ntst8
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2004
- Messages
- 1,765

Beware rant follows ... New Zealand seems to be doing its best to get motorcycles off the road, it was announced yesterday that the annual cost of licensing 600cc+ motorcycles is to go up from $315 to around $815 per bike!! Holy crap :evil:
The vehicle license fee includes an ACC levy, which is effectively a compulsory state accident/loss of income insurance scheme. They've decided m/cycle accidents are too costly and so now have $750 in the license fee for the ACC cover.
Of course the really dumb bit is that if you have two or more bikes you have to pay the full fee on each, and if you also drive a car you pay again (but much less) there too, and some comes out of your income tax too. The last one pays for the risky activities of those who pay no separate levy - mountain climber, skiing, cyclists (2nd in risk behind m/c), horse riders, sports people etc - so i have to pay for them too.
And quite how my Commando and 620 Multistrada should be the same risk as GSXR's, Hayabusas etc is beyond me.
The only slight bright spot is bikes over 40 years old were only $80 last year (no news on the new rate yet), i may need to start riding my 16H only, and start counting down till my Commando turns 40. Certainly won't have the MTS and the Commando on the road at the same time until then.
I'm sure there will be plenty who only ride occasionally who wont see the cost as worth it, and a lot of second bikes will be parked up.
Rant over.
The vehicle license fee includes an ACC levy, which is effectively a compulsory state accident/loss of income insurance scheme. They've decided m/cycle accidents are too costly and so now have $750 in the license fee for the ACC cover.
Of course the really dumb bit is that if you have two or more bikes you have to pay the full fee on each, and if you also drive a car you pay again (but much less) there too, and some comes out of your income tax too. The last one pays for the risky activities of those who pay no separate levy - mountain climber, skiing, cyclists (2nd in risk behind m/c), horse riders, sports people etc - so i have to pay for them too.
And quite how my Commando and 620 Multistrada should be the same risk as GSXR's, Hayabusas etc is beyond me.
The only slight bright spot is bikes over 40 years old were only $80 last year (no news on the new rate yet), i may need to start riding my 16H only, and start counting down till my Commando turns 40. Certainly won't have the MTS and the Commando on the road at the same time until then.
I'm sure there will be plenty who only ride occasionally who wont see the cost as worth it, and a lot of second bikes will be parked up.
Rant over.