[sandeepmohan]

Event Date : 23 May 2021

This was my first participation of The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride or DGR. I was introduced to this by my mayte Preston, who rides a 1986 Honda GB500 Tourist Trophy. It was his third ride with the group. For those who don't know what the DGR is all about, they raise funds and awareness for Men's Health and contribute towards Research for Prostate Cancer. Every country has a DGR event scheduled once every calender year. The Wellington chapter managed to raise a little over $9000. The event is open to anyone with a set of powered wheels. You can ride just about anything from a motorcycle, scooter, moped, EV scooter, etc. A little preparation is required, especially around what you wear to the event. It isn't mandatory. If you can manage to dress up all retro, that will perfect. This isn't an event to wear your bullet proof riding armour. You come dressed up in your dad or grandad's old blazer, pants, tie (or bow tie) and a nice pair of shoes to go with it. For those who want to show off their fine moustache (Also known as Movember), this is where you want to do it. Not to forget, you want to present your ride the best you can so a little spit (or wax) and shine up helps. There is no discrimination here. Everyone appreciates whatever you ride and as you'll see in the images below, there was a heavily leaking Indian Motorcycle and several rusty bikes that had come along. A couple I spoke to said they had no intention of working on the bike and preferred the rusty old look to them. All they did was keep the mechanicals lubricated so they would be functional. There were several old Honda's on display right from the old Cub, the Monkey bike, VTR's, Valkyrie, 750 4K, etc. Most of these Honda's landed in New Zealand a long time ago. The brand is the most sought after of all Japanese motorcycles. The Cub had its own group and I must admit did cause some annoyance. They were popping wheelies and doing burn outs while we were stopped at traffic lights. I was in the thick of it as I was right behind them. The noise and smoke did put me off. I felt it was unnecessary. Anyway, I don't think these things can be completely avoided.

The route involved riding along the bay area, from Shelly Bay to Red Rocks, Öwhiro Bay (Route) and then into the city and back to Chocolate Fish cafe at Shelly Bay. About 30km in distance.

More than fund raising, I was amazed by the turn out and variety of two wheelers on display. Right from the old Indian Motorcycle to a water cooled Lambretta or Lamby, as they are known in India. The icing on the cake was a couple of our very own Royal Enfield Interceptor's that was leading the group this year. Felt really good. There were three Orange crush motorcycles (mine included), an all chrome Continental GT and an old cast iron 500.

What I share below is a photolog of some truly unique (and some rare) motorcycles, scooters and mopeds that turned up for the event. I recognize many and there are many I don't, especially ones that are modified, have their badges removed, so could use some help here. Do observe the dress code for some who have dressed to the event Enjoy.

Our very own troopers


A beautiful Motto Guzzi and behind that a liquid cooled Lambretta



I believe this is a Suzuki



A couple of Honda cubs.


Gentleman with his beautiful BSA motorcycle


Our very own icon with a side car


Japanese invasion. Reminds me of the RX/AX100 era of ours






A brand new Honda cub. Fitted with some modern features such as keyless start and a digital console. All postmen and women use this to deliver mail in New Zealand.


The Go Charged Velociraptor electric moped. Link


An old Russian Ural


A couple of Honda Tourist Trophy 500's. The black one belongs to my friend Preston. He is seen in the background with the red jersey.

[sandeepmohan]

Continued...

I am not sure about this one. I assume its a Phelon & Moore Panther Model 100


That leaky old and running Indian


Honda CB400F. Those exhaust pipes are a work of art.


A Honda 750 4K


A couple of Vespa's for company. I am aware of a particular Vespa in New Zealand that was manufactured and supplied by Bajaj.


A couple of Honda VTR1000F's.


A Suzuki GSX1100


A new gen Honda Monkey. I think this was the one known or called the Bobby bike in India.


I could not recognize this motorcycle. Definitely something from the Soviet era or Russian. It had a drive shaft going to the wheel of the side car. It is the first time I have seen something like this.

[sandeepmohan]

Continued..

