10 years in 20 Minutes

[Big Dave]

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I was going through these pics and reminiscing because 'Big Dave and The Co-pilot's'
wonderful adventure in NZ is coming to an end.

A job offer too good to refuse will see us leave the Shakey Isles and return to
our native Australia shortly.

Since we arrived in late 2000, our time here has been simply amazing, from our
early adventures with the Triumph RATs, to nearly ten years as contributors,
correspondents and bike testers for Kiwi Rider Magazine. (Some of which will be
continued from Australia - most of the Regional new model releases are now held
there - Aussie correspondent or something).

For most of that time I've had the keys to just about every dream bike going and
a paradise to ride them in. Pinch me.

I think some Kiwi's don't realise exactly how good they have it here - and there's
plenty who do too. It's been a privilege to share it.

At the risk of sounding like Baz Luhrman's 'Sunscreen'; every motorcyclist
should live in New Zealand once.

Hell of a ride.

There's still a little more to be written on our NZ pages yet, and a new chapter
from sub-tropical Queensland is story-boarding now. It probably involves a 1200 GS.

I'm sad to leave, it's been grand, yet we're both invigorated by the prospect of
a change and 'home' and family.

There's a long list of Thank Youses and stuff for sale to follow. Including a Buell and a Thunderbird.

To my friends on here - thanks for the laffs. I'll be hanging around but I might sound funny. Seeeeks.

Details as they come to hand.

[Paul in NZ]

Poo - never got to meet you yet.... Good luck man... Hope its always sunny and the roads are smooth n curvy

[Daffyd]

I feel privileged to have met you, (at the Burt Munro 09,) and the KR cap you gave me is one of my treasured possessions.

[Big Dave]

Poo - never got to meet you yet.... Good luck man... Hope its always sunny and the roads are smooth n curvy

And same to you.

In typical BD tin arse fashion - BMW held a model release and tour where I'll be riding 3 weeks ago. Lot more double yellow lines and traffic than here, but there are some real good bits too.

I'll see you in the HOG Magazine :-P

[Big Dave]

I feel privileged to have met you, (at the Burt Munro 09,) and the KR cap you gave me is one of my treasured possessions.

Cheers - Very kind. in the car park at the bike show.

[ajturbo]

what a bugger you have to sell the buell....

have fun over there..!!

you have made me smile more than once :lol:

AJ

[Daffyd]

Cheers - Very kind. in the car park at the bike show.

You're on to it! I'm flattered that you remember.

[jaffaonajappa]

Glad to hear your not abandoning us tho BD......I enjoy seeing your posts on these forums.

You sure your not moving out of NZ to avoid the World Cup issue this October? :lol:

So, wont see you on the roads...but looking forward to continuing to read your posts. When you can.....im sure you will tell us which Aus bike mag your now with? (assuming its a two wheels magazine??)

Edit. Oh yeah - thats one damn nice collection of pictures there. TourismNZ would get in touch if they had half an idea....

[merv]

Well I met you on a couple of Capital Coasts and it was fun knowing you and enjoying your work on here and at KR. Look forward to the reports from Oz. I do get over there a bit so who knows we might catch up again sometime.

[Big Dave]

Glad to hear your not abandoning us tho BD......I enjoy seeing your posts on these forums.

You sure your not moving out of NZ to avoid the World Cup issue this October? :lol:

So, wont see you on the roads...but looking forward to continuing to read your posts. When you can.....im sure you will tell us which Aus bike mag your now with? (assuming its a two wheels magazine??)

Thanks for the wishes and vote of confidence - but it was Co-pilot who got the gig.

I'll hopefully pick up more freelance work as I've been knocking around with the press corps on releases for a fair while now. I've already done some lead articles for the HOG mag and an NZ feature in Heavy Duty.

I haven't spoken to them yet, but getting something in to Two Wheels Magazine would be a 'complete circle' for me, I was drooling on mini-bikes in that publication when I was seven. The title has just changed hands though, but I will be pitching fo' sho' - and I've got a picture of Jeremy looking numpty.

[Big Dave]

what a bugger you have to sell the buell....

have fun over there..!!

you have made me smile more than once :lol:

AJ

Churrrrr.

Yaah - but the taxes on taking it look steep, duty, freight and GST.

I rang AMPS to see what they reckon it's worth.

42,000km, good order, bog standard, with luggage. It's got XB12X plate on it too.

Rob said $8k would sell it pretty quick -- ?

[Big Dave]

Well I met you on a couple of Capital Coasts and it was fun knowing you and enjoying your work on here and at KR. Look forward to the reports from Oz. I do get over there a bit so who knows we might catch up again sometime.

Yes Merv,

We'll be in a suburb of Brisbane whose name ends in 'Hill'. Not sure which one yet.

[FJRider]

I'm not sure if you've got enough pic's of the sky tower though ... :scratch:

[Big Dave]

There's a 5 minute version on my web page.

Sometimes it's about the integrity of the image, the play of the light and the way it moves on the water - or the complexity of the reflections. It's not about the subject. Sometimes it's just the colours.

