Words : Roger Moroney | |
H ighways , motorways , expressways ( that ’ s a quick journeys across it in the years passed ... one laugh ...), roads , streets ... whatever ... these of them was like cutting a couple of laps of the are the access ways which deliver us via the Isle of Man . It was a tad silly for sure and I would
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mechanical thing we use to embark upon them |
not do it today , or encourage anyone to lock |
to wherever it is we choose to go . |
into TT mode across any stretch of paving . |
We all know them . We all have our favourites as |
That ’ s what track days are for . On one occasion I |
well as our “ steer clear if you can ” examples . |
darted through the plains and ranges aboard a |
Good roads and bad roads . Some to cherish |
Triumph Speed Triple and it was as good as it |
and savour and some to avoid unless there is no |
got . Although had I told the Triumph chaps who |
other option . Kind of like lager I guess . |
loaned me the road test machine how long it |
As an ageing old piece of motorcycling filth |
took me to get to Napier from Taupo I would |
who kind of earned his stripes , one of my |
have been struck off the list . Sorry chaps , but by |
favourites was always the now shuttered |
jingo it was a quite brilliant beast . |
Manawatu Gorge . Oh yeah , line the clear bends |
I ’ m 66 now so the road test bikes are no longer |
up and weave the path . It was like doing a lap at |
on the agenda as there are younger limbs to |
the Nurburgring and good heavens reader ( or |
equip them with , although I still get out for a |
readers if I ’ m lucky ) there were occasions when I |
burst on borrowed tackle from time to time ... |
would break into a German accent when some |
and track days are sublime as I suddenly enter a |
dip in a Nissan interrupted my “ lap record ” sight |
time warp and become 36 again . |
line . I have to say here and now though , that if I |
So if the MV Agusta factory would like to offer |
sensed uncertainty or unease I would pull in the |
me some pretty Italian ironmongery for a week |
reins . |
I ’ d be happy to accommodate them . And I ’ ll stay |
Another favourite has always been the Napier- |
away from the Taupo Road ( that sounds like one |
Taupo Rd , or SH5 . Challenging in spots but get |
of those Tui ads ). No longer do I test those |
in tune and it is astonishing . I cut a couple of |
things called parameters for rules are rules , |
88 KIWI RIDER | |