If I have grasped the catalyst for this thread correctly, the question you are asking is not whether or not you should take the best gear, but what should be the motivation for doing it. If its to throw yourself into all that the world has to offer and do so in the most comfortable and the least stress-free way then spend the money and take all the high spec gear that makes it possible. And there is nothing wrong with that, whether or not another overlander may have a negative opinion of your choices.

Just like the LWR guys. They wanted to do something, and wanted to do it in a way that they were probably more accustomed to. Aside from the money they may have made from doing it, I like to think that the idea did originally start as an adventure between two friends. The important thing, is the fact that they got off their arse and did something. One hopes that even with all their backup and gear, they have a better understanding of the countries and the people they came across than those people that sit at home on their arses and judge.

The key is to choose your motivation and accept the pros and the cons that go hand in hand. On one flip of the coin, if you take all the gear and accept the fact that you are going to come across countries, cities, communities, individuals that dont have a 100th of the gear/clothes/food you are using or carrying. On the other side, take the basics and accept there may be difficulties to overcome along the way....

I personally would go for the latter.....I mean we may hate the "difficulties" when they are upon us, but if it wasnt for the fact, say that you didnt have the right sized socket, and you have to walk a couple of miles to a village and find something or someone to help, you wouldnt have half the experiences. Or indeed (and I not advocating not taking GPS!), the simple things of asking for directions (which can always be fun and totally unproductive in a country where English is not widely spoken), or getting a local to try and understand a map that is foreign to them.

I think you have to be careful not to travel round the world on your motobike, in a bubble, unless of course thats what pickles your onion. Its like some people prefer to do package tours and some people prefer to just get the flight. I am of the opinon that the more things you posess that can solve your problems for you, the more likely you are to remain detached from the country or the people. Of course you need to take essentials, but what is essential to one person is not to another.

I have no idea if I am the right tracks here, but maybe something in my post makes sense?!

Char

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