Manawatu Rant n Rave

**Bonez** · 30th September 2007, 17:10

Gary and I did our first daylight savings jaunt today. Gary on his SV and I on Gerble headed down to the Carterton sprints via "the track", Alfredton, Masterton then down the main drag. Stayed at the sprints a wee while then headed home.

Back via the Masterston heavy traffic bypass, maindrag, some side road, maindrag again, Ekatawhere, Alfedton , Pongaroa (just made it to the store in time for a pie-closes 3pm on a Sunday), Makuri gorge rd, Woodville, Saddle Rd then home. Lots of roaming stock(when in Roam(sp) and all that............) and
magpies about (trying to brag off about the win over the Turbos I guess). Around 4 or 5 ks out of Pongaroa, heading to Pahiatua, is a sharp left hander that has been freshly sealed with a ton of pee gravel in the riding line. This caught Gary by surprise but he manage to stay upright. Luckily no traffic was coming in the oppersite direction. Other than that a good ride. Looks like we got back at the right time as the winds fare picking up.

At no time was a GPS required on this ride.

Edit-it's just started pissing down.

**cowboyz** · 30th September 2007, 19:04

Originally Posted by Bonez

At no time was a GPS required on this ride.

Edit-it's just started pissing down.

congratulations but did you make it round more than 3 consecutive corners without stopping and congratulating yourself on how well you are riding?

**Bonez** · 30th September 2007, 19:15

Originally Posted by cowboyz

congratulations but did you make it round more than 3 consecutive corners without stopping and congratulating yourself on how well you are riding?

Didn't get lost either. Have you heard how Al and Sarah have gotten on at all?

**cowboyz** · 30th September 2007, 19:18

nope. not a thing. And why didnt you enter the sprints?

**Bonez** · 30th September 2007, 19:25

Originally Posted by cowboyz

nope. not a thing. And why didnt you enter the sprints?

Didn't want to hang around and more interesting roads to ride on were bekoning.

And you know I'm an unsociable prick.

Interesting line up though. A Nighttrain clocked a similar or thereabouts, and quite possibly more, speed to my old '82 GSX750. Results should be on the Cliffhanger site no dought.

**chanceyy** · 30th September 2007, 19:35

Hi guys,

we have discussed this several times however I have collated a database with everyones cellie numbers to circulate among the reg riders, is everyone ok with everyone else having this info.. I know most of us already have it but thought I might print out a list & keep it in my tank bag (esp some out of towners phone numbers for visiting other areas) ..

the numbers I have so far - so unless you have recently changed phone numbers the numbers should be correct ( & sarges is now correct

)

Chanceyy/Sandra 021 & 027
NZSarge/John 021
86GSXR/Alistair 027
DogsNbikes/Barry 027
Cowboyz/Lance 027
U4ea/Jodi 027 & 021
Meanie/James 027
Yod/Jonno 027
English/Mark 021
Sarahtvet 021

do we add home/emergency numbers as well ?? thoughts guys

**86GSXR** · 30th September 2007, 20:46

Well, what an amazing trip! Got home just before the only real rain we saw in three days on the road.

Friday morning was an absolute stunner! Ready to go by 8, then Sarah decides she needs shoes. So, across town to pick them up, a quick pie and latte at the BP, then it’s straight onto Vinegar Hill.

I’d hardend up my suspension in anticipation of two up plus bags and this has made a huge difference, and I’m glad I guessed right about the settings lol!

Made a very good pace to Taihape where we stop for another latte and just take in the amazing day. Onto the Desert Rd, a couple of stops for pics, would have been rude not too given the incredible visibility and being Sarah’s first time and all north of Waiouru.

Get going again and what do you know. An accident has backed up all traffic in both directions for several miles. People are camping on the side of the road, but on the bike no problems, and we just cruise past the poor cagers, who are all very good about it all and cheer us on

Get to Turangi and after a quick trip to the lookout it’s back down the hill to pick up my rainsuit and make sure I know where my tent is.

It’s a good pace to Taupo for lunch where lol and behold I run into an old mate and his mates on their Harleys. Since we’re on the Trumpy I receive admiring looks all round and a good catch up.

Sarah calls VTS and finds that the importers have fucked up slightly on the paperwork. She’s pissed off but I have a good feeling about it.

Then it’s time to get hard core and I go non stop Taupo to Auckland (Cowboyz would have been proud lol). Bloody good ride and I manage to average about 130 all the way across the Hauraki Plains. Most cars are very obliging and pull over to let us through. Eyes peeled very hard for law enforcement I only see two

the whole way, and manage to avoid any unpleasantness. I'll keep this non political and not mention that 100 kph is a crock - mostly.

Hit the Bombays dead on five twenty and make good time until about Greenlane when the gridlock hits big time. Never mind, taking a cue from a couple of local bikers including a Hells Angel I lane split with the best of them and apart from one red Fiat who’s determined to cut me off we hit Ponsonby Rd 2 hrs 50 mins after leaving Taupo. Good stuff.

