Poor ninja! He shouldn't be on such a dodgy surface with such a shiny bike.
Hmm.
Poor ninja! He shouldn't be on such a dodgy surface with such a shiny bike.
Forum whore
It tracks very well and the engine is torquey enough down low to handle it. Bars are reasonably high and wide. The only thing is the tyres are a little too wide for it, so it tends to float on top of the gravel like marbles, but it could be worse.Originally Posted by Slyer
I think just inexperience, poor light and (ultimately) not wearing proper gear -- not only would boots have saved his ankle, but he could've perhaps stuck his foot out when the front end started to wash out.
Had 700kms on the odometer, hope he organised insurance by now @_@
Little ol'Hornet Rides again!
As I recline here in front of my glowing communicative mechanicum, I reflect on ... X-Whatsit-formerly-known-as-Xerxesdaphat and Gremlin with I, split off from the group to rendezvous with my earstwhile and beautific passenger. AngelKwan.
To Kerikeri we rode and a short stop we made our way to Kaitaia. The roads flowed conservatively for me, with precious cargo and many miles to go. As my boon companion X-Whatsit-formerly-known-as-Xerxesdaphat has related, the situation that occurred was both fortunate and unfortunate. The Biker Code and creed was observed and credo was laid down in that mysticism.
I felt relief that AngelKwan had managed to touch down on one of her points of interest and must-do in NZ, I know when to turn back, but in every instance I have determined and always ridden my ride the way I like. It is different in a group, with its inscrutable synchronicity. We happened on the incident and it was meant to be. Gremlin and I were merciless in our dissection of the situation as humor. I rabbited on about pr0n stashes and how this would end up on YouTube etc.
AngelKwan? She was a heroine. A real trooper. The model of patience, forbearance and acceptance. She is a biker and understands what we did, why we did and never once complained. Inspirational to me.
Gremlin, made his own pilgrimage to the Cape of Reinga. His soul making the journey as his physical self got him on the hardest way there. He missed the vehicle access and somehow rode the entire walkway to the lighthouse, being on a zephyr-like Katoom, it seemed appropriate to me.
The stars. Magic. I have been to Cape Reinga several times already by various means. This is the first time I have done it by night and for that I thank the biking gods for this opportunity and as a token of their blessing for just doing as bikers should do. Ride.
The trip back was led by Gremlin, he of the GPS-talisman and the art of riding with day-only visor (I tried it a couple of times once I dropped off Angel and seriously ... the man is a legend. I am in awe.)
Once we had refueled in Kaitaia, I took point and led our party at various speeds and with safety foremost for Angel. Here, my pootling in-grained sense of mis-direction casted me for a fool, a paradigm of stubborness - I zipped by several roads that could of got us to Kerikeri faster. But my rider's heart always wants to take the longer road. I am grateful that Gremlin with his MacGyver like presence directed me to see the shorter picture.
At 2am we made landfall at Kerikeri, we had flown there on air surrounded by prehistoric creatures morphed into new forms and as I was in lead, by the pricking of my senses, something wicked this way comes "... it would be ironic after all this, there should be the guardians of the law of the land waiting in lay to learn the erroneous of their shortcomings..."
And Lo, the lurking stygian creatures of Mirkwood laid their snare for the unwary. The tell-tale disco lights told its tale of doom, and be wary. Gremlin with his Balor's eye of HARDness flashed his caution, I had already seen Pandora's box located on the dashboard of an approaching car, the Cerebus to the gates of Angel's portal home.
We met its match by obeying the geas of 80. The turning point of 50 was a touchstone that Angel's journey for the night was coming to a close. I felt like a knight of old with my blood-brothers as we pulled into the gates of her demesne and my spirits harked to an ancient, sexist, chivalric feeling. Then I was brought crashing back to the ground again when I remembered Gremlins early admonishment to me "get the girl some bluddy glubs!"
Here, I shall sup some sustenance and vittals before beginning the chapter of the third. "When shall we Three Ride together again?"
"I like to ride anyplace, anywhere, any time, any way!"
LOOK.. ZOMBIES!
jesus H. GIJ..someone smack you with a thesaurus?
Little ol'Hornet Rides again!
Nay sirrah, I am of a learned and scholastic nature - erudite and prevarication is my stock in trade as an engineer to mould young minds to higher callings. In sum, to proper write and spellink the words the good way proper.
I take it you have not had the misfortune to dally on some of my other postings that behoove themselves to be of a mundane, but yet verbose nature, filled with bifurcated and treacherous writings of a most vex and circumvellative nature.
Your 'umble and reposed servant, sic. ugh.
