Dusty Butt '10 SBC: Preparation

OK this does not include the XT400 but it is one hell of an enjoyable adventure ride.

The Dusty Butt 1000km is to be held in the lower South Island this year.

There is a Small Bore Challenge sub group for those that do the ride on a bike with 125cc or less.

On November 10th 2009 I bought a '04 NXR125 off TradeMe from Gisborne for $900 with the intention of riding it down to do the DB1k SBC.

I did a bit of work on the bike to get it ready:

Replaced farm knobblies with Pirelli MT60's Fr and Rr ($170 from Coastline Honda)

Got rear rack welded up to take Top Box and Pack rack ($100 Wobbly)

Bought second hand indicators and 2 new lenses.

Replaced rear shock lower bearing and regreased swingarm bearings

Closed up tappet clearance from 10/7 thou to 5/4 thou

Checked and re-greased steering head bearings

Lubed the cables and freed up the throttle

Attached front bikini fairing properly

New front sprocket and chain. Used old alloy Rear sprocket off my CR (13 tooth front, 49 tooth rear)

Installed chain guard off my XT400

Bought spare tubes for puncture repair

Swapped out the standard cardboard air filter for two dish washing sponges.

Replaced the broken gear shift shaft.

Changed oil (Motul 3100)

Added an after market Front brake perch clamp that had thread in top for rear view mirror ($28)

Added rear view mirror from wreckers

Checked front wheel bearings.

Replaced rear wheel bearings

Checked and cleaned Fr and Rr Drum brake pads

Replaced front fork fluid

I ran out of time to pull the head and barrel off to check the engine out properly, so I just hoped it would be OK. It is basically an XLR125 engine with 10k on it so should be sweet as these engines have been truly tried and tested.

Work commitments really piled up near the time of the DB1k and I actually posted in the forum saying that I wasn't going to be able to make it due to stupid workloads.

However, I managed to do a lot of trouble-free productive hours in the lead up to the DB1k and amazingly was able to depart in time to get there after all. I was a bit disorganised as a result, but at least I got there.

The NXR weighs 123kg with 2 litres of fuel on board

When fully loaded up :

Tank bag 7.5 kg

Rack pack 13 kg

Top Box 12.5 kg

it weighs 156 kg. With a full tank I guess this goes up to about 165kg.

Then I sit on it and it is 267kg rolling along the road.

At DB1k I lose the tank bag and top box resulting in a bike weight of about 136-145kg depending on fuel level.

BMC: Overview

Start 53943 km

End 58392 km

Total Distance = 4449 km

The best day was from Fairlie to Invercargil. The strong wind made the high gravel passes a really fun challenge. Combined with the magnificently scenic visual impact it was a totally exhilarating day.

Otago and Southland have many roads suited to adventure riding, with amazing scenery. Hopefully I will get to travel a few more of these roads in the future.

The XT400 did not miss a beat. All I did was fill it up with gas and oil the chain. I did check the valve clearance on one valve but it was fine. I really need to clean the air filter now!

If I do another trip like this, I will sort out a better, more comfortable seat. My sore bum was the only really limiting factor that I struck during this little adventure ride.

Petrol Receipts

I kept all of my petrol receipts just to gather a bit more information.

Here they are:

