Helpful, friendly Kiwi Bikers needed

[marty]

{GULP} $3800 to txport by air. ouch.

i'm sure mac will have a fantastic time over here.

[oldrider]

I've landed & have been semi-de-jetlagged.

Plans ?

2 weeks heading south down the North Island, 5 weeks in the South Island then 2 weeks back up the North Island to drop the bike off in Auckland around the 9th December.

Thanks for all the offers.
I do however have no idea where any of you guys are - ain't been here before & don't know the geography. I'll have a chat with Vifferman & a map.

If you want a laugh the story of the trip so far is here
http://www.b4time.net/rtw/index.html

Quick summary - left the UK mid June for Canada.
Three and a half months in North America
Now here

Hi Mac and welcome to NZ. When you are down here and if you feel inclined to meet local people you will find us at Otematata. (Between Omarama and Kurow on your map) Word should be out if you are a potential axe murderer etc by then. Cheers John.

[b4time]

I'm reading through your journey diary Mac, It's very interesting. I'd love to do a trip like yours at some stage

It's easy to do, just ask yourself two questions - "Do I want to" and "Am I going to"
Keep asking the questions till the answer to both questions is "Yes".

[SpeedyGirl]

Excellent I'll give you a call when I get tired of commuting from here


Lazy butt!!!

Space here as well

I'll remember that when travelling out of town

[vifferman]

Mac does a very good job of mechanicking for a someone who is basically a self-proclaimed 'mechanical numpty' as far as bikes go.

The VifFerraRi is alive (IT'S ALIVE!!) again, and appears to work, thanx to Mac helping me pull it apart, install the Factory Pro Evo Star Shifter Kit™, reassemble everything, and clean up. Thanx, Mac!

So, today Mac will either be getting his VFR together again, and setting off, or getting it together again and staring disconsolately at the rain and planning setting of tomorrow, or just sitting around, drinking NZ beer, and wondering where the hell they've delivered the crate to. Or cursing petty bureaucrats who are holding up delivery because box 27.2(a) on the Carnet de Passage document wasn't ticked in the right colour ink...

So - any more offers of help? Beers? Lodgings? Temporary riding companions? Guidance? :spudwhat:
Don't be shy now, folx.

[vifferman]

C'mon guys! And gals...

Mac's going to be setting off soonish (when we find his bike and reassemble it), and wouldn't it be nice if his visit here was a great advertisement for Good Ole Kiwi Hospitality. At the very least, temporary riding partners would be a Good Thing (TM). I guarantee you'll enjoy it (as long as you stay slightly out of reach of his axe-wielding arm, of course.)

[Beemer]

[QUOTE=b4time]And folks - he's only saying nice things about me coz I gave him a bottle of single malt whisky.QUOTE]

Hey, you didn't mention whisky anywhere - if you still have whisky you can stay as long as you like! Or, if you need a reviver, I have a few bottles of rather nice whisky in the cupboard (Talisker...)!

Now they have caught the murderer of the German tourist (who happened to be a local, whoops), you will find the Horowhenua pretty safe!

[vifferman]

Hey, you didn't mention whisky anywhere - if you still have whisky you can stay as long as you like!

Yeah, an embarassingly generous and unexpected gift. Now being a whisky philistine (not good, for someone of Scottish ancestry), I may have to crack the whisky before he leaves, so he can attempt to edumicate me...

[Paul in NZ]

We will be riding to ChCh probably tue 18th or more likely wed 19th. If he wants to tag along on the boat and stay the night before hand he is welcome.

[vifferman]

We will be riding to ChCh probably tue 18th or more likely wed 19th. If he wants to tag along on the boat and stay the night before hand he is welcome.

That raises two questions Mac and I discussed, but we've both forgotten to bring up here.

1. Is booking a bike onto the ferry necessary, or can you just turn up and get a slot?
2. Tie downs: We've had threads before that seemed to conclude it was preferable to take your own, rather than risk the ferry-supplied ones of indifferent quality/preformance. I have some cheap, compact ones, but as they're lightweight andnot super strong, so I dunno how secure they'd be, as the straps are a little stretchy. I suggested Mac may be able to borrow some from someone in Wellytown, use them at each end of his Sarf Oilund sojourn, then return them wehn he passes back through. Yes? Or just use the ones on the ferry?

[muzz]

He could just show up and take a chance . The tie downs on the ferry are ropes and if you can tie a knot they work well. It's amazing how many riders dont know how to tie their bikes down. If your bike falls over on the ferry you didnt tie it properly or it was a bloody ruff sailing.

[duckman]

Mac will need to get his own tie-downs as the ferry ones are crap.
I have some he can borrow for his trip.

There also a spare room at our place if he needs it.

Paul.

[vifferman]

Mac will need to get his own tie-downs as the ferry ones are crap.
I have some he can borrow for his trip.

There also a spare room at our place if he needs it.

Paul.

Thanx (on Mac's behalf) on both counts, Paul.
If his bike isn't sorted soonish (you'd think for $US4000 they'd deliver it fueled, washed and polished to wherever he wanted!), and we run out of beer, he might abandon ship at the Vifferperson household, and start looking for new lodgings...)
Got beer?

[Paul in NZ]

Just turn up weekdays or unpopular sailings is usually fine BUT you pay more than if you book in advance and can see where the cheap sailings are. However, don't expect to get on any ferry without booking if it is close to a long weekend or holiday OR if sailings have been cancelled due to rough weather.

The Lynx provided truck sized tiedowns which were OK but far too large for most bikes with fairings. We always take our own motorcycle specific ones because I know they will fit properly up under the nose fairing without stuffing anything.

Mostly the ropes are pretty good but are usually very old and filthy. Thats OK for the tie on because you can go up and wash your hands but getting ready for the off is a PIA and I hate ruining good gloves ..... ;-)

We are on the Tue 18th 8:45 sailing going south if he wants to tag along.

Cheers

[vifferman]

Mostly the ropes are pretty good but are usually very old and filthy. Thats OK for the tie on because you can go up and wash your hands but getting ready for the off is a PIA and I hate ruining good gloves ..... ;-)

Thanx, Mr Paul in NZ.
That's Eggs Zachary what I told Mac, because it's what happened to me when I used the ferry.
Mebbe I should drill some holes in the floor of my gargre, fit some anchor bolts, and see if my feeble "four for $20" tiedowns will work.
I somehow doubt it, but you never know...