Riding to Nikau Cave and Cafe? A warning!

**Brett** · 3rd June 2013, 13:54

So your mate has an off while riding Twilight, a few other riders come through "at speed" but make it fine...and they're the fools getting attacked? Seems they were the ones riding to conditions AND ability to me.

**NordieBoy** · 3rd June 2013, 16:46

Originally Posted by \m/

22 fine? Tui billboard! Unmarked roadworks, loose gravel, tar bleed, potholes and ripples. It's a real shame, it would be an epic road if it was kept in a semi-decent condition.

Sounds sweet!

**slofox** · 3rd June 2013, 17:22

Originally Posted by sil3nt

22 is fine. Just the dicks that think its a racetrack moan about what is a normal country road

Wot 'e said. I've been up and down that road heaps of times and am yet to bust my neck. Matter of riding to conditions.

**iYRe** · 3rd June 2013, 18:12

Originally Posted by Brett

So your mate has an off while riding Twilight, a few other riders come through "at speed" but make it fine...and they're the fools getting attacked? Seems they were the ones riding to conditions AND ability to me.

sure.. yes.. sounds awesome.

I live in the area - the police said they are picking someone up off the side of the road who was on a 1L sports bike every coupla weeks. In this case, the issue was an 89 year old gentleman in a landcruiser on the inside of a bend he should have been on the outside of.. Conditions had nothing to do with it.

**swbarnett** · 3rd June 2013, 18:41

For the first time today I rode what is now the closest loop to home. Tuakau - Port waikato - Nikau Caves - back via SH22.

SH22 between the turn-off to the caves was sweet. Don't remember seeing any gravel. From 22 to the caves there was loose gravel on a lot of the corners on top of the seal.

However, by far the worst piece of road I rode today was a 13km stretch a little way on from Port Waikato. I never got above 70kph due to huge tyre trenches, rough repairs and a loose surface; hardly any of which was sigh-posted. That's what happens when you ride on gravel without the "appropriate" equipment. As others have said - ride to the conditions.

**iYRe** · 3rd June 2013, 20:08

Originally Posted by swbarnett

For the first time today I rode what is now the closest loop to home. Tuakau - Port waikato - Nikau Caves - back via SH22.

SH22 between the turn-off to the caves was sweet. Don't remember seeing any gravel. From 22 to the caves there was loose gravel on a lot of the corners on top of the seal.

However, by far the worst piece of road I rode today was a 13km stretch a little way on from Port Waikato. I never got above 70kph due to huge tyre trenches, rough repairs and a loose surface; hardly any of which was sigh-posted. That's what happens when you ride on gravel without the "appropriate" equipment. As others have said - ride to the conditions.

That was my experience too - although, it was the trucks that were more dangerous.. if you follow the gravel free lines, chances are you'd find a truck in em.. :s

**swbarnett** · 3rd June 2013, 20:16

Originally Posted by iYRe

That was my experience too - although, it was the trucks that were more dangerous.. if you follow the gravel free lines, chances are you'd find a truck in em.. :s

Of course, being a public holiday, that's one problem I didn't have.

**leathel** · 3rd June 2013, 21:35

I love those roads to cruise on.... locals get sick of people using it s a race track.....

**Brett** · 3rd June 2013, 23:15

Originally Posted by iYRe

sure.. yes.. sounds awesome.

I live in the area - the police said they are picking someone up off the side of the road who was on a 1L sports bike every coupla weeks. In this case, the issue was an 89 year old gentleman in a landcruiser on the inside of a bend he should have been on the outside of.. Conditions had nothing to do with it.

So do I, approximately 7 minutes drive away.

The howick, maraetai, clevedon, Kaiaua loop has always been a magnet for over ambitious noobs and idiot riders. FWIW...I crashed as a learner on twilight road being a dick on my 250 (racing another guy at night, in the rain with a tinted visor - darwin award goes to me). But going quickly or riding a 1lt sportsbike is NOT a precursor to crashing...a factor for sure, but then so are many other things.
I have had that instance of folks on my side of the road on that piece of road a few times, never fun. Hope your mate is ok...but point still stands re: the other group riding to conditions and abilities.

**Kiwi675** · 4th June 2013, 08:20

Originally Posted by iYRe

sure.. yes.. sounds awesome.

