A no-fault system

In 2008-09 ACC paid more than $62 million for motorcycle riders but collected only $12.3 million in levies from them.

(ACC spokesperson in the Dom Post today).

I'd be interested in seeing how much in levies ACC collected from cyclists and pedestrians vs payments for road accident-related injuries.

Farewell ER!

Another bike has left the stable - this time my Suzuki ER 185. Fortunately it has gone to a good home (we sold it to another Playcentre family). I hope it has a long enough lifespan to justify the price (which I'm confident it will, given the low price and good performance so far).

The ER has been to a few places. Notable jaunts have included a hair-raising trail ride in the Wairarapa which took me to the limits of my abilities (and a bit beyond!). I remember tearing downhill on one section and seeing a very sharp right hand bend, realising that I was not going to make it and just dropping the bike. It skidded to a halt at the edge of the trail, beyond which was a sizeable (unfenced) drop over a cliff. It didn't take long to right the bike again and restart down the track at a very conservative pace.

The ER and I have been on the junior motorcross track at Taupo, and a long way towards the Bridge to Nowhere.

However, this was all a long time ago now and the bike has been gathering dust and taking up space in a full garage. So it was time to let it go.

The Jawa is now for sale too - when it goes we'll just have the two road bikes left.