Banks Peninsula Ramble

[cooneyr]

NEW - Ramble Round 2 on Sunday the 21st of may - see post 6 (click on http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=614757&postcount=6 )

Thinking of going for a ride from Chch out around Banks Peninsula on Saturday (6/5/06) morning if anybody keen.

Planned route (but open to suggestions) Sign of the Kiwi, Sumit Road, down Gebbies Pass, Dimond Harbour, Purau/Port Levy, Little River (vai gravel road behind Mt Herbit), up onto southern part of Penisula, down to beach at beach Birdlings Flat (gravel road) and across mouth of Lake Forsyth (very soft gravel) onto SH 75, then back to Chch with clay 4WD track behind Black Tulip on the way.

Was thinking if anybody keen then meet at Sign of the Kiwi around 9.00. I'm on the Gerbil (Djebel) so relatively relaxed pace.

R

[laRIKin]

Mate I/we would like to do the ride with you another day.
Because we had to many Fanta's last night I new I would miss this one. :drinkup: :zzzz:

[cooneyr]

Sorry about the short notice. Only decided late on Friday.

Was an awsome ride though. :yes: Bit of fun getting across the mouth of Lake Forsyth in the really soft gravel with road pressure in the tyres. :sweatdrop Next time I think I will drop the pressures even if it is only for a couple of hundred meters. The Western Valley Road (down to Little River) was pretty also pretty interesting with the loose gravel, corrigations and steepness of the approaches to some corners.

Am keen to do something similar again, so will post again in a couple of weeks or so.

R

[Transalper]

Would have been keen except (1) I just noticed the thread and (2) was on the Charity Ride to Cholmondeley Childerens Home in Governors Bay on Saturday.
Might have been a laugh to maybe see my Transalp bogged in soft gravel... it'll be all right, just give it more gas Transalper!:rofl:

Maybe next time.

[cooneyr]

(2) was on the Charity Ride to Cholmondeley Childerens Home in Governors Bay on Saturday.

Saw that was on but wanted more "adventure" :cool:


Might have been a laugh to maybe see my Transalp bogged in soft gravel... it'll be all right, just give it more gas Transalper!:rofl:

Tried more gas - just dug in deeper with the high tire pressure. Experience with 4wd's (and now bikes) suggest less pressure otherwise just get holes with wheels filling them.

Next time then.
R

[cooneyr]

Hi Guys,

Morning of Sunday the 21st, thinking of going for another ride over some gravel/4wd roads on the peninsula. WX looks like it is going to be OK with big high here on Sat and hopefully Sunday

Less certain of a route this time (havent made my mind up) but thinking of including the southern bays road from Little River to Wainui and the Robinsons Bay and Tompsons Bay stock tracks.

Currently thinking of something like through Tai Tapu, up to Hilltop via the stock track (#1), to Robinsons bay and up stock track (#2), along the summit road for a couple of km, back down Thompsons bay stock (#3), into Akaroa for a bite to eat, then home via Wainui, Southern Bays summit road and down into either Little River or Birdlings Flat then home. Possibly also include the 4wd track behind the Black Tulip if keen (I decided not to last trip).

Attached is a map with the stock tracks (x3) highlighted.

If anybody wants to come was thinking of meeting at Tai Tapu at around 9am ish, There are other options if so desired, I'm just keen for a ride. Robinsons Bay Stock track is a grass track with some rought and some steep bits so could be fun if to wet. Thompsons is gravelly based so not so bad. Other off road tracks are gravel except the one behind the Black tulip which is clay.

Ususal disclamer - I'm on the 250 dejebel so not going to be a fast trip.

R

[SDU]

Buggar, working as usual.
Looks like a good ride.

Can I suggest to attract more attention for the ride edit your first post with the new date, or give this ride it's own thread.

Hope you get a few to the ride!
Cheers
SDU

[cooneyr]

Thanks for the advice SDU.

Pitty your working - keen to see how a DR650 goes as thinking of getting one later in the year.

R

[Transalper]

Not totally sure, but i think i've done all 3 of those on the Transalp. If so, the middle track doesn't like me...or would that be I haven't made it up there without getting sideways yet... underline 'yet'.
I'd like to go again but have two bikes than need attention before the Brass Monkey and already comitted this weekend to them so as to have a weekend spare up my sleve if anything goes wrong... like super glueing hotgrips to fingers instead of miss T's handlebars... get the idea.

If by some strange twist of fate i am finished in time.. i'll be watching the thread to see whats happening.

[cooneyr]

Not totally sure, but i think i've done all 3 of those on the Transalp.

Seems I'm a bit behind the 8 ball. From reading old threads I knew you guys have been out out round the penensula but wasn't sure where.


If so, the middle track doesn't like me...or would that be I haven't made it up there without getting sideways yet... underline

I've taken an 80 series cruiser (the big VX one) up there with no worries :done: did have 4 mudder tyres as opposed to 2 adventure? tyres and was nice and dry. Two wheels much more exciting though aye. :ride:

R

[SDU]

Thanks for the advice SDU.

Pitty your working - keen to see how a DR650 goes as thinking of getting one later in the year.

R

I'm keen to see how the DR650 is too- (I haven't had it for long) the nearest to adventure it has seen is the Western Valley Rd between Little River & Port Levy.
My DR has been lowered heaps, & I'm hoping I can handle the weight of a bigger bike on the dirt and the ground clearance is still enough not to get me stuck too much. If I can't handle it I'll just stick to the Serow for the heavier dirt stuff.
We have been busy setting it up for me & getting it ready for the Brass.

Far-que has a DR650 & has taken his off road in heaps of places, he's the best one to ask what it's like.
He's been very quite on here lately, I hope he's just too busy getting heaps off riding in to get on line.
Cheers
SDU

[cooneyr]

I'm keen to see how the DR650 is too- (I haven't had it for long)
I figured it was relatively new to you. Guessing there is a connection between you and Lemans and given that the DR650 that was at Eric Wood is gone and that Lemans was talking about it, I figure you have the one from Eric Wood! Hows that for a bit of a deduction based entirely on presumptions. Of course I may be totally wrong!


Far-que has a DR650 & has taken his off road in heaps of places, he's the best one to ask what it's like.
He's been very quite on here lately, I hope he's just too busy getting heaps off riding in to get on line.
Cheers
SDU

Been following Far-que's posts re the DR650. I think I've seen it at DAS.

I'm still on the R licence unfortunatly (making a late start on bikes) but when get the F (and the money) want to try a DR650. The Djebel is not a bad bike I just want more ponies at less RPM for the sealed sections. Previously scared myself enough with a RMX250 so know what lots of power is like off road (I know the 650 is a different beast though).

R

[Transalper]

From reading old threads I knew you guys have been out out round the penensula but wasn't sure where.

Two wheels much more exciting though aye. :ride:

R
The first spill up there was partly me getting the hang of the weight of the Transalp in adventerous situations, partly damp ground/tyre combo, and then the fact i chose the left wheel track and the over growth finished me off.

The second time i didn't actually come off. I just stopped facing across the track and hadn't even got to the slippery stuff. Kinda bounced out of a rut.
The Transalp just needs me to be a little more forceful or agressive with it.
Mental note: I must dominate the bike instead of letting it get away on me.

Also last i heard from Far-que was that he was having trouble getting the correct parts for his DR650 so was still off the road. Actually i'll pm him for an update now.

[cooneyr]

The Transalp just needs me to be a little more forceful or agressive with it.
Mental note: I must dominate the bike instead of letting it get away on me.

This sounds similar to my experience with the RMX on a steep mudstone firebreak in the Hira Forest in Nelson. Not enough speed to start with, got on the gas, back end steped out and I highsided (really a low side given the steepness of the hill) into the hill. :eek: Did it a couple of times and got enough bruises to give the hill a miss for the day.

The RMX with close to 50 ponies, highish enduro gearing and a power band was just to much for my experience at the time (and probably still is!) so sold it. Wanted a road legal dirt bike anyway as was getting sick of trailering a bike to a track.

