Dusty Butt DB1K 2017

[slicker]

Somebody has to start one.

Anyone volunteering some pre Dusty Butt Thursday ride? They've been terrific in the past?

Epic Events say same distance as 2016 but some new tracks. Enjoyed day two this year, hope they don't cut too much of that.

[Saarg]

Somebody has to start one.

Anyone volunteering some pre Dusty Butt Thursday ride? They've been terrific in the past?

Epic Events say same distance as 2016 but some new tracks. Enjoyed day two this year, hope they don't cut too much of that.

I'm keen, but can't do a Thursday very often, any chance of a Wednesday?


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[MXNUT]

Will be doing both a Wednesday and Thursday ride on the way down south to the DB.

Wednesday - Maungatapu - Braeburn - Porika - Rainbow and maybe Edwards or mailings passes if time. Staying the night at Hanmer springs.

Thursday - straight down to either Macdonald downs then less valley OR straight down to Orari bridge then through the Orari Gorge station - Blue mountains station and into Fairlie by the back roads late afternoon.

Welcome any company if anyone is interested.

[slicker]

Will be doing both a Wednesday and Thursday ride on the way down south to the DB.

Wednesday - Maungatapu - Braeburn - Porika - Rainbow and maybe Edwards or mailings passes if time. Staying the night at Hanmer springs.

Thursday - straight down to either Macdonald downs then less valley OR straight down to Orari bridge then through the Orari Gorge station - Blue mountains station and into Fairlie by the back roads late afternoon.

Welcome any company if anyone is interested.

Yeah, I'd be interested in the Orari Gorge leg. Permissions needed?:rolleyes:

[mmeredith]

Hi there!

New to KiwiBiker, relatively new to NZ (< 1yr), so this will be the first Dusty Butt for me (and 2 other friends from abroad).

If you don't mind, I have a couple of questions (to start off with).

1. Navigation. Is a dedicated GPS like an eTrex essential, or will a smartphone with an app like Backcountry Navigator or New Zealand Maps be fine. Both can import GPX, and download areas for offline use. What do you guys use?

2. Fuel range. I know fuel charts will be published closer to the time, but in the past, what was the longest stretch? I'll be on a Husky FE 350 with a 9.5L standard tank. I plan on getting a 5L Desert Fox bladder to strap on the back for the longer stretches. Will that suffice, or will one need in excess of 15L between certain stops?!

Thanks in advance

[Takataka]

Hi there!

New to KiwiBiker, relatively new to NZ (< 1yr), so this will be the first Dusty Butt for me (and 2 other friends from abroad).

If you don't mind, I have a couple of questions (to start off with).

1. Navigation. Is a dedicated GPS like an eTrex essential, or will a smartphone with an app like Backcountry Navigator or New Zealand Maps be fine. Both can import GPX, and download areas for offline use. What do you guys use?

2. Fuel range. I know fuel charts will be published closer to the time, but in the past, what was the longest stretch? I'll be on a Husky FE 350 with a 9.5L standard tank. I plan on getting a 5L Desert Fox bladder to strap on the back for the longer stretches. Will that suffice, or will one need in excess of 15L between certain stops?!

Thanks in advance
Last year I used back country navigator on my phone and it was brilliant.
As I remember the longest distance between fuel stops was 280km

[Woodman]

Try not to stretch your fuel to the limit because you may get lost or spill some in a fall or loan some to a mate or get carried away and ride like a loony sucking more gas than you usually would.

[MXNUT]

Due to a medical event that I have recently suffered I will no longer be able to attend the DB.:(




I have a fully paid up subscription with accommodation booked at both Fairlie and Alex.




If anyone is interested send me a pm

[nzexc]

I have done this ride three times on a KTM350 with 14/48 and filled up at each stop as below.
Day one
Waimate - 6.3L
Kurow - 5.7L
Omakau - 6.8L (the hard way)
Alex - 6.1L

Day 2 (pre rode this a few weeks ago on a 2017 450EXC 14/52)
Roxburgh - 5.1L
Lumsden - 8L
Alexandra- 13L

Day3
Lawrence- 5.5L
Oturehua - 11L (most likely wont be open this year)
Omarama - 4.5L (the easy way)
Fairlie- 7.5L

Hope this helps someone

[mmeredith]

I have done this ride three times on a KTM350 with 14/48 and filled up at each stop as below.
Day one
Waimate - 6.3L
Kurow - 5.7L
Omakau - 6.8L (the hard way)
Alex - 6.1L

Day 2 (pre rode this a few weeks ago on a 2017 450EXC 14/52)
Roxburgh - 5.1L
Lumsden - 8L
Alexandra- 13L

Day3
Lawrence- 5.5L
Oturehua - 11L (most likely wont be open this year)
Omarama - 4.5L (the easy way)
Fairlie- 7.5L

Hope this helps someone

That's VERY helpful, thanks.

