Hi :) (Fat Tony)

**Fat Tony** · 29th July 2006, 01:13

Hi, first post as I thought it rude to sign up for a nosey round without introducing myself.

I found the site via Stuart at Road & Sport in Hamilton, after a PM to him on gixxer.com.

My wife, daughter and I are hoping to move to New Zealand in the next 12-18 months so we're in the process of doing some more research at the moment, and trying to find where we want to move to, can get work, find good schooling etc etc etc... we currently live in the UK near Wetherby, North Yorkshire by the way.

One of my biggest concerns about the move (after the thought of leaving our parents in their latter years) was the thought of having to give up sportsbikes. I currently ride a GSX-R750 k6 but I wasn't sure how popular sportsbikes were in NZ. All the literature we've accumulated so far has been based around touring so features BMWs etc and I wasn't sure if sportsbikes were big over there or not (not that there's anything wrong with tourers... oh God, I'm digging a hole now aren't I? lol)

Stuart's put my mind at rest so full steam ahead. Bl**dy hell, sorry I'm rambling on a bit now aren't I?

Anyway... hi

**SwanTiger** · 29th July 2006, 01:37

Welcome, sport bikes are well represented amoungst New Zealand Motorcyclist and you will have no problem finding Rossi-Wannabe's to ride with. They might even show you 'round the local CoroGP circut.

**ZeroIndex** · 29th July 2006, 02:09

Welcome to the site.. if you can, stay out of Auckland

.. yeah, sportsbikes are 'it' in new zealand..

Hamilton is a marvelous place to be (except for the constant fog/frost in the morning), hope the 'transfer' from the UK goes smoothly <-- I moved over from South Africa 3 years ago, and have settled in nicely..

**Fat Tony** · 29th July 2006, 02:38

Thanks for the welcome fellas

So, not that we're going to select a location to move to based on what biking facilities are around (well, I won't mention that part of it to my wife) where abouts are any trackdays held in NZ? Taupo obviously, but are there others? Struggling to find much info at the moment.

Most of my riding's on the road to be honest, but I usually enjoy several trackdays a year. Did 18 laps of the Nurburgring at Easter which unfortunately used up my trackday budget for this year lol but it was well worth it - what a mental place.

**slowpoke** · 29th July 2006, 02:57

Originally Posted by Fat Tony

Did 18 laps of the Nurburgring at Easter which unfortunately used up my trackday budget for this year lol but it was well worth it - what a mental place.

Ooo er Nurburgring, you looky looky bastid! (lousy pommy accent)

You'll love the roads over here (I do after coming back from 15years away) and the relative lack of traffic (most places) but may be disappointed in the tracks after experiencing facilities in the UK/Europe. Having said that track time is cheap ($80 a full day at Manfield) and fairly plentiful.

Oh yeah, don't worry about dis-ing the cruiser riders...they'll never catch your K6!

**Fat Tony** · 29th July 2006, 03:18

Originally Posted by slowpoke

You'll love the roads over here // but may be disappointed in the tracks after experiencing facilities in the UK/Europe

Yes, from what I've seen of the roads and scenery in your beautiful country I'm sure that will more than make up for not having easy access to Cadwell and Donington Park.

As I mentioned, I enjoy road riding, and my favourite times on the bike have been on a couple of trips to ride through Northern Spain and venture up in to the Pyrenees. NZ looks to promise even more than that so no complaints from me!

Oh yeah, don't worry about dis-ing the cruiser riders...they'll never catch your K6!

Hahahaa... One of my mates just chopped his 750k5 in for BMW R1200 S or something and absolutley loves it - each to their own

(mind you, he did just turn 65, lol)

**Grahameeboy** · 29th July 2006, 07:00

I moved here from London in 98....Auckland is cool....don't listen to those who say otherwise........close to great varied rides........North Shore rocks.
Feel free to pm me.

**Fatjim** · 29th July 2006, 10:41

Gudday FT. Most of the fat riders are in Wellywood down the bottom of the North Island.

If you're after the type of job you find anywhere then if it was me I'd be looking at Hawkes Bay, Bay of Plenty or Nelson area. At a guess Nelson would have the better riding, but the others aren't bad either with BOP having the CoroGP loop and Hawkes Bay having some good and empty roads too.

If you need the big city, bugger.

You have
Auckland, warmest but full of foreigners, and a real rat race. Plus all the real bastards on Kiwibiker live there.
Hamilton, cold wet and foggy, but good roads in any directions. They're a bit wierd there too.

Wellywood aka Wellington. Cultural capital of NZ, coolish (but warmer than anywhere in the UK in winter). Roads are good once you hit the bottom of the Rimutakas.
Christchurch, Nice place, good "ahem" straight roads, gateway to the south Island, but bloody cold in winter and therefor I'm sad to say, all year round riding is not possible, unless you buy a snowmobile.

Now I'll just sit back and get the shit beaten out of me.

**Jantar** · 29th July 2006, 10:49

Originally Posted by Fatjim

Christchurch, Nice place, good "ahem" straight roads, gateway to the south Island, but bloody cold in winter and therefor I'm sad to say, all year round riding is not possible, unless you buy a snowmobile.

Now I'll just site back and get the shit beaten out of me.

You missed out Dunedin. But I live even further south than Christchurch and wasn't aware that there was anywhere in New Zealand where year round riding is not possible. There are a few times I choose not to ride, but even they are rather infrequent.

**Fatjim** · 29th July 2006, 10:55

In Christchurch this year they haven't even had all year round driving!

**crashe** · 29th July 2006, 13:22

Fat Tony - Kia ora and welcome to KB

Pukekohe track costs: $90 a day for about 4 or maybe 5 sessions
Pukekohe is just out of Auckland.

Originally Posted by slowpoke

Oh yeah, don't worry about dis-ing the cruiser riders...they'll never catch your K6!

OI you.......

There is nothing wrong with cruisers.... so there

**Scorpygirl** · 29th July 2006, 13:36

Welcome to KB Fat Tony

Rhino (my other half) is from Dewsbury in Yorkshire. He came out to NZ with his parents when he was 11. We look forward to welcoming you and your family sometime next year.

**andrea** · 29th July 2006, 14:39

welcome to kb tony bring your bike too, lots of sports bikes here and lots of cool people on kb too

**Edbear** · 29th July 2006, 14:54

Yep! Welcome to KB and hope to see you posting from within NZ! We have basically two countries in one here,the South Is. is like going to another country! Stunning scenery and even the people seem different...

They call themselves the "Mainlanders" down there. Auckland is very metropolitan but where most of the country lives.

Everywhere is fantastic for motorcycling! Race circuits in both islands so no prob with trackdays.

Petrol is cheaper than UK, but getting very "up there" over here at $NZ1.80 or so per litre, now!

Won't take long browsing KB to discover the ratio of sportbike owners and the very friendly, good-natured rivalry between the cruiser brigade and the "knees down" bunch...

**sAsLEX** · 29th July 2006, 15:29

What sort of work you in as that could dictate where you live?

Though in the North Island Taupo is only ever 5 hours away, which holds trackdays etc, A new track Hampton Downs is being built a bit closer to auckland but that is a way off .

Anywhere is the south island is good, but all the tracks are towards the southern end, Ie christchurch and south.

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