New to the TT2000? Here is all the essential information backgrounding how the rally works, so you can make an informed decision whether this is the event for you.
About the TT2000
Welcome to the TT2000 web site. You're probably here because the sound of a weekend's ride covering 2,000 km of the South Island's iconic motorcycling roads is worth some investigation.
Simply put, the TT2000 is an annual challenge thrown out to any motorcyclist who is interested in long-distance riding and would like to join others in a road ride covering 2,000 km in a weekend. It is not exactly an Iron Butt Rally nor is it the Long Way Down Under. Each year the route changes. In 2009 the route took in the South Island's Four Passes - Lewis, Arthurs, Haast and Lindis. In 2010 the route was in the northern half of the South Island. In 2011 the route took in the best of the bottom half. In 2012 the 'basic' route is predominantly in the top half. The ride would be described as a fairly challenging road trip spanning two days in some of the country's best scenery.
Eligibility & who make the best TT riders
You must:
The best riders are those who can pace themselves and make a realistic assessment of their endurance capacity.
If you are a fan of riding through the night then the 'Build your own' option of the TT Flyer will appeal to you as you seek to cover more kms. However most riders are delighted with simply completing 2,000 km in a weekend which is a major feat given the typical distances we all tend to tour with the constraints of NZ's twisty roads.
There are a band of riders for whom the 'stretch target' of the TT Flyer is their reason for entering.
Many of these riders spend hours in advance planning and turn up at the start with a personal schedule of what they intend to achieve.
Others take a more laissez-faire approach and see how they are going on the day before committing to a particular checkpoint.
In summary how you ride the TT2000, whether solo or grouping up periodically, is personal choice. Therein lies the pull of an event like this.
What about your choice of bike? One of the 1st-equal Flyer achievers in the 2010 TT was on a 1986 Honda GB500 which cost him about 10% of the price of a showroom rocket. Trikes and scooters have also acquitted themselves superbly in the TT. Note in the registrations page that two Honda C50 step-throughs have entered this time! The moral of the story is not what you ride but how you manage your pace and mental endurance. It may sound a cliche but the TT pros appear to be those riders who have set themselves goals before setting out and seem to have the mental stamina to break up the challenge into hour-sized mini goals. By all means blast out of the starting gate and ride like hell in the morning, but see how long it takes before you start to flag after lunch.
How It Works
The TT2000 spans a maximum riding duration of 48 hours within the START/FINISH checkpoint opening & closing window from 6:00pm Fri 24 Feb to 10:00pm Sun 26 Feb.
Previous TTs have limited your riding window to 40 hours. To revert to the literal 48 hours we are opening the START checkpoint from 6:00pm-10:00pm Fri 24 Feb as well as 5:00-7:00am Sat 25 Feb catering for those who want to maximise the FULL 48 hours & get away on Friday evening.
Your start time is logged & you must be back no later than 48 hours after starting, bearing in mind the START/FINISH checkpoint closes at 10:00pm on Sun 26 Feb.
How far you ride on either Fri night, Sat or Sun is up to you. There is no Saturday night checkpoint to reach - you simply get accommodation or pitch your tent wherever and whenever you feel you've had enough.
To prove you rode the route you must take digital photos at certain pre-determined locations, known as photo checkpoints. There is no-one there - you simply get off your bike and take a photo of your bike + your rally shirt draped over it, at whatever landmark or view you are instructed to in this web site.
There is no racing aspect, no prizes, no placings, no chequered flag and your satisfaction comes from completing a long ride with fellow riders potentially on roads that will be new to you and that you may not otherwise travel on your own.
There are two ways of riding the TT2000. Here they are summarised:
RALLY OPTION 1: The TT2000 'Basic'
Ride 2,000 km passing through 10 compulsory checkpoints. How you get around them is up to you and there are 4-5 route variations between 2,000 – 2,100 km. The checkpoints have been positioned so that it is not possible to ride less than 2,000 km on anything other than goat tracks. The advertised route on this site is the shortest way around, however for a few kms more you may wish to vary your own route.
You have a maximum window of 48 hours in which to complete a route that ticks off all 10 checkpoints. The START/FINISH checkpoint at Hampton Honda in Christchurch, will be open from 6:00pm – 10:00pm Fri 24 Feb and 5:00am – 7:00am on Sat 25 Feb thus giving you an opportunity to take advantage of the FULL 48 hours by heading away on Friday evening.
You must be back at the FINISH checkpoint having ridden 2,000 km through all 10 checkpoints within 48 hours of your start, noting that the checkpoint closes at 10:00pm on Sun 26 Feb.
Therefore, to recap, if you wish to utilise the FULL 48 hours you must start on Friday.
The route is designed to keep an average speed below 70 km/h and thus within a good margin of safe riding, allowing for stops, refreshments and refuelling. It is all on sealed roads and you are basically going for a long road ride. It is not suitable for any motorcycle rider who prefers long stops and may be uncertain about whether they have the endurance for this distance.
RALLY OPTION 2: The TT2000 'Flyer'
The Flyer starts & finishes in Christchurch. It is designed for those riders who want the added rush of advance planning and mapping a route which suits their riding capability.
We offer a menu of 150 photo checkpoints splattered throughout the South Island, each with a points value according to its ‘inconvenience’ or ‘severity’ rating. There are no compulsory checkpoints like the 'Basic', rather you map your own route scooping up as many points as you can manage within your own self-determined riding capability.
Riders consider which of the checkpoints they wish to navigate to & collect the points. Provided the rider covers a minimum 2,000 km in the 48 hour window the Flyer points totalled at the end will determine which level of achievement is gained: bronze, silver, gold or diamond.
It is likely Flyer riders will use the full 48 hour window and start on Friday evening.
Scrutineering
The scrutineering will take place when you get back home. You simply email low-res versions of your digitial photos to TT2000 HQ and within a week we mail your rally badge to you if all the photos stack up. For those riders who earn Flyer status (bronze, silver, gold or diamond) the Flyer checkpoint digital photos emailed will result in an invitation to purchase a Flyer memento online.
There will be a staffmember at the FINISH checkpoint with a laptop to download your photos on the spot if you have the time.
Getting there & back
You have to be at the starting grid, at Hampton Honda, in Christchurch between 6:00pm-10:00pm Fri 24 Feb or 5:00am-7:00am Sat 25 Feb.
If you're coming from the North Is have a look at the discounted ferry deals page & book early. You have a whole month to travel meaning you could stay awhile before or after the TT, in the south.
The finishing post is Hampton Honda. This is where the social gathering will happen on Sunday from 6:00pm, the earliest arrival time at the finish checkpoint.
What does it cost?
We charge a 'registration fee' of $40.00, payable by online credit card payment through this web site.
If you attend the rally this $40.00 buys you:
If you pay and then cancel by 31 Jan 2012 your $40.00 is fully refunded to your bank a/c.
If you pay and then cancel after 31 Jan 2012, or are a no-show, we keep the $40.00 to cover costs.
Media articles about previous TT2000 events
For an overview of how previous riders have found the TT2000 have a look at these articles published in Bike Rider magazine for the previous two years' events.
Bike Rider Mag - TT2000 2009 report by Bill Skelton.pdf
Bike Rider Mag - TT2000 2010 report by Rod Coe.pdf
BRM article 2011.pdf
