Its Find Yokai a place to stay time!!!

**Yokai** · 8th January 2005, 15:29

Hey guys and gals... I've got a tournament in Wellington on the 29th and 30th.

Now - I've a place to stay for 28th, 29th... But... I wanna ride the bike down.

Here's the itinerariarireiarrieeiry - (sp)...

Leave Auckland at around 5:30 on Thursday Night.... Ride for about 4 hours (at cage speeds - so slow...) Stop sort of Taupo-esque.
Leave There on Friday to go to Wellywood
Then Sunday do the same in reverse - leave Welly around 4pm... Ride for about 3 hours (hey - I'll be knackered) and then leave the next day and ride back up to AKL...

Anyone either a) got a route that works or b) can offer a newbie KBer a place to crash???

Cheers!
Y

**aff-man** · 8th January 2005, 15:58

You not taking the bike.... heheheh nope i'm a flying down cause i don't trust the dodgy weather

**Zapf** · 8th January 2005, 16:12

I would like to suggest that you go thru National park and then Wanganui either on the way to or back from Wellywood. My only concern if you don't mind me saying is the hills that you'll encounter and the ability of your SRV to climb those hills.

I assume you are ok with it?

btw how are you going to carry all the gear?

**MSTRS:Me** · 8th January 2005, 16:43

As a relative newbie to KB I don't know how long you've been riding. If you are a short timer 3hrs per leg is probably plenty. That'd just about get you to Taupo first hop. Taihape'ish could be next leg going via Desert Rd. Third leg Welly. If you can cope with longer distances, turn left at Taupo & come stay our place in Napier (about 5hrs) Welly is about 4hrs from here. Return via west coast & stay at New Pymouth. Any help ?

**Hooks** · 8th January 2005, 17:00

Buddy you are welcome here anytime !! PM me for the details of where and the numbers ....I will also be happy to come up & meet ya ... where ever you go ...that way you will have someone to ride with through the central bits !!

**Mr Skid** · 8th January 2005, 18:52

Originally Posted by Yokai

Anyone can offer a newbie KBer a place to crash???

I hear SH22 is highly recommended!

**James Deuce** · 8th January 2005, 19:00

Originally Posted by Zapf

My only concern if you don't mind me saying is the hills that you'll encounter and the ability of your SRV to climb those hills.

What are you on?

The SRV isn't going to struggle with anything. If I can ride 250 single from Auckland to Wellington and back again, and CSL can tour the country with startling repetitiveness, then the SRV will be sweet. Unless Yokai is 300kg and 3 metres tall and attempting to move a piano that is.

**James Deuce** · 8th January 2005, 19:03

Originally Posted by Yokai

Anyone either a) got a route that works or b) can offer a newbie KBer a place to crash???

Y

Is it your first big bike trip? because if so I would stick to SH1 for the first leg, just because there is a little more traffic if you get into trouble.

I am embarrassed to say that I can't offer you a place though. sorry.

**jrandom** · 8th January 2005, 20:12

The 8 hours Auckland<->Wellington straight up or down SH1 is a doddle, IMHO. I'd just leave Auckland on Friday by morning tea time, be in Wellington for dinner, get a good sleep and you'll be a box of birds for Saturday morning. You'll save yourself a night's accommodation cost in Taupo, that way. The SRV will be quite capable and comfy, I suspect.

Doing 22 on the way down will add an hour or so. I'd only include it if the trip was to or from Taupo. Likewise, if you end up coming straight up from Wellington in one go, you'll probably be hanging out to just get home by the time you're north of Hamilton, and not really be in the mood for scratching your pegs. Which is the only good thing about SH22, seeing as the scenery basically consists of even MORE cow country that'll look exactly the same as 95% of the 700km you've just done...

My advice, ride straight down on Friday, then do like you said and ride back to Taupo Sunday night, then have some fun getting home on Monday.

**jrandom** · 8th January 2005, 20:20

Originally Posted by Jim2

What are you on?

The SRV isn't going to struggle with anything. If I can ride 250 single from Auckland to Wellington and back again, and CSL can tour the country with startling repetitiveness, then the SRV will be sweet. Unless Yokai is 300kg and 3 metres tall and attempting to move a piano that is.

Jim speaks troof.

Anything with around 30hp will get you there just fine and dandy, up hill and down dale, for as long and as far as you want it to. Even the puir wee FXR would handle *me* (and I have just a waffur-theen extra bit of weight over Yokai...) at 110 along motorways and open roads with no hassle. And going any faster than that, as we all know, means that you're PREPARED TO KILL!

**sels1** · 8th January 2005, 21:03

Originally Posted by Jim2

Is it your first big bike trip? because if so I would stick to SH1 for the first leg, just because there is a little more traffic if you get into trouble.

Good advice. SH1 has the most petrol stns, passing lanes, coffee shps etc.
Except I normally turn off after Bombay take SH2 thru Maramarua then SH27 to Matamata to Tirau, hook up with SH1 after that all thru to Welly.
Cuts out that congested area Huntly thru Hamiton.
Make sure you fill up at Turangi if you come that way, the Desert Rd is not the best place to run out - and the gas is expensive at Waioru.

**Zapf** · 8th January 2005, 22:37

last time when we were riding with Yokai on SH16, the SRV was having some power isues thats all. So I had to ask... specially when and if there is a head wind.

**Yokai** · 9th January 2005, 10:24

Thanks for the advice guys :-

1) Bike is fixed - hills no problem - bummed that I am not out riding today - but I have to do housework at some point, and I didn't check the meets till just now!!!! GRRRR

2) I've done Taupo before (including my extra 100ks through Te Kuiti

) so I know that I can handle about 5 hours on the bike before my bum gets toooo numb... Hence the need for a place to stay

I've even stiffened the rear a little bit (thanks for the tip PT)... and things are a lot less squashy in the rear... I'm praying for a really nice weekend. If it looks good then I'm doing the route. If not, I'll cage it down on Friday.