Hornet Swarm Night City

[GSXR Trace]

That would mean you'd have to let me on your 600, and we both know that's not going to happen.

OR... I could just take the blade for a little spin and come back to you, waiting patiently hahahaha

[gale_wolf]

Haha I'm not complaining - i'm stirring! but hey I'd give it a ride if someone wanted to give me a blade....

That would mean you'd have to let me on your 600, and we both know that's not going to happen.

I want to see this swap happen

Also, Trace - call me a traitor for test riding (and kinda liking) a blade then you actually take a Honda home. For shame

[nzmikey]

Just so you dont get lost next time.................... "Map"

[gijoe1313]

Wanpo got lost? Was he leading the ride? I think he is starting to get a rep for being lost without a cause! The next mod he needs is to get a bike GPS to ensure said hilarity doesn't occur with regularity!

[nzmikey]

Wanpo got lost? Was he leading the ride? :

To be fair , he was leading the second 1/2 of the group ( Wanpo -Toto - Gale ) & missed the turn off on the way north , The other 4 of us ( Trace - Me - VFR - Yellow bike ) ( sorry dont know names ) were ahead & kinda figured that the others knew the way / saw us turn off ..... long story short they caught up with us in Mangawhai & we all had a giggle

[wanpo]

OR... I could just take the blade for a little spin and come back to you, waiting patiently hahahaha

Ha, that's even less likely to happen.

Just so you dont get lost next time.................... "Map"

Wanpo got lost? Was he leading the ride? I think he is starting to get a rep for being lost without a cause! The next mod he needs is to get a bike GPS to ensure said hilarity doesn't occur with regularity!

I knew I had missed the turn off, and slowed right down, but when the other two kept following me, I just kept going. When Todd finally decided to let it known that we were headed the wrong direction he added "I just wanted to see how far you'd go".

[GSXR Trace]

I want to see this swap happen

Also, Trace - call me a traitor for test riding (and kinda liking) a blade then you actually take a Honda home. For shame

But my riding a honda isn't by choice - it was the only loan bike they had left - and i sure as hell didn't "kinda like" it - so you are still a traitor, and I'm only shamed at having to ride a honda!

Ha, that's even less likely to happen.

I knew I had missed the turn off, and slowed right down, but when the other two kept following me, I just kept going. When Todd finally decided to let it known that we were headed the wrong direction he added "I just wanted to see how far you'd go".

haha well you have more chance of getting on my bike than the others, at least I'd ride your bike just to see what it's like... the others have no hope in hell! hahaha

[wanpo]

But my riding a honda isn't by choice - it was the only loan bike they had left - and i sure as hell didn't "kinda like" it - so you are still a traitor, and I'm only shamed at having to ride a honda!



haha well you have more chance of getting on my bike than the others, at least I'd ride your bike just to see what it's like... the others have no hope in hell! hahaha

I'm surprised you haven't done a swap with your fellow gixxer buddy

[GSXR Trace]

I'm surprised you haven't done a swap with your fellow gixxer buddy

but they are both gixers, relatively same due to only being a year apart, and yes his is bigger, but i don't see the point

[baffa]

Loan VTR you say?
If it's late model I should steal a few bits off it before it goes back ^_^

Good ride last night guys, was a bit gay waiting till midnight to eat, but good fun.


For future reference, the Pizza barn at Waipu is not open Monday and Tuesday =/

[wanpo]

but they are both gixers, relatively same due to only being a year apart, and yes his is bigger, but i don't see the point

But his is bigger!

Oh and I'd be careful about riding my bike, you might end up *gasp* liking a Honda

[gale_wolf]

But my riding a honda isn't by choice - it was the only loan bike they had left - and i sure as hell didn't "kinda like" it - so you are still a traitor, and I'm only shamed at having to ride a honda!

Let's just see what you have to say when you ride Wanpo's blade. You'd better not like it, or a traitor you will be!

haha well you have more chance of getting on my bike than the others, at least I'd ride your bike just to see what it's like... the others have no hope in hell! hahaha

Um, are you tall enough to sit on his bike?

For future reference, the Pizza barn at Waipu is not open Monday and Tuesday =/

Suzuki Swarm ride on Wednesdays for pizza at Waipu

I knew I had missed the turn off, and slowed right down, but when the other two kept following me, I just kept going.

To be fair, I would've done the same thing. Last time I rode through there I just followed gijoe so I didn't remember the turnoff either.

Oh and I'd be careful about riding my bike, you might end up *gasp* liking a Honda

Treachery!

[gale_wolf]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned one of the funniest moments from last night:

"...excuse me, but are you all Hell's Angels?"

[TOTO]

I turn up to swarm meeting point at about 6:28 after working a bit late and everyone is eager to go. Attending were the usual suspects - GSXR_Trace, Wanpo, baffa, Gale_Wolf and his cousin. A few Txts were sent and arranged with NzMikey to meet us at shell westgate as we were heading north to Waipu with GSXR_Trace as ride captain. I took TEC and off we went.

Causing a small disturbance trough with all pedestrian things alike in CBD off we went. Collected NzMikey from westgate, topped up with petrol, exchanged a few funny stories on the go and off we were towards Waipu for a pizza. Taking Old North road and peak road, and onto SH16. As it happened we were riding through SH16 and bandit country exactly as the sun was setting and every single corner revealed a wallpaper type scenery in front of us. It was magic to see 7 bikes all move in sync with the landscape and being in the scenery themselves. Would have been a great opportunity for an experienced photographer to capture with a still camera shots if there was one around.

Wanpo was excersising his mental and physical strategy for the upcoming hyobag racing this weekend and could be seen taking perfect lines with bum cheek off the seat and head on either side of the handlebars resembling the look of MotoGp greats such as Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and Super Sic. Poetry in motion. Gale_Wolf and myself were behind Marco…errrr, I mean Wanpo, and enjoyed taking the nice leisurely pace while at the same time observing the good lines.

Ride captain GSXR_Trace stopped took the opportunity to saveour the moment by stopping at the Wellsford lookout. We appreciated the marvelous view while Gale_Wolf used the opportunity to slip into something more comfourtable – some wet weather gear seeing that he was wearing summer mesh uniform and was getting a bit chilly. I followed his example and put on a jumper while enjoying the view. Somehow the awesome sunset was poking between stunning rain clouds and torrential rain could be seen falling in the valleys around us and yet where we were was pretty dry and so was the road. Riding between the clouds trick we seem to have picked from GiJoe. We also stopped at Wellsford for NzMikey to fill up as he purpousfully did not fill up in shell westgate – reason being that he has a small tank. A few more jokes about this and that, Wanpo moaning that his hands were getting cold as he has blown his hot grips fuse. From his words it happens every time he goes over 104km/h.

With NzMikey all fueled up we all lined up ready for the ride to Waipu and The Pizza. GSXR_Trace seemed to be a little hesitant to take point at first but since we respect the ride captain on our rides our fate was left in her hands and she took the lead again. I stayed TEC wondering if she is going to take the lazy way, the fun way or the real fun way. Turned out that she had actually done the very same ride a few days prior so she was super happy to opt for the most fun way. Now due to Wanpo being so focused in keeping perfect lines and great body position he did not put enough emphasis on actually keeping the other riders in sight (something that might be valuable to him in the upcoming weekend of racing) and as it turned out he did not notice that the rider in front had turned left towards Mangawhai and waipu (and ofcourse he was not reading the signs). As he passed the first turn off, I was thinking “ ahem, he knows the more fun route too” and as we passed the second turn off my taught changed to “It will be fun to see where he ends up”. So Gale_wolf and myself quietly followed (as you do on 900cc and 1000cc bikes with 160db loud exhausts). A few corners later and Wanpo’s internal GPS did not make him question the scenery and the fact we were going south east as opposed north. Gale_Wolf and I followed for 5 minutes and I was cracking up in my helmet thinking of the moment when the realization hits Wanpo. It didn’t – talk about spoiled dreams. I proceeded to do a few flashes at Gale_Wolf and Wanpo, advised of wrong route being taken and proceeded to lead out to the road leading to Mangwhai and meet the others and they were possibly worried that a tiger ate us or something. Got on the Magawhai road, flicked a TXT to Trace so she knows what’s happening and off we went on to Mangawhai where the other four were waiting for us. NzMikey greeted us by dancing in the middle of the road. From the pictures I’ve seen of him at the fat bikers TT run I was super happy he wasn’t naked and wearing a mankini (Trace would have liked it though).

So with all of us reunited Trace took point again towards Waipu, some nice corners out that way with some of the best bits unfortunately being covered in gravel for 1 km but that ok as that road does need the repair. Arriving at Waipu it is surpricingly quet – even for a Monday. Turns out that Monday and Tuesday are weekend recovery days for the population of waipu and even the infamous Pizza Barn is closed. Comments were made that probably it wouldn’t be a crime if we entered the building made out own pizzas and ate them, but the idea was quickly dismissed as none of us felt like cooking at that time. Someone mentioned 1metre long pizzas at Whangarei but due to some of the riders having family commitments was dismissed also. In the end it was decided to get back to Albany and have some nice noodles at the noodle place (name?).

Wanpo took point and lead to Wellsford and Albany noodle place. GSXR_Trace , Gale_Wolf decided to ride together close to each other so that their Gixers could talk to each other and even engaged in a few Gixer games that normal riders do not understand.
Coming onto Albany hill Wanpo took a nice detour through ridge road before arriving at the noodle place at 11:40 which apparently closed at 12:00. The lady in charge of the place was very pleased to see us and even commented on the fact that time we brought a girl with us. The look on her face was priceless. Probably coz she knows we all like Hondas

Funny stories were told all around, while speed ordering and speed eating as time was running out and the shop was closing soon. At 12:20 we were all done and just about to leave when the Chinese lady owner asked us all if we are Hells Angels. Huge laughs erupted She was promptly educated that Hells Angels are bad criminal people that deal with drugs and other bad things and we were “the good guys”. It certainly put the cherry on the cake. Everyone split home and lived happily ever after.

[gale_wolf]

Wow, that's the most reading I've had to do in ages... nice write up Toto!

tl;dr - rode to Waipu via Wellsford, smaller bikes had to wait for lost litre bikes, Pizza closed, rode back again, we aren't Hell's Angels