Travelling to South Island to pick up motorcycle, what do I need to do/take?

[Berg]

What ferry are you on? If its the Kaitaki get there nice and early, be one of the first 12 bikes on and grab one of the proper "bike" slots (front wheel goes into a v on floor and low wall). That way you will only need 2 strops. I always take my own (so yep, Repco/Supercheap/Mitre 10 etc a bloody good idea) as then you are assured half decent ones.

[MarkH]

What ferry are you on?

Bluebridge 2pm crossing.

[R650R]

Has anyone ever seen a bike fallen over on ferry. In the parking spot, not entering or leaving. Pics or it never happened.

Screw mucking about with ropes, that gorilla caveman shit unless you drive a flatdeck for a living. You can decent tiedown strops bloddy cheap as these days and so usefull.
Also ropes are not load rated unless very new and you still have the packaging so maybe legal issues if you had it on back of trailer or ute in crash etc....

[Waihou Thumper]

You can decent tiedown strops bloddy cheap as these days and so usefull.
Also ropes are not load rated unless very new and you still have the packaging so maybe legal issues if you had it on back of trailer or ute in crash etc....

Umm, I forget how many times I have seen strops and tie downs from trucks on the side of the road or on the road in-fact.
Only as good as the user and knot tier right? AND, just because something is load rated doesn't in fact mean it is fit for purpose.
A Karabiner (yes, with a K) can be rated to at least 21 Kn but if the user side loads it during use it then becomes sweet fuck all maybe 9 Kn at best!

I trust my knot tying ability....

[MarkH]

I trust my knot tying ability....

Anyone that is good with knots could easily do as good or better than ratchets, I can totally believe that.
But I've not had that much experience tying knots and am not keen on experimenting on a ferry crossing, I'd feel better trusting a ratchet.

It certainly wouldn't be hard to acquire good rope that you could trust for much more than you need and like I say, if you are good at knots then I couldn't see a problem.
For me some Repco tie downs are probably the best choice, for others maybe only 2nd best.

[JATZ]

Here's a thought.....
Get a couple of Cam lock tie downs, use them to strap your carry on bag on the back of the bike, aaaaaand.... Tie your bike down on the boat
They also pack down smaller than ratshit tie downs.
Also, inside your helmet is a good place to stick things on the flight down, if your pushed for space

Your welcome

[Waihou Thumper]

Take a couple of days to get used to the bike and think about shit! Then maybe stop somewhere, find out what you REALLY want and then organise it....
The south island ain't that backward, they do have traffic lights and a McDonalds...So maybe you could spend time to think about your options before loading up with needless crap for the flight down.

Because I am doing the same thing, well almost....
I have to think about what I require to take. I might be down there for three days, so a change of undies is a must...(so Mum says)
Dress up to dress down is the way to go. Tools? Now yes, that is a must, plus the Subway card, wait...They have that down there?
A block of Havarti, Gouda and a baguette, couple of hard boiled eggs will taste the bees knees on top of Altimarloch!

[R650R]

[I]Umm, I forget how many times I have seen strops and tie downs from trucks on the side of the road or on the road in-fact.
Only as good as the user and knot tier right?

That's usually from some knuckle dragging swap driver being too lazy to close the trailer toolbox doors or even look at them rather than the rachet failing...

[Moi]

Has anyone mentioned passport

[MarkH]

Take the Port Underwood rd, from Rarangi through to Picton.... Much more scenic

x 2 on Port Underwood road.

Motion carried!

Based on the plane landing at 9:25am and the ferry leaving at 2pm (boarding at 1pm) I have the choice of getting to Picton quickly and waiting for a couple of hours before boarding or taking longer to get there and waiting much less.
I might as well get a fun ride in and take some pics instead of waiting around for ages at the ferry terminal.

[Tazz]

Motion carried!

Based on the plane landing at 9:25am and the ferry leaving at 2pm (boarding at 1pm) I have the choice of getting to Picton quickly and waiting for a couple of hours before boarding or taking longer to get there and waiting much less.
I might as well get a fun ride in and take some pics instead of waiting around for ages at the ferry terminal.

Yeah man, bring your budgie smugglers and take a dip at whites or robin hood bay while you are there if you're that way inclined. They should fit in your helmet on the way down, fresh pair though aye haha

[240]

If your going down south man take a banjo and some Vaseline them southern rednecks like north islanders !

[MarkH]

Picking up bike tomorrow! W00t!
I think I've got what I need sorted.
Boss gave me some $50 MTA vouchers and I believe Repco takes them - I'll take them with me to spend at Repco Blenheim.

Some people might think that without the bike in my possession yet I wouldn't have started spending money on it, those people would be wrong!
I want to do some adventure biking type things with the DR, might go up to the tip of Coromandel (never been passed Coromandel itself) and I'll need some way of taking camping gear.
I've ordered a large rear luggage rack to strap my large waterproof bag to:


I might order the side racks too and some largish saddle bags.
I have some holidays owing so I might take a week off for my Coromandel trip, maybe in March when it isn't quite so uncomfortably hot.

[awayatc]

Has anyone ever seen a bike fallen over on ferry. In the parking spot, not entering or leaving. Pics or it never happened.
..

Railway carriages count..?
trucks...?

coz they all have fallen over in the past....
on a bad day....

[pete376403]

Not happened to me but, mates K100 tipped and fell onto a CBR1000 parked alongside. End of handlebar pushed a neat hole in the side of the CBR fairing. Honda owner was mildly pissed to say the least. (he had a bad day - when we saw him a few hours later he had just run over a dog at Kaikoura)

Incidentally the tip over was caused by strapping the bike down too tightly - the K100 stand bracket is a casting and ratcheting the strap too much snapped the bracket, followed by noise and curses.