Brake orientation NZ

Evening all,

We’re honeymooning in New Zealand end of October and are looking to hire bikes in Roturua for a day (sweet as ) however, it just occurred to me that the UK having the rear brake LHS lever and front brake RHS lever differs to both Europe and US.

Does anyone know which way round the brakes are in NZ? The ride could just be a “see who survives the longest” at this rate

Thanks

AI tells me that, yes, they are usually the other way around to UK bikes.

Congratulations by the way!

RH front brake in NZ

Should be the same as Aus and the UK … but bear in mind when you hire bikes in these places there’s a chance that the last person to hire it was from another country.

I hired a Trek at Maydena and as I was leaving the shop they remembered that the last person on the bike was a Canadian so they’d swapped the levers over. I’m glad they did remember! (although i’m sure i’d have spotted in the queue for the bus).

They are rhd cars so think they are same as UK but it is twenty odd years since we were there. I ride UK brakes and Mrs rides Euro so one of us has a problem wherever we go…… If you’re just riding in the forest then you’d probably be ok wrong way round anyway – I’d die trying it in the Alps, but hiring in Finland and NL was fine with backward brakes and a little caution.

Thanks poopscoop

Thanks all,

My husband will stick to fire roads/easy sections of single-track. I want something more gnarly possibly bike park, even though I brake evenly, i think I do put more on the rear which could end badly if they are the wrong way round. Will ask/highlight when booking

funnyoldgirl
Free Member
Thanks poopscoop

Apologies, it would seem from the other comments that AI lied to me. I’m going to kick it’s virtual buttocks later.

Have a wonderful time there though, I bet it will be amazing.

There’s a lot of flip/flop levers out there. More of an issue for road bikes I expect.

.

I rode with a kiwi in Aus and he had his brakes British style. No idea if that’s typical for NZ though

If you know which specific bike the hire companies use, you can look up the manufacturers website for brake spec. If they use SRAM or Magura, they can be flipped easily enough without messing around with hoses….

Other makes (Hayes???) may also flip easily but I’ll let others chirp in.

Shimano WILL require switching hoses….

As a moto brake rider in Canada my experience is that any rental shop in a popular destination will have some bikes that are easily swappable (SRAM, Haynes, Magura – basically not Shimano…).

NZ brakes standard orientation same as UK (I grew up in NZ and visit frequently). But yes checking a hire bike is good advice in case the levers have been flipped for a tourist.

If you know which specific bike the hire companies use, you can look up the manufacturers website for brake spec. If they use SRAM or Magura, they can be flipped easily enough without messing around with hoses….

Other makes (Hayes???) may also flip easily but I’ll let others chirp in.

Shimano WILL require switching hoses….

Formula Cura are flippable too.

My daughter is out there at the moment working as a Trail Patrol Officer at Skyline Rotorua. Loving it that much that she has extended her visa for two more years.

She has to ride their bikes whilst at work and the brakes are the same sides as In the UK

99% will be UK standard but as always with hire bikes check the brakes properly before heading off anywhere.

Nice one, thank you all so much, much less of a panic now

It’s for things like this that I love this place so much! A fount of knowledge, and all to happy to help!