Omsk to Kurgan - short cut through KAZ?
 

I'll arrive in Omsk next monday and wonder if it would make any sense to go towards Kurgan by Petropavlovsk.

This would mean to do border crossing between Russia and Kazakhstan as well as buying some KAZ road insurance for my bike. I hold valid multiple entry visa for both countries.

Saving some miles, as it is quite cold now, is the idea behind it.
But no idea if this is a busy border, about needed times to cross it, roads in KAZ.
Any advise is much appreciated.

Thanks

Uwe

I drove last june from Kurgan to Petropavlosk. Border was ok, quite modern and i think it took total few hours from me. Nothing special on it. I think road between border to Petropavlosk was normal Kazakstan road (meaning holes sometimes what you have to watch but it was ok to drive anyway if you are used to it)
In Petropavlosk i met one kazak biker with Suzuki Hayabusa and spoke little bit with him outside bank and we rode together out from city. He was happy to see some foreign bikes and he spoke good english. I have his contact information if your interested ask them in PM.

Sent PM, thanks for help. Uwe:thumbup1:

Last year me and Bushman misread our map in Omsk and made our way to Chelyabinsk on the road that goes through KZ - except we didn't have KZ visas. So when we got to the border crossing (no queue by the way) we though it was a police check - we realised after a few minutes discussion with a border guard and so it was that we had to detour north to Ishim and then on to Tyumen (enjoyed our stay here) and then to Ekatrinberg before finally heading south to Chelyabinsk - around 300 mile detour.

Really enjoyed Omsk - we stayed at the Ibis hotel - nice friendly staff - first place we hit from Vladivostok where the receptionist spoke english.

Martin

I think its quicker via Ishim ... Omsk - Ishim - Kurgan

All the Russian traffic goes via Ishim, cause its quicker, and they all have visa free travel to KZ - which means quicker border crossings for them - yet they still go via Ishim. You might save 100 km (about an hour of travel time) at the max ... but add two border crossings ... which are going to be a good 1-2 hours each.

I also took the Omsk -> Ishim route, not a bad little stretch, the signage seems to point traffic towards the Kaz border but as colebatch says the traffic goes north out of Omsk, 110KM ish up the road near Krutinka was a very nice clean truckers motel, welcome shower / food and cheap to boot jeiger.

Decided to go Omsk - Ishim - Yalutorovsk - Shadrinsk - Chelyabinsk.
OK to drive, not too much of ugly road, but went into some ice rain and lost
the bike one time, needed to use the gravel line on the side to continue for a while, but could make it to a TruckStop close to Chelyabinsk.

Went from Kurgan to Ishim in August and the last 80 KM to Ishim are either bad (unpaved) or under construction, so this part was a no go this time.

Thanks for all replies

Uwe:rain:

Where are you going this late in the year? It is already snowing in Moscow, I can't imagine what the weather is like out there?

Yes, I'm late - but on the way home. Thinking to go to Rostov-na-Donu and then by Odessa to Bulgaria. Want to see the EICMA in Milano and catch a dry spot to cross the Alps.

Sent my bike from Vladivostok to Novosibirsk and it took quite a while to get it back. Went on cold but dry conditions, except today. So keep your snow in Moscow!

My gear is made for scandinavian winter conditions, so I ride still in the comfort zone!

Пока!

OK well good luck, hopefully weather won't be bad down by Rostov.