The halcyon days of Adv riding - a rave

[Padmei]

It's an exciting time for adv riding. The number, popularity & quality of organised & social adv rides is steadily growing. As to has public awareness, courtesy in part to the likes of Ewen & Charlie (love them or hate them you know who they are & what they did)

Television coverage has brought the images of adv riding to the masses. The appeal of leaving the highway is turning baby boomers back onto bikes that are forgiving, reliable & importantly affordable.

The increase of new & returning riders creates bigger markets to cater for aftermarket must-haves. Commercial enterprises flourish on the internet sharing space in websites where communities of adv riders from around the globe can share their experiences & of course most importantly discuss the focus of their obsessions - the bikes

In the last few years there have been a number of changes in sizes for bikes - BMW bringing in some in between sizes with the F800gs & taking the company out of it's comfort zone whilst creating a wider younger fan base with the G series.
Old models such as the KLR & Yamaha's Tenere being reintroduced with fresh new looks ( amongst anguished cries of underperformance & overweight).
Honda seems to be stagnated with the Transalp following Triumphs reactionary taming of the Tiger into the role of relaxed sports tourer.

Suzuki choosing not to bother changing a good thing with the DR - The Vstrom snuggling into the same niche as the Tiger & Transalp

KTM I guess just do what they're good at - setting their bikes as a benchmark for other bikes to be measured against.



I believe these years will be remembered as the halcyon days similar to the eighties with the birth of the modern adv bike culture.

[JATZ]

It's an exciting time for adv riding. The number, popularity & quality of organised & social adv rides is steadily growing. As to has public awareness, courtesy in part to the likes of Ewen & Charlie (love them or hate them you know who they are & what they did)

Television coverage has brought the images of adv riding to the masses. The appeal of leaving the highway is turning baby boomers back onto bikes that are forgiving, reliable & importantly affordable.

The increase of new & returning riders creates bigger markets to cater for aftermarket must-haves. Commercial enterprises flourish on the internet sharing space in websites where communities of adv riders from around the globe can share their experiences & of course most importantly discuss the focus of their obsessions - the bikes

In the last few years there have been a number of changes in sizes for bikes - BMW bringing in some in between sizes with the F800gs & taking the company out of it's comfort zone whilst creating a wider younger fan base with the G series.
Old models such as the KLR & Yamaha's Tenere being reintroduced with fresh new looks ( amongst anguished cries of underperformance & overweight).
Honda seems to be stagnated with the Transalp following Triumphs reactionary taming of the Tiger into the role of relaxed sports tourer.

Suzuki choosing not to bother changing a good thing with the DR - The Vstrom snuggling into the same niche as the Tiger & Transalp

KTM I guess just do what they're good at - setting their bikes as a benchmark for other bikes to be measured against.



I believe these years will be remembered as the halcyon days similar to the eighties with the birth of the modern adv bike culture.

You been navel gazing again Padmei :Pokey:
but ya prolly rightish

[Paladin]

Damn wot you smokin tonite? :blink:

Actually all nicely put! I would add that the object of the obsession isn't just the bikes, it's also the being out seeing the country away from cars and main roads, the challenging yourself on different terrain and getting to share the whole buzz with likeminded people who you know are getting that same buzz from doing it!

It's a drug and we are all SO hooked already!!!!!!!!!!!!! :done:

[Woodman]

lets not forget the sustained loss of traction.

[Paladin]

lets not forget the sustained loss of traction.

and the ever present "clinching" moments! :yes:

We're all just addicted to the adrenalin & endorphin rush aren't we! :sweatdrop

[marks]

you feeling at a loose end Padmei?

wots wrong - are Igors piles playing up again?

