The Pie Run

We are often looking for an excuse to go for a ride on a bike and back in the day a pie run was as good an excuse as any. A couple of weekends ago we had a run up to Hunterville and it was great to have along Bruce's son Oscar for his first run out with Dad on a bike. Bruce brought along his most pillion friendly bike, his Suzuki GS750. Gary A brought out his Honda CX500 for a spin, and Warren on his XJ900, so we had a few VJMC bikes out for the run. Also out for a spin was Ian on his Yamaha Vmax, Stuart on his KLE, Sir Al on his Sportster, Rich on his Vstrom, Ray on his Triumph Tiger and yours truly on a GSR750. We met at Memorial Park and had our usual chat in the sun, but were soon off to Hunterville for a pie. Our loop today was up over Vinegar Hill via Colyton and Makino Road with a stop off at Stormy Point. Stormy point wasn't very stormy so we enjoyed the sun and view but a young lads rumbling tummy soon had us back on the road to Hunterville

Hunters cafe provides a great place to park and view the ever more busy State Highway traffic whizzing by. On a sunny day there is always a large sprinkling on motorcycles so it is definitely a place with a view, just not of a geographical nature! For Oscar the only thing he wanted to view were the pies in the warmer. Luckily for him there were still a few pies left and they were soon on a plate and making their way to an outside table. There wasn't a lot of conversation from Oscar as the pie disappeared and for the rest of us we had a pleasant time enjoying the sun, the 'view' and consuming our coffee and food. By this time Dave had turned up on his Guzzi and it was great to see Doug from Whanganui who stopped in for a chat after heading out for a ride on his immaculate Yamaha XS750 triple. Some of the chat was around the next VJMC Rally and it looks as though it is returning to The Masters Hall in Pahiatua. The date yet to be confirmed. 

Our return part of the loop had us heading towards the Rangitikei river via Rangatira Rd. We do our best to avoid the State Highways unless we need to get from A to B in a hurry and this is one of our back road choices  for this loop ride. You certainly get to see some different scenery, some great roads and a more intimate view of rural life. You do have to be careful of farming activities that use the road and of course stray animals. After coming out at Rata it is a short run down State Highway One to Porewa /Onepuhi Rd and then back out to State Highway one just north of Marton. These roads go through some lovely bush remnants that have some nice windy bits and out into the farmland with straights and more open and flowing curves. 

The turnoff at Kakariki has us heading to Halcombe then over to Mount Stewart with a stop off at Mount Biggs School for a final natter and then home. Not a bad pie run and one I am sure we will do again soon.

Two Strokes off and on the Track

These days it's not every Sunday one gets to see and hear two strokes being put through their paces on the track. Last weekend saw the Classic Motorcycle Racing Registry running a two day meeting at Manfeild and yours truly and a few others popped over to check out the action. It was great to see Brett and a few others out on the track on their air cooled two strokes. Brett was having fun putting his T500 through its paces despite briefly running out of talent on a corner earlier in the meeting. Ross was their in support with his Suzuki Cobra and sharing its chrome and candy red colours with a steady stream of admirers. A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!
 

A Waterbus, a Guzzi and Home Early Racers

 

 It's not everyday one gets to ride a Moto Guzzi. Last Sunday was the day for me I can remember the first Two Wheels magazine I bought at the tender age 16 had a test on a Moto Guzzi V7 Sport. It certainly captured my imagination with the tester raving about its exceptional handling and lopping engine. The thoughts were slotted away as like many others at the time our riding careers began on machinery from the east. Fast forward to now and I finally got to ride one courtesy of Dave R. He has a 1989 Moto Guzzi Le Mans that he has owned for a number of years. It is a proud inheritor of the V7 heritage I read about all those years ago and with much anticipation I threw my leg over its saddle and pushed the button.

Watching me climb onto the bike were a few of the crew who had turned up for a little wander around the countryside and a good coffee or tea along the way. Warren was on his XJ900, Gary A on his BMW, Dave J on his TransAlp, Rich on his Vstrom, and Stuart out on his Waterbus, Ray on his new Trumpet and yours truly on the GSR. A very eclectic bunch, but a spin around the Stanway loop seemed to suit everyone. We headed out through Colyton and onto our first stop at Stanway. It was here that Dave and I swapped keys and I got to hear up close the infamous rattly tappets up close and personal. This was preceded by what seemed like a struggling battery or starter motor turning over two rather large 500 cc pistons. Once fired up she settled into an even idle.

