Have a group of friends getting ready to cross into Russia. Two men and a lady. She says the locals are saying Russia is too dangerous - and now is not sure if they should continue. their plans are to head toward Siberia - any news out there?

Germany to Chita then Ulaanbaatar last year 2010. NO PROBLEMS
Ulaanbaatar to Vladivostok this year 2011. NO PROBLEMS
Russia Dangerous, Roads/Drivers YES People No
People farther East in Russia are a little more helpful and friendly than Westerns.

It is a very regular, probably lighthearted, comment I hear from Russians, that the next town is dangerous and they don't advise going there!

Having ridden to more corners of RUS than many, alone and in company, and lived here off and on for 7 years I can honestly say I have never ever felt in the slightest bit threatened, intimidated or uneasy.

I feel more uneasy in many parts of London, and I have lived there for 40 years!

Take the usual personal awareness and safety precautions as you would anywhere you don't know and you will find a surprisingly enjoyable country and peoples.

Moscow traffic, when moving, is the exception!

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Anyone who says that Russia is "too dangerous" simply has no idea what they are talking about. This also applies to the many Russians with this view.

I've recently returned from a solo trip from Irkustk to Yakutsk. Encountered nothing but extremely helpful, friendly people. Prior to my trip, my colleagues in Moscow assured me that everyone who lived in the region was a criminal of some sort. But the funny thing is that even the few mafia types were very friendly, offering to buy me dinner, etc. I think that the people who live out there are just impressed as hell to find foreigners out there. Just act like a normal human being and you'll get along with everyone fine.

Now, of course there are a couple of caveats:
1) there are always exceptions, but if you can read people at all it should be easy to pick them out and avoid them.
2) I would recommend finding a secure place to store the bike every night. I was pretty much able to do this every night except in Yakustk, where someone attempted to steal my bike.
3) this is pretty much common sense, but you should generally avoid dealing with the drunks that you encounter, they can be bad news.
4) I think that the only really dangerous thing about Russia is that the level of driving skills is not that great (although not really horrible either), and that if you get in an accident, the level of medical care in remote regions can be fairly low.

Agree with everything that's posted here. I've spent months and months travelling through most parts of Russia, and with the exception of a couple of spots in the Caucasus, it's all safer (from a robbery / violence / terrorism perspective) than western Europe, and certainly America. Being out in very remote and wild places has implicit risks, but nothing specific to Russia.

Russians are overall the nicest, most helpful, reliable and honest people I've met in years of travelling all over. One part of their persona is a rather hypochondriacal concern over safety when out of one's familar surroundings. Russians very seldom travel inside Russia for pleasure and I imagine 99% of the people who are telling you the east is dangerous have never been east of the Volga.

It would be ridiculous to cancel a trip based on this hearsay.

Daniel

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I rode a very very small part of north-western Russia two years ago (Estonia to St. Petersburg to Finland), so my experience is not worthing so much, but I found only good and helpful people, also among cops.

The day past tomorrow I'll leave with direction Kyrgyzstan and I'll have to cross Russia either going and returning: I look forward to enter that fantastic Country!

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Nick and his 2010 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré