Gday all!

I've been in planning for about a month now and since I've started my plan has evolved and evolved to the extent it has come from buying a bike in South America and selling it there; to going RTW with it and returning back to Aus with it. Initially I thought why sell it?! Why not just go to the states!? and then looking at a map I saw how small the gap is in the Bering Srait, but decided against that as it would be doubling back to get to Aus (as i have to be in Greece in late July to meet family).

My plan so far is to buy a bike in Chile when I arrive in Jan 2011. I'm heading north to North America across the Darien Gap, and probably flying out of Canada to Europe and transporting the bike there. See a little of Europe and make my way down south to (hopefully) see a bit of Africa before I make my way east to Singapore and ship and import back to Aus.

Now i know it all seems easy looking at a map. I am aware of what is to come and it excites me.

I'd love to hear peoples opinions and if anyone out there wants to join me on the whole trip or on parts. Still the countries and routes are very flexible as I still have months of planning ahead. If anyone has had past experience in RTW and has a couple of the really important things to consider that should be mentioned I'd love to hear it.

Cheers all,
Rossy.

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'10 Suzuki DR650. 2011-12 Sth-Nth Chile-Alaska. Currently in Cairns, Australia. www.followtheakubra.com.au

Have you looked into getting carnet's for this trip? Is it even possible to buy them for a bike that is not from your own country? I've been looking into Carnet's from here in Canada and it looks very expensive. I know you don't need them for the America's but many countries still require them, Australia being one of them.

I did a little research on carnets but never thought about problems with bikes from other countries. I assumed it wouldn't be a problem.

I have a new plan now anyway...probably going to buy a bike in Aus and ship to S America. This will let me learn the bike, modify it and should be cheaper over all due to import costs back into aus for a non-aus bike and paperwork to get a bike out of Chile. Therefore carnet won't apply for Aus just a re-import which costs $50 aus i think plus cleaning etc. I'd say visas will be the biggest hit in costs, and shipping.
Cheers!

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'10 Suzuki DR650. 2011-12 Sth-Nth Chile-Alaska. Currently in Cairns, Australia. www.followtheakubra.com.au

Ahoy all,

So plans have changed a little. Now I'm buying a bike in Australia and shipping it overseas so I can import it back in to Aus a personal bike when I'm done. Buying a suzuki dr650 within the next few days fingers crossed. in the last stages of negotiations now. As for my route...its rough and I haven't locked anything in yet, so as a guide this is the way I'm looking at going. Suggestions for alternate paths are most WELCOME! My journey will start in early January 2011 and end maybe after a year however it is open ended as I have no need to be back in Aus by a certain date...let me know if anyone is keen to jump on at some stage of the journey!

Chile Santiago
Argentina Mendoza, Cordoba, Salta
Bolivia Santa Cruz de La Sierra, La Paz
Peru Juliaca, Arequipa, Cuzco, Macchu Picchu
Brasil?
Venezuela?
Colombia
SHIPPING
Panama
Costa Rica
Nicaragua
Guatemala
Belize
Mexico

USA Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, ..., Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, CANADA, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota

Canada Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia?
SHIPPING

France
Spain
Portugal
Spain
SHIPPING
Morocco
Algeria,
Tunisia?,
Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti
Yemen, Oman, UAE
SHIPPING
Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore

Indonesia, East Timor?
SHIPPING

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'10 Suzuki DR650. 2011-12 Sth-Nth Chile-Alaska. Currently in Cairns, Australia. www.followtheakubra.com.au

I know this is quite a minor point when you are setting off rtw, but I really would recommend not going Uganda-Tanzania. For starters it is a twattishly corrupt border point, but the most important thing is that you miss Rwanda and Burundi.

For my money, they are probably the coolest countries in Africa. Rwanda is going to be the first country in the world that is entirely wireless. How awesome is that for a landlocked country with one of the worst recent civil wars in history? And Burundi is filled with the friendliest people you will ever meet. Obviously the lonely planet advises against it, 'on no occasion leave the capital, do not visit unless essential, and if you do, mkke sure you have a guard.' bollocks, the countryside of Burundi may be rife with civil war, but the people could not be more civil. They also have the most amazing Miami Vice sense of style too, Cuban heels and flat top afros. Makes me like them. More than an average amount, they are awesome guys in Burundi. Really, really beautiful girls in both countries as well, not so much in Tanz, if that is a consideration for you.

Birdy x

Hi Mate,
Sorry to be the bringer of bad news, but the border between Morrocco & Algeria has been closed for a number of years (someone correct me if I'm wrong). However you can ship from France to Algeria, but crossing that country will cost you big time as I think you are required to take a guide.
I think Libya also requires a guide(?).

Also Sudan should be considered 2 separate countries in reality. To cross from the north into the south is very, very tricky, probably only do-able if you're connected with the UN. I would not attempt this on a bike, however you would be the first in recent history if you make it! I've been living here 2 years and have met a grand total of 1 tourist. The north part of Southern Sudan is rife with inter-tribal warfare. We experienced some of it where I am last week and we're almost in Uganda.

