September 25-27th - Auckland - Owhango/42nd/Fishers

[That looks like fun]

Mate................... 42nd traverse, beemer 1200GSA, these words shouldnt even be said in the same sentence I took me 1100hundy through there on the Waikato trip with a new TKC on the back and only had to be pushed once But the picking up off its side was a different story
I am a road rider who has come to the dark side just recently so I dont rate my off road skills as being awesome (not far below that but definatly not quite awesome). A skilled rider will do the 42nd on a big beemer at this time of year. An unskilled rider will do it but the bike will need some repairs afterwards if you get my drift

[Devil]

Anyone want to lend me a DRZ400 or something? hehe

[junkmanjoe]

barts got one for sale...ask for a test ride then give it back....

[Crisis management]

Anyone want to lend me a DRZ400 or something? hehe

Stop being a girl and ignore these bastids, you'll be fine...

Seriously, I'm taking the fat pig too and I don't envisage any problems as long as it isn't tipping down (rivers get a bit high), having said that, I expect to have a quiet lie down at some stage and I also expect these other sods to help pick me up. I am sure they will extend the same courtesy to you.

It'll be fun, we certainly wouldn't be doing it if we were worried about making arses of ourselves in public now would we???

[Bass]

Stop being a girl and ignore these bastids, you'll be fine...

Seriously, I'm taking the fat pig too and I don't envisage any problems as long as it isn't tipping down (rivers get a bit high), having said that, I expect to have a quiet lie down at some stage and I also expect these other sods to help pick me up. I am sure they will extend the same courtesy to you.

It'll be fun, we certainly wouldn't be doing it if we were worried about making arses of ourselves in public now would we???

I'm with him.
It's the whole point of a group ride surely?

[Devil]

Not afraid of making an arse of myself! But... (oh i'm going to get torched for this one) she's so pretty and scratch free...

[Bass]

Not afraid of making an arse of myself! But... (oh i'm going to get torched for this one) she's so pretty and scratch free...

OK.... Understood.
Getting serious for a moment.
IMHO in the 42nd on a big pig, there are 2 sets of circumstances that may put you down.

The first is the fords that are a bit lumpy and can be a bit intimidating if the water is deep. However, the only person I know who has put it down in one of the fords is me and that was only cos it was only 100 mm deep and I got cocky and hit it fast - the front wheel found a big one and leapt sideways.

The second is the slippery greasy shit of which there will be plenty at this time of year. However it's pretty much all dirt and so while it may make your bike messy, it shouldn't carve it up appreciably.

The last (and only) time through there I helped a guy pick up his pig after he lost it in a deep slippery rut and as far as I could tell, it hadn't marked his bike at all.

Still, it will be a bit of a challenge which is exactly why I plan to attend. When it comes to riding skills, if I take a long hard look in the mirror, I rate myself as somewhere in the top half of the novice range and I want to improve on that. I expect to get wet and muddy on the way through, but I expect to get through pretty much intact. I think you can too.

[Crisis management]

[/SIZE] she's so pretty and scratch free...

I can understand your concern, we all felt like that at one time with our bikes and as long as you park a discrete distance away from us, no one will comment. However, be assured that it doesn't take long to improve that embarassing condition and by the time you're an hour into the 42nd you'll be grinning your head off and able to look with pride at your adventure bike as it sports the start of an impressive display of scars.


Isn't it wonderfull to be surrounded by such a bunch of caring individuals?

[Devil]

Hehe. Understood. Yeah it's been dumped in the mud before with no issues! Actually my worst nightmare would be dropping it in a ford. I'm pretty inexperienced as far as adventure riding goes, but getting better and better.

[Bass]

Hehe. Understood.

So you're coming then.............(or is that just the way you walk?)

[tri boy]

Just this thread at the moment.
Havn't ridden the old Wanganui Rd from 43 to Hikumutu before, so this interests me.
That gravel road section through Hauturu/etc, and including the two saddles into 43 will suck time, but quite doable.
42 n Fishers for me would be weather dependant, (unless my cunning plan falls into place)
Either way I'll watch this thread.

[Devil]

So you're coming then.............(or is that just the way you walk?)

Quite possibly assuming everything works out at home and i have enough tyre left by that time!

[.chris]

Quite possibly assuming everything works out at home and i have enough tyre left by that time!

I am going to try and wear my tires out as much as possible prior to this ride so maybe I can justify buying some more before it, can't quite yet, but getting close on the rear.

Some one said on the tire thread, they only got 3000km out of their sahara 3's, I am at about 6500km, and they are still going strong, might have to rark it up a bit more often.

[Devil]

Just booked my accomodation at the Owhango Hotel (hopefully there's room!)
So I guess i'm coming!

[Taz]

Some one said on the tire thread, they only got 3000km out of their sahara 3's, I am at about 6500km, and they are still going strong, might have to rark it up a bit more often.

I only got 1500kms out of my last rear tyre...... No Idea why as the front is still fine