I put this photo up more for the motorcycle in the background. I think it was a BMW. Never seen a fuel tank that big!


The Gentleman who rode this Enfield 500 was wearing a eye patch, like a pirate. He was old and at one point was struggling to start his motorcycle. Incorrect use of the decompression lever. Helped him start the bike. We exchanged a Gentleman's hand shake and said Goodbye. I hope to see him at the next DGR.


The blue one is Suzuki's version of the cub


A modern Honda NC750S alongside the Honda CB400 Super Sport


Yours truly, a Triumph Thruxton and an old Suzuki. Makes you wonder who copied whose exhaust design.


Remember this one from James Bond's film Tomorrow Never Dies? A BMW R1200C

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[ashwinprakas]

The Rajdoot GTS 175 was the motorcycle known as "Bobby", the Honda Money bikes weren't sold in India if I'm not wrong.

From the looks of it the Boxer Engines on the Russian bikes seem to be a re-engineered BMW block from the early R series, if I'm not wrong even the Ural uses one such setup as I recall hearing the same somewhere.

Glad you got to take part, yet to personally attend something of this nature, even recent G2G's are seeing new crop of bikes and mostly modern superbikes.

Regards,
A.P.

[Nempuguru]

Good to see so many classic bikes together, must have been a good outing! Also good to see many attendees.

Please continue your NZ dairies, even the last week's thread was good . NZ interior parts are really beautiful.

We explored some parts of South Island (Down Under: Trip to Australia and a 2000 km road-trip within New Zealand's South Island) two years back, just before the pandemic explosion!

Now confined inside the room, sitting in-front of the computer for endless hours, wondering what if we extended our trip by a couple of more weeks then, exploring North Island too, especially "Tongariro Alpine Crossing"!

[carthick1000]

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

I think it was a BMW. Never seen a fuel tank that big!
Attachment 2195219

That looks like an R100GS with HPN tank+suspension upgrade. And probably also some other upgrades, with the fairing removed. You can see the various offerings of HPN build here. I am not sure if they are still in business (Probably yes.). In the 80s, when BMW ruled the Paris-Dakar championships, HPN was the race preparation specialist of choice. They have a cult following under the R80/85/100GS bike owners.

The largely functional, but quirky 43L tank is still listed on their very very old website (You will land in the old world charm as soon as you open their website ).

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by Nempuguru

NZ interior parts are really beautiful.

Indeed.

I remember that thread and missed reading it, which I managed to do now. You have seen a part of the South Island we have not. We made our first trip to the South Island exactly a year ago. The route was different to yours. We headed West from Christchurch via Arthurs Pass to Hokitika and then to Franz Josef, Fiordland National Park lodge (After Te Anau) and then back to Queenstown where we ended our trip. We had a week to do this. A lot of driving, some a bit too stretched, especially Franz Josef to Fiordland as it was a straight run. We skipped Queenstown.

Another few trips need to be planned to cover the rest of South Island. We tend to focus on a few areas for our trips else it gets too tiring.

[cr4nkshaft]

Would have felt like a kid in a candy shop, had I been there. I am sure your feelings were the same.

It feels so nice to see such well maintained models from yesteryears, but the
'leaky old Indian' takes the cake for me.. maybe the owner was inspired by the national legend, Burt Munro? Is that model a scout?

Thanks for sharing the pics, your other threads are a hoot to read (and see) as well.

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by cr4nkshaft

Is that model a scout?Thanks for sharing the pics, your other threads are a hoot to read (and see) as well.

Thank you for your kind words.
I don't know the history of Indian motorcycles very well. It does look like an old Scout though.

[deepfreak15]

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

This was my first participation of The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride or

Simply amazing! Can't imagine how enjoyable this would have been. Nice to see the RE twin holding its own in the sea of exotica!

[cr4nkshaft]

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

Thank you for your kind words.
I don't know the history of Indian motorcycles very well. It does look like an old Scout though.

If you have some time off saddle (I understand that might be hard ), give the movie 'World's Fastest Indian' a try.