A few Qs..

[Angry Puppy]

Hi guys. As a newbie to New Zealand, I thought I'd ask you lot for your opinion on the following points;

-The bikers I've seen in traffic don't really bother filtering and tend to queue with the cars. Is that a laid-back thing or is it too dangerous with the numties on the road over here?
- Do the biker gangs (black power etc) give non-gang bikers any trouble or do they keep themselves to themselves?
-Can anyone recommend any good biker/rock bars in Auckland/ North Shore? I've heard The Dogs Bollocks is pretty good. What do you guys think?

Cheers guys

Fazer Bloke

[ching_ching]

Hey Fazer Bloke,

As far as filtering is concerned I think it might be because when people take the basic handling course these days there's no mention of something like this (others please correct me if I'm wrong). Mr Plod doesn't smile to kindly on lane splitting and sitting on the line either (I believe).

I've only past a few biker gangs (coming the opposite way) and I've waved (I try to wave to any motorcyclist from Harley to Vespa) but received no acknowledgement back (tis cool) and I can only surmise that they could see that I was on a non European / American bike.

the ching

[mangell6]

Hi guys. As a newbie to New Zealand, I thought I'd ask you lot for your opinion on the following points;

We are all opinionated

-The bikers I've seen in traffic don't really bother filtering and tend to queue with the cars. Is that a laid-back thing or is it too dangerous with the numties on the road over here?

Yes, Can't be bothered filtering as the car drivers and the HP are all out to get you, its a percentage game.

- Do the biker gangs (black power etc) give non-gang bikers any trouble or do they keep themselves to themselves?

Dunno, they tend to get a bit pissed at you when you start calling them names and ask about to borrow one of their tractors.


Mike

[Mumbles]

Out west we have a bike plod who always turns up when you cant be arsed sitting in line, then hoons up the breakdown lane (cause he don’t have the skill to follow between traffic) to hand out instants, I’ve come close more than once to getting an introduction (they like to hide next to on-ramps and under overpasses like trolls really) I bide my time a take a good look before going for a wander up the line, or follow someone with bigger nads then me … hoping he/she will met him first.

As for gangs…. Treat them like a rabid dog, don’t make direct eye contact an keep your distance – In saying that they generally are good to follow in traffic as Mr Plod loves them. – Not all gangs are the same in NZ you find out pretty quickly if you’re in the shite.

The Dogs is a nice Irish pub so I've been told... dont have any money to drink though.... dam bike!
Mumbles

[Lou Girardin]

Follow the rules, that is, overtake between between the car and the lane divider on his right. Keep your speed differential low and you should be fine. Bikie gangs seem to be more interested in making lots of money than raising hell these days.
Lou

[Motu]

I sit with the cars these days,I just can't be bothered,doesn't get you anywhere and the odds of being clouted by some clown are high.

The gangs are only a problem if you are in their sphere of influence - drugs,sex,or if you own a Harley they want.Most are polite one to one,always have been as far as I'm concerned.

Bike pubs keep changing,but I think with the type of bike you are riding the cafe scene would be more suitable.Dogs Bollix - sure.

[Slingshot]

Hey Fazer...that avatar is just superb...can you start posting lots and lots...please.

[Jackrat]

Fazer,I split at the lights but keep an eye out for the plod.
As far as gangs go,Keep away.If you do run into a Bike gang,just be cool and don't do anything stupid like asking about them,Talking about the weather is cool but don't express an opinion on anything.The gangs like Black power or Mongrel mob are to be avoided at all costs.If you are at a pub and anyone offers to sell you something,Politely say no thanks and then leave.
Gangs are one of my pet hates,Frankly I wouldn,t piss in a gang members mouth if his teeth were on fire.

[spudchucka]

Just a quick word on the gang situation in NZ in terms of being a motorcycle rider.

The ethnic gangs, Black Power & Mongrel Mob are the most well known, tend to be thugs that will turn their hands to any sort of crime, (generalising here). "Taxing" is popular amongst these gangs so if you are turning in their circles and value your ride, make sure you keep it safe and watch your back.

The biker gangs or "Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs" are a different kettle of fish. These guys are generally well organised and aren't as overt in there criminal operations as the ethnic gangs. They don't get in as much bother with the law because they are generally smarter. Most generally won't bother with a Jap bike rider unless they do something to piss them off. Some of these gangs actually have disciplinary action against their members that get into trouble with the law, so the members tend to keep there heads pulled in when in public.

As I said these comments are generalising, there are plenty of biker gang members that are just full bore dickheads.

Best advice I can give is that if you don't want fleas, then don't hang around with dogs.

[Motu]

The loose cannons in the gangs are the prospects - they gotta do something to impress the judges...if that means knocking some Jap bike rider off his bike at the lights and setting fire to it,so be it.Why is the law so powerless to deal with these pricks?

[jrandom]

The bikers I've seen in traffic don't really bother filtering and tend to queue with the cars.

er... you want to follow me down the northwestern motorway someday, you do

You're over from the UK then? Yeah, filtering in general is rather frowned on here by Der Jackbooteren Fuzzenboyen.

As previous posters have pointed out, filtering *should* be fine so long as you pass in the same lane on the right-hand side (ie, you're to the left of the dividing line). Of course, that's not always possible, you can't get 500m through slowed traffic without crossing the line a few times, so just keep the ol' Mk I eyeball in continuous scan mode. You'll see the marked plodmobiles a mile off, just remember to scan the road shoulders and note hiding spots around onramps, etc.

If they *do* get you it will likely be an instant $150 fine for 'passing on the left'. If you really piss them off, or there was a high speed differential, you may be unlucky enough to get careless or reckless driving, which means a court date. I've been threatened (but not charged) with 'careless' for nipping down a road shoulder and ducking back into stopped traffic, so you never know.

In the end, IMHO, filtering around here is mainly limited by testicular atrophy and overly mature risk management strategies

[Lou Girardin]

Why is the law so powerless to deal with these pricks?

Not powerless, unwilling.
Lou

[svs]

You're over from the UK then? Yeah, filtering in general is rather frowned on here by Der Jackbooteren Fuzzenboyen.

As previous posters have pointed out, filtering *should* be fine so long as you pass in the same lane on the right-hand side (ie, you're to the left of the dividing line). Of course, that's not always possible, you can't get 500m through slowed traffic without crossing the line a few times, so just keep the ol' Mk I eyeball in continuous scan mode. You'll see the marked plodmobiles a mile off, just remember to scan the road shoulders and note hiding spots around onramps, etc.

ditto. I'm from the UK and used to lane splitting. Here I've been pulled over by plod on bike and given a warning. I've also had a written warning, from what I presume was an unmarked car. Both down the motorway into wellington in rush hour (slow) traffic.

However, I spoke to the LTSA and they said there's nothing in the road code against it as such. I've also followed a Marked Police Bike up the middle of the queue to Paremata roundabout in rush hour and he definately wasn't staying in the same lane. So what gives?

Moral of the story is be careful.

[riffer]

I've also followed a Marked Police Bike up the middle of the queue to Paremata roundabout in rush hour and he definately wasn't staying in the same lane. So what gives?

That's probably 79UBA. He's a law unto himself. Fun to follow though. He's quite quick through the lanes, and doesn't mind crossing over to the right hand lane on the left of the cars when the usual idiot cagers decide to drive to the absolute right of their lane.

[riffer]

I've been threatened (but not charged) with 'careless' for nipping down a road shoulder and ducking back into stopped traffic, so you never know.

Down here in Wellington there's always a big logjam near the Paremata roundabout, and a few people try to go down the side road past the Police College. Now if you're wanting to go towards Hawyards you're okay cause you can go straight over the hill and through Waitangirua to Whitby and out to the seaside road without copping any traffic, but if you are trying to just circumvent the Paremata roundabout queues, you get stuck about 200m before the feeder to the roundabout at Paremata.

Anyway, if you want to go straight ahead instead of to the roundabout you can get caught in 200m of traffic as this is the only way through. I have seen many pissed off cagers decide "the hell with it" and drive for a good 100m on the wrong side of the road to go straight ahead. Seen many near misses on that road. Watching someone trying to lanesplit in a LandCruiser is pretty scary, particularly if you they are coming towards you on YOUR side of the road!

Anyway as for lanesplitting, I do it all the time now. I just can't be assed waiting in the traffic now. I have to keep checking my speed though. I tend to stop splitting if I have to do more than 70km/h, although I have friends that will split even if the traffic is doing 110...