Enjoying the bike.

[Kiwifruit]

Been having a great time over the Christmas, New Year holiday period. Started off with a ride to the Whanganui Street Races on Christmas day. Weather wasn't great with rain much of the way, not that it worried me too much as I stayed dry inside my Scott rain gear. Good racing, staying with old mates and having a laugh. Went from the motel to the track in their van. I get to the track and realized I'd left my phone charging on the bike. So I get to the ticket booth to get a pass out and ask where can I get a taxi back to the motel. This guy behind me says "mate I will give you lift" I turn round and there stands a Policeman. Never been in the front seat of a Police car before. He took me to get my phone and then back to the track. That's what I call great PR, and a nice fella to boot. He reckons the twin turbo Skoda wagon is real quick but prefers the more solid feel of the Commodore. Had a good ride home in fine weather.

[Kiwifruit]

Couple of days later and I'm off on another jaunt this time down through the central North Island from Taihape to Napier staying in a Dept of Conservation Camp about halfway along 'The Gentle Annie' fabulous road with amazing scenery and then into the Wairarapa. Been a while since I last went tenting on the bike. Panniers and topbox make taking all the camping stuff a breeze. The tent won't fit in the boxes so I have a Givi hold all which I recommend, they have eyelets which make it easy to secure to the bike and still let's you open it without the bungee cords being wrapped all over. Just stick it on the pillion seat and we're good to go. The 1400 has so much room it's a pleasure to ride with all the gear not cramping you at all. Think we did around 1100kms, visited the place with the longest placename in the world. Just the once for me will be enough on that one. Went to a beautiful beach at Porangahou and even had a swim in the surf. Had lunch at Mangaweka, the DC3 no longer there. Used to be a bit of a Kiwi icon but I'm told it's going to be restored to fly again. Some of those minor roads really let you see the damage done by the big storm we had nearly a year ago. Massive slips on forestry and farmland, big bites out of the road that have just disappeared down hillsides. Roads still had lots of gravel as there is just so many repairs still to do.
These bikes make riding easy, there was a bit of traffic about as you'd expect this time of year but overtaking is effortless and in the main the other road users were well behaved.
The best time away I've had in a long while.

[Roo]

I haven't been to Wanganui since about 2000.  Watched a little bit Sunday on Ch3 sport.....Some of the races only had 8 riders !!!!!!!
Bit different to the 70's /80's  ?   Me on right, front page Wanganui Chronicle and No12  on left ,start of 410 prod race.

[Kiwifruit]

Yesterday out with four other fellas for a bit of a blast around some back roads and across some of the dams nearby. Left at 7.00am and back home by 2.00pm, think the ride was about 330kms. Pleased I had the offroad Michy 6's on as I had a big slide after some goose had left a load of gravel all over the road, maybe they're an adventure tyre ?? Anyway I have decided I like them, I have confidence in them.
So they have been my adventures over Christmas and the New Year. Really enjoyed being out on the bike, she didn't miss a beat. Still enjoy the compliments I receive from other riders about the 1400. It certainly serves us well and provides a level of enjoyment that I find rewarding in a modern day life that has its twists and turns.
Looking forward to getting the blood pump reconditioned next week, that's providing not too many others have jumped the queue. So was nice to blow the cobwebs out as I'll be off the bike for a wee while.

[Kiwifruit]

Yes Roo it's not what it was. The fellas I stayed with make that TV footage, has done for a few years now, it's not as big an event as in times gone by. Both fields and crowds are down.
When you were racing 410 Proddy class did you ever come across a fella called Stu Burdett, he was a good friend of mine. I'd be surprised if he were not in that photo.

[Kiwifruit]

Some snaps

[GSXKING]

Great report & pics Col.
Glad you had the opportunity for some fun prior to the heart rebore 🙏🙏🙏 wishing you a speedy recovery 👍🏍�🏍�

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Carpe Diem

[Roo]

Yes Roo it's not what it was. The fellas I stayed with make that TV footage, has done for a few years now, it's not as big an event as in times gone by. Both fields and crowds are down.
When you were racing 410 Proddy class did you ever come across a fella called Stu Burdett, he was a good friend of mine. I'd be surprised if he were not in that photo.

Yep remember the name,  I grew up with the Hiscocks in Stokes valley .Started racing about the same time as them .  I think Stu would remember me ? As a young married fella the 410 class was great,competitive and cheap.... lol  That 78 boxing day was when the white 400e's arrived I think,made the 350B hard work.

ciao Gaz    (Garry Newlands).

[Roo]

Just re read the post, good luck with the pump mate, I'm getting a knee done in just over a week ?  unless I get the cancel call    lol.

Riding tomoro in case it's the last for a little while... G xxxx

[KiwiCol]

Best wishes for your op Col & yours too Roo. 

Hey Roo, I see you have Trevor Kirby identified in one of the pic's, I used to work at Firestone at the same time as he did, (he had his bike shop as well though, Budget Motorcycles or something similar) I had a locker directly opposite his.  I recall discussing & wanting to buy his CB750 he'd done up for racing, but I was young & newly married with a house etc etc, so it never happened.

[Roo]

Best wishes for your op Col & yours too Roo. 

Hey Roo, I see you have Trevor Kirby identified in one of the pic's, I used to work at Firestone at the same time as he did, (he had his bike shop as well though, Budget Motorcycles or something similar) I had a locker directly opposite his.  I recall discussing & wanting to buy his CB750 he'd done up for racing, but I was young & newly married with a house etc etc, so it never happened.

Yeah mate, small world huh ?  Trevor Kirby was Budget MC spares I think Chch. His nickname was "agent orange".  Didn't do the Nth Is much being a Ruapuna man.

[Rynglieder]

Glad you're managing to enjoy the bikes down there.

I'm itching for some sort of run out but the weather is holding me back, it's hard to get motivated. Still, spring should only be about 10 weeks away.

[grog]

Roo and Col, best of luck with ops. 👍👍

[Kiwifruit]

Cheers grog