" What a great time I had on your Vstrom last week while visiting NZ.
The Vstrom is just perfect for New Zealand's roads with plenty of laid-back power, comfort and luggage carrying ability, but without being overly heavy, bulky or over-powered. I also reckon the weather protection is spot on for NZ's climate!
I've got your leaflet and will make sure that I recommend you to any of my mates / contacts who are planning to visit the South Island. It's worth knowing quality contacts who offer a decent service - especially as a trip to NZ is usually a once in a lifetime experience for people from the UK.
Hopefully I'll be able to hire a bike from you again in the future."
www.mikeleahy.co.uk
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" We had a great day on a very nice bike. We got picked up and dropped off at our cruise ship. Best day of our trip to NZ. The Otago peninsula makes for a great ride. Very nice folks to deal with."
Dennis & Joan
California, USA.
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" We just wanted to thank you very much for the "great attention to detail" you provided for our incredible weekend trip around a portion of the South Island. Your equipment was top of the line, everything from the 650 Vstroms to the top notch gear was fantastic, better than home! The fact that you provide one price for all the gear was great, there was no 'choosing', we got it all, including the cell phone (excellent touch)! Your advice for our route was excellent and very accurate and 'realistic' to what we would hope to accomplish in our limited time. Thank you for making our experience a true 'Kiwi' one (stress free)! Cheers!"
Michael and Alain
Canada.
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" Brenda and I want to thank you for a wonderful time in New Zealand. The Suzuki V-Strom 650 we rented has turned out to be the perfect bike for NZ roads. The luggage was great, the Motorcycle Atlas you provided had some great information about rides not to be missed as well as some interesting history and culture tips. I'll certainly recommend your company to anyone interested in touring NZ by bike (The best way to see it, in my opinion!) and tell them you offered everything we needed for a great trip at a most reasonable cost."
John & Brenda
Winchester, Ky, USA.
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| " I did bring home some great memories of your country, particularly the wild west coast, Te Anau and the Milford Sound area. One point I did learn quite clearly is that 350 km days should be the limit, if you want to stop and see the scenery and chat with the local folks. I may schedule my next visit for January, just to reduce the chance of some repeat weather. You and Jude are marvellous hosts, very kind and accommodating - a big plus to anyone's start to such a big adventure."
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" Thank you very much for being such lovely friendly host. I would recommend you and your bikes to anyone thinking of touring the southern South Island of NZ. The bike was just what we wanted, very well maintained, comprehensive kit included and oceans of luggage space with the removable panniers. We wish you all the success in the future."
Andrew and Anne
Birmingham, UK.
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| " The tour was amazing. I had three sunny days. Just the last day was cloudy again, but fortunately dry. At the end, I had a great time on the tour (1300 km), and maybe I'll get a second chance to do it one more time in a few years. I've sent you a few pics as an impression of the tour. The bike ran perfectly all the time, and I had no problems at all. Thanks for everything."
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" It was always my intention to make a motorbike tour round New Zealand.
Not in my keenest dreams could I have imagined it to turn out to be such
an inexplicable experience though! Organising the whole trip was so easy
and uncomplicated since Howard provides everything a biker could
possibly wish for: boots, helmet, jackets (they kept us warm and dry
even though we had some hours -- the only ones -- of rain in Milford
Sound) and pants... All of the equipment we got was of "sweet as"
quality (having spent lots of money and time on finding good equipment
back home I think I'm qualified to state that). Howard even provided a
hi-vis warning vest, emergency kit, mobile, chain spray and summer gloves!
Travelling round the South Island by bike was probably the best idea
we've had so far. It's impossible to find a better place to ride a bike
-- the scenery is incredible, the roads are well maintained, the curves
are made for motorbikes and the bikes we rented were so much fun to ride...
All in all: impossible to describe, definitely the best way to
experience New Zealand!
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| "No question - New Zealand is the perfect motorcycling country. Especially the lower east of the South Island is so beautiful. As I was travelling alone through New Zealand but didn't want to solely ride a motorbike due to safety reasons, Howard's service as guide and companion was ideal for me. We had three days cruising all around Dunedin and through the Catlins and it definitely was the highlight of my holidays. Howard told me a lot of interesting things about life in NZ and showed me some fascinating places I would newer have been able to find on my own. I can absolutely recommend Backroads Bikes - great bikes and equipment." |
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| "A great tour! Howard gives good ideas what to see and do in Dunedin and Otago Peninsula and what to taste of typical Kiwi food. We had interesting conversations during our breaks. I felt at all times comfortable and safe on the bike with Howard as my driver. Thanks for the fabulous ride!" |
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| "Believe it or not, it was the best ride on a bike I ever had, and I had a lot of great rides with different bikes in Germany. The handling of the small Suzuki DR-Z 250 is amazing. I did the great 'Dunstan Trail' between Clarks Junction and Moa Creek. You need a little technical skills... but a great ride with stunning scenery, especially at the Poolburn Reservoir where some scenes from the movie 'Lord of the Rings' were staged (Planes of Rohan). Check your fuel!"
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| "I want to thank you for the great time I had touring the environs of the southeast coast. It was definitely one of the highlights of my trip and made better by your company and knowledge of the country we travelled through. One of the great things that separates your service from the others is the ability to rent a motorcycle for shorter periods of time."
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"Of all the places we visited on our recent trip to New Zealand & Australia, our favourite day was renting motorcycles from Backroads Bikes. We chose to utilize Howard's personal guided tour service. What a wonderful day! Howard took us on an amazing ride. We saw so much of the countryside, more than we would have seen on any "organized" tour. Howard pointed out special sites along the way & was a wealth of history & information regarding Dunedin. We will be back again to spend extended time soon. We should add that the bikes were great & the riding equipment was top of the line. It was chilly in the morning so we appreciated that we had warm gear.
Thanks for a wonderful experience and a special memory!"
Janet and Scott,
Arizona, USA. |
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| "Our trip up the West Coast and through the Arthur's and Lewis Passes was absolutely stunning - I want to do it all over again, and I will. Great gear and bikes, and they were well tested."
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| "I loved my trip with Backroads Bikes around the South Island - fantastic, deserted roads, brilliant scenery, and those Suzuki Vstroms are brilliant."
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"..thank you once again for your fantastic service ... the attention to detail and helpful advice was invaluable ...the bikes and gear was great (we needn't have brought our own) ...the magnificent scenery and roads mean we're already planning our next trip to NZ and Backroads Bikes."
Andreas, Willem and Thomas, Germany.
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| "Can't think of a better way to spend in Dunedin and the peninsula."
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"Don't change what you're doing - absolutely the best day of our trip. As Harley owners, we loved your bikes and roads (especially getting off the main roads) and the scenery and weather was brilliant."
Robby and Diane,
NSW, Australia.
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"Great bikes - having done a lot of riding on big bikes I was amazed at how well these 650s ride even two up with luggage - plenty of power, and great handling, especially on gravel. The roads were stunning (as you promised!) - good surfaces, great visibility and so little traffic!
Highlights were the short scenic ride up the old North road to Karitane, the detour to St Bathans for brunch, and the back road over the dams between Aviemore and Benmore (and the rest was really just as good!)
Thanks for your excellent service - we'll be back to do the Catlins some time."
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