Good mechanic in Atyrau Kazakhstan?

[Zimi]

Hello everybody, I have another post in the BMW section, my cardan is broken, I am actually in Samarcand. Plan do find a way of bringing my bike to Kazakhstan with a truck, and let me sent parts in Atyrau.

Does somebody knows a mechanic there? Is it a good idea to let me ship the part there for repair? Because of visas, I don't have time to wait here, so I need to get the bike going one way of another, and would be the best route for me, entering kazakhstan in Beyneu.

Thanks for help!

By the way If you know a mechanic in another city of this region, Beyneu (no dhl service), or near the astrakhan border with russia...
always better to have more contacts...

[Knight of the Holy Graal]

Originally Posted by Zimi

Is it a good idea to let me ship the part there for repair?

Mate, get ready for a long wait.
I had my Harley's stator and regulator fried in Qulsary last month and it took 7 days to receive them by UPS from Europe, but only after a strong intervention of a friend of a friend that works at UPS Italy, because my parts were stuck at the customs in KAZ (but maybe this was due to a mistake in the documents from the German shipper...).

This delay happens because all the parts are sent to the former capital of KAZ, which is Almaty (some thousand km's east of Atyrau), they are cleared thru the customs there, then they are directed to the final destinations: in my case, I was stuck in Qulsary (on the road Atyrau-Beyneu) but UPS does not reach the town, so I had to go to UPS office in Atyrau by taxi and get back to Qulsary the same morning.

WARNING: most probably you'll need a letter written in cyrillic stating that you need your parts to go back home and you will not sell them (!!).
I was asked this document, but also a friend of mine from Italy that last year had his BMW's front rim broken after getting a pothole close to Shymkent had to provide the same document.
He was stuck in Astana, but had to wait about one week for the customs clearance in Almaty and the local shipment to Astana, and only after providing DHL office in Almaty with this document.

[Zimi]

Thanks for your answer, wow this is bad news! According to the UPS calculator it should take 5 days... Don't know if I should better try to let the part shipped in russia in Astrakhan (2 days) or in Dushanbe (4 days) and wait here...

If I don't wait here, I have to organise a train transport, if it's possible to go to kaz or russia... Will ask today, otherwise a truck transport

Thanks again for your help

David

[Knight of the Holy Graal]

Let me know here if you mean to have your parts shipped to Astrakhan, I have a friend there who rides a custom Yamaha that maybe can help you out.
He knows many people in town.

Unfotunately, I've lost his phone number but I'm sure that I can find it if I look for it carefully.

[MCole]

I'd be skeptical of any claims by DHL that it will be delivered in 2 days to Russia. I've been in the same position and explored different options. DHL will only allow you to send packages to a registered business in Russia - not really sure what classifies as a registered business, it would probably be best to find someone in Astrakhan or wherever you end up who has experience ordering things from Europe. To send a 2kg DHL from the UK to Ufa in Russia would have cost $350, you can also be charged import taxes on anything valued over 5000 rubles (including item value and shipping). After reading about another member waiting 30 days earlier in the summer to have something delivered via DHL I ultimately decided against shipping. Not sure if UPS is any better or if Kazakhstan is easier to ship to.

I also called different courier services in Germany - their shipping quotes were much lower, like $75 to ship a 2kg package, and the transit time not much longer than what DHL told me, but I can't give you any first hand knowledge if this works well.

Definitely possible everything could go well and you get the parts quickly, but for me because of visa/weather issues it made more sense to return to Europe and pick up the part myself rather than risk it. If you add the cost of shipping/import tax/money spent during downtime it may make more sense.

Let us know how you make out.

Mike

[Zimi]

Hi guys, well the part was shipped yesterday and should arrive in Atyrau in 6 days... Will let you know. I got from a friend a message in russia telling that I need this part to continue my travel and that I won't sell it, and I asked my father to put it in the package.

[Knight of the Holy Graal]

Originally Posted by Zimi

Hi guys, well the part was shipped yesterday and should arrive in Atyrau in 6 days... Will let you know. I got from a friend a message in russia telling that I need this part to continue my travel and that I won't sell it, and I asked my father to put it in the package.

Very good, this letter will make things easier for you (at least, my situation unblocked as soon as they received this letter).
While in Atyrau waiting for your parts, you may want to visit the Mosque and the Orthodox Churches, who are really nice and are worth a quick visit.
The Mosque is almost opposite the big Hotel Kazakhstan, the Orthodox Church is very close to it.

[Zimi]

well thanks for the information!!

By the way, according to my tracking number the part is already waiting for me in Atyrau!!!! It was written it takes 6 days, it took only 3 days!!

Amasing!

[MCole]

Wow, that's incredible. Glad to hear you won't be waiting around.

Who did you end up using for shipping? I will be in Kazakhstan in about a month, and would like to know in case I have any problems!

I've been following your blog - good stuff and it helps me keep up with my French. I am doing essentially the same route as you, only you're a few months ahead

[Knight of the Holy Graal]

Originally Posted by Zimi

well thanks for the information!!

By the way, according to my tracking number the part is already waiting for me in Atyrau!!!! It was written it takes 6 days, it took only 3 days!!

Amasing!

Excellent, I guess the letter that your father included in the parcel did the job!
Enjoy your trip, mate!

[-Ali-]

Zimi: At the DHl office ask for Daniel Crawford ( near the airport, he works in the transportation department of the DHL). Mention that you know me, Alistair Hitchcock. Dan is a biker and a very nice guy as well as a good friend of mine. He will help you sort things out. There aren't really motorcycle shops in Ataryu simply due to the fact there are only 30-40 biker in the whole town.

[Zimi]

HI!

Mcole, I used DHL. Cool that you read my blog, you have to give me yours when you leave, because I will probably be home then... :-(

so I am in Atyrau now, was at the DHL office and have the part. Had to pay 1500 Tenge (approx 10$) tax for custom.

it's my text in russian, if anybody has the use of it, just change the name and country:

My name is David Zimmermann, I am a Swiss citizen traveling by motorcycle in your countryand am on my way back to go home in Switzerland with my motorcycle. I need this part to repair my motorcycle in order to continue my journey and leave your country. This part will not be sold in your country. I need it for myself.

"Меня зовут Давид Зиммерманн, я гражданин Швейцарии. Путешествую по вашей стране на мотоцикле и сейчас уже на пути домой, в Швейцарию. Эти детали не на продажу, а для личного использования. Они мне нужны для ремонта мотоцикла, чтобы покинуть вашу страну и вернуться домой."