"I like to ride anyplace, anywhere, any time, any way!"
Little ol'Hornet Rides again!
Angel offered us a place to settle our heads and lay our bodies to a keen rest after a days labour. The yearning of the others I could feel, but a deep seated feeling took root in my soul ... there is riding yet to be done, more roads to ride, a throttle to twist, the parched tanks of our swift and sure-footed mounts sniffing for elixir vitae.
I could smell the meshing of metal, the sniff of unguents that lubricate those mechanical marvels of movement. I wanted, nay, needed to feel those corners beneath my footpegs, the subtle nuances of the cambers, the stab of fear as blindness leaps to cloak the lay of the land from our sight as we carry our speed into the dark.
Like fools, Gremlin and X-Whatsit-formerly-known-as-Xerxesdaphat mounted with me. The talisman of locating and scry of the night was well used. Gremlin communed with powers and abilities I could not discern and did fair combat and was victorious yet against the imperiousness of the challenges the Biking Gods did throw down in his path.
On the way to Whangarei, I was amazed he was going to blast his Katoom of Sure-footedness through a roadworks that had a roundabout being made! Nay, it was just his night visor putting a hex on it.
Again I was treated to the sight of him and his Katoom smashing through a gravel section at a great rate of knots. It turns out later he didn't notice and only halfway through it did he realise he was on gravel! Legendary.
Many servos were located, his dextrous instrument of velocity has a thirsty demon of a heart slaved to its inner mechanisms. "Feed Me. Give Me Sacrifice. I Will Own You in the Ride."
Good thing, it gave a rest break since his Katoom has a seat that is only more marginally harder than a brick. X-Whatsit-formerly-known-as-Xerxesdaphat was a stellar squire with princely qualities. He was facing his own challenges and stepping up to the mark, going catseye-to-toepeg with the herculean challenge of a typical gijoe1313 pootle.
The rest has been related by X-Whatsit-formerly-known-as-Xerxesdaphat, I can only say it has been the greatest and deepest of honour to me and a privilege to have ridden with these two gentlemen, nay, these two filthy biker scum that have durst yearned to obey when I say ".... come, follow and ride with me ..." Those few words have been some understatements to those who have ridden with me!
To Gremlin, a gentleman and a scholar, a man of few peers and a razor-sharp wit that makes time fly with fun I salute you. Truly you are a prince among men, for you I cannot deny you nor gainsay anything negative or ill towards you, long may you continue to champion yourself as the way you are forever more.
To X-Whatsit-formerly-known-as-Xerxesdaphat, a young man, in the prime of life, not like the two old fuddy-duddies he was accompanying is a shining paragon of all that is good about youth. It is not wasted on him, he is an old riding soul in a young body, reincarnated as a riding immortal to be. I shall enjoy watching him and bask in his achievements as a rider.
From this voluminous recollection, I shall lay my thoughts to rest as the nadir of my time in front of my technological marvel of musings is drawing to a close. Tomorrow is a new day, filled with expectations and the possibilities of ...
Where shall my steed of surety slake my passion for the ride today?
"I like to ride anyplace, anywhere, any time, any way!"
thinks it's real.
yup. full insurance from day one.
boots will be ordered as soon as the crutches are gone...
And ninjas are dirt bikes too remember? Ninjas go anywhere... strike anytime... and wear funny hats.
And +1 on the experience thing, although at that time of the day, after a whole lotta riding, anyone could've had a lapse in concentration...
thinks it's real.
Awesome ride, especially the 24kms of twisties in that forest thing with the trees and stuff on the west coast...
Even joining onto SH1 after the ferry there was a patch of awesomely cambered curves, pity the caravan in front didnt like them as much...
Little ol'Hornet Rides again!
This is true, ninja is always not expected when ninja should be expected! Ruck you! I shall poison your flied lice next time!
And yes, it does take time and practise to build up your riding endurance so you can pootle merrily into all time zones, places where bikes shouldn't be in conditions and weather that should really ensconce you in a warm lounge with bikkies and a cuppa hot choco!
Glad you were there with your mate and we could help out ... so did you give him his phone back yet?
"I like to ride anyplace, anywhere, any time, any way!"
thinks it's real.
ha, unfortunatly he phoned me on it today before I left for whangarei... had to give it back.
We'll put this one down to learning experience. The Hard Way. Fortunatly, now he gets a new looking bike for a fraction of the price of the last one!
Best Frenemy you could have!
If I managed to get it to 200kph, I'm pretty sure I would get even less to a tank?I can often get to 220km (or more) before reserve, but economical is a word that barely registers in my dictionary.
