Time has come around for the 2024 running of the North Island 800. This is most likely the last NI800 for me and the K1600GT but more on that later.
On the Friday before I loaded up the bike with the gear I would need and waited for the direction to drop at 7:30pm. However, a sloppy contractor had other ideas and cut the power to the house by isolating the wrong thing. Took a couple of hours to get sorted. Email dropped and went to grab the data. Five minutes with the GPS and I had the track, checkpoints and the route done. However, it took another 20 minutes to get it on the GPS. It just did not want to hook to the PC. Finally got it and went to bed for a short sleep.
3:10am and woke up so decided it was close enough and got out and had breakfast. Packed up my glucose meter, insulin in refrigerated bottle, and got the bike out. I need to watch my glucose levels now that I take insulin so packed a couple of moro bars as well.
Arrived at Kings just before 7am so waited a short while before getting my card and getting the bike checked. All good so went for a walk before the briefing at 8:30am. Normally I am in the first group but this time I was in group 10 so had a while to wait.
Was away at 9:27am heading for the first checkpoint at Te Rore. GPS was telling me that arrival time was 19:37 but was going to get that down. Had decided to stick to about 110kph and stuck to that “mostly”. First stop was Te Kuiti to fill up because I started with a half tank. Stupid Z pumps keep refusing my card so had to move to another pump and finally got it.
Trip to Te Rore was uneventful except for just after Taumaranui I caught up to a police car meandering down the road. I was about to pass him when he pulled over, turned around, and went back the way he came. I arrived and took the photo of the hall and set off.
Next stop was Whitikahu school and my GPS told me to navigate off road at the mystery creek roundabout. Think the map is out of whack. Soon got it back on track and was soon at the school and took the photo.
Next stop was Te Aroha Caltex. I was with a group of riders heading this way but I desperately needed a pit stop so pulled over and had a quick stop. Was soon back on the bike and turned a corner to see some red and blue lights in the distance. Was thinking he was chasing the group I had just left and thought I was really lucky. Continued seeing the lights getting further away as I continued and finally got to the Caltex station to find the group there and no cop to be seen. I took the photo and quickly on my way as I was blocking a car that wanted to get out.
Soon found out where the cop went and the Te Aroha road was closed not far outside of town. There was some kind of accident and we had to detour. It wasn’t much of a detour and if it did add a few kilometers then it did not show by the time I got back. Soon back on the right road heading for a sign on Old Te Aroha road.
Popped off the photo and headed for the next photo shoot at Z Te Puke. Traffic around Tauranga was appalling as it usually is and had to filter quite a bit but finally got through it and arrived. Refuelled and then took the photo. The car waiting for the pump must have wondered what was going on and why I was taking so much time.
Another 60km away was the 6th checkpoint of Te Teko Golf Club. These back roads were pretty awesome and nice flowy roads that allowed the speed to be kept up and was better than many state highways. The weather over this side was awesome and I had to strip off the heated jacket that I had been using since the start on a low setting keeping the wind away. Yes it was very windy. Photo taken.
Checkpoint 7 was Kopuriki store and not far down the road. Total kilometers was about 500 at that stage and GPS said I was going to be back by 19:00. Arrived and took the photo.
Checkpoint 8 was Poutakataka corner and a hut. Grabbed it and was away.
Last checkpoint was Whakamaru GAS, but a quick stop at the Gull station on SH1 at Atimuri because I think I was a little shy of making it back on the tank. Grabbed the photo after grabbing some gas and was off for the finish back at Kings. GPS time was coming down now and was saying I would be back around 18:35.
Coming into Ohakune and pulling up to Kings at 18:27. Bang on 9 hours to do 822 kilometers.
Took the final photo and checked in and then went took my glucose shot before grabbing a burger and drink. They had me a bit concerned here because I was waiting a long time for the burger and at least 4 others who ordered after I did had already had theirs and eaten them. With the insulin you need to be careful and I needed the burger. It finally came and eat it.
Many thanks to the organisers it was another great ride.
I then headed off home down the Paraparas with heaps of moths and a little bit of rain as well. Not bad, just a few spits.
I was lucky on the way home as well. Just after Patea I was on cruise control at 117kph and passed one car and then came up on another one just before Kakramea. As I had my lights dipped I only noticed just before I caught him up it was a police car. Slowed and acted normal for the 70kph change and then he pulled over at where they normally sit to catch people. Thought he was going to pull out behind me but he stayed there. Not sure what he was up to.
Plans are afoot
Now as to the comment at the start about being the last NI800 for me and the K1600.
Next May I am officially an old dude and can access my Dairy Super scheme and withdraw some money without having to resign. There is a fair chunk of money in there after 48 years at the same factory so can afford to splurge a bit.
My splurge will be to buy myself a new motorbike. Currently the BMW K1600GT is very nice, has heaps of power and grunt, is a smooth as can be but it is very heavy. Most of the weight vanishes as soon as it is moving of course but it is always there. My left wrist and lower back are still not quite right since the accident which makes moving the bike around very hard. I have dropped it twice so far. First time was on a TT2000 ride early in the morning and I hopped back on the bike and nudged the gearshift lever into 1st accidently causing the bike to move forward enough to come off the side stand before the cutout switch killed the engine. Second time was at home when I tried to get the bike on the centre stand and did not quite make it. My wrist gave out and down she went. Lifting the 340kg plus bike by yourself is extremely difficult and takes a lot of cursing and swearing but I did manage it both times.
Anyway, I want to go back to the much lighter bike I had before the K1600GT. By the time I expect to be able to buy it in May 2025 the new R1300RT should be out and is what I am aiming for. Being much lighter than the K1600GT I will have no issues with moving it around and will get a bit better range on the gas tank. There will be more vibs than the 1600 but that’s okay. It will of course have all the extras which will include top box, engine and pannier protection, and of course Denali D4 lights.