Motorcycle Buying Gude (for AU)
From BikeNomads
Posted by Prasad Temkar on BN on 3rd June 08
Contents |
Bike Hunt on various website such as:
Selecting a good deal:
Getting a good deal here can be both... simple and tough depending on the amount of money Ur willing to spend and on the no of CC's Ur looking for. Here, in comparison to the 250cc, a 600cc comes at a cheaper deal in terms of price. This is because, 250cc bikes here are the limit for learning and getting a learners license. If one is lucky like in my case, u do get a steal jus in urn neighborhood. The guy who sold me the bike lived in my back lane. Bikesales.com.au is where I checked this bike for sale. Sale of used bikes here is quite legal and professional. The owner has to have RWC - Road worthy certificate from authorized Vic roads outlets ( http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home ) jus like our RTO'S. The RWC takes into consideration all the aspects of the bike before it's sold. maintance , condition , service history , tires ( I got a fresh set of perilli sport demons from the owner as he had to clear the RWC in the first go) , battery , electrical etc etc...... THE MAIN THING HERE TO DO IS SELECTING A BIKE WHICH HAS LESS KMS DONE , WHICH HAS A VALID REGISTRATION FOR ATLEAST NEXT 8 MONTHS AND WHICH IS PRIVATELY OWNED.
License requirement:
As far as the license goes, the Aussie laws are really strict.
One cannot ride with a overseas license showing that he is licensed to ride in that particular country except for New Zealand , U.K or Canada. There are 2 ways of going through the license procedures .
Direct conversion of your existing overseas license into an authorized Australian license:
Basic funda in this is to book an appointment with the Vic Roads authorised motor training school and give not 1 but 2 assessment tests which covers all ur professional riding sense and skills. The total charge for this is $ 320( 100 for the 1st test , 220 for the 2nd test) . Once u clear both these exams , U get a full riders license of the Victorian State which can be used in both Australia and New Zealand. This is the way i did my license.
Step by step procerude :
In this one has to first giv the learners permit test and gets a learners licence which can be used for 15 months maximum ( a "L" plate needs to be continuously kept next to the rear number plate as its a rule). After that he has to give his 2nd test i.e Probationary permit ( a "P" plate needs to be kept next to the rear number plate as its a rule) . After this the rider needs to apply for a full riders licence permit ..
Making the deal:
Once u select the bike, it's all pretty much done. Payment can be done depending on the sellers request or a mutual understanding. Cash, Online transfer or a cheque.
From that point onwards, JUST RIDE :D
Transfer Fee for ownership of the bike:
Basically the purchaser has to pay $8 per every $ 200. In short its: Purchase value * 8 / 200. This is paid by the purchaser. In my case I have to pay $112 as my bike is or $ 2800.
Registrations:
Is also unique in a way. Unlike India where once u get the bike registered the number remains the same for many years or forever, here registration of any vehicle is valid only for a year. Once that is expired, one has to again re-register the vehicle which costs I think $600-800.
Rules and regulations:
Wearing an Australian standard certified helmet, Riding Jacket and Gloves are the most mandatory safety gear a rider must posses while riding. Same applies for the pillion. The helmets are certified wit the Australian Standard AS 1698 jus like our ISI's which is the reason I couldn't dare to wear my GPR even though it's such an amazing helmet. Other than that it's always useful to wear knee guards as a safety as the traffic is always high speed due to the high levels of civic sense. One of the best features of riding in Australia is that there are no towing cars looking for bikes. One can park a bike anywhere on a footpath, park, on a divider as long its not coming in between the traffic. In our university bikes are parked on the 2nd level.
Riding with a level headed mind:
Is one of the most important things especially for Indians who have never ridden higher cc bikes (which goes for me as well: P). One often gets temped to just open the throttle seeing the wide long stretch of pure tarmac and a beastly engine under the ass.