Motorcycle Rental in Down Under

Am thinking to do a tour next year in Aussieland, sort of similar to
my trip around South Africa and Mozambique. Hooning around on a 1150GS.
Anybody here done it? If so, where from and any recommendation regarding
a company?

 

strangely a Google on Australias Google site gave
http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=motorcycle+hire&meta=

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Robbo

BMW K100 RS 1984
"Fairly Quick" status. Silver level
BotaFOF #19. E.O.S.M 2001/2002/2003/2004.
B.O.S.M 2003, 2004
FURSWB#1 KotL..YTC449
PM#7
..

 

Got a friend who moved out there last year. She hired a bike whilst she
toured around house huntng. I can ask her if you like ? But it will take a
couple of days before i get a reply.

 

I rented via HC Travel when I did my ride who were OK, until I got there and
the XTZ660 with large fuel tank I had ordered ( I was crossing the Gt
Victoria Desert on my own after all...) was no longer available and so I got
an Aprilia Pegaso and the 'extensive equipment' supplied turned out to be
one billy , a plastic 5litre fuel can and some basic tools.

When I e-mailed HC Travel they said that the type of bike was not
specifically guaranteed (as per car hire, so not much I could argue about),
but also that the equipment was only a 'wish list' which pissed me off a
fair bit as it was specifically stated I'd get the stuff. Of course I
didn't need most of the kit promised, but that ain't the issue is it?

If you are going to be on the road for more than a couple of months you're
probably better off buying a bike and then selling it at the end of the
ride - hire charges are rather steep.... For example, Clubman M/C rentals
in Sydney (http://www.clubman-motorcycle-rentals.com/) want over
A$1000(around the £420 mark) per week for an 1150G/S, HC Travel list the
Beemer in Melbourne at £532 a week....

However, HC also offer a sale/.buy back route, which is what I'd go for if I
did it again - their example is on an XT600, bought 2/hand through them at
A$5985, returned 8 weeks later, they'll give you A$3485 back so the cost is
equivalent to 2.5 weeks' rental for 8 weeks' use, but, of course you are
responsible for any servicing, etc...[1]

I can provide (even) more info if you want it.

Dave

[1] That said, I had to fork out for all the servicing and repairs to the
Pegaso when I had it (paper air filter + 1100km of dry sand = top-end strip
and clean) and if you break down outside a major town, hire bike or not,
*You* have to find some way of getting it recovered - the RACV ain't gonna
drive out to the Nullabor to pick you up. So I'd definitely go for that
route if I did it again (which I wouldn't.....)

 

This is what I did - I was there for 6 months, so bought (an FJ1100)
when I arrived, and sold it when I left. It cost me about $1500Au I
think, which isn't too bad for six months hire.

 

Robbo

No kidding? What a fangled new thang this google. It's still good
to get some peeps recommendations though, innit?

 

Champ

Ta, but I wasn't planning to go for quite that long. Prolly about
three weeks in total, so the buy/sell option isn't likely to be a
good option. I had a look at a few of the rental websites and have
seen the Clubman site WavyDavy is talking about and found their prices
to be steepish. While this HC place in Melbourne good just be the deal.

 

It might be, but you want to check. If it's through Garner's then they are
a fairly small outfit and you are not guaranteed the bike you ask for - I
get the feeling you'd be a bit hacked off to order an 1100G/S and end up
with an 1100S, for example, but that could happen with them as it did to
me - the previous renter of the Yam I wanted bought it the week before I
arrived, so I got the Pegaso....

Also remember if you use HC then get a confirmation in writing that all the
listed equipment as stated on the website will be provided...

 

Email me when you are getting a bit closer to your trip and I will do
what I can to assist you. Given that I live in OZ a lot of the time,
and have travelled over most of it at one time or another, there is a
good chance I can be of assistance to you.

At the very least you will get a beer and a feed.

 

Cerberus

Ta, noted and filed away, for when it comes closer to reality. ;-)

 

Of course if you do that you also have the expense and hassle of
insurance. How awkward is it to arrange that in a foreign country when
you may well not have an address - permenant of otherwise - in that
country?