2008 SME newbees' ride. Sat 12 January. Meet at Botany BP 10am.

[PirateJafa]

Evidently you haven't been out there before.

The road to Kawakawa consists of a coupla klicks of windy roads with a cliff on one side and rocky beach on the other. The road is approximately half a metre wide for each lane, and you have to be careful around corners because the cars pretty much always cross the centreline up there.

On the bright side, with a bit of enticement I suspect we could work our way over to the twilight road - one of my favourite stretches of tarmac out that way!

[trump-lady]

lol it's basically the bike parking on symonds st at the uni


if you were a student (being a student orientated club) you'd know, but that doesn't matter

i recall trumplady having some difficulty too lol

Hey dont make fun!
Im directionally challanged, always get lost, but I know where the gym is now.........I just gotta work on getting there on time

[ital916]

Well i'll take it as people will be meeting at the gym then lol I'll be there for nine fifteen if im coming *ill post on fri if i am*. Lol i'm sure it will be a fun ride but please take into account noobs and their abilities *sorry to be emphasizing* but on a few of the rides I've been on, there have been some hairaising moments! As in open road riding at the moment i'm comfortable at 80K...sorry guys but thats what i'm comfortable at and i'm not gonna push it so yeah see you all on saturday nine fifteen at the gym hopefully.

[PirateJafa]

Apparently there are roadworks on the Twilight Road, so scratch that idea.

[MGST]

Well i'll take it as people will be meeting at the gym then lol I'll be there for nine fifteen if im coming *ill post on fri if i am*. Lol i'm sure it will be a fun ride but please take into account noobs and their abilities *sorry to be emphasizing* but on a few of the rides I've been on, there have been some hairaising moments! As in open road riding at the moment i'm comfortable at 80K...sorry guys but thats what i'm comfortable at and i'm not gonna push it so yeah see you all on saturday nine fifteen at the gym hopefully.

Yep see you at 9:15. Yay someone else to be a nana with me I'm not a noobie, just that my bike is more comfortable at 80ish than 100ish.

[motorbyclist]

i'll be on an fxr, so we'll see how much punishment i think it needs on the day - might go TEC or just hang around with you newer riders rather than blowing the engine up trying to keep up with the bigger bikes

remember there is very little skill in going fast in a straight line; it's the corners that count

and going slow and not crashing is a bazillion times better than going fast and hurting yourself/ruining your bike

[Maverick]

I also have a ride going on Saturday, mine starts out at Shell Westgate, 10am, its a good ride for newer riders as long as you are comfortable riding at open road speeds (100kph) as required. Check out the calender on the main page (top right) if you want more info

Mav

[Badger8]

Hey guys, i'm keen to tag along gotta scrub in the new tires, so will be keen for pootling along and taking it easy with the 80 k'ers (of course i only do 70kph on my L plate officer )
Was looking to head that way anyways, so worked in perfectly. Will see y'all at the botany BP. Is that the one on the corner as you go left on Chapel Rd, before the 70k zone?

[Macstar]

Hey guys, i'm keen to tag along gotta scrub in the new tires, so will be keen for pootling along and taking it easy with the 80 k'ers (of course i only do 70kph on my L plate officer )
Was looking to head that way anyways, so worked in perfectly. Will see y'all at the botany BP. Is that the one on the corner as you go left on Chapel Rd, before the 70k zone?

Yep that sounds like the right gas station. Catch ya there!

[Winter]

God i wish i could ride! how long does it take for bones to knit! Have fun yall!

Its beaut out that way. Just don't end up on the rocks like some other poor chap did.

[Badger8]

Biker down on the way home (NOT me before you start yelling NOOB! )

I left the bunch after Kaiaua and headed for home back through the twisties toward kawakawa bay (The GN wasnt gonna keep up on the straight roads ahead, and i'd had my fill for the day). Pootling along and a Bandit pulled up, then overtook me and the two cars in front on the final straight stretch before the real tight twisty patch just before kawakawa bay. I passed the cars, and lost sight of him as he went into the first right hander. Came round the corner to find the bandit up the bank, and the rider sitting in a tree.

Pulled over, and by the time i was off my bike and walked up the bank he was vertical. Pretty shaken, helmet hit the trunk firmly, and knee hit a branch, but okay all things considered. Minimal damage to the bike which surprised me. He'd managed to keep it upright till the last second, so didnt skid far or flip. Broken front left indicator stalk, and casing came apart, but reassembled and indicators still worked. Gear shift bent back 180 degrees under the footpeg, but managed to use a spanner and a whole lot of muscle to get it back to a workable angle. Pick the grass and sticks off, and she was looking pretty good.

Had to laugh at his comment "Shit, better not tell the missus about this, she'll try and make me sell it"
"Nah mate, you didnt crash, some idiot backed into the indicator moving his bike around in the carpark. And the gear shift always looked like that "

Funnily enough he was happy to sit in behind me doing nana pace back toward botany after that. Led him through suburbia to the motorway, and sent him on his way.

Glad to see you're okay mate, and take it easy out there eh?

[Badger8]

Thanks for a great ride y'all! Would've loved to have carried on with you, but the ol GN just aint much cop on the wide open rd's, it would've been dark by the time i got home!

The new tires are scrubbed in nicely now, only a baby chicken strip left on each side on the back now

Couple of photo's from the stops.

[Ragingrob]

2nd photo, 2rd bike from left, is that a matt black CBR?? it's my twin!

[ital916]

Hey guys, it was a great ride out there! Got some great experience and got the boot scraping at one point lol WOOT! had some hairaisings moments but luck and learning from past mistakes prevailed lol experience is gained by doing eh. Only major one was up in the kaiaua twisties went wide and ended up in the opposing lane but was quickly back in my own. Learnt a lot today, big thanks to ixion for sticking with me and helping me out. Changed the fork setup, she still handles like a dream but a little less aggressive. Big ups to motorb *dare i say it for want of his ego exploding, but i'd say he's a pretty darn good mentor with things bike related* and macstar *with his look of if i ever hear bout you binning again i'm gonna confiscate your bike...and race it round lol one more in the garage eh .* Anyway time for a chill eh, might go catch the new aliens vs predator movie, supposedly mindless shit...sounds great then haha *anybody else keen to go catch it tonight...always more fun when a group starts throwing insults in the theatre*

Peace out

Drider

[PirateJafa]

Great ride, beaut weather and a fun route. Can't really ask for more.

Rear wheel was making funny noises as I pulled into the garage, so I think I'll have a look at it. Me'n Stephen might not have had it quite centred after tightening the chain.

I suspect I might go stand under the garden hose first though - DAMN it is hot.