Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Planning, Trip > TRAVEL Hints and Tips
TRAVEL Hints and Tips Post your TIPS to travellers - all the interesting little tidbits you learned on the road about packing, where to get stuff, and how to cope with problems. Please make sure the subject describes the tip clearly!
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 27 Aug 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 1,731
Asia trip, extra set of tyres?

Heading to Turkey in October, plan to put new (tubeless) tyres on my DL650 maybe in Athens or Ankara. Some street-enduro type, like Metz Tourance or Michelin Anakee. Expect to get around 10.000kms out of the rear, maybe 15.000 from the front.

Will then be heading to Iran, then on to Pakistan and then India, traveling 2-up, so will be quite heavily loaded, even without an extra set of tyres. Aluminum side panniers, plastic top box, some camping gear on top of it all... so I dont have any good place on the bike to keep them, can probably figure out some place, if absolutely necessary, but they will mean a lot of extra weight&space placed badly.

So now Im thinking, is it absolutely necessary or not? I will be carrying tubes, tyre bars & other necessary equipment to fix punctures... the worst-case scenario is of course to get a real bad one somewhere in the middle of nowhere, like a long cut from a rock, thats just impossible to repair. The tubes might help me then, but theres no guarantee that the damaged tyre would last for several thousand km´s after that. I wont be riding hard on such a load, in fact I´ll be going real slow especially if the roads are bad. Not very likely to destroy a tyre completely, but of course I´ll never know.

If Ive understood correctly, there will be NO tyres available for such machines anywhere east of Ankara all the way up to India (and might be hard to find even in India)? And I hear there might be some big import taxes, in case you need to order new tyre/tyres to places like Iran, Pakistan or India? And I will definitely need to replace them in India anyway, as we plan to spend some time there to go around the country.

This info would naturally tell me to just play it safe and take an extra set (I can get them real cheap from my home country, so the only real problem would be transporting them). On the plus side would be that I wouldnt have to worry too much to find an extra set, even if I dont hit that worst-case scenario.. the plan would be to head to Thailand after India, and from there I know I can get them no problem.

My schedule is not very tight, so if getting new tyres would mean 1, or even 2 weeks of waiting, its not a disaster. If I could count on freight companies like DHL or TNT to get me new ones relatively quickly, and at a tolerable price, then I would go without an extra set. But I dont know how it would work over there.

Any thoughts and/or personal experience about this tyre thing, and regarding to that region, would be highly appreciated!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 27 Aug 2007
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Germany
Posts: 241
Your assumptions are correct: Tires are hard to get in Pak and India and custom fees are quite high (180% in Pak and 500% of value in India for motorbike spare parts, do not know if those rates are applicable for tires as well).

On the other hand, you might get more out of your tires than you think. Personally, I made more than 25000 k out of a rear Tourance, and more than 22000 out of a front, albeit on a R 100 GS.

User Bheddist made around 30000 k out of a Mitas E 07 with his DR 650 AFAIK.

Regards

Lars
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 31 Aug 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turkey
Posts: 59
If something happens in Turkey, most companies ship tires at the same day and u could have it at the other day. So np even if you are in the east of Ankara. If you have any problem in Turkey, send me a mail. I try to help you as much as I can.

Ozgur

Last edited by kobold; 23 Aug 2008 at 09:31.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 1 Sep 2007
usl usl is offline
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Turkey
Posts: 337
Hi ;

You can find tires in Iran too ....

00-98-21-882 39 84-85-86-87-88
or
0913 220 3530 ( Hamid Kianpise- speaks good english )

First numbers are the numbers of Nouriani Entetprises-BMW importer of Iran. The second numbers are the head mechanics mobile number. They have a great place in Tehran and very capable staff. Your bike will be under protection 24 hrs day and you also will be taken care of.

Your tires might last longer ...but there is always a possibility as such ....


It happened between Taftan - Quetta ... rather paved road .... Its a time when you are glad you were "over cautious" ....
Attached Thumbnails
Asia trip, extra set of tyres?-karoo.jpg  

Reply With Quote
Reply


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
Looking for companions for trip in Africa stefan_dinov Travellers Seeking Travellers 0 29 Sep 2004 16:29
asia trip ton Travellers Seeking Travellers 4 2 Mar 2003 00:05
Planning a trip to Asia? migs Route Planning 0 12 Jan 2003 19:32
"Big size" tyres in Yazd (Iran) iris_trui Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? 0 2 Jun 2002 17:50
Carrying spare tyres across borders iris_trui Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? 5 18 Feb 2002 11:49

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 14:52.