Lunch at Pongaroa

The Ulysses long ride this month was to Pongaroa. I left home at 8.45 to arrive at Brown Owl for a 9.30am departure.

Only 11 bikes turned up for the ride - I expected more as the weather was good after a few weeks of bad stuff. The ride to Featherston was as usual a free ride and I used this to carefully scrub the new rear in. It was a bit slippery on some corners.

The route to Pongaroa was: SH2 to Masterton with a refuel at Mobil, Te Ore Ore Bideford road to Alfredton. Regroup at Alfredton and then 50kms to Pongaroa. The roads were wet and there were areas of loose chip. This kept the speed down and especially on corners. Lunch was taken at the Pongaroa cafe. The cafe can be seen in the photo.

One rider and his pillion headed further up the road and onto Havelock North for a day or so. The rest (7) headed back on the Pahiatua Road (50kms) and then down to Eketahuna. I followed Steve (Busa) most of the way although a pesky Honda infiltrated for a while then it past Steve before giving up and stopping for a while (may have had a fright). Just past Eketahuna we turned onto the Mangaoranga Road to Mauriceville and then to Masterton via the Paierua Road This is a nice section of road, fast and interesting.

After Masterton we diverted to Gladstone so Steve could drop a parcel off at the pub. Then it was off to Martinborough via Ponatahi Road (middle road). This was a fast section of the trip and riding a naked bike meant I slipped to the back of the pack of five a couple of times. Too much wind at those speeds! Only sports bikes need to apply to ride with this group. A refuel was required in Martinborough and it was straight home.

Another great day on the Speed Triple and good company of experienced riders.


Stats from MC computer: 407.7kms, 6.4L/100km, 77kph ave, 1xxkph max. Odo 8655.

Almost a month since the last decent ride

The next long Ulysses ride is this Sunday, and where have I been on the bike? Last weekend a short ride out the the Hutt and today to the Red Baron (TSS) for a new rear tyre. That's it - I blame the weather.

The Speedtriple has just over 8200kms since returning from TSS. It will be interesting to see if this tyre retains its profile as it wears and if I get more kms out of it than the Pilot Power.

An excellent ride

This was the Ulysses long ride for the month. The plan was to leave from the Plimmerton Weigh Station at 9.30am and ride to Hunterville via Fordell. The ride home being left to individuals. The weather forecast was for little wind, clear skies, no rain and temperatures 17 - 19 during the day.

At 9.30am 21 motorcycles,two with pillions, left Plimmerton. It was an orderly ride with the first stop being the Mobil station at Bulls. This section of the ride was somewhat boring, just a ride to get to where the real ride would begin. The day was great though and as we got near to Bulls there was this great view in clear skies of Mt Ruapehu and then when we headed off from the stop in Bulls Mt Taranaki came into view as well.

The pace quickened when we left Bulls and I joined the end of the first bunch of bikes. A few riders went elsewhere at Bulls, maybe they went home? From the turnoff to Fordell the ride became interesting with a few more corners. Once past Fordell we were in real motorcycle riding country, except for the pea metal but more about that. I was following Steve riding his Busa and he pointed out the fence he claimed in his off from sliding on pea metal. There was still some pea metal there and at a tight left hander at the top of the next hill I slide. It happened so quickly, I was not going fast, the rear stepped to the right causing my left foot to go down on the road and then swing back with the calf muscle hitting the rear foot peg. It hurt a bit but the fright was worse. I didn't see that metal before hitting it. The bike just recovered and I continued on my way.

I stopped at the top of a hill 6kms from Hunterville and a few others joined me. Ruapehe looked great from this point. Hunterville was the lunch stop and I needed a rest. After we had refreshed ourselves the discussion turned to the options for the ride home. Steve had a plan which sounded good. It was to go to Mangaweka and ride down to Ashhurst via Ruahine Road,Kimbolton etc and then over the Pahiatua Track joining SH2 at Mangamaire.

We were 10 strong leaving Hunterville and I tucked in behind Steve in number two position. At Mangaweka we fuelled up and then went down this steep road into the gorge. What a marvellous road, the pace was brisk and while I try to ride my own ride I am comfortable following Steve who maintains a smooth pace and doesn't over-cook the pace on corners. A refuel for some in Ashhurst and it was off to the Track. Just before the turnoff to the track another rider moved to number one, he wanted more speed and soon I was chasing the tail of the Busa up the hill and feeling the rear moving around a bit as the power loaded up on exiting corners. I lost the two front riders near the top when a car held me up. There was a bit of metal on the Pahiatua side and that moderated speed a little until I was off the hilly bit. As I neared the bottom a couple of bikes caught me. The ride along SH2 was also at a good pace for a group. We stopped to refuel on the Masterton bypass.

