Rotary Classic Bike Show at the Manukau Exhibition Centre

Just got this in from Colin where the Auckland Classic Japanese Motorcycle Group had a very successful display at the Rotary Classic Bike Show at the Manukau Exhibition Centre. Here is Colins report. Looks great guys!

Hi Guys

CJMG – Auckland did a display at the Rotary Classic Bike Show at the Manukau Exhibition Centre in late January. This is the 2^nd time the show has been run … first in 2012 but didn’t run in 2013. I think 2013 was meant to be in Chch but fell thru for some reason. The show is predominantly British bikes (80%?) with a smattering of Continentals and this year about 30 Japanese. We put up 12 bikes and were surprised but delighted to take out 12 prizes … to be fair two of the bikes won two prizes each so two missed out on winning anything. A link to a You Tube video is attached. This year we put in a couple of race bikes … both Suzuki’s … an RG500 that’s in very active use but probably not pretty enough to win a prize and a XR69 replica GS1000 that has just been finished and which did collect a couple of prizes. Its owner is hoping to qualify for the next TT so suggested this was its best opportunity to win display prizes, before he risks chucking it down on the track! Other than our bikes the show had a stunning KZ1000 (best Kawasaki), beautiful RD350 (best Yamaha), a very nice and original first model CB350 (best Honda) and a mean looking XT500 which I think got 2^nd off road?

All toghether it was a very good show and we’ll be back again next year.

Hope you enjoy.

PS: The video has one of our guys doing his best Cheshire Cat impersonation at the end … obviously pleased at the prizes his bikes collected!

Cheers, Colin

Blowin in the Wind

Just a quick post from our end of month run today that saw five of us heading out into the countryside. Any thoughts about a quiet cruise through the dales and meadows was quickly dispelled as we hit the wind on the outskirts of town. I sure was pleased to be back on the XJ with its extra weight and power. Richard was out in front on the Titan with a nice 5 to 10 degree from vertical straight line lean on as we headed out Kevin Grove road. Ian on his GSX, Al on the H2 and Bruce on the VFR had a similar lean which set the subdued riding tone for the rest of the ride. After passing through Hiwinui Rich had us trying a new Ashhurst bypass that saw us onto Spur road and onto the main drag up the Pohangina Valley. We then turned off up Valley road and into the head wind and headed for Colyton. This was a great run and the XJ stretched its legs a bit into the wind and one could really feel the benefits of the new fork seals and oil in the front end. Rich on the Titan was feeling the head wind as I looked in the mirrors and saw him chinning his tank (he told me later he was in fourth gear to!). The run through Colyton and the back of Feilding saw the wind gathering strength and as we headed up to Stanway. It was at this time Ian disappeared from our mirrors. A bee had made its way into his helmet and after eye balling it for a few seconds he decided it was an unwelcome passenger and stopped to let him find his own way back to the hive! Our stop at Stanway led to a consensus that the wind was a bit over the top so we took the short cut to our cafe stop at the Woolshed Cafe and went by the more direct route through Halcombe and on to Sanson. Sanson was so busy with the Sunday markets plus all the North South and East West traffic seeming to converge at the same time. It took us a while to get across the intersection and head the couple of kms to our final destination where we were greeted with even more wind as a squall came through. It was certainly good to get out of the weather and enjoy a cuppa, scone and great conversation. Bruce and Rich gave us some wonderfully simple tips on how to find air leaks in your motor!

A Wee Stroll up the Turakina Valley!

