Which Country?
 

As with most of the readers on this board, I have been aching to do an RTW. I finally realized that I am too financially conservative to quit my job and do the trip right. I have decided to do it in pieces.

Some Background:
I have seen all of the US, including Alaska, all provinces of Canada and Baja Mexico. As a member of the Ironbutt Association I have done some serious long miles in short times. I have taken my Harley Electra Glide into some truly oddball places for Harleys. I have always felt that any bike can go anywhere, given enough time and determination. I currently ride about 40,000miles a year. One of my bikes has 250,000 miles on it currently. Probably the one I would take if I go to Mexico.

Trip Selection:
I have 5 weeks of vacation time that I have to use up before the end of the year. I can probably get a month off if I beg and plead. If something happened on the road to delay me I would probably not loose my job if I came back late, just loss of money which I can live with. My dilema is where to go. Wherever it is the expense needs to be somewhat under control, therefore, organized tours are probably out. I can spend a lot but I want bang for the buck, if you know what I mean. I have narrowed it down (for the time being) to the following options.

1) ride from home (New Hampshire, USA) one of my own bikes into mexico and see as much as possible there.

2) Shipping my bike to either Europe or Australia and seeing the sights there. Possibly selling my bike if legal and reasonable.

3) Go to Europe or Australia and rent a bike.

4) buy a KLR650, set it up for hard touring and go to Mexico or maybe even farther south.

If you had these options, what would you do? If you have made similar choices, what do you suggest? Any major pitfalls I need to look out for?

I've toured once for about 2 weeks in Mexico on a rental bike, and have also toured through the western US, Canada, New Zealand, India, and Australia.

I've enjoyed riding in all these places but of all my trips, my road trip in _Australia_ was by far my favorite.

I rented a BMW F650 in Sydney, and took four weeks to do a 6000 mile loop around the eastern half of Aus. I was able to see the major tourist sites in Aus - Ayers Rock, the Great Ocean Road, Sydney's harbour and Opera House, the Outback, etc. It was a great
trip.

The cost in US dollars was pretty reasonable: $2000 US for the F650 (and hard saddlebags) rental, about $300 for fuel, the same again for food, drink, film, and other miscellaneous items. I packed a tent and sleeping bag; Australia has very good "caravan parks" (equivalent to KOAs) in every little town and near all parks, etc. You can get a tent site at a KOA-type place for only $10 a night. The caravan parks will almost always have little standalone
'caravans' (like a small trailer you might pull with a truck) for say $25 a
night - I would also use those occasionally if I felt like a splurge of luxury. I figure the whole trip cost me about $3500 US including the plane ticket - pretty reasonable for a month long motorcycle trip.

People were outstandingly friendly, fantastic scenery, some nice roads,
cheap to travel, etc. If you take a look at my web page below, you'll find a link to some of my trip pictures and my journal.


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Bruce Clarke
brclarke@islandnet.com
www.islandnet.com/~brclarke

Saying that you can see Australia in 4 weeks is stupid.
It cannot be done that quickly, in a manner that gives you the right to pass comment on travel in Australia. Makes me feel ill to think that you are encouring people to consider Australia for that short time period. Readers digest version????

All travels are digest versions 8^) I could not say I could see all of New Hampshire, USA in 5 weeks, but I could do one hell of a tour of the USA in 5 weeks. Just gotta pick and choose what you are going to do on THIS trip.

Actually though, i am seriously looking at Mexico as there is less advanced planning involved. i may be buying a house sometime this spring, summer, fall and until I buy/don't buy it I can't make too many detailed plans. My next question is what bike to take.

I have 4 bikes. A buell that's out. A 2000 Harley Tour bike, only 45,000 miles so it's the newest, and most expensive if damaged/stolen. A 1991 Harley Tour bike with 245,000 miles on it. I would not trust the engine without an overhaul though. But I planned on doing that anyway. And last but not least, a 1986 Harley Sportster with 103,000 miles on it, recently overhauled.

Most likely I will choose between the Sportster and the Old Tour Bike. The tour bike is better for rough roads, the Sportster is better for soft/muddy roads.

If Mexico, I plan on going in the Nov/Dec time frame. When it's not too damned hot and after the wet season? See my post asking questions on tires in the equipment section.


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