Goin' around with a 125cc?

[Ale_88]

Hey guys!

I'm new, I'm from Europe and I'm going to be in NZ soon for some months!
I would like to travel around your country and I'm considering to buy over there (probably in AKLD) a motorbike or a scooter since I'm going to travel alone...that would be a way to contain the expenses (petrol and insurance on top of the list).
The point is that my actual driving license allows me to drive bikes up to 125 cc and I suppose that the driving license that I'm goin to get will be the same.
So here my easy questions for you (i tried to email to the NZ Transpor Agency but I'm still waitin for an answer after 10 days...so I hope some of you can be helpful to me).

1) Are 50cc allowed to travel on an higway?? (I think I understand that 125cc, even scooters, can circulate on Higways...am i right?)

2) If it's possible, is it plausible? I mean it's plausible to drive a 125cc scooter with max speed around 80-90 Km/h on an higway (traveling only with good weather conditions)?

3) Is easier to sell a 50cc or a 125cc scooter? Maybe a 50cc, if there is no require of a special motorbike license, is easier to sell in the cities?

That's it...I would just like to clarify that my choice is scooter oriented just for needs...my wish is to have in my garage some day in the future an angry motard (I already got a 125cc 2T) and a classic Harley!
I do apologize if I've done some mistakes...english is not my language!

[avgas]

If you're going to do the whole highway thing - get something with a top speed OVER 100kph. Doesn't matter what cc rating - just make sure it can do 100kph. People are not observant here - they will crash into you if your slow.

RG150 and FXR150's go cheap here and will do 130kph.
Have fun :)

[BMWST?]

agree with other poster NZ is also a hilly and windy(as in the wind blows) and loaded up 50 will be very dangerous on the open road imho.A 150 will be the way to go but there will be situations where that will be marginal too.We are not renowned for our patience on the roads or driving skills

[granstar]

Agree albiet a bit negative. Under 100 kph capable bike would be dangerous although there are passing lanes in some areas of hills, however most freight in NZ is via truck. A bike that can safely power pass a truck and trailer unit doing 95k's would be a requisite, a 125 would be my pick. Sure can be done on a 50 but you would need hi viz so motorists from behind need to be able to see you. If it were me i'd be packing reserve gas and fitting large mirrors, panniers to hold wet gear as weather in NZ is changeable 4 seasons in a day stuff as you head South often.You can always hold back if stuck behind a sheep truck spraying water across the road in front of you if you have all day, and why not stop and take in some of the sights. In fact over Summer you could near travel between weekend bike rallies if you had the dosh and time, that would ba an awesome adventure.

Resale of smaller bikes, check out Trade Me and see what is moving, always a school kid wanting a bike.

[BMWST?]

Agree albiet a bit negative. Under 100 kph capable bike would be dangerous although there are passing lanes in some areas of hills, however most freight in NZ is via truck. A bike that can safely power pass a truck and trailer unit doing 95k's would be a requisite, a 125 would be my pick. Sure can be done on a 50 but you would need hi viz so motorists from behind need to be able to see you. If it were me i'd be packing reserve gas and fitting large mirrors, panniers to hold wet gear as weather in NZ is changeable 4 seasons in a day stuff as you head South often.You can always hold back if stuck behind a sheep truck spraying water across the road in front of you if you have all day, and why not stop and take in some of the sights. In fact over Summer you could near travel between weekend bike rallies if you had the dosh and time, that would ba an awesome adventure.

Resale of smaller bikes, check out Trade Me and see what is moving, always a school kid wanting a bike.


on a 50cc the trucks would be trying to pass HIM

[robinm]

I saw a guy last week on SH1 south of Kaikoura, on an older Hoda step thru, either a C50 or C90. Loaded up to the hilt, topbox on the front carrier, pannier bags and a box on the rear carrier. Looked like he was on a misson. Looked quite cool really in a silly sort of way.

[GSF]

I saw a guy last week on SH1 south of Kaikoura, on an older Hoda step thru, either a C50 or C90. Loaded up to the hilt, topbox on the front carrier, pannier bags and a box on the rear carrier. Looked like he was on a misson. Looked quite cool really in a silly sort of way.

See, now THAT's adventure

[awa355]

If you are going to travel state highways, then the bigger the better. However, there are plenty of provincial highways and back roads that suit a 80 - 90kph cruising speed.

Check out my travels on my 100cc scooter in the scooter forum.

What you 'need' depends on your attitude.

[Ulsterkiwi]

have a look at this....

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bluff-or-Bust/334983963269863

Met one of these guys, cool thing to do I reckon.

[avgas]

I saw a guy last week on SH1 south of Kaikoura, on an older Hoda step thru, either a C50 or C90. Loaded up to the hilt, topbox on the front carrier, pannier bags and a box on the rear carrier. Looked like he was on a misson. Looked quite cool really in a silly sort of way.
I give him 6 months. If he is not off the bike and doing something else with his life. He's dead.

