Waikato scooter rides?

**unstuck** · 14th January 2015, 06:29

Originally Posted by awa355

Off subject, how does this tri 125 Yamaha scooter get to be able to ride with just a car licence? Several dealers have this model on trade me, all giving the same spiel.

Because it has 3 wheels not 2.

Looks pretty unstable to me, but then I am not a rocket surgeon.

**Moi** · 14th January 2015, 07:58

I thought a 'moped' was able to be ridden on a car licence and a moped was up to 50cc and not capable of more than 50 km/h... otherwise the vehicle is classified as a motorcycle and you need a motorcycle licence.

Be interesting to see what happens if someone buys a Tricity and is stopped by the Police and has their licence checked and they are on a car licence only...

**unstuck** · 14th January 2015, 08:19

Originally Posted by Moi

I thought a 'moped' was able to be ridden on a car licence and a moped was up to 50cc and not capable of more than 50 km/h... otherwise the vehicle is classified as a motorcycle and you need a motorcycle licence.

Be interesting to see what happens if someone buys a Tricity and is stopped by the Police and has their licence checked and they are on a car licence only...

I was led to believe that it was about kw power rather than cc, at least that was what the judge said when I went to court for riding a 49cc scooter when I was younger.
He dismissed the case because I had a car license and the scooter was less than the kw power stated in law. Mind you, that was over 30yrs ago.

**Moi** · 14th January 2015, 09:40

Interesting. NZTA website states:

What you can drive with a car licence
With a car (class 1) licence you can drive:
* most ‘light’ vehicles – cars, vans and utes
* all terrain vehicles (ATVs)
* mopeds – but not motorcycles
* some agricultural vehicles.

What you can ride with a motorcycle licence
With a motorcycle (class 6) licence you can ride:
* motorcycles
* mopeds
* all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).

A moped is a motor vehicle (other than a power-assisted pedal cycle) that:
* has two wheels [Class LA] or three wheels [Class LB1 or LB2]; and either:
* has an engine cylinder capacity not exceeding 50ml and a maximum speed not exceeding 50km/h; or
* has a power source other than a piston engine and a maximum speed not exceeding 50km/h.

So no mention of power output [kw] but that doesn't mean it does not exist as part of the regulations and has not been put on the website.

Personally, I'd be very cautious buying a Tricity and riding it on a car licence. It's just too different to not draw attention to you and for a constable to not become interested.

**awa355** · 29th January 2015, 15:23

Did a ride on Tuesday, around some roads in behind Mahihi. This area is flanked on the east by the Rangitoto ranges and farmland rolling westwards to Otorohanga. Most local riders know the sealed roads through this area but there are some side roads I hadn't been over so decided to take a wander.

Through Mahihi, and Hoddle road is a gravel road that climbs a saddle coming off the Rangitoto hills. It loops around to connect with Tauraroa Valley road. Probably about 5k long. I stopped part way up the climb and took a look back. The country is very parched. The only greenery were the tree foliages.

This photo shows Mt Pirongia at the back with Kakepuku just to the right.

Swinging the camera in the other direction towards the hills shows the Mangaoronga stream weaving down into the farmland.

The land seems to be mostly sheep and grazing for young dairy stock. A lot of maize being grown on the flatter paddocks. Turning right into Tauraroa Valley road we dropped down gradually into the floor of the Tauraroa valley (I guess). A nice little stream winding out of the hills here.

The hills are remarkedly clear of the original forest stumps. Previous generations have put some effort into bringing this country into production. Gravel soon becomes tarseal and my next road to check out was Waimahora rd. Another gravel road that follows a narrow strip of flat land back into the Rangitoto's. This range makes up the western side of the Pureora Forest Park. Alongside the road is the Waimahora stream. A short way up this road, another, Owawenga rd veers off to climb up a ridge into strands of forest reserves. I turned up this road.

I stopped at a sharp dip where a bridge crossed a stream and took a nosy up an overgrown track lying alongside the stream.

Another looking back across one of the gullys on Owawenga rd.

