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25 Jul 2007
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Buying Bike In Australia as Non-National
Hi,
I've been travelling for the past 2 years around the world on a Dakar but the recent addition of a new Girlfriend and ultimately the uninspiring performance of the Dakar has led me to decide to change bikes for the last leg of this trip which will be 7 months across Australia and New Zealand. I've decided to get an BMW Adventure instead.
I do however need some help in the form of answers to a few questions which I haven't found posted on this forum since the end of last year so I hope I'm not covering too much old ground. I did e-mail about 5 prestigious Australian BMW dealers but none have got back to me.....yet, and I fly out on 4th August.
So here goes...
) Is it possible for me to legally ‘own’/register a motorcycle in my name? I do have a friend in Brisbane who would ‘lend’ me her address if necessary.
2) What documentation would I need to take the Bike to New Zealand and back ?
3) How easy is it normally to sell this style of bike in Australia ? i.e. How much time should I reasonably allow to sell it before leaving ?
4) I would also want to have some metal panniers fitted. Are they readily available ?How much should I expect to pay for say a reasonable pair providing approx 40l each. I do have a pair but they and the frame would require siginifant adaptation to fit an Adventure.
5)Is it easy for non-nationals to get Insurance ?
6)How can I determine if a bike (I'm buying) actually does belong to the seller ?
7) Are people in Australia generally 'happy' with a bank transfer for the payment of a vehicle ?
8) How much does it cost to fly a bike to NZ and back and how much is involved ?
O.k., that's about it I think. I appreciate there is quite a lot there so if anyone feels like answering just one of the questions I would be grateful.
Regards,
Mike
Mike & John's Explorations
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25 Jul 2007
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Super Moderator
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Dave Mulligan from Get routed might be a good place to start about shipping your bike. He organises lots of that stuff.
GetRouted : Bike shipping and Tour Operator
But it can be easier and cheaper to buy in NZ and do it the opposite way.
Kind regards
Nigel in NZ
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26 Jul 2007
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1) Is it possible for me to legally ‘own’/register a motorcycle in my name? I do have a friend in Brisbane who would ‘lend’ me her address if necessary.
not sure, but you can have a look around this link or send them an email to find out - other states are likely to be the same as Qld
Motor vehicles and motorbikes
5)Is it easy for non-nationals to get Insurance ?
Don't know, but a few major insurers in Aus that you can follow up yourself via the www are;
NRMA
GIO
AAMI
Plus i am sure there are some more bike specific insurers - shannos have ads on TV;
Car Insurance Quote Australia - Online Car Insurance Quotes - Shannons
6)How can I determine if a bike (I'm buying) actually does belong to the seller ?
check out this link for an example of the Queensland system
https://www.service.transport.qld.go...ck/Welcome.jsp
each state has a different system, but a "REVS" check is avalable from each state, and will tell you if the vehicle has money owing on it. Plus they can give other info usefull when buying such as crash history. each state will have something on their websites to help you - google will get you there.
7) Are people in Australia generally 'happy' with a bank transfer for the payment of a vehicle ?
Yes generally. takes 2 days to officially clear into their account usually. though the bike i just bought was with cash to get the best price.
hope some of that helps
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26 Jul 2007
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1) Is it possible for me to legally ‘own’/register a motorcycle in my name? I do have a friend in Brisbane who would ‘lend’ me her address if necessary.
yes, you have two options.. use your friends adress.. but you will have to prove residency.. I.e. have some mail sent there...
two busters in melbourne have a sell and buy back service.. (easy option).
2) What documentation would I need to take the Bike to New Zealand and back ?
all you need is a carnte.. and clean the bike VERY VERY WELL
www.dotars.gov.au
www.aqis.gov.au
3) How easy is it normally to sell this style of bike in Australia ? i.e. How much time should I reasonably allow to sell it before leaving ? If you buy it in oz, no trouble selling it time wise it may depend on when and condition of bike.
If you imported it on a carnte.. you cant..
4) I would also want to have some metal panniers fitted. Are they readily available ?How much should I expect to pay for say a reasonable pair providing approx 40l each. I do have a pair but they and the frame would require siginifant adaptation to fit an Adventure.
As far as i can tell there is no supplier of ali panniers.. I ended up making my own.
5)Is it easy for non-nationals to get Insurance ?
as above.. but Victoria 3 party insurance is part of your registration.. and you do not need more... but it makes rego cost $300+ !!!
6)How can I determine if a bike (I'm buying) actually does belong to the seller ?
as above..
7) Are people in Australia generally 'happy' with a bank transfer for the payment of a vehicle ?
I nor anyone i know would take it.. cash or bank check it the usual way... but maybe i am paranoid.. and I have never been asked to accept it.. I would not let the bike out of my hand until it cleared and I would charge you all the associated fees.. (aussie banks are evil with fees).. for example I transfered ££ from my HSBC UK acount to my HBBC AUS account and they charged me 40£! 
8) How much does it cost to fly a bike to NZ and back and how much is involved ? sorry cant help here ..but it is not uncommon so cant be that hard
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26 Jul 2007
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Buying bike in Australia
Thanks for your feedback chaps.
Incidentaily I've subsequently found out that you can buy Jesse panneirs & Hepko & Baur(a name like that anyway) in Australia. The guys at MTD, selling Jesse panneirs have been very helpful with my first enquiry.
If anybody else has anything further to add I'd be very grateful.
