<![CDATA[Kiwi Biker forums - Blogs - gijoe1313's Blogs by gijoe1313]]> https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/blog.php/7319-gijoe1313-s-Blogs Kiwi Biker - New Zealand motorcycle community en Sun, 03 May 2026 13:37:22 GMT vBulletin 20 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/images/BP-Brown/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[Kiwi Biker forums - Blogs - gijoe1313's Blogs by gijoe1313]]> https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/blog.php/7319-gijoe1313-s-Blogs Finally getting back into the swing of things! https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/5346-Finally-getting-back-into-the-swing-of-things! Wed, 21 Jan 2015 03:35:12 GMT Well last year I was clobbered at school in the back of the head around March. By a frikken frisbee. Concussed me so badly I was off school for two terms and still hadn't come right by the 3rd term. Couldn't concentrate, talk or walk properly for that time and just trying to string a thought together was mayhem on the brain.

Wifey basically had a zombie for a hubby and it was a while before things came right.

Of course no riding a bike, that was blardy hard bejesus for somebody like me. From casual rides off to Wellington on a whim to just starting the bikes up to hear their engines :crybaby:

But of course, I was patient, thought about how lucky I had it compared to others so just bide my time until I got the all clear from the quacks.

And now, after testing the waters (so to speak) I began my rehabilitation and regaining that affinity with my iron steed of freedom again. It was blissful feeling the bikes respond to the inputs, how they helped me get around corners and remind me of what I should be doing.

Didn't die the first time out and boy was it good feeling the wind again, the smack of suiciding insects on helmet and body. The smell of the road and the ol'spidey sense coming in to play. Feels great to ride back out to places I haven't seen or been in over a year (or two). Will be making haste slowly and just build my riding fitness back to where it doesn't feel like my wrist has been twisted or over-gripping the handles ... little things like that!

Nice to ride with mates again, guys like TOTO and PrincessBandit ... and dare I say it? Gremlin :weird:

Nice to eat fish and chips at Kaiaua.

Nice to carve some corners to Port Waikato.

Nice to lane split between the vehicles on the parking lot that is the highway.

Just blardy nice to ride once again! :first:

Been a whiles updating this blog of mine, hope it continues in a more continuous flow and not missing a whole year from now on! :Punk: ]]> gijoe1313 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/5346-Finally-getting-back-into-the-swing-of-things! New bling for Cindi https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2179-New-bling-for-Cindi Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:23:48 GMT Well, been quite quiet here on the blog front - so to update some details to aid my failing memory as I slide into my dotage!

New rear Angel for Cindi from Drury tyres, also got them to put the new R&G rear axle bobbin gubbins in at the same time.

Thinking what the hey, get right angled valve installed as well (they currently have two of mine in stowage ready for when I change the fronts on Cindi and the Big Ol'Hornet!)

Also purchased a small "Muc-Off" helmet cleaner kit, since my girl hates having a dirty visor! Comes in a nice little carry case, sprayer and special micro-fiber towel made for the purpose. Mmmmm bike accessories ... pure bike porn for me! :love:

Will be needing a new front on Cindi soon! :innocent: ]]> gijoe1313 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2179-New-bling-for-Cindi In Sydney lapping up the holiday! https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2166-In-Sydney-lapping-up-the-holiday! Wed, 20 Jul 2011 02:25:17 GMT Well was in Sydney for a holiday, took off last Friday and came back Monday - just got around to sorting through the photos. Being a biker, noted the two wheels moving around the Sydney streets. Have to say, felt sorry for them since there is so many lights and a paucity of good roads to ride on! ... Well was in Sydney for a holiday, took off last Friday and came back Monday - just got around to sorting through the photos. Being a biker, noted the two wheels moving around the Sydney streets. Have to say, felt sorry for them since there is so many lights and a paucity of good roads to ride on!

The bikes I did see had mile wide chicken strips and they were parked in all sorts of nooks and crannies, did see one poor unfortunate pulled over by the popo on the first night in! A smattering of makes and designs, though there was a nice Ducati that seemed to always blat around on the underpass where we stayed (nice pipes).