[marks]

sustained loss of traction.

adventure riding in a nut shell

[pete376403]

And stopping off at toppys for a coffee and a perve

[junkmanjoe]

ok im a x road bike rider, and on them, i just liked to get to the other end as quick as poss,:first: with out a ticket.:Police: and just had to pass the next car no mater how far away it was......................:ride:

now, the ride on my yellow naked road bike, dr650, its about the road or lack of one, the views, the people, the less need to get there first, :third: to find out where that road goes that you have passed everyday but never riden up.
to ride where i never thought of going, and to enjoy the bike.
hope thats not to gay..............:doh:
thats my thoughts...........................:spanking:

[Aslan]

interesting reflective thread you've started here Padmei - as MarkS asked - 'you at a loose end?' - I regard Adventure Riding as one of life's 'vital' experiences where all of my senses are engaged - tis interesting to reflect on your youthful (relative term I know) assessment of the history of the genre - In my teens in the 60's - inspired by US 'rock stars' like Steve McQueen I used to take my Triumph Thunderbird and subsequently Saint off road whenever I could - then in late 60' early 70's the Honda XL250 and Yamaha DT1 revolutionised dual sport riding.


Rock on - life's for living to the max eh - cheers Aslan


PS - I guess Bert Monro inpsires a lot of old farts like me - connection with ADV tenuous I know - but riding machines on Oreti Beach resonnates with me as one who grew up in Otago with it's many back country roads :woohoo:

[Garry.W]

Blimey, I'm choking up :hug:

[NordieBoy]

Blimey, I'm choking up :hug:

Thought the HP2 was fuel injected?

[Quasievil]

Damn I miss my Adventure riding..........someone want to order a shit load of leather so I can buy a new bike??
Im thinking about what it will be already, prolly another over weight animal but hey I like the touring side of it as well as the dirt bits.

The best ride of my life to date was in Jan 2007 when I did the south island in a week, doing the high country stations and senic road routes on my KLR truly an awesome experience, in the last year of racing only (no road bike) I remember fuck all about any of the races I did, but I will never forget that awesome ride in the S.I.......makes me wonder why race really maybe I have the riding type all fucked up lol

[HenryDorsetCase]

the label "adventure riding" covers some pretty wide and disparate bikes and riding as well. (Which is all good): in much the same way that a "sports bike" is a Ducati 1198S or R, or an SR500 cafe racer (no prizes for guessing which I'd prefer....hint, not the Duke).

Me on my Triumph Scrambler pootling about on a shingle back country road is an adventrure, vs Charley and Ewan (I know someone whose name is in fact Ewan McGregor, which is quite funny: now known to all as Obi Wan) vs the guy on his barely street legal enduro bike ripping the snot out of some forest somewhere.

What I like is that idea of being AWAY From congested main roads, and away from cars and stuff, but in a certain style.....

[Tony W]

And stopping off at toppys for a coffee and a perve



Rode down to Wellington last month on the Beemer.:scooter:

En route I turned off SH2 at Pahiatua and headed to Route 52 eventually emerging at Martinborough.

I decided to have a nice relaxing rest stop and headed for the nearest coffee shop.
Sat down with a nice cuppa and a pie watching the Wellington 7s as relaxation.

....then my jaw hit the floor....

...she must've been about 20, medium length dark hair, amazingly curved, long legs, generously proportioned in the upper region, and the face of a dark angel....

I can't remember the name of the place......do you think I was at "Toppy's" ?

[Hitcher]

BMWho? Collectors items, I hear.

[JATZ]

:Oops:'scuse me mr Padmei. but I think you made an error with the title.
I just went and checked out wikipedia:sherlock: and I'm pretty sure it's "Halcyon"
not Halycon
Can't have us ADV riders portrayed as neanderthals :bleh:

[buggsubique]

the guy on his barely street legal enduro bike ripping the snot out of some forest somewhere.

bugger - where did you see me?!?

[buggsubique]

:Oops:'scuse me mr Padmei. but I think you made an error with the title.
I just went and checked out wikipedia:sherlock: and I'm pretty sure it's "Halcyon"
not Halycon
Can't have us ADV riders portrayed as neanderthals :bleh:

Rise to the occasion Jatz - edit Wikipedia for us! :shifty:

[reofix]

feeling trapped by health and safety? ................sick of meetings (which are longer and more moronic with every passing year)?.... fed up with rush hour traffic?... one more workplace evacuation drill and you will kill someone? .....

