Cold Kiwi 2007 hype thread

[MaxB]

Nice write up Mk1. Good to see the Kiwi viewed through fresh eyes. After going to a fair few over the years it takes a lot of effort to stop getting jaded.

A first for me was taking my 12 year old son on the trip. He handled the 800km pretty well and says he enjoyed himself. The ride back was a good way to spend Father's Day.

[Wolf]

Yeah - they really don't get it do they. I mean I can understand trailering rat bikes and trail bikes but all your luxuries too? If you can't fit it on your bike, you don't fucking need it!

It can depend upon the situation. I traveled down with Roj and Duncan on the bikes and Lizzie brought a car and trailer. Travelling in the car with Lizzie was Vanessa, whose bike is out of commission.

Those following other threads would recall that Roj's wife, Lizzie, spent last year's CK in hospital after a horrendous accident that bloody-near destroyed her and she was certainly incapable of even riding pillion this year, let alone riding her own bike down (shit, she hasn't even got any gear left as the paramedics cut everything except her gloves and socks to bits).

So Roj and Duncan stuck all their gear in the car and had a great ride down unencumbered while I carried my panniers and tent down on the back of my bike.

We set up camp and had a few "creature comforts" that could not be carried on a bike - such as a large LPG bottle for the lantern and gas cooker and the bed (which ensured Lizzie was able to get a comfortable night's sleep) but most of the stuff we had could have been carried on bikes if all of our party had been able to ride.

On Saturday I loaned Vanessa my bike and she had a great time zapping around the paddocks on it and showed me a few off-road riding techniques (she's a far better off-road rider than I am) and Lizzie even took my bike for a short ride to see how she coped with it - it's only the second bike she's ridden since the accident and the last ride she had left her in intense pain for hours afterwards, Fortunately she coped well with the ride with no nasty side-effects.

Lizzie was able to catch up with her brother, EddieB, when he turned up

On Sunday when it came to packing it was great knowing I could just cram my gear hurriedly into the panniers with no attempt at waterproofing and sling them into the back of the car then shove my saturated tent into the trailer.

Roj, Duncan and I rode home unencumbered and it was great to just blat home from the site with nothing to worry about and just enjoy the ride.

Vanessa rode my bike from Te Kuiti to Te Awamutu as I figured she'd enjoy a decent ride on the road (I still remember being without a bike and how stir-crazy I got).

So, without the car, two avid, talented, bikers would have missed out on the Cold Kiwi and they (and the rest of us) would not have had nearly as much fun.

Things are seldom "black and white". Yes, it's a biker convention, but not all avid bikers are able to ride there on a bike due to one thing and another.

Riding home, I was thinking of the group of bikers we met last year who were riding down with nothing on their bikes - in fact, at first I thought it was a bunch of mates heading out for a short day trip.

They explained to us that every second year they throw all their gear in a van loaded with creature comforts - chairs, table, gazebo, larger tents etc etc and live in luxury; on the other years they take only what they can carry on the bikes.

Flicking my unladen bike around the twisty roads and grinning like a maniac, I could really understand their way of thinking.

[tri boy]

[QUOTE=Wolf;1191377] and the bed (which ensured Lizzie was able to get a comfortable night's sleep)

There were a few scruffy bikers that had evil intentions towards hijacking that big ol big.
Fortunately, they got so pissed, they barely managed to crawl into their own tent.

Re: Cars on site. Most were up top, but there does seem to be quite a lot these days.
But CK isn't a BYO everything anymore type of rally, so its to be expected. Still a bloody good time.

[Holy Roller]

Since I have had the armchair I am unable to carry the amount of gear that I was once able to two up due to the physical size restrictions of the hard luggage. Only thing that could be done was to build a trailer to tow behind the bike. Now one can have few creature comforts without all that weight on the back, makes entering the site a little less of a mission these days.

[Wolf]

Since I have had the armchair I am unable to carry the amount of gear that I was once able to two up due to the physical size restrictions of the hard luggage. Only thing that could be done was to build a trailer to tow behind the bike. Now one can have few creature comforts without all that weight on the back, makes entering the site a little less of a mission these days.