I'm still running the stock 14/52 on my FE 350, so it will be slightly different from your EXC-F 350, but those are good indicators.

[slicker]

If you are going to use a mobile phone get one of those $20 waterproof handlebar mounted cases. I used one last year, it kept the phone perfectly dry.

[Takataka]

If you are going to use a mobile phone get one of those $20 waterproof handlebar mounted cases. I used one last year, it kept the phone perfectly dry.
Sounds good. Got a link?

[slicker]

Something like this http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/parts-for-sale/panniers-bags-carry-cases/auction-1252116444.htm

[mmeredith]

For the phone/navigation I went with a cheap aluminium GoPro bar mount. I sacrificed a regular GoPro mount and cut 1 of the 3 prongs off so that it can fit into the bar mount. I then stuck a regular flat adhesive mount onto the back of an old Galaxy S5 (supposedly waterproof).

hopefully that setup works. I like it because it's sturdy and quite compact.

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And on the fuel front...

I got a 5L Industrial Dangerous Goods HDPE Jerry Can, which fits into my Kriega US-10 tail pack along with the basic husky tool kit, some tyre levers, and a spare tube. That should be a pretty neat and tidy bundle.

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[slicker]

I've used a phone like that too. It will get hard to read with dust on it and the sun in the wrong place. Can you adjust the angle on the move? I've seen some with shades mounted to make it easier to read too.
Ever done 500kms on a Husky saddle?

[mmeredith]

I've used a phone like that too. It will get hard to read with dust on it and the sun in the wrong place. Can you adjust the angle on the move? I've seen some with shades mounted to make it easier to read too.
Ever done 500kms on a Husky saddle?

Yeah,it'snot ideal in direct sunlight. I can adjust the angle on the fly, and I have a charging cable linked up, so I can run it on full brightness.

As for the Husky saddle... I am worried about that, hahahaha :shutup:

I have however come from a mountain biking background and a Husky saddle is a lot more comfortable than a bicycle saddle, hahaha :laugh:

[mmeredith]

I can't wait!

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[mmeredith]

Based on the mixed riding conditions, what tyres do you guys run, and at what pressure?

I'm running Motoz Tractionator Desets HT's. When I ride the loose pebbley stuff on the Waimak I like them at about 13 psi. But if there is tarmac involved, I would probably run them a fair bit harder.

Also, is anyone riding down from Christchurch to Fairlie on Thursday?

[Woodman]

My advice is find a pressure and stick to it because you will get sick of changing it everytime you hit seal and vice versa. I ran mine reasonably high to avoid pinch flats except last year on the BMW when they were run at 15psi on tubeless tyres.

[slicker]

I run 25psi in any tyres on the DB. You don't want a flat, it will make you day even longer. There is only 1 muddy section that soft pressures would help and it is only a few hundred metres long. For peace of mind stick to high pressures.

[vegeman]

yup keep the front pressure up and starting our with new tyres you really won't need the traction from a soft tyre. My strategy for tyres (besides new MT21 front running 26psi -ish) also includes a new mitas e09 Dakar rear with dual rim locks. These tyres are incredibily tough and considering it took 3 mechanics to get the damn thing on, I ain't doing anything in the field. These tyres can get a flat and you'd never know (hence the twin rim locks). DB1K is mainly gravel, hard pack dirt and rock. Grass and mud is a very small percentage and from memory, there is always a chance to get a run at it and keep momentum..which is everything in my book.

[andy mac]

On Thursday I'm travelling from Rangiora to Fairlie on the inland scenic route.

[mmeredith]

On Thursday I'm travelling from Rangiora to Fairlie on the inland scenic route.

I've just checked on google maps and Chch to Fairlie is only 30km (and 20min) more via the Inland Scenic Route. We may just do the same.

[Steen]

what time are you passing thru oxford ...am also riding inland to fairlie