DB1k 08 - aka Dusty Butt 08

[Balrog]

Dont blame her the drop of the bridge would not have been fun!

Cheers R

lol

No not blaming Marie, definitely pilot error both times

[Aslan]

Hi Aslan

My recommendation would be take the GS, the reason is that the gnarlier 4wd tracks you refer too can be bypassed easily enough
The majority of the roads are ok

This is what I plan to do if weather (or me) isn't up to it on my GS.
I went and found some "interesting tracks" on the weekend, and my GS struggled (I think it was the rider and not the machine , but I am thinking of dropping the front sprocket a size, as it seems to want to stall on the steeper stuff)
Its not worth the risk to either man or machine at the end of the day

So I will see how it goes on the day
Cheers Scott

Cheers for your comments Scott and BusaJim also - Jim - your comment about confident to ride the big GS across the Pram in both directions is a really helpful gauge. I've ridden only the Upper Hutt to Paraparaumu direction on the 1150 and both ways when I had a Dakar. For this ride I'll prolly skip the gnarly bits in the event I decide to bring the GS - as we know I'm not as fearless or competent as BusaJim plus at 60 I give him twenty years!

[cooneyr]

........ but I am thinking of dropping the front sprocket a size, as it seems to want to stall on the steeper stuff)........

I'm pretty sure Plug has done this - 16 to 15 from memory??? Might be worth it for the DB just so you feel more in control.

Cheers R

[Aslan]

Steve what dates are you talking about?

Mike and others watching this thread - Mike in the event I go across earlier it would prolly be after 28/12 and I'd plan to return across the Strait on 6 or 7/1/08

My interest in going further South would be in doing the trails around Alexandra - I think CooneyR has indicated elsewhere on this site that the 'dunstan trail' is a favourite of his. Apologies in advance Ryan if I've got the name of the trail wrong.

Anyway I was envisgaing using the big GS if I/we go further South before the Dusty Butt 08.

Cheers S

[Zukin]

I'm pretty sure Plug has done this - 16 to 15 from memory??? Might be worth it for the DB just so you feel more in control.

Cheers R

You'd be right on the sizing, very good memory
Bling to you
I am impressed

[Transalper]

Only bits of the DB I consider knarly would be some of the Mangatapu, not so bad now I have my head around it, I prefer going over it from the Nelson side.
Also the Porika. I have my issues with that one more so climbing from the Lake Rotoroa side and find it worse than the Mangatapu. Once again that may be because I've gotten to know the Mangatapu a little better now. Funny that I prefer to climb the difficult bits of the Mangatapu and descend the difficult bits of the Porika.

[Lugzy23]

Hey transalper, how would the more difficult parts of the DB compare to the likes of top of worsleys, have you got anything to compare it against for me. Ive never been over the Magatapu, even though i lived in Marlborough for the greater proportion of my life, ta

[NordieBoy]

You'd be right on the sizing, very good memory
Bling to you
I am impressed

It's just his own sprocket sizings he's a bit hazy on

[Transalper]

Hey transalper, how would the more difficult parts of the DB compare to the likes of top of worsleys, have you got anything to compare it against for me. Ive never been over the Magatapu, even though i lived in Marlborough for the greater proportion of my life, ta

Not like Worsleys Rd. or vaguely like the last 100m at the top in places. Have to think about that a bit more but think we'd be looking at more like a pylon road around Hanmer way or somethink. Some bits remind me a little bit of that photo of H.O.Ts BMWR100 being picked up mid corner in the CCC ride, but then ones imagination can run away on one a bit from time to time, there might be too many loose stones in that photo.. Next trip over I'll probably find it hard to see why I had problems before.
On the porika last trip i just caught a few bigger stones/rocks on a couple of uphill hairpins and the front bounced up taking me off my intended line and unbalanced me for a moment or two. Rider error. The bike was taking me instead of me taking the bike on that bend. Didn't help that I still had my usual road pressures in my tyres where I would normally drop to about 20 to 21 in the front which really helps tone down those rocky deflections.
Actually I have unedited video of both climbs.. Mangatapu Nelson side and Porika lake side.

Lugzy, I seen you ride, there's nothing to concern you and your KLR there any worse than it concerns me. I find them two areas hardish work but not bad enough to have second thoughts on the DR, heck I'd be ok on the Transalp.

[cooneyr]

Hey transalper, how would the more difficult parts of the DB compare to the likes of top of worsleys, have you got anything to compare it against for me. Ive never been over the Magatapu, even though i lived in Marlborough for the greater proportion of my life, ta

The Mangatapu and Porika are wide tracks that are generally smooth i.e. not rutted like Worsleys but they have patches where there are lots of rocks and they have sharp corners. Think of the rocky lower sections of Rapaki with more loose rocks and not quite as steep (but almost) as the top of Worsleys. Add a few sharp turns and your getting close. They arent as technically hard to ride as Worsleys as you can choose a line and keep a bit more momentum on.

It's just his own sprocket sizings he's a bit hazy on

you be quite.

Cheers R

[Lugzy23]

Yeah thanks for the info guys, I hope its not like to pylon track im thinking of transalper cause even the TF battles to get up that. Were you speaking of the actual Jollies Pass road?

[Transalper]

no, just a generalisation, no particular one. Maybe a mix of all of them. Nothing like that track we got stuck on on the way to the snow.

[Skinny_Birdman]

Yeah thanks for the info guys, I hope its not like to pylon track im thinking of transalper cause even the TF battles to get up that. Were you speaking of the actual Jollies Pass road?

The TT STORMED up it though, eh? Are you keen for the main event or would you be interested in the two dayer that Nordie and I are doing?

[cooneyr]

The TT STORMED up it though, eh? Are you keen for the main event or would you be interested in the two dayer that Nordie and I are doing?

I knew the calender would come in handy. Lugzys up for the 2 dayer.

Cheers R

[Zukin]

Well I am slowly getting the ole GS up to spec to handle the 1000km of gravel in just 6 weeks time

I have just fitted some new footpegs, for those of you that know the factory ones are crap, and you cant stand on them for long, and when its rough or wet and slippery, once often looses their footing off the damn thing
Here is a link to the ones I got, they are expensive but not that I have used them both on the road and offroad (down the river) they are very good
So much better to stand on and also better when riding on the road

I have also got a 15 tooth sprocket to change the gearing a little, I hope this helps on the steeping ascents and descents

I am just getting some light mounts made to fit my aux lights, so we can see in the dark.

In a few weeks, we start changing all the fluids
Brake, coolant, oil, forks etc and I am having the shims checked as its just done over 40k
Then the new tyres go on as close to Jan 1 as possible

How is your preperations coming along

The other thing is I hope its not as hot then, as it is here now, 27- 30 deg