A Kuppa in Kimbolton

This months ride has come around very quickly. As the official winter time comes to end the lengthening days and daffodils popping up everywhere signal the arrival of spring. A group of us gathered at Manawatu Motorcycles on Sunday looking forward to a spin in the country to take in all the sights and sounds of spring alongside the sights and sounds of a few two stroke motorcycles!
Role call:
Dion Tornquist - Honda NSR400
Kim De Lautour - Yamaha RZ250
Alan Clark - Kawasaki 350 Avenger
Richard Kerr - Suzuki T500M
Gary Whiting - Yamaha XJ750
The Apiti loop was decided on as a suitable ride with a stop off in Kimbolton for a cuppa and popping into Manfield to have a look at the Victoria Motorcycle Winter Racing Series. Our first stop was for Al to fill up the A7 at Ashhurst so it could complete the loop without needing to be pushed or towed to a Feilding petrol station! With that task completed we headed up the Pohangina Valley enjoying the many fruit tree blossoms along the way. Alan was setting a great pace on the A7 with the XJ having to breath a bit deeper to keep up. I am always amazed at the pace the little A7 is able to keep up both up hill and down dale. Its easy to see why Graham Crosby is full of praise for these bikes with there disc valve motors and excellent handling (for the time). Watching Dion on his NSR400 following along behind caused one to think of the huge two stroke technological developments that happened between the years the two bikes were built and what might have been if that pace had been continued? After stopping for a breather at the Makoura Rd turn off and some bike swapping we headed off towards Apiti and briefly stopped for some more bike swapping. Dion offered me a ride on his NSR and I headed out behind Kim on his 'recently power valved' RZ250. We quickly opened up a gap with the others as Kim really exercised his right hand. A quick glance at the instruments confirmed the quick pace and as we swung through the sweepers and the tighter sections on the climb to Kimbolton with the NSR gearbox getting a workout to keep it in its power band. The quick steering 16inch front  wheel and stable chassis provided pin sharp handling as the occasional bump tried to spoil things. Two stroke motorcycling at its best! Definitely a different riding experience to the limousine like XJ!
Our stop off at Hansens was much appreciated as the air temperature was definitely a few degrees less than in town. Nothing like a hot cuppa to sip on as you glance over at a blazing open fire.Hansens seems to be a popular destination for Motorcycle enthusiasts and we were joined by the local chapter of the Triumph Riders Group. As enthusiasts do we got talking and a number of them have an interest in the Japanese Classics with some involved in restoring various road and trail bikes. Some cards were handed out and there is definitely a growing interest in the 'old Jappas'. After a good yarn we headed off to Manfield only to have confirmed what we had heard that the Alfa Romeo club was having a track day. After watching a few old Cortinas and Corollas go by it was time to head home with another good ride under the belt. Role on next Sunday!

Pilgrims Rest Return

The last Sunday of January saw the first Club ride of the year. The very blustery but precipitation free morning saw a group of seven meeting at Manawatu Motorcycles ready for a wander around the district. They were
John Rushton - BSA 500
Paul De Lautour - Kawasaki H2750
Dion Tornquist - Kawasaki KH400
Bruce Andrews - Yamaha RT350
Kim De Lautour - Yamaha RZ250
Gavin Foster - Suzuki RG250W (arrived later)
Gary Whiting - Yamaha XJ750
Alan Clark - Kawasaki A7350
 It was great to have John Rushton join us on his 1952 BSA 500 and we all enjoyed checking it out before the run. You can certainly see the lineage of our contemporary adventure bikes and motards let alone the Bobber custom movement! Also good to see Bruce giving his RT an outing after its latest recondition. With only 100kms on a new piston and rings he was very cautious but it seemed like a good day for this running in with a very moderate air temperature. Word came through that a very keen two stroke fan was making his way down from Hawkes Bay to join us on the ride so after a waiting for a while we decided to meet him on our way up to Pilgrims Rest. Gavin and Dion turned up at the Raumai turnoff with Gavin on his lovely Suzuki RG 250W. He trailered it down from Hawkes Bay and parked up at Ashhurst where Dion caught up with him so he could rendezvous with the group.  After watching a full on bicycle race go by we then made our way up the Pohangina valley to enjoy the company of John and Margaret at the Pilgrims Rest. Bruce had phoned through earlier to let them know we were coming and Margaret had the scones and cream ready to go with the coffee and tea. This is one of our favourite destinations and recommended if you want a morning tea with a difference. Where else in the world could you meet a a half blind deer that likes scones and answers to the name of Chicken? After a very pleasant cuppa and a few photos the bikes were pointed south and we made our way back down the valley. A brief stop at Raumai had us saying our farewells as we headed off home. Whilst many have been complaining about a lack of decent summer, those of us with old aircooled two strokes have certainly appreciated the cooler temperatures that these motors like. Lets hope we can get a few more such rides in before we start complaining that its to cold!

Blue Haze/VJMC Ekatahuna Run 01/11/09

From Blue Haze/VJMC Ekatahuna Run 01/11/09

From Blue Haze/VJMC Ekatahuna Run 01/11/09

Alan fronted up today with his Kawasaki A7 Avenger and was keen to see how it would go on a run. No sign of the gremlins from last week so Alan, Kim, Dione and myself departed Palmerston North and headed over the Pahiatua track. A quick stop at the top to enjoy the view and down the other side to the Mangamaire turnoff. Just before Ekatahuna we stopped at picnic area and played musical motorcycles. Really enjoyed Alans A7. Very surprised with the amount of power it has and definetly the next best sound a two stroke triple! After a cup of tea and an excellent Mince and cheese pie at Ekatahunas only cafe, we decided to take a back road to Pahiatua. The Mangaone Valley road is a gem and really suits our style of bikes with some short straits and lovely sets of flowing corners. After a quick stop in Pahiatua we headed back over the track. Managed to hit reserve at the bottom of the track with Alan doing the same on the A7. Luckily unlike Alan my reserve works and Alan was left in Aokautere waiting for his wife to deliver some petrol. The strong westerly had knocked the fuel economy down to 33mpg! The worst number all year. Still not as bad as the KH400 I used to have that I managed to get down to 19mpg.