New Plymouth to Napier and back. Which return route?

[bluninja]

I'm doing a longish day trip to Napier on Saturday to help a fellow KB member pick up a bike, so first 410 kms will be with pillion. I expect to just take the main road down to Palmerston North and then on up to Napier.

On the way back they will be riding their new pride and joy. Just to make it interesting it would be good to go home a different way.

Option 1 is to head across to Taupo and towards Te Kuiti before hitting SH3 for Awakino Gorge and Mount Messenger.
Option 2 is to do the Gentle Annie to Taihape then to Marton and then back up SH3

Option 1 allows this just moved from 250 to 750 sports bike owner some time in the saddle before challenging twisties, but place the twisties at the end of a long day.

Option 2 allows a chance to go the other way (for me) down a fantastic bit of road and then have a gentle (boring) finish.; however it may be too much for new owner if they haven't got used to brakes, throttle and steering.

Any thoughts?

Of course I could just leave him in Napier to make his own way back

[Bikemad]

did napier to new plymouth the other week........gentle annie then down to hunterville and through the back way into wanganui.......sealed all the way and a nice ride.You come out at wanganui right beside the Red Lion pub overlooking the river...........ok food ..cold beer and the landlords are bikers

[R650R]

I'd go option one but turn left t Taumarunui for forgotten highway.
After the rain we've had I'd be expecting some nasty potholes over taihape road.

[sil3nt]

Doing this all in one day?

[bluninja]

Yes it's all in one day 850-900 kms so not overly long. It is the longest day so plenty of daylight. Should be 5 hours each way plus comfort stops. I'm happy to do the trip to Napier in 1 go as I've got enough fuel range, but don't know if pillion can manage that long.

If I was doing it over 2 days I'd add in the forgotten highway. If I wasn't doing a ride with pillion I'd probably go Mount Messenger, Awakino, Taupo, Napier and on the way back Gentle Annie and Forgotten highway.

[BMWST?]

so the pillion is riding the 250 back.Are they a new ish rider?Thats a big day for a learner

[bluninja]

so the pillion is riding the 250 back.Are they a new ish rider?Thats a big day for a learner

No the pillion is riding a 750 sports bike back. The 250 was their previous bike.

[BMWST?]

No the pillion is riding a 750 sports bike back. The 250 was their previous bike.

great way to get a new bike(or any vehicle for that matter) ROAD TRIP!

[Old Steve]

I picked up my Boulevard M50 in Napier and rode it home 300 km via the Napier - Taupo and up SH1 to Putaruru and then up SH28 to SH29 and over the Kaimais to Tauranga.

I'd recommend the Napier - Taupo as the first part, let them get used to the bike. It's a lovely ride too but more sweepers than twisties, so ideal for someone on a new bike.

[insomnia01]

either way would be choice I prefer not to go the same way I came when I do a road trip

(Te awamutu-Taupo-Napier-Wairoa-Gisborne-Waioeka gorge-Opotiki-Rotorua-Putararu-Te awamutu) had to go over to Wairoa for a tangi recently so the above was my day trip ( left home @0630 home by 2030)

weather dependant normally decides the route also

[R650R]

That's a big day out alright, serious kms for one day. Expect about 3 highway patrols and a camera on Taupo rd at this time of year and that's just the Napier end... They patrol the whole road now so watch yourself, they have lots of good hiding spaces. Be plenty of grit about for the tar bleed also...

[veldthui]

I'd go option one but turn left t Taumarunui for forgotten highway.
After the rain we've had I'd be expecting some nasty potholes over taihape road.

I wouldn't. The road is crap at the moment as they have put dirty great big boulders (they call it chip seal) which are very sharp. I cut my rear tire to ribbons about a week ago and got two punctures. I would wait for a bit for the cars to sweep it clear before going that way again.

[bluninja]

Well in the end we had a straight trip to Napier via Palmy North, did the Gentle Annie run and then along to SH3 and back home. Just 873 kms for the day, though 150 of them were awesome. Sunny all the way till 5km from home when it started to drizzle. Lots of strong breezes along the high parts of the gentle Annie and for most of the way home. Only police we encountered was a drink drive stop in Stratford and 1 patrol car parked at the side of the road on the way down SH3.

Gentle Annie was nicer in warm temps than at 0 (last time I did it). However loads of tar bleed on the 25-45 corners making it not only slippery, but reflecting the sun back and making it difficult to see the road at times.

[R650R]

I wouldn't. The road is crap at the moment as they have put dirty great big boulders (they call it chip seal) which are very sharp. I cut my rear tire to ribbons about a week ago and got two punctures. I would wait for a bit for the cars to sweep it clear before going that way again.

Went through day after boxing day, clean as and hard packed like concrete. Had to detour into bush 4WD tracks for some impromptu adventure touring on the 750. I can report the Michelin pilot powers are fine for wet clay and grass as long as you want to anywhere except straight ahead


F20131227_4694 by DR650NZ, on Flickr