Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Northern and Central Asia
Northern and Central Asia Topics specific to Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, China, Japan and Korea
Photo by Carl Parker, Always curious Tibetans, Tibet, China

Destination ANYWHERE...
Adventure EVERYWHERE!


Photo by Carl Parker,
Always curious Tibetans,
Tibet, China



Like Tree22Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 3 Apr 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 55
who has plans for BAM/110/ROB summer 2013?

I'm pretty close to organising visas and flights into irkutsk or khabarovsk so I can ride the bam.

Right now I plan on riding from Ulan-Ude heading north along the 110 to novy Uoyan on the BAM where I will start heading east. I will either attempt the eastern part of the bam or I will take a train from Tynda to the other side of the river from Yakutsk and do the road of bones, then fly back from Magadan to Irkutsk or Khabarovsk (wherever I fly back to Australia from). I will see how I feel after doing the 110 and some of the western bam. If I do manage to complete the eastern bam and I have time I'll try and get back to the western end of the bam and complete the whole thing, but expecting all those stars to line up is pretty ambitious.

I'll be doing it on a pushbike and probably solo, so I will be using the train network to get between the start/end points and if things get too tough.

Should I expect to see anyone from here somewhere out there?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 4 Apr 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Bristol UK
Posts: 454
You may well spot us around August and into September in our Land Rover with trailer

What are you riding? We will likely stop for any cyclists in the region anyway!

G
__________________
Land Rover D90
www.Siroccoverland.com | Follow us on Facebook
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 4 Apr 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 55
I'll be riding a black surly long haul trucker set up as a suspensionless mountainbike.

What are your plans, or is it pretty up in the air at this point?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 4 Apr 2013
colebatch's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London / Moscow
Posts: 1,913
As far as I know they havent finished the train network to Nizhny Bestyakh (across the river from Yakutsk).

Services only run to Aldan I believe.

You should be able to hitch a lift easily enough with a push bike
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 5 Apr 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 55
Quote:
Originally Posted by colebatch View Post
As far as I know they havent finished the train network to Nizhny Bestyakh (across the river from Yakutsk).

Services only run to Aldan I believe.

You should be able to hitch a lift easily enough with a push bike
I've read in a few places that the line has been completed to Nizhny Bestyakh, one being wikipedia but I did find others a while ago when I first considered it as an option.

As you say it's not going to be a showstopper if the train doesn't get the whole way. With all the dust and/or mud that I've heard about on the road to yakutsk I'd try and avoid spending too much time riding the road when I have a visa deadline and need to get to Magadan.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 5 Apr 2013
colebatch's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London / Moscow
Posts: 1,913
the basic "line" has indeed pretty much been built ... but it still takes years to get it operational ... set up signalling etc.

There are no services on it yet. I dont know when they are scheduled to commence. It will be a big deal when they do, so you will hear about it. But I wouldnt bet on it for this summer.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 9 Apr 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Bristol UK
Posts: 454
Quote:
Originally Posted by black_labb View Post
I'll be riding a black surly long haul trucker set up as a suspensionless mountainbike.

What are your plans, or is it pretty up in the air at this point?
Neat! I like those

Rough plan is Mongolia for July, Lake Baikal early August then see if we can drive the western BAM. We would like to drive the Old Summer Road to Magadan also but there are a lot of variables.

Currently in Georgia and will enter Russia at the end of the month to transit to Kaz and onward from there

G
__________________
Land Rover D90
www.Siroccoverland.com | Follow us on Facebook
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10 Apr 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 55
We probably won't end up meeting up unless I end up doing the ROB.

In developments I've just booked flights and will be in Khabarovsk on the 14th of june. I expect to start from Ulan-Ude on the 18th or so once I get myself there (a short 48hr train ride) and organise a few other things that can only be done in cities like a sim card, visa registration etc. Just need to get the visa and it won't be long before I'm standing next to my bike terrified at the thought that I'm riding off towards the bam alone trying to decide if it's a good idea.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10 Apr 2013
colebatch's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London / Moscow
Posts: 1,913
Quote:
Originally Posted by black_labb View Post
...Just need to get the visa and it won't be long before I'm standing next to my bike terrified at the thought that I'm riding off towards the bam alone trying to decide if it's a good idea.
BAM Road is fine ... always remember you have this huge safety net there of the train line. Trains will stop on the BAM if you flag them down in the middle of nowhere - especially the small local trains.

The 110 and Old Summer Road are more of an issue safety wise. You dont really have any backup until someone else comes along. Which might be days or even a week or more.

