Has anybody riden a motorcycle through Laos?

I'm sure someone has but I'm just looking for some advice on what to see and where to go.

I visited Laos last year but was only able to spend 8 total days there. I took the slow boat from Chaing Kong to Luang Prabang then from there spent a few days in Vang Vien before flying out of Vientien. My plan this year is to buy a motorcycle in HCMC and drive it north exploring along the way. I've researched Vietnam extensively but was wondering if anybody has tried to cross the Laos border and keep going. I will have the Vietnamese blue card for the bike so I should be legit. Any recommendations on epic rides or issues that may come up.
Thanks.

Google for Golden Triangle Riders, plenty of info on their web board.

For more detailed answers you should have a bit more of an outline for your trip. Like where you plan to cross exactly, what after Laos, how long in Laos, which way you want to go roughly...
++

Landing in Bangkok on Dec 8th and staying for a few days while planning our trip to Cambodia. Then Siem Reap and Cambodia for a week or so before making our way to HCMC to buy a moto. Then if we are not sick of riding a moto we plan on crossing over into Laos.

Rough outline for Laos includes:

Cross in Sop Houn(L) Tay Trang(V) then make our way down to Luang Prabang and explore around that area.

Luang Prabang to Plain of Jars.

Plain of Jars to Vang vien to check out some awesome caves (we barely scratched the surface last year).

Vang vien to Vientien (I didn't get to spend any time here last year so looking for to checking out the capital).

And eventually down to 4,000 islands.

I know these are commonly visited areas and there is a lot of things to see in between especially on our way to 4,000 islands. So any advice on what to check out in between or side trips is greatly appreciated.

Also, road conditions, issues with border crossings, etc...Thanks.

Oh, and thanks for the g-t riders info...

Edited by: veghed

Past Muang Khua, from Oudomxay, its all along main roads. Personally I prefer to use different routes then the main roads where you would travel anyway when going by bus.
And I usually go on a slow pace, about 100-150km per day (with a small bike) to have time to actually see stuff.

Curious, were you able to cross into the Laos border? I am thinking of doing the same thing. In Hanoi now.

Edited by: fkruege