Have i got a deal for you.... freedom and space... come adventure riding !!!

[Padmei]

:Oops:'scuse me mr Padmei. but I think you made an error with the title.
I just went and checked out wikipedia:sherlock: and I'm pretty sure it's "Halcyon"
not Halycon
Can't have us ADV riders portrayed as neanderthals :bleh:

Man that was like a very complicated thriller movie with many twists. Did I? Did he? DOes he mean? DId he edit? Did I edit? Am I wrong? Oh hahaha... Double back twist to where I was ...But you got me in the end - well done:laugh:

[Quasievil]

Rode down to Wellington last month on the Beemer.:scooter:

En route I turned off SH2 at Pahiatua and headed to Route 52 eventually emerging at Martinborough.

I decided to have a nice relaxing rest stop and headed for the nearest coffee shop.
Sat down with a nice cuppa and a pie watching the Wellington 7s as relaxation.

....then my jaw hit the floor....

...she must've been about 20, medium length dark hair, amazingly curved, long legs, generously proportioned in the upper region, and the face of a dark angel....




Oi where is the rest of the story ??????:mad:

[Oscar]

I got yer steenkin' halcyon days right 'ere:

http://oscar.smugmug.com/photos/82943143_Kywyx-M.jpg

[Oscar]

http://oscar.smugmug.com/photos/82943071_NvTGu-M.jpg

[Oscar]

http://oscar.smugmug.com/photos/82943299_ws5KM-M.jpg

100 bonus points for the name of any rider.
1000 for the owner of the arse...

[Paladin]

yep that'll do it! :2thumbsup

[Phreaky Phil]

http://oscar.smugmug.com/photos/82943299_ws5KM-M.jpg

100 bonus points for the name of any rider.
1000 for the owner of the arse...
Thats got to be Collie Cooper with with the long hair. Couple of other familiar faces that I cant put a name to at the moment.

[junkmanjoe]

I got yer steenkin' halcyon days right 'ere:

http://oscar.smugmug.com/photos/82943143_Kywyx-M.jpg

that XT550 looks like a beast.....:o
sorry i thought is was a dr750.....
guess i dont know...sorry....

[NordieBoy]

that drbig looks like the one on tardme...same colour..

What DR Big?

DR400s?
XT250/500?
XT600 Tenere?

[MXNUT]

What DR Big?

DR400s?
XT250/500?
XT600 Tenere?
:argue:What he said except its a XT550

[Woodman]

:argue:What he said except its a XT550

IMHO those xt550's gotta be the best lookin big trailie ever.:first:

Cool pics of the olden days.

[Oscar]

Now this is Adventure riding...

http://oscar.smugmug.com/photos/82943788_FHkg2-M.jpg

[Oscar]

http://oscar.smugmug.com/photos/82943138_y6EKi-M.jpg

Mike (Geek) Sharpe RIP

[Phreaky Phil]

Now this is Adventure riding...

http://oscar.smugmug.com/photos/82943788_FHkg2-M.jpgNow theres a dangerous combination !! Vege & Guns

[Oscar]

that XT550 looks like a beast.....:o
sorry i thought is was a dr750.....

From left to right - DR200, Xt550, TT250 (obscured), XT600 Tenere

[JATZ]

From left to right - DR200, Xt550, TT250 (obscured), XT600 Tenere

I would've picked it as a tenere, very distinctive tank

[junkmanjoe]

From left to right - DR200, Xt550, TT250 (obscured), XT600 Tenere

how do you know what the hiden bike is, are you one of the chaps in the photo.
what year do you think the pic was taken.
80's maybe.

[Paladin]

how do you know what the hiden bike is, are you one of the chaps in the photo.
what year do you think the pic was taken.
80's maybe.

Its probably Oscar doin the moon! <_<

[Tony W]

Oi where is the rest of the story ??????:mad:



Oh yeah..........." then I woke up " :crybaby:

[Oscar]

how do you know what the hiden bike is, are you one of the chaps in the photo.
what year do you think the pic was taken.
80's maybe.

