bike on train between Moscou and Irkutsk possible?
 

On a previous thread of 2011 I read that it's not that expensive to transport a bike on the train between Irkutsk and Moscou. On other threads I read that it's not very straightforward (without more detail).

So I would like to get some up-to-date info on the possibilities of "shipping" a bike between Irkutsk and Moscou.
Are there regular cargo trains between the 2 cities? If yes, is it possible to get a bike on it without to much hassle and advanced bookings?
What would be the cost of it? (I read 160 RUB/10k before?)
Are there good alternatives, besides riding the distance myself? Is a cargo-flight a better option?


By doing that I could reverse my trip and possibly shorten it a bit. (work obligations :-( )

Thanks for the info!


http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...z-moscow-60933

Yes its possible.

A good example was a pair of Montenegrins who came through Moscow this year and decided to train their bikes to Barnaul.

They bought some spare tyres of Moscow tyre and parts importer Dean (here on HUBB as DeanRUS), and in return Dean helped them get their bikes onto a train.

See Dokle stignemo da stignemo for more detail.

Since Dean is able to supply and ship spare tyres and spare parts all over Russia, he is the kind of guy it pays to be a good customer of. I suggest you contact him with your tyre needs for Russia and in return ask if he can help get your bikes shipped from Moscow to Irkutsk.

i shipped my bike from Moscow to Irkutsk via truck two years ago (and to Ulan Ude just a week ago) with a company called Pervaya Ekspeditsionnaya Kompaniay (First Expeditionary Company): http://www.pecom.ru

[I actually posted a much longer text describing everything about the process, but only the text above appeared, I will try to redraft the other text soon if anyone is interested.]

Would you guys fly if you shipped the bikes or take a train or something similar. I may consider this route rather than just riding from here in Moscow to Irkutsk

Train / road freight the bike, and then fly out to meet it. 5 days on a Russian train is too much for any sane man.

Yeah, I would ship the bike, hang out in Moscow longer, and then fly out to meet the bike. The train is rather dull. Let me know if you need advice on things to do in Moscow...

I would rather do this in reverse. Drive through Central Asia and via Mongolia to Irkutsk. Put the bike on a train/truck to Moscow and I would fly there. Stay a few days and when the bike arrives, ride it home. Sounds like a plan?

Any idea on the cost of the transportation?

thanks for the advice, I'll get in touch with Dean.

Interested ;-)

[QUOTE=motoreiter;430279]i shipped my bike from Moscow to Irkutsk via truck two years ago (and to Ulan Ude just a week ago) with a company called Pervaya Ekspeditsionnaya Kompaniay (First Expeditionary Company): [url=http://www.pecom.ru]Транспортная компания ПЭК – Грузоперевозки по России Беларуси Казахстану. Перевозка грузов от 1кг до 20т автотранспортом, экспресс дост

I was afraid someone would say that! I've only shipped from Moscow before, but it was very easy: drove up to their compound, where all of the loading docks have the names of destination cities above them; Loading Dock 5 is for Irkutsk, Ulan Ude, and everything out that way. Took the bike there, disconnected the battery, drained out all the fuel :-((, weighed it, measured it, got a piece of paper with that info from the dispatcher, took it to the office, and paid (about $600). Takes about 12 days.

Like a dummy I forget to get a waypoint at the compound, but here are links showing their locations in Moscow and Irkutsk:

Moscow:
Москва Восток, адрес склада ПЭК

Irkutsk:
Иркутск, адрес склада ПЭК

And here is an index showing all the cities they ship to/from and their locations; choose the relevant letter at the top to get a list of all the cities beginning with that letter:
Адреса складов

They don't ship every day, so you need to plan that in as well.

Thanks motoreiter!

Interesting info. Thanks!