Adventure riding & the recession

[Paladin]

.......

But it has been great being a full-time stay-at-home dad. That's not an experience too many fellahs would have, nor one money can buy.

Colin, I get to spend huge time at home with my kids since divorce and its waaaaay better than having money for darn sure! Have been really pleased to have had the time with them! You can always get more money somehow, but ya never get that time with your kids back!

[3L4NS1R]

For a single young man, the recession is only just starting to bite. Luckily in the first couple of months of the year the boss put most of the contractors (me included) on salaries. Took a slight paycut (which meant a new bike was taken off the radar), but the income security is much appreciated. My freelancing business has taken a slight slide, but enough to keep me busy in the evenings, and most weekends I'm away with the Territorials.

Position: Stable.

[buggsubique]

But it has been great being a full-time stay-at-home dad. That's not an experience too many fellahs would have, nor one money can buy.

Bling WW, I had 6 weeks with my newborn 2 years ago and we are so close. Money can't buy that sort of thing.

[MXNUT]

As of two hours ago, I'm unemployed........

Just noticed the closed sign on the shop yesterday, sorrry to see that Brent.

I was laid off in Feb after 6 months of half-expecting it.
Sold the car in January and held off replacing it pending news of redundancy. Now we have a little $100 shitter for town use
Bike-wise I'm doing more work myself....

Similar situation with the car, my partner needed a new car and we were always planning on buying a small 4WD for her, but with the way things are........

So we traded a 2000 Mitsi lancer at work with a cooked engine and only 30 000 kms, so i brought that very cheaply and have been reconing the engine myself.

Bike wise being a mechanic by trade i have always done all my own repairs

[MXNUT]

Good to see the common theme in these posts that no one is entertaining thoughts of selling their bikes.

A motorcycle is a feel good thing, and in times like these we all need things to help blow away the DOOM & GLOOM

We are a household of 4 bikes ( 3 me - 1 her ) but would find other ways to cope if we have to without selling any of the bikes.

[bart]

I've been wanting to upgrade my bike for a while now, but with how things are at the moment, I'm holding off.

Been toying with the idea of selling my old v8 falcon, but don't think I can part with it. It's worth nothing anyway.

As for the job............who knows. Wish you guys would buy more carpet.

[tri boy]

I get the feeling another Kawhia Bach o/nighter is about due.
Cheap as chips, and a bloody relaxed weekend on gravel roads.
Plus there needs to be a rematch in the scrabble competition.
After MX nuts ride, but before winter.
They will have pry my rotting throttle hand of my bikes before a recession stops me riding and having fun.

[dino3310]

Good to see the common theme in these posts that no one is entertaining thoughts of selling their bikes.

A motorcycle is a feel good thing, and in times like these we all need things to help blow away the DOOM & GLOOM

We are a household of 4 bikes ( 3 me - 1 her ) but would find other ways to cope if we have to without selling any of the bikes.

My wife Hinted toward selling the BIG to get some debt down to help get us into a house sooner.
F the house is what i said and she hasent mentioned it again after i said the big D word.

[dino3310]

I get the feeling another Kawhia Bach o/nighter is about due.
Cheap as chips, and a bloody relaxed weekend on gravel roads.
Plus there needs to be a rematch in the scrabble competition.
After MX nuts ride, but before winter.
They will have pry my rotting throttle hand of my bikes before a recession stops me riding and having fun.

i'll pre-register my interest for that one
and book me a spot on the floor.

[Paladin]

My wife Hinted toward selling the BIG to get some debt down to help get us into a house sooner.
F the house is what i said and she hasent mentioned it again after i said the big D word.

Steady on tiger!

[XF650]

As I understand it, one aspect of our "over cooked" economy is that the value of our exports haven't been matching our imports, so now the "chickens are coming home to roost". Many people & businesses have been greedy & wasteful, to meet a percieved standard of living that our nation simply cannot afford. Plus the bloody banks & finance companies have been lending on little equity, in fact speculating with their investors money. Then add in the fact that many people who have been making important business decisions (e.g financial "advisors"), actually have no experience of what happened during the last decent recession (late 80's). Another part of the problem is that many businesses are geared only for growth and don't have equity to reduce debt.

