Tag: UK

United Kingdom

Categories
Planning

Route Planning

I have been researching routes and software to store the routes and help with the planning. I think I will use tripit as it gets good reviews and having played around with it it would seem to do what I need.
Routes across europe are plentiful. After that most people seem to choose going through russia rather than Iran. I have read several blogs from people taking both ways and at the moment I think I prefer Turkey, Iran and the Stans (look at a map to see what the Stans are) with the current tension with Russia over Ukraine I think avoiding that area is best.
The next bit is where it gets tricky. Travelling through or anywhere near Afghanistan is a non starter. The only viable overland from here is to enter China. From there you can get to the top of Pakistan and then into India. Alternatively you can go across the top of Tibet and into Laos. China insists all foreigners are escorted so that means riding in a group and handing over lots of money. The problems get worse on the other side of India because you cannot get into Burma to get into Thailand again entering China and being escorted is the only overland option.
I have found a uk company offering escorts through China in September 2015 but the price is about ┬ú3k for a dash across to Laos or ┬ú6k for a month long tour in China finishing in Thailand. I don’t know how much it costs for an escort to Pakistan but I think I read about ┬ú 800 somewhere.
If I go the Pakistan route I could opt to get the bike shipped to Bangkok from Calcutta or even ship it home and fly to Perth.
Hmmmm. I need to think about this.

Categories
Planning The Bike

Choosing a Bike

Having read many other experiences of different bikes, my initial leaning toward the BMW 650GS has changed. The BMW seems to be pretty bullet proof but when things do go wrong it gets very expensive very quickly. I have read reports of electrical issues, waiting for parts, difficult diagnostics etc. The other issues are the high value of the bike which effects the cost of the carnet and the weight of the bike and tool kit needed.

The other favourites seem to be the Suzuki DR650 and the Yamaha XT600 or newer XT660. As I am in the UK, and the DR650 is not sold here, I will probably go for the Yamaha so I have a better selection of bikes to choose from.

Not a good paint scheme for riding through Iran
Yamaha XT660 – Perhaps not a good paint scheme for riding through Iran

Getting a carnet looks like a major expense. They are only available from the RAC in the UK and are very expensive. They act like a passport for the bike entering and leaving a country and avoid you paying import duties and taxes. It may be possible to get one from Germany much more cheaply but I have read conflicting opinions on that.

Whatever I get, it will need some prep work such as uprated shocks, panniers and carriers, fitting inner tubes etc. Doing this work will be part of the fun and will allow me to get intimate with it mechanically before I leave. I would imagine I will be spending a lot of time on the road maintaining and fixing the bike.

Categories
Musings

Enough dreaming – Time for action

For at least 10 years I have been restless and wanted to do something with my life beyond the ordinary. Some would call it a mid life crisis, I would say it is a realisation that the clock is ticking and things you wanted to do in life remain undone andare not currently likely to happen.

I have started to do many of these things but one keeps coming back to haunt me – to see the world in it’s natural state and the people in it outside of the normal tourist environment; and to do this on a motorbike as an affordable means of travel. I have read many blogs of people who have done this so know it is possible.

Last night, after reading another blog I made a decision. Enough dreaming – it may not happen but, unless I start doing something, it never will.I know I have many obstacles to overcome before I even leave but I am determined.

I know there are lots of blogs out there but they tend to focus on the trip. I wanted to include the logistics at an early stage in the hope that others may be inspired to stop dreaming and start doing.

And now for the planning……