Hello there,

I have 3 months off at the end of next year. I want to get my motorcycle licence to travel around South America. Unfortunately, in NZ you have to have your learners for 6 months, then your restricted licence for 18 months. This means by the time I travel over there I will not be able to get an IDP.

I have found this thread which suggests that I don't need an IDP:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...e-for-us-63886

Sorry, I'm new here, but basically I want to know whether I would run into trouble using a NZ restricted motorcycle licence in South America, and would this affect my insurance?

Regards

William

Hi William and welcome,
I think you would get away with your restricted licence as far as the law is concerned, the police might accept it or give you a fine, but your problem might be if you need to claim on your travel, as in medical insurance. Certainly UK insurance companies ask to see a copy of your full motorcycle licence if you make a claim after an accident, no full licence no payout.

Kia Ora William

1. I understand that Southern Cross will allow bikes up to 200cc and world nomads allow motor cycling as part of their normal coverage - as long as the appropriate licences are held. AA also allows motorbikes but will not cover you above altitude of 2500 metres. I have used world nomads for off piste skiing and had no problems with a claim - paid promptly and to the letter for myself and two mates who had a travel disruption. SX also no problem with a claim

2. If you are over 25 can you not skip the 18 month period and go for your full licence after 6 months ? My bike licence expired and I had to go through the 6 month probationary period but after that it was just a matter of satisfying the examiner that I knew the code and was not going to be a hoon. A little easier when you are 60 plus.!

3. Please do not even consider travelling without insurance - particularly on a bike in SA. We are blessed in NZ with a good national health system and ACC but you have to get home.

4. Finally. I head to SA next month . I have bought a Chinese bike and plan to tour it for three months. Happy to share any experiences and tips with you.

Ride safe

Peter

Thanks for the feedback, Mark. Sounds like it's key to have my full license for insurance...

Hi Peter,

Yes I'd be very keen to hear about your trip! How much is it costing you to ship your bike across?

Apparently if you do "competency-based training and assessment" (CBTA), then you can get your full license after 12 months!

Competency-based training and assessment (CBTA) | NZ Transport Agency

I'll look into this further.

Cheers

Will

Hi Will

Not shipping a bike from NZ. I have bought a Sumo Tekker 250cc bike in Peru on a buy back scheme. Cost will be around $NZ 10 a day for 80 days and that includes insurance. You only need a 250cc bike in SA. I have bought the Tekker second hand from a tour company and it has been refurbished. The company has a good rep but I will fill you in once the trip is completed.

I did Central America on a Suzuki 125 a couple of years ago. The bike, from memory, was nearly new and cost me $US600 and did not miss a beat over 8000km. I gave it away at the end of three months to a local kids charity because it was easier than going through the rigamorole to sell and I reckoned $200 a month for transport was pretty good.

The bikes are easily understood and fixed by local mechanics and parts are freely available .

When I did Europe, Morocco, Ukraine,Turkey I bought a V strom 650 in the UK and shipped it home to NZ for just under $NZ2000. My V strom was a year old and done 20k km when I bought it with panniers and full adventure kit. It cost me around $NZ6000. As I have UK/NZ citizenship I could swap my licence for a UK one and get cheaper insurance. I have done in excess of 50k km and she has not missed a beat - just changed the sprockets and chain and put on Metzeler tyres. We will rust away together I think

I did one of those training schemes a few years ago and I remember it was paid for and sponsored by the local council ( I live on the Coromandel) so it may be worth giving your local road safety officer a call

You can travel on a bike pretty frugally. I do not camp in less developed countries and living well costs me around NZ$75 a day In Nicaragua I met a couple of kiwi boys ,who spoke passable Spanish, supplementing their funds working as a barman and surf instructor- they were surviving pretty well. Kiwis have a good reputation for hard work and if you have some skills, dive master, canoe, rafting, skiing , mountain bike instructing you can often pick up work. Hell,I even managed to work for six months in Thailand after I retired as a divemaster.

Ok raved enough.

Regards

Peter