FWIW I have done quite a bit of traveling and by all means consider myself a pro. However, even a pro traveler deals with many of the same problems as they did the first time they ever traveled, sometimes with the same results (at least I do). Just for the record my travel resume is as follows and to be sure Im leaving out my 1000's of miles on my motorbikes of domestic travels. All told in the last 10 years Ive probably managed to visit 55 countries. And believe it or not

I AM NOT RICH. I HAVE JUST BEEN LUCKY...

1994 climbing three 18,000+ foot peaks in Venezuela
1996 climbing three 18,000+ foot peaks inMexico
1995 Solo mountain bike ride from Colorado to KY
1997 Solo mountain bike ride from Seattle to Boston
2000-2001 one way ticket around the world which included three months on a Suzuki Freewind 650 all over southern Europe Sicily and Morocco.
2002-2003 Served in U.S. Peace Corps in Grenada
2004 south to north Vietnam on a 250 cc russian minsk
2005 two months in Mexico on my KTM 640 Adv
2008-2009 drove a 1971 VW Beetle from Chicago to Ushuaia

took a break to make money

2013 Spent a month photographing in Cuba
2014 Planning a RTW on my KTM 950 ADV

This list was by no means intended to toot my own horn brag or act like I know something more than anyone else. Its because even tho I started this post and its been "posted 1000's of times" Everytime I plan a trip it's different and I always feel like a novice... Once Im out in the world there is no doubt my experience helps me however, Planning for world travel is largely an illusion. Its a hell of a lot of fun anticipating the trip and spending shit loads of money on new shiny gear but all the same unless you're lucky you can rarely plan for what you encounter.

Whether its shipping costs (they change) Visa regulations (they change) Political climate (they change) or laws of the road (they change with every corrupt cop you meet) Dont get me wrong, I think planning is good and does serve a basic purpose. I am always interested in other folks planning and the outcome of their planning that why I started this post...

Pecha 72 has it right. In my experience, even tho shipping is high (i have never air shipped) RORO seems to be relatively affordable and in comparison to purchasing a new bike in another country "legally" or even "illegally" Its much easier and faster to ship.
IMHO