Need your help planning my RTW-trip

[Meneermetdeblokjestrui]

Hi,

About Myself
My name is Naveen. I’m 28 years old and currently living in the Netherlands. I’m planning a round-the-world trip on my 1990 Honda Africa Twin, i've set myself a deadline for March 2026. This timeline gives me the opportunity to budget for the bike’s overhaul and the trip itself. I would greatly appreciate your help with preparations, border crossings, and other related aspects.

About My Bike
My Africa Twin is a barn find with only 12,000 km on the clock. This season, I’ve added 4,000 km, both on and off-road. You should see the grin she puts on my face. Although it looks well-preserved, 30 years in a barn hasn't done her any good. I plan to disassemble the bike, address necessary repairs, and make some modifications to make my journey more comfortable. There’s nearly 30 years' worth of information on the XRV forum, so I’ll be focusing on common issues with the Africa Twin. Given the advancements in modern adventure bike technology, I’ll keep most components OEM to retain the bike’s character. The major modification will be upgrading the suspension with a USD front fork conversion and a matching rear shock. I’ll start this project on November 1st.

About the Journey
With over a year to prepare, I’ll have time to dive into the specifics of the route and other details. Although information is constantly changing, I would appreciate any insights you can provide. I’m breaking this extensive trip into smaller segments. My first goal is to return the Africa Twin to Mr.Honda. My plan is to leave Europe through Turkey and Iran, then travel to Russia via Kazakhstan. The ultimate aim is to reach Japan via Mongolia and Russia. Having visited Japan before, I consider it the most beautiful country I’ve ever been to and plan to use the full extent of my 90-day visa to explore it. I’ll plan the next leg of the journey from there.

I’m open to any suggestions or information, but I do have a few specific questions:

Larger Fuel Tank
As part of the rebuild, I’m considering installing a larger fuel tank, increasing capacity from 23 liters to 40 liters. This would extend my range from approximately 300 km to 600 km. While some forums suggest that it’s rare to find yourself in a situation without a petrol station (except in places like the Sahara), I’m concerned about areas like the Mongolian desert, where fuel stations are sparse to. I’ve also looked into carrying two 8-liter fuel bladders, which would extend my range to 550 km while maintaining better handling (Bladders not filled). Has anyone experienced running out of fuel due to a lack of stations? What would you recommend?

Russia to Japan
I’ve contacted Yuri from LTD-links about shipping to Japan. He mentioned that Japan bans imports from Russia via ferry, though he could assist with transport from Vladivostok if I obtain the necessary permits. Another option is taking a ferry from Vladivostok to South Korea and then to Japan, though this is more expensive. Has anyone navigated this route recently? I understand the situation may change in a year, but any information would be reassuring.

Crossing Countries
I’ll be traveling through Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, and Japan. I’m aware of the carnet de passage requirement for Iran, but are there other important considerations for crossing these countries? Any useful tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for any assistance or advice you can offer!

Best regards,

Naveen