Labour Day Ride 2010

From Labour Day Ride 2010

From Labour Day Ride 2010

From Labour Day Ride 2010

From Labour Day Ride 2010

From Labour Day Ride 2010

The weather forecast at the begining of the week looked promising for a Labour Day ride so the email was sent out and a group of nine gathered at Manawatu Motorcycles ready for a wander around the countryside. It was good to see Terry on his Suzuki GT550 a bike he has used as his daily commute since he purchased it in 1981. It has done over 50 thousand miles and has had nothing done to the motor. Amazing. Also along for a ride was John on his immaculate Suzuki T500 in blue with only a few thousand miles on the clock. Can't wait to see some of the other bikes he has in his garage. Geoff came arrived on his immaculate little Kawasaki KR150. A great little machine that has no difficulty keeping up with the group. Sir Al brought along his Suzuki TS250 that is running extremely well after its recent rebuild. Sparkie (Kim) decided to test his rewired RZ250 that was moving but still awaiting the repair of some 'spiked' electronic parts. Dr Sprocket (Paul D) wheeled out his immaculate Kawasaki H1a, Dion on the mighty KH400, Don on his Honda MT and myself on my KH250. After some discussion a ride was decided on. The route took in the Pahiatua track and on to Rongomai via Mangamaire and back through Pahiatua and back through to Ballance and over the Saddle road to Ashurst. First stop was at the top of the track and then onto Mangamaire. The Rongomai section of the run was as always a lot of fun with a range of tight and tighter corners well suited to these bikes. You can still have a lot of fun on 40hp or less and still get time to take in the country atmosphere. Just before Pahiatua Don went onto reserve and after filling up the calculations worked out at 25mpg! The run through to Ballance was far more interesting than State Highway 2 and then it was on to the Saddle. The run up was a bit of a struggle for those of us on 250s, but the run down the other side to Ashhurst was a ball. We had decided on the Ashhurst Inn for our morning tea but it was closed so off down the road to the Ashhurst Domain Cafe for some good coffee, food and conversation.
Another great ride.
Roll on Summer!!!

VJMC Blue Haze May Run to Turakina

From Turakina

From Turakina

From Turakina

From Turakina

From Turakina

Had a great turnout for the May Manawatu Blue Haze VJMC monthly run yesterday. We have been so lucky with our Sunday weather over autumn, but the temperature was reminding us that winter was very close by. The best thing about the cool temperatures is that they are ideal for aircooled two strokes, and we had a good line up for the run. Great to see a new face on the run with Bruce along on his Suzuki T500J. He and Wayne on his KH400 came up from Levin with Jeni on her RG500 just ahead of them arriving up from Paraparaumu. Bruce arrived on his recently repaired Yamaha RT1 but decided that the run was probably not the best way to run it in and he swapped it for his BMW. Some concern was expressed when Don arrived on his Honda MT250 as most of his previous attempts at bringing it on a run have seen it  not even leaving the city limits. Sir Al and Kim were twins on their H2s, whilst Paul provided  the orange bling on his H1b. Dion tuned up on his trusty X7, Murray came on his GTR1000 and myself on the KH 250. We eventually headed off in a westerly direction for a run through Mt Stewart to Halcombe, then on to Turakina. Had a look at some roads our the back of Lake Alice and ended up at the red roofed Sanson Cafe. The Southerners headed back down highway one to Levin and Paraparaumu whilst the rest of us headed back to town and much to everyones releif, Dons MT made it through the run.
Another great run!