Moscow to Vladivostok in road bike
 

Hi guys

I am planing a trip accross russia to Vladivostok with my road bike ( fazer 600). What is like the road to Vladivostock? Are the roads paved all the way? It is ok to ride to there with a road bike ? Do you need to ship the bike by train in some parts?

Thansk in advance

REgards!

I watched recently (May 2010) a 3 part documentary on German television about the longest Hwy in the world, i.e. Moscow to Vladivostok. Based on this and other reports it is ride-able now.

However, I could well imagine that you will always find long stretches of road construction due to the required up keep caused by the long and harsh winters. I have yet to find a road map showing the route completed.

I rode from Chita through Russia in 2008. It was almost all paved the whole way, other than about 100 km east of Krasnoyarsk, which was really churned up. I would guess you could get through it on a road bike, at least if it was dry. At least in 2008, there was another portion of the road east of Chita which was not paved, although it might have been paved by now.

Last summer a guy on ADVRider (rtwdoug) made this trip on a chopper, although if I remember right he put it on the train for a stretch (although I could be confused on this).

We came through that past of the world Aug 2008. There was a lot of road construction going on. Some parts of the road was very potholed and some corrugation, but normal road cars were using it too. Little cars like Toyota Yaris etc being imported from japan.

I would definitely think it is possible, as long as you take it slow on the bad sections. I've heard from a few locals when we were there that they were hoping to have the roads finished in 2010, but can't remeber when in 2010.

The road from Moscow up to Chita (probably a couple of 100 km east Chita) was normal tar road.

Good luck

Any bike can do it. Gold Wings regularly do!

As of last summer it was tarmac except about 900km of gravel which was mostly being graded and surfaced. Putin's promise was a tarmac highway all the way - this might well be the year it happens.

Of the stretches we did, some were brand new - others a bit worn, but nothing any bike would have real problems over.

Firstly Thanks you guys for all your answers.

I heard that the Russian police likes to stops foreigners bikers to get some " extra cash " Can anyone to tell me if this is a usual practice or just some rumours?

Best regards and good trips

Alvar

Not just foreign bikers - but anyone!

My best advice is not to do anything wrong for them to stop you in the first place. Simple really!

Most frequent reason for 'stops' are for crossing white lines or exceeding speed limits.

If you've done nothing wrong and they still stop you it is generally out of genuine interest and trying to assist, rather than trying to get rich(er).

I have unexpectedly met some great Roads Police guys who really helped us lots and treated us like friends - but we had done nothing wrong to make them first think of cash penalties.
They just wanted to learn about our journey and help us, as is normal in the Russian soul/spirit.

Any particular reason why several of the previous posts in this thread have disappeared? If that's how it works around here, is there really any point to posting?

having just done the trip on my bike, i can tell you that there is about 500k's of unsealed road. most of which is the big round stone type. longest stretch of dirt was about 87k's. it is a strange road. it goes from okay to really bad to race track smooth, to really really bad. they are constructing the road at a rate of knots though. may be finished before winter.

road tyres should be okay, but i would choose something that is half half as you may need some offroad ability to get through bits of the road.

all in all, you could almost do it on a sports bike. just remember that once your past lake baikal, there are no bike shops.

matt

...... until you get to Khabarovsk.

Siberian Roads
 

A biker from Germany visited us last week (Japan). He came all the way via Vladivostok to Sakaiminato.

According to him the roads were in pretty good condition, some parts construction work going on with gravel as big as baseballs. He is riding a BMW GS 800 and did not have any major problems.

Concerning the Russian police - he was stopped a couple of times - but as posted before, no "bakshish" was given or requested. He also found lots of help in Russia. If needed, I can provide his e-mail address for further information!