Mangamuka Gorge

**WNJ** · 29th April 2014, 19:54

Family headed from Tron to kaitaia last wk for school holidays , I had a couple days work to do then on thursday morn I jumped on the ZX for a long ride north (about 5hrs give or take a bit), went up through Sh 16 and a few back roads through kumeu to cow coppa to wellsford,whangarei, stopped for lunch and gas then headed on, then came across Mangamuka gorge bout 20 mins before kaitaia, had a sore ass by this stage but that was soon forgotten as I hit the gorge WOW what a fantastic stretch or road never ridden it before nice dry day no other traffic to slow me down nice smooth road, very little potholes or ruts an awesome cambers the bike just about rode itself through the corners, needless to say I rode the road every day I was there so now ridden it about 15 times, this must be one if the best roads in the north loved it , thats just my 5 cents worth, cant wait to do it again,

**haydes55** · 29th April 2014, 22:27

My favourite road. Ever.

It's a rollercoaster disguised as a road. It's the only road I've ever stopped and done a u turn, just to do it again.... And again.... And again.

I'd challenge anyone to put forward a better road, anywhere in the world.

**george formby** · 29th April 2014, 22:46

Originally Posted by haydes55

My favourite road. Ever.

It's a rollercoaster disguised as a road. It's the only road I've ever stopped and done a u turn, just to do it again.... And again.... And again.

I'd challenge anyone to put forward a better road, anywhere in the world.

Yeah, takes some beating. On the bright side I have at least half a dozen stretches of tarmac up here which are a good intro. I would hazard a guess that one of them is almost as good but a lot longer. Which kind of makes it as good.
The winterless north, corner heaven.

**insomnia01** · 30th April 2014, 08:39

Originally Posted by haydes55

I'd challenge anyone to put forward a better road, anywhere in the world.

Haast to Wanaka

Crowne range

Motueka Valley highway

**Grubber** · 30th April 2014, 09:08

Originally Posted by insomnia01

Haast to Wanaka

Crowne range

Motueka Valley highway

Yea id go with these also. may not be better in some cases but at least as good.

**pritch** · 30th April 2014, 09:46

Best in the world? That's a big call. The Croation Coast highway is highly regarded as are many others. Our West Coast highway made the world top 10 at one point.
Then there are: The Gentle Annie, Lewis Pass. SH43 The Forgotten World Highway.
I have been over the Mangamuka road, but not on the bike. I'll add it to the list.

**Voltaire** · 30th April 2014, 10:21

Rode up the Mangamuka Gorge last Tuesday from the Rawene ferry on a 30 year old R80ST two up with Trailwings in the dark and rain, tailgated by trucks that probably knew the road backwards..... I rated it as the most frightening ride I have ever had to do. Good to hear its nice on a dry day.

**haydes55** · 30th April 2014, 10:39

Originally Posted by pritch

Best in the world? That's a big call. The Croation Coast highway is highly regarded as are many others. Our West Coast highway made the world top 10 at one point.
Then there are: The Gentle Annie, Lewis Pass. SH43 The Forgotten World Highway.
I have been over the Mangamuka road, but not on the bike. I'll add it to the list.

Forgotten worlds highway is good, but the road is in average condition, there are only a few small sections where the corners get as crazy as Mangamuka is the entire way through.

Gentle Annie isn't as good either. I'd rate it on par with Coro loop (if there was no traffic).

I've done the haast to wanaka Rd in a van, the road isn't as good.

I've never seen another road or seen pics of any other road that looks as fun. There are some other great roads, but Mangamuka is a road where you could ride the entire length in 2nd-4th gear and never go over the speed limit.

**pritch** · 30th April 2014, 11:40

Originally Posted by haydes55

I've never seen another road or seen pics of any other road that looks as fun.

Have you tried the Waioeka Gorge? There's about sixty Ks of it. Not sure what condition it's in now, they had some trouble with it.

**meteor** · 30th April 2014, 18:09

The Awakino Gorge is nice, so is the Old Russell Rd past Helena Bay and also the hills on the Whitianga to Coromandel stretch. Did the Mangamuka Gorge a couple month sago, yep, very nice. Also enjoyed the Waipoua Forrest north of Dargaville. Actually any road is good so long as I'm on a bike

**nodrog:Me** · 30th April 2014, 18:59

Originally Posted by haydes55

...... but Mangamuka is a road where you could ride the entire length in 2nd-4th gear and never go over the speed limit.

Really? what sort of scooter do you ride?

**haydes55** · 30th April 2014, 21:22

Originally Posted by nodrog

Really? what sort of scooter do you ride?

Most corners in mangamuka are 35s to 55s. My bike doesn't have to be revving its tits off to get through a corner, if it's a flowing section I can leave it in 4th and still accelerate out of corners at 4,000 rpm. If I'm going uphill and it's a switchback section, second will service down to 50km/h up to almost 100km/h

**Madness** · 30th April 2014, 21:30

Originally Posted by haydes55

Mangamuka is a road where you could ride the entire length in 2nd-4th gear and never go over the speed limit.

You could actually do that on any road if you tried hard enough.

**yevjenko** · 30th April 2014, 22:33

Originally Posted by nodrog

Really? what sort of scooter do you ride?

+1 :-)

sent from my phone (so scuze auto correct typos)

**yevjenko** · 30th April 2014, 22:34

Originally Posted by haydes55

Most corners in mangamuka are 35s to 55s. My bike doesn't have to be revving its tits off to get through a corner, if it's a flowing section I can leave it in 4th and still accelerate out of corners at 4,000 rpm. If I'm going uphill and it's a switchback section, second will service down to 50km/h up to almost 100km/h

Jeez, you need a bigger bike.

4K revs in 4th on mine and I'm doing a hundy

sent from my phone (so scuze auto correct typos)