Put rego on the TTR today so went out for a spin around the dirt roads, 70kms all up & only 7kms on the black top from my place.
The TTR felt really good, I did my steering head bearings a little while back & after the last ride had to re-adjust. When I was chasing the handling issue ( head bearings ) I fitted new D606's front & rear, also swapped back to a 13T front sprocket to make up for the 120/90 x 18 D606.
Nice & green in the hills ATM but that will change shortly when the warmer dry weather kicks in, got a few photos from my phone today to show how green it is.
We had a heap of rain Thursday night, hope to get out on the TTR late next week & might get the gopro out..picking up our Border collie pup today could I could be busy !!!!
Impressive greenery and fine looking bikes. Was this area burnt by the recent fires ? Cheers Jeff
Yes Jeff, there has been two major bushfires in this area in the last few years & the areas from the photos has been burnt, the bush has come back thicker after the fire. Just about everywhere I ride has been burnt & some of it twice.
The Sampson flat fire started around 4kms from home & burnt right through when the first few photos are, the fire at christmas... Cudlee creek fire is around 15kms from home
Mother Nature is doing a great job, that‘s for real.
Those hard and dry roads must be great to ride on, so long as you keep away from the loose stones.
Maybe 70kph ?
Gotta be prepared for Farmer Fred out in his Ute !
This weekend, we’ve had a death on a School organised Trail Ride. 11 injured as well. There will be a Police investigation on what has happened. I’ve been on a few of those types of Rides and the bikes are meant to be Roadworthy (Lights, Indicators, etc because some of the route can be on public roads) but people turn up on old Motocross bikes and ride them like they stole them. Can see some new Regulations coming up.
Mother Nature is doing a great job, that‘s for real.
Those hard and dry roads must be great to ride on, so long as you keep away from the loose stones.
Maybe 70kph ?
Gotta be prepared for Farmer Fred out in his Ute !
This weekend, we’ve had a death on a School organised Trail Ride. 11 injured as well. There will be a Police investigation on what has happened. I’ve been on a few of those types of Rides and the bikes are meant to be Roadworthy (Lights, Indicators, etc because some of the route can be on public roads) but people turn up on old Motocross bikes and ride them like they stole them. Can see some new Regulations coming up.
Cheers
Jeff
Jeff, RE speed on the dirt / gravel roads as seen in the photos, most times between 80 to 90kph, up to 100 kph, the loose stuff is not as bad as it seems but you can get a bit front slippish at times, when it's wet the grip level is higher.
All the roads / gravel & dirt roads I ride are public roads so we require rego, and on the subject of farmer Joe in the ute...yea come across them but unless you can see stick to the left & be ready but kangaroos are more of a problem.
Terry
-- Edited by TerryK on Sunday 1st of November 2020 08:09:34 AM
Yes, 1 dead and 11 injured on the same Ride. Some of the injured had to be Choppered out. Something really bad has gone wrong here.
Country Schools sometimes run Trail Rides as part of their fund raising efforts and this was one of those.
Only happened yesterday so don’t know the full story yet.
Barrelling along at 90 kph, rounding a corner and being confronted with a ‘roo would test out your abilities in many ways.
Farm animals that have got through fences are what we have to be aware of but thankfully it doesn’t happen too much.
Sorry the hear of your Lockdown again Lads. We did one of those in May and it really knocked the Covid on its bum. We now have it on the back-foot but we have to remain vigilant. We are lucky to have a ”Big Blue Border.” The Pacific Ocean surrounds us for thousands of kilometres.
Yes, 1 dead and 11 injured on the same Ride. Some of the injured had to be Choppered out. Something really bad has gone wrong here.
Country Schools sometimes run Trail Rides as part of their fund raising efforts and this was one of those.
Only happened yesterday so don’t know the full story yet.
Barrelling along at 90 kph, rounding a corner and being confronted with a ‘roo would test out your abilities in many ways.
Farm animals that have got through fences are what we have to be aware of but thankfully it doesn’t happen too much.
Sorry the hear of your Lockdown again Lads. We did one of those in May and it really knocked the Covid on its bum. We now have it on the back-foot but we have to remain vigilant. We are lucky to have a ”Big Blue Border.” The Pacific Ocean surrounds us for thousands of kilometres.
Cheers
Jeff
When you consider the number of riders & the distance of the course the odds are a little better, always sad to have a death or injuries in an event, now that the police are in on the act it may get closed down or changed in the mean time for safety reasons.
Jeff, yes no fun hitting kangaroos...I have hit 2 so far, bad one being a 6' male, I was doing 90kph & he hopped out from behind a tree, hit him with the front wheel. Stayed on the bike but bent the rim, I know two guys that have been knocked off the bikes at 80kms by a roo coming from the side, they are solid & fast.
Re the roos at least on the road you have a chance of seeing them. In the trees they magically jump into you. My tip don't lead the rides you don't see any up the back!!!
Just remembered, on one of last year’s Rides (up the Coromandel Peninsula) we were on a rough gravel road, so weren’t going very fast and rounded a sharp left hander and there were about 20 big black Aberdeen Angus beasts wandering down the road. Farmer Fred was herding them along on his quad bike and signalled for us to stop and just let them go passed. When you are 95kgs and sitting on a 2001 TTR and surrounded by these things about the size of a SUV and they stop and look you directly in the eye from about a metre away, you do what you are told 🥴 ! They were more interested in the lush green grass on the side of the road, thankfully.
No bloody Gorse - Brian !
Same day we also came across some calves with their Mothers and they can be flighty dam things but you just ride passed slowly and be thankful that you have left the baffle in the Muffler, otherwise the pops and bangs might set them off.
Terry, have seen some of those 6’ ‘Roos in Aussie Zoos and they are very solid looking animals, which you would probably bounce of as their balance would be excellent. Like Brian says about the UK, our NZ native fauna is mostly small and keep well away from humans. It’s the wandering farm animals that can be terrifying. Possums can be a problem at night but they are only the size of a cat. Hey, possums came into NZ via Australia and they are a real pest here - do you want any back ?
Just remembered, on one of last year’s Rides (up the Coromandel Peninsula) we were on a rough gravel road, so weren’t going very fast and rounded a sharp left hander and there were about 20 big black Aberdeen Angus beasts wandering down the road. Farmer Fred was herding them along on his quad bike and signalled for us to stop and just let them go passed. When you are 95kgs and sitting on a 2001 TTR and surrounded by these things about the size of a SUV and they stop and look you directly in the eye from about a metre away, you do what you are told 🥴 ! They were more interested in the lush green grass on the side of the road, thankfully.
No bloody Gorse - Brian !
Same day we also came across some calves with their Mothers and they can be flighty dam things but you just ride passed slowly and be thankful that you have left the baffle in the Muffler, otherwise the pops and bangs might set them off.
Terry, have seen some of those 6’ ‘Roos in Aussie Zoos and they are very solid looking animals, which you would probably bounce of as their balance would be excellent. Like Brian says about the UK, our NZ native fauna is mostly small and keep well away from humans. It’s the wandering farm animals that can be terrifying. Possums can be a problem at night but they are only the size of a cat. Hey, possums came into NZ via Australia and they are a real pest here - do you want any back ?
🤪
Cheers 🍻
Jeff
Yea the 6' male I hit just stood & looked at me, I hit him on the rear leg, spun him around & he took off.
I've been to NZ twice & yes we did hear about the possums, but your possums eat meat & regarded as a pest...we saw the traps as well.
Also got to look out for emu's they are so dumb & could go anywhere, if there are baby's the dad looks after them & will chase a bike...been there & done that