25 Nov 08:22 Shell Riverslea (Edgecumbe)10.13 litre 95 octane 208 km $17.51

25 Nov 12:18 Shell Wairoa 11.65 litre 95 octane 227.5 km $20.37

25 Nov 15:58 BP Connect Taihape 14.08 litre 98 octane 264 km $25.76

25 Nov 18:04 Caltex Woodville 6.07 litres 95 octane 123.2 km $10.50

25 Nov 20:05 Faulknors Mobile Masterton 6.31 litres 95 octane 117.2 km $10.84

26 Nov 02:30 Ferry crossing $73

26 Nov 7:27 Geoff Noad Energy Centre (Blenheim) 8.5 litres 95 octane 178.5 km $14.78

26 Nov 10:36 Caltex Kaikoura 12.56 litres 95 octane 133.1 km $12.56

26 Nov 14:06 Lewis Pass Motors (Springs Junction) 11.66 litres 95 octane 220.3 km $22.27

26 Nov 17:39 Springfield Service Centre (Caltex) 13.93 litres 95 octane 266.8km $24.77

26 Nov 20:12 Fairlie Gateway Top 10 holiday park. Accomodation $60

27 Nov 10:40 MGL Caltex Fairlie 9.87 litres 96 octane 180.1 km $17.26

27 Nov 12:55 Kurow Caltex ?? litres 91 octane 125.2 km $9.82 (1 litre oil $10.95)

27 Nov 14:42 Danseys Pass Coach Inn (Beer and toasted sandwiches) 23.50

27 Nov 15:16 Challenge Ranfurly 5.05 litre 95 octane 100.6 km $8.94

27 Nov 18:33 Mobil Gore 11.07 litre 91 octane 192.1 km $18.36

27 Nov 19:30 get to Oreti Beach.

29 Nov 10:38 Kingston gas Ltd 12.74 litres 95 octane 225.1 km $22.67

29 Nov 13:29 Cardrona Pub (Beer (Pint of Speights)and pasta of the day) $25.50

29 Nov 14:09 BP 2GO Wanaka 8.9 litres 98 octane 171.2 km $16.82

29 Nov 15:15 Johnston Motors Haast (Caltex) 10.43 lites 95 octane 184.2 km $20.02

29 Nov 19:21 BP Hokitika 14.68 litres 95 octane 274.1 km $26.12

29 Nov 20:27 The duke Backpackers $40 accomodation

30 Nov 10:19 BP 2GO Westport 7.45 litres 95 octane 139.1 km $14.07

30 Nov 14:29 BP 2GO Westport 11.39 litres 95 octane 223.5 km $21.52

30 Nov 15:49 Murchison Tearooms (Ham roll) $6.10

30 Nov 17:30 StarMart Bishopdale (Caltex) 11.73 litres 95 octane 218.0 km $20.40

30 Nov 20:47 Rumba cafe Picton Coffee and pasta $19.50

30 Nov 22:30 Ferry crossing $73

02 Dec 11:24 BP Connect Levin ?? litres 239.2 km $21.82

02 Dec 14:40 Caltex Raetihi 9.47 litres 95 octane 202.8 km $16.76

02 Dec 18:35 BP Connect Te Puna ?? litres 280.1 km $23.68

BMC: Day 8 Wellington to Tauranga - Home.

Wednesday 2nd December 2009

Departed Wellington approx 9:00am

Rode to Wanganui and went along the Whanganui River to Pipiriki. Then over to Raetihi.

After so many miles on the bike, my bum was starting to ache. Usually the ache went away when i got onto gravel roads as I have to continually shift my body weight around on the bike to maintain good steerage. However, I had got to the stage where it was really quite sore.

I did have more adventurous plans to go elsewhere, but due to my aching bum, I decided to take the main roads straight from Raetihi to Tauranga.

I stopped off in Oropi for 15 minutes to see Dave's very recent purchase, an NSR250, and then home to Whakamarama.

Google maps link

Depart Wellington 9:00am odometer 57800km

Arrive Home 5:15pm odometer58392km

592km over 8.25 hours.

BMC: Day 7 Wellington rest day

Tuesday 1st december 2009

I was knackered!

I slept for about 4 hours in the afternoon.

Had pizza for dinner.

Wet windy day although did go for a bit of a walk around central Wellington during a fine spell of weather.

BMC: Day 6 Greymouth - Karamea - Picton

Monday 30th November 2009

Departed Greymouth approx 9:00am

On to Westport [rock falls] and up to Karamea and to the complete end of the road at Kohaihai where the Heaphy Track starts. Light rain most of the time but was still fun.

Talked to an Israeli tramper who had hiked back out after hiking in for one day as he had forgotten his raincoat. D'oh! He was soaked through but in reasonable spirits.

Then back to Karamea pub for a beer and a vege soup.

Then back to Westport and on to Nelson.

Went part way over the Maungatapu track only to find that it was closed. I wish they could put up a sign telling you so at the start of the Maitai River Rd.

So back into Nelson and over the Queen Charlotte Drive to Picton.

I had a green Thai curry and booked my ferry ticket. $73

Set sail at 10:30pm and arrived Wellington 1:30am.

Crashed out at Pete's at 2:00am.

Google maps Link

Depart Greymouth 9:00am odometer 57111km

Arrive Picton 8:00pm odometer 57800km

689km over 11 hours

BMC: Day 5 Invercargil to Greymouth

Sunday 29th November 2009

Got up about 7:00am. had another pre-paid $11 breakfast.

Packed up my tent and oiled the chain.

Departed the campground approx 9:10am.

There was a toy run organised to go out to Wyndham where the street racing was to be held.

However, due to the nasty looking weather forecast I decided to make tracks back up North.

I went through Winton and on towards Frankton. Then up the Coronet Peak Rd to Skippers Rd and out to Skippers Bridge. This is a very narrow twisty gravel road with totally blind single lane corners. It would not be so bad except for the number of tourists and small buses travelling it.

On to Wanaka. Here I diverted off to Treble Cone just to have a look. Then back to Wanaka and over to Haast. I made sure I got to Haast before 5pm just in case the petrol stations were shutting early to force people to stay the night. However, upon arrival I noticed a sign that said 24 hour card operated pumps. I did not need to check this out as the petrol station was open.

Up the West Coast Rd to Hokitika. I decided I did not need to fill up at Fox Glacier, as a result I VERY NEARLY ran out of gas before Hokitika. I must have pulled into Hokitika with less than 100 ml of petrol left. I was going to stay the night in Hokitika but decided to press on to Greymouth as I was feeling quite good.

Google maps Link

Depart Invercargil 9:10am odometer 56293

Arrive Greymouth 8:10pm odometer 57111km

818km over 11 hours

BMC: Day 4 At the Rally.

Saturday 28th November 2009

I had a good sleep-in in my tent.

The wind was up and was bitterly cold. It stayed like this for the duration of my time in Invercargil. I got in the queue for my $11 pre-paid breakfast and by the time i got to the servery they had run out of bacon and beans. Watched the road racing at Teretonga and then took in some of the speedway racing over at the speedway track. Both within walking distance of the camp ground.

Spent the evening in Jonno's campervan talking to an ex British Army helicopter pilot who used to fly around Southland doing live deer capture. Very interesting converasation.