No, no, no !! Sorry, I didn't made myself clear, I think
I don't have all answers of course, but
- I've been thinking about it as much as I can for the past 12 months
- I've asked many questions already, made my choices about what to take with me or not, helped by many more experienced travellers (than me). What I'm saying, is all that is well though (of course I know I can be wrong!!! but I will see that after I experience it )
- Now, the chips are down.. it's just not time anymore to change my mind and say "oh, yeah, I should get a light bike, and start all over again..". Let's see how I can manage with all that
- I'm not a "know it all", sorry if I seemed like that. But maybe I misunderstood what you said. My english is definitly not perfect, sorry

You're very right ! But I would love to hear how everyone of you prefers to set up his bike, what are youre priorities etc..
Then I could pick up what I think can suit me as well.. and pack accordingly. But like you all said, I will probably unpack and repack a dozen of times before finding what suits best for me !


Hi Paul ! I'm leaving first week end of May, how about you ?
What will be your route ?

PS : mollydog/ I don't know if I can pick up the bike solo, yet. I will try, but I'm pretty sure it's too heavy.

Make sure your medical kit is easy to access... for obvious reasons!

We will be off in 3 weeks, from London... so probably see you on the road, as from Uzbekistan, our route seems to be fairly similar all the way to UB....

Cheers,

__________________
Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

Your English is just fine (way better than my French! )
You've made your choices ... that is good! Bon voyage!

Be careful of your back ... use proper lifting technique. (back into the bike, use your legs) Lots of videos on this, won't work in mud.

"Trends" in ADV travel show the bikes travelers use and the shifts in the way they travel are slowly changing. Over past 10 years we see a sharp turn away from big & heavy bikes, more interest in smaller bikes.

No one is saying sell off your Africa Twin (fantastic bike!) and buy a 250 Honda .. but "trends" show more riders are going smaller and lighter. Many former R1200GS, KTM 990, Vstrom, Africa Twin riders have traded in their big bikes for a smaller, lighter option.

Packing
Packing light is sort of an art form. IMO, requires several long trips for new travelers to learn this ... and learn what's truly needed (for them) and what can be left behind.

If you take a close look at what backpackers and bicyclists pack, you can get a few tips on light weight packing. Sure, motorbikes have more room and can easily carry the weight, but in rough conditions weight and bulk can create challenges.

The other thing no one has mentioned is that in some places you will not be able to camp ... or if you do Wild Camp, it may not be safe or may be crowded with people. This is true now for much of the world. When camped solo, you sort of become a prisoner of your camp. You can't leave it.

But soon all these realities will face you ... I hope you wake up happy everyday! (some days it is a challenge to smile!) Bon chance!

Hello Jean-Baptiste, sounds like a grand trip!
When packing for my trips. Heaviest stuff (pots, pans, kettle, tools, boots (if necessary) in a 49L dry-bag right behind me on the seat; I figure it's the same as having a small passenger.
Right hand, smaller, pannier for thermos of coffee, photographic equipment that is not in a tank bag, Katadyn Vario water purifier, dehydrated and freeze-dried food.
Left hand, larger pannier for medical kit and a small cooler-bag that holds six 20oz bottles of ice (I like COLD water). With the Katadyn filter I can get water from any source anywhere. I will also load up the rest of the left pannier with more food and munchies, almond M&Ms, chips, crackers, Clif Bars, Kates Bars, Quaker Oatmeal To Go squares (apple cinnamon is delicious!) I travel with a LOT of snacks.
Two 35L dry-bags packed with clothes, toilet kit, sleeping bag, pad, tent, tarp and generally everything else not previously mentioned, one on top of each pannier using ROK straps.
As for tires, when necessary to take them, which is fairly often, I strap them to the front upper crashbars using ROK straps.
I don't know if my input helps any, but it's a setup that really works well for me. I wish you exciting and safe travel!!
Vaya con Dios,
J.T.

The photos of the 'heavy bikes' .. I wonder how many of them were taken at the end of their trips? Think they would be lighter by then. And that is when you should take your examples from, the near end of trip photos, with the travel dirt and experience.

You will be unpacking those tyres each day ... think you will soon tire of that (pun). As you say, you will experience it and learn what suits you as you go. Most of us have posted stuff home that we did not need a month or two into the trip, so we all learn best on the road.

Picking the bike up? Once you have tripped your bike over on your front lawn .. then is the time to try taking stuff off .. any ropes that fasten on the bottom may be hard to get to. You should remove stuff that is on the 'top' of the bike - tank bag, tyres, top box/bags. However you manage it remember that this is a good surface, different in sand, mud and having the bike face down hill in a ditch! I've resorted to getting a small dead tree and using that as a leaver.

Good luck.

PS .. You'll learn that language is not something to worry over .. as long as you get your meaning across eventually it doesn't matter. And some of the misunderstanding is good fun.