Selwyn Times: August 28, 2019
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20 Wednesday <strong>August</strong> <strong>28</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi<br />
MY PRIDE AND JOY<br />
SELWYN TIMES<br />
Touring on a small bike<br />
Two locals, two small motorcycles and one big<br />
adventure! This is how Simon Dellis and Vicki Taylor<br />
describe their trip along the Trans America Trail,<br />
creating a YouTube series under the name Kiwi Grom<br />
as a living photo album for friends and others to enjoy.<br />
Simon and Vicki have only been riding for three<br />
years. They imported two 125cc Honda Grom small<br />
motorcycles from Australia, modifying them so they<br />
were more comfortable and easier to ride off-road.<br />
Designed for around town use, Vicki says the bikes<br />
are easy to ride so ideal for inexperienced riders.<br />
“Hondas are renowned for their reliability and the<br />
Groms not your typical bike.<br />
They’re small, accessible, not<br />
intimidating and a lot of fun as<br />
long as you don’t overload them.<br />
You need to be careful and take it<br />
slower, which gives you a chance to<br />
enjoy the scenery,” explains Simon.<br />
They have been on a few trips<br />
around the South Island, camping<br />
and exploring.<br />
“There are lots of good offroad<br />
adventure trails, especially<br />
in Otago,” adds Simon who used<br />
the website, RemoteMoto.com<br />
for maps and information about<br />
accessibility and grading of tracks.<br />
Their next adventure involved<br />
taking the bikes to the United<br />
States, to follow the Trans America<br />
trail from New York to Port Orford<br />
in Oregon, a trail which has been<br />
a favourite with motorcyclists for<br />
around 30 years. It took Vicki and<br />
Simon 45 days to complete 11,397<br />
kilometres.<br />
“It’s was a lot of fun. We have<br />
little intercoms on our helmets so we can talk to each<br />
other while riding. We camp as much as possible<br />
though sometimes look for a comfortable bed and<br />
hot shower at the end of the day,” says Vicki.<br />
It took Vicki and Simon 45 days<br />
to complete 11,397 kilometres.<br />
“Sometimes it’s whatever is available wherever we<br />
end up,” adds Simon.<br />
Simon sourced the Trans America route details<br />
from Sam Corerro in the United<br />
States, who created the trail. Sam<br />
selects and sells GPS and paper<br />
options for suitable tracks, much<br />
of which is off-road linked with<br />
back roads. The actual track<br />
changes every year depending on<br />
which areas are open. There were<br />
times when a road was closed due<br />
to a wash-out or forest fire but<br />
Simon says part of the adventure<br />
is figuring a way round.<br />
Simon and Vicki are now<br />
thinking about their next<br />
overseas adventure and musing<br />
with the idea of touring around<br />
Japan.<br />
“Japan is not well known for<br />
off-road motorcycling so we’re<br />
keen to explore the country and<br />
see what experiences we can<br />
create. We’re also planning to<br />
ride from the top of the North<br />
Island to the tip of the South<br />
Island, as much off-road as we<br />
can,” suggests Simon.<br />
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