Mike,
I believe this trip would have been right up my ally had I known of it before Dec, 2006. I made a life change and re-enlisted in the army for three years. I have what it takes to complete the trip to include plenty of survival training.
My only advise is to try and keep as much of the info pertaining to trip dates, times and places a little less conspicuous. The world that we live in today provides the wicked with too many rights and no need give any one the type of info to do you harm. Not to mention becoming an unwilling hostage or even being pick pocketed is a lesson no one should learn while on such an endeavor. Either way enjoy the ride and 40 days of being close to God and all he has given us to enjoy.

Mike good luck with your plans. Pls make sure you do some long distance travelling before taking off - others that have tried doing the Alaska-Ushuia trip with little experience have ended in wheel chairs or at the hospital. i enjoyed reading this thread from a small internet place in north of Brasil. i think a lot of the negativity is just jealousy and of course you need to a hell lot of research. research that you should have done before posting. there are a lot of good books out there on long distance travelling like the one from Gregory Freizer.
Cheers,
S.

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Nicaragua Motorcycle Rental and Tours

Now did Mike really leave? Looking at period of inactivity on the HUBB and his website being rather static, I take it he ditched his plans...

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Husqvarna 701 Enduro on a round the world trip MotoMorgana

Mike, where are you? We are curious in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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Motorcycle Parking Buenos Aires, Argentina
www.xfiltrate.com
Discover how to legally Buy, Tour and Sell a motorcycle in Argentina

Mike,
I hope the inactivity on your website is because you're too busy getting ready.
After reading all the replies to your original post, viewing the various profiles of the posters, and their recent posts; I noticed a couple things...

There are a lot more similarities than differences...
1. You are taking on something you haven't really done before and are brave enough to put yourself out there.
2. Knowing you didn't have the experience/knwoledge, you made a good decision to come to the HUBB and seek out advice and information.
3. Most people take on a trip like this because they are in search of something that is currently missing, and you are know different.

The main difference is approach and attitude; and to each their own. Go out and ride the ride....even if you make it a quarter of the way, or half way, I still would be pretty impressed.
One of the most important things I've learned on my current trip is that UNLESS you put yourself out there in harshness of reality, opportunity will never present itself.

edde

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edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com

Firstly, I can't resist but taking offence to you comment "It could be said that quitting one's job, hopping on a bike, and skirting all responsibilities in the absence of planning, and common sense is adventurous. Or it may be characterized as selfish and shallow.". What responsibilities?

I realise that with this you're not saying that you agree with this notion, but there is certainly a sub tone that you do as it seems to be the basis of you approach to your project. With this I'm pointing at the over-commercialised, over-competitive surrounds that you must have grown up in. You're already talking merchandise. And it has to be a contest. It's like trying to find a band member. Reality TV gone wrong.

People here take offence because for most doing trips like this (and I'm also saying this without doing market research but with the experience of meeting a lot of these people for the last 10 years on the road) is their break from the rate race. You know, where everybody rather spend time (unpaid overtime mostly) with people who all wanna be boss of something that'll get taken away from them at retirement, instead of spending time with their family. Holidays don't exist, and when they do we'll send the kids of to some camp while the Mrs and I spend time on a beach or something. And at the end of it all they wander what memories they have, and most of them are at some business score.
Come on people, flame me..... ;D

You wanna take this break and turn it into some commercial viewing of a 40 day quick representation of hardship of riding a bike. What's spiritual about that? But maybe that's just how it seems. When something comes out with broad exposure there's always heaps of people jumping on the band wagon. What ever happened to originality. I reckon Austin Vince made the best ever RTW movies. Makes E&C look like a winging poms. Hang on, Simon Pavey already addressed that.
But check out this dude. Tim Cope Journeys: Tim Cope Journeys

Secondly, you're post started with the intention of getting all your questions spoon fed without doing the bit of work that all overlanders face. All your questions are answered in Scott's book and on this webpage. It's similar to the "what oil should I use" question on the bike forums.

I can't remember who made this TLWR comment, but I don't see how TLWR represents a "I can do this too" for normal people when they open up an office to do "research" when they might as well played darts all day if you look at the outcome and availability of information that got ignored. And the money that got thrown at it. I reckon most people thought, shit, that seems like an impossible thing for me to undertake.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

I like Mike.
Don·t worry Mike. This happens all the time and just for being an impulsive dreamer/do·er with a, for others, too open a personality, plus, for others,having too much intelectual confidense that You can·t help sticking up people·s nose when their lack of belief in your sincerety, disapoints you .... once more . Don·t let it bring You down.... it·s only castles burning....
cheers .... Dan(quart)!