Central asia 2 months
 

Hello,

Im looking into a trip this year if the worldwide situation allows it.
I have a few questions.

This will be my first time outside Europe. I have been travelling by motorcycle around Balkans earlier, this time i want a bigger adventure.

Im 33, driving africa twin 1100.
My route so far is Norway - Turkey - Georgia - Azerbaijan - Ferry to.. From this point im not sure if i should take ferry to Kazakhstan or Turmenistan then east through Pamir - Up north to Kazakhstan - Russia (got relatives 100km from Kazakhstan border - Trough Russia back to Norway.

My qestions is. Is my bike too heavy for this trip?
How much time does it takes from Istanbul and to Osh?

Starting in early June.
If anyone got any tips, dont hesitate.

Thanks

Bike suitability depends on your ability. There will be unmade roads, but if you stick to them there shouldn't be deep sand. Don't plan to go to Turkmenistan, visas are notoriously hard to get and half are refused for no apparent reason. Baku-Aktau is a better route but be aware the boat doesn't go to a timetable, it sails when it's full. You will need fuel range min. 400 kms as fuel is scarce and of low quality in Uzbekistan and the Pamirs.

The route you describe will be around 20,000 kms. That's very ambitious especially allowing for rest, servicing and sightseeing. You will run yourself ragged doing that. High mileage days are possible of course, but not advisable over a long period, plus on some of the poorer roads out there you will struggle to do a long distance. More than 300 kms per day (on average) is pushing it, and you would miss seeing anything in the places you're going. Who wants a trip where the only thing you see is the road ahead?

That said, this route should be a great trip if you allow enough time. I plan to do something quite similar, but going between the UK and Magadan, and not until 2022 as I think there will still be a lot of travel restrictions in place this year. You shouldn't need a carnet if you don't go through Iran, and the only visa you'll need to arrange in advance is Russia.

If you haven't already, have a good read of www.caravanistan.com which is a brilliant travel resource.

Hello and welcome to the forum,
I was going to give you some advice but basically I second what Tomkat said, I would allow more time and have a plan B in case things don't open up.

Planning similar route, albeit more slowly. For Uzbekistan lots of people recommend bringing a cheap fuel filter: Fuel Filter Funnel

There's no ferry to Turkmenistan anymore; at least there weren't in 2019, and it is next to impossible to get Turkmen visa. They only issue 5 day transit visa, you have to be coming from Iran and they give GPS tracker so you don't stray.

Bike is fine as long as you fill comfortable riding it in deep sand. The distances between gas stations unpredictable in northern KZ and UZ, you'd need to carry spare fuel. My bike gets about 210-230mi (330-370km) and I ran dry a few times. There is a 500km stretch in northern Uzbekistan without fuel.

The ferry is an old soviet rusty bucket, but food was ok and they fed 4 times. There is no schedule, ferry leaves when they get 30 trucks and it could be a few days or you may have to wait for next one.Ticket was $180 and there was also port fee. I paid $30 for fixer to do my paperwork. He said he can do it in advance if you send him documents; I might have his whatsapp somewhere.. Port is south of Baku, 1hr+ IIRC.

I think at every point in your trip, there will be an opportunity to take an "easy" road whenever there is a "hard" road. So an Africa Twin should do just fine. You can get yourself in trouble, but only if you want to.

If you only have two months to spend, you can have a better adventure than spending all of it on a transit stage. And I say that as someone who has regularly done Tallinn to Arctic Norway and back in a 4-day long weekend. ;)

Want to spend 2 months on a big adventure? Fly to a great destination, rent a bike locally, fly back.

It's kinda expensive 1993 Africa Twin was $85/day, XT600 was $95 and SWM Superdual was $110/day when I asked around in Osh.

Marat at Silkoffroad -motorcycle tours and rent in Central Asia does some pretty good tours, bikes, guides and backup vehicles provided.

That's well in line with big-bike rental prices anywhere in the world.

Not only are you saving time on transit (which is very valuable to someone doing adventures while keeping their job), but you're not putting wear and tear on your own motorcycle getting there, not buying new tires and other spare parts, not suffering the depreciation of the bike if it's new... And if you arrive there, you don't have to hire the bike for your entire holiday. You don't have to pay the rent on the days you will spend checking out the sites that are easily accessible by public transport, organized tours, etc.

I wouldn't exactly call bypassing Balkans, Turkey and Caucas "saving time on transit", those perhaps even better destinations than stans and yes cost of rentals is the same as in Europe so you might as well ride your own IMO. Storage is inexpensive ~$15/mo you can leave your bike there and fly next time to continue trip.

Its all paved... except for construction zones and the Wakan corridor and over the Pamir pass (which are hard gravelled).

Dont sweat it. Still its a lot if driving.

rotflol.

I'm in a similar situation, I will be 33 tomorrow, I would like to do your exact same trip or similar, willing to reach Kyrgyzstan from Italy travelling for 2 months.

Only thing is that I would like to travel on a 1976 honda cb400f and don't know if it's doable or not.

It's doable given right tires, patience and right route choice.

Be careful if you decide to do Pamir highway the section north of Murhab has vicious washboard your CB may not have enough suspension to cruise on it at 70kmh. The other sections along Afghani border get paved and thoroughly destroyed by overloaded trucks coming from China but it shouldn't be problem as long as you slowdown to deal with it. Wuhan valley doesn't see much heavy traffic so it is better.

Generally main roads are in good shape but the older ones hadn't been maintained since they have been paved in soviet era, but if you have good sand tires you can just get off and ride in the field like locals do good luck.

