NZKTM NIL - 42 Traverse ONE!

[Waihou Thumper]

After suffering a bit of the lurgie for the last few days I decided to head down to the Traverse and give it a whirl.
A bit of rain over the last couple of days didn't daunt me but when I got to the crossing the river was a tad high.
I lacked a bit of the confidence being on my lonesome as it came up to the top of my thighs. With some company we could have made it I guess, so here I was between a rock and a hard place...Back the way I had come or give it a go.
Sensibility took over and I turned around only to confront that damn rocky bit straight up that needs lots of beans and a good line.

Needless to say the bike was christened well and truly and now has a few battlescars to remember the day...
Still, it was a magic ride and I returned through the back Ongarue of Waimiha and the Waipa Valley and back of Rotongata....What a fantastic road! Metal and tar seal all the way through to Arapuni...

Next time I intend to do the whole thing but will need somone to hold my hand, it sure is isolated out there, and the weather does change at the drop of a hat.

I have included a few snaps to get you guys drooling at the fantastic weather...

[Crisis management]

Good, I don't feel so bad now about not getting through on the 990 on road tyres.....

(mind you, I didn't get anywhere near as far as you did either)

Good call tho, it is a long way from help if things go pear shaped and there is always another day, I recall having similar fears when I stuffed the DR into some bushes about the same place you turned back and spent an anxious few minutes figuring out how to get it back out again. Saved by a couple of quad bikers turning up and giving me a hand!

[Waihou Thumper]

Good, I don't feel so bad now about not getting through on the 990 on road tyres.....

(mind you, I didn't get anywhere near as far as you did either)

Good call tho, it is a long way from help if things go pear shaped and there is always another day, I recall having similar fears when I stuffed the DR into some bushes about the same place you turned back and spent an anxious few minutes figuring out how to get it back out again. Saved by a couple of quad bikers turning up and giving me a hand!

Hello there.
Yep, you are right, the tyres are what really stopped me plus the fact the weight of the bike. On your own if it goes wrong, the bike is heavy and to pick it up needs a cup of tea and a sandwich to rest after.
The next ride I do through there will be on the Husaberg. Trail orientated and much lighter and more fun.
The KTM is great for the shingle, the loose stuff off road but not the tight bits. The range is what really makes the bike awesome - Over 580km to the tank which makes the South Island a doddle for decision making on routes.
Got a mate with the 990 and he wants to take it through the Traverse. Got to pick the weather and the state of the gound.
It is a horrible feelinmg knowing you are on your own and going forward could end you up in strife and going back could do too.
At least going back I knew the terrain, but going the other way I was unsure what was ahead, so I didn't want to get deeper and deeper into the bush.
It was hard enough getting up that hill with the slippery rocks, three attempts and two fall offs, I finally gunned it up and then needed a breather!
Stunning scenery though and it made for an exciting day out there.

[ducatijim]

Geez Mark, you rode right past my place on your way there, if you had called I would have come along-on the best bike for the job- and kept you company mate!

[Waihou Thumper]

Geez Mark, you rode right past my place on your way there, if you had called I would have come along-on the best bike for the job- and kept you company mate!

Hiya matey....
Well, next time, and that will be very soon, I will touch base with you.
You gotta 990 now then?
I will be tackling the 42 Traverse with a Husaberg next time, just got to figure out how the fuel range thing will go. I can carry three litres, giving me 12 all up, then that should be fine.
Now, debateable whether the 990adv would be the best bike for the job, but I guess it could clear the way of the overgrown branches for me as I jump in behind.
I have been looking at the TOPO maps of the areas and there are a load of trails deep in the King Country that just beckon adventure riding. I found out some of these just by accident and having a bike with a range such as the 640 makes it an experience for sure.
Last weekend I got lost in the back of Raurimu and ended up on the dirt roads of back of beyond but had a ball. I was going to tackle the Traverse then but because of the weather gave it a big red flag and glad I did now I have experienced it.

[MXNUT]

Hiya matey....
Well, next time, and that will be very soon.

If you wanted to post the ride up before you go next time i would probably been keen to tag along, date permitting.

