View Full Version : Multi bike owners, how's it done?
martybabe
26th November 2012, 14:19
What is the secret to multi bike owneship guys? I have one bike and two cars at the moment, a reasonable amount of spare time, when not renovating the house, and a reasonable wage.
The constant demand for insurance, wofs, servicing, tyres etc already does my head in. There are a few bikes I fancy at the moment, selling for reasonable money but the upkeep of a couple more bikes on top of what I have now is putting me off.
How do the peeps with a couple of sheds full manage, is there multibike insurance, are the bikes not regoed wofed etc. Rego alone is circa $1800 just to keep a few old shitters on the road legally.
I'm not talking a garage full of exotica here just an old bimmer and an old 'onda, how do I do it without winning the Lotto, must be do-able eh? :niceone:
Tigadee
26th November 2012, 14:24
Sell each one before their rego runs out... Then look for a new one with new or most of the rego unused. :whistle:
There is multi-bike insurance which will reduce the overall cost for insurance, especially 'classic bikes'. Check with KiwiBike, they seem to find really good deals - I pay $284 for two bikes with full coverage.
Gremlin
26th November 2012, 14:47
Yes, most insurers will group your bikes together in one policy, provided they all have the same conditions.
For those with larger collections, most are on hold...
jim.cox
26th November 2012, 14:52
What is the secret to multi bike owneship guys? I have one bike and two cars at the moment
No secret
Ditch the cars
Replace with bikes
Maha
26th November 2012, 14:52
I pay for mine and Anne pays for hers...well, I did shout her a warrant once...:rolleyes:
BoristheBiter
26th November 2012, 14:56
I only have one road bike and one dirt bike so only rego/wof for one.
If i did need another bike it would be a track one so again no need for rego/wof.
yep it might be nice to have all the bikes but haven't seen the reason yet, you can only ride one at a time.
martybabe
26th November 2012, 15:15
Sell each one before their rego runs out... Then look for a new one with new or most of the rego unused. :whistle:
There is multi-bike insurance which will reduce the overall cost for insurance, especially 'classic bikes'. Check with KiwiBike, they seem to find really good deals - I pay $284 for two bikes with full coverage.
Well there's something I hadn't thought about, as long as it has rego and the bikes a goodun I'd buy it but with stupid cost of rego these days one with six months rego is worth consderably more than one with three weeks innit. Must be more diligent. when does a bike qualify as classic I wonder.
Yes, most insurers will group your bikes together in one policy, provided they all have the same conditions.
For those with larger collections, most are on hold...
Cheers for that, I'll do some investigation.
No secret
Ditch the cars
Replace with bikes
Yeah, in an ideal world but sadly I need the motors.
I pay for mine and Anne pays for hers...well, I did shout her a warrant once...:rolleyes:
You shout me the warrant and rego on mine this year and I'll do yours next year :niceone: 'thinks' hopefully he doesn't know the world's gonna end on Dec 21st.
I only have one road bike and one dirt bike so only rego/wof for one.
If i did need another bike it would be a track one so again no need for rego/wof.
yep it might be nice to have all the bikes but haven't seen the reason yet, you can only ride one at a time.
Good plan but I 'want' road bikes, can't say I need em but I sure do want them.
Maha
26th November 2012, 15:19
I'll bring down some port and we'll talk it over....:msn-wink:
Katman
26th November 2012, 15:21
when does a bike qualify as classic I wonder.
40 years old.
Yow Ling
26th November 2012, 15:34
go racing dont need rego warrant or insurance
Oscar
26th November 2012, 15:36
I have reached critical mass.
Maintanence and cleaning now leaves me no time for riding...:weep:
dogsnbikes
26th November 2012, 15:40
What is the secret to multi bike owneship guys? I have one bike and two cars at the moment, a reasonable amount of spare time, when not renovating the house, and a reasonable wage.
The constant demand for insurance, wofs, servicing, tyres etc already does my head in. There are a few bikes I fancy at the moment, selling for reasonable money but the upkeep of a couple more bikes on top of what I have now is putting me off.
When it comes to bikes its our passion and its not often we aren't on the bikes,so it makes it easier.... best way too look at it is do your own servicing,the money saved will easly cover rego cost, example; is the Trophy its a 4 hour job just to change the air filter around here labour cost a $60-80/hr so thats 6 months rego just there,
I have multi bike insurance through classic cover,even some bikes on restoration insurance......but all my road worthy bikes have wofs and rego's..
martybabe
26th November 2012, 16:02
I'll bring down some port and we'll talk it over....:msn-wink:
You're on :niceone:
40 years old.
