Hey Everyone, so, this is my first post, I'm gonna try to make it a good one. I've read a lot of posts here and it seems like a really great community. So why i am posting is because i need help and advice. I've seen some other posts by other newbies about the same topic but i feel that i need some specific help. I am a high school student who is graduating in two years and i basically want to do a RTW or at least half of the world trip in around 2 years. I figure by now you think I'm stupid, naive, maybe both, but i am determined to do it. Before i go on, i guess i should say why i want to do it, but from what i have read, all of you have the same feeling. For me, i have to discover, explore, be completely free, i've read much better descriptions of this feeling then my description, but i can't just go to college and live an ordinary life, i need adventure. So to sum up so far, i am definitely going, but i need advice on where to start. Anything and everything you guys could offer would be greatly appreciated.

To outline where i am so far, i am arranging motorcycle classes, i want to have experience before i go and i will have 2 full years to learn to ride. I also have a very experienced friend who will help me outside of the classes. I was looking into getting either a BMW 1200 GS of a F 650 GS, i am only leaning towards BMW because my family has used their cars for a while, so i am open to changes bike wise, but i want a bike that can do off-road well. Route wise, i can post my rough outline of where i want to go in two weeks when i get back home, but basically i want to start in europe, go from there through africa (roundtrip), through the middle east, then head east through india/nepal/bhutan to SE asia, finally i would head up the coast of china and fly from there to japan which would be the last stop before finishing.

So that's where i am now, i hate to keep repeating myself but right now information on preparation, and starting/fixing what little i have now is what i need. I don't know if this is way too vague or if im completely off track here so please point out if i am.

Thanks a ton,
Nathan

You're on the wrong board if you think anyone here would think that. It's a group of nutters and dingbats, which is the best group of people you'll meet.

Get a dirtbike and learn to ride that. That's a tip that I really should do myself.

People like different size bikes. I like old and slow, some like new and big. I figure I probably won't be wherever I'm traveling through again, so 60mph/100kph is great. For me. For others, they go crazy.

Other bits I'd think would help are: learn a foreign language, go camping, and know a bit about world history.

Good luck!

--Dave

__________________
Not Ted Simon since 1970!
http://nokilli.com/rtw

Hi Nathan,
Welcome!

As well as getting your dirtbike, borrow as many from your friends as you can get your hands on - try them all, as much as possible.
The dealers may have demonstrator bikes that you can ride, once you have your licence.
Get out and talk with/meet other riders, anyone who looks interesting to you as well as sitting in front of HU for hours on end (as good as it is!).

But main thing is enjoy it all!!

Dave

__________________
Dave

I think your idea of starting in Europe is good, because this will allow you to settle in to long travels in foreign countries, without being up against it in more difficult continents such as Africa. You can sort out your gear in Europe, and if you need anything it's as easily found as in the US.

You might care to learn a little French for travelling.

Good roads

...............................

Hey Everyone, im still working out the comment system and i don't have the whole comment system down so i will have to quote using good old fashioned quotes. so "You're on the wrong board if you think anyone here would think that. It's a group of nutters and dingbats, which is the best group of people you'll meet." Thanks Dave, its nice to know im not the only one and from what i've read you guys are some of the most welcoming people on the forum i've seen ever (i've been to a few forums). So i guess dirt bike is the way to start training, i'll definitly start when i get back. Dave i agree with you, i would rather go slow enough to see the sights and enjoy where i am. To the other Dave (Walkabout), alright, i didn't know about the demonstration bikes, i'll definitly try some out when i get the license, try and meet some riders, and i've already started to be on HU for hours haha. Camindo, good to hear some feedback about the route, as said i'll try to put more information up when i get back home, are you saying i shouldn't do africa after europe because it would be too difficult or that europe is a good training/warm up for africa? (hopefully the latter, i would love to ride through africa). About the foreign languages bit, i already know enough french to hold a conversation, same goes for arabic (i can read and write but i don't know that many words so i have to work on that), i also know a little chinese and japanese, enough to get me around. I like languages incase you can't tell . How do i find out when the next HU meeting is in the US and where? I would love to go to at least one before i set off (i got two years to go anyways so im sure there must be one near me). Alright, thanks for everything so far! I'm glad to have found such an open and friendly community, talk to everyone soon.
Nathan

Hi Nathan ,look to the left of the screen in a box with a brown heading you'll see "Events " it has upcoming HU meetings - simple eh ?

You've got time to do a few short tours in the US/Canada/Mexico before your world trip ,so you can get used to whatever bike you choose and also life on the road .But in the meantime do your research and save save save $ !!!
Best of luck .

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

I was going to mention that Bhutan is typically a difficult country to get into (even more so on a motorcycle) as they limit the number of tourists allowed in each year. You are invited into their country. It may be getting easier though. You need a planned itinerary from what I hear. Also, just to physically be in Bhutan there is a fee, and at approx. $200 USD per day, it is not cheap. I believe only tour operators are allowed to cross at road borders. Flying in requires that you take Druk Air, which is the national Bhutanese airline and only operator. Plan far ahead for this country and let me know if you find anything else out.

Also, figure out licensing in Japan as an international license doesn't count for much there. You are fairly restricted without completing there test I believe. Bhutan and Japan are all I know about just because I've been very interested in traveling to both countries.