First time visitor to NZ - avoiding speeding fines

[FlyingTomato]

Hi folks. I'm 63 years old and have been riding bikes in the UK and Europe for 45 years. I'm thinking it's time that I came and checked out the fantastic roads on NZ South Island. However after a little Google research I'm concerned that I could run up thousands of dollars of speeding fines on my first day on the road.

Is it possible to ride a sports bike enthusiastically (I'm talking about Twisties/country roads - not towns/cities or main highways) or do I have to settle for hiring a Enfield Bullet ?

We've some great roads here in North Wales, many of which in my view have been ruined by the installation of speed cameras - but at least these are signposted and highly visible.

Any advice greatfully received.

[Hoonicorn]

Here's a suggestion, if you want speed on NZ roads and avoid thousands in speeding fines, don't come here.

or don't speed.

[Gremlin]

Here's a suggestion, if you want speed on NZ roads and avoid thousands in speeding fines, don't come here.

or don't speed.
That's definitely your short answer :yes:

Longer answer, speed is heavily controlled. Regular open road speed limit is 100kph (save for the very rare section that's 110). If you're doing 111kph, you stand a high chance of getting a ticket, even on separated motorways. Police and camera vans can and will hide behind hills, crests etc and there is no requirement to have them clearly signed. While you might think there is a "tolerance" of 10kph, there are further restrictions in school zones etc. Most of us commonly believe that the number of police on a given road is inversely proportional to the highway number - SH1 has the most.

If you go hunting the roads one step away from gravel (or even better, the gravel and more fun ones) then they're often so twisty, bumpy etc, you're unlikely to hit the limit too often, or run into plod.

Ultimately, treat the road with respect, nothing to stop a car from driving on the wrong side of the road. Want to blast and have fun? Use the track...

[GazzaH]

Slow down, enjoy the scenery, have a great time.

Or go to a race track somewhere. Might as well be underground.

[Murray]

If you can do over the 100km speed limit most of the way to milford sound your doing pretty well. Hell its not much slower than UK considering most of Sth Island are 1 lane each way. Slow down ROSSI

[FJRider]

If you can do over the 100km speed limit most of the way to milford sound your doing pretty well. Hell its not much slower than UK considering most of Sth Island are 1 lane each way. Slow down ROSSI

This ... an awful lot of the South Island roads may have a 100 km/hr speed limit ... but it take effort and skill to achieve an moving average speed of over 100 km/hr on many of them. Avoid the East coast Canterbury highway one (south of Christchurch) and you will be quite happy with any speeds you achieve. In most cases ... the views are worth the slower speeds.

Only in the main tourist and populated areas ... are the roads being well policed. But you can expect to see them anywhere ... (or not)

[Blackbird]

Hi folks. I'm 63 years old and have been riding bikes in the UK and Europe for 45 years. I'm thinking it's time that I came and checked out the fantastic roads on NZ South Island. However after a little Google research I'm concerned that I could run up thousands of dollars of speeding fines on my first day on the road.

Is it possible to ride a sports bike enthusiastically (I'm talking about Twisties/country roads - not towns/cities or main highways) or do I have to settle for hiring a Enfield Bullet ?

We've some great roads here in North Wales, many of which in my view have been ruined by the installation of speed cameras - but at least these are signposted and highly visible.

Any advice greatfully received.

If you're a member of the UK Blackbird Forum, get in touch with Russ Quinlan. He's been here twice and will give you an overseas perspective.

[FlyingTomato]

Thanks for the frank advice. I was kind of expecting the main response to be 'don't speed'. At the same time there are loads of threads on this site started by NZ riders looking to get out of paying speeding fines after they have been caught - so I know you ain't all angels :msn-wink:

Plenty of sports bike riders here too - I struggle to understand why anyone would ride a sports bike if you never get the opportunity to open the thing up.

[98tls]

Thanks for the frank advice. I was kind of expecting the main response to be 'don't speed'. At the same time there are loads of threads on this site started by NZ riders looking to get out of paying speeding fines after they have been caught - so I know you ain't all angels :msn-wink:

Plenty of sports bike riders here too - I struggle to understand why anyone would ride a sports bike if you never get the opportunity to open the thing up.

