Huia Adventure Ride (Report)

[EJK]

I know I've been to Huia many many times before, however this time I took it just abit furthur... I felt like going off road :)

<img src="http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/4653/mapjh8.jpg"></img>

The road I took was this Whatipu Road, starting from Little Huia. The road is very short (also very close to Auckland) however the difficulty(?) makes it feel like an eternalty. Thats the point of an Adventure Ride isn't it? Well anyways I had fun on that piece of road. To be honest I didn't go all the way to Whatipu (No I didn't chicken out) but still I experienced a little taste of off road riding, just like the Cape Reinga's last 18kms.

Overall: Personally I think (this too) is a good part of a road for those who wishes to taste a bit of off road experience. It's got good scenery too, since one of the road leads to the Mt Donald, which is about 300 meters tall. For a second I thought I was on Andes Moutains in Peru.

More bonus is that this place is just a back yard of Auckland, about 30 minutes from the city center! Plus theres a river crossing at the Little Huia to clean off dirts from the tyre! :cool:

Here are some photos. Next time I'm going to bring a proper camera and some friends who would like to experience off road riding AND go all they way :sunny:

P.S. Awesome me I did not bin :cool:

[gunnyrob]

Good on you for having a crack EJ, keep upskilling & we'll see you on longer adventure rides!
:first:

[gtr boy]

when you get to the end of that road theres a camp site as well as little sheds/rooms for accommodation.
also a shop last time i was there
could be the go for a week end away with some beers throwin in and a BBQ

[EJK]

when you get to the end of that road theres a camp site as well as little sheds/rooms for accommodation.
also a shop last time i was there
could be the go for a week end away with some beers throwin in and a BBQ

Thanks for the information. Is there anything we should be worried about? (e.g. On comming trucks taking over the whole road)

[Mom]

It is good to challenge yourself. It was not too long ago that Woodcocks Road was only sealed half way. It always was a bit of a challenge doing the unsealed part, but we did it from time to time just for the experience. Good on you EJK, one day I will take you over the Pakiri Hill, now there is a challenge in the wet on road tyres :yes:

[gtr boy]

havnt been out there for awhile,but big trucks i havnt seen,just gezzas pretending to rally drive:blink:
its well worth the effort though

[rie]

fun!!! we could pull all the fairings off my bike and pootle through mud; streams; gravel; sand etc etc. did i tell you i saw a vid of a dwarf riding an 07 gpx through a stream?? i still haven't figured out the logistics of that one.

[Rosie]

Awesome! :first:
Gravel roads do seem to take all eternity at first, but, if you relax, and expect it to take aages to get anywhere, they can be very pleasant - if a little challenging on a sports-style bike.

Taking my KRR150 on gravel a few times is what started me on the slippery slope to adventure riding :shit::wari:

[EJK]

It is good to challenge yourself. It was not too long ago that Woodcocks Road was only sealed half way. It always was a bit of a challenge doing the unsealed part, but we did it from time to time just for the experience. Good on you EJK, one day I will take you over the Pakiri Hill, now there is a challenge in the wet on road tyres :yes:

Haha mud + road tyre treads filled with mud... I know that experience... :sweatdrop


fun!!! we could pull all the fairings off my bike and pootle through mud; streams; gravel; sand etc etc. did i tell you i saw a vid of a dwarf riding an 07 gpx through a stream?? i still haven't figured out the logistics of that one.

Haha you promised! ;)


Awesome! :first:
Gravel roads do seem to take all eternity at first, but, if you relax, and expect it to take aages to get anywhere, they can be very pleasant - if a little challenging on a sports-style bike.

Taking my KRR150 on gravel a few times is what started me on the slippery slope to adventure riding :shit::wari:

I KNOW EY! Haha I sometimes enjoy the challenge (but musn't forget the way back!)

Who knows? I might end up in a DL650 :scooter:

[BANZAI]

GN should be good on gravel coz she have her big sister DR blood in it.

Hmm time to overtake GPX and FXR? :p

[xwhatsit]

fun!!! we could pull all the fairings off my bike and pootle through mud; streams; gravel; sand etc etc. did i tell you i saw a vid of a dwarf riding an 07 gpx through a stream?? i still haven't figured out the logistics of that one.
Or you could just get a fairingless bike in the first place and do fun stuff like this all the time :bleh:

I saw a dwarf riding an XT400/600 through several water crossings. I think his name started with `M'?

