Mail tires from Vlad to UB-possible???
 

My thought is to mail tires to UB(to a guesthouse) and have them awaiting my arrival. They could be mailed from a motorcycle shop in Russia, Korea or Japan.
Anybody, ideas-am I crazy?
I hate to haul tires on a motorcycle.
What is the closest real motorcycle shop to Ulan Batar?
Bill.

optimistic
 

Nearest real shop is probably in South Korea, or maybe even Japan. But hoping to deal with them on the phone in English, getting them to take your western credit card, and then getting them to do you a favour and mail them for you ... would be stretching it.

Even if you get that far, theres a very good chance they wont arrive if you mail them.

I would think you are better off getting someone in the states to DHL them to you via the DHL office / depot in UB ... ideally time them to arrive a week or so before you do.

Its risky enough expecting DHL to get things delivered in that part of the world, but mailing them is stretching your optimism too thin in my book.

sending tires
 

You are not crazy for wanting to not haul tires.
Other than that, you will have to talk to your psychiatrist.

As for actually sending tires,
I know a guy who sent tires from Japan to a guest house UB in '03, but I don't know how much it cost him. DHL from Japan is cheaper to Mongolia than to Russia (Russia is counted as Europe, so Tokyo to Vladivostok is the same as Tokyo to Moscow.) May be worth a try if you do it yourself. As mentioned before, I wouldn't try over the phone. Language barrier and all. And if you are going to get Continental TKC-80s, they cost a fortune and are seldom in stock in Japan. It would save you time and probably money sending from USA or Australia.

Hi Chris,
Are you in Tokyo?
I was hoping to do business by internet directly with a shop there.
I hope my mastercard works in Asian banks and businesses, otherwise how will I get money as I travel or get anywhere.

There must be some big mc dealers in Tokyo who can handle this.
I don't need Euro tires. Asian tires are fine, whatever the locals run.
My KTM has standard sized tires and I am not fussy. I would put on what is available.

What do you think?
Bill

I did Vladivostok to Amsterdam on one set of Avon Distanzias, very durable tire good for at least 12,000 miles when properly cared for, on a small bike (rode Suzuki DRZ400S). Not sure about the KTM (are you using 640?) - it is heavier and more powerful, so likely harder on the tires. But you should be able to make it from Vladivostok to Novosibirsk which has a large bike shop, you will get tires there no problem.

Barnaul - you should be able to get tyres
 

You should be able to order tyres to be waiting for you at Barnaul. However you should easily make it to Germany without needing tyres. We wasted so much time worrying about tyres and in the end didn't need them. Road from London to Tokyo last year. Have fun!

Ken
www.kenandtoni.com

tires
 

I havent been to UB, but tires in russia dont seem to be a problem. Yumax motors in Ekaterinburg had a good stock, and Misha & Katerina both speak english. In Vladivostok, Vladmoto has tires, Max speaks english (both places were real nice, & the folks very helpful) I also saw a shop in Tomsk with tires, but forget the name of it.
I put a set of Avon roadrunners on my bike before my RTW trip, and they lasted the whole way, 21k miles. This was on a heavy 1948 Indian. I didnt even have a flat!

Doug