Buying a bike in Australia...? Where and how?

[Steam]

Where and how do you buy bikes in Australia?
I am planning on going to Oz later this year to tour around, while stopping to do the odd bit of seasonal work for cash. (then at the end of 2008 it's off to China, maybe to see the Olympics)

Here in NZ I'd look on Trademe, limit my search to bikes under $3000, test-ride and inspect those in the city, and eventually buy.

Is it the same over in Oz? I'll be in Melbourne for a month at first.
Is the main site Ebay, or do they tend to do things via the newspaper there?
Is there a site like Kiwibiker where I could ask?
I don't need anything fancy, my current 1985 Honda CX400 ($1800) would suit me fine, but it would be too exensive to get it over there I guess.
I just need a old tourer, I'll be going on gravel but don't need a proper adventure / dual-purpose bike.

Thanks for your suggestions and opinions.

[xwhatsit]

eBay is the Trademe equivalent over there, except (at least in Brisbane) people don't seem to have the `early adopter' mentality, so the use of trading magazines is more popular. Melbourne may be different. At any rate, there's enough range that eBay should be just fine.

Sounds like fun!

[janno]

www.bikepoint.com.au

Also the local trading paper in whatever area you're in eg Quokka in WA or Trading Post in Qld.

Trading Post is online too.

[Maha]

Why but one?... take a bike you really like for a test ride, and at the end of 08' take it back and say...'yeah na doesn't quite suit mate''....:niceone:

[devnull]

You could also have a look at http://bikes.drive.com.au/

I believe it's part of The Age http://www.theage.com.au

[Matt_TG]

You could start by asking on the Aussie CX/GL forum, I'm sure someone there could help, not necessarily a CX or GL.

Australian CX GX MSN Site (http://groups.msn.com/AustralianHondaCX500CX650Register)

[Steam]

Thanks heaps for all those, will have a look around.

[bell]

http://www.netrider.net.au/forums/viewforum.php?f=10

[Jantar]

I'll have a small Honda for sale in Australia as from the 27th October for the price of a couple of cold beers. However it would be your problem to collect it from Cairns, register it etc.

For details on the bike see: http://www.postiebikechallenge.org/postie_bikes.htm

[aussiedav]

Lots also use Bikesales (http://www.bikesales.com.au)

[Steam]

Lots also use Bikesales (http://www.bikesales.com.au)

Thanks for the link dude, but Jantar has offered his postie, I'm very excited.
Interesting listings though on that site though. I wonder why NZ has embraced the online way of selling much more than Oz?

[aussiedav]

I don't know why but most here use either bikepoint or bikesales, in fact I have one of my sales guys (I am in real estate) that spends a heap of time on those sites as he is looking to get a bike. Lucky for him the boss rides :yes:

Doing it on a postie, better man than me.

[fredie]

trading post

[Highlander]

Has anyone checked out buying in Aus, riding it for a couple of weeks (or months) then bringing it back to NZ?

[fredie]

i cant see why not:Punk: