Abandoning a bike
 

One piece of advice I've seen a few times is "Don't travel on a bike you can't afford to walk away from." But has anybody actually done this?

I worked out that if mine dies big time while I'm in Central Asia this year it'd probably cost more to repair/recover than it's worth, so while I'm not actually facing this it's more than academic interest. Interested to hear anyone's experience.

Leave it, walk away
 

I used that saying (nearly the same ) in a book I wrote in 2005: MOTORCYCLE TOURING - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW. I believe I wrote, as a tip, to "not take a motorcycle into a country that you can not afford to lose it." That was 20 years ago.



I've left several (none on a CDP), but in two of those countries I would not do that now - computers and Big Bro chase you. And in doing so at the time I figured I'd not be returning to the country.


I'd still advise the solo motorcycle traveler not to take a motorcycle into a country where leaving it (crashing, theft, fire, etc.) would seriously financially hurt. Example: in 2017 I took a 1983 Honda 650 through much of South America, knowing ahead of time I was going to leave it somewhere in South America, which I did. I'd paid $1,300 for it off eBay, and put another $1,500 into it (new tires, battery, panniers and title). It was the second Honda 650 I'd left in SA...and I've been told both were eventually parted out. Flying or shipping one back to the USA would have been a PITA (done it before with a BMW R80G/S from VZ to Miami) and cost more in time and money than either, simply was too costly for my budget.


SIDEBAR: I know of two moto-journalists who chose to bury two GS press bikes at a border (one had a blown tranny). Hole was dug, bikes buried and when they (or someone from the company) returned with a truck both were gone, just a big hole remained. I "think" it was in the no man's land entering China.



I left a USA registered/titled 1986 BMW K100RT in Germany two years ago. I've been told it went on a trailer from a flea market in Germany to someone in Russia near the Polish border (possibly sneaked into Russia). Ive not been back to Germany, so I may be on a Wanted list, but it had been taken into Germany many years before Big Bro was everywhere and there were no published rules on leaving it there, uninsured.



So yes, it's something that can be done (part of the "risk" factor in the term adventure), leaving it and moving onward or to home, but done very carefully and well researched in these modern digital times.



Regards,


Dr. Gkeepcalm

If you leave on your bike you've imported it into the country without paying import taxes and fees. There are possible fines for that. Exact rules and consequences will wary from country to country.
To prevent illegal imports some countries now demand carnet that is up to full worth of the bike when crossing the border into the country. If all goes well you can claim the carnet back when you leave. Or rather start the claim process, and receive the carnet back in few months.
A friend wanted to take his 20 year old XJR1100 into Iran. They wanted 7000 Euros carnet. Then bottom of the Mediterranean became a war zone and the plan was cancelled.