New Zealand Motorcyclist

[SwanTiger]

I'm curious to learn more about New Zealand motorcyclist so if you could please complete this poll accurately it would be appreciated.

Additionally, please reply to this thread with a brief sentence or paragraph describing your motorcycling habits.



I have been riding motorcycles for two years and primarily use my motorcycle on sunny weekends and the occasional organised tour or long ride.


Bling given to all those who provide genuine responses, red rep for those who clog it up with bullshit.

Thank you.

EDIT:

Seen as so some of you are so obsessed with bling (and I knew it was going to be the only way to keep a clean thread) please be aware that I can only bling so many times within a 24 hour period. You will get blinged eventually.

[kickingzebra]

Been riding since I could get a license and a bike, one year layover after blowing up 2 bikes in a year, then back into it again.
Sold the second car, so I use 2 wheels, rain hail shine, around town, out in the country and to get anywhere I want to go.
Oh yeah, and I love fanging it to death on the track! Best fun since jelly fights!

[bobsmith]

Been riding since january, use bike for all transport purposes, including communting around town everyday, and also weekend rides when I have the time

[DMNTD]

Been riding off and on for nearly 20 years now and my bike is used for both common transport and weekend cruising/organised rides. :scooter:

[skelstar]

Ridden since July last year (12months-ish), ride to work everyday, on weekends when its barely nice, around the country on tours when I can. Love it. Done lots of kms.

Cheers.

[MidnightMike]

Been riding on and off for about a year now, first 8 months was on an sj50 scooter :scooter: , and then i had about 5 months without one, then got my volty which i now use whenever i get the chance. ( even if i have no destination. )

[GR81]

been riding for 10 years, the bike is a toy that comes out when the sun does :)

[Biohazard]

Been riding for over 10 years now, had a few crashes - One bad one. Use to be a motorcycle courier in London for a couple of years(hence the accidents....eeeeeeek!!!). USE TO BE VERY FAST AND RECKLESS, now kinda reserved a bit.

Now only ride for fun and when its dry :blip: , really starting to love the trackdays though:doobey:

[Badcat]

been riding 23 years.
commute every weekday rain or shine.
do roughly half the work on my bike myself
the older i get - the slower and lighter my bike gets.
yippee!

[onearmedbandit]

Introduced to bikes around the age of 10, so been riding for 20yrs. I ride to work everyday if I can even in the snow, go out for night rides out of town, rides after work during summer, and time permitting long distance tours. I have my bikes serviced by the agent for it's major services, but otherwise take care of general maintainance myself or with help from friends. I read about bikes, I stare at bikes, I type bullshit here and talk bullshit elsewhere about bikes. I suppose I'm more disciplined then ignorant, but I ride for corners and will step outside of what you would call disciplined riding regularly. Not dangerous (maybe in the laws view it is) but enjoying myself.

[FzerozeroT]

ridden dirt for 11 years, road for 6.

I constantly reprimand myself for riding like I have a deathwish, but dad was a motorcyclist and after I hear his stories I'm just like him.

My servicing is a constant thing (crappy bikes) and oil changes every 5,000k's.

I commute on my bike every day and try to get away for a decent fang once a fortnight.

[MidnightMike]

wheres my bling. :stoogie:

[Jantar]

I've been riding for 35 years. I use my bike for commuting, touring, club riding, and general travel. I believe I ride sensibly, but use speed limits and signs as a guide rather a law.

The bike does stay in the shed when it gets too cold, like when there is black ice or snow on the ground, or if I have to carry more than can comfortably fit in the panniers.

Yes, I have had accidents, but mainly on the track rather than on the road. The ones I have had on the road have either been caused by mechanical failure or by other drivers. Of the two that involved other vechicles I now know that with more experience I could have avoided at least one, if not both of them. The ones that involved mechanical failure I believe were unavoidable.

[Edbear]

Started riding about 1970 on my Mother's BSA Bantam. Had a break when I got married in '77 and didn't do much until Nov. '03 when I became a "middle-aged Returning Biker", buying the GSX-F. Done about 9,000km since then as health and time permits. Hope to do much more now my health seems to be improving and the last child gets married. (8th July, in Pomona, Aus.):yes:

[Colapop]

Got my car and bike lisence on the same day bought a bike first - cheaper and easier than a car. Had a fairly decent crash and didn't ride for some time. Realised how much I love riding and (after 2 kids, life etc.) getting back into it - once I get a bike.

