Is motorcycling allowed?

[patches]

ummm.

 

 

So in RSA I used a R50 note as a license. Just kept renewing my learners.

 

About 18 months ago I did my NZ Learners and Restricted. Bought a BMW GS but I am too hobbit sized for it so sold it.

 

Now I want to get my full license( my year on Restricted is over) and I need to buy a little easy to manage bike to do that on. The MT looks cool and seems to keep its value.

 

I don't think you can go wrong with an MT-03. Yamaha have set a market standard with the MT range.

 

I've been on my restricted for a little over 2yrs now 

 

I should probably get round to doing my full. Apparently it's slightly easier than the restricted in that it's shorter. From what I understand the main thing they "test" you on is that you are comfortable and competent to ride at 100kph (whereas the Restricted test they only take you to 80kph).

 

Are you going to go on a Ride Forever Silver course just before you do the test? Let me know, I may join. I've been meaning to do another Ride Forever.

[Wayne Potgieter]

I don't think you can go wrong with an MT-03. Yamaha have set a market standard with the MT range.

 

I've been on my restricted for a little over 2yrs now 

 

I should probably get round to doing my full. Apparently it's slightly easier than the restricted in that it's shorter. From what I understand the main thing they "test" you on is that you are comfortable and competent to ride at 100kph (whereas the Restricted test they only take you to 80kph).

 

Are you going to go on a Ride Forever Silver course just before you do the test? Let me know, I may join. I've been meaning to do another Ride Forever.

Cool idea.

 

After a couple of weeks getting comfortable, I will do a Ride Forever refresher and start getting ready for the full. Would be cool to do it with a mate.

[Wayne Potgieter]

Update - Took the little MT-03 for a spin. Great little learner bike. Super light and easy to manouveurerueu turn.

 

Ordered one in the Ice Flouro colour scheme. Should get it Wednesday.

 

Once I have the full license, ill flip it and upgrade to its bigger brother the MT-07 or MT-09.

 

Here is a picture (no couch - sorry)

 

 

Edited August 31, 2020 by Wayne Potgieter

[patches]

Update - Took the little MT-03 for a spin. Great little learner bike. Super light and easy to manouveurerueu turn.

 

Ordered one in the Ice Flouro colour scheme. Should get it Wednesday.

 

Once I have the full license, ill flip it and upgrade to its bigger brother the MT-07 or MT-09.

 

Here is a picture (no couch - sorry)

 

 

Very nice!

 

The MT-07 engine is supposed to be majestical!

 

I'm guessing if you go for an MT-07 after getting your full license, it'll be the high-output version (689cc) as the other one is LAMS approved (655cc) and where's the fun in that!

 

[patches]

Dammit Wayne!

You got me looking at the Husky website for a "commuter bike" once I too get a full license, and they have a sale on the Husky 701 Supermoto 

 

 

https://www.cyclespot.co.nz/bike/Husqvarna/FS701/999595672

 

The 2020 Pilens are also rather purdy...

 

 

 

However I will be drawn & quartered if I end up with a 3rd Husky in the garage when I'm supposed to be going down to just 1 

[Wayne Potgieter]

Dammit Wayne!

 

You got me looking at the Husky website for a "commuter bike" once I too get a full license, and they have a sale on the Husky 701 Supermoto

 

 

https://www.cyclespot.co.nz/bike/Husqvarna/FS701/999595672

 

The 2020 Pilens are also rather purdy...

 

 

 

However I will be drawn & quartered if I end up with a 3rd Husky in the garage when I'm supposed to be going down to just 1

there is a saffa lady in Auckland selling a vitpilen on Facebook with the most amazing helmet.

[Andymann]

So you NZ dwellers - isn't it crazy expensive to run a bike in NZ? - I have a good school friend who lives  in CHC and he used to have a CBR500 which he rode on the weekends.  Last time I spoke to him he said he sold it because it was waaaay to expensive to licence and insure - something close to the equivalent of R10000 per year he said.

 

I speak under correction but he was saying that because the NZ Government sees motorcycling as a high risk which could cost a lot in medical fees if you have an accident, they make it really expensive to do.

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

Update - Took the little MT-03 for a spin. Great little learner bike. Super light and easy to manouveurerueu turn.

 

Ordered one in the Ice Flouro colour scheme. Should get it Wednesday.

 

Once I have the full license, ill flip it and upgrade to its bigger brother the MT-07 or MT-09.

 

Here is a picture (no couch - sorry)

 

And talk of a 300cc version of the Tenere too......

[Wayne Potgieter]

So you NZ dwellers - isn't it crazy expensive to run a bike in NZ? - I have a good school friend who lives in CHC and he used to have a CBR500 which he rode on the weekends. Last time I spoke to him he said he sold it because it was waaaay to expensive to licence and insure - something close to the equivalent of R10000 per year he said.

 

I speak under correction but he was saying that because the NZ Government sees motorcycling as a high risk which could cost a lot in medical fees if you have an accident, they make it really expensive to do.

its swings and roundabouts.

 

You pay more on your road user charges(my last bike was about R4,500 a year) but I pay no medical aid at all so that’s nice.

Edited August 31, 2020 by Wayne Potgieter

[patches]

So you NZ dwellers - isn't it crazy expensive to run a bike in NZ? - I have a good school friend who lives  in CHC and he used to have a CBR500 which he rode on the weekends.  Last time I spoke to him he said he sold it because it was waaaay to expensive to licence and insure - something close to the equivalent of R10000 per year he said.

