I've ridden my ttr from the UK to Nepal and will be shipping it to Brisbane for the 16th October.
I do have some plans eg scubba diving and meeting friends but it'd be nice too meet up with some people for a ride 😁 I'm also very tempted to go to Tasmania!
Nothing too hairy mind, mines loaded and only k60 scouts!
I live in Tasmania and I’d say don’t skip Tassie if you have time. Many consider it to be the best on and off road riding in Aus. Be happy to show you round take you on a few adventures. Or I can provide gps files for whatever to might feel like.
Easy to do stuff suited to your bike setup and have room if you needed to stay. Plenty of tools and bull**** stories too.
3 to 4 weeks doesn't sound long to get from Brisvegas to Taswegia and still get to see some stuff. Especially if you're looking for back roads.
On a 250 you could do Brisbane to Melbourne in 4 days, or 3 really long ones, if you stuck to the highways. Imagine wind buffeting every half minute or so from an on-coming semi; constantly watching the mirrors for others catching you up; deciding if you've really got enough go to overtake yet another caravan in the space available.
Sorry, but 250s on our highways just suck. Actually, highways just suck, doesn't really matter where they are.
Questions, what are your priorities for the trip? Traveling alone? Is riding the priority? Sealed roads all the way? As much unsealed road as possible? Nothing harder than a formed, graded road?
I can't help with Tassie but can offer some advice for a few routes from the NSW/Qld boarder down into Victoria. None of it too hard either, if I can do them....
Have you jumped onto AdvRider?
Reckon there'd be a room in Wagga Wagga if you needed one.
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In the Riverina.
'73 RD250, '80 XS1100, '81 RD373LC, '96 Tiger 900/sidecar, '02 TTR250, and another XS11 - this time a chain drive Period 5 race bike that may be ready to race eventually.
Thanks for the message, sadly i wont get to see how the old girl would hold up on the Australian stints, that said she did well covering long days on motorways across Kazakhstan though!
Sadly i didn't plan my timings well in oz, now im here ive been told brisbane are especially bad at customs so im diverting the bike back to the uk otherwise i'd spend close to 3000 pounds getting it there and home.
I am after another bike though, im in Cairns at the moment, ideally id get a larger duel sport, but im open to a road bike if the right ones available. I'd still like to meet up if people they are interested :)
I dont neccesary need to buy the bike in cairns, i may get one in Brisbane buy if anyone knows of something suitabel on a low budget (which i could sell later) your help would be appreciated!
Sorry for your troubles Dan. Crazy that developed world customs procedures are more troublesome than in the developing world. I hope something turns up for you soon, and I'm glad you're still on the move more or less. What a long strange trip it's been!
Best of luck for the next leg,
Simon.
In hindsight, I expect you had difficulty with the agricultural side of our importing rules? Or maybe it was the asbestos side of it all.
I support the requirements designed to protect our agriculture. There are lots of pests and diseases that we don't have and don't want. 'Free trade' mantra reckons that's a lot of bull**** and, I am led to believe, the big corporations have taken our government to the World Court arguing that our laws to protect our primary industries are contrary to free trade. No, just protecting out little bit of the world for as long as possible.
Asbestos? Well, since we were the ones exporting that ****, it's a bit rich to say we wont take it back! Some shiny arse pencil pusher, about 4 or 5 years ago, realised that there is asbestos in vehicle parts, especially older vehicles. So, they decided that the HUGE number of privately imported vehicles was such a MASSIVE problem that, well "Something has to be done!" another nanny state action. So, you'd now need to certify that any vehicle you're wishing to import has no asbestos component at all. Who provides the certification - that has to be the importer via an authorised inspector. Result $$$$$$$$$$$. Of course, if you certify it yourself, it can be seized at the dock and sent for inspection - at your over inflated expense, and then you're liable to a further, very large, fine if any asbestos is found - brakes, clutch, insulation materials. Despite the fact that the factory may not use asbestos oem, non-genuine parts manufacturers, especially the cheaper ones I'm told, do.
Anyway. Jump on to ADVRIDER Australian Flea Market . You may find something there already set up.
'73 RD250, '80 XS1100, '81 RD373LC, '96 Tiger 900/sidecar, '02 TTR250, and another XS11 - this time a chain drive Period 5 race bike that may be ready to race eventually.
Just noticed that any expletives are automatically over written.
**** bugger bum bitch piss **** fart!
How's an Aussie supposed to express himself?
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In the Riverina.
'73 RD250, '80 XS1100, '81 RD373LC, '96 Tiger 900/sidecar, '02 TTR250, and another XS11 - this time a chain drive Period 5 race bike that may be ready to race eventually.
well I'm pretty gutted whichever rule has made it difficult. I think i learnt to do more homework from this so i can't really blame anyone other than myself! Not the end of the world though, least im here and have had a good trip:)