What a wet and interesting day (coro ride)

[Zapf]

Hay paparazzi, u were doing really well in the avo. I was cold, wet and can't concentrate. And didn't see no lines anymore... but u just blasted ahead and "really" trusted ur tires

Sorry to hear the rear end DM....

[V Twin Raver]

Thanks for the company guys on what could only be referred to as an 'interesting' day out.

I left home in the rain at about 9.30 and went to Kopu via Clevedon, Kawakawa Bay, Kaiaua, Miranda etc only to get to the start of the coast road near Kaiaua and find it barricaded off. ROAD CLOSED. There was a cage driver in front of me who probably had the same 1st reaction as me - F#&K!! But of course my second reaction was, 'hey I'm on a bike, I can get aroung that' So I did a bit of off roading and made my way around the barricade. Any of you that know this part of the road would be aware of it being prone to knarly slips, so I took it gingerly round thinking that was what happened. Sure enough, 3 corners into it, large parts of what was bank and trees strewn half way accross the road with remants leaching across the remainder - More motorcross for the VTR!! This went on all the way to Waharau where the road opened again by which time my bike was covered in clay. Needless to say I aimed for every big puddle from there on (and there were plenty) to wash off some of my newly aquired finishing product.

Got to Kopu, met up with the team. It was fine when we arrived but started pissing down not long after everybody got there. We made our way over the Kopu/Hikowai's (sp) and 2 mins into it things were bad!! My visor was fogged up real bad & could only make out where I was meant to be going by following tail lights - I could not make out what the upcoming roadsurface was like so I was just following the lines of the bike in front hoping not to come across any floating logs or similar!!

So what do you do to prevent the fogging up visor thing as this really buggars up your ride. The only way I could clear it was to increase the pace which was difficult on the slippery twistys.

If anything this ride was useful to keep up the practice of riding the elements as in NZ you never know when you eill hit these conditions.

Anyway the day went on as those described - MR, I hope you're not too pained today. DM - sorry to hear about your end of ride incident with the cager - also I think we were pretty fortunate with our timing for coming across the HP along the straights from Ngatea - i was very mindfull of cops along there & sure enough.....BANG - there he is!!! The rest of you, I hope you are now dryed & thawed. Thanks for your company - look forward to catching up again soon........in the dry.

[Slim]

Ahhh. You guys were going the other way. Was keeping an eye out, just in case we spotted any KBers, but saw only one other bike who was heading from Thames up to Coromandel.

We left Tauranga Saturday morning about 10am and went via Waihi & Paeroa to Kopu to meet up with some other bikers from Auckland. Then it was over the Kopu-Hikuaia's and on to Whitianga where we stayed at the Whitianga Hotel (good prices on rooms & fantastic showers ) and spent the evening in the pub, which had the game on big screen & a great band from Hamilton. Only had a couple of light showers to deal with all day, thank goodness, and we even had dry roads between Tairua and Whitianga!

We left Whitianga Sunday morning about 09:30 & headed up to Coromandel for brekkie (one fairly heavy downpour, but no precipitation over the Hill, thank goodness), then down the coast to Kopu (saw a huge wall of dark grey coming at us which looked like the whole Hauraki was under it, about halfway down the coast, but it only lasted 5 minutes) where we parted ways again. I followed The Man to Paeroa where we parted ways. Was dry for me over the plains, spotted the one cop of the day who was in the process of writing some cager out a ticket and only caught the edges of a bad downpour after taking a right at Mangateparu.

Top Tip: Line 7 wet weather gear is great!!!

[SPman]

... My visor was fogged up real bad & could only make out where I was meant to be going by following tail lights

Get a Pro Grip, Fog City or similar, insert for your visor.Worth it...then you only have this problem at night in the pissing rain!

[Motoracer]

MR, I hope you're not too pained today.

Nope, I can't say that I have even a single thing wrong with me. Looks like I am built to crash.

[Drunken Monkey]

Nope, I can't say that I have even a single thing wrong with me. Looks like I am built to crash.

I think you're fogetting that split lip...

[Motoracer]

I think you're fogetting that split lip...

Already healed overnight...

[Zapf]

Get a Pro Grip, Fog City or similar, insert for your visor.Worth it...then you only have this problem at night in the pissing rain!

would one of those work better or a breath guard work better? cause I was running into the same problem yesterday.

tkns

[svs]

would one of those work better or a breath guard work better? cause I was running into the same problem yesterday.

tkns

I was thinking of getting one of those breath guards too. Anyone used them?

[Slim]

I was thinking of getting one of those breath guards too. Anyone used them?

I've just received one this morning to fit to my Shoei XR1000. Might be a couple of weeks before I get to try it out though.

[Mr Skid]

Hay paparazzi, u were doing really well in the avo. I was cold, wet and can't concentrate. And didn't see no lines anymore... but u just blasted ahead and "really" trusted ur tires

Thanks, though I was just following TS and working on the theory that if he could take a corner then I could take a corner. This was probably a bit foolhardy of me, but worked ok on the day. However as soon as I lost sight of him I reverted back to nana mode..

The experience of Sunday has paid dividends on my daily commute- I'm now confident to tip it over and wind on the throttle in a corner, as opposed to being passed on the outside by cyclists going uphill.. well maybe not that bad, but you get the idea..

[Two Smoker]

Thanks, though I was just following TS and working on the theory that if he could take a corner then I could take a corner. This was probably a bit foolhardy of me, but worked ok on the day. However as soon as I lost sight of him I reverted back to nana mode..

The experience of Sunday has paid dividends on my daily commute- I'm now confident to tip it over and wind on the throttle in a corner, as opposed to being passed on the outside by cyclists going uphill.. well maybe not that bad, but you get the idea..

Yep you guys did well, as you saw i had a nice slow pace for you guys, but i also showed you that i could get ny knee down in the wet which shows the capabilities of a bike in the wet.....

Just ALWAYS think about counter steering, and it will become second nature..... All you guys need is experience and practice

[Drunken Monkey]

Thanks, though I was just following TS and working on the theory that if he could take a corner then I could take a corner. This was probably a bit foolhardy of me, but worked ok on the day. However as soon as I lost sight of him I reverted back to nana mode..

That's one way of gaining confidence in turning your machine, but make sure you don't make it a habbit: You don't want to get into a routine of riding by the tail lights in front of you - you may find yourself following someone into a ditch one day...

[loosebruce]

I was thinking of getting one of those breath guards too. Anyone used them?

HJC make a good breath gaurd fits via velcro to the front of your helmet and fits snug over mouth n nose, works really well and is cheap $25 i think. Pretty sure it'll fit most models as well.

[Zapf]

HJC make a good breath gaurd fits via velcro to the front of your helmet and fits snug over mouth n nose, works really well and is cheap $25 i think. Pretty sure it'll fit most models as well.

Do u know who sells them? I have only seen the more expensive oxford around. tkns.