Second from left.
Can't remember the year, but it's on the corner of Makomako Road and Kawhia Road.

[Oscar]

Its probably Oscar doin the moon! <_<

That be 4skins.

[Paladin]

That be 4skins.

So are you in any of those photos then?

[Oscar]

So are you in any of those photos then?

Yeah, I'm in the Makomako photo.

[Paladin]

Yeah, I'm in the Makomako photo.

That narrows it down then! :msn-wink:

Where are those huge dunes in the other photo?

[Oscar]

That narrows it down then! :msn-wink:

Where are those huge dunes in the other photo?

Ocean Beach, Kawhia

This is me (25-odd year ago):

http://oscar.smugmug.com/photos/82943096_vwyPc-M.jpg

[junkmanjoe]

cheers for info,
sorry i got my bikes mixed up.
i rember when dad brought a brand new xr500 twin shock, for the farm, think i was around 7 or 8 at that time, it was so powerfull, my bike was a ct90 step through, my first adventure bike,fully loaded with possom traps, my brother had a pe250.

[junkmanjoe]

Oh yeah..........." then I woke up " :crybaby:

hows the body feeling nowdays,, pick out all the gravel rash, :crazy:

[Tony W]

hows the body feeling nowdays,, pick out all the gravel rash, :crazy:

Found some gravel in my pockets yesterday !!:laugh:

[MIXONE]

Ocean Beach, Kawhia

This is me (25-odd year ago):

http://oscar.smugmug.com/photos/82943096_vwyPc-M.jpg

And still odd today.:eek5:
Great pics Oscar.

[Paladin]

Ocean Beach, Kawhia

This is me (25-odd year ago):

http://oscar.smugmug.com/photos/82943096_vwyPc-M.jpg

Hey I know you're probably doin a mad run down the dune but that's giving me a mental image of a bike with front wheel dug deep into the sand just off left of shot and you somehow catapulted over the top! :bye:

[Paladin]

Found some gravel in my pockets yesterday !!:laugh:

Sounds familiar! Must be something to do with going out for a ride with Joe - I blame him personally! :innocent:

[junkmanjoe]

well funny you should say that, as both you chaps were in front of me, so i guess you must have, BEEN SCARD OF THE MIGHTY BEAST BEHIND YOU AND BLOODY FELL OFF.
so be carefull out there chaps......:devil2:

[Paladin]

well funny you should say that, as both you chaps were in front of me, so i guess you must have, BEEN SCARD OF THE MIGHTY BEAST BEHIND YOU AND BLOODY FELL OFF.
so be carefull out there chaps......:devil2:

Being a DR650, that would be the beast from "The Land That Time Forgot" I guess! :whistle:

[junkmanjoe]

yip but we got some great roads around here.
just watch out for the dinos........................

[newbould]

Great thread - I'm sold - when I ditch the Scorp its a dual purpose

[bart]

Here it is for me. Tent, roll, and a bag full of piss. Who needs panniers.

[junkmanjoe]

how old are you there, 10....:bleh:

[Paladin]

how old are you there, 10....:bleh:

Nearly as old as the design of the DR650 then! :bleh:

(Bet you a tenner if I buy a DR, next year they'll come out with a new super modern lookin machine just to piss me off!)

[Howie]

You just used the bike you had back in the eighties. Pic is of a BMW R100s?, Ducati Pantah, and Suzuki GSXR750 at the top of Danseys pass after the brass monkey rally in 1986.

[Paladin]

You just used the bike you had back in the eighties. Pic is of a BMW R100s?, Ducati Pantah, and Suzuki GSXR750 at the top of Danseys pass after the brass monkey rally in 1986.

That was before the marketing men got us! Now we've gotta have a special "dual purpose/adventure bike" or we're not doing it right! :whistle:

[Howie]

That was before the marketing men got us! Now we've gotta have a special "dual purpose/adventure bike" or we're not doing it right! :whistle:

yeah well I did also have that "special dual purpose bike". Although it was probably not on the road by the time I took the previous photo.