Tony,
reading you, i feel like living in another city you go to Peterburg and see what decades of no lane marketing did to people. here in Msk
drivers just look for the fastest lane and dive into it if there's space but they DO drive IN A LANE! nowdays i think 7 from 10 drivers use blinkers and this manouvre is easy to predict.
of course there are some strange things like the fastest usually is right not left but imagine you're in England. the same goes for overtaking - we overtake on the suitable side, where there' s space for it - but this mostly works on speedways or more-then-4lane. on minor roads without middle barrier ( sorry for incorrect word) traffik hardly differs from central european style.
police - inside Msk cheks are so rare ( once a season ?), and mostly at the city exits.
black jeeps( we call all big 4x4 a "jeep") - i really CAN'T say they bother anyone. you do not wait a bear to behave like a cat - so big cars drive in a different style,that's all. so do motorcyclists here.
awareness: do not hesitate to use horn and loud pipes. if you go with a car speed, behave like a car, if not - go 20 miles faster and no need for mirrors when filtering better go as left midlane as possible. drivers do see and expect you there. right lanes demand much more knowlege of national mentality.
i can't say deeper in the country drivers a more loyal to bikers - there we are much fewer and slow trucks with almost not seeable blinkers turn left without looking in the mirror. there are hazards on country roads too, they are just different. Msk is the best place in countru for riding. by style it's like Paris - laws are for courts, roads are for living people.
if your bike is in Germany you'd better ride it from there to Msk. normally it's 1 day route on perfect roads but i'm not sure in Belorussian visa for an american. in the end of the summer alternative route is a pleasure: poland- lietuva- latvia- estonia - peterburg- Msk. if going fast it will take 3 days. not so big pleasure but very useful for understanding Russia - enter Rus from Latvia. this "federal" road now is the worst asphal track on the continent but no problem for GS. me and my man going there for next week-end so if interesting i'll show pics after.

we have strong BMW culture here, thanks to perestroyka cult of bavarian cars. look at Автодом | Клуб BMW Motorrad you'll find official club there and links to official workshop (mind Avtodom is not the only BMWmoto dealer)
and a heap of non-glamour GS riders in Pikasso bar.
we russians have a saying " the devil is not so frightening as people draw him". i think all the hazards will deminish when you see them with your own eyes.