Some questions re biking in New Zealand

[Wayne N]

Hi Wayne we haven't compared quotes yet. We have only considered Anglo Pacific mainly because they ship from Glasgow. When I come out initially I won't be bringing a container because we haven't sold our house yet. Bit of a nightmare. This means we will stay in NZ for seven months and then back to UK for five or until the house sells. The effects of the actions of the U.K wanker bankers and the consequences of what they did in 2008 are still being felt today in terms of selling property. The value of our property has halved in those seven years and it still isn't selling. Anyway enough of my woes this thread that I found might help you.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/new-z...-uk-nz-823374/

I feel for you! it is crap unless you live in the south east of England. I've been there before (selling) and you seem to have to go through the despair of not not selling and then all of a sudden one day someone turns up and it is sold. I sincerely hope that it works out OK for you. I doubt that you will regret the move!

Thanks for the link, I'll go through the posts. We have 3 bikes here but I doubt I'll bring all 3 back to NZ. Probably just my GSA. I'm half tempted to ride it back but have this uneasy feeling about the reliability. BMW are not as reliable as they like to make out!

[Largs Saint]

Cheers Wayne. Like the sound of riding the bike to NZ. True about BMW's though, I know a guy with a GS still in warranty and it has been back to the dealers loads of time. The latest being problems with the active suspension. Not a fan of these new fangled electronics. Pretty sure that the lovely perma-rain we get in Scotland plays havoc with them.

[Wayne N]

Cheers Wayne. Like the sound of riding the bike to NZ. True about BMW's though, I know a guy with a GS still in warranty and it has been back to the dealers loads of time. The latest being problems with the active suspension. Not a fan of these new fangled electronics. Pretty sure that the lovely perma-rain we get in Scotland plays havoc with them.

LOL .... way off topic here but indulge me. I've had GS's for quite a few years. I have to admit that my latest one hasn't let me down yet but it is only a year old with 9,000 miles. Almost without exception all the previous ones have required BMW assistance at some point in their lives :-( They are big and heavy and probably too much for NZ but then, they are comfortable and great if it is two-up touring. It is probably a year off before I can seriously move back so I have a while to decide. I was back in NZ in the past couple of months and the BMW dealer in Wellington quoted me $NZ 45K as replacement price <gulp> !!!! Bet they don't sell that many .....

The little Suzuki V-Strom I also have would probably be a better bike for the ride to NZ (just not two-up!)

[Largs Saint]

LOL .... way off topic here but indulge me. I've had GS's for quite a few years. I have to admit that my latest one hasn't let me down yet but it is only a year old with 9,000 miles. Almost without exception all the previous ones have required BMW assistance at some point in their lives :-( They are big and heavy and probably too much for NZ but then, they are comfortable and great if it is two-up touring. It is probably a year off before I can seriously move back so I have a while to decide. I was back in NZ in the past couple of months and the BMW dealer in Wellington quoted me $NZ 45K as replacement price <gulp> !!!! Bet they don't sell that many .....

The little Suzuki V-Strom I also have would probably be a better bike for the ride to NZ (just not two-up!)

Bike magazine ran a series on taking a V-Strom from England to its birthplace at the Suzuki factory in Japan was the V-Strom 1000. Is yours the 650?

[Wayne N]

Bike magazine ran a series on taking a V-Strom from England to its birthplace at the Suzuki factory in Japan was the V-Strom 1000. Is yours the 650?

Yeah, Mine is the 650. I brought it last year for commuting from Liverpool to Manchester so I would save wear and tear on the BM. I really like it, it is nice and light and perfect for around town. It is cheap too, cost me less than a 1/3rd of the BMW and yet does 90% of what the BMW can do. It has a smoother gearbox as well

[jonnyk5614]

Just as aside, when we moved out I looked into bringing my car.

Shipping containers can go door to door unopened. MAF will inspect it at your house for you.

If there is a vehicle inside though, the container must be unpacked at the port.

[Swoop]

Also a non bike related question. Why do Aucklanders come in for so much abuse? I hear that they are called JAFAs.

Auckland is the powerhouse of the country with most of the companies located or re-locating to the industrial areas of the city. Aucklanders would probably admit that we would prefer big companies to be located in areas away from us, to ease up on everything (congestion, housing demands, labour availability, etc) but scales of economy don't help.
Smaller town people like to hate "Jafa's" due to every small reason they can think up, and then have to give their town a nickname which has "Vegas" tagged on to it to make it sound "bright lights! exciting" when it really has one traffic light... IF they are lucky. The sole exception is Rotorua "RotoVegas!" which deserves the title since they thought it up.

There. Plenty to get the townsfolk of KB suitably enraged and heading off to get their pitchforks and burning torches...

[Maha]

I hear that they are called JAFA.

JAFA = Jewish Army Forgives Akzle

[jonnyk5614]

Auckland is the powerhouse of the country with most of the companies located or re-locating to the industrial areas of the city. Aucklanders would probably admit that we would prefer big companies to be located in areas away from us, to ease up on everything (congestion, housing demands, labour availability, etc) but scales of economy don't help.
Smaller town people like to hate "Jafa's" due to every small reason they can think up, and then have to give their town a nickname which has "Vegas" tagged on to it to make it sound "bright lights! exciting" when it really has one traffic light... IF they are lucky. The sole exception is Rotorua "RotoVegas!" which deserves the title since they thought it up.

There. Plenty to get the townsfolk of KB suitably enraged and heading off to get their pitchforks and burning torches...

Why do people hate London?

Same thing

[george formby]

Howzit OP? If your moving to Auks have you got house sorted? They are ridiculously expensive compared to the rest of the country. Mind you, there is a bloke on the North Shore who puts together a fine haggis.

I recently imported a bike and it was a bloody nightmare. Not so much at this end but the logistics company were horrendous. It took 9 months & finally turned up strapped to a pallet and wrapped in bubble wrap & cling film! Keys had vanished so had an exhaust sent with it. Customs, MPI and the freight handlers at this end were very helpful and reasonably efficient.

I will start the process of getting it road registered soon, a whole new ball game.

[Moi]

... Why do Aucklanders come in for so much abuse? I hear that they are called JAFAs.

JAFA = just another fantastic Aucklander...

Also, this might help

[98tls]

Ha ha thanks for that. I and many other Scots feel the same way about London. You are absolutely right about NZ being one of the most wonderful countries in the world. I was in NZ for only two days and I knew that I had to move there. I've only managed to see Auckland, Paihia, Hamilton and Rotorua so far on holiday. All great in their own ways. Only 3.5 months to go!

Dont get to settled up there eh,when the bike turns up pack her indoors and some gear and head South...chances are you wont want to go back across the ditch.Whatever happens a welcome to you...enjoy.

[Berries]

Ha ha thanks for that. I and many other Scots feel the same way about London.

Why do people hate London?

Same thing

Not quite. There's a bit of history between England and Scotland so the way those tartan gingery Scotch people feel is somewhat understandable. As an Englishman who lived in Aberdeen when Braveheart came out I can vouch for the strength of that feeling.

The hate hate relationship with Auckland is nothing like as serious. In fact is it mildly amusing when they come back with words like powerhouse and heart of the economy, or should I say �电厂 and
的心� �济 for the locals.

Seriously though, if you want to live in a big shitty city with all the life draining crap that goes with it then there are places all over the world that fit the bill. If you come to NZ you have to head out of the metropolis and see what else there is, it's a fucking great place.

[98tls]

Not quite. There's a bit of history between England and Scotland so the way those tartan gingery Scotch people feel is somewhat understandable. As an Englishman who lived in Aberdeen when Braveheart came out I can vouch for the strength of that feeling.

The hate hate relationship with Auckland is nothing like as serious. In fact is it mildly amusing when they come back with words like powerhouse and heart of the economy, or should I say �电厂 and
的心� �济 for the locals.

Seriously though, if you want to live in a big shitty city with all the life draining crap that goes with it then there are places all over the world that fit the bill. If you come to NZ you have to head out of the metropolis and see what else there is, it's a fucking great place.

Nicely put B,push comes to shove if he gets homesick he can always spend some time in Dunners which in turn will remind him why he left.

[Berries]

I find it difficult to respond to that post without using all of the four letter words that I have at my disposal. Lets just say that after seven years in Aberdeen I came to NZ to get away from all that shit and thought, you know, the other side of the world might be far enough. Little did I know that I would end up in a town that is more Scottish than anywhere in Scotland and be living next door to some fucking wanker who played the fucking pipes, if played can ever be the correct word. Fuckers should explode when they cross the equator.





At least we have better weather.