[.chris]

Great report, if you want some company next time I would be keen to give it a crack.

[EJK]

Or you could just get a fairingless bike in the first place and do fun stuff like this all the time :bleh:


Oh you took ur RS on an adventure ride right? How was it?


Great report, if you want some company next time I would be keen to give it a crack.

Sure will notice!

[Rosie]

Oh you took ur RS on an adventure ride right? How was it?

Significantly faster than my Sherpa :clap:
Except on the river crossings :doh:

[Slyer]

Great report, if you want some company next time I would be keen to give it a crack.

At least you got the bike for it. :D

[EJK]

At least you got the bike for it. :D

A very subtle one too :sunny:

[xwhatsit]

Significantly faster than my Sherpa :clap:
Except on the river crossings :doh:
OK, I admit it, it took me a while to suck up the courage --



but what about bridge crossings, huh? :whistle:

[.chris]

At least you got the bike for it. :D

Yeah I figure even the 250 can keep up with a road bike on the gravel.

[Slyer]

I think it can keep up with the 150 QUITE well. ;)

[EJK]

I think it can keep up with the 150 QUITE well. ;)

Is that a challenge?

[Slyer]

Yes </10char>

[.chris]

Yes </10char>

and you have not even seen me ride yet.
It's just like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6wkjOo90Kg

... but in slow motion.

[Motu]

Five years ago (:shit:) I posted this thread to try and get some involvement and participation.But back then on this site ride reports and linking them with photos was not the done thing....and knowing your way around Auckland apparently was not common.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=1310

[EJK]

Five years ago (:shit:) I posted this thread to try and get some involvement and participation.But back then on this site ride reports and linking them with photos was not the done thing....and knowing your way around Auckland apparently was not common.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=1310

Wow Nice! Gah You beat me by 5 years.... Very nice photos! :D

[Sly_guy]

Sounds really cool mate ! :),

Something I need to do myself at some point, go on a nice long adventure ride !

From what I can tell we're pretty blessed around Auckland with a variety of different road styles.. I was out Beechlands way in the car with the mrs at the weekend, and all I wanted to do was ride those windy hilly roads on the bike... I've suggested next time she wants to go out that way, I meet her there ! :D..

[Sly_guy]

Yes </10char>

Yeah, you wanna watch him.... Slyer's got the gear for it...

That is off road gear you've got isn't it mate ? , as opposed to being ripped from falling off or anything like that ? ;)

[Slyer]

Get your full and take her with you? :)

[Sly_guy]

Get your full and take her with you? :)

You having a laugh.... I enjoy the space !

I have enough with the bloody woman criticising my CAR driving, let alone her tapping me on the shoulder as pillion !!!!..
Also, there's the small matter of a two year old...., I suppose I could Bungee cord him to the side !, nice family outing !

[EJK]

Here I went the full distance! The destination wasn't suprising but the road was very entertaining! :sunny:

After 4-50 minutes of off road riding, when I got back on the tarmac it felt really really weird... It felt like the bike was on a train rail or something.

Also in addition I went to Piha and back. The fun part was that I chased this noob Civic driving boy racer and kept up all the way. It kinda felt good cause me on one of the slowest bike on the planet keeping up with his nicely tuned Civic (in corners that is) was entertaining... Very nice...

1. Peak of Mt Donald Something...
2. On my way down the mountain. Fantastic weather + View.
3. At Whatipu
4. On the way back down to Little Huia.
More pics on my Profile Album.

Generally I loved it.

Lesson Learnt: When riding down the hill, try using more rear brakes than front... Also locking rear wheel is fine, just don't lock your front wheel! :shit:

P.S. Who needs a friggin dual purpose? :msn-wink:

[Madness]

The caves at Whatipu are cool. I haven't taken the bike out there, just pretended to be a rally driver in my rwd cage.

[Choco]

GN should be good on gravel coz she have her big sister DR blood in it.

GN's are LEGENDARY on gravel, ask anyone who went on Toto's Cape tour :laugh: