Riders revved for Boulevard Rally

With the scent of sulphur in the nostrils, the Suzuki Boulevard Rally: Sulphur to Sea will roll out of Rotorua.

Suzuki motorcycle dealer executive Graham Wilson said this was the ninth year in a row Suzuki had organised the Boulevard Rally, but it was the first time riders would be leaving Rotorua.

"We leave and travel to somewhere different every year and we always stop in at a local school to give them a donation from the money we raise from the bikers and they provide us with lunch."

With pulsing v-twin motors growling, they will leave Rotorua's Bike Force at 7am tomorrow, then pass by Whakatane, the Pohutukawa coastline and Opotiki.

Then the chrome convoy will pour around East Cape, and on to their destination on the golden shores of Gisborne.

There they will mingle and relax with a well-earned cold one and a hearty meal to end the day, before heading home on Sunday.

"This year we have 106 bikes entered and 130 people, it's an excuse to go for a ride on our motorcycles," Mr Wilson said.

Lindsay Gemmell, co-owner of Bike Force, said he was looking forward to hosting the event. "It will be a great weekend away and a good opportunity to ride our bikes."

Registration for the event starts at 6pm tonight and continues until all the pre-registered bikers have checked in.

Plans for the motorcycle rally:

* What: Suzuki Boulevard Rally: Sulphur to Sea

* When: Tomorrow from 7am

* Where: Leaving Bike Force in Rotorua and heading to Gisborne