East European Bikes in Turkey and Syria
 

I'm thinking of taking a trip (probably next summer, not this one) from Romania down to Syria.

Does anyone know how hard it is to get parts for East European bikes in Turkey and Syria? I've heard that Jawa is really popular in Turkey and it's easy to get parts and service. Does anyone know about the possibilities for other bikes?

What kinds of bikes do Syrians ride? Do they have their own brands? Anyone know what the possibility of getting Jawa (or other) parts in Syria? I'm hopeful because I know that Syrians travel a lot in Turkey (for shopping I'm told).

At the moment, I'm leaning towards a Jawa 350. Some else though told me that a 250 single cylinder might be better as they are more reliable. Any suggestions there?

Final question (for now). Is it possible to drive a bike into Syria and then sell or leave it there? After Syria, I'll head back to Romania, but i'm curious about whether it's possible to leave the bike in Syria without any major fines or hassles at the border. I've heard that when you enter at the border, they stamp something in your passport that says you entered with the bike (or car) and you have to show it again when you leave to prove that you took the vehicle with you.


Any advice or comment would be much appreciated.


Norm

Hi Norm
I just returned from TR. I saw a few Jawas & MZ's, but ALOT of Russian Izh's, mostly in the east & south.

I didnt go to Syria, but if Im not mistaken, there are no bikes allowed there over 125cc (if you are a tourist, its ok tho) so probably you will only find parts to fit a 125, most are chinese, lotsa china stuff in TR also.

My friend in Ankara has a later model Jawa 350, & rode it to the UK & back, so they seem pretty reliable. He will also know where to get parts for them, if needed.

As far as leaving a bike, I know its not possible in TR, they wont let you leave without your bike. I'd guess syria is the same, as they require a carnet, or a deposit/ temporary import fee at the border.

however, if the bike was 'stolen' & you had a police report, then you could leave without it.

Well the Jawa's were manufactured under license here in Turkiye. Same as MZ bikes. But this was some time ago. You should be able to find parts still.

On the other hand all Japanese and German manufacturers are present here. Unless you have a very unique bike the spares should be no problem.

XT600, Transalp, Africa Twin, F650, BMW GS, Suzuki DL 650/1000 are very common. Ktm also has distributor here with spare part stock.

The unleaded I understand is available in Syria. BUt you got to watch the petrol stations carefuly.

Have a good trip.

Old original Eastern Germany MZ factory was bought by a company named Kanuni in Turkey and they continued producing classic ETZ251-301 models until 2000s. Jawa is another familiar bike brand in Turkey. 250s and twin 350s are common, but on a decrease. Still there are plenty of parts and services for both brands.

If you happen to cross Izmir, importer of Jawas in the 6os and Aegean branch of Kanuni-MZ company is a very close friend of mine who is retired but his sons are still servicing bikes and dealing with both MZs and Jawas. Not only service but the people will be an unforgettable experience I guarantee. They will never let you go without playing clarinets and harmonicas for example.

PM in case.

Can from Izmir, Turkey

What happens if you do try to leave the country without the bike? Do you have to pay a fine? Is there a massive amount of paperwork?

If the bike was in an accident or just wore out (as happens with old bikes), would they still make you get it out of the country? Is there any situation in which you can sell it, even as parts, or gift it to someone?


On a similar topic, how feasible is it to buy a small bike IN Syria and then sell it / give it away before leaving?

As far as I know, if you ride with a bike in to Turkiye, that is registered in your passport. You have to leave the country with it. Or you can leave it at the customs. Which will hold periodical auctions and sell those left overs. The money goes to state....

If you sell the bike there will be complications when you leave the country.
If the bike gets into accident and is thrashed, still it goes to the customs.

Hope this helps.

Whatever bike you choose, get it ready before you travel. If you have prepared properly then you shouldn't need to be looking for parts.

Replace anything that is known to be unreliable (check websites for the bike) and also anything that wears out (cables, brakes, oil, filters and tyres) before you travel. Bring unreliable parts and spares with you if you will need to replace them on route.

I wouldn't recommend buying the bike the week before you leave. Take it for a lot of mini outings before the big one.

Preparation reduces your anxiety and increases your enjoyment, but remember that most trips' highlights are when thing go wrong.

Enjoy