Canadian looking for dual-purpose bike and advice for a 9-month full NZ tour

[Atmonauti]

I posted in the Touring section already and I apologise in advance for anyone reading this again. Seems like a big site with a lot of very specific areas and riders. So I figured it would be worth posting in this section as well

I am in the process of searching Trade and Exchange, TradeMe, Bike shops for a used dual purpose bike to lug me (88ish kgs) and my 10-20 kgs of Tent/sleeping bag/backpack.

I have a 03 Honda 600 F4i at home and have been travelling in South East Asia for almost 3 months until I got to Auckland. I have missed my bike on a nice coastal/mountain set of twisties something awful ( more then anything else actually. don't tell my friends/family hehe)

But I have always wanted to ride a dirt bike and figured dual purpose would be the way to take in ALL of the country. Beaches, stream crossings, mountain trails.

But I still think I need the option on the bike to enjoy accelerating up a mountain set of twisties.

I am looking/hoping to find bikes around 2-3k. I am looking at 250cc bikes just because of the price range I have comparing it to the market of bikes I see.

I plan on doing the North Island first up to the north point of the NI and coming back down to Auckland before heading out south. Stopping at all ski hills and skydiving dropzones I possibly can to have some fun/get jobs. After the 9 months its looking more and more like I will stay in NZ and seek residency.

I LOVE it here and I havent even really seen much past Auckland!

I have gotten a few pointers on certain routes that are worth riding in the north island by road. But hope to not trouble you folks for good adventure routes that I could incorporate into my full NZ tour.

I am also wondering if most places in rural areas mind you setting up a tent of the side the road or of the beaten path by a lake or something.

Travelling on my own I wonder if there are organizations comparable to your AA, but that handle motorbike breakdowns?

Any tips, thoughts that you can think of I would be greatly in your debt for.

You folks have been so kind to me and I wish I could repay for all the assistance I have been offered so far!

Hoping to find a bike soon,

Dan

[Rosie]

Hey Dan!

The New Zealand Motorcycle Atlas by Hema Maps is excellent, and you should buy yourself a copy. Most of the routes given are sealed, but they also have some gravel routes. That would give you a starting point for planning where you want to go, then people can give you other suggestions of interesting tracks in the area. Or you can just look at the map and pick random gravel roads to explore.

I would expand your bike search to slightly larger bikes as well. Due to our licencing laws, 250's can be overpriced, and there may be some better value 350's or 400's out there.

Having a dual purpose bike will increase your route options considerably. Even on sealed roads - some minor roads can have pretty dodgy seal, and the extra suspension travel makes for a more comfortable ride. And, because you are higher up (and can stand, to be even higher up), you can get a better view of the surrounding countryside than you would in a car, or hunched over a sportsbike.

The AA's roadside assist thing theoretically includes motorbikes, but I've never tested it out. AA members can also get free maps and accommodation guides, which I find pretty useful.

Camping on the side of the road is a bit variable - in touristy areas it's usually prohibited (there will often be large signs to remind you of this), in out of the way places, I'm not really sure. If it was on private property, you'd have to talk nicely to the landowner. The Department of Conservation have campsites around the country - usually around $5-$10 per person. They are usually fairly basic, but the quality varies a lot.



Rosie.

[cooneyr]

Gidday Dan,

I agree with Rosie in that you may be better looking for 350/400's. A DR350 would probably be the best thing to look for because they have been superseded by the DRZ400 and hence the price reflects this. Also they tend to be road legal more commonly that other 350/400's and they have a reasonable rear subframe that allows you to carry gear.

I have started a website just recently called Adventure Routes New Zealand. It still needs lots of work for the North island (I'll be working on this over the next few weeks) but there is a fairly reasonable selection of routes for the south island. Obviously it is rather hard to take on the road with you unless you have a GPS so the Hema maps like Rosie suggested are a good idea and you can draw any of the routes from the web site over it

Good luck finding and bike. When you start to go adventuring let people know on this site as I'm sure many will be keen to show you around their "back yard". If you make it as far south as Chch get in touch.

Cheers R

[Atmonauti]

i have spent too long at a friends place in auckland and its getting close to crunch time. that i really should just find a bike and head out.

i was half thinking about this.

already talked to him... for 3k

http://http://www.trademe.co.nz/Brow...x?id=148274446

any thoughts?

[CRM]

I think the advise to go for something a bit bigger than a 250 is good. This XT400 looks sweet - http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...htm?key=489831, I had a DRZ400 which went great on the road and picked that up for $3500 but it needed some work, but a good DR350 or the XT should be fine for what you want - wish I was coming along.

