KoroJ's Blog

Forest’s Mum was right, sometimes you bite into one and it tastes like crap!

This time last week I thought I was about to get a new-beaut black beauty ST. I had requested the dealers bank account details to transfer the pingers, bought a new Shoei Qwest helmet in matching black and some scuff stuff to put straight on when I took receipt. I’d organised to get some reflective pin striping done on the bike and helmet and I was preparing for a prolonged diet of boiled rice...at least until I’d sold the Big Red anyway. One could say, I’d just bitten into a caramello!....but no!....that wasn’t goooey caramel flowing forth!

Unfortunately I was dealing with a Honda Dealer, via another Honda Dealer and early this week I follow-up and find that the prick wanted another $300 because they’d had the unit on floor-plan and it had cost them in interest. I’m sure Mr Commerce Commission would have something to say about that....but no worries, I said “Sure”, I was still saving over $6K.

Thursday I find the prick had sold it to someone else!! Talk about gutted! Rest assured, I had a few things to say about Mr Blue Wing and his arsehole dealers, but I can’t repeat it and they couldn’t give a toss anyway.

Oh well, I won’t be needing those chopsticks, so maybe I got a hokey pokey served with that other crap chockky!

Today I got served another couple of chocolates and what do you know, one was Turkish Delight and the other was one of those toffees that you just seem to chew and chew on, all the while with flavour oozing forth.

I’d been in touch with Hitcher about the promise of a conditioning ride, so he conferred with the pilot of a certain red 650 Bandit, and the day was on. I’d topped up the tyres last night and packed the gear, getting away from home by 0850 to meet the Hitchers at their place, then carry on to BP Mana to fuel and collect Dave (V-Strom) and Steve (‘Busa).

I’d filled in Masterton last Sunday so had plenty, but I topped up anyway and led out at about 0930, heading up SH1 for Sanson, carrying on to Ohakea, then taking Wilsons Rd for the Kakariki Bridge and around Pryces Rd to emerge just before Waituna West and Vinegar Hill....Sweeet! We caught the odd bit of rain as we carried on up to Taihape, where we filled again, then went down the road to the Exchange for lunch.

Lunch was nice and dessert was a sumptuous feast of Gentle Annie........sweeeeet! It was like a whole box of the gooeyest, crunchiest, chewiest and sweetest choccies although due care was taken as there is a bit of loose stuff sprinkled about along the way, ...but what a lovely ride. We just pootled along, taking in the vistas and it was a pleasant change to see virtually no cattle, but lots of sheep, shearing sheds and sheep shit on the road. (I guess you can tell this was the first time I had ventured along this piece of macadam)

We took it all in, enjoyed a romp along SH50, paused for afternoon tea at Norsewood, but it was closed, so carried on to Dannevirke for fuel and a drink...well the other fuelled but the ST was only just on half and had plenty to get back to Wellington. Dave continued at this time as they were going out for dinner, but the rest of us lingered before trying out a new Woodville bypasse route that brought us out at Mangatainoka. It was OK, and nice to know it’s there, but I’ll stick to Bluff Rd, and from there it was back down SH2 with a wee diversion through Mauriceville.

I did have a wee moment through here as Steve and I were a little ahead of the Hitchers and at one stage I was gazing into the rear view mirror, looking up to find I had drifted across the line as a car emerged over a hump. He obviously shit himself to find the Enterprise honing in at warp factor 4, but some light pressure on the left bar and I was back on track.....with mental note, “peer into right mirror so any drift will head left!?”

By the time we got to Masterton it was getting dark and we got split up between Greytown and Featherston as I confused car lights for those of the two Suzukis, so Steve and I took the hill on alone. As usual, it was a good fang, but I didn’t feel totally comfortable and realised I haven’t done much night riding for awhile, so perhaps we need to programme in one of those as well.

It was a good day out and blew out the cobwebs after getting the crap news during the week...and best of all, we have a club ride to Apiti tomorrow.

I got home about 1930, having done 709Km for the day at a moving average of 82kph, an overall average of 65kph and an economy of 19.5Km/Ltr. The bike now has 119090Km on it ...and isn’t getting replaced afterall!