Planning an Epic Adventure - Will trade beer for use of couches

**motorbyclist** · 2nd July 2009, 22:40

So after a mammoth breakfast of 6 weetbix, banana, two cheese crissionts and two coffees, were were off! Well, almost; the suzuki had sprung a leak. Turns out the carby is leaking fuel into it's compartment and being on the sidestand allowed it to pool in there... we also noticed some poorly placed drain holes and screwdriver access holes that totally circumvented having an air filter. We tried to get out kind hosts to take a pic of us riding, even with their sign behind us, but they failed to operate the camera successfully....

We decided it was good enough and hit some absolutely stunning roads along the coast before stopping to take some pics of the snow within sight of the sea and to swap seats. We went through a pass that was pure awesome, stopping only due to my legs cramping and not having anough ground clearance to tretch properly. About 200m after setting off again we ran out of gas, filled up, mucked around, and generally enjoyed the stunning place we were in. The roads continued their scenic tour through marlbourough vineyards and took us to blenheim where we gassed up and got the tyres inpected. apparently they will infact run forever but we had lost half our pressure.

Continuing the journey to nelson, we passed our second vehicle of the trip (a cyclist) as we made our way up a huge valley to marlborough sounds for lunch at havelock, where the cyclist promptly arrived a few minutes later. We had some pies, spied some locals checking out 'The Beast' and checked a map at "soundz interesting" - possibly the most painful pun we will ever encounter, they also offered mussel farm cruises and were "licenced croc dealers".

We swapped seats again, had a photo shoot at sea level and took off down the road.

bout 3km later we pulled over to assess the serious misfire that had developed. the plug had a large gap, was lighter than it started, and had white splotches on it. we swapped plugs, pu tools away, got ready to go, then unloaded tools again (5 minute operation) and removed the nib on the plug so the HT lead would fit, then packed again and set off.

The road was nice, but the gremlins soon returned.....

**PirateJafa** · 2nd July 2009, 22:44

1 - Safe? Not if we have anything to do with it!
2 - We made it to the Marlborough Sounds - What a mint place this island is!
3 - Let's check the spark plug... and the tool kit is, of course, in the BOTTOM of the bungee'd down bag...
4 - Refueling on the side of the road again - duct tape is my favourite invention in the fooking world!
5 - We ride up to the top of the Cathedral steps in Nelson - and then straight down them again (breaking the packrack - oops!)
6 - Meeting the locals

**motorbyclist** · 2nd July 2009, 22:54

The Beast was sick. If we exceeded 75kph it misfired badly, and as we ascended the mountains the gearbox was and endless source of trouble; we'd get all the way up to 50kph, go to shift up and hit neutral, then not find another gear until dropping down to 30kph. sometimes single downshift would drop two gears, overrevving The Beast and slowing us down further.

All that aside, the roadworkers absolutely loved us and our antics - by this stage we'd figured out how to wheelie

. We even had the inpector ute toot and wave, and saw one driver waiting in a queue visibly mouth "what the fuuuuuuck" as we climbed the hill past him at 40kph.
People gave toots, waved, and didn't try to knock us off. Heading back to auckland will be a rough change....

But, then the 'flu got even worse as the bike started to run down, but would come right after a short period of idle, as if the bowls were not filling fast enough. Topping up the tank seems to recify the problem by providing some more head pressure, and with only 30km to go and the promise of beds, and a honda, ahead of us we gritted our teeth and continued the journey.

We were rewarded with some AWESOME twisties reasonably clear of grit by this late hour, and arrived in Nelson without further trouble...

**motorbyclist** · 2nd July 2009, 23:13

So upon arriving in Nelson, we head for the town centre and try our best to avoid pedestrians whilst still maintaining momentum, like any auckland driver should, and went past what looked like a big grey prison straight towards the stairs at the end. These stairs were evidently a challenge, so we set about climbing them to find the "christ church cathedral" atop the hill.

Some photos an txts later, and we're on the phone to Keystone19 (Jill) about where to go from there, and are intructed to find the nMIT and S block. So we decide to ride back down - daunting at first but easy enough once you've got it unstuck from the first stair where it bottoms out - just don't hit the brakes.

After about two flights the pack rack decided to break off.

We remove the packs, fit them to my person, and i proceed to hang of the end of the seat, holding onto jafa and the convienient handle we've mounted to the tank (the gas can). A few scary speed bumps later we're riding around the nMIT buildings looking for S block, before Jill catches us consulting the map. There is no S block, apparently she said F block. We park up, get directions, call paul and head on over.

Now we're meant to turn right out of nMIT, then left at the lights, left at the mcdonalds, straight through a roundabout and left at the next one.

We find it is now dark outside, traffic is heavy, and we have no headlight. We turn left out of nMIT, right at the next intersection, right again at the dead end, left onto the road we're meant to be on, left well before mcdonalds, U turn, left back onto the road, left at mcdonalds, pass a decent number of cars by riding in the median strip (lol, suckers), merge like aucklanders just to spite the zip everyone else was trying to make, then get passed by everyone in the subsequent 70kph zone.... turn left at the first roundabout, travel a few km before giving up, u turn, left at roundabout, left again and overshoot paul's driveway, not having a headlight to read the letter box numbers.

Paul finds us and we get in to have a look at his impressive and varied collection of bikes, and check out my newest addition to my honda collection: the 1986 "racing brown" Honda H100se. We explain the Suzuki woes and he offers to help. We go for a blat on the honda to mitre10 and then get some takeaways before returning to work on The Beast.

