Hi all
we're at very early stage planning UK to Australia. I want to start with as specific a question as I can before going into further detail another time.
Between UK and Australia we are considering we could go through:
Route 1 - Turkey/Iran/the Stans, then briefly into China and then down into Pakistan then India or
Route 2 - we could go Turkey/Georgia/Iran/Pakistan/india and miss out the Stans. (We do not wish to go Russia or Mongolia). We wonder especially if the Stans may be too difficult to ride 2 up heavy loaded. So our question is:
Is there anywhere/areas you would say we could not physically ride it 2 up on a fully loaded R1200GSA???
Previous experience - We are happy riding on ripio gravel, packed dirt, bad tarmac. But we really struggle on wet mud and sand is just too much for us (& our clutch). We've already done an 8 month 42,000kms trip BA/Ushuaia/Alaska with lots of ripio roads in Patagonia and the Caraterra Austral. We've also done UK, Nordkapp, Romania, UK 2 months (just got back) & numerous road tours in Europe.
So, where might we find impassable or just really difficult 2 up and heavy?

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If you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right

just double checking, will you be travelling on a British passport? if so, you may want to re-route, as you'll need a guide the whole way through (edit, IRAN) ):

Other than that, I've heard parts of Turkmenistan (particularly if you're trying to get to the gates of hell) are pretty hairy

Will be keeping an eye on this thread. I want to do the same (Amsterdam-Sydney) on a GS Rallye sometime in 2019 probably.

You can ride almost all of the way to India on tarmac going Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, I have not been through Central Asia but believe you will encounter more dirt and gravel roads that way which would be harder work on a fully loaded GS although many have done it before.

Only Iran as far as I am aware although everyone needs a guide through China, Myanmar and Thailand now but going as part of a group reduces that cost.
Turkmenistan can be a problem but is avoidable on either route.

Whoops meant to say Iran. (:

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2018: Indo to UK, 2020: ???
Instagram @improbablyadventuring

We're currently planning a similar route with a pair of Africa Twins, aiming for Europe, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and finally New Zealand.

My research so far hasn't indicated that you'd have any problem in any of those countries with a loaded two up bike, you'll just have a lower number of available options for routes if you're avoiding sand & mud but still plenty of options.

My plan goes the same way, however, I'm finding it super hard to understand how to get across Myanmar and Thailand with a European license plate. I'm starting to hear stories and report of Myanmar being doable, but Thailand you managing to get in, but finding your bike apprehended on the way out.

Do you have any input on that, or have found a way to do it?

Myanmar and Thailand are doable but there is one huge negative thing and that is that you will need permits and guides to ride through these countries. You need to arrange those permits well in advance especially the Thailand permit as there is a lot of additional paperwork needed to get the permit.

For Myanmar there is no way to avoid these rules and the country was just opend for overlanders 3-4 years ago. Its expensive but not too bad, I have heard overlanders crossings on 10 days trip including guides and oermits paid less than 1000 USD with accomodation and some meals included.
For Thailand which overlander earlier on could roam freely around in you know need to get permits and have mandatory guides. These new rules came last year 2016. There seem to be some minor bordercrossings especially between Cambodia and Thailand and Malaysia and Thailand that dont enforce these new laws and still hand out 30 days temporary import documents for foreign vehicles. But if youre coming from the Myanmar side my understanding is that there is no way to avoid permits and guides when entering Thailand.
And remember also - you cannot just rock up at the border and get permits there. You need to contact a travel agency in Myanmar and one in Thailand well in advance and send paperwork etc. For Thailand I think I read that the agencies wanted documents 30-40 days in advance.

Another option is to ship from India/Nepal to Malaysia and avoid the hazzles but thats gonna cost a good bit too.

You can check out these facebook groups for more information:

https://m.facebook.com/groups/1024579897597702

https://m.facebook.com/groups/487122118151687

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

I'd agree with snakeboy, the facebook groups are useful and there seems to be a regular groups being organised via them. I've not heard of any issues getting out if you get a 30 day temporary import documents on the way in. From everything I've read these shouldn't officially be issued and won't be coming in from Myanmar.