Off to Oz. Which LAMS bike to get when I am there?

[mister.koz]

Greetings,

I am off to aussie for a couple of years. Looking at the bike to get cause 2 wheels is greater than 4.

I currently have an 1989 kawasaki zxr250a, its quick but not comfy on long trips and its jumpy as hell.

So i am looking for a bike in the lams list that i can ride comfortably at 100km for a couple of hours that isn't too jumpy.

so far i see:
Suzuki gs500e
Kawasaki er5
hyosung gt650r
honda vtr250

Any pointers?

(FYI - lams list is how they restrict bikes for learners/restricted over there)

[zadok]

As far as I know, not all states have LAMS. W.A doesn't.

[tri boy]

Depends where you will be living.
Why own a road bike if you live out past Kalgoolie, or some such place.
More info reqd.

[mister.koz]

Victoria is taking on the lams, they say around now, going to be 3 or 4 months before i have the $$ anyways so i thought i would preempt it.

Any recomendations on which bike would be good?

[mister.koz]

good point, i think i will be in st kilda working in central, was thinking of public transport for work but would be riding around the city as much as i can. Also keen on touring around tazzy in feb.

[jim.cox]

Dr650.....

[mister.koz]

cheerz for the sugestion but i am looking for a naked sport/sport/tourer never really liked the motard bikes.

[Hitcher]

A DR650 would be a good choice. So too would be a BMW F650, or a Honda Transalp.

[jrandom]

Out of the OP's list, I'd pick the GS500E, but Hitcher's on the money with the idea of a dual-purpose 650.

[mister.koz]

i like the look of the translap, something about the bmw's i just never did like... don't know why, i guess i look for appearances too much.

Looks like i will have to give some of them a try :)

[Rosie]

cheerz for the sugestion but i am looking for a naked sport/sport/tourer never really liked the motard bikes.

Have you had a go on one? :blip:

Dual purpose bikes have much better road manners than they are given credit for.

And, from my limited experience, interesting, out of the way back roads in oz have seal that is at least as lumpy and dodgy as here, if not more so. Extra suspension travel is nice to have :D

[mister.koz]

had a go on a KTM 640 - not sure of the model. It had heaps of go but it just didn't feel right. I think it didn't help that it was a single but i can't claim to know what i am talking about :)

[mister.koz]

i will give the dual purpose ones another go, probably haven't given them a chance. I have only ridden sport bikes and old GN's :) so the contrast is surprising and expected.

[R6_kid]

Aprilia SXV450

[mister.koz]

the road/sport or the dual purpose? getting some different pics on google images

i like the look of the sport one :)

[tri boy]

Dual sports give you good visibility in CBD traffic. (used a KLX650 in Perth, Woot), plus as Rosie has pointed out, the less travelled roads can be rough.
Also remember comfort for long days/high km's while touring. (transalp, BMW, etc), but most seats can be modifyed.
There is a huge range of bikes to choose from, but a road/sports bike won't take you to all the cool places. Budget: DR,KLR $$$$$: Many many choices. MHO

[mister.koz]

Good advice cheerz :) will keep thsoe in mind for when i go. Now i gotta sell my zxr to get over there.

I quite like the look of the later klr650's and they fit in the lams list for tazzy and victoria.

Bit of a ticket price, guess i gotta go for the bigger dollars then!

[mister.koz]

pic of the klr650 below