We kept in a group until the Rimutakas where I dropped back from the front runners in slow traffic. The light was fading as I came down the Rimutakas and once in the residential area stopped to take the sunnies off. I got home at 5.40pm. The first part of the ride was organised by Ulysses. From Hunterville the ride involved ten riders, all who could keep a good pace and none did anything silly. The first part was the warm up to the main event.

This was a stunning day. The rear tyre looks like it could do another ride.

Stats from MC computer: 531.7kms, 6.34hrs, 5.8L/100km, 80kph ave, 1xxkph max. Odo 8100.

So long between rides

Tuesday night I took the S3 as preferred transport to the monthly Ulysses meeting in Petone. The last ride was posted here and was over three weeks ago. Since that ride I went away for the long weekend - without the bike, the next weekend it rained and last weekend I had to drive to Palmerston North and it was a nice day for the bike.

So on Tuesday I rode the S3. The exhaust back beat as I throttled back going down the hill to the first intersection reminded me why I love riding this machine. It was a sedate ride other than a good twist of the right as I entered SH2 just to hear that unique sound from the pipes and throat of the triple as the load and revs built. The meeting was okay with a new committee now running the show.

The ride home was enjoyable, not much traffic and a good pace along the water's edge as little traffic and nothing behind to worry about. She is a sweet machine and so willing to please.

A good ride is planned for this Sunday and I have already viewed the roads from Google Earth. By next week I think the S3 will need a new rear.

Ulysses Ride

The Ulysses ride today was a good one. There was a good turnout of 20+ bikes and a few with pillion. The weather was excellent.

The ride was to Gladstone for lunch. The route as via: Martinborough, Martinborough to Masterton Road and the water towers loop. It was a brisk pace and most enjoyable. The S3 is running very well - it seems to have improved engine performance and sounds great. I am impressed with the acceleration kick at the higher revs.

I headed home at 1.30pm.

Photo is Barry arriving at Brown Owl - just in time.

Stats from MC computer: 277.4kms, 3.3hrs, 5.1L/100km, 77kph ave, xxxkph max.

Sunday Haywards Hill Loop

The weather had not been suitable for riding most of the week and it rained on Sunday morning. Mid afternoon I went for a ride to Alan's in Harbour View and then we headed over the Haywards Hill to Pauatahatanui where we stopped for a coffee. At 3.45pm we headed back to Johnsonville via SH1 where I went home and Alan carried on to his place.

So that was the week - one short ride.

From FB to S3

This week I turned 60 and looked back to my first motorcycle. From 17 years to 60 years, a span of 43 years and from a Francis Barnett 200 to a Triumph Speed Triple 1050.

The photos say it all and the licence cost 5 shillings. To get the licence I rode the bike up the street and back with the officer watching and I got the bit of paper.

Ashurst via Saddle Road

A beautiful autumn day, clear skies, cool in the morning and then warmed up nicely in the sun. I had scheduled an 8.30am start from Rimutex with Barry on Saturday and at 8.00am I was on the road. The first stop was at BP to pump up the tyres - they lose a bit of pressure each week and need a top up and as they wear the loss is greater.

Got to the Caltex station a bit before 8.30am and Barry was already there. Two other e-riders arrived so we headed off for breakfast in Carterton. It was a great morning and we all had a cooked breakfast outside in the cafe's garden seating area.

From there Barry and I headed to Woodville, a stop for a couple of minutes there and then over the Saddle Road. The first corner on the hill and hit gravel left over from a reseal - that was a bit tricky and we had to take is very easy for a few kilometers. The other side of the hill was a good surface and we took in spectacular view of the windmills. The plan was to stop in Ashurst for a coffee and there was a place open. It took ages to get our coffees - could have been halfway home, but a nice relaxing break.

The way home was via the bridge to the gorge and then over the Pahiatua Track and Mangamaire Road to SH2. Comfort stop in Featherston and then to the top of the hill where there were many bikes. We stopped for a while, chatted and watched the action on the road before heading home.

It was a good half day out and a decent distance. The Saddle Road, Pahiatua Track and Mangamarie Road were the best part of the ride. There was too much traffic on the Rimutakas to enjoy that bit on the way home.

Stats from MC computer: 385kms, 4.2L/100km, 76kph ave, xxxkph max. Total 7182Km