I'm mildly excited...

[CrazyFrog]

Any volunteers?

Boys, I found a volunteer....nice form Padmei! Good ride over the Mangatapu today, took the camera this time
Even found some tourists stuck in a ditch up there in a 2WD Nissan Primera, but a trio of nice friendly bikers got them unstuck and pointed them downhill again.

[Crisis management]

Possibly a bit quick there Padmei......

didn't take long to give the bike that "lived in" look

[pete376403]

(in best Little Jim * voice) "He's fallen in the water...."



*Spike Milligan

[NordieBoy]

Gonzo getting tired and having a liedown at the start of the track?

I went up to the start of the 1st pylon track at about 3:45pm today to test the footpeg mounts.
32psi front and 36 rear is not a good feel up there on the wet rocks

[Padmei]

Gonzo gonzo speak to me speak to me - stay away from the light!!


I was actually trying to cough my adams apple back up as my helmet strap strangled me when I hit my head on the screen/ handlebar. Theres a big rock in the water.

Lots of fun & my crash bars have certainly paid for themselves only after 600kms.

[NordieBoy]

Stay to the right in that ford

[warewolf]

'Specially on the way back, we want more action photos!

[Padmei]

Gonzo getting tired and having a liedown at the start of the track?

I went up to the start of the 1st pylon track at about 3:45pm today to test the footpeg mounts.
32psi front and 36 rear is not a good feel up there on the wet rocks

Seriously what pressure do you reckon would be best to ride the terrible stockers on that terrain?
I will be getting some MT21s after I can afford to eat.

[NordieBoy]

18 front, 20 rear.

Low enough to grip but high enough not to pinch-flat on Maungatapu type rocks.

[Crisis management]

18 front, 20 rear.

Low enough to grip but high enough not to pinch-flat on Maungatapu type rocks.

Will you get away without rimlocks at those pressures? You might find it's right on the cusp of "ooops that's removed the valve stem".

My bet would be heavy duty tubes & rimlocks.

[Padmei]

I think if I was doing the rimlocks etc I would get better tyres anyway then not need to reduce pressure as much

[Crisis management]

I was assuming you would be running MT21 type tyres....
Reducing the pressure increases the contact patch area and allows better hook up in poor traction conditions but with the obvious risk of getting too much traction for the bead to be able to resist.
Fran or Colin's recommendations would be best to listen to tho, I am applying my (limited) experience to tracks & conditions I haven't been on.



Note the carefully worded disclaimer...I shoulda been a lawyer!

[NordieBoy]

Will you get away without rimlocks at those pressures? You might find it's right on the cusp of "ooops that's removed the valve stem".

My bet would be heavy duty tubes & rimlocks.

12-15psi and knobblier tyres - rimlocks yes.

18-20psi and not a lot of traction to do any damage with this rain.

[warewolf]

I would get better tyres anyway then not need to reduce pressure as much

That's what I do. I can run my front enduro dot-knobby at any pressure and it still grips, so it tends to stay around 21psi+ (recommended road pressure for my bike).

At 18psi front I'd worry about pinch flats on the Maungatapu, not valve stem damage - and dinged rim on the 640A.

I don't go as low as Nordie, I've turned tyres on the rim many times, even with rimlocks. Once bitten, twice shy. Plus I just haven't found the need. Prefer to run decent tyres at moderate pressures and forget about.

[NordieBoy]

I don't go as low as Nordie, I've turned tyres on the rim many times, even with rimlocks. Once bitten, twice shy. Plus I just haven't found the need. Prefer to run decent tyres at moderate pressures and forget about.

Riding style has a lot to do with it too

The 640A has good suspension to handle the higher pressures too.


Having said that I went through the Maungatapu the other day with my "road" pressures 32f/36r no problem apart from being a bit more skittish.