Blipping the throttle at rest introduced a gentle side to side swaying motion and with clutch pulled in first gear was engaged with a clunk and then we were off. The first sensation echoed the what the Two Wheels magazine said all those years ago. That was the unfussed and lopping engine and as I went through a few more corners the easy handling. For a bike of this vintage the brakes weren't to bad either. As I settled into the bike those two big pistons revolving at just over 3000rpm had the speedo reading close to 110 kmh and with its comfy seat thoughts of relaxed hours in the saddle riding to far off places crossed one's mind. A shaft drive out the back also adds to that thought. All to soon it came to an end as we pulled up to the Woolshed Cafe in Sanson and Dave and I swapped over our keys. Thanks for the ride Dave.

The Woolshed Cafe was a busy place and it is so good to see these businesses back up and running after the Covid lockdown. They have great quality food and beverages and after the body refuel it was time to head home with a small diversion to Manfeild. Dion and Kim were making their first foray back out onto the track so some of us thought we might pop over and see how things were going. Dave decided to seek another Guzzi convert and handed his keys over to Warren for the run from the Woolshed to the track. By the time he dismounted the bike he was eloquent about how different it was to his XJ900. When I left them Warren was still processing it. In the meantime we headed off to find the lads only to find Jamie by himself in the pits.

He said he had been having a great morning on his VFR400, but not so the lads. Tales of nipped up and seized pistons had questions being asked about lawnmower fuel being used mistakingly? Jamie had his own tale of woh around electrical meltdowns on a new bike(new old bike), miles from home, on your own, no cellphone coverage and trying to get a lift from the locals. Safety in numbers, especially on old bikes! It was also great to see Max out enjoying the ride day on his RZ250. He said he was having a great time and the edges of his tyres would attest to that! 

Reflecting on the ride I was thinking about Stuart who has only just sorted out the restoration of his 1972 Suzuki GT750J. It was running beautifully after fettling out a few problems with the motor. His bike is exactly the same as one I had back in the seventies and it was as the GT in its name suggests very much a grand tourer. I loved its smooth motor and luxurious wafting down the road. I didn't like its weight and limited ground clearance. However, at the time it was for me the ultimate touring motorcycle and it carried me to many great places around the country and now its wonderful riot of chrome and candy colours speaks of a different time when Japanese bikes began to dominate the market.

Bombed by a weather bomb

 

Our end of month ride for September was a day early on the Saturday due to a well forcasted weather bomb. Just as well to as it really was a great storm on the Sunday and would have been an extremely unpleasant outing. We decided to meet at Memorial Park due to the Saturday congestion at our usual meeting spot. There was only one bike amongst us that qualified as a Japanese Classic, Sir Als Honda TransAlp. (15 years or older) To keep Al company was Ray on his new Triumph Tiger, Bruce S on his Ducati 848 and yours truly on a Suzuki GSR 750.

Our route for the morning was to be the Apiti loop with a stop off in Kimbolton for refreshments. The ride up Pohangina Valley was accompanied with all the usual spring sights of daffodils, lambs and blossoms as we made our way to the first stop in Apiti. We were soon on the way with yours truly cracking a few hips and knees to fit onto Bruce's Ducati. What a hoot. Great handling, great brakes and plenty of get up and go. I wouldn't want to ride it to Auckland (or Taupo for that matter) but shorter runs around the countryside would definitely be manageable. The vee twins certainly are a great configuration for a motorcycle. 

After peeling myself off the bike at Kimbolton we popped into Hansen's for a cuppa and some kai. It is a really popular place and you can see why with great quality food. After a leisurely feed we made our way down the road and saw more spring things and thoughts of more time in the saddle in the days ahead as summer gets closer! 

PS I hear through the grapevine more classics will be coming out from winter hibernation and workshops shortly as the weather warms up.