Have done it now - got myself a Vee

[6ft5]

During my time with my Harley i was really missing the handling of a dual purpose bike; so I have done it, traded the Roadking for a V-Strom DL1000. What an enjoyment, I can now take a corner and go round with a touch of countersteer no drama. My days wrestling the big cruiser through the corners are over, OVER!

Should have done this earlier but ...

Need to go back now to finding my feet in some non blacktop riding. Not done it for years as the Roadking just was too heavy and too much hard work. Any ideas, around South Auckland to make a start?

[AllanB]

A interesting move in bikes - lets describe it as a 'sideways' move into the dirt!

Sounds like you are having fun which is what it is all about.

[george formby]

Ooh, have fun. Did about 50k of very twisty up and downy gravel roads on Monday out the back of Russell. I had a blast on the TDM even with sport touring tyres. Managed to get all power slidery eventually. Made me grin like a loon.
That reminds me, must clean the chain

[Oscar]

I had a V Strom - loved it.
Only reason I sold it was the 950Adv turned up real cheap.
You'd be surprised where the Strom will go - surprising good on gravel.
A great all round, any road, tourer.

[Crisis management]

Thats not gravel Oscar!

From South Auckland go to Tuakau and head south towards Raglan, lots of gravel, cows, sheep, turkeys....or keep an eye on here and something will soon come up.

[Oscar]

Thats not gravel Oscar!

From South Auckland go to Tuakau and head south towards Raglan, lots of gravel, cows, sheep, turkeys....or keep an eye on here and something will soon come up.

We went seriously off road that day, based on John's insistence that if you follow a power line it would eventually join a road. After heading down a track that got more and more rutted, we found that the power line crossed the Waikato River, so we had to turn around and ride back...no pics though.

[Eddieb]

This is a Wee rather than a Vee but I was surprised at where it's rider took it this day. We went up and down some pretty chunky stuff.

[tri boy]

Lots of light adv areas down this way 6ft5
I have been messing with the idea of another tri boy newbie ride as mxnut etc have the more challenging rides sorted.
The Vstrom will fit right in.
Rides sth of you would be Klondyke Rd, Pt Waikato, sth to Raglan as Crisis has said. You can stay cheaply at the Kopua Raglan motor camp, and head further south to Kawhia etc.
Hooking up with the motely Akld boys like Cary/Ian/etc will open up heaps of rides.
See you soon

[dino3310]

best thing about the strom is you can pass Harleys at wil now

[snodpete]

@eddieb - cheers for posting that vid again - reminds me of the great intro you North Is invaders gave me to adv riding

I'm planning a Southern trip in early Dec to complete the 'North Cape to Bluff' trip started in January... it's going to be the slowest cape to cape ever!

[6ft5]

Wow, thanks for the replies. I looks like I will have my rides worked out by you lot already. Haha and yes passing Harleys on a DLK is a no brainer, they won't see me coming or going, hahahaha.

So first I have to find a reasonable riding day and next I have to make sure the missus has no expectations lined up so I don't get into trouble before heading off into the blue jonder with lots of thonder, oops thunder!

My MX boots are now finally broken in such that I can shift gears with my boot under the lever, a bonus, and this will give me better confidence.

Will keep you posted!

[Crisis management]

I was thinking about this (as one does) and a good first ride would be:

Southern motorway to Pokeno.
Pokeno to Tuakau bridge then follow the Waikato to Port Waikato.
Port Waikato- Waikaretu road down the coast to Waikaretu Valley road.
Stop at the Nikau caves cafe then decide whether your nerves are frayed or not as you can either continue on the seal on SH22 to Raglan or take Wairamarama road (gravel) north or Pukerewa & Te Akau (gravel) roads south.

I'm aware that the last couple of times we have had "new to gravel" riders with us that my expectations of their abilities have been a bit high, so make sure you have a mix of seal & gravel with a few options if it gets a bit tiresome. My first gravel ride was a baptism of fire and probably not the best way to approach learning a new skill set!

Last bit of advice, get AA maps of the area ($3.50 each) as they clearly show all public roads and whether they are sealed or not.

Iain

[6ft5]

I was thinking about this (as one does) and a good first ride would be:

Southern motorway to Pokeno.
Pokeno to Tuakau bridge then follow the Waikato to Port Waikato.
Port Waikato- Waikaretu road down the coast to Waikaretu Valley road.
Stop at the Nikau caves cafe then decide whether your nerves are frayed or not as you can either continue on the seal on SH22 to Raglan or take Wairamarama road (gravel) north or Pukerewa & Te Akau (gravel) roads south.

I'm aware that the last couple of times we have had "new to gravel" riders with us that my expectations of their abilities have been a bit high, so make sure you have a mix of seal & gravel with a few options if it gets a bit tiresome. My first gravel ride was a baptism of fire and probably not the best way to approach learning a new skill set!

Last bit of advice, get AA maps of the area ($3.50 each) as they clearly show all public roads and whether they are sealed or not.

Iain

Thanks Iain, will check it out

[BuzzardNZ]

there is a good vstrom forum out there, which could be worth a read.

Plenty of cheap mods can be done to give ur DL more power/response. i.e TPS, Smart TRE, Snorkel removal ... and many more.

[george formby]

I was thinking about this (as one does) and a good first ride would be:

Southern motorway to Pokeno.
Pokeno to Tuakau bridge then follow the Waikato to Port Waikato.
Port Waikato- Waikaretu road down the coast to Waikaretu Valley road.
Stop at the Nikau caves cafe then decide whether your nerves are frayed or not as you can either continue on the seal on SH22 to Raglan or take Wairamarama road (gravel) north or Pukerewa & Te Akau (gravel) roads south.

I'm aware that the last couple of times we have had "new to gravel" riders with us that my expectations of their abilities have been a bit high, so make sure you have a mix of seal & gravel with a few options if it gets a bit tiresome. My first gravel ride was a baptism of fire and probably not the best way to approach learning a new skill set!

Last bit of advice, get AA maps of the area ($3.50 each) as they clearly show all public roads and whether they are sealed or not.

Iain

Good call, it's all roses until you get to that first tight, downhill, off camber corner covered in pea gravel & the real feel of 200kgs being disobedient kicks in.