New member post (Fiendish Zen)

[Fiendish Zen]

Hello all :)

Myself and family are moving to NZ at the end of August. I'm looking forward to riding throughout the much praised Southern Island :D

I've tried looking online for bike shops in the Dunedin/Otago area, but there really don't seem to be many around (at least online). Can anyone advise of a good 2nd hand dealer in the area? (I'll be leaving my 125 as would cost more to ship it than it's worth ;)

Likewise as i'll have to take the NZ license tests, are there any recommended teachers/courses in the area please?

Kind regards and thanks in advnace for any suggestions :)

[YellowDog]

Hello and welcome to KB.

Didn't anyone tell you that Dunedin in August is still pretty damn cold and wet?

I'd put my journey off a couple of months if I were you :)

Cold and Wet, but still as beautiful as anywhere on the planet.

When looking at second hand motorcycles, most look on www.trademe.co.nz and of course there is the KB For Sale section. Plus there are loinks to http://www.motorcycletrader.co.nz/ from this site and various others, so you should be fine.

Good luck.

[vifferman]

Hello all :)
Greetings, O Zen of Dubiousness (or is that 'Dubiosity"?)!


Myself and family are moving to NZ at the end of August. I'm looking forward to riding throughout the much praised Southern Island :D
That's 'Te Wai Pounamu'. Or 'Te Waka a Maui' if you prefer.

[Skunk Control]

Welcome to KB

[Fiendish Zen]

Yellowdog

If we leave it any longer then the prices for flights go through the roof! Besides, I like the cold, far better than roasting inside your helmet ;)

Thanks for the handy tips regarding websites to look at, i'll check those out shortly :)

Vifferman

Dubiousness is good, we would also accept 'dubiously zen' :p
Still getting used to the Maori history/influence, cheers for the pointers on names :)

Skunk Control

Thanks, i've found it's a great place to pick up stuff I need to know about NZ motorcycling, tests, roads and culture :)

[caseye]

Welcome and Oh man are you in for a surprise when you see those South island Roads.
Heaven is the only way to describe them.
Hope to hear that you've arrived safe and sound and got a bike sorted .

[gatch]

Gidday mr FistofZen. Welcome to the fold :)

Yea apart from the crazy cold winters, you'll love dunedin, keep the rubber down man :sunny:

[Maha]

I would really think hard about moving anywhere to far down south...
That place is shaken so much it will become a floater before too long.

[shafty]

Welcome to KB and NZ Dude

[kiwifruit]

Welcome to the site :)

[Winston001]

Don't listen to anyone here man, they are all anally retentive Asbergers types who don't actually own motorcycles. :crazy: They live in this virtual world of KB with fear and trembling of their ip being pinged. Some of them found a plastic (honda) motorbike in their cornflakes and have been fixated ever since. :gob:

[knottsav]

Hello all :)

Myself and family are moving to NZ at the end of August. I'm looking forward to riding throughout the much praised Southern Island :D

I've tried looking online for bike shops in the Dunedin/Otago area, but there really don't seem to be many around (at least online). Can anyone advise of a good 2nd hand dealer in the area? (I'll be leaving my 125 as would cost more to ship it than it's worth ;)

Likewise as i'll have to take the NZ license tests, are there any recommended teachers/courses in the area please?

Kind regards and thanks in advnace for any suggestions :)
as for shops here in Dunedin
http://www.mciverandveitch.co.nz/ They have quite a few 2nd hand bikes.
also
http://www.mcr.net.nz/1.htm

Having recently got back on a bike, I have found both stores have very helpful and experienced staff. If you drop them an email with your specs, I am sure they'll keep an eye out for a second hand bike that'll meet your needs.
Cheers
Aaron

As for licensing..
A friend of mine from Southland used these guys when he flew to Auckland for work...perhaps you could look at it for when you fly into NZ..stay an extra day before coming down country?
http://www.riderskills.co.nz/default.asp?pageref=basichandling&rightbar=homenews (any Aucklanders can comment on this Training/Licensing provider?)

Here in Dunedin I haven't come across anyone specifically offering motorcycle....but these guys I have seen with a GN250 that they use, and they advertise in our yellowpages as motorcyle training.
Dunedin Driving School
183B Scott St Waverley Dunedin Cellular phone Additional Contact Details
Phone: 03-454 4184
Mobile: 0-27-485 1695

I'd be happy to ring them and find out info if you want me to.

[Fiendish Zen]

Welcome and Oh man are you in for a surprise when you see those South island Roads.
Heaven is the only way to describe them.
Hope to hear that you've arrived safe and sound and got a bike sorted .

Caseye, cheers for the warm welcome :D

Am *so* looking forwards to riding the Southern Roads!

Will sound off as soon as we've arrived and sourced a ride :)

[Fiendish Zen]

Gidday mr FistofZen. Welcome to the fold :)

Yea apart from the crazy cold winters, you'll love dunedin, keep the rubber down man :sunny:

Cheers Gatch, I know we're arriving at the coldest point of the year, but I started riding in winter here in the UK, so only apt I start again in NZ in the same season :D

[Fiendish Zen]

I would really think hard about moving anywhere to far down south...
That place is shaken so much it will become a floater before too long.

