70cc Moped around Australia
 

Hi guys... I have been sponsored by a swedish moped manufacturer to ride their MGB 3 wheel delivery moped around Australia, approx 13500 km over 38 days at about 45km per hour. Partly as a advertising project for them in and for me to raise money for the cancer foundation of Australia.

I am in the process of getting the import certificate approved before I start the next stage of planning the website, media etc

I am interested in any tips you might have... accomodation, camping sites, what to take with etc.

Thanks

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You have a route? Just bear in mind that mopeds on our highways that are one lane in either direction are not overly welcome and can be downright dangerous - especially a three wheeler travelling at slow speed that occupies as much road space as a small car. You should probably have a chat with the coppers in each State and get their views - cycle groups, runners, etc. have to get a pilot/escort vehicle on the main highways. A good part of a trip around Australia you will be dicing with double and triple road trains - you need to have a radio that you can tell the drivers what/where you are doing, pull over for them, play safe with big trucks.

Try the "Camps XX" books that will give you a list of free campsites.

Most good road maps will have service stations marked, if not Google the main fuel companies and they will have lists. Fuel range will be an issue with a moped. Contact the fuel companies for fuel card sponsorships.

Travel at weather appropriate times - The North is out during the monsoon, probably safest to travel in the period May to September. Travel lightweight.

Get fit - 38 days on a moped will take some training - 400kms a day is hard work on a moped.

I'm a charity Nazi nowadays - what % of your donations will go to cancer research and what % to the costs of the trip?

Have fun.

Hi Roger, thanks for your reply.

I am travelling from Brisbane to Rockhampton - Mt Isa - Katherine - Broome - Perth - Adelaide - Melbourne - Sydney - back to Brisbane.

Thanks for your information on the road trains, I have been worrying about them.

I am going to carry a UHF radio, SPOT, and will be tracked via GPS.

Every 320 km I will have sleep somewhere, I will look into the suggested books.

The idea is to raise money seperately for cancer and my personal expenses.

It sounds like you have done this before ?

Great idea for fuel sponsorship.

Thanks



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MGB Delivery Moped
 

This is what I will be riding around Australia

You should send a PM to Scootergal, who is currently doing a round the block on a 110cc Postie bike. She has lots of experience and practical know how.
see her blog- Postie Notes

Hi pongo .. I cant seem to see How to contact scootergal ?

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this bike will not past australian road regulations.no chance???

Thanks Pongo - we've made contact thru Facebook

Depends on how it is brought into the country - carnet de passage pretty well exempts it from ADR compliance, but we only allow personal imports via a CDP and of course it has to leave the country afterwards, plus has to have a "foreign registered vehicle permit" in most States (except NSW).

Personal import, not sure how that works for something that so obviously will not comply with ADRs. Maybe its a special build for Australia? downrated to get it into the unregistered class? Be interested to know.

I've seen those 3 wheeled Indian taxis and a tuk tuk from the Phillipines, so anything is possible - with enough money!!

I doubt that money would be the issue here, it's not like you can slip a few dollars under the table to get things done in Oz. It doesn't work that, unless it's politics of course. I am pretty sure the only way you will it on Australian roads is to bring it in registered and ride it as a foreign registered bike. There is absolutely no way you will get it registered in Oz. I would be happy to proved wrong. Just make sure you have all your import paperwork complete before the bike lands, or you may be waving it goodbye on the wharf.

We might like to think that we live in a relatively corrupt free society, BUT I've had personal experience of a Canberra civil servant soliciting a "donation" to make a problem he had created go away for me.

Corruption is alive and well in Australia and doing very nicely.

Hi Guys, thanks for your input

Why do you think it will not be allowed into Australia, and not pass road regulations.


It has the following as standard...

Disk Brakes all round
Independent suspension
Full Electrics
headlight, taillight, indicators, etc

It has a certificate of conformity for all of Europe and UK?

I am waiting to hear back from the Department of infrastructure and roads ... holding thumbs

Australia have their own rules - ADR - designed to protect their soon to be defunct car industry probably. Despite what some websites say the only easy way to import a vehicle into Oz is temporarily on a Carnet as Roger says.

Cheers
Clint

Weblookup VSB10 from the Dept of Infrastructure, has all the info you need and a checklist on how a vehicle can be brought into the country.

For more details on importing motorcycles or any vehicle into Australia, see the carnet information page here.

Thanks Roger

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Thanks Grant... great info ...holding thumbs I wont need it for this one :-)

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Some maths required methinks...
This wee moto gives 3.1 horsepower at 7500 rpm... with a claimed top speed of 45 Km/hour.
You say you wish to cover 13500 km over 38 days so, in round numbers, that's 355 kms a day, every day...
At a constant full throttle that's almost 8 hours a day... I sense a 'kaboooom' coming on.....

In the real world, that would probably translate to a more credible 12 hours, a day seven days a week which is going to be very hard. Have you thought this through? and the above does not take into account time needed for 'nature' stops, food stops. fuel stops, repairs, oil changes... etc. You may wish to factor in more days on the road.

Fun vehicle though! but with a lot of heavy and Oversize vehicles out there, it is perhaps not the nimblest to get out of the way. I've learned out there that there are three expressions which seldom feature in any truckers vocab. which are 'slow down', 'give way' and 'drive totally sober'...
Nevertheless , Good luck in your venture

Hi Bertrand, totally agree with your thinking and comments ... my maths is a "first cut - close as dammit" idea .. the idea is to travel everyday and travel as long as possible everyday, I know its not going to be easy and part of the reason for the trip is a mental challenge. I have spoken with many cyclists and a few people who have done the loop on sub 100cc bikes and they all say its tough and watch out for the road trains :-) how did you come across the specs ? Do you know the type of scooter? ... thanks for your comments.

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your trip sounds like fun (but perhaps allowing for a lot more time)
As with so many things in life, it's always good to keep informed:Beach:
p.s. I did not factor in any allowances for extra weight such as luggage etc...

With what Mezo?

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I agree mezo, I'm one off those B'double drivers and i can only see danger.We have the biggest legal trucks in the world and o.s. people just don't see it.. ooch. even postie bike are dangerest on open roads..

yep.. felt on my bike and seen it in the truck mirrors..

So, what's happening? Did you get an approval? Keep us up to date, even if its "nothing has moved" or I've quit the idea.