Motorcycle couriers - What's it like?

[The Reibz]

Long story short,

Qualified tradesman with very little experience in trade, no one hires you no matter what quallifications you have in this country because its all based around experience. Experience which is impossible to gain if no khunt will hire you in the first place. Got 7 years experience in the Navy but that counts for shit with most people, no convictions, no nothing (just a massive alcohol problem )

Now that drip is over I want to hear opinions on what its like to be a Motorcycle Courier. Hear that there is good money in it if you know what your doing and don't get run over by a van on your first week.
Take it something around the 400cc to 600cc range is good for navigating in the city, a busa sure as shit aint the best bike for lane spliting. Been riding for around 6 years in all weather, most of the time spent in heavy traffic until I moved 800m down the road from work.

Any helpful information would be appreciated on this topic

Reibz

[paturoa]

What is your trade?

[The Reibz]

Welder. Got 2980 tickets in everything but no one will give me the time of day because its easier to hire temps from staffing companies.
7 years worth of IT and communications experience in the Navy. Even got a level 3 in small business management. Still work for them, but need to stop because I can no longer support my lifestyle on John Keys shit wages (2 bikes, a car and a boat)

[Edbear]

Checked out Christchurch? M/C couriering can be fun but fairly dangerous.

[The Reibz]

Checked out Christchurch?

Yep. Not keen on selling up and moving down there though, mrs would have to find work down there too, and from what I have heard the living costs with rent and shit are currently through the roof down there at the moment. Alot of steel companies up here asking for welders but still waiting on orders from Christchurch before they start seriously hiring people. Done alot of jobs for boy racers and shit but they don't really pay the bills. Just extra beer tokens for the friday night pissup...

[Edbear]

I was once offered a job as a motorcycle mail deliverer and while I have never worried about heavy traffic and rain going to and from work I think to be on a bike for 8 hours every day has substantial more risk plus the bike they
offered me was a CT110 which would have little power to get you out of trouble. A much safer bike would be a something like a Suzuki VStrom or Honda Transalp to ride around town all day.

The Wee Strom would be the perfect bike IMHO.

Yep. Not keen on selling up and moving down there though, mrs would have to find work down there too, and from what I have heard the living costs with rent and shit are currently through the roof down there at the moment. Alot of steel companies up here asking for welders but still waiting on orders from Christchurch before they start seriously hiring people. Done alot of jobs for boy racers and shit but they don't really pay the bills. Just extra beer tokens for the friday night pissup...

Yeah, my comment to suggestions of moving there were along the lines of having to live in Chch. My son works for Mulcahy's in Avondale. They have their quieter moments but seem to always have work. He can get very busy at times.

[Brian d marge]

used to Dr in london on and off for many years

shaft drive and fkin reliable and good on fuel

low revs and tough as an old boot ,,,,

and somedays are more than 8 hours ,, well it was when I was a lad !!!

Stephen

[nzmikey]

Mate of mine on the shore has been doing it for a couple of years ... he seems to enjoy it .

he recently sold his 600 & has bought a motard & is loving it ... heaps more nimble & more upright, less weight on his wrists etc .

I can find out from him who he works for & if there is anything going if ya want

[F5 Dave]

Motorcycle courier? Do they still have those? Had a few mates that did it in the 90s, but it never made any money & people went to buy vans, or mostly to move on as they found out that it is bullshit about the good money stories after one accounts for running costs, & factor in holidays, sick leave, paperwork, ACC charges, tax etc (that's without the possibility of a crash putting you out of bussiness).

Absolute dead end job too. I have a mate who did express in a car for years which is top end but still didn't make much money for a 40yr old (been on same money for last 15 years). but now had to throw himself at something else & glad to be out.

Forget it & throw yourself at companies to work your trade for free for a week or even a month to see if they like you.

[John_H]

I would imagine it would be the fastest way to kill your love of motorcycling.

[carburator]

sorry having tickets in one thing, having the eye for the job is another..

engineering in NZ has gone 360 degrees of late, you need to be able to do everything
else they will simply get someone else who can and for less which is a pain in the ass.

best advice get yourself along to a temping company and get some hours out there in the]
real world not the navy one.. ( yea been tarred with that brush so I know what your going through..)
temping gets you in with a gang of guys and most times on contracts companies tend to approach peaple
they wnat to hang onto afterwards..

( never work for free thats bullshit, might have landed the odd person a job now and again but if a
company can't pay you for a week trial they just can't pay your period and why should you be out money! )

[The Reibz]

I can find out from him who he works for & if there is anything going if ya want

Just a general query at the moment bro. Thanks for the offer though, from what I have read on here and from other sources, times are tough as fuck in the courier trade at the moment. Already working 12 hour days as well, couldn't handle the hours van drivers seem to work for the amount of hassle it is (guessing motorcycle couriers would work alot less though). You go where the money is ay, alot of adds I have seen promise alot but really they want you to work a shitload of hours for minimum wage.

I would imagine it would be the fastest way to kill your love of motorcycling.

Yep, just like commuting in heavy traffic killed my love for cars.

sorry having tickets in one thing, having the eye for the job is another..

engineering in NZ has gone 360 degrees of late, you need to be able to do everything
else they will simply get someone else who can and for less which is a pain in the ass.

best advice get yourself along to a temping company and get some hours out there in the]
real world not the navy one.. ( yea been tarred with that brush so I know what your going through..)
temping gets you in with a gang of guys and most times on contracts companies tend to approach peaple
they wnat to hang onto afterwards..

( never work for free thats bullshit, might have landed the odd person a job now and again but if a
company can't pay you for a week trial they just can't pay your period and why should you be out money! )

Definitely got the eye for the job bro, recruiters told me to join as an engineer, but I was young and stupid (into computers) so took the IT route and have hated it since about 2 years ago. Working towards a 6g Pipe ticket but thats still a month or two away from being perfect. Atleast I can get the tickets for free through the Navy. Thanks for the advice though bro, appreciate it. Nice to see a thread on here which isn't filled with fuckwitery or dick measuring...

[Oakie]

need to stop because I can no longer support my lifestyle on John Keys shit wages (2 bikes, a car and a boat)

John Key pays you? What sort of work does your wife do?

[The Reibz]

Mrs earns around 70k as a sales rep for a major trade firm. Not that its anyones business though.
Mr Key pays me around 42k to work 96 hours a fortnight, doing a job I hate, so I can impress people I no longer like.
Pay was good 2 years ago, then they sacked most of my mates and replaced them with civilian workers. Raised rents, meal charges on bases, removed all the good things all in the name of budget cuts. The DF is a depressing place to work at the moment, hence wanting out.

[vtec]

If you are awesome you can make good money. $300 per day. But factor in that you have to pay all of the following out of that:
Fuel
Maintenance
Repairs
Gst
Income tax
Acc
Now, the best bike for the job... Suzuki UZ125. Bar none. Danchop on this forum is the best motorcycle courier I know of and that's what he rides. A motard is the next best thing after a good quality scooter capable of a steady 100kph. Only get a vstrom if you want to be treated like a car by the dispatcher. They will not be fast, nimble or invisible enough. You don't want police or public noticing you.

I did it on a cbr250rr and an NXR125 for a bit. But I preferred working as a bicycle courier. I've done about 18months as a courier for deadline express. Definitely worth it for the life experience.