Riding on SH1. Waikato expressway etc, to Rotovagas

[slofox]

I had need to visit friends in Rotorua today and since herself was up in d'Auckland overnight I thought "Cool! I can ride the BIKE..."

So I did. The Waikato Expressway at 110k limit is interesting. Most drivers went just over 110k whereas they were maybe 5 - 6 over at 100k limit...

I got Lasered by a copper on t'other side of the median strip. I was about 113 at the time so no worries but the Adaptiv unit did it's thing...I got the feeling that it had been waiting for one of those since I first bought it some years ago.
I wonder what the cop would have done if I had been at 135k. It would have taken a bit to get his car over the median strip to give chase...maybe he has great eyes for nummer plates...

Overall it is the most boring riding you can do - main highways and that kinda stuff I mean. A heap of work for boring roads. I reckon I burn double the energy on any SH than I would on any secondary road. I almost never take that option but sometimes the reason for the trip is more compelling than the ride over. As it turned out, on the way there, I got behind a black Mazda wagon that was great to have in front. Stayed about 105 - which suited me just fine - and behind was some one who always kept at least 2 seconds back...feature that! Made for a very easy ride over.

Coming back was full of the usual poor driving. Took longer and more stress hormone. Time for

[Laava]

I went north thru there yesterday, people were doing 115kmh on the karapiro stretch of road and then same as you, once they hit the 110 stretch of the expressway, they pretty much stayed at 110. Go figure?

[rambaldi]

I went north thru there yesterday, people were doing 115kmh on the karapiro stretch of road and then same as you, once they hit the 110 stretch of the expressway, they pretty much stayed at 110. Go figure?

Sounds like people responding in the same way as they do for that road North of Alice Springs in Aus. They put a speed limit on it and people sped up. People generally don't know what the fuck they are actually doing while driving.

[Scubbo]

cause checking speed on the safest built highway in NZ is a worth policing instead of getting those murderers and rapists

[husaberg]

cause checking speed on the safest built highway in NZ is a worth policing instead of getting those murderers and rapists

you mean Mexicans?.........

[Fresh Oats]

cause checking speed on the safest built highway in NZ is a worth policing instead of getting those murderers and rapists

I was raised in Matamata. I've traveled and later ridden on that motorway my entire life. Even before they put in the new expressway. There's certainly far fewer policing of the new 110km expressway than the rest of the stretch of road or the road before the expressway was built. Thought there was a bit of irony in that. They increase the speed limit and it's the safest road in the country and doesn't need policing. Mind you, before the expressway it was a 2 lane road and now it's a wide 4 lane expressway with large areas on either side, not to mention no blind spots or whatever. When it was a 2 lane there was certainly a lot of fucking knob heads that never knew when to overtake, not to mention all the twats that decided to turn onto the road from side roads at stupid fucking times.

And I don't know when you guys are driving on it but hell, every time I ride on it I'll be going 115 and I'll still get passed by a commodore going at least 130.

[Navy Boy]

It sounds much like the pattern of road building on mainland Europe. My wife used to go to central France on family holiday each year. The route gradually became straighter, quicker, more efficient and less interesting.

It amuses me that all the hoo-hah in the press that accompanied the introduction of the 110Km/hr limit 'There'll be carnage' etc. Since the introduction there's been a stony silence. Clearly a good news traffic story isn't worth reporting...

Changing limits on roads does funny things to people's driving. Perhaps it's the fact that they don't feel the need to rebel? I've not ridden it myself but I'm in no hurry to do so from what you've described.

[release_the_bees]

It sounds much like the pattern of road building on mainland Europe. My wife used to go to central France on family holiday each year. The route gradually became straighter, quicker, more efficient and less interesting.
...

I've not ridden it myself but I'm in no hurry to do so from what you've described.

I've ridden it once, on the way home from the 1 KC, as I'd already ridden 1200 kilometres or so and I was absolutely shattered. Other than that one instance, I avoid SH1 at all costs.

For selfish reasons, I'd love a full length of the country multi lane highway though. As, hopefully, that would be used by those solely getting from A to B, leaving less people on the more interesting roads that I usually travel.

Sent from my A1-840FHD using Tapatalk

[slofox]

I avoid SH1 at all costs.

Good thinking. So do I.

[SaferRides]

I've driven it once. There was a cop on the side of the road a few hundred metres after the 100 sign heading south.

What I don't understand is why so few of the new expressways are deemed suitable for a 110 km/h limit. Is there something wrong with them?

[Swoop]

...every time I ride on it I'll be going 115 and I'll still get passed by a commodore going at least 130.

Damn right.
130 is a nice comfortable cruising speed. Well, apart from those cunts who believe the propaganda that anything over 104 will kill baby dolphin/seal/puppies.
Queensland has had 110 on the freeways for decades. Welcome to the 1990's NZ.