Time n place blah blah,tis only speeding if you get clocked,that said on the roads a supposed "sports bike" are designed for the periods spent at lose ya licence speed are short so you take ya chances eh.Enjoy,if ya get bit suck it up.

[Temporary-Kiwi]

Hi, make sure you try to alternate routes ( I.e B roads) and you can have a lot of fun, but there are many things that you will have to be prepared to take avoiding action, as our farmers tend to use these roads as another farm track, such as herds of cattle, tractors, and the obligatory cowshit, or gravel left on the road, but still there are many choice roads where one can give a bike the full Monty.
on the main roads it's a gamble to maintain any speed over the limit, although I disagree with previous respondents that it's hard to average speeds over 100kph
às I regularly do so, I do have a good radar detector, basicly a must have for any length of high speed riding.
it won't save you in many instances though as our mobile tax collectors are sneaky, they tend to park somewhere that allows them to see /hear you , then they switch the radar on at the most opportune time ! so you have to be prepared to get a ticket while here, fines are fairly low but the demerits add up quickly , so do some research overnight so you have some roads to explore the next day.
I've found the south islands cops are more adept at getting you on there radars than the north islands , check out a book called 50 best rides in new Zealand, it has some beaut roads in both islands, have a blast while hear it's motorcycling nirvana

[OddDuck]

Yep. As soon as you're off the main highways you'd have to be very unlucky to see a mobile patrol car, and speed camera vans are almost unheard of. As Temporary Kiwi said, the fines aren't that much but the demerits add up fast, the real gotcha is getting nicked doing more than 40 km's above the limit. Instant roadside suspension of license for 28 days. Get caught doing 50 over and it's court appearance, dangerous driving charges stuff. That's being pulled over by a patrol officer, not a speed camera, so it's unlikely but can happen. Pick up 100 demerits and license gone also.

There's good reason to keep the riding sane besides the law though... as the others have said:

- loose stock wandering around
- unsigned road repairs finished with loose pea gravel
- narrow country roads and oncoming tourists in camper vans

etc etc... honestly it's a wide open, apparently empty country and people sometimes do the silliest things.

Nobody so far has mentioned petrol. Touring in the SI, sometimes it can be a fair distance between fill ups and a lot of the small country service stations close for the night around 6 - 7 pm, it might be worthwhile spending some time mapping where and when you can fill up if you're doing routes in the back of beyond.

[sidecar bob]

We have a number of race tracks, on which there is no speed limit.
If you look up these tracks you may be able to work a ride day or two into your schedule.
I personally think you would enjoy the country better from the seat of something like an R1200gs, but I'm not an expert in these matters.
If you just want to ride roads with no respect for the law or anyone else there's probably better countries to explore.

[Navy Boy]

Hi folks. I'm 63 years old and have been riding bikes in the UK and Europe for 45 years. I'm thinking it's time that I came and checked out the fantastic roads on NZ South Island. However after a little Google research I'm concerned that I could run up thousands of dollars of speeding fines on my first day on the road.

Is it possible to ride a sports bike enthusiastically (I'm talking about Twisties/country roads - not towns/cities or main highways) or do I have to settle for hiring a Enfield Bullet ?

We've some great roads here in North Wales, many of which in my view have been ruined by the installation of speed cameras - but at least these are signposted and highly visible.

Any advice greatfully received.

I think that you've now seen a common thread forming here. Compared to the UK things are a little different here in NZ and a shift in outlook may be required. Can you have fun and occasionally have exuberant moments? Yes of course you can - But you need to pick your time/place carefully. Don't do it on the Main State Highways in other words. Also the type of bike you ride here makes a big difference. A Fireblade isn't going to be ideal but then neither is an Enfield Bullet strictly necessary either.

In short if you're after a Continental-style blat then don't come here. If you're after an occasional spirited ride with beautiful scenery thrown in and an enjoyable place to come and visit then this could be the place for you.

