Me also pre-internet. Bought a cheap RTW ticket for a year. Picked 1/2 a dozen destinations (Thailand / Singapore / Hong Kong - still British then! / NZ / LA / NY) and set off with no pre-planning or guide book. ended up putting Oz on my list for a few months. Had a great time - I was also going due to simply being fed up with "Here" - did it change anything? yes and no.....only thing yer can't run away from is yerself - a cliche that is true.
Loved NZ. but ended up in later years for long trips back in Thailand (go figure
) and around about places - Asia just grabbed my imagination, plus being cheap as chips is always a big plus
Lots of fun been had over the years, not all of which I can remember
. or will admit to
and even met me late wife on my travels
My suggestion would be to keep your plans as flexible as possible but still have a plan - can always come back later / another trip, and don't try and do too much, ie visit 7 countries instead of 27. IME the more time you spend in a place the better it becomes.
Top Tip - Unless you intend to go trekking, then buy a case with wheels on it. and not a classic back pack top opener - soon get tired of everything you want always being 3 foot down at the bottom
. Hard case saves a lot of worrying about theft. and you don't have to worry about it sitting in wet / dirt and makes a good seat........Samsonite
I am half tempted to make my next trip this summer either on the SV650 (or by car!) down to the Black Sea area......I am more into boats nowadays than bikes (Heresy I know!) and have an intention at some point to sail off into the sunset and the Black sea seems to have captured my imagination and before I sail their I figure worth having a look see first
Have fun!