Think I want a touring bike?

The Pakistan part of that trip would scare the shit out of me. All the travel logs I've read of people who go through Pakistan seem to say it's a big hassle with security and having to have military escorts in some places.

yeah - the bit from Bam in Iran to Quetta in Pakistan is right through Baluchistan and supposed to be dodgy as fuck - If I did that route I would def consider bus/train for some sections (although the train apparently gets hijacked on a regular basis). I am also looking at going up through the 'stans to China then along the Karokaram highway into Pakistan - only problem with this is that the Kunjarab pass is only open for a couple of months a year so timing would have to be spot on and would prob entail leaving the UK fairly early in the year.