A Suzuki GSXR1100 G Comes Out for a Spin

 Fronting up to our meeting spot at Memorial Park at the end of July one was greeted with a very cosmopolitan selection of bikers. But my attention was immediately grabbed by a sight not seen very often these days. A 'Slabby' was amongst this mixture and it certainly stood out with its distinctive blue and white paint scheme and the double headlight arrangement. It is very much the 'uncle' of the Suzuki GSR750 I had arrived on and it certainly didn't look too elderly amongst the other bikes in the line up. It was good to be able to contrast it with the previous generation of performance bike equivalents with Sir Al and Kim bringing along there Kawasaki H2's who 10 years or so previous to the arrival of the GSXR 1100 on the the scene were cleaning up on the racetrack alongside the Z1. The amount of technical progress between these bikes is quite stunning looking back. The slabby was not only more powerful, better handling, frugal but an easier bike to live with on a day to day basis. Great to see it out and about Warren.

After a brief discussion the destination for our run was to be the Woolshed Cafe and with another lucky day weather wise we headed out Napier Road on our well worn route over to our first stop at Stanway for a bit of a chat. It is a lovely spot up on a plateau where on a good day you have lovely views north to the mountains. It was then off to our final destination via Pryces Line and Wilson Rd to the Ohakea turnoff (where the home for the Air Forces new Boeing Poseidons seems to be nearing completion) and on to Sanson and then our final destination, the Woolshed cafe. A great yarn and some great food finished off a great winter ride!

Roll call

Warren - Suzuki GSXR 1100

Sir Al - Kawasaki 750 H2

Kim - Kawasaki 750 H2

Stuart - Kawasaki KLE 500

Bruce - Kawasaki ZXR 636

Roger - Moto Guzzi V35 Imola II

John - BMW 600/6

Ray - Triumph T100 Bonneville

Gary - Suzuki GSR 750

Errol - Royal Enfield 650

Kenny - Moto Guzzi V7 850 Stone

Brent - Harley Davidson Road King

Rich - Suzuki Vstrom 650

The Widow Makers meet Walter Wolf. June EoMR

 

With the Winter Solstice just a couple of days behind us the weather gods were certainly kind to us for our end of month ride The 9:30 gathering certainly saw some blue sky off to the West and plenty of wind whistling towards us from the east and a lovely bank of clouds parked up on the other side of Ruahine and Tararua Ranges. Those who had come up from Levin said the Manawatu River was very high and the Opiki route was closed due to flooding, so no zigzagging around the countryside to the south.  So exit stage west was an easy choice to make and with Sir Al taking the lead on his Kawasaki H2 eleven of us followed along behind him as we headed out to Ashhurst. There was some evidence of rain and still plenty of wind but we were soon heading away from the ranges as we climbed up Valley Road and headed off towards the sunshine in a westerly direction. 

Colyton soon passed by and we skirted around the outskirts of Feilding as we hooked up with Makino Rd and made our way to the Stanway Hall for a stop. After a brief stop it was off to one of our favourite cafes, The Rusty Radiator for a pie and a cuppa. On a nice day the cafe has certainly become a real 'destination' for motorcyclists and other vehicle enthusiasts around the Manawatu/Rangitikei and beyond. With Stu having a catch up with the guy next door over his hot rod pick up truck and the two older gentleman out for a cruise in there 1950s Mercedes and was a great place to spend an hour shooting the breeze. 

It was good to have a few older and more modern Classic Japanese bikes joining this melee of vehicles as well. The support crew were on a variety of predominantly European modern machinery and it is always great to see sir Al and Paul D giving there H2's a bit of time on the road and Warren had his Suzuki RG400 Walter Wolf enjoying a bit of a workout. If we apply the 15 years or older VJMC classic qualification then Stuart on his 2007 Kawasaki KLE500 qualifies as does Gary A on his 2000 Honda VFR800 50th anniversary model. Also well and truely in the classic camp was Roger on his Moto Guzzi V50.  

