Pahiatua base for BSA bikers

New Zealand BSA Motorcycle Owners Club is having its 18th rally in Pahiatua on March 16 and 17.

President Ashley Blair said they chose Pahiatua for this year's rally base because they wanted to show people a place they might have never been before.

"Most of the riders come from Auckland or Wellington or Christchurch and various other places. We wanted to take them somewhere they won't have been before."

He said the rally was just a bunch of people riding and talking about motorcycles.

"It's a bit of a joke. Go to one cafe and talk about motorcycles, ride to the next cafe and talk about motorcycles."

Mr Blair said when people think of bikers they think of tattoos and tassles.

"They're actually really nice people, and I'm not just saying that because I am one."

The club is made up of people who own old British motorcycles.

"There was a time when anyone who owned a British bike waved at the other British bike owners but that's ancient history now."

The rally begins in Pahiatua before heading out through the Manawatu Gorge, past Te Apiti windfarm and through the back roads of the Tararua district.

Along the way there will be a stop at a private motorcycle museum, a mini swap meet where members can buy and sell motorcycle parts, a dinner and a prize giving.

The prize giving is based on the motorbikes, and each different style is judged, from best pre-war bike to best gold star, best restored bike and best original bike which has had barely any restoration done to it.

The rally is a yearly event which rotates between the north and south regions of both the North and South islands.