Only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window...

Harley-Davidson...I became intrigued with a bike I would never have considered previously, in fact took the piss out of those who did have them. But then Rob bought one, and I read the book I previously critiqued, and suddenly my desire to own one (well before I could afford one!) came bubbling to the surface. I was always going to get one, that was a given, but now the determination to get back in the saddle sooner than later. Rob, new owner of a 1450 even tried to talk me off the Harley but it was never far from my mind.
So there I was, a couple of weeks ago with time to spare between meetings, and happened to be close by a bike dealer, a Suzuki dealer no less. My last four bikes have been 'Zukis, and the one I wanted to own more than any other was the M109T (or M109R with more funds). And possibly the only bike to kill my want for a Hog. A demo model (R) was in the shop so I left details to call me on the price, but by the time the call came through, it was sold, but the salesman said he would keep me abreast of others, as well of second-hand SV1000Ss which cannot be bought new anymore due to Californian emission laws. Then he convinced me to pop in to consider a couple of others... C series or M90.
After looking at the two, no contest. The M90 is the one...but I didn't commit to a ride straight away, I am methodical (despite my impulse tendencies) in my approach so will work through a series of bikes, hence this post, the first of a few as I narrow them down.

Suzuki Boulevard M109T/R

mmmmm...nice arse!

This dream machine has received rave reviews around the world, and somewhat surprisingly most have come from Harley owners themselves who wanted a) more power and b) better engineering and handling. The first time I saw this in Coleman's Suzuki when looking for an insurance replacement, I was hooked. From the sheer size, to the styling, to the awesomeness of it all, I couldn't stop but picture myself on it. And then I rode one...now this goes by memory. The first thing you notice, in fact fear, is the size of this beast. A bike with an 1800 V-Twin, at two and a half metres long, 350kg kerb weight, and shod with a 240/40/18 rear tyre is nothing to be taken lightly.But to ride it is as simple as they come...with a couple of gripes;





...shame about the face!


•  I found the riding position difficult. I'm hardly tall, so reaching (read stretching) forward to hold the bars got a bit much, but custom bars ($$$) could be added
• The dash layout is a bit, well, crap really. And with the silver/chrome plate on the headlight, just not right...
• The gear change - I found changing through the gears, especially up, to be lumpy and required effort. However, in saying that, this was a demo barely run in (1000kms), so it could well be that. Besides, that much torque coming from the 55 degree twin could be partly to blame...small price to pay for a bike that had people turning heads everywhere I went

The ride itself was barely half an hour, and it took in most of the regular sites on Auckland's Nor'Western Motorway (NZ's largest carpark!) so I didn't get to give any beans, throw it through corners or in general, have any fun. Lane splitting is a test, but something that gets my adrenaline going, so I took the opps to do so as I rode up the motorway and through the suburbs back. Easy enough, provided you are well aware of your width!



Special Edition, but black is so much cooler.



All in all, nothing that would not stop me from owning one...except the price, which is why I didn't buy it first time round. At about $22K for a new one, and in the region (at print) of $18K for an 07/08, you really want to be certain this is how you wanna ride. Not recommended down The Devil's Staircase into Queenstown, that's for sure!

I will look to test ride this bike again this time round...

Book Review...Ride Free Forever - The Harley Davidson Legend



Not the same cover as
I read...



I got this book out to do some homework on the Harley seeing as my mate Rob went out and bought one - although he maintains her bought one for his wife!

Anyway, it didn't take long for me to grow to appreciate the Harley legend, starting out at the turn of last century in a shed no bigger than a carport and then becoming the largest motorcycle factory in the world within 20 years.

Going through every decade, world wars, depression, and the upheaval in the 60s and 70s with AMF, this book (with grammatical and caption errors left, right and centre) lists all models and achievements in manufacturing and racing for close to the last 100 years (this was published just prior to the centenary).

I have to admit, reading through the 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s, I have really grown to respect the big ole air compressors (as Rob used to call them) and can picture myself being one of Marlon Brando's 'Wild Ones'. I also learnt enough about them to be able to hold a conversation with a Hog owner and recognise a wider range of models...in the past I couldn't tell a Shovelhead from a Panhead, a Fatboy from a Softail, etc etc...

'47 EL Knucklehead with Springer forks...very nice. Shame about
the twin lamps.

Now I can safely say that the EL Knucklehead is one of the most stunning bikes I have ever seen, and money pending (yeah, right!) I would own one, leaks and all. And coming in behind that, the Fat Boy and Softail...nice.

A good read for anyone wanting to learn about Harleys, or anyone keen on them. Frustrating to read at times, but a great source of technical details, chronology, and photos.

I WANT ONE!

Motorcycle Deal..

A mate of mine who features in a lot of my bike blogs has just traded his Triumph Triple with shot battery, both fork seals leaking, rear tyre stuffed, and a faulty solenoid for a Harley...sounds like a fair trade to me! i wonder if he asked for cash back?

Harley Davidson's introduction into Asia had
a great response from local taxi companies...

The Hurunui Hotel...

The first time I entered the historic Hurunui Hotel I was 15 and was taken in by my older brother Warren. We had just played Senior Reserve rugby up at Culverden (about 10km north) and were pub crawling home. I feel in love with the place there and then, but it would be at least 20 years before I enjoyed another drink there.

A few years ago Katie was doing a horse trek out the back of Hawerden with a couple of friends and I came down from Auckland to spend a week in and about North Canterbury. I booked in for a couple of nights in the Hurunui Hotel at the grand price of $45/night. I have fallen in love with the place, the quaintness of the rooms, the time warp that the place seems to be in (and should be as it does hold one of the oldest licenses in the country).

Travis, the licensee is one of the best around. Serving beers, sharing ditties, and cooking your breakfast the following morning (yes, breakfast is included in the fare!!), there is no better example that I have seen of a forthright, and stereotypical barman.

After Katie had finished her week-long trek, we flew back to Auckland and that night, being Leap Year, she proposed to me. So after we got married last Xmas, and she said we should head away for a couple of nigihts, I found she had booked us a night in the Hurunui in recognition of a few years before (I had joked we should have our honeymoon there knowing full well that she wouldn't - no TV, communal shower yadi yada).

I would like to see the place become a stop over for bikers on their way to the Brass Monkey or Burt Munroe, if not to have a dedicated bike rally - there is a camp site just over the Hurunui River.

For anyone wanting to stop for a beer, or their cracking gourmet pies and pizzas, or need a place to put your head, this is the place for you. Say "hi" to Travis and tell him I sent you.

 

Above left; Hurunui Hotel as I sketched it

Above right; old horse-drawn cart out front of Hurunui Hotel

 

Above left; the old stables next door to the Hotel, at time of drawing was a wine cellar (and seller) to the vineyard over the back - now it appears to be a tacky diner, complete with neon and LED signs!

Above right; The Homestead for the Hurunui Horse Treks where the girls finally got to have a clean up after their five days on horses.

I apologise for the sketches, they haven't scanned up that well.

Cold Kiwi - 2007 Part I

This Cold Kiwi had us bringing a few of the boys down with us, and as usual the Cold Kiwi didn't live up to it's name. Not much to mention, same old thing happens year in year out, but that suits us well.

Me - Suzuki SV1000S
Rob - Ducati ST4
Ray - Honda Firestorm 1000
Mike - Triumph Rocket III
Steve - Honda CB1300
Roy - GSXR 1000
Brett - Moto Guzzi VII Sport
Dane - Triumph 955i
Chris (who didn't really ride with us) - GSXR600

 Black Night, Rob's ST4 and 749S - a photo now would have a Suzuki GN250, Laverda, Triumph Triple, and a Suzuki RGV500                                  

Right: Ray and Brett checked out the bitumen at Papakura servo. A popular place for bikers to meet before hitting the Bombays.

Left: Brett and Roy at lunch, Taumaranui, a beaut place to eat, especially when you get two feeds! Sorry Dane! I ate a meal put in front of me (upset they scrambled instead of poached my eggs) and then when mine finally came, Dane didn't want it so I had that too. I was 20kg heavier in those days, that's why I needed a V-Twin!

Right: the boys meet up with Chris in Ohakune - he rides like a Nana, he left two days before!

 Left: Dane cannot understand why then girls haven't put up the tent for him already! this is one of the sweeter sounding 955s around, beaut pipe on it.

Right: Some of the bikes - Black Night, Brett's Guzzi, Rob's ST4 (he dropped it and broke the mirror), Roy's Gixxer, Steve's CB1300

Left: me, Mike and Dane share a broke back moment. It was a bit cool judging by the clothing.