I'm probably being a negative bastard & hopefully I'm wrong, but I think the worst is yet to come. So called industry 'analyst's have been predicting that whatever level the economy drops to at the end of March (financial year), we probably shouldn't expect to see any improvement for a further 12 months. So if a business isn't geared to cope with that or isn't able to diversify, then further redundancies and or busines closurers are inevitable.

While I admit NZ is at the mercy of overseas financial markets, I think too many people forget that our prosperity is very reliant on primary production (agriculture, horticulture, forestry etc). We have just had the South Island Agricultural Field Days and I'm pleased to say there was an air of optimism amoungst farmers, especially sheep, beef & deer producers. Whether that translates to actual spending or just debt reduction, remains to be seen.
A big part of my income is effected by dairy & vineyard developments, so I have to be realistic & postpone any thoughts of upgrading my toys. And the shit would really have to hit the fan before I would consider selling them.
In the meantime my bikes are the perfect release from any worries about the economy. Being able to get away from it all by going overland or 'the long way' is one thing that makes adventure riding so special. Plus I'v yet to meet any pretentious wankers on adv bikes.
Rant over.

[inorganic]

Two record months in a row... roll on adventures

[cooneyr]

My industry is looking down the barrel of growth due to the current gubberment's desire to increase infrastructure spending as a means of stimulating the economy. Whether this will be a reality or not remains to be seen (I'm a little doubtful at present but it is good for me in the mean time). Also I'm lucky enough that in my specialist field there is a large shortage of people. There are regular efforts to get Poms in my field out here to fill positions and in turn the Ausi's are often over here trying to get kiwis to "leave home".

Sorry to be positive when many of you are doing it hard but this recession so far is a good thing for my wife and I - lower mortgage rates being a key contributor. We are looking to pay of significantly more principle on our mortgage due to lower interest rates. We are also considering another significant expenditure in the next few months if all goes to plan. Knowing my luck all will probably not go to plan but one can only hope.

I'll stop being such a positive prick now. I have to admit it is very sobering reading the previous posts on how difficult life has become for some. It provides some context for me and makes me appreciate where I am in life.

Cheers R

[frewi]

I'm a chippy over here in France. Two guys have been layed off voluntarilly to save the boss having to choose. That leaves 15 of us having every second Friday off until work picks up.
So now I can go riding while the misses is at work and the kids are at school. My other half earns a good wage so we're lucky.

[Motu]

Many people & businesses have been greedy & wasteful, to meet a percieved standard of living that our nation simply cannot afford. Plus the bloody banks & finance companies have been lending on little equity, in fact speculating with their investors money. Then add in the fact that many people who have been making important business decisions (e.g financial "advisors"), actually have no experience of what happened during the last decent recession (late 80's). Another part of the problem is that many businesses are geared only for growth and don't have equity to reduce debt.

There doesn't seem to be the scorn heaped upon those involved as there was with the YUPPY of the '80's.Maybe because just about everyone was sucked into spending money they didn't have....because everyone else was.I was a bit staggered when people would spend up well beyond their means just because the banks and estate agents valued their shit box house at 3 or 4 times it's real worth.The smart ones cashed in on the over inflated value,and bought something valued at it's real worth....and kept the change.The ''toys'' came out of this thinking - seems like everyone who didn't know how to ride,but would like to,had a KTM in the garage.Just as many finally had a HD in theirs.It's going to be hard for them to give up the Lego and have to make do with guns made out of clothes pegs.

I've never had flash bikes,and have weathered many a financial storm,there is always a way to ride.Everything I have is from the '80's,and can stay.I've reduced the registered and insured bikes down to one - something from the '80's I can repair easily,and modify as I desire for little cost.A much more useful bike that will cover the tasks of many,last longer,and never go out of fashion.And always looks good in black....