Triumphrat

Buhlit-Tueth

To anyone and everyone who rides, has rode (ridden?) or lives across the pond,

Has anyone done any riding in Russia? I'm curious to know what the roads and drivers are like, especially on the highways leading to Moscow through Poland and Belarus, or from Finland.

I have this idea of doing some riding in Europe, and if possible, riding to Moscow to visit a friend I haven't seen in years. Anyone with the least bit of info would be appreciated hearing from.

I'm also open to suggestions/ ideas about renting vs shipping my own two wheels over and where some of the "must ride" roads are in England, Scotland (want to visit my favorite "Scotch-eries"), France, Germany, Austria -- anywhere, really.

Forgive my naivate, but I've been at a loss as to where to start searching for information about all of this. I'm hoping some of my better-traveled Triumph brethren can set me on a good path.

Thanks in advance, and safe riding everyone!

Dave

PS Please feel free to PM any responses.

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One day I feel I'm ahead of the wheels - and the next they're rolling over me.

scouselee

Hi Dave

Its something the missus and myself have been contemplating for a while, its on the back burner this year, only got the S3 late last year, and holiday already booked, anyway try this site,Triumph motorcycle tours Europe

Best of luck,

Oh by the way, get yourself up to Aviemore/Rothiemurchus. there is a whisky shop there, you pay a relatively small amount and they lock you in a room full of different whisky's, DON'T take the bike or you'll be kipping on the side of a loch.

All the best

Lee

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One Day,...Maybe

vitabrew

Never rode in Russia but rode in the Ukraine about 10 years ago if it helps. The roads were terrible by our standards but ridable. Lots of potholes and no streetlights out of town, so wouldn't go too fast at night. Gasoline was scarce at that time (don't know if it still is) so had a full 5 gallon gas container strapped to the side of the bike. Soon after arrival I got pulled over by the police for a "routine" check which was quite intimidating. They checked my papers and browsed through my gear to make sure everything was in order (no search warrants needed there) and they did an alcohol breath test (many European countries have zero tolerance for drinking and driving) which consisted of me breathing in their faces while they smelled my breath (so eat lots of onions when you travel). Some young street thug tried to rob me while I was resting and having a coffee at a roadside cafe but a big bear of a drunk guy (total stranger) saw what he was doing and beat a lesson into him. Overall had a pleasant trip.

Drove (in a car this time) through Poland about 15 years ago. We left Warsaw and initialy the roads were good but steadily worsened as we got farther from the city, our destination was a few hours drive from Warsaw to the middle of nowhere. The highway became a two lane road, which turned into a one lane road, which turned into a dirt road (mind you there was no change of road type on the map), eventually it turned into a horse path through a short section of woods which then turned back to a paved road. We were expecting to cross a river but when we got there, there was no bridge (the map had a bridge, I guess someday there may be), so we continued on to the next bridge on the map which was there. The surface of the bridge was built out of wooden planks which had rotted and broken through in some spots so that you could look down and see the river far below. At that point we got out, had a smoke and thought twice about crossing over. We hoped for the best and made it over slowly and carefully. We eventually got there and back in one piece.

I guess the moral of the story is to plan your trip. All I ever do is get a map and go. It would probably be wiser to get a guidebook or something.

Have a good trip / adventure!

Rat-Sass

Hey Dave,

You might try the horizons unlimited forum. They're pretty hardcore and I'm sure you'd be able to find someone there to give you info.

-Stephanie

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Traffic is for cars.

Buhlit-Tueth

Thanks for all the replies!

I looked at Horizons Unlimited. "Hardcore" might be an understatement!

Vitabrew, did you take your own bike, or rent -- or what? HOw much time did you spend in Ukraine?

__________________
One day I feel I'm ahead of the wheels - and the next they're rolling over me.

panda

How long are you planning a trip for ???
renting might be difficult if taking bike to russia.
I wil be travelling acros france to verdun and bastogne this summer. maybe will add peenamunde and auschwitch to the trip, depending how i feel at the time.

avoid anything too hi-tech as could be difficult to get fixed once you into old east europe.

also , something fuel efficient that will run on poor grade fuels.... might want to consider a diesel enfield
let me know what you decide
panda

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A wise man learns from his mistakes..
A genius learns from other peoples mistakes.

vitabrew

Buhlit-Tueth,
I was living in Budapest at that time so had my own bike. It was a piece of junk East German 2-stroke MZ, but it did the job. I actually made two trips out to the Ukraine, the first to pick up a Dnepr motorcycle and the second to get parts to fix the Dnepr which broke down on it's maiden voyage. Spent about 10 days in the Ukraine total. Panda's suggestion about low tech is a good idea. Once the MZ broke down in the the Hungarian countryside with carburetor trouble and couldn't fix it despite a dozen attempts. I pushed it a couple miles (not fun) to the nearest village and the local mechanic had it running in 5 minutes. He didn't even charge me. If I was riding anything else I would have been stranded or taking the bus to the nearest city a hundred miles away.

Slinky

Read the book "The long way round" if you have not already done so. Or better still, watch the DVDs to get some insight into riding in Russia. I seem to recall they had a lot of hassle with visas etc.

Personally, I would skip England (too small, too crowded) and head straight for the continent.

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"You can't fly with the eagles if you keep scratching with the turkeys."

Buhlit-Tueth

After reading Theroux's "Kingdom by the Sea" I can't skip England -- if this trip ever comes to fruition. I guess I'm somewhat of an anglophile wannabe. (Or something like that). That, and the desire to traipse about the Speyside area for a bit and maybe jump over and visit the folks at Laphroaig kind of locks me into the idea. I've also got a little heritage hunting to do, being half Scot. :-g :chug: (Where's the whiskey drinkers' smilie!?)

After checking out bits and pieces of info at HU, I'm considering ammending The Plan to just a visit to the UK this year and taking advantage of a Triumph for hire or some kind of tour -- and then jump over to the Continent and the wilds of Eastern Europe next year after I can get a little more in-depth about the planning. Vitabrew's post got me thinking a little more rationally, instead of the romantic visualization I was indulging in.

BUT, I'm still open to any and all suggestions, ideas, winning lottery number combinations, proposals from wealthy, single women with a thing for early-40's, tall men, free motorcycles...... :roll:

__________________
One day I feel I'm ahead of the wheels - and the next they're rolling over me.

HiDesert

Here in Vienna, the conventional wisdom is that if you have a vehicle you care about, don't drive it north or east. The stolen car market in the former Warsaw Pact nations is huge, but I don't know if that translates to the two-wheeled world.

I work with people from all around the world who travel very regularly; PM me your email address, and I'll ask around and gather some information for you.

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In the third century B.C. the Greek stoic philosopher Chrysippus died of laughter after giving his donkey wine, then seeing it attempt to feed on figs.


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