Hi,
having to postpone my trip last year, I am finally doing it this year.

Starting in UB with a German Rider, Uwe, we will head to Irkutsk, then to Severobaikalsk, do the Western BAM, then from Tynda, go to Yakustk and finally I hope, go to Magadan on the old summer road.

We will both be on KTM 640 Adv. I have 4 weeks in total and I am not sure yet what to do with my bike once we arrive in Magadan. If I have time I will ride it back to UB and leave it at the Oasis for one year.

I might sell it to one of you fellow, that wants to start the trip in Magadan middle august.

The purpose of my thread is to know who else will be during the same period in the same region, so that we can share information during the trip for exemple.

Cheers
Zimi

The 640 is a good bike for the trip, assuming it doesn't break.

Info on road conditions and sights in 2013 at Mongolia to Magadan: Any which (the hard) way - ADVrider

If necessary, post #19 at http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...e-trip-57891-2 gives information, if you want to freight your bike from Magadan to Europe

Enjoy it. It'll be a big adventure. If Old Summer Road isn't possible, I wouldn't bother riding Tynda/Yakutsk/Magadan. After the BAM it'll be boring as hell.

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im aiming to be in Tayshet (as i left a fresh set of tires there from last year) around the start of august. riding solo, unless meet others en-route. am riding an xchallenge

Hi Chris,
thanks for your links. I will read in detail your trip.

I just wonder about one thing. Are there any ATM after Irkutsk for the whole trip to Magadan? Or do I need to take loads of cash? Do you have an approximation of how much I should have to pay the bribes to pass the bridges or to pay the truck drivers if they need to transport our bikes over the river?


I would really prefer the avoid the hassle of shipping back the bike. I don't have time for this and it's too expensive. Honestly I don't know why you bother to ship you old transalp back, it's not worth more than the shipping costs, if not less. My KTM is in fairly good condition, but is worth approx 3500-4000US$ now. I spent 940 euro to send it to Mongolia, and the return shipping is more around 1200 euro from UB. I know that from Magadan to Vlad it can be arround 1000$, so for me it's not worth. I have no sentimental relations to my bikes.

I really hope I will be able to ride the old summer road and I heard from others as well that the new road is boring... But then... I am dreaming now since 3 years to drive to Magadan, see this Road Sigh!!! Take a picture of me and my bike in front of it.. Well you know I suppose!

Edd, are you planning to ride the western BAM? If yes we should keep contact, we will be more or less at the same time as you on the track.

ATMs in Severobaikalsk, Tynda, Yakutsk and possibly one or 2 smaller towns in between.

Bribes/Kamaz truck: We never used any trucks to cross rivers. We used the railway bridges. The only place we paid was at the Kuanda bridge. We were lucky as there was just one skinny bloke, so didn't have to pay much. There's a video in the ride report.

I paid usd300 or 350 for my bike freight on a ship from Magadan to Vladivostok.

I shipped the Transalp back because the value of the bike and particularly the parts/luggage was a lot more than you think and I can legally return in the future. If you abandon a vehicle in Russia or Mongolia, you won't be returning. Their Customs computers are fully networked.

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Hi Chris,
thanks for the information. Good to know that there are ATM's, don't like to traveller with loads of cash on me.

Only 350 euro from Magadan to Vlad? Did you ship it with other bikers? Buy anyway, for me then to ride from Vlad to UB would be too long for the small time frame I have.

If I can't sell it, I would as well be ready to lend it to another rider that will bring it to UB.

Does somebody knows if the bikes needs to be taken out from Russia by the same driver that brought it in?

In no case I want to have problem if I want to come back to Russia.

yes, aiming to start the western BAM road from Taishet, and head to Tynda, and then onto Magadan

Hi Edd,
great, we might be at the same time as you. I will post more detail as soon as I know when I will start from UB.

Do you have a website or a blog? Can you give me your contact informations (phone and mail)?

I know from personal experience that there is an ATM at the airport in Sokol, which is the airport that serves Magadan. Sokol is about 60 km inland from Magadan.

Michael