[layton]

There are loads of sports bike here, I personally get my kicks out of just going for a good ride with loads of corners, i have geared my bike to give loads of oomph out of corners instead of top speed 100km/h is plenty for most roads, infact if you could keep that speed for a long time you would be doing bloody well, you are lucky to get a few KM before a nice 65km corner or something twisty.

If you are after some crazy speeds and doing silly things this isn't the place to visit... you will be taken out by something or loose controll.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Go as fast as you like. Go as fast as you can. Red and blue lights are optional. In fact I would say dont stop unless there's road spikes. And even then only a soft cock stops. Ride on those rims, lad!

The approved speed for any corner is kmh == mph x 2 plus 10. : so, a sign signposted for 35kph can be ridden at 80mph or around 140.

If you show up anywhere on anything less than a turbo Hayabusa, people will giggle and laugh about you behind your back. Just so you know.

You must ride with the Klingon code of honour foremost: Honour and Glory to your House! Perhaps today is a good day to die!

[HenryDorsetCase]

We have a number of race tracks, on which there is no speed limit.
If you look up these tracks you may be able to work a ride day or two into your schedule.
I personally think you would enjoy the country better from the seat of something like an R1200gs, but I'm not an expert in these matters.
If you just want to ride roads with no respect for the law or anyone else there's probably better countries to explore.

Democratic Repulic of Congo: with bonus Ebola!

Nigeria.... I can put you in touch with a Prince there. He is giving me some money because I am a young beautful woman.

Papua New Guinea - bit of the old stabbing and beheading.


just three OTOH

[pritch]

Shit oh dear! I thought the replies to the question about naming a jacket were bad but this thread is tragic.

On one of my trips around the South Island I didn't see a single cop for three days. Nothing from Blenheim except a beep on the detector somewhere in the Lewis pass. Nothing all the way down the West Coast. On the fourth day there was a speed camera just north of Dunedin.

Being from the UK you'll probably wonder where all the people went. Hardly anybody lives in the South Island. It can be a long way between gas stations.

Caution is needed on the long straights in the McKenzie Country (near Mt Cook) that seems to be a nice little revenue earner for the government coffers.

There was a cautionary tale in BIKE magazine some years ago. One of their writers overtook a mufti patrol car at speed. He thought he was going to jail but we are normally not so unkind.

Time and place and all that, but it would be a shame to miss the scenery.

[mulletman]

Shit oh dear! I thought the replies to the question about naming a jacket were bad but this thread is tragic.

On one of my trips around the South Island I didn't see a single cop for three days. Nothing from Blenheim except a beep on the detector somewhere in the Lewis pass. Nothing all the way down the West Coast. On the fourth day there was a speed camera just north of Dunedin.

Being from the UK you'll probably wonder where all the people went. Hardly anybody lives in the South Island. It can be a long way between gas stations.

Caution is needed on the long straights in the McKenzie Country (near Mt Cook) that seems to be a nice little revenue earner for the government coffers.

There was a cautionary tale in BIKE magazine some years ago. One of their writers overtook a mufti patrol car at speed. He thought he was going to jail but we are normally not so unkind.

Time and place and all that, but it would be a shame to miss the scenery.

What this man says :yes:

[Blackbird]

There was a cautionary tale in BIKE magazine some years ago. One of their writers overtook a mufti patrol car at speed. He thought he was going to jail but we are normally not so unkind.

I still have that article! The judge rode a Ducati so that may have had some bearing :yes:

[sidecar bob]

Bear in mind that it's very possible & more likely than not, to crash & fuck yourself up, far from phone coverage & any kind of help.

[Temporary-Kiwi]

Bear in mind that it's very possible & more likely than not, to crash & fuck yourself up, far from phone coverage & any kind of help.
wow, also forgot about how the locals will shoot you for being on their patch, aw that's right now they've only got six shots so only a real Nancy can't handle that ay!

[sidecar bob]

wow, also forgot about how the locals will shoot you for being on their patch, aw that's right now they've only got six shots so only a real Nancy can't handle that ay!

I was chatting with a road racer in Ireland recently that had done some exploring in NZ.
He was quite perturbed that he was out of cell coverage for large parts of his day.
Apparently that shit is quite important to some. Especially when you have a flat tyre or broken leg.

