Biker down in Haast (7 January)

**Maha** · 8th January 2007, 16:31

Originally Posted by DEMONICST8

I need to know who this guy is, My mate is touring down there, from auckland, 34, on a silver 250.
how can I find out???????????

They said on the news yesterday that ''the motorcyclist was on a group ride and was from Auckland''....Hope the outcome is good DEMONIC....

MD · 8th January 2007, 18:58

I think some of you are being a bit harsh expecting the others to baby sit each other. Sad though it is, I've been on many long bike trips especially around the Sth Island. Splitting up, either in smaller groups, or just individuals deciding to wander a different route on a whim for a while is not unusual. All leaving a gas station or from a coffee break in unison is also not a requirement. The smokers stop here there and everywhere, the rest of us push on. Agreed we try and rendevous at night or atleast leave cell ph messages with one of the 'other' party. Sounds like they were reasonably quick to take action once he didn't show in Wanaka.
R.I.P. a lonely part of the country to be lost or broken down.

**quickbuck** · 8th January 2007, 19:13

Good points there MD.
While returning from the Brass we used to split up for all sorts of reasons, and for most of the day too (just to see bits we wanted to see, and others didn't etc). Lovely country down there, and challenging.

RIP to the fallen biker.
Sad to hear of another loss of somebody doing what they loved.

**Drum** · 8th January 2007, 20:35

RIP mate. What a bugger.

**paturoa** · 9th January 2007, 06:32

The Police have released his name http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/...ectid=10418258

Originally Posted by Herald

".....He was Rodney Edward Baker (34), a warehouse supervisor, of Mangere, Auckland.

Mr Baker had travelled from Auckland on a motorcycle tour with two companions, who reported him missing on Friday night. Senior Constable Robin Manera, of Haast, said it appeared Mr Baker died when he failed to take a bend and went over a cliff at Clarke Bluff.

RIP

**doc** · 9th January 2007, 06:39

Originally Posted by ajturbo

there was a young man found in the buller gourge...17 YEARS after he crashed... still on his bike...
lets hope the biker just went home!!!

i would hate to try and find ANYONE down there...

Crikey he would have been cold.

**denill** · 9th January 2007, 07:14

Originally Posted by Jantar

It comes back to one of the basics of group riding - Unless you are TEC, always keep at least one head light of another rider in view in your mirror. If you lose sight of any headlights then slow down and if after a few seconds there is still no sign then stop, wait a few more seconds, then turn back. Whoever had your head light in their mirror will do the same etc.

Firstly, extremely sad and sincere sympathy to relatives.

Secondly. Yes Jantar! You are one hundred % right! But, don't ever expect that to ever happen in a group of more than two. I know it should work but it just doesn't.
I recall admonishing a rider who failed to stop at an intersection, so that he could direct the next rider in the right direction. (The consequences were considerable) His reason for not stopping was, "I thought the rider in front of me might not stop at the next intersection"??

Originally Posted by Jantar

That way no-one is ever left behind.

Including TEC.

**Indiana_Jones** · 9th January 2007, 07:48

http://www.stuff.co.nz/3922140a11.html

"Motorcyclists in general are educated and not fools. They are aware of risk; no-one has their head in the sand and people know if there's a challenging situation."

"Foreign riders said New Zealanders were fantastic riders with high skill levels, he said."

Well I guess they're not saying "bad bad bad bikers!"

-Indy

**DEMONICST8** · 9th January 2007, 08:12

For all you people wondering his bike was a Silver Honda Magna 250
He was a very close friend, we worked together 5 days a week and meet up on weekends to drink and talk about bikes.
He was a member of these forums, his name was grey ghost
He will be missed

**denill** · 9th January 2007, 08:30

Originally Posted by DEMONICST8

For all you people wondering his bike was a Silver Honda Magna 250
He was a very close friend, we worked together 5 days a week and meet up on weekends to drink and talk about bikes.
He will be missed

This is going to be tough on family and people like yourself who knew the poor guy.
Life is just not fair - enjoy the bit that you get.

**car** · 9th January 2007, 08:47

Originally Posted by Indiana_Jones

http://www.stuff.co.nz/3922140a11.html

"Motorcyclists in general are educated and not fools. They are aware of risk; no-one has their head in the sand"

I'm not convinced. Many of us are aware of the risk in the same way that the general public are aware that the chances of winning the lottery are exceedingly low -- i.e. without any realistic grasp on how the statistics and probabilities will relate to them, as an individual.