Singapore To Istanbul ~ BMW R80 ST
| Who | Max Ng ~ email ~ website |
| Profession | Training Consultant |
| Born 1972 | Nationality Singaporean |
| Previous travel experience | NZ, OZ , USA, South East Asia,Mexico,Japan,Taiwan,Korea,China |
| Previous bike travels | South East Asia ,USA ,NZ |
| This trip | Singapore To Istanbul |
| Departure date | August 2003 |
| Number in group | 1 |
| Trip duration | 5 months |
| Distance covered | about 30,000km |
| Cost of trip (not incl. bike) | about S$10,000 |
| Best day | Reaching Khujerab Pass ,China Pakistan Border Karakoram Highway |
| Worst/ hardest day | Flat tyre in Baluchistan Desert Pakistan ,running a fever |
| Favourite place | Iran |
| Biggest headache | Getting Iranian Visa in Islamabad |
| Biggest mistake | - |
| Most pleasant surprise | The very friendly Iranians |
| Any illness | Fever ,diarrhoea |
| Other trips planned | Europe Northern Africa ,Trans USA |
| One travel tip | Interact with the people, at the end of my trip ,it was the people I met that I missed most not the places I visited |
| Bike Model | BMW R80 ST converted to G S |
| Age/ mileage on departure | 22 years old about 400 000km |
| Modifications | Big tank, Honda Dominator front fork and wheel ,Ohlins shock , |
| Mods you wish you'd done | nil |
| Type of baggage | aluminium side boxes |
| Tyres used | Pirelli |
| Number of punctures | 2 |
| Bike's weak point | a bit heavy for certain roads |
| Bike's strong point | goes on forever |
| Bike problems | Starter motor failed in Iran |
| Number of accidents | 1 crash in Pakistan near Quetta, chased by bandits |
| Same bike again? | Absolutely |
| One biking tip | Travel light if possible |