Yet another Coromandel fatality

[Grubber]

Went for a stroll over to Hahei on New Years day. It was busy both ways. Ride along with the traffic both there and back on my sports bike. Didn't have too many problems at all. It's not somewhere i ride as a general rule due to the racers that frequent the road, just went to visit friends camping. Plenty of other spots that provide good riding and safe riding.
Condolences to family and friends.
Not something i like to hear n matter who was at fault at the time.

[vifferman]

I was driving on that piece of road yesterday, and have the following observations (not necessarily related to the fatality). Firstly, we were travelling in the other direction to a number of bikers, all of whom were riding on the centreline with their heads well over onto our side of the road, on a very narrow stretch of road. Crap skills, guys. Later on, we were travelling back towards Thames and a trio of bikers on sports machines whizzed past in the other direction. I can't say for sure if they were speeding, but the average speed of cars was around 50-60km/h, the road was very crowded and narrow, and they were obviously travelling a lot faster than everyone else (all holiday traffic), and obviously "going for a bit of a fang". Very inappropriate time and place to do so, guys.

[98tls]

I can't say for sure if they were speeding, but the average speed of cars was around 50-60km/h, the road was very crowded and narrow, and they were obviously travelling a lot faster than everyone else (all holiday traffic), and obviously "going for a bit of a fang". Very inappropriate time and place to do so, guys.

This isnt directed at you V or for that matter nobody in particular but ive seen plenty of similar threads to this in my time on here and am picking there will be plenty more after im gone,bloke goes and buys any one of the latest or thereabouts sports bikes ranging from 600 upwards with really only one purpose in mind (if not going to be a trackbike) and thats to find any one of the hundreds of bits of road similar to the one in question the length of the country and spend an adrenalin filled day on said sportsbike,no amount of safety campaiging or discussion will ever change it as most believe they have either more ability or experience than those they read about who have met an untimely end.As long as theres bikes built to go hard down twisty roads and blokes able to buy them believing there riding ability matches the bike then this will carry on.Not excluding myself from such actions as in my time ive had my share of close calls and worse,but by the grace of God or whatever the saying is i am still here.

[scumdog]

This isnt directed at you V or for that matter nobody in particular but ive seen plenty of similar threads to this in my time on here and am picking there will be plenty more after im gone,bloke goes and buys any one of the latest or thereabouts sports bikes ranging from 600 upwards with really only one purpose in mind (if not going to be a trackbike) and thats to find any one of the hundreds of bits of road similar to the one in question the length of the country and spend an adrenalin filled day on said sportsbike,no amount of safety campaiging or discussion will ever change it as most believe they have either more ability or experience than those they read about who have met an untimely end.As long as theres bikes built to go hard down twisty roads and blokes able to buy them believing there riding ability matches the bike then this will carry on.Not excluding myself from such actions as in my time ive had my share of close calls and worse,but by the grace of God or whatever the saying is i am still here.

The crucial thing Mike is time and place.

And this public holiday weekend with a kajillion other road users on that road did not fit the criteria for a 'good idea'.

[98tls]

The crucial thing Mike is time and place.

And this public holiday weekend with a kajillion other road users on that road did not fit the criteria for a 'good idea'.

Absolutely correct mate but lets face it this stuff happens every weekend.Ive never yet ridden with anyone who said "be safer this weekend to go hard its not a holiday weekend".We live in a i want it and i want it now world with no thought to anything but having it,may i just add that we also to a fair degree live in a world where for many image is everything so the latest 600 wont do its got to be a 1000 etc,the fact that even the 600s have far more ability than many riders will ever have doesnt even enter into the buying equation.

[Tink]

I call it an "oh shit" moment, and this is why I haven't ridden the Coro loop and probably won't for a long time - because I don't want to have an "oh shit" moment there!

I dont do the coro loop because I dont want to meet up with a Lorenzo wannabe having an "oh shit" moment.

Rode to the Mount today from Auckland, traffic was moderate, and good on the way thru, apart from one 20 somthing Mercedes driver doing 20km thru the gorge. That is as close to the coro I will get on any bike.

RIP Possibly a father, definitely a friend, more than likely a partner, most importantly a person... why do so many disrespect human life.

