UK to Far East Russia and beyond! 2018

[motojohn]

Hi All,

Very early doors to be starting this, but i have been saving and dreaming of this trip for a while now and can now say I will be doing this.

However, I would like to go with someone else and others to share the experience. Im 28 and live in Exeter, Devon. I have a Yamaha xt 600 however I will be selling this for a Honda Transalp instead.

Im open to planning with travelling buddies. A rough course could be to Vladivostok. I can take over 6 months off work, so a trip over to america would not be out of the question, although I do hear you cannot fly with your motorcycle anymore and would need to ship it there from Japan or Korea. So maybe head South?

Though maybe it could be a Pan American trip?

I have done trips abroad on motorbikes and spent a month in Scotland wild camping with a very old Honda CB 400/4. I have limited off road bike experience.

If anyone is out there who's interested in an epic 2018 trip please get in touch.

John 'Tea' Manning

[Schoe000]

Hi John
Firstly welcome to the Hubb. I am just down the road in Torbay so it is good to see a local on here. I have done Ullanbattar to Devon and Almaty to Devon. I have a scratch that I need to itch which is Ullanbattor to Vlad or Magadan.

I appreciate it is early days but please keep me informed of your plans and maybe it will work out that I can join you for part of the trip. I am a teacher, so i only have 6 weeks but am making it around the world in 6 week hops

Cheers Nick

[motojohn]

Hi Nick,

Thanks for your reply back! Nice to hear from a local too. I will keep you informed of plans. What bike did you use for your trips? Ive seen a company at a motorcycle convention that shipped bikes to Ullanbattor, I take it you used this method?

Cheers,

John

[ex-xt]

hi guys
This isa trip i would like to do. It was too early this year me and i am fed up with borders, papers . Still think about it.
A pegaso will be a good bike for this; with a XT engine and a better cycle part .
good off road ( enough) easy on hignways plenty of parts
Il will be possible in 18'for me if i feel confident enough ( age, fit , experience of 2 ridesithis year , mostly off road )
have the bike
remember enough russian ah ah nazdrove ( learn it at school can still read a bit )
convince my wife for a 3 months trip

anyway have a good ride ; will follow that

[Viper254]

Hi,

I'm also in Exeter and trying to sort something out for the next couple of years; I've no idea what I'll be riding by then but I'll keep an eye on your thread in case we can tie something up

[motojohn]

Hi All,

Sounds good! hopefully pull something together - got plenty of time ha!

[alex_nikonov]

Hi everyone,

We are going to do Moscow - Vladivostok next year and in 2018 as well.

Keep in touch!

p.s: if you need any info regarding Russia don't hesitate to ask

[Bacon on a bike]

Hola John!

Im also planning an epic odyssey in 2018! I just thought it was too early to post, but now I see I'm not the only one. I'm starting in spring of 2018. I will start in Alaska and moto all the way down to Ushuaia Argentina. Then it will be off to a different continent. So for sure contact me if you're interested in a North pole to south pole odyssey! Cheers

Here is a cut and paste of my bio/plan.................


Alaska to Argentina and beyond, Spring 2018


The Bike: 800 GSA
The Route: Alaska to Argentina, then the rest of the world.
The Route: TBD (the plan is to have no plan)
Time Limit: TBD... 2 to 5 years? (the plan is to have no plan)


My name is James Bacon Jr.. I'm a 42 year old dude from Los Angeles, California. I'm an easy going, laid back guy who loves being outdoors and exploring new places. I have a passion for the ocean and pretty much every hobby it produces. (surfing, diving, fishing, sailing, etc) Traveling and being outdoors are my medication of choice.


I’ve been working at the same job for about 30 years, so now it’s time to get the hell out of here and head out into the unknown. Camping, Hostels and cheap hotels will be the majority of my accommodations, but an occasional nice hotel will be neccesary to recharge my gringo batteries.


In the past I bicycled from Igouzu, Brazil to Buenos Aires, Argentina I’ve also pedaled the west coast from Canada to Mexico, camping most of the time. I’m no nube to adventure but for me, this upcoming adventure takes it to the next level.

[ex-xt]

HI all
At this moment i am planning another ride on trails in Portugal next spring and the second in Morocco.
Tor the " kracivaia" one , it will be time to get another bike , more fitted for highways like the future renere 700 .
Il I feel confident enough to ride it on THIS trip . will be by turkey and caucasian countries .

and maybe cross to India too

[Schoe000]

Originally Posted by motojohn

What bike did you use for your trips? Ive seen a company at a motorcycle convention that shipped bikes to Ullanbattor, I take it you used this method?

