Getting started

[Outback Aussie]

Hi all, Myself and wife just came back from a 16 day bike tour around Cambodia. (Cambodia Motorcycle Adventures). It was the best holiday I have ever been on. Anyway wemet a couple traveling from Brisbane to Bristol and they have convinced us that the next holiday will be on our own and we will do route 66. This willbe a 2 yr plan.So to start off I am after some info, advice, recommondations,hints tips basicly anything that will help. I have been riding bikes for years but due to circumstances (kids and boarding school) havent been able to own one. The opportunity is here for me to get one and Becuase its a big investment I want to get the best one I can with what I can afford. At this stage I am looking at a Triumph Tiger 1050. As usual opinions vary from everyone but thats ok ultimatley the choice will be mine in the end.

So if anyone can give me ideas and if anyone has done the trip please let me know. We plan to go to the HUBB meeting in Sept hopefully with a bike.

[Warin]

Welcome. Do the HU meeting.. you might catch the motorcycle travel bug. Even if you come by car.

If your 'only' touring one country then you can buy and sell the motorcycle there. Saves the costs of shipping it there and back. Can save insurance etc etc. Best if you buy and sell in the same state, that can also can make your airline ticket cheaper.

If your buying the bike in the states then getting a second hand one with all the luggage etc is your best bang for buck.

Get a GPS with maps (for both here and there). Worth their weight for getting into and out of cities .. even finding things inside the cities. If you get one that you can put maps onto your computer it makes planning so much simpler.

Don't over plan. Leave gaps that you can fill in while you are there. I plan on every seventh day off. You need that to do shopping, washing, postcards home, work on the bike etc. Then you need to plan on sight seeing time. Do leave say 2 weeks at the end to sell the bike. You should be in a large city so while you wait you can see things.

Take care. Have fun and enjoy. Oh, as a newcomer - read the stuff at the top - 'GET INSPIRED', 'GET READY' etc at the top of the page. That covers most of the FAQs.

Oh, while you are state side consider Canada .. particularly the west ... supposed to be great scenery. You might spend a lot of time there? You need to tell us what you like to see, and how long you have... The states will be a lot more expensive than Cambodia. I'm certain others will have more ideas ... but 'Route 66' is rather touristy. And mostly tar. Have you been to the states before? Seen the National Parks, the museums? There is a lot over there, if you have the time?

[Pirate63]

Hi
We are glad to have inspired you some more, you are on a great site here to find everything you need.
We are currently in Laos and having a great time.
Keep in touch.

cheers for now
Clive and Chris

Brisbane2Bristol | On our great adventure