Wish I had found this forum sooner...

[bdbecker]

Well, I'm only a few days away from departing for my NZ motorcycle vacation. As the title suggests, I've been researching on other, non NZ specific forums, but this place seems to be a great resource! I'm happy I found this place, but a little mad at myself because I only have a few days to read up before I leave...

A little bit about me, seeing as how this is my first post... I am an Industrial Engineer for Polaris Industries / Victory Motorcycles. I've been working at the global distribution center for about 3 years now, and spent a year working at the Spirit Lake facility where they make the Ranger and Victory Motorcycles. I caught the riding bug 3.5 years ago, and haven't looked back. I've clocked up a little over 30k miles between my HD Sportster and Victory Jackpot - basically I've put twice as many miles on motorcycles than I have on cars since I started riding. I've traveled a little bit, mostly to Europe - this will be my first time in the southern hemisphere. The main reason for this trip (other than to take a long needed vactation) is to see two of my college friends who moved to NZ a few months ago. It sort of turned into a motorcycle trip once I hooked up with the guys that work for Victory and they offered to let me borrow a bike for the time I'm there.

Here is my plan so far, the first part is pretty much locked in, but the second half is open for change in case I find something better to do. Any input would be great!

March 5
- Pick up bike in Auckland around 8 or 9am, ride 365 miles to Paraparamu Beach where I have a seaside hotel room facing the ocean booked (verified that reception is open until 9pm)

March 6
- Hit the road by 6:30am so I can catch the 8:35am ferry in Wellington
- 11:35am ferry lands in Picton, figure I'll be back on the road by 12:30pm
- Ride 210 miles along the east cost to Christchurch, staying in a hotel downtown (24 hour reception)

March 7
- On the road by 7am, riding 130 miles on the coast towards Waimate for the March Hare Rally
- Spend a few hours at the rally before hitting the road for another 180 miles to Queenstown where I'll meet up with my friends

March 8-10
- Sightseeing with my friends, and a strong possiblity of bungee jumping at some point, if they'll let me (I'm 6'3", 270lbs, so I don't know how that will factor in to the situation)
- Also want to swing down to Invercargill to see the Burt Monro exhibition at E. Hayes & Sons

March 11
- 7am hit the road to ride 390 miles to Wesport, arriving around 5 or 6pm
- Ride Buller Gorge that afternoon once I'm checked in so I can enjoy it

March 12
- 6am riding 180 miles to Picton to catch the 10am ferry (might have to re-think this, could be cutting it really close!)
- Ferry lands at 1:15, on the road by 2:15 for another 120 miles to Wanganui

March 13
- On the road by 7am for 320 miles to Auckland via New Plymouth
- Drop bike off by 5pm

March 14
- Wander around Auckland for the day, flight leaves at 7:15pm

I am usually up by 5am, and have had good luck adapting to time changes in the past when traveling, so I will be technically sleeping in every day while on vacation. It'll be a little over 2000 miles by the time everything is said and done, but I only factored an average speed of 40mph (30 mph for urban areas) so I hope I've been conservative enough to allow for some sightseeing along the way. Also, I'll be riding a Victory Kingpin Tour, so that will definately help with the fatigue factor compared to riding my Sporty.

Kingpin Tour
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m4/bdbecker_2006/XL%20Forum/victory-kingpin-tour.jpg

[sinfull]

Lovely bikes the Victory man !

Enjoy your trip (i would point out the east coast of the south aint half as pretty as the west coast) sounds like your gonna miss half the beauty of NZ due to a short stay and having to ride the state highways !

There's a Indian chap just done a photograph tour of NZ will see if i can dig up his thread and chuck it up for ya to go through (well worth reading some of the places he travelled)

Happy travells and watch for camper vans on the wrong side of the road (which side is that you say lol)

[sinfull]

few days to read up before I leave...

] Here ya go mate
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/115764-Hello-NZ!-The-Grand-New-Zealand-Roadtrip?highlight=india

One other thing to be aware of is our roads are B grade to what you'd be used to, the victory tour be a good handling bike but if the sign says 25kph it usually means you should try em at that speed, as a lot of corners have tightening apex's, cambers that toss you off and gravel mid corner, not to mention melting tar !

