Moving a motorbike between islands: the honest guide
Bought a bike on Trade Me from the other end of the country? Track day next month? Here's how bike transport actually works in NZ.
Bought a bike on Trade Me from the other end of the country? Track day next month? Here's how bike transport actually works in NZ.
Soft straps only โ over the bars or triple clamp, never the frame or fairings.
Front wheel chocked, not floating.
Purpose-built bike trailers, not a car transporter with a bike wedged in the corner.
Ideally, driven by someone who rides. Ours do.
Short metro run: $150โ$250
Auckland โ Wellington: $400โ$600
Inter-island (Auckland โ Christchurch): $700โ$1,000 (ferry included)
Multiple bikes together: significant per-bike discount
Trade Me purchase โ we collect from the seller and deliver door-to-door with documented handover.
Track day / race weekend โ bike to the circuit, bike home. Club runs often bundle.
Non-runner or project โ no keys, no engine, in bits โ doesn't matter.
Warranty or workshop transfer โ between dealerships without adding kms to the odometer.