[MD]

Some sound advice coming out.

Take it from someone who tours the South island every year and once upon a time on Fireblades and the like, you can have spirited times on empty roads. However, the West Coast is motorcycling heaven for the very reason that there are 10,000 tight corners per hour, so doing 300kph, 200kph or 139kph (a wise top speed) is not really an option. Use a comfy upright bike. That way you can throw it through the twisties and also sit up and enjoy the scenery.

You are far more likely to be taken out by stupid tourists driving on the wrong side of our narrow roads than a speeding ticket. It really is a concern and one of many hazards that nowadays slow most of us experienced riders down.

Regarding tank range. Key spots to plan and ride to conserve petrol are Westport to Karamea. Murchison to Greymouth- you can top up in Westport of course, worth the 5 minute detour. Down through the Haast Pass. Fill at Fox Glacier and top up at Haast (before dark- it will probably close early)

Enjoy our roads and you won't be disappointed you came here.
ps- don't shit in our beautiful backyard, find a toilet!

[oldiebutagoody]

Time and place and all that, but it would be a shame to miss the scenery.

This is so true........

There's plenty of extreme activity available here other than channeling the IOM TT. Go jump off a bridge with an elastic band tied to your socks. Go do some 360's in a jet boat, lots to do thats not going to get you in strife.

NZ is a great scenic and cultural experience, that you can ALSO experience on a motorbike.

"If you ride fast, you are missing the whole point of this country." -Henry Cole, worlds greatest motorcycle rides.

[pritch]

I still have that article! The judge rode a Ducati so that may have had some bearing :yes:

That's the one. I don't think we jail people for common, or even not quite so common, speeding offences do we?

[jellywrestler]

I was chatting with a road racer in Ireland recently that had done some exploring in NZ.
He was quite perturbed that he was out of cell coverage for large parts of his day.
Apparently that shit is quite important to some. Especially when you have a flat tyre or broken leg.

we managed for how long without it, how?

[Blackbird]

That's the one. I don't think we jail people for common, or even not quite so common, speeding offences do we?

Might do if he rides a Hippobike (Harley). I thought the article was really funny. Want a digital copy if I can find it on the PC?

[FJRider]

That's the one. I don't think we jail people for common, or even not quite so common, speeding offences do we?

I think automatic 24 hour ban on driving with vehicle impounded for 40 km/hr over the posted limit..

Usually results in 6 months loss of license with a fine after the court appearance.

Jail is often reserved for those that killed somebody ... but not always. I can't recall any such motorcycle related incident involving jail time.

[Madness]

I think automatic 24 hour ban on driving with vehicle impounded for 40 km/hr over the posted limit..

Usually results in 6 months loss of license with a fine after the court appearance.

My own experience pinged at 40 km/hr over the posted limit was an instant 28-day suspension but they didn't impound the bike. Shit changes at 50k over I think.

[Temporary-Kiwi]

The approved speed for any corner is kmh == mph x 2 plus 10. : so, a sign signposted for 35kph can be ridden at 80mph or around 140.

I've found it's difficult to go more than 3x the indicated
corner speed, on the cliffhanger hillclimb I was going around the 35k corner at 120-130kph but that was using both sides of the road, in practice I managed to do 110kph on the left hand side around it, but that was using every 3mm of the side tread , in general I've found twice the signposted speed is easily achieved, but I like to have a margin of safety for the unexpected

[FlyingTomato]

Thanks again guys for all your input - some sound advice and some comedy gold in there

Seems to me the takeaway lessons are to save the enthusiasm for the back roads and on those expect the unexpected round every corner.

I've recently done a fair bit of riding on the roads less travelled in Vietnam and the Philippines so I'm used to allowing for the fact that round the corner there might be unmarked road works, stray dogs, water buffalo - the only thing I never saw was traffic cops.

From what you guys say NZ should be great so long as I don't ride like a lunatic - which was never the intention.

[jellywrestler]

The approved speed for any corner is kmh == mph x 2 plus 10. : so, a sign signposted for 35kph can be ridden at 80mph or around 140.

