Travels of a coil... and other tales

**Delphinus** · 27th March 2008, 17:10

Well... Just got back from a definite 23 day "Adventure" around the north island. Left after work on the 4th, up to chch to stay with the excellent accommodation at Hotel Helen, then off to the Picton ferry the following day, via some devious roads recommended by lemans, and great fun they were indeed!

Met a really interesting biker on the ferry, so chatted away with him which made the voyage pretty quick, then into wellington at about 10.30, and off to get lost going the wrong way down the motorway, before finding my friends place I was staying for the night.

Following morning off up to Paekakariki hill (mmmm), back over that, then up to the Rimutaka's. Managed some great timing here, roadworks at the bottom, so big queue of cars, went to the front, friendly roadworkers waved me through ahead, and I got a magic clear run all the way up the hill. Just fantastic! (more mmmmmmmm)
Trucks down the other side were not so fun, but got through that easily enough. Then onwards up to Masterton to catch up with family.

Following day, headed up through Palmy North, took a friend for a ride, she loved it, and then continued on up to Taranaki, got in with a few motorbike groups on the way up which was nice, and then made it to my hometown of Opunake to spend some time up there with more family and friends, and go visit some clients.
Fantastic weather the whole time which was nice, and low levels of revenue gatherers too.

Stay tuned for the Forgotten Highway

**chanceyy** · 27th March 2008, 19:27

its gonna be like my ride report jack .. a novel ... I love novels ..

**Delphinus** · 27th March 2008, 19:40

So headed off up to Stratford with Dad and Brother, gassed up, and headed for the hills..... The Forgotten Highway is an absolute stunner of a road. 35k corner after 35k corner. Hardly any other traffic, and of course the famous 15k left hander, all which were well enjoyed!
Came safely out the other side, after a few stops to let the old man on his Suzuki GS catch up, was hard work, definitely up for a meal or 2 by the time we got to Taumarunui, but the Triumph was in fantastic form. I very highly recommend this road if you get the chance. Just make sure to keep left as many of the locals cut corners.

So then leaving Tarmarunui headed up to Te Kuiti, and left at Otorohanga to bypass Hamilton, managed to hit some diesel in a gentle left hander that a bus ahead which had pulled over dropped I think. Whatever it was it was rather slippery and I got a hell of a fright to feel the rear drifting out all over the place. But made it out of that and called *555 to ask for it to be cleaned up.

So headed up the other side of the river and got to Huntly, only to hear this really strange rough exhaust noise coming from behind me, so looking behind me for some crappy car when I realise its me... and my engine warning light has come on...
Quick txt to Maha Man who arranged for a post to go up, and shortly Ixion rings me with Motu's number, who I call, and he directs me round to his place. I nana it over and just pull into his driveway when engine dies with a cloud of white smoke erupting from under the tank...
To cut a long story short, one of my coil plugs has completely blown its brains out, and no replacements are available in NZ for 3 weeks. Motu kindly lets me stay the night there, and the amazing Mrs Busa Pete comes down with the ute the following morning to pick up me and my yellow Triumph and take us up to AMPS!

The team there manage to find a 2nd hand coil, which they throw in, fix my broken fuel plugs, update the fuel mapping to latest, and send me happily on my way. Thanks for the really fast service team!

**Delphinus** · 27th March 2008, 19:50

I make it up to Warkworth, dodging my way through the horrid auckland traffic (I think I'd be insane by now if I had to do it in a car) (Oh and why is the motorway limited to 80km/h???) and see some more family and catch up with Maha Man finally, who takes me for a wee ride round the local northland roads, good fun they are indeed! Also meet Mom (I have a something for you Oldrider) and enjoy the northland sun on their back lawn for a while, then head on my way. Left a small oil patch on the ground for them to remember me by (It only drops a wee bit when really hot).

Monday I hit the road again, and pop into cycletreads to put a new front on (Running out of tread on the sides before the middle

) then carry on my merry way to the coromandel.
Some dude is waving at me to slow down for some reason, so I take it easy, and there is this massive queue of cars. Of course I sneak all the way to the front, and turns out they have blown the road up... well actually tried to blow a boulder out of the cliff to make a passing lane but it brought the whole cliff down onto the road about 3m deep. So we hang out for an hour or so talking to the other drivers while they (quite quickly) clear that.
They let me through first (

) and I continue on to discover some of the most awesome smooth sweeping corners I've ever ridden on in some glorious country... Go the coromandel!
I eventually make it into another family members place (makes for cheap accommodation and food) in Tauranga, so stay the night there, then head for the east cape tuesday morning.

