inlinefour
25th February 2006, 18:15
Reciently had my trail bike stolen (tt350f) and had been looking out for something to replace it. Had been thinking that I'd probably have to wait until winter to replace it as there was sweet FA on tardme. However there was a few newist bikes that I would have truely loved, but alas, beyond my budget (so I thought). I started making cheeky offers, but was getting "no" or "fuck off you tyre kicker" as an answer. However an offer that I made on the Suzuki came back with a counter offer of just $200-00 more than mine. Right, next hurdle, talking to the Mrs IL4. She was surprisingly accepting of the idea and next was the how do we get there and back?
So both we hopped into the better half's car and made our way over to Taupo. Not really worth mentioning a cage journey so we got to Taupo, right.
Checked out the bike and the only things that had me bothered was the fact that it has only 5 gears and no kickstart. Bike looked good enough and as it turned out, its a K4 and not a K3. So we payed for the bike and pretty much parked it and had a couple of fun filled days in Taupo.
This morning it was time to make our way back to New Plymouth and did so via Turangi, Tamranui and Wangamomina(sp). Did not start off so well. Before I had got to Turangi I had lost a 5L fuel container, with fuel off the frame on the back of the bike. Stretchies are not the best thing I found out and will be using tiedowns in future after buying another fuel container (10L this time) and fill that up and storing the new fuel in the Mrs cage. You know for only having 5 gears, the DRZ aint no slouch and I found the frount wheel was trying to come up at times, in all gears. Traffic was good, minimal traffic going the other way and apart from one dodgey passing manouvre the traffic going my way was also excellent. Passed plenty of cages on the tarseal and even more on the gravel. Scenery was awesome and I must apologise as I left my camera behind, not that I was stopping for pictures. Got a bit disorientated going through the tunnel as my glasses are self tinting and they was still dark. Got to Wanga and it was time for a drink and a feed. Sitting at a table outside the pub and I noticed that the number plate, along with the rego & wof had also fallen off:bye: . I was not going back to look for it as I thought the chances of finding it was slim. Waited for Mrs IL4 and filled the bike up with petrol. We had a feed and it was time to continue the journey. Going up the saddles I found myself not being able to use all the trottle if I wanted the frount on the ground and coming down I found the bike had some excellent engine braking. Stopped in Inglewood (its actually safe to do so now:nya: ) as I wanted to adjust the stretchies holding my bag and give my sore arse a rest. The bikes seat aint the most comfortable eh. While stopped Sensei happened to see me and stop. Had a yarn, the misses went past and once again I was on my way. Stopped in the local servo had a yarn to wildpudding and got home. All in all, I think I'm very impressed with the bike and I suspect that will grow the more I use it. Just have to go down to the post office now to get another numberplate and rego/wof.:doh:
I can tell you also, from now on I'm making sure I have the digital camera packed.:blip:
So both we hopped into the better half's car and made our way over to Taupo. Not really worth mentioning a cage journey so we got to Taupo, right.
Checked out the bike and the only things that had me bothered was the fact that it has only 5 gears and no kickstart. Bike looked good enough and as it turned out, its a K4 and not a K3. So we payed for the bike and pretty much parked it and had a couple of fun filled days in Taupo.
This morning it was time to make our way back to New Plymouth and did so via Turangi, Tamranui and Wangamomina(sp). Did not start off so well. Before I had got to Turangi I had lost a 5L fuel container, with fuel off the frame on the back of the bike. Stretchies are not the best thing I found out and will be using tiedowns in future after buying another fuel container (10L this time) and fill that up and storing the new fuel in the Mrs cage. You know for only having 5 gears, the DRZ aint no slouch and I found the frount wheel was trying to come up at times, in all gears. Traffic was good, minimal traffic going the other way and apart from one dodgey passing manouvre the traffic going my way was also excellent. Passed plenty of cages on the tarseal and even more on the gravel. Scenery was awesome and I must apologise as I left my camera behind, not that I was stopping for pictures. Got a bit disorientated going through the tunnel as my glasses are self tinting and they was still dark. Got to Wanga and it was time for a drink and a feed. Sitting at a table outside the pub and I noticed that the number plate, along with the rego & wof had also fallen off:bye: . I was not going back to look for it as I thought the chances of finding it was slim. Waited for Mrs IL4 and filled the bike up with petrol. We had a feed and it was time to continue the journey. Going up the saddles I found myself not being able to use all the trottle if I wanted the frount on the ground and coming down I found the bike had some excellent engine braking. Stopped in Inglewood (its actually safe to do so now:nya: ) as I wanted to adjust the stretchies holding my bag and give my sore arse a rest. The bikes seat aint the most comfortable eh. While stopped Sensei happened to see me and stop. Had a yarn, the misses went past and once again I was on my way. Stopped in the local servo had a yarn to wildpudding and got home. All in all, I think I'm very impressed with the bike and I suspect that will grow the more I use it. Just have to go down to the post office now to get another numberplate and rego/wof.:doh:
I can tell you also, from now on I'm making sure I have the digital camera packed.:blip: