Danseys Pass pictures [Archive]

FJRider

6th March 2009, 16:04

On a recent voyage in the work cage, I went over the Danseys pass ...and had my camera.

1. Danseys Pass Motor Inn. From the south.
2. From the north... saying the road is next to the pub, is an understatement.
3. Being an "open road"... is subject to the laws of the land... and speed limits. (Remember its not a target)
4. Warning signs give the impression its not just any gravel road...and they are right.
5. Road narrows... it does that a few times...
6. About halfway up... looking back towards Naseby.

Will post more photos in this thread later.

FJRider

6th March 2009, 18:00

A few shots of the view from the top of the pass looking in various directions. This road is usually one lane width, but plenty of places to pass.... watch out for dust ahead... vehicles coming.

plus a few more of the road as I came through.

more photos coming...

FJRider

6th March 2009, 18:21

The centre section of the road is probably the worst. Take your time... the route is unpredictable if its your first time through. NO armco... and substantial drop-offs if you "fall off the road". Civilization is scarse... at best. Just when you think the worst is over...

FJRider

6th March 2009, 18:45

There is a section near the Duntroon end...travelling north its uphill... that is sealed. It IS narrow, so look out for oncoming traffic. The final section of gravel is easy as anywhere... with the final downhill bit sealed. This is ALSO narrow and ONE lane width... no armco and bigger drop-off. The tarseal is rough surface and winding, with blind corners. Take care.The rivers round here are good FLY-fishing... apparently.

thommo77

6th March 2009, 21:37

Nice. Great part of enzed.

Okey Dokey

7th March 2009, 07:14

Great photos, FJR. How long does it take from one end to the other?

driftn

7th March 2009, 08:41

Beautiful place, Spent a bit of time there when I was a wee kipper.

FJRider

7th March 2009, 09:22

Great photos, FJR. How long does it take from one end to the other?

50 km's of gravel... you pick your pace. Steep up and downhill stages, with a loose surface in most places. Worse if the grader has been through. In a cage... allow an hour for the gravel stage.
Allow time for sightseeing stops, and photos. If you need to look about... stop first.
Remember its a TWO way public road.

Ms Piggy

7th March 2009, 09:24

Awesome pics. I used to work as part of a road maintenance crew out of Oamaru and we'd sometimes go up this pass cleaning culverts (fun times - not), it's a pretty little area aye.

SDU

9th March 2009, 15:04

Great pics, & love that pub. The road looks in really good condition, Not always so at Brass monkey time off the year.

scumdog

9th March 2009, 16:01

Went over that road in an open top Mistral kit-car, with the tail-wind blowing at the time the car went from red to orangy-grey and the interior had two clean bits where we were sitting, the rest was grey....
Good scenery but not much room for error (or oncoming traffic either).

oldrider

9th March 2009, 22:10

Mrs O/rider and I went over there on Saturday afternoon after our (very welcome) KB visitors left us on their day ride to Omarama!

We were torn between the March Hare and going down to watch our son and grandson motorcrossing at Lee Stream.

March Hare sort of momentarily came to us, so we made up our minds (after our KB vistors left) and went South for the Sunday racing.

Stayed over night at the (art decco) Ranfurly pub, visited some friends in Ranfurly Sat night.

The ride through the Dansey was very nice but uneventful as the road was in excellent condition.

The ride home through Dunedin Sunday afternoon was mostly in torrential rain until Maheno and turning up to the Waitaki Valley via Livingston and Duntroon we had a tail wind almost to home.

You just cant beat a good ride with a bit of variety in the weather and road conditions. (312.5 miles return)

How can life get any better than that? :ride: Cheers, John.

PS:For those of you who haven't done it!

The road from Kyeburn through Hyde/ Middlemarch has to be one of the best "motor" bike rides in the country! :yes:

Well I sure rate it anyway and so does my Tiger and Mrs O. :2thumbsup "MAGIC" (ORGASMIC EVEN) :shit:

LBD

10th March 2009, 03:20

FJRider

10th March 2009, 06:26

I agree, that 50 ks over Danseys is a magic spot n good weather and impressive in bad weather.

