Newbie ride?

[Dodger]

Was a great day, and a great ride.
I did just under 270km including my first trip over the "hill"

[merv]

Looks like you had a great ride without us. We spent 5 days over in the Wairarapa and were riding constantly for 3 of them on our trail bikes and I might post a story on that later when I get around to it.

We caught up with elle33f and Lissa earlier and they suggested if we were close to the Gladstone Pub on Sunday afternoon we should drop in as some KBers were bound to be there. So you weren't going to get rid of us that easily.

In the end after going down a dead end dirt track earlier in the day we got to Gladstone about 3pm (a bit concerned we were short on gas too as the Riversdale store has closed its gas supplies down at the moment) and I gather we missed the wheelie show by FIZZERMAN, but then just as we were ordering a nice hot drink inside he did one last one as he left, but alas my camera was not at the ready.

I did take these few photos though. Our trail bikes look slightly out of place amongst the roadies. Lissa's GN had a good spot ready for a quick take-off and then elle33f posed for a couple of photos, but hey why did you close your eyes in the second one?

I've posted a story about our riding here in the advneture section http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=48097

[Trudes]

Oh go Elle, you spunky chick you!

[merv]

Oh go Elle, you spunky chick you!

I must say the exhaust of that Radian makes a rather heavy sound and was just the biz as she accelerated away from Gladstone Pub.

My other comment would be to Skelstar - how may kms you got on the Hornet now because it was blowing a surprising amount of blue oil smoke as you accelerated away from the Pub while I was indoors enjoying my hot chocolate?

[skelstar]

Its done 35000kms. But then theres missing baffles etc...maybe that would contribute and I was giving it a bit of stick?

[merv]

Its done 35000kms. But then theres missing baffles etc...maybe that would contribute and I was giving it a bit of stick?

OK at those kms I'd expect your exhaust to be as clean as a whisker but it wasn't.

[Shadows]

Happy to go up the hill one day and take pics of you (and anyone else that is keen) Some examples attached that I took a little while ago. We should set something up on a fine Sunday.

Sounds great, I'd love a pic of me and my bike arguing our way around a nice corner. Count me in.

[Lissa]

Nice ride up the hill with very little traffic (it was quiet everywhere really) following Lissa's spiritedly ridden GN250. She looked a bit nervous about the TR6C being behind her (most people are nervous when it's in front) but we were happily admiring what a well ridden GN can achieve - very stylish and safely ridden (well thats what it looked like). Besides, I'm not sure the old Trumpy had enough puff to get past and I was hardly going to embarass myself....

Thanks for those comments Paul. Was a little flustered seeing you behind me, but I really do enjoy pushing the GN as fast as it can go (safely) up the takas.

But..... I am going to be selling the Ginny as soon as possible. Shes not the right bike for me to learn on, infact I am at the stage I am starting to hate riding her. Its not safe for the type of riding I am doing, I cant pass well, and not safely esp if the car I am passing decides to speed up. Looking at getting a GT250 or a VTR250 asap.

Oh and elle.. did you finally get your lunch????

[bull]

Cheers for the ride KD's and also to Nasty for taking on the spokesperson role.
Had a fun ride and even explored the road from lake ferry around to featherston, weather was great and was fitting that when i got home at 3 or 4pm that we had a brief rain/hail shower. Good timing.

Some of the photos i took on the ride.

[bull]

and some more photos,

[merv]

See, you didn't need me there taking pics for you!

Looked like a good ride but I couldn't help but be drawn to the gravel so only made the tail end at Gladstone.

Lissa if you really are going to change bikes before you can move to something bigger I guess the best thing to do is check out what gives you the most grunt per buck $$ in the 250 size. You are talking GT250 or VTR250 and I'm wondering how does the GPX250R compare too? I presume you are talking new.

I was surprised to see on the Blue Wing Honda site here http://honda-motorcycles.co.nz/biked...delID=66&type= that the VTR is only 32 ps (hp) compared to my dirt XR250 single which is 28hp when I would have expected the twin to be more like 40hp. Alice and others that have VTR250s might like to comment and likewise Scamp who has a GPX250R. I see the GPX is quoted here http://kawasaki.co.nz/kawasaki_custo...50F7F&do=specs as being 38ps which is more like it.

How do those bikes go passing cars doing close to 100km/hr?

[sels1]

infact I am at the stage I am starting to hate riding her. Its not safe for the type of riding I am doing, I cant pass well, and not safely esp if the car I am passing decides to speed up. Looking at getting a GT250 or a VTR250 asap.

Good thinking. The Suzuki Bandit is another 250 with a bit of get-up-and-go. I took Spitties one for a fang over the PK hill and was impressed with how well it got along once you got the revs up. No problem overtaking things, even with a lump like me on it.

[Lissa]

Thanks Merv, Sels... going test riding on Saturday Morning, hopefully will come home with something alittle better than the GN. I am going to be testing riding a bandit and other things, will let you know how I get on!! cant wait!! weeeeeeeee

[Hawkeye]

Thanks Merv, Sels... going test riding on Saturday Morning, hopefully will come home with something alittle better than the GN. I am going to be testing riding a bandit and other things, will let you know how I get on!! cant wait!! weeeeeeeee

Good luck with the testing Mel. Just take it easy. The step up can take you by surprise if your not used to it.