Scott,
This is brett and dave from Australia again.

We are currently in Korea enroute to Mongolia via Japan.

We had planned to change from road to off road tyres in Japan, but Chris (in Tokyo) has told us that the tyre we are looking for is going to be both difficult and expensive to get.

I think I recall that you rode a BMW. The tyres we want/ need for the Tigers are front 19 inch and rear 17 inch and the only brand we can find are Continental (We understand that BMW also use Continental on the Adventuers)

Would you know if it is possible to obtain Continental TKC80 110/80 BR 19 for the front and TKC80 150/70 BQ 17 rear in UB?

We appicate that they may need to be ordered in, but if possible to order (and maybe pay) before we arrive it could be an alternative to buying them in Japan (Chris feels we will have a considerable wait for them to arrive and we dont have too much time).

Just as a last idea, in your opinion are off road tyres absoultely necessary for the western route?

If not then we'll go for something like Michelin Anakee's in Japan.

Cheers

Brett

Hi Brett: Large bike tires are not available in UB. You can have them sent here via DHL ($$, but fast and reliable). When will you be in Mongolia?

As for whether you need off-road tires, I would say they would be very nice to have from Vladivostok onwards, since most of the trans-Siberian road is unpaved and pretty rough.

As for Mongolia, off-road tires are very nice to have, but you could make it without them. After all, there was a couple last year whoti did the western route in a 3-wheel Bangkok tuk-tuk with 12 inch scooter tires, so anything is possible. But I highly recommend off road tires since they will let you ride with more confidence and faster, plus get you through mud and sand a lot better. I use TKC-80s on my BMW and I love them. Good road grip and great off road.

Since DHL to Mongolia can run a couple hundred dollars per tire, you might want to reconsider and have it done in Japan. You might still have to pay the high express mail price to get them, but at least you could get them professionally mounted at a bike dealer. Here you will have to get it done by hand at a local M/C club or at a car tire shop.

-Scott

Thanks for the info scott.

We are going to check out the DHL Aus to Japan and change just before we enter Russia.
Looking forward to buying you a in UB some time at the end of June

Brett

Hi, do you need a place to put your bikes?
I can offer you one. When you are in UB please call 99762614
Sabina

Hello Sabina,
How widely we can take your offer? I'm coming to UB mid July with a friend and plan to spend there few days seeing some sights. We might need a place for our bikes.
Rgds,
Olli

Scott

I think that you could start a business selling tyres!!!

My wife and I shall be visiting UB in late July, we're leave London on 1st June and making our way over - slowly. It would be great to meet up with some other bikers on the way or in UB.

Ken
kenandtoni.com

Hi, myself and two friends are currently in Hovd, Mongolia en route to UB. Our next stop is in Altay and then we plan a southerly route through to UB. Would it be possible to keep our bikes there if necessary??? Also, i need some rear brake pads for a 97 XTZ 660. though i doubt very much they are available there would it be possible to get some sent from the UK via royal mail to your address?? The ones i have are pretty low so shall need some at UB.

As for tyres in Mongolia. From the Russian border to Olgi and through to Hovd we have seen about 20km of tarmac, and these are in the towns. I suppose you could make it through on road tyres but it would be quite intersting to say the least, and it may take a while. Were all on knobblies and would reccomend it too. We bumped into 3 German guys at the Russia/Mongolia border one of whome was on a road going BMW with road tryres. we passed them yesterday on the way through to Hovd going back the way they had come. Though some of this was to do with the weather, i dont think his road tyres would have been upto the job as it is very rough with very sharp stones and some very deep sand at times.

If anyone knows of some XTZ 660 rear pads in UB please let me know otherwise i shall get some sent out there ready for when we arrive in about 10 - 14 days.

Thanks