 

I speak under correction but he was saying that because the NZ Government sees motorcycling as a high risk which could cost a lot in medical fees if you have an accident, they make it really expensive to do.

 

 

its swings and roundabouts.

 

You pay more on your road user charges(my last bike was about R4,500 a year) but I pay no medical aid at all so that’s nice.

 

As Wayne said, the "rego" as they call it is pretty heavy on motorbikes. It also increases with engine size. At current exchange rates...

 

Mopeds: about R1871/yr

0 - 60cc: about R4500/yr

61 - 600cc: about R4622/yr

601cc and up: about R5935/yr

 

The reasoning behind this is ACC (kinda like NZ's version of the Road Accident Fund). Whilst ACC covers ANY accidental injury (from twisting ankles to major car crashes), they deem motorcycles as a higher risk so the registration fees are increased. However as Wayne said, one can easily get by in NZ with no medical aid (as long as they are eligible for universal healthcare).

 

One does have the option to pay in 1 month increments, but this ends up a little more expensive overall. I do 3 months at at time.

 

Also one can put their rego "on hold" for 3 months or more, meaning no charges accumulate, but legally the bike is not allowed to be ridden on public roads. Lots of people (including myself) put their rego on hold during the rainy season.  Some of those people (not including myself) chance it and still ride, but if you get caught it can be big trouble.

 

Additionally, in order to reduce the risk, the ACC has a programme called Ride Forever which involves various day-long courses in small groups with professional instruction. Kinda like a "defensive driving" class. The motorcycle registration offsets the costs of the courses and in most cases they're about R220 for the day (and sometimes free). Each motorcycle license holder (from learners license up) is entitled to 2 subsidised courses/yr.

 

And as an additional benefit, and to encourage the seasoned riders to brush up on some skills and kick bad habits, if a rider who has had their full license for 5yrs or more completes 2 Ride Forever courses, they get about R2200 back on their registration fees.

 

So ultimately the whole system is designed to promote safe riding.

Edited August 31, 2020 by patches

[patches]

there is a saffa lady in Auckland selling a vitpilen on Facebook with the most amazing helmet.

 

ooh, is it the matching Pilen helmet?

 

[Wayne Potgieter]

ooh, is it the matching Pilen helmet?

 

 

 

Yes it is.

 

Although - I have my eyes on a nice Ruroc berserker lid.

 

Looks pretty similar and I love the interchangeable lenses.

 

https://www.ruroc.com/en_nz/berserker

[Wayne Potgieter]

Very nice!

 

The MT-07 engine is supposed to be majestical!

 

I'm guessing if you go for an MT-07 after getting your full license, it'll be the high-output version (689cc) as the other one is LAMS approved (655cc) and where's the fun in that!

 

I spent quite a bit of time on this very question. Here is where I landed.

 

The MT-03 keeps its value very well. I reckon its because people that are buying starter bikes are "scared" of the MT-07 LAMS bike. The MT-07 High Output also keeps its value reasonably well but the LAMS MT-07 depreciates rather rapidly. Its in a weird little "no-mans land" space.

[patches]

I spent quite a bit of time on this very question. Here is where I landed.

 

The MT-03 keeps its value very well. I reckon its because people that are buying starter bikes are "scared" of the MT-07 LAMS bike. The MT-07 High Output also keeps its value reasonably well but the LAMS MT-07 depreciates rather rapidly. Its in a weird little "no-mans land" space.

 

Yeah, I think you made the right call.

 

For a "temporary bike" one wants to spend as little as possible and recoup as much as one can on resale for the transition over to the big bike.

 

Saving $4k on the initial outlay is a plus, and also if you did go for the MT-07 LAMS, you may find it hard to spend another $1000 plus resale losses, to get a few more HP, so you'll end up settling on the LAMS version making the whole full license exercise less relevant.

[Wayne Potgieter]

Need some advice on riding pants.

 

I am leaning towards a reinforced set of jeans. Anyone have any thoughts/recommendations?

[patches]

Need some advice on riding pants.

 

I am leaning towards a reinforced set of jeans. Anyone have any thoughts/recommendations?

 

If I recall anything from the Ride Forever course I went on a couple of years back... it was something about leathers being the best protection, but not the most practical. Kevlar reinforced jeans are pretty decent and will save some skin. Adventure pants are kinda the bare minimum, but ensure the knee protection is installed. And regular jeans are only marginally better than PT broeke, hahaha

 

I'm slack and a bad example though. If I commute I do so in my work pants (unless it's raining) then I wear my adventure pants over the top. If I go to hangout socially, I'll wear jeans. If I go on technical rides I'll wear MX pants with knee guards underneath. If I go on an adventure I wear adventure pants with aftermarket knee guards (the built in ones are not the best). (I only wear boots with the last 2 activities).

 

These are my adventure pants:

 

https://www.alpinestars.com/products/andes-drystar-pant

 

They're no Klim with GoreTex but for the price they're decently waterproof and comfy. I've had 1 off on a gravel road and they held up well. And I have the matching jacket, which I hacked by replacing the built in protection with Leatt D30 stuff.

 

But for the commuting/casual look, I think reinforced jeans are probably the best happy medium. Those with some of those Alpinestars or TCX "tekkies". Finding a decent cut on the jeans seems to be the hard part though.