New blood!

[acuna]

Ive just decided after a few months of debating and procrastinating (and many of years riding my pushbike up unknown trails and roads) that im gonna get off my arse and go on a year long adventure. At 19 money will be tight so am still unsure whether im going by bike or just trekking it.
So can people supply some rough costs? I'm thinking in the region of £5000 to get going, that includes all bike, kit etc... What is fuel gonna come to, ill be in no real rush so intend to do some work as I go along. Also what are the time lengths allowed in country's in general? are they all over a month for instance?
Another major concern is insurance though, what are the problems with this concerning younger riders, can I get it and will I need it (read about someone who spent less not having it even after having his bike nicked and getting ill) as I will most likely be travelling alone? (unless I meet a willing lady by next year .

I have no off-roading experience and as i'm planning on Asia or S.America was wondering if this is wise? I guess i'll learn as i go along but at the moment it consists of London and Kent riding on a (now being restored and in boxes) 125 Superdream.

Any help greatly appreciated and as im intending to do this next year theres no great rush, just gathering info (and cash).

Another odd question is what do you people do for work when you return? Is it hard to find work, and does/will it turn into just funding the next expedition?

P.S. Thanks for supplying the very useful site and good luck to anyone whos riding around now or about to go!

[acuna]

Can no-one offer any advice.

I think Dan Walsh uses these forums and id like to (worryingly) say thanks to him. His column is great, read it!

Working is crap, and ive hardly been doing any! If anyone can help with above questions then it would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Robin.

[Grant Johnson]

Robin, I think no one has replied because you're asking too much for a simple reply.

A lot of your questions can be answered by browsing and searching the site. YOU have to do the legwork - when you've exhausted the resources that are already here, ask away - but keep it simple. People don't mind spending ten minutes answering a question, but writing a book is too much!

Here's some quick answers to get you started in the right direction:

There's a whole thread on costs, times in country varies all over the map, lots of threads on insurance.

Off-road experience is ALWAYS recommended, even if you're never going to go off-road. You'll be a better rider overall. There are plenty of off-road courses available, sign up for one or two.

On return, yes it usually turns into working to fund the next trip. finding work is just like any other time. YOU have to find it. If anything an experience like that shows that you are above the ordinary - the ability to do such a big trip says you are capable of working and solving problems better than the average.

Have fun browsing the site, reading travellers stories, the ezine, and cruising the HUBB. The answers are here!

------------------
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

[Werner]

Robin,
The first question, only you can answer is, "Do you like to travel? Can you handle being away from homebase longer than a month?" In order to find out, I suggest you go for a long trip without the complicating factor of a motorcycle. Go to Africa, or South America by public transport (bus, boat, train), and discover if you can handle the complications of being in a foreign country. Do you speak Spanish? French? German? Russian? Chinese? Can you handle the bureaucracy involved in getting visas, crossing borders, dealing with aggressive border officials? If yes, you can graduate to stage two, to go by motorcycle. Do you understand how your bike works? Can you trouble shoot and fix simple mechanical problems? Do you have what it takes to find help abroad? Get parts shipped in? Find a mechanic? Deal with security for yourself and the bike? I've been around the world four times by plane, ship, train, bus, before I dared to go abroad with my motorcycle, and I can tell you after some 190,000+ km of riding around all the continents (except Antarctica), that bike travel involves the greatest cost, causes the most headaches, but is the most satisfying way to travel. So, start reading books of people who have done it. Study travel guides, get your bike ready, get some money, and hit the road, but only after you have done your homework.
Happy travelling.

[Bill Ryder]

Advice on taking a major trip: take a minor trip. Take a weeks pay and travel away from home for one half of the money and then head home. If you don't have to sell your shoes to make it home you are doing OK. I guess my advice is to learn something by doing it. Service your bike, learn to change your own tires, learn about the countries and languages where you want to go. All this doesn't cost anything but your time and determination. Stop by Montana USA and we will go on a ride like I just did this evening. Over the continetal divide on curvy pavement to have dinner with some cowboys then back over the 6000ft pass on a gravel track with a stop to do a little target practice with my shooting friends.

[acuna]

Thanks for these tips, basically do it yourself! Which I hard started to do already now, books on the way, been talking to people who had done backpacking etc.

Im also looking into different things and am looking into just doing Europe on a Gpz for a month next summer, one thing ive discovered is that it doesnt seem to matter what bike you go on!

Perhaps the youth of today are lazier!

Thanks for the help, Robin.

[baswacky]

Acuna,

I trust you have read and memorised "Adventure Motorcycling Handbook" by Chris Scott. Always a good place to start. If nothing else, at least it contains plenty of tips on what NOT to do.