Newbie after some adventure biking contacts and advice

**Normlas** · 21st July 2011, 13:31

Hi all,
Am a mature-ish newbie to biking (6 months and 4000km under my belt) but am really keen to get into adventure biking and travel on a bike (aka long way round). I'm keen to see if there is a group or club or someone I can contact who's also in to this in my area?

Prefer not to do pay-to-ride type tours, rather just go for a dual-sport type blast with some locals, very keen to learn and practice and I know I have loads to learn! Can someone point me in the right direction?

I'm in Auckland on the Shore.

I bought a Honda xr250 tornado because it seemed to be the tallest bike I could get in 250cc (restricted license) and at 6'4" and 110Kg all the other 250cc bikes felt like toys. So some advice on the next bike to get would be good too (3months to go and counting) , I am thinking either a dr650, ktm650enduro or the beamer G650GS or dakar, budget around 6k??

Any help would be much appreciated

**Eddieb** · 21st July 2011, 13:49

Get a hold of Suzieq and check out the Auckland Gravel Riders Club.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Akd...57663480965972

**Shewolf** · 21st July 2011, 13:49

hey there - welcome to the nut house.

There is an Auckland Gravel club that's recently started monthly rides - the next one is 31st July 9.30am Westgate outside Starbucks heading North-ish. Newbs and experienced - there's a pace to suit all.

**clint640** · 21st July 2011, 14:02

Welcome Mate!

There are also rides organised on this forum quite frequently & n00bs are welcome on most of them, so keep an eye on it.

Another couple of bikes to put on your list are the XR650L & the KLR650 - both of these are a better fit for a tall guy than the DR650. You might not find a KTM 650 Enduro anywhere, it's a 640 you need to look for.

Cheers
Clint

**Crisis management** · 21st July 2011, 14:42

Welcome as well, as Clint said any of the rides organised here are n00b friendly, keep an eye out for a ride down the west coast which Tri-boy has promised to organise.

I'm a bit busy the next two weekends but will do a day ride soon, so watch out for that.

**tri boy** · 21st July 2011, 17:14

Originally Posted by Crisis management

keep an eye out for a ride down the west coast which Tri-boy has promised to organise.

The ride is still on the cards Ian, Oh, please tell Dino, that living at the new whare is fricken awesome

**Gman71** · 21st July 2011, 20:55

Hi

I'm on the shore (g'field) and ride any chance I get, often with a mate who is on a 250cc.

We head for the gravel back roads up albany, river head, puhoi, kaipara etc. You are welcome to come along anytime. Also planing a few extended trips etc

Feel free to pm me your details.

**Crisis management** · 21st July 2011, 21:03

Originally Posted by tri boy

Oh, please tell Dino, that living at the new whare is fricken awesome

What, you not talking to your mokopuna now, the white man has to run interference?

About time for a house warming isn't it?

**dino3310** · 21st July 2011, 21:56

Originally Posted by tri boy

The ride is still on the cards Ian, Oh, please tell Dino, that living at the new whare is fricken awesome

Originally Posted by Crisis management

What, you not talking to your mokopuna now, the white man has to run interference?

About time for a house warming isn't it?

The Bastard let Kanny ride Fatty the scrambler too

, bloody Koro Triboy got the mean as whare now bro.... CHURRRRR..... Good creek for some eels

nice bit of lawn for a mini track too

hey back on topic - Welcome Normlas, take some wet gear if going on one off Crisis's rides

**Normlas** · 22nd July 2011, 13:31

thanks for the advice everyone - will be following up for sure, nice to see such an active community! Looking forward to becoming a part of it

**NordieBoy** · 22nd July 2011, 14:32

Originally Posted by Normlas

thanks for the advice everyone - will be following up for sure, nice to see such an active community! Looking forward to becoming a part of it

Just watch out for bastards with cameras

**ADVGD** · 22nd July 2011, 16:24

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Just watch out for bastards with cameras

Like Nordieboy

**pampa** · 22nd July 2011, 16:32

Hi there welcome, Buy a BM G650X Challenge one of the tallest out there mate, and one of the best adv bikes you can buy . Its better platform if you need enhancements than most others and is not expensive, maintenance schedule is 10000k.

Good luck

**Eddieb** · 22nd July 2011, 16:52

Originally Posted by pampa

Hi there welcome, Buy a BM G650X Challenge one of the tallest out there mate, and one of the best adv bikes you can buy . Its better platform if you need enhancements than most others and is not expensive, maintenance schedule is 10000k.

Good luck

Unless you drop it on the gear lever huh