London to Ukraine - Crimea (just an idea) ?

[kentfallen]

Just running an idea past you all -

I'm a 48 year old retired Copper with some spare time to waste.

For some time now I have been dreaming of a solo trip to the battlefields of the Crimea (Charge of the Light Brigade and such like). The trip would be done on a shoestring as cheaply as possible staying in cheap roadside accomodation. The trip will last 21 days. I reckon £70 a day including fuel should be suffice? I have the funds to live well but simply prefer not to waste money (I may have scottish blood).

The route I plan to use is - UK, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Ukraine.

I'd like to ride no more than 250 miles a day but getting there (and back) 400 miles tops. Speed of travel averaging 60MPH tops.

The bike I intend to use for this trip is one of my Yamaha XT600E's. Yes I know it's a single cylinder but I love these things. It will certainly get me there and back but not in the comfort some of you are accustomed to.

The trip is planned for this August. I will be doing it on my own however if someone out there wants to join me then I'm all ears.

[Andysr6]

Hi, retired at 48 with an XT in the garage sounds like heaven.
Rode to the Crimea (Krim) and beyond in with my son in 2009, he rode a 2002 Xt600E.
route; i would recommend Cezch & Slovaki rather than Austria (they are also much cheaper). In Hungary 'Route66 Biker Camp' is a good place to stay. I liked the Crimea and i would highly recommend riding the Arabat strip in Crimea (the very thin stip of land to the East), it also a good place for rough camping.
We had no problem with a budget of £50 per day each (I am Scottish).
BEWARE of the speed traps in the Ukraine!
Andy

[kentfallen]

Andy,

Thanks for the advice re the route, I shall detour using your route. I agree that Austria is very expensive! I propose to ride 4 x days of 400 miles to get there and back. Once there I intend to just bum about and make a few friends. I'm pretty relaxed about doing the tourist thing. (I prefer to find less explored routes and places). Although I'm not teetotal I never drink alcohol when riding (ex bike cop). Interesting to note you did your trip on £50 a day, was that including fuel? I suppose fuel has increased in price quite markedly since your trip.

I reckon my budget will be something like this -

£30 night accom
£10 food
£20 Fuel
£10 Misc

The only problem I have is a bad back! I'm trying to train my (little) brain to ignore the pain. I have put a gel seat on the XT and ride with a sheepskin attached.

As far as the choice of bike's concerned I think an XT6E will do the job okay. These things are quite simply a RTW legend and nothing beats an XT6 for African adventures (not even a vastly more expensive BMW GS). That all said I know this trip is almost 100% tarmac so it's strengths won't be utilised to the extent they would be in Africa etc. A single-cylinder XT is quite tiresome when trying to munch the miles quickly.

I know a friend of old who did almost the same trip on an old knackered CG125! If 125cc (11 BHP) was enough power, 595cc (45 BHP) should suffice.

I will invest in a good bike satnav although I'm not sure if the maps extend as far as the Crimea (Ukraine)?

The bike is ready and eager to be ridden. For this trip I will be taking WENDY (the Red one). Both my bikes are standard apart from DID Gold chain, Pipercross air filters, Renthal bars, Goodrich S/S brake hoses and a scotoiler.

I did consider taking the XBR? Another (now quite rare) Jap Thumper (mine looks a bit like a Brit Cafe Racer). Probably not as comfortable as an XT.

I will give the bike a good home service before the trip and consider fitting new tyres (I swear by Michelin SIRAC's). I do all the work myself because I don't trust bike shop mechanics to do it properly.

I enjoy the planning almost as much as the riding (I'm sad like that). Military precision is the name of the game for me.

[Andysr6]

Hi Neil, The £50 including everything including s (i am Scottish), although we did camp about 50% of the time. Crimea was the most expensive area of Eastern Europe we went to and were quoted 100 Euros for a basic room for 2 several times before finding a field for the night. Petrol is much cheaper there. There was mention of a bikers pub in ADVrider where you can sleep for free. The 'Arabat Strip' is not tarmac but an easy sandy trail.

[ian booth]

Hi Neil

I will be leaving UK around the 25 Aug. The route will take me through Germany, Czek Republic, Slavakia, South east Ukraine to Kerch and into Russia heading north to Rostov. Then heading west back home to UK. I have 5 weeks to play with but will need to be in Russia by 03/Sept.
If your plans can include meeting up somewhere along the way let me know

Good luck

Ian

[Rikard the Swede]

Hi, this was scary, I am also a soon to be ex. bike copper, who owns two XT600Z´s and favour Michelin Sirac.

Who are you, and can I please have my identity back, thank you!

Regards / Rikard

[00-SEB-00]

If you haven't left yet, or still passing through Belgium, drop me a mail. I live in the centre of Antwerp, have a big enough garage to put your bike in and let you sleep if you would like. Cost = zero!

I am just new here at HU, but lot of travel and lots of bikes, so eager to meet others and we have the place in an otherwise "expensive" city...

It you (or anyone else) is interested: seb@fotografix.be

by the way, doing the same job as you did... ;-)