[Waihou Thumper]

If you wanted to post the ride up before you go next time i would probably been keen to tag along, date permitting.

Fantastic!
Looks like we could get a whole gang to go down, big day out and I could lead the way through the badlands of the King Country on the way home.
Bikes would get plenty dirty out there and the views are awesome, particularly around Waipa Valley and back of Taumarunui etc.
I will keep it in mind and post the week before to see who is keen.
If there is anyone keen to do mid week rides (shift worker here) then let me know too...
Always good to have a bit of an adventure mid week as well......
I sort of do anything between 600 and 900 km in a day, don't stop too much other than to fuel myself up.
The Motu, Waikaremoana, Traverse etc all reachable from here in the Waikato. Big 10-12 hour days though, not an issue if you get away at the crack of.....

[ducatijim]

Mark, I have 2 x much better bikes for the 42 before I would even wildly consider a 990( read my sig!)
Shift work? what the fucks work? I have no job

[Waihou Thumper]

Wanna ride tomorrow then?
I am thinking of going this way round....Down across to Mangakino way then Waimiha-Ongarue on to Taumarunui. Then...
Lost Highway to Mangaparo-Ohura-Okau, then Awakino North.
OR something else, but depends on weather and it don't look too bad out there...

[ducatijim]

Bugger, that sounds nice but.....I have a 100 girls booked in for some 'vetenerary'(again, see my sig!).........................so I will pass this time, thanx.

[CrazyFrog]

Mark, I took you old 640 thru the 42 a couple of weeks back on the way to the TTTTT ride with some of the other lads, bloody good fun on decent tyres. See Careys pics on ADV site (thru TTTTT thread for the link) of me on your old machine. You need to get off the tar seal more, Katie-M loves it dirty.
I just bought a DRZ400 as well, took it thru the 42 on Sat, a bit wet and cold, but still good fun. I see you went thru Waimiha as well, I grew up there as a kid, always wished I had a dirt bike back then, Dad's old AG175 just didn't cut it!

[Waihou Thumper]

Bugger, that sounds nice but.....I have a 100 girls booked in for some 'vetenerary'(again, see my sig!).........................so I will pass this time, thanx.

Bugga! Not to worry Jamie...
I have a couple of mates that want to ride the Adventure parts....
Trouble is, we all gotta pay those bills. This is a day off for me so will make the most of it.
I intend heading out early and will take the camera and might post some snaps later on.
The Husaberg will be ready tomorrow and I am looking at getting a 15 litre tank for it from the USA. That will give me a bit of range for riding and if I carry the 3 litres on the bike, will have 18 litres all up, so will be plenty to explore....
It would be nice to have a lightweight adventure bike to do those really knarly rides with....
Take care matey and look forward to catching up sometime soon.

[Waihou Thumper]

Mark, I took you old 640 thru the 42 a couple of weeks back on the way to the TTTTT ride with some of the other lads, bloody good fun on decent tyres. See Careys pics on ADV site (thru TTTTT thread for the link) of me on your old machine. You need to get off the tar seal more, Katie-M loves it dirty.
I just bought a DRZ400 as well, took it thru the 42 on Sat, a bit wet and cold, but still good fun. I see you went thru Waimiha as well, I grew up there as a kid, always wished I had a dirt bike back then, Dad's old AG175 just didn't cut it!

Hi Ward, nice to hear from you mate.
You got through then, well done!
Yep, the tyres really didn't help, I needed the Knobs on....

[Waihou Thumper]

You need to get off the tar seal more, Katie-M loves it dirty.



I do, I do......
She is always in the thick of it. I look for the roads that aren't sealed now and the dustier the better....It is always good racing down the road looking at the rear vision mirror with that dust storm behind you. 120kph on the metal seems like 200kph on the Tar with a road bike!

[Waihou Thumper]

Graduate out of the Scooter Boy thing to the next level...


Ward, the road from Waimiha down through to Taumarunui is great riding.
Turn off and head inland to Ngapuke from Ongarue I think. I did this last weekend in the rain and got a bit lost but had a blast on the wet metal roads..