New Zealand - Transalp (or similar) wanted
 

Hi everyone - this is my very first post, although I have been a 'lurker' here for some time now.

I shall be landing at AKL International, New Zealand, on Saturday mid-morning, Dec-02. This will be my second visit to NZ this year, having spent most of January ('06) touring around both NI and SI on a mix of transportation, inc: internal flights, hire cars, and a rented BMW R1150RT.

My base will be Ruakaka (near Whangarei), Northland, North Island for four months. This is where my son, Mark, hangs out as a schoolteacher. Although my intention is to spend most of my time, especially after the Christmas & NY celebs are out of the way, touring around both islands exclusively on two wheels until early April '07.

I am, therefore, very much 'in the market' and now looking to buy a dual-purpose adventure-type bike, ideally something like a XL650V Transalp (always owned Hondas BTW).

Can anyone here help me find a good second-hand Transalp? I ask because I notice that the m/c dealerships in NZ seem to be a bit lightweight with their stocks of TAs.

Thanks

keith

Try TradeMe
 

Hi Keith.
I think your best bet would be to try TradeMe, which is the NZ equivalent of Ebay.
I just searched and found three for sale. Use this link:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Sear...cat=0001-0026-
I hope it works. Meanwhile, I'll keep my eyes open, and ask a friend who had one for sale about three months ago.
It's a fab part of the country you are going to, BTW.

Kind regards

Nigel in NZ

The Transalp was never a really big seller in NZ for some reason. Initially the price was probably too high.

Apart from the TradeMe site that Nigel mentioned, the site where many dealers and a few private individuals post their bikes for sale is Motorcycle Trader, at http://www.motorcycletrader.co.nz/

At the moment there are 3 used TAs for sale.

Enjoy your stay. And if you want some suggestions for rides in the South Auckland and Waikato areas, just ask.

Regards, Arne

Top Info
 

:thumbup1: thanx Nigel & Arne.

Seems that there's a hellova lot going on in the biking world around the North Shore / Takapuna area of Auckland. I rented a Bimmer R1150RT from there too back in January.

I'm already exchanging e-mails with Grant Taylor at 'Cyclespot Honda' dealership about this Honda TA: http://www.motorcycletrader.co.nz/De...rcycletradernz

which is also advertised, at a higher (presumably earlier first advertised date) on the trademe.co.nz site; it's the second one listed.

Nigel, Arne, do you guys know anything about this Cyclespot Honda dealership? Yunno, the usual stuff, are they good peeps to do business with, etceteras?

And Arne, thank you very much indeed for your kind offer :thumbup: I'm gonna be down your way for four+ months. I'll be 'billy-no-mates' with nothing more than (1) a new-but-strange bike; and (2) a brand new road map of your fine country. It would be good to hook-up with some fellow riders here and there, now and again.

Kia Ora

Keith

I haven't heard anything negative about Cyclespot. But I only know one rider who has bought his bike there, an ST1300. The best place to go for information on dealers is probably the Kiwi Biker web site. http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/

Through that site you will also be able to hook up with riders throughout the country. I'm not a member, but do lurk on the site fairly regularly.

For ride suggestions and maps, there is a book called "New Zealand Motorcycle Atlas" by Peter Mitchell published recently. ISBN 1-877302-32-5. The maps are not really very detailed, but the format is handy for taking on the bike. For most detail, the Kiwi Pathfinder series of sheet maps are the best I've found.

Regards, Arne

Coincidence or wot?
 

Arne - My first ride is a ST1300, which is parked-up in my stable right now; although up here we call 'em "Pan-Europeans". Here she is, with me and 'er indoors on top:

http://keithooper.smugmug.com/photos/93120992-M.jpg

Thanks for the link to the kiwibikers site. Despite loads of googling, searching & lurking over the last few months, for some reason I've never stumbled across this board, which looks like a great one to sign-up to. I shall do this straightaway.

Regards

Keith