I don't do practical!

[tori]

Good morning/evening L&G's

The situation I find myself in is that I wish to visit your lovely country this October and I feel, to do it justice, I should tour by bike. I have had a word with a pal at Advanced Motorcycles, Dunedin, and he has offered to loan me a nice, sensible, practical bike which will cart me from A to B in comfort. I feel that he does not know me very well as I do not do practical, I do fast, uncomfortable but fun.

Therefore, my question is, do you think I can get away with hiring a GSXR or Ducatti for a grand Kiwi tour or will the country roads chew it up and spit it out? Also, is there a web site or forum which will give me an idea of nice biker types who ( for the price of beer and food etc.) would be willing to hook up on the way?

Ta in advance

Tori

[Redmist336]

Although roads in NZ are very good for motorcycling I wouldn't punish myself and the bike here. It's simply the severity of corners, the unpredictabilty of the road surface, any debris on top of said surface and the random nature of traffic here. You would be considerably better off hiring a sports tourer, taking your time, enjoying the stunning scenery.

I'm not trying to sytmie your passion, I'm simply trying to preserve your life and make your stay in NZ considerably more enjoyable.

[tori]

Ah, so the old kill joy was right. Ok it's the tourer then, not keen on burdening your health service with my mangled carcas. I'll look the NZ roads thread and see if I can make a route.


Cheers for the info

[Atom Johnny]

It also depends how well you do wet on a bike as well.

Fast is fun but fast and wet, not so. I don't mind the rain having ridden bikes and still owning an Atom but there are days when you get more than a just passing shower. The place is picturesque and green because in gets watered from the heavens on a regular basis.

Still it can be a good way to see the country otherwise touring by motorcycle would not be as popular as it is.
http://www.kiwimotorcycletours.co.nz/
http://www.paradisemotorcycletours.co.nz/
http://motorcyclerentals.gotournz.com/
http://www.motorbiketours.co.nz/
Just to list a few.

October is also more early spring than summer. If you want to ensure the elements don't effect your tour then get a small sports car. They corner faster than bikes anyway.

If you are still keen on the bike idea then there is always http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/ to hook up with locals.

[tori]

You star! This is brilliant! Ok, if you've got an Atom I can see why you don't need a bike. Didn't really consider a sports car but it's an idea, even an old civic type R would be a bit of a laugh. Know what you mean about rain though, the Lion's tour 2005 dumped it on us a few times. Back to the drawing board

[Fraster]

I made a suggestion, and included a link to a website, as Atom Johnny has done above. Mine was about an Auckland kit-car manufacturer that will hire out their car. My post was removed by the administrator-presumably thinking that I have some professional connection with the company. I don't. So: there is a Lotus 7 replica manufacturer in Beachhaven, Auckland who hire out their demo car. They are very nice replicas and great fun to drive-I owned two of them (not at the same time you understand). It may be an option for part of your adventure. The company was started by Neill Fraser and still bears his name.

[tori]

Bit of a bugger that. Brilliant, thanks for the info. Taking into account both you guys' information, I'm thinking bike north Island and car/ cool toy for the South.

If I'm passing I'll shout you beer!

[SkylineObsession]

http://www.southernrider.co.nz

Mainly a South Island group, but i know a few people in it and they are all awesome peeps and peepettes.

[tori]

Ah a Dunedin resident? You probably know that Advanced Motorcycles place then. I'll e mail those people and have to drop into your neck of the woods. Great to have a coffee in the square again and the beach was fantastic!

Thank you!

[SkylineObsession]

I'm aware of it, and can vaguely recall seeing it on a building in the city somewhere. My wife is the one with a motorbike (Kawasaki Ninja 600RR - one of only about 5 in NZ), but it's now off the road until summer.

[N1CERB]

I am always keen for beer if you head right up North.