my mistake. Thanks for clarifying this!

*furiously scribbling down notes...*

Lots of good info' here. Thanks chaps!

If I start elsewhere - and thus buy a bike elsewhere - do I then approach the local authority for a carnet/insurance, or do I as a South African still have to deal with the South African authority?

The lady at the AA here asked me what the value of the bike was. I wonder if she actually requests to see it before issuing a carnet. If not, what's to stop someone saying their 10,000 bike isn't worth 1,000 on paper? I will see if I can find someone with local experience of this...

Nothing at all, it certainly worked for me! Having said that though, an element of reasonableness will come in to it. I was able to convince my local carnet issuer that my bike had a few dings and scratches, was decidely second hand and was worth only around 50% of their estimated value - however, if you are hoping to get it down to 10% that is another ask altogether.

"Ma'am, I have the biggest POS bike you've ever seen. Actually, I think I'll have to pay someone to take it off of my hands."

Might give that a try. ;)

It seems I lost my way inbetween reading at Home and at work - thank you Pech for the aforementioned brilliant info'.

If I can find a way to fund myself whilst en route, it would hopefully be more than a year.

If I started my journey in North America, as an example, and then did the South American thing - non carnet areas - before attempting Europe/Asia, how and who would then be involved with a carnet issue to me, considering I wouldn't be a resident of the starting country but my bike might?