50cc scooter around Australia HELP
 

Hi all

I am planning a 50cc scooter trip around Australia - I need help in understanding what roads I can go and what roads I can't go on.

Also has anyone got a route they have completed.

How long is a piece of string?

What's your definition of round Australia? Just travelling round or actually around the circumferance of the continent?

If you're planning a 50cc route, I guess reliability and support would be key. Type in "Grey Nomads Australia" in Google. If retired people in caravans can get there, I'd bet your 50cc would to. Some of the websites are very detailed.

Othersiwe= be a little more specific or we'll send you through the Simpson unsupported :oops2:

Biggest problem IMHO of doing a round Australia trip - say using Highway 1 - is that you will be sharing that road most of the way with some high speed traffic which may put you at risk if you cannot maintain 100 - 110kph. That would be especially true in the States that have road trains operating. Just be sensible and pull over to allow fast moving trucks to pass you - I know you dont have to by law - but being sucked under the wheels of the last trailer in a triple road train will not be a nice experience for you.

But that said, plenty of people on bicycles have done round Australia trips over the years. Even walkers and runners.

Enjoy the experience and we expect a ride report when done.

WHICH 50cc scooter??
Some brands won't even make it into the city without bits falling off!

We're doing it on Postie Bikes coz they're so reliable :thumbup1:

Yes definitely avoid the main highways. The trucks are a real worry if your on a bicycle or a 50cc scooter.
Would also be interested in knowing what brand scooter.
Whats your time frame?

50cc are getting very old here ... you may find parts hard to come by. The present honda stepthrou here used by Australia Post is the CT110, very numerous.

Route? If you are planning the circumference then in places you will be stuck on the main highway - one lane one way, the other lane the other way. On those roads you'll find road trains doing the limit .. or a max of 110kmh, if you are doing less than that then be prepared for them sitting on your tail till it is clear then the bow waves of air as trailer after trailer wobbles past. Oh some of them have cattle/sheep on board, you can expect wast products in your face :funmeterno: On the east coast you have back roads..

50cc getting old? I'm sure they are still selling 50cc scooters in Aussie?! There is certainly plenty of choice of 50cc scoots here in NZ.

Cheers

Nigel in NZ

Thanks guys .. The 50cc "bike" is still under negotiation as an overseas company wants to sponsor me to take the "bike" around Australia as a test to see if it can do 13000km right round Australia ..cant say much about what type yet ... The Loop ... Brisbane all the way around back to Brisbane.

Top speed about 45kph, therefore the question, what roads can I go on? Is it just Motorways I can't go on? ... I mean there are not many roads other than freeways to get right around Australia?

Thanks for your feedback guys.. Looking forward to you replies ......

Don't know about your distances though. Haven't done it myself, but from Esperance to Darwin and back was 12500km and that was only through the centre, not around. Different websites have different distances, but I think you need to do some more planning or maybe someone who's done it can comment

How Long Does it Take to Travel Around Australia?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_1_(Australia)

You have made a mistake confusing "Highway" with "Motorway". If you stick to the roads closest to the sea you would be lucky to get more than a few hundred kilometres of "Motorway" standard road.

Generally motorways/freeways are only restricted to "unpowered" vehicles/persons/animals/bicycles, not an engine capacity limit.

Highways are open to all road users - usually because there is no viable alternative.

Do a weblookup on "Plenty Highway" or "Burke Development Road" and have a look at the images of a "Highway" in Australia!!

What bike do u ride now? Have you taken it round Australia?

Are they expecting you to take the scooter stock standard? ie without mods - exactly how they sell it to the punters to prove how good it is.

At the very least you will need to carry heaps of fuel ... and belts. The last guy who took a scooter round oz shredded about 10 belts.

It can be done I know of a Japanese guy who did it on a Honda Motra (50cc ) I think he took 6 months to do it

Been quite a while since I look for 50cc scoots here .. back then the smallest new one was 100 cc .. reasons for looking was the rego cost are significantly cheaper.

---------------------------
Coffeechaser - do you have any experience

on Australian roads?

on dirt roads?

I suspect the answers are no?
Then I'd advise you that some of our main 'highways' are dirt. Not highway 1 - which is the road going 'around Australia' that most would refer too. You'll need a fuel range of around 400 km to be safe if you stick to the main sealed roads. In lots of places there are no sealed alternatives to highway 1, and people traveling there will be doing speed. You will be overtaken by most .. even the grey nomads towing a caravan do 80 kmh. Think you'll be overtaking bicycles and farm tractors only. If you can do dirt road then there are some alternatives .. but they are rough dirt, sand and bull dust. Not to mention mud after rain.

You'll need to do some thinking about dirt roads, when you are going to do this (avoid the monsoon in the north, and winter in the south). Suggest you do some reading of bicycles going around Australia... google them