Burgman 650 across Russia.

[farqhuarforever]

Hi guys, this is the first of my posts for my big journey. In a couple of weeks I will be leaving Australia for the start of my ride from Vladivostok to Rome on my 2003 Burgman 650.

My planned itinerary is as follows, but I'm leaving it sufficiently flexible to allow for deviations if I feel like it:

1. Ship Burgie to Russia (Vladivostok) - 1st April.
2. Fly to Vietnam, rent bike to ride from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi - 15th April.
3. Take bus across border from Vietnam to China and buy small (under 150cc) bike or scooter - ride North through China and into Mongolia.
4. Ride back into China and up to Harbin - sell bike and take train to Vladivostok - mid to end May
5. Collect bike and ride West to Kazakhstan.
6. Ride South into Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
7. Ride West and back into Russia.
8. Ride North to Moscow / St Petersburg and then up into Finland.
9. Ride South through Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia and Croatia to my final destination - Italy.
10. Ride South along the coast in Italy to Palermo where I will ship the Burgie back to Melbourne - late August / early September.

Around 25,000-30,000km riding over a period of 3 months, maybe 3,000km on gravel and the rest a mix of pot holed bitumen and super highway - although I will be taking the opportunity to offroad wherever possible, especially during desert crossings.

The only concessions to touring I have made on the Burgie is a set of heated grips, E52 top box, GPS mount, dual air horns, bicycle speedo and a 6" windscreen extension. Suspension is fine as is - I'm not even bothering to change the fork oil.

I think the Burgie is an ideal mount for the ride. Great fuel consumption, automatic, foot forward laid back riding postion, but with the nimbleness and agility to take off road, and swing through the twisties when the opportunity arises. I also reckon I'll get to Europe easy enough with having to replace tyres so I don't need to carry a heap of unnecessary luggage.

Unfortunately, the first stretch of the journey, from the South to North of China and into Mongolia - around 8,000 km on back roads has to be done on a local Chinese bike as the Chinese government rules for temporarily importing a bike are far too stringent and expensive. I'll likely buy a used bike then either sell it or give it away when I'm ready to enter Russia.

I have no doubt that a number of you will figure I'm nuts to do this ride, but it's actually pretty straighforward compared with some of the others I have done in the past. These include rides across the US and Central America, a ride from California to Argentina, a ride fom Australia across Asia, around Europe and down to the bottom of Africa, and numerous trips round and across Australia.

I look forward to keeping you all updated on where I am at and will regularly post in this forum although it is likely I may use a different site for a diary and photo gallery.

See you all on the road

[FazerDude]

On the contrary, I'd think you were crazy not to do something like this, if you have the time and resources to do so.

I'd still beef up the suspension, not to mollycoddle your butt, but to make it easier on the bike.

[adentre]

Crazy? Maybe, brave - for sure! That is quite the trip your about to take. How long have you been planning it and how much do you think it is going to cost all in all? ballpark est. of course. I'm 48 and I would be too chicken to do something like that alone. I don't know the different cultures very well and would be afraid of theft or personal injury (not do to riding). Do you stay in hostels mostly?

Anyways, have a great and safe journey. I will be looking forward to your posts.

andy

[Colchicine]

Here's me trying to comprehend the complexities of this trip

I seriously would not have the gonads to pursue something with such a grand scale as this. But I'm glad to see that much of it is on a Burgman. I look forward to your updates!

[malahy1501]

+1 to Kory

My brain hurts already

Good Luck and look forward to the Ride Report

Bill

[Maggie]

Very nice!! Have a safe journey!

[Drew]

Garry-
This sounds like an AWESOME journey!
I wish it were me going.

[~~Darci~~]

WOW!!! That sounds like an amazing once in a lifetime adventure. I know that I would never be brave enough to do something like this but will live threw you vicariously! I will be anxiously waiting to read your updates!

[seatec]

Good luck on your trip, did you get the hump box built ok. Wayne

[Leif-Arne]

A really great adventure.

9. Ride South through Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia and Croatia to my final destination - Italy.

Please let me know when you ride into Norway. It would have been nice to see you

[farqhuarforever]

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and well wishes.

Things are progressing and the Burgie is all crated up and ready to ship apart from a minor technical problem I'm currently resolving regarding a leaking fuel filter.

However, as Burns and Steinbeck are wont to say "the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry" so my itinerary has now altered slightly even before I leave.

On the advice of my shipping company, instead of shipping to Vladivostock (via Korea) I will now collect the Burgie in Busan Korea, ride it up North to Sokcho Korea and then take the car ferry to Vladivostok. Apparently it saves a lot of time and effort at the Russian end as I am bringing the bike into Russia with me as a regular vehicle rather than a separate importation.

This means that Item 4 of my itinerary now reads as follows:

4. Ride back into China and across to Shanghai - sell bike and take ferry to Korea, collect Burgie and take ferry to Vladivostok - mid to end May.

