Feb 22 Christchurch quake. Implications for bikers. Are sportsbikes now irrelevant?

**george formby** · 26th February 2011, 10:16

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Unless you are track enthusiast I've been saying sportsbikes are irrelevant for years.

The ergos are the worst for unreliable surfaces, the suspension is not designed for the goat tracks of roads we have and the ease with which they exceed 140kph means they are a constant exercise in self control.

My feelings to, an exercise in frustration for me not being able to ride them as intended.

The OP has a point about the roads round Ch CH. They will hold some unique suprises for riders in the future.
Yet another burden for the region.. It's overwhelming.

**rastuscat** · 26th February 2011, 10:28

Originally Posted by DEATH_INC.

Shit, time to get Dunkin dognuts to do an emergency drop!

Tried dunkin dognuts once. Really pissed the dog off. He's still not forgiven me.

**SVboy** · 26th February 2011, 11:13

No need to write off the Akaroa GP just yet: it survived the first quake well. I will "survey" as soon as I can........ As to the summit road-mercy killing imho-however if rebuilt using hotmix, well thats different! Glad I have a motard, but sportsbikes irelevent....NEVER!![said with head firmly in the silt!]

**AllanB** · 26th February 2011, 12:00

Reports I'm getting are the Akaroa road is OK. It had been nicely resealed in recent months. Ports Hills will be 'altered' and you'll adapt as we have after the Sept Quake.

I was in the car with the family around there a few weeks ago and entering a bend I stated ' dip on the left, hump on the right' before the car hit them - learned the roads makeup on the bike over the past 6 months.

Personally I have always though our hills were better suited to naked and motos than the hyper sports rides.

I've been desiring a Hypermotard lately - no chance of this happening but it is good to dream.

Lotto ticket winning priorities are different now in Christchurch!

Side note - there have been a few Harleys cruising past me heading Akaroa way - I'm thinking that may be safer for them as all that weight on a road in town may be disastrous

Side Note 2: as you leave Halswell towards Tai Tapu the road is well jiggered (again) - slow the F- down. Tai Tapu back road (to the winery) is closed - road is stuffed.

Ride safe if you are 'allowed' out!

**Flip** · 26th February 2011, 16:15

The part of my Harley that is part Massey Ferguson, really enjoyed my wee trip around christchurch today, no problems.

**imdying** · 26th February 2011, 16:29

The Akaroa highway was never a race track in the first place, so nothing has changed there. If you think the handling is becoming hazardous due to having had to soften it up, then you're riding way too fast for a public road iin the first place.

As far as the relevancy of the post, Christchurch is completely wiped out, and some of us would like to think about the potential of normality once again returning to ours lives, so it would be awesome if out of towners could keep their opinions of what we should think and feel to themselves ta.

Subike makes a good point... if you fall off this week, ain't nobody got time to fix you up. Maybe take the car this week (month ahaha) eh

**Kickaha** · 26th February 2011, 16:35

Originally Posted by imdying

If you think the handling is becoming hazardous due to having had to soften it up, then you're riding way too fast for a public road iin the first place.

Or it is piss poorly set up in the first place, just having Ohlins is no guarantee of good handling

Didn't ever really like the Port Hills on a bike, unless you can go up during the week there's to much traffic and to many cyclists

As for Akaroa I got bored with that a decade ago mainly due to increasing traffic volume but to many fuckwits on sportsbikes treating it like a racetrack and riding like arseholes put me off it a bit to

Must be 7-8 years since I last rode over there

Originally Posted by imdying

As far as the relevancy of the post, Christchurch is completely wiped out, and some of us would like to think about the potential of normality once again returning to ours lives,

I think normality will be a long time coming

**dangerous** · 26th February 2011, 18:34

Just bloody ride ya farking bikes... what sorta biker just rides circiles round town, get a scoot, any one else Ill see ya on the open road (when shit settles)

**steve_t** · 26th February 2011, 18:46

Would a supermotard or Ducati Hypermotard be better suited to the lumpy roads? Or are they still generally set up for road riding?

**FruitLooPs** · 26th February 2011, 18:47

if some bloke managed to ride his R1 across the world on dirt and paved alike i'm sure us cantabs can get by a few dippy roads

But yes keep an eye out, there are some large bulges and dips in the CBD (rode my bike out 20mins after the quake).

**schrodingers cat** · 26th February 2011, 18:55

Had to get from Ferrymead to Shirley to check on my sister the day after since her phone was out.
Left the 4x4 Terrano up the drive and kicked the (jammed) garage door open.
Made my way across the water and dirt on my FZR1000 on THE MOST unsuitable tyres.
Wouldn't want to do it all the time but it was a challenge

Rode the Akaroa GP last weekend. It was the road works that were the challenge not the road condition. You ride whats in front of you

(PS - I've been lusting after a Motard for a while...)

**miloking** · 26th February 2011, 20:59

If riding sportsbike is important and you still want your 1098 move somehwere else...like auckland or even further north. I mean what are still people doing in Chch is beyond me...yes, the roads will be repaired eventualy but will only last until next semi-decent earthquake (i would say 6-12 months at the current rate)

**Smifffy** · 26th February 2011, 21:17

Originally Posted by miloking

If riding sportsbike is important and you still want your 1098 move somehwere else...like auckland or even further north. I mean what are still people doing in Chch is beyond me...yes, the roads will be repaired eventualy but will only last until next semi-decent earthquake (i would say 6-12 months at the current rate)

Dork.......