Hello Everyone, Newbie here with big ideas and dreams.

I am living in British Columbia Canada and would love to take a trip north to Alaska this spring, hopefully as early as possible (late May early June) as soon as the roads look good enough. Planning on tenting as much as possible. The bike of choice will be a KTM 950 Adventure. I have experience as an off road rider, but not very much under my belt when it comes to long distance rides. I have done a few weekend camp-out trips and week long off road rides with the tent so I have some idea what to expect, and a lot more to learn. If there is anyone in the area heading this way and would like some company let me know.

Next on the big dream list is to travel Russia entering at Vlad , Mongolia, eventually north to St. Petersburg, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany ending in France. I dont know if I can make it happen so quickly but I would love to do it this year, maybe as soon as my return from Alaska if all goes well.
I have been researching the paperwork and logistics for such a trip so think I have the basics for what is required but would love to plan it with someone, Travelling alone in Russia on a bike does not sound like the easiest , safest way to do it, however its not easy to find someone ready to shut their domestic life down to go on such a venture. So if this sounds like something anyone else is interested in joining forces on again let me know.

Oh and by the way I have the HU DVD, very helpful and inspiring, keep up the great work Susan and Grant

Thank goodness for HU and the HUBB its opened my mind up to the world and it all feels possible.

Good luck to everyone out there on the road, and Im looking forward to joining in the adventures soon.

Ken

Hi caps...
Sounds like you have a great trip ahead of you. Unfortunately I can't join you, but I can offer some information on travelling from BC to Yukon/Alaska.

If you have any questions on that leg of your trip feel free to contact me via my travel site (URL in signature). We did this trip in 2006 - so the info is still pretty fresh!

Cheers,

__________________
--
http://www.motorcycle-overland.com

When are you going to Vlad/Mongolia. I'm a Winnipeger who's been looking into the idea - just not yet committed. If it is in the cards for me July Aug would be the dates.

Hi tor1150r thank for the link , all good information indeed, and thanks for saying hello. Its nice to know I can bounce some questions off ya. Ill spend some time looking over your site, from what I quickly have seen it looks great.

Cap

My plan is rather loose still, but basically my idea if all goes well is to fly the bike to Vlad somewhere around the middle of July this year. Keep in touch and let me know how things go for you.

Thanks

I'm looking at doing the same exact trip, but not for a couple of years. Any information you gather along the way would be greatly appreciated. My bigest concern is finding an air carrier to ship my bike from Alaska to Vlad. And if not Alaska than anywhere on the west coast of North America. You can get my email in the "hire" section of www.justinbowman.com

good luck on your trip.

-Justin

Hello Caps,
What is your route once in Vlad? Do you plan to travel the Trans Russia Highway heading west? It is my understanding it is to be fully paved by 2008. I have been working on my travel plans and late July early Aug looks good for me for arrival into Vlad. I would like to stay in southern Russia and head into the Ukraine and then Poland. Have you priced shipping the bike from Alaska to Vlad?

Hi Maroonga and Parmedius

Im still working on the shipping part , have not had any quotes yet, seems nobody is getting back to me. Im actually thinking of backtracking out of Alaska down to Vancouver and ship from there to Vlad. Could take the Inside Passage Ferry down to Vancouver Island Iv heard its a very nice boat ride for around $250 I think.
As for where I would like to travel once in Vlad... I was also aware of the trans siberian highway being near completion (pavement wise), this is not a big concern of mine as I dont mind keeping the wheels on the dirt , and I think to travel it before it is completed would be a neat thing to do. Might be too late but thats ok too.
Also I am interested in going to Mongolia and travelling the length of it then back into Russia. From that point on there are many choices and my plans are pretty loose, I basically was thinking of a route that does not invovle too many major cities to avoid the confusion of getting through those places.
Eventually I plan on exiting Russia at St. Petersburg into Finland and working my way to France.
Because I am financing all of these crazy ideas from the sale of my house, my plans cannot be set too firmly , not yet. I have many things to think about and put in place before going. Kinda freaks me out but I also know that there is no better time to do this than the present. So Ill keep ya posted..lol...and Ill keep digging up what I can so that the details at least will be in place (ie Shipping, Insurance, Passports, Visas ect) so Ill be as ready as I can be , the clock is ticking ...
Oh btw I have the bike now, so that is one big step forward for me... 06 KTM 950 Adventure just gotta wait for all the snow and ice to melt off the roads. Its been a full year without a bike for me so Im achin to get on it !!!!

Cap

In case you're interested here are a couple of qoutes out of Winnipeg. Likely cheaper out of BC though.

To Koreo which some folks do then ferry to Vlad

eiko@whizdominternational.com
From warehouse Winnipeg, MB to Airport Incheon, Korea
Freight rate : CA$ 1,718.00
Handling fee : CA$ 45.00 per AWB

From Wpg to VLad Air - very expencieve

Airfreight - 4620.00usd
Dangerous Goods Surcharge - 250.00usd

Import charges

0.15usd per kg - $63.00 - Termainl
0.07usd per kg - $29.40 - Navcan
- $50.00 - Handling
Local delivery - TBD

Total charges not including delivery - 5012.40usd - they do not offer LCL ocean from this location

Dennis Edwards
Imports/Export Specialist
d.edwards@shipitnow.com

How goes the planning for Russia? I am actually heading out of Virginia (in the US) in early March and getting south as fast as possible. Then I am going to take a slow ride across to California to catch a flight for OZ for a couple months. When I get back (late June) I had planned on heading for South America, however if you think there is a good chance you might make the Russia trip happen I would be very interested. Long wanted to make that trip and will be in a good place this year to make it happen. Please shoot me an email, would love to get involved in the planning if you think there is a good chance of it going off.

Cheers,
Scott

That quote above is shit! I am fairly certain that the avenue to follow would be something like San Francisco to Japan, Japan to Vlad.. I don't imagine both legs being much more than $1000US per bike. Will do a bit more research just for my own edification. Will let you know what I find..

Well I did manage to get a nice reply back from Tim over at Schenker in Vancouver regarding shipping information.

His company does not fly shippments to Vlad but they can air ship the bike to Seoul Korea for approx $1400 USD.

Sounds like its up to me to clear the bike in Seoul and then Schenker can arrange ground shipping of the bike to the ferry in Sokcho Korea which runs up to just south of Vlad. (Korea does not allow motorcycles to ride on the road system there for some reason, thus the need for ground shipping to the ferry)

Some other important notes ,

- the bike must be shipped as Dangerous Goods so I have to provide them with all the correct documents and lables which can be set up by a company in Vancouver - KelEx - thats all they do is DG shipping.

- also the bike must be crated before taking it to Schenker to make shipping easier and at the lowest price.

- Tim also noted that there will be additional fees payable upon arrival in Seoul. I believe he may be refering to customs hand outs to help with the clearance processes.

So there is one viable option to consider.....

Cap

Hi Cap,
I used Schenker Arkas in Vancouver for sea freighting my bike to England.
They were proffesional and reliable with very good service.
However,I would be wary of the costs of customs clearance and ground shipment to the ferry.
Ask Schenker to confirm these costs through their Korean recieving agent.
Where in BC are you?
You can also Check out this thread http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ing-bike-24972
Cheers

Hey Cap, just saw this,
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...sa-ideas-23362
Cheers

Hey Cameron
Thanks for the links,, some good info indeed.
I have asked a few more questions about shipping via Schenker including confirmation on customs and ground shipping fees as you suggested, thx for that.

You asked where I live in BC, im in the North Okanagan, been here just over 6 years now. Its a nice place to live and ride, Id recommend it as a place to ride through for anyone on the road nearby. The summers are very nice and sunny, and there are lots of wine tours to check out if your into that.

Right now Im still waiting for our snow to melt !!

Ill post my reponse back about the shipping questions Iv asked when I hear back.

Cap