Don't worry, it speaks English in person during rides... perhaps the riding helps stabilise its thoughts?
Best Frenemy you could have!
Saturday morning started normally enough, sleeping in, and still only getting 4-6 hours sleep (same as the previous night). By the time I was kitted up and on the bike, it was 0920. The northland ride was meeting at 0900, and leaving at 0930, and with more than 30 min to get to Westgate, I was not going to find them. Decided that it was only a quick day ride up to Opononi and back, top box with extra gear wasn't needed, but chucked on the cycling shorts underneath, just in case.
Left Westgate at 1000, knowing the ride to be somewhere north, something about ice-cream (no idea where), no idea on their route, but knew they would be at Wellsford at some point. Headed up Old North as usual, wondering how quickly I was making up time, but then got sidetracked, as I haven't been down to Woodcocks for ages, so a quick detour to Woodcocks down W Coast Rd, and back to 16 afterwards. Made my way up to Wellsford, still no idea where they all were, but sure enough... they were at Wellsford. Having caught up to the group, there was only time for me to gas, quick chat to Gijoe and Chisanga, and the group was leaving.
Up to Dargaville was boring, nuff said. I did learn that girls that ride gixxers are dirty, because when trying to assist with the scottoiler (ie, a blowjob), she calmly stated when she would come (or was that the bike?). More fuel (3rd fill of the day already) and a little north of Dargaville I decided that Waipoua was only going to be fun if I let GiJoe be TEC, and started chasing down the leaders. By Waipoua, I had Toto in front, with a Daytona just behind him, with no straights long enough to overtake left (downside of a supermoto). Settled in, and enjoyed the forest (only the 2nd time I have ever been through).
Opononi was crazy, with the White Ribbon ride there at the same time as us, tons of people everywhere for the good cause, luckily we had a good feed (as GiJoe and I commented later... we never had dinner, and the next food was at midnight). After the late lunch, it was over to Kaikohe. I had asked GiJoe if he had any of his infamous plans to do something crazy, and as usual, he did. Having only ever been as far north Opononi and Kaikohe, his plan of Cape Reinga appealed (never been there). He was also intent on returning afterwards, which was most excellent, as I couldn't be bothered staying somewhere.
At Kaikohe, Xwhatsit, GiJoe and I let the main ride continue on their little tour, while we settled down to a decent ride. GiJoe was happy for me to lead, but I had no idea what route he had in mind (nobody really ever knows what he is thinking) so TEC was fine for me. Poor Xwhatsit, he rides the wheels off that 250 so damn well, but I couldn't help but take the piss out of him on uphill passing lanes
We continued heading north, and I remember passing through Awanui thinking, hmmm by my calculations, this is the furthest south I can be, to comfortably have enough gas to get to the lighthouse and back. Since we didn't stop, I assumed GiJoe knew of another further north. He did. However, we now know it closes before 1830 on a Saturday.While he popped into a store, I did some checking on the GPS, and the store and GPS agreed. 30km back to Awanui was the only way
Should have known the great pootler would get us into that
After the 60km "detour" haste was made to reach the lighthouse prior to sundown, so Angel could get her photos. As has already been covered, during the final stages of the route, we came across the poor ninja rider, who had taken in the scenery a little too literally (lots of humour around that of course). Once the bike was secured, GiJoe (and Angel) and Xwhatsit headed to the Cape to grab photos before sundown. I stayed at the scene in case hands were needed. Once they returned, I had already decided I was seeing the lighthouse, night or not
As I found, it would have been better in the day... I might have seen the vehicle access route. It had already been suggested I could ride to the lighthouse itself, and the pedestrian walkway looked wide enough (I assumed I could turn around somewhere). Only issue was one walker who probably wondered what on earth a bike was doing coming towards him, but no dramas
Apparently my timing was still brilliant (GiJoe reckons its magic), with the ambo literally turning up JUST before my return, and now the Westpac was also on its way. This bit has already been covered. GiJoe and I (along with everyone else) marveled at the night sky, completely devoid of cloud, and untainted by city lights. So vast, no picture could transmit the feeling of being a dot. It was probably 2230 before we left the scene, rider and bike both recovered, and his mate 3L4NS1R in convoy with us out. With GPS, a bright headlight and tinted visor, it was easiest for me to lead so I could shine the way (not eat someone's dust either, as I had to have the visor up) and also figure out the closest gas with the aid of GPS (addicted to this now, its fantastic).
Kaitaia happily loomed in the distance at midnight, food and drink consumed (first since Opononi that afternoon) and calls made to family/friends, as there was no coverage up north. 3L4NS1R left us to find accomodation, while we still had to return Angel and reach Auckland at some point. GiJoe took the lead and we eventually made Kerikeri just before 2am, having taken in some very twisty bits of road, missed turns, and GiJoe politely placed back on track by myself (wasn't keen on tootling to New Plymouth at that moment). First two cops of the entire ride actively out hunting were found on the outskirts of Kerikeri, anywhere anytime to the extreme
With Angel dropped off, beds offered and kindly declined, it was back on the bikes, for what would be a decent ride in itself, but only part of our journey. I had been thinking on the way south of perhaps even using the bridges route that the other ride had used, but realised the lack of sleep from previous nights, and extra energy used concentrating through a tinted visor, it was best to take the main roads (one of the rare times I will agree its a good idea). The lead fell to me again, having the equipment to guide us, and save us from the hunters. The pace was actually a bit slower, often 80-90, slowing down a bit at times to make sure I didn't drop anyone, so the cops wouldn't have troubled us.
Heading to Whangarei, it amused me that in conventional thinking, you wouldn't be heading south to Whangarei in the early hours of the morning, to go home to Auckland... but hey, thats what makes this sort of riding fun.I was definitely grateful of the cycling shorts, still sore, but so much less than it could have been. The 7th and final fuel stop of the ride was in Whangarei, with time taken to eat and fluids again, as everyone was beginning to feel it. By the time homes were reached, all of us had been on the road for at least 20 hours, and fatigue can be extremely dangerous.
First moment of the ride for me came on a straight south of Whangarei. A truck in the far distance had not dipped his lights, so a quick flash, and he responded. At the same instant, I saw a blue board with a white arrow, demonstrating I should be the left of it. No problems. Except half a second later, my dipped beam picked out a curve of cones heading to the left. hmmmm. Since we were already on gravel, my options were limited rather quickly (the others of course had the benefits of my headlight) to slowing as best possible, through the cones and stopping in piles of gravel. Puttering forward, I found myself on a sealed roundabout. Damn fine place to put one
The second and final one was heading into roadworks for the uncountable time, not seeing any issues, until my bike was weaving around like mad. Moving left and right, it didn't stop, and when I had a free moment, I lifted the visor to find myself surround by decent sized gravel with no wheel tracks. Explains the difficulty in controlling the bike I guess. Shouldn't have told GiJoe tho, he thought I was some riding god hitting it at pace. Tinted visors hide stones very well.
A lot of fog was encountered, some so thick visibility came down to 10m or so. With a tinted visor, fog, visor misting up, it certainly became an interesting way to ride. Nonetheless, Orewa eventually came out of the night and with a quick stop by the roadside to mention dawn, and the fact GiJoe had whipped us through the night (can I claim its all his fault?), home/shower/bed beckoned. I got home around 0530.
Falling into bed, tired but very happy, I could feel my body shutting off, and I think sleep arrived in 0.5 seconds.
Still a fantastic ride... and there will be more in the future. Still need a decent seat and a bigger tank tho (I said the same thing after the Grand Challenge).
Here's to the next one!
Little ol'Hornet Rides again!
Good grief Gremlin, typing that up at 4ish in the morning!
Very noice to read all the different viewpoints and angles, at that magical time when the night sky was transmorgifying into the palettes o'day, I was singing classical opera in faux italian and german. It always stirs my soul to be in the presence of such radiant splendour, that awe as great eternal astronomical heavenly bodies wend their passage across our arc of sight...
The blatherskiting and conniptions of humor aside, I'm glad you guys had the fortitude and endurance to do all as you did safely, for me, I do this matter of course - and I know how fatigue can set in. Glad we all got our second wind and banished the cobwebs out ...
Now ... I have an idea for another ride, come ... follow me ...
"I like to ride anyplace, anywhere, any time, any way!"
Forum whore
Let me pack some oil and a 22mm spanner next time. Just did an oil change, was too scared to measure how much came out, but there wasn't an awful lot! Certainly not 1.7LNow ... I have an idea for another ride, come ... follow me ...-- and I could stretch the chain to touch the swingarm when on the centre stand. So perhaps Gremlin touches a little on the truth when he says I ride the wheels off it
Little ol'Hornet Rides again!
Natalie is a heroine par excellence, I was watching your progress on her and you were zipping around doing things that I could only grin and shake my head at. Big Ol'Hornet was bumbling along content to let her have her fun!
I knew you would always make up the distance and time in the twisties!
Got me thinking I should whip Daisy out for a play more often!
"I like to ride anyplace, anywhere, any time, any way!"
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