Bike licensing and good dealers in Palmerston North?

[bobsmith]

Thank you all for your replies (that was quick!) I was hoping to see if there are any basic motorbike handling instructions around palmy? I heard that Phil's dealership just does the handling certificate on automatic scooters... If there aren't any in palmy where is a good place around Wellington. Since my girlfriend and I are both wanting to get a learner's license and neither of us has any experience in manual bikes we thought a proper handling course would be helpful. Otherwise do you have any other suggestions on how we learn to ride a manual bike?

Thanks!!!

[Beemer]

ANZA is open on Taonui Street seven days a week. The chaps there should be able to see you right. I am reliably informed that they are less sexist towards women buyers than some other high profile P Nth bike dealers.

I'd have to disagree - I find they tend to ignore women totally in ANZA - unless you turn up on a Harley! I've ridden in there on all three bikes I've owned and the only time I have been spoken to by any of the staff there is when I turned up on the Goose. Many bike shop staff are quite sexist towards women but I've always found the guys in Phil Turnbulls will all come up to see if I need or want any help. If I were buying a bike I'd probably tend to go there rather than ANZA. My husband took a bike from ANZA for a test ride and when he returned it and handed the keys back, the guy didn't even ask if he'd liked the bike!

[KLOWN]

I think alot of places do the handling cert on auto scooters. They are all you need to get your license. Once you got your license I can give you the VERY basics and there are other people in palmy that I'm sure can help.

[cowboyz]

I cant stnad ANZA. They are hopeless. I have been in there a couple of times when looking for a new bike and they are overly unhelpful. Phil Turnballs are better. Nice and chatty. AFC (on main street) are excellent. I never got my licence in PN so cant help you there but for a bike I would be taking a closer look at AFC.

[quickbuck]

I had an interesting experience with ANZA. Took a VTR out for a test, yep, cool but wanted something a little more sedate, so took the VFR for a spin. The salesmen couldn't care less, they were too busy watching David Tua on TV. (This was about 5 years ago). Didn't really ask me if I was keen. I went down the road a few days later and bought a GSX 600 off Phil Turnbill. Thing is, also went back there for a GSX250 for the other half many years later. Even though I could have got a 250 from ANZA for half the money.

[gman]

id be going to ktm on main street too.
those guys lent me their bike trailer for a doz and sold me some great gear too.
what riding position do you prefer?siting up like a gn? or lay down like a fxr?
if ya want some where to try a manual bike i got a paddock next to the house you could prob use ,just not when the land lords got his cows in their.....could get messy

[thehollowmen]

welcome and good luck

[number33]

Anza are f***ing hopeless. Especially sunday mornings when a dreary deadbeat is behind the counter. Useless bastard. Anza don't have stuff all of anything useful in stock. Idiots didn't even have a BS7 plug for chrissake. Ask for something, and it's allways "We don't have one in stock" "But we can get one in next week" Stuff them. Go to Turnbulls and the main guy behind the counter will give you good info.

[Hondaz]

I think you'll find any of the main bike shops in town helpfull - I have dealt with Freedom, Phil Turnbul and AFC and have never had any probs. Bought a bike once that Anza had imported and they had registered it as a '95 when it was in fact a '90. Don't know if it was thier fault or a someone elses but I sugest if your after your first bike, one of the other bike shops would be a better place to start.

[bobsmith]

Thank you all for your opinions!!!

It's all been a great help! After a lot of looking around, my girlfriend and I decided to get a scooter for our first two-wheeler. My girlfriend has always been keen about scooters and I laughed at it until I saw the first non 50cc scooter in real life (a 125) oh then I saw a 500cc next to it... Mmmmm... Anyhow... I'm still very keen to get a bike in the future but scooter for now I think. At least I don't have to worry about gears for now and probably more pratical for now. (have @#%t loads of stuff I have to take to uni everyday, i usually have a full backpack and both hands full of stuff)

Can't wait till I get my learner's... now gotta go look at more scooters.

[Beemer]

And, pray tell, where the bloody hell did you buy it from?

I forgot that Freedom Honda now sell road bikes, Barry is a really friendly guy and apparently they have heaps of reasonably priced road gear in stock.

[bobsmith]

Still trying to decide. But a new Lifan 125cc scooter with front disc brake for $2500 looks good at the moment... Heard bad reviews about suzuki 125cc and honda lead is the same price as lifan but on 100cc and drum brake on the front... also the lifan comes with a external storage box Went to have a look at one from dealer in Paparamu but it was only half assembled at the moment.

reminds me I still need a pair of good pants and boots... so expensive though... Already have helmet jacket and gloves. can anybody suggest where to get cheap descent pants and boots?