Bikers on the Rimutaka Hill

[speeding_ant]

Never seen mention on here of the road to Makara, long time since I was there but I guess that's a bit short?

I quite enjoy it on the 250

[James Deuce]

Nah, the Akaroa hill is way better. Trouble with Wellington last time I looked, Rimutaka hill is too busy with too many yellow lines. (Like the Manawatu Gorge.)
The Paekak hill has too many 4WDs. Last time I went through the Akatarawa Road there weren't *that* many 4WDs, but the drivers of those I did see were rubber necking the views as opposed to driving.

Never seen mention on here of the road to Makara, long time since I was there but I guess that's a bit short?

Short. 70km/hr. The gravel bit to J'ville is long gone.

All of those roads are storied. All of them are shit and always have been. You can sometimes grab a piece of fun but why bother grasping at hope, faded reconstructed memory and fantasy when you can travel for 2 hours instead of 1 and experience empty flowing roads that entice you to spend 3, 4, 5, 6 hours riding from Viking country to Michael Lawsland?

[Kickaha]

Nah, the Akaroa hill is way better. Trouble with Wellington last time I looked, Rimutaka hill is too busy with too many yellow lines. (Like the Manawatu Gorge.)
The Paekak hill has too many 4WDs. Last time I went through the Akatarawa Road there weren't *that* many 4WDs, but the drivers of those I did see were rubber necking the views as opposed to driving.

Hundalees are better than the lot of them, they're just a bit further to get to

[James Deuce]

I'll vouch for that. Worth the ferry trip.

[Paul in NZ]

There are a lot of places I'd rather ride a bike than the Rimutakas BUT the attraction is that its close to Wellington and short enough to be learnable. ie you can actually get to the point where you have learnt every bend etc and can then ride it pretty hard. What you can't learn is oncoming traffic, changes in surface, the weather and shit like falling rocks etc.

We were over there on sturday. Had a late start as we had an appointment in the morning so late lunch at Pauatahanui and riding over sometime past 2pm. That was jolly agreeable as though it was windier there was less traffic. (less is subjective, still enough to be bloody frustrating). A quick jaunt to Lake Ferry for afternoon tea and back home recrossing well after 5pm (sorry Jim2, had others with us and we had to get back).

The trip back was interesting. Going up the featherston side we have several cars make room and it was achieved reasonably cleanly. Going down... Gah! How people can drive with huge tail of vehicles behind them, several well posted pull over points and not move across to let people get on with it is beyond me. We picked up two other bikes behind us and everyone rode withing the law (no passing on the double yellows)

(it was a great day out fer sure)

I still find the ST 1050 a bit of a handfull 2 up in the wind (it can be a barge solo as well). Its purely a confidence thing as I'm picking the right line but just going in too slow and having to correct the line to suit. But we are definately seeing some improvement and I'm starting to really like this bike. I still cannot believe how much the suspension mods improved its ability 2 up...

Apparently I look like a Star Wars Stormtrooper with the flip front helmet...

[swbarnett]

I would have thought the trains may have been a problem

Of course the trains could be a short (or even longer) term solution. Run small trains at frequent intervals with flat-bed rolling stock to take road vehicles. Even if it were just trucks it would be advantagous.

This is already in operation in a number of European countries.

[Tazz]

Hundalees are better than the lot of them, they're just a bit further to get to

The road condition to Akaroa is much better 9 times out of 10 IMO. Unless it's a second pass I'm always a bit mindful of surprise lumps and the seemingly constant roadworks on the Hundalees. The will to live takes the fun out of it.

Aside from width in places and once (if) those 50 patches of marbles get brushed off, the Inland route between Kaikoura and Culverden-ish is an epic run.

[Paul in NZ]

The road condition to Akaroa is much better 9 times out of 10 IMO. Unless it's a second pass I'm always a bit mindful of surprise lumps and the seemingly constant roadworks on the Hundalees. The will to live takes the fun out of it.

Aside from width in places and once (if) those 50 patches of marbles get brushed off, the Inland route between Kaikoura and Culverden-ish is an epic run.

The Inland Kaikoura road is great apart form a couple of bends where 35KPH REALLY does mean 35KPH...

I have always prefered the Leader Valley road from Waiau to Shw 1... Brilliant bit of road...

[pritch]

The Inland Kaikoura road is great apart form a couple of bends where 35KPH REALLY does mean 35KPH...

I have always prefered the Leader Valley road from Waiau to Shw 1... Brilliant bit of road...

Done that inland road a coupla times. First time I was caught out by 35kph bends with no signs. Later corners did have signs, but the first ones didn't.

[Gremlin]

ie you can actually get to the point where you have learnt every bend etc and can then ride it pretty hard. What you can't learn is oncoming traffic, changes in surface, the weather and shit like falling rocks etc.

Well, that kinda sums it up. You should be riding any road like it's your first time, because you have no idea what might have changed since you rode it last (even if it was 30min ago).

[Paul in NZ]

Done that inland road a coupla times. First time I was caught out by 35kph bends with no signs. Later corners did have signs, but the first ones didn't.

Yeah I know the ones you mean.. Its like the sign crew started out with a trailer load of 35kph signs and got so far and went 'oh fug it...' and stuck up a windy road next whatever and went home to get on the piss...

[Racing Dave]

How people can drive with huge tail of vehicles behind them, several well posted pull over points and not move across to let people get on with it is beyond me. We picked up two other bikes behind us and everyone rode withing the law (no passing on the double yellows)...

You are allowed to pass where there are double yellow lines - just don't cross them. The Rimutakas are wide enough to slip past one car at a time, and when you're at the front, the car that's been holding you up has given plenty of time before you catch up to the next slow car.

[Rhys]

You are allowed to pass where there are double yellow lines - just don't cross them. The Rimutakas are wide enough to slip past one car at a time, and when you're at the front, the car that's been holding you up has given plenty of time before you catch up to the next slow car.

You are assuming that the vehicles are keeping to the left of the lane as per the road code

[FJRider]

You are allowed to pass where there are double yellow lines - just don't cross them. The Rimutakas are wide enough to slip past one car at a time, and when you're at the front, the car that's been holding you up has given plenty of time before you catch up to the next slow car.

Until some prick decides it's their "Civic Duty" to stop that hoon on a motorcycle ... overtaking everybody ...

And goes to great lengths to achieve this ...

[GrayWolf]

Until some prick decides it's their "Civic Duty" to stop that hoon on a motorcycle ... overtaking everybody ...

And goes to great lengths to achieve this ...

Kinda resurrecting this thread....
Rode over the 'taka's a 'few' times this week at various times of day, 3 times with almost zero traffic (2 or 3 cars) and once when it must have been about an hour after ferry docking. To say had I been in a car, or the Canam I would have been 'terrified'? There is no way B trains should be on that stretch of road. I am sure we have a few B train drivers on the forum, and possibly ones who have driven the 'taka's...
However, when you come round a bend to be confronted with a lorry and trailer halfway into your lane to negotiate said corner? Even on the bike I had a 'F**K ME' moment as I 'reacted' to alter road position. Main road or not, that hill is not designed for B trains, or very large loads...