Kiwi commuters

[kfc4unme]

Hi all,

I'm busy sitting at the airport about to return to SA from a holiday in NZ. Haven't slept since yesterday [emoji42]

Just wondering to myself, during the couple of days I was in Auckland and surroundings, I didn't see many motorcycle commuters. Any ideas why? I would think with that traffic it would be more popular. (As far as I know lane splitting is legal).

Btw, beautiful county you have. Kiwis are super friendly too.

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[Banditbandit]

Hi all,

I'm busy sitting at the airport about to return to SA from a holiday in NZ. Haven't slept since yesterday [emoji42]

Just wondering to myself, during the couple of days I was in Auckland and surroundings, I didn't see many motorcycle commuters. Any ideas why? I would think with that traffic it would be more popular. (As far as I know lane splitting is legal).

Btw, beautiful county you have. Kiwis are super friendly too.

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It's wet - it's cold. The poor dears can't handle it.

Glad you enjoyed our country ..

[Laava]

It's partly because when we get on our bikes we go "fuck it, gunna take the day off and go riding instead of communting to work!"

[EJK]

Thanks for calling us as Kiwis, not Nuzullundrs :)

[Paul in NZ]

I dont like riding in traffic or leaving my bike out in the street in the rain.. Yeah I know - I'm a woose like that but hey - I likes what I likes

[jim.cox]

"Live to Ride - Ride to Work"

Works for me and the DR-Z

[swbarnett]

It's wet - it's cold. The poor dears can't handle it.
You forgot to mention WINDY!

Hasn't kept me off the bike. Tuakau to CBD no matter the weather.

[Berries]

You forgot to mention WINDY!
Faarkkkk. I have ridden in some weather but tonight is up there with the worst ever. The combination of freezing heavy rain, surface water and gusty winds was a complete prick. Each on their own no worries but the combination just made me glad to get home, to my shitty long and steep clay driveway where I nearly lost it several times.

Thank Mustaffa for red wine and whisky.:drinknsin

[aws]

Been commuting on the Southern Motorway every day due almost 8 years. I feel like maybe there are a few more bikes commuting this year, but maybe it just hasn't got cold enough yet.

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[Ifsn8u]

This is something I ponder daily on my commute down lane 2 1/4.

Now this is totally my opinion but I believe it's due to the silly perception that being on a motorbike is dangerous. More than not I get the comment "Isn't it dangerous" once people know I commute by bike. Clearly it is seeing I'm standing here in front of you!!

Saying this I'll prob crash tomorrow!:sweatdrop

[Motu]

Motorcycles are a leasure activity these days, so not surprisinng there are less commuters, and I'm guilty there too. I commuted on a bike all through the '70's, from 1970 to 1981 when I had a job where I could walk to work. And everyone else was commuting on bikes too, central Auckland around Uni was streets full of bikes, all the students used a bike. Then I moved out of Auckland, and still commuted on a bike...currently riding 3km to work on a scooter. Bikes need to be more than a plaything before a rider will use it everyday.

[Muskrat]

You forgot to mention WINDY!

Hasn't kept me off the bike. Tuakau to CBD no matter the weather.

Amen to that; I commute 120 kms everyday into CBD rain or shine; I'm sure we've passed each other.

I see plenty of commuters in the summer and when it's not raining. I remember regos so I notice who's out there everyday (not EVERYONE because I don't lane split as fast as some of the daredevils on the Southern Motorway commute). I'm keen to see who STAYS riding throughout the cold season...:msn-wink:

[Berries]

I'm keen to see who STAYS riding throughout the cold season...:msn-wink:

Cold season? Auckland? How cold does it get up there in the tropics? I am guessing you might get the odd sub 5 degree morning but I don't know.

[aws]

Amen to that; I commute 120 kms everyday into CBD rain or shine; I'm sure we've passed each other.

I see plenty of commuters in the summer and when it's not raining. I remember regos so I notice who's out there everyday (not EVERYONE because I don't lane split as fast as some of the daredevils on the Southern Motorway commute). I'm keen to see who STAYS riding throughout the cold season...:msn-wink:

I'll still be out there every day.

Btw, you're not the bloke with his lunch strapped to the back seat are you?

