Planning your great escape and wondering about motorcycle hire?

Tasmania has plenty of fantastic options for the perfect road trip, and in this guide I use my local experience to help you choose the best motorbike hire for your Tassie holiday!

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The warm sun on your back, wind tugging at your leathers, rainforests and rivers rushing past, and that dashed white line promising more to come. 

To be a biker in Tasmania is to feel alive, energised, and connected to the breathtaking panoramas that greet you at every curve in the road.

There’s no need to worry about the stop-start-stop-start of bumper to bumper traffic. We live on island time, where everything takes that little bit longer – giving you a chance to relax, unwind and rediscover that lost feeling of true freedom!

The best thing? It is so easy to make this happen!

Simply get yourself to Tasmania by plane or ferry and put yourself in the hands of one of Tassie’s fantastic motorcycle rental companies for the ride of your life!

But which bike hire company should you choose?

I’ve lived here for more than twenty years now and using this local experience I have created this roundup of all the best motorbike rental options in Tasmania.

By the time you’ve finished reading this guide to motorcycle hire in Tasmania you will know exactly which business is the perfect fit for both your budget and preferred style of road trip!

As always, if you have any questions at all regarding the information presented here, or even general questions about planning your Tasmania road trip, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by email (here) as I love to help.

Motorcycle Hire Tasmania – Quick Comparison

The table below provides an overview of all the motorcycle hire in Tasmania, making it easy to compare them side by side.

They are all excellent, but for me there are two who stand head and shoulders above the rest of the pack.

If you are arriving in northern Tasmania by plane (Launceston) or on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry (Devonport), then Tasmanian Motorcycle Tours & Hire is the company you want to use.

If southern Tasmania (Hobart) is your point of arrival then Tasmanian Motorcycle Tours and Rentals (TMTR) is a fantastic option and they’ll get you on the road in no time.

Both businesses are incredibly supportive of Lappers, offering a very handy discount on rates!

Keep reading to learn more, and click on the image below to see where they are located in Google Maps…

Wondering how much time you need for your road trip?

In my conversations with bikers I’ve found that a tour between 5 days and 9 days is the most popular option for a Tasmania road trip by motorcycle, helping you make the most of your time on the island:

• Arrive on the weekend, get kitted out and start your road trip
• Spend the week riding – this itinerary is a good place to start your planning
• Return your bike and fly home the following weekend

Important: There aren’t many motorcycle companies in Tasmania to choose from, meaning bike availability is limited during summer – book ahead as early as possible to avoid disappointment!

Tasmanian Motorcycle Tours & Hire (Launceston)

Best for… : Travellers arriving in Launceston or northern Tasmania.

If you are starting your Tasmania road trip in Launceston then Tasmanian Motorcycle Tours & Hire is your best all-round option.

Tasmanians through and through, Ben and Lisa have called Tasmania home their entire lives and you can’t help but notice how their passion and local knowledge shines through in helping visitors to explore this incredible island.

Ben has experience in so many ways – from planning large-scale bike tours to creating bespoke itineraries packing maximum fun into even the shortest holiday, he knows exactly how to create your ultimate Tassie biking experience. I thought I knew Tassie’s backroads inside out, but Ben takes it to the next level with his comprehensive and practical advice!

They have an extensive fleet of nine well-maintained motorcycles to choose from, including five different BMW models and some awesome options from KLR, Kawasaki and Suzuki. It’s good to know they have three LAM-approved options in the mix as well.

Unlike some of the other bike hire options in Tasmania, one of the biggest game changers when you hire your bike through Tasmanian Motorcycle Tours & Hire is that you can use your adventure bike as exactly that – a true adventure bike!

It might sound a bit weird, but some companies don’t allow their bikes to be used on gravel roads which is where these bikes absolutely shine. Gravel roads and light trails are both a big ‘YES’, so you can actually see some of Tasmania’s best sights such as the Western Explorer – my favourite road in all of Tasmania – or the spectacular Jacob’s Ladder!

Pricing is very reasonable across the range, and it’s good to know that, if needed, they can also pick you up from Launceston Airport for a small fee.

Ben and Lisa are big supporters of our community of road trippers, offering a very generous 5% OFF the rental rate for all bike hires! (excludes tours)

Special Offer: SAVE 5%
How to Claim: Mention the Lap of Tasmania when booking

Tasmanian Motorcycle Tours and Rentals (Hobart)

Best for… : Travellers arriving in Hobart or southern Tasmania

The more I dug into the detail the more I realised Tasmanian Motorcycle Tours and Rentals (TMTR) are a little bit different to the others – offering some very handy options that make them perfect for a Tassie road trip starting in Hobart.

They have the most comprehensive range of bikes in Tasmania and every year they seem to be adding a new option – 17 at last count. Importantly, many of their bikes are designed specifically for multi-day road trips, and Phil is always available to help make the right choice for your level of experience and preferred style of ride. 

