Haldanes is closed

[avgas]

Suzuki... The B King, Gladius,
Yamaha V max, MT-01

I'll bite...
B-King : Took 6 years, was first put into production by Lazareth by blatantly stealing Suzuki's concept then copying it with what he had (Busa's and know how). By the time Lazareth had enough back-orders for the next 10 years Suzuki noticed and (finally) went to production . When they did they took all the toys out of it (head-up display, supercharged motor) and even underpowered it in comparison to what the donor motor (busa) could do. Still a good bike - but one with clipped wings.

Gladius : They must have mis-interpreted the request for a "drag" bike. Also if the Gladius was an SV650 tailored for the masses.....what the hell was the SV650???

V-Max : Way back in the 1980's yamaha thought it would be a cool idea to make a super-fast cruiser bike. They tried it, it worked, became cult icon, then they stopped making it. Late 2000's they rekindle it, add a small amount of spice then say "done". Once again - Lazareth and many others have been reinventing VMAX's for years where Yamaha was asleep. So you would have thought that they would put more effort into the remake. I don't see them re-releasing XS1100's or TZ500's..........yet if they got the old bike and farted their creative talent on it again it would sell like hotcakes.

MT-01 : Great bike and concept. But what they don't tell you was they had a whole range. Look up MT-OS or MT-06 and drool. But turns out people didn't want a big cruiser. On the upside looking at their track-record, you will be able to buy a brand new one in 20 years, which will look just like it does now, when it becomes cool again.

Any other great designs you would like me to prod?

While I am at it here are some of the fallen japanese designs that were original and should have got pushed to production:
Yamaha MT-OS
Suzuki Stratosphere
Yamaha VMN1400r
Yamaha Tessaract

Probably 100's of others I have missed

[Woodman]

Many fair points no argument. Much we havent got control of but the Government if it had any balls would tax business imports and private imports EQUALLY.

They obviously have the means and knowhow because my last order (you don't wanna know what it was) I got deliverd to my work address, but before it got to me a letter came stating that I had to declare that it was for me personally and not a commercial resellable item. I had to write a wee paragraph saying what it was for and why I got it delivered to commercial premises etc before they released it and charged me GST etc. Presumably otherwise there would have been some commercial tax involved.

BTW I agree that private imported goods should be charged the same taxes etc as commercial goods. Its just fairer.

[Indiana_Jones]

Two things come to mind from your post;

- A small personal financial gain is going to be determined by the person, innit. As I've posted before, I've read posts on here of Twats privately importing stuff only to later find that they could have bought it locally for either the same price or cheaper.

- You're a sick bastard for spending anything on a land crab except maybe a tip fee.

-Exactly, someone would go through the hassle of ordering from overseas etc for the sake of $5, others would not.

-Nothing wrong with the mighty Landcrab lol, you're talking to a man who would do a full resto on a Princess if I had the space .

-Indy

[GrayWolf]

I'll bite...
B-King : Took 6 years, was first put into production by Lazareth by blatantly stealing Suzuki's concept then copying it with what he had (Busa's and know how). By the time Lazareth had enough back-orders for the next 10 years Suzuki noticed and (finally) went to production . When they did they took all the toys out of it (head-up display, supercharged motor) and even underpowered it in comparison to what the donor motor (busa) could do. Still a good bike - but one with clipped wings.

Gladius : They must have mis-interpreted the request for a "drag" bike. Also if the Gladius was an SV650 tailored for the masses.....what the hell was the SV650???

V-Max : Way back in the 1980's yamaha thought it would be a cool idea to make a super-fast cruiser bike. They tried it, it worked, became cult icon, then they stopped making it. Late 2000's they rekindle it, add a small amount of spice then say "done". Once again - Lazareth and many others have been reinventing VMAX's for years where Yamaha was asleep. So you would have thought that they would put more effort into the remake. I don't see them re-releasing XS1100's or TZ500's..........yet if they got the old bike and farted their creative talent on it again it would sell like hotcakes.

MT-01 : Great bike and concept. But what they don't tell you was they had a whole range. Look up MT-OS or MT-06 and drool. But turns out people didn't want a big cruiser. On the upside looking at their track-record, you will be able to buy a brand new one in 20 years, which will look just like it does now, when it becomes cool again.

Any other great designs you would like me to prod?

While I am at it here are some of the fallen japanese designs that were original and should have got pushed to production:
Yamaha MT-OS
Suzuki Stratosphere
Yamaha VMN1400r
Yamaha Tessaract

Probably 100's of others I have missed

Yup you're probably q110% correct,,, Suziki may have 'watered down' the B king concept from its origin, just like the 'concept MT-01' had LED lights, a 'side mounted shock' that finally found it's way into the MT-03 and an even more funky difital speedo/tacho unit. Yamaha had 3 stages of tuning available at a bloody ridiculous cost. The OS was not a yamaha original concept, it was a development from the MT.
For a manufacturer to make a bike they need to make it reliable, usable and serviceable AND affordable... the 'watered down' bike as you call it would have been in the hands of many who would not have the money to buy a production bike in the original form, so yup it was 'watered down'. And it would have to survive the 'plebeian' abuse most bikes are dished out, specials DO tend to be a little more looked after (Ferrari owner Vs Skyline GTS ownership).
Yamaha tried the Bulldog 1100 from the MT concept and it failed miserably, so in 2005 (6 yrs AFTER it's unveiling) we got the original bike, by then Buell etc had taken the market share. Had the MT been sold from 1999 when it was unveiled? and at a more 'reasonable' price, it's story may have been different, BTW the MT is NOT a cruiser, it may use a cruiser engine but is highly 'tweaked' from the donor bike's motor. it out torqued ANY of the 1000cc bracket sprot bikes when released, including the original 'busa, ZX-10, ZZR1200, B/bird, CBR's GSX's etc. nearest bike for performance comparison, is the XR1200 HD sporty... it was a flagship bike and build quality is extremely good... just never marketed into the USA for some strange reason, and as mentioned 'overpriced' by the time it was finally in production.
Honda produced the X-13 in the 90's... not a bad bike, but another 'risk design' that didnt really take off.
You can prod as many as you like, but the simple 'equation' is, the buying public in the main want 'rossirepwannabe' GSXCBRRRRRRR 1100 GGRT's Look at how quickly the 'speed hump' on one piece leathers took off.... concept bikes such as those we both mentioned just are not going to go 'mainstream'... hell we are only 'JUST' seeing a resurgence of the 'naked/UJM' style of bikes again.... just after bikes like the GS1400 went out of production.... but even these are being done with an 'aggressive' styling concept....

[Brian d marge]

-Exactly, someone would go through the hassle of ordering from overseas etc for the sake of $5, others would not.

-Nothing wrong with the mighty Landcrab lol, you're talking to a man who would do a full resto on a Princess if I had the space .

-Indy

Sickko

Stephen

[avgas]

In other news looks like US is finally getting SR400's after so many custom bike builders have been using 20 year old SR500's and making fortunes.
I wonder if that means that we will get new SR400's?

[scracha]

[QUOTE=Zedder;1130492656][QUOTE=scracha;1130492602]

Lol, just 'cos you've never seen a firearm in the UK apart from the clay pigeon range and the airport doesn't mean they don't exist.

Here's some civilian gun figures but feel free to click on the other headings: http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/united-kingdom

True....but the odd farmer or enthusiast aside, they're just a non entity in the UK. Since the Thomas Hamilton thing they're considered almost socially unacceptable. Lastly, unlike around here you don't find unlicensed gun owners as it's a mandatory 5 year prison sentence for owning an unlicensed gun. Also there's no such thing as private handgun ownership in the UK.

Seems a bit crazy sometimes....but there you go.
http://www.businessinsider.com/briti...irearm-2012-11

Anyways...Looking at the site you gave.

NZ - 5.25 Licensed firearm owners per 100 population
UK - 1.46 Licensed firearm owners per 100 population

NZ - 22.6 firearms per 100 people
UK - 6.7 firearms per 100 people

Can I just state for the record, that I'm not actually against gun ownership.

I cringe when I here people that have lived overseas think they know what makes a country great

That's a bit unfair. I merely stated that NZ has problems (as have other countries...many worse) as some people seem to bury their heads in some sort of ritualistic sand chanting "best country in the world" and telling people to "fuck off overseas" if they dare point out some problem areas that clearly need addressed. Be it myself, my bike, my house or my country; to not recognise I/they have problems and not try and fix me/them means that I don't care about myself/them. To not discuss improvements is just stupid.

My original post did say "I wish I knew the answers."

I don't know if you are an import (you sound like one) or not so i will phrase this question as this.
Why are you here in nz and what stops you from living somewhere else?

I am in NZ because I personally have a good lifestyle here and on balance, it's far better than anywhere else I've lived. I feel genuinely sympathtic to tho's who aren't as fortunate as me and clearly aren't getting their fair share of the kiwi pie. I worry about my economic future in this country. I worry about the direction this country is headed. I don't agree that things are improving. In short, I give a fuck. If I didn't give up a fuck I'd upsticks and head overseas again.

