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