I will have to look into the options of sending the bike over. Just trying to work out how much money I'm going to need before I set off. So need to factor in these things aswell as carnet costs. Which I don't have any clue about...

Yes, riding overland to Southeast Asia from other parts of Asia is a big problem. Probably 9 out of 10 travellers who go that way, don´t even try it, for reasons listed before. It is so annoying, that those two countries (governments) so effectively block the overland-routes, but that´s just the way it is, been that way for decades actually.

For carnet costs, contact the AA in your country (RAC in the UK?)... and you might also drop a mail to German ADAC as well, I´m not sure if they´ll be able to help you out, but wouldn´t hurt to ask.

Brilliant mate. Cheers mate. You have been a great help.

Anyone have any idea of costs to ship a bike over burma? (and myself) Just trying to guess what kind of budget I need for this trip..

KTM to BKK cost
 

I flew my bike from Kathmandu to Bangkok in November 12. Cost for total weight of 340kg was $950.

Just to give some rough idea, we (me&my girlfriend) sent one DL650 by air from Chennai to Bangkok (via Kuala Lumpur, flown by Malaysia Airlines MASKargo), and it cost us some 600 euros total. Our own flight tickets Chennai-Bangkok direct flight on Thai Airways were around 200€ each. So just about 1000€ total to transport one bike and 2 people across the Bay of Bengal. But this was a while ago, in January 2008. To do it now would cost a bit more for the bike, I think. Your own flight tickets you could get cheaper though, if you shop around....

Strange as it might sound, quotes for seafreight out of Chennai to either Bangkok seaport or Port Klang Malaysia were almost the same, just around 600€.... actually I would not send by sea on this route, it has many more uncertain things, that can (and usually do!) go wrong, so you get big delays, and to deal with “hidden costs”, even corruption, so in short, save yourself a headache, and send by air. (Sending out of India, by air, actually caused me a small headache!)

Another question to come, the string of islands leading from kuala lumpar to east timor?? Is it the case of jumping on a local boat with the bike to jump between islands??

There is a lot more here than just the 'Hub'

Have you tried LOOKing at the above blue bar thingys?

'ON THE ROAD' then 'Getting there' then type in India and select Asia .. for the second select Asia alone .. and press search .. gets a number of shipments with there details ... even a large scale map

Shipping the Bike | Horizons Unlimited

Basically yes. But closer you get to Timor, the more complicated and time-consuming it´ll get. Don´t assume their timetables, or anything related to ferries to be like it would be back home! But it´s a relatively used route, definitely do-able, just don´t be in a hurry..

Also how to get your bike across the Strait of Malacca (West Malaysia to Sumatra) is a known problem, the most common and probably easiest way is/was using Cakra Shipping´s ´onion boats´ out of Penang, but I don´t know, if they still operate.

But you reckon it is still possible? Or just ship straight from KL?

The most recent info here indicates that the Cakra onion boat is running once again from Malaysia to Indonesia (and the other way). We plan to give them a go in about 5 weeks from Penang.

Yeah I think it should be possible, plenty of travellers have done it in the past few years. Personally I would NOT skip Indonesia, as I think it was quite simply one of the most fantastic places that I´ve ever been to! But get a 60-day visa, if you can, I was stupid, and just got the 30 days on arrival in Belawan.. you really can´t see a country that big properly in 30 days, especially when there´s a lot of boat trips involved. Extending the visa might be possible, but talking with the expats in Bali, it didn´t seem so simple, or cheap.

If Cakra´s onion boats are still going, that´s good news I think. Indonesian customs can be really erratic, sometimes travellers have had big problems clearing their bikes, even when all papers should be ok. But on that point of entry (Belawan) everything with customs was a breeze. My own experience is from 5 years back, but the reports from those who have used Cakra Shipping, have been mostly positive.

Brilliant help guys, been trying to research if I need another visa for timor as Im not sure if its part of indonesia. Any help?

West Timor - part of Indonesia.

East Timor - separate country.