A is for Adventure - Thompsons Track attempt, Jan 4

[Eddieb]

We tried a little excursion up Thompsons Track on Jan 4, Myself on the G/S and a friend on my sisters XT600. Unfortunately the XT's battery failed not far in, it was a bit low when we left home and wasn't up to the hard wired light running at low revs and multiple restarts due to being stalled.

I'd done Thompsons several times in October/November and apart from a few slightly muddy patches it wasn't too bad, however after some recent heavy rain and the 4x4's going through things were a bit different this time.

1) This is the 2nd muddy section we came to, about 200 meters after the first, which was only slightly smaller.

2) The last bit of water in this shot was over the top of the cylinders on the G/S when at a stand still. The G/S actually idled through the whole section no problems and it continues to amaze me at what it is capable of.

3) The XT halfway through the 2nd mud section, it's 90% worn 80/20 tyres just weren't up to this. This is where the battery gave out so we had to manually turn it around and push it out again. There's no kick starter so no way of getting it going in this.

4) The G/S coming back down

5 & 6) More of me coming back down

It was hot as f**k as well so man handling the XT through the mud was hard going and I was exhausted by the time we got back home.

[Eddieb]

1) There's an ADV sticker under there somewhere

2) The G/S looking happy as a pig in a mud bath, Hang on, it is a pig in a mud bath

3) A better muddy action shot

4) Mud everywhere

[buggsubique]

fuck that, it was hard enough on mountainbikes! go hard though!

[Eddieb]

fuck that, it was hard enough on mountainbikes! go hard though!

This is the easy side from Matamata too! I'd hate to have seen what the other side was like.

[Transalper]

Yeah, good fun, love that sort of thing on the CRF but hard work on Adventure bikes.:sweatdrop

[Aslan]

impressive Eddie - seems like you had a great holiday :clap:

[marks]

enough of this gallivanting around the countryside exploring cool places

its not right for you to have so much fun when I'm supposed to be working

I think its about time you went back to work

really cool pictures tho....

[Paladin]

Nice pics Eddie! That mud looks like something hippos should be wallowing in! Fair play to you for cranking thru that stuff on the GS - bet you had a blast!

[Padmei]

great shots. Wher did you get the ADV sticker from? I want one:crybaby:

What year is your BM & mileage? Had many probs with it? I like it I like it a lod

[Eddieb]

its not right for you to have so much fun when I'm supposed to be working

I think its about time you went back to work

really cool pictures tho....

I'm back at work, and now you guys area are all planning exotic rides round the coast, through private land in the 'rapa and Odlins road, all of which I'm going to miss out on cause I'm on call for work the next 3 weeks.

Barstewards, you coulda waited 3 weeks. :(


What year is your BM & mileage? Had many probs with it? I like it I like it a lod

Registered as 1986 but the frame number traces to 1982. carfax.co.nz says about 250,000km. I'm told it's not the original motor but I don't know why, when it was changed or how many this ones done.
My previous one is still floating around Welly and would be over 400k now and is still going. I see it around occasionally.
It had the wrong main jets when I got it which was a easy fix. apart from things like the suspension being crap cause it's 1970's tech no, no actual faults or problems. I did break my Ventura rack while away but I think the pics show why.

[Eddieb]

Nice pics Eddie! That mud looks like something hippos should be wallowing in! Fair play to you for cranking thru that stuff on the GS - bet you had a blast!

Did you miss the pic of the hippo wallowing? That was the 2nd to last one.

[Eddieb]

I have one more ride to post up also, Raglan (Te Uku) to Port Waikato. 140 or so km all on gravel roads. Hopefully will get that up tomorrow.

[Paladin]

Did you miss the pic of the hippo wallowing? That was the 2nd to last one.

Thought it might have been! :rofl:

[Paladin]

I'm back at work, and now you guys area are all planning exotic rides round the coast, through private land in the 'rapa and Odlins road, all of which I'm going to miss out on cause I'm on call for work the next 3 weeks.

Barstewards, you coulda waited 3 weeks. :(



You had better not be on call on Feb 14th/15th mate! Would be good to see what the hippo makes of the huge rock slide on Orongorongo!!!!! :innocent:

[marks]

You had better not be on call on Feb 14th/15th mate! Would be good to see what the hippo makes of the huge rock slide on Orongorongo!!!!! :innocent:

it would be boring

I've seen Eddie ride - Orongorongo won't present any problems for him - although his bash plate would need rebuilding afterwards (again)

[Eddieb]

You had better not be on call on Feb 14th/15th mate! Would be good to see what the hippo makes of the huge rock slide on Orongorongo!!!!!
14th is my birthday, I'm working on not being on call that weekend.


it would be boring

I've seen Eddie ride - Orongorongo won't present any problems for him -

Well thanks Mark, I'm blushing.

And keen to prove you wrong, it wouldn't be the first time you've pushed the G/S. Though if your BIG BIKE can make it through mine shouldn't be too bad.


although his bash plate would need rebuilding afterwards (again)

umm, yeah, well, you know, Anyone here handy with a welder and have some short lengths of steel?

I kinda went up this really muddy track on Mt Te Aroha you see, and there were some big rocks hidden in some of the deeper puddles and....and....

Yep, it's f**cked again. I really need to sort out some stronger mounts and better suspension.

[Paladin]

14th is my birthday, I'm working on not being on call that weekend.


