Pee Dubs

Cheers for the tag, I wasn't even aware of this cos life & shit. Will need to do some shed time to try & get a bike running, and totally not organised with any accommodation (expect I'd have to consider camping option), but if the stars align I could be a possible last minute entrant...

Cya there at some point in time!

I'm really considering whether my (kind of similar to a PE175) early 80's twin shock XL185 'Super Farmer' is right for this ride. It was super fun (while it lasted) this year, but probably at the upper end of acceptable capability to be considered a 'small bike'. That being said if your PE175 is the smallest and least capable bike you have I'd rather you came along on it than stayed home. The CB400 I had on the first year was the only bike I had at that point, so if I didn't take that I wouldn't have participated. It was also not an off road bike and I have never really ridden off road before, so it wasn't like I was burning off into the distance, and sticking with the gc crew is 100% part of this event. This. @tortron DRZ400 is a whole different league though. For anyone thinking of riding something like that I'd suggest instead finding something around the 125cc mark (not a twist and go - lol) in preparation for this epic event. DRZ would be perfect for the Dusty Butt a couple of weeks earlier though...

So keen for this, looks like a great route, thanks @Mof for figuring it out. Logistics to get down there will be interesting. Quite a drive for those from up North, freighting bikes may be worth it to save time & possibly $$$. Driving is doable for Manawatu/Wellington crew but will have to carefully plan it. I'd better start now on building a unsuitable yet reliable bike!!!

McKenzie was the original concept, but we expanded South to cover some really sweet trails. I think @Mof will attest that the route is pretty epic and will be a good (but achievable) challenge on small bikes. Keen for a proper McKenzie ride at some stage.

I can attest that despite the top company and entertainment of assisting various bikes in states of woe, sitting in a back up vehicle isn't the greatest after making the effort to be there to ride. Full kudos to the support crew guys that choose to do that - without them we couldn't really ride small, old, and inappropriate bikes where we do for fear of getting stuck out in the wops! I gotta agree here that at some point the bigger bikes get too capable to enjoy the struggle. At that point we might as well all bring modern dirt bikes like hundreds of others do on other rides! I've always felt my AG100 was a bit slow to keep up, but mostly that's handling and gearing on trail, because it can still do 90-95 wound out on a flat road. This time around I made a short notice purchase about a week prior so I had something slightly less painfully slow to ride, as I hadn't managed to finish the rebuild of my old CT125 - but I'll admit in hindsight an XL185 was on the upper end of the off-road performance scale when compared to CT's, A100 and the like. It was however the most suitable option I had available. We need to accept that there will be a range of bike performance and rider ability, but ultimately though the biggest factor is having something reliable, running right, and with enough capability to make progress on hills and rough stuff. Increasing the ride distances make this even more important, as there becomes a time factor to make each next stop and end point of the day. XL100 will be perfect imo. I hope to have either a 90 or 125cc ready for next year. Looking forward to the struggle with ya! Cheers

French Pass for lunch. Neat wee road out there.

Yep!

Late night engine swap mission with assistance from @ThePog

Today was mechanical carnage. Two bikes engines have expired, a handful more have lost power. One off road excursion (all ok). Has been a long day, and about to get longer for me...

After some last minute ferry changes @WankBankA100, Zac, and I are enroute. It's been a long night! Now fingers crossed we don't break down mid-strait...

Er, tyres for what? AG already got a new front overnight Friday last time out…

I have a unit booked in Nelson (same place as last time), 2 bunks available I think (more space than the little porta cabin) - you’re welcome to jump in with me if you want, $30 pp.