Mileage per day in the 'Stans (motorbike)
 

Hi. I'm at the planning stage of next years road trip to and around the Stans. I'm wondering what kind of mileage per day to expect to be able cover. Yes, yes I know everyone's different and has a different goal, itinerary etc but I've found from previous trips (not to the Stans) that just chucking some places into Google maps and trusting it's time estimation differs greatly from reality. Any first hand, experiences, knowledge re actual road conditions and times to expect between destinations, broadly speaking, would be much appreciated.:scooter:

Which roads? Mileage would vary wildly; some roads are in good condition so 500-800km/day is possible others are bad 150/day would be tall order.

Agree.

Sometimes it might be possible to do 7-800km a day on good roads, but you can have some roads where you are happy when you do 200.

So which roads you want to know what is possible correctly?

There's also police factor; the new paved road to Bishkek in northern Kyrgyzstan is heavily policed and they fine $45 USD for 20kmh over..

Your best bet is to plan a route and just see what you feel like doing each day. If you want an average for time planning purposes I generally reckon 100-150 miles per day including rest, maintenance and sightseeing stops. Obvs that's just my pace but you could always increase or reduce that according to your preferences.

Exactly what the others above have said. The extremely straight and and flat paved roads in Kazakhstan you can easily ride 6-800 kms a day. On the bad gravel roads in the mountains in Tadjikistan at 3-4000 meters altitude you will be happy if you make 150-200 kms a day.

Thanks all. I know it's a vague question I just needed some sort of workable notion of time and miles..

If you are in kazahstan carry a tent & when in other stans carry a sleeping bag.. that was my experience. I slept in the middle of steppe in kazahstan,; on topchan in chaihana in aul in Tajikistan.. you just need to play by ear when you are there. Roads can go from good to sh!t in no time and if something breaks down you have to be ready to deal with it.

When are you coming overthere? PM me my bike is wintering in Shymkent I should be back in April.