Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - VLADIVOSTK-Mongolia-Europe June 2013

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Quote:

Originally Posted by NYLon2000 (Post 426184)

Hey all

Patryk and I are in Seoul, waiting to get our bikes and ride across. Being a few days behind you all is helping us - as we can learn and avoid the same issues.

Marshalla told us about the problem with 2 bikes and 1 airway bill. We're using Wendy as well, and should be able to ride cross Korea this week.

Had wanted to go from Sokchu to Zarubino, but couldn't understand the ferry website. Now its in English i see that on Fridays it only goes to Vlad, and not to Zarubino (thats Tuesdays).

So, looks like we have to do Vlad, and the slow clearing process!

Who's Yuri, and how does he help? And can someone PM me his contact details?

And, once in Russia, have you guys been camping at all? And whats the road condition like - smooth pavement, or can i use my knobbly tires at all? ;)

Thanks

Yuri is the man Contact | Links Ltd , he will sort out all the paper work and running around $150. Worth it. I can see why Zub is favoured.
It is 3 days clearance in Vlad. *Sometimes* it can be done in 2 if all the people are in the right place.

Not camped at all, in Vlad get yourself noticed by the Iron Angels or Folks Russia and they will arrange all sorts for you. Camping is not recommended between Kharborosk and Chita.

Mogocha is a good stop, 11k off the road, take the left fork into the town and an Iron Eagle should spot you.

Roads are a mix, we are on nobblies and as some roadworks can be 20k of sandy stuff (mud when raining) they are a good idea.

Perfect. Thanks. He and I are in touch now.

Also, how many other bikers / tourists are you seeing on the road?

Zarubino, can you do the customs by yourself? or do you need a broker? if so, who?

and for those who have driven across korea, please would you shed some light.. what did it cost to drive vs. bonded truck?

thank you

Edd - i replied to your PM about the costs to get the bike out of customs and to ride it across South Korea.

Having made some less than optimal decisions myself, I'd recommend riding it, and going to Zarubino, as you can self clear there.

For reference to other readers, here's the cost breakdown:

Service fee (Wendy): $100
Motorcycle Insurance (mandatory, but in theory you could have your own already): $70. Probably also duration dependent
Customs clearance fee: $200 (probably motorcycle dependent)
Carnet bond insurance: $120 (motorcycle value dependent, and I presume you could use an actual carnet to avoid it. or you can leave a large cash deposit, which is 100% returnable. We had so little warning for this, we didn't have the $2k in cash at the time).

Total for me was $490

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edd (Post 426520)

Truck bike $400 (but that was 2 in 1 truck, so $800)

I'd say drive, it looks a beautiful country

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYLon2000 (Post 426322)

Perfect. Thanks. He and I are in touch now.

Also, how many other bikers / tourists are you seeing on the road?

About 6 or 7 going West to East. Only 1 has stopped to talk (Nick the Greek). Met Doug, been in touch with Penny/Igor but not met. Louie is 1 step ahead of us.

Also met 1 man walking from Tallinn to Vlad, keep an eye out for him and stop for a chat. He was between Chita and Mogocha.

"Camping is not recommended between Kharborosk and Chita"

Read that in a prior post. Why is that?

Bears? Bugs? Or bandits?

Just left a pretty good Heidenau K60 21 inch tyre in Irkutsk. Might be able to grab it if you're nearby. N 52.30620 E 104.24068
Ph 95 76 21
ek-shin@mail.ru

Super nice guys. Two new tyres mounted for 150 rub!

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYLon2000 (Post 426551)

"Camping is not recommended between Kharborosk and Chita"

Read that in a prior post. Why is that?

Bears? Bugs? Or bandits?

Bandits, apparently. There was a Japanese scooter rider killed recently, his scooter is now in the clubhouse in Mogocha. All locals say it is not safe, you can stay at the truck stops for around 500-750R.

The HA club in Vlad gave us pepper spray as a gift when we said we did not carry knives or guns :-)

Your Milage May Vary.

Quote:

Originally Posted by igormortis (Post 426564)

between you and me we have left a trail of part used tyres across Siberia :-)

You going into Mongolia or Khaz ?

We will be in Barnaul tomorrow and then Khaz in about 3 days.

Is this the story of the japanese biker who was killed "recently"?

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-siberia-44143

and here:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...d-news-64424-2

It was May 2012, and from reading the story, seems a freak occurrence (30 stab wounds!), where the perpetrators were soon caught.

It may or may not be a dangerous area, but i dont think this sad event proves it either way.

In Vlad, they call the area Mordor :-)