Bye bye Brisvegas, Hello Un Zud (again)

[janno]

Hi all,

I'm leaving Brisbane after three years in the land of Strine, heading back to the sunny climes of New Plymouth.

Thanks to the brilliant and ever wonderful Eyetie , I'm bringing over The Stealth Bomber. (1988 Honda NT650 - anyone seen these in NZ? They were a grey import here so newbies think my mighty beast is a 250 spada. Sigh.)

After three years of constant moderate to hot temperatures on a motorcycle - 15 to 40 degrees - I'm about to have a learning curve on the art of layering for warmth methinks.

Actually I think I'm in for a culture shock in more ways than one. I got my licence in Aus, so I've never ridden in Nz. When I was last in Auckland I noticed - NO BIKES! In the Sunshine State (or the Waterless, Parched, going to hell in a handbasket State as I like to call it), there are motorcycles everywhere you look. While the traffic is not exactly loving and friendly towards bikes, it is pretty aware that we exist and you'll often have people move over when you're lane splitting to give you room. Most of them here have got the concept of "let bike in front, bike buggers off and won't be seen again."

Once you get used to the dodgy sunken road repairs, blown tyres strewn everywhere, and diesel slicks at the slightest hint of rain, it's a pretty user friendly place to be on a motorcycle. As long as you like crowds and traffic snarls.

The downside to riding over here is that good biking roads are few and far between, so hundreds of bikes travel from miles around to ride them of a weekend, and everyone wants to go the same place as you at the same time. The upside is, if you have any problems there will be a gazillion bikes stopping to help. Or chat. Or gaze at the bike porn flying past.

Just checked on the net. About 44,000 motorcycles in Nz. 463,000 in Aus, 110,000 in Qld.

Looking forward to catching up with Nadroj again - I visited you once when I was over about a year and a half ago. (the dog is bigger now!). And meeting other people around the place with motorcycles.

I write features for a couple of the bike mags over here so I'll be skulking about hunting out interesting bikes and riders. You'll probably see me around.

bye for now,

Jan.

[Grub]

WB Jan.

It's very interesting that you're cming back as we read so many people talking about getting out and going the other way. I kniow from my travels that in fact we have it not too bad here .. the Grass Is Greener syndrome will always be a factor however.

[janno]

If you like crowds and/or heat, Aus is a bloody fantastic place. Unfortunately, I'm not good with either. But I've met some absolutely bloody top people here. You really couldn't split hairs between which country is friendlier.

Plus my lovely kidney transplant of 12 1/2 years is now staggering to a halt. Which means I need to plan for (possibly) a few years on dialysis while I wait for another. And that's the sort of thing made easier by being around family. So that's pretty much why I'm coming back. NP is not actually my favourite place. I'm trying to be mature and rational about it though, but don't be surprised if I don't last there more than six months!

Downside in NZ is freelance journalists get paid HALF of what the going rate is in Aus In my opinion the lifestyle is streets better in NZ, but I'd rather be cold and wet than hot and humid any day.

Bye the way, you may have noticed I LOVE these little emoticon jobbies. Ripping stuff!

[Sniper]

Once you get used to the dodgy sunken road repairs, blown tyres strewn everywhere, and diesel slicks at the slightest hint of rain, it's a pretty user friendly place to be on a motorcycle. As long as you like crowds and traffic snarls.

Welcome back to the land of the long white cloud mate, but really, you wont be homesick, you will find all those things above right here in New zealand. Even down your street

[Str8 Jacket]

If you like crowds and/or heat, Aus is a bloody fantastic place. Unfortunately, I'm not good with either. But I've met some absolutely bloody top people here. You really couldn't split hairs between which country is friendlier.

Plus my lovely kidney transplant of 12 1/2 years is now staggering to a halt. Which means I need to plan for (possibly) a few years on dialysis while I wait for another. And that's the sort of thing made easier by being around family. So that's pretty much why I'm coming back. NP is not actually my favourite place. I'm trying to be mature and rational about it though, but don't be surprised if I don't last there more than six months!

Downside in NZ is freelance journalists get paid HALF of what the going rate is in Aus In my opinion the lifestyle is streets better in NZ, but I'd rather be cold and wet than hot and humid any day.

Bye the way, you may have noticed I LOVE these little emoticon jobbies. Ripping stuff!

