Planning for tires in the 'Stans - Almaty?
 

We are planning our trip from Germany through Russia and the 'Stans to Mongolia and China and I've just added up the distance. From Munich to Shanghai it is about 20,000 km without any side trips. While we've had Tourances last that long we don't really want to plan for using one set of tires that long. We'll probably get new tires in South Korea or Japan as China will be tightly scheduled.

Is there a source of decent tires (e.g. Metzeler or Heidenau for an R1200GS and F650GS) in Almaty or elsewhere in the 'Stans? Or should we be planning to either carry tires or get them shipped out? Any help appreciated!

http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/...W2012-2013.jpg

For Russia, contact Dean (Dennis- Russian bikers all have 2 names!) at buy@motorezina.ru
He posts on HUBB under the name 'DEAN rus'

WebSite MOTOREZINA.RU - свежая моторезина по разумным ценам. motokolesa, мотоколеса, моторезина, резина для мотоциклов

Moscow based, he sells moto tyres and has a network of about 50 agents across Russia to whom he gets them delivered and you can pick them up en-route. It saves carrying them yet gives the peace of mind knowing for certain that tyres are there waiting for you.

His English is as good as mine - possibly better, his wife teaches it, my G/F doesn't!

Looking at your plan Novosibirsk is probably the appropriate pick-up point when you briefly re-enter RUS between Kaz and Mongolia.

Fantastic!
 

Thanks Tony,

I'll contact Dean and see about making the appropriate arrangements.

Motoboard in Almaty had Tourances on the rack in my size (21 front/17 rear).

They also had gloves, helmets & other gear.

This was in late 2010.

They are at N43 16.320 E76 57.637

Yep +1 for Dean. I got a new set of tyres (TKC80s) in Russia around Sep last year. Dean had a friend/colleague in Barnaul who's name was Andrei - what an awesome guy. Got my tyres delivered to where I was staying. He also helped with balancing and new oil for the bike.

Hope this helps

Great info thanks!

Is it more common to find to find 17''/19'' sizes or 18''/21'' in the region?

-Cheers

Plus 1 for Dean. His prices are reasonable as well - delivered I paid similar to what I pay in Australia.

The GPS co-ords for the Novisibersk bike shop are N54 59.652, E083 02.558. Its a little out of town and awkward to find. If you find yourself riding into a slightly seedy yard with large and somewhat wild dogs your GPS has chosen to direct you to the yard over their back fence - go to the next parallel street over you'll find a much warmer welcome. Shop did have some 21 and 17 size tyres off the shelf when I was there, but not in my sizes so pre-ordering through Dean is wise. They did have plenty of the basics like good quality oil though. Hope this helps.

Tyres in this part of the world
 

Just reinforcing everything said here ... its not at all common to be able to find tyres to fit a 1200 at the motorcycle shops in Almaty (basically the only 2 in central asia - Motoboard and Stoppy Stars) its just luck if they happen to have anything (let alone anything specific) to fit those wheel sizes. They will have some stock in more common sizes (18 inch rears and 21 inch fronts) but what stuff they have in stock even in those sizes will be a bit of a raffle as well.

Again the safest bet is to make it 1300 - 1500 km further to Barnaul or Novosibirsk, where Dean can have tyres waiting for you at his contacts in either city. Pre-order a month or so ahead and pre pay ( I believe Dean now has paypal) and the tyres will be there for you ready to be fitted when you arrive.

Didn't get tires...
 

We showed up at the bike shop in Novosibirsk and the tires weren't there. They were not aware of any tires coming from Denis. I had e-mailed Denis a couple of times and confirmed tire sizes and such, the last time being a month ago. To not have the tires here means we now have to make these Heidenaus last until Japan. :thumbdown:

Was it agreed the tyres would be at the 'bike shop'? If so this is something new to me.

I did think that was odd when reading Navalarchitect's post - and now carefully re-reading it I think he was advocating Denis INSTEAD of the bike shop a little out of town, that did not have his size.

Denis's tyres contact in Novosibirsk is a great guy called Stas, in the centre of town.
Ekke, have you contacted him?

Even a month ago, toughmiles.com posted photos of themselves and Stas at the same pick up point in the centre of town where I met him 3 years ago. Not a bike shop!

I had Denis send out tires to me twice this year without any problems,firstly a front to Saratov, and later in the trip a pair to Irkutsk.

Alec

I have had 3 sets of tires, chain, sprockets, filter and oil all sent to me at various stages of my journey by Dennis.

Ekke

The more I look at this, the more I think you went to the wrong place.

As I said, Denis's tyre pick up point in Novosibirsk is with Stas (Stanislav) - as still listed on their Website MOTOREZINA.RU - свежая моторезина по разумным ценам. motokolesa, мотоколеса, моторезина, резина для мотоциклов

Navalarchitect's reference to a 'Bike Shop' was additional information for Novosibirsk and was NOT suggesting that is where you collect Denis's tyres. The bike shop did not have his sizes so he thinks Denis is a better bet.

If I am correct and you went to the wrong place, I think your header "This sucks" is less than fair to someone who gives great service at very reasonable prices.

Let us know, please.

This year I had several orders from HUBBers with delivery to Novosibirsk, from:
Adrian Silindean
Peter Foulkes
Don C

All this orders were shipped in time and were stored in destination city, waiting for riders

Ekke, I can not find your deposit payment and confirmed order. :no: :oops2:

Oops, sorry if I have caused any confusion. Yes I was recommending Dean/Denis who supplied me tyres in Irkutsk and Moscow. And yes, as Tony P surmised, the info on the bike shop in Novisibersk was extra info.

Rereading my post I can see I didn't make this clear I hope I haven't caused anyone grief.