OUR BIKES
figure – the factory claims 88mpg . A Himalayan owner was most surprised at this , so when I next filled up I recorded my 9.2 litres and set off up the Paraparas to Raetahi and down the valley to a farm . Next day it was more of the 80 / 90km / h routine over to Ohakune and back . After some Sunday morning photos by the river I wound my way up the valley to the highway , but somehow the fourth time on this road was nowhere near as exciting as the Friday ride . One lane bridges , hairpin bends , rise and fall sections , S bends , the narrow country road heading towards the unfenced cliff edge half lane of road hewed out of rock – where was I ? For a second I was quick changing and scratching through bends with a very wide grin . – then the reality of the river way below the cliff kicked in and I was pottering along closely watching the debris on the road with more caution than normal . The ride back down to Wanganui from Raetahi went well until 30km out when the E symbol started flashing on the digital speedo . My brain did a quick calculation , ‘ I passed the 35km sign 5km ago , so slow down to 60km / h in top ( 5th ) gear and feathered her home . By now my body was tired and getting cold and I would rather not be there , but there was a back-up car following a few kilometres behind me , so if I ran out ... After what seemed like ages , the new Mobil station by Dublin Bridge came into view . As I filled the very empty tank the trip meter showed I had clocked 26.1km on reserve / empty . The joys of getting to know a new machine . When I got back home I worked out my consumption – it was now 88mpg , just as the factory claims .
KIWI RIDER 59