Wellington Rideouts - Where next?

**Aslan** · 21st February 2009, 14:19

Hi & welcome to TheVet aka Pete; check out the Round Ruahine Ranges ride forthcoming early March your TKC80 shod WeeStrom would be suitable for that ride.

Look foward to meeing up with you some time soon - there's a more serious gravel / off road ride planned for next weekend "Sutherlands Hut and Beyond' - I'm a wimp almost 20 years your senior and will be taking my DR on that ride but plan on using my TKC shod GS on the RRR.

Sure we'll meet soon - regards Aslan aka Stephen O

**marks** · 21st February 2009, 14:42

Originally Posted by the vet

I am a fan of the ride reports on ADVrider, but have not posted my trip over there. I picked KB to meet folks and get help with travels, bike etc. Met some good people as a consequence. Still need to complete the travel tale by completing the blog, but have had trouble inserting photos in the blog, which slows down the reading a bit.

Welcome to wellington

great report/photos

I post reports in the nz section of advrider and link to them here thereby avoiding the totally anal photo rules of this site.

We have quite a few adventure rides on the go at the moment - pity you missed last weekends fun but hopefully will see you on the next one.

Let us know when you get a trail bike (maybe get something road legal like a drz so you can ride to the trails? - and it gives you an option to take on the nastier adventure rides where the wee is out of its depth) as I go trail riding with my boys most weekends and we would love to show you around

cheers

Mark

**the vet** · 21st February 2009, 14:43

Thanks, are the details of next weekend's ride on this thread? I think I am on to work next Saturday...may have to try and swap.

**marks** · 21st February 2009, 14:53

Originally Posted by Aslan

there's a more serious gravel / off road ride planned for next weekend "Sutherlands Hut and Beyond'

hopefully todays recce will show them just how nasty the two hills behind Sutherland's Hut are. Glen and I both came to serious grief there (I did a 'Struan' and Glen did a complete somersault on the DT twisting the forks and shagging lots of minor bits - we were both quite shaken by the time we got to the bottom) - there is no way I'd try taking the KLR up those hills and I'd want knobbies on the DT before I'd take that.

If you can get up the hills there is a simply awesome ride out to the locked gate near the Pinnacles

**Aslan** · 21st February 2009, 16:19

have to say your story has me concerned now about the wisdom of taking the DR beyond Sutherlands Hut myself Mark - will await JunkmanJoe's and Paladin's comments with interest

**the vet** · 21st February 2009, 16:25

Originally Posted by marks

Welcome to wellington

great report/photos

I post reports in the nz section of advrider and link to them here thereby avoiding the totally anal photo rules of this site.

We have quite a few adventure rides on the go at the moment - pity you missed last weekends fun but hopefully will see you on the next one.

Let us know when you get a trail bike (maybe get something road legal like a drz so you can ride to the trails? - and it gives you an option to take on the nastier adventure rides where the wee is out of its depth) as I go trail riding with my boys most weekends and we would love to show you around

cheers

Mark

I was thinking about something with street legal versatility, but know nothing about the laws here....in the states, very hard to make a true trail bike street legal (depends somewhat on the state). I have found a used 2004 KTM300 'street ready'----lights, signals, horn.....should this bike pass a WOF? I assume I would need to put street legal tyres and all the electricals on a DRZ also? I am very tempted by the KTM.....I have the same bike at home and love it. full Fuel tank range would only be about 95 km....is that enough?

**junkmanjoe** · 21st February 2009, 18:03

oh mates i nearly broke my DR650 in half to day,
very nasty check out paladins tread.... for southerlands hut.
very very nasty..........

anyhow hi the vett.
if you ever like to come over my way,ur more than welcome.
happy to take you in to southerlands, or plylon track, i have a nice fairly easy coastal loop ride. matakona beach, castle hill.

all good.

all good.

**junkmanjoe** · 21st February 2009, 19:18

hi all

if welly riders would like a nice casual ride next sat.
how about meet at featherston mobil gas station.
10am 10:30 ish, ride down pigeon bush, over to lake ferry pub, i think there is a short track runs along beach from pub to whahgaimona village,back on to road travel round to light house, have a chat.
travel back to toppys for a late lunch coffie, and home from there.
nice easy trip.
suitable for all bikes.

any interest or changes wellcome your comments.

