New Zealand on a motorcycle 

My traveltime was fixed and in european wintertime, that's why I had to go to the other side of the equator to get some nice weather. One advice I got from a local is to not travel during the NZ summerbreak (it's a long one around Christmas), because everything is than fully packed. From and until what month it's good weather to ride I don't now. A kiwi can maybe answer this one ;-)

As a New Zealander (Kiwi) I agree go during spring / summer here which is autumn / winter in the northern hemisphere, NZ is beautiful in winter but it get too cold to do a motorcycle trip then, and as the video creator said, don't come during the summer holidays (late November to February) as a lot of the roads are busy then.

I only rode a few of course, but I can recommend the forgotten Highway and the Port Jackson Road (North Coromandel). Scenery is amazing for both. Good resource for gravel road is www.adventureridingnz.co.nz/gps-tracks-rides/north-island-tracks/. I have used those routes to create my own in my routeplanner (MRA Routeplanner or TomTom) by just adding a few point to the map and as long as TomTom recognises the route, it's a road cars can ride and thus doable on a V-Strom (ride one myself in the Netherlands).

@@motorcycleadventuresNL thank you 🙏🏽 and great stuff! Will certainly do that

Would not be a problem if you ask me. There is actually only one tracks I would not recommend and that's the Ball Shelter road (at Tasman lake) and there are a two I would be careful and judge it if you're there (Skipper Canyon and Mount Cheeseman access road). All those tracks are however back and forth roads so they can be skipped or you can turn around if you don't feel comfortable. Most normal gravel roads are firm and also driven by (enough) cars and can perfectly done with 'all road tires'. And although I did not have any rain on the gravel roads I also don't think that is a problem. You only need to adapt you speed a little bit in the corners... (I was almost inexperienced when I started the trip). On my 'home bike' I have Battle Wings A41 and that also doesn't stop me for a little offroad. See ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aUOVRggcmCc.html and ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aUOVRggcmCc.html Have fun!

Motorcycle Adventures thanks for the response. Mine are 80/20s and I feel really comfortable in tight NZ highway corners even in the wet. I’m hesitant to go to a more off-road tyre if I can avoid it as I’m really mostly interested in the road. I grew up driving on NZ gravel roads and rode dirt bikes on them too. The big adventure bike format is new to me and I’m nervous about traction on the road if I switch to knobblies. How did you feel on the KTM on the tarmac? I know NZ so I’m sure you faced plenty of tight curves in wet conditions.

@@steve.afendoulis Knobbles and Big Adventure bikes on wet tarmac are not a good combination is my experience. I felt not very confident when riding in the rain. It's better when it's dry, but even then you can't go throw your bike in the corner like a street or 80/20 tyre. A 80/20 is a perfect compromise for a route like I did. Have fun!

Motorcycle Adventures cheers brother 🙏🏼😎👊🏼

Yes

Easy mate.