Gremlin's Tall Stories

After the distractions of Christmas, then changing bike, three weekends ago was getting the new bike, putting the Givi items on it, then two weekends the weather was terrible, so I caught up on my blogs.

This long weekend just past was finally a proper opportunity to get out and clock up some km on the BMW. This started perfectly on Saturday working all day… wait… that wasn’t the plan. I had to baby sit a server through some issues so did some catch up on blog posts.

A txt to GiJoe about riding on Sunday was met with the news he’d popped down to Christchurch with his better half to visit friends… by plane? Toto said he was a possible, but only after work, at 4pm (I did state I was leaving early-ish, and the bugger thought that meant early evening).

Sunday morning… OK… so I didn’t leave as early as planned, but I managed to leave just after midday, far earlier than Toto expected. Again, not quite as planned, Devil had asked if I was around, and said he thought we should introduce our bikes (he has a 2006 GSA). I headed over to his place on the Shore, where we compared notes, noting some of the differences 4 years makes (these aren’t sportbikes, where a whole new model comes every two years).

After saying I was a bit delayed getting away from home and was planning motorway up past Wellsford to get into the good stuff, he refused, saying we should use Coatesville Riverhead then up SH16 to Wellsford, which is a much nicer ride, so we did that instead, filling up for gas nearby before we left. Devil pointed out Mt Auckland Walkway (or Kaipara Hills Rd) as we went past, and commented in Wellsford that he did that now and then, and I should have a look some time.

Stopping at Wellsford Caltex he declared it was time for a pie and coke, and then head south. I wanted to head further north, so not wanting to waste time stopping, carried straight on. Just before the Brynderwyns it was off left along SH12. At Paparoa, I could have headed up Paparoa-Oakleigh Rd, which was the original plan for the Northern Exposure Tour, but with the bad weather and wanting to get north faster, I chose to go down the straights of Dargahell, reaching Dargaville at 4pm. A quick txt to Toto to see if he was joining me and letting him know I was north bound from Dargaville and then onwards up through Waipoua Forest.

The forest was in really good condition, considering the weather that has come through. A bit of debris, but nothing dramatic. Corner after relentless corner made me realise that the heavy BMW was actually handling its weight extremely well, and feeling more like the KTM through the corners, which impressed me, as it’s been my main concern switching across. Traffic was light so excellent time was made. The GPS wanted me to use the Rawene Ferry, but why? Plenty of roads instead! Just after Kaikohe I took a left to take a short road (<10km) to SH1.

Normally the Mangamukas are a great ride, but a couple of vans in the wrong places that didn’t move over and debris hiding around corners required caution, still… such heavily cambered corners are always awesome. Reaching Kaitaia around 6.45pm I stopped briefly for some food and drink to eat when I found the holiday park. Toto had replied to say he wasn't coming, and was seeing EJK instead, so just me on the whole ride. Just before 7pm I found the Waipapakauri Beach Holiday Park, and hunting through the park I found a group of the bikes parked up, with the riders on the Northern Exposure Tour at the benches.

Once they realised it was me (and not a tourist like some thought) it was open season on the piss taking. 2 bikes could equal mine… I was going to push a button and the whole tent would fold out for the night etc etc. Just jealousy, as they admitted afterwards they’d have one.

Pocketcracker said he had lead the group up and down the Mangamuka’s 6 times during Sunday, while others had gone to the Cape. After chatting to them for a couple of hours, they were ready to fire up the BBQ so I said my goodbyes. A few were a bit stunned I wasn’t staying, and instead, I was going to Cape Reinga and then back to Auckland, but qkchk is used to me doing unusual things

Around 9pm I headed back to Kaitaia to fill with gas for the first time since the North Shore (gotta love a big fuel tank) and I headed up to Cape Reinga. Once it was properly dark it was time to test my lights. The low beam is excellent, but the high beam somewhat useless, not adding a lot to the spread. Worse still, the plastic headlight protector I have (sits a distance off the lights) was reflecting the high beam into my face, meaning it was easier to not use high beam.

Arriving at the Cape around 10.15pm, once again, in the dark (for the fourth time) was somewhat annoying. I’ve been to the Cape 4 times now on day trips, once was in quickly fading light, the rest in the dark. At least during the Southern Cross it will be day, as I have to check in between midday and 1pm, so mid-March I will have finally got there in the middle of the day.

A quick circle around the car park and back to Kaitaia for more gas, but I stopped at Waitaki Landing deciding I needed a high tech fix for my high beam. A gas station still had its overhead lights on, so stopping underneath I pulled out my pocket knife and tape. A few minutes later I had a length of tape covering the top of the headlight, between the headlight and the protector. Job done.

I returned to Kaitaia around 11.30pm for a final refuelling before Auckland. A quick wipe of the headlight protector to let some light past all the bugs and I was on my way down SH1. The Mangamuka’s were rather interesting in the dark. Leaning over a fair bit for each corner I lost the light into the road. Once the cornering spots get fitted, this situation should be sorted. I kept going non-stop until Wellsford, where I stopped for a bit of a stretch and then back on the bike. It was a rather boring ride but traffic free.

On the way back to Auckland I realised the BMW was that comfortable that while a bit sore, I didn’t have that feeling of “OMG, I want this to be over” that I felt on the KTM near the end of some long rides, and the BMW was making longer distances easier. I would imagine a tourer would be even more comfortable, but no good on gravel, so this is the right choice for me. On motorways or long drags I flick the suspension to comfort to soften out the bumps, and when I was shooting through a few pieces of smooth road, back to sport for sharper suspension. It sounds unnecessary, but the extra capabilities reinforce the bikes ability to be good on any terrain.

Home around 3.30am, with a snip over 1000km on the clock, and the first proper ride under my belt. Mucho satisfied.