If you are touring the south on your cbr or gsx or similar, you must include Danseys on your route plan. That would be a ride you would never forget.

And there is a little cafe in Ranfurly on right heading west that does the best eggs benidict.

You can trust me....:whistle:

Yes magic in GOOD weather... in bad, impressive is a word I would not use.
As hard as you try, you would never forget.
The Dansesys Pass pub is always a good stop.(I take the bypass PAST Ranfurly)

RedKLR650

15th March 2009, 18:36

Good scenery but not much room for error (or oncoming traffic either).

I know what you mean about not much room for error there scumdog.:Police:

A good friend of mine found that out last year by doing a bit of off-roading in a RAV4 cage near the summit - I just happened to be the silly bugger in the passanger seat...... :doh:

blew the front drivers side tyre, then 6 x 360 degree rolls, ending up on it's feet luckily. My camera went out the smashed side window, and we found it and the remains of his socket set in the tussocks......:eek:

Photos were taken just before midnight, but with a VERY long exposure on the digital on the moonlit night, hence the grainy effect......:confused:

Luckily he'd paid the $20/day to Avis for the reduced excess - All up it cost him $200 to the rental car company, so relatively speaking, it was cheaper and more exciting than doing a bungee....:laugh:

Sorry it's a bit off topic on a motorbike forum, but just shows how easy a simple error can become a bit more serious:Offtopic:

Cheers, Stu:scooter:

98tls

15th March 2009, 18:38

Great pics mate,am to fond of the old TL to take it through there,note to self "buy a big trailie.

McJim

15th March 2009, 18:45

Sheesh! Who stole the topseal?

I would happily take my Subaru or mountain bike through there but nothing else in my garage would go near that.

Paladin

16th March 2009, 10:39

Sheesh! Who stole the topseal?

I would happily take my Subaru or mountain bike through there but nothing else in my garage would go near that.

You need to come over to the dark side and put an Adventure Bike in your garage then! <_<

driftn

19th March 2009, 08:24

I remember one particular trip over there, Whitetrash was all of 15 or 16 driving dad's 1967 Chev Impala over there I was in the middle in the front and most of the corners over there the front of the big old bitch was hanging well off the side. Probably one of the scariest drive I have ever been on in a car. Its a long way down.

FJRider

19th March 2009, 20:18

Sheesh! Who stole the topseal?

I would happily take my Subaru or mountain bike through there but nothing else in my garage would go near that.

You may take them... but not reccomended at speed. In a lot of places, it is a long way down. And... in places, where it isnt a long way down... if you go down, it'll be bloody hard to get back up again. Even on foot.

I went through yesterday, the grader had been through.../ I passed it near the Duntroon end. It was like driving on ball bearings... Naseby to the Danseys Pass camp took one and a half hours.

Okey Dokey

20th March 2009, 08:26

Thanks for the head's up about the recent grading; some friends are headed over this morning so I will let them know.

3L4NS1R

20th March 2009, 11:21

Photos were taken just before midnight, but with a VERY long exposure on the digital on the moonlit night, hence the grainy effect......:confused:

Nah. thats not long exposure, thats high ISO.... long exposure would make everything blurry... :Offtopic:

RedKLR650

20th March 2009, 14:35

Nah. thats not long exposure, thats high ISO.... long exposure would make everything blurry... :Offtopic:

Sorry dude, I've been a photographer for a living for the last 22 years:gob:, and I would call 6 seconds a faily long exposure....:Oops: It was high ISO, but long exposure too :bash:

Stu

3L4NS1R

20th March 2009, 14:38

Sorry dude, I've been a photographer for a living for the last 22 years:gob:, and I would call 6 seconds a faily long exposure....:Oops: It was high ISO, but long exposure too :bash:

Stu

Lol, sweet as... but it would be the iso that makes the grainy apperance...

just to be nit picky... one of those days.

NordieBoy

20th March 2009, 15:06

6 seconds isn't long.
I don't see star trails yet :D

RedKLR650

20th March 2009, 16:49

Lol, sweet as... but it would be the iso that makes the grainy apperance...

just to be nit picky... one of those days.

Just to be nit picky...... it's actually a thing called the DRO that's caused the aggressive grain. The high ISO does cause a certain amount of grain, but is accentuated by the Dynamic Range Optimisation setting which lightens up the dark areas (in this case most of the scene ) and adds about 500% to the effective grain....

just to be nit picky... one of those days :pinch:

Stu
0274 342 372 if you wish to discuss / argue the point :whistle:

RedKLR650

20th March 2009, 16:50

6 seconds isn't long.
I don't see star trails yet :D

Check image # 4145, short star trails......

Stu

NordieBoy

20th March 2009, 17:06

Check image # 4145, short star trails......

Stu

Can't see the stars due to the high DRO noise :D

You doing the DRO on or off camera?

RedKLR650

20th March 2009, 17:36

Can't see the stars due to the high DRO noise :D

You doing the DRO on or off camera?

Oops, didn't mean 4145, should have written 4154

DRO at highest most extreme setting, In camera, Sony A700 ( just what I had with me at the time of the wee rollover :-)

Stu

FJRider

20th March 2009, 17:46

Whatever the camera settings... nobody died... dented car and pride. We can ALL live with that...

The Pastor

9th June 2010, 14:14

Whatever the camera settings... nobody died... dented car and pride. We can ALL live with that...

and added entertainment for all of us....

BMWST?

9th June 2010, 14:43

any one got pics from last weekend(was it closed?)

Transalper

9th June 2010, 16:33

A Friday success story starts here with pictures... http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/123276-Brass-Monkey-2010-by-gravel?p=1129775961#post1129775961 and another story from one of the guys whose bike broke down so needed recovery from Saturday... http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/124479-Brass-Monkeys?p=1129777325#post1129777325 including one photo.

Grubber

9th June 2010, 17:09

i did the Dansey Pass on my Sport bike in March. took a while i have to admit but ya just gotta do these things when your on tour. Awesome bit of country i have to say. Was wishing i had a bike that was more appropriate for the job but beggars can't be choosers!

timpel_800

16th May 2014, 20:28

Eddieb

16th May 2014, 20:35

Hi,

Does anyone know the road conditions of the Danseys Pass? We are in Twizel right now and want to take the route through Danseys Pass on our motorbikes (bmwf650).

It's hard to find any information about the conditions of the road.

Anyone done it lately, please leave us a note.

Tim

No current info sorry but here's some general info about Dansey's Pass.

http://www.adventureridingnz.co.nz/gps-tracks-rides/south-island-tracks/danseys-pass/

timpel_800

16th May 2014, 20:59

Thanks for that. I've read somewhere it's 50km's? Thats doable in a afternoon. Will try to call DOC or the like to get some more info on the road.

http://www.waitaki.govt.nz/services/Lists/Road%20Closures/AllItems.aspx
This doesn't say anything about it so maybe it's open. That would be great!

FJRider

16th May 2014, 21:00

Hi,

Does anyone know the road conditions of the Danseys Pass? We are in Twizel right now and want to take the route through Danseys Pass on our motorbikes (bmwf650).

It's hard to find any information about the conditions of the road.

Anyone done it lately, please leave us a note.

Tim

Find the Waitaki district Council Web site ... but they only list it as open/closed.

It can be an extreme area .. snow/rain overnight makes anybody's report going through one day ... will be greatly different to anothers the following day.

And if the grader goes through ... all bets are off and it's every man for himself ....

Transalper

16th May 2014, 22:08

It's about 59km from Duntroon (if you choose to go through there) to Nasbey.
It's an easy road and the actual gravel section is less than 50km long but take your time as there is a lot of narrow blind corners and corrigation.
Could be a bit muddy if wet.
No idea what tyres you have or your ability but I've taken the Transalp through it in just over one hour in summer.
Could take two hours if taking in the sights or three plus I guess if it's wet and you are on highway tyres.
Just don't go on if the road closed signs are up, there'll be a locked gate in there somewhere to stop you before you get far in if it is closed anyway.
Another website to look at... Adventureguide.co.nz (http://www.adventureguide.co.nz/articles/12/93/danseys-pass.php) (soon to be RemoteMoto.com)

16th May 2014, 22:09

FJRider

16th May 2014, 22:17

Really keen to do this road sometime but in those earlier pics of FJRs it looks too bloody steep in places for a sports bike with sports tyres

What's the consensus of those that have ridden it on sports tyres? YES or NO

It's not a sports bike road. 50 km's of gravel.

Take your time ... stop and rest quite a few times ... and you'll be fine. I did it on an XJ750.

FJRider

16th May 2014, 22:21

Just don't go on if the road closed signs are up, there'll be a locked gate in there somewhere to stop you before you get far in if it is closed anyway.

There is a sign indicating Open / Closed about 5 km's from Duntroon ... long before the seal ends.

Jantar

17th May 2014, 06:10

Really keen to do this road sometime but in those earlier pics of FJRs it looks too bloody steep in places for a sports bike with sports tyres

What's the consensus of those that have ridden it on sports tyres? YES or NO
Quite doable on a sports bike with sports tyres in summer time and a dry road. This time of year, don't even think about it.

BMWST?

17th May 2014, 12:22

Really keen to do this road sometime but in those earlier pics of FJRs it looks too bloody steep in places for a sports bike with sports tyres

What's the consensus of those that have ridden it on sports tyres? YES or NO

In the dry it will be easy as any other nz narrow
gravel road.the steepness wont be an issue aprt from corrugations out of the corners or braking into them,just take it easy!

FJRider

17th May 2014, 15:50

I spoke to an F650 rider (from Kurow) Who had just ridden over the Danseys .. he said the road was good. It had been closed due to a washout. But is open now.

cynna

17th May 2014, 22:30

seen an st1100 do lees valley once so im sure danseys on sports bike is ok - wouldnt be the most comfotable ride tho

pete376403

18th May 2014, 12:05

Did it two-up on a Suzuki GS1100GK coming back from the Brass one year. Was quite ok apart from getting stopped behind a ute that couldn't get traction on the ice - made it hard to get moving again but thats where the pillion comes in handy.
However as others have said take it easy - theres some big unfenced drop-offs

The Suzuki has a 130/90 rear tyre which was probably wide for the day but real skinny now. Makes riding in gravel a lot easier than modern wide road tyres.

PeteJ

19th May 2014, 17:47

Quite doable on a sports bike with sports tyres in summer time and a dry road. This time of year, don't even think about it.

Sorry to disagree - many more years ago than I am prepared to admit, Otago Uni MCC included Danseys in a midwinter 2-day road trial - mid-July. There was snow on the road, and the average speed set for the Danseys part was 42mph. We did it on a road bike, 2-up, road tyres including a rib front, same as everyone else on the trial had.

Same day also had the Hakataramea, under 2ft of snow.

(We won nah nah nah-nah...and I'm still married to my pillion of the time.)

PS I've also ridden it in winter on a VTR1000, for nostalgia's sake.

jim.cox

20th May 2014, 05:33

Otago Uni MCC included Danseys in a midwinter 2-day road trial - mid-July. There was snow on the road, and the average speed set for the Danseys part was 42mph.

