Hawaii - Ducati.ms

DesmoBob · Jun 11th, 2007, 4:46 am

Well I haven't been riding as much as I'd like to. Today I finally got to stretch the duck's legs (or wings) so to speak. A friend called me to go riding and we ended up hitting most of the major riding spots from windward to central Oahu. It was like having your first pizza after getting off the latest fad diet.

This is at the lookout on the Honolulu-bound direction of H3, overlooking Kaneohe Bay. Note the no-pipe exhaust on the S4RS.

We were followed by cops on two separate occasions, though we weren't doing anything illegal (in their presence at least). Then I wondered if they were going to pull my friend over for his unique exhaust (or lack thereof

).

This is also at the lookout. There was yet another cop staked out there. At the lookout in the opposite direction of H3, there was what looked like an import sport car club. I suspect Five-O was hanging around keeping an eye on the car club as H3 is well known for enthusiasts doing high-speed runs. Of course we always obeyed the speed limit.

Kaneohe Bay. That little island in the middle is Coconut Island. (Old timers) Remember Giligan's Island? Coconut Island is what they used as the final shot at the end of each episode, taken approximately from across the bay, facing out toward open sea.

Extender · Jun 11th, 2007, 3:39 pm

That is a nice ride I was there with the USAF a few years ago and rented a bmw 1200r. Drove all around the island. The best part of the island is away from tourists. What a beautiful place.

Kmoto · Jun 11th, 2007, 3:44 pm

I absolutly love Hawaii. Been there once for two weeks on my honeymoon. 7 Days Kawaii, 6 Days in Maui and one in Oahu.

Awesome time and look forward to going back for my 10th anniversary in 2009.

748newbie_maybe · Jun 12th, 2007, 4:08 pm

Been there a few times and I love it. Would love to ride it next time...and visit the love of my life.

DesmoBob · Jun 18th, 2007, 3:43 am

Did a marathon solo ride counterclockwise around the island today. Lots of traffic in the beach & park areas, lots of father's day picnics I suppose. I figured the roads would be mostly empty, home barbecues or luncheons in Waikiki & such, but I guess I was wrong.

There were a few good short runs through some twisties, but otherwise it was a nice relaxed ride. Well as relaxed as you can get on a superbike anyway.

Had some butter garlic shrimp at a popular roadside shrimp shack. It was like nuts crowded, I've never seen that many people there before.

Here are some shots of the shrimp shack. And world famous Waimea Bay. Unfortunately there were no waves today!

Bill_Anderson · Jun 18th, 2007, 3:52 am

The heavy cop presence may be explained by the video on You Tube of some insane riding up one of the mountain roads on Oahu.

BLZ2DWL · Jun 20th, 2007, 3:58 pm

Romy's! I ate there in March when I took a spring break vacation from grad school. The prawn are scary big! I was told to find the shack with the red flags leading up to it. Good thing too, cause there's lots of shrimp shacks around. Good food, and you can fish for prawn! Wish I was still there...

fff · Jun 26th, 2007, 5:35 pm

I do wonder how much fun it would be ridding a superbike in Hawaii as there is not much room to stretch the bikes legs. Been to Kauai several times and I love the Island but again wonder if I could handle the roads as max speed is 50 in a few places and quite a bit of traffic everywhere pretty much all the time. Waimea canyon looks good but again traffic would be an issue unless you are real early. Beautiful setting though and I would love to live here.

**John** · Jun 26th, 2007, 6:25 pm

Seems to me the Big Island might have some potential from what I remember and what a former mainlander reports on Speedzilla. My Dad used to live in Kona and being that it is the biggest island I recall some good stretches of road. Just don't go off the road, you get cut up like hamburger on the lava.

I used to go to the islands fairly frequently and can visualize Oahu being a good potential depending on traffic. Maui not so and Kauai as well. I was sent to Kauai back in the early 80s to work a "special" assignment for a month and returned twice thereafter. Nice for a few days, but I got bored real fast.

Great place, haven't been there in over 10 years. Time to go back.

Thanks for the pictures, I remember some of the scenes you captured.

DesmoBob · Jun 26th, 2007, 10:03 pm

Yes the Big Island has lots of open roads. There used to be a group that would ship their bikes from Honolulu to the Big Island every few years for a few days ride. From what I hear, old Saddle Road was a popular WOT stretch (though I'm not into that).

Soon we'll have the Superferry (interisland ferry) so we won't have to cargo ship the bikes.

I've been up to Waimea Canyon on Kauai numerous times in a minivan (rental), and have always wished I was on a bike.

I do get worried up there though, as cell phone coverage is spotty. And if I ever broke down or crashed, I'd be waiting forever for help. Not to mention, for the life of me, I couldn't find any gas stations anywhere near the start of the canyon road.

On Maui, the road to the top of Haleakala is almost frustratingly beautiful. It's excruciating driving up there in a van wishing you had a bike. Nevertheless it's still a lovely journey.

Some pics from Maui (a few years old):
1) Brief view of the road leading up to the lookout.
2) View from one of the lookouts.
3) This is me, elevation ~10k feet. uuhhh this is what can happen to you when you don't obey safety signs.