How to Plan a route?

[nickdcook]

I have read the websites basics and have asked where the search tab is (doesn't seem to be a forums search tab i guess).

So whats the best way to plan a route these days? (will use my Canada to Argentina as an example)
I'm guessing that first you take each country and you break it down by what you want to see and do, lets say mexico. Then once you have plotted those destinations onto a map (hopefully there is a plan my route website that you can combine with google maps/ earth) you go about connecting the destinations with routes. Anyone can drive a highway but those other roads, just keep asking and reading? zoom in on google earth and plan it that way (this seems like one of the better ways but it also seems a bit like cheating, seeing everything before you actually go there)
Finally punch all the route data into a GPS and/or country maps.

I know TONS of people have done the trip i plan to do (a few years down the road) but most people dont seem to have maps, they are just saying names of roads and such a little hard to vision that.
Really disapointed there is no search tab or i cant find it because i want to see what routes others took from mexico south.

[Lonerider]

You can't find it and yes it was an incorrect guess


If you go in to one of the forum heading, lets say Route Planning!! At the top of the thread you have the thread page numbers.....underneath there it says "Search this Forum"

All the best with your planning

Wayne

[anonymous1]

Wayne's onto it!

Planning a route is pretty much a personal thing, depending on time, equipment, how adventurous and how technical gps / map wise you want or need to get. I like most riders have my ways and what I find works for me is, manually loading a basic list of waypoints usually by border crossings toward a given destination, "Canada to Argentina" for instance.

I break it up per country but what will then happen and on pretty much every ride I've done is, I stumble across information on somewhere / thing interesting along the way and rearrange the route. Equally, I meet people and it's, hey what about.... ect ect, and again rearrange the route.

It's easy as to tap n drag to alter the route on my GPS. Lastly, I wouldn't be keen on entering every waypoint from "Canada to Argentina" into the GPS, because it will change, shorter routes sure. I have used a program called TYRE, it's good and free, where you can plan a route and transfer it to you GPS card, works on Garmin and Tom Tom. Still I prefer to do it manually searching Google as I go, I enjoy the planning, keeps me focused too.

I always take a paper map for conversations, notes and ideas from locals and others on the road, info both ways. Google is great for planning and diversions, particular points of interest, roads, passes, ferries, border crossings ect. As for the rest, I go with the flow and rearrange the route as I go, time permitting.
Dave

[nickdcook]

I just found out how to do what i wanted to do, its called MY MAPS with Google.
Defiantly in touch with the search bar and have been using it since the first reply Thank you both.

I have never done a bike trip, I have always done backpacking and I never even had things I wanted to see and it was amazing but I have the time to do planning because my trip will probably be 2 years from now.
This way it will be easier on my nerves, in the case I don't end up meeting many other bikers I still have places to go and things to do. Otherwise I could see my self driving down main roads, driving past lots of unthinkable things to do and sights to see, because getting off the main path as a solo biker without a bit of a plan in a foreign country makes me feel a bit uneasy (actually one of the very few things that does). My mind wonders, what if i break down, what if i get hurt, can i make it to the next gas station. Yet staying on pavement the whole way would make me sad =(

Anyway Im starting to plan my trip through mexico, topolobampo to where and via what route and what to see along the way!

[anonymous1]

My maps, LMAO

The best thing for nerves is to just get out there and do it, you meet amazing people when you're on a bike! Do weekend stuff, local national parks, get dirt experience and lots of it. Which bike is best for you, bike set up and preparation, dry protective clothing (in a word, Gore-Tex) boots, gloves, helmet, tyres, fuel range, servicing, tools, spares, luggage, tent, sleeping bag, cooking equipment and food, keeping it all light, durable, dry, compact and manageable, health insurance, communications, all manner of equipment and things to consider.

You're obviously thinking along the right lines. Keeping off the highways and keeping to the back roads forest roads and national parks is at least where it's at for me and plenty of others here too. Keep it polite use your manners, think positive, if your heading to Mexico, learn some Spanish, then things get real easy and much, much more enjoyable.

You will find it all here and more. Beware, once you start there's no going back

Enjoy

[nickdcook]

Whats wrong with my Maps? lol, im enjoying it. of course i will bring paper copies and such.
Yes My Spanish will get better by the day here at home thanks to apps and my Mexican friends (who are going to help me with things to do and places to go as well)

Its not the riding that makes me feel that way, I have road bikes for years here in Canada (thanks to growing up on a farm). Just not as big as the KLR 650 I will be buying. But once I buy that for sure i will be riding it all the time with my friends off road out in the bush and then i geuss ill start to put some weight on it and get used to that. Its all about 1 step at a time because i have lots of time right now. while i save ...

[anonymous1]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with Google maps, it's what I / most use also. When a tech question is posed most go for the tech answer, more so than the obvious answer! LMAO


Glad to hear your skills are good and you have mates to ride with. Taking your time is also a good thing, heaps of time to do your research and try stuff out. Why do you want a KLR? There are other options that are equally up to the task, XR 650, DR 650, The Yamaha Tenere's and XT's ect?

[anonymous1]

Maybe something like this Honda XR650R? Way more fun than a KLR!

[Lonerider]

Originally Posted by nickdcook

I just found out how to do what i wanted to do, its called MY MAPS with Google.
Defiantly in touch with the search bar and have been using it since the first reply Thank you both.

I have never done a bike trip, I have always done backpacking and I never even had things I wanted to see and it was amazing but I have the time to do planning because my trip will probably be 2 years from now.
This way it will be easier on my nerves, in the case I don't end up meeting many other bikers I still have places to go and things to do. Otherwise I could see my self driving down main roads, driving past lots of unthinkable things to do and sights to see, because getting off the main path as a solo biker without a bit of a plan in a foreign country makes me feel a bit uneasy (actually one of the very few things that does). My mind wonders, what if i break down, what if i get hurt, can i make it to the next gas station. Yet staying on pavement the whole way would make me sad =(

Anyway Im starting to plan my trip through mexico, topolobampo to where and via what route and what to see along the way!

Nick

I agree with Drwnite, just get out there and do it. There are a lot of what if's in life but we just have to get on with it. If you break down or come off your bike then it is all part of the adventure, I came off twice on my trip a few months ago, yes it hurt on one off and yes i broke the bike on the other off but it was still and awesome trip, link in signature block.

You will love it once you get going

Wayne

[nickdcook]

Originally Posted by Drwnite

Why do you want a KLR? There are other options that are equally up to the task, XR 650, DR 650, The Yamaha Tenere's and XT's ect?

from what I have read there are a large amount of KLR 650's that have done this type of trip and the mechanics along the way in these countries will know how to fix/ have parts more often than most other bike from what i have heard.

I would love to ride it on a XR 650! me and my brother still have our two XR 100's that we use at the family farm and they are probably the most reliable bike i have ever known, honda makes good stuff. That being said the XR is made for more off roading and i know im still going to have to put on a fair amount of on road km's (thats right not miles! haha) also with the heat and load of my gear i think water cooled is a good idea.

The KLR is a tried and tested bike, with a few modifications it just seems like the best all around bike to do this type of trip.

[anonymous1]

Originally Posted by nickdcook

I would love to ride it on a XR 650! me and my brother still have our two XR 100's that we use at the family farm and they are probably the most reliable bike i have ever known, honda makes good stuff.

Stick to what you know! I had an XR and I also found it amazingly reliable, awesome bike. The KLR's I've ridden are absolute pigs in comparison! The XR is lighter, more powerful, more nimble and reliable, it will handle road sections with ease, I geared mine up for long road sections. On bumpy back roads, trails and dirt it will excel and walk all over a KLR, far better handling and suspension! It will cost you far less to replace the crappy plastic front faring if you drop it too. They make a ton of awesome accessories to make them even better, parts available everywhere too and IMHO and knowing what you know about XR's, it's no brainer!


They also look 100% better than any KLR I've ever seen

[GS_Express]

Check out www.tourstart.org. After a LOT of hunting round for a route planning aid, and battling a LOT with MyMaps/mapsengine on google, I came across this little gem in a post on here. I seem to recall it was about 5 pages in, on some vaguely related topic.

Massive thanks to whoever put it out there, because it is bloody awesome. I haven't actually put it to use yet, but the route planning bit seems easy enough to use. And you can then download it as a .gpx (?) file to you GPS unit. I think it recommends to break it up unto chucks of around 50/waypoints. There's tutorials on the website.

I have loosely (VERY loosely) planned a route from UK home to NZ (minus the wet bits) for some time next year. I basically clicked a waypoint in at a place I wanted to visit, and it filled in the gaps. Obviously there will be no way of checking it's accuracy until I actually ride it, but as mentioned above, I really want a bit of spontaneity in my trip, and as long as I know roughly which direction I'm supposed to be heading, I'm pretty happy. If a road turns out to be impassable, or not there, I'll be turning around to find an alternative. Imagine how bloody boring it would be if nothing went wrong on a trip?

Hope this helps you as much as it has helped me.

Cheers.

[tmotten]

Google Earth is getting better and better as well. In lots of places outside of western countries you can even see where the dirt starts. This will help you either look it up, or avoid it. You can draw your route in it and load it in your GPS. Does take away from the exploration adventure a bit, but as soon as you start to meet other travelers it's pretty common to throw your own plans in the wind anyway. Still fun to know what you're going to be in for though, and will help with logistics as well.

[2wheelsinmotion]

Hi Guys,

I'm in a similar boat, I'm using My Maps and were looking to go from New Zealand to SA..... not planning to much at this stage just trying to work out which port to leave from in NZ and where to arrive in SA...... then there is the time of year to make the most of the place you are in. I'm conscious of putting to much thought into it and just letting it happen.

Once I have a rough plan we will start reading/ research/ talking/ forums etc to get a better idea of where we want to go