There are some bear habitats along the Western BAM - around Khani (Hani) its said to be an area to be wary. But I have done the road a few times and not seen any there. More of an issue up north, on the Old Summer Road and approaching Magadan.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12 Apr 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 100
Quote:
Originally Posted by Griffdowg View Post
Rough plan is Mongolia for July...
the end of the month to transit to Kaz and onward from there

G
Our paths may just cross again!! Heading out in May to cycle back... should be in Mongolia June/July...
__________________
Helen's Take On...
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 26 Jul 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Brighton
Posts: 98
I think for bikes it's the weather that's the killer, I did it last year east to west with a friend in fantastic conditions and the ride was amazing. I can imagine it being a totally different experience in the wet though, maybe I will try it sometime . As Walter says the bridges are the main problem for 4WD, the 2 big ones are guarded so if they do let you drive them at least they will know when the next train is due. We crossed a couple of other smaller ones on the bikes but that's easy to bump them onto the side of the track and shoot through. Also I wouldn't fancy sitting in a 4WD day after day over those roads! I'd end up with piles! Ha ha
Good luck and look forward to reading your progress.
Mark
__________________
Mark
www.bamriders.com
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 26 Jul 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Brighton
Posts: 98
The 2 big ones would need to be by railway bridge, the 2 or maybe 3 others we crossed could probably have been crossed by 4WD, but it was easier to jump on the tracks. Also the rivers were low when we did it last year, this year maybe a different matter. All adds to the fun
__________________
Mark
www.bamriders.com
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 27 Jul 2013
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: UK but currently on the road RTW
Posts: 206
Thumbs up Just arrived in Tynda from Severobaikalsk...

I arrived in Tynda last night along with Peter Berry (XR400) and the J.A.B.A MUNDUS | Motorcycling Around The world lads, Jon and Andrew (2 x KTM 690 Rallye)

Lots of talk about how tough the ride is but its all relevant. Relevant to:
  • What you're riding (and how well you've prepped it)
  • How much gear you're carrying
  • What you're riding experience is
  • And as Harryg mentioned, the weather. Not just when you're on the BAM but during the days/weeks preceding.
We had blue skies and sunshine on all but the morning of our final day. The water in the puddles was approx 30cm below the high water lines and so I (personally) think we had it easy. (Although a couple of puddles were approx 80cm deep).



Being (very) short in the leg its the rocky and/or murky water crossings that I find most difficult and so thanks to what I presume to be relatively low water levels I didn't find anything too difficult. I just walked my bike across the rocky rivers. (I'm riding a DRZ400 with approx 30kg of gear).

The big river crossing (W20 in the waypoint folder) has been replaced by a new bridge.

Other than that it was like a great trail ride but fully loaded.


We all felt the worst section was Novy Uoyan - Taksimo. Walter; you need to upgrade your description from 'Rough Road' to 'kin Rough Road'! It didn't help that we were all riding with hangovers after stumbling across (Saturday) Girls Night Out in NU...

It's a tiring ride that's hard on machinery. Our tally was:

7 punctures (all rears were nails, all fronts pinched by sidewall collapse)
1 Broken aluminium dash plate
1 leaking fork seal
1 holed radiator
1 snapped chain (that snapped the front sprocket & nut!)
1 engine filled with water (KTM - no names mentioned )

The oldest, cheapest bike of the four (Peter's £800, '97 XR400) merely lost a seat mounting bolt!


Black_Labb - we saw your tyre tracks but somehow never saw you!

Quote:
Originally Posted by black_labb View Post
The bam past yuktali is far from graded gravel roads. Looks like serious flood damage.expect it to be just as bad.more details wheni can charge electronics.im currently 100+km from yuktali and it might be improveing. We'll see soon
Found out the solo rider I missed before the vitim is an australian. Any idea who he is Walter or anyone else?
It doesn't improve until after Lopcha

The bridge across the Chilchi River has collapsed requiring a detour across the unguarded railway bridge. However, someone has gone to reasonable lengths to deter anyone from doing so...



From the west...



From the east...



I'll finish on a lighter note. Here's our 'Porn Star' pose photo from the Golden Spike...


__________________
ShortWayRound - OTR RTW since 2006

Photo Galleries

ShortWayRound/Facebook

Last edited by JediMaster; 27 Jul 2013 at 12:11. Reason: correct spelling mistake
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 27 Jul 2013
colebatch's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London / Moscow
Posts: 1,913
Quote:
Originally Posted by JediMaster View Post

The big river crossing (W20 in the waypoint folder) has been replaced by a new bridge.
Thats a pity ... it was one of the classic sights

Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 27 Jul 2013
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Brighton
Posts: 98
Well done chaps, its a great ride isn't it enjoy a and good luck on the next section.
Mark
__________________
Mark
www.bamriders.com
Reply With Quote
Reply


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
Siberia summer 2013 chris Travellers Seeking Travellers 36 13 Jun 2013 09:03
Share a container from AK or WA to Vladivostok summer 2013? calvin.wiley Trip Transport 7 13 Apr 2013 23:39
Support vehicle and russian translator available for FREE! summer 2013 moggy 1968 Northern and Central Asia 0 26 Feb 2013 13:04
Motorcycles go free to Iceland on Smyril ferries in summer 2013 Dave222 Iceland 2 8 Dec 2012 14:34
RTW: London to New York Summer 2013 pympster Travellers Seeking Travellers 16 30 Apr 2012 09:46

 
 

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
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
Ecuador June 13-15
Bulgaria Mini: June 27-29
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Aug 14-17
Romania: Aug 22-24
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

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.

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 Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes.
(ONLY US RESIDENTS and currently has a limit of 60 days.)

Ripcord Evacuation Insurance is available for ALL nationalities.


 

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!

Every book a diary
Every chapter a day
Every day a journey
Refreshingly honest and compelling tales: the hights and lows of a life on the road. Solo, unsupported, budget journeys of discovery.
Authentic, engaging and evocative travel memoirs, overland, around the world and through life.
All 8 books available from the author or as eBooks and audio books



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

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 08:38.