Where have you toured?

[Mattsplat]

On an Fazer or not.

I'll start the ball rolling 

[adeejaysdelight]

All over the Uk and some of Europe. Belgium, France, Germany and Holland.

[Mattsplat]

The Gobi..

[richfzs]

Nice, really nice....

I was in the gobi in 2006, travelling in 4WD though, would love to go back by bike...

[nick crisp]

Only UK so far.

[Mattsplat]

Nice, really nice....

I was in the gobi in 2006, travelling in 4WD though, would love to go back by bike...

It was challenging, if not a bit desolate...




Ive hardly travelled through the UK, everywhere feels like home and I like to feel 'out there'...

[Mattsplat]

Russia.

[Mattsplat]

Uzbekistan.

[fireblake]

I rode through Southampton once, that felt like I imagined Afghanistan to be like. All desolate and hostile locals


Mickey

[nick crisp]

I rode through Southampton once, that felt like I imagined Afghanistan to be like. All desolate and hostile locals


Mickey

:lol

[Mattsplat]

Southampton :eek

A bit too 'out there' for me, English version of red necks 

[Mattsplat]

Iran.

[Mattsplat]

Himalayas, India.

[Mattsplat]

Mongolia.

[Mattsplat]

Bringing guards together on the Tajikistan/Krygystan border.

[midden]

Do you ever find time for work Matt

[Mattsplat]

Do you ever find time for work Matt

Not worked in a while due to medical problems, hence my rush to get my touring bucket list done.

Time is ticking for my riding days so Im getting as much done as soon as possible. It was supposed to be my retirement doing all this but my body had different ideas  :rolleyes

[flyboy]

hi Matt   You've been to Iran good for you , most all the reading I've done on Iran  says you need a  carnet de passage to get your bike in but other say not .Did you buy/need one, if so how/were  did you  did you get it,  and  and how much did it cost you( if you don't mine me being so nosey )all the research I've done it came out as ridiculously expensive so putting the mockers on the trip . all so any info on insurance would be great cheers paul

[Mattsplat]

hi Matt   You've been to Iran good for you , most all the reading I've done on Iran  says you need a  carnet de passage to get your bike in but other say not .Did you buy/need one, if so how/were  did you  did you get it,  and  and how much did it cost you( if you don't mine me being so nosey )all the research I've done it came out as ridiculously expensive so putting the mockers on the trip . all so any info on insurance would be great cheers paul

Yes, you MUST have a Carnet de Passage for Iran or you wont be getting in with your vehicle. Difficult to say what it will cost you because it depends on the age and value of the vehicle, its basically a passport for your bike that allows temporary import of it into Iran (no other countries in that region need one). You apply via the AA, filling out the forms and then you have three options of paying for it.
1-Cash bond.
2-Banker's letter of indemnity.
3-Insurance policy.
If I remember rightly I paid about £350 for the Carnet but others I know with high value, newer vehicles went for the insurance policy and it came out at a similar price. If you do pay the cash bond, it will be returned to you as soon as you return the Carnet to the AA.

I am assuming that you are wanting to get into Central Asia and crossing Iran seems an expensive option but stack it up against the cost avoiding Iran...
You will have to ride into Azabaijan and catch the notorious ferry from Baku to Turkmenistan (Google the ferrry, you'll read the horror stories). The ferry has no sailing times, no fixed cost and looks like its about to sink at any minute and they will fleece you for as much as they can for you and the bike (similar cost to the carnet or more...!)

Iran is easy, the Carnet is the pain in the arse but needed. Its the next country, Turkmenistan thats the tricky one, despot dictator and a very closed country. Its always 50/50 if they will even issue a visa and with a visa in your passport, the border guards will extract more money out of you once your there for every stamp they make...

P.S...Dont overstay your visa like I did in Iran, they get a bit pissy when you want to leave  :lol

Happy to help other people get on the road so if you need any advice, just give me a shout 

[Mattsplat]

I forgot to add the insurance bit...

My Insurance 'green card' was good for all of the European countries and some ex-Soviet countries, after then you should buy insurance on the border of the country your are entering. Be warned though, Insurance is a double edged sword....e.g. - I didnt bother buying insurance for Iran, till my Iranian hosts found out I was riding uninsured and 'made' me get it. That was a $250 mistake that I couldnt afford or justify, it was only 3rd party insurance and if anything had happened cash would have smoothed the way. After Iran, I didnt bother with insurance but was prepared to pay for any damage I may have caused if there was an accident.

You will be stopped ALOT, borders, check posts, dodgy police, military zones etc but I was never asked once to produce my insurance or licence, all they want to see is your passport (is your visa valid) and my bikes logbook (is the bike stolen/in your name).