Coromandel road conditions

[The Pastor]

Bit of loose powdered clay here and there on the inside lane of the Thames coast road but pretty much ok in the dry (can't speak for the eastern side of the Loop south of Whitianga). At the bottom of the eastern side of the Coro Hill, they're cutting back the cliff to stop future slips but the messy bit is less than 100 metres long.

I'll be riding to Thames this morning. Just requires a wee bit of caution and not too much red mist and it will be fine

Don't know about cops. There certainly aren't any about on weekdays. Tend to avoid the weekends when there are more muppets on the road.

Man I saw some muppets on the road this weekend. DAAAAM (a few bikes, but a stack load of tard cage drivers)

[Blackbird]

Man I saw some muppets on the road this weekend. DAAAAM (a few bikes, but a stack load of tard cage drivers)

Yep, I was talking about cage drivers too in the main. The worst fault is corner-cutting, even blind ones. Some twats cut corners even though they see a bike approaching - effing unbelievable!

Last week, I reported a Jucy rental van that was weaving all over the coast road and put a car coming the other way onto the grass verge. When I spoke to the guy at Jucy, it turned out to be a young English couple who had just come from the airport, probably jet-lagged. Scary to think that there are probably hundreds of people on the road like this at any given time.

[The Pastor]

If anyone was thinking of doing the Coromandel Loop over the next week, I'd really think again. Rode from Coromandel to Whitianga this morning and there are slips everywhere, many of them 3/4 the way across the road. Quite a few of them are on bends with no warning signs out either. At the time of writing, the Thames coast road is completely blocked. I've never seen conditions so bad.

I guess most of the slips will be cleared in the next couple of days but the amount of clay and other debris on the road is another matter - that will be there for a lot longer. Apart from the safety aspect, it's going to take all day to get the baked-on clay off the Striple!

Cheers,

Geoff

hi geoff,

whats the late night fuel situation like down on the coro?

[Blackbird]

hi geoff,

whats the late night fuel situation like down on the coro?

Not sure about the whole Peninsula, but Whitianga and Coromandel all close by 8pm. I'm guessing that Tairua is the same. Mobil in Thames opposite KFC or Mobil Kopu are your best bet to check out. Haven't a clue about the extreme south end - Paeroa, Whangamata... sorry.

[Whynot]

hi geoff,

whats the late night fuel situation like down on the coro?

Caltex in Thames is 24 hour, not sure but i think either Mobil by KFC or BP on the way in is also 24 Hour.

[release_the_bees]

There is a Gull station with a prepay credit card pump halfway up the east side too. I can't remember where exactly though.

[Scouse]

There is a Gull station with a prepay credit card pump halfway up the east side too. I can't remember where exactly though.

Fook I wouldn't put gull fuel anywhere near the gas tank of bike especially that blended shit

[Gremlin]

There is a Gull station with a prepay credit card pump halfway up the east side too. I can't remember where exactly though.

You're probably thinking of Tairua... I wouldn't be putting the ethanol stuff anywhere near my bike either.

Only 24hr station I know of is Caltex Thames.

[The Pastor]

You're probably thinking of Tairua... I wouldn't be putting the ethanol stuff anywhere near my bike either.

Only 24hr station I know of is Caltex Thames.

you reckon 2-3hrs is enough time for the ethanol to do any damage at all? (given that it takes me 2-3hrs to empty a tank!)

[Gremlin]

you reckon 2-3hrs is enough time for the ethanol to do any damage at all? (given that it takes me 2-3hrs to empty a tank!)

Generally, the ethanol does damage to the lines and shit, when they weren't originally designed to handle the blend. Don't ask for specifics, I know bugger all.

As to how fast it damages it, I have heard damage can be done within weeks, basically turning seals/rubber into goo. It depends how often you use the ethanol blends I guess, and whether the bike was designed with the blends in mind.

[The Pastor]

Generally, the ethanol does damage to the lines and shit, when they weren't originally designed to handle the blend. Don't ask for specifics, I know bugger all.

As to how fast it damages it, I have heard damage can be done within weeks, basically turning seals/rubber into goo. It depends how often you use the ethanol blends I guess, and whether the bike was designed with the blends in mind.

Sounds like bs to me, wonder if anyone has actually had any problems

[spookytooth]

my sons car carb started leaking after 1 fill from gull.Older car and may have been going to leak anyways,

[Usarka]

Sounds like bs to me, wonder if anyone has actually had any problems

http://www.suzukimotorcycles.com.au/faqs.php

"Suzuki Australia does not recommend its use."

[Gremlin]

Take some of your seals and/or fuel lines, buy some gull fuel, and soak the gear in a bucket of it. See if the seals and line degrade over a few days/weeks

[Latte]

Recently a number of plastic aprilia tanks in the US have been deforming due to high ethanol content in their fuel (~30% now) - it's creating a gap between the fuel pump base and the tank - probably a bad design flaw as well (no metal bracket in the tank except for some captive nuts to bolt the pump to).

It may affect rubber fuel lines/seals etc as well, it's not like these don't perish over time anyway, just the ethanol may speed that up - if you're happy taking the chance then go for it ... I do - 2 years so far no leaks or issues. Older bikes/cars were probably close to perishing anyway and thats why the issue appears.