[Brian d marge]

I can certainly wade in on the godzone debate ,

ALL Countries say their own is the best , the Japanese for example ( on the quiet ) are a racist bunch Yellow? supremists ( nice though ) . Try critisizing japan and see how far you get ! ( esp when the word china is used in the sentence )

New Zealand though , IF YOU HAVE MONEY ( ie a steady income ) is a nice place to live , The restaurants are expensive , the beer is crap ( getting better with the advent of micro breweries ) , no people and the people are there are impolite and fat. ( sorry but true at least in churchur)

The driving is too fast and inconsiderate. The health service is actually ok, if you dont mind the wait. ( here in Japan its fast and kinda ok , Im not sure they could cure the simple cold though, but its cheap , oh so cheap)

Tax , OMG HOW MUCH !! DAMN , here I pay a flat tax of 5 % and a citizens tax of up to 20 , depending on earnings ( yes companies pay a lot )

Education , better here up to the age of 11 then it starts to go down hill , while NZ improves ( Uni in NZ is FAR better though TOO expensive)

So why would you live in NZ

Well you wouldnt if you want to get ahead, ( strangely ) I feel there is a cant do attitude I feel , but when I leave its a can do ? dont know why ,

BUT , now here the point , IF you wanted a good quality of life ( ie not worried about making money and just a small square of land and the kids to a local school , home by 4.30 dinner by 6 then shortland street, sat and sunday off with saturday at the footie or beach ......etc

New Zealand IS THE PLACE ( so is greece but there is a language barrier )

I have lived in ( for more than a year )

England , France , greece , and Japan ( 13 years and counting ) and of couse NZ ( 12 years both pre and post Rogernomics)


The grass IS greener tuther side of fence , Just depends on what you call green

Stephen

Oh ps, your internet is big suxy goat balls

[Zedder]

[QUOTE=scracha;1130493626][QUOTE=Zedder;1130492656][QUOTE=scracha;1130492602]

True....but the odd farmer or enthusiast aside, they're just a non entity in the UK. Since the Thomas Hamilton thing they're considered almost socially unacceptable. Lastly, unlike around here you don't find unlicensed gun owners as it's a mandatory 5 year prison sentence for owning an unlicensed gun. Also there's no such thing as private handgun ownership in the UK.

Seems a bit crazy sometimes....but there you go.
http://www.businessinsider.com/briti...irearm-2012-11

Anyways...Looking at the site you gave.

NZ - 5.25 Licensed firearm owners per 100 population
UK - 1.46 Licensed firearm owners per 100 population

NZ - 22.6 firearms per 100 people
UK - 6.7 firearms per 100 people

Can I just state for the record, that I'm not actually against gun ownership.


You didn't even read the info properly, the number of registered guns was 2,158,572 while the licensed owners were 861,958 and the estimated total number of guns was 4,060,000. That's hardly the "odd farmer and enthusiast aside". But hey, just keep getting off the subject.

[scracha]

You didn't even read the info properly, the number of registered guns was 2,158,572 while the licensed owners were 861,958 and the estimated total number of guns was 4,060,000. That's hardly the "odd farmer and enthusiast aside". But hey, just keep getting off the subject.

Yes, I did read the info..

In a country of 65 Million, 0.8 million licensed owners owning an estimated 4 million guns is indeed, the odd farmer and enthusiast. There's approx 0.6 million folk in the uk directly working on farms.

In a country of 4.4 Million, 0.23 million licensed (not to mention unlicensed) owners owning an estimated 1 million guns (no registration necessary so who actually knows) how many there are) is far more than the odd farmer and enthusiast. I have no idea how many people in NZ directly work on farms.


There are no off subject on Kiwibiker

[mouldy]

Not even overseas.

I needed a new chain and sprocket fitted. Called several bike shops around town got quoted at 250-350$

George at Motorcycle doctors said he'd do it for 90$. And he comes to you.

I've never had any dealings with Haldanes, and I hate to see people lose their jobs. But with price differences like that in servicing from a top chap like George, coupled with parts n bits being much cheaper from overseas, it's small wonder shops are starting to go under.

New bike prices here are also outrageous from my non native new zealander point of view I wonder how many people are buying new vs used from trade me.

$90 for chain and sprockets is very suspicious , what brand are they ?

[Zedder]

Yes, I did read the info..

In a country of 65 Million, 0.8 million licensed owners owning an estimated 4 million guns is indeed, the odd farmer and enthusiast. There's approx 0.6 million folk in the uk directly working on farms.

In a country of 4.4 Million, 0.23 million licensed (not to mention unlicensed) owners owning an estimated 1 million guns (no registration necessary so who actually knows) how many there are) is far more than the odd farmer and enthusiast. I have no idea how many people in NZ directly work on farms.


There are no off subject on Kiwibiker

Got any data to support that? Hehe.

[Maha]

How did a thread about a bike shop closing get onto the subject of guns?

[Madness]

$90 for chain and sprockets is very suspicious , what brand are they ?

I got the impression that the $90 was to fit a supplied chain & sprockets bought from Ebay & imported without paying GST & Duties.

[Indiana_Jones]

How did a thread about a bike shop closing get onto the subject of guns?

-Indy