New Zealand - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

[patches]

Dude, make some time. Even better, come down to Whaka-side so I can show you some of the awesome trails we got on the doorstep. You won't regret it!

 

In other news, I am weighing up a WR450F (2017) vs a FE450 (2016). Right now I am leaning to the Yammie as I know and love the WR250F, which is to become my wife's bike and we'll flick off the Honda CRF250 Rally (which has been a superb starter bike and which, with the addition of some dirt tyres, is a surprisingly fun and capable offroader).

 

Have you opinions on the comparison? The KYB suspension is A+ on the 250 and I have heard the WP suspension isn't universally appreciated...

 

Hmmm... I can only comment on the 2016 FE450 (as that is one of my current bikes), and yes, there are downsides.

 

1. Service intervals (oil changes) are every 15hrs according to the book. I stretch those out, 10w60 fully synthetic is not cheap.
2. Resale value. The Austrian enduro bikes are awesome, but in NZ (a country that loves Japanese dirt bikes), the overpriced Austrians take a huge knock on the resale value. Although if you're buying used, someone else is taking that knock for you 
3. aaand the fork. Yes, the KYB's on YZ's and WR's is generally regarded as a much better feeling fork than the divisive WP 4CS (which the 2014 - 16 Huskies and KTM Six Days bikes came with). Aparently the 4CS can be magic if tuned properly (like via a Race Tech Gold Valve kit etc), but I also know of guys who have rather chosen to spend that effort on swapping out their 4CS's for some KYB's. The newer models run the Xplor fork which is supposed to be a vast improvement. As for me and my skill level, I just run the 4CS with appropriately weighted springs, and let my ignorance do the rest

All in I'd say the Yammie is probably a better bet. The Husky is a fine machine, and definitely way too much for me to really warrant, but if I had to do it all over (and wasn't thousands of dollars deep in very specific aftermarket accessories), I'd probably go one of 2 ways...

 

Either bigger on the Husky/KTM (go for the FE501/EXC-F 500. That extra bit of stroke seems to make a pretty bomb-proof engine, while delivering insane power. There's a Kiwi guy who has ridden his around the world. Not to mention it's Adam Riemann's bike of choice for his Motonomad adventures. A 110kg bike with over 60HP. It's the poor-man's 450 Rally.

 

Or I'd go Japanese, like the WR450 or the Honda CRF450L (although those are nearly Husky money).

[intern]

Hmmm... I can only comment on the 2016 FE450 (as that is one of my current bikes), and yes, there are downsides.

 

1. Service intervals (oil changes) are every 15hrs according to the book. I stretch those out, 10w60 fully synthetic is not cheap.
2. Resale value. The Austrian enduro bikes are awesome, but in NZ (a country that loves Japanese dirt bikes), the overpriced Austrians take a huge knock on the resale value. Although if you're buying used, someone else is taking that knock for you 
3. aaand the fork. Yes, the KYB's on YZ's and WR's is generally regarded as a much better feeling fork than the divisive WP 4CS (which the 2014 - 16 Huskies and KTM Six Days bikes came with). Aparently the 4CS can be magic if tuned properly (like via a Race Tech Gold Valve kit etc), but I also know of guys who have rather chosen to spend that effort on swapping out their 4CS's for some KYB's. The newer models run the Xplor fork which is supposed to be a vast improvement. As for me and my skill level, I just run the 4CS with appropriately weighted springs, and let my ignorance do the rest

All in I'd say the Yammie is probably a better bet. The Husky is a fine machine, and definitely way too much for me to really warrant, but if I had to do it all over (and wasn't thousands of dollars deep in very specific aftermarket accessories), I'd probably go one of 2 ways...

 

Either bigger on the Husky/KTM (go for the FE501/EXC-F 500. That extra bit of stroke seems to make a pretty bomb-proof engine, while delivering insane power. There's a Kiwi guy who has ridden his around the world. Not to mention it's Adam Riemann's bike of choice for his Motonomad adventures. A 110kg bike with over 60HP. It's the poor-man's 450 Rally.

