Barefoot motorcyclist critical after crashing into fence

A man is critically injured after a motorcycle crash.

A motorcyclist wearing no helmet or shoes is in a critical condition at Hawke's Bay Hospital after crashing into a fence.

The man in his 30s, was driving a Harley-Davidson motorcycle between Te Awanga and Clifton when he lost control beside Clifton Station, police said. He struck a wooden fence in the woolshed driveway.

The police Serious Crash Unit is investigating.

The man, believed to be a local, suffered extensive grazing with head and chest injuries.

"He was driving at an open road speed limit," police Senior Sergeant Clint Adamson said.

Haumoana firefighter Senior Station Officer Graham Arthur said the man was conscious and walking when emergency services arrived at the scene.

"He didn't have any shoes that could be seen and definitely no helmet," he said.

"He had a few lacerations but our concern was head injury."

Head injuries were common when people came off motorbikes, Mr Arthur said, although the man did not appear to have any.

"He clipped the gatepost going in and that's what tipped him off, otherwise he probably would have slowed down before he hit anything."

The man had borrowed the motorcycle from a friend.

"It's the old story."

Mr Adamson said wearing a helmet was "absolutely basic" for road safety.

"If you come off a bike at any type of speed you can suffer significant head injuries that will potentially have a lifetime of consequences."