Motorcycling in Oz

Hi All,

Arriving in Oz on January 24 on a 1 year WHV, and since I hear it rarely rains down there I'm looking to get a motorcycle instead of a car.

I have my US motorcycle license (been riding for 5 years) and an endorsement from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation... what should I be aware of in terms of mandatory insurance, special licensing requirements, ect?

I'm aware that distances between Australian cities are very great... I've spent a lot of seat time on bikes so I'm not daunted by an 8-hour ride. Just wanting to make sure I've got the legal business locked down.

Also, if anyone knows some good classifieds or places to look for a used bike please contribute.

Quoting roadrover

and since I hear it rarely rains down there

I don't who you are hearing your information from, but I'd suggest doing a little research yourself. Summer is the rainy season in northern Queensland, and the whole east coast is expected to have flooding rains this year. Its subtropical and as such gets those huge downpours. I just left Byron Bay just south of Brisbane and had arrived the day the rain had stopped after raining for 2 weeks solid! But not to put you off, yes summer will have plenty of sunny days too.

I'm guessing the legalities of motorcycling insurance is the same as a car. Each state is different, but it seems in general when you buy your bike, you'll have to register it, and when you do that you purchase compulsory 3rd party insurance. This is the minimum which only covers the other persons vehicle should you cause the accident.

Don't forget to get an international drivers license while you are in the states and get the motorcycle endorsement on it. this will be good enough to ride in Aus. In NZ they have a agreement with the US that all you have to do is show your US license at the DVLC and they will issue you a NZ license. Aus maybe the same since they seem to be following everything the US does these days.

ahh check out Gumtree for your bike

[ Edit: Edited on 16-Dec-2010, at 13:46 by Dodger ]

Quoting Dodger

Don't forget to get an international drivers license while you are in the states and get the motorcycle endorsement on it. this will be good enough to ride in Aus. In NZ they have a agreement with the US that all you have to do is show your US license at the DVLC and they will issue you a NZ license. Aus maybe the same since they seem to be following everything the US does these days.

As long as you're not in Australia or New Zealand on a permanent visa (and a WHV counts as a temporary visa), you can just drive on your regular overseas license (provided it's in English). (See for example vicroads.) No need whatsoever for getting a local drivers license, nor an international drivers license (which is generally considered a scam), nor for an international driving permit (which I assume you're referring to, but which is only needed for a very few countries if your original license is in English).

[ Edit: Edited on 16-Dec-2010, at 14:47 by Sander ]

The western half of Oz is climatically perfect for biking from April-October - no rain & not too hot. The top half is similar. The SE will be coldish then though. November-March is hot & wet in the north but just hot further south.