Astana, Kazakhstan ... any contacts?

[colebatch]

even the guys in Almaty dont seem to know any bikers or bike clubs , or bike mechanics in Astana.

Anyone out there know anything or have any contacts in Astana? I could use a bike literate mechanic.

[Miquel-Silvestre]

When I was in Tashkent I went to the bar in front of the Tata Hotel, I think you know the place (I guess you wrote the info in the Hubb). I met some bikers and they showed me some pics of one motorcylcle event they had. They were bikers from Astana, so the uzbeck bikers should know them. I have the phone number of Michel, the president of the Steel Scorpions, a Uzbeck club of bikers. He speaks a little bit of English. If you phone, tell him the Spanish biker gave it to you.

+998974404440

[doosey]

im flying into Atyrau for work on tuesday if you need any parts bringing out or if i can help let me know, my wife is kazak so if you are really stuck and need someone to translate drop me a pm and i will give you our number.

[Baron Bolton]

These are the folks to get hold of. The president, or one of them, Dima, speaks excellent English, and knows the people you need for bike work.

They helped me out beyond belief when I was there. My own apartment, bike storage, tools etc.

Very kind guys.

I've looked for contact details, but not had much joy. I'll carry on looking.

thanks for your help in the past Colebatch, if there's anything else I can do for you pls ask

[colebatch]

Cheers ... I found the Bike Casta guys ... and am being looked after. No spares needed, just had a bad gasket repair done and lost most of my engine oil over my right leg. Any half decent mechanic should be able to make a new gasket. Just felt like finding some bikers this time, rather than the truck mechanic who made my last dodgy gasket. Also having lost engine oil, prefer guys who know where I can find replacement synthetic motorcycle oil.

[doosey]

as i said i will be working over there for the next 3 to 4 weeks if you are passing back through atyrau drop me a line i would love to hear about your experiences in kz as im riding over next year

[colebatch]

well I wont be getting over that way any more this year. I am snowed in in Astana ... trying to work out the best way to get myself and bike home.

Might try and hitch a ride on a car transporter. They go empty to Germany all the time, buy second hand cars, and then load up the transporter for the return trip to Kazakhstan.

Gabe: yes apparently Dima is the president of the club. I havent met him yet, but have met a bunch of the others.

[doosey]

thanks for reminding me of the snow let me know how you get on, we have equipment going back to europe from all over kz,

[Nath]

Sorry to hear about your troubles dude,

After we parted company in UB it turned really cold for us, below zero at nights and in sibir no more than 5 during the days, was the same after we left Moscow as well. Felt a bit sorry for you since you'd only decided to ride home because it looked like the weather was going to go warm for a bit!

Hope you sort something out for getting back okay, best of luck to you.

[colebatch]

Thanks mate ... I think I am out of luck, out of warmth, and out of time. Cant find a way to get me and the bike back to the UK in time ... cause I have to spend pretty much the last 2 months of the year in Russia.

So think I will leave the bike in KZ or Russia for the winter and if there are no other options, return to get it in the spring.

It was -18 last night!

Are you back in the UK now?

Doosey, if you have something coming back from Astana, I will leave a copy of my papers with the bike so it should be able to be transported.

[Nath]

Yep, rode back through Scandanavia. There's a ferry between Denmark and England, so along with the Turku/Stockholm boat it works out the shortest distance home. It was cold and wet all the way. Am a bit depressed about leaving Eva behind.

Had one really hard day in Russia. Had a crash which left Eva limping for the following week, then the drive chain came off the back sprocket (I new it far too loose but in the cold couldn't find the motivation to adjust it), then after putting my tools away noticed the back tyre was now flat. Was a chance puncture from a fatigued thin poor quality tube, could have happened anywhere or anytime but of course happened right when I needed it the least against all probability.

Keep in touch.

[colebatch]

Originally Posted by Nath

Am a bit depressed about leaving Eva behind.

For what its worth, I would be too ! She's cool.

Originally Posted by Nath

(I new it far too loose but in the cold couldn't find the motivation to adjust it)

I know that feeling. I have been very poor with my maintenance since well before UB ... its just too cold. I have fantasies about finding heated garages available for public use by the highway so that I can do my daily maintenance. Strangely enough, I havent found any.