[jaffaonajappa]

I'm not sure if you've got enough pic's of the sky tower though ... :scratch:

Cant blame him.......its one of the very very few building constructions that we have outdone the aussies at.

[merv]

Yes Merv,

We'll be in a suburb of Brisbane whose name ends in 'Hill'. Not sure which one yet.


Yeah 'Hill' is the way to go in case of those floods. I dined at that floating restaurant upstream on the Brisbane River on my last visit and next thing you know it was loose and floating along and getting smashed, but luckily I was long gone home by then.

Just watched the video, some good pics for sure.

[Motu]

Wow,that was 20 minutes well spent...and I might do it a time or two more. Thanks for all your words and photos over the years,and the pleasure of your company a few times. Thanks for that photo of me on Ruapuke Beach,I haven't posed for many professional photos.

Don't go back home and get fat again,remember your skinny Kiwi days. If you haven't sold the T'bird before you go,I'll meet you at the airport with whatever coins I can scrape together.

[FJRider]

Cant blame him.......its one of the very very few building constructions that we have outdone the aussies at.

I've just thought it was Aucklanders over-compensating ... again ... :nya:

[Big Dave]

@ Motu.
Thanks - bring gold :-)

It would be perfect for someone like you too. It's been sitting in the Bike Vault for 2 years and is in some disrepair. (All the test bikes - it became a roundtuit.)

Suitable elbow grease and expertise and it would be a magnificent bike again.

Currently I'm thinking $3.5k, not running, and a bit shabby. But then the suspension on it cost half of that.

[Maha]

Damn shame that Straya retrieves the one thing a good number of Kiwis reguard as one of there own on lone, albeit a tall one that talks funny.
I loved this so much its now framed and hanging on the wall.:2thumbsup

[Edbear]

Sad day when you farewell these Isle's mate! Mrs. Bear and I will miss your cheek, (no not that cheek!:nono:). But with my biking days now over...:weep: we'd probably not see a lot of you now anyway. Still you do know you'll never need to worry about where to stay or visit whenever you return! :2thumbsup

All the best for the future and although we never met the Co-pilot, she must be a very special lady and big ups for her getting an offer you guys couldn't refuse! :first:

[James Deuce]

So long and thanks for all the fish!

Looking forward to finding out what your new venture is.

Thank you for all your help.

[scumdog]

Poo - never got to meet you yet.... Good luck man... Hope its always sunny and the roads are smooth n curvy

Wot 'e sed.

In spades.

Typical Okkers, can't leave anything in NZ - always claiming it for themselves.

Even if in this case we only 'borrowed' him.

[Big Dave]

So long and thanks for all the fish!

Looking forward to finding out what your new venture is.

Thank you for all your help.

I've found the Babelfish very handy.

As soon as I know. :-)

Toooweezy.

[Big Dave]

Wot 'e sed.

In spades.

Typical Okkers, can't leave anything in NZ - always claiming it for themselves.

Even if in this case we only 'borrowed' him.

I'll swap you for Russel Crowe.

And thanks. Hopefully I haven't covered my last Burt Munro.

[Big Dave]

Sad day when you farewell these Isle's mate! Mrs. Bear and I will miss your cheek, (no not that cheek!:nono:). But with my biking days now over...:weep: we'd probably not see a lot of you now anyway. Still you do know you'll never need to worry about where to stay or visit whenever you return! :2thumbsup

All the best for the future and although we never met the Co-pilot, she must be a very special lady and big ups for her getting an offer you guys couldn't refuse! :first:

Cheers Ed.

She is my hero. Sat on the couch and studied and studied and studied while working full time, raising the family and dealing with me. Reaping the rewards of very hard work now.

[Edbear]

Cheers Ed.

She is my hero. Sat on the couch and studied and studied and studied while working full time, raising the family and dealing with me. Reaping the rewards of very hard work now.

They do deserve all the kudos they get, eh? Mrs. Bear also, in her middle-age and having left school at 15 with nothing, gained her diploma while working full time and putting up with me, although the kids were grown up already. She's a keeper and it sounds like the co-pilot is too! :2thumbsup

[gijoe1313]

BD, it's been a grand privilege knowing you and hearing about the exploits you get up to. Always impressed by how down to earth you are and doing what you love!

A scholar and a gentleman you be sirrah, I think it provident that NZ had the good fortune to be graced by your presence - reporting on all things to do with Motorcycling and life related experiences.

Will be a refreshing change of scenery and pace for you in the lucky country! One day when I get to ride around in your neck of the woods, I will drop in and say "gudday!" :msn-wink:

[Big Dave]

Thank you Mr Joe. Always a pleasure.

Or as I would write your epithet; 'GI'm-not-doing-this-*just*-to-be-different Joe.'

[Paul in NZ]

Bung me a piccy of das thunderbird (I'm sure you have a couple :killingme ) - I think I know a chap who needs that in his life (he just doesnt know it yet)

[Quasi]

hey BigDave - never met you but always enjoyed your words. Havent watched all the way though your pix yet, but can you tell me what the music is at the start. Its wonderful. All the best to you and the copilot on your new adventures

[imdying]

Rude. Who's going to take a decent photograph of bikes for the NZ mags now?

