I corrected the trip, excluding Indonesia, for the reasons explained in the topic http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ustralia-67106

Of course, the obvious question is: why the heck ? but to each their own.

Iron Butt aside, the main problem I see with your maniac plan is the shipping: I've been in Kathmandu and overseen the shipping of a bike myself, I can see it can take anywhere from 1-2 weeks. Don't expect to just waltz in and find people ready to crate your bike and haul it into the plane. They just don't work like that over there. I imagine the Thai and Malaysians may possibly be a bit better but not so much. And you have no idea how bad the Brazilian bureaucracy is. Better ship from Argentina. Now, how long could it possibly take to clear a bike from the customs in Dakar, I can only guess... only to run into their colleagues at the Mauri border a few hours later!

You're looking at more time spent with shipping and running from office to office than actually riding. So why the heck...

In any case, we want to hear how it went here!

Happy riding,
Laurent

Your question is interesting and legitimate.
"Why the heck?" And you've already given the answer. "To each Their Own."
But now I will try to give a more complete answer.
I am a biker and a traveler, I call myself a "motoviaggiatore" (in English I think we can translate "motorcycle traveler"). I like to travel by motorcycle. Only with the motorcycle, and the motorcycle I just like if I travel.
I traveled with my bike in 64 countries: all the states of Europe, half of Asia and North Africa. I arrived with my bike at the farthest point that I could reach by land, starting from my house (Lecce, Italy): Vladivostok, after more than 13,000 kilometers and 15 days of uninterrupted driving from the Mediterranean to the Pacific. And in Vladivostok, after visiting Japan and Korea, I rode the bike and I went back to the same road.
I want to make a trip that should not turn the bike back, I want to keep on going, this is the meaning of my around the world.
We in Europe do not have nearly as the problem of borders, often even now descend from the bike to cross a border, a quick check with a customs officer distracted just watching our document.
Outside Europe, it changes everything, and, as Europe I "finished", I already know I'll have to deal with these challenges border.
I have dealt with the customs of Egypt, Mongolia, Turkmenistan ..., what I find during my RTW, then they will not be too much worse than the old ones.
But in a journey that goes out of the good old, simple Europe is this normal, I would be delusional if I thought it's all easy. If I wanted to only drive on nice roads, would not go out of Europe, which has some amazing roads and better suited to the bike most of the states that will cross, and indeed may not even get out of Italy that I consider the most beautiful country in the world (along with the mountains of your Switzerland). But I am a traveler, not just a motorcycle, a motorcycle traveler.
At a RTW also borders difficult have their charm, are like salt in a dish: no, it would be bland. Are an additional challenge, as well as the miles, the roads, fatigue, sun, cold, heat, accidents. The whole makes a RTW. According to me.
Regarding your predictions on the timing of the couriers, I have organized so (see the four specific topics that I opened).
With the courier in Kathmandu I have already made arrangements, set the price and time, in two days I'll be ready to go. If he's late, do not pay him: he wants the money and then do the work. Already has the measurements of my bike.
From Malaysia to put the motorcycle on the plane is simple: lots of riders have told you did in one day alone.
In Brazil, my correspondent has already documents, and my bike, to save time. The ship (from Argentina) I can not take: it's too slow compared to the plane. And then I want to get in Brazil: no turning back (or I stop) in Argentina.
Australia are almost already building the case.
A 2-month RTW is not organized at the last minute, but with method, precision and tenacity.
One last thing: I want to make the RTW, but I do not want to leave my family and my job for more than two months. So I will do my RTW in two months, and I will continue to do so, because, after all, I like to travel so fast.
If I give up on such trips because they're too fast for many, then it would limit my horizons and do not want to limit them. :)

After seeing some of those astronomically expensive quotes you've received from shippers, here's a tip (just to consider, its fully possible you've already decided what to do, and I respect that, but I'll just throw it here anyway):

How about doing this same trip in multiple "legs"? Like first ride to some suitable country in Asia, store the bike there, fly home to work, next year return to continue to do the 2nd leg, and so on.

I understood you needed to keep your job back home. This way it might be possible. And while it would not make everything regarding the trip logistics trouble-free, it would at least mean you are in not in as much of a hurry. Ride to Asia&store the bike in two months, fully doable...but RTW with what, 4 major shippings, in two months? That should go into the Guinness book of records, if you can pull that off!

But like I said, merely a suggestion to consider. To even fly home once (so the trip split into two legs) could already be a different ballgame.. though still quick for a RTW-tour.

I thank you for the suggestion, but I had already ruled out, radically, from the beginning, this possibility. :)
Because it is contrary to my way of traveling.
A journey for me has to have a beginning, a middle and an end.
A journey "in installments" I just do not conceive.
On a trip I appreciate the unity of time, place, and action (concepts initially attributed to Aristotle).
Unit of time: a trip should not have breaks, except those necessary techniques.
Unity of place: a journey to be a "continuous line" without jumps (of course, except those necessary: I can not walk on water).
Unity of action. Once you start the journey, I devote myself completely to travel: not interrupt him to return to "normal" life.
This is my "travel philosophy". :)

Are engaged in final preparations (start 1 october), including the latest visa. It arises some problem. :(
Pakistan does not accept my itinerary because it passes from Quetta and Multan, a city too "hot" (especially the first, near the border with Afghanistan and home to trafficking in arms and drugs).
So to get a visa, I have to find a route that avoids these two cities. Not easy, given the road network of Pakistan and since I have to go in Iran (the only open border) and exit to India (Attari-Wagah border, near Lahore).
I looked for an alternative to present to the Pakistani consulate in Rome.
That's the best I could do:
Quetta avoid it but there step 25 km south (between the cities of Quetta and Mastung Kuchlak, close to Afghanistan: I deleted the name from the map so that sound too close to my route); Multan we step to the east (enough ?).
Now I try to present this route to Pakistan, hoping that's enough.
http://www.gold-wing.it/moto/2013-10...stan2-1024.jpg

I will ask the Pakistani consulate (through the agency of Rome who is researching visas) that even if this does not fit my itinerary, I tell them a path to get to the border with India!
I also want to emphasize the Pakistanis that there are no alternative ways to move from the west of Pakistan (border with Iran) to the east (border with India).
We hope that the Pakistanis is "collaborative". :rolleyes2:
Anyone have news or suggestions of how to cross the Pakistan from west to east?

Yesterday I received the last visa.
Starting Wednesday, October 2! :scooter: (as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne).

HI from Dubai
 

wishing you a safe ride
i know it hard to pass throw Pakistan from the begining, my advice is vross over to UAE & Oman and ship the bike to India.
Regards
Saleh

I have not enough time for ship to India and I want travel more is possibile driving my bike.

Wish you safe ride !

Hi Gold Wing,
When you are in Malaysia, please be free to stay in my humble rented house in Batu Gajah in Perak state, somewhere in between Georgetown and Kuala Lumpur. I know few Gold Wing bikers here in Perak who could offer any tech help you may need just in case.
Remember, you got friends in Malaysia who are more than happy to assist you. My cell phone is +60193854736. Best you SMS or WhatsApp me as I may sometimes be in jungle somewhere there is no signal.
Ride Safe.

:scooter:

I think the reason why you didn't get visa is not because of HOT Multan or Quetta but the law and order situation in Baluchistan ( the province of which Quetta is capital)
I will suggest an alternate route presuming you are doing this leg in summers. Why don't you turn North from Iran into Turkamnestan, Uzbakestan then Kazakhstan and into China then head south on the famous Karakorum highway (Old Silk route) and pass over Khunjerab Pass into Pakistan. Some majestic heights and scenery is on the menu. Roll down along Indus river and into Islamabad and then Lahore and then India. I am shaky about how to get into China from Uzbakestan as there are two routes, broadly
a. Uzbakestan, Kyrgyz republic, China
b. Uzbakestan, Kazakhstan, China

hope this helps
best o luck for the trip
Wen u cross Pakistan drop by :thumbup1::mchappy:

@Blitzboy: Do you even remotely know the hassle and the cost to do what you just said? China...?
it is one of the countries that I will always keep as last on my to do list, as it costs you a bloody fortune to cross it on a bike.

Good luck
 

I am going to be doing the same route through Iran, Pakistan and in to India next year. I leave in March to attempt a solo RTW on my HOnda CRF250L. My trip will take a lot longer but good luck to you and please let me know how you get on with the Visa situation.

Hi Steph,

Just saw your Facebook and realised I have already 'liked' it.

When are you aiming to get into Pakistan/India.

I am coming in towards the same region however from the East. I am aiming to be in Pakistan in early-mid September, however that will become more sure once I can figure out my dates for China crossing.