Another reason for doing the Coro Loop right now..

**Blackbird** · 13th December 2009, 13:01

Photos taken this week on the Thames - Coro road when I went for a ride with fellow KB'er Pixie. This road is absolutely breathtaking at present with the thousands of Pohutukawa out - really have to concentrate on what you're doing!

I guess we tend to take it for granted but I posted one of the photos on an overseas website and they were blown away with the Pohutukawa.

**Virago** · 13th December 2009, 13:23

Sigh...

Bigger sigh...

**beyond** · 13th December 2009, 13:47

Pretty awesome alright. Gotta make sure you keep your eye on the road though or it will be a flash of loverly red and then a swim...... if you miss the rocks that is.

Hey, howz the Street Triple? Miss the grunt of the Blackbird? Review pleaaaazzzze

**Quasi** · 13th December 2009, 13:53

Originally Posted by Blackbird

Photos taken this week on the Thames - Coro road when I went for a ride with fellow KB'er Pixie. This road is absolutely breathtaking at present with the thousands of Pohutukawa out - really have to concentrate on what you're doing!

I guess we tend to take it for granted but I posted one of the photos on an overseas website and they were blown away with the Pohutukawa.

WOW - gorgeous sight,

**Blackbird** · 13th December 2009, 15:33

Originally Posted by beyond

Hey, howz the Street Triple? Miss the grunt of the Blackbird? Review pleaaaazzzze

Hi Paul

Loving the Triple thanks!

A summary so far:

The one fear when selling the Blackbird was I'd be disappointed with less horsepower. Maybe that would have been the case if the bulk of my riding was on more open roads than the Loop but on balance, I'm inclined to think not. Whilst the 'bird was a torque monster, the Triple is bloody excellent in that it develops 80%+ of it's torque at 3000 rpm and with its 167 kg weight, it's got amazing acceleration on tap without worrying about being caught in the wrong gear. I understand its 0-100 time is about 3.3 secs as opposed to 2.8 secs for the 'bird so it's no slouch. The differences will be more noticeable at higher speeds of course but it still pulls hard enough at 190

. I initially didn't like the "revviness" compared with the 'bird - felt like I was thrashing it everywhere but am totally used to it now. It has a flat spot on a trailing throttle just off idle which is noticeable but not really irritating. Will do something about it when it's fully freed up.

Now comes the really good bit - the handling! It's so light that you can almost change line by thought alone and I'm definitely faster through the tight stuff than I was on the bird, where you had to get your corner entry sorted pretty early, then work hard! The wide bars and upright riding position also help cornering and I can now see the attraction of your GSX! It does tend to dance about on ripples a bit more than the 'bird but she had well-sorted suspension and I haven't touched the Striple until everything settles in. Backing rear shock pre-load off a turn might help a bit. One thing I do have to be careful with is the tendency of the rear wheel to lift under heavy braking. I'll get used to it, but it's not something that I had any problem with on the Big Blue Whale

. I think stepping down in weight from the 'bird has allowed me to ride the Triple fairly hard straight away as you don't have to be so deliberate or conscious of the mass. Might have to try moving around on the bike a bit more when cornering in a hurry as I'm catching my boots a fair bit in corners and have to consciously tuck them in. Hate the idea of hanging off though as I'd feel like a poser.

The Dunlop Qualifiers seem to have plenty of grip in the dry, although they tend to let the bike "drop in" to a corner more than the "controlled roll in" of the Avon VP2's I had on the 'bird. Haven't had the opportunity of trying them out in really wet conditions yet.

The motor isn't totally freed up yet and the fuel consumption is still improving. Averaging about 270 km/tankful which is still quite useful. Put an Italian Barracuda screen on it as I wasn't all that keen on the Triumph accessory. It works surprisingly well and doesn't interfere with the naked looks too badly.

The OEM lights aren't bad at all for night riding in unlit twisties but the prospect of a Grand Challenge on it next year has led me to fit Osram Nightbreaker bulbs this week and they're a definite improvement.

Finally, I didn't really "get" why journalists called it a hooligan machine compared with others until I rode it. The riding position might have something to do with it, but manoeuvrability is a significant contributor. I certainly ride it more aggressively than the 'bird. Then there's the induction growl..... instant hard-on, even at my age

The lower seat height and lighter weight have also given me renewed confidence too.

Hope that gives you a brief overview. Well-pleased with the purchase!

Cheers,

Geoff

**p.dath** · 13th December 2009, 15:44

Looks great! I might take a trip around the coro loop this summer.

**CookMySock** · 13th December 2009, 16:49

Originally Posted by Blackbird

This road is absolutely breathtaking at present with the thousands of Pohutukawa out - really have to concentrate on what you're doing!

hehe reality check.... it's FLOWERS bro..

If it was lots of bare bent-over girly arse and hairless twot hanging from the trees, THEN it I would have to really concentrate on what I was doing.

But yeah, I was up east cape ways last weekend, and the pohutukawa was awesome.. It's quite early too.

Steve

**Highlander** · 13th December 2009, 16:58

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

But yeah, I was up east cape ways last weekend, and the pohutukawa was awesome.. It's quite early too.

Steve

Early Pohutuakawa flowering indicates a long hot summer doesn't it?

Mr Blackbird, good to hear you are happy with the change of bike. When I changed mine, happy as I was with the new one (and still am) I had a nagging fear in the back of my mind that I would regret it.

**Ragingrob** · 13th December 2009, 17:32

Yep been out coro ways a few times already this summer and the scenery is stunning. Roads are in pretty good condition too... Is there still a lot of unsigned surface gravel on the coast road?

**Naki Rat** · 13th December 2009, 18:10

No question about it, Kerry will have her running better than new. And the bonus is the before and after test runs through the Forgotten Highway on the way there and back

**Blackbird** · 13th December 2009, 18:14

Originally Posted by Ragingrob

Is there still a lot of unsigned surface gravel on the coast road?

Seems to come in waves as they finish a bit of road works then bugger off somewhere else. They're good with the warning signs whilst doing it, but they definitely aren't cleaning up with bikes in mind. I emailed Thames District council about it in the spring and never even had the courtesy of a reply.

The biggest loose gravel hazard at present on the Loop is through melting tar, so keep your eyes peeled. Surely it's uneconomic to use low melting point tar and constantly have to resurface it?

**CookMySock** · 13th December 2009, 18:21

Originally Posted by Highlander

Early Pohutuakawa flowering indicates a long hot summer doesn't it?

Yeah bro heres hoping so anyway.

Steve

**Ragingrob** · 13th December 2009, 18:38

Originally Posted by Blackbird

Seems to come in waves as they finish a bit of road works then bugger off somewhere else. They're good with the warning signs whilst doing it, but they definitely aren't cleaning up with bikes in mind. I emailed Thames District council about it in the spring and never even had the courtesy of a reply.

The biggest loose gravel hazard at present on the Loop is through melting tar, so keep your eyes peeled. Surely it's uneconomic to use low melting point tar and constantly have to resurface it?

Useless bastards huh... Patchy roadworks all through Karaka coming up to summer and already some parts are completely chunking off as the tar melts, what a waste of money and danger to road-users.

**beyond** · 13th December 2009, 20:15

Thanks for the write up mate. Sounds like you are enjoying it and have found a suitable replacement

**Skyryder** · 14th December 2009, 12:14

Sure is a great ride. Done it once. Just out of curiosity what preference: clockwise or counter clockwise.

I went clockwise and had the sea on my left. This also gave me a safer option for stopping on the side of the road without having to cross the centre line to pull up on the seafront.

Skyryder