Swede seeking info!

[jonas24]

Hi everyone!
New to this forum as I just recently found it when I was at work the other day. Me and my missus are planning to, hence saving up for a motorcycle trip to beautiful NZ in july. Or actually I will study in Dunedin first and then round things up with a complete touring semester hopefully starting in late nov, early dec. I've lived in OZ for two years where I rode a VFR-750 which I find to be one of the best bikes out there. So what I need to get hold of is all kinds of information concerning NZ riding such as: riding conditions, places to go, where to buy bike and equipment etc. We were hopin it would be possible to sleep in tent during this time of the year. Is this possible or should I just forget that? One thing I'm a bit reluctant to is couphin up big dough for hotel costs. I will have around 7000 for a bike and a thousand more for gear. In Sweden its much cheaper to buy a bike in low-season (winter) than in summer. Is it the same in New Zealand? I've already visited www.trademe.co.nz, do you guys have any more good sites?
By the way, we have a similar biker-page to this in sweden called www.sporthoj.com . Give it a go. Rumors say that the well-known Ghost Rider is an active member... :Punk:

Thanx for a great site

[Paul in NZ]

Welcome...

You should be OK with those figures as long as you are not too fussy.

You could go for a big ole trail bike and do some adventure rides etc. Not much point in a really fast bike here as the roads are now heavily policed!

The weather before xmas (dec) is pretty unsettled. Best riding weather is feb / march / april IMHO.

For a bike check out...

http://www.bikepoint.co.nz

For riding conditions I'd order a copy of a book called 'Great Escapes' which is availiable off the net

Feel free to ask any other questions as time goes on.

Paul N

[jonas24]

Welcome...

You should be OK with those figures as long as you are not too fussy.

You could go for a big ole trail bike and do some adventure rides etc. Not much point in a really fast bike here as the roads are now heavily policed!

The weather before xmas (dec) is pretty unsettled. Best riding weather is feb / march / april IMHO.

For a bike check out...

http://www.bikepoint.co.nz

For riding conditions I'd order a copy of a book called 'Great Escapes' which is availiable off the net

Feel free to ask any other questions as time goes on.

Paul N

Is that right? Didn't think that you guys had that many coppers around. Are we talking speed cameras or actual cops out measuring speed or maybe both :doh: ? Well might have to reconsider my choice of bike which so far has been a sporty tourer. Have been thinkin cbr 600, cbr 1000, vfr 750, (800 a little out of my price range) yama fj 1200 (anyone has?) etc. Anyway I've heard that a sport bike would be so much more fun due to fact that your roads are windy as hell? What kind of trail bike (model, brand, year) do you think would do the job? I'd definiately don't want a dull one. Should be able to do some decent speed cornering or the fun of it is a bit lost I guess. Would be awesome if someone could post a couple of pictures of Dunedin and surroundings preferably during a riding so I could get an idea. Never been to the south island but heard it has got some amazing scenery. Loved the north island when I was there a year ago.

[jrandom]

Is that right? Didn't think that you guys had that many coppers around. Are we talking speed cameras or actual cops out measuring speed or maybe both :doh: ?

Both. But the less-travelled roads are not so well policed, and a lot of safe fun can definitely be had. A sporty tourer would do the job very well, you'd just have to restrain yourself and keep your eyes open when using the main highways. I think a VFR750 would be a fine choice.

[Artifice]

State highway one has been straightened out over the years and nice cambers added. along the way they have installed a lot of patrol vehicles that seem to delight in motorcyclists coming by. They just want to stop and have a quick chat while they write out a bit of paper. As Jrandom pointed out they arent so prolific on the other roads though you do tend to see them just oustide towns. sometimes they put speed cameras at the end of passing lanes. Heck i managed a 4000km holiday recently without a single ticket, maybe im slow.

[wari]

Hi everyone!
...

I will have around 7000 for a bike and a thousand more for gear....

BOy oh boy are you in luck ... :yeah:

HAve I gotta deal fur you orr what .. :shifty:

OH yeah ... :moon::spudwave: ... welcome ...

[pete376403]

if you could get here a little earlier you'd be just in the right place for this:
http://www.brassmonkeyrally.org.nz/
July is mid winter but thats a relative term - I doubt if a NZ winter compares with Sweden.

Also central Otago roads are bike paradise.

[Mongoose]

When you get to Dunedin, look in the bike shops and find out when and where the BRONZ meetings are, many friendly helpful people to be met there.
Or, if in desperation, PM me closer to the time.

[moko]

Is that right? Didn't think that you guys had that many coppers around. Are we talking speed cameras or actual cops out measuring speed or maybe both :doh: ?

Hi Jonas,I`m from the U.K. and couldn`t believe how many traffic cops I saw in N.Z.,all over the place.I got stopped once but the guy who pulled me at least was friendly,"enjoy the rest of your holiday",just asked me if it was my bike,checked it out,told me I was supposed to carry my licence with me in N.Z.(dont have to here)and that was it.Loads of speed-traps as well but anyone coming the other way will flash you as a rule.Sneakiest one I saw was between Rotorua and Hamilton,loads of flashes so slowed down,passed the camera vehicle and there was another one around the next corner.Roads are about the same standard as in Britain,probably not as good as Sweden but there are loads with no tarmac,something I hadn`t expected.Also plenty of stuff like land-slips and buzzard things which pick up roadkill and dont shift for anyone or anything that I hadn`t come across before.I had an1100 GS BMW which was ideal but you`re not going to get one of those cheap,if I lived there I think I`d go the big trailie route,XT600 kind of thing.Great country,you`ll love it.

