A Quick Lap of the South Island

**Waihou Thumper** · 22nd March 2009, 19:45

Originally Posted by jezzaNZ

Correct Tony, my Dri Rider gear was looking a little worse for wear so I ordered the new KTM gear through Richmond KTM in Melbourne. Worked out to be very reasonably priced once I got the tax back. Really good quality and fit but not really suited for wet winter riding as they do not have waterproof liners in then but are quite waterproof for wet summer conditions.
Jez

Compared to USA or other places?
Mind telling me approx because I would be keen, they look good with the KTM...

**jezzaNZ** · 22nd March 2009, 19:55

Originally Posted by NZKTM

Compared to USA or other places?
Mind telling me approx because I would be keen, they look good with the KTM...

All up for Jacket and pants about $750-$800 NZD after tax back. Obviously would have been cheaper if the Kiwi dollar was worth more than a pinch of poo. I think they are very good value for money compaired to the Dri Rider stuff and you look pretty shart wearing it also.......

**Padmei** · 22nd March 2009, 20:04

Well done Jezza. I didn't get to see a lot of the pics tho... Something wrong with adv rider or pics take too long?

**Waihou Thumper** · 22nd March 2009, 20:32

Originally Posted by jezzaNZ

All up for Jacket and pants about $750-$800 NZD after tax back. Obviously would have been cheaper if the Kiwi dollar was worth more than a pinch of poo. I think they are very good value for money compaired to the Dri Rider stuff and you look pretty shart wearing it also.......

Compared to the BMW rallye suit at $2200....Sheesh!
Hope we can get a 3XL for my small girth...

**jezzaNZ** · 22nd March 2009, 20:51

Originally Posted by NZKTM

Compared to the BMW rallye suit at $2200....Sheesh!
Hope we can get a 3XL for my small girth...

You can always add a couple of zero's if it has BMW written on it.....I got the XL so I can wear body armour under it so I am sure they do a 3XL for thoes large Barvarian types.....haha

**Paladin** · 22nd March 2009, 22:27

Hey Jezza, great report and pics, thoroughly enjoyed reading thru it! Got the bug even more for a tour round the SI now!

CYA on the KCR!!!

**Winston001** · 22nd March 2009, 23:15

Magnificent report Jezza, that was a hard-core journey and you made it sound so relaxed. For those who don't know, Franz Joseph to Queenstown is a decent ride by itself. But you then went on across the lake to the vast and remote Von Valley, then Manapouri, then backtracked to Garston. All in one day, a fair bit offroad. 590k doesn't do it justice, more like a 1000k ride in time and energy required.

Respect.

As for the Nevis, you were close to the top, if you'd kept going it flattens out then gently descends into the valley so I think you would have been ok. Or not.

Another day.

**Waihou Thumper** · 23rd March 2009, 04:32

Originally Posted by Paladin

Hey Jezza, great report and pics, thoroughly enjoyed reading thru it! Got the bug even more for a tour round the SI now!

CYA on the KCR!!!

Me too!

When I see photos like that and here I am sitting at home planning the route at home and looking at all the roads he was on, it makes me hungry!
Going to saddle up now and head on out for a ride, it looks like a nice day beckons....
How much did the ride across on the Earnslaw cost then?

Did you navigate with a GPS around the south or just winged it and kept turning using maps etc?

Mark

**Waihou Thumper** · 23rd March 2009, 04:37

Originally Posted by jezzaNZ

You can always add a couple of zero's if it has BMW written on it.....I got the XL so I can wear body armour under it so I am sure they do a 3XL for thoes large Barvarian types.....haha

Yeah, I knew there was a lot of that Bavarian, Celtic and English in me!

I have been well brought up like.....

I have also found that KTM clothing is a little mis-matched size wise. I bought a shirt, XXL and it was tight! Bought another XXL and it was swimming on me, different country purchases, so it pays to try stuff on.
I know the US gear is big, XXL is huge....
I don't think these guys take into account our super large girth across the lumberjack shoulders we have down under....lol, and the mammouth beer girth around the middle...

**clint640** · 23rd March 2009, 11:56

Originally Posted by NZKTM

How much did the ride across on the Earnslaw cost then?

Mark

Cost us $50 for rider+bike when we were down a few weeks ago.

Cheers
Clint

**blackballs** · 23rd March 2009, 14:15

a-maze-zine or however that fella on the dancing show says it

**pampa** · 23rd March 2009, 19:50

Hi, great report!

I did a very similar route before the dusty butt last year beginning of this one.

Didn't know at the time the way across the lake to go to Mavora lakes (nex time).

Ended up on Te Anau and went 100K south of that to try to explore a road from Monowai to lake Manapouri although I got late there and it seemed like difficult and I was also by my own so decided to head back to T Anau. From T Anau did my way up through all the passes. Although I wouldn't like to do the 'Lake Onslow Rd and the Old Dunstan Rd' on wet conditions is all 80K of clay not particularly nice apart for it being not sealed. Based on the marks on the dry clay it can be very very slippery

Good on ya'
Cheers,
Pampa

**jezzaNZ** · 24th March 2009, 08:43

How much did the ride across on the Earnslaw cost then?

Did you navigate with a GPS around the south or just winged it and kept turning using maps etc?

Mark[/QUOTE]

Mark, the Earnslaw is from memory $20 for the bike and $28 per adult, as I coulden't convince them I was under 12 years old.....nah no GPS that's for wimps.....but seriously I wish I had one as reading soggy maps in the rain is no fun and would have saved me half an hours pissing around in Blenheim too. Jez

**jezzaNZ** · 24th March 2009, 08:58

Although I wouldn't like to do the 'Lake Onslow Rd and the Old Dunstan Rd' on wet conditions is all 80K of clay not particularly nice apart for it being not sealed. Based on the marks on the dry clay it can be very very slippery

Good on ya'
Cheers,
Pampa[/QUOTE]

Hi Pablo, if wet (as it was when I passed through it) the clay on the Styx Creek Stn road portion of the track is very slippery and puggy. Judging by the 4X4 wheel markes on the road they were having big issues with traction which is no fun on a big adv bike. Jez

**Waihou Thumper** · 24th March 2009, 10:02

Originally Posted by jezzaNZ

.....nah no GPS that's for wimps.....but seriously I wish I had one

I thought that too at first, BUT, it sure as hell makes life easier and it has opened up a lot more of NZ to me now....

Oh, and if we ever ride together, we might soon me thinks, don't follow me, I might get lost with the GPS as it wants to take me the longest, steepest and gnarliest tracks.... Use your map, stop, take gloves off, look around, put gloves back on and get going again and try and catch up.....

Naa, in all seriousness, they are a great tool to have as an accessory!