funding
 

Well, being new here I really don't know if this will work...
I'm a student at a conservatory in Amsterdam in Holland, and I'm trying to plan a bike trip through eastern Europe, India, Japan, and perhaps ship to California, drive to New York and Ship back to A'dam. I'm not nescessarily planning on finishing the entire circuit, I'm young and have no time restriction.
I'm trying to find a way to be sponsored because I can in no way fund this trip myself. I'm in no hurry, and would go as far as possible with the funds I could acquire, then see what to do next, but there seems to be a lot of very seasoned travelers here that I could learn from. If anyone is interested in giving me some input I would be honored.
My experience:
48 US states, All of western Europe; Holland, Belgium, France, Germany, and spain on Motorcycle (Honda 450 with hspr restriction and 10L gas tank) which is quite unfriendly...

All input is welcome, thankyou

ask yourself one question: why would anyone give you money so that you can take a holiday?

my advice: get a job... save... go

ChrisB

Not exactly the 'live the dream' answer.

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give people something in return for the funding. A reason for their 'investment'.

see my post- GETTING PAID? in this same forum (my first post!) lots of advice and encouragement

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Back on the road again.

sopgear.com

I was considering "funding" by getting a job at a bike dealership. Most of your expense is probably going to be your bike so getting 25% or more off of everything you buy should add up. Plus you're getting paid. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif I'm going in tomorrow to ask if I can get a job where I go in on Saturday and clean up the local shop once a week.

Cheers, Steve

A couple notes on getting sponsors:

It is very possible to get motorcycle companies behind a venture if you have something to offer them in return.

From my experience (having been sponsored by Kawasaki, FirstGear, Aerostich...) you have to contact the company and sell them on your trip.

-Why should they sponsor you?
-What articles are you going to be writing and for what magazines?
-Can you guarentee any publicity?
-Do you have a website?
-What are your qualifications?

I would also suggest that in this day and age companies like to support two things:

-philanthropic causes (ie. a motorcycler who's riding to raise money for breast cancer awareness, or orphans, or the Red Cross)


-lot's of visibility for the sponsor(ie. website recognition, mag write ups..)

Check out the Bikers Without Borders website if you want to see who we are and you might better understand how we were able to raise $25,000 in sponsored "stuff" from motorcycles to satellite phones.

Drop me an email if you have any specific questions - i'll try and point you in the right direction.

Regards, Steve

http://www.bikerswithoutborders.org


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[This message has been edited by wallsts (edited 26 February 2004).]