I've found it's difficult to go more than 3x the indicated
corner speed, on the cliffhanger hillclimb I was going around the 35k corner at 120-130kph but that was using both sides of the road, in practice I managed to do 110kph on the left hand side around it, but that was using every 3mm of the side tread , in general I've found twice the signposted speed is easily achieved, but I like to have a margin of safety for the unexpected

you must have two cocks, no one could get that stupid tugging on just one of them

[Navy Boy]

Might do if he rides a Hippobike (Harley). I thought the article was really funny. Want a digital copy if I can find it on the PC?

Yes please BB! :yes:

[Blackbird]

Yes please BB! :yes:

Here you go Lee - the article which Pritch originally mentioned about a UK motorcycle journo touring NZ.

[Navy Boy]

Here you go Lee - the article which Pritch originally mentioned about a UK motorcycle journo touring NZ.

HaHa. I haven't read that for ages. I vaguely remember it from the first time around. A good answer to the OP's question me thinks.

[Temporary-Kiwi]

yes that was quite entertaining, I've never seen that before
sounds like the op wanted sensible reckoning about the conditions we motorcyclists experience in nz
that article will probably cause alarm in a certain portion of the public, but last year I did a 6,000 km 10 day blat around the south island b4 my wrist surgery, I rode at what I considered a fairly restrained pace yet still managed to get two tickets, plus my radar saved me from at least 3 others, and I got a couple of warning flashes from other cops, so I could have burned my 100 demerits easily in those 10 days, and that without doing any real speeding (i.e 160kph +)

[Ginge09]

If you're coming from the northern hemisphere to ride the South Island, don't ride a sports bike. Great roads in the summer, not so good down my way in the winter. A South Island ride on a sportsbike would be quick and dirty.

Get an adventure bike or enduro thingy and see the stuff the mainstream tourists don't see. It'll still be too quick for some of the better roads.

[Temporary-Kiwi]

I'd have to agree with above advice, my first tour of the Sri island in 2013 was on my hotted up xr650r, ii rode all over, tried to camp at all the major lakes, did a 3 day "down to the burt adventure ride", attended the burt monroe festival , explored the back country around Otago, rode the dunstan trail, Ben Nevis track, danseys pass, milford sound, malbourough sounds, farewell spit, had alot of good hoons on some great highways, , didnt get a single ticket either !

[Berries]

Hi folks. I'm 63 years old and have been riding bikes in the UK and Europe for 45 years. I'm thinking it's time that I came and checked out the fantastic roads on NZ South Island. However after a little Google research I'm concerned that I could run up thousands of dollars of speeding fines on my first day on the road.

Is it possible to ride a sports bike enthusiastically (I'm talking about Twisties/country roads - not towns/cities or main highways) or do I have to settle for hiring a Enfield Bullet ?

We've some great roads here in North Wales, many of which in my view have been ruined by the installation of speed cameras - but at least these are signposted and highly visible.

Any advice greatfully received.
Hmm. I started riding in and around Aberdeen in the late 80's. Complete idiot, don't know how I survived, yah de yah de yah. Never considered that I was really speeding unless I was doing three figures imperial and that is how we all rode. Came out to NZ in the 90's and my first thought in the bus heading down the south island was that SH1 looked good for a bike. Got a bike here, got very bored with SH1 very quickly.

It is not the same here. The scenery can be fucking fantastic, but it is just as good in many parts of the UK. In my personal opinion the chip seal road surfaces are shit here in comparison and the general standard of driving isn't that great. The lack of courtesy is the most noticeable thing but then I am thinking back to 80's/90's Britain. Went for a spin up the A68 the year before last and it was ruined by speed cameras.

The biggest difference here, at least in the south island, are that there are fuck all options if you want to get from A to B. You can take the direct route on a state highway and for a three or four hour trip there may be a decent alternative but generally there are way fewer options for picking a route. So you stick to the main highway where the Police tend to carry out their enforcement. Or get a bike with spokes if you are that way inclined. Weirdo.

My riding has changed significantly since I came over here. Some of that will be due to age and fear of losing my licence, but I rarely travel above instant ban speeds here which is 140km/h. Firstly, you stick out like a sore thumb at those speeds and secondly there are just so few riders out here that you can't blame that other group of riders that went past you ten minutes ago.