[Madness]

Riding for 20 years now, these days as my favoured form of recreation whenever finances & the weather etc. permit. I drive a company car (sales-rep) so am incredibly jealous of bike commuters on a fine summers day. Nothing puts a smile on my face quite like a good fang over the local goat-track and honestly feel that riding helps keep me sane...

[Ixion]

Riding for 40 odd years. Ride most days , wet or dry, day or night.Commuting, touring, exploring. Do (almost ) all my own maintainance. I ride like Nana's Nana. Mostly. Except for two strokes. Two stroking doesn't count.

[MSTRS]

Hasn't this been done before??
Never mind - I've ridden on and off for 35 years, mostly road riding. Always place myself in the medium/fast section at trackdays & ride the same on the road (with respect to conditions of coarse)

[Edbear]

and honestly feel that riding helps keep me sane...



And yet... here you are on KB.....:innocent:

[Motu]

I've been riding since 1970,I consider my riding style to be constantly evolving,taking in concepts I learnt 3 seconds ago,on that last corner where the bump snatched the throttle on sooner and harder than I wanted....it worked pretty well,I think I might do it again.The bike is as important as the ride,I'd as soon work on my bike as ride it...makes no difference to me.I need input,not just a few corners - it has to be constant and at a high level....I want peace and I want to be alone...I want to see things,to think about things,to stop and inspect.I hope we never lose the gravel,because that's where I find all these things....

[DemonWolf]

Started relatively young.. did the ol farm bike thing... blatting around and used it to go do chores.. 'borrowed' brothers ax100 for awhile, binned it a few times riding down Mt Ruapehu.. a few serious accidents, broken collar bones a coupla times.. had a 7 year stint away from bikes.. and now bake into it. Commute and weekend\organised rides...

[SARGE]

grew up on bikes ..mostly old farm-shitters.. when i told pop that i wanted a street bike .. he handed me the keys to the barn and his toolbox and told me where all the Harley parts were..

been without maybe 2 years since i was 10 years old.. did alot with V8 Mustangs, where bikes were a weekend toy, but always had them

[Maha]

Been riding for 2 1/2 years, first bike was GN 250, 2nd was a YZF 600, was riding that on my restricted, cos i could, now i have the Triumph and my full and ride two up. Got the bike bug while in Rarotonga and so glad that i did. Kinda wish i had been doing it 20 years ago, but i guess i will get more than 20 years from here on in, so im happy............:yes:

[scumdog]

Been riding about 25 years, arsed up on my Honda 350xl about 20 years ago.

Ride in what I consider a safe manner:innocent:

Bike does not get as much use as I'd like due to work committments and having other available vehicles to play with.

I do as much work as I can on all my vehicles - my Scots blood cringes at paying $40+ an hour for work I can do myself.

Do oil/filter changes as part of regular maintenance and use quality products only on my bikes and vehicles.

[motoGP]

Been riding coming up a year now, love it. Nothing better. My bike goes were I go, sun rain cold, I'll take it on.

[Squeak the Rat]

Started riding late - late twenties on a '96 cbr600, riding for about 6 years with a couple of years gap (travelling). Primarily for recreation - ie, touring, fun etc. Commute roughly once or twice a week. Do oil changes occasionally, otherwise get my local shop to sort it out. Love it. Freedom. :rockon:

[oldrider]

Been riding since I was 14yrs old, learned on an old army Indian left on my grandads farm during WW2. (We had to get the big kids to start it)
Bought my first bike at 15 got my licence at 15 in 1954 been riding bikes almost continually since. (my wife has had a bike licence for 35yrs too)
I use my bike in preference to any other mode of transport. :yes: Cheers John.

[SwanTiger]

Cheers for all the responses, I am hoping to get at least 70 responses to get the right amount of numbers to work with.

Briefly browsing over some of the responses it is amazing to see we have a combined several hundred years of experience amoungst us. It just goes to emphasis the fact we should apreciate what Spank has done and help support Kiwi Biker. I cant think of any other place you can find such a vast wealth of knowledge and experience - FREE!

On the issue of bling (as updated in the original post):

Seen as so some of you are so obsessed with bling (and I knew it was going to be the only way to keep a clean thread) please be aware that I can only bling so many times within a 24 hour period. You will get blinged eventually.

Keep the responses rolling...

[The_Dover]

My name's Dover and I'm an alcoholic.