**ynot slow** · 27th March 2008, 19:52

Strange road the FH to Whanga and further,more so when as you say keep left on corners,you come round a right hander heading from Stratford you meet two ladies on horseback,thank god for quiet farm hacks and slow corners.

Hate that 15km corner lol,you sort of think yeah right,take it at 30km,but nope.

Used to go to Aotuhia and other areas behind Whanga years ago,have a mate who did the walk to Whanganui river with me back in 1978,he has done the trek each decade since and is due this year the 30 yr since we did it.

Took me till last year to do the FH trip after living in the Naki all my life nearly,been out a few times,only ever on my bike,car to Pohokura is furtherist driven.

**Delphinus** · 27th March 2008, 20:05

I catch up with DangerousBastard and then we head for the hills of the east cap. Back into real riding again woohoo. I show him a thing or 2, and we take in the awesome views, great corners, crystal clear blue waters, and gorgeous sun.
Hard work that road, rough tight corners, and plenty of them, arms haven't had this kind of workout for a while, but utterly worth it!
We make it into Ruatoria, and go to have a nice lunch, 2 "cafes" to choose from, Rods Takeaways, or some orange place that has.... fish and chips.... (with a salad).
Feed the bikes as well (fuel round the back of the supermarket if you need it here) then head on our way again. Make it to Tolaga bay, and stop for a water to cool down a bit, (also fuel available here, and some nicer places to eat) then keep going again....

Cruising along some straights at about 100, then I see that orange light again... and usual rough engine feel I'm getting to recognise so well.
I ring my dealer, who rekons its fine to ride on 3 cyclinders, so I head off again, and reach the first hill.
There is a clapped out old ute ahead towing a trailer, going extremely slow, who pulls over going up the hill on a wide road... I try and over take.... slowly... its rather embarrassing hardly being able to get past on a sportsbike, but we make it eventually. Until we get to the top of the hill... and bike dies completely. Clutch in, and roll over to a handy pull of zone and think... DAMN!
Also no cell coverage here, so I steal DB's bike and head back a bit to make a few calls.

Its getting just after 5 now, and I eventually get hold of a towie back in Tolaga Bay who comes to pick me up, and take me back into town. Yungatart does the "HALP ME" thread honours this time, and we also meet weaver, and book into the local pub backpackers for the night, then grab some nice cold drinks.

**Delphinus** · 27th March 2008, 20:11

Next morning another friendly bikers friends friends mate comes along with a trailer to take me into Gisborne this time. To top things off the attachment onto the trailer breaks, and my poor yellow beastie falls over cracking a nice big chunk out of the fairing!!

They drop me off at an extremely friendly bike shop (D & D Motorcycles - I very highly recommend them). Not a Triumph dealer (none in Gisborne) but they did what they could, and let me use their phone and computer to do my best to source some more parts. BikeTranz unfortunately dont come out to gisborne, and all the advice the Triumph dealers are giving me over the phone is check the earths, 2nd hand coil might be faulty too, or there is water getting in somewhere.
I end up ordering a new coil from the very friendly team at Peter Stevens Motorcycles, in Melbourne, and they ship it over to Auckland for me in an overnight delivery, Thanks team! Unfortunately due to easter none of the couriers are running Friday so it doesn't look like I'll be getting it for some time....

I eventually give up, and get a ride back to Palmerston North with a friend. Thanks again to D&D for hanging round late that night for my friend to turn up.

**Delphinus** · 27th March 2008, 20:29

Enter KB to the rescue... AGAIN! Brett picks it up from DHL depo in Auckland, and delivers it to Opunake, my brother takes it from there and leaves with ynot slow in Hawera, who then hands it on to Chanceyy, who goes out of her way to make a special trip up to Hawera, and bring it back (drugs included) to me in Palmerston North, even with a multiple bike escort! Thanks Chanceyy, you're amazing!

So with a brand new coil safely on my person, back up to Gisborne I trek, to put it in and try for the best. I'm very short on options a the moment, and decide to ride it back to a more useful area to get looked at properly. Engine warning light is still on, but its running fine, so keeping a close eye on everything I start riding south. Some great roads up there, and bike is running well. 1 speed camera van in the only straight in the middle of heaps of uphill corners, with plenty of trucks, but we spot that plenty early and give him a wave, and continue on.

