I just stumbled onto this report. What a great adventure! Although the couple of times you were chased out of town by crowds of drunks doesn't sound so fun...!

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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

Thanks for your comment Bruce,
At the moment that wasn't too much fun indeed and quite stressy
but afterwards this adds up to the feeling of being on an adventure and makes for great stories afterwards
After all, an adventure without adversity does not make for very good story.
Keep on riding buddy

Hi Bruno,
I was just wondering if you had any news for your trip to Africa as you mentionned in your report, you should be preparing about now ist it not?
Is this trip still going ahead? or any other plans?
will you start a new post or continue on this one.

Looking forward to your reply
H

Hey Hiachem,
thanks for your reply,
Due to multiple reasons the Africe trip is not going to happen this year, probably 2017 or 2018 (that's a promise ).
This year we will go on a great Balkan trip with our own motorcycles.
Tom and me each bought a cheap but reliable Honda (90's CBR600F & VFR800), Chappy will not be joinging us this year unfortunately.
We depart 1 September and come back the 31st September.
We will visit all the Balkan countries in 1 month, starting from Belgium.
We will visit some cool places like Stelvio Pass (yes it's not Balkan countrybut it's on the route) Swiss lakes, Turkish mountains, Black sea, Transfagarasan pass, Panalpina pass, Belogrdchik, Ohrid lake, Kratovo & Skopje, Tirana, Montenegro Tara canyon, Plitvice, Mostar,...
SO it's going to be a nice one
I will write a seperate report of this trip once we are back, I do not wish to write a blog while on the move, as I want to enjoy and experience the trip to the utmost.
Like my Mongolia report I will write a full report once we are back and post it on this site in new thread.
Thanks for your interest hopwever hope you will like our new adventure.
Cheers Bruno

Hi Bruno

I LOVED reading about your Mongolia trip. We are heading there to do the same in June this year and are also hiring Mustangs from Cheke.

I have a question if you don't mind. I am not prepared to leave my passport as she requests for her security deposit, but also am concerned about leaving over $2000 in cash in case we have an issue getting it back on our return. As you have dealt with her, is it a professional enough operation that I should not be concerned it being withheld unreasonably at the end of the trip. In asking this, my contact with her so far has been great and she is very helpful.

I am sure I will have other questions between now and when we depart if you dont mind me running them by you.

Cheers
Lyn

Well, its just $$$'s, passport loss could become a very tricky complicated issue. The good ol' never-ending stories about bike rental shops around the greater Asia region and passport scams... Pay up $$$sucker$$$ or we keep your passport, people (vehicle renter) really still that desperate and naive to hand over passports while engaging with vehicle rental agencies ~ makes me wonder seriously... Ride on!!!

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Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR

Why don't you guy start up a motorbike rental company?
And just put the shoes on.
There you are with all your new bikes to rent out to a person you don't know and you would like some damage waiver money or a passport for security.
How out of the way is that to ask.
So leave your passport or leave some money.
We ride our own Motorbike with respect, do you do the same with a rental?
I am involved with a big Motorbike Rental shop in Thailand with over 200 bikes.
And I can tell you first hand how some of the bikes are returned.
Even if you think you are smart and leave your passport as the deposit and you crash the bike and don't return it, thinking shit I just apply for a new passport and tell your country embassy I have had my passport stolen or lost?
After you are 1 day late returning the bike, we then Email your local Embassy of your country we are holding your Passport as security?
Guess what now you are committing fraud by applying for a new passport.
Has happened a few times now with the end result being you have to come back with the bike.
But now you pay the full price to fix the bike with no favours own end.
Your ass will be kicked.
So play the game by the rules and you will be ok.
Do your research on the hire company for feedback and reviews and you will be fine, or just WALK on.

Hey Lyn,
thank you for your positive comment, I am glad you enjoyed reading it.
I would not call Cheke tours a professional operation, but rather an improvised family business. However I got a good feeling with Cheke and I actually never worried if she would give us trouble to refund our deposit.
When we arrived back at Cheke's, she did not even inspect the bikes for any damages, she was just curious on how our experience was.

Personally I do not advise to leave your passport anywhere but close to you, it is too important. Leave the money and don't worry about it, unless you fold the bikes in half, Chee will refund you without making a hassle.

For all your future questions, I am happy to respond, but write to my email: brunomommens@hotmail.com.

Thank you and enjoy planning your trip
Bruno

Great read, thanks for posting.

Very suprised you encountered so much aggressive behaviour, I have heard Mongolia is one of the friendliest countries you can go to!

Thanks Bruno for your adventure. Your story has inspired me to go for a ride there.

In your travel story please add the following info:
1. How many days you travelled
2. The total cost of your trip in 2015 money
3. A map showing your route
4. Best & worst areas to ride
5. Practical tips for safer bike trip

This is to help future travellers like me. Thanks in advance.

Cheers,
Das

Hi there!
This answer comes really late after your trip, but I'm really glad I found this trip report again!
Juste a year after your trip, I had the luck to go work in UlaanBaatar for 3 weeks... I didn't know what to expect and if it was worth it to delay my flight to enjoy the country, I had no idea what was Mongolia! After checking the mighty internet, I found this very topic on the hubb and read it all. It seemed so amazing, that I indeed delayed my flight back and go rent a bike at Cheke for a solo travel, and actually my first travel ever outside of Europe and on dirt roads!
This was hard but it made me fall in love with overland travel! After I came back I forgot about this forum and this topic... Just to find it again, by luck, a few years later!

So a really special thank you for your report ! Take care!

I've been renting a bike at Cheke's a few years back (2016 I think). I wouldn't call the operation very "professionnal" but I left my passport anyway, as I didn't have 700€ to leave there at the time. It just stayed in the same drawer she stored it in. She was indeed, really nice and helpfull, tho it depends a lot on your attitude with her. I think was a bit concerned about me when she saw that I went alone with zero experience. She got me one of her newest bikes and was extra helpfull to me

You will have a great time, if it's not already done

Great stuff. Thanks.

__________________
"When you get to the end zone, act like you've been there before". - Vince Lombardi

I just read this post, great trip and well written, it was like I was there with you at times
I should be there myself right now but there is always next year.

Ride safe

Did a very similar trip in 2019 with bikes also rented from Cheke - the photos and stories are causing me to experience an almost physically painful level of nostalgia. Great stuff