10 years in 20 Minutes

**Big Dave** · 21st June 2011, 21:13

I was going through these pics and reminiscing because 'Big Dave and The Co-pilot's'
wonderful adventure in NZ is coming to an end.

A job offer too good to refuse will see us leave the Shakey Isles and return to
our native Australia shortly.

Since we arrived in late 2000, our time here has been simply amazing, from our
early adventures with the Triumph RATs, to nearly ten years as contributors,
correspondents and bike testers for Kiwi Rider Magazine. (Some of which will be
continued from Australia - most of the Regional new model releases are now held
there - Aussie correspondent or something).

For most of that time I've had the keys to just about every dream bike going and
a paradise to ride them in. Pinch me.

I think some Kiwi's don't realise exactly how good they have it here - and there's
plenty who do too. It's been a privilege to share it.

At the risk of sounding like Baz Luhrman's 'Sunscreen'; every motorcyclist
should live in New Zealand once.

Hell of a ride.

There's still a little more to be written on our NZ pages yet, and a new chapter
from sub-tropical Queensland is story-boarding now. It probably involves a 1200 GS.

I'm sad to leave, it's been grand, yet we're both invigorated by the prospect of
a change and 'home' and family.

There's a long list of Thank Youses and stuff for sale to follow. Including a Buell and a Thunderbird.

To my friends on here - thanks for the laffs. I'll be hanging around but I might sound funny. Seeeeks.

Details as they come to hand.

**Paul in NZ** · 21st June 2011, 21:15

Poo - never got to meet you yet.... Good luck man... Hope its always sunny and the roads are smooth n curvy

**Daffyd** · 21st June 2011, 21:48

I feel privileged to have met you, (at the Burt Munro 09,) and the KR cap you gave me is one of my treasured possessions.

**Big Dave** · 21st June 2011, 21:53

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

Poo - never got to meet you yet.... Good luck man... Hope its always sunny and the roads are smooth n curvy

And same to you.

In typical BD tin arse fashion - BMW held a model release and tour where I'll be riding 3 weeks ago. Lot more double yellow lines and traffic than here, but there are some real good bits too.

I'll see you in the HOG Magazine :-P

**Big Dave** · 21st June 2011, 22:02

Originally Posted by Daffyd

I feel privileged to have met you, (at the Burt Munro 09,) and the KR cap you gave me is one of my treasured possessions.

Cheers - Very kind. in the car park at the bike show.

**ajturbo** · 21st June 2011, 22:04

what a bugger you have to sell the buell....

have fun over there..!!

you have made me smile more than once

AJ

**Daffyd** · 21st June 2011, 22:05

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Cheers - Very kind. in the car park at the bike show.

You're on to it! I'm flattered that you remember.

**jaffaonajappa** · 21st June 2011, 22:15

Glad to hear your not abandoning us tho BD......I enjoy seeing your posts on these forums.

You sure your not moving out of NZ to avoid the World Cup issue this October?

So, wont see you on the roads...but looking forward to continuing to read your posts. When you can.....im sure you will tell us which Aus bike mag your now with? (assuming its a two wheels magazine??)

Edit. Oh yeah - thats one damn nice collection of pictures there. TourismNZ would get in touch if they had half an idea....

**merv** · 21st June 2011, 22:21

Well I met you on a couple of Capital Coasts and it was fun knowing you and enjoying your work on here and at KR. Look forward to the reports from Oz. I do get over there a bit so who knows we might catch up again sometime.

**Big Dave** · 21st June 2011, 22:27

Originally Posted by jaffaonajappa

Glad to hear your not abandoning us tho BD......I enjoy seeing your posts on these forums.

You sure your not moving out of NZ to avoid the World Cup issue this October?

So, wont see you on the roads...but looking forward to continuing to read your posts. When you can.....im sure you will tell us which Aus bike mag your now with? (assuming its a two wheels magazine??)

Thanks for the wishes and vote of confidence - but it was Co-pilot who got the gig.

I'll hopefully pick up more freelance work as I've been knocking around with the press corps on releases for a fair while now. I've already done some lead articles for the HOG mag and an NZ feature in Heavy Duty.

I haven't spoken to them yet, but getting something in to Two Wheels Magazine would be a 'complete circle' for me, I was drooling on mini-bikes in that publication when I was seven. The title has just changed hands though, but I will be pitching fo' sho' - and I've got a picture of Jeremy looking numpty.

**Big Dave** · 21st June 2011, 22:32

Originally Posted by ajturbo

what a bugger you have to sell the buell....

have fun over there..!!

you have made me smile more than once

AJ

Churrrrr.

Yaah - but the taxes on taking it look steep, duty, freight and GST.

I rang AMPS to see what they reckon it's worth.

42,000km, good order, bog standard, with luggage. It's got XB12X plate on it too.

Rob said $8k would sell it pretty quick -- ?

**Big Dave** · 21st June 2011, 22:34

Originally Posted by merv

Well I met you on a couple of Capital Coasts and it was fun knowing you and enjoying your work on here and at KR. Look forward to the reports from Oz. I do get over there a bit so who knows we might catch up again sometime.

Yes Merv,

We'll be in a suburb of Brisbane whose name ends in 'Hill'. Not sure which one yet.

**FJRider** · 21st June 2011, 22:37

I'm not sure if you've got enough pic's of the sky tower though ...

**Big Dave** · 21st June 2011, 22:42

There's a 5 minute version on my web page.

Sometimes it's about the integrity of the image, the play of the light and the way it moves on the water - or the complexity of the reflections. It's not about the subject. Sometimes it's just the colours.