Yeah, a trailer for the bike would be a good idea. What's it like to haul one behind a motorcycle? Doesn't affect it too badly?

[007XX]

Those following other threads would recall that Roj's wife, Lizzie, spent last year's CK in hospital after a horrendous accident that bloody-near destroyed her and she was certainly incapable of even riding pillion this year, let alone riding her own bike down (shit, she hasn't even got any gear left as the paramedics cut everything except her gloves and socks to bits).

So, without the car, two avid, talented, bikers would have missed out on the Cold Kiwi and they (and the rest of us) would not have had nearly as much fun.

Things are seldom "black and white". Yes, it's a biker convention, but not all avid bikers are able to ride there on a bike due to one thing and another.

.

Respect to that...And yes, you're right, things are not always black and white. I shall keep that in mind next time.

[Coldrider]

Does anyone know the history of the home built motorcycle in the above photo posted by Holy Roller.
I saw it a few years back, is it a diesel generator engine or something, it sure looks interesting.

[Holy Roller]

Yeah, a trailer for the bike would be a good idea. What's it like to haul one behind a motorcycle? Doesn't affect it too badly?

Last year the swivel hitch induced too much sway into the trailer over 80kph so this year I had the hitch welded up as a normal hitch. Immeadiate improvement. The trailer just sat behind the bike I hardly noticed it on the straights, though around the corners I had to slow down as the lean angle is limited to the movement on the tow ball. Corners with a speed posted sign needed to slow down for otherwise it was a sedate cruise even being able to overtake slower traffic.

To overcome the lean angle restriction a single wheel trailer would be the way to go.

[Holy Roller]

Does anyone know the history of the home built motorcycle in the above photo posted by Holy Roller.
I saw it a few years back, is it a diesel generator engine or something, it sure looks interesting.

Here you go, this page has links to magazine articles about the bike
http://www.rustynuts.co.nz/default.aspx?PageID=29

[Roj]

It can depend upon the situation. I traveled down with Roj and Duncan on the bikes and Lizzie brought a car and trailer. Travelling in the car with Lizzie was Vanessa, whose bike is out of commission.

Those following other threads would recall that Roj's wife, Lizzie, spent last year's CK in hospital after a horrendous accident that bloody-near destroyed her and she was certainly incapable of even riding pillion this year, let alone riding her own bike down (shit, she hasn't even got any gear left as the paramedics cut everything except her gloves and socks to bits).

.

Thanks for that Wolf

Liz and I have been regulars at the kiwi since 2000, as said, Liz was involved in a serious accident last year, she has 7 plates/ rods and 35 screws holding things together, so yes it was great to have my lady with me again this year, we probably were somewhat over the top with what we bought down but it was all for having a good time.

My lady has been a biker for a long time, because of the accident she had to get her car license this year so she could have some transport to get around

I thought the Kiwi was a bit quieter this year, not as many interesting bikes to see, will have to do something about that next year,

and of course, the only way to get a rat bike there is by trailer.

Was a good event as always

[tomtyer-drake]

nah man, just get there early and get out yo hammer and blowtorch!

[Lula]

nice dance lula, not sure all the chears were for the burn out.

Thanks, it was the dance of glee as it was my first ever burnout. I'm glad I had my leather jacket on though it wasn't that warm even with all that smoke

[tomtyer-drake]

Only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window.

Just seen your signature... im gonna steal it for another forum if you dont mind. think its brilliant.

[Wolf]

Only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window.

Just seen your signature... im gonna steal it for another forum if you dont mind. think its brilliant.

I get funny looks driving with my head out the window, that's why I prefer to ride a bike.

Regards,

Wolf

[Wolf]

we probably were somewhat over the top with what we bought down but it was all for having a good time.

And who'd'a'* known that you could win a prize for bringing a double bed to the Kiwi.

* Apostrophes should all be present and correct