A San Franciscan in New Zealand.

[jbauer]

Hi All,

My name is Jon Bauer. I live in San Francisco, am an avid motorcyclist of about 20 years. I'm planning to visit New Zealand in February of 2006. The dates I'm carving out are Feb 25th through March 3rd.

I'm planning to explore the North Island mostly. I have a Bandit 600 reserved! Yay!

Anyone want to meet up? I'd love to meet y'all and see some local good spots. I will GLADLY reciprocate on YOUR visit to San Fran!!!

Thanks in advance all!

- Jon

[MSTRS:Me]

You will have no shortage of tourguides. But 1 week only?? Or is this just a teaser for the main event??

[jbauer]

You will have no shortage of tourguides. But 1 week only?? Or is this just a teaser for the main event??

I know. Well, I'll have to make it work. I have a month off from work, and am trying to squeeze a buncha stuff into that month... Only could get the week for motorcycling... :-(

I posted a similar note on http://forum.bmwor.org.nz/viewtopic.php?t=135 (before I found you guys/gals) and someone mentioned the "Battle of the Streets" in Paeroa. That sounds cool. Anyone going?

- Jon

[DMNTD:Me]

... someone mentioned the "Battle of the Streets" in Paeroa. That sounds cool. Anyone going?
- Jon

Hell yes! Ha!
If ya make it up to the better part,Northland,give us a buzz(PM)...bed to crash in if required here too.

[MSTRS:Me]

....and someone mentioned the "Battle of the Streets" in Paeroa. That sounds cool. Anyone going?

- Jon

Oh...somewhere around....heaps of us?

[jbauer]

Hell yes! Ha!
If ya make it up to the better part,Northland,give us a buzz(PM)...bed to crash in if required here too.

Fantastic! Will do.

- Jon

[crashe]

Kia ora and welcome to KB.

One week in NZ.!
Mate that aint long enough to see our beautiful country.

Are you landing in Auckland?
Who you getting the bandit off?

Keep us updated on your plans.. and yeah Im sure that we can organise a meet up and a ride with you...

[jbauer]

Kia ora and welcome to KB.

One week in NZ.!
Mate that aint long enough to see our beautiful country.

Are you landing in Auckland?
Who you getting the bandit off?

Keep us updated on your plans.. and yeah Im sure that we can organise a meet up and a ride with you...

Yes, am landing in Auckland a week before, but have some other stuff that I'm doing for that week. Definitely planning to make the most of my short time to ride, with all hospitality FULLY appreciated and hopefully reciprocated some day!

Am getting the Bandit from www.motorcycle-hire.co.nz. Their rates won't kill my budget. The bike is NZ$120 per day with a $1500 bond in case I have a mis-hap. Sound about right?

At home, I've had lots of bikes. Currently ride a 2005 zx6r, which is an absolute dream. Previous to this one, I had a 2000 CBR929, and before that, a few VFRs. Of course, have done a TON of riding in the US (cross country a few times too), and have done one of those Edelweiss tours through the Alps in Europe - was fun. Can't wait to explore NZ!

- Jon

[ManDownUnder]

Hey Jon,

Sounds like a plan to combine riding with sight seeing and maybe other interests if you wanted.

Let us know what you're into, shooting, surfing, diving, or whatever and I'm sure someone in here can help or knows someone.

MDU

[ManDownUnder]

Oh yeah - KBers... I forgot to mention - that reciprocal agreement is nothing to be sneezed at - San Fran's my favourite city in the US. Culture, scenery and jazz clubs down on the Pier (Pier 29?)

I normally stay at a boutique hotel on Powell Street straight across the road rom the Straford Hotel.

Awesome place - HIGHLY recommended!

[jbauer]

Hey Jon,

Sounds like a plan to combine riding with sight seeing and maybe other interests if you wanted.

Let us know what you're into, shooting, surfing, diving, or whatever and I'm sure someone in here can help or knows someone.

MDU

I definitely want to do some good riding. I'm of course interested in seeing as much local coolness as possible too.

When you guys come out here, I have lots of local great spots to show you. Great restaurants, great stops, great roads, biggest tree on the planet, haunted hotels, stuff like that...

- Jon

[ManDownUnder]

A week you reckon.

Here's a map of what I'm talking about...

http://www.backpack-newzealand.com/m...rthisland.html

Tell you what. Here's what I'd suggest off the top of my head.

Confirm when you land (Date and time would help)... we can rock on out to the airport and start your tour from there.

Unless you do a lot of long haul stuff, day 1 might be a hang loose, beers and BBQ kinda day - get rid of any jet lag and get some sleep. We can organise a ride for you if you want... get a bunch of us out there and go for a wee blast to Wellsford and back ( acouple or 3 hours all up).

Great scenery, and a chance to stop anywhere anytime...

after that... if you're into short hops and seeing and doing things... here's my initial thought
Day 2 Tauranga
Day 3 Rotorua
Day 4 Taupo
Day 5 New Plymouth?
Day 6 Waitomo or Raglan
Day 7 Auckland and fly out

If you're into LONGer rides...
Auckland
Rotorua/Taupo via Hamiton/Cambridge
Wellington
New Plymouth
Auckland
Bay of Islands
Auckland

If you want to take a few days off at each spot we can revisit things again for ya.

I'm sure we can find you a bed in most towns, set up a basic "What to do/see and look out for".

Let us know what you're after, and we're here for you.
MDU

[emaN]

A week you reckon.

Here's a map of what I'm talking about...

http://www.backpack-newzealand.com/m...rthisland.html

Tell you what. Here's what I'd suggest off the top of my head.

Confirm when you land (Date and time would help)... we can rock on out to the airport and start your tour from there.

Unless you do a lot of long haul stuff, day 1 might be a hang loose, beers and BBQ kinda day - get rid of any jet lag and get some sleep. We can organise a ride for you if you want... get a bunch of us out there and go for a wee blast to Wellsford and back ( acouple or 3 hours all up).

Great scenery, and a chance to stop anywhere anytime...

after that... if you're into short hops and seeing and doing things... here's my initial thought
Day 2 Tauranga
Day 3 Rotorua
Day 4 Taupo
Day 5 New Plymouth?
Day 6 Waitomo or Raglan
Day 7 Auckland and fly out

If you're into LONGer rides...
Auckland
Rotorua/Taupo via Hamiton/Cambridge
Wellington
New Plymouth
Auckland
Bay of Islands
Auckland

If you want to take a few days off at each spot we can revisit things again for ya.

I'm sure we can find you a bed in most towns, set up a basic "What to do/see and look out for".

Let us know what you're after, and we're here for you.
MDU

Helpful chappie, aren't ya MDU? you should be in da 'tour guiding' biz! wanna pls plan my Xmas hols too?
JB, if you come thru' Rotorua get in touch, PM me...
Won't be Stateside anytime soon, but where were you 5yrs ago when i was there? tsch...

[jbauer]

MDU, oh man - that's hospitality! UNBELIEVABLE and FANTASTIC!

I'm actually getting in on the 17th and am playing Segway Polo vs. the NZ SegPolo team (a game us Silicon Valley geeks kinda invented - http://www.bayareaseg.com/Polo.htm) and hanging with those friends for that first week. Yes, we are geeks.

I'm planning to pick up the bike on the morning of the 25th at 54 Barrys Pt Road, Takapuna, Auckland. I'm thinking like 8:30 AM.

Your loose itinerary sounds great - all of those places are just names to me, so I don't know which are which. I'm printing the map, and will try and get familiar with the lay of the land. I leave those decisions in all of your capable hands... As long as you let me do the same for you when you visit me in the Bay. I don't need to stop and rest in each place much. I am an energetic guy... I don't mind smelling the roses though...

- Jon

[jbauer]

Ok, after looking at the map I had a bit of a realization. First I have to admit something...

As many American's, I learned that NZ is one of the most beautiful countries in the world by watching... Lord Of the Rings. I hope that's not offensive to anyone, but that really opened my eyes to it. SO... I'm thinking that since they filmed a lot of it in Wellington, as I remember reading, that maybe it would be cool to get down to that part of the country.

Thoughts? Do I hear a click and a dial tone? Did I lose my connection???

- Jon