Uzbekistan to Italy - R 1100 GS
| Who | Pietro Spera ~ email ~ website |
| Profession | judge |
| Born 1962 | Nationality italian |
| Previous travel experience | Europe, USA, Mexico, Africa, Asia |
| Previous bike travels | West & East Europe, North Africa, Western Sahara, Middle East, Iran |
| This trip | Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Greece, Italy |
| Departure date | august 2003 |
| Number in group | 2 (my wife and me) |
| Trip duration | 35 days |
| Distance covered | 8.000 km |
| Cost of trip (not incl. bike) | 9.000 euro |
| Best day | riding through the plateau between Armenia and Georgia |
| Worst/ hardest day | the last (end of the trip) |
| Favourite place | Bukhara |
| Biggest headache | fighting with the Uzbeck airport custom to have my bike (after the air shipment from Italy) |
| Biggest mistake | none |
| Most pleasant surprise | we didn't pay any bribe |
| Any illness | none |
| Other trips planned | ? |
| One travel tip | ask the service of an agent to deal with the asiatic burocracy by |
| Bike Model | BMW R 1100 GS |
| Age/ mileage on departure | 8 years/75.000 km |
| Modifications | frame reinforcing kit, bigger rear rack, engine protection bars, GPS, external thermometer, additional rear mirror |
| Mods you wish you'd done | hands protectors |
| Type of baggage | Metzeler Enduro 4 |
| Tyres used | none |
| Number of punctures | tank bag, lateral plastic BMW saddlebags, big waterproof sailing bag on the rack, tent (never used) |
| Bike's weak point | huge weight |
| Bike's strong point | confortable, reliable, versatile |
| Bike problems | broken rear rack due to the potholes in Georgia |
| Number of accidents | none |
| Same bike again? | definitely yes |
| One biking tip | start to ride at dawn and NEVER travel after dark |