Regards,
Mike
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26 Jul 2007
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Panniers
....sorry, forgot to mention they are Ali. Hepco also do a natty plastic set which have a second skin to enable carrying 2.5 litres of fluid in each pannier/top box.
Regards,
Mike
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27 Jul 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by exploringrtw
Thanks for your feedback chaps.
Incidentaily I've subsequently found out that you can buy Jesse panneirs & Hepko & Baur(a name like that anyway) in Australia. The guys at MTD, selling Jesse panneirs have been very helpful with my first enquiry.
If anybody else has anything further to add I'd be very grateful.
Regards,
Mike
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Would you have a url for them.. as a couple of people i know are looking for a set too??
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27 Jul 2007
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Gold Member
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Gold Coast Australia
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Try these sites:-
Home
MTD Australia/Queensland
Both of them sell great quality Panniers and heaps of other accessories
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30 Jul 2007
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Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
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My general rule of thumb
1 week to buy a bike
2 weeks to sell a bike
But it will vary with where you are and when.
Be prepared to drop a lot in price .. the reality is it is not as much as shipping you bike over and back.
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Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S
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3 Aug 2007
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Panniers
I have a set of Jesse's on one of my bikes and Touratechs (Zega) on another one. The guy in Caloundra who sells Jesse is very helpful. toursdownunder.com.au
For TT try info@touratech.com.au and speak with Tony
For Hepco & Beker try Munichmotorcycles.com.au
Good luck
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3 Aug 2007
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wrong url
Sorry guys the first site was wrong, it advertises Kyaking in NZ......haha!
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13 Aug 2007
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Join Date: Jul 2004
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Buying Bike In Australia as Non-National
As some of you know, I am from Belgium, and in 2005 I spent 3 months in Australia. I bought a BMW R 80 from Betterbikes ( a secondhand motorcycle shop) They gave me all the papers, I went to the RTA ( close to the railway station, and close to the youth hostel where I stayed) give them my name and the adress from the youth hostel ( the lady who helped me said it was a good adress) and in 5 minutes and 50 AU$ I had the right papers to go on the road. I went on that bike from Sydney to Perth and back,did 13.000 km in 3 Months and sold the bike to the people of Motohansa ( a secondhand shop and parts for BMW,and a fantastic crew to help you out with really every question you have.) Both shops,Betterbikes and Motohansa have a website.
Hope to helped you a little bit.
So long.
Chris.
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24 Aug 2007
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Last year I bought a bike from Central Coast Motorcycles. Got a fair price. The salesman wrote a letter for to take to get the Rego tht said I lived at his house. No problem. I took my Happy Trail metal panniers as luggage. Just bolted them together and put a cheap little dolly under them to make the transport easier. Insurance was no problem either. I am heading back in 4 weeks to ride for another 8 weeks and then will sell it to a friend I meet there or put it on consignment if needed. The folks there are great and I had a blast.
Al
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12 Sep 2007
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Some Answers.
Hi, Thanks for your responses and suggestions. I now have my own experiences since asking these questions and so I thought i'd post them as a recent experience. If I repeat what others have said, please excuse me.
1) Is it possible for me to legally ‘own’/register a motorcycle in my name? I do have a friend in Brisbane who would ‘lend’ me her address if necessary.
Yes it is but you need someones address and an official docment signed by them vouching for you at their address.
2) What documentation would I need to take the Bike to New Zealand and back ?
You can use a carnet or bond or Dave as others have suggested who covers the bond for you..
3) How easy is it normally to sell this style of bike in Australia ? i.e. How much time should I reasonably allow to sell it before leaving ?
We're subscribing to the two week theory and will start advertising the bike 2 weeks before we get back to Australia from NZ-obviously only a theory though !
4) I would also want to have some metal panniers fitted. Are they readily available ?How much should I expect to pay for say a reasonable pair providing approx 40l each. I do have a pair but they and the frame would require siginifant adaptation to fit an Adventure.
Jesse do a purpose made set for the Adventure and other bike as well. Lachlan at MTD on the Sunshine Coast and is very helpful. Hepco Bauer also supply panniers in Australia.
5)Is it easy for non-nationals to get Insurance ?
Yes it is possible but not all are happy with a UK or International driving license. I went with ebike insurance having had 2 brokers say no-one due to the UK licence, the other as the bike would be parked outside. ebike have outlets in the UK, NZ & Australia and were very helpful and sensibly priced.
6)How can I determine if a bike (I'm buying) actually does belong to the seller ?
The RTA authorities have an online and phone REVs test which authenticates the vehicle, owner and other information. The more you pay the more information you get. i.e. wether there is outstanding credit or the vehicle has been in a serious accident etc.
7) Are people in Australia generally 'happy' with a bank transfer for the payment of a vehicle ?
Yes. I explained to my seller that I would transfer payment via SWIFT and that he could keep the bike until he saw the money in his account. All I asked for in the interim was for him to sign a document that I didn't owe him any other monies and that the sum being transferred was for the full and sole payment of the vehicle I was buying. He understood my financial vulnerability in the interim period and signed happily.
8) How much does it cost to fly a bike to NZ and back and how much is involved ?
Quantas quoted me at about $AU1500 each way plus other costs. Dave is around $1650 return if I've understood him correctly BUT that is by ship and takes 2 weeks either way with all the necessary paperwork.
Well, that's it for now-I hope it proves useful.
Regards,
Mike
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