Halelujah - I'm a convert!!!!

**lewis_walker** · 16th January 2005, 08:42

Weehee!!
I passed my test a couple of months ago after doing a direct access course here in the UK. I got myself a Bandit 1200 as a first bike, but after a couple of months' riding - I have decided to do what I should have done from the beginning...
... I am trading the Bandit in for a Marauder 1600!

I'm picking her up on Friday AND I CAN'T WAIT!!

Why is the Pom posting to KiwiBikers I here yoy say?.. Well.. my wife, two sproglets and I are emigrating to your beautiful country in a few months :spudwave:

PS - I'm exchanging my sporty helmet for a 'pee-pot' retro job already in anticipation... and I'm LOVING IT!!

**James Deuce** · 16th January 2005, 08:50

Originally Posted by lewis_walker

Weehee!!
I passed my test a couple of months ago after doing a direct access course here in the UK. I got myself a Bandit 1200 as a first bike, but after a couple of months' riding - I have decided to do what I should have done from the beginning...
... I am trading the Bandit in for a Marauder 1600!

I'm picking her up on Friday AND I CAN'T WAIT!!

Why is the Pom posting to KiwiBikers I here yoy say?.. Well.. my wife, two sproglets and I are emigrating to your beautiful country in a few months :spudwave:

PS - I'm exchanging my sporty helmet for a 'pee-pot' retro job already in anticipation... and I'm LOVING IT!!

If you like your face, you'll keep the sporty helmet. Unless you like tearing your lower mandible off.

**jrandom** · 16th January 2005, 08:53

Hope you did the numbers on whether it's worth buying the new bike in the UK and shipping it over, as opposed to just waiting and buying it when you get here.

Why did you decide to move to a cruiser?

**Holy Roller** · 16th January 2005, 11:56

Originally Posted by Jim2

If you like your face, you'll keep the sporty helmet. Unless you like tearing your lower mandible off.

I've had an open face for 22 years and a full face for the colder wet days or for my pillion. My first choice of lid is the open face always has been.

**lewis_walker** · 16th January 2005, 22:24

Originally Posted by jrandom

Hope you did the numbers on whether it's worth buying the new bike in the UK and shipping it over, as opposed to just waiting and buying it when you get here.

Why did you decide to move to a cruiser?

I did do the numbers - buying in NZ seems to be very expensive. The shipping costs and import tax still mean your quids-in .. or at least you don't lose too much. The other thing, is the size of the market here means it is easier to find the bike you want. I've found a beauty that has only ever been dry-ridden, with 1,500 miles on the clock. all for six thousand something quid. And that was just my local dealer.

As for why the move -- can't explain really. Bikes are very personal, and full of character. I only owned the Bandit 1200 for two months, but I just KNOW (you know?!!). I love the V-Twin thing. I LOVE the BIG capacity thing. I love the riding position. I love the social scene, and the way that on group rides you don't have to contend with all the sportsbikers' egos as they try to outrace everyone else!!

**StoneChucker** · 16th January 2005, 22:29

Originally Posted by lewis_walker

I love the social scene, and the way that on group rides you don't have to contend with all the sportsbikers' egos as they try to outrace everyone else!!

Thats not true! By the way, I'd beat you in a race ANYDAY hahahaha (just taking the piss). You're right, it's VERY hard riding a sports bike and not getting tempted to keep up with someone else. And from my brief experience on American motorcycles, I can definitely see the lure of cruising style bikes.

Do you know where in NZ you're moving to?

**gav** · 16th January 2005, 23:06

Whats six thousand and something quid in NZ dollars? $20K? Whats a 1600 Maurader worth here? Think you can buy the Kwack Mean Streak for what $22K? How much do you think you are saving?

**James Deuce** · 17th January 2005, 05:03

Originally Posted by Holy Roller

I've had an open face for 22 years and a full face for the colder wet days or for my pillion. My first choice of lid is the open face always has been.

That's fine, but having seen the result of a face plant at 100kph as a very green 16 year old, I can't see how anyone can wear an open face helmet. The open face supporters always give me the same argument, but the fact is the skin and bone (even covered in a might beard) are no match for coarse chip gravel and a hefty impact.

**lewis_walker** · 17th January 2005, 05:37

Originally Posted by gav

Whats six thousand and something quid in NZ dollars? $20K? Whats a 1600 Maurader worth here? Think you can buy the Kwack Mean Streak for what $22K? How much do you think you are saving?

6,000 quid is probably only about $15000 once you've converted it. So the saving may not be huge, but like I said, it is easier to source bikes here. The other thing, is that while I'm here in the UK, I'm working as a freelance consultant so for every thousand I spend, I can work the extra hours and claw it back. When we come over I'll probably get a regular job and so it'll be a little harder to save!!

Cheers!

**lewis_walker** · 17th January 2005, 05:40

Originally Posted by StoneChucker

Do you know where in NZ you're moving to?

Not yet! I imagine I'll start by getting a job somewhere around Auckland or Wellington (I'm a consultant by trade, so I need to be where the money-spending clients are!!). Once we're in New Zealand we'll take some time to travel around and get to really know the place before we decide where we want to settle down properly. We really want to get a decent sized bit of land in a nice location, and just build and extend over time. The aim is to start or buy a business, but until I get to know NZ, the economy of the different regions, etc. I won't know what, or where!

But I'm sure looking forward to getting stuck in and finding out...

**gav** · 17th January 2005, 19:11

So long as you don't bring Johnny Wilkinson with ya, your most welcome

**Riff Raff** · 17th January 2005, 20:26

Well I say good onya mate. We're all different, and we all like different bikes. Do what you want to do, and I hope everything goes to plan for your move to NZ.

**toads** · 17th January 2005, 20:44

yes there's a definate charm to a cruiser, that sports bikes don't have, but I like all bikes for their unique features, being a vertically challenged person, I find the lower seat height of a cruiser is much more suited to me, but they do have the disadvantage of being heavier and therefore harder to manouvere ie in and out of angle parking.
Whatever your choice of bikes, so long as it has 2 wheels its wonderful.
have a safe and uneventful trip out here won't you! :cool2:

**sels1** · 18th January 2005, 12:50

Originally Posted by Jim2

That's fine, but having seen the result of a face plant at 100kph as a very green 16 year old, I can't see how anyone can wear an open face helmet. The open face supporters always give me the same argument, but the fact is the skin and bone (even covered in a might beard) are no match for coarse chip gravel and a hefty impact.

While you are quite correct I think you have to let people do their own personal risk vs benefit analysis. I know people who "cant see how anyone can" ride motorbikes (and quote death and injury stories) - but we do.
Some will ride all their days in an open face and never have a problem. Some will ride around in shorts and t-shirts and get away with it. Others wont.There was a time when helmets were not required by law - and people got away with not wearing them for years.

**vifferman** · 18th January 2005, 12:57

Originally Posted by lewis_walker

6,000 quid is probably only about $15000 once you've converted it. So the saving may not be huge, but like I said, it is easier to source bikes here.

I think bikes are still cheaper here, as are all the bits'n'pieces, but having done a search, there don't seem to be any secondhand Marauders for sale here, apart from the smaller capacity ones, so you're right about sourcing.
But (BUT!) new ones are $10,990, so savings?!?

My currency converter tells me that 6000 poonds is $15,994, so that's a non-saving of $5004....