mean um, okay :cool:

Master Bates and Roger the obliging cabin boy eloped at the end of the season.

jonnyk5614

6th July 2015, 21:52

Where did you get onto the beach?

Ahipara. Was a pretty hilarious start - loose as sand. Just dumped the clutch and walked the bike lol.

jonnyk5614

6th July 2015, 21:56

Love your pics, not taken with your phone I would guess.

Nah - Nikon D7000 and mostly my 17-55mm f2.8 Nikon Glass.

I couple of Tee shirts and pants then shit loads of camera kit on the back lol

george formby

7th July 2015, 09:56

Ahipara. Was a pretty hilarious start - loose as sand. Just dumped the clutch and walked the bike lol.

Well done. I'm still in fear of getting my fat bike onto the beach, possibly forever.

jonnyk5614

7th July 2015, 11:38

Well done. I'm still in fear of getting my fat bike onto the beach, possibly forever.

It is easy as once you are on the wet sand.

george formby

7th July 2015, 11:42

It is easy as once you are on the wet sand.

Yup, it's just getting to it that makes me pucker. I really need to grow a pair.

jonnyk5614

7th July 2015, 17:17

Yup, it's just getting to it that makes me pucker. I really need to grow a pair.

It is about 30 meters after the soft stuff!

Maha

7th July 2015, 18:02

Yup, it's just getting to it that makes me pucker. I really need to grow a pair.

A couple of road bikes ventured out onto the sand on our last Cape trip, I think they got on at Te Paki and back off at Pukenui.