Need Advice: from "Riders" Aka Bikers

na8an on 24/11/2016 - 06:22
Last edited 24/11/2016 - 09:48

Hey fellow rider,

I'm planning to ride from Melbourne to Sydney on 26/12/16 & back 2/1/17.

Little info about me -

I'm in late 20's have been driving motorbike since 2005 (occasional), last I drove was in March'16, recently sold my bike for 70% loss as it was just idle in garage over a year, now that holiday season coming up I would like to go for a ride.

I was thinking to hire a bike for a week, as well as gear for drive, but the prices are min 1700$ for rent + 2k to 5k deposit and whatever for the insurance+gear. I was thinking rather buy a bike for 10k and sell it after the ride.

Can this plan pan out? things to watch out for?
Suggestion for scenic route?
Never have driven this far on bike or car, things and equipment mandatory for the drive? (max distance by car was 500km, bike maybe 150km)

If anyone knows a group for this sort of things please let me know.

TLDR;
Motorcycle drive from MEL-SYD, which bike to buy? route? equipment?

Automotive

Comments

  • mskeggs on 24/11/2016 - 07:28
    +1

    Isn't $10k quite a lot to spend on a secondhand bike? Certainly less chance of losing value if you buy a cheaper one. Sound plan though.
    I'm not a bike rider, but my relatives who are all relish long country drives, so my suggestion would be to skip the motorway for secondary highways and break the trip into 2 with a night rest in between so it is enjoyable rather than a slog. Plenty of nice little towns along the way to stop over.
    Maybe you mean to do this already, it isn't clear whether you are planning of doing the trip in one hit or not, but I think SYD-MEL is long and tedious (and potentially more dangerous due to fatigue) to do in one hit if it can be avoided.

    • na8an on 24/11/2016 - 09:54

      I started off with 5k and ended upto 10k as I looked at the machines, I can't own a bike worth 10k but can definitely buy and sell for this time. I might as well make most of it.

      Okay I'll remember to plan for secondary highways.

      I'm thinking to ride in one stretch, starting at 3am and aiming to reach 6pm in SYD. If I feel rather fatigue I'll slow down and rest for that night.

  • OZB Al on 24/11/2016 - 08:28
    +2

    You'll get better results of you ask this at netrider.net.au and you can also buy a reliable bike 2nd hand from a forum member.

    • na8an on 24/11/2016 - 09:55

      Thanks mate, will look into it.

    • shadowarrior on 24/11/2016 - 23:47

      Netrider….pfft! :P

  • k-rokfm on 24/11/2016 - 08:29
    +4

    ok first and foremost, it is not DRIVE a motorcycle. You RIDE one. ok good got that out of the way.

    Are you planning on doing the trip in a day or over say 2 or 3 days each way? To be honest if you are going to be doing it over a single day, then i would really suggest just driving (a car)/busing it straight up to sydney and NOT to ride a bike. As you havent been riding in a long time you will not be bike fit and riding that long in a day straight up would likely result in high fatigue and probably crashing (especially if taking the back roads where they are very tight/lots of corners/blind corners).

    If you were to do it over 2 or 3 days then i would suggest taking maybe the coast road up to sydney taking the main roads through. Why is this? Because even though youve ridden before, with a big break then you will have lost skills and bike confidence so your skills will not be at the level to do all the back roads (through snowy mountains etc). Also you will be likely riding alone? So if you take the back routes and you get stuck/broken down/crash then there will be nobody around to help. On a more main road there will be more people to help. Especially if you are riding an unknown bike anything can happen.

    To be honest, if you are buying a bike to do 1 ride then i wouldnt even bother. If you wanted to do this ride and also get back into riding then i would suggest trying to buy a bike now (NOW) and get bike fit up until you leave.

    • na8an on 24/11/2016 - 10:05

      Heard you! Edited.

      I was thinking of doing it in one day, I'm still planning so can take a break in between.

      All of your points have made sense and yeah I'm travelling alone this time. Are they any groups or something I could join?

      I'm not sure if I'll be touring later, I wish I can. Yes I was thinking to take trips to work, I can learn more about handling and stuff.

      Appreciate your reply mate, cheers!

  • Baysew on 24/11/2016 - 09:57

    Just Fly.

    • na8an on 24/11/2016 - 10:06

      I would but ticket price are insane.

      • k-rokfm on 24/11/2016 - 10:43
        +3

        Just on the issue of money have you also included costs for transferring rego of the bike into your name, insurance and gear.

        As were coming into summer the prices of bikes will be going up so you may cop a few hundred loss on the bike when you go to sell it (especially if you want a quick sale) and also the cost of gear. You will not be able to sell your gear for what you paid for it (especially a helmet, you will not be able to really even sell that).

        So all up it may sound cheap but could cost you upwards of $1000 in cost loss

        • na8an on 24/11/2016 - 13:52

          I'll reconsider the point while drawing budget. Thank you.

          Also, if I can't sell bike this summer probably will dead to wait till next summer and eventually I have to sell for lot less price.

  • picklewizard on 24/11/2016 - 10:32
    +1

    I rode a Suzuki Across from Melbourne to Sydney and back a few years back.

    Never. Again.

    It's boring, uncomfortable, long… that said, time was a factor, so I took the Hume.

    On a more comfortable bike on a scenic route, it might be more enjoyable though!

  • o53djz7qTPY4der on 24/11/2016 - 10:37
    +1

    I drive it and am planning to on xmas eve - It is long, tiring and boring. I can only imagine how painful it would be on a bike. Also, with it being holidays and double demerits you wouldn't even be able to enjoy going a little faster, especially in Vic.

  • snook on 24/11/2016 - 13:03
    +1

    I'm a long time bike rider and I think it's a stupid idea.
    If you follow sales of bikes, you'd know that they take a long time to sell unless it's a really good deal - read, desperate.
    On the other hand, when you buy a second hand bike, you get what you pay for. You won't know what you have for a while.
    To top all of this off, you're an inexperienced rider who called it driving. There are too many other things to list here.

    While I encourage people to try riding bikes, I would not encourage anyone to do what you're suggesting. It's stupid. Sorry.

    Fly or hire.

    • na8an on 24/11/2016 - 13:56

      Duly noted, I shall rather drive a car and hire a bike in Sydney for local tours.

  • macrocephalic on 24/11/2016 - 13:44

    I've been riding every day for 11 years.

    My advice: Fly/car/bus to Sydney for xmas, it's not worth riding.

    Then, buy a 2k bike and learn to ride again at a sensible pace in your own time. With your apparent level or riding experience, I don't see any reason for you to spend 10k on a bike, I've never spent more than $5k on a bike and I've owned six of them in the time that I've been riding.

    I rode from Brisbane to Albury for xmas in 2008 and had a great time, but I had been riding every day for 3 or 4 years by then, and I planned out a scenic route, planned my fuel stops, planned my accommodation, and did it over four days each way. My general rule is not to do more than 500km/day on a bike (as I don't ride a tourer). Any more than that and you will be sore the next day, and fatigue on a motorcycle isn't fun or safe.

    Riding along the Hume in the middle of summer will be hot, dry, busy, and exhausting.

    If I were to do it, I would take a route something like this and do it over two or three days each way: https://goo.gl/maps/1pvtjBFeCf42

    • na8an on 24/11/2016 - 14:00

      Thank you that helps me for planning trips for near future, what would you suggest in the range of 5k since you know the market can you give me some pointers?

      I usually go by looks followed by power/relaiblity.

      • snook on 24/11/2016 - 15:21
        +1

        You know, people are either bike riders or they're not. Among other things, the fact that you had a bike and then sold it from lack of use indicates that you're not a rider.

        If you're only riding it around the city and will treat it as above, you should buy a 250-300. Smaller the engine, the less problems from lack of use and care.

      • macrocephalic on 24/11/2016 - 16:18

        I generally recommend trail bikes for people. You can put road wheels on them and they'll be fine around town and on the highway (although not comfortable for long trips). You can put dirt wheels on them and take them offroad or on the beach. They crash well. They have forgiving frames and suspension. They're normally lighter than road bikes.

        If you get a dirt bike just check the service intervals, racing bikes require frequent maintenance, but less highly strung ones only require 6k+ oil changes.

        Something like a DRZ400 or WR250X would suit.

        If you want something that looks like a sports bike then there about a million ninja 250/300's around - and they're only about $5k new. Otherwise, the GS500 is a solid do everything bike.

        Get something that's comfortable, reliable, and you can handle well.

  • shadowarrior on 24/11/2016 - 23:56
    +2

    Have ridden from Melbourne to Gold Coast (via Sydney) and return bunch of times. I enjoy longer rides, so it doesn't bother me. But, I did 300-400km rides over the weekend with friends regularly, so I am used to long distance riding.

    100kms on a bike feels like a REALLY LONG DISTANCE, specially if you are not used to riding bikes over long distance. Hume is the quickest, but also the most boring stretch…well not as boring as Newell. The coastal route through the Princess is fun.

    However, if you haven't ridden in a while and haven't had much of highway experience, I'd put my vote towards either flying or driving. Riding around the city, riding around the mountains and riding on the highways…they require a different set of skills.

    Oh and any long highway trip you do in the future, invest on some highway pegs and Airhawk seat pads. Your ass, legs and waist will thank me later :)

    Edit: just read some of your earlier posts about caring for looks over power/reliability.
    Doing long distance on sports/super sports is really tiring. If you want to munch kms, get a tourer. Cruisers could be good too, but I haven't ridden any of the new cruisers over long distances, so can't really comment on that.

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