All in all a great 'run around the block' in what ended up being some magnificent weather. Nice having Stuart B along for a run and meeting Mark V at the Rusty Radiator and lets hope for more of the same for next 

Roll call

Gary A -  Honda VFR800 50th Anniversary Model

Sir Al - Kawasaki 750 H2

Warren T - Suzuki RG400 Walter Wolf

Paul D - Kawasaki 750 H2

Stuart M - Kawasaki KLE500

Roger - Moto Guzzi V50

Dave - Moto Guzzi 850 V7 Special

Paul H - Moto Guzzi V85 TT

Bruce - MV Augusta 800

Gary W - Suzuki GSR 750

Stuart B - Triumph Bonneville T100

Stephen - Cagiva Raptor 1000                                                                                         

May End of Month Ride

 

Another fine day for our end of month ride saw an interesting variety of bikes turn up for what proved to be a very pleasant ride out on the Manawatu River plains. Our great in-house navigator, Gary A suggested we head a little further south than our usual southern stop at Foxton and follow the Manawatu River back up to our pie and beverage destination. Gary took us on an extended ride down to Foxton through the extensive maze of roads on the Manawatu plains, with some familiar and many not. This included  a section of roads that began with us heading down Kerekere Rd, Ridge Rd and eventually following the river back up to Shannon via  Whirokino and Springs Rd. The Highway 57 Bakery and Cafe's pies were definitely enjoyed by all and the Lamb Fry and Bacon I had was excellent. 

Our return journey home took another interesting and convoluted route through the back roads around Opiki, courtesy of Gary A. Yet another interesting maze! 

Roll call

Gary A -  BMW F650 GS

Dave - Honda 700 TransAlp

Bruce S - Kawasaki 636

Kim - Kawasaki 750 H2

Warren M - Yamaha XJ900

Warren T - Ducati MH900e

Stuart M - Kawasaki KLE500

Grant - Suzuki GSX1100

Rich - Suzuki 650 Vstrom

Gary W - Suzuki GSR 750

A Cobra, Two Widow Makers, a GT and a VX come out for a spin

 

You can’t beat the intake roar of a Suzuki Cobra as it gulps in air, then mixes some petrol into it, squirts some oil in for good measure then applies a spark. The resultant explosion moves a cacophony of two wheeled metal, paint and chrome down the road often accompanied by a "blue haze". This is much to the appreciation and delight of some might say, a bunch of predominantly sad old men! Not that this author would, but last months end of month ride saw some great examples of late sixties and seventies Japanese classic two stroke road bike’s out and about in their natural environment; on the road. Warrens 68 Suzuki T500 Cobra 500 was accompanied by Paul and Sir Als Kawasaki 750 H2 “Widow Makers” and it is important to remember these bikes are each over 50 years old. Grant had his mighty Suzuki GT 250 A out as well which is also fast approaching its 50th anniversary and rounding out the Japanese classics was Graham on his Suzuki VX800. It was also great to see John join us on his ever reliable classic BMW R60/6 which is also approaching the fifty year mark. With the value of these bikes appreciating to giddy heights, it is wonderful to see them being used and shared. 

Along for a run were a range of support crew on a variety of bikes. As always, the route for our run was decided on the day and it was Warren on the oldest bike who suggested a run around the Santoft loop and back to Halcombe and the Rusty Radiator for a cuppa and a pie. A top up at Bulls for the thirsty two strokes was agreed upon and we were soon on our way. With Warren in the lead we made our way up State Highway Three and he had little trouble keeping up with the traffic. After topping up at Bulls we headed off on our loop and we all enjoyed its mix of tight and open corners and that soft rolling countryside that is probably the reason there are two golf courses along the way! 

The run into Halcombe had us meandering past the outskirts of Marton and parking up outside the Rusty Radiator with parched mouths and rumbling tums. It was great to see the pie cabinet fully stocked and in no time the troops were enjoying the caffeine, pies and other treats! All to soon it was time to head back into town and as I videoed and photographed these wonderful classic bikes disappearing off down the road those sights and sounds will definitely linger until at least ..... next months ride! See you then.

Roll call
Warren - Suzuki T500 Cobra
Paul D - Kawasaki 750 H2
Sir Al - Kawasaki 750 H2
Grant - Suzuki GT250 A
John - BMW R60/6
Graham - Suzuki VX800
Paul - Moto Guzzi V85 TT 
Dave R - Moto Guzzi 850 V7 Special
Gary A - BMW F650GS
Ray - Triumph Bud Ekins Bonneville T100 Special
Errol - Royal Enfield 650
Gary W - Suzuki GSR750