Giving in to temptation

[rainman]

These bike things should come with a label: "WARNING: Addictive. May induce rash and financially irresponsible behavior (as well as vast amounts of fun)".

Looks like I am soon to be the owner of a Suzuki Marauder VZ800, as the lure of the Buy Now button proved to be too much to resist. Good price, good condition, how could I resist? It's currently near Palmerston North so a road trip is in my plans for next week...

My current plans are to fly down and ride back. I plan to do the trip in 2 days - overnighting in Tauranga with friends on the way back. I haven't done a relatively long trip like this before (closest would have been about 250kms but that was decades ago) - any advice from you lot (who seem to know what you're talking about sometimes) would be welcome. What to take, bits of road to watch out for, etc. I'm just planning to take it easy and get to know my new ride a bit better.

[98tls]

Sounds like you have it sorted then.......only advice i will give you is have a great ride.Hope the weather is good for you.

[chanceyy]

am sure some of the manawatu riders (reads Ashurst boys/girls) might be able to keep ya company on some of your trip ..


when are you coming down riding back ??

[rainman]

when are you coming down riding back ??

Kinda depends on flights and leave approvals - but tentatively Thurs/Friday. I'll post details here when I have 'em.

[gijoe1313]

Just get yourself a nice balaclava or neck warmer ... trust me, on longish rides they make life more comfortable Don't forget to have a charged cellphone and the basic tools ($20 in cash at the very least!)

And the most important thing of all?

Have fun!

[rainman]

Kinda depends on flights and leave approvals - but tentatively Thurs/Friday. I'll post details here when I have 'em.

Righto. Plans are coming together. Looks like I will fly in to Palmy around 8am this Thursday. The bloke who's selling the bike has kindly offered to pick me up and we will then no doubt inspect the bike, conclude the sale, fill in forms, transfer money, confirm insurance, that sort of thing. I will then ride back into Palmy, process change of ownership forms etc, grab any things I need (a coffee before taking on the trip north would be a minimum... probably some petrol too), and I suppose then head out into the great wide yonder. Tauranga first to see mates overnight, then on back to the Big Smoke on Friday. I can't wait!

Anyone wanting to meet for a coffee and a hello before I head out (or at other stops along the way), just PM me your details and I'll let you know when the one-man road trip rolls into town...

Just get yourself a nice balaclava or neck warmer ... trust me, on longish rides they make life more comfortable Don't forget to have a charged cellphone and the basic tools ($20 in cash at the very least!)

Thanks for the advice - I got one of those $15 thin and silky balaclavas from Motomail a while back and it's been great even when I've been out at 4am in the fog (don't ask). Hope it's up to dealing with the demands of the icy weather down that way...

[Boob Johnson]

WOOT!!! Nice one dude. I just did the exact same thing, not more than an hour ago

I got a road trip coming up on Saturday from here to Te Kuiti (meeting half way).

I rode from Albany to New Plymouth in one go on my SR250 when I bought that in Feb.

Highly reccommend you get the "Neck-a-lava" (off trade me for $20). Absolutely brilliant (got mine last week just in time for the snow). And yeah as mentioned some cash in pocket and a full battery on the cellphone.

I was gunna say "have fun" but it would pretty hard NOT to


ps: the best advice ive heard to date on riding to stay alive as here in KB'er and went something like this....

"Treat every cager like they are out to get you"


Ride well, ride safe