Hello all of you out there,

After living in Australia for nearly 20 years, I’ve decided it’s time to ride my motorcycle back home to Europe. This has been a long-time dream, and now it’s time to make it happen.

I’m reaching out to see if anyone has advice, experience, or maybe even wants to join me on this journey.

I’m very flexible when it comes to routes and countries—whether it’s going through Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, or other options. I’m aware of the challenges with borders, shipping, and visas, but I’m up for the ride and learning along the way.

If you’ve done part of this trip before, I’d love to hear your tips. And if you’ve been thinking about doing something similar and want to ride together for part or all of it, get in touch!

I ride a BMW R1250GS and I’m planning to take my time to really enjoy the journey.

Thanks in advance, and safe travels to all.

Cheers,
Robbie

Hey Robbie

Sounds awesome.

As a fellow Aussie I am hoping to do similar next year when I hit 60.

This is my experience / thoughts on that trip. Keep in mind I don't really fit in with the norm as I am more a traveller than a biker, so the bike is a tool.

I would split the trip into three.

The first I would leave the bike in Oz and fly into timor Leste. Then slowly make my way across to Bali through Indonesia using buses, ferries. - whatever.

Grab a scooter in Bali and ride Bali and then Java and Sumatra. Return the scooter.

Then head over to Kalimantan, Borneo and Sulawesi.

Fly to Singapore, rent a scooter and ride Malaysia - then SE Asia. Hiring scooters when wanted/needed and bus/train/plane whenever not.

Fly back to Oz and fly the BMW to Korea. No carnet needed. Ride Korea, then TIP into Japan. Leave Japan via Vladivostok if you consider it safe to travel Russia. Onwards from there.

The rationale behind this is scooters (or small adv bikes) are so cheap its not worth the hassle/worry of using a GS (or anything over 250). You don't have to worry about parking, storing and can just do whatever you damn well please.

No shipping to worry about. No timetables or getting ripped off by handlers.

I have kind of done this but broken it down over the past few years. Im hoping to ship my bike into Korea in June next year and then do Japan and across. Im off to do Japan for three weeks in September. Would love to meet up if you are on your way next year, but imagine your going earlier.