New to NZ

[RainMan303]

I am in the process of negotiating for a 3-year assignment in NZ - I will be primarily located in the Wellington/Hutt area, and I'm trying to figure out the local moto scene. Although currently I ride a 2005 KTM 525 EXC off road and on track days with a motard setup (some rare commuting also), I'd probably be looking for a 690 SMC or an enduro (dual sport) to expand on the ability to go on/off-road. I used to ride a 690 SM, and the on-tarmac fun factor of an SMC might make me compromise on the off-road capability.

Alternatively I might consider a 990 SMT or SMR, although I have never ridden a KTM twin, I heard they are a blast. Either way, I'd like to purchase used as I will have to resell in about 2.5 years, and shipping back to the USA will probably be pricy. Of course there is also option of shipping the bike from USA for the duration, but that seems like a pricy proposition as well.

Anyway, I am hoping for some insight from the forum into the Kiwi riding scene.

[husaberg]

OK first things first.
NZ is pretty crap at riding motor cycles in general, So as a foreigner you will clean up over here no mater what you ride.

If you are moving over here you should consider bringing a women with you, as the the local female population are a bit feral over here.
In fact bring along one just in case the kiwi women turn the first one feral on you.......

One event you must do is the Golden Nuggets at Waipuna, NZ's Best MX event.

Most say that Wellington is exactly not unlike New Mexico btw

[Ocean1]

OK first things first.
NZ is pretty crap at riding motor cycles in general, So as a foreigner you will clean up over here no mater what you ride.

If you are moving over here you should consider bringing a women with you, as the the local female population are a bit feral over here.
In fact bring along one just in case the kiwi women turn the first one feral on you.......

One event you must do is the Golden Nuggets at Waipuna, NZ's Best MX event.

Most say that Wellington is exactly not unlike like New Mexico btw

Yeah, all true.

But the women here are less expensive.

And bikes are twice the price they are there.

So fill a container with bikes and we'll pay you for any excess baggage in women when you get here.

[Tazz]

www.trademe.co.nz is where you want to be looking for used bikes

[husaberg]

Yeah, all true.

But the women here are less expensive.

And bikes are twice the price they are there.

So fill a container with bikes and we'll pay you for any excess baggage in women when you get here.

Don't be so quick to judge.
He is in New Mexico so he has access to the south of the border
From watching American movies I now know for a fact that all Mexican women look like Selma Hayek.
One thing I should have added was that although Wellington looks like San Francisco.
Lower Hutt is more or less more like Detroit only far more dangerous.
So make sure you always carry a large handgun preferably concealed.

[Ocean1]

Don't be so quick to judge.
He is in New Mexico so he has access to the south of the border
From watching American movies I now know for a fact that all Mexican women look like Selma Hayek.
One thing I should have added was that although Wellington looks like San Francisco.
Lower Hutt is more or less more like Detroit only far more dangerous.
So make sure you always carry a large handgun preferably concealed.

Well if he's used to heading south for women he's in for a shock when he gets here ain't it?
Wellington only looks like San Francisco 'cause of the trams, and they don't work most of the time.

And anything you can stick up yer jumper is going to be next to useless in Lower Hutt, he's up for a 12swg at minimum. Which at least he can carry, nothing short of a 25mm chain gun is going to do the job with the sandflies down south.

[husaberg]

Well if he's used to heading south for women he's in for a shock when he gets here ain't it?
Wellington only looks like San Francisco 'cause of the trams, and they don't work most of the time.

And anything you can stick up yer jumper is going to be next to useless in Lower Hutt, he's up for a 12swg at minimum. Which at least he can carry, nothing short of a 25mm chain gun is going to do the job with the sandflies down south.

Really the trams, I thought it was because of the stupidity of building a city on a fault line and all the friendly sailor type blokes.......
As for the southern women I don't think any American could understand the raw sexual appeal of a women flannel and moleskins and Doc Martins.

[RainMan303]

Man, I'm beginning to feel right at home already - I can see I'm gonna love this place! BTW, we like to say around here: there's a whole lot of Mexico in New Mexico!