Managed to get into a motorbike store on the last day we were meant to fly out. MCSA was a large outfit and had plenty of gear. There wasn't much for me except a cool accessory, a grenade disc lock! A must have! My girl found a lot of gear that was right up her alley - so she purloined a new winter and leather riding jacket for herself! Pretty neat, apparently a lot of kiwis frequent this store.

Found a good riding map marked out with the roads that make for good riding and there was a lot of staff on hand, a couple of Sydney's finest turned up and was interesting to see the clobber they had on their belts. The pistol was a point of difference!

I took some piccies, but their website here : http://www.mcas.com.au/pw/pages/view...#city%20photos has way more better ones!

So I just took some piccies of a very cool ladies helmet, if they had a L size, I would have bought it on the spot for my girl!

Too bad this was the only shop we got to, would have been good to seen more.
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]]> gijoe1313 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2166-In-Sydney-lapping-up-the-holiday! 1st Day of Hols ... out riding! https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1874-1st-Day-of-Hols-out-riding! Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:45:04 GMT Well Monday was a good day for me, got up early and dropped my girl off to work on Max ( Big Ol'Hornet 900 ) - she asked me sweetly what I would be up to! :innocent: With a cavalier wink and a sly smile, I duly announced ... "Riding, riding ... followed with more riding!"

So I pootled off home to gear up and change bikes to Cindi ( Predator ) and after filling up at the local servo, I merrily rode my way to the Coromandel via Kaiaua. The great thing about doing these roads at what is work time for many is a joy and bliss to behold! :sunny:

Twists and turns were great and the weather was mint, a brief stop at the toilets to wipe off the bug splats on visor and off to Kopu! It has been an uncharacteristically long time for me to ride the Coro loop again - the changes in effect from last I saw was quite startling, not least the new roundabout which so diverted me towards Paeroa for a bit! :blink: Looping back, the initial road to Tairua was covered in fresh roadworks, a bit of gravel and onto the usual roads.

Traffic was light as you would expect and a merry time was had of it, in Tairua I txtd Gremlin to taunt him about how he was subsiding my jaunt. His txtd reply was so rude! :devil2:

Anyhow the twisties up to Whitianga were a delight, the corners a dipping and a bobbing and a weaving, my delightful Cindi was purring and howling and enjoying the tickle on the throttle. Scenery was mint and the sun was starting to really warm everything up (I had on thermals for some unphantomable reason! :facepalm:)

At Whitianga, I had an early lunch stop at the excellent bakery across from the Caltex. A potato top and a lamb and mint pie was scoffed and washed down the throat with a pepsi. Delicisimo!

More txts to taunt Gremlin. Who responded by saying he had f**ked his Katie (KTM). Again. FFS, that lad really lives up to his nickname when it comes to bike problems! List of damage this time : Bent front wheelrim and shorting of lekky system :facepalm:

Anyhow, completing the rest of the loop, the fuel levels dipped with enthusiastic glee as Cindi sipped away. The ride around the coast to Thames was pleasant and lovely, polite motorists were actually giving me ample opportunities to pass them! :niceone:

All too soon, Thames hove into view and I refilled at the BP servo, Gremlin this time importuning me to give him a lift back from Botany Honda because he had to drop Katie off to them. Time was getting on, but not before I divested myself of my thermal top (baking like an idiot), chatted to an old fella about his new purchase of a CB500X from down the line - he was using the local mower shop to help tighten up a loose rear wheel axle nut! :gob: "It was riding beautifully, until it felt like it was not handling the way it should ..." were his words! Hope he got back home okay!

Anyway, back to D'orkland and done so via Miranda to Hunuas, taking the back way (ooer! typical bloody Honda riders) via Ormiston rd, I met up with Gremlin and we basically bickered and insulted one another on the way to Botany Honda :bash:. Poor Cindi, a great 90kg lump of useless man-meat on the bitch seat!

Much more insults and abuse at Botany Honda and eventually Gremlin and I went back to his work so I could refill the Scott Oiler on Cindi (much jokes about how we should just buy a box load of oil since we use them up pretty quickly!)

