I signed up to HUBB about 7 or so years ago, posted a few times... then drifted off in a different direction... I had just got my first ADV, a Buell, and was doing some tricks to it... I rode ADV's for a few years, and then bought my first Electraglide... and then another one... so did the Harley thing... and then the 'Rona set in, and my motorcycling got significantly curtailed, as it did to lots of folks...

But... I can start to see an end to this, and I need a plan... my first plan was to loop the US and Canada in 2023, but that is a lot of "Been there, done that" stuff... so... I have come up with a new plan as you can see in the Map... I am going to be 70 quite soon, so if I am going to set off on such an adventure, I best get at it...

Not sure what I will do for a motorcycle yet, I am heavily leaning on taking my Electraglide, as we already have 70,000+ kilometres of travelling together and she fits me like a glove... but I am also considering getting the new PanAm and going back towards ADV's... the problem is i need a Rekluse clutch, which I have in my eGlide, or a Dual Clutch set up as I have bad arms, and I want to take a Harley...

I will use this thread to do the planning, as I have the next 12 months to make it real so I can be ready to leave in the spring of 2023... the basic idea is to spend 4 or 5 months travelling from one end to the other... 6 to 10 weeks in the West... and the same sort of idea East of Germany/Austria... no real plans at this point to go up into England or the Nordic countries, but that will depend on how quickly I make my way through Western Europe...

There is a link in the signature that will take you through the last 6 or so years of my Journey...

__________________
The Journeys of Darla & Right back to the beginning

Welcome back. Your post doesn't actually ask any questions or say whether you're looking for input. However, it does imply a lot of questions--about your route, about your bike, about alteration/upgrades like the Rekluse. And it offers little about your interests with which you'll be making decisions about any of the above; particularly when it comes to route planning.

That might work fine, but it will tend to attract a lot of input which doesn't really apply to you, or about which you've already decided. I, for example, want to tell you how much more time you need to spend, and to insist that you ought to see Norway, the Balkans, and the Stans...but maybe this doesn't appeal to you at all, because you don't care for winding roads, mountain scenery, or any possibility of non-paved roads. Others will probably have strong opinions about your choice of bikes, or of that fabled motorcycling duo and their recent endorsement of H.D. electrics.

All of which is to ask: are you requesting feedback? If so, of what sort, and on what basis?I hope that's helpful.

Mark

I welcome any all all feedback... I know I am biting off a pretty big slice here... nothing is set in stone, with the exception that I will be taking a Harley, just not sure which one yet... as to routes, it will be time dependant... I will have to get this done in five months at the outside, so I will have to make some sacrifices... and example is if I have to choose between Norway or Mongolia that is an easy one... as I have dreamed of visiting the land of Genghis Chan for a very long time... The route on the map is a basic guideline.

__________________
The Journeys of Darla & Right back to the beginning

If I may, I’ll throw in my opinions for whatever they’re worth. While an H-D would not be my choice (I have that tee shirt) there is no reason not the use such a bike in Europe. I would therefore say use the bike in your garage for a number of reasons.
My prime reason would be funds, no matter how deep your pocket, I would suggest that it’s better to spend your hard earned on your trip rather than a new bike. Which leads me to remind you, that you know your current bike, it’s good and bad points, like any longterm travel companion, better the devil you know. The Pan American is a new model as you know, it will have failings that are currently unknown by you but more importantly the dealers. Do you really want to be a H-D test rider. Possibly parked for weeks waiting for parts,, on your once in a lifetime trip?
Lastly in my experience it’s best to have a plan with flex built in, allow the road to dictate your trip. Europe is very diverse and you will meet warm, friendly and amazing people, they will tell you of places you have not yet considered. Allow yourself the option of visiting some of them if they ignite your imagination.
Above all whatever you decide, do the trip, enjoy every second, including the challenging times, they will lead to your most memorable moments.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Thanks Davey... I agree.. using my current ride makes the most sense... I have spent 4 years and 70,000 kilometres sorting out how to make it fit best... I also have heard back from Rekluse, and they said that they have no plans as yet to develope the clutch kit for the PanAmerican... I have also "ridden" some of the roads in Google roads in Mongolia, and there is nothing there that I cannot make happen on the chosen route... dirt roads don't scare me, and I know how to fix a flat on a bike tire.

I have also heard back from the Shipping Agent in Vladivostok... and it has made me rethink the travel directions... I will seriously consider shipping the bike to Vlad and starting from there and heading west... that means I would start later in the year, as I would target the Naadam festival in Mongolia in July, and then work my way West.

This would put me in Western Europe in October... the issue with doing it that way is that Air Canada has a drop dead date for shipping motorcycles in October sometime...

Also... I would consider leaving my bike in Europe over the winter, and heading back the following summer to do the Nordic leg... then shipping it home after... I don't know what is involved with that, and if there is a better county than another to do it in... I have a friend in Holland where I can store it for the winter, if that is possible to do.

The flex time is important... as I want to be able to do things as they present themselves... staying open to all suggestions from everyone is key to a better trip.

__________________
The Journeys of Darla & Right back to the beginning

Sounds like what you need is a DCT Gold Wing.

Based on your image, just a few notes... I think you are too intent on avoiding "doubling back", and so are missing a lot of beautiful sections of Europe. I.e. you are making a big detour to Mont-St-Michel? but are skipping a lot of the beautiful nature of southern and eastern France, the Pyrenees, the Italian Dolomites... a weird detour up to Berlin... dipping into Ukraine for just Lviv without seeing Odessa or Kyiv, missing the hills and old cities of southern Poland, a difficult separate visa section to see Minsk, getting up as far as central Estonia but not going on to St. Petersburg... that's just the European section

It's entirely legitimate to drop off your bike (have someone pick it up in Canada) and continue your journey in Europe using public transport/rental cars/even rental bikes... or scooters! They have auto-clutches.

Here in Estonia it's possible to leave a non-EU bike in the country for a year (and it resets with a quick trip across the Russian border). Motorcycle hotels are plentiful, as most of us live in apartment buildings and store our bikes for the winter.

"I have also "ridden" some of the roads in Google roads in Mongolia, and there is nothing there that I cannot make happen on the chosen route... dirt roads don't scare me"

mmmmm....depending which way you go, you may be in for a surprise...
Calling Walter

I have looked seriously at a DTC Goldwing... but I am a Harley guy... and my current ride has "earned" the adventure...

The route is a basic idea... not set in stone... my Great-Greats are from the south west in the Ukraine around Lviv, that is why the map goes there... again I would entertain changing up once I get there or anywhere for that matter...

It is beginning to look like I would leave the bike in Holland for the winter and go back the next spring to finish off, just not enough time and too many roads for the plan... and its unlikely I will get another kick at this cat.

I have been working on the map, and the routes have changed from the original... One thing for sure, I am glad I am giving this over a year to plan it out... But even when I go, I will have a landing spot, and a destination, and the rest of the ride will be wide open... If you read the bottom links you will see that when I go, I often as not change my mind when I am on the road... When I went to California in '017, I ended up in Alaska... then on the way back home, I kept going east to Ontario... a two week trip ended up being 10 weeks and almost 20,000 kilometres.

__________________
The Journeys of Darla & Right back to the beginning

... and that is what makes it an adventure... I love a surprise.

__________________
The Journeys of Darla & Right back to the beginning