Waikato to Wellington Winter Night Ride

**awa355** · 4th April 2015, 06:01

In the early 90's, Two of us left Putaruru at midnight on a July Friday and rode to Wellington for breakfast. Brian came through from Matamata on his CX500, I was on a borrowed XS750. It was supposed to be our monthly ride for the Matamata Road Riders club. Only Brian and I were stupid enough not to cop out of the ride. It was a fantastic ride, except that at Wellington back then there wasn't a place to be found open at 6am. We rode back home that Saturday after a brief nap at respective rellies homes.

This coming July I am going to do this ride again. If anyone is interested in doing something different from a day ride, I will post up a couple of Friday dates for July, once I know which will be my weekend off that month. I'll be riding a 250 cruiser (no heated handgrips, no fairing) so it wont be a race.

Give it some thought

**1billyboy** · 15th April 2015, 12:58

Send a message to Dieselboy he might want to do it again.

**dieselboy** · 15th April 2015, 17:47

Too right I'll be a starter! Did we not eat at a most disgusting greasy spoon in Courtenay Place or was I the only one stupid enough to risk poisoning myself?

**awa355** · 15th April 2015, 18:25

Originally Posted by dieselboy

Too right I'll be a starter! Did we not eat at a most disgusting greasy spoon in Courtenay Place or was I the only one stupid enough to risk poisoning myself?

I think it was Courtney plc we ate. I think I wrote about the XS750 with its 3 into 1 exhaust bellowing out while crossing the desert rd under a clear sky at 2.30 in the morning. I was hopeing no buggar would reply to this thread then I could've quietly let the whole idea drop.

Remember this motley lot?? It was March '89. We did the East coast ride. I covered 890k that day, on the XZ400 with my 13yr son as pillion.

**unstuck** · 15th April 2015, 18:43

Originally Posted by awa355

I think it was Courtney plc we ate. I think I wrote about the XS750 with its 3 into 1 exhaust bellowing out while crossing the desert rd under a clear sky at 2.30 in the morning. I was hopeing no buggar would reply to this thread then I could've quietly let the whole idea drop.

Remember this motley lot?? It was March '89. We did the East coast ride. I covered 890k that day, on the XZ400 with my 13yr son as pillion.

Is the fella in the middle sitting on the heap of gravel a chap named Wayne?

**1billyboy** · 15th April 2015, 20:49

I know the one on the right Brian and 3rd in on the left Ken.

**awa355** · 15th April 2015, 20:56

2nd from right sitting next to Brian is Scott Baigent. The bike is Brians blue CX. Scott rode a 650 Katana. I have got quite a few photos of the Matamata Riders group. The red haired chap was called Ken (I think).

**awa355** · 15th April 2015, 22:56

10th to 13th July is my weekend off that month. With any luck, the weather will be between rain and frosts.

I will leave Putaruru at midnight Friday 10th. If it is gale force winds, driving rain, and I'm late, you guys go on ahead.

**insomnia01** · 16th April 2015, 08:12

Rego exemption on Blackbird becomes live in June I wonder if pillion would be keen on a similar ride

thought as much........

**awa355** · 16th April 2015, 16:02

Originally Posted by insomnia01

Rego exemption on Blackbird becomes live in June I wonder if pillion would be keen on a similar ride

thought as much........

Go on,

Leave the heated hand grips, and electric vest at home. All you need is a hairy chest, tassels on the handlebars, and an attitude

When Brian and I did this ride back in 1992, I never had a riding jacket. Think I wore work shirt, jersey, swandri jacket and a Line 7 rain coat. Jeans, over trou, and work boots. FUCK, it was a cold ride. The XS750 handled like a bitch, the rear brake was non existent. Speedo stopped working on the return trip. Fun to look back on now, not so funny at the time.

**dieselboy** · 16th April 2015, 19:14

Originally Posted by awa355

I think it was Courtney plc we ate. I think I wrote about the XS750 with its 3 into 1 exhaust bellowing out while crossing the desert rd under a clear sky at 2.30 in the morning. I was hopeing no buggar would reply to this thread then I could've quietly let the whole idea drop.

Remember this motley lot?? It was March '89. We did the East coast ride. I covered 890k that day, on the XZ400 with my 13yr son as pillion.

I'm not sure who the guy in the hat is, the red head is Ken Stearns, next is Trev Martin, then Scott Baigent (his brother is called Wayne), then myself. The guy in the hat may be Chris Hall, not sure. Never mind the weather... Game on!

**caseye** · 16th April 2015, 20:13

Hummmmmmmmm, night ride, dessert road, Welly, bunch a ex Waikatoians, shit!sounds like fun. I'm interested.
Did Dorkland to Welly on wifey's little ol 250 Lifan Cruiser 4 years ago, mid year, desert road in fluffy white stuff, left at 2pm arrived at bro's place in Johnsonville at about 2am.
Few car drivers learn't that little bikes can pass with enough momentum, Atiamuri hill was one bloody good buzz.

**awa355** · 16th April 2015, 20:49

Originally Posted by caseye

Hummmmmmmmm, night ride, dessert road, Welly, bunch a ex Waikatoians, shit!sounds like fun. I'm interested.
Did Dorkland to Welly on wifey's little ol 250 Lifan Cruiser 4 years ago, mid year, desert road in fluffy white stuff, left at 2pm arrived at bro's place in Johnsonville at about 2am.

On a little bike it gives a greater sense of achievement than sitting in a lazy boy with all the plug in extras. This ride on a full dressed tourer would be pretty much a non event. My bike is a basic 250 cruiser, no windshield, no heated grips. Give it some thought, still 2-3 months away yet.

**unstuck** · 17th April 2015, 06:30

I have done the trip from Pakiri to wellington on my 400 impulse heaps of times back in the late 80's early 90's, usually leaving at or just before midnight. Back then just about the only other vehicles I saw were trucks, some very cold nights, but helped to keep you awake.