Paradoxical day, glad then sad.

[The Duck 01]

Hi All this Rodney Hides understudy Again, Warewolf only told us half the story again about the new 07 Tiger and it's marvealous off road abilties on The Molesworth Highway[yes it is pretty easy]

As a teller of the truth one said 07 Tiger came out of this road with wait for it not one but Two bent rims

I guess as a ferret i just happen to come across this information and as any good stirrer one has to bring this to the attention of the wider biker world

So there you go BEWARE THE DUCK IS ALWAYS ON THE LOOK FOR THE NEXT STORY.

[oldrider]

Picture 1. Hello Tiger, :spudwave:

Picture 2. Good bye TransAlp.

Picture 3. Buller Gorge.

Picture 4. Karamea pub.

Picture 5. Formerly, the Blackball Hilton.

Picture 6. The bike and the bloke that started it all.

I arrived at Thunderbikes to find that the Factory side boxes for the Tiger have been sent by ship instead of air freight and will take five weeks to get here.

After a bit of too and frowing they decided to lend me a set of Givi 36litre side boxes until the new ones arrived.

I then sold them the T/A as a trade in and proceeded to finalise the purchase of the Tiger.

Went to the bank for a bank cheque only to find there was no money in the account despite it having been deposited well in time for it to be available to draw on 28th.

No new bike, no old bike, no transport out to my sisters house at Ruby Bay!

Thunderbikes generously lent me my old bike for the night.

Next day money problem sorted by bank and bank cheque issued for Thunderbikes and Motorsport, bike payed for and paper work completed.

All set to swap belongings into the loaned Givi boxes put my own top box on the Tiger and tie on the tent and bed roll and we will be on our way.

Not so, small problem, some one had broken the keys off in the box locks!

Late Thursday afternoon, locks fixed but only one dicey key available but hey we can at least take our new bike and depart!

I rode out to my sisters and dropped most of my gear off, put the necessaries into the top box and went off for my initial ride on the Tiger. (alone with my new bike at last)

Where to go? Upper Takaka to visit my old Cobb power station friends.(good idea about 100km each way, just nice)

As I have mentioned elsewhere, the ride over the Takaka hill and back was the most satisfying I have ever had, the tiger was absolutely brilliant, as close to orgasm as you can ever get without actually having one. (sex with a "cat" and loving it, how kinky is that!)

I have ridden (and driven) over that hill many times, on many different bikes but the tiger was the best combination of power and balance I have ever experienced, it was just bloody brilliant.

Grinning broadly I returned to my sisters a bit later than intended, had my tea and then went off to visit my nephew and hopefully, time permitting, Jen (MyGSFX) and her kids.

As I turned into my nephew's shared driveway and turned slowly past his neighbours car, it's reversing lights came on and I tried to sound the horn but was unable to locate the button on the new bike and in doing so began to lose the bikes balance.

I went to place my right foot down but the hero knob on the foot peg hooked up in my boot top and by the time I shook it loose the bike was too far over for me to get back on balance!!!

It took me all of my strength to hold the bike and lower it as slowly as I could to the ground. Yes, I dropped my new bike and hit the kill switch but I was still trying to stop the silly old cow from running it over as well.

My nephew stopped the old girl from backing over the bike but she just drove off oblivious to my plight while my nephew and his partner helped me get the tiger back onto its feet.

Luckily I had decided to buy a set of crash bars from Thunderbikes and have them fitted as part of the deal and the only damage was to a little bit of the paint on the bars so as far as I am concerned they have paid for themselves already.

So by the time I had checked the bike over, visited the family with their new baby and said farewell it was too late to visit Jen and her family who actually didn't live more than a few short blocks away.(Sorry Jen)

The next day I met KB'r Keith the Pom in Richmond and had another friend (in a shop) to visit while he went to the bank!

After lunch we set off for Westport and at last I was actually on my way with my new Tiger purring like a kitten, I was beginning to think it was never going to actually happen.

Keith and I went to Westport, Karamea, Greymouth and then to the Formerly the Blackball Hilton for an interesting stopover.