**marks** · 21st February 2009, 19:53

Originally Posted by the vet

I was thinking about something with street legal versatility, but know nothing about the laws here....in the states, very hard to make a true trail bike street legal (depends somewhat on the state). I have found a used 2004 KTM300 'street ready'----lights, signals, horn.....should this bike pass a WOF? I assume I would need to put street legal tyres and all the electricals on a DRZ also? I am very tempted by the KTM.....I have the same bike at home and love it. full Fuel tank range would only be about 95 km....is that enough?

DRZ's and klx400's are available in road legal and non road legal versions. Its easiest to buy something that is already registered and warranted as it can be a pain trying to turn even a 'street ready' bike into one that is registered and warranted.

I brought my 06 WR450 fully road legal but its a bitch of a thing on the road so I stripped all the road bits off (I have a trailer)

I suspect that your KTM300 would be as horrible as my wr on the road and 95km range would preclude most adventure rides.

What sort of trail riding do you like?

**the vet** · 21st February 2009, 21:36

The trail riding I like the best is the type I can't really do and enjoy on the V-strom. I like more technical, tighter stuff where you have to expect you may drop the bike a couple times. If I was a better rider, I could probably do more of that on the V-strom, but I enjoy it immensely more on a 100-120 kg dirt bike. Conversely, I like the V-strom because I can pack plenty of gear on it for longer trips, camping, fishing, exploring. Always looking for the best of both worlds....hard to have it all in one bike.

**pampa** · 22nd February 2009, 21:04

Hi,

Welcome, as far as I know Ktoom makes several trail bikes that are street legal overhere from 250EXCF, 300 and many others (i believe) ...

Originally Posted by the vet

The trail riding I like the best is the type I can't really do and enjoy on the V-strom. I like more technical, tighter stuff where you have to expect you may drop the bike a couple times. If I was a better rider, I could probably do more of that on the V-strom, but I enjoy it immensely more on a 100-120 kg dirt bike. Conversely, I like the V-strom because I can pack plenty of gear on it for longer trips, camping, fishing, exploring. Always looking for the best of both worlds....hard to have it all in one bike.

**marks** · 23rd February 2009, 07:25

Originally Posted by the vet

The trail riding I like the best is the type I can't really do and enjoy on the V-strom. I like more technical, tighter stuff where you have to expect you may drop the bike a couple times. If I was a better rider, I could probably do more of that on the V-strom, but I enjoy it immensely more on a 100-120 kg dirt bike. Conversely, I like the V-strom because I can pack plenty of gear on it for longer trips, camping, fishing, exploring. Always looking for the best of both worlds....hard to have it all in one bike.

it will certainly increase the number of rides you can go on by getting something road legal. A non road legal trail bike limits you to organized trail rides (which can be ok) or the akatarawas - which are awesome but you need a car/trailer or van to get there.

we do quite a few rides where something a bit bland like the drz400 is ideal.

what about these two?

drz400

450exe

spent yesterday riding the same tracks that were used for Saturdays national enduro - I am totally shattered

cheers

Mark

**Aslan** · 24th February 2009, 06:08

Originally Posted by junkmanjoe

hi all

if welly riders would like a nice casual ride next sat.
how about meet at featherston mobil gas station.
10am 10:30 ish, ride down pigeon bush, over to lake ferry pub, i think there is a short track runs along beach from pub to whahgaimona village,back on to road travel round to light house, have a chat.
travel back to toppys for a late lunch coffie, and home from there.
nice easy trip.
suitable for all bikes.

any interest or changes wellcome your comments.

Joe - I started a new thread directed to this Saturday specifically since Sutherlands Hut ride has been aborted - how about chiming in with your ideas over on the thread re Cruisey Gravel Ride in 'rapa Sat 28 - hope to see you out there this Sat - cheers S

**junkmanjoe** · 25th February 2009, 21:50

i got my permit in the post to day, from wellington regional council, for the akatarawa forest. cool.
who wants to show me around............

**marks** · 26th February 2009, 07:08

Originally Posted by junkmanjoe

i got my permit in the post to day, from wellington regional council, for the akatarawa forest. cool.
who wants to show me around............

more than happy to - if we leave it for a couple of weeks then Palladin can join us.

unless its really dry some tires with knobs are a big help - lots of slippery clay 4wd tracks.

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