[hellokitty]

Rode to the Mount today from Auckland, traffic was moderate, and good on the way thru, apart from one 20 somthing Mercedes driver doing 20km thru the gorge. That is as close to the coro I will get on any bike.

RIP Possibly a father, definitely a friend, more than likely a partner, most importantly a person... why do so many disrespect human life.

Why indeed? Someone will be crying for him...... lets face it, it could happen to any of us.

[Gone Burger]

I have been travelling through the North Island for the past 16 days on my bike, and was heading out of the Coromandel just before this happened.

Have never ridden out there before and it was a truely horrendiuos ride. The worst ride in I have ever had, and pretty much the same coming out the next day.

ABSOLUTE Chaos at this time of year. Went up to stay with a friend for the night on my travels and won't be doing that again peak season.

Turned up rather stressed at Cooks Beach - drivers and riders were all very unpredictable, very very full roads, and some incredible STUPID people mostly behind the wheels of their cars. Had a couple of close calls myself with cars on my side of the road round blind corners.

RIP to the fallen rider. I am so saddened to hear this news, and its very scary to think I was on these roads myself at the same time it happened. Thoughts are with the family and friends of this person. A messy time on our roads - believe me I have seen some utter madness these past 2.5 weeks.

Ride safe people... live to ride another road.

[ynot slow]

The deceased will have family and mates mourning him,also the instigator will be thinking shit I've killed a fellow biker,could any of us feel any worse knowing that,whilst in hospital(assuming he survives according to news).

I know we hate the police propoganda on 4km tolerance,but maybe,just maybe had people been riding to the speed this may not happen?Maybe also not riding above your limits is paramount.

Hell I did Forgotten Highway last Thursday,couple of times went over centreline(but could see ahead,not blind corners)and if in doubt slowed,think it took about 90 mins riding to Whanga from Taumaranui,the idea was enjoy the scenery,weather and ride.

[Spearfish]

think it took about 90 mins riding to Whanga from Taumaranui,the idea was enjoy the scenery,weather and ride.

What a novel idea!!
Your lucky, you probably found that out a long while ago.

[MSTRS:Me]

I dont do the coro loop because I dont want to meet up with a Lorenzo wannabe having an "oh shit" moment.

Oh Shit moments can happen on any road at any time. That said, why would anyone want to ride the Coro during holiday season?

RIP Possibly a father, definitely a friend, more than likely a partner, most importantly a person... why do so many disrespect human life.

Why indeed? Someone will be crying for him...... lets face it, it could happen to any of us.

The dead rider was apparently innocent of wrong-doing. No-one is 'disrespecting' him, are they?

[Jantar]

...I know we hate the police propoganda on 4km tolerance,but maybe,just maybe had people been riding to the speed this may not happen?Maybe also not riding above your limits is paramount.
....

I missed this point, what speed were they doing at the point of collission?

[Blackbird]

I missed this point, what speed were they doing at the point of collission?

Malcolm,
From the brief bit of footage I saw on TV, it appeared to be at the bottom of the Coro Hill on the eastern side, still in the twisties. Exceeding the open road speed limit at that point may be significantly less of a factor than crossing the centreline but anything is simply speculation until the police report is released.

[ynot slow]

I missed this point, what speed were they doing at the point of collission?

Stating the obvious according to propoganda by high brass,re excuse to lower tolerances only.Not implying the guys were speeding myself,but the news on tv did say the officer in charge indicated speed was a factor.And given the nature of the road,and as others way more informed than me have said about the road,it IS treated as a racetrack.

My point is did I care the tolerance was lower.No I still rode at 110km enjoyed the ride with a mate for 300km,no major issues as such,except for the retard on a motard on Arapuni Rd very close to centreline,but I was never going to collide with him.

[Usarka]

We got passed by about 4 cop cars obviously on the way to this incident. The cop in the maroon plain clothes vehicle was doing the worst overtaking I've ever seen including overtaking on blind corners.

Even with lights on (which were *very* hard to see maybe due to brightness of the day or colour contrast of the car or whatever), lights don't do much around corners.


(RIP and condalances)