R

[laRIKin]

I figured it was relatively new to you. Guessing there is a connection between you and Lemans and given that the DR650 that was at Eric Wood is gone and that Lemans was talking about it, I figure you have the one from Eric Wood! Hows that for a bit of a deduction based entirely on presumptions. Of course I may be totally wrong!

Close but no cigar.
Yes we are an item.
And we were going to buy that DR in Eric Wood's, but just before we bought it I were told about another DR that was in the paper, that was older 2000 model and cheaper, but was still in good nick.
And as there is not a lot of differences between them.

I'm not sure if I can make the ride, but man 9 o'clock on a Sunday.:cold: :zzzz: at this time of the year.
I do have a few things to do, to some bikes before the Brass and around the house.
Like trying to rebuilding a bath room.:brick:

[cooneyr]

Close but no cigar. ...we were going to buy that DR in Eric Wood's, but just before we bought it I were told about another DR that was in the paper, that was older 2000 model and cheaper, but was still in good nick.

Partially right then. Isnt the saying 'assumptions are the mother of all fark ups'.

Curious since you have experience with both a KTM 640 LC4 and a DR 650. Do you recon the extra dollars is worth it for a KTM? Both bikes will be a lot more capable than I am, which is what is making me think about the DR 650 at this stage.


I'm not sure if I can make the ride, but man 9 o'clock on a Sunday.:cold: :zzzz: at this time of the year.
I do have a few things to do, to some bikes before the Brass and around the house.
Like trying to rebuilding a bath room.:brick:

I'm relatively indifferent on the time if that makes any differance to anybody. Maybe it is just that I'm new enough to this game to not get that worried about the cold. Aren't most of you guys going to the Brass? I've always heard of it to be a chilling experience, look at this as some practice then :2thumbsup

Basically a morning ride with back to Chch in early arvo. If people have done it before and have other route sugestion then open to that too. I've done most of these tracks on four wheels, but have ditiched the 4X4 scene so now doing them again on two wheels.

R

[cooneyr]

Damn the WX :angry2: Just had a look and Metservice is now predicting rain for the Sunday. I'm not that keen to try the tracks in the wet on adventure tyres, let alone ride over there.

I'll be making my mind up on Sunday morning as to if I go or not. If any of you others change you minds and decided to have a go I'll be checking the site before I leave (if I leave) on Sunday morning round 8.

R

[laRIKin]

Curious since you have experience with both a KTM 640 LC4 and a DR 650. Do you recon the extra dollars is worth it for a KTM?


Yes I do if you are going to do a lot of hard off road riding.
But if you are going to do a lot
more street work the DR maybe better pick.

We were thinking real hard about getting SDU a LC4 over the DR in Eric Wood's.
But because I got the older one for less than half the price.
We were happy to pay that, than the money for a good LC4, as it maybe more of a off road bike than SDU needs and would be a waste of money.
And it was all so a lot easier to down size a DR for SDU than a LC4.

At this stage she is very happy with her DR and thinks that it was the right pick for her.

Now the DR is a good bike but it's not for me.
I really like my LC4 a lot more.
I think that I will be keeping it for a long time.
So yes I think it is worth the extra money and may buy one for SDU if she thinks that she can handle one off road.

[far queue]

Far-que has a DR650 & has taken his off road in heaps of places, he's the best one to ask what it's like.
He's been very quite on here lately, I hope he's just too busy getting heaps off riding in to get on line.

Nah, very quiet with a bike parked up in the garage, and busy doing other stuff. I was finding that this site, good though it is, can absorb a lot of time if you let it.


Been following Far-que's posts re the DR650. I think I've seen it at DAS. You may have done, it's been in there a couple of times.


Also last i heard from Far-que was that he was having trouble getting the correct parts for his DR650 so was still off the road. Yep. Sportzone FINALLY got me the right part this week. Fitted it this afternoon with help from Lemans (welding required). A little bit more work to do tomorrow morning to get it road legal. Then depending on weather and other commitments I may pop out to the Waimak for a quick play at some point in the day. Get a new WOF next weekend, then off to the Brass the following weekend.

cooneyr - I'd be keen for poke around the peninsula sometime, but at this point 18 June is my next free weekend, but as Lemans says, I dunno about an 0900 start - at least with the Brass there's a bloody great bonfire to thaw you out. The weather's looking OK for tomorrow, so enjoy your ride if you go.

