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Thread: Joy of not being limited by gravel

  1. #1
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    Joy of not being limited by gravel

    Firstly the title implies that gravel stops road based bikes. Rubbish we have all done silly dirt roads on road bikes with super sticky [sealed] tyres. Any way what I mean is having the right tool for the job improves the experience. For me today was an awesome experience of not having that nagging feeling of ruining good quality $$$$ road tyres or the worry of wrecking $$$$$ plastic on a supersport. Covid is not all bad. GET OUT AND SEE WHAT'S ON YOUR DOORSTEP!.

    This little KTM 390 single is unbelievably fast on seal, wearing it out to the edge of the sidewall, and a breeze on gravel. A day out, exhausted, cracking into the wine to celebrate. Life is good.

    Frustrated that friends with adventure bikes aren't making the effort to get out and use them as intended. From Kapiti the Wairarapa has been the common destination. Today I went north, flicked over the Piahiatua track and out towards Pongoroa. Now I've done Masterton to Pongo to Akitio beach many times and Makura Gorge on road bikes but today I could enjoy taking side roads off seal. Waihi Falls- Shit a brick what a beautiful spot and the farm back roads were so much fun to get there.

    Akitio-Pongoroa Coast road southward was a stunner. Disappointedly it was more sealed that I expected.
    Oh yeah if you look closely at the southward view along the Coast road that is [I think] Castle Point sticking up like an erection where the land touches the sea.

    Sadly only met one motorcyclist all day at Pongo. he had ridden down from Hawkes Bay for a day ride- good man! On a 1000 V2 Suzuki adventure thingly magingy.

    When most of the world is slipping further into Covid misery we can get out and live normal lives. I will drink to that. oh, I am.
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    Happiness is a means of travel, not a destination

  2. #2
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    I've NEVER used these sticky tires you speak of.

    458kms today on the XF650.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bonez View Post
    I've NEVER used these sticky tires you speak of.

    458kms today on the XF650.
    Well done for getting out and riding all day. Share some pics. Good road, bad road?. All that R&D money spent on building bikes was not for them to sit in a garage gathering dust.
    Happiness is a means of travel, not a destination

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by MD View Post
    Well done for getting out and riding all day. Share some pics. Good road, bad road?. All that R&D money spent on building bikes was not for them to sit in a garage gathering dust.
    Only pics I took were of Mums new headstone. All good sealed back country roads. Did 80kms on road I've never ridden on before. Small patch of gravel on Burma Rd. About 100kms of night riding.

  5. #5
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    Bugger night riding. Bike lights are useless in daylight and even worse at night. Or maybe it's my aging eyesight. Nah, they were useless when I had hair.
    Happiness is a means of travel, not a destination

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by MD View Post
    Bugger night riding. Bike lights are useless in daylight and even worse at night. Or maybe it's my aging eyesight. Nah, they were useless when I had hair.
    Bike lights generally are crap at night.

    And far too many cars with driver side lights which have failed

    READ AND UDESTAND

  7. #7
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    Riding at night is a piece of piss now I'm not using my glasses. Use to get double reflections when I did wear them.

    Led lenses are available as well as accessory led lamps. Or you can put an led bulb in and just swap it out at WoF time.

    You see cars have things called headlights and tail lights and they are very visible at night.

    Just saying....

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by eldog View Post
    Bike lights generally are crap at night.
    ...but can be made good...
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  9. #9
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    Took a long weekend last weekend, Thurs to Tues. Went all down the west coast of the NI Raglan to Awakino, inland a bit through Kiwi Rd, slogged the rain on Friday to Wellington. Sunday was Martinborough and north up through Puketoi etc, Minginui and Waikaremoana on Monday, then Motu to wrap it up on Tuesday before the hike back to Auckland. Good times!
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jane Omorogbe from UK MSN on the KTM990SM
    It's barking mad and if it doesn't turn you into a complete loon within half an hour of cocking a leg over the lofty 875mm seat height, I'll eat my Arai.

  10. #10
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    Just adjusted the led driveng lights on the XF650 to a better position. I tested them last night with the headlight disabled.
    The difference is quite clear. The left led has been adjusted while the right led is in the position both were last night.
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  11. #11
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    That Kiwi rd is a nice little adventure! But the Motu gets a bit scary when you meet the empty logging trucks charging up it!
    Only a Rat can win a Rat Race!

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gremlin View Post
    Took a long weekend last weekend, Thurs to Tues. Went all down the west coast of the NI Raglan to Awakino, inland a bit through Kiwi Rd, slogged the rain on Friday to Wellington. Sunday was Martinborough and north up through Puketoi etc, Minginui and Waikaremoana on Monday, then Motu to wrap it up on Tuesday before the hike back to Auckland. Good times!
    nice we did this one weekend after dropping daughter at auckalnd airport,went the same route.At one point i think the gps reckoned the road didnt go through(heading south after bridal veil falls) but it did.some awesome views along there

  13. #13
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    Somewhere in the Wirerapper.....
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  14. #14
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    That's the story, good to see folks posting up some pictures of their rides. Nice one Gremlin that's a rough looking road.
    Happiness is a means of travel, not a destination

  15. #15
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    Somewhere in the Manawatu.
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