Whangamomona ’ s historic hotel was the backdrop for the 2023 Royal Enfield Rally .
Whangamomona ’ s historic hotel was the backdrop for the 2023 Royal Enfield Rally .
The good old West Coast wind greeted me as I headed off towards Stratford , leaving my warm Wanganui bed behind me . It was our maiden two up trip away on the Interceptor 650 , a low mileage 2021 example I had purchased five weeks earlier , so a good shakedown . As I turned inland at Hawera a sheet of continuous rain arrived for the journey through to Stratford , and a welcome lunch break . The ride into the Uplands was pretty bumpy
and slippery , but we took our time and arrived safely , although my old back injury was needing rest and TLC for the next days . By now it was 2.15pm Friday as we checked into the historic hotel and already there were a handful of Royal Enfields in the Main Street . By 4.30pm that number had swollen as the ‘ dirty bikes ’ slid into town at speed , a mix of 411 Himalayans and Classic 500 singles that had taken an adventurous ride to the isolated rally town .
Clockwise from top left : Hugh makes his flag blow , Chrome Classic 350 . Some of the 54 Royal Enfield lineup , from the hotel verandah . Himilayan & Classic 500s , on the ‘ Dirty Corner ’.
KIWI RIDER 29