If you’re short of stature you will be pleased to hear they have a range of Triumph Tigers with low seat heights – one of them is as low as 760mm. These options are perfect if you don’t want to feel like you are constantly wrestling with a big, cumbersome bike.

Being based so close to Hobart Airport you can get your road trip started ASAP, with no wasted time in Hobart city traffic or spending 11 hours on the ferry from Geelong.

Because most of their customers are road trippers, TMTR have plenty of pannier, box and bag options for all their bikes – free of charge – making it easy to take as much or as little gear as you need for your road trip.

The cherry on top? Phil and Chrissy are passionate bikers themselves, and love to pick you up and drop you off at the airport – saving you the cost and hassle of transfers as well!

Mention the Lap of Tasmania over the phone or when booking online and you will SAVE 5% on your rental rate, applying from the 6th day onward.

Special Offer: SAVE 5% (from 6th day onward)
How to Claim: Mention the Lap of Tasmania when booking

Dragonfly Classics

If you love the sound and aesthetics of the bikes of yesteryear, then you’ll love what Dragonfly Classics have to offer.

They have 6 bikes in their range – three Hondas and three BMWs – and they are in great nick.

Their range is aimed predominantly at day-riders, but a couple of their bikes can be fitted with panniers (supplied) for overnight or longer rides.

Keep in mind that they are located at Forth, about 15 minutes drive from the Spirit of Tasmania ferry terminal in Devonport, or 1hr 15mins from Launceston airport.

Eagle Rider Launceston

There’s nothing quite like the engine note of a Harley Davidson throbbing in your ears, and Eagle Rider Launceston is the only place on the island to rent one of these classic bikes.

There are nine late-model options available, including a Softail, two Street Glides, and a Road Glide, and all are in fantastic condition. They also have a number of Royal Enfields available for hire.

These bikes are iconic and make for a fantastic day out. It’s worth noting that transfers from Launceston Airport are not provided.

Southern Cross Motorbike Hire & Tours

With 6 fantastic bikes in their garage with capacities ranging from 400c to 1300cc, Southern Cross Motorbike Hire & Tours cater to a variety of travel styles – from day rides to longer journeys. 

Transfers to their base in the beautiful Meander valley are also provided from both the Spirit of Tasmania ferry terminal in Devonport and Launceston Airport.

I get the feeling their focus is on the tours side of things, rather than rentals, as they don’t provide comprehensive T&Cs on their website. It’s a shame because it means some aspects aren’t clear and you will need to give them a call to find out more.

Licence requirements for motorcycle hire in Tasmania

For the safety of riders and the public it is important for motorcycle hire companies to put rules in place to ensure riders are qualified and experienced enough to take their bikes out onto Tasmania’s roads.

Age: All companies prefer the rider to be at least 25 years of age. However, you’ll find that both Tasmanian Motorcycle Tours & Hire and Tasmania Motorcycle Tours and Rentals have some leeway – so it’s worth giving them a call to check and confirm.

Experience: This can vary between companies, ranging from ‘No experience required’ to ‘2 years required’ and can be dependent on the engine capacity.

Licence: A full licence is mandatory for most companies, however Tasmanian Motorcycle Tours & Hire will accept all licence types for an increased daily rental rate – give them a call to discuss your needs!

Overseas Drivers: Please check with the company. Most will allow a foreign licence, as long as it is in English, it includes a photo of you, and it clearly states that it is for motorcycles. Otherwise, an English language International Licence (motorcycle class) will be required, together with your passport.

Other useful resources

Here are some excellent resources for riders that will help with your road trip planning:

• Tasmanian Motorcycle Council –  Riding in Tasmania
• Motorcycle Safety in Tasmania
• Tasmania Police – Road Closures and Community Alerts
• Tasmanian Road Rules
• Weather Forecast
• Hobart Airport
• Launceston Airport

Final thoughts on choosing the best motorcycle hire for Tasmania

I hope this guide has helped you find the best motorcycle hire company for your road trip around Tasmania!

If you need any more advice, please don’t hesitate to join us over in the Lap of Tasmania FB Group. We’re a very friendly group of likeminded road trippers, and we all love helping out fellow ‘Lappers’ with our tips and advice on planning a holiday in Tasmania.

If you enjoyed this article then I’m sure you will find these other guides and articles helpful in planning your adventures here in Tasmania:

• My free self-drive road trip itineraries show you where to go, what to see/do, and where to stay
• This spreadsheet shows you all the exclusive discounts I have negotiated for Lappers
• I get great feedback on this helpful guide to driving times and distances in Tasmania
• My eBook ‘How to Plan Your Tasmania Road Trip‘ is your ultimate Tassie travel bible

Best wishes with all the travel planning, and please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need any further advice.

Happy travels!

Andrew.