Can't wait!

[triple-bee]

What is it with these POMS - so many of them head to the South Island, it's bleak, cold and isolated. Once he's ridden around the Otago peninsular a couple of times - then it's hours of boring straight roads before you find another road with corners to ride around.

All the actions up this end of the country man

we like bleak cold and isolated, u cant,t fart over here without somebody smelling it there is a lot to be said for wide open spaces

[smoky]

Huh? Man, you've obviously never ridden otago's roads. Its only SH1 that's got any straights on it at all.

Just having some fun - was down there a couple of weeks ago, came up around the Catlins, Samsons hill, we did the road out to Middlemarch (where a local guy on a ST Ducati went flying past us and missed the next corner - wrote his bike off) then down thru Mcraes Flat. We also rode the MountainTrack road.

But be warned, tyres only last half to 2/3 the distance down here that they do in the north Island, and less than half of what you would expect in most places in the world.

Is this an Urban myth? I found no difference and got real good milage out of my tyres down there? I talked to a Roading Engineer from Opus - he assured me there is no difference between the coarseness of the chip in the North to South?

[colsan1]

Its the coarseness of the women you need to worry about

[FJRider]

Is this an Urban myth? I found no difference and got real good milage out of my tyres down there? I talked to a Roading Engineer from Opus - he assured me there is no difference between the coarseness of the chip in the North to South?

You believe ALL that Jantar tells you...

[YellowDog]

Well I would agree on the speed thing. In the UK you can sit on 150kph all day and the cops will leave you alone. You need to watch your self at over 160kph, but the odd burst isn't generally a problem.

You will be surprised how the illusion of 100kph seems faster than 62.5mph in NZ. The terrain is a great deal more hilly and you certainly feel the benefit of a powerful engine.

I have not had any problem with the NZ police, but the I generally stay below 120kph and have never been over 150kph for a prolongued period. The only thing that is a bit sneaky here is that they are allowed to hide cameras and camera vans to catch you out.

Great riding country. Like Scotland, but greener and with toilets that work.

[YellowDog]

Hi! Hoping to move out to Dunedin in October 09. Bringing the bikes with us (My 'Blade, Wife's CBR6 and Sons motocrosser). Can't wait! Are the police as picky as thy are in UK? i.e treating you like a rapist for having loud exhausts and small no.plates? Wife's been offered a job (Nurse) and I'll be looking (not too hard!) for a job to keep me in tyres and petrol! Laterz!!

BTW: Don't worry too much about finding work.

Letting your woman support you seems to be pretty common in NZ.

[Jantar]

...Is this an Urban myth? I found no difference and got real good milage out of my tyres down there? I talked to a Roading Engineer from Opus - he assured me there is no difference between the coarseness of the chip in the North to South?

Its no urban myth. From my own experience of extensive riding in both islands I get considerably more tyre wear in the South Island than in the North Island. There are many other comments on here from North Islanders touring down south who are suprised at how much quicker their tyres wear in the South Island.

However your Opus engineer is correct as to the courseness of the chip, but how about the sharpness due to the different rock types? Or how about the fact that there are many more roads in the North that use a smooth seal rather than a chip seal? Or the greater range of road surface temperatures experienced in the south? Or maybe just the higher average speeds obtainable in the South? There are many differences apart from simple chip size.

[FJRider]

What is it with these POMS - so many of them head to the South Island, it's bleak, cold and isolated. Once he's ridden around the Otago peninsular a couple of times - then it's hours of boring straight roads before you find another road with corners to ride around.

All the actions up this end of the country man

bullshit... take a peek at my last thread. A sunday arvo ride... BORING ????

[smoky]

bullshit... take a peek at my last thread. A sunday arvo ride... BORING ????

If you bothered to read the thread you would see I was just having a laugh

[smoky]

Its no urban myth. From my own experience of extensive riding in both islands I get considerably more tyre wear in the South Island than in the North Island.

Extensive means.......?
I've only done three trips on bike own South Island, never noticed any difference, in fact the last ride I got considerably more milage out of my tyres in the South Island than I do in the North Island - so from my extensive experience it's the other way around

There are many other comments on here from North Islanders touring down south who suprised at how much quicker their tyres wear in the South Island.

well - that settles it then...! KB never gets it wrong.
Auto suggestion would never come into it on KB either - we're all so scientific here.

However your Opus engineer is correct as to the courseness of the chip, but how about the sharpness due to the different rock types? Or how about the fact that there are many more roads in the North that use a smooth seal rather than a chip seal? Or the greater range of road surface temperatures experienced in the south? Or maybe just the higher average speeds obtainable in the South? There are many differences apart from simple chip size.

Well..... I don't think so personally, the chip used in both Islands are the same grade, don't believe everything you're told, I found as many smooth sealed roads down south as I do in the north, unless you think we all ride on the Auckland Motorway? Higher average speed in the South? Why would that be? I wouldn't of thought you'd want to ride at a higher average speed than what I tend to ride at up here - even if you were riding across the Nevada Dessert

But we all have our own truth

[FJRider]

If you bothered to read the thread you would see I was just having a laugh

When we ride the roads and highways of Central Otago... and think of the north islanders, WE laugh to...

[smoky]

When we ride the roads and highways of Central Otago... and think of the north islanders, WE laugh to...

Thats cause the corners are so far apart you get bored easily
When I ride I never have time to think about others in South Island
Actually while I was down there a couple of weeks ago I'm sure I saw a guy on a motorbike wearing sandals and long socks, that wasn't you was it?

[Pixie]

Its no urban myth. From my own experience of extensive riding in both islands I get considerably more tyre wear in the South Island than in the North Island. There are many other comments on here from North Islanders touring down south who are suprised at how much quicker their tyres wear in the South Island.

However your Opus engineer is correct as to the courseness of the chip, but how about the sharpness due to the different rock types? Or how about the fact that there are many more roads in the North that use a smooth seal rather than a chip seal? Or the greater range of road surface temperatures experienced in the south? Or maybe just the higher average speeds obtainable in the South? There are many differences apart from simple chip size.

Roads up here don't even use chip - just highly polished tar

[FJRider]

Thats cause the corners are so far apart you get bored easily
When I ride I never have time to think about others in South Island
Actually while I was down there a couple of weeks ago I'm sure I saw a guy on a motorbike wearing sandals and long socks, that wasn't you was it?

The speeds we travel at... the corners do seem close together.

We do have time to think of those poor unfortunate sods in the neither... sorry northern (same thing) regions. When we stop..... never for long though. More roads to ride...

I dont wear long socks... and the strap broke on my sandals a while ago.

[martybabe]

Roads up here don't even use chip - just highly polished tar

Ain't that the truth, you eengleesh boys are gonna find the road surfaces, or lack there of,take quite a bit of getting used to, it does vary according to region and season but the state of the roads will keep your speed down as much as anything else.

The good news is the (roads) take you to some wonderful places. Pretty much ten minutes out of any town off the main highway, you'll have it all to yourself and rumour has it some of the roads lead to race tracks where you go as fast as you can go.

Don't sweat the bitchin, It's different but it's wonderful. Come on down!