In answer to some of the posters here,
Wayne, the hump box is still a project in progress. I'm not the world's greatest carpenter and I'm struggling with the dimensions, and time has kinda overtaken me. The sides are fine but measured up against the vertical and horizontal dimensions nothing seems to fit . I'm thinking of taking the pieces I have, and possibly getting a craftsman enroute to complete it for me.
Leif-Arne, catching up in Norway sounds great, I will keep in touch and let you know as I get closer.

Oh, I also have lots of photos of the bike being crated (I'm embarrassed to admit that I'm using a used HD crate ) in my garage and will try to get these up in the gallery over the next few days.

[Leif-Arne]

Leif-Arne, catching up in Norway sounds great, I will keep in touch and let you know as I get closer.

I'm looking forward to seeing you.

[Steve1948]

Well, I can see you are experienced at this kind of travel as you've done more than one "once in a lifetime" rides. Good luck and enjoy your trip. Please post pics so we too can share this adventure.

[yzf]

Good luck my brave friend.Its a shame that you will not come thru Portugal...We could have had a beer together

[seatec]

Garry, nothing is straight on the sides of the box, it has to curve in at the back to have room for the side of your legs. Cut the front and back pieces and screw them to the sides, then put bottem and top on and slip the center piece in. Wayne

[Dan Bowman]

Wow, this trip is really amazing. And to add to this your prior accomplishments. We're very fortunate to benefit from your level of touring experience Gary. I know many of us look forward to your trip report when you return. Ride safe and strong good buddy.

Dan

[farqhuarforever]

Hi all, well I took the Burgie in its crate to the freight depot today and all is well. I had a friend help me load the crate into the rental truck and that was quite a frightening experience as we had the 250kg (1/4 tonne) crate precariously balanced, and raised on two hydraulic jacks (and a whole assortment of timber pieces) to get the right height for the bed of the truck.

We used a wooden rod to roll the crate into the truck and unfortunately once the bike crate was in we couldn't remove the rod, so I used a rope to tie the crate off and try to stop it rolling backwards and forwards. Alas that wasn't the greatest of ideas, as when I arrived at the freight depot I discovered the rope had acted like a saw and the back end of the cardboard container in half. Some quick patching with packaging tape later and I think all is ok - certainly no bike damage.

At the freight depot they had to use two fork lifts to remove the bike - another heart in mouth experience for me as one fork lifted it out 3/4 of the way (with the remaining quarter sitting on the tail gate of the truck) whilst another came in sideways and tried to get its too large tines into the slots in the side of the crate skid.

Anyways, that's all the current logistics out of the way and I'm now just waiting for my passport to be returned from the Russian Consulate, hopefully with a visa attached. Once I have this I can book my one way ticket to Ho Chi Minh City to start the ride, on schedule on Tuesday the 15th.

[preacher]

Garry, I'm curious, how much is it going to cost you to ship it over?

[MattBlack]

Are you taking a camcorder?

[farqhuarforever]

Garry, I'm curious, how much is it going to cost you to ship it over?

273 Aussie dollars to Busan Aiden. The car ferry up to Vladivostok will cost another couple of hundred too but it's only 50-100 for myself.

[farqhuarforever]

Are you taking a camcorder?

Hey, as if I'm not alraedy overloaded enough! No, I've never actually owned a camcorder but I do have the ability to take digital movies using my regualr camera and wil be doing so during the trip. Qualiy won't be the greatest, but better than not at all.

[Chiefmas]

Fair winds and following seas on your trip. Too bad some one does make "mud slinger" tyres for the Burgy, you'll need them on the first half of the trip. (A car tyre perhaps) From Moscow on everything should be good motoring. Look forward to your posts. As a side note: The Koreans are quite ingenious in making odd things. You should be able to find a craftsman to assemble your hump bag.

[aqualung8705]

Best of luck on your trip! I have family (mother's side) in Russia and the Ukraine. Be sure to eat lots of good Russian food, and drink lots of kvas. I grew up on the stuff, and miss the kvas that my grandfather made. It is a slightly acquired taste (a little like dark beer), but it's good for you. It's pretty much non-alcoholic, so you can drink it w/o worrying about riding. BTW, I had a buddy in high school by the name of Farquhar. (or something close to it.)

[Taipo]

Hey aqualung8705:

Let me know when you are in Korea. If you decide to ride inland on your way north to your port of departure, stop in at Daegu. We'll have a bed and a hot meal for you. We've been in Korea for going on 8 years. It'd be great to chat. Phone # 82 53 586-0877, Mobile: 010 7217-1943.

Taipo

[Da]

Dude this is way cool!! I miss these kind of adventures. Have a blast and enjoy all the local cultures. Don't forget to take toilet paper and immodium AD (Diahrea medicine.). My the Lord keep and protect you!