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Travellers Seeking Travellers Meet up with other travellers on the road, or find someone to travel with to the ends of the earth!
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



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  #1  
Old 12 Jul 2006
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Location: Avon, CO
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Wink RTW, where to start


HI All,

I am looking to go around this planet on my new R1200GS, I have been doing research here for the last couple of months and only find that there is more and more to do, arrgghh, I just want to ride my bike! I am looking into getting the RTW video that they have here, in hopes that will help, also looking to ride with people along the way, I was planning on us this summer and south america over the winter, but now I am going to remodel my house before I leave and looking to do South America this winter and go from there. It seems like there is a hell of a lot of paperwork, and such to do before I go. I am open to advice on everything, Travel, Papers, Shots. It would be great to find a couple of people to go along for this journey. My friend told me to see Long Way Round, So I did and it was good, I am not so concerned about black top yet. I am pretty easy going, hard working, not afraid to get dirty, not really mechanically inclined about motorcycles but learning, kind of guy. Best of luck to all of the other travellers.

Eric

P.S. Also looking to do good along the way like Habitat and unicef
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  #2  
Old 12 Jul 2006
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 762
"new R1200GS"

ride it and iron out the bugs, or swap it for a reliable single. ignore what everone says. just go. you make it up as you go along, none of us knows what we're doing. it's why we do it I think.

good trip.
Last edited by DougieB; 13 Jul 2006 at 10:37.
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  #3  
Old 12 Jul 2006
Matt Cartney's Avatar
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland
Posts: 1,350
Smile
Hi,
Yes, you will get lots of great advice here, much of which will be totally contradictory! My overall opinions are:

Bike: Simple, Japanese, tough.
Route: Only you can decide.
Health: Eat any food you like, drink the water if the locals do.
Money: Large wodge of US dollars and credit cards.
Luggage: As little as possible.
Tyres: Longlasting roadie/dual sports, not quick wearing trail/dualies.
Charity: See the Justgiving website, choose your charity and hey presto. Takes about five minutes and I raised over a grand no problem. You can see my Justgiving page by going to my blog using the link below and clicking on the 'Save The Children' link on the right.
Movies: See 'Mondo Enduro' for real adventure riding.

Matt

Aren't Habitat just like Ikea only more expensive?
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*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!
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  #4  
Old 13 Jul 2006
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Reading, UK
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt Cartney
Aren't Habitat just like Ikea only more expensive?
Its an abbreviation of Shabi-tat and poorer quality stuff. Still, Ewan MacGregor designed something for them once: a directors chair.
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  #5  
Old 13 Jul 2006
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Ha Ha
Habitat for Humanity, We build houses for the less fortunate, Geesh! I know it is international, maybe just not as popular on your side of the pond.

Later Skaters
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  #6  
Old 15 Jul 2006
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Park City, Utah!
Posts: 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt Cartney
Hi,
Movies: See 'Mondo Enduro' for real adventure riding.
Anyone know if this is compatible with US players???
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  #7  
Old 16 Jul 2006
Grant Johnson's Avatar
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Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: BC Canada
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last I heard Mondo Enduro is only available in Pal - not NTSC, the USA / Canada standard. Our "Achievable Dream DVD is available in both.

Both PAL and NTSC DVD's will play on your computer fine though.
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  #8  
Old 16 Jul 2006
Contributing Member
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Seattle, Wa, USA
Posts: 17
Shorter 'Work The Bugs Out' Trip?
Since you're waiting until this winter to head South, perhaps you might consider a shorter (say 2-3 weeks) trip to begin with to, as DougieB said, "iron the bugs out" of the bike and figure out what gear works for you on the road?

My wife and I just took 2 1/2 weeks for a run up to Prudhoe Bay...we learned quite a bit about what gear is bogus (my poor digital SLR is going on the discard heap due to disuse) and what works well (waterproof roll bag much better than a top box). Plus, it temporarily satiated our wanderlust and held us over until the big departure on Sept. 8.

The nice thing about Alaska/Canada/lower 48 is that you still get the travel experience without dealing initially with language barriers and customs and so forth.

Good luck, and hope to see you on the road!
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  #9  
Old 16 Jul 2006
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Location: Park City, Utah!
Posts: 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grant Johnson
last I heard Mondo Enduro is only available in Pal - not NTSC, the USA / Canada standard. Our "Achievable Dream DVD is available in both. Both PAL and NTSC DVD's will play on your computer fine though.

Thanks for the response. I actually found these guys

http://www.aerostich.com/

and ordered. They don't specify PAL format and are a US company, so hopefully they'd know to post such information. They also had 'Terra Circa'. Great for those of us relegated to watching someone else's RTW.... for the time being.
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  #10  
Old 16 Jul 2006
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Avon, CO
Posts: 3
Thank You
Thanks to all of you for advice thus far. I have done a couple of long rides to test my gear and bike. I plan to go to Vermont for the BMW rally this week, and should be able to find out a couple of things there as well. I ordered some of the videos recommended. Again Thank you!

Eric
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  #11  
Old 18 Jul 2006
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 41
get gone...you won;t know if you don;t go


just go...and have a healthy appetite to learn

take some shorter trips first to deal with...the longest I did was Wisconsin to Honduras on a KLR....there are great resources out there

study up

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41699

you can go wild or mild...just be open...

http://www.strikingviking.net/
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