virgin riders

[chrisandkatie]

hi,
we're planning our first over land trip from india to new zealand and are thinking of buying a bike in india... any tips on acquiring documents etc there and other useful info would be appreciated.

thanks

[Simon Kennedy]

Have a look through the info on carnets and India on this site. You'll find that the option of buying in India is pretty much a no-go.

I would add that the route from India to NZ includes two plane/boat trips. Pricey - and bothersome.

If you are determined on this route, I would think about buying and selling in India, then perhaps hiring something in Thailand for a few weeks.

Basically, the route you suggest doesn't favour using a vehicle.

It would, however be perfectly possible if you rode all the way from London on a UK bike. Have you thought about this? Why start in India rather than UK?

I would recommend the UK to India trip leg strongly.

Simon

[Matt Cartney]

I believe its easier to buy a bike in Nepal and 'export' it.
Matt

[Nigel Marx]

There are a few different choices of bike there in India, but as someone said, Nepal is a better place to export a bike from. If you are considering a 170cc Kinetic, don't! I know a couple of people here in NZ who bought them cheap and they have had lots of problems, especially with the clutch. I used a Enfield Bullet 500 when I was in India which was fun, but not my choice for overland. However plenty of people have done it so it is possible.
Regards

Nigel in NZ

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"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page"- St Augustine

[Red Bull]

If you are riding in India, an ENFIELD Bullet is the bike to ride!!!!!!!
Without this maybe the experience is quite complete. Morever the bike is simple to work on and the most reliable among all the indian bikes!
Ride Safe,
Red Bull

[beddhist]

Hmm, you are in GB, but want to start in India. You can neither go through Burma, nor China.

Logically, I'd either start in GB, where buying and kitting out a bike is a lot easier, enjoy the ride to Nepal or Bangladesh, then fly over Burma.

Or I start in Thailand or thereabouts. You won't need a carnet and only need to ship Dili-Darwin and to NZ.

Perhaps I'm missing something here...

[simmo]

Chris and Katie, ride to India if you can. Its more hassle in some ways because you will need a carnet for your bike (Iran Pakistan etc) But they are worth it. I know of two couples in Landrovers that crossed Burma and one couple on bikes, Simon and ??? ( help me here Parkie) in 2004. All spent months in India getting permission to cross I dont know the cost.

If thats outside of your budget, buy a enfeild in India and sell it when you leave, then pick up something in Asia to get around on. You may use a few bikes but with a bit of research you should be able to get by pretty cheaply, hell you might sell them for a profit. You could get a vespa in Cambodia and a Cub or Minsk in Vietnam. Everyone has small bikes so its no drama.

Mostly its warm so you dont need much clothing, hotels are cheap so dont bother with a tent, and restruants are cheap so dont bother with the stove and cooking gear.

Either way it would be great fun, the seconds just much cheaper.

cheers

alec

[Jac]

Hey Chris and Katie,

We're just back in London having spent 16 months riding from UK to NZ...

Sure, it all depends on budget etc... but like some of the other posts on this thread, I would strongly recommend riding the whole way! Buying and selling a bike in India, and also Thailand is definitely an option, but riding out of India sounds like a logistical nightmare.

The leg between UK and Nepal was fabulous, and much easier than you would imagine.. It does get a little tricky from Nepal with Burma and China being more or less uncrossable, then there's the added cost of flying from Nepal to Bangkok(or wherever). Shipping from Dili to Darwin, then Melbourne to Auckland was fairly pricy, but all part of the journey...

If you've got the time and the money, ride the whole way, you wouldn't regret it!

(Aaarrrggghhhhh.... I miss it so much!!!!)

Cheers
Jacqui

[parkie]

Suzi and Simon were the couple that rode though Burma - follow this link for a discussion on Burma:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000206.html

Ride the whole way if have the time - it's a blast and much safer/friendlier through Iran/Pakistan than the western media would have you believe.