When planning a RTW or another big adventure how do you plan? Do you try to cover every detail (carnet, visa's, political situations, shipping etc.) as best you can before you leave or do you tackle the adventure as it unfolds?

Lots of pre-trip planning BUT thinking through various potential issues and planning in extra time, parts and supplies for the unexpected; it seems to always be the unexpected that makes the best and most enduring memories of the adventure.

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Submariner
Life Member DAV
BMW MOA member
BMW Riders of Oklahoma

A 1000 opinions and 1,000 threads on this one.

Seems that the more TIME and MONEY you have ... means your "Plan" can be more open and flexible. Many over plan ... and get hung up on stupid stuff, get mired in details.

The toughest thing to do ... is to actually just get up ... and GO.

Not saying you shouldn't prep and plan ... but keep it fun and reasonable.
So much info here on HUBB to learn. Really the best "one stop shopping" site for RTW Moto travel.

Couldnt have said it any better than that Mollydog!!!! However, for me just getting up and going (within Reason) seems to be easiest. the more I pre plan the faster and closer my trip gets to a million dollars... I find other than known mechanical issues or wear that you can actually prep for which may or may not even happen, most things seem a lot less expensive "in country"... shipping or visas for example. It may be a bit more of a hassle but that's supposed to be part of the fun isn't it?

Maybe consider dividing your journey up into parts. Geographic parts.
New travelers waste a lot of money shipping their "prized" baby across the world. Get over it. Your bike is important ... but really just a tool. Expendable.

Budget an issue? Learn from the Pro's.
South America and back on a 250 Super Sherpa Minimalist Adventure - ADVrider
John Downs is a HUBB member but posted his fabulous Ride Report on ADV Rider ... as he has plans for a book. This guy knows how to travel on the cheap.

Or ...

Look at what Dr. Greg Frasier does. He has several bikes stored around the world. Or he sometimes buys and sells a bike for a specific trip. Even rentals sometimes make sense. (like Thailand, Cambodia or Vietnam)

The fact is ... Shipping or Air freighting a bike from continent to continent is a major PITA. The smart/broke (read: experienced) riders don't do it often. You can travel on nearly any bike ...if you know how.
Never get attached to a bike. They can be here today, gone tomorrow.


If you want to take your $25,000 BMW GS to every continent ... have at it. But you will pay: In Time, In Money and in ...STRESS!

Since you're in the USA, why not start there? (unless you've seen too much of it ... like I have) In that case you could go to Canada ... and fall asleep from boredom and pick up a few speeding tickets. (since they have no crime ... they go after tourists on bikes! You could do Alaska ... if you like One Percenters and drunken X Pat Hill Billy's and Indians with too many guns.
AK is beautiful but the local clientele aren't my favorite folks.

The real trip will start in Mexico. The most under rated country in the Americas. Few HUBBer's have really ever seen it, lived it or know it.
Most RACE through it ... on a mission to Panama ... a royal shit hole, IMO.
Mexico is quite diverse ... a diversity most motoqueros never know.

So start in Mexico (good for two/three months easy) then continue South.
No Carnets or Visas required for any countries, far as I know. But some countries now charge substantial fees for a Visa ... like Bolivia ($130 or so?)
(about four months pay for an average Bolivian)

By the time you reach Ushuaia, Argentina you'll have to decide what to do:
1. Ship bike home - $$$$
2. Sell bike to someone local ++$$$
3. Ship bike to Africa, Australia or where ever! - $$$$$

About 80% of new HUBB members come a go quickly. They never end up going anywhere. Most put up less than 20 posts and are gone ...

I agree, that shipping across the oceans is a PITA. Even when everything works as planned. Which is not often the case.

But I think it should be mentioned here, that buying/selling-option, while fully do-able in many places around the world, is not guaranteed to be stress-free either, you´re just dealing with another set of possible problems. So any way you do it, there will be obstacles to overcome, before you get to ride • your • bike overseas.

This actually brings to mind: my rides in faraway countries started off by flying there, and renting bikes on the spot. That´s very simple to do, compared to bringing your own bike from home, or buying one. Although (depending on area) you might not always be able to take the rented motorcycle across borders. And while it may not be cheap (again, depends on where you are), usually it still makes sense, especially for shorter periods. This way you can easily “get your feet wet”, and while you´re there, you could also investigate the possibility to buy/sell.. those who handle rentals, usually know, how it all works in that particular country.

One of the most fun rides I ever did, was Stelvio on a rented 90cc scooter that was so old, weak and worn out that I had to actually walk it up a couple of stretches

__________________
Submariner
Life Member DAV
BMW MOA member
BMW Riders of Oklahoma

FWIW I have done quite a bit of traveling and by all means consider myself a pro. However, even a pro traveler deals with many of the same problems as they did the first time they ever traveled, sometimes with the same results (at least I do). Just for the record my travel resume is as follows and to be sure Im leaving out my 1000's of miles on my motorbikes of domestic travels. All told in the last 10 years Ive probably managed to visit 55 countries. And believe it or not

I AM NOT RICH. I HAVE JUST BEEN LUCKY...

1994 climbing three 18,000+ foot peaks in Venezuela
1996 climbing three 18,000+ foot peaks inMexico
1995 Solo mountain bike ride from Colorado to KY
1997 Solo mountain bike ride from Seattle to Boston
2000-2001 one way ticket around the world which included three months on a Suzuki Freewind 650 all over southern Europe Sicily and Morocco.
2002-2003 Served in U.S. Peace Corps in Grenada
2004 south to north Vietnam on a 250 cc russian minsk
2005 two months in Mexico on my KTM 640 Adv
2008-2009 drove a 1971 VW Beetle from Chicago to Ushuaia

took a break to make money

2013 Spent a month photographing in Cuba
2014 Planning a RTW on my KTM 950 ADV

This list was by no means intended to toot my own horn brag or act like I know something more than anyone else. Its because even tho I started this post and its been "posted 1000's of times" Everytime I plan a trip it's different and I always feel like a novice... Once Im out in the world there is no doubt my experience helps me however, Planning for world travel is largely an illusion. Its a hell of a lot of fun anticipating the trip and spending shit loads of money on new shiny gear but all the same unless you're lucky you can rarely plan for what you encounter.

Whether its shipping costs (they change) Visa regulations (they change) Political climate (they change) or laws of the road (they change with every corrupt cop you meet) Dont get me wrong, I think planning is good and does serve a basic purpose. I am always interested in other folks planning and the outcome of their planning that why I started this post...

Pecha 72 has it right. In my experience, even tho shipping is high (i have never air shipped) RORO seems to be relatively affordable and in comparison to purchasing a new bike in another country "legally" or even "illegally" Its much easier and faster to ship.
IMHO

THAT sounds like a blast!!

__________________
Submariner
Life Member DAV
BMW MOA member
BMW Riders of Oklahoma

It was for sure, I wish I was still on the road. Oh wait, that's right... Im planning another RTW...... I can hardly wait.

Again FWIW I just got a shipping quote to ship from California to Japan, total was $1200, doesn't seem unreasonable to me...

That is reasonable! go for it.

You're resume' is very impressive!
(Way more comprehensive than mine).

The key point you make is ... once out in the world past travel experience will help. (paraphrase)

That's exactly it. All that knowledge and experience is in there ... somewhere .. and will come out with every decision you make. IMO, that's a big advantage over a novice traveler.
Seems to me you've got at least a couple good travel books in you somewhere!
¡Saludos!

It's true, not so easy to buy/sell in all countries. But some, not bad. Like you say, sometimes taking a rental gives time to learn how things work. Then ... maybe you can figure out how to buy/sell a bike.

But I think Rossphoto likes his big KTM and will stick with it. It's all good!

LOL Molly, you pegged me. I love it!!! I have had smaller bikes and bigger as well. I am certain to do some off rod riding certainly abroad and will be wishing I was on a 450 but most of any off road ill be doing will be relatively easy if I have a say in it. I'm young and healthy (43) but had a hip replaced and all kinds of back issues no doubt to living hard. So I still go hard but manage it so as to stay healthy as possible. I'm no spring chicken anymore. I do love my 950 and due to having a 640 I am relatively familiar with working on it. As I mentioned earlier Ill be dragging along some spare parts that are known to break or wear along with hopefully a bunch of good karma... As for the travel book, I certainly have a few stories. I'm still busy trying to stay out there . When my body stops letting me go, Ill get busy writing...

I can only talk for myself but a long planning is always better at least it will give an idea of the cost , you cannot know exactly all the cost but the price of carnet will not change much and the general price of hotel and gas too. For me it was cheaper to use a US bike to do North ,South and central Americas but when I go Asia I buy or rent a bike there . For Africa I took my bike but the carnet was cheaper in the US versus France and equipping the bike was 50 % cheaper too. I am now planning another RTW but on two bikes and my wife is riding a 2008 DR650 which you cannot find newer in Europe so even after shipping its still cheaper in the US. I like to prep for a while and get a good idea even so I am completely open to changes .Plus you can test your gear .