90 Mile Beach question

[scrubs]

Hi,

I'm Contemplating iding up 90 mile beach tommorow on an XT600
I have heard mixed advice on whethe it's a wise thing to do or not.
(i'm not from NZ) I'm currently packing pretty heavy too (I've posted a photo so you can gauge it better) so wondered what you guys reckoned. I'm woried about the deep sand access roads too because I know if I drop the thing I aint gonna be able to pick it up again by myself. Should I sack it off and stick to the road?

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b76/littlescrubs/NewZealandSF184.jpg

[James Deuce]

You'll be fine, just watch out for the lunatic tour operators in their 6 wheel drives and modified Unimogs.

Bear in mind that all the rules of the road apply and stick to the speed limit.

[warewolf]

I can't add anything personally, but you might get more responses in the Adventure/Dual Purpose Bikes (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=67) forum.

[The Pastor]

I went down 90 mile beach on my cbr 250, (currently for sale) It was a total blast.

Sand is rock hard.

Easy beach to ride down on.

[99TLS]

heaps of bikes and cars do it every day you will be sweet as imho

[kneescraper]

Whats the big attraction on this beach?

[scrubs]

Cheers Lads, I made it there and back with no probs and had a great time.
Not often you get to ride so far down an open beach, bloody brilliant. :niceone:

[jade]

On a related note I just drove from auckland to kaitaia (ahipara) and back, 4 hours up there, 3.5 back (took sh 16 both times to wellsford)
was a good ride but has anybody experienced the mangamuka gorge about 20minutes before kaitaia >??
This is motorcycling nirvana, 17km of 35k corners !!!!!! I LOVED IT
specially with the chemical brothers blasting on my ipod

[90s]

On a related note I just drove from auckland to kaitaia (ahipara) and back, 4 hours up there, 3.5 back (took sh 16 both times to wellsford)
was a good ride but has anybody experienced the mangamuka gorge about 20minutes before kaitaia >??
This is motorcycling nirvana, 17km of 35k corners !!!!!! I LOVED IT
specially with the chemical brothers blasting on my ipod

Yeah that is a really great road - just watch local traffic and campervans way over the centreline!

As for the beach, I am more of the play safe mind. There are areas where the coach drivers pull over as the sand is dangerous and has pipi beds under which will throw you, and to my eyes they look the same. If you start at the KeriKeri end and ride up the 'exit' is to ride through a stream, which I would not do.
Finally, even on the sand your bike will get a good coating of salt. This will badly corode your pride and joy unless you make sure you give it a good hosing asap.

I went on the beach a few months ago - but not on the bike. Within 1k of the KeriKeri entrance was a mitisibishi that stuck in the sand the day before and it was already stripped out by the sea. Makes you think.

Anyway, have a good day if you do it anyway.

[90s]

Having said that, when I had a beach racing TSX I would have gone for it without thinking. You pic is pretty nice and you'll probably have no worries on your rig.
Guess I'm a lot more cautious than I used to be about these things - but the TSX went in '89.

[The Pastor]

the stream is the best bit about riding down 90 mile beach.

[scrubs]

I must admit i was shitting myself especially at the quick sand stream
the curse and blessing was there wash hardly anyone around on the way back
saw about two other vehicles the whole way so I was shitting myself thinking
If i got stuck in the quick stand in the stream I would be up shit creak, So I urge anyone who's a bit in two minds whether to go to give it a shot. It's not that bad, Just keep the momentum moving, revs high - slipping the clutch
for best traction.

I hit some deep dry sand at about 80 kph within the first 10k of the main beach and the back end went all over - my arse went, but dident drop it, other than that it went as smooth as.

+1 on the Mangamuka Gorge. Went through there yesaterday from
Kaitaia to Corromandel. :2thumbsup

[F5 Dave]

Cool,glad you enjoyed it. It is so barren it's nice to cruise, but I went up the stream & went to the tip & just back the normal way. One direction is enough.

The stream is quite easy, I did it on my old GS1100 suzi 2 up no drama, it just looks worse than it is but isn't very deep.

[90s]

I must admit i was shitting myself especially at the quick sand stream
the curse and blessing was there wash hardly anyone around on the way back
saw about two other vehicles the whole way so I was shitting myself thinking
If i got stuck in the quick stand in the stream I would be up shit creak, So I urge anyone who's a bit in two minds whether to go to give it a shot. It's not that bad, Just keep the momentum moving, revs high - slipping the clutch
for best traction.

I hit some deep dry sand at about 80 kph within the first 10k of the main beach and the back end went all over - my arse went, but dident drop it, other than that it went as smooth as.

+1 on the Mangamuka Gorge. Went through there yesaterday from
Kaitaia to Corromandel. :2thumbsup

Thanks for putting the update on - great to know you did it and got through with no worries. Now you've got me thinking I'll try it myself next time ...

[Forest]

Sand is rock hard.

Some of it is.

Some of it isn't.

[DEATH_INC.]

Been through the stream and down the beach a few years ago in my dads Diahatsu charade, piece of cake...
also been up in the big sandhills at the north end on my old KTM 250 back in the day, that's an experience if ya haven't done it too...

[3L4NS1R]

possibly doing this next weekend, it'll be fine to do on a klx250 aye? on a couple of websites it says to do it 3 hours after high tide, is this still applicable with a bike?

[CookMySock]

possibly doing this next weekend, it'll be fine to do on a klx250 aye? on a couple of websites it says to do it 3 hours after high tide, is this still applicable with a bike?I would leave it an hour later than that. Enter at Ahipara and exit at the Te Paki Stream.

The most critical thing to remember with 90 mile beach, is don't do it after heavy rain. There will be washouts all the way up the beach, and while these sound like fun to start with, one of them will eventually catch you out and tear the suspension off your bike or car, and throw you on your face. Nasty.

It is very tempting to ride along at 120k and gaze off into the horizon, but you get a bad fright eventually if you do this.

Always do it on a falling tide, and remember there are forestry roads all the way along, right behind the dunes, so if you fuck up, you can hit the forestry roads and get out that way.


If you want a shorter beach ride, join at Ahipara and get off at Waipapakauri.

We used to live up there, and I would take visitors in the clubs' cessna and land on the beach and go for a swim - lot of fun. 90 mile is great place, but there is little or no support if you fuck up, so watch it.


Steve

[Lord Derosso]

On a related note I just drove from auckland to kaitaia (ahipara) and back, 4 hours up there, 3.5 back (took sh 16 both times to wellsford)
was a good ride but has anybody experienced the mangamuka gorge about 20minutes before kaitaia >??
This is motorcycling nirvana, 17km of 35k corners !!!!!! I LOVED IT
specially with the chemical brothers blasting on my ipod


Dozens of times including when it wasnt tarseated back in the 60's in some places- though I was a kid and in the back of a utu and seriously car sick with the dust. The gorge has improved big time over the years and I still prefer that route then the Bay of Islands to head to the North cape just for the ride of the gorge. Did you know theres a natural sparking water spring on the south side too? theres a sig there and I think theres also a rest stop there now. Have you done the Rimatukas though? I still love the Mangamukas because its HOME turf and the bush and its sweeping corners heading down from the top south.

[slofox]

On a related note I just drove from auckland to kaitaia (ahipara) and back, 4 hours up there, 3.5 back (took sh 16 both times to wellsford)
was a good ride but has anybody experienced the mangamuka gorge about 20minutes before kaitaia >??
This is motorcycling nirvana, 17km of 35k corners !!!!!! I LOVED IT
specially with the chemical brothers blasting on my ipod

Some of the best riding I ever had was in Norflund......try the link through Waimate North from SH1 to Kerikeri........