I love riding my bike. But some bastard pig is gonna put an end to that soon cos I was endangering someones Sunday morning peace and quiet. But there was no one around. Except the pig. I think he was having a snooze after his donuts and coffee.

I used to have a handbag like swannys. I sold it to buy a shiny blue and white penis extension which some asian drove into.

So I got another one.

I crashed that one all on my own. It was silly.

Then I thought I'd try my luck on a black and grey one. But only cos some other bastard bought the last blue and white one before my insurance paid up.

I laid that one down gently on SH22 but she still loves me. I think.

I recently bought a black one. It's very nice.

I hope I don't crash again cos I like riding. I ride a lot. Even to work and back. And I sit all day at work dreaming of riding.

Motorbikes are good.

Cars are bad.

Unless you have kids or need to move things. But I think I'll stick to my motorbikes.

Love

Dover.

[madmal64]

Been riding for 27 years now. Got my license the day after my 15th birthday. Back then you only had to do written & oral question to get you "provisional"
I ride just about everyday as long as I dont have to drop off the kids or do someting else that makes riding a bike a pain in the butt.
Had a BAD accident 20 something years ago, put me in hospital for a while and did rock the old confidence levels for quite a while, but Im still here, occasionally getting knocked down by cages (still) but they havent killed me yet. They have tried but I enjoy it so much I keep going.

[T.W.R]

Been around bikes since before I can remember, was given my first bike just before my 10th B/day raced it & others for a few seasons. Got my road licence at 15, went through the stages from small jappers to litre + multis on to Italian muscle bikes then back to big bore jappers. Had a few minor bins then one major one 11yrs ago, spent a few years away then got back into trail bikes then back onto the road.
Used to be as reckless & stupid as any prior to the major bin, but definately more controlled & disciplined now. Do all my own work on my bikes.

[diggydog]

Been riding on and off, for 35 yrs aways love riding and have had a few scraps when i was younger, nothing serious just my pride.
I ride when ever i can especially sunny days.:yes: :rockon:

[oldguy]

Started riding early 72, as we live close to school would go home for lunch, new my dad would be at work, so I would sneak the little yamaha 50 out of the garage he was looking after for an uncle, and ride it a round the house till it was time to go back to school.
when he did let me have ago, he was quite suprised how well i could ride, heheh
told him must be in the blood.
I ride both on and off road bikes, tort my kids to ride and now my gran kids.
I do basic servicing eg. oil, filters, chains, etc
I would say medium/fast riding:done:

[Back Fire]

been riding for 2.5 years, got my full a few months ago now ... got into biking because my family is obsessed... I can't drive, no car learners, and no intention to get one... My bikes are my only transport, and I would't have it any other way

[ZeroIndex]

Started riding end of Feb 2006, ride a CT100 for a living (delivering mail), and when I have time, ride my Kinetic GF170.. plan to upgrade as soon as money is available.. most of the time, i would consider my riding style to be 'disciplined', but Mr. Average Joe would probably not consider riding on footpaths, etc 'disciplined' at all.. done in the region of 10,000km since March

[Lazy7]

honestly

bought the bike because i like the look primarily. riding around auckland scares me - the only reason i do it is cause its cool and cause it saves me about 4 mins over the car to get to work.

Its cold, uncomfortable and in auckland traffic dangerous, but i do it cause it looks good.


the only difference between this and summer is that in summer i might get out and do some actual riding. but i am not very good and prefer to pull up infront of a cafe after 10mins of cruising for a "rest"

[bell]

I got my full last week, almost a year to the day after first throwing a leg over my first motorcycle. I smile now when I think of how wobbly I must have looked as I rode away from the people I bought that bike from....they emailed me to check if I got home ok! I treated myself to an '04 Z750 and that will be getting a lot more use when the days warm up. The ovewhelming feeling that I get when I ride most days is "Why didn't I do this 10 years ago?!". Looking forward to becoming a distinguished older rider and coaxing the missus onto a bike one day soon too. I believe that having been a cyclist for the past 20 years has helped a huge amount in terms of gaining the 'defensive driving/ridiing' attitudes that will keep me alive on my bike. Cheers, bell

[Kendog]

Both of us have been riding for about 5 years, but I gave up for a few years then got back into it again about a year ago, then got a little obsessed when I saw my dream bike (well that I could afford) and decided that I needed one of those. Hubby test rode one and decided he needed one too, so now have two bikes the same and love the riding!!
Personally have no idea why I got into bikes, probably have something to do with many hours of being a pillion on ex-boyfriends' bikes.
Mrs KD.

