1) I'll not ride all the way back, i don't heva enough time. After beeing for a month in Japan i'll leave by plane. And the Vespa? Well i still don't know what i'll do with it...but i was working on two solutions...
-Shipping: I already contacted some shipping agency and they told me the costs will be around 900 euros...But i'm still looking for something cheaper...
-Deposit: I'm also thinking about let the vespa in Japan for 6 month or more and than going back to take it, but i don't know if it's possible nor if there are parking or deposit where i could let it.

2)The trip is focused on riding in europe, japan, and the transiberian train.
I know that i'll not ride very much in Russia but that's not my wish. Anyway i'll arrive in Russia from Finland, so i'll ride the vespa to S. Pietroburg and than to Moscow. I'll take the transiberian train becouse i really like it and it's more chilling and safe than russian streets.Than i'll pass almost one week in Vladivostock probably, so i'll ride the pacific area for few days...
Do you think it make sanse or do i should change program?

Anyway...i'm still confused one one point becouse everybody gives a different interpretation, so let's try to make it clear...
Is it possible to charge the vespa on a transiberian train?No right? Bot i heard that is possible and cheap, but how? In a agency? Giving cash to some trainworkers? Hiring a wagon?
What's the best, fastest and cheapest way to teke the vespa with me from Moscow to Vladivostock?

Thanks!

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La preparazione di un viaggio è una delle parti più eccitanti insieme alla partenza e al ritorno...

I wouldn't worry about corruption. There's a lot more talk about corrupt Russian police than first hand stories. Riding in Russia this year I didn't get stopped once by the police at all, and other interaction (stopping to ask directions) got proffessional helpful response that you'd expect from any European police force. Riding from Helsinki to Moscow I'd be amazed if you got any aggro off the Police.

Taking a long distance train through Russia will show a part of Russian culture and give you an idea how vast and empty the country is. But even if you stop off at cities on the way you won't really get an idea of what Russia "is".


I put my bike on the train between Krasnoyarsk and Moscow, with a small rail freight company that only operated between those two cities. I won't tell you how much it cost, but someone who knew the company in someway did the talking and the bike got sent as "auto-parts" and as less weight than it actually was. The same amount of money spent on petrol would not have got me very far at all. A passenger train on that route is 3days, the bike took 5, and for even less money it would have took 10. There was a few days wait before the train it went on left though (which we knew about).

Other freight options would be putting it on a post wagon - Never found exactly who we needed to speak to about that. Or getting your own container - Would take forever to send something this way, well over a month I would have thought from Moscow to Vlad. So basically a private rail freight company is your best bet.

Even if you could take the same train as the bike, why would you want to? Better to take a normal (fast) passenger train and spend the time seeing Moscow, Vladivostok, and maybe a couple of cities on route if you don't mind paying more in train fares.


You need to find a rail freight company that operates this route and get someone to translate for you, or even better find a Moscow biker who can help you. Don't expect to turn up in Moscow speaking minimal Russian with no contacts, and get your bike going anywhere fast or cheap.

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UK to Mongolia 2009, on a DR350

Well the point is that i would stay more as i can in japan, that's why i want to take the train and why i hope to cross all the russia in 20 days.
But to do that i have to have certain ideas about train stuff.
I would take the bike on the my same train to be sure that when i'll be in vladivostock i'll have my bike and to do not lost the ferry to Japan.
So i'm looking for somebody who could tell me how to do it.
I'll really appreciate it!

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La preparazione di un viaggio è una delle parti più eccitanti insieme alla partenza e al ritorno...

you'll have a great trip. I wouldn't worry much about crime, would worry more about getting in an accident, but that risk isn't too bad either as long as you stay on your toes. just use common sense and good judgement (I know you're kinda young, but...)

corruption is not that big of a deal. Don't speed or pass in no passing zones and you'll eliminate 95% of the problems with "corruption" (ie, traffic violoations). If they stop you if you don't speak russian just play dumb and be prepared to wait. don't lose your temper. never pay more than 2000 rubles, and even that only very rarely (usually only a couple hundred). bring a couple of extra international drivers license in case the cops get greedy, you can let them keep one and continue with the others. i think russians lose their license for six months for passing in a no passing zone, so the fines for that are rather high.

getting the scooter on a train will take a little effort, but several people on this site have done it, you might want to track them down and PM them for contact info for train assistance.

I thinki si better to write all here and not on pm, so everybody can reed this posts and clarify theris dubts! Me too

So anybody who knows something about it, please write it down here!
Cheers!

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La preparazione di un viaggio è una delle parti più eccitanti insieme alla partenza e al ritorno...

you can certainly do whatever you want, but hte fact is that everyone you should be contacting might not have seen this thread.

Ah, wow really? Well but how can i contact them? Sorry but i still don't know how to use the forum XD

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La preparazione di un viaggio è una delle parti più eccitanti insieme alla partenza e al ritorno...

you can't guarantee you're bike will arrive with you, even if you managed to get some kind of passenger/goods train (probably with the bike in a post wagon). Long distance trains don't stay as complete trains, maybe some wagons aren't needed and get took off, maybe some wagons need to go faster so get attached to a faster train, whatever.

Imagine driving your bike into the biggest passenger railway station in Rome, and trying to get it put on an express passenger train. Wouldn't happen would it. It's the same in Russia. It one of the biggest most well organised railway networks in the world.

If you send your bike with a private freight company it will arrive on the date arranged.

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UK to Mongolia 2009, on a DR350

But where can i contact these company? Directly in Russia in some turistic agency? Or is better to do it now? Are they expensive? Do u know how mutch can it coast?
Anyway Thanks

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La preparazione di un viaggio è una delle parti più eccitanti insieme alla partenza e al ritorno...

1. Believe only in people that have done a journey like this. Dont let others scare you.

2. Set yourself a date for leaving home, this will be the most difficult day of your journey.

3. Get to know your Vespa. Talk to the mechanic, read and post in forums for your model. Learn how to service it and what spare parts to take.

4. Learn all you need to know about visas, carnets, money, etc. One advise here: keep your paperwork in order, dont overstay visas or permits (if you can ;-)).

5. Take a light tent and a sleeping bag. You dont need a stove. One advise here: eat well and dont drink wodka (Tell them that your father was alcoholic, most Russians understand that)

6. Never hurry, never ride at night, contact people in Russia over the internet, contact vespa clubs on your way, contact the Iron Tigers in Vladivostok, contact the HU Communities on your route.

7. The train ride and the ferry you book when you get to Moscow/Vladivostok. But try to find out the departure times on the internet. Dont forget you will have to ship your Vespa back from Japan, this will cost you a lot of money.

8. Learn as much Russian as you can.

9. Enjoy

Spot on advice Mika.
Did you buy the vespa yet?
I've just come back from a UK - Spain - Portugal - Morocco + back on my Vespa.
Check my blog out here for more info and as like Mika, email me if you want any advise on Vespas etc
150cc will be no problem
Good luck
A Long Lay Down: First we need some transport

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It's not about the bike, it's about the rider