Manawatu weekend rides

[Meanie]

I haven't had my greatest day ever.

Just out of Taumaranui I got stuck behind some slower traffic and lost sight of Banditrider et al. And then going up a hill on some recently resurfaced seal (with hot tar providing little grip to the stones, so each bike was leaving a sparse fantail of gravel behind them) my bike broke it's drive belt.

I was eventually picked up by the TEC vehicle, we loaded the bike onto the trailer, and kept on trucking. Got to Stratford, the bike was secured at one of the bikeshops there (the owner's a Lions member) and I managed to get a lift home (in a car) with a couple from Palmy who'd been in NP yesterday and had hung around in Taranaki as the wife's parent's were on the ride.

I think this bike's trying to break my heart. I'm going to arrange to get it transported back here in the next couple of days, at this stage I'm planning to park it in the shed and leave it there until sometime in March when I might be able to afford to fix it again.
I am sure there is a chain conversion available for the belt drive, might be worth looking into

Oh crap mate that sucks, two belts in such a short time
Trade it and buy something with a shaft drive cause our roads seem to be getting worse every year

[Elysium]

Not too bad. New seal just after the 1st 2 tight corners on the way down the hill and then again after the one lane bridge (on that magnificent left-hander). Desert road still shocking.

And still the mounds of metal on the side of the road with no road workers in sight?

Well anyway I started to pack a bit to see how much I could fit into my pack, turns out not a lot for a 51 litre capacity. But luckly I just scored a 35 litre Ventura pack off Trademe not long ago for $100 so hopefuly it will arrive before Friday and I can zip both packs together.

I think this bike's trying to break my heart. I'm going to arrange to get it transported back here in the next couple of days, at this stage I'm planning to park it in the shed and leave it there until sometime in March when I might be able to afford to fix it again.

Dam that aint good at all. Is a Harely chain replacement a big job?

[Bonez]

Bit of bad luck Horse. Have you considered a chain conversion?

The bike suits you to a T.

[yod]

dagnabbit, that's the shittiest of shite luck Horse, sorry to hear it man

[cowboyz]

that seriously sucks. Cant believe it!

[sinfull]

And still the mounds of metal on the side of the road with no road workers in sight?

Well anyway I started to pack a bit to see how much I could fit into my pack, turns out not a lot for a 51 litre capacity. But luckly I just scored a 35 litre Ventura pack off Trademe not long ago for $100 so hopefuly it will arrive before Friday and I can zip both packs together.


Dam that aint good at all. Is a Harely chain replacement a big job?

Only a little more than a belt replacement !!!!

that seriously sucks. Cant believe it!

Working tommorrow or ya keen to show a few honda riders the way round manfield ??

[cowboyz]

Only a little more than a belt replacement !!!!

Working tommorrow or ya keen to show a few honda riders the way round manfield ??

i have to go to work. looking after my bike at the moment cause I got a big trip coming up so laying off trackdays right now. have fun out there

[sinfull]

i have to go to work. looking after my bike at the moment cause I got a big trip coming up so laying off trackdays right now. have fun out there

Prolly wont be able to ride much unless there's someone there with tyre changing gear, think i done them in today !
Wont mention my knees here lol (think i done them in last weekend)
Just making mention of the track day to try and drum up some custom for em (sorry mate figured you would be at work but ummmm it's tag and you were it lol) Sorta like, if no one shows they might not do it again and thats just wrong !
Sooo as a plug it goes like this !
There is a "Slight" chance of getting some informed info, from a not a bad sort of rider down at manfield morra !
Along with a team of coaches, some bloke by the name of Slight will be on hand to help any (learner road riders to racers) that may want a little advice or help !

[Owl]

Unbelievable Horse! Make you want to get a quote from Anza and send it to Transit NZ?

[Horse]

Thanks for the kind words, I'm fairly gutted atm.

BR - would have phoned/txted, but there's no cell coverage of any kind along the Forgotten Highway, except on a few hilltops, and certainly wouldn't have reached you in Whanga.

Bonez - yep, I really love the bike, I love the way it looks, the way it sounds, the way it rides, it just doesn't seem to want to love me back.

Owl - such a thought did cross my mind today.

Thing is, something like a 1/4 of the bikes on the ride today were probably belt drive, not just Harley's but also like the Kawasaki VN900 the TEC vehicle had to pick up a bit after mine (with a flat tyre). They all went over that same patch of crappy seal, I just drew the lucky number and broke a belt.

[86GSXR]

Yeah Horse, that's really bad luck, I feel for you. Is there such a thing as a chain conversion? May make sense if there's a reason for two belt breakdowns in a row.

[Owl]

Thing is, something like a 1/4 of the bikes on the ride today were probably belt drive, not just Harley's but also like the Kawasaki VN900 the TEC vehicle had to pick up a bit after mine (with a flat tyre). They all went over that same patch of crappy seal, I just drew the lucky number and broke a belt.

It'd be worth going over the belt guards and looking to see where stones are getting through. It may be possible to modify the guards or fabricate something from acetal or nylon sheet to eliminate gaps and weak spots!

[NZsarge]

[QUOTE=banditrider;1906101]Man it was hot out there!

Yeah it was a warm one but from from the roads that we rode the tarseal was'nt as bad as it has been.

Doug and I had a good ride. Called into Barrys and was introduced to Mellisa. Decided to go right instead of left at the Apiti T intertection. 10 kms of unsealed bit before you come out at Rangiwahia. Needless to say Doug was swearing an curesing at me Met up with a chap on a black SV1000 (ezirider) there who waited for us at Ashhurst, but left around 5 minutes before we got there. Thinking we'd missed him he headed up west valley rd to Apiti so the SV was a bit dusty and the chain needed a bit of lube lov'n. Doug to the rescue. Also met a nice couple at Mangaweka on a silver Bemmer and 90s CB400/4(non v-tec project big one). Mentioned about the Friday night rides, so may have another couple there at some stage.

Left the DC3 and toodled (with the SV1000 in tow) down the SH then onto Hunterville, Fordell, Turikina, Marton, Makino rd home.

Had a nanna nap then went around to Douge and Robins for dinner. Nice and cool now so am tempted to get out again.

Nice, sounds like you had a great day.

I haven't had my greatest day ever.


I think this bike's trying to break my heart. I'm going to arrange to get it transported back here in the next couple of days, at this stage I'm planning to park it in the shed and leave it there until sometime in March when I might be able to afford to fix it again.

Mate, bad news about about the drive belt, sound if you can find a chain conversion it might be the way to go eh..

[Monamie]

Sorry to hear about that Horse-I think Owls idea of up-grading/adding some kind of guard might be the ticket. The Beastie has a small guard under the belt, but I have found tar and small stones stuck up in there so it is only a matter of time until it happens to my bike

[Elysium]

I spoke to a mechanic at City Honda today and we talked about belt drives and he said it's so common for belt drives to snap if a stone gets flicked up by the wheel and into the guard.

Is this the reason the major manaufactures haven't converted to belt drive?