[Hitcher]

I'm not sure how much this poll is going to tell anybody. For one thing it's trying to find out too much. For example some people service bikes themselves and get mechanics to do work. "Primary" form of transportation is also a bit ambiguous. For example each year recently I have averaged over 30,000km on a motorcycle, but I don't ride it to work, I only ride for "pleasure". Does that make it my "primary" form of transportation?

[SwanTiger]

I created this poll to aid a personal project, the responses I have already received will answer most if not all the questions I wanted answered.

My definition of primary transportation is simple, tell yourself "I need to go and get milk" first thought would be "the bike". Any environmental factors, such as rain, snow, etc. which might make you choose "car" are irrelevant to the question. "Primary" means your first choice in other words.

I hope that clarifies things for you Hitcher.

Cheers.


I'm not sure how much this poll is going to tell anybody. For one thing it's trying to find out too much. For example some people service bikes themselves and get mechanics to do work. "Primary" form of transportation is also a bit ambiguous. For example each year recently I have averaged over 30,000km on a motorcycle, but I don't ride it to work, I only ride for "pleasure". Does that make it my "primary" form of transportation?

[slowpoke]

I squirted around on various chook chasers as a young'un but never got around to legalising myself until later (much!) in life. I like to get my hands, face and various other body parts dirty by performing as much maintenance as possible myself.
As per my drug intake my riding is strictly recreational in nature.
Work commitments (I spend six months of the year offshore) mean I don't get to spend nearly as much time on the bike as I'd like. This also impinges on my aspirations of becoming more involved in track based activities, by limiting the days I am available to participate and by limiting the amount of skill I am able to exercise at said events.
I'd describe my riding style as a "judicious application of force".

[inlinefour]

Could not honestly say how many bikes Ive owned, far too many probably (and I tend to forget the bad ones i.e. kawasakis:nya: ).
Use a bike as much as i can, used to ride to work all the time, until some tard stole my bike...
Have rebuilt bikes in the past, but the new bike that I brought last year will probably never get much done to it by me, hence working to the shedule. Although regular maintiance also gets done the same way with the older bikes.
Family had bikes, was given a bike as a 8 year old and it all took off from there really...
:rockon:
Have crapped off at high speed once, skidded to a stop and walked away thanks to good leathers. Had a cage do a u-turn in frount of me, with no leathers, which resulted in me not getting back onto a bike for 6 years. Riding style mainly relates to the current mood Im in, nothing else. Some days Im a right nana and some days Im just "having fun".
My old bikes I keep a logbook on whats been done and the costs involved. The new bike has its own book that came with it.

[ZorsT]

I've been riding for about 11 months, Have been in two accidents (both only me to blame) Dad used to have bikes, but sold them 15 years before i was born. My riding isn't conservative, but it (usually) isn't dangerous either. I very rarely pay people to do anything to my bike. I travel >1000km a month.

[The_Dover]

As per my drug intake my riding is strictly recreational in nature.

Don't they test you offshore?

[Her_C4]

:scooter: I ride for pleasure. Always wanted a motorbike but other priorities got in the way... The last straw was being pillion for various riders that did not appear to have the same concern for my safety (and theirs!) that I did. :gob:

Decided a couple of years to create 'my list' (yes I have one too :yes: ) and buying a bike and learning to ride again were at the top (as a teenager I was allowed to ride my brothers bikes out the back of Harewood airport as a bribe...:innocent: )

Getting my licence (and then my bike!) was one of my better decisions. :doobey: Even when I can't get out for a while - the moment I throw my leg over and start him up - I have smile like a cheshire cat. :scooter:

[far queue]

I've been riding 27 years, use the bike as a commuter in fine weather, do the bike rallies around the SI, adventure rides, dirt/mud trail riding, local rides round the hills for fun. I ride to explore, for the thrills, for the independance. Also enjoy the company of other motorcyclists, talking bikes, talking shit, whatever.

Wanna know more? As has been mentioned it's been done before - have a look around here ...

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=541127#post541127

[kiwisfly]

Glad to help Swanny.
Been riding since my teens was then primrary source of transport.
Stopped during marriage/kids breeding/raising time getiing back on 4 years ago (18 year break).
Use bike for commuting daily & weekend riding.:yes:

[The_Dover]

There are some real old fuckers on here huh?

[SwanTiger]

Thanks to all for your responses.

