March Hare Kiwibiker Picnic

**98tls** · 1st March 2007, 16:15

Just been talking to mrs oldrider over the back fence.........john is away getting the bike.......he has his camping gear so may well just turn up at the rally............How much gravel road are we talking here.......my bikes a spoilt brat and hates gravel...........

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 1st March 2007, 16:39

Originally Posted by 98tls

my bikes a spoilt brat and hates gravel...........

so does mine...

some one said to me... its probably the wider sports tyres, has a whole lot more gravel under the tyre, and you notice it lot sliding more where you don't want it to slide, where as dual purpose tyres not as wide, less gravel on the surface of the tyre and the tyre can also act like a knife cutting through the gravel.

don't know if its true or not but, sorta makes sense to me... I just know while I don't mind short distances on gravel on the VTR, I wouldn't want to do 100ks of km's where as on my last bike it didn't bother me, and its tyres weren't as wide...

**miSTa** · 1st March 2007, 17:18

Originally Posted by Ruralman

that looks Ok to me - and theres plenty of options of where to go afterwards. I presume that route you show is through the Waimate gorge I keep hearing about? The gravel you are referring to? - is that under the white line you have drawn?

Yep, the route shown takes in the whole gorge, though really in the scheme of things its not the most spectacular or biggest gorge. The white is I never drew in, that's courtesy of Google Maps.

Originally Posted by lemans

Sounds good to me and I'm sure that I can find it.

Only if you don't need a lie down first.

Originally Posted by 98tls

How much gravel road are we talking here.

Originally Posted by NighthawkNZ

so does mine...

If you guys are talking about the white in the picture I posted then I would estimate a couple of hundred metres. If you're talking about RMs suggestion for a trip through Meyers pass I don't know but I would hazard a guess at 40-50km.

**98tls** · 1st March 2007, 17:26

No worrys with a few hundred meters at all.........eating dust from a BMW might be a tad embarrassing though...........

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 1st March 2007, 17:31

Originally Posted by Mr Sensible

If you guys are talking about the white in the picture I posted then I would estimate a couple of hundred metres.

I can handle that no problem...

**Seraph** · 1st March 2007, 18:47

Sounds great and I'd be keen but being a poor arse student ...after forking out for entrance fee, a tent, food for the weekend, petrol to get there and drinks (damn being 17!!) My wallet has become rather light...I think I may have a whole 50c left....does a cubbachup cound as exotic food?:P

**98tls** · 1st March 2007, 18:51

i reckon it would mate..........wont be to worried about picnic food myself..will just go for the ride.........will end up having a pub meal later in the day am guessing.......one of the pubs in waimate does a great roast by all accounts

**miSTa** · 1st March 2007, 19:14

Originally Posted by Seraph

Sounds great and I'd be keen but being a poor arse student ...after forking out for entrance fee, a tent, food for the weekend, petrol to get there and drinks (damn being 17!!) My wallet has become rather light...I think I may have a whole 50c left....does a cubbachup cound as exotic food?:P

Wouldn't worry about, the more the merrier.

**Ruralman** · 1st March 2007, 19:38

Originally Posted by Seraph

Sounds great and I'd be keen but being a poor arse student ...after forking out for entrance fee, a tent, food for the weekend, petrol to get there and drinks (damn being 17!!) My wallet has become rather light...I think I may have a whole 50c left....does a cubbachup cound as exotic food?:P

Don't worry about it at all - looks like I'll be packing enough for at least one extra - hope you like smelly cheese!!!
I bet there'll be some of those chocolate dipped strawberries at the market day morning, I found some...... wait a minute, you can bloody wait and see

**98tls** · 1st March 2007, 19:44

Originally Posted by Ruralman

Don't worry about it at all - looks like I'll be packing enough for at least one extra - hope you like smelly cheese!!!

Jesus i hope thats not what it sounds like

**Ruralman** · 1st March 2007, 19:47

Originally Posted by NighthawkNZ

so does mine...

some one said to me... its probably the wider sports tyres, has a whole lot more gravel under the tyre, and you notice it lot sliding more where you don't want it to slide, where as dual purpose tyres not as wide, less gravel on the surface of the tyre and the tyre can also act like a knife cutting through the gravel.

don't know if its true or not but, sorta makes sense to me... I just know while I don't mind short distances on gravel on the VTR, I wouldn't want to do 100ks of km's where as on my last bike it didn't bother me, and its tyres weren't as wide...

You're pretty well right in your analysis. We did have one rider on our Passes ride on a Bandit and while he certainly had to slow for the gravel he still got there.
You do get used to it moving around a bit - the thing that probably makes the most difference is the handlebars - narrow clipons are the worst and wider bars the best.
Most Harleys are actually pretty good on the gravel and the real riders amoungst them aren't put off by gravel roads - of course there's also the posers more worried about looks and stone chips etc who won't go anywhere near gravel. A lot of cruisers and retro Triumphs have larger front wheels which helps a lot, and they also have wide bars and also a low centre of gravity - and of course on gravel you don't lean over much so generally you don't have to worry about scraping bodywork.

**Ruralman** · 1st March 2007, 19:48

Originally Posted by 98tls

Jesus i hope thats not what it sounds like

What - don't you like that blue stuff washed down with a good ale??????

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 1st March 2007, 20:10

Originally Posted by Ruralman

What - don't you like that blue stuff washed down with a good ale??????

Nah he just doesn't like the cheesy bits...

Originally Posted by Ruralman

You're pretty well right in your analysis. We did have one rider on our Passes ride on a Bandit and while he certainly had to slow for the gravel he still got there.
You do get used to it moving around a bit - the thing that probably makes the most difference is the handlebars - narrow clipons are the worst and wider bars the best.
Most Harleys are actually pretty good on the gravel and the real riders amoungst them aren't put off by gravel roads - of course there's also the posers more worried about looks and stone chips etc who won't go anywhere near gravel. A lot of cruisers and retro Triumphs have larger front wheels which helps a lot, and they also have wide bars and also a low centre of gravity - and of course on gravel you don't lean over much so generally you don't have to worry about scraping bodywork.

Well I have those shorter bars and a high CoG, where as me XJ special had wider handle bars and lower CoG plus the tyres... hmmm yeah makes sense...

I think

I don't mind short distances on the VTR...