MrKiwi's Backyard

[MrKiwi]

I made the switch to a goose early in 2020, just before --19 turned the riding season on its head. I've owned lots of brands of bikes before but never a Moto Guzzi.

I sold my DCT Africa Twin, one I had heavily modified to make it the perfect bike for touring and adventure riding. It was luring me into all sorts of fun places to ride but damn it was a heavy beast to lift up when either sand or mud threw me off.

With retirement age coming up and a body that has suffered more than it's fair share of trauma from an active sporting/recreational life time I considered it timely to to begin backing off from wild adventure into a more character filled past time.

Enter the 2020 V85TT.

The day I picked her up from the dealer


Firstly time to run it in. What better than to ride 70kms over a twisty hill to my favourite cafe. Color coded of course, the bike and cafe are made for each other.



What follows in this thread will be pics and discussion of my back yard.

[MrKiwi]

So 2020 has been a shit year. ten months on and I have only just ticked over 3600km on the bike, most of that from a ride in October and then a long day ride yesterday.

The bike has minimal farkles on it, just crash bars, a GPS and Oxford heated grips.

[MrKiwi]

In October I joined a group of fellow kiwi adventure rider forum inmates on a weekend ride. It was fun. It was the first time I took the goose on serious gravel and she surprised me.

A few pics for your enjoyment.

Loaded and ready to ride


We stayed at a campground about 100km up the road from where I live.


Saturday morning's meet up then some riding.


Some interesting bikes. Sadly, the owner of this hack has a rather bad off on South Island gravel roads a few weeks after this pic was taken. He is recovering and the bike needs to be rebuilt.


High up on an access road to a large telecommunications tower.


Not a Japanese bike in sight 

[MrKiwi]

Yesterday I needed to get out, it has been hectic at work and I needed some alone time. What better than to take the goose out and ride to no where in particular and back. About 270km up the road is a nice country pub that sells yummy burgers and chips.

First stop was coffee and toasted cheese scone


Then a meandering ride through country back roads.







After a great blat through twisty roads I eventually made the pub I was heading for, way out in the boondocks



For the prized burger and chips as a side to the coffee


Cheers all.

[wrbix]

Great report/pics! Thanks!

All that countryside and not a sheep in sight - can’t really be NZ!

[twowheeladdict]

Very nice!  I was supposed to be in New Zealand this month into January visiting my son and daughter-in-law.  I was also planning on getting in some riding while there.  Maybe someday. 

They are up near Kaimai-Mamaku Forest.

[MrKiwi]

Great report/pics! Thanks!

All that countryside and not a sheep in sight - can’t really be NZ!

You just need to look harder 

[wrbix]

You just need to look harder 

Ah hah! Right.
My wife and I, about five years ago, toured and fished the South Island for a month on motorbikes (rented)....loved your country and your people.  Every little town and crossroads seemed to have a pub/guesthouse; made touring a free and easy experience.

Glad Jacinda et al got and stayed ahead of --19 - a model the rest of the world should’ve emulated. 

[twowheeladdict]

The OP looks to be on the west coast of the South Island so far from there.

Oh, I thought he was on the southwest coast of the north island.  About a 6 hour ride through the center of the north island

Far is a relative term though isn't it.  I live where going 300 miles is a day ride.   

[MrKiwi]

I live in Wellington, NZ's capitol and is at the bottom of the North Island.

The pics in this thread so far as all from the Wairarapa region which is south east cost of the North Island.

[oldbike54]

 Thanks mate 

 Dusty

[ampm7]

Beautiful, thanks Kiwi...

[LowRyter]

Great looking bike.  Even better looking next to that KTM.

Great looking sandwich too, what is it?

[john fish]

Great pictures.  What is your opinion of the V85 compared to the Africa Twin?

[John A]

Thanks, nice post.

[Wildroamer]

Great looking bike.  Even better looking next to that KTM.

Great looking sandwich too, what is it?

Smiling at your mention of the KTM. I wasn't sure if it was just me, but man, that is one ugly bike.

[JJ]

Nice bike... great photos...

New Zealand and/or Australia is on my Bucket List someday...

Thanks for sharing!

[Chuck in Indiana]

Welcome to WG, and great post. I hope the V85 treats you well.

[SED]

Fun post and pictures!  Thanks!