A few weeks ago a few of us headed west for a spin up the Turakina Valley road. With the old XJ still in need of fork seals for a warrant I rolled out the little KH250 for wander around the countryside. Manawatu Motorcycles had a nice line up of bikes with a mixture of moderns, old school, two strokes and four strokes. There was a healthy contingent of lads from the Nua with Roger on his Walter Wolf RG500, Bruce on his RZ 350 and Tony on his recently purchased KTM Adventure bike. The Tu lads were represented by Rich on his T500, Kim on the H1a, Al on the Aprilia and myself on the KH. Our trip west had us going along the main drag to Mount Stewart and down the backroads to Turakina for a top up at the gas station. Along the way Rich spotted a barn find at what turned out to be at one of Martons local eccentrics. Apparently 'Lord Lucans' estate has many such treasures on it. Roger left us here and headed back to the Nua. A shame,  as he would have had a ball on the mighty Walter Wolf with what was ahead of us.
The turn off from the state highway had us in Fordell in no time. As we headed inland the open country very quickly changed into a more hilly landscape with the road becoming windier as we got closer to our coffee and custard square stop in Hunterville. Hunterville  arrived all to quickly and the little KH needed a top up along with its rider. Our run home through Vinegar Hill had the little KH running on two cylinders just before Cheltenham. Pulling the plug out revealed some lovely round balls embedded between the electrode and the outer casing of the spark plug. A new plug went in and a leisurely ride with the left hand hovering over the clutch had us home without further incident. Richard popped around later in the afternoon and he had the head off and all was revealed. It looked like it was still on standard pistons but the right piston definitely coming apart on the edge. Time to do the top end, but nearly thirty thousand ks out of standard pistons isn't to bad?

The Long and Winding Road

Sunday of Wellington Anniversary weekend seemed like an ideal time for the Blue Haze to go on an 'extended' ride. The plan was to go over the track, through Mangamaire and Rongomai, onto Route 52 to Pangaroa for lunch. Then an afternoon trip to Waipukarau via Wimbledon and Porangahau. The home leg would be through Takapau and Ormondville to Dannivirke for coffee, and back to Palmerston North.
There was a good turn out of 12 Blue Haze and Classic Club members. Bikes included 2 Yamaha TZRs (Kim and Dion), Honda VFR (Bruce S), Honda Bros (PC), Suzuki GSX600 (Ian), Kawasaki H2 (me), BSA A65 (Bruce), and BSA 500 (John R), MotoGuzzi LeMans (Paul), Kawasaki ER6 (Janet), Triumph Speed Triple (John L) and BMW GS (Bruce A).
After a detour to Eketahuna for petrol we worked our way round route 52 to Pongaroa for lunch at the pub. Unfortunately the wind was raging and the more exposed sections were a bit unpleasant, taking the shine off what is always a great ride. The pub lunch at Pongoroa is legendary and generous to a fault. Enough fuel to walk home on in the event of a breakdown!
After lunch 7 of the group headed back to Pahiatua to make a shorter day of it. From accounts given the trip over the Puketoi Range was quite hazardous with very strong gusts. The remaining 5 (Alan, Bruce A, PC, Janet, and Ian) took the road through Wimbledon and Porangahau to Waipukarau. After a petrol stop it was down the plains to Takapau and on back roads to Ormondville. Almost. The nav system on the H2 was a bit off the mark and we found ourselves on a dead-end gravel road missing Ormondville altogether. However a little back tracking and a turn off took us back onto the Weber Road about 15 minutes out of Dannivirke. While it added a bit of time to the trip it was good riding. After a break at Dannivirke we pointed homeward down the main road, arriving back in Palmerston Nth about 6pm.
A good day riding with good company and some new roads to experience. Doesn't get much better for an old joker on an old stroker.

First Track and Saddle for 2014

Here are some photos and a video from our run last week over the Pahiatua Track and the Saddle Road via Mangamaire. The weather was looking a bit dodgy but after a brief discussion we thought a ride around 'the block' with a cuppa at the Bridge Cafe was in order. There were a few sprinkles along the way but the roads were mostly dry.  I threw the Gopro on to Sir Als Aprilia and you can check out the video for some great on board clips.

First Ride of 2014

Thursday 2nd January saw five of us head North for a day's ride. Those lined up for the ride were Kim on his Yamaha 3VX 2-stroke V-twin, Ian on his Suzuki GSX600F, Paul Clemoes who brought along his beautiful Yamaha RD350LC, Janet Clemoes on her Kawasaki ER-6, and myself on the Aprilia.

