DTM->OZ (trip planning)

[DanTheMan]

Hey guys incoming SFMOB'er here ,

Well its still a few months out but close enough for me to start planning. When i wrap up my SE Asia tour (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=34037.0) i want to head to OZ next and get some riding/exploring/site seeing in. Time frame is going to be the beginning of June-?. I know its winter but ill deal with that later.

Ideally id like to buy a bike, something cheap dr400,sv650 ride/ride/ride and sell when i leave. Usually this works out to being cheaper than renting and i can make it one-way.

Given thats its winter, start in the south Melbourne, Adelaide, or even maybe Perth. And head up the east coast and hitting the major cities along the way and diversions to the interior for sites national parks or just great rides. And sell the bike somewhere in the north Brisbane, Caims?

Now time isn't much of a factor, but expenses will be as hotels gas and food can add up so that may be the limiting factor in my time. It may be a Melbourne to Brisbane run taking my time to site see along the way. 1month?

So questions for you guys are there cheap bikes to be had 2-3K AUD? Or anyone have one they are looking to off load? Dual sport would be best.

License insurance? Guessing international license or passport will do but insurance?yes?

What do you think of the general route along Melbourne to Brisbane? Lost of stuff to see along the way? Don't need details right now as far as where to go, it will make more sense to me once i get there. Also got to think whats easiest to buy/sell bike and fly in/out. Could even be a big loop. North from Melbourne to Brisbane then back along the coast. Or leave and return to Brisbane. Like to stay away from cold and wet (especially wet) but i have bad timing so ill deal with it.

Anyone want to grab a beer? 

Thanks for the help

DTM

[Spidey]

Given thats its winter, start in the south Melbourne, Adelaide, or even maybe Perth.

Scrath Perth off your list.  It doesn't make sense for the sort of trip you're planning.  To give you some perspectives on distance, Perth to Sydney is like LA to NY, but without being crisscrossed by a bunch of different freeways (like the US) and with unbelievably long distances between gas stops.  

[heatherp]

www.bikepoint.com.au and www.bikesales.com.au may help with bike  - will help with what to expect price and model wise.

I'm in the process of planning an east coast trip of my own. Victoria - SE Queensland and beyond (doing this in April) with the emphasis on our favourite bike roads.  Haven't done an intinerary or map yet but keep an eye on my Roadtrippin" thread.

In June in Victoria - you will get cold and wet.  But I'll show you some of our roads if you're keen.   ?  Definitely.

And I'm sure some of us even have spare beds or sofas to make life a little cheaper for you.

[Dannog]

+1 on the bikepoint or bikesales. You'll definitely get something from there for the right price. It about the only and best online classifieds now in Aust. The only other is the tradingpoint.com.au

Use these sites to work out what you want. You won't need a Dual Sport unless you like that sort of thing. You needn't go off road unless you like that sort of thing. At most you'd end up with very short sections of unsealled roads but you could easily avoid them if you choose.

Licence is not  problem as you can use you US licence without any issues.

Rego should come withthe bike. You'll need an address when your here to change the rego over too. I sure someone will help out here. Pick a bike in the destination you want to start that way we can organise someone to check it out and help with purchase arrangements. There's been a few online scams lately regarding purchases pickout nice bikes and using paypal to pay deposits etc. so without some representation here you'll scar off potential purchasers.

You won't need insurance as it is paid with the rego. That includes 3rd party personal insurance. ie it cover someone else if you injure them. Not your self of any damage you cause to property. All other insurance is optional. Since youwont be a resident, if you do get into trouble you'll be a long way away for an insurance company to chase.

There are some awesome roads between Melb / Syd / Bris so you wont have any problems finding something you like. The problem will be picking which one to take!

You'll definitely get wet and cold in June but to put it in context, I ride to work early every day and return late. I live in Sydney ... Melb is a bit colder but everyone in Aus rides all year round.

Stay in touch.

[goldFiSh]

Hey Dan,

Given you'll be starting here in winter, why not do the reverse? Start in Brisbane and surrounds, and then head south.

Weather / climate: As a guide for weather - Sydney is roughly similar to SF climate, being really general here, north = hotter and more humid, south milder and less humid.

Bike: What does our Queenslander members think? How easy to get a decent bike for Dan's $$ range in Brisbane? I  know there are some difference between states and rego, but I thought (and I could be wrong) than Qld rego is perhaps a little cheaper than NSW or Vic... Regardless, generally it should be easier to buy / sell in the states capitals rather than regional centres. So if your thinking of an east coast trip, that will mean Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane.


Trip: I'm sure you'll be able to pick up some local tour guides for portions of your trip. Some things that might interest you:

- the Great Dividing Range is the mountain range that runs pretty much parallel of the east coast of Oz
- there's lots of the best riding in and around that range
- The main snow / skiiing areas are in the south of NSW and the North of Vic. That means that some of the best roads are closed over winter, but by Oct they are open
- the Oz motogp round at philip island is 17th Oct. if you can make it to that you'll be able to witness some world class racing on one of the best race tracks in the world.

If it were me, this is what I would do

- buy a bike in Brisbane
- do all the local rides with the Brissy Oz Monster people
- go north for the tourist spots - best time of year is winter with the less extreme weather (and misses the wet season)
- travel back down via Brisbane, down through north New South Wales, into Sydney
- do all the local rides with the Sydney Oz Monster people
- South of NSW down the coast, and then across the Alpine region
- Melb and PI in time for the GP
- do all the local rides with the Melb Oz Monster people
- Hop on the boat and do Tassie with the Oz Monster people
- Back to Melb, sell the bike, hop on a plane

When in Syd, I'd be happy to help organise places to crash and tour guides for you. The family and me is definitely doing the motogp this year, and I've been working out a way to ride down, so if the timing works, you can jump on that trip (assuming it all comes together)

[bigiain]

Hey guys incoming SFMOB'er here ,

Well its still a few months out but close enough for me to start planning. When i wrap up my SE Asia tour (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=34037.0) i want to head to OZ next and get some riding/exploring/site seeing in. Time frame is going to be the beginning of June-?. I know its winter but ill deal with that later.

Hey Dan,

I'll be in SF in May, we should hang out and chat sometime between the 17th and the 22nd - perhaps at Zeitgeist on the 20th?

If nothing else, I've got a spare room you can use while you're in Sydney...

big

[goldFiSh]

Hey Big, I'f I'm not mistaken he's already out of SF and in asia....

[bigiain]

Hey Big, I'f I'm not mistaken he's already out of SF and in asia....

Ahhh, good point! That'll teach me not to read the links before I comment (who the hell am I kidding, of _course_ it won't!)

Oi Dan! Work out how to bring that Minsk into Australia, and I'll buy it off you when you leave! :-)

big (Oh, and Nick, beer and tunes this afternoon at The Sando? Gen Maynard and The Tallboys fro 4-7pm...)

[goldFiSh]

Sorry big, ended up at dinner at nonna's with the kiddies... otherwise...

[DanTheMan]

Scrath Perth off your list.  It doesn't make sense for the sort of trip you're planning.  To give you some perspectives on distance, Perth to Sydney is like LA to NY, but without being crisscrossed by a bunch of different freeways (like the US) and with unbelievably long distances between gas stops.  

yeah just a thought, i was thinking about doing a lap around the island. It's doable, but id have to cancel some other stops i have planned

Thanks for the links for used bikes, i was checking ebay but its kinda a pain in the ass.

Dualsport, i kinda like that sort of thing. If i know a dirt road will take me to the same location i'll take it.

Isn't june the beining of winter there? so it only get colder? That's why i was thinking start with the worst of it first then get to the warmer stuff is its too much. But if rego ect. is cheaper and eaiser in brisbane, that me be the starting point.

I would LOVE to catch the GP on PI, but not sure if ill be around till Oct. If i am, that would bring up another question, anyone got a job?

Hey Big, if things go according to plan ill be treking in Nepal in May, then down to OZ. If you want the Minsk its yours, Come and pick it up. Seriously if anyone wants to pickup where i leave off come and get the bike, free.

Good stuff everyone, gives me a great point to start from. Ill be looking for a bike and see what makes sense, I have time so i can work a deal once i get there. Just need to figure out how to pull that much money out of the ATM.

[goldFiSh]

ebay seems to suck for bikes. you might also want to try www.tradingpost.com.au as well. I thought that bike point and bike sales are one in the same - they seem very similar..

Re work, let us know what you do. Someone might be able to help out.

June is the start of winter, but remember is doesn't get all that cold here. It's more about the weather than the cold. Wet season up north would not be much fun on a bike, and as Heather said, if your in melb / surrounds in June, be prepared to get wet as well...

So give us more of an idea of what you want to do - tourist stuff and moto stuff, and I'm sure we'll come up with some suggestions..

[DanTheMan]

Holy crap bikes are expensive, cant get much for 3,000. Yeah both those sites look the same.

Im guessing not all dirt bike are legal for the road, only certain makes and models, like the US?

[heatherp]

Yep bikes are expensive here. 

[goldFiSh]

Im guessing not all dirt bike are legal for the road, only certain makes and models, like the US?

Anyone able to answer this for Dan... I thought that as long as it was able to conform to registration requirements (headlight, indicators etc), and is registered for road use, then you're fine... I could be wrong though...

[Jukie]

have a look at this

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vehiclesheet/agricultural_motorcycle.pdf