London to Vladivostok then USA. April 2008
 

In April I'm doing the trip of a lifetime: London to Europe, Kazakhstan, Mongolia & Russia, short flight to Korea that connect to west coast USA, then from there to the east.

If anyone is planning a similar trip it would be great to exchange notes/ride together etc

I just sold my SV650 yesterday to get a more suitable bike and I'm really looking forward to this.

I'm 33, all own teeth, good temperment, full service history etc etc etc.

Vladivostok to South Korea
 

Dirk,Have you heard about the vehicle ferry between Russia and South Korea? The boat could save you one leg of the flight. Bikes are meant to ride not fly.Chris

May 08
 

Mick Tharme (from Oz) and I are going in the same direction but not setting off until the first week in May. Our route is not fully decided (making final arrangements this weekend) but will be much the same as yours as far as Mongolia (or almost) before looping back through Kazakhstan and possibly some more Stans before hitting Europe again via the top route through Ukraine or bottom route through Azer and Georgia.
Any use?
Cheers
Paul

April to Thailand
 

Hi Kinvig, I am also going your way and will be setting of from North-West England 26 April 2008 going via Ukrain, Russia, Kasakstan but were you enter Mongolia we would go China and onto Thailand so if you are interested you could come along with us, you would be most welcome. I have a V Strom 650 and Jimmy has 600 Yamaha so most of our riding is done on the hard stuff
( hopefully ).

Ken:scooter:

Hey guys,

I'll be deciding the majority of the route over the Christmas holidays...so it would be good to compare notes when I've got my route figured out - nothing will be set in stone - more likely routes etc.

The only thing that is set in stone is that I'll be leaving on 1st April - as it saves on another month's rent to my landlord!

The one likely route planned is thru' Mongolia here: Google Maps

as the fco say that there are only 6 border crossings open to westerners & those are the only borders open in the North of Mongolia!

What bike?
 

Which bike are choosing to use for your journey?

I have height issues :o(

So it'a likely to be a BMW GS 650. I need to do the bum test on a Dakar (I hear that you can swap teh seat from a normal gs650 & drop a couple of centimetres....).

Seat height
 

Same thing here. I am interested in doing a similar trip.

I am currently in Quito, Ecuador completing my trip from Canada to Argentina.

I am riding a Yamaha v-Star 1100cc which has proven excellent, but will not be ideal for Asia.

I will contact you early in the new year!

What is your source of maps, and are they very detailed?

Plans.....
 

Hey Canxcape and Kinvig - keep us in the loop with your plans - our trip is still a bit in the air but will firm it up early in the New Year.
All the best
Paul

Canxcape: so far I've got maps for Mongolia & Kazak from ebay. Resolution is 1:2million & 1:3million respectively. Russian map from Amazon.

I'll be poopping down Covent Garden to the big map shop (that someone mentioned on here) in Jan once I've filled in the gaps of my journey (over Christmas).

Most likely I'll take more detailed maps & a sat nav (Garmin most likely) on my RTW.


Hey PaulM: Race you! ;o) How many of you are there?

I've been talking to NicktheDesigner - it looks like a few people have the same fuzzy head east plans & that at least parts of the journeys overlap.

Numbers
 

Hey Dirk,
Currently three of us setting off in the first week of May 08 - (I met Nick in Liverpool a few weeks ago at a northern meet.)
I too got good maps of Mongolia and Kazakhstan 1:2,300,000 by International Travel Maps and bought a great map from Stanfords in London (on their web site) - it's a CIS Baltic States map by Hildebrand 1:3,500,000 and covers Bulgaria to eastern Sweden in the west to Pakistan to western Mongolia in the east.
If you've got a Garmin, check out Wanderlust mapping. I've subscribed and am waiting to try it out next year!
Cheers
Paul

Sheffield UK -Russia-US. Ship back to uk.
 

Yo guys,

Sheffield Alabama or bust.

Check out my thread in Route planning. Propose to leave May. Through Siberia ship to US then Canada then US. Shipping from Russia to Anchorage? Any ideas. would love to hook up with bikers on any part of route.

Richard

US - Korea/Russia - Europe - US
 

Other Traveler's,

Anybody interested in going East to West?

Lance

west to east to west
 

Yo Bro,

Goin west to east to west. Bloody started something with my trip from Sheffield UK to Sheffield Alabama US via Russia Asia. Check out my threads.

Richard

Kinvig
I am thinking of crossing Russia West to East by bike in 2008 (Did 10,000 miles in Russia, North to South and back, alone, in 07). But I have to break at the beginning of July 08 for a week, to fly home for a son's wedding.

I plan very vaguely in advance, and prepare and equip at very short notice, with an open schedule. This year I packed tools, spares, clothes etc 15 minutes after deciding to leave - and WENT immediatley. Thats me!

More salient to now is that I have, in London, an F650GS Dakar M4 and a variety of seats (BMW Standard, BMW Low and a Corbin comfort).
You are most welcome to try them (incl the bike if you show me RTA insurance) if that helps you work out which bike to take. Maybe we can also discuss our intended journeys further over a beer afterwards.

I am currently in Russia, yet again (14th visit in 3 years - flew this time), but back in London by about 5th jan. PM me if interested in trying seats/bike and/or talking further.

Tony