SH22 virgin

**kerryg** · 10th October 2005, 08:39

Having read many times here about how great SH22 is I decided to check it out yesterday. Weather was dry to start with but then started to rain, and kept on raining. This is only the second time I've ridden my 636 and I'm still getting the feel of it (it's my first experience of a modern 600 class sportbike).
The feeling has since returned to my hands and I can now walk in an almost upright position.

Anyways. I can see the appeal of the road. Great scenery, practically no traffic, lots of great bike-friendly twisties BUT (IMHO) there are a few things not so good about it. There was mud and crap at various spots, loose gravel etc. Slippery sections where mud was tracked onto the road by vehicles. Cow crap.The road isn't that well maintained, and some of the repairs must have been done by drunk blind people (some very uneven surfaces). A couple of (I guess) 35km corners were not signposted at all (lucky I ride like a nanna). And it's loooonnnng. Tests the (fading) powers of concentration somewhat. Some sections are quite exposed and it was blowing pretty hard at times yesterday so the bike was buffetted around a bit.

Probably would have been nicer to ride on a dry summer's day, so I didn't see it at its best, but it would take someone with bigger cojones than me (OK, that's almost everyone, I know) to ride that road fast.

However, overall a good experience. I'll ride it again when the physiotherapist has fixed me up.

**marty** · 10th October 2005, 08:42

that'll be because its a ROAD, as opposed to a RACETRACK.

**sAsLEX** · 10th October 2005, 08:47

and if you rode it four times a week you would know all the spots to slow down for!

**kerryg** · 10th October 2005, 08:54

Originally Posted by marty

that'll be because its a ROAD, as opposed to a RACETRACK.

Ah-hah. That'll be the reason then :slap:

I guess I found it a little bit bike-unfriendly in some ways, which surprised me when it is such a very popular route for bikers. That's where I was coming from.

**bugjuice** · 10th October 2005, 09:14

wait until you try it in the summer days. It's an awesome road, and you learn something new every time you ride it.. I do anyway. And there's very few corners the same, which means, in that one stretch of road, you'll encounter most likely 90% of the types of corners you'll ever do in your life, all on one road.. I love that road, and miss it heaps. Not done it myself since last summer, cos I know what condition it's in now. So just wait for a week or two of sun, then it'll be a top road

Next time you do it, learn the surroundings of the bad corners (if anything) which will take a few runs to know, then you can start to enjoy the rest of the road

**Motu** · 10th October 2005, 09:15

Yes,fit yourself to the road,it's really not possible to force the road to conform to your standards.There is a small section in ''Total Control'' where he talks about your relationship with the road,apparently us Adventure riders have a problem in trying to dominate a road,but I think it's more a sportsbike riders problem.I really enjoy the challenge of changing conditions,the unexpected etc.

**kerryg** · 10th October 2005, 09:23

Originally Posted by sAsLEX

and if you rode it four times a week you would know all the spots to slow down for!

Not for me, with my lack of short-term memory (walk to the frig to get something, get there...now, what did I come here for??) ...

**kerryg** · 10th October 2005, 09:29

Originally Posted by bugjuice

wait until you try it in the summer days.

Yeah I think the fact that everything was wet and slippery didn't help. I'll wait till summer for my next try. By then I'll be more comfortable with the bike , too.

It's sure a challenging ride

**bugjuice** · 10th October 2005, 09:37

Personally, I'd stay away from a monster like the 22 while a) you're still finding yourself with the bike, and b) it's in a shocking state like it is at the moment..

Stick to better roads like 16, Kawakawakawakawakawakawakawakawasaki bay and the loop.. and a few other roads, which I have no idea about, cos there's got to be more than 4 decent lengthy rides around here.. I'll take you on some rides if you want, and I'll ride easy(ish)

**SixPackBack** · 10th October 2005, 09:43

SH22 is certainly favoured by a few on the site, for me its a little far away and a little twisty, not as open as i like and as you have said the surface and road condition leave a lot to be desired.......my suggestion should you get the chance would be SH16 and the roads there abouts, old north road, pikes road, woodcocks road. check it out on a map and give it a go!

**sAsLEX** · 10th October 2005, 09:45

Originally Posted by kerryg

Yeah I think the fact that everything was wet and slippery didn't help. I'll wait till summer for my next try. By then I'll be more comfortable with the bike , too.

It's sure a challenging ride

in the heat of the summer you get the tar melting anyways so its slippery again

**kerryg** · 10th October 2005, 10:08

Originally Posted by bugjuice

Personally, I'd stay away from a monster like the 22 while a) you're still finding yourself with the bike, and b) it's in a shocking state like it is at the moment..

Stick to better roads like 16, Kawakawakawakawakawakawakawakawasaki bay and the loop.. and a few other roads, which I have no idea about, cos there's got to be more than 4 decent lengthy rides around here.. I'll take you on some rides if you want, and I'll ride easy(ish)

I think that is wise counsel, kimo sabi.

Thanks for the offer of an easy(ish) ????!!! ride but I think I need to shed the trainer wheels, and possibly get an injection of monkey glands, before I dare to be seen on the public highways in the company of youthful testosterone-fuelled wheelie-popping tyre-sliding hoons (not mentioning anybody in particular

)

**bugjuice** · 10th October 2005, 10:23

just cos you drive a Ferrari, doesn't mean you have to go 300kph everywhere. Same with a bike. Just cos you can, doesn't mean you have to. Go ride with people, regardless of skill, and you can learn some stuff you didn't think of before, and they can give you hints and tips based on how they see you ride.. plus it's some company to share the fun with.. If I thought like that when I first started, I'd still be a real nana now. But just get out there and mingle, and you'll find your own pace in no time. And no one will force anything on you either. The fact that you're out riding is what it's about, not who finishes first

**kerryg** · 10th October 2005, 10:27

Originally Posted by bugjuice

just cos you drive a Ferrari, doesn't mean you have to go 300kph everywhere. Same with a bike. Just cos you can, doesn't mean you have to. Go ride with people, regardless of skill, and you can learn some stuff you didn't think of before, and they can give you hints and tips based on how they see you ride.. plus it's some company to share the fun with.. If I thought like that when I first started, I'd still be a real nana now. But just get out there and mingle, and you'll find your own pace in no time. And no one will force anything on you either. The fact that you're out riding is what it's about, not who finishes first

Bugjiuce, you are (as ever) wholly correct. No offence intended BTW