Tips for a motorcycle road trip across Asia

Hi, I’m Franck and I’m planning to head to Asia this summer on my 410 Himalayan. No set destination—just a hankering for China, Mongolia, Laos… Now that I’m retired, I’ve got all the time in the world. I’m not planning to tackle hardcore off-roading, but I’ll probably leave the tarmac every now and then. If anyone has any tips on potential administrative hassles, essential tools and spare parts, or anything else, I’d love to hear them. Thanks for sharing! Best, Franck

Hi there,

I’m not a motorbike fan at all, so I can’t really give you advice on that front. But when it comes to organizing your trip, there’s quite a bit to know about China. If you’re French, for example, you’re visa-exempt for stays under 30 days. You’ll need a valid passport, of course. I also recommend making sure your vaccinations are up to date and getting the hepatitis A and rabies vaccines if you’re heading to less touristy areas. Plan to download apps like WeChat or Alipay to pay in China—everything’s done on your phone now. Also, get a VPN for your phone so you can access Google, WhatsApp, and Gmail while you’re there...

Anyway, there are a lot of little things to know. I put together a full recap on this link to help organize your own trip to China.

Hi Franck, For your Himalayan, I think you can take a gear selector and a brake pedal because if you drop it, those are the first things that break. You can also take a spark plug and an inner tube for both wheels. Ask your dealer if they think there’s anything else you should bring—they know what’s essential for your Himalayan. That’s what I take when I go on solo road trips in Morocco.

Could you share the route you’re planning to take for Mongolia and how much time you’re planning to spend there?

Thanks.

Richard

Hi there, Actually, I’m not really sure which route I’ll take or how long it’ll take me. I’m retired. I don’t have any close family, and I’ll have sold everything I own, so... Freedom.... Best, Franck

Hi there,

To ride in China, you’ll need a Chinese driver’s license, with several requirements to meet to get one. If you’re over 70, you might also need to take some medical exams.

Hi there, In this video about two young people entering China from France on motorcycles, it seems he mentions at 18'24" that to cross China with your own vehicle, you need a Chinese escort: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhy-vcdfCX8

Hi there, Thanks for the info, I’ll look into it...

Hi there, I get the feeling that China is administratively... complicated... 😄 I’ll try to gather info from Paris, but I think I’ll have to improvise a lot once I’m there... Either way, thanks for the info! Franck