As mentioned in KF's thread, I took the R3GT for another loop ride, with an overnight stop in Kaikoura. Thought I'd share some of the pic's I took along the way. Actual distance covered was 785k's not 730 as Google suggests, it'll be the detour.
Here's the route:
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First pic is lake Rotoiti in St Arnaud (en route to Blenheim from Westport)
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I'll have to do consecutive posts to fit the pic's in.
Just out of Blenheim, hills are dry & vineyard in foreground
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Looking towards Weld Pass
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Through the pass & out onto the Kaikoura coastline
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And finally parked up for the night. Huge room as it was all they had left, downside was it came with a huge cost too!
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Looks rather nice there Col
Next morning gassed up & headed off, Kaikoura bay as seen from the Pier
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South Bay marina - Whale Watch boats in the background.
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Bit further along the coastal road, you ride / drive for over an hour beside the seaside along here.
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A rest area I paused in, caught up to a convoy of trucks, caravans & ,cars so thought I'd stop & let them get a bit ahead, much prefer riding the twisty Hundalee's without being in a convoy of cages.
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Through the Hundalees' and up through the Leader road & I went into fog / low cloud. Damn cold & damp, bloody freezing actually, got chilled right through. Just got out of the thick fog & a bit of sun & there below is Waiau - and more fog! Stopped at Waiau for a breakfast pie & pic.
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Pic outside of Brendas' tearooms, coincidentally my avatar pic of the Black 14 is taken in this exact same spot many years ago. Now there's a Triumph Rocket 3 GT there instead.
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There was a "detour" at Rotherham which took me miles off course & onto many k's of rough coarse gravel road, I think it was the base course for a new road surface because of how rough it was & the clay mixed in with it. They were grading it too. It wasn't the best surface for the rocket to be on, but we got there, dirty but unscathed.
Heading to Lewis Pass just passed the Hanmer turn off, no more fog now, just a clear sky & temps are warming up slowly, but I'm chilled right through by this stage.
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Top of the Lewis Pass, the Blue 14 was here 5 days ago, now the R3's turn.
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Last fuel stop in Springs Junction, still cloudless skies. This is looking back to where I've come from, the V in the hills is where Lewis Pass is.
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This one is looking towards Nelson. Stunning day for in here, often cloudy & wet.
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Quote from: KiwiCol on Saturday, 22 March 2025, 07:12 AMThere was a "detour" at Rotherham
Very different to the original Rotherham!
Nice ride report and pics KC
Great pics and write up Col.
How's the big girls tyres holding up ?
Not sure what style of tyres best suit a beast with lots of power and a fair chunk of weight.
I found your NZ roads not as wearing on the RT we rented which could also indicate much cooler road surfaces.
Great story and pics Col. Top job👍
Same cloudless skies we've enjoyed Col. So much of the ride south into Kaikoura is posted at 80kph. Frustrating but so cool riding along the coast.
Great pics :onya:
The tires have just clicked over 10,000k's. The front (150/80-17) is about ½ worn I'd say, the rear (240/50-16) is about 3/4 worn now (from new) I've been looking at the edges on the rear & the cobra head pattern has gone as has most of the 'snake skin' pattern. The rubber off the tires edge collects on the number plate, I saw it & wondered what it was, closer inspection revealed it to be rubber 'grinds' stuck to it. They're good tires these Cobra Chrome. Apparently they were made for / in conjunction with this specific bike. They run at 42psi front & rear.
Road surfaces would be cooler for sure, but they're probably also much coarser as well. Mostly they use a tar & chip method for road surfaces, where it's ashphalt it's always much nicer & smoother. Like the AKL - HLZ motorway, nowt like that on the west coast.
Potholes & repairs is something I noticed a lot of on the latest round trip. Rough uneven surfaces, no relaxing when riding here.
Cobra Chromes are what I run on my HD too, excellent long lasting & grippy tyres.
Thanks !