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