I 'd go at it a different way. First decide where you want to ride and then look at the equipment.

I'd also recommend flying to somewhere like SE Asia (Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam et al), renting one of the cheap 125 to 200cc scooters / underbones / motorcycles) that are available for $6 to 10 per day, and head out.
You really don't need much gear for that, a set of throw-over saddlebags, maybe a small backpack or seat bag, a lightweight rain jacket and maybe pants, and basic riding gear, a helmet, MX gloves, mesh jacket and hiking boots will be far more than the locals are using, and probably in line with the speeds traffic moves at.

No need for camping gear as lodging is cheap and available as long as you don't expect western quality hotels. At most, take a mosquito hammock and silk or microfleece bag liner for emergencies.

Clothing can be limited to a few sets of quick drying synthetic shirts, shorts and maybe some long pants, and a set of flip flops or sandals for off the bike.

Then head out for the most remote destinations you can find, catching the small local bancas / ferries across rivers or between islands.

Other destinations for fly and ride adventures are Southern Africa and South America, which are more big bike friendly, but could require more planning and are more expensive.

If you still think you need a fully kitted GS when you get back, you've spent less than cost of carnet / insurance and shipping to do the same trip.
If not, you've just saved many thousands of $$...

For camping, you could start building up a kit using your current bike. I prefer good quality backpacking gear, but not the ultra lightweight stuff which tends to be expensive, not that robust and not very spacious.

For example, the Nemo Losi 3P tent I use now weighs only 1 lb more than the 2P, and the same as my previous 2 man tent, but has almost double the floor and vestibule space. It's 3/4 season capable, but with the extensive mesh inner and two doors has excellent airflow for tropical conditions.
I got it at a 30% discount, so it cost me a fraction of the 'motorcycle' specific tents some on that other adventure forum recommend...

Any good hiking / outdoor shop should be able to give advice on gear, but remember they also need to make a buck, so will tend to push the latest and greatest.

For stoves and stuff, I like basic and cheap. I'm still using a Trangia knockoff alcohol stove that's 25 years old, and packs 2 pots, fry pan, windshield and stand, stove, potholder and lighter into a space not much bigger than 1 of the pots.

Unless I'm camping with a partner, I just use one of the pots or fry pan as a plate, and have an old stainless army cutlery set that fits in the Trangia as well.

One advantage of camping off the S1000, is that you will slowly acquire and test out a compact camping setup without being tempted to go for the ginormous luggage / travel systems that are seen on the 'adventure' tourers all too often.

For gear, I don't find that the bells and whistles do it all adventure riding gear works all that well in the tropics, and no better than a well layered simple riding suit in cold conditions.

I've had the expensive, multilayered, waterproof stuff, and now use either a very simple mesh jacket or compression jacket (MX style) and a cheap and simple enduro pants with zip-off legs and really good venting, for mostly tropical riding.
A simple, very packable, lightweight hiking shell and bicycle rain pants work about as well as anything else to keep the rain out, and breathe very well.

With a few good under/mid fleece layers, the same setup will deal with 99% of the conditions I experienced in colder climates such as the northern US.

I guess what I'm saying is that you already have a bike, you already have some gear, you obviously have a fair bit of disposable income, so get out there and get your feet wet, build up experience and knowledge and a starter kit before spending a ton of money on what could be the wrong direction.

Just an addendum on the gear thing. I've been riding / driving in SE Asia for almost 7 years, and in Southern / central Africa for many years before that.

Nearly all the accidents I've had in SE Asia were covered by a lightly armored mesh jacket or MX compression jacket (better, as it has back, chest, shoulder, elbow and arm hard armor yet is as cool as a mesh jacket), Cordura shorts and over ankle boots. Plus helmet and MX style leg protectors.

Having said that, the other day I was out in ATTGATT, wearing my BMW Santiago boots, and had a bus go over my foot and knock the bike sideways by way of my knee, trying to push me out of the way in traffic.
Likely I would have been OK in a less robust boot, but probably much more bruised.

Also, if I'd been on something the size and weight of a GS instead of a 200 cc dualsport, likely my knee would have been crushed and I wouldn't have been able to keep the bike upright and turn/accelerate a bit to avoid the rest of the vehicle going over my leg and bike.

As a new rider in these conditions, the chances of an accident are extremely high. Slippery, broken roads, lots of stuff in or running across the road anywhere and any time without warning, substandard equipment (cheap tires, poor maintenance and more) and a totally different rhythm and reason to traffic 'rules' and flow.
So you may want to consider the protection perspective as well as climate, at least until you have a year or two experience in local conditions.

In that sense, South Africa is a bit closer to the western norms.

Sent from my A898 Duo using Tapatalk 2

I would suggest to pick the gear according to the extremes but basically it's almost impossible. With good rain/cold gear you will suffer in heat and the reverse. I handle well heat so I'll go with protection for cold/rain. In heat you can find ways to ventilate even if the gear is not that ventilated (you just unzip the main and you can survive) but in cold+rain you will suffer... A lot.
In my opinion rukka and klim is the best gear available for RTW (both available in uk) with klim being somewhat a bit less waterproof as it is more ventilated (never used one but talked with people who had).
I used revit in my African adventure and hated the waterproof layer system. In Central Asia, Mongolia and Siberia I was feeling so lucky to ride in my rukka gear with no issues regarding waterproofness even after days of rain.
You should also invest in a technical body layer. It will make you handle the heat better, transfer the sweat out of your body etc.
I like having two sets of gloves. Light summer enduro type most of the time and thick goretex in cold/rain.
Boots: I used full enduro in Africa (sg10) and adventure goretex in Asia. I would prefer the second for a RTW. They are more versatile. Easy to walk, waterproof but a bit less protection (which is fine if you understand it's a RTW so you ride accordingly)
I used arai tour x3 and happy with it. Very good quality as it's a premium brand. Crashed badly before leaving to Africa and no damage even if the helmet cracked (it's supposed to) and the back of the head is the most sensitive part. Only rode little with modular (shoei) and not really happy with it (noisy). After all my rides I plan to retire my tour x3 and go with a very light helmet (Airoh aviator is my plan). I don't mind taking the helmet on and off but I do mind the pain on my neck and a 1,6kg helmet is what will cause it. After days and days of long rides you WILL notice the half a kilo difference. The googles/sunglasses combo is also a good idea as your visor WILL scratch and it's more convenient to carry extra googles lenses than an extra visor.
Cheers, John.

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My Stadler Companero works brilliantly in all weathers. I went to Morocco last summer wearing it. When it was 43 degrees celcius in Fez, the mesh armoured sections were heaven sent! Back in France, in some of the worst rain in which I've ridden, the Goretex outer kept me bone dry and warm. Like all the Klim gear, further layers underneath would have kept me warmer when it gets colder.

There are some downsides, however. Firstly, you have to find someway of carrying the Goretex outer parts. Personally, I accept that I will need to find some extra space. Secondly, the more straightforward way to buy it is from Touratech. You CAN buy one straight from Stadler without any TT logos! I rode to Germany for mine. even with the travel costs, it was still cheaper than buying it here in the UK! Thirdly, and probably the biggest issue, is the price. Ouch! Still, you get what you pay for (more or less), and I intend to get MANY years of use out of it!

Excellent comments tigershel. I did the Asia thing (the first time) in 1992. I brought MX/Enduro gear ...wore road based Moto boots I could walk in, rented a 125cc two stroke enduro and rode all over N. Thailand.
Epic ride and SO CHEAP. I was there in November ... one of the coolest months ... and it was still HOT. But tolerable with very little rain. (always variable).

In Thailand and Cambodia my MX type gear worked out perfectly. Like you say, a simple rain jacket and rain pants do the job in inclement weather and light weight MX mesh gear is the way to go ... with proper armor underneath of course. (shin, knee, hip, back, elbow) add under layers in colder climes.

Most UK travelers I've met (many pass through California and Baja, Mex)
are typically wearing Winter type waterproof gear, heavy, thick jackets and pants ... brutal in any temps over about 80F. Most are over dressed for the temperate climates of the South-Western USA and most of Latin America. You see .. they bought gear while in the UK .. for UK riding conditions (cold with constant rain)

Asia is super HOT and humid. Humidity takes getting used to ... not that easy for folks living in cold climates like UK- Northern EU or Canada.
Many let the high heat/humidity RUIN their trip ... and fly home or bail out of the area.

tigershel, your idea about flying into Asia, renting a bike is brilliant. You can learn so much in just a two week tour. I've done it 2 times and hope to do it again someday.

For UK riders planning a ride and figuring out gear, I'd do a Summer ride down to Spain/Portugal and then over to Morocco. That exposure to heat should be a clue about what compromises need be made and what gear works best.

BTW, on your way South ... go through Andorra and find the best prices and selections on riding gear anywhere in Europe ... and about HALF the price of gear sold in the UK. Spain is also VERY GOOD for gear shopping.

Well done tigershell great post full of info for the less knowledgabable,

Yes you can get KLM gear in uk quite expensive wait till spring go to Lidl & aldi, pick up some cordura jackets & trousers my last one lasted 5 years! at £50 so got more than my monies worth.
you will find you will go to one country & soon realise the gear your wearing is too cold or hot or just not suitable, in LA it seems to be jeans & boots other countrys full gear.

my boots are riding sidi boots but when I went to spain left them at home & wore army high leg boots so could walk around in them when off the bike, next time I went i used my siddies

wear what youre comfy in, but still need protection as alredy stated you have the basic gear alredy, camping is simler go a way for a long week end see if you can stand it if not budget for hostals or b & b some countrys cost more than others, cooking on the Rd I would suggest a multi fule stove (your never run out of petrol !

I use a cleman multi fuel stove, if time go to the Caravan & camping show in Feb at NEC so many tents to look at, remember sleeping bags down are best & pack away smaller but once wet not so good what are you using for panniers? & inner bags I use Exped & laying on the ground your entering a mine field, but it is a learning curve & trial & error if you took everyones idea you would have 20 tents to carry!!

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