Cripes I was thinking 20 maybe, thanks.
I have reached critical mass.
Maintanence and cleaning now leaves me no time for riding...:weep:
A big worry for sure, it was hard enough when I had two back in the day. I need a man servant, see, more expense :rolleyes:
When it comes to bikes its our passion and its not often we aren't on the bikes,so it makes it easier.... best way too look at it is do your own servicing,the money saved will easly cover rego cost, example; is the Trophy its a 4 hour job just to change the air filter around here labour cost a $60-80/hr so thats 6 months rego just there,
I have multi bike insurance through classic cover,even some bikes on restoration insurance......but all my road worthy bikes have wofs and rego's..
Thanks for that. There's another worry though, I'n not what I'd call handy with a wrench. Build a house yes but change the plugs on a bike and make three other jobs while I'm at it. I'm sure I could learn with Bimmers though eh, everyone says they're easy, mmm.
baffa
26th November 2012, 16:19
Ive always thought if I won lotto, I'd have 3 bikes and 3 cars. Daily, weekend, racetrack.
After having a second bike in the garage, im changing my mind.
My bike is awaiting a stator, and whilst babysitting a mates bike, its had a flat rear tyre (whilst riding with the gf on the back)
Noticed the rear sprocket dampers were shagged at the same time, burned out an ignition wire, also on a ride, and run out of gas on the motorway, 5 minutes after the fuel light came on.
I have too much bad luck to warrant multiple bikes.
Highlander
26th November 2012, 16:35
I'll bring down some port and we'll talk it over....:msn-wink:
So is that a private meeting or an interest group get together?
BoristheBiter
26th November 2012, 16:40
Good plan but I 'want' road bikes, can't say I need em but I sure do want them.
I have heard of one guy that three bikes that were the same colour and only had rego for one and just swapped the plates over.
Don't know how far true or just an urban myth.
Maha
26th November 2012, 16:41
So is that a private meeting or an interest group get together?
Terms and conditions are...
:You must enjoy a nice port
:Own/ride a beemer is optional
:Attittudes are left in your panniers/pack.
:Gold coin donation to be left at the scene.
tigertim20
26th November 2012, 17:02
What is the secret to multi bike owneship guys? I have one bike and two cars at the moment, a reasonable amount of spare time, when not renovating the house, and a reasonable wage.
The constant demand for insurance, wofs, servicing, tyres etc already does my head in. There are a few bikes I fancy at the moment, selling for reasonable money but the upkeep of a couple more bikes on top of what I have now is putting me off.
How do the peeps with a couple of sheds full manage, is there multibike insurance, are the bikes not regoed wofed etc. Rego alone is circa $1800 just to keep a few old shitters on the road legally.
I'm not talking a garage full of exotica here just an old bimmer and an old 'onda, how do I do it without winning the Lotto, must be do-able eh? :niceone:
there are a few ways. I like to buy damaged/broken stuff and do work myself, I end up with a good bike at a fraction of the cost of buying a mint one outright - that helps, and it helps that I enjoy doing the work myself.
secondly, if it suits you, pick a winter bike and a summer bike, and rego accordingly, or have one bike all the time, and just register the other during the months of the year when you want to use it.
One other option is that you place one on continuous exemption, but rego it JUST for the weekends. doing this costs you about $10, which seems high for 2 days rego, but if its a bike you only use now and then, its cheap as, go into the post office on friday with the papers, takes 5 minutes and your bike is legal for the weekend for $10 - know a few people doing this, one of them being the guy at the local VINZ.
really though, the rego is the worst part, ring your insurance co and ask what they can do for you. then take that offer to other companies and set them against each other till you get a deal you are happy with.
Beyond that, the upkeep shouldnt cost you any more - you can only ride one at a time, so you are only burning one tank of gas, one set of tyres, using one set of brake pads etc etc at a time
martybabe
26th November 2012, 17:20
One other option is that you place one on continuous exemption, but rego it JUST for the weekends. doing this costs you about $10, which seems high for 2 days rego, but if its a bike you only use now and then, its cheap as, go into the post office on friday with the papers, takes 5 minutes and your bike is legal for the weekend for $10 - know a few people doing this, one of them being the guy at the local VINZ.
Blimey some good info there Tiger, I'm stunned at the option above. Thanks mate
jellywrestler
26th November 2012, 17:34
want to use it.
