New Zealand is a great country to travel around. The rounds are reasonably good quality and they are not so congested. One does need to anticipate the car drivers because theu might be less inclined to look if traffic is coming. Most cars in the country are bought 2nd hand, whether sourced in NZ or 2nd hand imports from Japan. For this reason there is a lot of cheap 2nd hand cars around. A car is often more attractive because of the wet, cold weather, though you can’t go past a bike for fuel efficiency/savings. There are of course 1.6Litre cars which keep costs down, though for local travel, you might consider a bike.
If you are the type of person who does a lot of short distance driving, then ultimately the best solution is either:
1. Bicycle – great for exercise, and no fuel cost. Pick a bike up on TradeMe for as little as $50, or from auction houses.
2. Moped – These are fuel or electric powered motorbikes under 50cc or <2kW. They can be used with a standard driver’s licence.
Mopeds are very popular for senior citizens trying to save money, as well as for students and teens in their final years at school. They can be purchased for around $1000-2500. A 250cc bike will cost between $1200-5000 on the TradeMe website – see www.trademe.co.nz.
Any motorbike or scooter powered by an engine over 50cc requires the driver to attain a special motorcycle licence. This licence can be achieved by completing tests. The most popular scooters are Vespa, Piaggio, etc. Helmets are mandatory in NZ for all riders and passengers.
If you have never used a bike before, you will need to get a Basic Handling “certificate” before you can even apply for a Learner’s Licence. The certificate covers 6 handling skills. There are several firms that offer the Basic Handling program - see Roadsafe . When you have obtained the Basic Handling “certificate” you can apply for the Learner’s Class-6 licence. You will need to complete a questionnaire (multiple choice test) about normal NZ road rules as well as 10 motorcycle-specific questions. Once you pass the test, you need to present your certificate, pass the basic eye exam, then pay the fee to become a Learner.
Learner’s can drive their motorcycles subject to the following restrictions:
1. You can only ride between 5 AM and 10 PM
2. You can’t carry passengers
3. You can’t operate a bike with an engine larger than 250cc’s.
4. You cannot drive over 70kph. The police permit faster speeds for safety reasons as long as you are travelling with the traffic.
5. Learners must display the Learners ‘L plate’ on their bike
After 6 months on a Learner Licence you take the Restricted Licence Test which includes another written exam and a practical riding test, where they follow your motorcycle to evaluate your driving. A Restricted Licence has the same limitations as a Learner Licence, apart from the allowance to you legally drive full speed limit and with no L plate. After 6 months on the Restricted Licence you can apply for a Full Licence. You must take another written test and two practical exams. On a Full License you can ride any size bike and carry a passenger. There are ways to shorten the test cycle by taking additional official courses—usually offered by the same folks that run the Basic Handling courses. I think the most you can shorten it though is to 9 months.
The process of securing a motorcycle licence is expensive and time consuming. You will spend about $1500 on certificates, licence fees, gear, and bike registration. You will need to restrict yourself to a 250cc bike initially, and there are a great number of those bikes available because most people want to trade up to a more powerful bike when they
get their Full Licence. For more info on licensing see www.ltsa.govt.nz/licensing/motorcycle.
If you are the type of person who does a lot of short distance driving, then ultimately the best solution is either:
1. Bicycle – great for exercise, and no fuel cost. Pick a bike up on TradeMe for as little as $50, or from auction houses.
2. Moped – These are fuel or electric powered motorbikes under 50cc or <2kW. They can be used with a standard driver’s licence.
Mopeds are very popular for senior citizens trying to save money, as well as for students and teens in their final years at school. They can be purchased for around $1000-2500. A 250cc bike will cost between $1200-5000 on the TradeMe website – see www.trademe.co.nz.
Any motorbike or scooter powered by an engine over 50cc requires the driver to attain a special motorcycle licence. This licence can be achieved by completing tests. The most popular scooters are Vespa, Piaggio, etc. Helmets are mandatory in NZ for all riders and passengers.
If you have never used a bike before, you will need to get a Basic Handling “certificate” before you can even apply for a Learner’s Licence. The certificate covers 6 handling skills. There are several firms that offer the Basic Handling program - see Roadsafe . When you have obtained the Basic Handling “certificate” you can apply for the Learner’s Class-6 licence. You will need to complete a questionnaire (multiple choice test) about normal NZ road rules as well as 10 motorcycle-specific questions. Once you pass the test, you need to present your certificate, pass the basic eye exam, then pay the fee to become a Learner.
Learner’s can drive their motorcycles subject to the following restrictions:
1. You can only ride between 5 AM and 10 PM
2. You can’t carry passengers
3. You can’t operate a bike with an engine larger than 250cc’s.
4. You cannot drive over 70kph. The police permit faster speeds for safety reasons as long as you are travelling with the traffic.
5. Learners must display the Learners ‘L plate’ on their bike
After 6 months on a Learner Licence you take the Restricted Licence Test which includes another written exam and a practical riding test, where they follow your motorcycle to evaluate your driving. A Restricted Licence has the same limitations as a Learner Licence, apart from the allowance to you legally drive full speed limit and with no L plate. After 6 months on the Restricted Licence you can apply for a Full Licence. You must take another written test and two practical exams. On a Full License you can ride any size bike and carry a passenger. There are ways to shorten the test cycle by taking additional official courses—usually offered by the same folks that run the Basic Handling courses. I think the most you can shorten it though is to 9 months.
The process of securing a motorcycle licence is expensive and time consuming. You will spend about $1500 on certificates, licence fees, gear, and bike registration. You will need to restrict yourself to a 250cc bike initially, and there are a great number of those bikes available because most people want to trade up to a more powerful bike when they
get their Full Licence. For more info on licensing see www.ltsa.govt.nz/licensing/motorcycle.
Nice - thanks for the info. Very useful.
ReplyDeleteI see you lived in Japan for a while... do you have any pointers on riding a motorcycle there?
I used to have a UK friend who rode bikes in different countries...out of touch though. There are good 'gaijin' forums in Japan to learn what you want. JREF.com, etc. Japan is a safe place, I guess you just want to be careful choosing where you sleep and park your bike, as with anywhere. High population density. Police are very strict if you park near a station. Great experience for you though. Such a beautiful country. Great for motor bikes I suggest. A great place for picking up a cheap one too I guess...like the cars. But ask on the forums.
ReplyDelete