Here we go then:
Is the best place to cross into Turkey from Bulgaria on the E80 to Edirne? We want to go into Istanbul, although people say try and avoid it. If you're riding to Van, you'll have little choice but to go through Istanbul. Your alternative is down to Gelipoli and across to Bursa. If you come in via Bulgaria (as good an option as any), then going via Gelipoli is a funny old route. I'd come in via Bulgaria, and maybe leave via Greece. Istanbul is pretty hectic and can be dangerous for bikes which is probably why you've been advised against it, but find the thread about Steptoes Istanbul Run a few years back and see first hand reports. It hasn't changed that much since!
Do you need any visa to get into Turkey these days?
Yes, a tourist visa, available at the port of entry - £10 or 15Euros last time I looked. You'll also need to get your bike registered at the border and they stamp your passport to say you bought your bike in. I've posted before about the best way of handling the checkpoint... i.e. ride through, park up and do it all on foot - in the right order of course!
Do you have to have a green card for Turkey to cover insurance or can i buy insurance at the border.
Easiest thing is to buy the insurance at the border.
Re last question is that insurance worth the paper it is written on if i have an accident.
Probably not.
It's 3rd party I think...
Re 2 questions ago, any idea what a couple weeks insurance gos to, and do you know where the office is to buy it.
No idea.
Me and Al will both be on road tyres to Istanbul but love offroading so is finding somewhere to buy and change tyres easy enough and is it'worth putting the TKC's on or is practically everywhere paved roads now?
Lots of gravel around, especially if you get out of cities etc. and you can basically ride anywhere. As soon as you get out of towns and cities into the rural stuff, it will be so quiet, you may be just as tempted to stay on the road anyway... and some of the roads are of dubious quality anyway, so it can be a bit like off roading!! You'll be fine on Tourances, but TKCs are pretty good ... though finding them and having them fitted will be a pain and costly. (I bring tyres over from the UK as its cheaper!)
Any must see's on the way east from Istanbul? we will initially aim for cappadoccia then see how time goes to see if going further east is an option.
The further East you go, the less touristy it becomes, so if you want "sights", then don't go East but stick to places like Ephesus. If you want rural, unmarked ruins and locals who don't know anything, buy a guidebook for advise, but be prepared to follow your nose! Oh, and you can spend a week in Cappadocia exploring anyway!
And finally you are more than welcome to join us if you can get a few days off work?
Love to, but won't be around..