30kms north of napier, I'm in the middle of a corner and the back gives a wiggle... hrrm thats strange, must have been something on the road, unfortuntely the wiggle is getting worse, so pull over to discover a flat back tyre! OMG... can it get any worse!

After getting sick of breaking down, I signed up to the AA just 3 days ago, so find a bit of reception and give them a call. They end up sending TWO trucks to get me, and strap the bike down tight, and deliver me into Pro Cycles in Napier.
They clear the fault codes with their Triumph Tool ($40) and have few tyres available to fit my bike, but find something that will do $315 + $60 fitting (is that high? My local shop does it free...)

Bike looks to be running ok with faults cleared, so I pop round to meet Yungatart (finally) and the crew there, and have a delicious dinner there too. Yum yum thanks Janet!

**Padmei** · 27th March 2008, 20:36

quick quick what happens next ? what happens nexxxxxtttt??????

**ynot slow** · 27th March 2008, 20:36

Mate I did stuff all,was thinking of helping if able to,that Manawatu and Wellie crew just wanted an excuse for a ride,and try our cafes without a surcharge woohoo,Chanceyy gets the credit.

Your brothers bike was a sight,used to seeing 750's or similar size in drive,nice small bike,cruises well.The dog liked it too,usually barks madly at cars when they arrive,he gave a muffled woof,then sniffed and approved,must be the suzuki factor.

**tri boy** · 27th March 2008, 20:39

Holy hell dude. Last I heard you were up n rolling out of Aucks.:spudwow:

**Delphinus** · 27th March 2008, 20:41

hXc then proceeded to show me the interesting roads south, and left me to go on my merry way after the fun stuff ended. Cheers for that you ride well.

Kept a reasonable pace going (dark and empty roads) and was just 10kms out of Masterton (Staying the night there with Mum) and I see some red and blue flashing lights in the distance. Hit the anchors and see its only a house on the move. Look down... and what do you know... coils gone again! I take it easy, and squeeze past the house, running on 3 cylinders again, and manage to limp it home to Masterton and put the damn thing in the garage...

Chanceyy mentioned a Triumph Specialist in Opunake (of all places) and dogsandbikes gave me his details.
I give him a ring - Kerry from Triple Fourensics (06 761 8289) and he thinks he knows what it is. Turns out I also knew his son years and years ago!

Within a few hours, he has managed to source another coil for me, and I have arranged with biketranz to get it up to him. They didn't have room on that days truck, but ANZA Motorcycles in Palmerston North were kind enough to let me store the bike there for a few days until biketranz can pick it up. Thanks guys!

Work are getting annoyed at me for being 4 days late for work, so I have actually flown back home to Dunedin now (Thanks again to Helen for letting me stay a night there on the way home). Bike will be going up to Kerry soon and I'm sure he'll sort it out.

**chanceyy** · 27th March 2008, 20:43

Nah never need an excuse to go for a ride & just managed to convince the posse to come along .. big ups to Grub, Nasty & dingoz who rode fr welly & bonez & nzsarge .. great guys to go riding with

as for me had not ridden past wangas yet so new road & it was a total blast .. good to finally met janine & tony ..

it was just wot the good mood doctor ordered

Besides Jack you would do the same for anyone else who was stuck .. it gets passed around & we know its appreciated

yeah us the "drug Runners" & we were all legal .. although I did have to wonder about grub acting drunk & falling over in front of a cop that he never realised was behind him

**Delphinus** · 27th March 2008, 20:45

So all in all its been an interesting few weeks.

Cat ate my laptop power cable on the way north... no power = no laptop
Coil blew - Huntly
Coil Blew - East Cape
Bike falls over on trailer - East Cape
Flat tyre north of Napier
Coil blows again near Masterton
Cellphone screen dies meaning I can now only read it about 30% of the time. Will need replacing as well dammit.

I've gone beyond the point of crying, and just laugh if anything else happens now...

Oh and guess what, I get home finally, to discover my landlord has given me my 4 weeks notice!!!! ARRGHHH

**Grub** · 27th March 2008, 20:48

I hadn't heard about the puncture ... that's my punch line you're stealing y'know. You're right, could it have got any worse! Waiting, waiting waiting to see if the bike makes it back to Dunners.