Welly to ChCh on a 250 - what roads?

[Teezer]

Call me a stupid bastard if you want (you won't be the first, or the last) but I've bought myself a TDR250 and as the wife is away I plan on riding it from Welly to ChCh late August/ early September over a couple of days.

The bike has been heavily modded so it has no trip meter, a bicycle speedo, and no reserve on the fuel tank. I'm guessing running out of fuel is guaranteed. In addition, it's uncomfy after 100kms and hates straight roads.

To add to the fun, I'm a pommie who's over for good (just got permanent residency - seems they'll let anyone in these day eh?) but who's yet to actually ride a 'bike in NZ.

So, over to you lot who've been there, done it, got the t-shirt - what do I need to look out for on the ferry crossing, what'll grab the attention of plod, and then what roads do you reccommend that'll be twisty enough to keep me interested, and that'll take me a day and a half or so to get to ChCh? Oh, and it has to be in daylight as the lights on it are legal, but useless.

Any ideas?

Oh, one final thing. Knowing my luck with classic strokers, it'll probably seize on me on the way down - who's best for recovery in NZ. Anyone other than the AA I should look at?

Cheers folks,

Teezer

[Drew]

I wanted a tdr for a very long time after working at a bike shop and having a go on one.

They're so de-tuned I wouldn't say seizure was a certainty.

Get to Blenheim, turn right, follow the road till you get to westport, turn left and follow that till you get to Ashburton, turn left, and an hour of 80kph sees you in Christchurch. Dead fuckin easy. Day and a half is relaxed for that trip, and friggin spectacular roads.

[Subike]

lol drew. +1
get to blenheim, turn left,(SH1) follow that road till you get to christchurch via the east coast. Friggin spectacular roads too!
Less hills, less blind corners and you can stop at my place ( gretta valley) on the way for a beer and an over night kip before arriving fresh and comphey in CHCH the next morning.
Your 250 will do it, no problems, there are fuel stops more regular than the other side, IMO, Easier to find you if you have an engine failure, only one road to search.
I did that trip on a 125 suzie wolf 30 years ago, two up, at night, via the unsealed inland route, if that could do it, you can.
Have fun and welcome to our island, the MainLand!

[FJRider]

The inland road from Kaikoura to Waiau and south IS SEALED now...worth a look. Hamner hot springs are nice... REALLY nice..

[Teezer]

I wanted a tdr for a very long time after working at a bike shop and having a go on one.

They're so de-tuned I wouldn't say seizure was a certainty.


It'll be my first. I've had numerous TZR250's in the UK - all the 1kt/ 2ma version. Had a road one, and then went on to race them, but never got the chance of a TDR.

It'll be the tool for Summit Road here. :eek:



Get to Blenheim, turn right, follow the road till you get to westport, turn left and follow that till you get to Ashburton, turn left, and an hour of 80kph sees you in Christchurch. Dead fuckin easy. Day and a half is relaxed for that trip, and friggin spectacular roads.

Sweet man, cheers for the nod. :niceone:

[Teezer]

Less hills, less blind corners and you can stop at my place ( gretta valley) on the way for a beer and an over night kip before arriving fresh and comphey in CHCH the next morning. !

Nice one fella - yer on!



Your 250 will do it, no problems, there are fuel stops more regular than the other side, IMO, Easier to find you if you have an engine failure, only one road to search.!

True - hoping not, but I'm cursed when it comes to long journeys. M25 around London, 2am, freezing fog, and the lights on my TZR give out. Bloody fuse holder had snapped. Chewing gum and the silver paper it came in saw me up and running again. McGuyver - eat yer heart out :yes:



I did that trip on a 125 suzie wolf 30 years ago, two up, at night, via the unsealed inland route, if that could do it, you can.
Have fun and welcome to our island, the MainLand!


That distance, 2 up on a 125? Rather you than me!
Dude - hero status is yours.

Cheers for welcome, it's good to be here and even better to soon be back on 2 wheels - been over 1 & 1/2 years. The road to Akaroa is a-callin'

[Griffin]

Not sure about the roads you should use... SH1 is the only one I know... but I can highly recommend that the Wgtn to Picton part should be done on a ferry. Otherwise it gets a bit wet.

Ok... I will shutup now :shutup:

[Teezer]

Not sure about the roads you should use... SH1 is the only one I know... but I can highly recommend that the Wgtn to Picton part should be done on a ferry. Otherwise it gets a bit wet.

Ok... I will shutup now :shutup:

No fuckin' way?! I was planning to do an Evil Kneivel and jump the puddle :2thumbsup

Saw somewhere that I need tie downs to do the ferry part - don't the ferry folks supply them? Anyone advice on that score?

[gammaguy]

welcome to the small but very elite group of TDR owners!!first things first-run the best 2T oil you can,i use Rock oil but anything fully synth.is ok.make sure the oil pump is set up as per spec.mine gets about 200km per tank of petrol on a good day with me being gentle.which is never,cos TDR rs love to be thrashed (sympathetically)lol:Punk:

so in the real world,look for gas every 160km or so like i do.which basically means a stop at Kaikoura for gas after getting off the ferry and filling her to the brim in picton(the old "forecourt wiggle"as us 2T owners call it)<_<
that should get you thru tu CHCH where you can repeat the exercise.BTW 91 octane is all you need,so a bit of a saving there:third:

i rode mine all the way to AKL and back last summer and had a ball,so enjoy your trip,and feel free to pop in and se me at work with the beast when you get here,we can bore each other shitless for hours discussing power valves,four piston calipers and how much fun we have blowing off people in boring four strokes who think we are riding a trail bike until they see TWO pipes disappearing off in front of them:laugh:

[Richi]

Dont get boozed up the night before the ferry not a good 3 hours :puke:

Its a nice drive down SH1 pretty straight after u get past kaikoura though. wtf how come its got a bicycle speedo

[Teezer]

Gammaguy - wicked to hear there's a few of us out there. Just don't feel the need for anything more than a 250, as I simply believe that I'd top myself in a matter of days. Even a 600 on the roads around here seems a bit OTT.

Saw a place selling Motul 600 which was my fully synth of choice in the UK so will go that route. Best oil is - of course - premix Castrol A747. Ahhhh.... I love the smell of 2 stroke in the morning.

So, assuming this is a standard engine, who's reputable for 2-stroke tuning here in ChCh? I'd be looking for a bore and hone, have the ports tidied up a bit, and the p'valves matched etc - maybe a little added compression from a head skim... hmmmm... my wallet is flinching already :blink:

I'll deffo look you up once the bike is here - be great to meet some like-minded stroker fans. :Punk:

[gammaguy]

i use HPE(03 3794166,tell em steve sent you) here for all my machining work,he spends a lot of time rebuilding jet ski and MX 2T engines,he did all the work on my TDR when it was time for a freshen up.course,you could always send the engine over to Stan Stephens.....:eek:

catch up when you get the thing here,look forward to it:soon:

[TimeOut]

The ferries do supply tie downs but can be a bit dodgy, better to take a couple of good ones with you.

[bismarck]

I rode my 250 from Gisborne to Christchurch, that was lots of fun!
Book the ferry ticket online and print it out will save your time.

[lostinflyz]

depends when you wanna get to CHCH. SH1 is fast to CHCH and pretty boring for about 120-140 kms north of CHCH. Take the scenic road inland just after kaikoura for a more entertaining ride. takes aboue an hour or so more.

if you have the time go over west coast ways. windy as roads that were made for motorcycles. not nealy as much traffic either but weather can often be dodgy. alot longer to go that way but if your coming for a ride, thats the way to ride.

[Teezer]

Dont get boozed up the night before the ferry not a good 3 hours :puke:

Its a nice drive down SH1 pretty straight after u get past kaikoura though. wtf how come its got a bicycle speedo

Sounds like a good tip dude - and with a morning sailing meaning I need to be there for 07:30, one I'm gonna go with.

Why the cycle speedo? No freakin idea. This thing is unseen by me, and was a project for the previous owner. The instrument stack on a TDR was pretty ugly, and seeing as the fairing has been skipped and the speedo drive junked, I guess he fancied something a little more... erm... basic...?

Will get up some pics and a first ride dooberry once I've got my mits on the thing.

Cheers for all the pointers folks - and not one slagging off yet for chosing a ring ding 250. I'm impressed!

[TimeOut]

depends when you wanna get to CHCH. SH1 is fast to CHCH and pretty boring for about 120-140 kms north of CHCH. Take the scenic road inland just after kaikoura for a more entertaining ride. takes aboue an hour or so more.

if you have the time go over west coast ways. windy as roads that were made for motorcycles. not nealy as much traffic either but weather can often be dodgy. alot longer to go that way but if your coming for a ride, thats the way to ride.


+1 Scenic road is good so the west coast:rockon:, can't wait for summer

[Murray]

having lived on the West Coast for 3-4 years you have to head this way. As said prior head to Blenheim then take the road to westport head down to Greymouth through the Punakaiki rocks and then take the Otira Gorge road, through Kamara, over to Christchurch. Watch out for the one lane Railway bridge!!! Great windy coast road between Westport and Greymouth and through the Buller gorge into Westport.

