Irkutsk Russia shipping or storing bike
 

Hi
Does anyone have any information about shipping a bike from Irkutsk to Europe, or a place to store it in Irkutsk until I can get it shipped?
Alternatively has anyone sold a bike in Russia and have any contacts to sell my bike in Irkutsk?
Any advice / contacts would be most welcome I need to leave Russia ASAP and my bike has seized.

Thanks
Lorraine

Sorry to hear of your difficulties.

Firstly there is a strong, helpful, biker community in Irkutsk. They will assist with most things practical concerning fixing or transporting the bike further west but probably only within Russia, as far as Moscow. Also they can help with you selling it - and ensure you do it properly to get 'signed off' from the bike.

Ask a group of bikers you see, you will find them helpful and willing. In Russia "If you are on 2 wheels you are my brother" (or Sister!).

You are presumably in RUS on a visa allowing 90 days or 90/180 days. As far as Border/ФМС Controls you can leave without the bike without any difficulty and no declaration needed, as long as you are still within your own visa validity period.

On entry, Customs would have granted the bike a Permit (the barcoded sticker on the Customs Declaration form) for no longer than your own visa entry time limits/restriction. Customs keep extensive records in their computer and relate visiting vehicles through the rider/driver passport details. They will know when a vehicle is 'overdue'.

When/if you bring another vehicle to Russia they enter your Passport details and will be automatically alerted you have an 'overdue' vehicle here. (Note - this is Customs/Таможня computer, not the Border/ФМС computer. They are not automatically linked, but can be accessed by each other).

A destroyed vehicle can be 'signed off' by Customs on production of a Road Police/ДПС certificate.

If you sell it, you need to go to a local Customs office and get the sale/transfer accepted by them. The buyer will need to be with you to accept liability for Customs Duty. Then you will be 'signed off' from the bike in Russia.
DVLA, or its equivalent if the bike is not from UK, is another matter!

You may be able to get the local Customs office to extend the bike permit in your present circumstances, allowing you to rescue it from Russia later.

As far as transporting it - motos, snow scooters, waterski jet bikes and similar toys are regularly sent on freight trains. It is slow. Slower than passenger trains. However this is, as best I know, only an internal service so that will only get it to Moscow or St Pete. But being nearer, that may open other possibilities.

Come back if anything is not clear.

Good luck.

Irkutsk shipping
 

Hi tony

THAKS for the post.
I found a biker contact from the Irkutsk MC, thanks.

I overstayed my visa and have got a new transit visa extension running out fast so I leave Russia on Friday. My bike might be being shipped out by a moving company going to Europe, the bikers here will help with collection by the moving company (since I cannot be here). I am waiting on quotes and suspect it may be quite pricy.

I think a letter from the mechanic detailing the problems will help at the border i.e. why I can’t ride the bike out, and for the moving company why they are taking it out and not me.
I am still investigating trying to sell it here as I think that may just be the best option. Problem is since I have to leave I am not here to help with any transfer documents etc. This does mean the price plummets but there is nothing I can do about it, as long as it is possible / legal for the new owners with a letter from me.

I am hoping that since I’m on this extended visa and have the court judgment document that the border will be ok, I can’t imagine them forcing me to stay in the country because of my bike.

Ерфтлы

Good advice from Tony as usual, get in touch with the local bikers , they may even be able to repair the bike, you will be amazed at what the siberians can fix .

I dont know, what is the 'court judgement document'.


However, I believe a Transit Visa specifies the Entry/Exit points (I may be incorrect on this). The application does. In which case you should be exiting at the specified Exit. Failing to do that may raise questions - but you have the story/letter.


You should separate the thinking of 'you' and 'bike'. One is the concern of Border/ФМС people the other Customs/Таможня people. They are separate and interested in different things and unconcened about each others area of activity.


'You' can come and go to/from Russia if your Visa is valid. Border people are only interested in you and your Visa. They don't care about vehicles at all.


On entering, Customs become interested in you only if you have 'Something to Declare' for which you make a Customs Declaration (ie. such as bringing in a vehicle). Then, as part of the process, they look up your Passport in their computer to ensure nothing is 'outstanding' - Visa holders are only allowed to have one non RUS registered vehicle in Russia.
Similarly, on exit, Customs only become interested in you if you are taking 'Something to Declare' out. They are disinterested in passengers of vehicles someone else is declaring.

the bikers have been great and the mechanic who worked on the bike very good but sadly we need a new piston and rings and afew other things and the delivery time is 4 weeks, due to visa I must now leave ASAP :(

OK. I understand.
Good Brownie Points that you 'turned yourself in' instead of trying to bluff it out.

The green doc you have now is most likely what we call an 'Exit Visa' - valid only to get out of the country, once or multiple. They are usually issued to people without Visas but with Residency but no RUS passport (like me!).They only look at it on exit - on entering they are only interested in my Residency Permit.
Your Exit Visa obviously has a short life. Mine is valid for 3 years when my Permit comes up for renewal.

So, back to the plot -

The Irkutsk boys hopefully have the diagnosis and repairs under control.:thumbup1:
If they cannot readily get parts see if you can get them in UK and contact me. Post or DHL is not great as packages invariably get delayed by RUS Customs, so if they can travel in someones baggage to me in Moscow, so much the better - I can get them to Irkutsk quickly and fairly cheaply.

If your remaining hours here allow it, you should spend some time at the local Customs office (hopefully with a biker who speaks fair English if your Russian is as bad as mine!) and get some extention or agreement or permit or procedure understood and to follow - for the bike to remain in RUS for the time being, to be collected when possible at a later date.

Later when the bike moves, we can sort things out about possibly getting it to Moscow or Peter. I have a lock-up garage in Moscow where it could safely remain until you or someone comes for it - if not to get it to UK right now at least get it out of RUS and into EU is probably beneficial. But it could safely live in my garage all winter if need be, assuming its coolant can be easily drained or is -30c!

When back in UK, check your positon with DVLA - they are like circling vultures, waiting for the slightest error so they can impose penalties or Out of Court Settlements - all to shore up their ailing budget caused by their own inefficiency.:nono:

Keep me informed of progress - either on this thread or through PM where I will give my Email.
I'll do what I can from here.

Bike in Irkutsk
 

Hi Tony
Thanks for your ever increasing and good advice.:thumbup1:
I must flay to Kaz tomorrow or am in deep visa trouble
My new Irkutsk bike friends have diagnose problem correctly but parts will take a month :confused1:
So I’m arranging for the DRZ to be shipped back to Europe - Switzerland actually not UK :) The MC will hang onto it until the shippers arrive to take it next week. So a sad ending for this part of the trip, I will continue in Kaz but probably as a passenger in the 4x4 of a friend unless I find an extremely cheap bike in Almaty.
Will keep in touch
Cheers
Lorraine