Hey janno, welcome back and good luck with everything! Especially your health, sounds like you may have made a good choice there. Having people around you while you're sick/ recovering really helps maintain a positive outlook!

[Swoop]

the Grass Is Greener syndrome will always be a factor however.

The grass IS greener here! We have rain!!!

[daaatomic]

NT650? is that the honda revere/bros/hawkGT?
if so, my old man has one i'm hoping to buy off him when i get my full.
took it for a ride a wee while ago, was heaps of fun.

[Hitcher]

Wikipedia is your friend.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_NT650

[janno]

Yup, the good old bros is a mighty beast, despite the dorky name.

Interestingly, I've had quite a few newbie and tryhard type riders sniff at The Bomber, but the old fellas in dungy leathers and ground to bits knee sliders on Hyabusas and tricked out race bikes over here have been quite nostalgic and complimentary. Was a bit of a ground breaker in it's day, apparently.

Either way, I don't give a fat rats bum about the detractors, the bike fits me and has taught me how to ride well. Helps when every time you put your feet down the ground is where it should be.

I sold a brand new SV650 before this one because it was completely the wrong bike for me. Too friggin top heavy, which most blokes won't understand but some of the women will.

Interestingly, now that I've had a year on The Bomber, I can jump on my girl friend's VFR800 or another lady's Kwaka Z1000 and have a blast. Amazing what a bit of confidence will to do enable you to learn quickly.

But won't be selling the old girl. I'll just get a newer bike later on down the track. You can't sell for two years after you import anyway.

By the way, can you get Australian Motorcycle News here? It's the biggest bike mag in Aus and comes out fortnightly.
Jan.

[fredie]

yes u can get the australian motorcycle news in nz yes . go too there site

[bell]

Yup, the good old bros is a mighty beast, despite the dorky name.

Your mention of the word "Bros" triggered a somewhat unpleasant teenage memory for me....anyone remember these charmers with their peroxide flat-tops? Aaah, the innocence of youth eh?

Oh, the unpleasant memory? MY peroxide bloody flat top!

By the way, can you get Australian Motorcycle News here? It's the biggest bike mag in Aus and comes out fortnightly.
Jan.

Unsure Jan. I think I have seen it at a "Magazine Shop" as opposed to just the newsagent/booksellers. Helpful reviews on their website from memory.

Is it better reading than Thoeming's Road Rider? I quite enjoy Road Rider, don't get me wrong. It's just that each time I buy it I fond myself cringing out loud at some of Peter's comments. Still, it has some of the most balanced reviews to be found in the m/c press. Almost as good as some of the characters that write for two wheels.

Perhaps you can liven up some of content that passes for journalism in Kiwi Rider?

Anyway, welcome back. May PM you for some advice re bike shops in Brissy as I'm likely to head back that way in 08. In contrast to you I got my Class 6 in NZ and never rode in Aust. I'm really looking forward to heading up Kilcoy way on a regular basis. Might be working at Mount Mee and "commuting" to the Petrie area...won't that be hard?!

[kerfufflez]

Your mention of the word "Bros" triggered a somewhat unpleasant teenage memory for me....anyone remember these charmers with their peroxide flat-tops?

Hehe, thanks for the memories. But your spelling is a bit off. I always knew them as "Dross".

[puddytat]

G'day mate,reason why you saw no bikes in Akl was probably that it always rains up there,much better weather down here in the Mainland. Yup I know the NT650 well,an awesome bike in the twisties,especially with a couple of cheap suspension mods like heavier fork oil,racetec springs(or cut of the tight spirals on the originals & add pvc pipe preload spacers).A shock of a cbr900 will bolt straight in with a couple of simple mods(use stock bros spring on cbr shock & you'll need to get a new collar made to make up the diff. in spring length,8 or so mm) & will give you compresion & rebound adjustment as well. I have done these to mine & it totally transformed it from being good to awesome, so much so that I run rings round a lot of "better" bikes in the twisties.Dont know if you know, but the humble Bros was the worlds 1st production single sided swingarm!Consequently she has quite a cult following worldwide & if you want to see what some fellas do to them check out www.hawkgt.com it has everything you'd ever want to know about them. My one('89) is laid up at the moment but Ive planz to race her...she's sulking in the shed as Ive got an R6 now...I can afford to crash her, but not the R6...anyway, enjoy N.Z !!