tires are not a problem...go online to MOTOREZINA.RU - свежая моторезина по разумным ценам. motokolesa, мотоколеса, моторезина, резина для мотоциклов they ship anywhere in russia to major cities as long as you give them around one month notice, i'll be having tires shipped to magadan as well for the ride west

I rode the western BAM and nrf this summer.

If the old summer road is not possible ( nobody achieved it in 2013), then I wouldn't bother heading for Magadan. The nfr and road between Tynda and Yakutsk is in my opinion totally pointless.

The BAM on any flat twin is impossible if you're forced to divert onto the railway bridges. The motor is too wide for where you're forced to ride. And then there's the height of the air intake as already mentioned.

I would not use K60 tyres on the BAM/ nfr/ osr. Not aggressive enough. Buy new aggressive rubber in Irkutsk and if you're going to ride from Magadan back to civilisation, make sure you have had tyres sent there in advance. You won't find anything in Magadan nor Yakutsk.

Hi rtw paul, thanks for the link!

Chris, that's a good point. If the road to Magadan is impossible, I will need to plane a backup itinerary going back to Ulan Bator and selling my bike there or leaving it there at the oasis for a futur trip....


I don't want to have to change my tires in Irkutsk, will send the bike with new tires.

How is it organized for the shipment of tires to Magadan? Is it expensive? How to pay, because I suppose we need to pay in advance.

I read an article about this alternative to tubes and mousses, does somebody knows about it? I am interested. There is an article in Motorrad Abendteuer from this month.

T-lock | 2012

Magadan on the NFR is always possible in summer (except this year :(...). The OSR requires luck with the weather (as well as good equipment and riding skill). Order tyres from Moscow from Dean/Denis and he will ship them to your chosen location(s).

MOTOREZINA.RU - свежая моторезина по разумным ценам. motokolesa, мотоколеса, моторезина, резина для мотоциклов

I'm sure you've looked at an atlas: UB to Magadan is about 5000km one way. Tynda to Magadan is 3000km.

Chris, are you at the Zen Cider Rally this weekend ??

I seriously need to swat up on this doh

No. Might drop in at the XRV national at Cumbria. But probably not either. After 6000 miles this summer, I'm a bit biked out at the moment. I will however be at Danny's Haggs Bank Opening in a couple of weeks.

If I bring a map will you scribble on it in return for beer ?? jeiger

Sounds like a deal!

yes Chris, I think a set of new tire will do the 5000km from UB to Magadan. But i will need to change them if I need to go back. That's a good thing tires can be sent to Magadan.

You can do it ... the two Norwegians on X-Challenges I rode with last year did the western BAM and then Old Summer Road on Mefo Super Explorers (basically same tyre).

Obviously a more aggressive tyre is considerably more confidence inspiring, and I would always prefer a long lasting full knobbly for that part of the world.

Michelin Desert, or else Mitas E09 Dakar if you're on a budget.

Colebatch, do the Michelin Desert or Mitas last 5000km? They don't wear out too fast on the road?

I was a little bit concerned about having the repair a flat tire with a rear desert, they are so hard, I am not sure I can manage to dismount the tire by myself.

Colbatch, I red that you tired mousse on the Eastern BAM and they didn't last the whole trip. What do you think about other alternatives like T-lock systems or Tubliss?

I'd substitute "considerably more confidence inspiring" with "mandatory" if the weather turns bad.

This year, as we know, there was big water/mud. You "can" do anything, with enough time and friends to drag you out of holes (assuming your clutch holds:confused1:). I really wouldn't want to ride a road biased tyre like a k60 on what I did this summer.

As we've seen with Ladas overtaking 950 ktms :innocent: and Transalps failing, in bad weather, only a light bike with good suspension/tyres will make it without it becoming an epic.

IMHO: Avoid Pirelli mt21: They wear far far too fast. Go for the Desert.

I get about 6000 km out of Michelin Deserts (riding a 650cc bike aggressively off road) so you should too - just dont ride on the highways too much. The Desert front in particular is a bit squidgy on asphalt when it is new. You can fit them in Irkutsk, or do what I did last year and pick tyres up in Irkutsk and fit them in Zhigalovo, after the asphalt has ended.

I would reckon you will get 8000 out of an E-09 Dakar.

Both are very stiff rear. The Desert has 5 or 4 ply construction (depending if you go for the older (5 ply) classic model or the newer slightly softer "Desert Race" model designed for the modern 450cc Dakar bikes (4 ply). I tried both last year on legs of 6000 km each, and both lasted the distance. The Mitas is 4 ply (Make sure you get the Dakar model, with the yellow stripe) also. (standard E-09 is only 3 ply and too soft). That makes it very stiff and tough as well, but slightly harder to fit / repair flats. Dont let that put you off tho. You dont want to be fixing flat tyres daily on the BAM. Get a stiff tyre.

For what its worth, in 4 trips across Eurasia on them, I have never had to repair a flat on a Desert rear. Because they have never got one. Thats the upside to tough stiff tyres.

As for tubliss or t-lock, never tried them. The 950 that did the BAM this year I believe was using tubliss, but seemed to have to stop a hell of a lot to pump it up. Not sure its worth it. I never had a flat on the BAM just by using good tyres and not deflating too much. I run about 1.6-1.7 bar there. Any less and you do start to increase flat tyre risk

Myself and a friend did Magadan, OSR, western BAM, then down to Ulan Bator and across Mongolia running Michelin Deserts on 690's.
They were new on at Magadan and lasted until Barnaul (bit bald by then), excellent tyres with 4mm tubes, only had one front flat with them.
We did have good weather so lasted really well, i'd recommend them.

Yeah I reckon thats probably getting close to 9000 km ... about 3000 past what I would recommend ... no wonder a bit bald by then.

Still... you dont need that much traction in Mongolia.

Zimi, you can certainly get more KM out of them as Harry has pointed out, if you run them with low tread ... I have just suggested mileage for them with still good healthy tread for offroading