Some questions re biking in New Zealand

[Largs Saint]

I will be moving from Scotland to Auckland in October. I intend to import my bike too. Looking for information regarding insurance costs. I am an old fart biker (aged 56 and 11/12) that rides a Suzuki 1200 Bandit. Does anyone know the likely insurance costs please? I will have one year's no claims bonus by the time I arrive. Also a licence question, I have held a car licence for forty years but a bike licence for just over a year. As I understand it I will be able to obtain an NZ car licence immediately. In relation to the bike licence, having held it for less than two years it appears I will have to sit a test. Can anyone clarify if that means I will have to sit an on road test only or will I have to pass your equivalent of the Highway Code or driving theory test. Thanks in advance.

[Banditbandit]

I'd expect your insurance to be around $400 to $600 depending ion the company, etc etc ... I pay $800 a year to insure two bandits ...

Not sure about the licence issue - you should be fine if you get an International Driving licence before you come here. Once here you can check out the situation re a New Zealand motorcycle licence ..

[Ulsterkiwi]

Hi, I have a GSX1250FA (Technically Not A Bandit). its a '14 model so a bit newer than your 1200 I am guessing. Its my first full licence bike (larger than 650cc and more than 150kw per tonne), I had one accident two years ago and I pay $60 a month for fully comp insurance on a bike valued at $14000, which included roadside assistance and cover for my helmet and gear. If you check the NZTA website they should be able to tell you definitively about your licence query. If its not there email them, I always found them pretty quick to respond to queries.

[Largs Saint]

Cheers thanks very much for that guys. Ulster Kiwi it is a 1998 Mark1 Bandit (a.k.a) Big Black Beastie. Hard to value as the mark 1 values here seem to be appreciating. I paid the equivalent of $2600 for it. Insurance seem to be more expensive in NZ. I pay the equivalent of $268 here. Although my location is rural which helps the premiums immensely. Are modifications hammered in terms of premiums in NZ? I have a viper race can, Renthal bars and Hagon progressive springs on mine this doubled my initial unmodified insurance quote here!

[Swoop]

Hi there. Contact Dave ay www.kiwibike.co.nz

There are quite a few of us insured by him and he looks after us price-wise and with a great service too! (No, I don't work there either, just recommending a good service when one is discovered!)

[Ulsterkiwi]

Cheers thanks very much for that guys. Ulster Kiwi it is a 1998 Mark1 Bandit (a.k.a) Big Black Beastie. Hard to value as the mark 1 values here seem to be appreciating. I paid the equivalent of $2600 for it. Insurance seem to be more expensive in NZ. I pay the equivalent of $268 here. Although my location is rural which helps the premiums immensely. Are modifications hammered in terms of premiums in NZ? I have a viper race can, Renthal bars and Hagon progressive springs on mine this doubled my initial unmodified insurance quote here!

yep might seem more expensive but premiums will go up depending on the value of the bike remember and like the UK your residential location will have an impact.Given the value of your bike you should pay less then I am paying. You can get cheaper quotes if you ride limited kms in the year but I commute so its not practical to do that. The other thing is an accident will not have such an impact on the next premium as personal injury claims are not the remit of insurance here, just replacing or repairing vehicles. ACC, love it or hate it thats the system here.
An aftermarket can and bars are not to the best of my knowledge something insurers get excited about. Probably best to ask them at the time. Its more likely to be a breach of licence conditions if a learner or restricted licence holder does something to change the power of their machine. Not an issue in your case.

[Ulsterkiwi]

Hi there. Contact Dave ay www.kiwibike.co.nz

There are quite a few of us insured by him and he looks after us price-wise and with a great service too! (No, I don't work there either, just recommending a good service when one is discovered!)

+1 on this

[Big Dog]

If you have had your motorcycle license a year and you spend a year on your international license there's your 2 years.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Gremlin]

An aftermarket can and bars are not to the best of my knowledge something insurers get excited about. Probably best to ask them at the time. Its more likely to be a breach of licence conditions if a learner or restricted licence holder does something to change the power of their machine. Not an issue in your case.

Just important to note the changes, otherwise it's not factored in during a claim. I'm insured via KiwiBike and have a long list of modifications and it's never presented a problem (granted most are not performance related but an exhaust isn't a rare modification)

[jonnyk5614]

Don't believe whatever the website/rules say about converting your license.

My brother converted a UK Learners (not allowed).
I converted a UK Learner bike license I didn't even have! She just took my word.....

So yeah, walk into VTNZ or the AA and see what they will do



Re insurance, the AA website online quote says:

What license do you presently hold.
Select NZ Full

Has it been at least 5 years since your NZ Full, NZ Restricted or Overseas licence was first issued?
Yes


Have I lied? Nope - I have passed my overseas license more than 5 years ago. They didn't ask which one


I've never had an issue with NZ insurers and they've been peanuts compared to UK premiums.

[mossy1200]

Importing a 1998 bandit. Would say its more cost effective to sell yours and buy another here. 3k pounds will get a good one.

Maybe if your already paying for a container that's not yet full that could be worth it.

[Ifsn8u]

When will your two years be up on your licence? You can use your current licence upto a year here before having to change it. Did this with my partners car licence when we moved back after being in the uk.

Another area to consider bringing your bike over is customs and compliance and registering it on nz roads, they are quite thorough with their checks. specially around chassis condition,rust and brakes and rotors. Seeing your bike is a 98 might want to check those parts before bringing it over. Bit of a cost their if they say you need to replace any parts. I know it's different but we brought our 2004 car back last year and had to replace all 4 brake rotors as they were couple mm outside factory specs. ended up being just over 1.5k including compliance and registration fees.

[Ifsn8u]

[QUOTE=jonnyk5614;1130876389]Don't believe whatever the website/rules say about converting your license.

My brother converted a UK Learners (not allowed).
I converted a UK Learner bike license I didn't even have! She just took my word.....QUOTE]

Dam wish I had thought of trying that last year when I got back.

[jonnyk5614]

[QUOTE=Ifsn8u;1130876420]

Don't believe whatever the website/rules say about converting your license.

My brother converted a UK Learners (not allowed).
I converted a UK Learner bike license I didn't even have! She just took my word.....QUOTE]

Dam wish I had thought of trying that last year when I got back.

Should stress, since then I have legitimately passed Restricted and Full CBTA with Phil McDaid!

[Berries]

I will be moving from Scotland to Auckland in October. I intend to import my bike too. Looking for information regarding insurance costs. I am an old fart biker (aged 56 and 11/12) that rides a Suzuki 1200 Bandit. Does anyone know the likely insurance costs please? I will have one year's no claims bonus by the time I arrive. Also a licence question, I have held a car licence for forty years but a bike licence for just over a year. As I understand it I will be able to obtain an NZ car licence immediately. In relation to the bike licence, having held it for less than two years it appears I will have to sit a test. Can anyone clarify if that means I will have to sit an on road test only or will I have to pass your equivalent of the Highway Code or driving theory test. Thanks in advance.

Forget the international licence. Ride here for twelve months on your UK licence then you will meet the two year criteria and can convert without sitting the practical - http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/fa...-licences.html. I suspect that when you convert your licence they will transfer the lot anyway and not even ask about the class 6. If you are worried then don't bother converting until you reach the two year mark.

Insurance here is absolute peanuts compared to the UK, I wouldn't even worry about it. I have used Vero for a few years. Never claimed so don't know how good they actually are but worth a quote - https://www.vero.co.nz/

But why would you want to go to the trouble of importing a 15 year old bike to NZ? I know you jocks are tight but bloody hell, it is not going to appreciate that much. And the clocks will be wrong.