But recently, a bigger problem has arisen — and it is caused by the government’s proposal to hike motorcycle registration fees and ACC levies.
So up to 200 motorcyclists from around Otago and Southland are expected to vent their fury about the increase in Dunedin tomorrow, when they gather for a rally around the city.
Event co-ordinator John Wesley-Jones said the government’s proposed registration prices were estimated to increase by 20%-68% over the next three years, depending on the size of the motorcycle engine.
"A lot of bikers are not happy with that, and we want everyone to know about it.
"We can make a lot of noise when we want to."
He said the Rego Freeze Protest Ride would be attended by various motorcycle social groups, with people of all ages, genders and ethnicities, and they would be among thousands of other Motorcycle Advocacy Group New Zealand (MAGNZ) riders at protest rallies being held at the same time across the country.
The rally will begin at 10am outside McIver and Veitch, in Crawford St, and will head to the Carey’s Bay Hotel, before regrouping in the Forsyth Barr Stadium carpark and heading through the city centre to Bayfield Park.
MAGNZ has called on the government for a pledge to veto the proposed motorcycle levy increases, and to set up a timeframe for reviewing the entire motorcycle registration system.
In a statement, the organisation said this first round of "soft protest rides" on Sunday were designed to be less disruptive.
But the issue was "emotive" and they had plans for more disruptive rides in the new year.
In a letter to Minister for ACC and Associate Minister of Transport Matt Doocey, MAGNZ said there were about 130,000 Class 6 licensed motorcycle riders in New Zealand, the majority of whom were law-abiding citizens.
"We simply want to be heard, treated fairly, and not marginalised."
