So before I went to Bali for a little surf I cleaned the bike thoroughly and left it with the shipper in Sydney. Now I'm back and yesterday we put the bike in a crate and rinsed off the dust that Alp collected while in the warehouse. Familiar but strange to sit back on the bike after a few months of nimble little automatic 125cc scooters. Slight setback since the shipper could not get the bike on a plane this week because a new guy at Air New Zealand refused to take it with a battery in it. So Monday next week the bike is flying with Qantas to Auckland.

I've shipped the bike once before on a boat and this is the first time with air freight. We'll see on the other side if it really is that much easier and convenient to fly.

Ready to head for New Zealand!


Pigs don't fly but Transalps do


Strapping it down to the crate

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VIDEO Series YT - '91 Transalp RTW: Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, East Asia, Australia > New Zealand

Alright, it has been a nice but wet week coming down from Auckland along the western coast for most. Roads winding and ever changing; contrasting the Australian Outback ride. Reminds me of Japan but with a wilder coast and pointier peaks. North Island that is.

Crazy good hospitality and friendliness out here. Thought I lost the laptop and GoPro to the wet weather but after a couple of days they seem to be working properly again. God I have missed winding up and down riding which requires concentration. And pretty serious stuff too in some places, especially in the wet. I do miss that Anakee 3 from Japan. Don't trust this Shinko in the wet so far. Good fun still none the less. Oh, and it looks like I have a lot of cousins out her.

And for those coming to New Zealand: Vehicle inspection is pretty serious and not simply a formality. Did not pass it the first time but later that day I did at a different branch.

Get me out of this rainy place! Though definitely a nice little skyline, especially from Eden


Beautiful green hills of Coromandel Peninsula


Rotorua lake during sunset


Somewhere along the wild coast of the East Cape


Alp just tugging along fine and enjoying the ride

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VIDEO Series YT - '91 Transalp RTW: Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, East Asia, Australia > New Zealand

Hi Mate, awesome story, great pictures!

What camera do you use?

Thanks alot mate, always good to hear. All the early pictures until Sydney are shot with a Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ8/9. All the pics from Sydney until Kununurra (Australia) shot with Lumix FZ60. All the pics from Kununurra until present are shot with a Lumix FZ200. Pretty damn happy with that last one except when in low light. Good overall camera without the DSLR bulk with very good video capability.

After the East Cape land in Napier and Hastings. Up and down from there. Top case key broke off and that was the last original after going through two cheap copies. Second day top bag got stolen in front of Maccas in Hastings which had sleeping mat, pillow, cooking stuff and chain lube in it. Great loot right risking theft for. Such is life. First time ever something got stolen of the bike but I was warned about it out here. Mysterious low rev sputter is back which I haven't had since Japan. Climate in New Zealand is very similar so could be related. Replaced some spark plugs and nothing. Checked the CDI's and one had a big hole in it. Some sort of pressure release opening that burst due to shorting? Ordered two new aftermarket CDI's to be sent from UK. Today while riding the problem disappeared again. 95% sure now that it is not the CDI but the old familiar phantom issue that comes and goes. Clutch is slipping too since a few days. I'll change it in Wellington.

Regardless of all of this the general mood is good. Mainly because of the great people I keep meeting out here. All the occasional bad gets immediately offset by the good out here. Generous and friendly people, good vibe.

Bit the bullet and decided to take serious the many Kiwi warnings about the cold out here and especially when I get to South Island. My sleeping bag is rated 0c but that is bs since I end up in fetus position at 5c already wearing thermals. So today I walked into Kathmandu *shudders* and as my wallet tried to run away I assured it that it was absolutely necessary. There was also a sale which eased the pain slightly. Now I have a -8c duck down sleeping bag which I'll put to the test tonight close to 0c. And some quality thermals too instead of the Kmart stuff.

Came over the Napier/Hastings - Taihape road today. Beautiful, especially the half inland and so many twists. A lot of blinding sun and shadows in the bends which might be a problem with "black ice" in the future. Oh and logging trucks, jesus, had to get off my line in the bend and ended up straightening out sligtly into in the grass ditch but at low speed. Serious business. Sometimes they come down the middle of the road down narrow roads.

10pm and pretty cold outside, time to go find a camping spot. Stiff upper lip though since this is nothing yet compared to what South Island has to offer.

Reminded me a little bit of Mongolia


Layer cake earth


Vroomvroom




What's going on here? Some aftermarket CDI's come with that exact spot but still covered by the plastic.

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VIDEO Series YT - '91 Transalp RTW: Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, East Asia, Australia > New Zealand