Eventually I tired of Gremlin's company and went to pick up my girl from work. A Hornet Swarm ride to attend to! (Nothing picks me up like riding, riding ... and more riding! :innocent:)

So around 6.30pm we left the meeting spot, Interceptor, TOTO, Zeocen and Sharry were in attendance. We rode the Whitford-Maraetai loop with Twilight road tossed in and then back to Botany for some banquet eats. Loads of food and I'm sure some of them will still be burping flavours of it back up today! :drinkup:

The prize grab game consumed all of our dollar coins as we fixated on trying to win a dolphin - which kept dropping out of the dropper arm at the last moment! :rofl: Thank god we ran out of coins otherwise it would be the most expensive prize ever! If we ever do win it, it will have to become our mascot!

So at the end of the night, with all the bai-wavies done, everyone departed for parts thereof to grace their peaceful beds!
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]]> gijoe1313 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1874-1st-Day-of-Hols-out-riding! Riding with an experienced newbie to Whangas https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1824-Riding-with-an-experienced-newbie-to-Whangas Mon, 15 Nov 2010 03:54:16 GMT Well Gale_Wolf is an old mate of from uni days, he's gotten on with life and raised a fine family and doing the hard yards.

Of course, this meant his usual hi-jinks with motorbikes has been curtailed and he has in his words become "mister communterer". We've recently renewed our friendship and actually ridden with each other on short trips on the Hornet Swarm rides.

Now, he gets ambitious and wants to head up to Whangarei to pick up a muffler baffle from the previous owner of his squid bike gixxer thou. It could have been couriered down, but any excuse for a ride!

So at 7.15am on Saturday morning, I turn up to his place and stone me cold, his precious is parked outside ready to go. Unlike my usual riding partner in crime, the ludicrous Gremlin, he is actually up and raring to go! His missus was feeling a bit poorly due to one of his girls having the stomach virus going around.:sick:

Anyhow, we head off via the Northwestern to do old north road and peak road and the usual run up SH16, fark me, gravel on all the good corners! Was interesting to compare notes with Gale_Wolf who complained about his tyres sliding on the loose stuff (no probs from me riding like a nana!) :scooter:

Stopped at Wellsford for some pies (Jester's stockman and morning glory) and off we went via Maungawhai to Waipu - pointed out the chocolatier there to stop in on the way back. From there squirted out to Whangas with a refill at the Caltex before we hit it.

Had a good old natter with the chap (forgot his KB name, but he knows Laava) and then we piss off back down the line home, basically reversing the route we took.

So we end up taking a detour via hobsonville to see the new developments there, and refuelled at Shell Westgate. Swapped bikes and I rode the gixxer back to Gale_Wplf's place. :ride:

Man, it was a painful experience on the wrists, uncomfortable sprotsbike position! Bike always wanting to head into licence losing territory :oi-grr:

Was fun though but it just definitely confirms for me how much I love my predator! :love: Anyhow, just glad that my mate got to actually take his bike around some decent corners and do a "proper" ride. Did have some moments of worry when I looked in my mirrors after some twisties to await my wingman to come back into view! :sweatdrop :niceone: ]]> gijoe1313 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1824-Riding-with-an-experienced-newbie-to-Whangas Cindi demands TLC https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1776-Cindi-demands-TLC Mon, 18 Oct 2010 09:04:27 GMT Well, today, I pootled off to Botany Honda to get Cindi serviced. She was booked in for her 6000km service (but I tend to over-run it a little ... this time, only by 300km or so). Get the usual guff and customer dis-service from the lads in the shop, listened to some alarming South African... Well, today, I pootled off to Botany Honda to get Cindi serviced. She was booked in for her 6000km service (but I tend to over-run it a little ... this time, only by 300km or so).

