Auckland to Taranaki and back on a GN250?

[ynot slow]

Recall going up the Waitotara Valley Rd years ago,seemed to go on for ages,place we stopped at had to go over the river by flying fox,great views.

[Hitcher]

Recall going up the Waitotara Valley Rd years ago.

The Waitotara Valley Road is the longest no-exit road in the North Island. From memory it's just over 60km from the township to the gate at the end.

The South Island's longest no-exit road is from Te Anau to Milford, at just over 120km.

[Rosie]

Awesome! Great to see other people doing longer trips on their 250's
How did the mighty GN manage on the gravel? If you can get comfortable with short stretches of well maintained gravel (even if you're only doing 30km/h) it opens up a lot more interesting back road options.

[Choco]

good to see you are home was beginning to miss you!
soon you will be escorting me home
and about that ride... once this cast comes off (and i can use my clutch better) we will be doing a loop somewhere got a nice bit of road and twisties to try that GN on!

KEEN!

Recall going up the Waitotara Valley Rd years ago,seemed to go on for ages,place we stopped at had to go over the river by flying fox,great views.

I know OF a flying fox across the river but I don't think you could put a bike on it :P About 45km of it is sealed, single laned and after that its all gravel. GREAT road to commute to work on for a month

The Waitotara Valley Road is the longest no-exit road in the North Island. From memory it's just over 60km from the township to the gate at the end.

The South Island's longest no-exit road is from Te Anau to Milford, at just over 120km.

I remember someone telling me that a while back! I've probably ridden it about 20 times :P

Awesome! Great to see other people doing longer trips on their 250's
How did the mighty GN manage on the gravel? If you can get comfortable with short stretches of well maintained gravel (even if you're only doing 30km/h) it opens up a lot more interesting back road options.

My GN was fairly good on the gravel actually, on the straights you can speed up a bit but I was fairly careful on the corners (Bin on that road and you might have a problem). I got bored one evening on went off on one of the side roads which ended up being a twisty 40km trip all on gravel (some better bits better than others) and the only bits that particularly freaked me out were the wildlife and corners that camber down towards the river!

[Swoop]

A very good write-up!
Well done on your trip and I hope you learn't heaps from it as well as earning heaps from it!

Just one small thing:

• Hi-Vis Vests; for long distance trips when you might start making mistakes I think they are vital. They are also great for bad weather conditions when black gear will not show up!

I believe there is a seperate thread for this.

[Choco]

A very good write-up!
Well done on your trip and I hope you learn't heaps from it as well as earning heaps from it!

Just one small thing:

I believe there is a seperate thread for this.

yeah, I know about the tread. Thanks for the comment!

[Swoop]

yeah, I know about the tread. Thanks for the comment!

I imagine the standard tread would have been challenging on the farm paddocks?

[Rosie]

My GN was fairly good on the gravel actually, on the straights you can speed up a bit but I was fairly careful on the corners (Bin on that road and you might have a problem). I got bored one evening on went off on one of the side roads which ended up being a twisty 40km trip all on gravel (some better bits better than others) and the only bits that particularly freaked me out were the wildlife and corners that camber down towards the river!

Always look where you want to go. On the straights you want your weight back, and have a fairly loose grip on the bars. On the corners, scoot your weight right forward and hold onto the bars firmly. Lean forward and stick your elbows up in the air as well, if you want to look like a pro

[Choco]

I imagine the standard tread would have been challenging on the farm paddocks?

It was actually pretty good on grass! There hasn't been any rain down there recently so it was dry.

Always look where you want to go. On the straights you want your weight back, and have a fairly loose grip on the bars. On the corners, scoot your weight right forward and hold onto the bars firmly. Lean forward and stick your elbows up in the air as well, if you want to look like a pro

...weight back... ...loose grip... ...elbows up to look pro.... Got It!

[Blue Velvet]

This is that steep grassy bit I was talking about. The picture doesn't really show how damn steep it was.

It was actually pretty good on grass! There hasn't been any rain down there recently so it was dry.

Nice write up, and nice office! Respect to you for taking the GN off road

Your steep grassy bit reminds me of this time I was riding off road with a few mates. We found a residential development that had lots of tracks winding off into nothingness/gorse/long grass. One track was a steep, rutted, piece of shit goat track with large gorse bushes growing on/beside it (yay, prickles), and at the bottom it opened up a bit and the rutted dirt turned into long, wild grass.

One evening we decide to go back. Had some oarsome laughs when the DR650 my friend was riding was too heavy to get up the damn track and ended up in the gorse. Then it starts to get dark and we all get frustrated trying to get up this steep, grassy slope which is now wet with dew. Farking hell. We all got out, but steep grassy slopes covered in dew are not FTW. Heh.

[Choco]

Nice write up, and nice office! Respect to you for taking the GN off road

Your steep grassy bit reminds me of this time I was riding off road with a few mates. We found a residential development that had lots of tracks winding off into nothingness/gorse/long grass. One track was a steep, rutted, piece of shit goat track with large gorse bushes growing on/beside it (yay, prickles), and at the bottom it opened up a bit and the rutted dirt turned into long, wild grass.

One evening we decide to go back. Had some oarsome laughs when the DR650 my friend was riding was too heavy to get up the damn track and ended up in the gorse. Then it starts to get dark and we all get frustrated trying to get up this steep, grassy slope which is now wet with dew. Farking hell. We all got out, but steep grassy slopes covered in dew are not FTW. Heh.

Yeah, I knew that if it rained while my bike was parked off road I wouldn't be able to get it out, so I had some rope and stuff so I could make a Bivouac if the worst came to the worse :P

[deanohit]

Awesome effort man! Have you seen this Thread?
Basically a GNwith different body work, could be some ideas for you now you've found how fun gravel is!

Got any ideas for where/when? I also see that Deano is planning a 250 corro loop soon....

Come along, the 250 rides are always fun.

[Just beGiNing 250]

Wow Great post.

Im buying a GN250 hopefully this weekend, first time ever riding on the open road. Youre an inspiration

[YellowDog]

Hats off to Chocolatewheels - Top man!

[Choco]

Wow Great post.

Im buying a GN250 hopefully this weekend, first time ever riding on the open road. Youre an inspiration

Wow thanks! Maybe we can organize a GN ride sometime as your in my area
Enjoy your GN, I sure have!

Hats off to Chocolatewheels - Top man!

Thanks for the comment YellowDog!

Just in case anyone is interested, I might end up doing a 250 Corro loop with Deano on Saturday, "Corro Loop and back on a GN250?" may be born due to it :P Still going to have the L-plate on too!