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[aws]

Cold season? Auckland? How cold does it get up there in the tropics? I am guessing you might get the odd sub 5 degree morning but I don't know.
Half to a dozen frosts a year maybe. Definitely still riding weather by international standards, but it seems a lot of bikers are pretty soft when it comes down to it.

Actually the cold is not really the issue. It's the ongoing rain in the winter that is probably the biggest factor for most people.

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[swbarnett]

Cold season? Auckland? How cold does it get up there in the tropics? I am guessing you might get the odd sub 5 degree morning but I don't know.
You do realise that someone that lives in Alaska year round could probably say the same to you?

It's all relative.

Having said that, you are right in that it seldom gets cold enough up here to be considered too cold to ride. And even when it does some of us still ride.

[Muskrat]

I'll still be out there every day.

Btw, you're not the bloke with his lunch strapped to the back seat are you?

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Hahaha... no, that's the other RE on the Southern... I pass him all the time; super nice guy, almost has 100k kms on his RE. I'm the military green.

[Zedder]

Half to a dozen frosts a year maybe. Definitely still riding weather by international standards, but it seems a lot of bikers are pretty soft when it comes down to it.

Actually the cold is not really the issue. It's the ongoing rain in the winter that is probably the biggest factor for most people.

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Yes, half a dozen frosts maybe, depending on what part of Auckland you're in.

It's looking to continue being fine 'til Thursday, so definitely more riding on the agenda. The rain is a nuisance alright.

[aws]

The rain is a nuisance alright.

I don't mind riding in the rain so much, it's just the hassle of having to put on all the wet weather gear!

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[Zedder]

I don't mind riding in the rain so much, it's just the hassle of having to put on all the wet weather gear!

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Haha, but ya only have to do it once...

[RDJ]

Hi all,

I'm busy sitting at the airport about to return to SA from a holiday in NZ. Haven't slept since yesterday [emoji42]

Just wondering to myself, during the couple of days I was in Auckland and surroundings, I didn't see many motorcycle commuters. Any ideas why? I would think with that traffic it would be more popular. (As far as I know lane splitting is legal).

Btw, beautiful county you have. Kiwis are super friendly too.

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Forget it Jake, it's Auckland. (Classical movie reference).

Elsewhere we do commute. Although that said I worked a shift yesterday and even with The Gear on, it was a mite frosty.

[Voltaire]

I use the Vespa if I'm working in the city as lots of bus lanes and I have parking. Its 30 minutes compared to the hour using the

train.

From my office in East Tamaki I mostly use the car, soft as mentioned earlier and I don't like my suit getting crushed.:baby:

200cc Vespa is not the greatest on the motorway.... for that I take the bike.

[aws]

Haha, but ya only have to do it once...
But then I've got to take it all off again and dry it out ready for the next day...

What's good though is that when we renovated recently I created a fully insulated coat cupboard with power so I can run a dampchaser in there. Nice and toasty warm cupboard for hanging and drying all my gear 😀

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[HenryDorsetCase]

But then I've got to take it all off again and dry it out ready for the next day...

What's good though is that when we renovated recently I created a fully insulated coat cupboard with power so I can run a dampchaser in there. Nice and toasty warm cupboard for hanging and drying all my gear 😀

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excellent idea..

it was minus 3 here today. I bought the car and listened to the Smashing Pumpkins really loud. SWMBO biked.

[Zedder]

But then I've got to take it all off again and dry it out ready for the next day...

What's good though is that when we renovated recently I created a fully insulated coat cupboard with power so I can run a dampchaser in there. Nice and toasty warm cupboard for hanging and drying all my gear 😀

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Heh, put on then take off, that's what happens. Drying cupboard is the go.

[Swoop]

I don't mind riding in the rain so much, it's just the hassle of having to put on all the wet weather gear!
At least you arrive drier than those who have to walk from car/bus station to their abode of work!:niceone:


... and I don't like my suit getting crushed.:baby:
Hopefully not the purple crushed velvet one?:drool:

[rastuscat]

One of the guys on the course yesterday asked if there was a way to sue NZTA for the piles of gravel that make road works so bloody unsafe for bikes.

