Sh22

[gijoe1313]

SH22 Treat it with the same care and respect as the rest of NZ roads and its a pearler of a ride Always listen to that spider sense and enjoy the fact that you have the time to ride it!

[Hitcher]

I have ridden SH22 once. It was the latter stages of a Grand Challenge two years ago. At that stage I had been riding for 16 hours, was very much "in the zone" and not mucking around. I concur fully with those who describe it as a goat track, indeed one wonders how a road of this "standard" is afforded SH status.

I plan to ride it in a south to northerly direction some day, but am in no tearing hurry so to do.

[igor]

you JAFFA 's really need to get out a bit more

[mouldy]

22 rocks but you do have to watch for subsidence etc , 16 and environs has too much police attention these days , the best roads in the country always turn into gravel which keeps blouses and posers away , Blade goes everywhere .

[slofox]

IMHO, SH22 rides more easily from south to north than from north to south...don't ask my why but it feels easier to me and I have done both directions a couple of times.
And yes, there are lots of bloody great hawks there...they get real close at times. Early morning riders need to beware of rabbits as well..have seen gazillions of these out there. Brainless little buggers who don't see enough traffic to know to get out of the way.

[xwhatsit]

IMHO, SH22 rides more easily from south to north than from north to south...don't ask my why but it feels easier to me and I have done both directions a couple of times.
And yes, there are lots of bloody great hawks there...they get real close at times. Early morning riders need to beware of rabbits as well..have seen gazillions of these out there. Brainless little buggers who don't see enough traffic to know to get out of the way.

I agree with you there. I don't know why. Maybe more corners one way... camber... who knows. Going south there's that blind crest right-hander -- you think you're going straight but the road peels away to the right.

I've been down there many, many times, on group rides and by myself. I don't feel it's a `group ride' road. It takes me too long to settle in and find its rhythm and get used to the peculiar hazards it presents. Solo it's much better.

It's a back road. A wonderful way to spend a tank of gas, winding your way through the little hills. It's not a `sport road' though, like bits of the Coromandel are and perhaps certain sections of the west coast route heading north from Auckland. If you treat it like a quick blast you'll get caught out; blind crests, roads that drop away from you in the middle of a corner corner and bottom your suspension (and pegs/stand/exhaust) out, downhill decreasing-radius off-camber right handers Never mention the livestock, eh, GiJoe1313?

Have to agree the gravel route to Raglan is very appealing and scenic. Now that I've met Klondyke Rd just recently it's an even better way to get there.

[Marmoot]

It's not a `sport road' though

Well your bike is not a 'sport bike' though.

If you want sport, go to Ponsonby. I heard the homosexuals there likes to pushbikes.

[Starky307]

SH16 is better tbh.

SH22 is a fucking goat-track. Rubbish road to be honest.

They can't be compared, apart from both roads having state highway and then a number in their names they are two completely different beasts.

I really enjoy riding SH22, it keeps you on your toes as you never know what will be around the corner, maybe a herd or cattle or a hawk ready to peck your eyes out, and there are some hot pools along it two!

Great riding to be had, but in winter some of the hills can be real mossy in the shade.

[jrandom]

I plan to ride it in a south to northerly direction some day, but am in no tearing hurry so to do.

Like the others have said, it's a better road riding from south to north. Seriously. Northbound, there's one particular decreasing-radius downhill lefthander which has an entry obscured by trees and tends to be covered in gravel, though, which is pretty awesome.

And, either way, it is what it is. Just gotta not ride to what you can't see. Same as with any road.

One suspects that those who get 'caught out' by SH22 aren't bearing that principle in mind.

SH16's too fast and open to have fun on these days unless you're happy to accept a 50% chance of having to do a runner every time you head up it. Ridden at the 'correct pace for the road' of 160-200 all the way, though, it's quality motorcycling. Pity about the illegality etc.

[Big Dave]

I prefer North to South - and the section 10kms before the Raglan turnoff best of all.

[Big Dave]

There are sections of it (22) at the moment where 80kph is excessive. Surface condition-wise.

[jrandom]

I prefer North to South

Yes, but you're wrong.

[Patch]

Take the Drury exit off the motorway and the start of 22. Follow 22 all the way past Waingaro.
Past Waingaro turn off onto Rotowaro to Huntly.
From Huntly head north along SH 1 for a few k's and turn off at Ohinewai to Tahuna - this is a special piece of road.

fark all special about that - you need to get out more

[Motu]

I seldom do the full length of SH22 these days,just sections as I go from side road to side road,where even more fun can be had.In the last 10 years I have been riding it (since I came back to the mainland,and got a bike that could go more than 10km from home) it has got better and better,but has not been neutered like SH16.I used to love the bit from Tauhoa north,across the ridge - it was very narrow and twisty,with drop offs and dips and slips,a real challenge.That's gone now.Off course SH16 was much better when it was all gravel.When SH22 was gravel it wasn't SH22,just a collection of roads that may,or may not,take you as far as Te Uku.

A classic example is the corner before Glen Murray - it sweeps right (heading south),but you can head straight up to Glen Murray Rd,it's a bit of a funny intersection.That's because it was once a T intersection,what we think of as SH22 was a minor road that joined the main Rangirri/Glen Murray Rd.That's how roads change over time - 30 years ago,you went in there....you might not come out.

[Patch]

I remember sh43 when it was like that