Top effort dude! I wouldn't do that road on a scooter! (I wouldn't do an open road on a scooter haha). I thought about taking the motard out that way. I've done the Kawhia-Waitomo loop several times but never taken the gravel way. I have done the gravel road from SH22 to raglan (other side of the bay from Raglan town). 40 odd km of gravel, makes you feel accomplished reaching the end and seeing a view not many others will bother to see.
Good on ya fella. Gotta start somewhere. Good luck with the bike, and happy travels.
I was one of the northern starters and it was my first organised endurance ride, and what a great route! Apart from the bastardry on the road between Paekakariki and Otaki, which made Auckland drivers look good, the roads were a great collection: Lake views, mountain views, ranges, Wairarapa sheepses, Hill road, Wankers, boring bit from Levin to the Fordell turm-off, the PARAPARAS!, more mountain, more lake and the sublime Old Taupo Road. (Just a note to non-waikato dwellers, the Old Taupo Road's not unique in the Waikato - most of our back roads are like that!). So 1056Km in 11:30 including c. 35min refueling and defueling. 58.9 l petrol used for 5.1l/100km average. Polly (the cute chick in my GPS) said my top speed was 128Km (that would have been passing some numb-nuts who crept around corners and caned it on the straights) and moving average was 96.8km/hr. Thanks for that Koro, bring on more!
great day had by Waikato starters very nice loop Koroj
great day out, not getting out on the bike so much these days so the body was fairly sore after almost 11 hours in the saddle - but that just made the frosty ciders taste even better! highlights were paekak hill (with no traffic at 6am), old taupo road and the paraparas (which were in great condition) see you next year!
It was an excellent day, thank you very muchly! For some reason the scenery came out in splendourful fashion, rare to see it so marvelous for a days ride (or perhaps i haven't been getting out enough. I was pleased to clear up the small question of the nickname for my '91 R100GS. Your suggestion of "The Tractor" looks good on the face of it as well it is big and clunky (especially clunky). However judging by its relentless performance and surprisingly good handling even when the chips are down (or the droopy centre stand) I think the label "War Horse" is fitting and thus she shall henceforth be named.
Sorry couldn't ride this year, not planned that way Glad it was enjoyable for all and I am most envious. Mike (FZED1)
Well done on the choice of route, the challenging stuff in the beginning and easy running towards the end. Thank you to yourself and Ann for organising.
Awesome day out. My initiation into endurance riding GPS packed a sad in Rotorua so had to go back to real maps. When we saw KoroJ would though tag on to him if we could he would now the way We had just grabbed a pie at the gas station in Rotorua and must just have been leaving as you arrived Bandit , we will catch up sometime Im sure . Never done any of the road down from Rotorua to Kuratau Bikers heaven. Thought I would be knackered at the end but felt great and huge smile that is still there today Thanks KoroJ and everyone else I meet during a great day
Freaking great day out! It was nice to catch up with Mike too - I hadn't known about the rough time he's had lately. So that was Biggo with the 109's - ran into them in Rotorua but didn't get to catch up with them as they were departing as we were paying for gas.
Nice job, looks great
You could have some welded on by somebody competent.
Looks like youre shit out of luck.
Check your swing arm and see if it has the holes to fit them. Should be in front of and slightly below the rear axle.
The above relates to a Hyosung
Arlo Guthrie....long, looong time since I heard him sing. Legend!! That aint no Tail of the Dragon, a good ride none the less. Demands caution tho all you throttle jox: Busy rural dairying area means....slow turning b-trains around a corner, wandering dogs, cattle and kids. Slow moving quads, large dirty tractors and old utes loaded with yapping dawgs. However, it is very unlikely any deer will leap out in front of you!! Enjoy carefully folks.
There are so many roads around the western Waikato/Waipa/Waitomo ( and every other district ) that have their own special rides. Every road has any number of magical 2 - 5 k sections of smooth flowing bends that brings out the pleasures of riding a motorbike. The roads through the hills between Cambridge, Morrinsville and Matamata on one side of SH1, and any road in the Waipa/Waitomo area from Maungatautari out to the west coast on the other side. I have also recorded a run through Taotaoroa rd and put music to it, but its fairly rough compared to this clip.
Ah, the Taotaoroa Rd. Not quite the equivalent of the Dragons Tail or the Rimutakas, not the same level of vertical challenge, but an absolutely fantastic ride through lovely countryside. I remember once, coming out where Taotaoroa Rd meets SH29 with a friend on our way back to Tauranga. He said, "When I die, put my ashes in a box, strap it to the pillion of a motorbike, leave the lid open a little bit and scatter me along that road." But there are so many good riding roads in that area, thank you Waikato.
tag Totman road onto that & you have a really nice loop
Pretty !!!!