Birthday celebrations on the South Coast ADV are in order then! :banana:

Yep agree with Mark, from what I saw of your technique when we all went round Red Rocks, I reckon you'll scoot your hippo over those rocks with finesse mate and be lovin the challenge of it! :niceone:

[Balrog]

Great pics Eddie :first:

[Waihou Thumper]

This is the easy side from Matamata too! I'd hate to have seen what the other side was like.

Apparently, the Katikati side has puddles that will swallow a PD whole!
I would love to try it and will do soon, I will let you know...:soon:

[junkmanjoe]

oohh eddie i wana play in the mud too...

[dino3310]

Apparently, the Katikati side has puddles that will swallow a PD whole!
I would love to try it and will do soon, I will let you know...:soon:

yep i got my mates xr500 stuck in a mud hole, all that was visable was the handle bars and petrol cap, had a shit load of fun that day espeically after the doobie and half a tab, shit those were the day's- would be great to get up there again when its a bit drier i like my BIG to much for a wet ride up there.

[junkmanjoe]

cauz your big is bueatifull......:hug:

[nooles]

cauz your big is bueatifull......:hug:

Jeez Joe your giving out alot of manlove tonight:shifty::laugh:

[dino3310]

:spanking:
it must be a DR thing

[junkmanjoe]

Jeez Joe your giving out alot of manlove tonight:shifty::laugh:

ok mate just for you..

Nooles look in to my eyes :Pokey:.
you are feeling sleepy...:sleep:
yes just relax, calm and quite...:zzzz:
dreaming of a better place.....:sunny:

now when you wake your big will be missing...:confused:


cauz it will be in my shed....:whistle:

hows it matey...

JMJ

[Oscar]

Thompsons Track - our Junior Practice Track.

Now you can try Maritoto or The Mako Mako....

[Waihou Thumper]

Thompsons Track - our Junior Practice Track.

Now you can try Maritoto or The Mako Mako....


There is a Thompsons track down in the deep south too isn't there?

[Waihou Thumper]

Thompsons Track - our Junior Practice Track.

Now you can try Maritoto or The Mako Mako....

The wires track on Maritoto road, up the end....
Where is the Mako Mako then?

[cooneyr]

There is a Thompsons track down in the deep south too isn't there?

:Offtopic: but yep. Omakau to Tarras. Also known as the Rise and Shine Rd.

[Taz]

:Offtopic: but yep. Omaka to Tarus. Also known as the Rise and Shine Rd.

Lotsa gates too....

[Oscar]

The wires track on Maritoto road, up the end....
Where is the Mako Mako then?

From Vandy Road Aramiro to Plateau Road (near Bridal Veil Falls).

We used it in several National Enduros when we wanted to be really nasty...

[marks]

Thompsons Track - our Junior Practice Track.

Now you can try Maritoto or The Mako Mako....

a reasonable person would string a few of these tracks together and invite some riders to join him for some muddy fun :yes:

[Paladin]

a reasonable person would string a few of these tracks together and invite some riders to join him for some muddy fun :yes:

Good point! ;)

C'mon Oscar, what about it?

:jerry:

[Oscar]

a reasonable person would string a few of these tracks together and invite some riders to join him for some muddy fun :yes:

My last trip into the Mako Mako was after the last Raglan Enduro, to try and recover a brand new Honda abandoned by an Expert Class rider. We failed, and it had to be left for a week, before being disassembled and carried out.

Notwithstanding that, it's about 80kms from Maritoto.

[NordieBoy]

That's Hondas for you.
Can't trust them or their riders.

[MXNUT]

From Vandy Road Aramiro to Plateau Road (near Bridal Veil Falls).

We used it in several National Enduros when we wanted to be really nasty...

Used to live right next door to this property at Waitetuna, tried this track about 8 years ago on my YZ250 and my mate was on his KDX200.

After only getting about 4 KMS in 3 hours due to dragging bikes out of mud bogs we gave up and turned around. :no:

Definately NOT for adventure bikes. :confused:

The property next door has since changed hands and i was up Vandys Rd last year and they have blocked off access to the start of the track :doh:

[Oscar]

Used to live right next door to this property at Waitetuna, tried this track about 8 years ago on my YZ250 and my mate was on his KDX200.

After only getting about 4 KMS in 3 hours due to dragging bikes out of mud bogs we gave up and turned around. :no:

Definately NOT for adventure bikes. :confused:

The property next door has since changed hands and i was up Vandys Rd last year and they have blocked off access to the start of the track :doh:


That's sad news as it is actually a paper road - they have no right to block access.You can get to it from Van Houtte Road (if you were mad enough).

[MXNUT]

a reasonable person would string a few of these tracks together and invite some riders to join him for some muddy fun :yes:

Maritoto or wires track ....... KLR would need to lose 80 kg before attempting this one Marks. :2guns:

Check out the threads in the off road section, or the bike test of the 2wd Christini in this months kiwi rider.

This place is best left to trials bikes and 2wd bikes, although i have not been in there for about 3 years the dirt section write ups tell me it has not got any better.:no:

[cooneyr]

That's Hondas for you.
Can't trust them or their riders.

And the brand you race/ride/pootle around on in VMX is what? :bleh:

Cheers R

[NordieBoy]

And the brand you race/ride/pootle around on in VMX is what? :bleh:

Cheers R

Honda riders are also compulsive liars :D