Can anyone aid me in planning a route. I'm 90% decided that some time next year I'm going t do this trip, the australian economy is very good with lots of work out there and I have a visa to work there - so why not combine the two and just go for it. Africa twin/transalp will be used but if it's just me a dommie will be my ride.

I may go two up but disregarding bike makes as I know what I want here is there a usual route. I'm not planning lots of off road and would like to pay the least amounts in bribe money to border guards and cost is a factor, when I get to australia I'd like to ride much of it too.

I would have thought Europe to Turkey then the easiest way to India then SE Asia and stop maybe in singapore and ship the bike. Is it possible/easy/cheap to ship from Indoneasia?

any help/comments please

The word 'cheap' and travel between asian countries .. does not mix well.

Reasxon - you need to get from India to .. where ever. Burma and china are difficult if not impossible .. but you can try. The alternative is to ship or fly the bike .. not cheap. If you want cheap then ship from India to Australia. Cheaper still is to ship from the UK to Australia... but you don't get the ride.

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Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S

you are right it isn't cheap at all and could be a sticking point. However numerous people must have done this, where is the usual place to ship from and to? (to avoid China/Burma then continue as far east as possible before shipping again to Australia)

Hi Mate,

We were planning to do a similar trip last year but ran out of money when we got to Greece after 7 months travelling! We originally planned to cross iran, pakistan etc and had the visas etc but the cost of the carnet (on a five grand BMW) and shipping/flying to Australia was too expensive. We found it cheaper to ride back to the UK (five days from Greece) and then sell the bike and fly to australia. It was cheaper for us to fly from the UK to Aus than it was from India etc.

Anyway we met a couple last year who did manage the trip (London - Katmandu) and flew the bike from Katmandu to Perth and rode across to Sydney. After the trip they admitted that they would have chosen our "easy" option if they done it again as it was pretty hot in Turkey,Iran etc in August. We felt very disapointed about not making it all the way to Aus and would love to go back and travel asia again but didnt want to be skint when we got back to Aus.

Anyway good luck whatever you choose to do.

Gazzr
www.theworld-ismyoyster.com

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Gazzr
www.theworld-ismyoyster.com

Have a look at our blog - follow the link below.

We rode from UK - NZ, hopefully you will find some useful info in there...

Also check the shipping pages.

We flew the bike Kathmandu - Bangkok, shipped between Malaysia & Indo, cheap ferries throughout Indonesia & cheap shipping East Timor - Darwin

enjoy.

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Rich
www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/richardandlisa
www.youtube.com/richparkie

thanks guys for the reply, I will have a good read of both of your travels. Looking into it further it does seem cheaper to fly from the UK etc but then I want to do the trip, if I don't make the trip I will kick myself for the rest of my days! no decisions as yet but more reasearch me thinks.

G'day,

I've just started looking at planning the same trip London to Australia. Have you made progress. It is inteesting what others have to say. I live in Australia and planning to fly the bike to London. I'll be on a BMW F650GS.
Probably enter Australia at Darwin to ride home to Queensland.

Would like to know what routes others have taken. Planning to obviously go through Europe, down to Turkey South coast, then comes the hard part from what I hear (I don't think going through the middle East is a good idea), so up North around Caspian Sea. I'd like to go through India, Nepal anddown to Singapore. From there probably to Darwin by boat or plane.

Is this possible?

Any ideas, anyone.

Hi There

I am an Ozzie who has been living in the Uk for the last few years. I am moving home next year and am riding home.I am heading off with another guy who is on a dakar and I am on a F650GS.

We are planning much the same route however we are currently trying for China. Our plan is to head out through Europe/Ukraine/Russia/Kazakstan/China/Nepal/India/ and then either Indonesia or Darwin. Like you I am going to ride home which is Melbourne.

Contarary to what a lot of people say China is possible. Granted it is difficult but like anything you have to persist and it will come off. We are currently going through the motions and it is time consuming.

We are heading early May and will probably be on the road for 6-7 months even more if it needs to be. There are some other postings on the Hubb about others doing this sort of trip so it would appear a few people will be on the road.

Cheers

Jim

BMBIKER Jim, Indonesia was certainly part of my plan too. I like your trip route. I have been Turkey so could miss that out but my mate hasn't so we thought we'd go down that way. I'd like to go up that way. I haven't been to eastern europe. May 2007 will be a bit early for me to organise. It appears that leaving in the European Summer is a good time. Hopefully good weather all the way. I guess I will be looking at 2008.

I would appreciate any advice though. Simply where to start would be good, or a list of things to do to prepare early. I appreciate it will be time consuming. If you had no time schedule you could just wing it and wait where you had to for things to come through, but the path of least resistance is prefered for an efficient trip. There's enough other challenges along the way. I don't want to re-invent the wheel.

Can you suggest some other threads to look at with handy hints. A mate is keen to come with me. How much is it for a second hand 2001 to 2005 650GS in the UK? Could you give some examples. He is thinking of buying one over there before the trip to save flying one over. Any good sites like bikesales.com etc over there. Are you travelling with the soft pack on the back seat or a top box. Would the Metzeler Tourance tyres be good for the entire trip or some a little more off road? Camping or doing the hostel thing?

My email is scottreeman@yahoo.com.au if you'd like to communicate that way.

Scotty

Martyn,

Have a look at www.hectorsadventures.com

Mark and Amy have recently completed the UK to Oz leg and their diary is very detailed, over 100 pages of pics and notes.

Chris

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Chris

just today arrived in perth australia after driving down through africa from uk...great fun (well fun at times!!)..but Im a wimp i did it in a Toyota land cruiser

If you need any info get in touch

regards

jeff watts

www.gonewandering.co.uk

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jeff watts