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You could just get on a plane with your credit card and passport and buy or rent everything you need when you get there. That includes the bike, riding gear, etc. etc.
Gear Up! is a 2-DVD set, 6 hours! Which bike is right for me? How do I prepare the bike? What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers! "will save you a fortune!"See the trailer here!
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On the Road! is 5.5 hours of the tips and advice you need to cross borders, break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
Tire Changing!Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
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Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
"It has me all fired up to go out on my own adventure!" See the trailer here!
Meet people who don't think you're crazy for wanting to ride your bike to South America or across Asia! They will encourage you, share their experiences and advice on how to do it!
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Hi
Here’s a ride report from a bike trip I did in the summer of 2013: It involves off-pavement riding from Ulaan Bataar, the Capital of Mongolia across eastern Siberia in Russia via Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, the western section of the BAM Road, Tynda, Yakutsk and the Road of Bones to Magadan.
The journey started on a 1988 Honda XL600V Transalp (The Shed) and finished on a 2008 BMW G650 X-Challenge (The RBA). There were lots of adventures: Either because they would have happened on any bike, or special bonuses based on my unsuitable bike selection.
Most of the images are mine, but some belong to the boys. I have asserted their copyright as appropriate. Thanks for letting me use them. There are also a few videos. They’re not really edited “with love”, but they hopefully help to tell the story of one hell of a trip.
I’d also like to thank Mr Walter Colebatch (Sibirsky Extreme | Going where no motorcycle has been before ) for his advice and navigation aids (Next time I’ll follow the advice more closely…) and Mr Phil Kneller for allowing me to complete the trip on his bike while he spent more with the beautiful and charming Zarina.
Here are some pictures to give you a feel for what I encountered.
thank you for posting this here, good pictures, waiting for more to come.
What happened to the Transalp? Did you forget to fill oil in? As you know, I traveled solo on an XL250R in 2003 to Magadan, it was fun, but hard at times. I did not take many pictures, because the camera got wet, so I wait for yours.
But next year I will go back to Russia, but not to Magadan.
thank you for posting this here, good pictures, waiting for more to come.
What happened to the Transalp? Did you forget to fill oil in? As you know, I traveled solo on an XL250R in 2003 to Magadan, it was fun, but hard at times. I did not take many pictures, because the camera got wet, so I wait for yours.
But next year I will go back to Russia, but not to Magadan.
Saludos desde Bolivia
mika
Hi Mika
The TA never actually died. At the end of my trip I rode it back to Ulaan Bataar and shipped it to Europe. It's on its way at the moment: 5 months late! Don't freight anything to/from Mongolia!
Issues with the bike:
The radiator started leaking in various places (caused by bumpy road)
The shock was about to explode (caused by bumpy road)
I had already toasted 1 clutch and replaced it with a spare: I didn't have another spare (caused by bumpy/muddy road and river crossings)
Where I turned back, half way along the western BAM (before the Vitim Bridge) was the easy bit. The hard part would have been to come!
Ch1: Ulaan Bataar - 200 clicks up the track - and back again in the back of a truck!
In 2012 I had shipped the Shed from Europe to Almaty in Kazakhstan and had a good ride around bits of Central Asia and through the Altai part of Russia and across Mongolia to Ulaan Bataar. The RR of that trip is at http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...et-place-66414
I parked the bike over winter in the heating cellar at the Oasis Guest House and returned again in early July 2013. After charging the battery overnight and turning the fuel on, it fired up first push of the button. It's a Honda after all.
The Oasis was full of the usual motley crew of overlanders, both 2 and 4 wheeled.
I met up with Pete Berry and Bod Waters (3rd from left and on the right: Who had ridden with Matty Johnson (left) on XR400s from England). We agreed to ride to Irkutsk and along the BAM together. Interestingly the bike behind Matty is one of 3 Dutch Yamaha 600 Diversion road bikes (euro1000 each) that had ridden all the way from Europe and across Mongolia via the southern route without any problems. They sold the bikes in UB and flew home. Who needs a blingen 10k £/ 16k us$/ 12k euro pride of German/Austrian shiney engineering?
And he's off... After the first bit of dirt I took off the windscreen so I could see where I was going.
The long view
A little splash
The trail to the Russia border follows the railway line for a little while
On the smooth easy stuff the Shed's suspension could handle it...
What a great ride
Crossing the railway track. Why, oh why, do I carry so much sh!te?
Bod leading, me second
Calamity struck! After a little bit of mis-navigation Bod took a shortcut. It's really easy to ride off piste, but sometimes over the crest of a hill there's an unexpected drop! Where I'm standing, I recon is where Bod took off. He lies where he landed. He was concussed and had hurt is foot really badly. Pete stayed with him while I rode off to try to get transport for him and his bike.
Bod's line up the hill to the crest
Loading Bod's bike onto the truck
Bod and bike on way to last town we had passed 10km previously.
Bod putting a brave face on it at the village medical centre where they looked after him well and fixed him up so he could survive the truck journey back to UB to a proper hospital.
We managed to organise another truck for all 3 bikes and us back to UB with the help of the village mayor who phoned his daughter who could speak a little English and was able to interpret to bridge the language barrier.
There was only space for 3 in the cab including the driver. Pete drew the short straw and spent 300km on the bumpy track and the pavement in the cargo bay with the bikes. We arrived back in UB at 2am the following morning from when we had left 16 hours before. What a day and night!
After a couple of days where Pete helped Bod to get checked out at a proper hospital, me and Pete set off toward the Russian border, this time on tarmac to make up some time. Bod had broken his heel and had to fly home.
