hey mate, try posting on other motorcycle/travel websites like gs rider and big earth. I kno ewan and charlie (dont shoot!!!!) got their bikes on a train in siberia, email someone through the long way down website and I bet you get some info back.

dont worry though, having problems that stress you out and take ages to become resolved is all part of motorcycle travelling, and life in general, in fact it probably IS life for most people...

good luck

I think I help a little.


1) If you are not going to ride across the old USSR you may want to think about sending your bike back home. The price of shipping to Japan then back home may be a lot more than renting a bike for a few weeks or so in Japan. I have not looked but I am betting a cheap bike to ride where ever you want to then ship it home (even if it never gets there) and a cheap bike in japan and sell it there may run less than shipping your bike half around the world 2 times.
2) Have you priced out the amount your going to spend and on what Japan is not cheap.
3) To get your bike back you will need to fly it home that can be the price of the bike right there.
4) I most cops will be fine but some will say you are speeding when you are not and want you pay the "fee" it is a bribe all around the world. It will go like "you are speeding pay a huge fee now or go to jail" you talk give them a smoke or two then you pay a small fee or no fee and you go on your way. Scares the hell out of you first few times, guns yelling pointing all to scare you in to paying. A big smile and quick "smoke?" sets most cops back.
5) You can make this trip work many people have even with a 50cc. but no trip this long will work out the way you plan it. you can not plan every thing.
6) Calm down going crazy will not help you.
5) That said with all the planing you need to do to make your self feel safe you have left your self little time and even less time to come up with a "plan B" like have savings acount with the money to get you home if you fail, get hurt, are gust get sick of riding.
8) get a full motorcycle licence if it good for you in your home it will be good where ever you ride.
9) paper work have it and have back ups and have back ups at home that you have sent to you and if you can fave them backed up on a webpage someplace.
10) go to HU meeting you will meet people that can help and have done trips like tha one you are looking to do.

some web pages for you to look at that will help with your trip.
get to a meeting here is the link http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/meetings/
Someone that done it 2 times on bikes no one else did.
The WRONG Way Round.... on a Chopper! - ADVrider

The train you are looking at
Russia / Exploring Siberia / The Trans-Siberian Railway
How to plan & book a journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway
got big bucks?
MIR Corporation - 23 Years of Travel Planning Expertise


Japan
Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory


but unlike many people here I do not think there is much problims in getting a bike on a train. It has been done.
The WRONG Way Round.... on a Chopper! - Page 54 - ADVrider

Thanks a lot to all of you...now i'm looking for other solutions...i was thinking about going to Russia by car or train, than taking the transiberian train to vladivostock, get the ferry to japan and than rent a motorbike in japan for a month, but the problem is that it looks like they don't rent bike to 18 years old...lol...

Anyway i'm looking toward other solutions, if u have any let me know...but i still prefer going there by my bike...let's see how is going to be!
peace!

__________________
La preparazione di un viaggio è una delle parti più eccitanti insieme alla partenza e al ritorno...

Vespa by train: Yes - no problems.
It will ride in baggage wagon in same train as you. it will cost around 100euro for transportation. You should bring the scooter empty of gas to the railroad station 2 hours before departure and place it un baggage wagon. Closer to departure I cah give you all details and maybe assist in Moscow (if be there this time).

Train tickets can be bought online 45days before departure.
Russia is a safe country - I'm 38 and still alive

__________________
Best Regards, DEAN
http://www.motorezina.ru - tires for motorcycles in Russia.

Yeh please if u can write here more detail about putting the vespa on a train, for example where do i buy the ticket for the motorcycle?
thanks!

__________________
La preparazione di un viaggio è una delle parti più eccitanti insieme alla partenza e al ritorno...

first of all - buy a ticket for yourself.
second - place wespa to a baggage wagon in same train 1-2 hours before train departure (it can be done for a penny if you have the ticket for yourself).
after pacing vespa to a baggage wagon take your seat and hybernate for 7 days.

this is in few words. More details about prices, places, details - closer to the departure. Contact me 2-4 weeks before your start and I'll find all info for you.

online tickets: Авиабилеты на сайте Билет-он-Лайн. Стоимость авиабилетов в Европу. Низкие цены на авиабилеты по Ð*оссии. Быстрая доставка авиабилетов. АвÐ

now a place in 4-bed coupe msk-to-vladivostok costs 17311,20Rur=400Euro (7 meals included)

but ticket can be bought only 45 days before departure, not earlier

__________________
Best Regards, DEAN
http://www.motorezina.ru - tires for motorcycles in Russia.

Cesare,

for your info: it is not as easy as you think buying a bike in Japan! Just read this here:

Buying Motorcycle in Japan - japan-guide.com forum

Maybe some more useful information for you on this site:

Tokyo Motorcycle Life

So, I guess you will be better off bringing your own bike. Also keep in mind that renting a bike in Japan is darned expensive! I've heard of 6.000 to 10.000 Yen a day!!

Hope this will help you

__________________

Many people on this and other sites keep repeating that you need a carnet for Russia. Let me repeat: YOU DO NOT NEED A CARNET FOR RUSSIA!!!

I can't imagine that you will have any legal problem crossing Russia with whatever license you have--I seriously doubt that the Russian police will care.

Regarding the train--don't expect to have this completely sorted out before you arrive, all of the accounts I've read involve someone getting to the relevant station and figuring things out on the ground.

1. Believe only in people that have done a journey like this. Dont let others scare you.

2. Set yourself a date for leaving home, this will be the most difficult day of your journey.

3. Get to know your Vespa. Talk to the mechanic, read and post in forums for your model. Learn how to service it and what spare parts to take.

4. Learn all you need to know about visas, carnets, money, etc. One advise here: keep your paperwork in order, dont overstay visas or permits (if you can ;-)).

5. Take a light tent and a sleeping bag. You dont need a stove. One advise here: eat well and dont drink wodka (Tell them that your father was alcoholic, most Russians understand that)

6. Never hurry, never ride at night, contact people in Russia over the internet, contact vespa clubs on your way, contact the Iron Tigers in Vladivostok, contact the HU Communities on your route.

7. The train ride and the ferry you book when you get to Moscow/Vladivostok. But try to find out the departure times on the internet. Dont forget you will have to ship your Vespa back from Japan, this will cost you a lot of money.

8. Learn as much Russian as you can.

9. Enjoy

Spot on advice Mika.
Did you buy the vespa yet?
I've just come back from a UK - Spain - Portugal - Morocco + back on my Vespa.
Check my blog out here for more info and as like Mika, email me if you want any advise on Vespas etc
150cc will be no problem
Good luck
A Long Lay Down: First we need some transport