We headed over to Whanganui via Halcolme and Marton, and had coffee at the Red Lion. Then some fun riding up the Parapara Road to the Field's Track turn off. Here a sign told us the road was closed due to a slip, but we decided to give it a try and had no problem getting through. The track is a narrow twisty ribbon of road with wandering stock and long grass up to the road's edge. A relaxed pace seemed the best approach.

We stopped for lunch at the pub at Ohakune, and decided to make the trip home via Taihape. Once out on SH1 we were passed by the obligatory group of open- piped Harleys (lane splitting on a two lane road), and after a refuel at Taihape we carried on south and turned off at Mangaweka heading through to Rangiwahia. From there it was onto Kimbolton, another favorite stretch of tarmac for the Blue Haze. This time there were mobile chicanes in the shape of pottering SUVs to be negotiated. We stopped to stretch our legs at Kimbolton, and unfold Kim from his racing crouch! Actually the 3VX proved a very capable mile-eater and surprisingly frugal in cruise mode for a 250 stroker, and reasonably comfortable according to Kim. Paul kept a watchful eye on the LC's tank throughout the day as it had the greatest thirst. The 4-stroke 600 / 650s were miserly by comparison. We had no issues with machinery and pleasant weather, dry roads, and good company made for an enjoyable day's riding.

By Sir Al

Another Van Ride!

For those of us who have air cooled two strokes a bit of coolness in the air is always welcome. The previous nights rain signalled a passing front and a southerly change for the morning. Not to hot and not to cold! Upon fronting up to Manawatu Motorcycles in the morning on the mighty (thirsty!) KH250, it was pleasing to see a nice line up of not only two strokers, but a nice contingent of air heads as well. The decision was made to do the Apiti loop. For most motorcycling mortals this is an easy mornings ride, but for wrist happy middle aged KH250 with a tired top end owners, range becomes a critical concern. Naturally this terrain is mostly hilly with a wonderful twisty road. Not really conducive to getting the maximum range out of a tank.  The usual tactic is to make sure one leaves Ashhurst with a full tank, and then to fill up again in Feilding. One can stay within the 100km safe zone. For this run I made the decision to do try an 'economy run' and see what range I could get before the air to petrol ratio became close to 100 to 0, so my fill up at Main Street BP was going to have to be it. Kim our resident Kawasaki triple expert guesstimated Bunnythorpe would see her go on to reserve. So with his sound advice ringing in my ears we set off and Ian by default filled the role as our token four stroke for the morning on his GSX600F. The absence of smoke billowing out of his exhausts set him apart as we left the city limits for Ashhurst. Bruce had joined us from Levin on his RZ350, Sir Al had the Avenger out for a run, Dion was giving his NS400 its first run after the Hampton Downs ride, Rich on his T500, Kim on his H2a.
Road Captain Kim had set our first stop at the Camp Rangi Woods turnoff. It was a great run from the Raumai Bridge through to the turnoff with a few of us arriving ahead of the others. The reason for there tardiness became apparent with Kim informing us that Dions front valve stem had gone astray and he was lucky to stay upright. Ian and Dion joined us soon after with Dion on as a pillion and the NS parked up in a friendly farmers driveway ready for a pick up later. Our next port of call was Apiti and arrived there in no time at all. The road was in good nick and it looked as though the council had the road swept recently so we really enjoyed the run. We parked up at our usual spot at Gasoline Alley (That doesn't have any gasoline) and after a chat headed for our last stop at Hansens in Kimbolton. This is another good run with a mixture of open and tighter corners. Bruce and Sir Al had their 350s on song. After a snack and some refreshments it was downward run to home along the Kimbolton and Cheltenham straights. By this stage the KH hadn't gone onto reserve so I decided to miss the usual run into the North End BP in Feilding and headed off to Colyton with the rest of the troops. I managed to make it to within 1km of Bunnythorpe. Kims reputation is intact if not enhanced as the guru of all things triple! After punching a few numbers into the calculator it looked like just over 30 mpgs. It confirms the triples dual cooling method. Air and petrol.
It was a great ride and just the sort of thing Santa might do if he wasn't so busy at this time of the year.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!