Mongolia Bike Advice Please
 

Hi there HUers,

My head is spinning in confusion

I have been looking for a bike to ship to Mongolia since I sold my Suzuki VL800 about a month ago. Now, for various reasons including painful indecision and lack of knowledge, I will be buying local (Ulaanbaatar). There seems to be a decent used market there, so I think I'll be okay IF I can get some honest advice from you good people with experience. I understand I can also get new Hondas and KTMs there, but I would prefer to learn the ropes on something I can beat up a bit. I want to EARN a new bike.

The bike I need will be capable of hauling me (300lbs) and gear. It will be able to handle off-road conditions in the Mongolian countryside (pretty rough stuff). I'll likely use it about 70/30 off/on road. People have suggested a light bike, but I am far from light, so I worry about suspension and lack of displacement.

I would very much appreciate experienced advice regarding what I should look for, and what I might expect to spend. I will be shopping for a bike in Ulaanbaatar upon arrival after August 28.

Here is a link to some local bikes for sale in UB.
Монголын худалдааны төв сайт UNEGUI.MN

Thank you very much!

Peter

In tough conditions you'll be worried by the weight! The bikes displacement will be the last thing to think about when your stuck.

Can you hire a small bike where you are and go for a ride .. preferably in dirt? Australia Post use Honda CT110 (that is 110cc) to haul the local mail .. those things at Xmass time carry a LOT of weight.. and they do it all year.

Things like tents, sleeping bags and clothing may be best bought where you are and taken into Mongolia ... You can get light stuff .. but it may be more expensive there.

I don't know much about the used bike market in Ulan baator, but be sure to bring a sleeping bag and lots of warm gear. Just back from Mongolia and it was cold and wet!!

This reply is probably too late, but anyway...

I haven't been there, but talking to people who have (my mum and a couple of others including a couple of friends who run organised tours there) the local 2 stroke planeta is the right bike for the country. Far better than any imported bike. I've also heard the same second hand from one of the long way round crew, the GS's were a nightmare and the planeta was a huge relief.

The fact that the unreliable 160 kg 1950s fuel guzzling Russian 2 stroke road bike that is the Izh was better than the 330 kg loaded BMWs on the routes across Mongolia is totally unsurprising (... which is why no one was suggesting 330 kg BMWs to this chap)

But that is hardly qualification for calling it ideal - or "Far better than any imported bike".

There are about 300 better imported bikes for Mongolia, starting with ANY Japanese sub 160 kg fourstroke dirt bike, which will be everything the Izh isnt - reliable, economical, lighter and actually designed for off road.

Getting back to the OP ... I would suggest something like this from your list. http://unegui.mn/ads-286-1195411-ognoo1-a,1.html.

Other offroad competent bikes that are popular for starting off road in Russia (and therefore probably imported third hand into Mongolia) are the Honda Baja and Suzuki Djebel. Keep an eye out for them

Your weight isnt a differentiating issue. All bikes suspensions are made for the weight of an average person. If you are a large chap or carrying any luggage, I would strongly recommend changing the springs on the bike regardless of whether the bike is a 200cc bike or a 1200cc bike. In many cases the suspensions of lighter bikes is actually much tougher than large bike suspensions. Light bikes are expected to be jumped, so modern 250cc bikes often have very thick, strong, 48-50mm forks, while large "adventure" plodders that weigh twice as much like Yamahas Super Tenere have thinner 43mm forks - because they are not designed for rough terrain or for jumping.

Yep. Quite right. Should have spent more time thinking before posting.

=:)

Mongolia Bikes available
 

I have 2 x Yamaha 2005 WR250F's road registered in Mongolia for sale as I am about to leave Mongolia after several years... both have 16L
safari tanks one is setup for a tall rider, higher seat, lower pegs, tall bars, new rear shockspring set for 115Kg, front forks rebuilt heaviest available 5.4's? with Racetech custom valving.... carby overhauled, stainless oil filter, FMF exhaust, well serviced and bunch of tools, blind bearing puller kit, steering nut flange tool, front fork tools, negotiable, great bikes for the trails, hills and mountains.... Metzler offroad tyres fitted, have garmin 60csx with Monglian topo as an option...

Regards

Still For Sale?
 

Hi, I am slated to start work in UB in the new year (new airport project) and was wondering of the bikes are still for sale? Thanks.