Way to Russia Talk Lounge

davidg · Just Starting Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 2

Is it possible to travel around siberia by motorcycle? I am thinking of flying my bike to Barnaul and driving to Abakan, Ulan Ude, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk and Baikal - is this feasable - any info on road conditions would be greatly appreciated - thanks

Randy · Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 3:56 pm Post subject:

Sure it is possible, and has been done by a double amputee disabled Vietnam Veteran. He traveled from the west coast of Russia to Valdivastock on a Harley Sportster some years ago. He had an article written about his journey in the Harley publication "Enthusiast". It was an excellent story. I have had the same dream of shipping my bike over and doing it, but there are some difficulties, and a lot of red tape getting your bike there. I even went to St.Petersburg to meet with some members of a motorcycle club to find someone who might be interested in traveling with me to help with any unforseen problems. I wouldn't advise doing it a lone.

Randy

UsualSuspect · Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 10:47 am Post subject: Riding around

Hi,
Also try contacting Australian Motorcycle news. I read a story about a couple who shipped to Vladivostok and they had help from the local bike club.

I know the road from Abakan to Krasnoyarsk is in pretty good nick, having travelled along it myself last summer ('03). Khakassia is grassy rolling plains type country until you get maybe 80ks near Divnogorsk and then it get's hilly/forested and winding.
What had my buttocks clenched was the other drivers e.g. blind corner overtaking, 6 cars-in-a-freight-train overtaking, you name it and it was done.

Regards
Usualsuspect

vorteks · Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 9:49 pm Post subject:

Hello David,

Yes it s possible to do it. I just come back from an australian/german organised motorcycle tour offering the package. Actually the tour started in Honk Kong to end in Germany, and the Beijing Moscow part was just one leg out of 3.

On the way, we met a few guys traveling on a bike, rarely alone. We just met one swiss guy traveling alone on a motorcyle. We met LOTS of russians on bikes as well, since there was a biker gathering in Tomsk when we were heading to Omsk.

Riding Russia was way easier and faster than China or Mongolia. There are lots of motels and cafes on the way, the roads are sparsely populated, you find gas very easily. If you have a trail bike for the off road parts east of Omsk, avoid pot holes and follow russian cars to avoid the militia speed tickets, you should be safe. Make sure you secure your motorcycle in a safe area when you stop, as foreign motorcycles are exotic and quite appealing to locals.

And keep all the papers you need to leave the country readable, which means that you have to keep your papers in a dry container, as you will inevitably ride some time under rain. Some of us had to wait 2 days at the border because of their unclear papers.

I also saw that some russian companies were organising tours on old style russian bikes. It could be an easier option than shipping the bike forth and back.