There are heaps (NZ term) of great roads out here where you can still give it laldie and bounce it off the rev limiter, but I really don't think I would travel this far to go banzai and wrap myself around a cow in the road. That's what France is for.

Being Welsh though, plenty of sheep to fuck. You'll fit right in.

[Ginge09]

The biggest difference here, at least in the south island, are that there are fuck all options if you want to get from A to B.


Yeah, he's right about that. But if you ditch the sports bike and stop thinking speed thoughts, You can do A to B via F and some other letters. Plus sheep.

Fly to Brisbane or Auckland, get rid of the jet lag then get an early morning flight to Christchurch. You'll be on a bike by late afternoon if you plan it right. Christchurch Airport - motel check in- bikeshop rental place- same motel- pack the bike - sleep -breakfast - road....

[Blackbird]

I totally agree with the posters about taking time to enjoy the scenery. You won't actually want to fang it in many places because the scenery is so breathtaking. Most posts have talked about speeding in the context of exceeding the open road speed limit and that's fair enough but watch yourself in the lower limits in towns and the like. On my last decent tour down there, we were warned by some locals about the Highway Patrol's habit of sitting round two right-angled corners on the entrance and exit to the west coast settlement of Ross inside the 50 k limit. A lot of people use the lower limit sign as the point to throttle off rather than hit it at the stated limit. Just a thought :laugh:

[Swoop]

That article must have been written some time ago "12.5% tax"...?

Also "devishly fast"?
Journalism standards of the nz harold...:msn-wink:

[Blackbird]

That article must have been written some time ago "12.5% tax"...?

Also "devishly fast"?
Journalism standards of the nz harold...:msn-wink:

The date on my PDF scan says 2011 but I think it appeared in 2010.

Hahaha - you're hardly going to get anything erudite from a moto journalist. The two outstanding journos in that field, LJK Setwright and Dennis Jenkinson have long been buried and are probably spinning in their graves with respect to the tripe that's currently served up.

Bah, humbug.... showing my age and all that stuff....

[Temporary-Kiwi]

I finally remembered the title of that book- twisted throttle New Zealand - I used the info in this book on my first south island trip, I found it invaluable, it has a lot of great rides in the north island as well, shame i heard the author died of cancer a couple of years back, op might like to read that b4 touring nz

[FlyingTomato]

Here you go Lee - the article which Pritch originally mentioned about a UK motorcycle journo touring NZ.


HaHa. I haven't read that for ages. I vaguely remember it from the first time around. A good answer to the OP's question me thinks.

Yes , a perfect response and an enjoyable read. Cheers guys

[FlyingTomato]

How quick are the sheep ? I had a hip replacement last year, so am not as quick on the feet as I used to be.

Incidentally I'm heading up to the Scottish Highlands in two weeks (based near Loch Shin). It's about 10 years since I was last in the Highlands. I'm just hoping the sheep are not outnumbered by the cameras up there now.

[FJRider]

How quick are the sheep ? I had a hip replacement last year, so am not as quick on the feet as I used to be.

Incidentally I'm heading up to the Scottish Highlands in two weeks (based near Loch Shin). It's about 10 years since I was last in the Highlands. I'm just hoping the sheep are not outnumbered by the cameras up there now.

It's not their speed that causes the issues, it's their ability to change direction quickly that causes the issues.

[russd7]

lotsa wanna be judges and cops on here.
here is my take on it, don't ride like a dick and piss people off and you are normally fine, yes you need to be aware of your suroundings and be aware that you may come around a corner to find a tourist stopped in the middle of the road, not as common as it once was, better education nowadays, yes you may come around a corner to find a local stopped in the middle of the road gass bagging with a neighbour, happens more often than tourists stopping.
yes you may come around a corner to stock on the side of the road, not as common as it once was.
keep all these things in mind and crack along and you should be fine.
don't piss the cagers off and hopefully they don't ring the police, give the livestock a wide birth and don't frighten them and again you should be fine.
there are some awesome roads in the south island to enjoy,

to many holier than thou people on here, not many of us are complete angels and lets face it, we don't ride because we are angels.
enjoy your time here

[FLUB]

A few interesting numbers to put things in perspective.