From here the road climbed up through some cut over logging operations and onto a y junction. One was obviously a farm drive, the other seemed to be a continuation of the road. On the old map, Owawenga road does a big loop around and back onto Waimahora road. In fact, the road dies out here as the gates across the road suggested private access only.

10k back to the junction with Wai road, I turned right and followed the Waimahora road (and stream) about 3k to the end. Another apparent private property? The maps seemed to show the road as going much further, so maybe it was public access through the farm?

I sat on the bank and enjoyed a snack and cup of tea before rolling on back down Otewa road. Stopped to catch this shot of the Waipa river. A lovely river to fly fish. Scenic and while the trout aren't huge, they are wild bred and fight like hell.

Back home, I delibirated about whether I would bother with this report. The country being so dry did not make for nice photos, but then decided this is my last report of my rides on Buggsy. Within the next week I will give the scooter a good going over and put a new 12month wof on it and list it for sale. Will most likely need a new rear tyre for the wof. There is nothing wrong with the scooter, it goes as well now as it did two years ago. Nothing has ever broken down/off, nothing has come loose, cracked, or stopped working. I just need to get back onto a motorbike. Buying Buggsy was only ever an interim measure while I helped out a family member financially.

Now starts the fun of scanning turd me about six times a day, looking at bikes. I'm not going to get anything big, still tossing up between a dual purpose and a light street bike?

**Moi** · 29th January 2015, 17:05

A nice day's riding...

Buggsy has served you well, you'll need something rather special to replace the wee fella...

**frogfeaturesFZR** · 30th January 2015, 18:27

Originally Posted by Moi

A nice day's riding...

Buggsy has served you well, you'll need something rather special to replace the wee fella...

Yip, Bugsy punches well above his weight.

**awa355** · 14th February 2015, 11:11

Buggsy went the way of all trade in's On Wednesday. I'm now riding a mint Yamaha Virago 250. Not the bike I was originally looking for but after a good talk with my wife I (we) decided to settle for a lower priced bike for now, then at the years end, look at a reasonably new 250.

The Virago has been owned by a lady owner who has done a pretty good job of looking after it. The colour scheme isn't my first choice but it will grow on me. Reading the viragotech forum, 250 section it appeared that the original sprocket gearing is very low, with some vibes around the 100kph mark and very short 1st/2nd gears (which I had noticed on my test ride). So even before I picked up the bike, I had a new 17t front sprocket on the way. In the states a popular upgrade is from 16/45t (stock) to 17/38. This seems to make 5th pretty much an overdrive gear.

I changed the front to the 17t last night and even that slight increase makes a noticeable difference. It feels quite comfortable at just under the 100kph mark. Plodding along at that speed suits me. I may look at dropping the rear cog down a couple of teeth later on. The 250 Vtwin pulls quite well (for what it is) and gee, it's good to be able to ride with the traffic, instead of sitting on the shoulder. The wife likes the sound of the v twin, so thats a plus. Its a bit muted but I wont bother messing with the exhaust. I would prefer the bars to be lower and wider but that might be something to look at later.

Tomorrow I will get out and do a decent ride down Mangakino/Aitimuri way. I might drop a note in the 250 section and see if anyone else is interested.

**shafty** · 14th February 2015, 11:23

Well done AWA, nice step up, and I think the colour will surely grow on you, I like it.

What's with the rear turn signal rearrangement ? Did it have saddlebags? That could open more longer travel options for you.....

**Moi** · 14th February 2015, 11:43

That's nice... well done young man!

Enjoy!

Did you go through to Mangakino? We stayed there on Tuesday night after riding the Owairaka Valley Rd - got a little lost leaving Te A and looking for the Cambridge Rd

- and then on Wednesday the Kaahu Rd from Whakamaru hydro...

**unstuck** · 14th February 2015, 12:09

Good on ya.

Next you will be buying a Harley and some tassles.

**awa355** · 14th February 2015, 19:28

Originally Posted by unstuck

Good on ya.

Next you will be buying a Harley and some tassles.

I will die before I own a bike with tassles,

\

Not sure on the rear indicators. Will have another look tomorrow, had two funerals to pick from today. Both had a terrible death from cancer. A ride tomorrow will be a bit of time out.