russia touring advice

thoopla · L Plate Warrior Joined: 08 Oct 2012 Karma :

looking like russia on agenda for summer trip.

anyone know decent russian forums where i can get advice? i speak a little and want some local info!

whitmorereans · Scooby Slapper Joined: 01 Sep 2012 Karma :

Off the top of my head you could try the forums at www.englishrussia.com to start with. I'll have a think and get back to you if I can come up with any others. I presume that as you speak a bit of the lingo that this isn't your first trip to Russia?

TheDonUK · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Karma :

https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/northern-asia/

The Hubb is good for motorcycle specific info, routes, repair shops etc.

If you can already speak the language you are laughing.

Destination? Unknown?
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Dave-the-rave · Scooby Slapper Joined: 19 Oct 2012 Karma :

Just had to do this. Sorry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ3Ibp9LQPM

Irn-Bru · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Karma :

From the Russian crash videos I've seen, it may be best to find somewhere else to tour Thumbs Up

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thoopla · L Plate Warrior Joined: 08 Oct 2012 Karma :

thoopla · L Plate Warrior Joined: 08 Oct 2012 Karma :

Enduro Numpty · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 31 Oct 2012 Karma :

Having done a bit of work in the ex SU (Kazakhstan) I am reasonably familiar with the bureaucracy involved and it can be excrutiating. We had a long trip around Europe last year and the original thoughts were possibly similar to yours. Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and back into Europe through Turkey.

Iran was the biggest stumbling block for obvious reasons but the process and cost of trying to arrange visas for all the ex SU countries soon made it more hassle than it was worth. I think getting a Russian visa is reasonably straight forward. Last trip I had to Kazakhstan involved 2 return flights from Aberdeen to London, 2 nights accomodation for the privilege of standing in a queue in pissing rain to get visa. Don't know if it's changed but at the time you could only apply in person. 1st application was rejected because of a minor spelling mistake by my Kazakh customer on letter of invitation. All in, getting the visa cost well over £1000 plus the time I lost travelling to and from London.

This may not be typical and I'm by no means trying to put you off but be prepared for some real pain in the arse paperwork.

I can't speak for anywhere else but my experiences of Kazakhstan are all good. I was only there to work so no real on the road experience to relate but the people are, for the most part, friendly and welcoming. Distances between fuel stops are vast and road quality is generally far short of what we've got got here. Standard of driving is generally appalling!

I hope your trip comes off and would love to hear how it goes. Wink

Tuffers · Scooby Slapper Joined: 29 Oct 2011 Karma :

Never go to Russia! its the most dangerous place on earth apart from Iraq :o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EChsUpOvk6g
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mtriderrob · Derestricted Danger Joined: 31 Jan 2013 Karma :

Worlds Greatest Motorcycle Rides with Henry Cole on the Travel Channel has been showing Russia this week, it'll be repeated soon knowing Sky
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ShepShep · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Karma :

Dont be silly. Russia is a great place. If you go thorough St. Petersberg, it's very straight forward, the tourist trade is on fire over there, so ull find help anywhere u go. I would sugest going north from st. Pete towards Karelija. Those places are beautiful and unbelieveably wild. Mind you the more rural u go the less roads there are. And what roads are there, most of them I wouldnt even class as roads, more like directons. So to be safe i'd stick to the roads that are on a map and are not some forest tree logging route or some crap. But trust me, the nature in the northern parts is amazing. And if you like fishing, well thats a whole different story.

ChrisJ · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 08 Apr 2013 Karma :

I agree that Russia is an amazing country and would be a trip to remember. Watch out for drink drivers though Shocked

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