Christchurch newbie & 2 questions (Felicks)

[Felicks]

Having not ridden a bike for 15 years (and that was mainly off road - at a time when I raced a gocart with a TT500 engine), and thought it was time I got back on two wheels a year or so ago.

Liked the sound of V twins and as SV's seemed to get pretty good writeups, bought one new. Looking after my brother in laws KTM950 Adventure as he's moved out of town. I have no idea what it's like in the dirt but man that thing flys on the road! Seems to take any corner at least as well as a sports bike and appears to use bugger all lean as well! Freaky.

Anyway, two questions:
1 - what is a cheese grator? I've seem them referred to quite a bit on this site but still haven't cottoned onto what they are.
2 - which would be the best forum/thread to post a warning to locals who enjoy the Chch - Akaroa run during weekends? (Like I do). I've got some bully.

Lastly - for what it's worth, I bought Twist of the Wrist II a while back. Bloody good book that I'd reccommend to anyone who rides (and doesn't consider themselves close to being a perfect rider.) All sorts of info that is relevant to both racers and road riders. To be honest I had to read it twice to take it all in.

Looking forward to getting involved in (or better still - sitting back and watching), the cat fights etc etc on these forums.

Hopefully see you around - Bully Hayes on a Sat maybe...

[Ixion]

Welcome.

Cheese graters are the roadside or median barriers consisting of several lengths of wire rope strung between posts. There is a concern that they are dangerous to motorcyclists, being capable of lopping of limbs, as an old fashioned cheese wire cuts cheese.

If the bully is of the nature of a "cave" to motorcyclists I would think that General Bike stuff would be as appropriate as any. If it specifically pertains to issues of law, then Biker Politics and Law.

[Felicks]

Thanks. I thought they might have been those noisey rumble strips on the fog line or something.

No, not a cave - relates to pending speed enforcement operation.

[Ixion]

Ah indeed- sorry, I smell of the lamp tonight. "cave" is Latin for beware, a warning.

[OMG]

Looking forward to getting involved in (or better still - sitting back and watching), the cat fights etc etc on these forums.

Welcome aboard . Sometimes you think you'll just sit back and watch the cat fights, but it is just so much more fun joining in and giving it a bit of a stir-up! Enjoy the site.

[Felicks]

Ahhh, something else I wasn't aware of. I can see it's gonna take some time to get up to speed with the lingo hu. I get to use a few Latin phrases at work but thats certainly a new term to me.

So, the General section you reckon. There isn't a Chch or Cant specific area as such - at the end of the day I'm guessing it's only locals that probably need to know - but I could well be wrong.

I'll take on board any suggestions you may have.....more Latin phrases maybe...???

[SpeedyGirl]

Welcome to the nut house, don't feed the locals Should see you out and about around ChCh no doubt, always some ride happening

[T.W.R]

Welcome into the silly bin, enjoy

Q: you weren't punting the KTM up dyers pass to the sign of the kiwi last thursday week around lunchtime ? wearing a lid with a iridium visor ? if so it gets along at a pace sounds good too

[dangerous]

Liked the sound of V twins and as SV's seemed to get pretty good writeups, bought one new.

Welcome to KB man, awesome place even with the odd wank about. keep an eye on the events forum for rides.
Tell me ya profile pic... the two VTR's not Graham on the matt black and Leigh on the Red is it?

[Felicks]

Nope fraid not. Paul and Dave. They've had em for about 12 months I suppose. And no - it wasn't me flat out on the KTM either. That must be a surprise as there's not many of them out there. The one I've got is actually the first one that came into NZ and was the prototype for the production model later on. So it's kinda unique.

[Rashika]

Welcome to KB Felicks!

If you are bored today, pop out to Ruapuna for a visit. A few of the local Kbers are racing, mostly buckets and cams. Just look for the kb shirts or for the blown up motors, prob find them not far away

[Felicks]

I've certainly considered it but the main issue is insurance I guess. I've heard differing stories including - you aren't covered at all to being covered but only in certain classes or something.

I've raced before (years ago in go-carts as per my profile) and even in an old RX4 that I used to own but bikes give you less "room for error" might be a good way of putting it I guess. You either keep it right side up - or you don't....

A mate found that the lower class frustrating as he could overtake the slower riders on the good bits and they overtook him each lap on the straight. (He was only on a 400). From memory he felt he middle class was the biggest and had it's fair share of idiots as well so he chose the slower one.

I'm with Vero and my premium went up last year by about $15/mth after I lost in "an argument with some grit" on the Chch - Akaroa Road but thats another story. See below.

So if you can profer anything that'll point me in a good direction, I'd be interested.


THE PRANG
I discovered at the last minute that there was shitloads of grit which was very hard to see, on a 35km/h lefthand corner about 3 down the east side of the hill from the hilltop tavern. The sun was at a fine angle and contrast was real bad, blah blah..

It was only a slow slide and only did superficial damage but still cost $2000 I suppose, Yoshi's aren't cheap to replace. I've also got a permanent scar on my left forearm as a reminder.

I later had discussions with Fulton Hogan management over who should accept the bill as no signs were out. F/H said that they hadn't put any grit down for about 1 week and hence no signs were out. We came to the conclussion that a truck or something must have cut the corner dragging all the previously "swept off" grit, back onto the road. They only suck up the excess grit once or twice a year apparently so there's often plenty waiting just out of view to mysteriously appear back on the road...!!

Oddly enough another guy (whose name I don't know - but if he's reading this, he was on a ZX6 track bike from memory), also came a gutsa about 30 mins before me on a different corner but for the same issue - bloody grit! he ended up with a hole in the side of his crank case. (I think chewing gum or something was coming to the rescue.)

Anyway, I'm thinking I might not be seeing as much of Akaroa this winter as I did last year. Bring on a sunny winter!!!

[Rashika]

I've certainly considered it but the main issue is insurance I guess. I've heard differing stories including - you aren't covered at all to being covered but only in certain classes or something....

actually I was mentioning it as we were all heading out to watch the guys, some race and some like us just watch the others. They race buckets (see the racing threads for info) whihc are just cheap old bikes, for a laugh mainly...tho the competition can get fierce at times...

THE PRANG
I discovered at the last minute that there was shitloads of grit which was very hard to see, on a 35km/h lefthand corner about 3 down the east side of the hill from the hilltop tavern. The sun was at a fine angle and contrast was real bad, blah blah...

yup I can imagine, have done that road a few times now. And am always careful with the grit, a few corners do seem to be prone to it.
One time saw an SV1000 (blue one) go across the road, just going too fast for a corner... just fkn lucky there wasn't a car to run him over. Dont think it was you cos the bike hadn't gone down, but he had 2 mates waiting around the corner, forgotten what they where on, one a Triumph I think?
I was escorting some newer riders at the time.

[Felicks]

Nope wasn't me. Mines silver and I wouldn't be crossing the line - I'd be laying it over further - well trying to anyway. As they say - the tread goes round that far for a reason!

Just don't do it when the bloody grits out...