A very intriguing statue heading north, in many ways less tacky than Ghengis', east of Ulaan Bataar
Free camping having crossed the Mongolia/Russia. Welcome to mosquito central. It only got worse, but later on I never really noticed any more. Here they were still annoying. Note the Shed is leaning against a tree: The side stand snapped again at the border
A visitor
My attempt at surreptitiously taking a photo of a Russian military convoy... I needn’t have bothered: When the APC got closer I spotted the gunner taking my picture with his camera phone.
We met up again with Andrew and Jon whom we had seen at the border.
Navigation here wasn't too challenging
Comfort stop
A bridge was down and yours truly checks the options. A bit too deep to pass. The thermometer also said it was quite chilly!
Taking this off-road short cut we missed out on the city of Ulan Ude
After hitting the main paved road at Babushkin we headed around Lake Baikal to Irkutsk. Here's a traditional piece of architecture, rather than the horrid Soviet stuff that also became so popular in parts of the UK when Huddersfield's favourite son, Prime Minister Harold Wilson (I live near Hudds), was Housing Minister after WW2.
3 wheeled scooter with Italian plate outside the most expensive hotel in town. Unfortunately we never met the owner. ANY vehicle can ride/drive the slab (aka Trans-Siberian Highway) from Europe to Vladivostok. Especially if you've got a winch on the front
Tyres for all seasons. Note the stickers on the left. Recognise any of them?
Setting off from the hotel in the rain. Spare rubber (in my case Mitas C-02 (An aggressive tyre in 17 inch. Wow!) and Pirelli MT21) to fit later on up the road. Jon and Pete.
Waiting to board the ferry to Olkhon Island. Sorry to be "Ginger-ist": Ginger and Afro! This guy needs a haircut...
Brighty causing trouble. Pushing in to get on the ferry first. Must be my German genes!
The ferry was free! The first time in Russia where I was pleasantly surprised at the (literally) lack of cost of something. Everything in Russia, except petrol, is expensive.
Pete catching the rays between rainclouds.
My bike looking tough, until the going got tough where it retired hurt.
We left Olkhon Island and joined the main paved road north. About 150 clicks before Zhigalovo the road became dirt. And our first opportunity to admire the mighty Lena river
One of many punctures on Jon's KTM. He and Andrew were sponsored by a well-known Czech brand of tyre manufacturer. I think the tyre was just plain shagged and he was trying to coax life out of it that just wasn't there
Swapping the back tyre outside the hotel in Zhigalovo
Jon, being the great guy he is, changing the front for me, in the garage next to the hotel, as it had started to rain
Jon preparing a veritable feast In his underpants
This is a normal road, with some interesting traffic
Adam always has a good eye for an interesting photo
The Zhigalovo Road up to where it joined the BAM was pretty boring. Long and straight, but it was good to be off the pavement and on the dirt
Not short, and not winding
After we reached the BAM turn-off to head east, things got more interesting
A very intriguing statue heading north, in many ways less tacky than Ghengis', east of Ulaan Bataar
Incredible statue ... what is the story behind it? Does this reflect the popularity of overland riders on bikes coming through? I guess by now a lot of riders are doing this ride? Are tour groups offering rides there now?
How did the various bikes hold up in general? What sort of total miles were done?
Would you undertake another long range ride into this area?
Repeated front flats on that KTM must be something with the wheel, spokes jabbing tube? or ..? Rim lock pinching tube? Ever figure it out?
Great report ... looks like you guys did very well, got along well. LUCKY! Sorry to see your buddy hurt his foot. Going cross country always has risks. Here in our Deserts guys ride straight into 100 ft deep abandon mine shafts ... or hit hidden barbed wire and go flying.
Looking forward to more!
Adam: Give the man a map, 2 tins of sardines and 2 tins of Heinz baked beans = Heaven
Anti-freeze and rad-sealant. Adam had helped me fix the hole in the rad the night before. That hole held. Other holes appeared virtually daily.
Trying to get my bike road worthy
Eventually ready to go
Group shot
Catching dinner
This is what you call ground clearance.... And fit for purpose!
We bumped into these 3 cool Russian guys from Ekaterinburg(?) who were riding 250 cc thumpers they had bought in Vladivostok home. We couldn't understand why they had been riding for 12 days since Tynda. We reckoned you could do it in 5. How wrong could we be!
One of the bikes they bought. Is that a glass bottle strapped to the front of the engine? We told them where they could find our old disguarded tyres in Zhiglovo
One of the Russian dudes had a suspected broken ankle. The journey must go on...
Andrew chatting with a local chap who had the best set of steel teeth, but I think he knew I was only taking his pic because the teeth, so kept his mouth shut
Adam, master-craftsman at work
This one wasn't towing a caravan... Sorry, in-joke... Some people know what I'm talking about, hey Kurt/ Felix/ Noah/ Phil/ Mark
A visitor
An overview of the (easy) riding conditions that my big shed wasn't really enjoying, leading to a "little" river crossing (which, in comparison to what was to come 500km down the track was an utter piece of p!ss). The suspension on a touring bike like my Trannie (despite my Shed having a rebuilt and stiffened shock and fork springs...) is completely substandard compared to a pukka enduro bike like a DRZ400/ XR400/ orange 690.
Move over fat boy, this is how it's done!
Exhibit A. Did we also mention low ground clearance? Airbox under seat? Chocolate tea-cup clutch?
Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's thelist of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
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Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers!
break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
Cotton or synth sweat-wicking t-shirts with the cool Horizons Unlimited graphic on the front and a snappy slogan (changing every year) on the back.
Show your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Motorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
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