Bike Gear in NZ

[daveeasey]

Wotcha everyone

I'm in the process of emigrating to NZ (Auckland) from the UK and am looking for any and all advice, tips, etc etc that you guys can share.

I specifically would like to know what sort of wet weather gear is available and more importantly how much am I likely to need it ! Do you have good quality weatherproof gear there (sorry if that is a stupid question )? I was thinking about buying a Triumph Aspen goretex all-in-one suit (with armour etc) as I am looking to use a bike to commute as well as have fun but don't know whether to buy it in the UK and ship it over or to wait until I'm in NZ (due hopefully early May if NZIS pull their finger out). Triumph suit here is about NZ$400, any ideas on the cost there?

What is the traffic in Auckland like ? Is it particularly congested like most UK cities and is a bike a necessity? I'm thinking about buying a Blackbird but not sure if it will be too unwieldy for Auckland. Presumably it would be OK for riding outside the city?

I'm looking forward to sampling good biking roads out there - any recommendations? What are the police like with bikers? Here they have a healthy disrespect, targeting bikers for everything from speed to small number plates and loud pipes.

looking forward to your responses.

Cheers

[James Deuce]

You'll probably be surprised at the range and quality available, and the deals you can get. The Triumph suit is a very good deal, and I think that it would be fine. Does it have removable thermal inserts? I would (and have just bought) get a vented jacket for summer. Auckland can get very, very humid and the temperatures you see on the BBC weather reports don't do justice to the actual "feel" of the atmosphere @ 28C and 96% humidity.

Auckland is horribly congested, but not for instance as bad as trying to navigate Oxford at 6pm on a Friday(been there done that, NEVER EVER DOING IT AGAIN).

A Blackbird will be perfect.

Smile

[El Dopa]

"Auckland is horribly congested."

Dave, a big welcome to Godzone from one ex-pat pom to another. You'll love it.

re: the congestion. I lived in London for most of my life, and compared to that, Auckland isn't even close. It gets busy mornings and evenings, especially the bridge, but otherwise it's comparatively free-flowing.

You'll have to get answers from people with more experience than me wrt to the specific bike stuff.

[James Deuce]

Dave, a big welcome to Godzone from one ex-pat pom to another. You'll love it.

re: the congestion. I lived in London for most of my life, and compared to that, Auckland isn't even close. It gets busy mornings and evenings, especially the bridge, but otherwise it's comparatively free-flowing.

You'll have to get answers from people with more experience than me wrt to the specific bike stuff.

Did you actually read my post?? I said Oxford, because, yes, Auckland doesn't compare to the M25 carpark, or the Nth Circular, or even the Hangar Lane roundabout at morning tea time. But I thought the Oxford nastiness was about right for Auckland by way of comparison.

[dangerous]

"Triumph Aspen goretex all-in-one suit (with armour etc)" Never heard of it we get sweet f/a over here its most likely yellow pvc or nothing. It maybe different up north Is but I recon that you should bring it all with you.

Blackbird should be good mind you 4's really belong in cars If you want the best road around then come on down south one thing is for sure you will never get board on the roads in NZ

Don't get me started on the police thing all they wont is more money to hell with saving life’s.....opps started didn’t I. Noisy pipes arn't a worry here they tried to bring in a standard exhausts only thing but it cant possibly work because what’s a factory exhaust on a 65 Chevy look like As long as the dick heads on bikes with no baffling (straights) keep cool then I don’t think it will be a worry.

[Yamahamaman]

And spelling is no longer taught in New Zealand schools.

[bane]

And spelling is no longer taught in New Zealand schools.

could not agree more Yamahaman

I have a suspicion that OSH might have issues with accommodation in the middle of NZ roads....

[wkid_one]

And spelling is no longer taught in New Zealand schools.

Yes it is - but it is the present 'text' spelling where everything gets shorten and bastardised

gtg, brb, l8r, gd, u, 4, tx, r, thru, y, every1, gr8, m8, etc etc etc

[James Deuce]

And spelling is no longer taught in New Zealand schools.

What the HELL are you talking about?

I've been looking at your posts of late; when was the last time you posted something positive? Having a sarcastic year or two are we??

[Holy Roller]

" you will never get board on the roads in NZ

Off Topic
The quip is about spelling words that sound the same but have different meanings
I think the spelling should have been "bored" disinterested rather than board as in accomodation or a hunk of wood.
The state of our schools is another matter... But we are out of that loop as we have homeschooled our 5 kids for nearly 13 yrs.

[Yamahamaman]

I've been looking at your posts of late; when was the last time you posted something positive? Having a sarcastic year or two are we??

That's good I suppose. Everyone else just ignores me.

I was anyway me thinks.

[James Deuce]

That's good I suppose. Everyone else just ignores me.

I was anyway me thinks.

Fair enough.

[Two Smoker]

Just be careful at all times in NZ as no Cagers have any respect for Bikes, at all, also lanesplitting is frowned upon unless the traffic is dead stopped, Blackbird would be great for roads outside of Auckland, don't know what it would be like for around town, they go for about $12000 second hand and $18000 brand new. Theres a huge range of wet weather gear in Auckland, Motorcycles and Power Sports on Kyhber Pass in New market stock Truimph gear, but i guess you will learn about that when you get here

[Lou Girardin]

You'll love it here. When you arrive check out Motomail and come and see me at Auck M/Cycles and Powersports as well. (Am I allowed to say that?).
Lou

[Yamahamaman]

You'll love it here. When you arrive check out Motomail and come and see me at Auck M/Cycles and Powersports as well. (Am I allowed to say that?).
Lou

Yeah, I think it is alright if you don't work for either company.