Ukraine, Iran and Caucasus
 

Hello,

I am a newbie to this and will be travelling around the black sea minus the Western Europe and Russian sections (that is Ukraine, Iran and through the caucasus) and I was wondering what are the quality of the roads? Would a enduro be necessary of just a road bike with proper tires?

Thanks,
Kurt

Roads in Iran are fine (the jury is still out on the drivers... :cool4:), but like any country it would depend on what you want to do. If you just want to go to the developed parts of the country and/or get across it from east to west, then you could do that on anything.

Russia sections, should you decide on them, are fine too. Good to fair tarmac or concrete slab roads.
At worst you might meet a bit of smooth graded gravel if riding through the inland Caucuses region.

Border possibilities and procedures with Georgia and Azerbaidjan need to be checked out though. Things change regularly!

I have been travelling around between all these countries.

Enduro will be better, a road bike also works.

Main roads are mostly ok or not that bad generally. For countryside needed to be more careful. Some roads has potholes and not so well, especially in Ukraine.

I agree with Samy - there can be some bad stretches of road in the Ukraine.

I went through there a few years ago with a Honda ST1100 - I had to keep my eyes open, there were some potholes in the main roads (national roads) that would have busted a rim if I had hit them. Although, I suppose, they probably would have busted a rim on a dual-sport if the rider hit them at the same speed...

Street bike should be OK, just keep your eyes wide open in the Ukraine.

Michael

Thanks guys. I never thought Ukraine would have the crappiest roads!