One other option is that you place one on continuous exemption, but rego it JUST for the weekends. doing this costs you about $10, which seems high for 2 days rego, but if its a bike you only use now and then, its cheap as, go into the post office on friday with the papers, takes 5 minutes and your bike is legal for the weekend for $10 - know a few people doing this, one of them being the guy at the local VINZ.
correct me if i'm wrong but if you do this you can't re register for three months or you have to pay the in between difference
Mom
26th November 2012, 17:38
must be do-able eh? :niceone:
Drink more port :yes:
I know, it is a bit of a shocker what it costs, look into putting rego on hold for the one you only use from time to time, register it for short periods only. Failing that register one bike and put that plate on the other one when you ride it :msn-wink:
MMMMMMMMMM Port...
banditrider
26th November 2012, 17:56
This dumb-ass will be investigating multi-bike insurance tomorrow...
The rego costs really annoy me (not really worth starting on this topic), I try and do most basic maintenance (oil & filter, air filter, brake pads etc) and farkle (gotta have farkles) installs myself.
2-3 sets of tyres per year (total, not per bike) can get expensive...
I'd love a sportsbike in the shed again (and I know of one that I want and it's available) but I just can't justify it (at the moment anyway). Having it only as a track bike would not be an option - I'd not get the use out of it.
I'd also like...
Gremlin
26th November 2012, 18:00
2-3 sets of tyres per year (total, not per bike) can get expensive...
Fark... I've bought more tyres than that for one bike in a year...
Oh, OP, also consider having one of them (or more if you want lots) being really cheap to run. The CB900 is good like that. Tyres last 20k or more, services (from shop) are $2-300 and it doesn't use much more than gas :lol:
Tigadee
26th November 2012, 18:01
when does a bike qualify as classic I wonder.
Pretty sure it's 21 years or older. My 1986 qualified for Classic insurance [but not my 1991! :facepalm:]...
Gremlin
26th November 2012, 18:04
Pretty sure it's 20 years or older. My 1986 qualified for Classic insurance...
Depends if it's classic insurance or classic rego...
cave weta
26th November 2012, 18:04
My dirty bikes-273682
My tarmac bikes273683
how do you do it?- stay single, live in the countryside, rego one generic looking bike and put velcro dots on the number plate....
Tigadee
26th November 2012, 18:06
Depends if it's classic insurance or classic rego...
?? Ummmm, full coverage from Star Insurance? What's 'classic rego'?
When I was told by Kiwibike I had to pay a higher premium for my YX than for the FZX [even under a multi-bike policy], I was surprised and asked if it didn't qualify as a classic bike, I was told, "No, it didn't qualify".
banditrider
26th November 2012, 18:11
Fark... I've bought more tyres than that for one bike in a year...
Yeah, I don't ride nearly enough...
Road kill
26th November 2012, 19:13
I have owned more than one bike a few times but today I'm happy to stick with what I know.
Plus I don't want to help prove Einstein right by becoming one of these people who's bikes are smarter than they are.
The money is not the issue.
I change my own tyres thanks very much.
Hell I even know my correct spark plug gaps,how to change my own oil,tune and maintain the bike myself,and do a total rebuild if need be.
Modern bikers huh,,,,how much money do you need to be one of them ?,,,:bleh:
MarkW
26th November 2012, 20:17
I have 4 road registerable motorcycles - I have a winter bike (DRZ 250) registered from April to November roughly. I have a summer bike (NT650) that is registered fror the rest of the year. The "spare" DRZ20 gets registered for very short periods (MR27) when needed - normally paid for by the friend that wants to use it. The "spare" NT650 is registered as and when required in the winter. So a 4 day 2,500km ride costs less than $20 in rego. Vehicles not being used are always placed on hold immediately. And yes, to be effective in reducing rego costs the hold must be a full 3 months.
Whichever bike I ride has comprehensive cover and the rest are covered for fire and theft using a single policy from Kiwibike Insurance. Contact Dave - he has multiple motorcycles himself!
A bit of planning and a notebook with a page for each bike showing WOF expiry date, rego status and dates makes life relatively simple.
I do all of my own maintenance but then I have averaged more than 20,000km per year in the 40 years that I have been riding. Motorcycling doesn't have to be expensive - it can be but doesn't have to be.
Learn to do as much yourself as you can safely - far more rewarding than forking out lots of dollars.
martybabe
27th November 2012, 07:11
The "spare" DRZ20 gets registered for very short periods (MR27) when needed - normally paid for by the friend that wants to use it..
Excellent stuff, thank you. Could you just clear up this rego thing for me though. How do you put rego on a bike for a short time (lets say for a weekend rally) when the rego is on hold for that bike? as someone said earlier, if the rego is on hold but you decide to rego it for a period, doesn't the whole period it's been on hold become payable? I know you're right, I just don't understand it. I assume this MR27 gets round that issue?
The notebook thing is an excellent idea, as it is I trust to my memory and reminders from officialdom and both are fallable.
Paul in NZ
27th November 2012, 07:29
Even doing it frugally these are expensive toys in what is effectively a recession and wages have NOT kept pace with expenses.
However - the Triumph is 42 years old (cheap reg $117 pa I think) and uses skinny affordable tyres at a modest rate. Its simple to service and once set up correctly, very reliable. The Moto Guzzi is slightly more time consuming but equally easy to service at home. It uses modest tyres and is capable of modern world performance (cough) but rego is standard. The tiny AC50 is 41 years old and while its officially a moped I think it may 'just' be beyond that in terms of its power output :rolleyes:. Tyres are $10 off trademe and never wear out... Biggest expense is 2 stoke oil and moisturizer for your face because you are smiling and laughing so much...
MarkW
27th November 2012, 10:02
Excellent stuff, thank you. Could you just clear up this rego thing for me though. How do you put rego on a bike for a short time (lets say for a weekend rally) when the rego is on hold for that bike? as someone said earlier, if the rego is on hold but you decide to rego it for a period, doesn't the whole period it's been on hold become payable? I know you're right, I just don't understand it. I assume this MR27 gets round that issue?
The notebook thing is an excellent idea, as it is I trust to my memory and reminders from officialdom and both are fallable.
Using an MR27 for short term registrations
This process must be done at an Agent – it can NOT be done online.
There are times when the process can be time consuming because the Motor Registration computer system has feature (bug) within it that in certain circumstances requires the intervention of a Palmerston North person live as the MR27 is processed by the Agency that you are standing in front of.
The bike that you are wanting to use the MR27 on must have a current WOF in the system.
The bike must have been on hold for more than 3 months in total. So if you do the holds in 3 monthly blocks then the first block must have completely passed. Consecutive subsequent 3 monthly blocks need not be completed as the computer seems to be able to keep the original start of the hold date and the 3 month period runs from this original start date.
If the new licence expiry date is AFTER the current hold date expiry then the transaction is simple. Fill out the form, pay the money and get a registration label. So, say the 6month hold expires on Friday of this week – November 30th. If you go into an agent today (November 27th) and want registration through to Monday December 3 you will be charged the fees covering today through to December 3rd and that’s it.
If you don’t want to pay for today through to Thursday 29th then you will have to wait until Friday 30th to visit the licensing agent – and you will pay for the Friday through to Monday only.
And now for the problem MR27. The problem is in the computer – this is a fully legal and compliant process.
The bike has a current WOF.
The bike is on a 12 month hold that expires on 15 January 2013.
You want to register the bike for this weekend ONLY so the expiry of the paid registration will be 3 December 2012. Because the desired new expiry date is BEFORE the current hold expiry date the system won’t let the agent process the MR27. The form can be processed but ONLY with help from the staff in Palmerston North or wherever the Motor Registration help centre is based.
If you are using NZ Post to complete this transaction the NZ Post counter staff person needs to call the NZ Post help Desk, the NZ Post help desk then call the Motor Reg help desk, the Motor Reg help desk then needs to find the right person at their place who has the authority and knowledge to push the right button at the right time. Once all of these ducks are lined up the NZ Post counter staff person processes the MR27 and you have the label that has a 3 December expiry date on it. My record so far was 1.75 hours to get this done – all for an $18.17 levy!
If you use VTNZ or the AA offices they tend to contact the Motor Reg help desk directly which cuts out one (very slow) link in the chain.
One of these days Motor Reg will either fix the bug and life will be simple or (more likely I suspect) remove the MR27 facility completely.
In the meantime I use the system to suit me – my last motor vehicle related ACC claim was in 1975, I’ve attended every ACC protest run to Wellington that has been held and both my 650’s are LAMS.
So I’ve found out how the system works (logical or illogical – I don’t care) and I take pleasure in riding whichever bike I want to when I want to with as close to only one registration per year as I can manage.
tigertim20
27th November 2012, 17:15
Blimey some good info there Tiger, I'm stunned at the option above. Thanks mate
no problem! I was surprised when I foud out about it myself, was getting a bike revinned and had a chat with the guy that did it and he put me onto it - its what he does with his bike.
correct me if i'm wrong but if you do this you can't re register for three months or you have to pay the in between difference
now that Im not too sure of, but I dont think so.
martybabe
27th November 2012, 18:32
Using an MR27 for short term registrations
This process must be done at an Agent – it can NOT be done online.
.
Cripes Mark you've put some time and effort into it, I've saved all the info to read again when the time comes. Thanks
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