Right: everyone does what they do best - argue, gossip, talk bikes, and waffle shit over beers and around the fire. The conversation makes no sense when girls are about to impress. From l to r, Chris, Rob, Roy, Dane, Steve, Ray, Brett (back turned), Mel (Brett's fiance) and Becky (Steve's daughter).

East Cape Bike Run (Pt III of III) - 2007



Steve suddenly thinks he's Jimmy White!

From Tologa Bay we headed north up the East Cape to Hick's Bay which is where we were staying the night. This area is famous for it's fresh seafood so we were keen to sample the local delights. Unfortunately, it was only OK, maybe not as fresh as hinted. It was interesting to see this place on local TV a few weeks back getting a hotel 'makeover' as it was outdated, and lacked ambiance. Yeah, I s'pose that was true, but nevertheless we liked the place, the company, and the rooms were very reasonable. It was only the food which let it down, but I wouldn't say it was the worst fare I had ever had...needless to say, I am keen to try it out again. 

Above left; Rob and Steve chat to a Pommie and Irish dirt tracker over a pint.
Above right; The bikes sleep outside the rooms at Hick's Bay.

The following morning we headed towards Auckland. We decided to fuel up in a nice little seaside town called (I think) Waihau Bay. It had a big hotel on the water and there were lots of boats being launched from the ramp for the day's fishing. Now this was time (remember those days??) when a litre of fuel was about $1.15...this place charged us $2!!! I was livid! So we quickly calculated where the next fuel stop was likely to be, and whether the price was going to catch us out again, and settled on filling up here anyway...funny, no-one bats their eyelids at $2/l nowadays.

 We had breakky in Te Kaha known for it's recent famous resident, Willie Apiata VC, and this was one of the nicest big breakkies I have had in memory. Highly recommended. From there we continued through the bays and beaches into Tauranga and then directly back to Auckland. The stretch of road from Hick's Bay to the Bay of Plenty was nice and tight and windy, and from there to Tauranga big sweeping curves. Overall, this is a ride I would recommend to any Kiwi rider or tourist wanting to see the country on two wheels.

Above; somewhere on SH35 between Te Kaha and Tauranga, White Island smokes in the background. 

Cold Duck - 2006

This was a trip to Waipawa via Whakatane that was suggested. Things started badly when we were delayed on leaving by Craig who had put his hand through a window and needed stitches. By the time we had got to Whakatane it was dark which made riding for me difficult as I had a darkly tinted visor and rode the last 60kms with it open to the cold air - it resulted in me getting the bot and pretty much ruining the weekend. I've never done the trip again but some of the boys have.

Riders;

Me, Suzuki SV1000S

Rob, Duke 749S

Craig, Harley Davidson Heritage

Mike, Triumph Rocket III

Steve, Honda CB1300

Dane, Triumph 955i

Andrew, Suzuki Vulcan

The boys on arrival in
Whakatane

 

Campsite - softcocks please report to camper

 

Mine and Rob's quarters...where bikes get
privileges

 

Breakky in Wairakei on way home

 

Rob waters the local electric fence

Cold Kiwi - 2006

Here are some pics of my second Cold Kiwi - rode from Auckland to the site (midway Waiouru and Ohakune). We rode via Ngaruawahia, to Otorohonga via the back roads, and then through Taumaranui and National Park (sorry for the spelling). It was anything but Cold, I had stocked up on thermal gears etc. Lucky there were plenty of beers there, albeit expensive! Agreat trip for anyone looking for a great ride and a weekend of watching other riders make dicks of themselves.

Other riders;

Me Suzuki SV1000S "Black Night"
Rob Duke 749S
Ray Honda VTR1000
Steve Honda CB1300
Brett Moto Guzzi V-Sport
Don Suzuki TL1000S



Rob, Brett and Ray at Papakura




 



Rob's Duke and ray's VTR





The Boys at the Big Carrot - Ohakune







Make up your own mind! Sausage Eating Comp - should
be girls only.







BMW RS1200 - when you drink
and play silly buggars!

 


Vespa @ Burnout Comp







Helmet race





The Campsite







Wheelie Comp



Brett's Guzzi

Don's TL




"Black Night"

 


Powered BBQ Table - now every bloke
should have one of these!

First of many...



Bikes and booze - they make you do silly things







360 view of Cold Kiwi site 2006







How the fuck do you put
one of these up?




Me, Rob and Don at Army Museum