[cooneyr]

as Lemans says, I dunno about an 0900 start - at least with the Brass there's a bloody great bonfire to thaw you out. The weather's looking OK for tomorrow, so enjoy your ride if you go.

Yer the WX forcast seems to have improved a little. Guessing it is just that I'm still new to this game and keen that is causing me to get up and on the road by 9.

As everbody is busy getting ready for the Brass (will have to think about going next year) I'll just get some pics to post to show you what you missed out on.

R

[laRIKin]

Sorry but I will have to miss it your ride as well.
Bugger it, I do want to do the ride maybe another time?

Have a good ride and tease us with some pic's.

[Transalper]

Yep, I'm out this time, too much left to do, too little time.

[cooneyr]

The temperature was 18 degrees in Akaroa when I got there around 9.45 (was a bit late leaving) (Photo 6). I think it was warmer over there than in town. Came back to the beginning of the Robinsons Bay Track, went through the first gate to drop the tyre pressures (Photo 1) and thought this is going to be interesting. The ground was on the wet end of the scale. Took me three attempts and an off (sore ankle) to get to the second gate - about 200m up the hill. The clay was slick and my tyres are getting rather sad (Dunlop 605's that I think they are the factory originals with almost 10k kms on them! (Photo 2)).

Got to the second steep section and had to push, with the bike in gear up the second half of that one too (Photo 3). No worries after that till the top (Photo 4) - but obvious that bikes have been up cause of the track in the middle of the vehicle tracks.

The way down the Takamatua track (opps not Thompsons) was fun too cause the cows had pugged it up and was very wet (Photo 5). Front end washouts were rather frequent but managed not to have an off. Saw a local kid going up on his CT110 which may me feel rather silly :p

Took the short route home after that cause was rather buggered from pushing the bike up the hill. Had to dodge a guy on a sports bike passing a car in my lane around the outside of a corner (he should have been in the inside lane) on the way over the hill. Good for him I wasnt a car - stupid prick.

Far-que, what do you think of the Mitas tyres? Assume you have E09's from reading the advrider site? Probably going to need a new rear tyre for my next warrent anyway.

R

[Rashika]

damn... now thats looks muddy, but fun ;)

[SDU]

Neat pics. Looks like you had a fun day.
Just as well I wasn't there as I probably would've been picking up the DR every few minutes!
Just thought I'd let you know that I have the Mitas E09's on my Serow225 & I really like it, found it great for the changing conditions of the Waimak River. I hope to eventually get one for the DR too.

cheers
SDU

[cooneyr]

Neat pics. Looks like you had a fun day.
Just as well I wasn't there as I probably would've been picking up the DR every few minutes!

Cant have dont much worse than me! My ankel is still quite sore and hard to walk with (thank god I had off road boots on aye!).


Just thought I'd let you know that I have the Mitas E09's on my Serow225 & I really like it, found it great for the changing conditions of the Waimak River. I hope to eventually get one for the DR too.

Thanks for the feedback. Do you ride on road with them much ? I am worried that they might be kinda vibey/noisy for the road hops as I use the Djebel for commuting when the car isnt available.

Cheers
R

[far queue]

Do you ride on road with them much ? I am worried that they might be kinda vibey/noisy for the road hops as I use the Djebel for commuting when the car isnt available.
Cheers
R[/QUOTE]

I've got the Mitas E09 on front and rear. Only done one with ride with them since they were fitted, due the bike being off the road for repairs. They were awesome on the ride I did do though up and down the Waimak and Eyre River beds. Great traction on everything from hard pack to loose shingle and sloppy mud. I haven't done a decent road ride on them yet though. I'll let you know how they go on ice after the Brass has been and gone.

Another tyre worth a look is the Pirelli MT21, they were my last tyres. Handle well off and on road, better traction than I would have expected from a knobbly on the road. I didn't find vibration or noise to be a problem, it was there, I just didn't find it a problem.