Get the usual guff and customer dis-service from the lads in the shop, listened to some alarming South African driving/riding stories from the two saffies there. Wichard was not on talking terms with me since I got Cindi's rubber from another establishment (oh, look - my previous blog post! Fancy that!)

zeocen turns up and asks about loud cans again - I wonder about that lad at times, he can be so speshul!:facepalm:

Anyhow, once the Honda jokes were finished with, I collected my steed and we rode out of there to head for the Hornet Swarm ride! :scooter: Thanks to the lads at Botany, Cindi is good for another 6000km of riding! :woohoo:

The new tail tidy lurking in my backpack shall also be a nice tasty offering to Cindi and her voracious appetite for blingage! :pinch: ]]> gijoe1313 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1776-Cindi-demands-TLC New Rubber for Cindi ... ooer! https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1769-New-Rubber-for-Cindi-ooer! Sat, 16 Oct 2010 09:15:09 GMT Well, after 6100km of happy riding, Cindi has decided that she needs a new set of shoes and daddy needs to do the shopping for her! :innocent: The BT015 Battleax she originally had was a good tyre, but obviously being of a soft disposition, it was put to the test and found slightly wanting in terms... Well, after 6100km of happy riding, Cindi has decided that she needs a new set of shoes and daddy needs to do the shopping for her! :innocent: The BT015 Battleax she originally had was a good tyre, but obviously being of a soft disposition, it was put to the test and found slightly wanting in terms of life. So ... time to try something else new!

So off to Drury Performance Tyres to see Mike about solving this little dilemma. The good man has a set of Pirelli Angels ST on the shelves and for a very good price, he releases them to me to shod Cindi with.

A good mate who was working in the shop to fill up some time between jobs set about the job of taking off Cindi's zorst and getting her new wheels on. A good natter and a chap on a Yammy did a burn out to the side of the building helped pass the time.

So, the pic below shows the Angel beaming benignly on Cindi at the moment. After a while, I'll take a picture of the demon that shall rear it's head after milage is mastered! :blink:

I have her booked in at Botany Honda on Monday arvo for her service as well. Crikey - this little filly is loving the cashola spent on her! :facepalm::shutup::love::innocent:
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]]> gijoe1313 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1769-New-Rubber-for-Cindi-ooer! Just an updated picture portfolio of my Honda Family! https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1747-Just-an-updated-picture-portfolio-of-my-Honda-Family! Wed, 29 Sep 2010 09:35:14 GMT Well it's been a while since I've managed to get some photos of half my collection (this happens to be the Honda collection!)

Will have to re do the shots and do it a bit better to do them some justice! :sweatdrop

For those who don't know ...

CB250 aka lil'ol'hornet is Pete
CB900 aka Big Ol'Hornet is Max
CB1000R aka Predator is Cindi
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]]> gijoe1313 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1747-Just-an-updated-picture-portfolio-of-my-Honda-Family! Cindi carries on up to the Cape! Ooer! https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1746-Cindi-carries-on-up-to-the-Cape!-Ooer! Wed, 29 Sep 2010 08:41:02 GMT Well as part of my plan to do my usual business of riding whenever, where-ever and however - I took Cindi my CB1000R Predator up to Cape Reinga today. The last time Cindi and I were closest to the Cape was when we accompanied Gremlin to Dargaville. This first mission was a failure due to the usual... Well as part of my plan to do my usual business of riding whenever, where-ever and however - I took Cindi my CB1000R Predator up to Cape Reinga today. The last time Cindi and I were closest to the Cape was when we accompanied Gremlin to Dargaville. This first mission was a failure due to the usual tardiness of Gremlin.

Today, we remedied that! I was up at 6am .... brekkie and prep saw me bolt out the door at 7.15am and we were away riding! Did the back roads to SH16 and the boring straights to Dargaville. I wanted to do the Waipoua forest and the back track to the Cape. :niceone:

Weather was mint, roads were the usual collection of sublime to the ridiculous. My KNOX chest armour got a work out towards the cape when a whole swarm of insects decided to kamikaze in my direction! :sick:

Since Gremlin has already done the travelogue, I decided to take a different tack and took some pictures instead! Also unlike, gremlin and TOTO doing it at night - the benefits of having it done in the day meant I could actually scoot Cindi up the lighthouse in my usual tradition of taking piccies! :innocent:

No one around, was bloody marvellous! The lack of gravel seemed to be a bit of an anti-climax. When it was there, it felt like an accomplishment. Now anyone can easily get there! :oi-grr: Also, by the amount of crazy driving I saw from the few munters - I think there will be an increase in accidents there! The gravel put people on the alert and made them take their time. Now, it's chocks away and put the pedal to the metal!

The way back home was around the other side of the North Island, SH10 to Kerikeri and rejoining SH1 to Wellsford for the last hurrah back on SH16. Plenty of bikers were outgoing as I was coming back! Also ... two incidents of idiots in vehicles almost done for me. One was on the complete wrong side of the road coming around a blind corner (I tend to hug left for this sort of thing arising), the other was a munter that overtook a car to scream into a side road. I was already slowing down and hitting the picks when I saw the strange light patterns occurring. I had hit the horn ... but just the stock one ... will install the Steble ASAP tomorrow! Apart from that, everything was tickety-boo! Oh, Cindi now has 5400km on the clock now ... she's a right goer this one is ... nudge nudge wink wink!

This is a ride report thread with some other piccies http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...es-to-the-Cape!

Pic 1 : This is the shop where TOTO and I last ate a hearty dinner from a ride we did sometime last year
Pic 2 : Cindi showing off her bits
Pic 3 : At Kaipara, the best thing is the fruit people on the packing warehouse! The green one reminds me of TOTO ... :whistle:
Pic 4 : The obligatory shot of Tane Mahuta in the Waipoua Forest. The tourists there were a bit ... surprised by a red camo ninja! :innocent:
Pic 5 : Cindi getting in a bit of sunbathing at Omapere
Pic 6 : Len's pies .. I scoffed down a mince n'cheese one while having a yarn with a local who owns a 900 Hornet. We swapped war stories! :sunny:
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]]> gijoe1313 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1746-Cindi-carries-on-up-to-the-Cape!-Ooer! Lekky tinkering on the katoom of doom https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1741-Lekky-tinkering-on-the-katoom-of-doom Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:14:02 GMT Well last night helped Gremlin install some lekky stuff on his Katie. I don't know why I should ... I expect nothing but grief and weirdness.

Anyhow, I txt him and immediately he rings me up. Good grief! He must be keen as!

So he says he will be around shortly. Yep. Heard that before, so I pull out my portable seat, grab some comics and a drink and settle down for him to arrive.

Eventually I hear his pipes roaring up the street and he blinds me with his +90% bulbs ... we only installed a few days ago. Last time, as you all know - I ended up with oil on my shirt.

What would happen this time?

Anyhow, we get down to brass tacks - I see now why his mechanics bitch and moan about working on his KTM. It is a dog's dinner and with wiring leaking out all over the place. This was much preferable to the petrol that leaked out when we were pulling the tank off! :pinch: Visions of a fireball came to mind as we had a halogen light stand working nearby! :gob:

I moved it immediately.

Eventually I settled down into the process of installing the LED strips with Gremlin's help - we ran wires and somehow found space between the spaghetti he had already in his headlight space.

I wired it up, while I got Gremlin to wrap lekky tape around the connections. All the while, we tested the remote switch to ensure that 100% functionality was assured.

Somehow, even with Gremlin around, the strips were installed successfully and everything reattached into the right places! :gob:

A few test sightings of the luminosity provided by the LEDs was enlightening! :blip:

The photos below show some of the process of this black art of lekky work. I'm just happy it all worked out - and I ignored Gremlin's request to hardwire it into his ignition light sequence.

I just know that with him ... gremlin by name, gremlin by nature! And with lekky gremlins, they be the worse kind! :pinch:
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]]> gijoe1313 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1741-Lekky-tinkering-on-the-katoom-of-doom Buying new candy for Cindi https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1738-Buying-new-candy-for-Cindi Fri, 24 Sep 2010 01:13:21 GMT Well on Wednesday, I popped into those wankers at Botany Honda - they are such bastards when it comes to providing good service, products and witty repartee. Between the lads in the workshop and the presence of mssrs Dumpty and Richard McF, no poor joker stands a chance of walking out of that... Well on Wednesday, I popped into those wankers at Botany Honda - they are such bastards when it comes to providing good service, products and witty repartee.