As at February this year there are 102 fixed speed cameras in the whole country, compared to over 4000 in the UK, although as others have said, they are not painted bright colours or have warning signs.

There are also mobile camera vans, often people carriers, which are pretty inconspicuous.

With fixed cameras and vans you only get a fine. Only the cops can issue demerit points. The fines aren't huge, just more of a fun tax. There is generally, but not always, a 10kph tolerance (not a percentage as in the UK). During holiday periods and public holiday weekends (bank holidays) the tolerance drops to 4kph.

We can get 100 demerits but it works about the same as your 12. For not too serious speeding you will get 4 points. We get 30 - 40.

Don't ride stupidly and you will be fine.

Sent from my HUAWEI M2-802L using Tapatalk

[jellywrestler]

It's not their speed that causes the issues, it's their ability to change direction quickly that causes the issues.

that's why they're so good to root, cows are good too, although you have to climb off your beer crate and walk around the front every time you want to kiss them.

[FJRider]

that's why they're so good to root, cows are good too, although you have to climb off your beer crate and walk around the front every time you want to kiss them.

So your short then ... ?? :nya:

[husaberg]

A few interesting numbers to put things in perspective.

As at February this year there are 102 fixed speed cameras in the whole country, compared to over 4000 in the UK, although as others have said, they are not painted bright colours or have warning signs.

There are also mobile camera vans, often people carriers, which are pretty inconspicuous.

With fixed cameras and vans you only get a fine. Only the cops can issue demerit points. The fines aren't huge, just more of a fun tax. There is generally, but not always, a 10kph tolerance (not a percentage as in the UK). During holiday periods and public holiday weekends (bank holidays) the tolerance drops to 4kph.

We can get 100 demerits but it works about the same as your 12. For not too serious speeding you will get 4 points. We get 30 - 40.

Don't ride stupidly and you will be fine.

Sent from my HUAWEI M2-802L using Tapatalk
Not sure if its still the case but back in the day you got demerits for Bikes with spped cameras but not cars
But to be fair the speed camera only catches you traveling past it rather than towards it.

[Temporary-Kiwi]

Some sound advice coming out.

Take it from someone who tours the South island every year and once upon a time on Fireblades and the like, you can have spirited times on empty roads. However,

You are far more likely to be taken out by stupid tourists driving on the wrong side of our narrow roads than a speeding ticket. It really is a concern and one of many hazards that nowadays slow most of us experienced riders down.

I was near taken out by one such driver in the haast pass, coming back from 'the burt' , a black SUV with tinted windows came over the center line slowly into my lane at the crest of a slight rise, I had to get on the gravel verge beside a ditch to avoid them, I took out their wing mirror with my shoulder/forearm as I scraped past it.
I was that mad I decided against chasing after them, as I wouldn't have been able to stop myself getting abit in their face

[FLUB]

Not sure if its still the case but back in the day you got demerits for Bikes with spped cameras but not cars
But to be fair the speed camera only catches you traveling past it rather than towards it.

No demerits for bikes from camera vans. I know because I've had a few tickets. I always ask them for a copy of the photo when I pay, as it's the only photos that actually show me riding the bike. Unfotunately they are all rear views :laugh:

[husaberg]

No demerits for bikes from camera vans. I know because I've had a few tickets. I always ask them for a copy of the photo when I pay, as it's the only photos that actually show me riding the bike. Unfotunately they are all rear views :laugh:

Cheers i always thought it was odd as you cant tell who is riding a bike so how was points fair......:msn-wink:

[Gremlin]

Cheers i always thought it was odd as you cant tell who is riding a bike so how was points fair......:msn-wink:
Easy, police request the information from registered owner (as the owner its your responsibility to know) via letter. Lots of punishment if you try to avoid. Something like $10,000 for failing to comply.

[husaberg]

Easy, police request the information from registered owner (as the owner its your responsibility to know) via letter. Lots of punishment if you try to avoid. Something like $10,000 for failing to comply.

