Grand Russian Traverse 2007

[Bartman10]

Dude, any chance you could revise the schedule to be in SPb in June? You have no idea what will you be missing!

Thanks for you reply. The whole idea of this trip is to do an East-West crossing of Russia.

Anyway we've already organised shipping and bookings and contacts in Vladivostok. We're comitted to starting in the East. We're leaving in only 8 weeks. It's a bit late to change the script now!

Maybe next year we could do SPb in June...

Thanks,

Mark.

[Frodo]

I'm sure you'll have a great trip.

I note that you didn't install bigger fuel tanks, just taking bladders along. Why's that? I think that the small tanks are one of the main disadvantages of stock DR650s.

[Bartman10]

I'm sure you'll have a great trip.

I note that you didn't install bigger fuel tanks, just taking bladders along. Why's that? I think that the small tanks are one of the main disadvantages of stock DR650s.

Hi there, thanks for the comments.

Several reasons for the tank. Fuel is abundant in Russia. The MAXIMUM range that we we're going to need is about 300 km. The stock tank is good for about 250 km, so we didn't see the need to upgrade to a 500 km tank. Other reasons include cost (large tanks are very expensive) and weight of extra fuel. Weight is the enemy on these kind of ventures. Furthermore we've got some tank pannier bags. If we'd put large tanks on we'd end up having an unmanageably large tank/tank bag combination.

Cheers,

Mark.

[Transalper]

...The stock tank is good for about 250 km, so we didn't see the need to upgrade to a 500 km tank...

I guess your taking the DR you already own so know it well. Most the DR650s down here in the south island seem to be jetted to avoid the carb iceing issue in winter and we only get about 205km on a stock tank to dry.

I wish you all the best, have a great trip and I look forward to reading more as time goes bye.

[Bartman10]

I guess your taking the DR you already own so know it well. Most the DR650s down here in the south island seem to be jetted to avoid the carb iceing issue in winter and we only get about 205km on a stock tank to dry.

I wish you all the best, have a great trip and I look forward to reading more as time goes bye.

Thought about rejetting, but we'd prefer to leave it for now... Might take bigger main jet along for the ride. What are you running?

Problem is we may need a tech inspection when we get to the EU. They may pull us up if were not E1 compliant anymore. Concerned that rejetting may have an effect on this.

I know in Holland for example they're very strict on emissions. Not sure what the rest of the EU is like.

Furthermore I'm very happy with how the DRs are running at the moment. Don't really see the need to rejet especially if it's going to cost us in terms of economy. 85 - 95 octane is readily available in Russia, so we don't see low octane fuel being a problem either. If the whole lot melts down our exit strategy involves getting on the Trans-sib train. Moreover I've heard military pilots are more than happy to do a cargo run for a few bucks. We've got a couple of grand worth of insurance so I'm sure we'll work something out.

Please remember that Russia is not third world. It's rough in places but so is Northland. I've learned a lot about the country during my research phase, and it sounds absolutely fantastic. Forget the cold war propaganda, Russia is a country of warm hearted helpful people, just like New Zealand, Europe and the US. Sure there are a few unsavory characters, but you get those in Lower Hutt too.

Thanks again. Don't forget to check out our sponsors!

Cheers,

Mark and Jane.

[Transalper]

Afraid I don't know what my partners DR has in the way of Jet sizes, she gets about 160km to 175km there abouts on main tank. We haven't had it through a winter yet but assume the iceing has been delt with with that economy.
I hope to be collecting my own DR650 any day now. The current owner says it does ice up a bit but you can manage it so as it's not such an issue. [Edit: deleted a bunch of wong asumptions on how icing happen] I'm no mech so will be asking him more about that when i get the bike.
He said he gets a lot more (much like your 250km from memory) out of a tank too.
Time will tell.

[far queue]

I guess your taking the DR you already own so know it well. Most the DR650s down here in the south island seem to be jetted to avoid the carb iceing issue in winter and we only get about 205km on a stock tank to dry.

Thought about rejetting, but we'd prefer to leave it for now... Might take bigger main jet along for the ride. What are you running?