[Big Dave]

Rude. Who's going to take a decent photograph of bikes for the NZ mags now?

Too kind - I'm not even the best photog at KR, and I've always enjoyed Andrew Bright's work too. Plenty of good ones still, but I know what you meant, thanks.

[Big Dave]

hey BigDave - never met you but always enjoyed your words. Havent watched all the way though your pix yet, but can you tell me what the music is at the start. Its wonderful. All the best to you and the copilot on your new adventures

Thank you - the music is a You tube audio swap.

It's by Howard Green and called Dancing with desire.

If you click on the movie and go to its you tube page there is a link for it.

[White trash]

Who the hell's gonna have my back now?!

Fuck it. I'ma have to move to Ausie too........

Sad to see you go big fella. Make sure you PM us your contact details when you've got yourselves settled, I need someone to visit back on the west island.

[Bender]

I'll miss your unique take on things motorcycling BD. Go well.

[Big Dave]

Who the hell's gonna have my back now?!

Fuck it. I'ma have to move to Ausie too........

Sad to see you go big fella. Make sure you PM us your contact details when you've got yourselves settled, I need someone to visit back on the west island.

The Hippie is your Bruddah.

Will do - I will be going to the bike races a bit over there. My Pal The fabulous Mr Rusty is spannering for a supersports team in their big dance.

[Paul in NZ]

Bung me a piccy of das thunderbird (I'm sure you have a couple :killingme ) - I think I know a chap who needs that in his life (he just doesnt know it yet)

Gleep - scratch that - I just costed out the bits....

[MD]

You do realise you are a safe distance from shakey Christchurch. No need to add to the exodus stats.

Always enjoyed your contributions on here Big Dave. Never a BD thread not worth checking out.

Now we need a replacement Triumph 'insider' to let slip all the vital gossip on next years models and stuff. Really liked your last KR story on the 1050 Tiggar. If you get any spy info on it's replacement (1200 ?), remember to spill the beans on here.

[Squiggles]

Puuurty pictures :drool:

So when are ya taking off?

[Big Dave]

@MD Thank you.

They'll still send me the press releases and I'll post them on KR. They are running a facebook page at TNZ. Part of the mothership's strategy is to embrace social media.

@ Squiggler - August some time.

[Maha]

I'll miss your unique take on things motorcycling BD. Go well.

Unique?...How can you tell if an Aussie is level headed?

[martybabe]

God speed big man, for me you've always come across as a biker that writes rather than a writer that bikes, fair play to you mate, keep the passion and enjoy Oz and the Whanau.:drinknsin

[Swoop]

Nice to have met you a couple of times Dave.

Sorry to hear you are heading back over the ditch BD, but glad it is for the better and your Co-Pilot is doing well.

Presumably there will be a few more gum trees and kangaroos in your piccies from now on...:blip:

[Big Dave]

Thanks for the kind words.

Had a chat to my Editor and it's all good with KR. Ross sees it as a positive, an operative in the same country should get to more events. Several brands are distributed from Aus.

Like BMW did a ride day with Corser and Haslam, I know all the guys that went on it, but flying in the NZ contingent is pretty expensive.

So yeah - steady as she goes - with more gum trees.

I don't know - how do you tell if an Aussie is level headed?

[scumdog]

I don't know - how do you tell if an Aussie is level headed?

When the drool runs out of both sides of his mouth at the same time???:girlfight:

[tri boy]

Happy trails BD.
Back to mudcrabs and AFL:nya:

[Ronin]

Ahhh Mr Dave. I have always respected your 'fit for purpose' way of reviewing bikes. Enjoyed greatly your words and been stunned by the way your capture light.

Safe travels.

[Big Dave]

When the drool runs out of both sides of his mouth at the same time???:girlfight:


Of course - I always thought it was the Drummer.

[Big Dave]

Happy trails BD.
Back to mudcrabs and AFL:nya:

Ah was a card-carrying Carlton Member once. The maroon crap will be hard.

Oysters kilpatrick baby!

[FJRider]

When the drool runs out of both sides of his mouth at the same time???:girlfight:

An occurance as rare as finding an Aussie with his mouth shut ... :killingme

[James Deuce]

Of course - I always thought it was the Drummer.

Gah, *thud*!

That was Def Leppard's drummer leaning on his elbows.

[Big Dave]

Ahhh Mr Dave. I have always respected your 'fit for purpose' way of reviewing bikes. Enjoyed greatly your words and been stunned by the way your capture light.

Safe travels.

Thank you - that means a lot to me.
When you poke your mellon up, the failures are very public and I've dropped some clangers. (A bona fide statistic in AFL BTW, Tri boy - other sports call it 'errors') but occasional 'vindication' makes it worth the risk. Chairs.

It's best when they are moving lights. I luff moving lights. :-)

[Big Dave]

Gah, *thud*!

That was Def Leppard's drummer leaning on his elbows.

Hey - I was internet buddies with Rikki Rockett once. It was he who switched me back on to Big Daddy Roth and the whole Rat Fink Kustom Kultcha thing.

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[Big Dave]

Apart from the classic bikes - what I've ridden in the last 5 or so years:

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