 

Or I'd go Japanese, like the WR450 or the Honda CRF450L (although those are nearly Husky money).

 

 

Patches, SHOT. I'll go with the Yammie I reckon, I know and love the KYBs, and the rest of the Yam has that good old Japanese build quality, too. And I can't be arsed with tuning suspension.

I've been changing oil every 1000 with the WR250; did a valve clearance check last weekend. They're on the edge of tolerance...not sure I am sufficiently confident to re-shim them myself, but hey, who knows.

Managed to ride around 16 hours last week in 6 sessions. This moto thing is addictive, especially when you're ripping it through paradise 

[davetapson]

hahaha we may have to start a side thread [emoji38]

 

 

 

Loads of great and scary memories downriver too. One holiday in Chirundu my father managed to find every sandbank in that section of river in his little bass boat.

Chirundu... one time we were staying in Willy Reed(?)'s camp and had gone up to the trading store near the main road to buy beer.

 

Was sitting in the car watching an elephant standing under a tree near the store. A local comes out of the store with a loaf of bread, jumps on his bicycle and takes off with elephant in hot pursuit, seemingly after the bread...

 

Didn't look like the first time it had happened either 

Edited July 27, 2020 by davetapson

[travisza]

This is for Travis - not nice or easy to say, but leave the pets behind if you can rehome them. Finding a rental is hard, it is MUCH harder with pets. Also, you will be in a new country with no mates or family, and pets will make it impossible to go exploring etc for more than a few hours or maybe an overnighter.

It's a tough one, of course. But the costs and the crimps on your lifestyle make it very hard to justify bringing the pets with. I say that with my beloved beagle at my feet - my other dog I brought with died a few years ago.

Thanks. I completely understand the rational argument. And I'm with you on moving to a new city (and country!), finding a rental, etc. As hard as it would be to leave them behind I could come to terms with it if we were able to find good homes for them. 

 

However, my wife would never let that happen. In her mind there are two options (1) animals come with (2) animals are too sick/old to come with and so we have to put them down. She won't leave SA without them...I know everyone loves their pets but my wife takes it to a different level (I know we aren't snowflakes and everyone probably feels that way).

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

Thanks. I completely understand the rational argument. And I'm with you on moving to a new city (and country!), finding a rental, etc. As hard as it would be to leave them behind I could come to terms with it if we were able to find good homes for them. 

 

However, my wife would never let that happen. In her mind there are two options (1) animals come with (2) animals are too sick/old to come with and so we have to put them down. She won't leave SA without them...I know everyone loves their pets but my wife takes it to a different level (I know we aren't snowflakes and everyone probably feels that way).

 

Seeing lots of people who moved over with pets and now just cannot find accommodation that allows for pets. It would seem landlords are not happy to have pets including in leases.

[travisza]

Seeing lots of people who moved over with pets and now just cannot find accommodation that allows for pets. It would seem landlords are not happy to have pets including in leases.

Thanks Steven. Definitely something my wife and I need to have a hard conversation about

[patham]

Its an upside down catfish, synodontis zambezensis. we called the waga waga fish because of the noise they make when you catch them, also called korokoro, also probably because of the sound they make.

Their dorsal fin is dangerous, have had a few stuck in my hand.

 

Thanks for bringing science into the thread. Those fins coated with toxic slime are dangerous and filled me with terror as boy can these fish wriggle in the hand. My preferred method of getting them off the hook if on shore was to immobilise them underfoot (shoes being essential), get the hook out, then nudge them back into the water. They sure could squeek loud underfoot (like standing on rubber duckies for those not familiar with the breed).

 

I just looked up the current size record for a leopard squeeker now, and at 17 cm I still think I should have it. In reality I reckon the record has been broken many times, but it's such a pathetic catch that no one ever bothers to record them and have the catch verified. 

[patham]

 

My granddad loved to tinker with things and built himself what must have been a 20ft long boat out of steel plate, called the "Maramba". It was only powered by 2x 40HP Mariner's which he converted to paraffin. They were VERY noisy.

 

Loads of great and scary memories downriver too. One holiday in Chirundu my father managed to find every sandbank in that section of river in his little bass boat. I recall having to stand up and be in croc lookout as he jumped overboard to try get the boat unstuck 

 

 

 

Yes, some of the boats on the Zambesi were pretty agricultural, home-made affairs that would make any naval architect weep.

 

On the upper reaches we didn't often get grounded on sandbanks, but would lose the shear pin holding the prop in place after bashing it on rocks. End result is similar though, with some PB having to work on fitting a new pin on the lifted outboard motor/prop at arms length, exposed to all the crocs in the vicinity. You would be going along and just hear the engine pitch suddenly increase as the motor lost resistance and the revs went up, and get that sinking feeling.....

[intern]

Thanks for bringing science into the thread. Those fins coated with toxic slime are dangerous and filled me with terror as boy can these fish wriggle in the hand. My preferred method of getting them off the hook if on shore was to immobilise them underfoot (shoes being essential), get the hook out, then nudge them back into the water. They sure could squeek loud underfoot (like standing on rubber duckies for those not familiar with the breed).

 

I just looked up the current size record for a leopard squeeker now, and at 17 cm I still think I should have it. In reality I reckon the record has been broken many times, but it's such a pathetic catch that no one ever bothers to record them and have the catch verified. 

 

I'm now an expert on the sqeeker, Patham, so go ahead and ask me anything you'd like to know about it   

[intern]

Hey Patches just bought the 2017 WR450F, only has 1500km on it. Now I have to go to Whangarei to fetch. Yeeehaaaaa!

[patham]

I'm now an expert on the sqeeker, Patham, so go ahead and ask me anything you'd like to know about it   

 

Only an armchair expert! You have never experienced the disappointment of hauling your catch above water and being greeted by the slimy ugliness of a squeeker that can now mortally impale you with toxic spines.

 

 Its enough to make you open another beer.

[intern]

Only an armchair expert! You have never experienced the disappointment of hauling your catch above water and being greeted by the slimy ugliness of a squeeker that can now mortally impale you with toxic spines.

 

 Its enough to make you open another beer.

 

Sounds like landing a barracouta here...snoek in South Africa. Over here it's considered a bloody pest, as is kahawai...

[intern]

Only an armchair expert! You have never experienced the disappointment of hauling your catch above water and being greeted by the slimy ugliness of a squeeker that can now mortally impale you with toxic spines.

 

 Its enough to make you open another beer.

 

 

Also, I once landed a hagfish. Now that was horrifying!

[patches]

Hey Patches just bought the 2017 WR450F, only has 1500km on it. Now I have to go to Whangarei to fetch. Yeeehaaaaa!

 

Nice! Very nice indeed!

 

And it just so happens I live on-the-way to Whangarei, so it works out well to get your toolbox to you!

 

EDIT: BTW Uretiti beach (about 33km south of Whangarei) allows bikes on it and has a couple of fun dunes.

Edited July 28, 2020 by patches

[patham]

Sounds like landing a barracouta here...snoek in South Africa. Over here it's considered a bloody pest, as is kahawai...

 

Our local supermarket fish counter often stocks smoked snoek from S.A. I never liked it back there either....

[intern]

Nice! Very nice indeed!

 

And it just so happens I live on-the-way to Whangarei, so it works out well to get your toolbox to you!

 

EDIT: BTW Uretiti beach (about 33km south of Whangarei) allows bikes on it and has a couple of fun dunes.

 

Sounds appealing BUT: Dude I bought it from is collecting a KTM 690 Adventure from Rotorua either this Saturday or next and will bring the Yammie with. How nice n helpful.

My bum's burning to get on the scoot though as you can imagine. And I'm moving house this weekend, too, not that that minor inconvenience would prevent me from riding or fetching bike!