Where can I ride?
Victoria has approximately 36,000km of forest roads and tracks available for trail bike riding, through some amazing country.
- Riders can now access interactive downloadable Forest Explorer maps from the DSE website. These maps show forest roads and four–wheel drive tracks available for riders to use.
A short information sheet has been developed to help you use this mapping product.
 Guide to using Forest Explorer (PDF - 480 KB)
- Trail Bike Visitor Areas for parking and unloading bikes are being established at popular riding destinations acrosss the State. At major locations, the facilities may include a shelter, toilet, trail riding information and possibly picnic tables, while other locations may comprise just an all-weather parking area and information board. In some cases, suggested riding routes will be signposted for the benefit of riders not familiar with the area.
You can ride these forest roads provided you do the following:
- Your bike is registered and roadworthy. If your bike, mini bike or quad bike isn't registered for use on public roads, you can only ride it on private property or motorcycle club tracks
- You have a current motorcycle licence, and your bike is registered and you are over the age of 18
- You stay on the legal road and track network. Riding off road is illegal
Riding in fire affected forests
The 2009 bush fires left many forests and facilities severely damaged and vulnerable. Trail bike riders and other forest users are welcome back into these forests as soon as they re-open to public access, this will occur following the completion of public safety assessments and removal of dangerous trees.
If you are riding in fire affected forests please keep in mind the following -
- Please remember to stick to defined roads and tracks for your own safety and to avoid further damage and erosion.
- Before you ride check what forest roads, tracks and recreation areas are open by viewing the Fire Recovery Site Status Interactive Map web site.
- Some roads you come across may still be closed, these will be clearly sign posted. For your own safety, please avoid riding on these roads.
- For more information about bushfires visit DSE's Fire and Other Emergencies web page.
Not registered or licensed?
- If you're not registered, or you don't have a licence, you can ride on private property or at a motorcycle club venue, but not on public bushland, picnic and camping areas, parks, forest tracks, and any road or footpath
- If your bike, mini bike or quad bike isn't registered for use on public roads, you can only ride it on private property or motorcycle club tracks.
Looking after the forest and forest users
Riding in Victoria's State forests is an increasingly popular way to enjoy Victoria's forests. In some areas, it has become so popular that the environment and other forest users are suffering. You can reduce your impact on the environment and other forest users by:
- Riding only on formed roads and tracks. Not only is it illegal to ride 'off-road' but it also harms the environment. It strips native vegetation, spreads weeds and diseases, causes erosion and pollutes streams and in some cases it can significantly impact on threatened flora and fauna species
- Don't ride behind seasonally closed gates or down management vehicle only tracks.These tracks are well sign posted. It is illegal to ride these roads / tracks
- Before leaving for a trip, check if the tracks are affected by heavy rain or damaged by fire. If they are, think about an alternative route
- Take care with fire - Don't let your exhaust emit sparks, keep the spark arrester fitted at all times
- Respect the rights of others. Reduce the noise in popular recreation areas or when near residential areas. Slow down and make room for other forest users
- Leave no trace - take all your rubbish with you.
Noise and your bike
Noise from trail bikes can be very annoying in the wrong places, like near houses or close to picnic or camping areas. Please ensure the following:
- Your bike does not exceed the legal noise limit of 94 decibels. Anyone can report a noisy bike to the local police or the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), who will require you to take your bike for noise testing.
- Don't modify your bike's exhaust. Taking out the exhaust baffles will push your bike over the noise limit. Try and get some advice from a motorcycle dealer about legal noise requirements.
Trail Bike Noise (PDF - 122 KB)
Under age trail bike riding
Only licensed riders on registered bikes are allowed to go trail bike riding on public land in Victoria. The earliest you can apply for a motorcycle licence is at 18 years of age.
Riders under 18 are only allowed to ride on private land, motorcycle club venues or ride parks. Motorcycle clubs and ride parks promote safe and responsible riding and most provide coaching for young riders.
Under age trail bike riding (PDF - 134 KB)
Riding and the law
Trail bike riders, like all other vehicles user, are required to follow certain legal requirements. Significant fines can be issued to trail bike riders if caught breaking the law in State forests, parks and reserves.To avoid the inconvenience and costs of fines and prosecutions, do the right thing and make sure you:
- Hold a current motorcycle licence (or learners permit) and your bike is registered and roadworthy
- Are 18 years of age or older
- Have a noise compliant muffler - the maximum legal exhaust noise is 94dB. Modifications to standards mufflers, or fixing after-market mufflers can make your trail bike illegally noisy
- Ride only on formed roads or tracks. Riding 'off-road' on single lane tracks is illegal
- Don't use Quad bikes (ATV's) on public land - they cannot be legally registered for road use as they do not meet relevant safety standards
- Don't use motocross bikes, pit-bikes and mini-bikes (monkey bikes) on public land - they are not designed for registration and do not have the equipment required for registration
My motorcycle and the law (PDF - 154 KB)
Tour operators
There are a number of tour operators licensed to run commercial trail bike tours on Victoria's public land. To find out more about licensed tour operators running commercial trail bike tours, visit the Parks Victoria Tour Operators page, and use the 'Display operators by guided activity' search function to search by 'Trail Bike Tours'.
Motorcycle Facilities
Without a motorcycle licence or registration you are unable to ride on the public road network, however you can continue to enjoy trail bike riding by heading to one of the Motorcycle Victoria Affiliated Club venues across the State. These venues cater for range of abilities and skills all within a controlled and safe environment.
The following clubs may not be affiliated with Motorcycling Victoria. Please confirm the insurance, age restriction and membership arrangements for each venue or club prior to riding, as requirements may vary. Some clubs may have a membership waiting list. Inclusion of a club on this list does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of that club.
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