Check out welt-tour.com - Bike Transport for a pretty good description of the procedure for that crossing. It's in German though, but Google translate may help and the prices and links are all there. If all else fails I can help with the translation.

Cheers

An X-Challenge has nothing in common with an 1100GS ...

Its 100 kgs lighter, engine is by Rotax, its 13 years newer, uses a chain, normal forks. Its built by Aprilia. Has normal indicator switches, Has full size off road wheels, etc etc ... Its a 100% completely different bike. There is nothing in common but the badge on the side of it.

I have used a lot of bikes over the years, but think this one is the keeper. The X-Challenge i have set up now is the best long distance, off-road adventure bike I can imagine. For more detail here is a link to the extensive set-up ... http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=524638

I've read all about your bike in Building The Perfect Adventure Bike (think the title was that) and it looks brilliant. I know it's got nothing in common with my old GS 1100 but it is a BMW and BMWs are known for their problems. I think it'll be the XT660R for me. Should be reliable. Thanks for your help.

Maybe Aprilia should build them all!!:blushing::scooter:

Ferry link
 

Thanks for that last link. My problem may be when I've got to Kholmsk. The ferry from Korsakov (on Sakhalin) to Wakkanai (Hokkaido, Japan) runs only 'once or twice a week June -Sept,' according to my Lonely Planet Russia guide, new edition. Is this the end of September, I wonder. I don't want to be riding across Russia when the air is full of mosquitos and then land in Japan when it's still the rainy season, although I suppose I could hang around on Hokkaido until the rains stop on Honshu. Is there an alternative route into Japan? I've read the DBS ferry runs from Vlad to Donghae [South Korea] and then on to Saikaiminato in Japan (can' find that last place on the map!] but that it's passengers only.