November EoMR

A big thank you to Stephen for some photos and the write up and some photos from Sir Al as well.

A great day on Sunday we decided to go to Colyton through Fielding out Makino Road through Vinegar Hill to Hunterville  for a stop. As a part of the ride we had a shed raid and saw a really interesting collection of lovely Ducati‘s, a Laverda 750 twin and a  Yamaha 1100 cafe racer. It has a shaft drive to chain drive conversion just like the Pitman bikes from the late seventies and son sounded really nice. There was also an early Honda 750 K1 or 2 being restored as well. The run home was via our  usual back roads with others taking the direct route via State Highway One.

PS Some interesting reading about the Pitmans conversion and much more!

https://www.oldbikemag.com.au/pitmans-yamaha-xs1100-superbike-chain-drive-transformer/

On any Saturday!

 Over Labour Weekend, the Spring APS New Zealand Classic Motorcycle Racing Registry race meeting took place at Manfeild. It was great to see some of the team out there in action. Tim made the most of the event, racing his Yamaha TR350 and Honda CBR, getting plenty of track time. The Yamaha sounded crisp from the sidelines, and Tim’s efforts earned him second place overall for the season in the 350 Classic 70s class, as well as third in the Pre 89 Formula 2 class—well done!

Kim also had an impressive run on his Aprilia 250, securing third place for the season in the Pre 95 Formula 3 class—great work! Pete Sales took the top spot for the season in the Open Classic 70s on his heavily modified Triumph. Good to Dion was back on the track after a break. We hope the small tumble on the last day of the last race won’t dampen his enthusiasm.

Darrin were in the pits providing support whilst Mark sorted a few issues with his RGV and eventually managed to get some track time.

The team heads south at the end of the month for the Southern Classic at Levels. Wishing them the best for the journey, and we look forward to hearing how it all went on their return.

A Yamaha R5 comes out for a spin

 

It was great to see Bruce S. out on Murray S.'s Yamaha R5 for our September end-of-month ride. The R5 made for excellent company alongside Stuart’s Candy Jackal Blue Waterbus. With the Yamaha’s Mandarin Orange and chrome color scheme, it felt like a trip back to the halcyon days of the seventies. When you compare it to the drab color schemes of many modern bikes, it makes you wonder if we did get to experience the "golden" years of motorcycling.

Other classics on the ride included Roger on his Moto Guzzi Le Mans 350 and Paul on his Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1000. The rest of the group was a mix of modern bikes, with Ray on his Triumph Tiger XR900, Sir Al taking his Strom out for a spin, and Kerry rounding out the Guzzi brigade with his 1400 cc Audace. I was on the GSR 750, and Graham brought his beautiful retro Kawasaki Z650 along for the run.

We set off toward the Woolshed Café near Sanson, taking our usual route via Makino Road and Ohakea. Along the way, we paused at Stanaway Hall for a quick chat before continuing past the Rangitikei River and the increasingly busy Ohakea turnoff. The Woolshed’s parking lot wasn’t too crowded, so we managed to get our coffee and food quickly. Conversation flowed easily, with some of it centered on the R5's performance and how it comfortably kept up with modern open-road traffic—a testament to its quality even now, decades after its seventies debut.

All in all, it was a lovely spin around the block. Here’s hoping for more warm weather, less rain, and a fantastic riding season ahead!

To Hunterville! August EoMR

As winter fades and the final end-of-month ride of the official season wrapped up, we had a solid turnout of bikes and riders eager to make the most of a fine day. After a string of damp winter weather, the hint of spring warmth in the air was a welcome change. Our merry band set off from Memorial Park, heading towards Hunterville. The classic bikes that showed up were more than capable of making good time on the route.

With Sir Al leading the way on his mighty H2, we rode through Colyton and up to Vinegar Hill. Minimal traffic allowed for a smooth, quick run, with Sir Al setting a fast pace on his fifty-year-old machine. Alongside the H2, other classic Japanese bikes included Warren on his trusty XJ900 and Max on his beautiful FZ750. It was also great to see John out on his BMW 600 and Roger on his Guzzi 500.

Among the modern bikes, Ray brought his Triumph T100, Graham his Kawasaki Z650RS, while Rich and Ian rode their V-Stroms. I was on my GSR750, joining the group as we made our way to Hunterville’s Relish Café. Known to some of the café connoisseurs in the group, its reputation did not disappoint.

Being my first visit, I had to try the pie, and the framed medal for their Pulled Pork and Jalapeño Pie behind the counter sealed the deal. I can happily report that it was excellent! Ian also gave high praise to the Broccoli and Blue Cheese pie, calling it one of the best vegetarian pies he’s had in a long time.

With our thirsts quenched and stomachs full, it was time to head home. We chose the back roads alongside State Highway One, offering a far more scenic and engaging ride than the main highway. After the turnoff to Halcombe, the Tararua Ranges came into view, stirring thoughts of the warmer times ahead as we move into spring and summer.

Roll on next month’s EoMR!