I live in the area - the police said they are picking someone up off the side of the road who was on a 1L sports bike every coupla weeks. In this case, the issue was an 89 year old gentleman in a landcruiser on the inside of a bend he should have been on the outside of.. Conditions had nothing to do with it.

It was 2 x R1's and 1 x GSXR. We were riding "to the conditions" and we were also aware you were going to be there as one of the R1's had been through earlier and seen your mates misfortune, so we were taking it easy, and if conditions had nothing to do with your mates off why did you raise them when mentioning those crazy naughty boys on sports bikes. It sounds from your entire story that you should probably worry about your own riding ability and ability to read the road instead of worrying about others.

P.S. The area where your mate was standing on the side of the road with you was on one of the tightest corners on Twilight, so definitely were not "flying".

**Motu** · 4th June 2013, 17:47

Originally Posted by Brett

The howick, maraetai, clevedon, Kaiaua loop has always been a magnet for over ambitious noobs and idiot riders.

Early '70's, that was me. Twilight Rd and West Rd unsealed, Skyhigh Rd unsealed. Gravel from Kawakawa Bay to Waitakaruru, gravel from Hunua to Mangatawhiri. I was a noob, and a complete and utter idiot, but learning my craft and having the time of my life. I was really disappointed to come back to Auckland in the mid '90's and find it all sealed....and that other people had invaded my paradise.

**iYRe** · 4th June 2013, 19:18

Originally Posted by Brett

So do I, approximately 7 minutes drive away.

The howick, maraetai, clevedon, Kaiaua loop has always been a magnet for over ambitious noobs and idiot riders. FWIW...I crashed as a learner on twilight road being a dick on my 250 (racing another guy at night, in the rain with a tinted visor - darwin award goes to me). But going quickly or riding a 1lt sportsbike is NOT a precursor to crashing...a factor for sure, but then so are many other things.
I have had that instance of folks on my side of the road on that piece of road a few times, never fun. Hope your mate is ok...but point still stands re: the other group riding to conditions and abilities.

We've got more that 80 years riding between us, and 60 of that on the road (30 years each) - we were riding to the conditions.

Originally Posted by Kiwi675

It was 2 x R1's and 1 x GSXR. We were riding "to the conditions" and we were also aware you were going to be there as one of the R1's had been through earlier and seen your mates misfortune, so we were taking it easy, and if conditions had nothing to do with your mates off why did you raise them when mentioning those crazy naughty boys on sports bikes. It sounds from your entire story that you should probably worry about your own riding ability and ability to read the road instead of worrying about others.

P.S. The area where your mate was standing on the side of the road with you was on one of the tightest corners on Twilight, so definitely were not "flying".

We could only "hear" you because, as you say, you werent flying as you came around the corner.. However, there were 4 motorcyclists, 2 of whom were police, all looking at each other going "geez".
Apologies if it was all in our "minds".

**jafar** · 4th June 2013, 19:50

Gotta love SH22, had a nice run over there on sunday, sure there was a bit of gravel around but there always is

Not a road for the unwary though, nice technical parts with fast sweepers & enough going on to keep it interesting.
Road to Nikau caves is similar & well worth the trip out there for a coffee .

**Kiwi675** · 4th June 2013, 20:59

Originally Posted by iYRe

We've got more that 80 years riding between us, and 60 of that on the road (30 years each) - we were riding to the conditions.

We could only "hear" you because, as you say, you werent flying as you came around the corner.. However, there were 4 motorcyclists, 2 of whom were police, all looking at each other going "geez".
Apologies if it was all in our "minds".

So you can tell a bikes speed by the sound it makes.........you're good, what gears was I using as I came up the road? type of pipes? cat out? PC5 maybe? and for how long could you hear me, Clevedon, polo grounds, pub????

**Voltaire** · 5th June 2013, 09:29

Originally Posted by Motu

Early '70's, that was me. Twilight Rd and West Rd unsealed, Skyhigh Rd unsealed. Gravel from Kawakawa Bay to Waitakaruru, gravel from Hunua to Mangatawhiri. I was a noob, and a complete and utter idiot, but learning my craft and having the time of my life. I was really disappointed to come back to Auckland in the mid '90's and find it all sealed....and that other people had invaded my paradise.

Grandpa Motu:

We used to hack out way thru the bush, now they have gravel roads you get those dang horses and Cobb and Co wagons raising dust.....