Rimutaka Hill claims another bike. Ripped in half!

[MD]

I came across another bike crash on the Hill today, about 2.30pm heading up from Wgtn side. A near new RSV in two pieces.

Firstly, I hope the Rider is OK and best wishes for a speedy recovery. I heard from some other Riders that the Rider was up and walking but looking very pale. I wouldn't post this if I thought he was seriously hurt or anything. The Ambo was leaving when I turned up.

Anyone heading up watch out for the bike's oil spill on the 2nd right hander as you commence the hill climb.

Only last week - not much further up the hill, I helped pick up a shiny new Harley where the Rider had gone over the Arco.

Seeing another possibly similar crash has happened today, not far from where I binned my VTR1000 into the gorse years ago, had me wondering just what is the toll of bikes damaged/written off on this 25 minute crossing over the years? Wasn't too many months ago a Speed Triple had it's front end ripped off (forks and wheel) just like today. Thank goodness I can't recall anyone dying on the Rimutaka hill.

A sobbering sight to come around a bend and see two forks and the front wheel jammed under the armco and no bike attached? The rest of the bike was further up the road on the other side of the road.

Personally I suspect loss of traction entering or exiting bends is the major cause of bikes crashing on this Hill. Often it's diesel/oil/stock truck spillage, damp roads, cold tyres or simply entering too hot, hitting the brakes and front or back wheel goes west.

Sorry about today's Rider, get well, as the road is actually in mint condition and fantastic to ride..ah, energetically, at the moment.

Take care out there. We are in for a long hot summer, lets makes the most of it.

[Meanie]

A few of the Manawatu riders came across it too, heading out to tea with them now, so no doubt they will fill in the blanks for me
Speedy recovery to the rider

[Slingshot]

That wee stretch of road is treated like a race track...if only they'd put a tunnel through then it could become a race track

I've heard of a rider a few years back that was heading into a right hander, his head over the centre line and had it collected by a truck. Not sure how much truth is in it but that was supposedly a fatality.

[98tls]

Damn,sure would be a horrible sight to come across,glad the guy was relatively ok.Used to live up in Wellington and sure do miss that hill.

[Katman]

Personally I suspect loss of traction entering or exiting bends is the major cause of bikes crashing on this Hill. Often it's diesel/oil/stock truck spillage, damp roads, cold tyres or simply entering too hot, hitting the brakes and front or back wheel goes west.

Personally, I suspect it's because motorcyclists like to use it as a racetrack.

[98tls]

Had the odd moment up there in the past,i i spent many days going up over in fact so many i guess i got cocky which as we all know can spell disaster.

[McJim]

Talking about stock truck effluent and diesel on corners some mad drifters have been carving up the Catlins. I was coming home from Scumdog's hoose today and every right hander had a scattering of gravel pushed out from the oncoming lane. Some hoon going from Papatowai to Owaka must have been cutting every corner and spreading death traps on the road.

According to Katman I'm so inexperienced and fast that I should have died about 20 times....I wonder what went wrong?

[James Deuce]

That wee stretch of road is treated like a race track...if only they'd put a tunnel through then it could become a race track

I've heard of a rider a few years back that was heading into a right hander, his head over the centre line and had it collected by a truck. Not sure how much truth is in it but that was supposedly a fatality.

That was a mate of mine many years ago. Belonged to the same bike club. His face is one of the reasons I prefer to wear contacts when riding. His helmet rotated over his head and the nose rests gouged two furrows through his skull.

[NC]

Binning into gorse! OUCH!!!!

Take care on the takas guys and gals

[Number One]

Hope the rider is ok and the bike is insured


The hill (especially on a windy day on the northern side of the summit)commands respect.

My only road bin was up there. New RG150 - with the shitty stock tyres on it it just started to rain and the road (as I discovered) was as slick as it looked...new to riding myself and in the passing lane going round a car on a long corner...all spelled hit the deck for me!

I remember years back a dude on a harley was killed coming down the southside..don't know the details just know that he didn't live to tell the story very sad. Gives me the willies everytime I ride it YET everytime I learn something and downhill riding is my archilles heel so more practise required!

[Fatjim]

25 Minutes!!!! You'd struggle to do it that slow with a coffee stop.

As for people dying, I know of only one, one I thought you'd remember although I'm pretty sure not first hand. I won't go into details, relatives are around.

[jimbo600]

Yeah I think most of us have paid the rent on that hill at some stage. Speedy recovery to the rider. Those first few corners are infamous for tripping up over exuberant riders. Especially in Winter.

[Hitcher]

We spotted that severed Aprilia today too. "Completely fucked" would be a fair description of it. Looks like a serious contact with the Armco happened at some stage, not to mention with the bank on the other side. If the rider is up and about, then he is a very lucky chap.

It surprises me how often riders overcook those early corners on the Wellington side.

[Sparky Bills]

Oh bugger....
Sounds like Rossi couldnt handle the pace of Stoner...

[Greyham]

He is going to be ok, he has been discharged from hospital with no serious damage, he is one lucky bugger. i know this because he is a mate of mine and i was riding with him.