We discovered that it was difficult to fit in a full-sized touring bike without really taking it apart. When travelling from Inle Lake to Yangon we solved this problem by buying the 5 backseats of the bus and placing the bikes on those seats. In Yangon we were being told that taking our bikes in the train to Mandalay would cost only K 60 each and we would have to box it. The tickets itself had to be paid in dollars of course. We found it very easy to flag down a truck when one of the bikes broke down on two consecutive days.
Drivers expect some payment though.
Despite its importance, this road is never very busy. Its mostly flat all the way to the town of Yamethin. The quality of the road is reasonable. There is no licensed accommodation in this town. The Point Guesthouse at the northern end of the main road will accept foreigners though.