Driving to YAMAHA from Belgium to Japan 04/2010
 

Hello my name is Ivan i'm 26 and im getting that feeling that there's more to life then my job .I ve been dreaming of an epic journey on a motorcycle around the world but every year i think i should go but since i dont want to travel this journey alone and would like some companions for this trip 2-5 would be fun .I have been looking for fellow travel mates amongst my friends
but dident find any that would wanna give up their seteled life behind the tv the max my friends do for adventure is watch National Geo on the tube
so i started looking here for some travel companions wich have a simular dream i m thinking of a 1 to 3 month journey on wich i realy wanna make it to the japanese mainland for the route i dont have a planed route but was thinking Belgium Germany Czech Republic Slovakia Ukraine Russia Kazakhstan Russia Mongolia Russia vladivostok and then a boat to japan all is relative and input from fellow riders is much apriciated the start date is 1 year from now so al those dreamers its time to wake up and join in this great adventure graatings to all I speak Dutch English Czech a bit of french and german so people lets plan this and go

My bike choice
 

i wil be riding a 2001 xt660r with some mods
-Homemade glasfiber paniers 2X25l+- no top wil use this space for WP bags
-Big feultank from Tenere 750
-Homemade frame reenforcements
-Other shocks and forks yet to be desided wich ones
-Homemade airfilter unit bigger better and higher for deep water crossing :rain:

Sounds like a very interesting trip! Do you have already an idea about accomodation (camping, hotels, ...) and the costs? I'm living in Belgium too and looking forward for an adventure such as this.

And if you ....
 

.... should ever make it to Japan, give me a call or send a mail! There is always time and space for fellow-bikers!! :welcome:

planning update a litle
 

For the plan of sleeping its fairly easy i'm pre researching a goed official campspot or cheap hotel preferably with bike shed or something for every major city or every 300km .We wil have these locations preloaded on gps but
i'm doing this as a back up because the best places or camps as also locals
cant be pre researched perhaps there wil be a good camp spot near but maybe theirs a friendly local even nearer wich could get us a better feel of the culture an free lodging and food :welcome: or cheap at least so for sleeping we will have a backup but its basicly where the road and the people take uss only for obtaining russian double entry visums we wil have to book one or two hotels in russia on the subject of cost i'm working on it will have rady in roughly a week but note that i'm a enjoyer of fine hotels and wine :Beach:but thats not my plan for this trip its the plan to get to japan as cheap as possible making a fine balans of 4days camping 1day hotel for the shower and internet and other stuff but will get back to this soon
greetz to all

noted for a beer with squid taste or some crazy japanese food we wil need a guide so we will keep in touch soon

Hello Ivan,
we are planning a similar trip, but across China ...
next year starting 11/07/2010. Actually a trip Belgium to Beijing retour.
Maybe we can have a meeting in advance ?
Regards, beemer91

Keep me posted as I'm travelling at the moment but am keen to do another trip, in Israel at the moment and heading back up north - also I live in Brussels.

Sounds interesting Ivan! Unfortunately 04/2010 is too early for me. I see my window of opportunity somewhere between 10/2010 and 04/2011. I recently got my F650GS but already in doubts if I could do it with that bike in its current state (already 40k). I'm also 26 from Belgium. Maybe we should meet up sometime. Anyway, keep posting stories and info while you're on the way!

heading your way
 

Hi Mate
I will be heading your way next year I hope, dont have a set date yet as my job allows me to travel whenever, I want to do as much off road as possible, I plan on doing a round trip, London /far east/London so if this fits in with your plans let me know.
All the best wozza

Hi Ivan,

Still looking forward to the trip in april? I've been thinking and perhaps I would like to join you, if still possible. As I said i'm from Dendermonde, Flanders en I'm riding a GSR Suzuki. 23 Years old. Of you want to contact me send me an e-mail to domienverberckmoes@ksadenderbelle.be

Greetings, Linking

I did a roughly similar route recently, from Paris to the Stans via Russia (spring summer 08) and I'd say 2 months is at least what you need. Paris to Moscow took me 10 days (going through the Baltic countries), true with a hook to Copenhagen, and it felt quite fast (ie not that much time to visit nice cities) so 1 month seems really short to me. Western Russia has OK roads but judging from the stans, eastern Russia may not be as good and Mongolia would take you long I guess (dirt roads curving in the mountains don't get you very far); and let yourself be fooled by the map, Russia is -huge-.

Edge, I might be available around oct/nov 2010 if I manage to scrap up money to buy a new bike so I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime Ivan feel free to ask any questions you might have :)