Probably but no matter. We are ALL here to help each other.

Cities and main towns across RUS will normally have 95 and 92. Smaller, more remote areas will probably have only 92 and lower. Beyond that you cannot be picky!

Colebatch and I both had to fill up from virtually empty with 78 at Udachny, up on the Asian Arctic Circle. (And that was after a bit of interesting pleading and bargining with the fuel station lady and eventual danger to Colebatch). The alternative was staying there for ever.

With an angry Husband looking for him, we chose to leave town - fast!
Despite it being well after midnight ......!
Maybe that is in the book too ;) as well as my many punctures that night.

Both bikes (F650GS-D and G650XC) ran perfectly for their entire tank fulls, desipite a desperately difficult time (not the Husband) until we reached a 92 supplier, again almost on empty, a day later.

Modern fuel injected engine management systems adjust for many things, octane being just one. Others include air temperature, ogygen availability (altitude), exhaust temperature and so on.

Thanks very much for a very entertaining reply. I take it a standard exhaust with the cat in it would suffice then? I was reading about Colebatch today. In that big hardback job about building the ultimate adv bike. Great bike he's got.

In Russia? For sure. All fuels are unleaded.
Some people remove the cat if they are going to areas where only leaded fuels are availble.
My bike had the completely standard BMW exhaust and cat. Colebatch had a loud 'aftermarket' exhaust (to frighten the bears he said but I don't know - maybe to attract the girls' attention more like!). I doubt it had a cat - or too much pussy.

Yep - that bike has almost certainly done more serious travel than any other adventure bike in the World, and still going to do more.

It is a credit to the unburstable Rotax 650 single engine and the knowledge and preparation abilities of experts in their respective fields in Wales, England, and Holland plus the supremely skilled ordinary people in remote places to actually still repair things to gt them going again.

On the topic of repairs in remote places, see post 69 here The BAM Road - ultimate test of man and machine - Page 5 - ADVrider and read on to find out how my 'irrepariable' 'unserviceable' BMW rear shock was repaired for a few Russian Dollars (a bottle of local cognac!) and is still going strong.

Despite the weeks and months I have spent following it, I still cannot remember its registration number beyond RO08 ***.


There is a SibirskyExtreme book now (to go with the DVD) and in it Colebatch devotes several pages about his bike's preparation Sibirsky Extreme Book Walter Colebatch motorcycle expedition journey siberia mongolia

Brilliant. I'll definitely give all that a read, Tony. Think the XT660R is the one I'll buy. What do you reckon? I really wouldn't trust my Buell Ulysses! But, you know, with the right prep, new wheel bearings, headrace bearings, swingarm bearings, drive belt, clutch cable, it would probably make it. It hasn't let me down yet.

Nick.
Don't get hung up about the 'best' bike or anything. Focus your attentiomn on just doing it. As I said to you weeks ago, ANY BIKE CAN REACH VLAD.

Here is a Cut'n'Paste from a reply I gave on another forum over 2 years ago. As far as bikes, look at the sentance I have now put into bold. Otherwise the full post is exactly as it was - even a bit in red. No one said I was wrong and there are a lot of people out there who know far more than I.

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As to specific brands of gear I would say, if you can afford it, get higher end stuff from an established manufacturer. There is no best of anything - it is all good, all works as intended. Much is personal preference and what you have and know.

Colbatch and I had identical riding suits but this was sheer coincidence. We had been using them (or similar) before we first met a few years ago but as we had never ridden together before we were unaware. I only discovered we were using the same suit, even colours, when I saw the first photos of him setting off 2 months ahead of me. Too late to change!

Bikes are a little different matter, if you have the luxury of choice. The type of trip and expected terrain make some models appear more suitable than others. Weight, height, ground clearance, reliability, spares availability, tyre sizes, repair possibilities, fuel capacity, comfort all have a part in the deciding process. But a competant rider will do well on an unsuitable bike whereas no bike will make up for poor riding ability.

But in my view by far the most important piece of gear or equipment to get right is in your head.
The right attitude.
You cant buy that - but you can work on it!
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Go for it, Nick.

As Tony P says any bike can get there , the first four bikes we saw in Vladivostok were Harley's two finns and a dutch couple , and on our way home from Vlad along the Siberian highway we met a couple on these 125 Chinese made step thru.

As for fuel plenty of it along the highway usually 92 but at the new stations (and more being built) most octane’s were available . Fuel is a bit scarce between Ulan ude and Chita , just do a "splash and dash" at every opportunity.

the only down side on the whole trip was a car of Bulgarians flagged us down in the middle of nowhere said they had run out of fuel and roubles, but they had a "gold" ring to sell. We just said sorry no money and no fuel to spare and off we went only to meet the same crew some 400miles down the road the next day doing the same .

It does at times get busy usually at the road works were everything slows down, the car ferry drivers from Vlad can be a bit crazy, but just give them room and let them get on with it . The thunder storms can be frightening, lightning hiting the road in front and no cover for miles, but they seem very localised, maybe after 20 miles your out of it .

Don,t worry just do it, you will be suprised how easy it is and how friendly everyone is.

Thanks for the encouragement lads. It's not so much that I want to do Russia, more that I really want to ride to Tokyo. Used to live there (89-92) and ever since leaving I've wanted to ride back. Want the XT660R as it's economical, reasonably light, reliable and would be perfect for overland to se Asia the year after too. I've retired early, and whilst I'm not loaded, I can afford to do this sort of stuff. When you're away you're not spending at home.

lots of people have done it on a Gold Wing, even back in 2004 when it was 3000 km of dirt road there were people doing it on Goldwings.

Now its all asphalt.

If you are a Nick Sanders style rider, you could do it in 2 weeks

I'm going to do it on the B-King. Walter, in that book about building the perfect adv bike, what is the riding suit you've got on. Halvarssons? I spy an 'H' and is it any good? Vents under arms and inner thighs?

i think I had an old BMW suit on then, now riding with a Klim Badlands Pro, which is the best adventure travel suit in my opinion.

Thanks, mate. I shall google that. And perhaps I'll do it on the XT660R but I suppose tyhe B-King would be fine if no off-road sections. Probably not your kind of mount and no way can I ride like Nick Sanders!!

Hi, my wife and I did the crossing in 08. I understand the road has improved but you should allow 21 days riding to get across Russia plus rest and maintenance days. We had a better trip than most (no crashes etc) but it is still long and hard. We say this as Aussies who are used to long distances. At any rate, have a look at our blog for this in the travel tales area of the site ...tstories/hannan. As for the Gold Wing, it is doable, but there is a cautionary tale in the blog about the Korean HOG we met west of Chita. All sixteen of their bikes were broken before they got half way. The bikes weren't up to it. Don't know about the Honda or the current state of the road but why take such a big and difficult bike on this trip if you don't have to?
Finally, you will need some rest on the way and it is probably a good idea to spend some time meeting some Russians and enjoying the hospitality along the way. Don't be in too much of a rush! We had a great time and the Russians were very good to us. Mike and Jo Hannan

AND it looks like I too will be heading that way from Europe. I am thinking of taking all of september to make my way there.

Kent 1200 GSA Happy travels!!