ACC Protest Ride

It was a last minute decision to ride into Wellington to see how many motorcyclists turned up at Parliament. First I went to Wellington Motorcycles and then headed to Parliament around 11.35am.

I parked in Molesworth Street outside the Parliament grounds and at that very spot were some Kiwibikers and local Ulysses members. There were about 500 motorcycles and mine was captured by TV1 for a news clip. I was in the right or wrong place.

TCWNR

The weather was kind after a lot of rain. I was the first at the Duck Pond but only had to wait a few minutes for the someone to turn up.

It was a good ride across to the Tin Hutt. I stayed a while and headed home at 7.42pm and arriving home at 8.41pm. The precise timing is now possible when using the GPS and downloading the track log.

Nice day to play tag and ride

There was a tag waiting to be collected in Thorndon Quay. At 11.30am I headed into the city to collect it and then posted a new one up the top of Newlands.

At 2.15pm I went for a ride up the Paikok hill road and back via Plimmerton, Greys Road and SH1. Arrived home at 3.45pm. The new rear tyre is now scrubbed in.

Rear Tyre

Replaced the rear tyre today with a Bridgestone Battlax BT016. Odo 7250.

The rear may have had another 1000kms left on it but with the possibility of a longer ride this weekend I didn't want to take the risk of it wearing out or getting a flat.

HD XR1200

I went into the city this morning to pick up a tag, deliver a package to the accountant and ride the HD XR1200.

The tag was easy and I submitted the claim via my mobile phone. I took the HD onto the motorway and into Johnsonville where I used the MC in a tag. The XR1200 is a nice bike and I liked the upright riding position and wide bars. 45 minutes later I handed the bike back - as a second or third bike I could use one of these.

On the way home on the Busa I called into Richardson Motorcycles and booked time for a rear tyre change on Thursday.

Akatarawa Loop

I left home on the dot of 1.00pm with no plan of where to go. When getting near to Paraparumu I decided to ride the Akatarawa road and have a look at the Rimutaka summit. That is what happened and I got home at 4.00pm having covered 152kms, according to the GPS.

Now I have ridden the Akatarawa Road I will not go there again without good reason.

Harley Rides

Wellington Motorcycles offered rides on the 2010 model HDs today. I got in there at 9.30am and rode three bikes before heading home at 1.00pm. The weather was bad, rain, some hail and a very strong cold southerly.
The group rides were along the motorway to the Churton Park off/on ramp and then back down the Hutt Road.
I rode:
Sporty 883 - I would never consider owning this bike.
Vrod Muscle - different, the front pegs were too far forward for me.
Dyna Fat Bob - I think this is what a Harley is with all the vibes and shaking. Pegs are also too far forward.

Next week I will see if I can ride the XR1200 and a Buell. The weather is going to improve.

Tag O Rama

Terrible weather today but there was a tag out there. It took a while to find the location in Google Maps but once found I knew I needed to go and get it before someone beat me to it during their lunch time break. It was only a few kms away.

Cruisy Wednesday

My first mid week ride this season. I arrived at the meeting point early at 5.50pm. At 6.30pm the group headed to Featherston. I stopped at the summit and then returned taking in the Haywards Hill and SH1 on the way home.
A nice quiet ride - very cold.

Tag O Rama

I did my first Tag ride today. The first was in the morning and I missed the tag so went and had a look around Wellington Motorcycles. In the afternoon I went back into the city to claim my first tag.

Then after getting home and posting the claim I went up the street and created a new tag. It has since been claimed.

This is a new excuse for going for a ride.