R80/7 UK to Vladivostok. (Then to Korea)
Got a bet on !!
Met a nice old dude with a nice shiny R1100 GS (Absolute mint condition) with all the aluminium furniture and the Garmin and the Touratech stuff and about two grands worth of BMW Riding Gear and Helmets with the bike to bike radio and the mp3 player etc etc etc. Anyway, talk turned to adventure and I dared to suggest that he didn't really need all that stuff. ( He toured Ireland last year and is doing the Highlands of Scotland this year ) Bit like the housewife who runs the Range Rover to the shops and back. Furthermore, I carelessly boasted that if we set off together my old airhead would get to Vladivostok just as well as his expensive thingy and it would not cost me half as much in repairs. He took my teasing in good spirit, politely declined the challenge and we departed.
Later however, in the cold light of dawn, I berated myself for being so obviously envious of his bike and bigmouthed into the bargain then set about justifying at least part of my boast and actually DO IT!
So, I reckon an old R80/7 Police bike ,fairings, panniers and all! ( Yep! I can think of a whole bunch of reasons why this is not adviseable but read on..) can go UK to Vladivostok without having to crawl around the potholes and puddles so long as the route was carefully planned.
I want to take the most direct route from Europe to Vladivostok without wasting time. Sightseeing is for another gig as is Mongolia and all the rest of it.
The bike, of course, will need as much tarmac as I can find but will be expecting some icky roads now and again. Obviously can't cope with really rough stuff so looking for a route or alternate routes that will give me a chance to get there in one piece without an entourage and support crew. I expect to be going solo and my name is not Saunders so it is not a time trial with thirty second stops for a pee!
I've checked other peoples trips and routes but it all got fragmented and confusing since some roads have been improved , even since last year, and conditions have no doubt changed so I'm looking for up to date first hand info on exactly how much Tarmac (or smooth gravel) lies between me and Vlad..
Obvious again, I will not be doing this in winter or spring floods or whatever so I will time it to suit weather conditions as best as possible.
So, that's the story... Just looking for a route now. Even if you only know about fifty miles of good road, please let me know where it is so I can build up a picture. I've got a huge world map on my wall and intend to mark the known good bits of road across Russia until all the bits meet up. Then I'll go.
This question is not about the bike so please don't reply to tell me to get an F650 or something. The gig is about getting an ex-Police R80/7 there so I will focus on that. I have already started to prepare the bike.( I haven't told her yet.. she thinks she is getting dressed for a party!)
OK, if you have something techie to add that would assist the old girl.( tyres, suspension etc) I will welcome constructive input but I thought that would be better dealt with in the BMW tech forum.
Look forward to your comments.
Regards
Ian.
P.S.
From Vladivostock, I will be going on to South Korea ( probably Sokcho) but thats another gig I will get into later.
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