Touring NZ on sportsbikes?

**VTRRR** · 1st January 2008, 18:10

i did the southern cross, that cost about $1500, but i would suggest getting heated hand grips for the south half, they kick ass.

**jafar** · 2nd January 2008, 10:33

Originally Posted by MSTRS

SM touring NZ?? Will someone please make sure that the gate at the Bombays is closed.

Sure mate , just as soon as he has passed through it

**Chad** · 2nd January 2008, 21:32

Meh, just did Picton - Nelson - Lake Rotoiti - Back to picton at xmas, four hours in the rain with an open face helmet and goggles on my CBR250. No worries, just crank up the iPod and think about sunshine

Although rain on your face at 150 when passing hurts like a B@#%*!!
But again, look on the bright side, ya don't get thirsty

**sunhuntin** · 2nd January 2008, 21:43

Originally Posted by Chad

Meh, just did Picton - Nelson - Lake Rotoiti - Back to picton at xmas, four hours in the rain with an open face helmet and goggles on my CBR250. No worries, just crank up the iPod and think about sunshine

Although rain on your face at 150 when passing hurts like a B@#%*!!
But again, look on the bright side, ya don't get thirsty

i wear a "dickie" [canadian term] which is essentially just a skivvy with the neck and part of the chest and back cut out. when its wet, i simply pull it up to my eyes, do the helmet up and then roll it down however far. you need to thread the ipod phones up inside it otherwise they will get pulled up. only major downside is when all the gaps are closed up is that glasses fog up big time.
put it on first to make sure it doesnt get bunched, and then put your other gear on over the top. ive got a wool one.
works a treat at protecting the face from rain, provides some liquid when going long haul, and means you dont have to breath in cold air.
cheapest way to do it is buy a skivvy from the op shop and let rip with a pair of scissors, lol.

**Chad** · 2nd January 2008, 23:27

I have a buff which I had pulled up most of the time, and that stops most of the impact, although eventually its like trying to breath through a damp cloth, bit rough so I'll def need to find something better, but a good pair of goggles make a big difference aswell. I've got a beaut pair of vented anti-fog snowboardin goggles, and they really do never fog and since they're well vented, once you're movin a little cold air keeps my specs from fogging up aswell. Otherwise I have to say I quite enjoy the rain and bein buffeted around in open helmet

All about the journey

**sunhuntin** · 2nd January 2008, 23:45

ive got goggles, but they are so scratched up that i cant see jack through them anyways, lol. need to get a decent pair, but until then, safety glasses will do the trick.

**TOTO** · 10th January 2008, 22:18

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

... it is entirely possible on a 250. im planning to one day to cape reinga to bluff and back on the 250 virago...

Are you ready for 40km gravel road on a road bike

? coz you know the last 20 km to the cape are exactly this - gravel. And lets not forget that when you go there , you need to come back

. If you are alregic to gravel then better go somewhere else...

my 2c

**RC1** · 10th January 2008, 22:20

Originally Posted by TOTO

Are you ready for 40km gravel road on a road bike

? coz you know the last 20 km to the cape are exactly this - gravel. And lets not forget that when you go there , you need to come back

. If you are alregic to gravel then better go somewhere else...

my 2c

arent they sealing that now ?? i thought it was underway??

**Grub** · 10th January 2008, 22:35

Originally Posted by yungatart

There is absolutely nothing worth seeing or doing in HB, and our roads are shit too, so don't bother coming here.

Goddammit woman, you beat me to it. I was just reading the thread and when I got to the end was going to tell the same story about Wellington!

**Grub** · 10th January 2008, 22:45

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

i wear a "dickie" [canadian term] which is essentially just a skivvy with the neck and part of the chest and back cut out. when its wet, i simply pull it up to my eyes, ... {snip} ... and means you dont have to breath in cold air..

Ummm ... wouldn't it be easier to buy a fullface helmet?

**pritch** · 11th January 2008, 10:12

It's a nice idea you have there Mark but most people break the country up into manageable bits and do the whole thing over a series of holidays. That way you only have to come up with a couple of grand (or less) at a time for the big ones, and weekends away can be done for much less.

There are things anyone needs to know about touring, there will be books in the library (free), touring stories in magazines, and on KB. It's less painful learning by the mistakes of others. Some things though you will probably have to discover the hard way.

While in the early phases of developing your touring expertise you may have some "adventures". Better to have these on a short holiday than have something unforseen wreck a major undertaking.

You have time to come up with good plans and things like this are good to ponder on winter nights. If you don't have it, see if you can afford a copy of the Motorcycle Atlas while it is still in print. If that isn't even a remote possibility PM me and I'll see if I can find someone who has a spare...

You could use a sports bike but it would require compromises on your part. You would be better off in a number of ways if you had a bike, and accessories, designed for touring. Or at least sport touring.

You have already discovered that sports tyres don't last long, a reasonably comprehensive tour of the South Island will pretty much cut out a rear tyre. Just another thing that needs to be budgeted...

The better prepared you are the more enjoyable a trip should be. If in the event you are underprepared it shopuldn't be because you didn't have time...

**MTW** · 11th January 2008, 11:01

Originally Posted by skidMark

Hey all.

i want to do it on a sportsbike... ie zx6r or similar maybe zx10r. worst comes to worst, the model bike thats always been there for me would be my trusty steed , the mighty zxr250, but in reality i think it would be too hard on a 250.

I did heaps of riding around the North Island on a RZ250 and GSXR250 in the early 90's, when I was younger and the thought of hours in the saddle on a 250 sportbike excited me.

Go for it on the 250 if that's what you want to do. I certainly look back on my rides with the 250's with just a pack rack & tank bag and the photo's and have great memories of some REALLY good times.

**Rosso** · 25th August 2008, 22:49

Hi, just upgraded to a Suzuki S50 800 Boulevard from a VL250 which was a great bike to come back to the real world on, but want to see some more of this great country of ours now I'm a pensioner who intends to " grow old disgracefully"
Looking forward to doing Coromandel soon as the weather improves, Have heard thers a good circuit starting at Thames.
Can anyone enlighten me on places to stop over not tooo expensive
Cheers
Rosso

**Rosso** · 25th August 2008, 22:51

:Hi, just upgraded to a Suzuki S50 800 Boulevard from a VL250 which was a great bike to come back to the real world on, but want to see some more of this great country of ours now I'm a pensioner who intends to " grow old disgracefully"
Looking forward to doing Coromandel soon as the weather improves, Have heard thers a good circuit starting at Thames.
Can anyone enlighten me on places to stop over not tooo expensive
Cheers
Rosso

**pritch** · 26th August 2008, 10:10

Originally Posted by Rosso

:Can anyone enlighten me on places to stop over not tooo expensive
Cheers
Rosso

Ummm I had to look up Whangaparaoa on a map to find where you are.

If you used the Kawakawa Bay, Kaiaua route to Thames and on it'd make a really nice ride. I don't know how many kilometres that is but it looks like a day ride - even if you did have to cheat and ride home up the motorway...

Leave early, and don't wait until the holidays because the road fills up with caravans and fizz boats.

And do it before Maurice Williamson builds his toll bridge at Kopu(?).