Between the lads in the workshop and the presence of mssrs Dumpty and Richard McF, no poor joker stands a chance of walking out of that place with their wallet intact.

Dumpty produced a plethora of bike Porn bits for my grubby lusts and I found myself bowling out of the place with a backpack filled with a Two Brothers Carbon Fibre 'zorst! :gob:

They somehow conspired and bickered amongst themselves and I had scored a discount (yay! not as many cans of baked beans this month!)

At chez DONOR's we mucked and muddled our way through the spannering so Cindi could clear her throat in a more hearty manner! We used the included lock-tite blue goop, worked out how to secure the bits on and around the pipes and can, bemoaned the fact that we had no ginger beers to quaff in the man cave. But we are nothing, if not resilient in the face of adversity. The first switch on was a nice rumbling bass through the floor and our knees.

Didn't even have parts left over! :eek: Though the stock instructions about using an OEM mounting bolt was a load of bollocks. DONOR dug up an appropriate bolt from his dungeon and everything was tickity-boo. So off I pootled to score a box of ginger beers while appreciating the new musical note that Cindi was making.

Meant to take some photos and bring it back to Botany Honda so they could use it as an example to fob off on other unsuspecting Predator purchasers.

Pricks.

Looks bloody good! And just got to see if that baby oil tip from Dumpty wasn't just pulling my leg! :scratch:Click image for larger version.  Name: Can1.jpg  Views: 36  Size: 362.2 KB  ID: 219455Click image for larger version.  Name: can2.jpg  Views: 32  Size: 355.9 KB  ID: 219456Click image for larger version.  Name: can3.jpg  Views: 34  Size: 359.7 KB  ID: 219454Click image for larger version.  Name: can4.jpg  Views: 30  Size: 331.2 KB  ID: 219451Click image for larger version.  Name: can5.jpg  Views: 30  Size: 329.0 KB  ID: 219453Click image for larger version.  Name: can6.jpg  Views: 32  Size: 685.1 KB  ID: 219452 ]]> gijoe1313 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1738-Buying-new-candy-for-Cindi <![CDATA[Knocking at Quasi's for my KNOX]]> https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1737-Knocking-at-Quasi-s-for-my-KNOX Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:01:13 GMT Rode down to Quasi to pick up my KNOX chest armour in the 'Tron tonight. Got a text around 5ish and any excuse for a ride ... I got my kit on and rode down the moronway to Taupiri and off towards Gordontown to Quasi's.

Always a hospitable host, he showed me the new back protector gears before I headed back up home, naturally took the back roads home and stopped in at Mercer to don some wet weather gear. Was fine on way down, but nature's ways decided to damp down the return journey.

The chest armour has already been field tested by Gremlin and he vouches for it's quality. The one I have got is version two, an upgrade to the shape, materials and features. Basically a velcro movable front plate is where the back protector straps go through and voila, instant install - my Spidi back protector fortunately could just the strap and connecting buckles through the front plate. Looks good, feels good - just hope I never have cause to use it for it's intended purpose!

Now have 4300km done on Cindi ... for 2 weeks ownership so far ... a good start for me, but just getting into it really! ]]> gijoe1313 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1737-Knocking-at-Quasi-s-for-my-KNOX Riding Task Master - Around the Coro at Midnight Madness! https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1727-Riding-Task-Master-Around-the-Coro-at-Midnight-Madness! Fri, 17 Sep 2010 05:06:32 GMT Well at 3.30am I got into bed after a lovely ride. This sort of thing is par for the course for me, but it was with TOTO and Gremlin that I happened to do it with last night/morning! TOTO texts me all excited about whether we were going to ride tonight. Since I knew Gremlin needed more... Well at 3.30am I got into bed after a lovely ride.

This sort of thing is par for the course for me, but it was with TOTO and Gremlin that I happened to do it with last night/morning!

TOTO texts me all excited about whether we were going to ride tonight. Since I knew Gremlin needed more training for his mad combo of a GC and TT soon, I figured this was just synchronicity at work.