Judging from your posts, I think you will need to study this issue of carnets in more depth. You will need a have a carnet for Egypt & for a lot of other countries in Africa. The last one I had was from ADAC, the German AA. I had to leave a deposit of 3000Euro with them + fees. Check their website.

Apart from that doom & gloom, good luck mate!
CJ.

Birdy...
Thanks for the advice! This route I chose was done v quickly one arvy to show my family a rough route. Had friends in Uganda at the time so chose that path...however I planned on going to Rwanda. So perhaps with your advice I may go that way now! Cheers a million!

CJ
The bringer of bad news now, is good. The bringer of bad news when i'm there...not so good. Does anyone have any suggestions on

SPAIN TO AFRICA

so i can keep travelling east and exit Africa from Djibouti (fingers crossed).

Good to hear that now about Sudan too. Still doing A LOT of research and prep so i've got a long way to go before I'm reading. Still getting my head around carnets in different areas and different methods of doing it. There is no way i'll have the dough to leave that sort of deposit so i'm looking into the bank option??

Slowly but surely things are coming together. Originally this trip was just going to be backpacking around the world...but quickly got evolved and got stuck in the quicksand. Pulled in deeper and deeper and now can't get out...AND DON'T WANT TO! bring on the organisation and crazy travels. Best of luck to all of you too and cheers for the info...and keep it comin if there are more specific tips!
Cheers again,
Rossy.

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'10 Suzuki DR650. 2011-12 Sth-Nth Chile-Alaska. Currently in Cairns, Australia. www.followtheakubra.com.au

Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand,


Not possible either bud

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Ride on
Kev

Huh? .. Burma (Myanmar) almost out of the question, I agree. BUT why not Bangladesh and Thailand?

What point am I missing here .. :confused1:


.

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Right Way Round ...

I haven't seen anything on Thailand or Bang. Seems you are right about Burma. I'll look into this more, but there isn't much up to date info on the hubb at the mo. Things may change by the time I do it in late 2011, but we'll see. Looking at a cheap option of either shipping to Thailand from India/Nepal, or maybe just flying home to Aus from India and ending the trip there....

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'10 Suzuki DR650. 2011-12 Sth-Nth Chile-Alaska. Currently in Cairns, Australia. www.followtheakubra.com.au

Sorry guys ,

I was meaning there's no crossing from Bangladesh to Thailand through Burma, You could always try though. best of luck

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Ride on
Kev

Hello Mate,
I know this is a long way before you arrive Malaysia, where I lived. To keep you in mind, when you arrive here you look for me and I am more than happy to give you a helping hand. Also, I have a small cabin house in my farmland in Perak (one of the State in Malaysia) where you can stay there for free. Cheers

Firstly, cheers amzahsulaiman for the offer. will keep that in mind and might look you up WHEN i get that far.

Secondly...just bought my DR650 and rode it home! Canberra (ACT) to Charters Towers (far north Queensland). Got my license on Thursday. Booked the flights after it and flew down Friday. Rode back Fri arv - Mon morn. 2350 km, mostly raining all the time. Learnt a few things:

- bugs, birds, roos and cattle suck. No runins with the last 3 though!
- Buying a good helmet is important - wind noise in the helmet not too pleasant
- Spending $2 at a shop for 60m gladwrap (clingwrap) is a lifesaver! Wrapped my body in 60m of gladwrap as the jacket I borrowed for the trip wasn't waterproof.
- People are pleasant everywhere - willing to help, esp when they see your condition
- lightning at night is not fun to ride through
- flooded rivers = long detours (50 km to Emerald rather than the 350km detour to Emerald)
- half half tyres not so good for mud...only 1 drop through the whole 2350km though, and was in mud at 20km/h
- 13L fuel tank is OK but still not pleasant having to worry. and carrying fuel on a DR is a pain. Thing i'm siding with the bigger tank argument on this one

All round a great trip and v happy with the bike. Not as uncomfy as I've heard however, not the most comfy either. Ran into 2 germans going around Australia on BMW GS1150's. Doing well and loving it if you know em!

Finally...still looking for interested people to tag along around the world!! Let me know if you're thinking about any legs of the trip! Happy travelling.
Rossy.

...finally on a DR650!

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'10 Suzuki DR650. 2011-12 Sth-Nth Chile-Alaska. Currently in Cairns, Australia. www.followtheakubra.com.au

I am currently in a RTW trip which I started 10 months ago. I still have few months in front of me, but last week I compiled some numbers. I though you may be interested in looking at the kind of money you spend. See that here.
You can also find some information you may need, like the crossing Djibouti to Yemen which I did recently.
You will have good time man. Starting by South and Central America is a good idea as it is easier than Africa and Mideast.

Thanks mate for that info. Always handy!

Update for trip. Booking tickets tomorrow to fly to Santiago on Feb 3. Starting there and heading south for Ushuaia. Prob head up after that to Buenos and up the pantanal then most likely crossing back across to the west coast to head north to Canada, going by Peru etc.

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'10 Suzuki DR650. 2011-12 Sth-Nth Chile-Alaska. Currently in Cairns, Australia. www.followtheakubra.com.au