First of all to the HUBB.
I think you have covered most things in your post with the exception of shipping costs, obviously much cheaper with a bike, the alternative is use a truck and take a small motorcycle in the back for 'playtime', I used to enjoy UK-Spain via France in my van with a dirt bike in the back, just the ferry across the channel to sort so it was real easy.
So it depends on where you plan to travel?

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'He who laughs last, was too slow to get the joke'
Never confuse the map with the journey.

Thanks!

Well, I was planning on starting in California, head to the southern tip of South America, ship the bike over to the southern tip of Africa, head north to Europe, east to Asia, India, Vietnam, etc. ship over to Australia, tour AU, and then back to the States.

Some (cheap) vehicle recommendations would be most appreciated

I was also thinking about having a bike as a runabout as well. Would be the best of both worlds I would think, especially if there was a second driver. One could ride the bike while the other drives so each gets a different experience.

Are there non-trailer solutions to mounting a bike like a Super Sherpa to the back of a truck?

The 'truck' also saves on food - as you can buy and store the cheaper larger packets of food (that won't fit on the motorcycle. Also tyres last longer and are actually cheaper per mile. Insurance too can be cheaper.

OK?

Now - why a truck? Why not a 'panel van' ... smaller and lighter and easier to park and ship. And cheaper tyres easier to find.. and more fuel economy... they also are easier to 'hide' when parked overnight.

As for carrying a second vehicle ... bicycles are far cheaper, smaller and easier to carry...

Less is more?

Those who want to travel by motorcycle .. well they simply love motorcycle travel. If you don't have that passion then you have other options.

Yeah, definitely feel you on the food thing. Eating at restaurants, even in 3rd world countries, can add up.

I've thought about the van thing as well, but I'd like to be able to go anywhere on this trip. This means places where I'm afraid a van would get stuck. And if I'm by myself... this could be life threatening.

In fact, that was my primary reason at looking at bikes in the first place. I love riding bikes and I love the fact that they can go practically anywhere. I've got images in my head of parking my vehicle next to a cliff in the middle of the forest miles away from civilization.

Thought about the bicycle as well, and having ridden bikes and ridden motorcycles for long distances, I much prefer the possibilities of a motorcycle, even though I love bicycles.

Rather than a truck think about a small diesel hatchback or estate car. a Citroen c3 has well over 500 mile range and does 60+ mpg the fiat panda diesel having a smaller tank has less range but same mpg. On good roads driven sensibly you could get over 70mpg.

I use an old fiat hatchback and arrange it with a "kitchen" in the boot, clothes and camping gear on the back seat and use the two front seats for me and partner. Works really well. also I often carry 10 or 5 litres spare fuel behind drivers seat.

these small ( up to 1600cc diesel cars are more economical than most bikes especially if you add in the carrying capacity (eg bigger tent). They really do have many advantages.

well, We went down the truck route. right or wrong, it's what we did.

And we love it. We now live in our truck, and concider it home, not just a temporary travel vehicle. except for 2 extended trips on boats, we've lived in it since Christmas 2011, and really like it.

you've hit on a lot of the upsides, and there are more.

You can spend long periods of time in places you like as you can bring a LOT of food and water with you. We spent 12 days in Torres del Paine national park, and only spent about 2$ us while we were there (on a carton of milk). We could park for free in some of the car parks, and had enough food for that amount of time.

We are now parked outside of a tourist office in Coyhaique for the night. It's lashing rain, but we park for free and get free wifi. Town camping is possible!


The costs are the big down side. We spent 77,000 chilian Pesos on an oil change (probably about 150$US?) Shipping is the killer in terms of costs but you dont do that so often. Fuel is hefty with the truck getting about 12mpg (uk gallons), but then we do less miles than bikes do. So far our average is 85km per day.


if you want to save cash, then look hard for vehicles with better mpg, but make sure they can carry what you need and can be secure for safe sleeping in towns etc. it's best if you can stand up inside, and have your own toilet - great for town camping and rainy nights/mornings.


Also, if there is 2 of you and planning on 2 bikes, your total fuel bill per mile is twice that of using 1 bike....


Merv.

Well, I'm concerned about Carnets. I don't have $37,000 lying around for the Carnet on a $20,000 used truck if I choose to go to Egypt, for example.

What truck do you have and configuration?