In addition, the council here grits the roads in winter in the interests of road safety.

I told him that until there are a lot more bikes using the road, we won't feature in planners thoughts much, if at all.

There's a critical mass number of riders needed before we really get much say.

Seriously, sit and watch traffic flow for a while. Bikes are a very, very small percentage of the overall traffic. Sure, on Sat and Sun the weekend warriors boost the numbers, but we are still a small minority.

[Zedder]

[QUOTE=rastuscat;1131047370]One of the guys on the course yesterday asked if there was a way to sue NZTA for the piles of gravel that make road works so bloody unsafe for bikes.QUOTE]


Nothing about NZTA, however, there was an instance here in 2004 iirc where a motorcyclist won a criminal nuisance case against the Hawkes Bay Council and a roading contractor after he crashed due to loose chip on the road.

[neels]

I'd need another bike, as the Ducati is a pig in stop start traffic.

When I had the DRZ400 I did commute quite regularly, as it was a lot more fun than sitting in the car.

The main reason I hear for people not commuting by bike is that the consumable cost of a big bike is too expensive, and the cost of owning another little bike just for commuting isn't justified.

I'll be back to commuting when I get around to buying a replacement for the DRZ......

[Moi]

One of the things I miss with retirement is not riding to and from work,

except when it's pouring cats and dogs and blowing half a gale... those mornings deserve another half hour under the covers! :bleh:

However, when I was commuting by bike I'd often take the car if it was raining in the morning, not because of trying to get wet gear dry [one of the office ladies always made sure if I got wet my gear was dry by the end of the day] but because I found drivers were even less observant when it rains and the generally poor road skills were thrown out the window...

[Jeeper]

I'm new to motorcycling, and have only started commuting to Auckland CBD for about 4 weeks now. I see fewer motorcycles on the same road as weather is becoming cooler. Today being the coldest morning so far, just about noone was visible.

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[Moi]

I'm new to motorcycling, and have only started commuting to Auckland CBD for about 4 weeks now. I see fewer motorcycles on the same road as weather is becoming cooler. Today being the coldest morning so far, just about no one was visible.

Was it foggy where you were? :facepalm:


Seriously, as long as you are warm, including hands and feet, then a morning like this morning is a great commute.... unless you're coming in from the west into the rising sun... :sunny:

[aws]

Was it foggy where you were? :facepalm:


Seriously, as long as you are warm, including hands and feet, then a morning like this morning is a great commute.... unless you're coming in from the west into the rising sun... :sunny:
Twas a pearler in Auck this morning to be sure! My Barkbusters Blizzard handguards may look a bit naff, but they really come into their own on a morning like this morning. No need for bar warmers [emoji4]

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[Berries]

You do realise that someone that lives in Alaska year round could probably say the same to you?
Yep, but then it would be Worldbiker not Kiwibiker and I wouldn't have mentioned it.

[Jeeper]

Was it foggy where you were? :facepalm:


Seriously, as long as you are warm, including hands and feet, then a morning like this morning is a great commute.... unless you're coming in from the west into the rising sun... :sunny:
Foggy morning, not looking forward to it based on the way bus drivers go.

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[swbarnett]

One of the guys on the course yesterday asked if there was a way to sue NZTA for the piles of gravel that make road works so bloody unsafe for bikes.

In addition, the council here grits the roads in winter in the interests of road safety.

I told him that until there are a lot more bikes using the road, we won't feature in planners thoughts much, if at all.

There's a critical mass number of riders needed before we really get much say.
Either that or just one or two more - ridden by the planners.

[swbarnett]

Yep, but then it would be Worldbiker not Kiwibiker and I wouldn't have mentioned it.
Touche!

I just meant that that everything needs to be in it's own context. Yes, we all know it gets cold down there. Up here we're just not used to it and may start remarking on it at a slightly higher temperature than you hardy folk of the deep south.

[Berries]

Fairy nuff. If tomorrow is anything like today I will be putting my long johns on under my chinos for the commute.

[CJR]

One of the guys on the course yesterday asked if there was a way to sue NZTA for the piles of gravel that make road works so bloody unsafe for bikes.

