Georgian Military Highway
 

I'm looking at heading to Georgia this summer. From posts here, it looks like the Georgian Military Highway is doable with road tires--is that correct, or is it better to have some kind of dual sport tire?

Yes can be done i am sure but you will be going slow in some areas and also will be stuck behind cars as i over took on the sides alot so maybe you wont do that on standard road tires.

A few tunnels were very pot holed

I went both ways in 2013 on a DRZ and right up on the Georgian side to the border in 2014 in a standard Lada non 4x4 car.

Road work was ongoing in 2013 and in 2014 it was ok in a sh@t car.

Maybe some better info of someone who rode in recently would be better

G m h
 

Hi did Gmh 2 years ago no problem with road Tyers enjoy

OK guys, thanks for the info.

I will take this road in a few days. I will PM you if I see anything that could be a problem for a road bike.

I do not understand why you use a forum to share information when you PM the info afterwards?????


I would appreciate when everyone gets this information.

Thats a very selfish way.....

BGil, thanks for the offer, and I look forward to the info, but as klaus suggests, it would be better to put it here in this thread, so that everyone can benefit from it.

Hope you're having a great trip!

Sure, I will post it then.

With a PM I'm sure you get the information, that's all. I'm not trying to keep it secret.

That is ment nice to motoreiter but it does not help everyone else.

I am also going over the military highway at the beginning of July and am happy about every information.

Sure, understood, but I'll most def see it here anyway. Ride safe.

This was the worst part of Georgian Military Highway in July 2013. We did it two up on BMW R1200R with Dunlop Roadsmart 2. Maybe 50-60 kms of such road. It was not difficult.

Thanks for this picture, it gives us a good idea how this "road" is!

RR.

Yeah, thanks, that's helpful. Looks doable on road tires, especially if its dry.

Don't worry, most of the road was like this :-) , and I believe that the Georgians paved some of the bad sections by now.

Thanks again. I know it's a "real" road, but it is good know how are the worse sections!

I did this road a week ago with no problems there are some short bits like a track but easily done and fun. I did it on a set of pretty gone metzeler tourances no problem.

But you could do it on normal tyres no problem..

Crossed the 5th July. Good road by Georgian standards. There was a Goldwing at the border, so it's doable by any street bike.

Sorry for the delay, no Wi-Fi until now (2 nights camping in the wild).

If you want more pictures, I will link to my blog when it's updated (blog in French only, sorry).

Very beautiful road, amazing scenery. The only problem is that it took me 4 hours to cross into Russia :thumbdown:

We went as far as Kazbegi at the end of April this year and the road surface was fine apart from inside the tunnels which were potholed and be very careful entering and exiting these tunnels as some of the re-inforcing steel rods in the road are exposed. Unfortunately the day we went through there was heavy snow and all the trucks were stuck, but only a few hours delay. Four wheel drive does come in handy sometimes.


Boycie

Wow, hard to believe that I posted this five years ago and still haven't been to Georgia! But this year I'm really going (I think!)! My question is how early I can count on the Georgian Military Highway being open/free of snow?

I'd like to cross it in early/mid May, but would like to avoid snow/ice! Anybody have any experience in crossing about then? This year sounds like a really warm winter in Moscow, has it been the same near Kazbegi?

[EDIT] I found this site with what appears to be "almost live" photos from the border point (ie, photos updated every five minutes). Helpful for seeing conditions the day of the ride, but not helpful for advance planning!
http://webcam.gudauri.info/webcam/

In May you will probably have no problem, Stepanstminda is at 1750 m (Mount Kazbek will surely be snowed because it is at 5054 m) and the Trinity Church of Gergeti - 2170 m - should not be snowed either. It is easy to rain, it is a very mountainous area.

We did Altjatsije - Stepanstminda in one day and the next day we crossed the border

Thanks...I've received the same info from Georgian friends-of-friends. But this year's trip is cancelled. Hoping for next year but am doubtful it will be possible by then. :thumbdown: