Up & away!

[OMEGAMAN]

Hi again everybodypeeps,
   have been away for a while racing jap 400's 4 cyl. so not been on this site for a while.

Here's a biggy!    due to my current personal circumstances (wife gone, mum just gone, friends going their own ways etc.),  I am feeling the urge to pack up & get off around the world on a bike...all continents?
 
 I have no job (no prospects either!).....am broke now so will have to sell a lot of stuff, get a bike ready, & get as far as I can on the money raised & then work/bum my way around the rest? taking 1 or 2 years (no rush to return!)

 Anyway.....Questions
 
                            Suitable bike?  strong/comfy/reliable/cheap etc. etc.

                            Gear to start off with (remember...no pennies?)

                            Visas?  how?  cost?

                            Medical stuff etc. etc.

                            GPS? maps

                            Tubed or tubeless?   spoked or cast?  steel or ally?

                             Books & info on similar?

This is a genuine open ended query, so feel free to add your comments  & keep them coming as I know I have a lot of info to digest, but I will (75%) be going...just a case of when!


       Help guys (& gals!)        & no arguing!                    cheers, John RG
           

[OMEGAMAN]

 I forgot!

             Is it possible to get insurance to cover all countries visited?

[Steve H]

A mate decided on a R100GS. He has been pleased with it but had a number of age related problems, all of which were fixed relatively easily, but did leave him stranded in awkward places. Loads of parts available off the shelf and very easy to work on.

[niblue]

I've read a number of books on this (I'm part the way through Dan Walsh's one at the moment), but if anything the latest ones (e.g. Dreaming of Jupiter by Ted Simon) seem to make parts of the world like Africa seem less alluring than they did 20 years ago.

From what I'd read I reckon that for most places one of the BMW off-roaders would be the best option, but if I was going somewhere with more off-roading required I'd consider going with the an XT600E. I'd definitely want to pack as light as possible in either case though.

There is a book called something like the adventure motorcyclists guide which is excellent for this sort of thing - it'd be a good idea to check it out.

[Andy M]

HUBB (Horizons Unlimited) and ADV rider message boards and Chris Scott's books are what you need. A bit of Ted Simon is good too. Lois Pryce stuff is a good read but more like "what I did on my holidays" than a how to.

After that, it's what you want and what technology you are used to, not what anyone else tells you. People have done RTW on C90's and probably had more to tell than a certain actor, his special friend and their BMW support crew put together (not that they won't have tales to tell). You do not need to take Chris Scott's book as a shopping list and get an R80GS Basic and some tin boxes, Ted Simon rode across the Sudan on a 1973 Triumph and there were fewer road then than there are now. There is way too much pointless bling about, so don't worry if you can't get a toura**** titanium combined spork and laptop docking station in the budget!

Insurance you buy at borders if they make you. You'll need a thing called a Carnet which is a guarantee that you'll export the bike back out of each country or pay the import duties if you don't. They hold a deposit based on the stated value of the bike when you get the carnet, so it is cheaper for a C90 or XT600 than say a BMW1200. You can do South America without one, they have a cheaper local version.

Medical wise you need jabs and a large supply of stoppers and un-stoppers!

I think you need to make a plan where you get out of Europe (expensive) ASAP. How about a flight to India and buy a Bullet there or something similar?

Go for it mate, wish I could joint you!

Andy

[mini-thumper]

Hello John
Good to hear from you again. Big decision to up sticks and do a RTW trip. But Hey!, and I mean this without any disrespect "we're all a long time dead". If you are set on doing something like this do it now before it's too late!

I know someone who spent loads of money prepping a bike, years planning every detail, and bailed at the first opportunity. My advise, would be - buy a reliable bike (fewer cylinders the better), learn how to do rudimentary maintenance and repairs (don't make half your luggage spares!!), learn a few foreign phrases, have the required jabs, fill your bank account with as much as you can, get the best riding/camping/living gear you can, and go! 

This site should give you plenty of reading for the next few weeks:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/

Good Luck

Boyd
 

[guest7]

Good decision, imho. If you need it there's an MSR Whisperlite stove waiting here for you. It's the stove of choice for most lightweight travellers.

If there's any other kit that useful I'll donate it to you. How about a nice small tent? I've got a small Wild Country two man (i.e. one oerson plus some luggage) that you can take if you want it. The quality is excellent.

GC

[robG]

John , India has an attraction for me . I've flagged it up before on here , have a look at the 60kph site. Touring club in India using mainly bullets. There are some lovely travelogues on there with some stunning images .If nothing else it will inspire.
 One day I will do it myself .
There was a guy recently who went to India on a £350:00 XS850 ,so anythings possible .This was featured in classic bike not so long ago.
Like Graham , I'll see what I've got to assist .

Rob . 

[guest295]

Choice of bike depends on where you're going. A good 350 is way more relaxing to ride on bad or imaginary roads than a BMW, but if you're going to stick to places with dual carriageways a big 'un might be at least quicker. Modern BMs have weaknesses that would surely leave you stranded somewhere. There are smallish Japanese bikes that are designed to carry big loads for large distances. You might want to re-build the seat for comfort.

[steveD]

John, after reading your 'dilema' I really would recommend that you pose a similar queastion to the  'Horizons Unlimited' crowd. I have met a few of them and collectively they have covered most situations. I am sure that they could point you in the right direction and give you invaluable advice.

From a personal point of view I would advise a kick/electric start combination, air cooled and Yamaha as there are many places around the world where you can get spares.
I would also keep a base in the UK (flat, small house etc) as I have the experience of 'burning all my bridges' and leaving for four years, to came back with absolutely nothing and I mean nothing, no bank account, driving licence, clothes, tools, nowt and I was 40!
You will need some plan of action but one of the biggest headaches is the Carnet, where you pay a bond of the value of your bike, what about medical insurance etc etc.

You really must get into the Horizons crowd, really friendly and a wealth of information.

Hope this might inspire!

Cheers SteveD

[OMEGAMAN]

 
      Hi people,
                    thanks for the comments so far, keep them all coming. I'll let this thread run for a while & then pick & choose the bits that apply/helpful to my plans!  just be warned!!!!  I'm 80% there, but not made the full commitment yet!  this is genuine, but nobody knows what will happen next week do they?

     Just remember, the only money I will have, is what is left, after selling up all I own, & some of that will go towards the cost of starting out ie. bike/gear/insurances/jabs etc. etc.

     I really appreciate the offers made by some members of gear etc. & will probably take some of them up, but not until I fully 100% commit, so as not to take stuff & then not use it!

   I'll give you an idea what I have in mind (imagination is a dangerous thing!) then we can follow the threads that will hopefully follow!

    As I said, I have to sell up everything (not too worried about burning all bridges) as I have family support (should I return?)
    I want to keep as much low tech as is feasable......so.....

    The bike type I have in mind, maybe?       Cheap to buy/build for starters
                                                             Basic & strong
                                                             Easy to maintain
                                                             Cheap & easy to obtain spares
                                                             Comfy?
                                                             Good mpg (very important)
                                                             Shaft drive (preferably)
                                                             Twin shock or Mono shock???MMmmm? (I'm erring on the side of twinshock for ease of repairs?
                                                             Def 4/stroke by the way!
                                                             Water/air cooled?

       I want a bike that is road based, but capable of travelling on dirt tracks & the like, but not an out & out off roader.

 For me, the choice is an old BMW r65/80 maybe, what do you think???

       Thanks in advance for everybodys help.....cheers, John RG
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
     

[turkeyuk]

Hi john, sounds like a great plan, id defo get a shaft drive beemer & an early one, R80gs etc if you can find a cheap one, plenty of these bikes in north africa if you are planning on going there & the locals will know their way round them for roadside repairs & parts if you get stuck! other than that id recommend a good water filter & carry as much clean water as you can, you can beg steal or barter for most things anywhere but when push comes to shove its clean water that could save your life! best o' luck.

[guest27]

A few rolls of dental floss - not just for your teeth, it is bloody good stuff for fixing many things including you, gaffa tape and a sterile sharps pack.  You can buy the latter ready made or have a chat with some medicos, having your own source of sutures, needles and if you can get it stuff like novocain - helps avoid being the 15 person and the only one without HIV to be on the end of the needle.  Ceramic water filter.

Technical clothing - microfibre stuff - expensive but packs down tiny, washes out and dries in mins.  Had a friend bumming around the world with a tiny back pack - all he needed clothing wise was a couple of shirts a couple of pairs of pants, couple of pairs of trews etc, wash out and wear.  Maybe not so good on a bike but the base layer could be such, keep clean avoid nasty sores etc.

R

[mini-thumper]

Another thing to always take is a decent pair of nail clippers. Many people, including myself, can't cut their nails on both hands with nail scissors and they really are an 'ice breaker' when you meet other travelers. Keep them on a chain though!

If you need medical kit give me a call.

Boyd

[OMEGAMAN]

 
       Hi,  whilst contemplating & looking around my place,  I've realised I have (a tatty) Honda cb500 sitting out side, & looking around it has made me think?

    Cheap (I own it already!)  seems comfy riding position (although not ridden yet!), engine sounds sweet (obviously will be properly checked over first) They are dead reliable (commuters/couriers/racers) & take loads of abuse, lightish weight?, economical but powerful enough, spares are plentifull?

         Whatever I use will have to be stripped & put back together, so why not the cb?


                                        Your thoughts?