Good luck with that approach in Russia, I would bring lots of cash...

And kudos to you for having the higher intellect to be able to determine what is a "stupid rule" that shouldn't be followed vs a "pain in the ass, but perhaps necessary rule" that should be followed, such fine distinctions escape me.

For instance, I consider Russia's "zero tolerance" rule for alcohol and driving to be "stupid" but gee, maybe they know better what driving rules should be adopted and enforced. Ya think?

No, I don't think they necessarily know better. Like I said, If I don't agree with the rule and wish to break it, the factor that determines my actions is the likelyhood of getting caught. Various times drank one or more s then got on the bike whilst I was in Russia. I made judgements at the time (which may not have been accurate) that I was unlikely to get caught.

I break the speed limit constantly whilst riding the bike here in the UK at the moment. I'm having a good run, done about 50,000 miles over the last year and not got into any trouble with the old bill. If I thought the government/police 'knew better' I would be driving everywhere sticking to the speed limits.

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UK to Mongolia 2009, on a DR350

Hey Nath your blog is interesting - But it seems a shame you have such anger and a lot of the rebel still burning in you - you seem to have learnt little from your travels - usually lets you open your mind a bit.
I don't really agree with your views on rules and you knowing best - But hey ho everyone to their own way !.
Some may say your disregard will knock onto the next guy travelling through where ever - but I suppose that's not really your problem.
I do often wonder with viewpoints like yours where there is such disregard for authority where ever it may be - if and when the shite really hit the fan and you end up in some far off police cell, or maybe one of them corrupt officials trying to keep you alive at the side of the road after a bad off,or maybe stuck in a hospital bed seriously injured - would you stick to your guns and not ask help from anyone in authority (ie embassy etc) to maybe give you legal advice, interpreter, repatriation or anything else you may need when everything else has fallen apart.
It just appears to me that here in the nanny state we have where views can be voiced you often see those that protest against authorities the most - shout even louder when they feel they are hard done too, missing out or needing help.
Be interesting to see where you stand on the views of authorities helping you when your in need, . Its no problem to me either way - not my life - but always wonder where you might be sitting on the fence when the cards are down.

Hey adventure950,
Your post is a little strange, I'm not sure where you got the idea from that I'm brimming with anger held against 'authority'? I simply do not feel obliged to blindly obey traffic rules/laws (and to some extent rules/laws in general). If you ever break speed limits then you are hypocritical to condemn me for this opinion.

My original post was with regards to what happens when you get caught by the old bill. Colebatch said he thought you should cough up straight away, that it's immoral to try and sit it out, wait to be let off. I don't agree with this at all. If they're trying to penalise you for a technicality, then it's fair game to try and wriggle out of it however.

Some would say that your eagerness to break out the 100 dollar notes the moment a policeman stops you and accuses you of a traffic rule infringement, "will knock onto the next guy travelling through where ever", but I suppose if he doesn't have the same unlimited depth wallet as you that's not really your problem.


For the record, I never had any difficulties with Russian police, the only encounters I had with Russian traffic coppers were pulling over at their checkpoints to ask them directions. I am only able to say from these encounters that they were fairly polite and helpful. In central Asia however I got stopped numerous times by dodgey coppers trying to accuse me of made up offences asking for money. I never payed any of them a penny, and all of them were quite friendly and cheerful when eventually letting me go - Obviously there are enough 'two wheeled cash machines' out there to make trying it on a a lighthearted but worthwhile affair for them.

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UK to Mongolia 2009, on a DR350

Hey Nath, grand, I like the reply a bit more balanced, unlike your previous postings (21 and 27) or maybe I picked up your previous posting wrong - but you do sound angry and certainly rebelious -if i got you wrong -.sorry but you did come across pretty heavy in the way you worded them for that I make my apology. The way you have worded your stuff this time makes the reading much easier and you come across a bit better - As for speeding yes I have in the past - oh the folly of youth ! and at times paid the price not only financially but also in some pretty big injuries and bent bike. However no doubt I will speed a little - here at home where I know the area well, the road well and am well experienced in the way things work, (well if the bilge pump can wind herself up quick enough to get there - that would be some achievement eh!) -(bilge pump being my old r80gs) but if I am caught - then fair play I take it on the nose as for the other rules of the road I stick to them here and abroad always do - i don't want to cause myself or anyone else hassle or a problem - so I don't feel too hypocritical on our difference of opinion. Nor do I accept that laws/rules (mainly on the road) have no reason or purpose, I generally accept they are there for some reason however obscure they may appear to me or anyone else. I agree with you on not paying bribes and so far never have but also have never been pushed on that one, so on the day depending on the circumstances I maybe might stay open and flexible on that viewpoint. Still it be good stuff to debate over after a few and then put the whole world back on track. Regards Jake.

Before you hurt your arm patting yourself on the back, I thought I'd point out that:
--no one has ever recommended paying "dodgey coppers" for "made up offences". Most people correctly resist paying in those circumstances; and
--the reason that Central Asian police were probably so friendly was not because there are so many "two wheeled cash machines" (how many foreign motorcyclists do you think the average Uzbek policeman sees in a year?), but because the whole thing was a lark from the beginning, their only cost was a few minutes of their time.

Also, I just want to say again that it is really not a good idea to drink and ride and Russia. You didn't get caught, but I can tell you from personal experience that they seem to focus more on checking motorcyclists than drivers, at all times of day (presumably because they assume motorcyclists like to party). And getting busted for having any alcohol in you is guaranteed to ruin your day...

I begin to worry for my trip to Samarkand of end of June.

Even if I don't drink and drive, my biker vest that I always wear when riding has some enamel pins that may be... suspect : Guinness, Kilkenny, Newcastle Brown Ale, Duvel...
Better to REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT!

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Nick and his 2010 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré

Aside from fines being justified or not, I believe the moment you leave your home country and venture abroad, you become an ambassador of your home country, your culture and, in our case, the motorcycle riding community.

I find it somewhat sad if this is overlooked for selfish reasons. And, no, one does not have to put up with nonsense either. But, there are ways to go about it. Acting stupid or ignorant is not one of the ways I would consider.

...just saying

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Thomas

"Hey, ...I'm just ridin' shotgun"