Hello!

I am currently at the beginning of my RTW trip, now in Goreme, Capadokia, Turkey. Came here riding from Spain.

I plan to go arrive at Magadan at some point in August.

I ride a fully loaded 1200GS and right now I have a set of Hidenau k60 Scout with 1700 kms on them. I am trying to figure out where and how to change tyres.

My route from Turkey will go through Georgia, then Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrguistan, then Kazakhstan again (through Almaty) and back to Russia. Let's call this ^^ part one.

After that, I will enter Mongolia through Ulan-Ude (have to get my visa in Irkutsk) and do a little spin in Mongolia. Get back to Russia and ride to Magadan. Let's call this ^^ part two.

I am talking to Denis, who will send tyres for me to pick up in Almaty, Barnaul (close to Novosibirisk) or Ulan-Ude.

If I choose the tyres to be sent to Almaty, part two will be more than 10000 kms, which is maximun I expect to make with a set of tyres. If I choose tyres to be sent to Barnaul, part two will be around 8500 kms, which is less risky I think.

But part one is also around 8000 kms on the shortest route and almost 10000 if I visit Volgograd, which is something I would love to do.

So I don't know what to do. Send tyres to Almaty or Barnaul? Maybe getting a spare rear tyre in Volgograd to make sure I make it to Barnaul? Any suggestions?

Thanks a lot!

Regards

Barnaul ...

(1) your tyres should last to there (tho the K60 Scout seems softer in the 17 inch sizes ....)

(2) Almaty to Barnaul is 3 days of asphalt riding. Even if your tyres are low on tread leaving Almaty - you are only 3 days away from new tyres in Barnaul

(3) You dont need fresh rubber leaving Almaty, but you will want fresh rubber in Mongolia - which is 1000 km out of Barnaul.

(4) The later you change your tyres, the more tread you will have on them for the Road of Bones. Try to plan to meet the needs of the harder, more challenging sections of your journey and not the easiest ones. Almaty to Barnaul is easy asphalt. ANY condition of rubber on your tyres is fine. Mongolia and the Road of Bones are your two more challenging parts of your trip. Plan for them. Plan to have the best condition equipment for those stages. The earlier you change tyres, the more likely it will be that your tyres are bald for the road of bones.

As a general philosophy ... when there are conflicts in planning different stages of your adventure biking trip ... whether the question is of bike selection, or where to change tyres or anything like that ... formulate your answer to meet the needs of the hardest section of your trip ... the easy parts just fall into place. Its the hard parts your decisions have to be focused towards. If you meet the needs of the harder parts, then the easy parts are just ... easy.

__________________

Thanks Walter!

Taking into account your opinion (very sensitive and valuable) and after talking to Mick from Compass... I finally agreed with Denis to pick up tyres in Ulan-Ude.

As you say, it will be best to have fresh tyres on the worst part of the route.

Regards!

Hi guys
We have a stock of Mitas and Golden tyre in Mongolia should that be of use to you ...
J