Your best South Island adventure route

[Lonebull]

I'm after single and multi-day stuff. Not the hardcore Motocross/Trials rider stuff that you need to be Josh Coppins to do but those farm trails, gold roads etc. that require a moderate level of skill or may be suitable for a bike with a pillion.

Can we start at the bottom end of the South Island

I've been reading the Adventure Bike threads for about a week now and they contain some great stuff but putting it all together is doing my head in.

As of Saturday I am the proud owner of a new KTM 990 adventure. I have been road riding for what seems like centuries but I am a novice to the Adventure riding game. I have done lots of farm bike riding so I have a few skills but if there is anyone out there who would consider letting me tag along on a ride to learn a bit that would be great.

Meanwhile post those rides...

[98tls]

A good bugger to talk to would be Oldrider,a Tiger rider who does miles aplenty both on and off road, he lives in Otematata.Sweet bike by the way.

[Waihou Thumper]

Nice bike but the briefcase has to go....

[Waihou Thumper]

I will be keeping an eye on this one as I am coming down to the South in March. I have also been storing up a few rides and routes....
There is a wealth of information here and the riders have all the knowledge of routes....
Keep browsing and taking notes, there is so much out there but where to start?

[98tls]

I will be keeping an eye on this one as I am coming down to the South in March. I have also been storing up a few rides and routes....
There is a wealth of information here and the riders have all the knowledge of routes....
Keep browsing and taking notes, there is so much out there but where to start?

PM John (Oldrider) for some great rides down South,great bloke and a wealth of knowledge on such a subject.

[JATZ]

I'll jump in before cooneyr

Check out his website....http://www.advroutes.org.nz/mapsi.html

It's somewhere to start, there is plenty more that arn't on there, also take a look at Ken Siblys books, 4wd routes South Isl. They have a pretty good description of the tracks.

[Digitdion]

Good on you lonebull. You will not be disappointed at all brother. The thing with a bike like that is everytime you ride it you will feel like a million dollars. I got one last Sept. AWEsome.

The key with your bike is to get out and ride it and get to know it. Do not get to full on to quick as its a real beast. At the same time it is forgiven. Its still amazes me what it will do, and do it well.

HAY, there are so many good rides like you are after down this way.Like stated in an earlier response check out advroutes... Forgot the web site sorry. I did pick up a while ago the HEMA NZ motorcycle atlas. Bloody good. A lot of good rides like you want, and all the usual road stuff. WHitcoulls has it.

You can Pm me if you want and we could organize a ride or two if you are keen. I ride an orange one!

[pete376403]

ONes I have done - Hakataramea, Danseys, that other one that goes past the mcKenzie memorial, Thompsons road (?) - comes out in the Ida valley near Oterehua. No doubt thousands more but these are roads i've done going to and from the Brass Monkey. All are excellent

This the sort of thing you have in mind? Thompsons Road, and yes that is a KTM 950 (and a KLR)

[twotyred]

[Winston001]

There are tracks and then there are tracks.....the old roads should be fine for a large adventure bike but be aware there are lots of old horse/4wd tracks where the smaller the bike the better. For example, the Coalpit Saddle track to the Nevis Valley. And the two tracks off it into the back of the Remarkables. No place to have a heavy bike slide off the mountainside.

The Ken Silbey 4wd books are excellent guides. Dunstan Trail, Thomsons Track (as mentioned above) Macetown Road, Skippers/Branches Road, Nevis Valley, Whitcombe (Snowpole) Road from Shingle Creek to Waikaia. There is a track over Mount Buster which Oldrider should know about, and another good one east in the Kakanuis. Middlemarch through Nenthorn to Waikouaiti.

[LBD]

Mavora lakes area, Nevis, Lees Valley area Canterbury are all good on a big

[JATZ]

Mt Greenland, in behind Ross, probly not a good one to start on but it's in your neighborhood

[Lonebull]

Good on you lonebull. You will not be disappointed at all brother. The thing with a bike like that is everytime you ride it you will feel like a million dollars. I got one last Sept. AWEsome.

The key with your bike is to get out and ride it and get to know it. Do not get to full on to quick as its a real beast. At the same time it is forgiven. Its still amazes me what it will do, and do it well.

HAY, there are so many good rides like you are after down this way.Like stated in an earlier response check out advroutes... Forgot the web site sorry. I did pick up a while ago the HEMA NZ motorcycle atlas. Bloody good. A lot of good rides like you want, and all the usual road stuff. WHitcoulls has it.

You can Pm me if you want and we could organize a ride or two if you are keen. I ride an orange one!

Will do. Your not wrong about the ride. I rode back from Dunners over the Crown and then the Haast (of course) I couldn't believe how nimble the beast is. Am looking forward to getting out and about a whole lot more

[Lonebull]

Nice bike but the briefcase has to go....

Yeah I can see what you mean, not the manliest bag in the world but I don't own a car so she's my shopping trolley too and I get my groceries in Hoki, So the brief case stays. I'm gonna have a rack made to bolt to the top so I can strap my tent and stuff to it for the touring stuff. I also got some panniers and Vance after markets coming for it.

[Waihou Thumper]

Yeah I can see what you mean, not the manliest bag in the world but I don't own a car so she's my shopping trolley too and I get my groceries in Hoki, So the brief case stays. I'm gonna have a rack made to bolt to the top so I can strap my tent and stuff to it for the touring stuff. I also got some panniers and Vance after markets coming for it.

It might also be worth investing in a Touratech plate for the 990A, it bolts straight on and gives a bigger footprint for waterproof bags and such like. I have one on the 640a and it is great, bought the Ortlieb bags and just roll up everything - totally waterproof!