Can a road bike be used on 90 Mile Beach?

[woodboats]

I can understand smaller bikes having no problem but am just wondering if a heavier road bike could do the 90 Mile Beach trip.
Any info greatly appreciated.

[Taz]

Yes. It's a bit slippery getting down the stream but I did a trip in the 90's with guys on XJ900's, GPX750's, ZX10's etc. I was on a Honda CX400 custom. Was a real hoot.

[CookMySock]

If there is a group of you, yes. You should not take a large and heavy roadbike on the beach alone, unless you think you can push it through deep soft sand by yourself.

edit: also watch out in the stream, its very easy to inadvertently ride into a deep bit.

Steve

[Qkchk]

If you plan on riding solo, try and tag on behind a Fullers bus as they know where all the soft spots/drifts are. (They drive the beach everyday and know it better than anyone else) As you will see the buses generally go up or down on the outgoing tide (at 3/4 tide out) and drive on the hard stuff halfway up.

If you plan on riding it during the summer holidays, be aware that 90 Mile is classified as a Road, so the :Police: patrol it in the 4wds and pull people over for doing excess speed, wheelies, donuts and general shanagins.

[spookytooth]

Yep watch the stream if you go that way.It was over the bonnet of my cage in a cupple of spots a few weeks back

[The Pastor]

Yeah its great fun, took my 250 down it, got overtaken @ 90mph

[woodboats]

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question guys.
Is it fairly obvious where you get on and off the beach? I would be riding solo but after your answers I may take the trusty Royal Enfield 500 instead of the cruiser. I doubt I could man handle the cruiser as easily as the Bullet.

Is getting stuck a common problem? Or if you sort of leave after a tour bus has been through would it be fairly easy?
Cheers

[CookMySock]

edit:


Is it fairly obvious where you get on and off the beach? I would be riding solo but after your answers I may take the trusty Royal Enfield 500 instead of the cruiser. [....] Is getting stuck a common problem? Or if you sort of leave after a tour bus has been through would it be fairly easy?It is mostly obvious where to get on - at least you can stop and ask someone instructions.

It is fairly obvious where to get off - you will see tyre marks where others have done it.

Take a look at google maps <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=ahipara&sll=-37.976605,176.82835&sspn=0.227327,0.4422&g=ahipara&ie=UTF8&ll=-35.104181,173.186417&spn=0.235935,0.4422&t=h&z=11">here</a> and get familiar with the whole area.

It is very unlikely you will get stuck on a dual-purpose bike that you can push by yourself. During the day there are plenty of people around the ramps where you can get a push.


the :Police: patrol it in the 4wds and pull people over for doing excess speed, wheelies, donuts and general shanagins.You can do donuts and wheelies and generally goof off on the beach. Don't ride over the dunes though, and stay well clear of other beach users. Theres lots and lots of space, so find a clear bit and get that front wheel in the air for a few miles. Wheres the wheelie smiley ? :blink:

Drifting on the beach on bikes is awesome.

Be very careful doing drifts at speed on the sand in the cage. The tyres go from a nice slide to a sudden dig, trowel in, tip, roll!! All over in the blink of an eye. Many people are hurt every year doing this. It's very important to always wear seltbelts on the sand because of this.. Again, NO warning, INSTANT tuck and roll. Basically, don't do this.


I took my 250 down it, got overtaken @ 90mphDon't be tempted to speed on this beach. It is way way too easy to hit some shit on the beach and you get no warning, and that sand is not the nice soft fluffy stuff you put you toes in before and after your swim - its rock hard and it will snap pieces of you and your bike off piece of piss. The surface texture is the same is the obstacle texture so your eye cannot detect surface imperfections. Nasty!

90 mile is great place, but not to be taken lightly.

Steve

[The Pastor]

edit:

It is mostly obvious where to get on - at least you can stop and ask someone instructions.

It is fairly obvious where to get off - you will see tyre marks where others have done it.

Take a look at google maps <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=ahipara&sll=-37.976605,176.82835&sspn=0.227327,0.4422&g=ahipara&ie=UTF8&ll=-35.104181,173.186417&spn=0.235935,0.4422&t=h&z=11">here</a> and get familiar with the whole area.

It is very unlikely you will get stuck on a dual-purpose bike that you can push by yourself. During the day there are plenty of people around the ramps where you can get a push.

You can do donuts and wheelies and generally goof off on the beach. Don't ride over the dunes though, and stay well clear of other beach users. Theres lots and lots of space, so find a clear bit and get that front wheel in the air for a few miles. Wheres the wheelie smiley ? :blink:

Drifting on the beach on bikes is awesome.

Be very careful doing drifts at speed on the sand in the cage. The tyres go from a nice slide to a sudden dig, trowel in, tip, roll!! All over in the blink of an eye. Many people are hurt every year doing this. It's very important to always wear seltbelts on the sand because of this.. Again, NO warning, INSTANT tuck and roll. Basically, don't do this.

Don't be tempted to speed on this beach. It is way way too easy to hit some shit on the beach and you get no warning, and that sand is not the nice soft fluffy stuff you put you toes in before and after your swim - its rock hard and it will snap pieces of you and your bike off piece of piss. The surface texture is the same is the obstacle texture so your eye cannot detect surface imperfections. Nasty!

90 mile is great place, but not to be taken lightly.

Steve
yeah i didnt see a small stream hit it at about 100ks man that one hurt!

[slofox]

I lived in Dargaville for ten years or so and often went onto the beach there (like 90mile). Rule of thumb was to stay as close to the water as you could - the soft sand is usually the drier stuff up away from the water. From half tide out to half tide in is the time to do it.
Total hoons are not popular with regular beach users.......

[FJRider]

The thing asbout "heavier" road bikes is, that beach contains lots and lots of sand (funny that) and it does get in... it attaches itself to things that have oil on the surface (chains etc).It gets into wheel bearings, air filters, and places you never thought of. Plus the salt in the sand and if any contact with the saltwater... RUST like you would never believe...

But its YOUR bike... and unless signs are up to indicate otherwise... totally legal.

Good luck... dont say you weren't warned...

[popelli]

rode a XS750 yamaha down the 90 mile beach in the early 90's no problem at all

have also ridden a harley electraglide on the beach, again no problem at all

salt obviously does not do them any good

[CookMySock]

Yeah, in the beachs defence, if the weather has been mint for weeks, quite likely it'll be dead flat and rock hard for its entire length.

Just remember, that if it is not flat, you cannot see the washouts until you are on top of them and then its too late.

Steve

[slofox]

rode a XS750 yamaha down the 90 mile beach in the early 90's no problem at all

have also ridden a harley electraglide on the beach, again no problem at all

salt obviously does not do them any good

When I lived in Dargaville it was standard policy NEVER to buy a local car...mostly all been on the beach and full of salt corrosion....

[Brett]

Yeah, would never take a decent car or bike onto the beach...salt ruins 'em.