Don't discount flying in and buying a bike like a 175/200cc larger scooter and selling it at the end of the trip, something that size is perfect. Your budget does seem pretty excessive however and am sure you'll be pleasantly surprised when you actually do it. I'd allow max $25/day for hotels, camping you won't do too much in the tropics, most likely you'll do it in the mountains but free camping in SE Asia is not like South America and you would have to look long and hard for somewhere without any people. Petrol in Malaysia is pretty cheap at around RM2/L to give you an idea. Street food is good and cheap, most Asians don't cook at home so eating out is the norm. Plenty variety and local variations to choose from. Beer costs vary country to country but $1 is probably fairly average.

You won't be doing 300km/day too often, it's possible but the traffic conditions are not the same as what you're used to and it's not exactly stress free. Even the main north-south highway from KL to Penang is tough going in a car. Note that weekends (especially in Malaysia) are super busy on the highways and even smaller back roads to tourist places like Cameron Highlands are one long jam at weekends so plan accordingly. Also some places don't allow bikes (even big bikes) on the highways and you might have to take the smaller roads or use a specific lane, watch what the locals do.

Why should you? Dont we travel to see the country AND the meet the people? Just ask at a little vilage for permision to pitch your tent. You will be invited for supper and can get a real impression of the country

http://schoene-motorradreisen.de/sma...ng_mai_086.jpg

I allways carry some little gifts to say thanks with specially in Africa, were there is no electrycity people love the torches from the chinese shop were you can make elektricity by moving the handle.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ashlight_2.jpg

http://schoene-motorradreisen.de/?re...and_chiang_mai

Not saying you can't do that, but the OP should be aware that it's not so easy to just rock up and pitch your tent here as you can in other parts of the world. You might have some luck pitching in a Kampung somewhere. For me, it was more the humidity than anything else as to why I'd take a room over camping, but it's definitely possible.

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Well I did for many years on the road. Be aware that in some regions renting a hotel room also can be dangerous specially for your bike when its parked outside and your not close to it (if there is one. In the best places of the world there is no hotel)...

Definitely, I'd reject plenty places before I found somewhere I could get the bike safely off the road or preferably even indoors

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Uhm, nope. Not really. Maybe I'm special (my mum thinks so) but I often try not too. The staring and hand gesture conversions are the same the world over, as are the "six question" conversations,
(1: where are you from?
2: how old are you?
3: are you married?
4: how many kids do you have?
5: how much money do you earn?
6: how can I come live in your country?)
and get a little old after a not so long while.

I travel to see the world and get away from the rat race. Each to their own.


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Hey guys

Thanks a lot for all the feedback. I now have a much better idea of what to expect as well.

I think I'll now start to map out an a bit more detailed plan on where to go exactly, and check up on all the regulations. I'll definitivly consider renting a bike and just fly from location to location, probably that's a bit easier..