What i was meaning was in a car you can see the driver not so on a Bike as most pics are of their back.

[FJRider]

Easy, police request the information from registered owner (as the owner its your responsibility to know) via letter. Lots of punishment if you try to avoid. Something like $10,000 for failing to comply.

Not all speed/surveillance cameras give clear images of the vehicle drivers ... so the rule is applicable for ALL types of vehicles when the registered owner "Does not know/Will not say" who was operating the motor vehicle ... ;)

"It wasn't ME" is not a defense in it's self. Even proof it WASN'T you will not (necessarily) get you off the hook ... if you can't convince the judge you don't know (or even actually don't know) ... you still risk wearing the $10,000 fine.

[FJRider]

No demerits for bikes from camera vans. I know because I've had a few tickets. I always ask them for a copy of the photo when I pay, as it's the only photos that actually show me riding the bike. Unfotunately they are all rear views :laugh:

No demerits for ANY speed camera ticket. Regardless of type of vehicle.

[FLUB]

Not all speed/surveillance cameras give clear images of the vehicle drivers ... so the rule is applicable for ALL types of vehicles when the registered owner "Does not know/Will not say" who was operating the motor vehicle ... ;)

"It wasn't ME" is not a defense in it's self. Even proof it WASN'T you will not (necessarily) get you off the hook ... if you can't convince the judge you don't know (or even actually don't know) ... you still risk wearing the $10,000 fine.I worked for a company that had a pool car and you had to complete a logbook before you were given the key. It was for this very reason because if the company couldn't name the driver, they would get the fine. They liked us......... but not that much [emoji3]

Sent from my HUAWEI M2-802L using Tapatalk

[Old Steve]

I'm a bit older than you, OP, so a bit more conservative (and now an ex-biker following being taken out by a taxi). Didn't ride a sports bike either, just a mid-size cruiser (Suzuki Boulevard M50).

I used to make my maximum speed 110 to 115 km/hr, over that the camera fines would get too much. I'd find that my average speed between points would be about 80 km/hr, you can average faster but you have to raise your maximum.

As for posted corner speeds, generally you can go around at much higher speeds than posted even on a mid-size cruiser, but if you're going out to Kawhia on the west coast of the North Island then do take notice of the sharp left hand bend with the 35 (or even 25) km/hr posted speed - its not the corner so much as its a place where loose gravel tends to collect.

Once you're down the South Island you'll recognise the problem we have with tourists who forget we drive on the left. Nothing more sphincter tightening than to meet a car coming toward you on your side of the road. Down south they paint big arrows on the road to remind tourists which side of the road they're supposed to be driving on.

Going up to the Scottish Highlands huh, don't worry about the sheep - it's the bloody big shaggy haired cows with the big horns that'd worry me.

[GazzaH]

That's no way to refer to Scottish ladies, Old Steve.

Some of them don't even use the horn.

[scumdog]

The approved speed for any corner is kmh == mph x 2 plus 10. : so, a sign signposted for 35kph can be ridden at 80mph or around 140.

I've found it's difficult to go more than 3x the indicated
corner speed, on the cliffhanger hillclimb I was going around the 35k corner at 120-130kph but that was using both sides of the road, in practice I managed to do 110kph on the left hand side around it, but that was using every 3mm of the side tread , in general I've found twice the signposted speed is easily achieved, but I like to have a margin of safety for the unexpected

Words fail me....I suggest your site name is entirely appropriate.

Or you're F.O.S.

[jellywrestler]

Words fail me....I suggest your site name is entirely appropriate.

Or you're F.O.S.

he's been full of shit for a long time, here's the record run up the same hill on board Jay Lawrence's bike, he's doing 105km'h round the same corner.....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KubGVzd64rg

[sidecar bob]

he's been full of shit for a long time, here's the record run up the same hill on board Jay Lawrence's bike, he's doing 105km'h round the same corner.....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KubGVzd64rg

You and your damn facts & evidence again.
Allowing for the fact that the bike is rolled over on to the small of the tyre, the real road speed would actually be lower than what the speedo is showing.