The AUS govt. ( like other govts ) is constantly re-assessing and putting out revised 'Travel Advisories'.

For information the advisories currently fall into the following categories (but they need to checked for changes conditions often) -
1.Do Not Travel
2.Reconsider need to travel
3.Exercise high degree of caution
4.Normal safety precautions

At last look most of the countries I propose to travel though have a 'Normal safety precautions" advisory such as Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, China, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Turkmenistan and Europe generally. A couple of countries have an "Exercise High Degree of Caution" advisory such as Turkey, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan. Travellers "need to pay close attention to personal security"

Countries that were in the mix such as Iran and Pakistan have a "Reconsider need to travel" advisory. It means these countries have "volatile unpredictable security". Shame about Iran - many bloggers that have been there report it to be a beautiful and welcoming country????

I don't presume to know better than the advice given so will take it on board when deciding the route. Stay home and be 100% safe? Yes I have to be sensible and take advice of those in the know BUT ....

Europe, Turkey, the Stans, China, South East Asia or vise versa. Borders open, travel advisories reasonable, nothing stopping me so far.

David

David-
A friend of mine rode his motorcycle from Laos to Uzbekistan last year using Tibet Reisen tour company (Tibet Reisen und Tibet Trekking, Selbstfahrt durch Tibet, Kailash Trekking | Greatway). I currently live in Kyrgyzstan and am planning to drive to Singapore in spring 2013, where I will the ship my car (1986 Land Rover Defender) to LA and drive to NY to complete my around the world drive.
Anyway, my friend recommended I get on Horizons to try and meet up with folks like you. As you well know, China is tough and expensive, but it can be done. I would be willing to host the guide in my car saving you the cost of having to rent a car from the guide. They proposed a total price around $9,000 for a 39 day trip from the Tourgat Pass in Kyrgyzstan through Tibet to the Laos border @ Mohan.
If we could get a group of 6 or 8 bikers together, as my friend did, the prices start to become more reasonable. If this is something you are interested in pursing please let me know.
My time constraints mean that I must be in Singapore by mid-July at the absolute latest, but I am free to leave as soon as the snow is cleared.

Grif

I would also add that I drove London-Bishkek (and on to Mongolia) last year in a school bus. Governments put out warnings consistently for nearly every country on earth. I would not want to drive much in Afghanistan or increasingly Iraq, but other than that I don't think there are many areas on your proposed route that you need to avoid. I was unable to secure an Iranian visa as an American citizen but may friends have gone through. Parts of NW Pakistan are dicey but it can still be done if you really want to.

Grif
I agree and would love to do Iran (Afghanistan and Iraq have never been in the mix) (northern Pakistan KKH was for a short time) but have decided not to push my luck to much.

During my travels the only place where my life hung in the balance was during a visit to Compton, south central LA. I had to pick up my bike from a warehouse. On my way there a group of gangbangers had a bit of sport with me. They had more weapons than the entire AUS army - well it just seemed that way at the time.

As a US citizen you may know of the area.

Thanks for the info.
David

Grif
Thank you for the message.
This is where I am at - I am communicating with two main groups one travelling north/west and the other south/east. No decision has been made as to which group I will join as yet - this decision will have to be made soon so I can commence planning.
Your generous offer is definitely of interest and I will make it known to the guys that are doing the UK to AUS route.
I'll put it out there and keep in touch - other interested travellers may read your post and contact you direct.
Thank you again.
David

We have met a couple of people that went through Iran and had no problems at all.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Trip-End-Of-The-World
- this guy went through and only had troubles because he had a gopro on the helmet, got chased down by police but all was good in the end.

Aus gov tends to be overly pessimistic about these things. Mostly just covering their asses I think and so they can turn around and say they warned you if you ask for consular assistance if you get in the shit with the authorities etc.

__________________
www.thegreatgallivant.com - video blog of my current year long trip around Europe on the F650GS Twin

Thank you for that and I agree. Read many blogs of riders who had no trouble at all.
Cheers
David