hmmm - invoicing or motomail for lunch.....
Feel like having ago at the Dusty Butt next time we get of our arses and organise it? 1000kms in a day from Nelson via Manga, Molesworth, Rainbow, Porika, Breaburn, Maruia Saddle, Springs then back to NN via Tapawera, Mt Arthur, Thorpe etc. About 55% of kms on gravel. This post has the route details and the full thread is here. Be warned though as the thread has 421 posts!!!
Cheers R
"The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools." - Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)
My most memorable road was the Hakataramea Pass going from the head of the Hakataramea Valley over past Grampians Station. Gravel, needless to say, with fords and gates etc, some of it really farm track though it was public road.
Memorable because:
1. It was 1974 in midwinter, so snowy;
2. I was riding a Suzuki GT550 (2 stroke triple road bike) on road tyres - ribbed front Bridgestone, Dunlop TT100 rear;
3. My then girlfriend (and now wife of 30 years) was pillion with me;
4. We were riding in a two-day road trial;
5. We won the road trial.
We rode over Danseys Pass on the way back; average speed set for us over there was 46mph, I seem to recall.
my favorites include.
te akau coast road (raglan to pt waikato)
Pironghia west road (from to of pironghia mt)
all nice high speed stuff...
i always preferred to do gravel in the rain- no dust
Yeah, that Te Akau road is fun on a road bike; my brother-in-law's farm is just where the coast road crosses the Waimai Stream, so I often ride one or another of my bikes down there.
We used his woolshed as an overnight stop on a long road trial in the early 1980s. (Anyone remember that one? - run by Tauranga Motorcycle Club.)
I think it was Pomerangi Rd - out from Awakino - contender.
I suspect I'll have some new faves after the Yamaha Southern Safari too.
Currently designated to cover that ride for the mag.
One of John Nick's specials - will be huge - post the details when I get them.
Don't have an adventure or dirt bike but...
Did the Wanganui River road through to Raetahi one day (years ago actually) on my RF - the road was in awesome nick. Was able to powerslide out of corners and keep the rear wheel spinning until slowing up for the next corner. Had to stop and wait for some mates for quarter of an hour or so though...
The Bandit loves the gravel too. Have done the Napier-Taihape, some of the roads around the Catlins (Nugget Point, Cannibal bay etc - all in good nick - if you can do 100+ on a road bike on them they'd be great on a dirt bike!) and of course out to Cape Reinga & East Cape on the Southern Cross.
Be great to be able to have another bike in the shed for this sort of riding...
I'm with Colin and Big Dave on this. Anywhere really, especially South Island like Nevis, Old Dunstan Road, Hakataramea, Rainbow, Molesworth and a myriad of usual culprits everyone else has already named. North Island is certainly not shabby in comparison either, with many wonderful roads, especially around Taranaki, Waikato and East Coast/Bay of Plenty. Loads of good stuff further North as well, just travel with Mike Brittain some time.
Here's a couple of favourites from the Capital, first taken on the Wairarapa Coast and another from Devil's Gate, if you've been on JF's Capital Coast ride you'll remember it
Cheers,
Garry
Thompsons Track
Our country rocks.
It would take "one hell of a rider" to travel every nook n cranny that exists here.
Roll on Adv 3.![]()
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