As I recall he posted a similar question on the HUBB facebook page and was generally warned off using a "classic" bike to do the journey. Aside from the impossibility of getting spares if something goes wrong, he'll put a lot of wear and tear and possible damage on the bike which will a shame on a classic machine. If he's happy to do the trip on a road bike something like a CB500T or SV650 would be better.

I think that would depend on whether you are going off road or areas where you might get stuck alone. In that case IMO its down to the CRF250 size or smaller.

:)

If he is a young scandinavian he is probably strong enough to lift that AT without unloading, if needed. Generally something like KTM 690, X-challange, 650 Dakar, DR650, Tenere 660, etc would be the right size as long as you get range resolved. Given the choice I would pick CRF 250 but that's another story..

To OP: make sure that bike is loaded in such way that you can pick it up without unloading. It is also a good idea to have a velcro on handlebar which can be used to lock front brake; in some situations having front wheel locked helps with lifting. Good sand tires are important and be careful they have their version of fech-fech called "pukhlyak".. It's slippery but the main challenge it's like fluid it hides deep ruts and it is a complete whiteout when you hit it. Also do not ride in the dark; free range cattle, horses and effin' camel.. camel does not reflect any light and they are faster than horse.

Hi cyclo

I meant stuck, as in bogged stuck, or on a muddy incline stuck, not picking it up after it has fallen over for a sleep.

My 14yo daughter can pick my GSA up ;)

Cheers

Hi there,

A few comments on this, as someone who owns 2 x old-timers, an '83 XT600Z and a '92 XT600E.

On whether it's doable or not isn't a yes or no answer, IMO. It really comes down to your ability to be self-sufficient and (crucially!) organised.

Over the last few years as I've started riding older bikes over long distances, I've found the following have worked for me:

1 - Learn everything to be as mechanically self-sufficient as you can, at least with what you can carry. You might not learn how to repair/deal with everything before you leave, but if you learn as much as you can you'll find that'll give you the confidence deal with the things you don't know yet. And remember, time is a currency in itself with this stuff.

2 - Get ahead of the game, by a) knowing what's been changed, how and when on your bike b) what it's vulnerabilities are and c) what will need to be changed, when. Think about what spares you might need to get and how you might get them.

3 - Prevention is better than cure, be prepared to change/work on the bike with 1 and 2 above in mind. On my trip bike, I work to know the condition of everything on the bike before I leave, and then do scheduled check ups when on the road. Don't fall into the trip of simply hoping for the best all the time (though this can't be totally avoided, admittedley!).

4 - Think about how you manage the bike, in terms of amount of miles, difficulty of territory etc, wear & tear and plan 2 and 3 around that.

I say this as someone who not so long as go was mechanically pretty useless. But I made a decision to act on that.

It's brought a new enjoyment to by riding, even if it's frustrating at times. Riding an older bike is a heart over head decision, but not a heart whilst forgetting your head decision, if you see what I mean.

Good luck and enjoy the Honda!

Ed

On your front lawn maybe. In a real world situation, doubtful.

That’s the exact point I am making.

My daughter can pick my GSA up on the front lawn.

No hope in hell on its side stuck in the mud in Mongolia or the Liverpool Plains.

And nor could I, or you, or Arnie, or Connor McGregor.

CRF etc - yes.

When I was last in Bishkek in 2019 I spotted a HD Electraglide in the hotel awaiting freight back to Italy with ADVfactory | He rode from Italy to Kyrgyzstan.

Lots of people freight their bikes to or from (or both ways) Central Asia. Many use large Euro or Japanese heavy bombers like yours. It is possible to ride pavement all the way around the world, N/S and E/W. How much non-pavement you can do depends on your riding ability and bike suspension.

It is possible to park your bike in the Eurasian customs union (Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia) for 12 months, so riding one way and parking bike in order to return the following year is very feasible.

Riding there and back in 2 months?! For me it would be utter hell on earth, but other iron butt-er types probably wouldn't mind. Each to their own.

I have also parked a bike in Mongolia in 2012/2013. Then I rode a fat shed of a 200kg+ Honda Transalp. In 2019 I rode a 145kg Honda XR650L with soft luggage and decent suspension. Ask me why :clap:

Straying off topic here, but think this is a very interesting point. I have a frustration with certain motorbike companies using their marketing power to give the impression that the risks of having a heavier bike (relative to your individual strength) are no less in the middle of nowhere on your own, than they are on your front lawn (as you say).

From what I've seen, when combined with the increased accessibility of GPX routes in more remote locations, there seem to be more people taking risks with bigger bikes without thinking through the full risks properly, based on what they can and can't do. The TET Facebook group is classic case in point.

I'm all for solo riding - I do 95% of mine that way - but I worry, based on the lessons I've learnt myself along the way, that it's only a matter of time before someone gets into serious trouble.

And, no, before someone says - I do not and have never owned a bike smaller than a 600cc ;-).

Ed

Well no one forcing you to drink MFG Kool Aid and 95% if those bikes they pedal almost never leave pavement. As for TET I'm curious to see how it stacks up against TAT, WR250r is the bike of choice for that one.. at least for the second half if you don't cut the corners.

Well's thats true. I suppose it's the slightly disingenuous nature of said marketing/Kool Aid which niggles me more than anything else.

I'm not sure if it is genuine disingenuousness, plain short-sightedness or simply answer to market research. If you look at GS every next gen became heavier and better on road, and what seems to be the hot market now, the middle weight segment, the 890, T700, Tiger 900, etc is heavier than R80GS was. I guess you can't make money by selling many 390 Adventure and 701LR, and doesn't look like there's huge demand for AJP PR7, SWM or Fantic.. just saying.