Bolted Lightning Rally, Reefton, 12 Nov 05

**Silage** · 26th July 2005, 20:17

Just got the flyer for this rally as a mate is keen to go. Anyone else been on this before?

It is a 8:45 am start in Reefton then 500km ride to an undisclosed location (well disclosed on the day I suppose) and returning to Reefton by 7pm. They warn there could be gravel roads. I think last year they went to Karamea and up some track to some caves. Limited to 100 bikes.

Edit: Dyslectical reading saw Bolted not Bottled

**Silage** · 9th November 2005, 20:58

It is just two days away now so thought I would (bump) ask again if anyone else on here is going.

Weather is not looking like it will be too hot - but it is the west coast after all. This 1000km should see the end of the first tyre for the GS.

**gav** · 9th November 2005, 21:08

Just thought this was appropriate!

**Silage** · 10th November 2005, 12:12

Originally Posted by gav

Just thought this was appropriate!

Thanks Gav. I thought I was alone in here but then there was this flash and and it was amazing ...

**shadow** · 10th November 2005, 18:17

shame there gravel roads and only having a 15l tank cant do mystery rides havnt heard of this one before though jimmie, if you go can you post a response to how you get on might be keen next time.

was that you jimmie that i saw on way to nelson rally i was on a mission and didnt get a good look

**Silage** · 11th November 2005, 11:01

Originally Posted by shadow

shame there gravel roads and only having a 15l tank cant do mystery rides havnt heard of this one before though jimmie, if you go can you post a response to how you get on might be keen next time.

was that you jimmie that i saw on way to nelson rally i was on a mission and didnt get a good look

Hi Shadow
Good to see you are keeping upright. I will try and get some pics and post them. All reports I've heard rate the rally - probably cos people feel special as it is limited to 100 bikes. You would do soo much better on the Duke on gravel than me (for a number of reasons

) and I doubt 15L tank would be a problem.

Nope not me going to Nelson. Would be just too much with Nelson then Reefton then Magpie on successive weekends.

**shadow** · 12th November 2005, 16:59

Originally Posted by Jimmie

Hi Shadow
Good to see you are keeping upright. I will try and get some pics and post them. All reports I've heard rate the rally - probably cos people feel special as it is limited to 100 bikes. You would do soo much better on the Duke on gravel than me (for a number of reasons

) and I doubt 15L tank would be a problem.

Nope not me going to Nelson. Would be just too much with Nelson then Reefton then Magpie on successive weekends.

just been looking out for incase you up this way again another dirt bike joke hey ha bloody ha i just got some pipes so its a bloody loud dirt bike now

yeh be good to see some pics

**Silage** · 13th November 2005, 20:19

Bottled Lightning Rally:
As the rally was to start at "8:45 sharp" on Saturday 12 Nov, we (Cal and I) headed from Chch to Reefton on Friday afternoon. Full sun and warm all the way. A number of other bikes on the way. Next morning dawns grey and soggy. At 8am we have breakfast that is put on by the local school as others drift in (photo1). A bit after 8:45 (sharp) the rally organisers have a chat and hand out the first checkpoint - up the beach just north of Cobden (Greymouth). Apparantly it is called Point Elizabeth. As it hadn't rained for 10 minutes and the roads were almost dry, it hosed down all the way. Passing a milk tanker through the wall of spray wasn't an option so we just followed it, but at a reasonable clip , for the last 5 kms into Greymouth. Pick up the next checkpoint - Charleston cemetary - the north one not the south one where the Catholics are buried. But Cals bike ('87 VFR750) won't start, no juice to the starter. Fiddle with the joints etc under the seat and fires up fine.

Rain cuts out around Punakaiki. Cals bike won't start again at Charleston - same fix. The next stop at Westport BP (last fuel for 100km) so we realise it is then on to Karamea. Great lunch turned on by the Karamea school. After that went up a couple of gravel roads then back toward Westport and up to the Denniston mine (photos 3 and 4). Great views as it was clear (rare) and sometimes sunny. Final checkpoint at the Berlins pub near Inangahua (photo 4). The lunch, dinner (at the Reefton RSA) and badge were all part of the rally ticket price ($45).

Cal and I tootled home through Brunner and Arthurs Pass today. I refuelled the GS in Reefton and still, after 280km, the fuel light has not started to blink. All up I did 1050km and was only getting a sore butt in the last hour. We think the fault in Cals bike is either the neutral sender (as he noticed the neutral light didn't show when it wouldn't start) or a link in the low tension side of the starter. After Charleston it started fine every time.

In all there were 85 bikes some with pillion. As it was fine for much of the distance, everyone dried out and the wet was no issue. This is a great rally/mystery tour. Well organised and a good group of people. Lots from Chch (anniversary weekend) and coasters and a few from further afield.