Is my riding life ending already?

[EJK]

I told ya. Drive a BMW 3 Series.

[swbarnett]

regardless of what other people's experiences have been - their ability to sit through important meetings in bike gear or whatever - good for them,

I know in my case it will have something to do with the fact that computer geeks are not expected to be shiny examples of victorian etiquette.

[swbarnett]

On the other note, I don't know how many of you feel the same way. To me, by knowing I will ride my bike to work every morning, actually gives me more motivation to go to work and enjoy the day........... Really! I think it is such a depressing thing to drive a car and stuck in the traffic for 40 mints and spent 8 hours at work every freaking day for most of your life.

I know exactly what you mean. I stopped riding for various reasons and spent the better part of ten years commuting by car in Auckland traffic. When I took the plunge and got back on a bike (motivated mostly by rising petrol prices) it was one hell of a shock to discover what I had been missing. My stress levels dropped dramatically and I found myself thinking "no day at work can be all bad if it starts and ends with a ride" (especilly now that I'm confident it my ability to make progress through traffic.

[Kato63]

What u use is your business but that said u need to realise there may be implications regarding your insurance. Most insurers will insist u use some sort of commercial type if u use your vehicle for work other than to and from work. Does your employer realise this, thats why companys cars are used

[Argyle]

Yeaa man, you should never go to clients with your own vehicle... You use you own vehicle to go to work and to go home.. Employers are really cheeky with this in New Zealand, expect people to use their own tools, cars etc...

The employer provides it's employees with everything unless they are contractors...

[rie]

If vehicle image is that highly important, the employer will put money into it.

Basically it comes down to, either he sells his bike and buys a car, in which yes, his riding life is over. Else he spends several thousand dollars, plus wof, rego, petrol, parking, maintenance and insurance for a second vehicle out of his own pocket, for his employer's use, especially if he's riding outside of work and not using the car. Then no, his riding life isn't over, but people don't buy GN125's and worry about their job because they're oozing with cash.

Unless the employer is supplying him with a vehicle then he has no say as to the employees "private" vehicle when he uses it "privately" and unless that employer is paying for insurance, on road costs, petrol, per diems, lease of the vehicle during working hours etc whilst he's on the job, then his travel is private travel as opposed to a commercial vehicle that is at the employers disposal.

Put a top box on the back, keep a suit in it. Turn up to meetings etc in a suit. Else wear knee/elbow pads and a back brace under the suit with a screen to prevent bugs, don't even need to get changed.

If he caves and buys a car then from his employers point of view, it's cheaper to hire workers who will supply their own vehicles for the company to use than to buy a company car that leaves a positive image, plus you get free labour!

i did caveat my response with the fact that it's dependent on the facts. if he had been in the job a while and one day the boss said "ok now you have to start seeing clients" - then yeah, the boss will probably have to provide the means to do it.

but if he turned up to his interview well presented, in a car (or bike gear not in sight) and when his employer asked him "do you have your own transport to see clients" and he just said "yes" without asking if a motorbike would be suitable, it's not reasonable to insist that the employer pay for his mistake. [i'm not suggesting this is what happened, it is just a scenario]. if something to that effect was how he got the job, and he went into it knowing that he had to see clients, he is the author of his own misfortunes.

[BoristheBiter]

Can someone please find where in insurances is says you can't drive your vehicle around during work time as IMHO you are all talking out your arse's as i have just been thorugh mine to double check nowhere does it say it can't be used for work.
The only time you need different is when you are hiring out your vehicle or using for reward other than that its normal insurance.

As for the boss, depending on what was said when you got the job i would tell him to provide a car for during work time. Think about the extra Kms your puting on your bike.

[Suntoucher]

Can someone please find where in insurances is says you can't drive your vehicle around during work time as IMHO you are all talking out your arse's as i have just been thorugh mine to double check nowhere does it say it can't be used for work.
The only time you need different is when you are hiring out your vehicle or using for reward other than that its normal insurance.

As for the boss, depending on what was said when you got the job i would tell him to provide a car for during work time. Think about the extra Kms your puting on your bike.