[Kiwi_Roy]

Welcome to the forum.
I had to google Pongaroa Hotel to see where you were.
The time before last I was back my Cousin took us down to Castlepoint

[poorBob]

Thanks for sharing those pictures Mr.Kiwi.

New Zealand has been on my bucket list for far too long. With current events being what they are, I'm not sure it will ever happen but if things are better in 2021, I intend to make that trip.

This post on this wonderful forum has reinforced my resolve to take 3 weeks and visit your spectacular island.

[MrKiwi]

Great pictures.  What is your opinion of the V85 compared to the Africa Twin?

Yeah, I get asked that a lot.

The V85 is no Africa Twin on gravel that's for sure. The Africa Twin is a very accomplished bike which also looks good. The motor on it is reliable, refined and a good balance of torque and power. But is lacks character. Once modified it was an extremely good touring bike, comfortable and easy to ride. MrsKiwi lied being pillion on it.

But as mentioned, it was a heavy beast to pick up and I was dropping it in sand and mud. Time to move on.

The V85TT is a very different bike to any I have owned. That single plate dry clutch and air cooled motor is distinctly old school. It makes strange noises compared to any other bikes I have owned.

But there is much to like about it.

It is stunning look at.

That motor is a talking point.

I wanted a more road oriented bike still capable of short gravel runs, light and shaft drive.

The V85 has no plastic clutter on it. The Africa Twin was a pain to work on, you had to spend 45 minutes removing all the plastic clutter and junk that adorns the bike before you can lift the fuel tank to get to the air filter. On the V85 you lift t5he seat, undo one bolt and you can lift the fuel tank. But it gets even better than that because you don't need to lift the fuel tank at all, Just the seat and then a plastic cover and there is the air filter. The batter is easy to get to. Not so on the Africa Twin.

The V85 is not a power house. It is all about the ride, not speed.

I like it very much.

[Muzz]

Nice report.

Did you get your bike from Mark at Scooterazzi?

[Wildroamer]

Thanks for sharing those pictures Mr.Kiwi.

New Zealand has been on my bucket list for far too long. With current events being what they are, I'm not sure it will ever happen but if things are better in 2021, I intend to make that trip.

This post on this wonderful forum has reinforced my resolve to take 3 weeks and visit your spectacular island.

I'm in... are we bringing the bikes, or just going to rent once we get there?
😁

[twowheeladdict]

I'm in... are we bringing the bikes, or just going to rent once we get there?
😁

Over on the adventure rider forum there is a section all about visiting New Zealand by motorcycle.  You might want to take a look. 

When it comes to renting, buying, or shipping your own, there is a break even point determined by how long you plan to be riding in country.

Of course until things change you have to quarantine for two weeks testing negative every time before they will let you roam the country.   

[DesertPilot]

I remember that bit about beets and Australia.  Those Aussies put beets on everything!  Our theory became, "If you're in Oz, and you ordered food, and you don't see any beets on it... it's because you haven't found them yet." 

[Motormike]

Nice pics and a nice read!  It's winter here, so post as much as you like!

[MrKiwi]

Nice report.

Did you get your bike from Mark at Scooterazzi?

No I didn't. I work in the sector so I am able to do a deal directly with the importer. However, the bike was delivered to my local dealer, Motorad in Lower Hutt. They sold my Africa Twin on behalf of so got a slice of the transaction and they get to service the bike, I'm past doing the technical stuff on bikes these days.

Motorad is exceptionally good to deal with, can't speak highly enough about them.

[MrKiwi]

Nice write up!

After seeing the picture of the burger with visible egg and bacon, I’m dying to know if it had beetroot in it too.

I seem to recall beetroot being a big thing in Australia, wonder if it is also the case in NZ.
That shot, brought back memories of Aussies telling me that I had to try Hungry Jack’s (Burger King in Australia) ‘The Aussie’ that also beetroot amongst other things.  It was good..
https://www.hungryjacks.com.au/menu/whopper/the-aussie

As it happened, no beetroot. I don't like it so I always ask for it to be left out of my burgers. I eat it roasted, but not pickled.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Over on the adventure rider forum there is a section all about visiting New Zealand by motorcycle.  You might want to take a look. 

When it comes to renting, buying, or shipping your own, there is a break even point determined by how long you plan to be riding in country.

Of course until things change you have to quarantine for two weeks testing negative every time before they will let you roam the country.

I would say around three weeks is the break even point between renting and buying.
Kiwi Dave in Auckland if you have to rent a Guzzi