Tauranga Rant and Rave

**Ralph** · 12th January 2009, 07:40

Originally Posted by NUTBAR

st1300 first trip

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as some of you will know i have brought a st1300 after having the R1 for a year.
as much as i liked the short runs on the R1 i missed the long rides even more!
well my first long ride was this weekend.

0430, leave mount maunganui head to gisbourne through opotiki then the gouge, arrive for breakfast 0720, then headed to mahia peninsula, from there to napier for lunch, it was raining when i left the mount on & off till i got to gisbourne then it was blue sky all the way,
from napier it was off to taupo for dinner & a bed for the night.
sunday was off to rotorua, kawerau, whakatane, then home,
what an awsome ride, one of many comming up! just on 1,000kms.
very impresed with the milage of the st1300, got to gisbourne 283kms toped the tank back up $20.

congrats on the new ride bro. Did wonder how long the R1 would last before you traded her for somthing like the FJR again. After all try doing that 1000kms on the R1

**NZsarge** · 12th January 2009, 15:46

Please excuse the intrusion but I was hoping one of you lovely people might be able to furnish me with some information, I have driven the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula up as far as Whitianga a few times but i've never been on the western side, is the road surface nice over that side or is it a bumpy piece of shite?

Thank-you in advance.

**Ralph** · 12th January 2009, 16:04

Originally Posted by NZsarge

Please excuse the intrusion but I was hoping one of you lovely people might be able to furnish me with some information, I have driven the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula up as far as Whitianga a few times but i've never been on the western side, is the road surface nice over that side or is it a bumpy piece of shite?

Thank-you in advance.

Hey sarge, It's well worth the trip further if not all the way round. Down side is that a lot of the road when get to the west coast is 80km and a bit more traffic.
Road often has a bit of loose chip on it but bugger all and it gets a bit norrow in places, Personally I pay more attention to the scenery on that side. But that's just my opinion.

**NZsarge** · 12th January 2009, 16:36

Originally Posted by Ralph

Hey sarge, It's well worth the trip further if not all the way round. Down side is that a lot of the road when get to the west coast is 80km and a bit more traffic.
Road often has a bit of loose chip on it but bugger all and it gets a bit norrow in places, Personally I pay more attention to the scenery on that side. But that's just my opinion.

Cheers Ralph,
A bunch of us from down here are doing a road trip over Waitangi weekend which will include the Coro loop, expecting quite a lot of traffic. I'm pretty sure that we'll be going up the west side first which sounds like the way to go and enjoy the roads on the east later on in the day.

**toebug** · 12th January 2009, 19:06

Originally Posted by Unit

Nice Corro report their Toebug. Yep great roads alright. What was the tourist situation like?

Its wasnt too bad, the morning of the 5th was the worst.

Originally Posted by NZsarge

Cheers Ralph,
A bunch of us from down here are doing a road trip over Waitangi weekend which will include the Coro loop, expecting quite a lot of traffic. I'm pretty sure that we'll be going up the west side first which sounds like the way to go and enjoy the roads on the east later on in the day.

Check back a couple of posts for my experience there. Thames to Coromandel would be the worst of the roads as it is quite bumpy and pretty narrow in parts although the scenery is awesome. Coromandel to Tairua is my favorite with heaps of great twisties, Kopu/hikui road is cool as is Hikui to waihi.

**NZsarge** · 12th January 2009, 19:10

Originally Posted by toebug

Its wasnt too bad, the morning of the 5th was the worst.

Check back a couple of posts for my experience there. Thames to Coromandel would be the worst of the roads as it is quite bumpy and pretty narrow in parts although the scenery is awesome. Coromandel to Tairua is my favorite with heaps of great twisties, Kopu/hikui road is cool as is Hikui to waihi.

Sweet, yeah i've driven (but not ridden) the roads from Whitianga to Thames a few times now and I have to say i'm certainly looking forward to riding them finally.

**Unit:Me** · 12th January 2009, 19:31

Originally Posted by NZsarge

Sweet, yeah i've driven (but not ridden) the roads from Whitianga to Thames a few times now and I have to say i'm certainly looking forward to riding them finally.

Travelling from Tauranga as we do we never bother with the West side. The Witianga to Coromandel town is just like the rest of the east side, yummy yummy twisties. Take time out to enjoy a seafood lunch in Coromandel town, its fresh as it gets. The passes over the hills are really active riding, enjoyed at a variety of pace, type of bike and skill level. It's still a good hike from Coromandel Town to Whitianga, and a big day to do the whole loop but a very satisfying days riding.
Enjoy your trip

**NZsarge** · 12th January 2009, 19:36

Originally Posted by Unit

Travelling from Tauranga as we do we never bother with the West side. The Witianga to Coromandel town is just like the rest of the east side, yummy yummy twisties. Take time out to enjoy a seafood lunch in Coromandel town, its fresh as it gets. The passes over the hills are really active riding, enjoyed at a variety of pace, type of bike and skill level. It's still a good hike from Coromandel Town to Whitianga, and a big day to do the whole loop but a very satisfying days riding.
Enjoy your trip

Awesome comments, thanks alot.
Sarge.

**TONO** · 13th January 2009, 07:07

Originally Posted by NZsarge

Awesome comments, thanks alot.
Sarge.

I would advise you keep an eye out for bumblebee

type cars as they are giving the area hell, seeing 1/3 of all motorcycle ACC accident claims come out of that area. They are stopping motorcyclist and handing out safe riding tips as well as checking you and your bike out.

It appears that the locals are particularly happy

about it as they are sick of speeding through low speed built up areas.
They were very present over xmas & have heard they will continue through this year particularly on holiday weekends.

**shafty** · 13th January 2009, 08:28

Can recommend the Tapu Tavern on the west side, in the settlement of Tapu - just look for the TUI signs - nice garden bar

**Matt Bleck** · 13th January 2009, 10:16

Originally Posted by TONO

I would advise you keep an eye out for bumblebee

type cars as they are giving the area hell, seeing 1/3 of all motorcycle ACC accident claims come out of that area. They are stopping motorcyclist and handing out safe riding tips as well as checking you and your bike out.

It appears that the locals are particularly happy

about it as they are sick of speeding through low speed built up areas.
They were very present over xmas & have heard they will continue through this year particularly on holiday weekends.

Time to head for the East Cape & the Waioeka Gorge!!!