Use of the vehicle
This policy only applies when the vehicle is being used:
1. for private, domestic, social or pleasure purposes (including
community work), or
2. in connection with a business, profession or occupation, as
long as the person using the vehicle is not using it in their
capacity as a:
(a) salesperson, commission agent, service person or
commercial traveller, or
(b) insurance representative, insurance agent or insurance
broker, or
(c) land or real estate agent, or
(d) mortgage broker or mobile mortgage manager, or
(e) stock or station agent, or
(f) courier driver, delivery person or taxi

See above, Third Party, Fire and Theft being the most common.
Page 7
http://www.state.co.nz/Documents/Huo...Car%20TPFT.pdf

[BoristheBiter]

See above, Third Party, Fire and Theft being the most common.
Page 7
http://www.state.co.nz/Documents/Huo...Car%20TPFT.pdf

thanks for that but i guess as i have full comp thats why i couldn't find it.
It still says it can be used for work.
What is the OP job anyway?

[Gibbo89]

with alll the talk about insurance etc of your bike going to see clients etc...

push for a work gn125! win win?

[Suntoucher]

with alll the talk about insurance etc of your bike going to see clients etc...

push for a work gn125! win win?

Heh, didn't read the thread. The motorcycle is the problem, rather than the employer providing it(although that in its own right is a problem).

[_Shrek_]

I mean, was commuting really that irreplaceably awesome?

well I did, I use to do around 1500 k's a week, so yes it was awesome

I meet with client's & went to meetings on my bike, I did this for a year no matter what the weather was, & found it a good ice breaker & in some cases it gave me an edge & not one of the people that I meet with had a problem with me showing up on a bike

[dmc]

thanks for that but i guess as i have full comp thats why i couldn't find it.
It still says it can be used for work.
What is the OP job anyway?

Private car insurance covers you for traveling to a job in some cases but it depends on what the position is as at the end of the day its "private" insurance, because I'm in sales I have to have business insurance so I would suggest you check very carefully which policy you have and what it covers as insurance companies are happy to take your money but not so much on giving it back if there is a reason not to.
Before anyone says they can't afford business insurance I will say that I saved money changing from private to business, I lost roadside support and a slightly higher excess but having a claim rejected would be far more painful.

As for the original poster you haven't said yet if you're being paid to use your vehicle for work use or not and what the expectation of your boss is of the need for a car, I would suggest if you need to job and expect to be there awhile you need to consider whats best for your future with the company, if you need a car and are reimbursed for it then get a car.
As for the stick it to the boss approach of some I can tell you having an employer who values your contribution makes your passion for motorcycles a hell of a lot easier to finance in the long run.

[dmc]

Also on comprehensive not stating no business this is from the purpose of use for private comprehensive at State, I would expect every other NZ insurance would have almost identical terms. Just make sure you are covered as it will suck to find out you're not when you need.

As you will note they pretty much rule out all of business use below.

Use of the vehicle
This policy only applies when the vehicle is being used:
1. for private, domestic, social or pleasure purposes (including
community work), or
2. in connection with a business, profession or occupation, as
long as the person using the vehicle is not using it in their capacity as a:
(a) salesperson, commission agent, service person or
commercial traveller, or
(b) insurance representative, insurance agent or insurance
broker, or
(c) land or real estate agent, or
(d) mortgage broker or mobile mortgage manager, or
(e) stock or station agent, or
(f) courier driver, delivery person or taxi driver, or
(g) member of a motor trade.

You’re not covered when the vehicle is being used:
1. to carry fare-paying passengers (except when car pooling or
car sharing) or for hire, or
2. to carry, haul or tow any goods, plant, machinery or
samples in connection with any trade or business other
than farming, or
3. to practice for or take part in any race, rally, pace-making,
reliability trial or speed test, or
4. on any racetrack.

[Pegasus]

Can someone please find where in insurances is says you can't drive your vehicle around during work time as IMHO you are all talking out your arse's as i have just been thorugh mine to double check nowhere does it say it can't be used for work.
The only time you need different is when you are hiring out your vehicle or using for reward other than that its normal insurance.

As for the boss, depending on what was said when you got the job i would tell him to provide a car for during work time. Think about the extra Kms your puting on your bike.

A "Private Motor Vehicle Policy" is just that. For Private Use. You will usually find that in the Title of the policy. You will also find in the exclusions "for reward" that is another word for wages.

If you want to use your vehicle for any Business use, get it in writing from the insurer that they are ok with covering you for the specific situation.

Over Christmas when out office is open, our mail does not get delivered or collected. I have an email saved giving me permission to call in at the post office with work mail, on my way home from work (just around the corner from my house).

I for one do not want to find out after a claim, that I was not covered, because of the reason for using my vehicle at the time of an accident.