North Island invasion of South Island

[marks]

Talk about stir up a hornets nest

How about this as a compromise:
Everyone is expected to have a map or know the route
Joe will be tail end charlie at all times (say if you are not happy with that Joe)

Picton to St Arnaud - open slather - leave in a group at 8 but go at your own speed/time - going to leave St Arnaud at 11 regardless if you are there or not so get there in time to have coffe and get gas etc.

Regroup at Howard Valley Rd turnoff from sh63 and run cornerman system till Springs Junction with regroups at Lake Rotoroa foreshore, Murchsion for lunch, Beginning of Maruia Saddle Rd and Springs Junction (coffee).

open slather - from Springs Junction to Reefton via sh7
open slather - with sensible regroups for Big River/Waitahu River (hard to get lost and only a few km's of road bits)

open slather - up hw63 and sh6 to New Creek Rd (just make sure you turn left immediately after the first bridge you cross after (about 20k?) Inangahua Junction where we regroup and start cornerman system while on track.

so basically if its all sealed road its open slather and if its off the beaten track its the cornerman system

anyone is welcome to pass me (your highly esteemed leader) at any time (I'm not quick and don't want to cramp anyone's style)

does this sound reasonable

[andy mac]

Note that when I traversed this,downhill and two up on my Dakar 650 in late 2007, we just got off and I walked the bike down the hard bit in first gear with the engine off.
Michael

Michael, what bike are you using this weekend?

[MXNUT]

W/O the corner-man system we would have lost people through out the day, which in itself would have caused delays.

My vote is for this system that works very well in large groups.

Steve

My 2 cents worth ....... I used the corner man system on the KCAR because it had worked so well on other rides i had been on.

On the KCAR we had 26 riders with differing abilities.As has been said this system allows everyone to ride at their own pace and the group as a whole to cover more distance without lots of stops and waiting around, and if everyone uses the system properly no one can get lost.

It also provides a back up if someone has a puncture / breakdown / accident as the tail end charlie can be in contact with the ride leader to halt the rest of the group if required.

Anyway that my rave over with...................
Hope you guys have an awesome trip and the weather is kind to you

[Paladin]

Talk about stir up a hornets nest

How about this as a compromise:
Everyone is expected to have a map or know the route
Joe will be tail end charlie at all times (say if you are not happy with that Joe)

Picton to St Arnaud - open slather - leave in a group at 8 but go at your own speed/time - going to leave St Arnaud at 11 regardless if you are there or not so get there in time to have coffe and get gas etc.

Regroup at Howard Valley Rd turnoff from sh63 and run cornerman system till Springs Junction with regroups at Lake Rotoroa foreshore, Murchsion for lunch, Beginning of Maruia Saddle Rd and Springs Junction (coffee).

open slather - from Springs Junction to Reefton via sh7
open slather - with sensible regroups for Big River/Waitahu River (hard to get lost and only a few km's of road bits)

open slather - up hw63 and sh6 to New Creek Rd (just make sure you turn left immediately after the first bridge you cross after (about 20k?) Inangahua Junction where we regroup and start cornerman system while on track.

so basically if its all sealed road its open slather and if its off the beaten track its the cornerman system

anyone is welcome to pass me (your highly esteemed leader) at any time (I'm not quick and don't want to cramp anyone's style)

does this sound reasonable

all sounds damn sensible to me Mark!

[warewolf]

marks, sounds like a good compromise.

[Pampera]

Michael, what bike are you using this weekend?

Suzuki DR350. Saturday and Sunday may have some challenges and I don't want to have to skip these because I am on a 192 kg bike and don't wish to damage it or myself. My 2001 Dakar did 6 1/2 years of Adventure rides, with many offs. My 2007 one is still pretty shiny and I don't really want to be faced with taking it to a place beyond my confidence on Saturday. While I have been doing this for a long time, you could politely describe my approach as "cautious".

Stand by my comments about Porika though. It is a great diversion but has a washed out rough downhill road in one place, which can be walked, so nobody should be put off.

I did consider the Pampera for a bit of a laugh, but the road bit would have got VERY tedious! Wairau Valley at 75 km/h and even this seeming too fast!

Michael

[warewolf]

Which Pampera? The 250 I rode a few times would do well over 100km/h quite happily on the beach, which saps power. Great bike, except for the forks. Everything my DR-Z250 did, the Pampera did better. Speed & performance wouldn't be an issue, but comfort might.

[junkmanjoe]

joes says he is happy at the bum off the trail....

[Pampera]

Which Pampera? The 250 I rode a few times would do well over 100km/h quite happily on the beach, which saps power. Great bike, except for the forks. Everything my DR-Z250 did, the Pampera did better. Speed & performance wouldn't be an issue, but comfort might.

It is a 2003 250 I bought new. It will indeed reach a speed of 100 km/h but extended operation at such a speed will inevitably lead to serious engine damage (seizure). This was regularly reported back when these bikes were new enough to have a following on the internet. Vibration at 80 km/h is OK but seeps into your anatomy above this speed.

This bike is unique in my experience, now irreplaceable and not that easy to get parts for, hence I operate it with care and generally only when its unique abilities are required.

Michael

[marks]

joes says he is happy at the bum off the trail....

Joe should be shouted many alcoholic beverages for his generosity

And Michael's idea of walking (or bulldogging) down the nasty south end of the Porika is a good one. The nasty bit is only 100-200m long and the rest of that track is just brilliant

[cooneyr]

.....open slather - up hw63 and sh6 to New Creek Rd (just make sure you turn left immediately after the first bridge you cross after (about 20k?) Inangahua Junction where we regroup and start cornerman system while on track.....

One of my estemed collegues has just finished a project installing a set of fancy traffic signals on this bridge. This will be the only set of permanent traffic signals you will find once you leave the bright lights of Blenhiem till you reach Nelson as they are one of the first two sets of permanent traffic signals on the coast (the other set is at Fern Arch in the lower Buller) Turn very hard left immediatly as you go off the end of the bridge i.e. slow right down on the bridge.

Would like to join you guys but we are living on rice and water for the next while

Cheers R

[cooneyr]

The original DB1k route goes both ways over the Porika. If you stand on the pegs and use a bit of due care it really isn't that bad. Balrog has riden his R1150GSA over and both my Bro and myself have ridden our XTZ750's over it (both ways) with no problems.

Nobody should be put off doing this track.

Cheers R

[andy mac]

This will be the only set of permanent traffic signals you will find once you leave the bright lights of Blenhiem till you reach Nelson Cheers R

Traffic lights? Jees I thought we were tough ADV riders going deep bush. Oh well, no excuses for missing this turn-off.

[andy mac]

Underground - I received your spare sprocket retainer in the post. Cheers mate.

Cooneyr - shame you can't join us but perhaps if us Northeners are well behaved we might be allowed back for the Dusty Butt?

[warewolf]

And Michael's idea of walking (or bulldogging) down the nasty south end of the Porika is a good one. The nasty bit is only 100-200m long and the rest of that track is just brilliant

Not sure which bit you mean?

Another useful trick for snotty situations is to kill the engine, use your feet as outriggers and the clutch as a hand-operated rear brake. That way you can pick your feet up, pull the clutch and roll out of trouble if need be.