Kiwi in London (whowhatwhere)

[whowhatwhere]

Hey all.

I'm an NZ'er currently in London. Been here since the start of 2007 with my partner. London is a cool place but I found that about two years was my limit of putting up with public transport - so I endeavoured to take up motorcycling. What was initially going to be a transport solution has turned into a full on obsession with motorbikes

Luckily you can transfer a UK motorbike entitlement back to your NZ licence if you've had a full UK licence for two years - sweet! Since I'm over 21, I could do Direct Access - about six full days of training, then if you pass the test on a bike of at least 500cc you get a full licence - again, sweet!

So since last year I've been hooning around on a Honda CB500. Piling on the miles seeing as much of the UK by bike as I can and will no doubt jump on the ferry and check out some switchbacks in the Alps too. Thought I might want to move on from the CB after a year but it's proving bloody capable so will hang on to it I think - guys on the sporties seem impressed with how it can shift; she's good for 125mph which will get you thrown in jail here

Having a great time doing all of the servicing myself - just done the major 32,000 mile service which required valve clearances etc, taking the camshafts out to replace some shims was surprisingly easy. Took the bike off the road for a few weeks at the same time for a full strip down and and clean-up including repainting the engine, fork lowers, downpipes and silencer - learnt a hell of a lot over the last 12 months.

Anyway, here's a few pics of my Honda CB500 (all pre-rebuild, can't really see imperfections in the pics), sadly not ever sold in NZ; boy is it going to pain me to sell it when we return to NZ in October next year! I frequent a few UK forums but thought I'd get a head start on the Kiwi one before returning home

Mike

[CookMySock]

Wow Direct Access isn't cheap is it. £360

Steve

[whowhatwhere]

Wow Direct Access isn't cheap is it. £360
Steve

All up, CBT, theory test and DAS cost me £870. Lot of money but worth every penny.

[CookMySock]

All up, CBT, theory test and DAS cost me £870. Lot of money but worth every penny.

LOL I guess.

There needs to be bike training in enzed, but thats a little pricey.

Steve

[firefighter]

Must be awesome having/earning the mighty pound to purchase your gear/parts/mods! I've looked at the pricing online......when/if you come home, make sure you have sent beck a couple of helmets and good leathers etc. You'll shit when you see the prices of that stuff back home.

[shafty]

Nice bike Mike, cheers for posting the pics - should be a good grafter sort of a bike and great you can cross credit your licence.

Make sure you post details of your Euro adventures with pics - WE LIKE THAT!

Oh, and W E L C O M E

[whowhatwhere]

It's not so bad when you break down the costs. Full use of the training centres kit and bikes, ratio of one trainer to two people every day. One day happened to be with a Bike Cop, spend the whole day riding lanes in Sussex encouraging us to loosen up, play with the throttle and have fun - awesome day. Great feeling to pass the test having only touched a bike a few days beforehand. Trickiest part of the test was navigating a four lane roundabout which had five sets of traffic lights around it.

Definitely going to be a few boxes of bike gear being snailed back to NZ by boat!

I'll be sure to post ride pics

[oldrider]

Welcome to KB, nice tidy bike!

When I came home from London 50 years ago, I couldn't get over what a grubby place NZ was by comparison.

Be prepared for a surprise when you come home! It's far worse here now!