In the morning Keith went on his way to Hanmer and I rode on down via Moana, Athurs Pass, Lindon road, Rakia Gorge, Geraldine, Timaru, Waimate and up the Waitaki Vally to arrive home at approximately 6:00PM.

I was on the lookout for Kiwibikers making their way home from the March Hare but didn't see any unfortunately.

I have now got enough miles on the clock for the first warranty check and service so am off to Dunedin in the morning to get it done.

Am I pleased with the new Tiger? You bet and I expect it to get better as I get to handle it the way it should be handled, good things take time the cheese maker says. I think I agree with him but how much time have I got? Cheers John.

[Ruralman]

It looks great and I for one am relieved you are loving it as much as you do - some of us gave it a rather big recommendation!
Looks like you've had a good trip after a slightly shaky start and I look forward to seeing you and the new beast in the flesh down here sometime soon.
How are the footpeg positions compared to Marks bike???

[warewolf]

not one but Two bent rims

I think Triumph are trying too hard to emulate KTM...

[MyGSXF:Me]

Awesome writeup John!! Sounds like you sure had ya share of trials too though.. Was looking forward to seeing ya.. but never mind.. next time!!! She sure is a purdy puddy tat for sure!!! & I bet she purrrrs!! We Leo's do..

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jen

[fleethaul]

John heading home after the 1000m Service

http://www.oamaru-pharmacy.com/oldrider.html

He is a happy man.

Jeff

[oldrider]

John heading home after the 1000m Service

http://www.oamaru-pharmacy.com/oldrider.html

He is a happy man.

Jeff

Boy was I worried about fleethall posting that video, it looks much better control than I really had on that take off!

I am still like a baby albatross learning to fly when starting off on the damn thing, all flapping feet and feathers until I get my feet up and underway.
(it is a very tall bike for me at standstill.)

The initial power is more than I can handle at take off sometimes because the T/A was higher geared and you had to slip the clutch and put the power on to get away, I forget that this thing just goes, right up the rev range, with, or without me, if I am not careful!

Well that is the first 1000 mile check and tune completed OK and I'm ing it more each time I ride it!

I notice it seems to like to volunteer to shoot for 70mph/112kph @ 5000 rpm

Of course I can not condone that and force it quickly back to 60mph/100kph @ 4000 rpm

Discipline (not smacking) is essential on our roads at all times. Cheers John.

[oldrider]

It looks great and I for one am relieved you are loving it as much as you do - some of us gave it a rather big recommendation!
Looks like you've had a good trip after a slightly shaky start and I look forward to seeing you and the new beast in the flesh down here sometime soon.
How are the footpeg positions compared to Marks bike???

Ruralman,

I am getting used to the foot peg positions and have no trouble riding the bike all day because it is quite comfortable all round and doesn't seem so cramped now.

The foot pegs are in a direct line with where I put my feet to the ground at standstill and the hero pegs dig into the tops of my boots and are a bit of a pain really.

Being a tall heavy bike, the foot-pegs force your legs wider and exacerbate the height problem even further and the hero pegs just make things plain dangerous, I am thinking of removing them altogether.

Mrs O/rider finds the pillion pegs force her legs up like a jockey on a horse but we are going to give it a chance to see if she can get used to the change before I alter them to suit her.

We are going to ride over to Wanaka and back this weekend to try it out.

I could of course just massage her legs until they fit the bike but I think I have left that option too late. (Viagra are the blue ones arn't they?)

We may have to send the seats to MacDonald's (Rider Seats) in Tauranga and get them remodeled to suit our needs like we did the T/A.

Mac has already sent me some ideas of some (Tigers) that he has done. Cheers John.

[oldrider]

Just learned today that my trusty TransAlp has been sold by Thunderbikes and so ends the paradox. (good riding to the new owner)

I know the new owner will have a good run with that bike and I am settling in with and really enjoying the new Tiger. Cheers John.

[SDU]

Sweet looking bike John!

She sure is well & truly yours after all the kms & dropsie you must be right at home with her now.

I know what you mean about the peg thing- I have bruises on my calves from where my V11 pegs rest when I put my leg down, but I'ld rather that then dropping it from trying to stick my leg out further
cheers
Sal