The Tractor Factor

[Big Dave]

Been finding some choice new roads and spots just out of Auckland. Some of them unsealed and some great sprotsbike runs as well.

Feeling quite vindicated with the decision to get the Tractor it handles both jobs quite nicely.

Still tuning the suspension - it's cornering great - just a bit 'squirrely' at 110 on the freeway. Backing off tyre pressures has helped, now tweaking rebound and damping - i'll get it right - just so many adjustments.

Anyway...if you turn left from the pub and take the dirt out of Puhoi there are some really pretty spots.

Had a good look around Kaipara Harbour and went home via Puhoi and the Waitaks today - and went out through Riverhead forest to Waitoki and overland to Orewa yesterday.

I am da adventurer!

more pics at www.davidcohen.co.nz

[Motu]

Welcome to my world....just a few hundred metres away you can hear the sprotbikes scream past,dunno whether to laugh or cry.There are a hell of a lot of fantastic sealed roads they will never see....tough.

[Krayy]

Been finding some choice new roads and spots just out of Auckland. Some of them unsealed and some great sprotsbike runs as well....

Anyway...if you turn left from the pub and take the dirt out of Puhoi there are some really pretty spots....
I went that way sort of by accident (I was meeting a mate at the Moto-X track out that way and he didnt tell me it was unsealed) and was quite surprised at how stable the VTR was the dirt (as long as I stayed out of the wet patches and off the big rocks).

Still weighing up the fun factor with Dual purpose bikes vs the handling of a street bike for the looming upgrade.

BTW, why do Dual purpose bike cost so flaming much???

[Motu]

.
BTW, why do Dual purpose bike cost so flaming much???

And a 250 sprotbike doesn't??

[Krayy]

And a 250 sprotbike doesn't??
Relatively, yes. But take for example a new Hornet 900 at $10995, or an SV650 at $11k, and then compare that to a Transalp at 16k, an F650 at 16k or a DL650 at 15k and it's a little disparate. Particularly for a big single vs an in-line 4 or V-Twin.

Do longer forks and knobbly tyres really add that much or is it just trend related pricing?

[XTC]

What the hell were you doing taking that pretty road bike on roads like that for BigDave??? You wait till you hit a freshly graded road on those wide low profile tyres :)

This is what ya need....

(i'm just jealous)

[keza]

hey dave have you done any work since you got the bike and is the seat the same shape as your butt (not a pretty thought) just trying to wear tho0se tyres out.
have to go for a ride and show you some real roads on the gs see if we can get any bits to fall off just to check there quality control you understand

[Big Dave]

hey dave have you done any work since you got the bike and is the seat the same shape as your butt (not a pretty thought) just trying to wear tho0se tyres out.
have to go for a ride and show you some real roads on the gs see if we can get any bits to fall off just to check there quality control you understand


Yeah - working night shift and playing during the day - my KB post count is way down.

no issues with the tractor quality wise yet.

[Waylander]

Dave ate, somthing just looks goofy about your avatar. Can't quite place it though... Something about a monkey and a footbal.

[Big Dave]

What the hell were you doing taking that pretty road bike on roads like that for BigDave??? You wait till you hit a freshly graded road on those wide low profile tyres :)

This is what ya need....

(i'm just jealous)


I have and you are right - but when it gets back on the tarmac - all is forgiven.
It could be yours for $19,995 plus on road costs.

[Big Dave]

Dave ate, somthing just looks goofy about your avatar. Can't quite place it though... Something about a monkey and a footbal.


Sorry - not with you - have you tried communicating in English?

[Waylander]

Sorry - not with you - have you tried communicating in English?

Sorry, american term for a guy on a bike that just looks too small for him. "That guy looks like a monkey humping a football"

Lol atleast you enjoy it mate that's all that matters.

[XTC]

I have and you are right - but when it gets back on the tarmac - all is forgiven.
It could be yours for $19,995 plus on road costs.

gee... I could get 2 1/2 XT's for that!!

[Big Dave]

Sorry, american term for a guy on a bike that just looks too small for him. "That guy looks like a monkey humping a football"



I doesn't matter what bike - even a rocket 3 or ultra looks too small for me.
The buell isn't actually too bad

[Big Dave]

gee... I could get 2 1/2 XT's for that!!

You get what you pay for.

[XTC]

You get what you pay for.
Now that hurts..... I love my yammy. Would love a XB12X for the road too.

[Big Dave]

Welcome to my world....just a few hundred metres away you can hear the sprotbikes scream past,dunno whether to laugh or cry.There are a hell of a lot of fantastic sealed roads they will never see....tough.


And I found a heap more again today - out around Onewhero way. Bit of gravel and then opens up into a mint range crossing of tarmac.

You keen to do this Awakino ride with Oscar?
I'll prolly need a few days to catch up after Big Boys toys - but next Thurday could be the G O?

[Motu]

West of SH22 is riddled with roads,I've ridden most of them,but still haven't been able to put them together in my mind.....like,I still get lost in there.Some of the best gravel roads in the world,on Aucklands doorstep.

I want to do Awakino and the Marakopa road,but I have to run my business for 5 days a week minimum,weekends are my only free time.I might just do Raglan to Kawhia on sunday,it's a good road,good enough for WRC anyway,check out some other roads,look at Aotea Harbour.....the lost harbour....Wanna come?

[Big Dave]

West of SH22 is riddled with roads,I've ridden most of them,but still haven't been able to put them together in my mind.....like,I still get lost in there.Some of the best gravel roads in the world,on Aucklands doorstep.

I want to do Awakino and the Marakopa road,but I have to run my business for 5 days a week minimum,weekends are my only free time.I might just do Raglan to Kawhia on sunday,it's a good road,good enough for WRC anyway,check out some other roads,look at Aotea Harbour.....the lost harbour....Wanna come?

YES...but I can't - I am 'Mr Triumph' all weekend at big boys toys.

Beauty of my business is I can work nights - long as i hit the deadlines don't matter what time of day I knock it out. That's how I've been playing so much during the days (and am updating web sites just now)

Am going to try and round up a few of the tiger riders to do that Kawhia run maybe the weekend after.
details as they come to hand.

[Ixion]

Only thing with that area, it's damn easy to run short of gas and find there's nothing for miles, now all the little garages and general store don't have pumps anymore

[Motu]

Am going to try and round up a few of the tiger riders to do that Kawhia run maybe the weekend after.
details as they come to hand.

T T T Tigers?! Do they eat mice? Just been told I have to front up to something sunday afternoon,so I'll only get a morning ride in.A bigger ride needs to be put in,and it'll be down that way.