So you want to experience Tasmania on two wheels? Great choice!
There are plenty of Tasmania motorcycle hire companies to choose from, and in this simple guide we compare the options to help you choose the best one for your budget and style of travel!
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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 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.
It’s so easy to make it happen as well.
Simply get to Tasmania by plane or ferry, and then put yourself in the hands of one of Tassie’s six fantastic motorcycle rental companies for the ride of your life!
But which one to choose?
We’ve reviewed all the motorcycle rental options in Tasmania, and by the time you’ve finished reading this guide to motorcycle hire in Tasmania we have no doubt you’ll know exactly who to choose to suit your budget and preferred style of road trip.
Keep reading to find out more!
Tasmania motorcycle hire comparison
This table gives you an overview of all the motorcycle hire companies in Tasmania, making it easy to compare them side by side.
They are all excellent, but we feel that Tasmanian Motorcycle Tours and Rentals (TMTR) is the best option if you are wanting to spend a week or more exploring Tasmania by bike.
| Company | Location | 9-Day Hire | Our Thoughts | Excess Reduction | Daily Limit | $/km | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🔥 Tasmanian Motorcycle Tours and Rentals | Hobart | $1895→$2210 | The best option if you are starting your road trip in Hobart - SAVE 5% on bookings 6-days or longer using our LAPOFTAS promo code! | Yes | No limit | - | |
| 🔥 Tasmanian Motorcycle Hire | Launceston | $1161→$2052 | Perfect for riders starting their road trip in Launceston. | Yes | 400km | $0.50 | |
| Southern Riders Tasmania | Hobart | $2565→$2655 | The only place in Tasmania to rent yourself a Harley. | Unsure | Unsure | Unsure | |
| Moto Adventure Tasmania | Hobart | $1345→$2210 | A wide range of bikes for day-riders and longer road trips. | Yes | 320km | $0.70 | |
| Dragonfly Classics | Forth | $1530→$1890 | The place to go for classic motorcycles. | Unsure | 320km | $0.70 | |
| Tasmanian Motorcycle Tours | Launceston | $1080→$2205 | Another excellent option based in Launceston. | No | No limit | - |
The prices we quote here are for a 9-day booking. Our conversations with other bikers have found that this is a pretty common approach to Tasmania, allowing you to arrive on a Saturday, spend the week riding, and return home the following Sunday.
Keep in mind that most companies have a sliding scale of daily rates, meaning lower rates for longer bookings.
Important: There aren’t many motorcycle companies in Tasmania to choose from, meaning bike availability is limited during summer – so we strongly recommend booking ahead to avoid disappointment!
We tried to obtain as much information for each company as possible, reaching out to them if anything was unclear or missing from their website. Unfortunately a number of companies chose not to respond, so that’s where we have stated ‘Unsure‘.
Tasmanian Motorcycle Tours and Rentals
The more we dug, the more we realised that 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.
Firstly, all five of their bikes are designed specifically for multi-day road trips, and a sixth bike is currently on order.
Second, they aren’t just for men either. We love that they have purchased two Triumph Tigers with a low seat height – one of them is as low as 760mm! They are also the only company in Tasmania where you can rent a factory lowered R1200 GS, with a mere 770 mm seat height.
These options are perfect if you aren’t tall and don’t want to be wrangling a big, cumbersome bike.
And third, being based so close to Hobart Airport you can get your road trip started ASAP, with no wasted time in Hobart city traffic.
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!
With such a focus on road tripping we approached TMTR to see if they would be interested in partnering with us – and they said yes!
Mention the Lap of Tasmania, or use our LAPOFTAS promo code when booking for 6 days or longer and you will SAVE 5% on your rental rate.
Need to know...
9-Day Hire: $1895 → $2210 (before discount)
Bond/Excess: $4,500
Excess Reduction: Yes
Riding Limit: Unlimited (>2 day rentals)
Extra km: Free (>2 day rentals)
Location: Hobart
Rider Age: 25+
Minimum Experience: 1 year
Gear Provided: Yes (limited)
Road Side Assist: Yes
SAVE 5% on rentals 6 days or longer – Use our LAPOFTAS promo code
Tasmanian Motorcycle Hire
If you’re starting your Tasmania road trip in Launceston then Tasmanian Motorcycle Hire is your best all-round option.
With 15 motorcycles to choose from – at very competitive rates – they have the widest range of all the companies in Tasmania, including adventure tourers, cruisers, modern classics and naked bikes.
They have a 50/50 mix of late-model and slightly older options – so you know you’re getting a modern and reliable ride at a decent price.
With so many options there is bound to be one that suits your style of travel and budget.
Need to know...
9-Day Hire: $1161 → $2052
Bond/Excess: $2,000 (excess varies on damage – capped at $4,000)
Excess Reduction: Yes
Riding Limit: 400km per day
Extra km: $0.50 per km
Location: Launceston
Rider Age: 25+
Minimum Experience: NA
Gear Provided: Yes (limited)
Road Side Assist: Yes
Southern Riders Tasmania
Note – December 2020: Southern Riders have been very quiet since covid, and we suspect they may have either suspended operations or possibly closed. Once we know more we will update this article.
There’s nothing quite like the engine note of a Harley Davidson throbbing in your ears, and Southern Riders Tasmania is the only place on the island to rent one of these classic bikes.
There are three late-model options available, including two Softails and a Road Glide, and all are in fantastic condition.
These bikes are iconic for a reason, meaning this is the most expensive bike rental in Tasmania, and you also need to be 30 years or older. But hey, it’s a Harley!
Need to know...
9-Day Hire: $2565 → $2655
Bond/Excess: $4,500 ($3,000 excess)
Excess Reduction: Unsure
Riding Limit: Unsure
Extra km: Unsure
Location: Hobart
Rider Age: 30+
Minimum Experience: 2 years
Gear Provided: Yes (limited)
Road Side Assist: Unsure
Moto Adventure Tasmania
With 8 very different bikes in their garage with capacities ranging from 400c to 1200cc, Moto Adventure Tasmania cater to a variety of travel styles – from day rides to longer journeys.
Most bikes are late-model, with a few older options also available. If TMTR are fully booked, then we recommend Moto Adventure Tasmania as your next best Hobart option for a Tassie road trip by bike.
Interestingly, they are the only company in Tasmania to provide an option for 21 year olds – the Honda CB400 – with a LAMS provisional or full licence.
It’s also worth noting that you’ll need 5 years of big-bike experience before they’ll allow you to hire one of their two 1200cc bikes.
Unfortunately they have a daily limit of 320km before you start paying more per km, but thankfully this is averaged across the entire rental period – and unless you are doing a lot of riding it is unlikely you will exceed the limit.
Need to know...
9-Day Hire: $1345 → $2210
Bond/Excess: $4,500
Excess Reduction: Yes
Riding Limit: 320km per day
Extra km: $0.70 per km
Location: Hobart
Rider Age: 21-25+
Minimum Experience: 1-5 years
Gear Provided: Yes (limited)
Road Side Assist: Yes
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.
Need to know...
Rate: $1530 → $1890
Bond/Excess: $2,500
Excess Reduction: Unsure
Riding Limit: 320km per day
Extra km: $0.70 per km
Location: Forth (near Ulverstone)
Rider Age: 25+
Minimum Experience: 2 years
Gear Provided: Helmet only (limited)
Road Side Assist: Yes
Tasmanian Motorcycle Tours
Tasmanian Motorcycle Tours are another excellent option based in Launceston. Their website doesn’t include the same level of information that you’ll find with some of the other options, but it was good that they responded when we reached out for clarification.
Their range of bikes initially appears small, but after getting in touch it became clear that they actually have 13 bikes on hand – 6 BMW GS series bikes that are perfect for longer rides and 7 classic Royal Enfields.
Pricing is quite competitive with other companies offering the same or similar bikes, and you’ll be pleased to hear that they also offer complimentary transfers from and to Launceston Airport!
Need to know...
Rate: $1080 → $2205
Bond/Excess: BMWs – $2000 ($4500 excess) / Enfield – $1000 ($2000 excess)
Excess Reduction: No
Riding Limit: Unlimited
Extra km: Free
Location: Launceston
Rider Age: 25+
Minimum Experience: NA
Gear Provided: Yes (limited)
Road Side Assist: Yes
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: Most require the rider to be at least 25 years of age. The only exception we could find to this was Moto adventure Tasmania who allowed 21 year olds to ride on their smallest bike.
Experience: This varies a lot between companies, ranging from ‘No experience required’ to ‘5 years required’ and normally dependent on the engine capacity.
Licence: A full licence is mandatory for all companies, with one exception. Moto Adventure Tasmania allow riders with a LAMS provisional ‘P’ licence to ride their smallest bike.
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 that may help with your road trip planning:
Keep planning your Tasmania road trip
We hope this guide has helped you find the best motorcycle hire company for your road trip around Tasmania.
We have plenty more useful articles like this to help you with your holiday planning. Use the links below, and at the top of the page to keep browsing and planning your ultimate Tassie holiday.
Happy road tripping!
Andrew.
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