RTW bike travel options

[R650R]

Seems there’s a plethora of companies out there offering tours and rentals these days. It’s quite time consuming researching them all.

Keen to hear people’s experiences at all levels guided/unguided, shipping own bike vs rental, buying bike in foreign country. Short term 1 week to several week or did you go months or couple years.

Asia, Africa, South America, Europe what things did you learn that might make it easier for someone else.

[rastuscat]

Seems there’s a plethora of companies out there offering tours and rentals these days. It’s quite time consuming researching them all.

Keen to hear people’s experiences at all levels guided/unguided, shipping own bike vs rental, buying bike in foreign country. Short term 1 week to several week or did you go months or couple years.

Asia, Africa, South America, Europe what things did you learn that might make it easier for someone else.

You might get a good deal on Iran at the moment.

[R650R]

You might get a good deal on Iran at the moment.

If I wanted to risk getting shot at by warring factions I’d just do a lap of PaknSave carpark and save plane fare lol

[pritch]

You might get a good deal on Iran at the moment.

Got a laugh out of that. Thinking back to experiences of YouTube motorcycle tourists though, the Iranian people seem amazingly helpful and hospitable. Itchy boots toured there and there was a young Brit bloke on a Honda 90 Interstate. Doubtless there are others.

Nadroj, former KBer, rode in South Africa with a group tour. A DM might still work.

A Brit couple in Sarawak were hiring out BMW 650s. There are a lot of new roads the jungle having been felled to make way for palm oil cultivation. Hopefully the palm oil has not found its way on to the road surface.

[JATZ]

I shipped a bike to Oz with 4 others for a self guided month long trip...
Pros... It was my bike, set up for me, ready to tackle outback tracks with no restrictions.
Cons... I think it was quite expensive for a 1 month trip. If I was going for +4 months I'd do it again.
Hired a bike for 3 months for a self guided circumnavigation of Oz. Covid reared it's ugly head so plans changed somewhat.
Pros... fly in, ride off, drop off when finished. Was cost effective for a 3 month trip
Cons... Some restrictions on where I could go. The bike was pretty stock standard so sand riding was a challenge. Insurance excess was out the gate for a flogged out DR650, so don't damage it to much.
Hired a bike for a 12 day trip in Tasmania earlier this year. GPS route supplied all accommodation booked and included in price. Was a very good option and I'd do it again. Tasmanian Motorcycle tours was the company.
I owned a Vstrom in North America since 2019. For trips from 6 weeks to 3 months.
Pros... it was my bike, so I could modify it to suit me and what I was doing. No crazy excess if I wrecked it. No restrictions on where i could go. Storage was easily arranged through the power of the internet.
Cons... Having to go through Vancouver to get insurance/Rego, regardles of where the bike was stored. The cost of insurance was enough to make your eyes water. Selling at the end of the trip, I couldn't be bothered so shipped it home.
Would not do again

[R650R]

Cheers for replies.

Been doing maths the rental option or tour options do look good when you factor in the hassle free fly in fly out nature. There’s something to be said for spending a bit more to have everything go perfectly when your already spending large anyway.