Auckland ride up SH16 - Saturday 24/09/05

[White trash]

I'm Told the new 06 CBR1000 is going to cost $19K so maybe all 06 models across the board may be cheaper.

Take witha BIG grain of salt. Dealers (if that's who told you) actually have no idea what the price will be 'til it's released. Sounds similar to an Auckland dealer fucking up my pre-orders on the K5 Thou before it was released, by telling punters it was the same price as the K4.

[Zed]

Found a 1000K4 for an excellent price. Only problem is its Yellow.

Choice one, you'll be out in the lead on track days now! You didn't buy it off another KBer by any chance?

[Marmoot]

Love to join you Matt But got bizzo Saturday. Leaves Sun only for a ride. Pity Coulda showed you my new Gixxer. Heh heh. I was wondering when you were going to organise a ride up North. Enjoy yourselves.

new gixxer?? why????

[White trash]

new gixxer?? why????

Coz he wanted to keep up.

[Zed]

Currently looking out up north from Hobsonville here, the skiies are white and overcast, can't see any rain. I'm still riding...

[Zed]

Just got back from the ride and it was A++. Thanks for keeping me company Krayy, Marmoot, and Eric.

Completely dry roads, overcast cloud cover but not one drop of rain, a tad windy at times but not much to worry about especially on my weighty machine.

Three of us met up at Westgate and waited until 10.20am before leaving, met up with Eric at Kaukopakopa and blated up to Wellsford where we stopped for gas and Krayy (good skills, when's the upgrade? ) returned back for an appointment in Auckland. Marmoot, Eric, and I continued up to Mangawhai and on to Waipu along some very enjoyable and challenging twisty roads. Stopped beside the beach at Waipu and had some lunch and a chat for 1/2 an hour then headed back the same direction we came.

We stopped momentarily at the Kaipara Lookout on SH16 on our return trip where I took a couple of pics and was invited to take Marmoots SP1 for a ride, which I gladly accepted. Was my first blat ever on the big V-twin and I really enjoyed it, I could easily get used to that nice throaty engine feel and noise, and in comparison to the Bird it was heaps more flickable around corners and felt very light...but I was informed it it only 30kgs lighter than my CBR! Great fun, thanks for the opportunity Randy!

My weekly fix has again been accomplished with flying colours, in fact I don't feel tired at all after that 3 1/2 hour round trip...may have to hit the road again later this arvo!

See you on the next one guys!


Zed

P.s Pics taken at Westgate, Wellsford, Waipu, and Kaipara Harbour Lookout.

[Zed]

...the rest of today's pics.

[Krayy]

A most excellent ride. Thanks for the invite Zed. All week I had been hmming and hahing about whether to go for a ride today or not, and this was a pearler.

What Zed didn't mention is that to head home, I decided to wimp out and head straight down Hwy 1 from Wellsford, to much ribbing from the boys, so off I went. By the time I got to Warkworth, I realised that they were rigth, it WAS boring riding the Hwy. So having looked at a map a few weeks back and recognising the name one of the back roads that led back towards Kaukap, I turned right at Woodcocks Rd, which becomes West Coast Rd and came out on SH16 15kms north of Kaukapakapa (at the end of the straight just after that tightening 35km/h corner that almost everyone gets wrong).

I am a changed man . I dont think I ever want to just do the length of 16 again, I'd rather turn off onto this road come out at Warkworth. It's fantastic!! Almost as technical as 22 with excellent surfacing, some good straights to wind her up, and a mountain (well big hill anyway) to cross in the middle with lots of 2nd gear hairpins. Had the hugest grin on during the whole journey.

Plus, where it comes out is a 10 minute ride from the Puhoi pub for refreshments

Next time, I'll lead eh Zed??

[erik]

Thanks for organising the ride, Zed. I hadn't been up to Wellsford in ages and had never ridden north of there, so it was a nice change.
Appologies for the confusion at the start, I should've got your cellphone number so I could tell you I'd be at Kaukapakapa.

The ride back along Scenic drive for me was an interesting contrast to the ride to wellsford, the lack of power wasn't anywhere near as apparent. I guess because scenic drive is twistier.

[justsomeguy]

The ride back along Scenic drive for me was an interesting contrast to the ride to wellsford, the lack of power wasn't anywhere near as apparent. I guess because scenic drive is twistier.

Ooohhhhhh someone said Cheenic Dwive

[erik]

Good to hear you got off the main highway and had a good ride back

I know the road you're talking about, west coast road. Haven't ridden it in quite a while though, but it seemed pretty good when I last did. Does it still have a short section of gravel in the middle?

[Zed]

...Does it still have a short section of gravel in the middle?

Hey eric did you see my front end slide in the gravel when we were riding back between Waipu and Mangawhai? Slid across about a foot - scary stuff! One of the many joys of riding...not.

[Zed]

A most excellent ride. Thanks for the invite Zed. All week I had been hmming and hahing about whether to go for a ride today or not, and this was a pearler.

...Next time, I'll lead eh Zed??

You lead this time for a total of about 30mins I reckon, I quite enjoyed following...cept on the straights!

[erik]

Hey eric did you see my front end slide in the gravel when we were riding back between Waipu and Mangawhai? Slid across about a foot - scary stuff! One of the many joys of riding...not.

Nope, I must've missed it. Are you sure I was behind you? I think I ended up a fair bit behind you two going back to Wellsford.

[Motu]

, I turned right at Woodcocks Rd, which becomes West Coast Rd and came out on SH16 15kms north of Kaukapakapa (at the end of the straight just after that tightening 35km/h corner that almost everyone gets wrong).

I am a changed man . I dont think I ever want to just do the length of 16 again, I'd rather turn off onto this road come out at Warkworth. It's fantastic!! Almost as technical as 22 with excellent surfacing, some good straights to wind her up, and a mountain (well big hill anyway) to cross in the middle with lots of 2nd gear hairpins. Had the hugest grin on during the whole journey.

Bugger,I've had this one to myself for over 30 yrs,so I guess I can't complain too much.I've been watching it get more and more seal over the years,actualy haven't ridden it for a couple of years,and knew once it was sealed it would soon be ''discovered'' as a ''new'' road.That hill was awesome,one of the few roads I was ever able to fully use the XLV750 on.Bah,tiz boring as now!