After a sit down it’s down to Mission Bay to the motel for dinner and wind down. Get a call from an AK KBer and get directions to pick up Barry’s latest bike accessory

Sleep the sleep on the biker holidaying person and up bright and early to a beautiful Auckland day. VTS still shagging around but it sounds positive. Typically, any ‘non standard’ parts, in this case steel braided brake lines, cannot be passed unless they are replaced with the inferior original units. BUT, the rules say that the vehicle can be driven to a ‘place of repair’. So, I establish that while Auckland to Palmerston may not exactly be what the rule makers had in mind, we’d argue that on the road if necessary

So, long story short, we can pick up the bike. Yes!

Then it’s a quick run out to Hobsonville to pick up Barry’s part from Warlock. Thanks mate, good to meet you. Nice bike too.

Back onto the Southern Way to Manakau and get to VTS just before close. Finally, the moment has arrived and we are introduced to the Honda. Well, there she is sitting in the ‘compliance bay’. Not bad at all for a 27 year old girl. Very tidy and very classic, she’s a bit dusty, and covered in lovely gold bling. She’s got the biggest indicators I’ve ever seen and of course a huge yellow British number plate. But that's ok, she fires up first time and damn she sounds good

Sarah very kindly lets me drive her outside and we peel the labels off her brand new Bridgestone Battlax’s and generally get all gushy over this classic old girl who’s just travelled halfway round the world and is soon to get the run of her 6000 mile life.

I like her a lot, and Sarah gets accquainted in the carpark. She’s all good, even the tyre pressures and oil so we hit the motorway again and stop at the BP service centre to swap luggage and generally discuss the way back.

Coromandel it is then and so soon we’re sailing down the Bombays and onto those absolutely amazing twisties through to Whangamata. Sarahs going very well somewhere in the mirrors and we swap bikes for the run into Whangamata. I just couldn’t wait for a decent spin on the old girl and with no intent whatsoever I find she’s scraping her exhaust mounts around that great road. No harm done tho, and the chicken strips soon disappear.

I also get a rare chance to observe how great the Daytona looks on the move, gee you guys are lucky lol

There’s a bit more bike swapping all the way to Tauranga and Sarah seems to have fallen for two bikes

I also get to see how quickly the Daytona can blend into the far horizon, wow!

I really enjoy the upright cruise position of the Honda and have a ball on it. Very different in a way only 27 years can make for.

In Tauranga we bump into four guys from Levin, one of whom has a black Daytona, same year as mine. Very nice. Seems there were originally eight of them and just to prove that we’re not so bad at getting lost, the other four have managed to lose themselves completely. Seems we’re not the only ones eh lol

We gas up here and I’m amazed to note that despite being ridden considerably harder the Daytona has consumed almost 5 litres less fuel from AK. Modern efficiencies – great.

Hit Rotovagas just on dark and gas up again. As we’re deciding to saddle up again up walks a policeman. Oh oh, big yellow British number plate has been spotted, but he couldn’t have been nicer about it, and we manage to leave Rotos with no bother whatsoever

A spirited night run to Taupo follows, I’m on the Honda which manages more than adequately to crack the ton, briefly.

A good nights sleep aided by a bottle or two of the Hawkes Bay liquid and it’s into Turangi this morning for breakfast. Decide on the National Park, Fields track and the Paras and we’re soon powering through the tundra. Bloody cold it was too, but Fields track is just as good as I remember it and it warms up as we descend into the valleys. A quick stop at the Bridge then it’s up the hill again and onto the Paras! Fantastic and much better condition than last time. Turakina for coffee then back via Marton and Halcombe Hill.

Pull up to the garage just as the biggest thunderstorm in recent memory hits

No worries. 1390.5 km in 3 days. Great rides, great roads, great bikes, perfect!

Pics soon

**chanceyy** · 30th September 2007, 20:55

awesome write up hon ..

sounds like the perfect trip .. at least you did not need the wet weathers

can not wait to see pics .. ohh yeah dial up ..

so sarah will be out carving up the local roads soon enough

**yod** · 30th September 2007, 21:02

Originally Posted by 86GSXR

1390.5 km in 3 days. Great rides, great roads, great bikes, perfect!

Pics soon

great write up mate, sounds like a blast - pity we couldnt get enough time off to do the whole thing with you

looking forward to checking out the infamous CB soon

**dogsnbikes** · 30th September 2007, 21:11

Awesome mate and well done

bling awarded for the courier service WOOOOOOOOOWHOOOOOOOOOOOO

**cowboyz** · 30th September 2007, 21:11

fantastic stuff. would have bene awesome to follow you around but alas. not to be. Congrats on doing taupo to ALKD without a latte break. You must have been hanging off the bike by the time you got there.