Best way to get to Napier from Auckland

[kave]

Tomorrow I am planning on heading down to Napier from Auckland to buy a bike and ride it back up. Looking at my options I see that trains don't run there, bus is cheapish ($71) but takes 7 hours, flying will cost $157 but will only take an hour (so I can get there before the bike shop closes).

Can anyone think of any options I am missing? Hitch-hiking had crossed my mind, but it has probably been a decade since I last stuck out a thumb, and I would rather have a fair idea of when and where I am going to end up. Any other options (the cheaper the better)?

[EJK]

What did you buy? :D

[kave]

It's such a good deal that I'm not going to say until I actually own it. Wouldn't want anyone offering them more money before I get there (even though they are holding it for me).

All will be revealed tomorrow.

[madbikeboy]

For you, totally no idea.

For me, I like taking scoot. With a serious pig sniffer wired in. :)

That road looks perfect for a land speed record. Pity it's a road and not a racetrack...

[robertydog]

Take the plane. First one in the morning, then you can take the long way home.

[greminn]

Take the plane. First one in the morning, then you can take the long way home.

+1!

So, when the day comes to settle down,
Whos to blame if youre not around?
You took the long way home
You took the long way home...........

[CookMySock]

Hitch. Allow all day. Be on the main drag out of Napier at crack 'o dawn. Take a drink bottle and a raincoat. Make a sign with "AUCKLAND" on it.

Have fun!

Steve

[Crisis management]

Hitch. Allow all day. Be on the main drag out of Napier at crack 'o dawn. Take a drink bottle and a raincoat. Make a sign with "AUCKLAND" on it.

Have fun!

Steve

Idiot, he's going the other way.....

Think it thru, you can hitch or take the bus, be in Napier at the end of the day and either ride a new bike back to Auckland in the dark (when your knackered) or rent a bed in Napier for the night.
That plane suddenly looks a touch more appealing to me.

[v8s&2wheels]

.. I live in napier, sold my bike a couple months ago to a guy in auckland and i was nice and said i would ride it up for him. I took the bus home.

DONT take the bus. 7 hours is fuckin insane to sit on one chair and do nothing. What a complete waste of time. Save yourself a lot of everything and *take the plane*.

You will be glad its only an hour. and only an extra 80bucks is nothing if your picking up a sweet deal. Which dealer are you buying from? Can i try and guess what bike your getting when you tell me which dealer

[kave]

I'm buying from FiveStar Suzuki in Onekawa. Feel free to guess which bike it is.

[robertydog]

Gixxer 1000 SE

[kave]

Gixxer 1000 SE

Nope, but it is a suzuki.

[robertydog]

GSX1200:done:

[TOTO]

+1 on the plane idea...

[kave]

GSX1200:done:

Most impressive. Yup, the GSX 1200y Inazuma, about the only bike I can flat-foot.

For all of you that don't know what this bike looks like:

[MarkH]

I would say no to hitching or taking the bus. Unless someone wants to go for a road trip and take you to Napier then I would go with the option of flying down. The extra $86 to save 6 hours of travelling time seems totally worth it to me.

[yungatart]

There is a bed here..if i can find it under the unfolded laundry...if you don't want to ride back in the dark....

[2wheeldrifter]

Take the plane, I got a bike from Welly, the bike shop refunded my air fare... will they?

[Swoop]

Take the plane.

Have a great ride back.:niceone:


There is a bed here..if i can find it under the unfolded laundry...
Unfolded laundry? Just fold it as it comes off of the washing line! Easy.

[v8s&2wheels]

Handle of export says its the special edition Gsxr1000

[DMNTD]

+1 for flying down...would've negotiated it into the purchase price though.


There is a bed here..if i can find it under the unfolded laundry...if you don't want to ride back in the dark....
Doesn't ya missus do yours? :dodge:

[Mystic13]

Fly to Taupo and hitch to Napier. Half the cars on the Napier-Taupo highway are going to Napier. Just make sure you're standing on the right side of the road. Or is that left.

Actually take the fly to Napier option would be my bet too.

[McDuck]

Handle of export says its the special edition Gsxr1000

Do you mean the Phillip island 750 they would not let me test ride?

[robertydog]

And what have you decided.

[MSTRS]

Doesn't ya missus do yours? :dodge:

Not since my pinnie got ripped off in a moment of unbridled passion...:innocent:

[Tank]

+ 1 on the plane.

FFS its a only a few dollars and saves about 6 hours - whats your time worth.

Hitching is a pain and you have to be careful - there are dangerous bastards ** out there !!!!


edit ** Not to be confused with our DangerousBastard - who I assume is perfectly sane.

[Maha]

Most impressive. Yup, the GSX 1200y Inazuma, about the only bike I can flat-foot.

For all of you that don't know what this bike looks like:

Good choice Kave, I see that CB was taken off Trademe?
A few weeks ago when we came back from Nappya, we were detured out Kinloch way, nice roads, come out at Mangakino, then the back way to Tokoroa. Adds a few extra K's to the trip but it was worth it.

[kave]

Well, it is looking like I will be flying down tomorrow morning. I guess it is the only sensible option, and it will mean I can take my time getting used to the bike on the way back up. The bike shop has offered to pick me up from the airport which is good of them. I am definitely looking forward to getting back on two wheels.

[sunhuntin]

+1 more to flying and also to staying with mstrs and the tart... good food, good company, what more could you want? :niceone:

[yungatart]

Doesn't ya missus do yours? :dodge:

Nah, can not get the lazy ..... to fold it. Pegs it on the line, and brings it back in again...but will it fold it, or pick up an iron? Hell no!!
Some things I just have to do myself!:Pokey:

[robertydog]

Nah, can not get the lazy ..... to fold it. Pegs it on the line, and brings it back in again...but will it fold it, or pick up an iron? Hell no!!
Some things I just have to do myself!:Pokey:

:jerry::jerry::clap:

[jrandom]

The bus to Napier is a fucking nightmare, although if you book early you can get a ticket for, like, $40. But you can't even do that in this case.

Taupo's as far as I'd ever want to bus from Auckland, and even that's pushing it if you don't have a really good book to read. Getting stoned before you get on the bus helps too.

Anyhoo. Take a plane.

[beyond]

Hiya mate, awesome choice of bike mate but I reckon you should have taken a GSX1400 for a spin before deciding. :msn-wink:

As for riding back from there.... awesome roads... just watch for mr plod. Heaps of mufties between Napier and Taupo.

If you have a pillion that's keen and can ride your bike back, you can do it in 2 hours fifty minutes.... BUT.... that's on a 1400 :)

Cheers bud, have fun.

[dpex]

Tomorrow I am planning on heading down to Napier from Auckland to buy a bike and ride it back up. Looking at my options I see that trains don't run there, bus is cheapish ($71) but takes 7 hours, flying will cost $157 but will only take an hour (so I can get there before the bike shop closes).

Can anyone think of any options I am missing? Hitch-hiking had crossed my mind, but it has probably been a decade since I last stuck out a thumb, and I would rather have a fair idea of when and where I am going to end up. Any other options (the cheaper the better)?


Have you thought of asking Madduck if you can borrow her broomstick?

[piston broke]

If you have a pillion that's keen and can ride your bike back, you can do it in 2 hours fifty minutes.... BUT.... that's on a 1400 :).

at an average speed of 200+kph. ok

ed oops,thats to here.150kph approx. hmmm now that seems do'able

[lankyman]

That plane suddenly looks a touch more appealing to me.

I flew up to Auckland to pick up the viffer a cupla years ago. Brother works Air NZ though so flight was only 90 baht. Then only $30 gas home, pretty cheap wknd really...

[kave]

Was an awesome ride. The bike seems really small when I am riding it, more like a 250 than a 1200. Handles well, and has plenty of power available for overtaking. Should be great two-up as well. Napier to Taupo along SH5 was a bit cold, but that just gave me an excuse to try out the heated grips. It's really nice having a reasonably modern bike now, brembo brakes, showa shocks, givi screen, fuel gauge, heated grips and a really nice sounding Remus carbon fibre can. It's also nice being able to get both feet almost flat on the ground at the same time. Now all I need to do is work out how the hell I get it up on the centre-stand.

[MarkH]

Now all I need to do is work out how the hell I get it up on the centre-stand.

10% muscle, 90% technique!

[caseye]

Glad to hear that you've got that sweet deal back up here in one piece and had a good ride.
For anyone else wanting to get bikes about the place, I rang Captain Transporter, they freighted my wifes enar new bike up from Napier for a mere $160.00 plus Grab Snatch and take!
this turned out to be a much cheasper option than the bus, the plane or hitching.
Just a plug for the guys who did a good job for me at a reasonable price and an alternative to having to travel to get the bike.I tried other bike transprters thay wanted in excess of 350.00 for the same deal.

[shafty]

Was an awesome ride. Now all I need to do is work out how the hell I get it up on the centre-stand.

90% technique is right - stand along side the left and press down majorly on the foot of the centre stand with your right foot while lifting the bike with a grab rail or what it has near the left hand shockie. Have fun. Post pics! :sunny:

[Patch]

He might have to stand on the lever with both feet - cause he's only a wittle fulla :wari:

Glad ur enjoying the new ride. :niceone: