MikeBarton
I note you are from NZ. In the last couple of years (around Feb/March) I have had a couple of trips of at least a month on motorcycles to NZ North Island (hired a bike) and South Island (Shipped my bike). I was travelling on my own and I lost count of the number of times I stopped for a bit of food or gas and had locals provide information or just want to chat. On occasions I have been buying provisions at the small local shop and the owner asks "where are you headed to"? I have responded and next second I hear tap tap tap then they swing the computer monitor around to show me the weather map and say " weather looks a bit wet there tomorrow - I suggest you go anticlockwise around the peninsula not clockwise (Coromandel)- that way you will see the place at its best". I followed the advice and had a great ride and no wet gear.

Other times I have been at the bike and a couple have come out of a shop. Before you know it their map is out and I am getting great local information. I often think, how good is this, I am concerned about their frozen goods and ice cream melting they just want to give me really useful information. No doubt about motorcycling - you get the chance to meet interesting people.

I found in NZ If I go to a pub for a meal, I always take a small notebook and pencil to capture the information a local provides. Bloody helpful lot!!

I think these encounters are personal and sometimes hard to describe to another person. The information to pass on is "you will get some valuable learnings and life experience when you travel by motorcycle"