Best motorcycle place to live?

[Rashika]

Being YET another one eyed cantab, I'd have to say chch of course, tho Nelson has some awesome roads too....its just a little too far away from the other incredible roads down south...like the southern lakes area. :spudflip:
Its just damn nice being able to ride without too much worry about traffic.
Its kinda like this.... ride, corner, ride, corner.... ooooo theres a car, wait for it.... coooooooooool passing manouver, then back to the ride, corner, ride, corner for another 10 mins till the next wee blat past traffic.

There are some nice roads up north too, like the one BuellBabe took me on and the coro area ...but the traffic is shit scary at times and I dont think it quite makes up for it, but everyone is different... I just love the south!!

[JMemonic]

Well I am bias but I add my vote for Christchurch, some really nice day trips from here through the gorges, or the inland route to Kaikoura, defiantly great trips south through the lakes, and over to the coast and it still metroplitan enough to offer opportunitys. As for Dunedin and motor cycles umm two words come to mind forget it, winters are lousy, if you live on any hill buy a set of skis.

[janno]

Must admit, I've been getting excited about exploring Taranaki on the bike, because when I left years ago I didn't have my bike licence.

Thanks for the info on Cantab Jantar - I didn't know about the no ice bit. Verrry much food for thought as the winter trips I made through there it was generally snowing, so I assumed it would be icy like Dunners.

And yes, 30deg is nothing to ride in, anything above 35 gets painful though. I've got a heat vest which you soak, dry off, and the evaporation keeps you coolish for about 2 hours. Lots of people have them over here, I even got one for the dog as he comes on the bike alot.

[pyrocam]

wellington no doubt.

[Toast]

Actually now that I think of it, the 'Naki has got plenty of damn fine roads...that Mountain section on the way to NP (quite far from NP) is gorgeous, rain or shine.

[Goblin]

I'd say Taupo or Rotorua as they are so central. East or west coast in a day trip and the B roads to anywhere are awesome! There's all the lakes for watersports in summer and hot pools for thawing out in winter. Close enough to some good ski fields, if you're into that sort of thing. All year round riding.
Taupo nearly has a huge international race circuit for all sorts of motorsport and for The Battle of the Streets it's a decent ride to both Wanganui and Paeroa. Great to make it a few days adventure and explore different routes on the way home.
Great place to live.:spudwave:

[pyrocam]

I'd say Taupo or Rotorua as they are so central. East or west coast in a day trip and the B roads to anywhere are awesome! There's all the lakes for watersports in summer and hot pools for thawing out in winter. Close enough to some good ski fields, if you're into that sort of thing. All year round riding.
Taupo nearly has a huge international race circuit for all sorts of motorsport and for The Battle of the Streets it's a decent ride to both Wanganui and Paeroa. Great to make it a few days adventure and explore different routes on the way home.
Great place to live.:spudwave:

I guess If you wanted to live in hella country area.
I would have to say near (but not toooo close) mangakino.
I recently traveled from auckland to wellington and back via different routes and the roads near mangakino are difinately the win.
hardout twisties, forest, lakes, rivers, mountains.

but I wouldnt live there.

[Zed]

So 'fess up everyone, where do you/would like to live from a motorcycling point of view? I need some ideas.

Hi Janno, off the cuff, if I had the liberty of choosing where I lived in NZ centering around my motorcycling, with the knowledge I've gained over the years I'd probably live in Tauranga/Mt Maunganui. This is because it's fairly centralised to the Taupo/Manfield/Pukekohe/Hampton Downs race tracks and is surrounded by great roads, including the infamous Coromandel Loop just a short way away on a bike! Not to mention being nice and coastal.

[Toast]

I'd probably live in Tauranga/Mt Maunganui. This is because it's fairly centralised to the Taupo/Manfield/Pukekohe/Hampton Downs race tracks

Ooh, forgot to consider that...good call.

[janno]

Toast - Awakino Gorge through to Mt Messenger I think you're talking about. King Country/Taranaki border. Hitched through the gorge once and a bald old man and a long haired woman stopped their car. Got up closer and it was a hippie and a skinhead! Great guys, despite one having just picked the other up from jail.

[Toast]

Toast - Awakino Gorge through to Mt Messenger I think you're talking about. King Country/Taranaki border. Hitched through the gorge once and a bald old man and a long haired woman stopped their car. Got up closer and it was a hippie and a skinhead! Great guys, despite one having just picked the other up from jail.

hahaha...the good old days...now even the accountants and builders are on 'P' and will probably cut you up...sorry to be pessimistic...and it's prob still not so bad out in the country anyway

[scumdog]

Don't come down here, we're all cunts and don't need any more people cluttering the roads:spudguita

Go and stay with WINJA.

It's all lies about the South Island - stay away!!

[Quasievil]

Jano most of these guys are dillusional, Hamilton is the place
5 mins riding in any direction will give you a huge choice of nice roads to ride, not to mention the best location in NZ, 25 mins to an awesome beach 30 mins to the best surf beach in the country, River in the middle of town for watersports, best nightlife outside wellington. 1.5 hours to go to Auckland (I commute everyday)
1 hour ten to Tauranga to more beaches.
Houses are shitloads cheaper than Auckland, heaps of work opportunities, excellent schools and university, faaaaark the list goes on.
Oh the climate less fog than Auckland and wellington combined (FAct)

and the best thing is I live here and like to drink beer

[Quasievil]

Oh and I have the choice of three racetracks, Pukekohe 45 mins, Taupo 2 hours, hampton Downs 30 mins (when built) and Paeroa (on race day 30 mins)

[Mooch]

If I had the choice and wasn't locked into a work location I'd move around.

Nelson / Buller in Summer,
Wellington / Wiarapapa in Autum
Northland in Winter.
Queenstown in spring