This has been on my mind a bit, not suing so much, but the piles of road-chip. I haven't been able to leave my street for around two months without slowing down for or avoiding loose stuff on the surface. The first time it tried to take my front wheel in a corner (new'ish rider) but somehow managed to recover it. It really should've been my first fairing scratcher.

It's not even just for bikes, I saw a little Honda Jazz lock-up the front on the same patch that almost got me. It's like marbles.

Can they not sweep it after a couple of days to reduce the hazard or something?


Edit: Back on track. I'm in Chch and commuting every day, it's cold but I don't plan on stopping. A few inches of snow or dangerous riding conditions may change that, but I'll probably still try!

[Moi]

This has been on my mind a bit, not suing so much, but the piles of road-chip. I haven't been able to leave my street for around two months without slowing down for or avoiding loose stuff on the surface. The first time it tried to take my front wheel in a corner (new'ish rider) but somehow managed to recover it. It really should've been my first fairing scratcher.

It's not even just for bikes, I saw a little Honda Jazz lock-up the front on the same patch that almost got me. It's like marbles.

Can they not sweep it after a couple of days to reduce the hazard or something?


Edit: Back on track. I'm in Chch and commuting every day, it's cold but I don't plan on stopping. A few inches of snow or dangerous riding conditions may change that, but I'll probably still try!

Who is responsible for the roads in your area? You need to contact them, best by email with a followup phone call about the road hazard to cyclists, motorcyclists and vehicles. Say what it is and what needs to be done. I understand that they then need to do something about it...

[Moi]

Temperatures this morning, courtesy of the MetService, at 6am and 8am:

Auckland Central: 3°C & 5°C
Hamilton: -2°C & -1°C
Wellington City: 12°C & 12°C
Christchurch City: 5°C & 6°C
Dunedin: 8°C & 10°C

I trust the tropicals down south were enjoying their tropical temps this morning... :bleh:

[swbarnett]

Temperatures this morning, courtesy of the MetService, at 6am and 8am:

Auckland Central: 3°C & 5°C
Hamilton: -2°C & -1°C
Wellington City: 12°C & 12°C
Christchurch City: 5°C & 6°C
Dunedin: 8°C & 10°C

I trust the tropicals down south were enjoying their tropical temps this morning... :bleh:
We had 0°C on our front porch at 8am this morning (Tuakau). Still rode in (had the glove and jacket liners and balaclava on though).

[Berries]

Temperatures this morning, courtesy of the MetService, at 6am and 8am:

Auckland Central: 3°C & 5°C
Hamilton: -2°C & -1°C
Wellington City: 12°C & 12°C
Christchurch City: 5°C & 6°C
Dunedin: 8°C & 10°C

I trust the tropicals down south were enjoying their tropical temps this morning... :bleh:
I cracked the kevlar shorts out.

[Moi]

I cracked the kevlar shorts out.

Should the words "cracked" and "shorts" ever appear in the same sentence?

But you do look dashing...

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/5f/cd/bb/5fcdbb4ee280e0a740c83af8d1c7f683.jpg

:scooter:

[Luckylegs]

Temperatures this morning, courtesy of the MetService, at 6am and 8am:

Auckland Central: 3°C & 5°C
Hamilton: -2°C & -1°C
Wellington City: 12°C & 12°C
Christchurch City: 5°C & 6°C
Dunedin: 8°C & 10°C

I trust the tropicals down south were enjoying their tropical temps this morning... :bleh:

Yeh, much the same temps yesterday too for my tauhei to thames run. The cold is ok, tis the fog that facks shit up as you cant just overtake everthing in your way. And therex the rsi (oos for the younger viewers) from trying to keep ze visor clear.

such fun!

[Zedder]

We had 0°C on our front porch at 8am this morning (Tuakau). Still rode in (had the glove and jacket liners and balaclava on though).


Good on ya. I forced myself to go for a ride up State Highway 16, although, it was 14 degrees when I left home...

[Big Dog]

We had 0°C on our front porch at 8am this morning (Tuakau). Still rode in (had the glove and jacket liners and balaclava on though).
No balaclava or glove liners... but +1

[Jeeper]

Thick fog this morning on my commute to work. It was tense but fun at the same time.

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