The Coro loop ride yesterday 3rd June

[MidnightMike]

Sweet, thanks for that, i had my first attempt at the coromandel today, got about 370 km's done, was awesome.

Just one more Q, is the road between Te Rerenga and the Coromandel towship sealed or not?, because my map shows that its not.

[TerminalAddict]

yes it is....

[Highlander]

Sweet, thanks for that, i had my first attempt at the coromandel today, got about 370 km's done, was awesome.

Just one more Q, is the road between Te Rerenga and the Coromandel towship sealed or not?, because my map shows that its not.

Yup.
There is a road that heads inland from about Tapu to Coroglen that I believe is gravel, otherwise the loop mentioned here is sealed.

[Switch]

He gets my respect. Hes my uncle so course he gets in automatically, but hell he can ride. Not only that, but he takes people out for lessons on riding better. Before any of you get all upset about dangerous riding, Ha-Ha-Harden the fuck up and go for a ride with him.
If you practice something for long enough, you get better and better at it, thats what he has done here...OCD (Obsessive compulsive disorder)
I dont have much else to say...Was a nice ride, had a good time, apart from going sideways into on coming traffic once. Clocked up just over 550k's on a 250, which wasnt hard at all...Bnonn Ha-Ha-Harden the fuck up i was going half the speed you were

All in all it was an awesome ride, cheers for coming out everyone, was nice to go on a long ride and have a good chat. See you next weekend when we go to Napier

[TerminalAddict]

oh yeah .. on the subject of bnonn .. I've got some tips that might make life with a parter on the back a whole lot easier .. but generally you rode very well ... she needs to learn to trust you and the bike a bit more.

James was riding really well down from the summit, but seem to have lost the plot when I was behind him towards whangamata .. maybe fatigue?

[smoky]

what's goin on here - i thought you'd all be voting the other way?

He'll have to go and buy yet another helmet to fit his increasing head size now.

Bastards

[Whynot]

I knew this thread would bring out all the knockers

I don't know whats going on here, i have searched through the entire thread and found no sign of the "knockers" i was promised .....

[kevfromcoro]

Yup.
There is a road that heads inland from about Tapu to Coroglen that I believe is gravel, otherwise the loop mentioned here is sealed.

jesus..dont go on that road unless u are riding an eventure bike..its one of the worst roads in NZ.....all gravel ,and tight corners....hasnt changed in 100 yrs.

[ZeroIndex]

jesus..dont go on that road unless u are riding an eventure bike..its one of the worst roads in NZ.....all gravel ,and tight corners....hasnt changed in 100 yrs.

how "gravel" is it? Is it thick stuff or the fine looseish dusty stuff?

[TerminalAddict]

what's goin on here - i thought you'd all be voting the other way?

He'll have to go and buy yet another helmet to fit his increasing head size now.

Bastards

Vote TerminalAddict

[Phils Motorcycles]

I've ridden with TA a few times when he's had a pillion and I can't remember seeing him ride stupidly or dangerously. He gets along bloody quick considering the extra weight a pillion adds, but not scary fast. I'm happy to ride with him any time and also think he's a good person to help teach newbies.

Mental Trousers @ work

[slinky]

Perhaps the ppl who said he was being stupid don't realise how hard a bike can be pushed??

[Bnonn]

Clocked up just over 550k's on a 250, which wasnt hard at all...Bnonn Ha-Ha-Harden the fuck up

Hah, you had a comfy cruiser and no pillion, and were going half the speed I was. When you're carrying a pillion and going fast, you get tired a lot quicker. And, although the FZ6 has good ergos compared to sportbikes, I don't imagine it will compare to a cruiser on the long hauls.

But okay, I'll try to ha-ha-harden the fuck up. Cheeky whippersnapper

oh yeah .. on the subject of bnonn .. I've got some tips that might make life with a parter on the back a whole lot easier .. but generally you rode very well ... she needs to learn to trust you and the bike a bit more.

Thanks; I was feeling a lot more comfortable than I have in the past. I just tried to relax and trust the bike, and it worked well. I think I'm also smoother with a pillion on board. I'm keen to hear your tips, though—feel free to post them here, since other people who carry passengers will probably find them helpful too.

Oh, also I voted for both options. Insane from my point of view, but not squidly, so gets my respect (;

PS. Who was the squid you passed in the corner? Was that the R6 guy who said he'd accompany us back to Hamilton and was popping wheelies in front of Jamie?

[TerminalAddict]

1. I'd suggest getting a pack rack, that way the pillion feels like they are sitting in the bike, rather than perched on the back ... it gives a little bit of reassurance to the rider as well.

2. try getting pillion to sit with her hands resting on her legs, rather than holding on (this will be much easier with a pack rack fitted)

3. Its all down to your riding ... easy on the throttle, even easier on the brakes .. steady and smooth. soon enough the pillion will be relaxed enough to fall asleep if they want .. .you'll be surprised how fast you can get when they are relaxed

[Bnonn]

Thanks Paul.

1. I've considered a pack rack, but unfortunately getting one attached to the FZ6 is the mission of all missions. Its subframe doesn't lend itself well to the project, apparently. It has been done, and there are HOWTOs available, but I don't relish the prospect. But I agree that it would definitely make things more comfortable, and it would be very handy for us too since we don't have a car and sometimes have to carry a bit of luggage. I'll look into it further when I have some spare cash to throw at the idea.

2. I'll suggest this to her. I haven't ridden pillion myself so I'm not sure how easy this would be. The idea of sitting on a bike without holding onto something, but just resting on the footpegs, is pretty scary to my mind. At a heavy incline there doesn't seem to be much to keep you stable, but I guess centrifugal force would probably do the job.

3. I'm still working at this. Smokering has said I am much smoother than when I first started riding with her, and I have found that carrying a pillion often is actually a very valuable exercise as far as brake and throttle control goes, since the smoothness carries over to 1-up riding as well. But although I'm usually pretty smooth now, I agree that I still have some way to go. In particular, I tend to be real smooth applying the brakes, but then let off them rather suddenly. My mind hasn't learned that braking is a two-way process. I think probably on the Coro ride Smokering was a little less relaxed than usual because we have never done that many twisties, nor at such a sustained high pace. She got a little alarmed at some points (as did I!), especially when we first started to drag the feelers, coz she didn't know what it was and whether it was bad. She is not very mechanically inclined, and so sometimes she gets a bit tense when she doesn't know what's going on. I think training will really help with that, although she's already much better than she used to be. Usually I forget she's even there. But I'd like to get her a 250 to play around on—something docile for her to learn how a bike works, and why I do the things I do, etc. Apart from that I think it's just experience. I imagine that the next ride we do with twisties she will be more relaxed, since it won't be unfamiliar any more.

On the upside, I had the good sense to marry someone who really enjoys being along for the ride as I push through the curves. In fact, I suspect that part of the reason she wasn't as relaxed as she could have been was simply that she was alert and watching what was going on because she was having fun—but that sort of fun also induces a fair bit of tension (;