[Ale_88]

Thank you very much for the answers!

I would like to have the possibility to pick up something bigger and not a scooter but my driving license allows me to drive bikes up to 125cc...anyway, considering your posts i guess that a 125cc 4T would not be the right choice cause usually one of them can barely reach 100 km/h and i will be kinda loaded up....I don't wanna be an hindrance for anybody. A 125cc 2T would be better but I saw on Trade me that they are very rare and difficult to find all over NZ.

So I guess i got 2 options...pick up anyhow a 125cc and travel on provincial back roads...or go on with some cheap used car hopin it will not break down!
I'm gonna check out this roads to get an idea of the distances and times to go through them!

[Ale_88]

Sorry, double post.

[granstar]

This book may be of help


http://www.amazon.com/Great-Escapes-Motorcycle-Touring-Zealand/dp/1877135453

[Karitane pete]

how about flying in to NZ, sit your basic bike handling test, sit your learners licence and get a bigger bike, how long are you going to be in NZ

[Ale_88]

Yeah i thought about that too, i'll stay for at least 8 months....i just want to have a vehicle available as soon as possible once there...i'm gonna check out the procedure to get a license on the NZ Transport Agency wbsite to get a an idea of what i would have to do.

[JATZ]

Yeah i thought about that too, i'll stay for at least 8 months....i just want to have a vehicle available as soon as possible once there...i'm gonna check out the procedure to get a license on the NZ Transport Agency wbsite to get a an idea of what i would have to do.

So.... You have a learner licence ? That may allow you to ride a bike up to 250cc here, I may be wrong (it's happened before :facepalm: ) but worth checking out.
The guy on the C90 has been traveling around for months, if not years. Just drifting about the countryside

[chasio]

Yeah i thought about that too, i'll stay for at least 8 months....i just want to have a vehicle available as soon as possible once there...i'm gonna check out the procedure to get a license on the NZ Transport Agency wbsite to get a an idea of what i would have to do.

An NZ learner license would most likely reduce your insurance excess compared to an overseas license, as well as enabling you to ride up to 660cc bikes, with plenty of very suitable bikes available to learners (see this list (http://www.nzta.govt.nz/licence/getting/motorcycles/lams.html)). So I would really recommend that for an 8 month visit, doing the BHS (Basic Handling Skills) and getting your NZ learner license would be the best option.

...unless you can use a LAMS list bike on your overseas 125cc license, a possibility I have no knowledge of. You may be able to find out on the NZTA website linked above.

[Gianz]

Ciao Ale,
you don't need to do any test if you had a licence for more than 2 years. Just bring your italian licence (with internationl driving permit is better so you don't need to pay to translate it), go to the AA office. Pay around 40$ i think, they take a picture and you have your NZ licence. Then you'll be able to ride bikes at least up to 250 4T but maybe even LAMS (google it). No, la Aprilia RS250 non la puoi guidare... Highways here are different from Italy, they're more like "extraurbane secondarie" due corsie a due sensi di marcia. So you can go by bicycle as well if you want. There are few motorways in the cities where you must have a 150cc at least. Learners bikes are overpriced but that is true when you sell it as well, so... 2nd hand cars relatively are very cheap. You can buy a good condition 100000km japanese small car (like this http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/toyota/echo/auction-637243689.htm) for almost the same price of a crappy old slow Suzuki GN250 POS (http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/cruiser/auction-631775011.htm). And the registration (il bollo) is more expensive for bikes...
Poi mi offri un caffe quando arrivi per aver scritto tutta sta roba
Ciao
Gian

[Drew]

If you are talking about some sort of graduated license system, that you are part way through over there, I imagine you will be subject to our learner laws.

So, you actually have a huge range of bikes to choose from.

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/licence/getting/motorcycles/lams.html Is the list of excluded 250 two strokes, and anything bigger than 250cc you are allowed to ride in an unmodified state.

Other than those excluded, any 250cc bike is legal, modified or not.

[chasio]

I got bored at work today so looked this up. I couldn't find the rules on overseas learner licenses, but...

The NZTA website (http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/factsheets/72/overseas-driver-licences.html) says you can convert an Italian learner motorcycle license to a NZ one without taking any license tests at all, just an eye test. You need to do the paperwork, provide your ID and an approved translation (http://www.nzta.govt.nz/licence/residents-visitors/translators.html) of the license and give them some money. Since you're here for 8 months, it's probably worth it.

There are conditions e.g. no pillions allowed and no riding between 10pm and 5am. All explained at the link above.

With an NZ learner license you would definitely be OK for any of the LAMS approved bikes that Drew linked to above.

If you want to know if you can do all that with your Italian license or an international license, you can email them at info@nzta.govt.nz.

Cheers - Chasio