Might be hard to do that today - they often close the pass road in winter

But then I guess you could just ignore the road closed signs like I did

The drifts were pretty deep near the top - although it wasn't too hard to work out where the road ought to have been

Jantar

20th May 2014, 09:05

Sorry to disagree - many more years ago than I am prepared to admit, Otago Uni MCC included Danseys in a midwinter 2-day road trial - mid-July. ....

Either the Otago Uni MCC did that route more than once, or I was also on that ride. The sports bikes back then were more like the adventure bikes of today, and tyres were much narrower which gave them better purchase in softer conditions.

I still ride a sports tourer over the Danseys, in most conditions, but not when there is snow on the road. However if a rider has to ask about Danseys, then until they know the road and conditions it is better that they not try it.

PeteJ

20th May 2014, 10:15

1. Either the Otago Uni MCC did that route more than once, or I was also on that ride.

2. The sports bikes back then were more like the adventure bikes of today, and tyres were much narrower which gave them better purchase in softer conditions.

1. In which case, :wavey:

2. Viv and I won it on a Suzuki GT550, not like any adventure bike of any time, actually (though we did have panniers and saddlebags, as well as an overnight bag on it). But I agree about the better tyre purchase of narrow tyres on gravel and ice; that's why I mentioned my winter ride over Dansey's on the VTR.

But, yes, without aiming to get into a dick-waving comp about rider ability, I guess I shouldn't encourage unskilled people to ride tough-ish roads.

PeteJ

20th May 2014, 10:19

Jantar

20th May 2014, 11:18

Wayyyy off topic now: Jantar, do you recall the Otago Uni MCC road trial I marked out in 1975, that had a 15-mile section of paper road through Mahinerangi Station? Most everyone got bogged. As I recall, it was the guy with the RE5 who had to get someone in with a Landie and trailer a few days later to retrieve it, because it was in mud so deep 4 people couldn't pull it out.
Oh yes. I remember that ride alright. I was the guy on the RE5, but no landie and trailer needed. It was heavy, and it sure did slide around a bit, and ended up on top of me twice. However, from memory, it was a GT750 that got bogged and had to be retrieved days later.

PeteJ

20th May 2014, 12:00

Hey, how about that? Your RE5 sounded so cool and looked so complicated...

I don't think I ever told any of the riders on this road trial that some of the sections more towards Balclutha had average speeds set faster than Hannu Mikkola managed in the Rally of NZ that year over the same roads - and a lot of you did actually keep with those averages :clap:.

Jantar

20th May 2014, 12:20

Yes, but After I left uni I lived at Waipori, so those roads were my back yard. I think I may still have some photos somewhere of that event.

I can't remember whether it was that ride, or the one a couple of years earlier that also did a Mahinerangi loop but went back to Dunedin via what is now George King Memorial drive. But the one bike that didn't get bogged was John Penno's LE Velocette.

As I said earlier in the thread, what we called sports bikes back then would be adventure bikes today.

BMWST?

20th May 2014, 13:39

ccapse

27th May 2014, 07:43

In the dry it will be easy as any other nz narrow
gravel road.the steepness wont be an issue aprt from corrugations out of the corners or braking into them,just take it easy!

Totally agree. Took my Hayabusa over it two years ago on the way to the Brass. Other's in my group were on GSs or Tigers and one on a Sprint. Cant say it would rank as best bike for the road but conditions were dry so quite doable with care although I was last to the Danseys pub. I believe it can be bad in dry if freshly resurfaced and if wet I would not have continued. Spectacular views and well worth doing - once - at least, on a sportsbike.

cynna

28th May 2014, 04:41

they were resurfacing it in feb so shoud be nice and packed by now

other photos also from feb - foggy and cold one side, cleared up on the other side

unstuck

30th May 2014, 06:02

they were resurfacing it in feb so shoud be nice and packed by now

other photos also from feb - foggy and cold one side, cleared up on the other side

I was through there a couple of weeks ago and the corrugations were pretty bad in places. Was a Wicked freedom camper van off the hill too, down the bank.:2thumbsup