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[Ocean1]

I thought it was because of the stupidity of building a city on a fault line and all the friendly sailor type blokes.......

Well it wasn't the fault letting rip when you were last here availing yourself of some of those sailor blokes.

As for the southern women I don't think any American could understand the raw sexual appeal of a women flannel and moleskins and Doc Martins.

Mate, god doesn't understand them, that's why they're filed under "All that useless shit out west".

Man, I'm beginning to feel right at home already - I can see I'm gonna love this place! BTW, we like to say around here: there's a whole lot of Mexico in New Mexico!

Best you leave it there, I don't think it runs the same operating system as down here.

[clint640]

Hi Mate, sounds like you have the choice of bike well thought out, LC4 Enduro or SM are both good rigs for NZ. I'd go Enduro for the extra versatility, still plenty fun on the tarmac. It would be worth checking into bringing something over - they'll be a lot cheaper in the US & permanently importing a used bike into NZ is not too much drama.

Another option might be to get a roadbike for a year or so of checking out the tarmac then swap to an adv machine. KTM twins are good fun, here's one that used to belong to a friend of mine, has been very well cared for.

Cheers
Clint

[Banditbandit]

here's one that used to belong to a friend of mine, has been very well cared for.

Cheers
Clint

How good a friend is he???? Would you lie to help him sell his cycle???

[RainMan303]

Hi Mate, sounds like you have the choice of bike well thought out, LC4 Enduro or SM are both good rigs for NZ. I'd go Enduro for the extra versatility, still plenty fun on the tarmac. It would be worth checking into bringing something over - they'll be a lot cheaper in the US & permanently importing a used bike into NZ is not too much drama.

I emailed Bidrider (got their name from another post on KB), but got no response. Any others for recommendations on importing a bike to NZ?

Another option might be to get a roadbike for a year or so of checking out the tarmac then swap to an adv machine. KTM twins are good fun, here's one that used to belong to a friend of mine, has been very well cared for.

Thnx for the pointer to the 950 - I might take a look at it once I get there and get settled if it is still available.

BTW, I was poking around the NZ Transport Agency and got to looking at the license fees. Am I reading it correctly that rego for a big motorbike is almost twice that for a car? $521.51 for motorbike for one year vs. $280.55 for a car. What is the rationale behind this? I would think motorbikes should be less (less wear and tear on the roads, less pollution, less parking, etc.). Am I reading this correctly?

[Tazz]

I emailed Bidrider (got their name from another post on KB), but got no response. Any others for recommendations on importing a bike to NZ?




Thnx for the pointer to the 950 - I might take a look at it once I get there and get settled if it is still available.

BTW, I was poking around the NZ Transport Agency and got to looking at the license fees. Am I reading it correctly that rego for a big motorbike is almost twice that for a car? $521.51 for motorbike for one year vs. $280.55 for a car. What is the rationale behind this? I would think motorbikes should be less (less wear and tear on the roads, less pollution, less parking, etc.). Am I reading this correctly?

Mainfreight is a great shipping company. You should bring a container of them haha

Rego is outrageous. Welcome to NZ.
They justify it by saying medical expenses are higher than cars when we get hit by inattentive drivers in em, basically.
Diesel ute rego is disgustingly expensive too, not sure where the blame lays on them though.

[BigAl]

BTW, I was poking around the NZ Transport Agency and got to looking at the license fees. Am I reading it correctly that rego for a big motorbike is almost twice that for a car? $521.51 for motorbike for one year vs. $280.55 for a car. What is the rationale behind this? I would think motorbikes should be less (less wear and tear on the roads, less pollution, less parking, etc.). Am I reading this correctly?

Yep you are reading correctly, basically motorcyclists are a minority, prime for the government to rape at will.

[ellipsis]

Yep you are reading correctly, basically motorcyclists are a minority, prime for the government to rape at will.

...or... a majority can be minority here, if that's the way the govt. wishes...and it's not just us motorcyclists who are getting raped by the bastards...whole swathes of the population have their pants down in readiness and encourage the govt to fuck them, it seems...come on down...you'll like it...