[Atmonauti]

hrmm I was looking at that one. But a mechanic at Haldane's in Ellerslie-Penrose told me to stay away from 400cc bikes as they are known to have more problems then most bikes.

what do you folks think?

also its a few hours away which makes it just a little bit annoying to arrange to see/test ride. He also doesnt have a cell number listed and advises that his email doesnt work.

I would need to get a rack installed on that one and tires. I heard that knobby tires are ok on roads. I have test road that one i linked and it seemed fine on the sealed roads.

[Rosie]

i have spent too long at a friends place in auckland and its getting close to crunch time. that i really should just find a bike and head out.

i was half thinking about this.

already talked to him... for 3k

http://http://www.trademe.co.nz/Brow...x?id=148274446

any thoughts?

How tall are you? I'm 5'4" and the XT 250 (actually a 225) is a good height for me. If you are taller you may find it a little cramped up.

Also, I would test ride it first. It's going to be a little lean in the power department compared to what you are used to. But, if you want to take your time, and stick to minor roads, the lack of top end speed and acceleration shouldn't be a big issue. It would get you over the speed limit (just), but not up a hill, or into a strong headwind.

My sherpa is a pretty similar bike to the XT, and I've done a bit of road/gravel touring on it. I've only been riding a couple of years, and I ride like a girl, but it's only when I'm trying to do 100-110km/h up a hill, or into the wind, or when I'm overtaking that I dream of having a little more power.

The XT400 that CRM posted the link to could also be worth a look.

[Atmonauti]

you folks are awesome!!

I am 6'1" 185 cm i think? I have test rode it twice already. The previous owner is a good 8 inches taller then me and had a custom heightened seat put on that adds alot more cushion and actually gives me a really comfortable ride. minus the balls on the highway to hold 100kms into wind or up hills.

and thats what worries me but it might have to do.. though the whole time on this bike i know i would wish i had the performance of my bike at home.


EDIT:

also i have been half looking at this

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=148244858

but from what it sounds like is that it has rolled the odometre already. so its 165k. but it sounds like the bike runs perfectly fine.

so those 3 bikes that have been rolling around as options for me for a while now... the 400 that CRM posted (thanks again!) the 250 i posted with the heightened seat and this one i just posted.

[Rosie]

and thats what worries me but it might have to do.. though the whole time on this bike i know i would wish i had the performance of my bike at home.

Only if you stuck to roads that you'd take the 600 on

ADVrider has a reasonable number of NZ ride reports, if you want to become inspired about places a small dual purpose bike could take you, have a look through the NZ ride report thread index

[Atmonauti]

hrmm I was looking at that one. But a mechanic at Haldane's in Ellerslie-Penrose told me to stay away from 400cc bikes as they are known to have more problems then most bikes.

what do you folks think?

[JATZ]

what do you folks think?

My 2c
I'd go for the 660, easier on the bike at open road speeds.
Depends how you feel about all those K's and whether the maintenance has been kept up on the bike, certainly worth a look anyway.

[cooneyr]

what do you folks think?

There are 400's and there are 400's. The likes of the XT400 linked too above would be more than OK though it is defiantly not the fast 400 out there. The XT400 is actually the same as the XT600 of similar vintage but with smaller bore and stroke. A DRZ400 isnt gear so high hence will be reving pretty hard on the road but they are pretty reliable machines. Other 400's like the WR400 i.e. the enduro and motorcross bikes would defiantly not be a good idea for what you want to do.

The 660's are good touring/adventure bikes but they will be much more of a handful if you go of road (trail riding) and if it really is 165kms then I'd be looking very very hard at it's condition.

I highly suspect that the XT400 belongs to TgaAdv from this thread. Send him a private message.

Cheers R

[Padmei]

Get out of the north Island as soon as you can! there is nothing up there to see - get down south & check out the top of the south then enjoy the roads to thebottom of the island. You will probably end up in Queenstown working as that is where most of you crazy Canadian long haired rock&roll freaks end up. Make sure you have a good time onthe way.

I reckon you should get a crappy bike cos you'll meet more of the locals when you break down

[pete376403]

Or something like this and see if they would offer a guaranteed buy back price
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-145656498.htm

[CookMySock]

Or something like this and see if they would offer a guaranteed buy back price
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-145656498.htm

I like this idea best.

Then something like this XTZ 660 TENERE that you posted ;
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=148244858

The high k's might bite you, but I wouldn't have thought so. Maybe have it checked over by the shop. Tell them what you want to do on it and see if they frown.

DB