Kick Start and Girder Forks

The Kick Start and Girder Forks is an annual ride the Manawatu Classic Motorcycle Club run every year. It is designed to encourage members to restore and use older, smaller and less powerful motorcycles; even if it is only once a year. To many of these motorcycles have been relegated to the back of the shed so it was pleasing to see and participate in a run especially for these bikes. After the conclusion of the February monthly meeting two runs were decided on to cater for the faster bikes that had turned up on the day. Winstone had organised a B road run that took us out through Colyton, down Valley Road and back to a favourite watering hole, the Ashhurst Inn. There certainly were some interesting bikes out for a spin with Dave on his 1938 Excelsior probably the most exotic. It still had its patina from a long time ago and Dave used his wonderful engineering skills to resurrect 125cc Villiers two stroke motor. Daves large frame on this small bike still managed to hit 80 kmh on one of the faster sections of the route taken. Graham brought out his lovely 1937 Ariel VB600 with Winstone on his  1939 BSA 500? and Steve on his 1945 350 Velocette with the wonderful fish tail exhaust. A stop at the car park at the bottom of Valley Road saw no casualties and we were soon on the way to Ashhurst and in no time at all the pint's were being pulled and the lunch orders were taken. The courtyard out the back of the Inn with its ripening grapes hanging above the dining table certainly provided an exotic setting for the lads to enjoy a few yarns. Let's hope next year might see a few more bikes on this run.

Brand new 2020 Suzuki TS185 for sale?

It's not everyday one gets to go out riding with someone who is running in there brand new 2020 Suzuki TS185. One of our January rides saw our resident Suzuki 185 aficionado Bryan turn up on such a machine. Bryan heard through the grapevine that Suzuki were ceasing production of two stroke motorcycles shortly and that your Suzuki dealer would sell you a TS 185. This is also true of the TF125 which has been a mainstay of the ag market for a very long time and once the current batch were sold that was it. For those of us who enjoy our two strokes this is definitely the end of an era. These bikes have remained little changed from there heyday in the seventies. Why? There rugged simplicity made them ideal for the agricultural area. So it was with some surprise Bryan turned up on his new bike at Manawatu Motorcycles.
Also out for a spin was Sir Al on the only other two stroke, his H2. Bruce brought out his Ducati 999s, Warren was on his XJ, Rich on his Vstrom, Ray on his Tiger, Ian on his W650 and yours truly on the XJ750. Hunterville was the chosen destination ride. There are some really nice back roads that weave in and out of the state highways and after turning off at Mt Stewart we were into our first set of backroads as we made our way through to Halcombe. On through Kakariki and then briefly onto State Highway One and then we were soon weaving our way through some wonderful backroads that soon had us sitting outside The Hunterville Cafe. It certainly was a busy place and it wasn't to long until Steve and a couple of his mates turned up on their Yamahas. Steve was on his XS 650, and his mates were on a Yamaha XS11 and an RD400.
After a good chat and a cup of tea thoughts turned to heading home. Vinegar Hill was our chosen return route and we were soon on our way with Bryan on his TS more than keeping up a steady pace. Thoughts turned to how neat it would be to grab a slice of two stroke history before it disappears. Maybe a visit to the Lotto shop on the way home might be a good idea!

Peg

Saying a final farewell to anyone is not easy at the best of times. Last Saturday week ago we said farewell to John Byrnes who passed away a few days before in the Arohanui Hospice surrounded by friends and family. The rest of us had the opportunity to do the same at a lovely gathering in Feilding and judging by the turnout and the words that were said on the day he was a part of many lives with motorcycles playing a big part in creating that connection with many of us. As was befitting such a life this connection was wonderfully evident on the day with the large number of people who came to the ceremony on bikes and his casket being flanked by his the two bikes that became such an important part of his later life, his Triumph speed triple and his beloved Suzuki RE5 Rotary in all its chrome and metallic orange paint glory.
Whilst this was a lovely sight, the memory I have in my mind of JB is him riding his RE5 over the Gentle Annie road, at speed chasing Sir Al on his Kawasaki H2. There are some wonderful flowing corners near the top section of the road and it was a wonderful sight to see these two forty plus year old bikes in all their chrome and metallic paint glory still doing the business. JBs biggest concern was the fuel range but it didn't seem to be a concern him once he was in the grove and using the sport component of the sports tourer designation allocated to the RE5 .
To top off the trip our sedate lunch stop at Tikokino was disturbed by the arrival of a bus load of stag do gentlemen. Some of the lads saw JBs bike and sought him out as they were so intrigued with his RE5. They were Rotorheads who made it very clear that they wanted to see JB departing the pub on his bike. When we left a suitable gathering surrounded the bike and much to Sir Als chagrin not much interest was taken in any one else's. (or the lad running around looking for his clothes) JB was in his element and the lads certainly enjoyed listening to that unique prb prb rotor sound as he started it up and headed off down the road to the next petrol station!
He was a unique character like his RE5 and he certainly managed to add something unique to all our lives. His positive attitude to adversity and making the most of whatever you have got is wonderful challenge to all of us as we make our way through our own lives.
Thanks for the memories JB and you will be sorely missed.

Some more photos here

First EoMR 2020

Summer is certainly a wonderful time to get out and enjoy the great roads we have at our doorstep. With the weather cooperating we had a great turnout for our first EoMR run of 2020 and it was pleasing to see a few more two strokes joining our run. Hopefully a sign of things to come for the rest of the year. With a roll call of ten plus bikes and riders it was an eclectic range of bikes (and riders!) lined up outside Manawatu Motorcycles. Warren T brought out his Mike Hailwood Tribute Ducati in all its Terblanche glory, Warren M on the tried and true XJ900, Gary A on his BMW GS650/800,and Bruce S on probably the most fun road two stroke ever made, his Yamaha TDR 250. The Suzuki two strokes were well represented with Bruce C on his GT750K with spannies, Stuart on his freshly restored GT750J and Ross on his very freshly restored red 1968 Cobra. The first of the T/GT 500 line of bikes. Ians 1200 Vmax anniversary model with its flamed tank was looking suitably menacing whilst Rich's trusty 'transformer, styled Vstrom was doing the business for the day and yours truly riding the ever faithful XJ. Soon to join us was going to be Dave on his Honda CBR 500.
The Stanway loop was decided on for our route for the morning with our cafe stop being the Woolshed just south of Sanson. We made our way through the usual town where the town and country boundary was indicated by that lovely puff of two stroke smoke as throttles are opened. Our route took us out to Bunnythorpe and onto Colyton and to the back of Feilding where Ross left us and headed home. Following Makino road soon had us pulling up outside Stanway Hall where Dave joined our band of merry men as we checked out the bikes and discussed the ride so far. We were soon on our way and dropping down towards the Rangitikei River and then heading along Pryces Line to Kakariki. Mingaroa Road soon followed and onto Wilsons Road and then turning off at Ohakea onto State Highway one. The traffic wasn't to bad through Sanson and in no time we had the bikes lined up in the car park at the Woolshed Cafe.
One of the great things about this cafe isn't only the food and service, but they have some wonderful big tables that our group can fit around. After some excellent food and beverages and a good natter it was time to head back to town. Warrens big concern was wondering if he had enough petrol in the Ducatis seven and half litre tank to get home! It managed to make it and by the sounds of how uncomfortable the bike is to ride seven and half litres is about as far as you would want to ride it in a day anyway!
This is the warmest and most settled time of the year and it is certainly the best time of the year for motorcycling. Sharing this with other like minded people is always a good thing and as the new year begins I am sure we can look forward to some more rides like this one.
See you there.