Learner Ride to Cape Reinga (20 November)

[The Singing Chef]

So I am! it would have fallen on Luka :-(

That would not have been good, I wouldn't have let it anyhow. Lucky I was wearing my superman undies! (Disclaimer: I was not actually wearing superman undies)

[newhere]

hope u enjoyed your time in bed with three girls and one guy :-) i wont tell anyone.

Aaaah now i see what i missed out on!!

[ajessep]

Ditto!

Best weekend I've had in a looooooong time.

Definitly the best weekend I've ever had while on call, even with 4 calls through the night (3:00, 3:30, 4:00 and 07:00 ah, thems the breaks). Thanks heaps guys for the loan of your internet hook-up.

ah now i know who you are. could you pls make your signature a big longer????!!!!

[ajessep]

seriously? Doogal is a lot better looking.

there was room for all Dougal but u didn tmake it.

[Armi]

Thanks to all for the mint weekend...Steve/Irene/Vaughn/Matt/Sabine and Anna.

None of that Vaughn bull... There's an extra A in there to make things a bit more confusing.

[nathanwhite]

I know, I know. Weather and work kept me away.

[ajessep]

sadly didnt make it up to maha and mom's SAT but did today. very relaxing!

key events -

* pork crackling which involved a bucket of salt but didnt taste like a bucket of salt. i got a wee bit, Sabine got the rest ha ha ha. it was great crackling but not four hours later on my way out to dinner when i could still taste it, but then i did eat more crackling than i've ever eaten in one sitting.
* The Princess bed. Sabine needed a siesta, no surprise after all that pig! four of us joined her though Vaughan chickened out after realising it involved jumping into bed with the chef.
* The chef snores.
* The chef's bike is still falling apart.
* Mark and Anne are great hosts.
* Sabine was desperate for a root.

[The Singing Chef]

* The chef snores.
* The chef's bike is still falling apart.

Haha I swear it was Sabine, I never snore

And my bike hates me, and just wants a rest

[swbarnett]

What's the handling, power etc like? I am also tossing up on a GSR750 With a strong side stand

I'm no Rossi but, now that I'm really getting to know the Katana after having it for six moths I'm very plesaed with how I can throw it around. Even fully loaded with camping gear I don't really notice any difference in the handling. As for power I certainly have no problem slotting in between cars at open-road speeds from a standing start (as you may have observed tonight). Mostly I ride between 4 and 6 thou rpm (top gear at 100k is about 4,500) but when you want to get moving a quick twist really delivers.

The attachment below is from a site that I find reasonably good for bike comparisons (once you get past all the flashy ads). The red line is for the GSR750 and the blue line is the GSX750F (known as the Katana in the U.S.)

It seems to boil down to the fact that the Katana is a sports-tourer and more of an all-rounder whereas the GSR is a sports-naked and more of a "track-style" or street-fighter.

On paper the GSR is 30kg heavier with a top speed 10mph lower and a smaller tank (17.5L compared to 20 on the Katana).

This, of course is comparing 750s. I've heard opinions that the Katana 600 is a bit low on power which is one reason I went for the 750 (apart from it being in the right place at the right time).

[The Singing Chef]

I'm no Rossi but, now that I'm really getting to know the Katana after having it for six moths I'm very plesaed with how I can throw it around. Even fully loaded with camping gear I don't really notice any difference in the handling. As for power I certainly have no problem slotting in between cars at open-road speeds from a standing start (as you may have observed tonight). Mostly I ride between 4 and 6 thou rpm (top gear at 100k is about 4,500) but when you want to get moving a quick twist really delivers.

The attachment below is from a site that I find reasonably good for bike comparisons (once you get past all the flashy ads). The red line is for the GSR750 and the blue line is the GSX750F (known as the Katana in the U.S.)

It seems to boil down to the fact that the Katana is a sports-tourer and more of an all-rounder whereas the GSR is a sports-naked and more of a "track-style" or street-fighter.

On paper the GSR is 30kg heavier with a top speed 10mph lower and a smaller tank (17.5L compared to 20 on the Katana).

This, of course is comparing 750s. I've heard opinions that the Katana 600 is a bit low on power which is one reason I went for the 750 (apart from it being in the right place at the right time).

Hmm, seems the Katana would suit my desires more, as I would like to travel abit eventually. Maybe a little more comfortable as well, and cheaper haha

[Armi]

I've ridden in rain before tonight but I guess this was my first proper rain since I was wet under my gear and my gloves started leaking dye onto my hands.

[The Singing Chef]

I'm no Rossi but, now that I'm really getting to know the Katana after having it for six moths I'm very plesaed with how I can throw it around. Even fully loaded with camping gear I don't really notice any difference in the handling. As for power I certainly have no problem slotting in between cars at open-road speeds from a standing start (as you may have observed tonight). Mostly I ride between 4 and 6 thou rpm (top gear at 100k is about 4,500) but when you want to get moving a quick twist really delivers.

The attachment below is from a site that I find reasonably good for bike comparisons (once you get past all the flashy ads). The red line is for the GSR750 and the blue line is the GSX750F (known as the Katana in the U.S.)

It seems to boil down to the fact that the Katana is a sports-tourer and more of an all-rounder whereas the GSR is a sports-naked and more of a "track-style" or street-fighter.

On paper the GSR is 30kg heavier with a top speed 10mph lower and a smaller tank (17.5L compared to 20 on the Katana).

This, of course is comparing 750s. I've heard opinions that the Katana 600 is a bit low on power which is one reason I went for the 750 (apart from it being in the right place at the right time).

Perhaps the low on power aspect would be a good stepping stone as well

[swbarnett]

ah now i know who you are. could you pls make your signature a big longer????!!!!

It is perhaps a bit long winded but each of the quotes speaks to me in a visceral sence.

I would add more but I've reached the software's limit

[swbarnett]

I've ridden in rain before tonight but I guess this was my first proper rain since I was wet under my gear and my gloves started leaking dye onto my hands.

Oh, that takes me back. I remember taking off my gloves after a particularly wet day as a courier - 8 hours or more in terrential rain - to find I had black hands.

Irene was unfortunate enough to have several days in a row like this and her hands actually started to rot!

[swbarnett]

Hmm, seems the Katana would suit my desires more, as I would like to travel abit eventually. Maybe a little more comfortable as well, and cheaper haha

It certainly is comfortable. When everybody was complaining about numb bum on the cape ride I was still fresh as in that department. I've done Gisborne to home via Napier (about 620km) in one stretch only stopping for petrol (nice early start had a late lunch when I got home). About 6.5hrs straight and still felt like I could continue.

I did a test last week. I put a 4L container of petrol in the top box and ran the tank dry - 360km (about 5.5L/100km). All things considered, and Gremlin's GS not withstanding, not a bad range for NZ.

Perhaps the low on power aspect would be a good stepping stone as well

I've not riden the 600 (I'll have to hit you up for a test-ride if you do get it). Certainly those complaining about it's power were probably experienced speed junkies. Anyway, from a 250 you'd probably not be dissapointed.