MrKiwi's rambunctious ramblings

[MrKiwi]

Last week I picked, on loan through my work, this for several months, a Niken 900 GT. Rode it from Auckland to Wellington via an indirect route over two days. It is an interesting bike/trike.

[MrKiwi]

Some pictorial comparisons. The Niken is very large in the front when sitting in the cockpit. It feels like a Goldwing, except the rear end is not large. The extra front wheel up front gives it awesome grip and it is a hoot to ride on gravel, so long as the gravel is well formed roads.

The suspension is not suited to gravel roads, DAMHIK! if you are not paying attention and hit bumps at speed your spine tells you off, in no uncertain terms. I was sore the next day!

The preying mantis and the goose


The goose from the saddle


The preying mantis from the saddle


side by side

[LadyDraco]

Thanks for the comparison ,from the saddle...

[diogenes009]

That Goose is looking better each time you dangle it before my eyes.

[MrKiwi]

That Goose is looking better each time you dangle it before my eyes.

It's a lovely bike

[MrKiwi]

Mr Kiwi has been out and about again recently, for a week's riding in the South Island.

I organised a NZ sub-forum advrider gathering. Low key. Just named the weekend and location and attendees arranged their own travel and accommodation. Then I hung around for few days riding after that.

Some pics

waiting to catch the ferry south


Stayed the night in Blenheim then left early to take the long route to Murchison. Cafe breakfast


An old church about to undergo restoration (Old for NZ)


Heading down the Kaikoura Coast


Looking at the hills I am about to ride into



Along the way I did a 1.5 km gravel side road. Not the best idea on a 350kg cruiser on road tyres


There is a Moto Guzzi California in there somewhere

[MrKiwi]

The weather was about to turn nasty



And sure enough not long after I was about to ride into it. This is past Hanmer looking towards Lewis Pass.

[MrKiwi]

Spent the next couple of days with about 15 other riders around Murchison. We started this as an annual event last year, nice to see NZ starting a tradition and nice to be involved for the last two years in its organisation.

We stayed at a local campground, I booked a cabin. Most were in cabins, some tented.

Dinner the first night at the local pub (sorry for the blurry pic)


Breakfast at a local cafe the next morning


The bikes, spot the odd one out!


I spent the day riding with this fella, he had just got back from three months riding in Australia. James is a low key relaxed person, good to ride with.


We had fine weather to start with then it rained for most of the day. No more pics for the day.

Pizza and beer for dinner in the campground kitchen

[MrKiwi]

The next four days I rode by myself in a mixture of fine to wet to very very windy weather.

On the windiest day I rode 720 kms in gale force side winds. The big old girl was surprisingly stable.

Some random pics

Muruia Falls


Near Springs Junction


Quite a bit further south in Farlie, this bakehouse makes some of the yummiest pies in NZ.


Approaching the MacKenzie Basin


Lake Tekepo


Lake Pukaki


Lindis Pass


On the 720km day I made the mistake3 of riding into this weather you can see at the end of the road. Wet, gale force winds and slippery wet roads!

[campfire]

Excellent report! Thank you!