Hi, I read your post..re budget. My take on this is to get clear of europe as quickly as possible, I regard that as the most expensive place to be. Your money will go a lot further in central Asia. £5000 not sure depends ..if you camp and cook..avoid buying visas for every stan... I am sure its possible, it will buy you a lot of daily living expenses and fuel. Convention on here says China would be out..its $100 a day for the guide before you start...maybe $2000 to transit plus living expenses. My take on it is you have got to subtract the cost of freighting your bike and yourself over/around China. From reading on here, air frieight is quicker, therefore less time spent sitting in offices waiting for papers and boats, also the costs are more straight forward no wharehouse fees etc. This is a minimum of $1500 by the time you include your ticket, packing the bike, customs paperwork etc...so as I see it for an additional $500 ( ishh) you get to transit China...If this is the holiday of a lifetime before knuckling down to some hard work...I think its worth it, and as experiences go fairly unique still. I believe that a journey like this is a lifetime experience and worth scraping together the extra $500..Just my take on it you understand.

Jimmy