Can a moderator please close this thread before it turns to shit so we can preserve the integrity of the genuine responses.

[far queue]

Can a moderator please close this thread before it turns to shit so we can preserve the integrity of the genuine responses.
Phewww, just got here in time for my bling :doobey:

[Jantar]

There are some real old fuckers on here huh?
. :finger: .

[Shadows]

My Father and 2 older brothers have all had/have bikes, so did most of the people who came to visit. I grew up around them.

It is important to look after shiny things so I service to a loose schedule.

I record what has been done and when, but only on the important things (motor and gearbox), not tyres and lightbulbs and other shit you know when to replace by looking at it.

I do what I can myself because I am a tight arse and bikes are easier to work on than cages which I pay people to look after for me 'cause I hate crawling around underneath the fucking things. And I couldn't give a rats arse if some monkey rounds a bolt head on my cage, or scratches it.

When going somewhere I consider the bike first. Always.

Had a couple of low speed offs on my first bike. More embarrassing than painful.

I adhere loosely to the speed limit the majority of the time unless nobody's looking, but I always ride within what ever limits the conditions dictate and don't take stupid risks. I consider that well disciplined.

At the moment I'm doing less than 1000k per month as since I got the new bike I haven't been riding to work every day. That might change now it actually has a real number plate :whistle: .

[merv]

Have been riding 37 years and have always treated it as fun and don't use bikes for transport. I hate paying anyone to touch our bikes so fuss over them myself and we keep them a long time and they perform and look like new. Have always bought new, there are too many squids out there and I would never trust any one else's maintenance to try my luck on second hand.

Have always enjoyed riding anywhere and was brought up in the era when everyone bought a trail bike and did everything with it, hence 4 out of 5 bikes in our garage are road registered dirt bikes so we are still trying to do the same. Bought the VFR in 1994 when I thought it was about time I had something a bit quicker on the road. Have found that a brilliant bike so still have it and it is our only road only bike.

Am always busy doing many different things so the bikes aren't used that often but I have never had a time off biking like many did when raising families or whatever. Until 1983 had one bike at a time only, since then have always had at least two in the garage and now the kids have grown up, Mrs is dabbling in riding too.

I competed in trials, scrambles (moto-x) etc in the early 70's while at school and at Uni, then enduros came along so had a crack at that in the early 80's but after about 15 years in all just let my competition licence lapse in 1985 and have never competed since. Basically been there done that and have concentrated on fun riding of all types since. Really enjoy the big adventure rides and also general back country riding with smallish groups.

Would consider myself an average to fast rider particularly amongst the groups I have ridden with especially on gravel roads. The theme there is I've never exactly been a fitness freak so even when I did enduros I could blitz most people on smoother trails - loved Waiterere Forest - but in the heavy going, fitness let me down not technique - mainly because I was never one to practice and even then rode only when I had time so it would punish my body a bit when I did compete. Still have a few medals in a box somewhere to show I didn't do too bad all the same.

Now I'm getting older the old presbyopia with the eyes is a killer because on bikes you need that field of vision from immediately in front watching the road surface and right out to the horizon watching where you are going and which way the corners go. I've had to resort to wearing progressive lenses in the last year on the bike and I think that has slowed me down a bit.

[mart1]

Ive been riding since I was 4 yrs old- 26 yrs. started on a mudbug 100, couldn't touch the ground so had to bail out when it ran out of gas.
Cant beat the adrenaline rush of a quick bike.

[Goblin]

I ticked the Primary form of transport as there was no option for Primary form of therapy.

Been riding on the road 22 years, try to do my own maintenance....with a bit of help. Longest I have been without a bike was 16 months and I was not happy:angry:

[James Deuce]

Just goes to show how carefully you have to think about poll questions. I think the only conclusive point made was that there are 16 mad buggers who responded to the poll (at the time of this post). Oh, and we crash too much. Must do something about that.

[Pumba]

Pearents introduced me to riding when I was about 10 years old, from there when I needed my first set of wheels but couldent afford to own a car I brought my first bike, that was about 6 years ago. And apart from a small six month period a couple of years ago have had a bike ever since.

[avgas]

riding helps keep me sane...
I second that, god knows what track i would have gone down without riding. but needless to say i wouldnt be around no more

[NC]

I've been riding since I was 17
Not as weather brave as I used to be.
I have had two accidents, T-boned a taxi and highsided at 100 and something ks. No broken bones :)