Rattling down the road comes Pat the Postie, stuffing mailboxes on a street busy with stucco walls, faded flags and cactuses as high as the terracotta rooftops. His red motorbike, roaring like a revved-up whipper snipper, neatly completes the slice of suburbia.

Pat Bamford, 29, has been riding his red postie bike for four years. ''It's rock solid,'' he says.

Pat Bamford on his round: The red Honda CT110's won't be such a familiar sighting soon. Credit:Steven Siewert

But time has moved against the iconic ''red rattlers''. Australia Post is bringing in a new motorbike that promises better fuel efficiency and visibility. Gone is pillar-box red, in comes lime-green and cream.

Botany postman Mr Bamford declines to chuck a farewell wheelie for the camera. Will he miss the classic red colouring?