Napier/Taihapi Rd

[Bonez]

Anyone been over it recently?

[mattt]

Yep - used to cycle up to the gravel very regularly. About 60km from Havelock to the end of the seal. Great ride. Not sure what it's like from Kurapapango - Taihape, but pretty sure gas stations are few & far between.

[Bonez]

Yep - used to cycle up to the gravel very regularly. About 60km from Havelock to the end of the seal. Great ride. Not sure what it's like from Kurapapango - Taihape, but pretty sure gas stations are few & far between.The next gasso from Taradale is Taihape. It's one of our best keep secrets re riding. Around 30-40ks of gravel IIRC. Just wondered if the road had recently been riden by anyone here.

[mattt]

The next gasso from Taradale is Taihape.

Mmm 155km - if it were tarseal the whole way I reckon I could empty a tank over that stretch.

[Bonez]

Might do a ride over it in the next month or so, possibly with dad/mates, and take some pics. There's a free camping area on the gravel, Taradale side of the Gentle Annie. It's a very scenic ride. Done it a few times. My first was on a
rat cb500/4 with a fucken loud Cycleworks 4 into one fitted.

[MSTRS]

The Gentle Annie (Napier-Taihape Rd) starts from Fernhill. That is about 10k from Taradale. Closest gas is Caltex in Gloucester St or same in Omahu Rd Hastings - next gas is Taihape. Road is sealed for approx 60k at each end, hard packed dirt/gravel for approx 35k in middle (with a sealed section on a steep hill in the centre). Last time I went thru in a car maybe 6 weeks ago the gravel part was very corrugated in places, but otherwise OK. Sealed sections are brilliant on a bike. You thinking of a trip??

[Bonez]

The "Gentle Annie" is the sealed hill in the middle. Was sealed because logging trucks where having trouble getting up in the wet when it was just gravel.

[MSTRS]

I knew that :innocent: :o

[Bonez]

Thanks for the recce report MSTRS.

[MSTRS]

Hey no worries - do you want to ride from this or that end?

[Bonez]

Hey no worries - do you want to ride from this or that end?Most likely Taradale side. Dad lives in Havelock North. He mentioned he'd like to do on his R80.

[MSTRS]

Cool - if you want an extra PM me, got a brother in gumboot city & been threatening to invade. Ciao for now

[Gixxer 4 ever]

The "Gentle Annie" is the sealed hill in the middle. Was sealed because logging trucks where having trouble getting up in the wet when it was just gravel.
This is true but it was equally hard to get up in the dry summers as the road surface went to corrugation and any shingle rolled off. So are you doing a trip over the road some time soon? Could be interested in tagging along. :mellow:

[Bonez]

I'll let you all know how things develope. Could be during the working week though.

[Gixxer 4 ever]

I'll let you all know how things develope. Could be during the working week though.
Sounds good to me. PM if or when you go and I will check the work load and say yes or no then. Thanks

[MSTRS]

Could also work for me. Or Steve, a curtainraiser???

[Grumpy]

The Mrs and I did it last summer, me on my GSX 1400 and her on a SV650. I have to admit we didn't know what we were getting ourselves in for. We didn't know anything about the road since we had only just moved into the area. Saw the sign to Taihape and thought that it would be a good ride.

When we hit the gravel we just thought that shouldn't be too bad, we'll keep going :o Can't say that I enjoyed it a hell of a lot.

The sealed stuff on the Taihape side was excellent.Almost worth the trip over.

Perhaps the 1400 was the wrong bike for the trip...

[merv]

Me and my Bro' rode over from Napier to the Waiouru Army Museum a few years ago on our DR Suzukis and here are a few pics. The old swing bridge isn't used for the road any more but its interesting all the same. I liked the steep road sign like it was meant to be about a 70 degree slope. Gravel was great fun on the dirt bikes. The seal on the Taihape side that day was absolutely melted partly because of the heat and partly because the trucks screw it around pretty bad. A great ride but I would say with the gravel still there it would be more fun on a dual purpose bike than on a road bike. I wouldn't bother taking my VFR over there.