Motorcycle insurance Australia wide (or in any other part of the first world countries) can be pretty complicated. The common misconception is to assume that motorbikes are simpler machines than cars and thus are cheaper to insure. There are many pit-falls within the motorcycle insurance Australia can offer. Some bikes are more expensive than others but their price tag is not the only parameter to estimate your insurance premiums.
As with the car insurance, you have the comprehensive policy and the third party options.
Again, the comprehensive insurance provides most of the goodies but at the higher price.
The third party option is cheaper but you still have to analyse the small print in detail.
However, the are not many situations in which motorbikes cause serious damages to other vehicles.
Thus, for this reason, the third party insurance can be justified.
As for the personal injury, the compulsory (by law) policy sorts out this issue.
Motorcycle insurance Australia provides, heavily depends on the model, make, value, engine size and the year of production. As a rule, smaller engine bikes attract lower cost insurance. Older motorbikes, with no turbocharge and standard designs are also cheaper to insure than expensive sports models with unusual modifications. Even manufacturers matter. Harley-Davidson an BMW are substantially more expensive models to insure than the Japanese or other counterparts.
The age of the rider is very important for the motorcycle insurance Australia can offer.
As in the case of the car insurance, the motorcycle insurance Australia wide heavily penalises young riders.
Young (below 25 years of age) are statistically more prone to have the accident than any other group.
The middle age group (30-50 years of age) is the best one to be in.
Motorcycle insurers regard middle age riders as both: well experienced and with good reflexes.
Thus, it is not surprising that the insurance for this generation is the most affordable.
Finally, the seniors are well regarded for their experience but penalised for the decreasing reflexes.
This group is slightly more expensive to insure than the middle-age generation but far cheaper than the young ones (see car insurance for young).
Unfortunately, the insurance for a medium standard motorbike can cost as much as the one for the average car. In some cases, the motorcycle insurance Australia offers can topple that of the car insurance. Young riders pay between $1200-$2200 for the comprehensive motorcycle insurance. Middle aged customers pay around $600-$700 for the same motorbike model.
Most major car insurers (RACV, AAMI, NRMA, Allianz, etc) will also insure motorcycles. Some, like Shannons, specialise in the motorcycle insurance but their standard covers are not fantastically competitive. You have to search around for the best deals. However, motorcycles with unusual modifications, specific replicas, etc. should be insured with the specialised insurance operators.