hello
i have done some research on this.
entering iraq (kurdistan!! 3 areas: dahuk, Arbil and As Sulaymaniyah )from iran is no problem at piranshar border.
the border to syria is not possible as far as i know because it is not located in iraqi kurdistan. visa for free at the border of piranshar. this is a visum only for iraqi kurdistan.
so what to do is entering from iran to iraq (stay in safe kurdistan) and then entering turkey at Silopi/zakho and then going to syria.
avoid kirkuk and mosul! it looks easy to drive this roads but it is outside iraqi kurdistan and not totally safe.

I hope this helps. i have to say that i haven't been there but this is what other people where telling me at the internet.

I met a Canadian rider in Nairobi a month ago, and he rode into N Iraq from turkey and spent about 10days there. He was told at the border to avoid Mosul and Kirkuk. Rode to Iran border but not into Iran. Said it was fantastic. Try looking for "David Radford" blog. (gsguy.wordoress.com)
He loved it.
Have heard second-hand stories about two other tourists there as well. Other posts here as well.
I plan to go through Iraq to Iran in about 1 month, if things are still cool up there.
Forward

Hey guys,

Firstly, I'd like to commend you for your sense of adventure, good on you but I'd also like to ask as to why you would put yourself in such OBVIOUS danger?? Do you have blinkers on and want to do a bit of 'War Tourism'? Or have great bragging rights when you or should I say 'If you' get home?

Ok, you may be thinking 'Who is this guy?' whom asks and says this and your right to ask. I've been working here in Iraq now as a professional bodyguard and medic since 2004 (2003 if you include the military) having travelled in a professional capacity throughout the country of Iraq, North/South/East/West and have seen the topsy turvy and extremely violent times here in this country (I'm in Baghdad at the moment typing this) and can tell you that even though some people may say everything has calmed down LET ME TELL YOU NOW--IT HAS NOT! One of the biggest threats at this moment is Kidnap. The criminal gangs are more prevalent than the 'insurgent' and a nice white guy with an expensive bike will look like an easy target.
At the kidnap stage they'll want to know who you are, nationality, who you work for to assess your worth. If you work for an NGO or the US government or some other corporation then you'll be worth $$$'s. If not, then you'll be worth nothing but trouble and the chances are it's a shallow ditch just to get rid of you!! They only have to be lucky once, you have to be lucky EVERYDAY!
On the other side, it's well known for 'trouble' countries to be fine in the countryside as the general populous aren't interested in the politics but merely want to get on with their lives in a quiet and peaceful manner, the choice they say, is yours! But what happens if at the border your sent back and have to go to Kirkuk or Mosul for visa issues?? Can't avoid it then can you?

These are still hard times for the Iraqi people and the reconstruction of the country is still in it's infancy, please don't give them tempting targets through ignorance. If you want beautiful scenery and great roads there are a million other places to go to in safety. I hear of 'tourists' coming to Iraq and getting into problems, to me they're idiots and I'd hate to hear of a fellow biker being in the same circumstances.

Whether you agree with my $0.02c worth or not, I am here. Any questions then just ask.

Be safe

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Geoffshing

'Security is a product of one's own imagination, it does not exist in nature as a rule, life is either a daring adventure or nothing.'

Geoffshing,

I'm neither a war tourist nor an idiot. Just intrigued by a friend's photos and experiences of his trip to northern Iraq.

It can be difficult to determine what the reality is with such different viewpoints on a
situation, so I appreciate your input.

Over and out on this thread.

As for the bulletproof vests - that's a red herring designed to discourage Marcos, isn't it? I've found no references to Turkey/Syria banning bulletproof vests - in fact there's a forum post from a journalist who says no trouble bringing a bulletproof vest from Syria to Lebanon

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Mark