The most fun you can have with pants on.

**Big Dog** · 16th January 2007, 02:10

Just been for a ride for the sake of going for a ride for the first time in a long time.
If there is a legal way to have more fun with pants on than going for a ride with no place to go, no traffic worth mentioning, minimal roadworks, no time I have to be somewhere and the only reason for the ride to christen my new helmet then i have yet to come across it.
Where did I take this uneventful pleasure cruise?
Departed Te Atatu at 11pm.
Headed up to Helensville with thoughts of heading across to Albany and back around home via Coatsville.
Screw that I was having way too much fun and it felt great to push on up to Wellsford with a brief stop at a rest stop for no other reason than to stretch my legs. Now that is a first for me, riding far enough that I need a stretch before I need to take my helmet off.
What a difference a style makes. Same size and make as old helmet different style equals far more comfortable over distance and time. But I digress.
What a beautiful clear sky.

After Wellsford down to Silverdale for a coffee and top up, don't need much but as I was stopping for coffee anyway save me a stop later.

Graveyarder at Silverdale BP is a champ! Made a great coffee, was bright, cheerful and put the pump on to authorised without pre pay or too much fuss even though he does not and could not know that my partner runs that store.

Down via the motor way was a little boring after such beautiful uncluttered roads. All of the coned off an detours made this a little more interesting.

All and all a fairly tame ride, but this was fun for me in ways that I seldom get to enjoy with the added pleasure of managing what usually was a 3 or four stop ride (due to helmet discomfort despite having the largest helmet I could source) in 2 stops.

If anyone else out there finds their jaw is just a little to square to be comfortable in the right size helmet try a HJC brand CL-SP.

Marginally heavier than the CL-14 or 15 but not that I noticed "in flight".

God bless America, so far of the gear I own I have the following either built in or for the American market:
Bike (Japanese but the design brief was for sale in the US)
Pants (American Brand, no Euro or Kiwi pants even come close)
Gloves (American Brand)
Boots (Australian boots - Designed with American bikers in mind)
Helmet (American brand, Model intended for the domestic market only initialy.

But again I digress, 215 km for no real reason.
Return time 1am, so not a fast ride, but a very enjoyable one.
Just thought I would share while I unwind.

**-df-** · 16th January 2007, 06:42

Originally Posted by Big Dog

try a HJC brand CL-SP.

Sounds like a nice ride.

I just recently got a Raven CL-SP, great helmets

**Squeak the Rat** · 16th January 2007, 07:02

Haha, nice work BigDog. I too went for a nice cruise last night to test run a new helmet on the open road. I missed the impromptu Sth Auck gathering so headed out twilight rd through mareitai and enjoyed the sea air. What a night for it too. Lovely jubbly.

**slinky** · 16th January 2007, 07:24

that sounds like something i might just have to try one day.
tho a little skeptical about going by myself.

**gijoe1313** · 16th January 2007, 09:07

On ya Big Dog! Ain't those impromptu, spur of the moment rides great? Glad to hear that you got a lid that meets your requirements and I guess as time goes by, it'll get more comfy (hopefully!)

You ain't sponsored by them yanks to sing their praises now?

**pritch** · 16th January 2007, 09:17

Originally Posted by Big Dog

Boots (Australian boots - Designed with American bikers in mind)

Don't overlook Redwing boots available from www.taranakirubber.co.nz/

Well I got mine from there, he imported them for me, but he did have a few pairs in stock last time we spoke.

**jade** · 16th January 2007, 09:37

Yea 2 days ago I went for the mean ride simply bymyself,
Was gonna ask a couple of peeps to join me but thought na Ill just cruise, keep the speeds reasonable - headed along east coast bays to silverdale - stopped at stillwater to do the twisties down and then back up - to silverdale bp - orewa where I cruised with a dude on a mean bimota sportsbike - I hadnt seen one before - all black... he turned off at puhoi and I went up to wellsford, didnt even stop and just came back through hw16 bymyself only seeing about 10 cars the whole time...
got stung by a motherfucken wasp tho 3 times - somehow the fucker got into my leathers and down my shirt at 130. cunt.

**Big Dog** · 16th January 2007, 10:18

Originally Posted by sl1nky

that sounds like something i might just have to try one day.
tho a little skeptical about going by myself.

Hows Friday or Saturday same loop day or night your call. I'm on holiday so no rush or restrictions.
Keep in mind I'm talking about a cruise not a thrash though.

**Big Dog** · 16th January 2007, 10:24

Originally Posted by Squeak the Rat

Haha, nice work BigDog. I too went for a nice cruise last night to test run a new helmet on the open road. I missed the impromptu Sth Auck gathering so headed out twilight rd through mareitai and enjoyed the sea air. What a night for it too. Lovely jubbly.

Night riding is so under rated.
A good set of headlights and a decent set of curves are as exciting on the road as in the bedroom lol.

Makes a 100km an hour seem f**ken fast when you have no idea what the road does next!

**Big Dog** · 16th January 2007, 10:27

Originally Posted by gijoe1313

On ya Big Dog! Ain't those impromptu, spur of the moment rides great? Glad to hear that you got a lid that meets your requirements and I guess as time goes by, it'll get more comfy (hopefully!)

You ain't sponsored by them yanks to sing their praises now?

From what I understand there is nothing impromtu about your riding. I believe the word you are looking for is PATHOLOGICAL.

How many kms did you say you did in how many months

**Big Dog** · 16th January 2007, 10:33

Originally Posted by pritch008

Don't overlook Redwing boots available from www.taranakirubber.co.nz/

Well I got mine from there, he imported them for me, but he did have a few pairs in stock last time we spoke.

Don't get me wrong I like my Johnny's they are comfortable easy to put on and dressy enough to wear at the pub.
I do want some hightops at some point for winter though as when the wind blows in the wrong way being waterproof the side to windward slowly fills with water.

My last Johnny Rebs lasted 9 years (with 6 re heels and one re sole).

**slinky** · 16th January 2007, 10:34

Originally Posted by Big Dog

Hows Friday or Saturday same loop day or night your call. I'm on holiday so no rush or restrictions.
Keep in mind I'm talking about a cruise not a thrash though.

id be keen for a cruise.
am gona do the RRRS thing on sunday.
so friday night would be the best bet. il see if my bro would be keen too.

edit - Though i may need a few more stops than what you took .....

**The Stranger:Me** · 16th January 2007, 10:50

Originally Posted by Big Dog

Just been for a ride for the sake of going for a ride for the first time in a long time.
If there is a legal way to have more fun with pants on than going for a ride with no place to go

Why limit yourself? take your pants off and speed like hell next time.