[merv]

Starting in Dunedin you will have some great roads that you can ride as the South Island generally is less populated than the North Island and there are nice wide open spaces. Don't miss the ride to Queenstown and on to Haast and up the West Coast past the glaciers, then do the Buller Gorge up to Murchison and on to Nelson. Try not to miss the roads over the passes too - Lindis Pass, Arthur's Pass, Lewis Pass. You've got to criss cross the Island a few times but they are all nice roads. Basically ride over the whole South Island you will not be disappointed and don't miss going to Akaroa including riding the summit road above Akaroa from Hilltop around to Long Bay Road - its a great alternative to staying on the main road so make sure you go that way in perhaps returning on the main road.

[feral1]

Starting in Dunedin you will have some great roads that you can ride as the South Island generally is less populated than the North Island and there are nice wide open spaces. Don't miss the ride to Queenstown and on to Haast and up the West Coast past the glaciers, then do the Buller Gorge up to Murchison and on to Nelson. Try not to miss the roads over the passes too - Lindis Pass, Arthur's Pass, Lewis Pass. You've got to criss cross the Island a few times but they are all nice roads. Basically ride over the whole South Island you will not be disappointed and don't miss going to Akaroa including riding the summit road above Akaroa from Hilltop around to Long Bay Road - its a great alternative to staying on the main road so make sure you go that way in perhaps returning on the main road.

Jonas,

exactly what Merv said. There are some great rides out of otago. The West Coast is awesome (if you are still around in January 06 - you and the missus will enjoy the Woodstock Rally @Hokitika).
Riding through Queenstown to Glenorghy is nice too. If you do go for a road/trail bike consider putting it onto the Earnslaw steamer across lake Wakatipu and riding from Earnslaugh station through the Vorn River valley towards Te Anua.
From Dunedin, also don't forget to do the 'southern senic route', it will take you past the Catlins - Invercargill - to Te- Anau and into Milford sound.

If you do take the tent and get rained out on the West Coast, let us know and we will find you a place in to stay

[scumdog]

Welcome!
June/July/August not the best months to ride down here at the bottom of the South Island, days too short, too much chance of ice and it's cold, having said that you do get some really nice riding days - clear air, beautiful scenery and not too many cages (except en route to ski-fields when a lot of them drive like drongos).
PM me if you want, same info Mongoose gave you applies. :2thumbsup

[avgas]

Is that right? Didn't think that you guys had that many coppers around. Are we talking speed cameras or actual cops out measuring speed or maybe both :doh: ? Well might have to reconsider my choice of bike which so far has been a sporty tourer.
Your right in thinkin we dont have much cops, but sadly all our police force is dedicated to keeping speeders etc off the roads.
Oh and dont we have one of the most hightest speed cameras/km^2? Below brittan and aust

[Ghost Lemur]

Guys, he's from Sweden, and you're trying to advise him about dealing with the colder conditions we have??? :lol:

I expect he's more than capable of handle a little sleet etc, and will be the last person put off by coming here winter time..

[gsxr750]

Jonas,

exactly what Merv said. There are some great rides out of otago. The West Coast is awesome (if you are still around in January 06 - you and the missus will enjoy the Woodstock Rally @Hokitika).


will be down the coast in a coupple of weeks, when is the woodstock rally on this year?
Nick

[Bonez]

Guys, he's from Sweden, and you're trying to advise him about dealing with the colder conditions we have??? :lol:

I expect he's more than capable of handle a little sleet etc, and will be the last person put off by coming here winter time.. [Fits tin foil cone]Fuck it appears some here have trouble riding in our "summer" ;).

[feral1]

will be down the coast in a coupple of weeks, when is the woodstock rally on this year?
Nick

Hi Nick,

Weather on the coast is good now, sould be fine in a few weeks too. The rally is in the last weekend of January. See the KB calendar listing ( you guys in AKL have a day of on the monday afterwards as well - i think..)

There are others coming from Auckland and north (warkworth).
The last rallies have been great, top entertainment - had a 50 tonne ex-vietnam war tank on site the other year. Real hoot, seeing tin tops go under that and coming out as high as a stubbie of beer.

[jonas24]

Thanx so much guys!
You've now confirmed the nice and friendly reputation that generally is said about kiwis. Thanx for all the good advices. I can't wait to get down again. About the weather I might as well inform you that I now live in the southern part of Sweden hence mild, rainy, windy, crappy winters very seldom seeing below zero degrees. Referring to your comments on bike-choice It seems that I still should go for a sporty tourer right? I am a Honda fan so I'm 99% certain that the brand I'll go for would be this.Have seen a couple of nice looking early 90 cbr 1000:s for about 6k. Whaddaya think about those beasts? Never ridden one but imagine they would be a little on the heavy side. Are they as good as the VFR when it comes to reliability and performance. They look very comfy which definiately would be an xtra plus for me. I wished for some pics in my first post potraying some nice scenery from the Dunedin area. I would be extremely grateful if someone have and/or could post a few in this thread so that I have something to drewl over. :apint:

[AndyH]

There are lots of places down here in the south that you have to miss if you don't use gravel roads, and I find them much more fun on a dual-sport bike. I'm biased, and trying to find my fun at legal(ish) speeds. Maybe somebody else has ridden Skippers Canyon on a CBR1000 so can say it's easy and a Transalp would be too slow on the Crown range twisties?

Jonas, I PM'ed you re: pictures - people living here have better ways to see the views than via my photography!

[pete376403]

I haven';t looked at all of these but you could check out:

http://www.cityofdunedin.com/city/home.html

http://www.dunedintourism.info/

http://www.tourism.net.nz/region/dunedin/

http://www.centralotago.net.nz/

http://www.tco.org.nz/

Heres a typical Central Otago mid summer (like we used to have) view: