ozzy bikers i need help!!

[Wezrvf]

I am off to Oz, in May next year for a few months, i am basing myself in Melbourne mainly but am gonna be going all over the East coast if i can get my hands on a dirt cheap bike, if anyone can help in anyway if you know anywhere, i have looked o nthe net and it all seems a little pricey to me, i have found somethign called a buy-back deal which sounds quite good but i have no idea what i am looking for and what i will need, any help or if anyone lives near and wants to meet up or whatever.
Any advise or help will be great thanks guys!!! Wez
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!! MY OTHER RIDE IS YOUR GIRLFRIEND !!

[flat spot]

Bikes are quite expensive there, but on a different note. Have a ride down the great ocean road, not far from Melbourne.
There's a good chance with all them bends you'll bin it off a cliff and smash yourself on the rocks/beach/sea below, but it won't hurt as much 'cos it'll be really warm.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Don't live in Aus but was there for 3 months a few years back. Bought a Kawasaki GPX750 to get round on. In Melbourne there are a load of bike shops on Elizabeth Street, and I bought the GPX from one of those, but sold it to another shop. There is also a news agent on Elizabeth street that stocked UK bike magazines.

Bikes are expensive there compared to the UK 2nd hand, but actually seemed cheaper new.

Petrol is half the price of the UK. Insurance was far cheaper than the UK (around half the price for fully comp comapred to the UK tpft, and that was without being able to use my UK no claims). You cannot use the cheapest companies for insurance with a UK licence. Quite a few insurance policies will not cover you outside of the home state.

Road tax (Rego) is very expensive (around 5 times the UK rate).

This site might be useful. It is for the Victoria equivalent of the DVLA.

https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrne/vrnav.nsf/Home+Page/Internet~Home+Page?open

Round Melbourne hook turns are a pain. Tram tracks are lethal when it is wet. The car drivers were so dozy that they could have used valium to wake up, but unlikely to deliberatly cut you up. The police are very heavily into making a profit from people speeding. Taxis run on lpg which stinks when you are following them! Traffic is quite light. Lane splitting was illegal but nobody seemed to care.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[chocyman]

Hi from over here,

Im in Australia (have been for the last 5 years), apart from the Australians its a great place (JOKE BTW, before I upset anyone!)
Im not over East anymore (although lived in Sydney for a few years) West is best as they say. I get approx 9/10 months use out of my bike and its great!! Doesnt see rain, not because i dont take it out, just because it doesnt rain much here!!!
So, dirt cheap bike....no such thing in afraid. Got to remember that its pretty dry here, so nothing rusts, no salt on the roads, little or no mud/leaves on the road. In fact, pretty good biking weather all round! So bikes dont deteriorate as much as in the UK (goes for all vehicles as well). That is if you dont bin it into a bush of course.
Problem ive found is your limited in your choice alot. The Australian population is only approx 20 million. Remember there are 60 million plus in the UK alone, add Europe and thats a huge market for bike manufacturers. I remember going to buy my ZX7R, and was told I can have red/black, red/black or red/black. You guys get a few more options on colour and model choice.
Weathers perfect really for biking, get the same number of knob-ends over here, on phones or just drifting around. No different to any of the places around the world. Just remember that and you should be fine. Difference is that over here, we have SPACE...and plenty of it. So, a few minutes outside of the towns and cities...go for your life as there aint alot out there apart from dust and the odd road-house..oh and the odd stupid Kangeroo to get in your way.
Get out of the cities and into the hills, theres some great roads, and awesome sites.
See someones already mentioned the great ocean road..do it above all costs as its one of THE best biking roads Ive come across. Just watch out for the odd pillock who thinks they are mark Webber in their Mitsubishi Lancer with more plastic than Pam or Troy Bayliss and you`ll be OK.
Around Sydney, there are plenty of great roads, putty road is a must-do as well. 2 hours out of Sydney towards a country town called Singleton. Awesome twisty stuff and then flat out..great stuff ( saw a gnats over 275Kmph on my old ZX7R). Further up north, there are awesome roads as well. Just when you get here visit the information places and they can give you lots of info, otherwise just buy a book, there are plenty available.