Hi John
Sorry for the late reply, I lost the thread Doh!

The first time I went was in 2012 and I went on a DRZ400s (imho a brilliant adventure bike if you want to go remote), I shipped to Almaty and rode east and then back to the UK over 6 weeks. I joined a group clubbing together to pay for a container. Cost me 550 euros.

The second time I shipped to Ulanbattar using James Cargo very expensive at 1700 euros one way. That included being stung by the Mongolia import of about 300 euros. I went on a C90 a crap choice if I am being honest, but was quite funny when I was in the middle of nowhere in Mongolia travelling across the piste and i met a group of Germans on 1200 gs with about two tonnes of luggage each going the other way.
Ps if you want to email me it is schoe000 at aol dot com.

[Kayne]

Hi John/all

My name is Katy, 27, living in Bedfordshire, UK. I have been thinking about doing a long motorcycle trip at some point in the next few years. I'm not in a position where I'm looking to quit my job as I like what I do, but I reckon I could get a 6 month sabbatical if I gave enough notice. I was thinking in 2019 as a 30th birthday adventure but I know a lot can change in that time. I'd also have to get a plan in place for someone to rent my house for 6 months, and look after my cat! I just feel I'd like to do this before/if I ever decide to settle down.

I ride a BMW F650 GS. I've put a fair amount of miles on it in the last few years, and abused it a fair bit taking it off road (well trying), so I'm likely to be upgrading at some point but unsure what I'll get at this moment in time. I've ridden to Poland, Italy, Morocco to name a few. Unsure where my next (1-2 week) adventure will be next year, toying with Austria, another trip to Scotland, or Southern France. Also unsure where I would like to go for 6 months. Like many people I was inspired by "Long Way Round" and "Long Way Down", but America would be pretty awesome too. Lots to think about!

Anyway that's enough about me. Your trip sounds cool so I'll keep an eye on this thread.

All the best

[ex-xt]

Staying in touch around .
If I feel confident enough , will do the ride, at least some miles after moscow .
bike will be a ten' 700 .
way of riding will be soft enough for me
I like off roads ( 6 days to cross Spain by trails , nice trip ) and road also.

Time will be spring ?

[motojohn]

Hey all,

Things are kicking off now for my prep, bought an arai helmet for the trip this weekend but still looking for the transalp - The crucial part!

Is anyone going to the Overland adventure Event at London Olympia 21st Jan? Ive bought a ticket for austin vince and louis price doing a seminar on motorcycle travel, will hopefully settle myself for the impending paperwork/visas.

cheers all..

[looseplans]

Hello everyone, I'm keen to keep an eye on this and see what materialises as it sounds like something I could be up for trying join in on (if whoever goes doesn't mind)!

I've been considering a longer term around the world trip for some time but my situation has since changed. A trip for around three months or so from the UK as far as Vladivostok seems like it could be realistic for me though so if this goes ahead I'd be keen to try to get involved for that part at least. I'd ask to take a sabbatical from my current job and if they refuse hand my notice in anyway (which was the original plan) and the timescales for this trip seem about right for me with enough time to finish a couple of things I've been working on, possibly sell my current bike, sort out a bike to take, put some miles in on it, take it apart and put it back together a few times and rent my house out. Thankfully I don't have a cat to worry about! From Vladivostok I'd either try to bribe my bike onto the train and come back with it or have it freighted back and fly home. He says!

I'm 31 and live in Jersey, am more than happy to camp / take on a bit of off-roading and am fairly handy with a set of spanners too. I've got my mind set on an Xchallenge but there's only one over here so I'll probably have to buy from the UK in any case which leaves the options open.

Cheers,
Russ

[*Touring Ted*]

I've been trying to do this trip for about four years now... But I've been busy with a new Business and workshop.

2018 could be the year. Everything is looking like I should be able to do it.

So, I'll follow this thread with interest. I've done most of the planning and research on it already. I've pretty much decided on my nicely reconditioned XR650L. Although, I'd consider something else if I terminated in UlanBatar and sold the bike.

I rode South America on an XT600E and have owned a 650 Transalp. I think the XT600 would be MUCH more suitable for a trip like this unless you intend to be stuck to the highways. The 700 Transalp is better but still a heavy beast with very little ground clearance.

I've done a few big trips before and I'm a full time Professional Motorcycle Tech.

I'll be at the HU UK if anyone wants to chat about it.