Contact Overland Solutions for all your custom modifications and setup for overland travel.

Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Planning, Trip > Route Planning

Route Planning Where to go, when, what are the interesting places to see
With more than 58 destinations worldwide, Edelweiss Bike Travel is Number 1 in guided motorcycle tours!

We've had a code update on the HUBB that should fix any issues with the new right hand column. If the HUBB still "looks funny" please force a refresh to get the latest code update. (Hold down the shift OR ctrl key, and click the refresh button on your browser, OR Ctrl R, OR on Macs, Command R). If you still have a problem please post it here.


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 9 Oct 2012
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: New Caledonia (for now)
Posts: 17
Where to do my first OS adventure bike tour?

Hi All

I'm from Australia and while I've ridden bikes on & off for years I'm just starting out with serious ADV touring. I'm picking up my new BMW R1200GSA in about a month and will start with touring remote parts of Oz.

In about a year I would like to take the bike overseas and I'm seeking advise from you about which continent to start with. I've travelled overseas a bit so used to international travelling, but not sure where to start with a motorbike tour when I'm new to shipping etc.

I'm thinking South America through CA and the USA and into Canada / Alaska depending on the season.

Any thoughts, experiences, reccomendations, other ideas etc will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers Daz
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 9 Oct 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Bassett, Nebraska
Posts: 277
Hi Daz,

A lot of your fellow countrymen go that route. No carnet required in the Americas so you avoid that expense. Continents are connected except for the pesky Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama so only one boat or plane ride for you and the bike while there.

You could spend a lifetime and not see everything there as you follow the weather from south to north or vice versa. I could think of worse ways to break in a new bike for 30-40,000 kilometers. And north of Mexico they speak a language similar to yours.;-)

I suggest reading ride reports both here and on advrider.com to see what areas interest you and what others have found. A great way to learn more. Here's one to get you started of a sheila from Tassie currently on the road in the Americas:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=825139



Cheers,
John Downs
__________________
South America and back on a 250 Super Sherpa Minimalist Adventure http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=831076
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 9 Oct 2012
Scrabblebiker's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
Posts: 220
I think the Americas would be a good choice. But you might want to consider starting in Canada and heading south if your time frame permits it vis a vis the weather patterns in the area. This way you can give the bike a good shakedown knowing there's a reasonably good network of BMW dealers throughout Canada and the USA in case you need some work. It'll also be easier to get new tires in the southern USA before you cross into Mexico. There are BMW dealers in Mexico and Central America but they seem to gradually become farther and farther apart. You'll also get used to travelling while not having to speak another language for a while.

Mexico is pretty tame and friendly as far as "foreign" countries go, so it would be a fairly soft landing at first ...as opposed to being plunked in the middle of a Spanish speaking country right from the start and staying immersed in that for the next several months.

Of course none that may matter to you if you're someone who thrives on sudden change :-)


...Michelle
www.scrabblebiker.com
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10 Oct 2012
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: New Caledonia (for now)
Posts: 17
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scrabblebiker View Post
I think the Americas would be a good choice. But you might want to consider starting in Canada and heading south if your time frame permits it vis a vis the weather patterns in the area. This way you can give the bike a good shakedown knowing there's a reasonably good network of BMW dealers throughout Canada and the USA in case you need some work. It'll also be easier to get new tires in the southern USA before you cross into Mexico. There are BMW dealers in Mexico and Central America but they seem to gradually become farther and farther apart. You'll also get used to travelling while not having to speak another language for a while.

Mexico is pretty tame and friendly as far as "foreign" countries go, so it would be a fairly soft landing at first ...as opposed to being plunked in the middle of a Spanish speaking country right from the start and staying immersed in that for the next several months.

Of course none that may matter to you if you're someone who thrives on sudden change :-)


...Michelle
www.scrabblebiker.com
Hi Michelle

Thats good advise about starting in Canada when I'm new to overseas touring and putting the bike through it's paces. Though I hope to do a fair amount of km's in outback OZ before I head OS. I didn't think much about spare parts / dealers etc so thanks for highlighting that.

Language barrier doesn't bother me too much as I've been working and living in non English speaking for the last 5 years ... there always seems to be a way to get the message across, even in Vietnam where it was very difficult but a bit of hand gesturing, pointing and drawing...and like magic I got what I needed!!

thanks again for your advice, appreciated.

Cheers Daz

PS Electrician is a great trade - I'm one of them too !!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10 Oct 2012
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: New Caledonia (for now)
Posts: 17
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Downs View Post
Hi Daz,

A lot of your fellow countrymen go that route. No carnet required in the Americas so you avoid that expense. Continents are connected except for the pesky Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama so only one boat or plane ride for you and the bike while there.

You could spend a lifetime and not see everything there as you follow the weather from south to north or vice versa. I could think of worse ways to break in a new bike for 30-40,000 kilometers. And north of Mexico they speak a language similar to yours.;-)

I suggest reading ride reports both here and on advrider.com to see what areas interest you and what others have found. A great way to learn more. Here's one to get you started of a sheila from Tassie currently on the road in the Americas:

She's got this crazy idea- exploring the 3 America's solo, for better or for worse... - ADVrider



Cheers,
John Downs
Hi John

I have read some blogs, the SA to Alsaka trip looks fantastic. I was thinking of Africa first but I thought that would be a little daunting for a solo rider on thier first major tour. For some reason I feel like the Americas will be easier. As long I can understand those southern accents from the USA hehe

I checked out the link you gave me, great photo's and blog. I'm feeling more inspired every time I see people actually doing it!!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
central america , south america , touring


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
What to drink during an adventure bike trip samueleuk Staying Healthy on the Road 22 3 Weeks Ago 11:19
Extreme Bike Tours: The Mighty Himalayas: The True Adventure of a Lifetime. thirdmainroad Tours 0 6 Jun 2012 17:01
Information wanted from experienced bikers in South America joentje100 South America 35 1 Jan 2010 03:00
Buying and registering a motorcycle in Chile timyarb Trip Paperwork 12 23 Oct 2009 16:42
Few tips for selling your bike in Buenos Aires eyalchuck TRAVEL Bikes for Sale / Wanted 3 9 Jun 2009 19:05


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 11:18.