OK, I win the contest for most lubricated chain. I've never seen the thing looking so clean.
So the adventure began for me by getting up a hell of an early on Saturday, after spending a few hours in my shed Friday night getting the bike prepared. Hit the road about 6.30am. Met up with Junkmanjoe in Masterton at 7.42am (the exact time I'd promised), and we quickly headed south. Had a hell of a good time over the Rimutakas. Got through to Wainuiamata just in time to meet the group. The bike was running sweet.
We headed off at a nice pace, and I was thoroughly enjoying it, when Marks had to stop because of exhaust problems. After having a good laugh at his expense, someone called out to have a look under my bike. SHIT!!!! OIL!!!!
Took the cover off the front sprocket, and the nut was almost fully wound off the shaft. The locking clip for the nut had shorn off the teeth that slot onto the spline thingy, so was spinning freely. I managed to tighten the nut as much as I could (without the correct spanner), and nursed the bike back to Wainui with Mark following. Just reached the outskirts, and Mark waved me down. Pulled over and the bike rapidly dumped the remainder of its oil in the gutter. BUGGER!!!!!!!!!!
Although the cover was stopping the sprocket from coming off completely, the sideways movement has either buggered the seel, or pulled the shaft out slightly. I was bloody lucky it didn't dump it's oil all over the back tyre on the Rimutakas.
Pushed the bike about 3 km to the gas station.Amazing what looks you get when you're pushing your bike down the footpath. The amount of people who laughed and asked if I'd run out of gas. BASTARDS!!!!
Mark turned up after trying to fix his bike. We were going through different options, when a young guy came up and asked if we were on that adventure ride thing. Once we explaned, he just happened to mention that his father was on the ride..........Howie. He kindly offered some shed space.
With the directions I was given, I think he must have been expecting me to ride my bike. I had to push the bike about 2 km to his place, going back some of the way I'd already come.
What a relief to have the bike safe. Thanks Howie. I'll send you a bag of sawdust for the oil slick.
Right, the bike was safe, now it's time to get myself out of there (thankfully minus a helmet and jacket also). Taxi over the hill to a train station. Found nothing heading north until 7.15pm. It was still early afternoon. Rung the Missus and she kindly offered to come pick me up. She wasn't keen on dragging a trailer over the Rimutakas though. Two and a half hours is a bloody long time to wait. Walked out to the motorway. By now my motorcross boots were killing me.
Got home to Dannevirke at 7.30pm. What a day. Ten minutes of adventure ride, and I didn't even get off the seal. Sounds like I missed the ride of the year also.
Thanks Marks for hanging around and helping out.
Thanks Howie for the shed.
Thanks Junkmanjoe for helping with bike retrieval.
Thanks a lot guys. You're all a bunch of good buggers.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by bart
though ... thanks Dave & Mark for getting the ball rolling & setting this most majical ride up ... had to bail after Riversdale on Sunday morning to get the 2pm ferry ... looks like I missed some serious action in the arvo ... next time
... best ride I've done for a while
I've never seen one of them before and all of a sudden they are everywhere.
Bookmarks