UK to Mongolia and back over 6months - Summer 2009 - Riders wanted
 

A 6 month trip at an easy pace. Plan is to head through the Ukraine and cross Russia. Head in to Mongolia at the Eastern border crossing, leave at the western crossing point, then head south through Khazakstan. Route back is open depending on difficulties but ideally I'd like to go through Iran.

This trip is mostly inspired by Mondo Enduro and Terra Circa, so wild camping and low budget are key themes. Currently have one mate who is up for it, but no-one else has the time or money (6 month trip does kinda mean throwing away much of your life). Ideally would like a group of 4.


Only essential requirements of anyone interested are a large pair of balls, a good sense of humour, and a willingness to live life in a simple manner.

The other way around?
 

Hello!

Another one how is interested to head east! :thumbup1:

Look at my post at http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...k-2009-a-37167 and think if you might want to change the direction of you route!

Greetings from Vienna,

Oliver.

You MUST go through central asia for your route back, the Stans rock and it would be a shame to miss out while you are in that part of the world.

I went out through central asia and back through Russia then the Baltics, awesome awesome fun

Interesting...
 

.. what’s the rough costing on this then ?

Costing:
It's hard to know. Figures from people who've done other similar trips can be pretty low, but the price of petrol as well as the cost of living has gone up loads in those areas in the last decade I would have thought.

I figure a 10,000 UKP(£) budget, which includes getting and preparing the bike. But hopefully I would be coming back with a fair sized chunk of that. Hoping the trip can be done for about £6000.


olit:
It's interesting that you're doing such a similar trip at the same time! For me there is a little logic in the route/direction, in that the summer in Sibera is fairly short, but it should stay hotter in the "Stans" and the middle east for much later in the year. Of course I haven't looked at any proper climatic information yet so I maybe wrong. I'm also eager to spend a full 6months on the road - The longer I'm away the less I have to worry or even think about home.

Even if we couldn't come to a mutual route/plan, it would still be more than likely for us to meet up half way round in Russia!

Changing my route?
 

Hello Nath

I didn't think that far yet...

Originally I were thinking about a trip like yours but then I changed the route inspired by schmalspurnomaden.at - "Auf der Achse des Bösen" (in German, but you will see the route immediately - I wanted to shortcut it by going directly from Turkey to Iran). But maybe I can take more time and make the Mongolia roundtrip. So when do you plan to start? Which bike do you wanna ride?

Oliver.

Uk to Mongolia
 

Hi Nath
Have to say you have got your inspiration from the right place, love the sound of what you are doing, also live near Notts, maybe be good to get together sometime and chat it over if you are interested.
Cheers
Mark

I would like to know that too :-)

Really want to join you, but its not the right time yet :(

Bravo -

you're right about the 6 month hiatus from regular life being difficult -- but I'll check back at the end of the year; might have a way to leave work for a bit.

The bike decision is already made, as I now own an off-road spec DR350. Saving up money for the trip isn't going quite so well, but you can't have everything. I'm also slightly worried by the current financial "crisis" affecting the western world, as I was kinda of relying on being able to take out a £5k loan in order to remove any money worries from the trip.

Damn, that's me out on the first count :innocent:

I could be interested in that, subject to money keeping coming in between now and then. Being self employed means not knowing how things are gonna go from one month to the next. Maybe if you're having a meet to discuss plans in depth you could let me know and i'll try to meet up with you.

Regards,
Lee.

I'm definately very interested.

Had to abort my attempt to get to Mongolia this summer because my numpty co rider fell off his bike and bust 2 ribs.

Would be nice to go and visit the place where we disposed of the Bullets in Kazakhstan.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/teamremit/2800760207/

Let me know if anyone wants to meet up for a beer and chew the proverbial fat

Looking at your Flikr photos, that's quite some luggage arangement! Is that an extra 40 litres of petrol per bike??!

My current thoughts on luggage are less=better. I did a 3month trip round the Europe on an old 550/4 with an extensive 'ammo-box' luggage setup a couple of years back, and despite battling with the weight of the bike I decided it still wasn't enough, so the following year built a big steel "trademan's box" sidecar which I attached to an old xs750. I managed to totally fill it on a European run and also a Scotland jaunt, yet something still wasn't quite right. I've now changed my ways and this years Euro-run saw just one ammo-box on the bike for tools, then a kitbag for clothes, and another bag for food+cooking, with the tent+sleeping bag going up front. I've now decided even that was a bit too much.


I think a small meet-up of East-midlands based adventurers is on the cards. A couple of guys nearby to Nottingham have PMed me and mentioned a meetup over a few beers to discuss travelling Russia/Mongolia way. We'll have to arrange something.

It was one hell of an arangement that is for sure and in hindsight we were carrying far too much stuff that we never used. But we were not geared up for as much as an extra 40 litres of fuel. My bike was fitted with 2 x 10 litre jerry cans for fuel and my mates bike had 2 x 10 litre water cans. With the bikes only having 14.5 litre tanks I still think that side of it was not excessive and we didn't really start using them until Kaz.
There was plenty of other stuff that was pointless, but as it was my first trip of this kind it's all a learning curve and I now know not to pack well over 5kg of army compo rations and every single spanner I can think of. :oops2: