Wellington - Saturday 8 September 11am Wainuiomata coast ride: Photos here.

[merv]

The weather forecast for Sunday in Wellington is crap so I thought I might as well join BuckBuckNo1's cruisy ride to the Wainuiomata Coast and back around to Eastbourne for lunch. Seemed like a reasonably popular choice with 12 bikes in all turning up at the Duckpond ready for the ride.

Where did all those Hyosung's come from?

I thought I'd take Mrs merv's DR650SE out for a run.

Here's a few photos for you taken with the waterproof camera - but no rain today any way LoL. The crew that came can remind me who is who and which bike they belong to.

So here they are starting with the gathering at the Duckpond.

[merv]

The crew kept gathering with all sorts of bikes turning up including a few cruisers.

[merv]

Then it was off through the Hutt and over the Wainuiomata Hill for a stop just past the centre of Wainuiomata to regroup.

Once all were together again we cruised on down the road to the Coast and it was cool to see with a bit of wind blowing how the surf was up down there making for some nice photos with the bikes in the foreground.

[merv]

Good view across to the snow on the Kaikouras too!

Then it was back on the bikes and off up the Coast Road through Wainuiomata, over the hill and then left towards Eastbourne for lunch at Lifeboat Café and Bar. I followed BB#1 most of the day on his bike and I said to him at the pub he does look real comfy on it and we talked more about why he'd swapped from the V-Strom.

I understand now it was more about the physical size of the Suzuki, even though it is lighter than the Hornet. For the sort of riding he is doing as he said to me "the Hornet is very much like a GN with balls".

[merv]

Here's my last 3 photos at Eastbourne.

We basically split up after lunch but I rode back to Lower Hutt with BB#1 as far as just short of the Ewen Bridge roundabout which had us turning off onto a side street and BB#1 just had a wee bit of drama whcih I'll leave him to tell you about.

From there I rode off home on my own. All in not a bad little days ride, food and good company. I clocked up only 115km from home and back to home again.

So there you go Cowpoos I rode the Suzuki, it behaved, I had fun and got home safely so they're not all that bad eh and it hasn't started leaking oil again.

[Terminated]

We basically split up after lunch but I rode back to Lower Hutt with BB#1 as far as just short of the Ewen Bridge roundabout which had us turning off onto a side street and BB#1 just had a wee bit of drama whcih I'll leave him to tell you about.

Just a wee bit of drama: The screw holding the left side handlebar weight came loose, pulled into the side street near Kentucky Fried Chicken, put key into seat lock, got tools, phillips driver fixed end weight screw. Returned tools to bag, put bag under seat, put seat on, got on bike.......went to start engine, hmmmm no key - that's right it is in the seat lock. Swung leg over to get off bike, boot snagged key, key bent, shhhhhhhh

Onto cell phone and Moira was down with duplicate in 20 minutes. Got home tried to straighten key no luck, think I may have to get another. Will try one of the lock shops to see if they can salvage the key though and straighten it.

It was a busy morning: the Saturday Morning Practise Ride saw four of us complete the Stokes Valley left hand ciruit and once over the Holborne Drive ridge from 9.10am -10.10am. The ride was 30km and there were quite a few foot down moments. Then it was down to the duckpond and quite a good role up, and thanks to Merv for his commentary and pictures above.

We had a good roll up with:

Father and Son - Mike and Chris
Shane and Ngaire [spelling?] rode down from Himatangi Beach
Tom down in Wellington from Auckland.
Russell
Grant
Allan - attended the 9am ride too
Paul - attended the 9am ride too
Danny
Merv
Guy

Nice to have met you all today.

Will post another ride for next Saturday during the week.

Including the 30 Practise Ride, total distance today 130km.

The weather is looking so so for tomorrow, I am going to watch the rugby replay at 8am and perhaps go out later in the morning.

Heads Up and Enjoy

[Weaver]

I had a great time. I haven't been riding for long (two and a half weeks) and wasn't sure if i would be up to it. Happy to say i was.
I definitely look foward to going out again, work depending.

[merv]

We had a good roll up with:

Father and Son - Mike and Chris
Shane and Ngaire [spelling?] rode down from Himatangi Beach
Tom down in Wellington from Auckland.
Russell
Grant
Allan - attended the 9am ride too
Paul - attended the 9am ride too
Danny
Merv
Guy



Ngaire [spelling?] was Noreen, KBer from Himatangi on the Intruder.

If we are to match the KB names, Weaver which one were you from BB#1 (Guy)'s list?

One of these days I should make each person stand in front of their own bike for a decent photo so we match bike with KB name.

[Weaver]

I was Alan, in the All Blacks shirt and with the yellow Hyosung

[Bullitt]

Im Paul with the Ducati and the blue/black jacket.

Was good to meet everyone and put some faces to names.

All up including heading from wellington, the 9am ride, the 11am ride, going out to see a mate afterwards and heading home I did 200ks give or take so Im happy with that.

Some of the stokes valley residents are probably glad Im no longer quietly riding past their houses:msn-wink: and I dont really have the steering lock for all those u-turns. But it was a good ride and Im glad I chose to do both.

Its reassuring to see how quick Im learning, although Ive still got along way to go I probably had more trouble standing in the wind on the coast than I did riding it it.:laugh:

Cheers to everyone, especially Guy for organising it.

[merv]

I was Alan, in the All Blacks shirt and with the yellow Hyosung

Cheers, good to see you.

[Cave Cleaner]

Well that was a great ride. thanks to Guy leading the way. It was good to see a couple of other Intruders in the pack rather than just my one. Great to meet you guys.
Thanks to Merv and the camera too. Great pictures. Just a tad breezy when we left the coast for Eastbourne, but made for some interesting riding.Other than that it was Great weather.
Chris and I were staying on in Eastbourne to get some photos of our old haunt, but the damn camera battery gave up. Have to go out that way again now.:banana:
I did that same thing with my car key two days ago Guy. left it in the door and brushed past it in the garage and :angry2: Bent key, so your not the only one!!

[merv]

Cheers Bullit and Cave Cleaner I guess our list is coming together a bit then for those on today's ride:

Mike (Cave Cleaner) - Suzuki Intruder
Chris (karmakillernz) - Black Hyosung GT250R
Shane (not a KBer yet) and Noreen (Noreen) rode down from Himatangi Beach both on Suzuki Intruders
Tom (cowboy) - Honda VTX1300
Russell (KBer ??) - Suzuki Savage
Grant (325rocket) - Black Hyosung GT250R
Alan (Weaver) - Yellow Hyosung GT250R
Paul (Bullit) - Ducati 600ss
Danny (bull) - Black Hysosung GT250R
Merv (merv) - Suzuki DR650SE
Guy (BuckBuckNo1) - Honda Hornet 900

[cowboy]

Im Tom with the vtx1300
It was a great ride at a good pace for all who came along
Good to meet you all today & looking to the next ride & hop to meet more local riders befor I go ack to auck

Cheers & thanks for a great day

[merv]

Yeah good to see you down our way cowboy.

[karmakillernz]

Chris (KBer ??) - Black Hyosung GT250R
Present and accounted for. :cool:

[bull]

Yep cheers for the ride Guy, cheers for the photo memories Merv, and nice to meet a few more KBers. Apologies for not being able to stay with the group, had to get home for my 11yr olds birthday party.(thought i was lucky enough to even get out on the bike, so best not to be late home)

Was nice to see so many Hyosungs, geez they are good looking bikes. The ride out to the coast was nice and gentle and i thought id take my time to do the one handed throttle control riding technique, kept nice and smooth and felt comfy doing it. Did find myself getting closer to the bike i was following through alot of corners so i must have been carrying a steady corner speed.

Damn it was windy out at Wainui coast, so windy in fact that rocket325's helmet started to roll away like tumbleweed. Had a frickin blast going back ahead of the group and really felt one with the road, the corner cambers are brilliant and i was able to keep a good rapid pace.

Coming down the Wainui hill i felt very confident, i had until about 3 weeks ago forgot about what i had read in twist of the wrist about keeping some throttle on downhill corners to keep the bikes weight bias correct, this has made the corners feel alot smoother instead of coasting down as i used to do and feeling uncontrolled.

Look forward to your next Saturday ride Guy, get as many rides in till softball season starts.

[merv]

Present and accounted for. :cool:

OK good to hear from you I'll tweak the list and 325rocket must be Grant, is that right?

Russell what's your KB name I thought you said it was Russell but I can't find a match on the members list?

[Dodger]

I also turned up but was in a Car and didn't stay for the ride due to other commitments :( (maybe next week)

If I had been able to come along for the ride it would have added one more Hyosung to the mix (although a naked one) :)

[Bullitt]

Russell what's your KB name I thought you said it was Russell but I can't find a match on the members list?

Hes not yet signed up as a member, he intends to on Monday apparently. He just saw the ride on the calendar on the main page.

[russellwhitlock]

Only got signed up as a member today.

[merv]

Only got signed up as a member today.

Good on ya mate, welcome aboard.

[RantyDave]

Chris (karmakillernz) - Black Hyosung GT250R
Grant (325rocket) - Black Hyosung GT250R
Alan (Weaver) - Yellow Hyosung GT250R
Danny (bull) - Black Hysosung GT250R
Holy crap, those things are selling well now.

Dave

[merv]

Holy crap, those things are selling well now.

Dave

That's what I said at the start where did all those Hyosungs come from? - very popular.

[Cave Cleaner]

Great to put a name to a face. Welcome Russell Whitlock

[Noreen]

Hi there just a short note of thanks to all who attended the ride not to good on computer but give it a go had a good day meeting you all and covered about 300ks or so normally we do a bit more but norreen likes wellington and the weather wasnt bad i need norreen or id get lost down that way, always out on the weekends when possible, will post our next adventure when we decide where we are off to ,just in case any of you want a change of scenery, we had fun with you and was good to talk to others with similar interests,cheers for now.... shane.

[merv]

Shane and Noreen - it was good to see you on the ride down our way. We'll look out for you at Coast to Coast time.

[Terminated]

Nice to have met you Shane Noreen, thanks for going Tail End Charlie and for doing the swapping of cell phone numbers at the bigging of the ride.

Look forward to meeting up with you again.

Heads Up and Enjoy

[Cave Cleaner]

Hi there just a short note of thanks to all who attended the ride not to good on computer but give it a go had a good day meeting you all and covered about 300ks or so normally we do a bit more but norreen likes wellington and the weather wasnt bad i need norreen or id get lost down that way, always out on the weekends when possible, will post our next adventure when we decide where we are off to ,just in case any of you want a change of scenery, we had fun with you and was good to talk to others with similar interests,cheers for now.... shane.

Hi Shane and Norreen.
Good to see a coupe more Intruders on the run:banana:
I try and get out every weekend, so hope to catch you both on another of the Sat/Sun morning rides. Cheers