From Dubai to UK on Harley Davidson-Sportster

[EXPLORER-DXB]

Hi,

I'm planning on riding my Harley Davidson Sportster from Dubai to UK this summer

I will ride through Saudi, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Greece then a ferry from Greece to Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Belgium, France and finally UK. Once I complete the trip I will ship the bike back to Dubai.


This is my first Long Trip and I'm looking for any advice that anyone can give me on doing such a trip?


Anyway, this is my E-mail Address and my contact number in case someone would like to join me on this trip.

hashim_dubai@hotmail.com
00971-50-7450745


Looking forward to hearing from any of you.

Cheers,
Hashim

[ukKev]

Hi Hashim

I did a 22000 mile trip round OZ in 97 on a sporster they are a much underrated bike . Had to carry 10lt extra fuel on the back though as i could only go 200km on a tank. Mine was a 1200 the 883 are much better on fuel & probaly stronger to . When are you arriving in the UK i live in the south east (kent) not far from the tunnel & Dover port so if you need a place to stop give us a shout it would be good to meet another long distance sporster rider. Anyway good luck with your trip & if i can be any help let me know.
Cheers Kev

ps dont have a sporster any more but have been thinking of building a low tech overlander using a 883 recently

[EXPLORER-DXB]

HI Kev,

Thanks for your reply, you are right, I also think that the Sportsters are an underrated bikes. Anyway, I have the 1200 cc XL Custom, the fuel tank capacity is 4.5 gallons and I think that I can ride for more than 300 Km with a full tank but I will carry extra fuel as back up(thanks for the tip).

I wanted to know if I will have any problem with the Low Octane fuel in countries like Jordan, Syria and Turkey.

I have just ordered the SE Windshield, the Mustang Wide Vintage Touring Seats and Saddle bags to help make the trip more comfortable.

I’m currently arranging for the Visas, Trip Tickets and other Paper Works, I will probably start the Trip in August.

See you there soon.

Cheers,
Hashim

[Stephano]

Originally Posted by EXPLORER-DXB

Once I complete the trip I will ship the bike back to Dubai.

Hashim, can you keep us updated on the cost of shipping UK => Dubai at the end of your trip and who you use? Good luck with your trip.

Stephan

[jkrijt]

Sounds like a great trip to me.
I have had several Sportsters in the past and for sure will have another Sportster in the future.
If the fuel capacity is a problem, get a 5 liter jerrycan. That will give you some extra range. That is what I did when I was touring in South Africa and Lesotho on a Harley Lowrider that I borrowed.

[ukKev]

I used 2 x 5lt plastic petrol cans on a recent trip to N/W Africa on my gs put them in small (kids) ruck sacks & used bubble wrap to wrap them to lessen the shocks they mite get & let the weight rest on the rear foot pegs. Make sure they cant get caught in the wheel or belt . I found this worked well & kept the weight low. In Oz i had them on the seat & found this made the bike a little bit top heavy . You mite find standard sporster pegs easier if you need to stand up on off road/dirt road sections than forward controls. I had these & cruising pegs & could change gear(down) & use the back break with my heels . Make sure you have enough tools also tools to take your carb off as mine came loose in the Daintree & i didnt have the torque heads to do the job. Also if you hear bad noise from the top end check the exaust hasnt come loose as the sound travels up the pipe & sounds like a top end problem.
Kev

[oryan]

Hi Hashim,
Im here in Dubai planning the same trip.
I think we may have bumped into each other before and discussed your trip outside DP
What date are you planning to leave?
I was thinking August.
I have a friend who has done the same trip last year, I'm catching up with him this weekend for some advise, maybe you would like to join us.
Give me a call and we can have a chat.
Ryan 050 244 5367

[oldbmw]

make sure the bike is serviced at least two weeks before you are due to leave

I had a sportster rider stop by recently. I have to confess I have not been impressed with HD's, but the sportster seemed much more ergonomic..

[Dodgydago]

Hi,
Once I get the bike repaired I'm leaving Dubai via Saudi- Jordan and riding back to England after 14 months on the road.
I'm on a BMW Dakar.
Are you all still in dubai?
thanks
Fernando

[Burak Cedatas]

Hello Hashim,
Do not worry about fuel in Turkey.
You will find 95 Octane as standart unleaded. Several gas stations are also selling 97 octane.

Many gas stations on the roads. Unless you wonder off to the dirt tracks no problems.

Have a good trip

Burak

[ozhanu]

as burak said, no worries for petrol in Turkiye. you can easly find 95/97 octave in every petrol station.

actuall, i wonder how did you manage to get saudi visa?

I intended to do a middle east tour last year. however, i couldn't get the saudi visa.

hope you the best

[macosie]

I'v been looking into a similar trip for the summer of '08. I'mm watching to see how your planning goes. btw I'm in Abu dhabi and hope to drive to Germany.
Cheers,

[macosie]

I was reading that it's near impossible to get a tourist visa. However, it should be possible to get a 7-day transit visa. I'll be looking into that as my prep goes on. To get that visa, you have to have a visa for the country you will enter (Jordan I presume) first.
Let me know how it goes.
M

[Dessertstrom]

Hi Guys,
I am very interested in how you get on through Jordan, Syria and Turkey etc as I am planning to ride from Saudi to England along the same route that you mention.
I am based in Dhahran and have been told that the road along the east of Saudi passing close to the Iraq border at Rafha is very rough and very risky for security reasons. Have been advised to cross over to Tabuk and into Jordan at that point or down to Aqaba but this does add a considerable amount of klms.
Please let me know how you get on.
Cheers
Ian

[Osama Radzi]

Hey,
Hashim where are you now, are you on the road now or waiting to leave after
Eid Mubarak?

Salams