Hi all

I am on my way to Melbourne Australia at the end of april and I am loooking for details of any suitable suppliers of secondhad bikes suitable for overland touring.

I am also looking for any Ausi web sites that may be of use for muy purpose.

any help would be appreciated

thanks
Joe

Joe, I have posted the web site of a firm in Melbourne whose services I have used and been very happy with. I have also heard good reports from others who have been customers.

It is a rental company but is almost certainly a good starting point for you. The staff are friendly and helpful and used to dealing with 'foreigners'..
If they can't help you directly they will certainly point you in the right direction..
http://www.garnersmotorcycles.com.au/index2.html

cheers
Peter

Head down to Elizebeth street in Melbourne. Lots and lots of new and used bikes. Good people too. Ask anyone in town where the bikes are and they'll point you to Elizebeth street. 6-10 dealers in downtown.
I bought bike in AU, registered it in my name without problems. You just need someone to allow you to use their address. Dealer might let you use his. They have speed cameras that will send tickets to your registered address!!!! Good value in AU now. Have fun.

check out this website for AUhttp://www.motortraders.net/Home/

G'day Joseph,

Coming from Oz myself I'd have to agree with Arlen here, Elizabeth Street in Melbourne is considered by many to be the centre of biking in the 'land down under'. You shouldn't have any problems acquiring a suitable mount in Melbourne. While you're in Victoria make sure you take in the Victorian High Country (Snowy Mountains) as well as the Great Ocean Road...there's some 'el-primo' roads through the high-country.

You may also want to get in touch with/join the MRAA (Motorcycle Riders Association of Australia), they'll be able to help with most questions and have chapters in all states (except NSW). I think their site is: http://www.mraa.org.au

Hope that helps, have a great trip...try and hit Tassie while you're here...it's god's own bike country,

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Stay Upright,

Andy D.

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Stay Upright,

Andy D.

friends,

planning to arrive in australia next april/may. need a bike, preferred bmw R80/100GS. are there any internet-sits to look?

-=helmut=-


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regards...
-=airhead=-
http://www.euroheads.org

try www.bikepoint.ninemsn.com.au (they usually have a good selection of on-off road bikes).

Also look at www.tradingpost.com.au

Greg

Try looking at a site for a company in sydney - it is www.betterbikes.com.au - they specialise in tourist sales and buy backs - good luck

Hiya

The address for the Trading Post (above) is only for other states, it won't help you in Victoria.

Elizabeth Street is a good place to start and get an idea of prices, but the best place to look for a bike is in the Melbourne Trading Post.

www.melbournetradingpost.com.au

The website is crap but the hardcopy newspaper is great. It comes out on a Thurs morning and is often sold out by the end of the weekend so it's best to get in quick. Also, the good stuff goes quick (of course) so make your calls to prospective sellers BEFORE the weekend.

There are plenty or big-bore dual-purpose bikes available - avoid buying one in the country as they're likely to have been used as a paddock bike and will be shagged.

I see from the above posts that you've already had some good advice on roads. If you're heading into the outback the best route is down the Great Ocean Road to Adelaide, north to the Flinders Ranges (DO NOT miss Wilpena Pound and surrounds - Quorn, Pitchi Ritchi Railway etc), then through Maree and up the Oodnadatta Track (if heading for Alice/Uluru) or Birdsville Track (for Queensland). Uluru (Ayres Rock) will blow you away no matter how many pictures you've seen.

You can actually get from the Flinders Ranges to Alice Springs without touching bitumen - I almost did it a few years ago but was foiled in the last stage by an incorrect report on the road's condition.

I ended up riding through East/West McDonald Ranges, to Katherine, west to Broome, down the coast to Perth and across the Nulabor to home (Melb). If you've got questions email me.

Hot tips from B

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Barry
XT600Z 3AJ Tenere (rebuild in progress)
SRX600