Great country this

**racerhead** · 14th January 2009, 20:05

Ok Ill explain a bit first.

Im from Ireland and only arrived in NZ last friday and spent the weekend in Auckland. My plan was to pick up a bike when I got here which turned out to be a Triumph Daytona 675 that I collected off Shaun Harris today.

I was meant to collect it yesterday but there were a few other things to be done first so Shaun offered to give me a bed for the night which was great after a few days staying in backpackers hostels. So this morning started off by getting a WOF and sorting out the insurance for the bike in New Plymouth.

Then about 2pm I was ready to hit the road and took off along the coast road towards Wanganui then headed towards National Park for a look and the roads along there were amazing and Ive never seen anything like it before. My destination was meant to be Taupo but I took a wrong turn which put a bit more milage up but again found some amazing roads that were so much fun.

Im in Taupo now and have done 630k's since I left New Plymouth and everyone of them k's was brilliant and I cant wait to get out on the road again tomorrow. Along the way I met a good few bikes including a group of 6 or 7 just outside Taupo so hello if it was anyone from here.

Oh ye aswell one small bad point, how to hell do all of ye deal with fresh chipseal??? I spent 20 minutes taking stones off everypart of my bike, I even had one stuck to my helmet.

Anyway just to finish off I just want to say a big thanks to Shaun Harris for sorting out the bike and the place to stay

and also to Dave at kiwibike insurance for sorting out my policy with a foreign licence.
Keep an eye out for me on my travels because Im loving being back on a bike again

**Clivoris** · 14th January 2009, 20:11

You are so right. It is a fuggin awesome country. Glad you like it and thanks for the reminder. Enjoy the trackdays you have planned mate and will see you at Manfield on Sunday.

**jrandom** · 14th January 2009, 20:14

Originally Posted by racerhead

... so hello if it was anyone from here.

These days it is, more often than not, I find. A KB sticker on one's bike starts a lot of conversations.

Originally Posted by racerhead

Oh ye aswell one small bad point, how to hell do all of ye deal with fresh chipseal??? I spent 20 minutes taking stones off everypart of my bike, I even had one stuck to my helmet.

Kerosene melts the tar.

Originally Posted by racerhead

... a big thanks to Shaun Harris

Yes, he's a mad wee bastard, but we all loves 'im. He seems to know how to ride a motorcycle, too.

Originally Posted by racerhead

also to Dave at kiwibike insurance

A very Good Cunt (tm) indeed. Who also knows how to ride a motorcycle. And chided me over the phone a couple of bins ago when I called to claim, because he'd ridden through the same road a couple of days beforehand and had some moments but managed to avoid falling off.

Originally Posted by racerhead

Keep an eye out for me on my travels...

Will you perchance be in Taupo on Saturday?

Warms the cockles of me heart to see you enjoying the place. It is great, innit. Welcome.

**beyond** · 14th January 2009, 20:18

Weloc0ome dude.
Yep we have awesome roads.....shame though about the state of them Prepare yourself for melted tar, grit over the melted tar, fresh stone seal and you'll enjoy the fact that often it's on the apex of blind bends without signs.

Makes for exciting riding

Enjoy your stay and the hotter it gets the worse the roads will get so keep her shiny side up mate.

**piston broke** · 14th January 2009, 20:21

Originally Posted by racerhead

Ok Ill explain a bit first.

Im from Ireland and only arrived in NZ last friday and spent the weekend in Auckland. My plan was to pick up a bike when I got here which turned out to be a Triumph Daytona 675 that I collected off Shaun Harris today.

I was meant to collect it yesterday but there were a few other things to be done first so Shaun offered to give me a bed for the night which was great after a few days staying in backpackers hostels. So this morning started off by getting a WOF and sorting out the insurance for the bike in New Plymouth.

Then about 2pm I was ready to hit the road and took off along the coast road towards Wanganui then headed towards National Park for a look and the roads along there were amazing and Ive never seen anything like it before. My destination was meant to be Taupo but I took a wrong turn which put a bit more milage up but again found some amazing roads that were so much fun.

Im in Taupo now and have done 630k's since I left New Plymouth and everyone of them k's was brilliant and I cant wait to get out on the road again tomorrow. Along the way I met a good few bikes including a group of 6 or 7 just outside Taupo so hello if it was anyone from here.

Oh ye aswell one small bad point, how to hell do all of ye deal with fresh chipseal??? I spent 20 minutes taking stones off everypart of my bike, I even had one stuck to my helmet.

Anyway just to finish off I just want to say a big thanks to Shaun Harris for sorting out the bike and the place to stay

and also to Dave at kiwibike insurance for sorting out my policy with a foreign licence.
Keep an eye out for me on my travels because Im loving being back on a bike again

careful what you say about our lil ol country.

we are probably more loyal to our home than the a merkins.
you gonna give us a swelled head.

best of fortunes,

**racerhead** · 14th January 2009, 20:22

Originally Posted by beyond

Enjoy your stay and the hotter it gets the worse the roads will get so keep her shiny side up mate.

Yep noticed that when it started raining around lake Taupo the grip was alot more consistent because no more melted patches.

And actually that was another thing the bike has conti race attacks on it and they handle the wet very well considering how litte grooves they have

**Swoop** · 14th January 2009, 20:29

Welcome matey!

Just watch out for areas of unswept grit that the "repair crews" like to leave on the roads for us. Normally in a corner...

**EatOrBeEaten** · 14th January 2009, 20:33

Seconded. I just got my bike today, and have spent the day navigating Auckland's roads O_o. Taking the bike out the city next week, I can't wait

Really looking forward to getting to know people off KB as well

**Motu** · 14th January 2009, 20:51

290 posts in less than a week - I hope you are not leaving a trail of bullshit for other people to slip up on....

**jrandom** · 14th January 2009, 21:03

Originally Posted by Motu

290 posts in less than a week - I hope you are not leaving a trail of bullshit for other people to slip up on....

Eh? You talking about mister racerhead? I think you missed something:

Join Date: 17th November 2008
Total Posts: 291
Posts Per Day: 4.98

And you're not that far behind him yourself:

Total Posts: 8,124
Posts Per Day: 3.86

Fair bit of long-term posting consistency there, old chap!

**racerhead** · 14th January 2009, 21:18

Originally Posted by Motu

290 posts in less than a week - I hope you are not leaving a trail of bullshit for other people to slip up on....

Originally Posted by jrandom

Eh? You talking about mister racerhead? I think you missed something:

Join Date: 17th November 2008
Total Posts: 291
Posts Per Day: 4.98

And you're not that far behind him yourself:

Total Posts: 8,124
Posts Per Day: 3.86

Fair bit of long-term posting consistency there, old chap!

Ha 290 posts in a week would be a bit much alright.
When I was at home in Ireland it was too cold and shitty to do much else other than post up stuff but Ive been a bit quiter latley because its warm and sunny and I have a bike now so less talk more riding