Hiring a 250cc bike

[Templar]

Hi guys, nice forums.

A bit of history about me, I rode motorcross bikes when I was a teenager for a few years and spent a couple of years in my mid twenties in Auckland as an Urgent motorcycle courier. The bike was written off by a lady in a SUV right turning across me eventually, and as it was winter and spending the entire day in the freezing rain gets you cold and wet no matter what gear I had, I vowed to never again only own a motorcycle. Needless to say I got a car as a replacement and for one reason or another kind of fell out of the bike universe until now, and have not owned one since.

The courier work has given me very good road safety, situational awareness and very good confidence, which while they maybe a bit rusty now (I have hit the thirties recently) I am confident they will come back.

So anyway, a new career path and better savings habits has left me and my partner in a much better life situation now, and one thing that has been gnawing at my conscience for a while now is to get a bike and do a tour of NZ.

So far we're getting through the planning phase and are pencilling something in for the end of 07. I would like to get an 07 Sprint ST and tour the South Island for a couple of weeks, but that's probably another thread all by itself.

Now the problem I have is that through procrastination, the naivety of youth and just being useless, I never did get anything but a learners license.

Now I am wondering what my best way forward is getting my restricted, are there places in Auckland that will rent me a 250cc bike on day rates for a learners licence? Does the LTSA let you borrow a bike? None of my friends have bikes I could borrow, and I really don't want to buy one just for the test.

Sounds pretty stupid I know, and I am the first to admit it, but hey, we all grow up and I am keen to get the restricted so I can move to full by end of year.

OT: I've found some great info trolling these forums recently, it's great such a diverse culture with a common interest can come together with such great interaction.

[kiwifruit]

welcome to the site

i'd go hassle the bike shops, surely one of them will lend you a steed for a box of beers or similar

[The Stranger:Me]

Where in Auckland are you?
If you speak to Adam at Henderson Motorcycles I am sure he will work something out.
I know he has a 250 there which he has loaned to me in the past for a box of Heineken and I know it gets used for license tests frequently.

[Templar]

Thanks guys we're in Mt Eden so Henderson is not too far away. I'll see if any of the locals go for the beer bait

[Jimmy B]

Gidday mate,

Both Mt Eden, Red Barron, Haldanes hire 250 bikes. They will charge $50.00 for half a day. Be interested to hear if the beer works. Will pay to call and book first. I wanted to hire a dirt bike for a few days and I think Red barron had a couple, the others were GN's Virago's etc so didnt folow through.

[Mully]

Passrite in Onehunga hire out GNs. I think you have to do a riding assesment with their guys before they let them take the bike by yourself and for the test, but that's not a bad idea as you can have some bad habits picked up.

[Mully]

As an aside, were you held liable for the accident with the SUV as you didn't have a licence?

[Sniper]

You understand you will graduate to your restricted (Whos CC limit is also 250) which you have to hold for 12 months (being over 22) before you can advance to your full and buy your sprint.

Good luck though

/rain on the parade

[Disco Dan]

Where in Auckland are you?
If you speak to Adam at Henderson Motorcycles I am sure he will work something out.
I know he has a 250 there which he has loaned to me in the past for a box of Heineken and I know it gets used for license tests frequently.

yeah what he said! i Made the not so clever move of selling my 250cc a week before my restricted test... the blokes down at Henderson Motorcycles have a "whore bike" for hire... ya know.. "everyones had a ride" type thing... been used for a few tests... its even got a reputation for being 'lucky' as everyone passes on it!

[Templar]

As an aside, were you held liable for the accident with the SUV as you didn't have a licence?

Hi Mully, I do have a license, a learners one. The accident was during the day on a 250cc bike and I was not at fault so no there was no liability.

You understand you will graduate to your restricted (Whos CC limit is also 250) which you have to hold for 12 months (being over 22) before you can advance to your full and buy your sprint.

Good luck though

/rain on the parade

Hi Sniper, From what I saw on the LTSA, due to my age I can get the wait down to 6 months. I am 30+.

However, from trolling these forums I think I can sit my full straight away, because I have an international full Cook Islands license. From what I've read it's something you can do, so fingers crossed eh?

[Sniper]

Hi Sniper, From what I saw on the LTSA, due to my age I can get the wait down to 6 months. I am 30+.

Thats correct, but only if you sit a defensive driving course (At least if its the same as the over 22 car license situation)

However, from trolling these forums I think I can sit my full straight away, because I have an international full Cook Islands license. From what I've read it's something you can do, so fingers crossed eh?

Thats correct, but is it a car and motorcycle licence or just a car?

EDIT: As a side note and something worth checking. Your bike license hasnt expired has it?

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

The courier work has given me very good road safety, situational awareness and very good confidence,

I know I had the same thing when I did Eagle Express Couriers in Hawkes bay... Forces you to think ahead, know your surroundings and anticapate the unthinkable...

errr as for hiring a bike, what the others say...

[Templar]

Thats correct, but is it a car and motorcycle licence or just a car?

EDIT: As a side note and something worth checking. Your bike license hasnt expired has it?

The Cook Is license is class AB, so car and bike.

My NZ license expires in 2009.

So in the interest of getting this plan on the road, what forms do I need to get or how do I go about converting the Cook Is license into an NZ one?

[Sniper]

The Cook Is license is class AB, so car and bike.

My NZ license expires in 2009.

So in the interest of getting this plan on the road, what forms do I need to get or how do I go about converting the Cook Is license into an NZ one?

Sweet as. Pop down to any AA branch and they will set the wheels in motion

[steved]

Thats correct, but only if you sit a defensive driving course (At least if its the same as the over 22 car license situation)

It's not. Templar is right. 25 years plus = 6 months on restricted (only 3 months with defensive driving course!) before being allowed to sit the full license test. Under 25s get 18 months, 12 with a defensive driving course on their restricted.

Stage 3 — Full licence

You can apply for a full licence after 18 months on your restricted licence if you are under 25 years old, or after six months on your restricted licence if you are 25 or older.

If you successfully complete an approved course, the length of time you must hold your restricted licence for will be reduced to 12 months for those aged under 25 years, and three months for those 25 or older. You must present the course certificate to the driver licensing agent when you book the practical test.

http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/fac.../28.html#three