So around 7.45pm TOTO rocks up from working his shift at 'Treads. Gremlin was a bit tied up with the usual IT support probs and didn't arrive till well after 8pm. TOTO and I chowed down on sunny side up eggs on toast to await his arrival.

Anywhere off we blatted through to Kaiaua with TOTO in the lead (he is rusty and needs the practice!) light rain and drizzle. The lads were well togged up - I as usual, in my trusty red camo pajamas!

Breaking through to Miranda, we met two popo doing their rounds and we were civilly behaving! :innocent: Through to Kopu, Gremlin takes point into Thames. Was a bit hairy at one point where I had to smack TOTO at the Caltex when we pulled up.

And we were only just talking about life-saver headchecks the other night too!

Anyway Gremlin and TOTO leave the direction we were going to ride the Coro to me! Foolish lads! I just blithely tossed my keys up and the direction the key pointed in was the way to go! Muwhahah! :devil2:

So Clockwise we rode! The biking gods were well pleased with me, and the rain lifted. The moon broke through the clouds and bathed the surrounding lands in it's lunar glow.

Coromandel came and went, the Whitianga twisties and into Tairua. The few cagers on the loop thought we were barking mad, I could sense their thoughts!

Anyhow, my preddy, Cindi was very happy and we danced a merry tune through the lovely twisties. 'Cept for a corner where my back wheel hit a cats eye due to an errant line and I was feeling my 'nads curl up! No need to panic! Just turn head ... turn head ... keep looking ... turn head! And all was good and well! :sweatdrop

So back to Thames to fill up again and back home via Miranda and the back blocks of the hunuas! Bloody lovelies. I took the lead here and we all pottered off to Denny's for a feed and a debrief. I think the boys need to seriously up their milage. I shall be there to spur them on to higher milages and greater rubber usage. Petrol needs to be used conspicuously to ensure ride tour pace is worked up to highest efficiency!

Poor TOTO was just about done in. We mocked Gremlin for his emptied Scottoiler (and I have reminded him of this many a time already!).

Just another typical gijoe1313 ride.

Oh yes, 13 days of ownership for Cindi (my preddy) ... 3300km done! :scooter:

And I got a call from Chris from Botany about some lovely fruit and bling for her! The bastards! ]]> gijoe1313 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1727-Riding-Task-Master-Around-the-Coro-at-Midnight-Madness! Revolting teachers! https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1725-Revolting-teachers! Wed, 15 Sep 2010 05:04:52 GMT Well, that was a fine how do you do... went with Captain Banzai and parked up outside Auckland Pubic Libararyry, we trudged up to the rotunda in Albert park and hobnobbed amongst a gathering of filthy treachery types - I was in my best Spartan armour and everyone was in fashionable black. Usual... Well, that was a fine how do you do... went with Captain Banzai and parked up outside Auckland Pubic Libararyry, we trudged up to the rotunda in Albert park and hobnobbed amongst a gathering of filthy treachery types - I was in my best Spartan armour and everyone was in fashionable black.

Usual windage about treacher's rights and wrongs and boo-hoos, stood there in the shade like a muppet for a hour waiting for the muster.

Desultory cheers, jeers and speeches, plenty of teacher screeches ... usual hullaballoo ...

Marched down from park into bottleneck and down into Queen street, got interviewed by a telly type, clicky clicky of photo snappers. Got to QE square at bottom of Queen st.

Could hardly be faffed hanging about, so buggered off back to the bike with Capt. Banzai and companion and rode off chortling.

He went to Hobby City in Tamaki Dr, and I to 'Treads to pick up my order of battery connectors for my battery optimiser, chowed down a meat pastry parcel and a swig of ginger beer. Talked to TOTO.

Rode home, gave Capt. Banzai a loan of my Big Ol'Hornet to test, and I bashed on some Oggy knobs onto Cindi (my preddy CB1000R). Corker of a day. Except for that bit where I had to faff round with some revolting treachers complaining about our lot 'cause gubbermint is being meaners.

Chur, peace out.

