Tmotten: I was quite capable of servicing the Husky myself, I still have all the tools to strip a different reassemble the motor.

However, it doesn't sound like you have lived extensively in 3rd world countries. I ordered something from Hong Kong recently, got it 2 months later (instead of the quoted 1 to 2 weeks, fortunately I'd put my girlfriend's phone number on it as the post office couldn't find her address.
90% of houses here don't have street numbers or often even street names: the delivery guy forks to the village / suburb office to see if they can give directions, or they just ask around.

I tried to ship a laptop here 2 years back: 2 weeks quoted delivery time and cost was $120 to 200 plus, USPS or FEDEX. And even then it can get hung up in customs or in the local delivery loop.

Lastly, I travel around, and don't get a lot of pleasure in dragging a complete set of tools and spares with me. I may as well be on a GS in that case.

I hear the folks that want to have their ultimate machine, because they enjoy the way-out riding more than the travel and seeing stuff. That's funny as well, been there myself in the past.
But I'd put it to you that maybe you shouldn't be RTWing in that case, instead pick a bunch of ideal riding destinations where you won't get too far from support and medical, and have at it.

If you try to push the limits in most 3rd world countries, you stand a very good chance of crashing, and that isn't much fun at all: BTDT, don't want to do it again. Medical & emergency services, bike recovery / repair, trip delays/cancellation, are mostly much worse out here than in the West.

I also tend to disagree that you have to have the latest and greatest to enjoy the ride.
There's something to be said for the idea that it's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than to ride a fast bike slow.. In many places I've been, you will spend more time throttling back a top-end
Some of the best trips I've done have been on 125s to 200cc bikes, going places that would have been difficult and tiring (or impossible) on big machines. I find that I can enjoy riding 90% of the bikes out there. Excluding cruisers of course: I'd rather ride my bicycle...

Ad for the idea that bikes aren't the best form of transport, I rather disagree. Many of the places I've been recently you can only get to by bike (usually smaller ones) or horse/buffalo. That's how the locals transport all their stuff.

And very often in those places, you don't want to be on the latest & greatest, blending in by riding what the locals do (or something close) vastly reduces the likelihood of kidnapping & robbery. At the very least, the 'American tax' (higher prices asked from foreigners) is likely to be much reduced if you blend in with the locals better. You will also have more genuine interactions with them.

Just an alternative perspective on bikes and travel, we each have to work out what works best for us.

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