Insurance IS most definately cheaper. Fully comp on a Aussie license is about $600 (approx 250 quid) for a VTR1000, and thats protected.
Rego, which is similar to the tax in the UK, but also has a 3rd party insurance with it (which is why its more expensive than UK road tax) is around the $400-$500 for a big bike, less for smaller ones...but the best bit is that legally all you have to do is buy rego, and you can go on the roads. Beware tho, the rego only covers 3rd party PERSONAL. ie if you hit someone it covers them and any hospital bills, but not you, your bike or their PROPERTY. You makes your choice, you takes yer chance.
If your in Vic, and on a UK license, then easiest is to go to the RACV (RAC Victoria), they insured me on a XJR1200 whilst I was still on a UK license. If you have a RAC UK letter or something, then this may help you getting a cheaper rate. Just a reminder, any longer than 3 months on your UK license, and you`ll need an international one. Again, they dont enforce strictly, but if you have an accident and its found out, then its another hassle that you wont need.

Petrol..what can I say..anyone want to pay 40p per litre??
Only downside is the normal unleaded is lesser quality than the Uk equivalent (91 RON as opposed to 95 RON (I think) in the UK). Nothing major, just means that every now and again you get a duff lot. Just runs some premium through it and it clears it out. Most Aussie bikes are tuned to run on it anyway, so you should have no troubles.

One word of warning, speeding. They dont toss about. if your caught, your caught, big fines and points for even 7kmph over the limit (that approx 3 or 4 mph) Plus, over here in WA, they have mobile cameras. Not talking a van painted day-glo yellow with signs, we are talking matt black camera and tripods, about 3 ft tall behind bushes, or where-ever they can get you. They take pics from the front or rear, so no reprieve if your on a bike. WA is the onlt place in Australia they can only take pics from the front..wonder why I ride a bike
Ive attached a pic so you can keep your eyes out for the buggers!! (the pic is one in Victoria (Melbourne))..be scared !!!

Finally....buying one.
Ok, theres a few websites which help you out.
www.autotrader.com.au
www.bikesales.com.au
www.quokka.com.au (free-ads over West, but will give you an idea of price)
Forget what the Vic and NSW free ad papers are called, but do a search and you`ll find them.

Cheapest option will be a cruiser type bike, or go for a grey import. Pros and cons of both, but get a good import and it`ll be just as good (may have trouble with insurance, servicing and parts tho).

Anyway, hope it helps, and have fun..

Oh...its 27 degrees here and sunny...think i`ll knock off work and go for a fang

Cheers

Andrew

[Wezrvf]

Thanks for all the help guys and i will defo have to watch out for them cameras when i have my Rossi head on!!!! I wish i could bring the RVF it but it will cost heaps, sob sob. Never mind i will see what i can find. It sound like rental will be the cheapest because i am guessing the tax and all will be included. Oh well looks like i am gonna keep looking.
Thanks again guys
Wez
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!! MY OTHER RIDE IS YOUR GIRLFRIEND !!

[Kickstart]

Hi

Over 3 months I would expect it will cost far more to hire a bike.

From memory it cost me under Aus$1500 in depreciation over 3 months (and that was buying from one dealer and selling to another), ~Aus$160 insurance and ~Aus$400 rego. Say roughly Aus$2000 for 10 weeks use , so Aus$200 a week. Suspect you will have problems getting it down to that price.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[CBRPETER]

Well i wish i had something to add, i'm living in Australia, Sydney to be exact. If you decide to ride through NSW take the oppurtunity to open up the throttle, all speed cameras have a big warning sign about 100 metres before hand. If you get a chance when your in N.S.W go for a ride throught the snowy mountains, the blue mountains, such roads as Putty road and of course the great ocean road. As for cheap bikes, i have a friend who is selling his yz 125 for $3500 Aus. You do the math.

Have fun, melbourne hasn't got the greatest wheather, if you want good riding weather you want Sydney, Brisbane or Perth. If you were to hire out a road bike may i suggest a GSXR-750, they seem to be the ultimate bike on Australian roads.
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