Nigel Barrett said when he left his Green Island home at 8.15am on Monday, his prized KTM 640 Adventure was sitting in its usual spot in the garage.
But when his wife went down to the garage about 20 minutes later the motorcycle was gone, apparently rolled out of the garage and down Koremata St.
''We're at the top of a hill ... so it was just free-wheeled down.
''There were workmen at the bottom of our drive and they reckon it was about 8.30am that they saw it going down the road.''
Mr Barrett said the 2002 dual-purpose bike would not be easy to replace.
''They're quite a rare bike. There's not a lot of value in it but there were only a few of them imported each year.
''There's probably only five of those in the country of that year.''
KTM ceased production of the 640 in 2007, and he anticipated the motorcycle would be difficult to sell online.
''There's quite a network of adventure riders in New Zealand and they would know that bike very well.''
Speaking yesterday after reporting the burglary to police, he said he just wanted the motorcycle returned, though it was insured.
''I just want the bike back ... undamaged, ideally.''
The bike's registration is 83WCZ.
Other motorcycle thefts reported to Southern police recently:
- Farm bikes and a four-wheeler worth a combined $14,000 taken from a cow shed in Toko Mouth Rd.
- A 650cc yellow quad bike, a toolbox and a new set of gumboots and leggings taken from a property in Slope Down Rd, south of Clinton.
- A Honda XLR250 motorcycle, a pair of Drone motocross boots and a black helmet taken from a garage in Oakland St, Andersons Bay.
