Riding from Palmerston North to Auckland... Should I?

[Ocean1]

A 250 is perfectly capable of a cruise like that, no worries there.

Question is are you? We can't answer that. If you feel seriously threatened by the idea then consider saving it for another day.

Having said that, if you post a route and a rough timetable I'm sure you'll get company for some bits, or at least for the odd coffee stop.

That should help break the ride up into manageable sized bits, it's also a good way to get intelligence about local conditions.

PS: I've got FAR more regrets over things I didn't do than those I did. Good luck.

[Str8 Jacket]

Why?

GN's can use ALOT oil. Looks like its full one min and then empty and BANG the next. I know of a couple of people its happened to with GN's on long distance travels so I like to warn people. It may not be a prob for Stella at all though!

[davereid]

Your bike is quite capable of the trip, and you are too !

I have taken a 50 cc bike all around NZ, and it was a suzuki, so your 250 will blittz it. (People ride smaller bikes around the world.)

Check tyre pressures, oil amd the basics before you go.

If you have a reason to come to Levin call in at my workshop, and I will check them all for you.

And you as a learner ?

Of course you must have your brain in the ON position. Let the 1/2wits in the Subarus pass. Keep around the spped limit when you can, keep well left if you can't without inviting camper vans to own your bit of the road.

Just check your oil every time you get gas.

It wil be a great trip, try not to get worried about it.

Put a Mods ph No in yer Ph, Chancey is a good chick and she has suggested her number.

Get a flattie ? Txt her. Worst case - you meet another KB rider.

You will get caught in the rain. You will wish you had got gas at the last gas station. You will hear noises from the engine that are not there.

And you will be sure the bike is handling funny, and check your tyres again.

And when you get back you are a real biker.

You don't need a Harley or a Hayabusa to be a biker. Ride around the world on a 250 sherpa - dozens have done it. That makes you a biker. Ride a GN250 as a learner the length of NI and back - you are a biker.

Ride a $40,000 to the Hog meeting ? Ask me again later !

But remember... you are in a community, even if you ride alone, there is a KBer close but most of all.. DO IT... HAVE FUN... BE SCARED... LOVE IT !

[Stella]

Wow, you guys are amazing!!! The offers of help just blow me away I very much like the idea that a txt to one person can start a thread on here and get help on its way. Such a cool idea.

I do feel quite able to do the ride. I also feel grown-up enough to take breaks etc and not try to get there in the shortest time. It is just the unknown things: what if I come off etc. of course that is always a risk but I would be far from anyone I (actually) know who could come and save me.

It could be cool meeting a few of you along the way.

[chanceyy]

Wow, you guys are amazing!!! The offers of help just blow me away I very much like the idea that a txt to one person can start a thread on here and get help on its way. Such a cool idea.

I do feel quite able to do the ride. I also feel grown-up enough to take breaks etc and not try to get there in the shortest time. It is just the unknown things: what if I come off etc. of course that is always a risk but I would be far from anyone I (actually) know who could come and save me.

It could be cool meeting a few of you along the way.

that is why I have started a phone list from kbers all round the country .. never know when someone might need a hand .. & esp with the reg riders from the manawatu area

to anyone around the country if you do not mind your details being held I have started quite a comprehensive phone list for the manawatu riders .. if you wish your number to remain private .. no problem only myself & two others have access to the master list & we can be contact by cell pretty much 24/7 and we would contact you directly with the bikers details for you to contact them .. or if you do not mind your details showing we have a list that is handed out to regular manawatu riders ..

only details I hold is first name & any phone numbers you wish to provide (cell or home phone etc)
so PM me if you want to add your details to the "list"

[Swoop]

It could be cool meeting a few of you along the way.

Now you're getting the idea!

[Rockbuddy]

stella what days are you looking at, sounds like an adventure maybe I or someone can come down from aucks and do the ride back with you, e.g say come down on the sat and do the ride back to aucks with you on the sun, it will only take 6-8 hours including fuel and food stops. I did auck to welly and spent 10 hours doing it on my 250 no sweat

[rainman]

go through feilding and up through rewa/vinegar hill on the way.

What tyres do you have on the GN? If it's wet, vinegar hill could be a bit "interesting" with the stock plastic ones.

'Tis a good ride though - I picked up my Marauder from down that way and rode it back home to Auckland over two days, with a stop in Tauranga. I'd been riding a GN for a while but it was the first time back on a bigger bike for a long while. Vinegar Hill was quite a bit of fun, good lookout on the way - you can see about half the country from there on a clear day.

The only bit of the trip I didn't like was the last stretch into Tauranga, because it was late, there were roadworks all over the place, and I came in on a road I wasn't familiar with (the 36 into Pyes Pa)...

[cowboyz]

you will be fine. Auckland is not as far away as you might think and doign it over 2 days you will be fine. A little common sense and not being afriad to ask for help will get you 99% of the way there. If I didnt have so much work on I would escort you up there. Have fun and dont stick too much to any timetable. Just enjoy the ride.

[Nagash]

Good luck for the trip,

I've done it before on my 250 except I was in a train with a few cagers but I reckon you wouldn't be hard pressed to find others around to help you.

I live up in Auckland so I won't really be able to assist you but I can wish you the best of luck and agree with most of the things already said.

Take it bit by bit, if you get tired or sore there's nothing stopping you from pulling into a cafe for a coffee. And yeah.. you will think there's something going wrong with your bike or it will feel different or whatever whatever but that's just because you haven't ridden the poor thing sucha distance before.

Good luck and have fun with it

[crashe]

Stella - just go for it..... have faith in yourself and you will be fine.

Before you set out, check that all is well with your bike. (Tyres and oil etc etc)
Also make sure that your luggage is really secure on the back.
Make sure that your cell ph is also fully charged before you head out.
When you stop to refuel the bike, have a wee stretch and grab a bite to eat or have a drink.

I rode my virago 250 from Auckland to Palmie North in Dec 2006 in one day and stayed overnight before heading to Wellington for Bruce's (Loosebruce) funeral.

It was easy as, that ride..... I did stay on SH1 all the way.
Keep an eye open for roadworks along the way and stick to the speed limit on the tight twisties when going throu the Desert Rd.

What day are you likely to be heading north....?
Maybe a few can also escort you up from Hamilton up to Auckland throu the motorway traffic to whatever area you are heading to in Auckland.

All the best on your trip north.

[tri boy]

send me a PM, I will pass on my mob#.
Chancey will vouch for Kanny and myself.
Got a fold out couch in Hamtown, some reasonable bike knowledge if it's needed, and have access to a trailer if the Ginny throws a hissy fit.
Te Kuiti to Huntly, we got ya back.
(if Kanny is available, Bumble the Volty might be ya waikato wing man)

[chanceyy]

send me a PM, I will pass on my mob#.
Chancey will vouch for Kanny and myself.
Got a fold out couch in Hamtown, some reasonable bike knowledge if it's needed, and have access to a trailer if the Ginny throws a hissy fit.
Te Kuiti to Huntly, we got ya back.
(if Kanny is available, Bumble the Volty might be ya waikato wing man)

yup totallly vouch for both tri-boy & kanny .. (pm me ya cellie Brent I can add it to me weeeeeeeee big list)

[tri boy]

PM sent.......

[chanceyy]

PM sent.......

Cheers matey .. got ya details down .. see you both again soon