Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Northern and Central Asia
Chita-Khabarovsk Road Conditions? Chita-Khabarovsk Road Conditions?
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Northern and Central Asia Topics specific to Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, China, Japan and Korea
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 17 Aug 2010
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Bondi Beach, Australia
Posts: 6
Chita-Khabarovsk Road Conditions?
I haven't seen any word on road conditions between Chita and Khabarovsk for quite some time (or just can't find it:confused1. Can anyone who has ridden there this year give an update? Curious if they're at all close to finish paving the section as some have suggested ("by 2010").

I would think the annual flock of Trans-Sib riders would have finished the stretch by now or are on it as I type...
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 17 Aug 2010
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Hertfordshire, UK
Posts: 62
From buddies who have done it this year - it is still dirt / roadworks... If you want to speak to one of them he's from Melbourne and I could zip him an email if you give me contact details
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 18 Aug 2010
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 41
Went through in early May, road was great, almost finished. There are a few sections of roadworks, most of these were a few kilometres, perhaps up to 100 kms total, but probably much less. The rest is mint.
Cheers
Rob
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 18 Aug 2010
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Norway
Posts: 42
Check out road report on link. Hope this works

What goes around comes around... Dublin to New york - Page 18 - ADVrider
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 19 Aug 2010
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Sydney N.S.W. Australia
Posts: 147
Matey, I left Vladivostok, heading west on 3rd June. There is less than 200kms of dirt/gravel now. I would take any vehicle over the road to Ulaan Bataar now. When I last rode the Chita -Khabarovsk road (2008) there was well over 1,000kms of shitty, lousy gravel road. Now it is so good a lot of the fun has gone.
__________________
Chris
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 19 Aug 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Moscow
Posts: 1,117
The Trans Siberian Highway to Vladivostock sounds an ultimate adventure ride/drive, just as the Trans Siberian Express sounds a romantic experiance.

In reality both now are very, very long and very, very boring, journeys - mainly looking at trees.

The choice is do you want to be travelling with all the usual pollution, traffic, fumes etc on roads of similar quality as western countries OR do you want to spend 10 days and nights (from Moscow at least) in an overcrowded 'cattle truck', train carriage of an earlier era, where theft could be a problem, with people who think, act, (and probably smell), different to your expectation.

Neither appeal too much. But I have seen elements of both, so I am keen to find different journeys and meet the real folks of the lands I visit.

Russians are totally amazed at Westerners romantic notions of both journeys.

London to Brighton was once regarded with similar reverence. And that was only a couple of hours, not a couple of weeks!

(Rant over!)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 21 Aug 2010
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Bondi Beach, Australia
Posts: 6
Tony P,

Figured as much, and I agree, TransSib Hwy doesn't seem like the adventure it once was.

Reason I ask though is that I plan on arriving in Vladivostok early April 2011 (after big lap of Australia) and actually would prefer paved road rather than being bogged down in cold, muddy, snowy roads somewhere between Skovorodino and Mogocha so I can get on to the interesting bits in Mongolia quicker
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 21 Aug 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,377
There was another thread here about riding the trans-siberian in april, and I think the conclusion was that while it was probably possible, it will likely be very cold and wet, and possibly icy/snowy. I have not spent any time in that part of the world in April so am not the best source of information, but can tell you that in late May 2008 the road between Chita and Ulan-Ude was closed for a couple days because of snow. I would certainly be prepared for pretty miserable weather.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 24 Aug 2010
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Sydney, Oz
Posts: 16
Brass Monkeys
Went through Siberia a few weeks ago and it was freezing. Didnt take my wets off for two weeks as it was either raining or too cold. There were guys on Harleys and BMW road bikes so its possible on any machine.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 25 Aug 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: May 2007
Location: London
Posts: 621
Hi motoreiter

How very interesting that the Chita - Ulan-Ude road was closed because of snow in late May 2008. I drove that section on 15 May 2008 and the weather was fine - must have just missed it.

Mark
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 25 Aug 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,377
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilesmark View Post
How very interesting that the Chita - Ulan-Ude road was closed because of snow in late May 2008. I drove that section on 15 May 2008 and the weather was fine - must have just missed it.
I don't think it is very surprising that the weather there can change drastically in a few days...all I can tell you is that we arrived in Chita on about May 29 and were told that the road had been closed a couple of days before. When we rode to Ulan Ude the next day, the weather was cool and the roads were fine, but there was snow on the sides of the road in the mountains.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 26 Aug 2010
farqhuar's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Oztralia
Posts: 646
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilesmark View Post
Hi motoreiter

How very interesting that the Chita - Ulan-Ude road was closed because of snow in late May 2008. I drove that section on 15 May 2008 and the weather was fine - must have just missed it.

Mark
Weather seems to be very changeable in that neck of the woods Mark. I rode that same section on the 12th of June 2008 and it was snowing then too.

One month earlier, on 11th May, I was also snowed on in China approx 200kms south of the Mongolian border.
__________________
Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 26 Aug 2010
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Bondi Beach, Australia
Posts: 6
Quote:
Originally Posted by farqhuar View Post
Weather seems to be very changeable in that neck of the woods Mark. I rode that same section on the 12th of June 2008 and it was snowing then too.

One month earlier, on 11th May, I was also snowed on in China approx 200kms south of the Mongolian border.
Well looks like I'll be delaying my Eurasian trip until at least mid April if not 1st of May in that case. Gives me an extra month in Australia (will now be 6), so I can dick around some more, check out all the sights, and take things easy . It just means that I have to double the Australian pace when I hit Primorskiy since I have a hard stop at the beginning of next August. Upside is that the trip will be an endless summer. Thanks for the road conditions update and feedback.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 24 Sep 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Moscow
Posts: 1,117
There was an item on Russian TV News tonight about the completion of the tarmac road between Chita and Vladivostock.

Lots of pictures of stunning scenery divided by an empty, shiny, new road and Putin at the wheel of a car somewhere (another publicity stunt like being seen on a Harley recently?).

The piece ended saying in August only 30kms remained to be completed!
What happened since is anyones guess!
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 28 Sep 2010
colebatch's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London / Moscow
Posts: 1,913
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony P View Post
There was an item on Russian TV News tonight about the completion of the tarmac road between Chita and Vladivostock.

Lots of pictures of stunning scenery divided by an empty, shiny, new road and Putin at the wheel of a car somewhere (another publicity stunt like being seen on a Harley recently?).

The piece ended saying in August only 30kms remained to be completed!
What happened since is anyones guess!
Irkutsk - Vladivostok is all asphalt - finished now.

Just a few patchy bits between Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk to finish.
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Road Bandits east of Chita , Siberia mcinally Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road 4 2 Jan 2013 22:56
Road Conditions RogerM Australia / New Zealand 0 2 Jan 2009 05:02
Road From Vladivostok to Chita Vandal Northern and Central Asia 10 8 Sep 2007 08:16
Chita to Khabarovsk 4wheels Northern and Central Asia 13 3 Jan 2006 18:14
Chita to Khabarovsk route description Chris Scott Northern and Central Asia 3 23 Feb 2005 18:13

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27 2025
Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
CanWest: July 10-13 2025
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21 2025
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
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...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

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.

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!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

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.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 13:24.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top