"Riding with three'' is David Moore's description of road trips on his motorcycle which displays tributes marking the death of two good mates.
On the back left of his Triumph Rocket III is a memorial to his friend Craig Harding and on the right is a similar tribute to Corporal Douglas Grant, an SAS soldier killed in Afghanistan.
Both men were from Palmerston North and both died in 2011 aged 41, within months of each other.
Mr Moore, an Auckland welder, was at the Brass Monkey Motorcycle Rally at the weekend in Oturehua - his seventh time at the event.
His two friends, both keen motorcyclists, had never been to a Brass Monkey "but they would've loved it'', he said.
He travelled solo most of the way to the rally but met friends in Christchurch and rode the rest of the way with them, stopping at Hinds School "to let the children there play around on the bikes a bit, which they really enjoyed''.
The freezing weather at the rally was no deterrent, Mr Moore said.
"When I left Auckland we'd had thunder and lightning, so a bit of frost is no problem.''
He was one of about 1500 riders at the 36th annual rally and organising committee member John Willems said feedback about the weekend event was overwhelmingly positive.
"Everyone said what a great rally. The sun was shining, it's a terrific place to gather and everyone had a great time.
"What more could you ask?''
Mr Willems said despite a question mark over the rally's future because of rising compliance costs, it would definitely be continuing next year.
"It's got the support of the riders and the support of the locals, who are very keen for it to continue, so it looks like we'll be continuing on.''
The event was organised by a subcommittee of the Otago Motorcycle Club and the group was delighted the attendance was so high this year.
Fine weather on Saturday was capped off with a hard frost overnight - "which is just what the riders ordered,'' he said.
Many towns received an economic benefit from the event as riders stopped for food and fuel along their way to and from the rally.
Most had packed up and left the site by 11am yesterday.
Fifteen-year rally veteran Cliff White, of Christchurch, said there was something special about the Brass Monkey.
"Summer rallies have got more activities on offer but there's just something about the Brass Monkey ...''
Geoff Rooney, of Nelson, said the reason he had attended 16 rallies was "sheer stupidity, probably''.
The wide range of bikes and the camaraderie with other riders were the main attractions, the men said.