Now, it may be because after two days 2up on a failing 72cc motorbike my perspective is slightly skewed, but "Brown Fury" is one of the meanest motherfuckers on the road! We ripped around nelson making all sorts of noise and quickly learning the quirks of "rev to indicate" electrics. and ZOMG we have a headlight! and a working gearbox! Brown Fury is my new favourite toy

**PirateJafa** · 2nd July 2009, 23:17

Originally Posted by motorbyclist

left at mcdonalds, pass a decent number of cars by riding in the median strip (lol, suckers), merge like aucklanders just to spite the zip everyone else was trying to make

"Decent amount"? We passed FOUR cars! Who then overtook us again immediately!

Originally Posted by motorbyclist

"Brown Fury"

Sounds like a good curry.

**Phurrball** · 2nd July 2009, 23:22

This is an awesome yarn lads! One to tell the grandkids by the fireside in years to come... We enjoy each new episode nightly.

Your pictures make me homesick for the South though... Sigh.

Ingrid asks if you carried the bike to the top of the stairs for the photo? *EDIT* I post too slow. But OF COURSE you rode the stairs...stupid me. I should know better...

She also suggests that one of you should alight from the machine and skip alongside on the hills for added speed... Psychotic "La la la" optional when skipping...

**motorbyclist** · 2nd July 2009, 23:34

First on the list is the fuel leak, so into the carby we go! It's a pain to do, and while isn't exactly shiny (brown scunge abound) it's given the all clear. We will just have to turn the fuel tap off overnight....

Next is the spark plug. The new plug we installed in white. we may have nearly siezed the motor, which was potentially why it was misfiring. Dr Paul consults his books and find the plug we should be running is an 8, while we have been running on a 4 for the last two days. We pop it back in seeing as it got us this far and make plans to buy an 8 and a 7 in the morning. We look at the white splotches on the old plug and apparently that is due to pre-ignition. lol.

Finally, we look at the fuel tap/filter. the tap is full of shit, the inside of the tank is rusty (and flaking) and the tap has a split reserve filter and an absent "on" filter. there was no filter at the carby, so it's a miracle we got this far without a blocked jet.

The lights are for another day, as it is likely due to corrosion and wiring looms take time.

The amusing part here is The Beast cost as much as Brown Fury, and here are all these problems with The Beast whilst Brown Fury is absolutley sweet and even has new engine covers! It even came with free beers which we forgot to grab before leaving

So off up the hill we go to see Jill. We only make one wrong turn (and Brown Fury does a wheelstand!). On the steep incline up to Jill's The Beast actually comes to a standstill (photos tomorrow, but lets say i wouldnt want to be walking up there), while Brown Fury rips on past making all the right noises from it's RACE PIPE

It turns out that if The Beast isn't asked to drive any lighting it actually goes faster and continues up the hill.

We (I) arrive at Jill's and discover Brown Fury has a horn even more pathetic than that of my NC35 with a shot battery, but jill hears (or smells) my presence and opens the garage door as jafa arrives.

Showers and internet later and it's 11:30 pm. We're so fucked for the morning.... And tomorrow will be interesting trying to make the 10:15 ferry when we take doube the time uggested by google, but with Joe as an escort and the headlight on Brown Fury, The Beast might get to do some night riding to masterton where we can address the lighting issues and get both our front brakes working again.....

PS: we have some AWESOME footage from my helmet cam in the copilot's hands, hopefully compress and upload tomorrow nigh

**junkmanjoe** · 3rd July 2009, 00:05

we rode passed that big safe air plane about a month ago..
on our south island invasion ride, over on adventure threads.

to much guys.

almost better than pooeys world tour...

**JATZ** · 3rd July 2009, 00:09

Awsome trip. God I wish I was young and stupid enough to try it.

Look forward to the next chapter

**motorbyclist** · 3rd July 2009, 07:26

We're told there might be snow on our way out - i hope there is

Brown Fury has done what all bikes should - kept me awake last night like a little kid on christmas eve

**junkmanjoe** · 3rd July 2009, 08:36

you guys on the boat yet.
come on this is an adventure ride not a holiday.. get up get ready and get on the road....

we waiting for you.

**Mystic13** · 3rd July 2009, 09:04

Originally Posted by junkmanjoe

you guys on the boat yet.
come on this is an adventure ride not a holiday.. get up get ready and get on the road....

we waiting for you.

lol. you should have gone with them. Theyr'e aiming for the 10ish ferry knowing full well that they will likely miss it and make the 1ish one. By the time they hit Wellington they should be well rested.

If they hit the 1pm ferry they'll be joining peak traffic out of Wellington. Which could be a good thing considering their top speed. And they'll be bordering on night riding the Rimutaka's.

I'm looking forward to tonights post. And I'm hoping they'll make the 10am. The top speed will be up because they're one up and the Suzuki will be able to slipstream the Honda.

Exciting stuff.

**gijoe1313** · 3rd July 2009, 09:36

All they need is to eat some pork pies for that Goodbye Pork Pie authentic flavour!

Well done lads, well done! Excellent report writing skills, your Engrisk treachers woulda been proud as!

I can imagine the mirth on the ferry as you strap down your awesome steeds of speed to the deck!

**nsrpaul** · 3rd July 2009, 09:58

brown fury, i like it

the book said a 7 for old ornage, and an 8 for brown

**junkmanjoe** · 3rd July 2009, 10:37

ive just got an update vira cell.

they left nelson around 9.30, suzuki was going slow and slower, so they have turned back to nelson to try and repair it.

there now hopeing for the 1 10pm sailing. should arrive aprox 4.30pm.
we just get home before dark...

i have the safari slut packed and ready for rescue mission.

once i know there in welly, ill head south to tow them both up the rimutakas, they can free wheel down the other side.

frkn wicked adventure...