Oh yeah, looking forward to ride down to see Quasi with TOTO and Gremlin. I don't think the 'Tron is quite ready for this! ]]> gijoe1313 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1725-Revolting-teachers! I give my due to the biking gods https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1716-I-give-my-due-to-the-biking-gods Mon, 06 Sep 2010 08:29:08 GMT So now that you have read all the good bits, I expect that I am not extrapolating the last of my ride to an empty room … oh look, a tumbleweed just went by … and the chirp of a grasshopper … verily well, I shall still potter on about the last bit of the trip in my own interminable fashion then!... So now that you have read all the good bits, I expect that I am not extrapolating the last of my ride to an empty room … oh look, a tumbleweed just went by … and the chirp of a grasshopper … verily well, I shall still potter on about the last bit of the trip in my own interminable fashion then! :rolleyes:

Out to Waiouru again, all was good, the carpet of snow showed just how much fell quickly – I was now caught in a logjam of vehicles that were trying to push through the adverse driving conditions and make up some time. A lot of heavy traffic saw me take much longer to get through this area then when I did it alone at night, in the driving rain, hail and snow! Go figure!

At the intersection of SH4 and SH47, there was a massive snarl up of vehicles, all vying for a break in the traffic and queues of vehicles trying to get out of the local servo, I bided my time, watched people put snow chains on until the police directing traffic waved us through.

It was around Owhango I noticed the first signs of bikers heading south (Cold Kiwi?), quite a few in fact by the time I got to Taumarunui. And there again, I … yes, please, all together now … stopped at the BP. I took much time stripping off my rain gear and was now nattily revealed in my best red camo ninja pajamas again! Huzzah! :clap:

Most bemused were the looks of motorists around me, it’s as if they have never seen a red camo ninja biking around!:blink:

With the sun in full stride, I boldly rode the Predator around the drying roads of Te Kuiti and Otorohanga, the roads got better and better and Cindi cried out her song of freedom, inline four engine yowling to the countryside, tyres biting into the road, seeking grip and driving through the apexes as the culmination of the man-machine interface interwove our existences together. :scooter:

Sweeping were the curves, technical in some sections, judicious application of wisdom over invigoration, nerves holding, spirit lifting! Jaunty cocksure waves and nods from opposite riders, also living in the moment – the flowing, sinuous dance of physics with the balletic display of grace in movement, these are the songsheet of my biking nirvana, each note of the engine is a counterpoint to the rise and fall of the forks, the pistoning action of the shock is the heavy bass of the demands on the rear, smooth lines, no braking were the coda of this fine orchestra of rider, machine and environment! Excelsior Gloria! Digitus impudicus to the demands of hum-drum soul stealing mendacities of life! To ride is to live! To live to ride! To always live to keep on riding! :ride:

So yeah, went like that a bit up to Ngaruawahia where I refuelled at the BP and took the back way home to D’orkland. I pulled up at DONOR’s place to have a bit of a yarn before booking it back to my batcave and have a shower and rinse off the bike a bit more.:zzzz:

So that’s it, just another typical ride for me.

Hang about.

It’s Vuja de, I’ve never done anything like this before!:wacko:

I buy a bike on Friday. I ride it out to Wellington. In the driving rain, hail then snow (with ice!) I crash the bleedin’ thing. I keep riding it back to D’orkland.

Heh, if I didn’t know myself better, I’d say I wouldn’t have changed a thing. But, I know I would be lying to myself. I should have kept riding all the way up to Cape Reinga and back! (no, that couldn’t be done, I had done 1450km or so on my first ride out .. I’m sure the boys at Botany wouldn’t be too appreciative of me going so far past the 1000km service like that!) :bash:

And that ends the tale. I commend those who have taken the time to read this, when they could have been so easily riding instead! So, a tip of my hat goes to them and a most gracious bow to the biking gods. They were definitely making sure I was worthy of my new steed!:not:

CB1000R Predator, aka Cindi aka Sassy Bitch … I salute you! Long may I be worthy of your attentions!:grouphug: ]]> gijoe1313 https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1716-I-give-my-due-to-the-biking-gods