Great Trip and Good luck

[gammaguy]

Cheers for all the pointers folks - and not one slagging off yet for chosing a ring ding 250. I'm impressed!

its cos theyre all jellous of our superior acceleration,advanced maintenance skills and manly thirst.:Pokey:

[Teezer]

siezed it 200km from picton. Got recovered to a motel, and will be on a bus tomorrow. Bike will follow. Arse. Sent from my mobile so pic and details will follow when i get home. Thank fuck for full aa cover!

[Grub]

GAH! Was that on the way south or on the way back home again? It seems yet another confirmation of why not to mess with 2-strokes. I know they go like stink and make cool noises ... but I think I enjoy my touring way too much :)

Good luck in getting it sorted.

[Teezer]

27 hrs from the breakdown, I've just walked in the door.

Credit where it's due, the AA have done all they said they would with no quibbles.

The start of the day was not an auspicious beginning. As I arrived at the ferry the gear-change bolt fell out. Further inspection revealed that it has threaded itself and so I couldn't fix it.

Called the AA and they met me off the ferry in Picton, and I was on my way within the hour.

Got to St Arnaud and fuelled up, but on the way there noticed the bike starting to surge, and would refuse to pull over 100kms/hr. Checked it out, and after stripping tank and checking wiring, assumed fuel starvation so figured I'd ride it out till Westport and give it a good look over there.

Now - and this is important - on collecting it I noticed the temperature gauge was faulty. It needs a new sender, so I coulnd't fix that in Welly, and figured I'd sort it as soon as I got home. BIG MISTAKE. If it had worked, then I would have seen that a slow head or base gasket leak was sucking water from the cooling system and it was running hotter and hotter. When the water ran out, the thing locked solid. Check out the darkie from where it locked up on the pic.

Shit happens, and them's the breaks when you buy a bike sight unseen. However, Iwill be asking the vendor if he has a conscience as in addition to the temp sender, both fork seals are completely fucked, the battery is a bodge job of 2 small units linked together, and it had a petrol leak. None of which was mentioned prior to sale.

Ah well, you live and learn - time now to rebuild and at least I'll have a known engine from here onwards.

[gammaguy]

BUMMER DUDE.oh well,its time to get to know the devil you know instead of the devil you dont.giz a yell if you need workshop manual PDF s etc.:doctor:

[Teezer]

Too right dude. The AAa dropped it off today, so I'll be getting involved this evening to diagnose the probs. My missus is in the UK this week and I've got a few decent contacts for TZR 1kt/ 2ma barrels, pistons and gasket sets so if poss will get her to bring it all back with her. Depends how bad it is really.

Who would you reccommend in ChCh for a crank check, and possibly balance, along with a cylinder rebore? Also, if I luck out in the UK, any NZ places you know of who have TZR engine parts? Trademe is very sketchy.

Cheerz! ;)

[gammaguy]

HPE engineering can do all your machining work(03 3794166 )and as for the other bits just be sure to get good quality pistons(I put genuine Yamaha in mine)but there is a lot of parts around for them especially in the UK.Fingers crossed your aint on max oversize,but even then there are aftermarket kits that go bigger than the factory oversizes.one crowd over here that do a good piston(PRO-X)are R2 enterprises,auckland.sorry i dont have their number but they will be in the book.i think they may have crank kits too.:calm:

good luck!!

[Teezer]

Nice one on the numbers. PM'd ya re manuals etc.

Took the engine out last night (a bitch of a job compared to a TZR) and it's not as bad as it could have been. Both pistons seized - r/h scored but moved, the l/h had welded itself to the barrel but a bit of hammer action had it free.

Seems like nothing fell into the crank, so if I wanted to take the chance I could rebore it, slings some new pistons in, and be moving again.

Except that would still leave all the other issues this bike has. Powervalve linkage basically fell off as I was trying to remove it, revealing all sorts of bodgery beneath. It's been leaking through the seals there, and the wear is so bad that the l/h ally bush just dropped out. The r/h retaining bolt fell out too.

Taking the oild pump cable off, it seems that the carb cable for the same snapped at some point in the distant past. Hmmmmm.... :mad:

I am truly gobsmacked at the state of it.

It being friday and me needing a chuckle, I'll be off to the parts shop to have a good laugh at the prices I'll be quoted. Ah, the joys of a 20 yr old stroker :wacko:

[gammaguy]

sounds like a nightmare dude.i guess the only way is to start at the beginning and work thru the carnage.i have pm ed you with a few (hopefully)helpful things to cheer you up.meanwhile,where does the previous owner live ?:2guns: lol