Maha, we've got family in Dunedin, so if it does float away at least we'll have company ;)

[Fiendish Zen]

Welcome to KB and NZ Dude

Shafty, thanks x2 :)

[Fiendish Zen]

Welcome to the site :)

Thanks, it seems a great resource :)

[Fiendish Zen]

Don't listen to anyone here man, they are all anally retentive Asbergers types who don't actually own motorcycles. :crazy: They live in this virtual world of KB with fear and trembling of their ip being pinged. Some of them found a plastic (honda) motorbike in their cornflakes and have been fixated ever since. :gob:

lol i'm sure there are some real bikers in here somewhere ;)

[Fiendish Zen]

as for shops here in Dunedin
http://www.mciverandveitch.co.nz/ They have quite a few 2nd hand bikes.
also
http://www.mcr.net.nz/1.htm

Having recently got back on a bike, I have found both stores have very helpful and experienced staff. If you drop them an email with your specs, I am sure they'll keep an eye out for a second hand bike that'll meet your needs.
Cheers
Aaron

As for licensing..
A friend of mine from Southland used these guys when he flew to Auckland for work...perhaps you could look at it for when you fly into NZ..stay an extra day before coming down country?
http://www.riderskills.co.nz/default.asp?pageref=basichandling&rightbar=homenews (any Aucklanders can comment on this Training/Licensing provider?)

Here in Dunedin I haven't come across anyone specifically offering motorcycle....but these guys I have seen with a GN250 that they use, and they advertise in our yellowpages as motorcyle training.
Dunedin Driving School
183B Scott St Waverley Dunedin Cellular phone Additional Contact Details
Phone: 03-454 4184
Mobile: 0-27-485 1695

I'd be happy to ring them and find out info if you want me to.

Wow, thanks very much for all the info, and your offer of help :)

We'll only be spending a couple of hours in Auckland after a long flight, so no chance to dally but cheers for the pointer anyway. I'll look in to the Dunedin Driving School for sure though :)

Not sure how you found those websites, i've been Googling for ages trying to find Dunedin bike shops! Thank you for the links :D

[NighthawkNZ]

Wow, thanks very much for all the info, and your offer of help :)

We'll only be spending a couple of hours in Auckland after a long flight, so no chance to dally but cheers for the pointer anyway. I'll look in to the Dunedin Driving School for sure though :)

Not sure how you found those websites, i've been Googling for ages trying to find Dunedin bike shops! Thank you for the links :D

here is a good list of shops in the south island
http://www.southernrider.co.nz/wiki/index.php/Bike_Shops

[CookMySock]

For bikes, have a dig through <a href="http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/mcat-0001-0026-1255-.htm">trademe.co.nz</a> to get a feel for the 2nd hand bike market.

You can use your existing drivers license in NZ for a year, I think that is correct. If you do not have your full license yet, then you should pass whatever licensing tests you are able before you come here, or else you will have to start from scratch on a 250cc bike again.

You will have a lot of fun here, but be aware our roads bite many visitors and locals alike, so do not take them cheaply.

And welcome. ;)

Steve

[Fiendish Zen]

here is a good list of shops in the south island
http://www.southernrider.co.nz/wiki/index.php/Bike_Shops

That's a rather handy list, thank you!

Hmm, now I'm spoiled for choice, i'll have to read more fo the forums to see which shops are recommended etc. Cheers for your help Nighthawk :D

[Fiendish Zen]

For bikes, have a dig through <a href="http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/mcat-0001-0026-1255-.htm">trademe.co.nz</a> to get a feel for the 2nd hand bike market.

You can use your existing drivers license in NZ for a year, I think that is correct. If you do not have your full license yet, then you should pass whatever licensing tests you are able before you come here, or else you will have to start from scratch on a 250cc bike again.

You will have a lot of fun here, but be aware our roads bite many visitors and locals alike, so do not take them cheaply.

And welcome. ;)

Steve

DangerousBastard, cheers for the welcome :D

I have had a check through TradeMe, to get a feel for how much I'll be spending etc, so have an idea of cost, thanks for the suggestion :)

With regards to finishing my license here rather than having to restart and be subject to the NZ timeframes, I'd love to, but unfortunately the cost is prohibitive (close to $2000 to do the 3-day course then test) and they've literally just changed the test here to include new EU directives. Also tests are booked up too far in advance :(

So instead i'm thinking that starting from scratch is a good way to pay my dues with the NZ roads, as you say they're liable to bite me if i'm not careful ;) Anyways, a 250 is a step up from the 125s(!) the government deems to feel learners are safe on here in the UK ;)

[NighthawkNZ]

That's a rather handy list, thank you!

Hmm, now I'm spoiled for choice, i'll have to read more fo the forums to see which shops are recommended etc. Cheers for your help Nighthawk :D

Advance Motorcycles ;)