Ok not all that bad all the time but you wont get no warning if it is like that so i give it ya now lol

Shame i have a stag party to attend on the 5th, or i'd come down to paraparam and send ya on ya way next morning with a good ole Kiwi hangover !

[Ratti]

Theres a nice young chap in Paraparaumu who has one of those bikes. Do you want the details of the Twin-cam club there? Nice bunch of guys. got clubrooms and everything...

[Edbear]

A warning for those who come here for a short visit. You'll be planning your next, longer trip before you get back to Auckland! :yes:

Did you have to change your headlight for NZ? The dip beam will be pointing the wrong side otherwise.

Always remember, over here, the left side is the right side and the right side is the wrong side! :blink: Your life depends on it! Watch your reflexes in emergency situations as you'll instinctively go the wrong way. :bye:

Nice bike! You'll only be getting a brief glimpse of what NZ has to offer, the North and South are very different and March is usually the perfect month for visiting the SI!

When we were last down there we were only doing about the 40 - 50mph as there was so much to see! All the best for your trip, take the usual precautions, NZ'rs are very friendly and I'm sure there are KB'rs everywhere who'll offer to help wherever you are, but as with any country there are scumbags and bad drivers around.

[SDU]

Look out for this man down south & he'll probably be at the March hare.
Drop him a note he'll want to meet you (unless you already know him through business) Have a safe but good trip, it's way too short to really do the best twisties
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/member.php/9209-xknuts

[bdbecker]

...Enjoy your trip (i would point out the east coast of the south aint half as pretty as the west coast) sounds like your gonna miss half the beauty of NZ due to a short stay and having to ride the state highways !

I wish I could spend more time, but I basically used up all but a two days of vacation on this trip. I figure this will be more of a scouting ride for the future, I have a feeling I'll want to come back.

[bdbecker]

Here ya go mate
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/115764-Hello-NZ!-The-Grand-New-Zealand-Roadtrip?highlight=india

One other thing to be aware of is our roads are B grade to what you'd be used to, the victory tour be a good handling bike but if the sign says 25kph it usually means you should try em at that speed, as a lot of corners have tightening apex's, cambers that toss you off and gravel mid corner, not to mention melting tar...

Thanks for the tips, I feel a lot better now because this will be like riding around here! The secondary roads around here are gravel-tar and heavily traveled by farm equipment, which means there is no shortage of pot holes, non-banked curves, and trash (corn, gravel, sticks, etc) on the road.

[Ronin]

Check out this thread. http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/113323-Big-Dave-amp-the-CP-s-Victory-Tour.?highlight=victory+tour

May interest you.

Ride safe... and to the left :yes:

[bdbecker]

Theres a nice young chap in Paraparaumu who has one of those bikes. Do you want the details of the Twin-cam club there? Nice bunch of guys. got clubrooms and everything...

For sure! I'd PM you, but I guess I don't have the rights to do so yet...

[sinfull]

Do you want the details of the Twin-cam club there? Nice bunch of guys. got clubrooms and everything...
Will jump in here Ratti in case you don't reply before he flies out !

For sure! I'd PM you, but I guess I don't have the rights to do so yet...

Not hard to find bro, you will be heading pretty much past their door on your way to the motel !
As you travel the last stretch toward Paraparaumu beach, you'll be tavelling past the airport (light planes only) on your left, when the open space of the airport ends there is a few buildings and then Magrath ave on the left (twin cam is a motorcycle shop 20 yards down there on the left)
They gather every friday night from 5.30/6 pm ish for a few bevies at the clubrooms above the shop (timing aye) Like Ratti says, they're a good bunch of ppl, if ya happen to arrive prior to then there will always be one or two lads there with Randall the shop owner.
Rock up and say Willy (dred head willy) sent ya

[CookMySock]

The secondary roads around here are gravel-tar and heavily traveled by farm equipment, which means there is no shortage of pot holes, non-banked curves, and trash (corn, gravel, sticks, etc) on the road.Ok our main highways are quite a bit better than that, but those are excellent examples of the type of junk that we find on the road every day. I came off badly after hitting a large stick right across the middle of a corner.

Because the terrain and the roading here is quite tight, usually at least half of the time (and certainly in the fun bits) you are out-riding your visibility so obstacles come up doubly quick. You can definitely relax and enjoy the road, but if you have to swerve you better do it quick, son. ;)

Welcome to NZ, be careful, have fun, and we'll see you back again soon! :niceone:

Steve

[Ratti]

7 Magrath Ave. ph for the shop is o49025006. Maybe you could phone Randall when you get into the country so he's expecting you. NZ works very much on business hours. Can be soddishly difficult to contact businesses after 5pm.

[bdbecker]

7 Magrath Ave. ph for the shop is o49025006. Maybe you could phone Randall when you get into the country so he's expecting you. NZ works very much on business hours. Can be soddishly difficult to contact businesses after 5pm.

Will do. Looks like the shop is 1 km away from where I'll be staying.

[Ratti]

HAd this thought,. there is a good chance some of the guys could meet you along the way and ride in with you. Kiwis are good like that.

[xknuts]

A warning for those who come here for a short visit. You'll be planning your next, longer trip before you get back to Auckland! :yes:
Did you have to change your headlight for NZ? The dip beam will be pointing the wrong side otherwise.
Always remember, over here, the left side is the right side and the right side is the wrong side! :blink: Your life depends on it! Watch your reflexes in emergency situations as you'll instinctively go the wrong way. :bye:

This will not be your last trip here. We already know it!
USA Motorcycle headlights dip up & down vertically only so no issues there.
It will be good if we can cross paths on the 7th.

[JATZ]

Ummm..... March 11 just stay in Westport and don't bother with the gorge, ride up towards Karamea instead, it'll be a long day anyway cause you'll be stoping often to enjoy the scenery.
March 12 Do the gorge on your way to picton, it's the only way to get from Westport to Picton anyway and see if you can get a later ferry sailing :D even the next sailing would be better.

[bdbecker]

Well, I'm headed to the airport in about 45 minutes. If I can get access to the internet at some point, I will try and post my mobile number (just have the SIM card and minutes, haven't activated it yet) so anyone who might want to meet up can get a hold of me.

Thanks again everyone! See you in about 24 hours...

[YellowDog]

'bon voyage'

It was good to read your views and experiences from an outsiders perspective.

[bdbecker]

Everything is going well so far. I'm in Christchurch tonight, and heading to the March Hare rally tomorrow morning. Man, this is a beautiful country. If I would stop to take a picture of every great landscape I've seen, I would have filled my 2 gig memory card by now...

[MIXONE]

If possible head inland asap to avoid the boring Canterbury Plains.
You will love your trip.

[Bren]

Aaah bdbecker, next time ya come here ya wont need to stay in motels....Heck there are a lot of spare beds up and down the country. Had I read this thread earlier I would have offered you a bed just north of Paraparaumu....and there is a good indian curry house just round the corner....

Next time dude just post ya are lookin for a bed for a night....good chance to get to know what the real kiwis are like!

Oh and hope ya enjoy our hospitality here...

[ajturbo]

Aaah bdbecker, next time ya come here ya wont need to stay in motels....Heck there are a lot of spare beds up and down the country. Had I read this thread earlier I would have offered you a bed just north of Paraparaumu....and there is a good indian curry house just round the corner....

Next time dude just post ya are lookin for a bed for a night....good chance to get to know what the real kiwis are like!

Oh and hope ya enjoy our hospitality here...

what??
he's a foreigner... and rides a twin...!!!!

not too sure if thats a good mix... he could be one of the dodgy twin riders like sinny....

[ajturbo]

Aaah bdbecker, next time ya come here ya wont need to stay in motels....Heck there are a lot of spare beds up and down the country. Had I read this thread earlier I would have offered you a bed just north of Paraparaumu....and there is a good indian curry house just round the corner....

Next time dude just post ya are lookin for a bed for a night....good chance to get to know what the real kiwis are like!

Oh and hope ya enjoy our hospitality here...

what??
he's a foreigner... and rides a twin...!!!!

not too sure if thats a good mix... he could be one of the dodgy twin riders like sinny....