Mine's not been rejetted. I'm running stock jet, airfilter and exhaust. Only changes are are - snorkel removed from airbox and mixture richened slightly. I suffered some icing when it was new so the shop said to remove the snorkel and then they adjusted the mixture screw at the 1000km check as the bikes are lean when new due to emission standards. I've had no icing problems since these changes and I always get 16km/L = 208km/tank.

[Bartman10]

Making some pretty good progress.

Got tyres and rim locks sorted

Big thanks to Continental tyres and Stewart at TSS for giving me a $700 discount on the tyres.

Thanks to Martin at Motomart for his help with the rim locks.

Feeling super good and super stressed out at the same time. Everything is going really well, but it's been a lot of hard work.

Bikes are getting shipped out to Korea early next week, where we'll take a leaky ferry across to Vladivostok.

Thanks again to KB'ers esp. Skunk (loan of trailer), Merv, Zukin etc.

Cheers.

[merv]

We've had this discussion about DR's and fuel use before and I will reiterate Mrs merv's one easily does 22km/litre. OK no icing in Welly we hardly get frosts. The only bike I've had anything to do with that iced carbs was way back in the 70's two stroke twin but it was jetted quite rich and I always thought that rich was more likely to ice than lean because of the evaporative effect of the fuel. However, I'm no expert on Russian conditions. You can only try and if you warm the bikes up well with choke use I'd be hoping they're OK.

[chris]

Hi Mark,

Did you get what I sent? If so, is it OK?

Secondly, 250km from a stock tank may be wishful thinking, especially if fuel consumption suffers due to crappy fuel or extended distances over rough terrain, low gear running etc. Looks like you're well set up though. By the way, пиво is Russian for beer.

[Transalper]

I had J's DR650 out over Easter on the last half of the Dusty Butt and home again. Only my second chance to really get to know it.
I took some notice how she went and was a little suprised to see 195km to reserve on Saturday and on Sunday with fuel in the topbox i ran her dry. It did 192km to reserve then and went dry at 254km. So there we go, a bit strange after she reported about 165km to reserve earlier (more in line with cooneyr and farqueue).
Sunday just gone, i got my DR650 out (finally aquired it on Friday) and we both went for a run. Filled at the same place/time. I ran on to reserve about 189km, i got 10km further down the road than J.

Previous owner of my DR said when the bike starts icing he just made sure so as to not fully close the throttle. It was more likely to do it with a quick, full closing of the throttle than anything else and i think he said when the air was thick with fog.
Anyway I have yet to experience this for myself too.... roll on the Brass Monkey and some crisp foggy mornings etc etc.

I guess you'll keep an eye on the mileage your getting over there when you first head off and so know soon enough if your estimates ar going to work.

[Bartman10]

Hi Mark,

Did you get what I sent? If so, is it OK?

Secondly, 250km from a stock tank may be wishful thinking, especially if fuel consumption suffers due to crappy fuel or extended distances over rough terrain, low gear running etc. Looks like you're well set up though. By the way, пиво is Russian for beer.

250 km stock probably is wishful thinking, but we've got a spare 200 or so from the bladder so I'm sure it'll work out... If the locals tell me that there is no gas available I'll buy a jerry can on the road.

I did get your letter thanks! We really appreciate it. It was perfect. In fact I'm writing a story for you now...

Actually пиво is the first Russian word I knew. We've been taking some lessons, so we know a few basic words.

Check out the mozzie net! Apparently the mozzies are a big as sparrows!

Upload error.

Cheers,

Mark.

[Bartman10]

This time: Check out the mozzie nets!

[cooneyr]

....I took some notice how she went and was a little suprised to see 195km to reserve on Saturday and on Sunday with fuel in the topbox i ran her dry. It did 192km to reserve then and went dry at 254km. So there we go, a bit strange after she reported about 165km to reserve earlier (more in line with cooneyr and farqueue).....

I'm a big wimp and flick over onto reserve as soon as I start to get a little cough which I'm not sure is running out of fuel. It almost always happens at 170kph though. I or others have not touched the carb on the bike since I got it so have no idea how its set - it seems to run fine.

Not to concerned about it though as on the Yahoo DR650 group the yanks regularly talk about 40 mpg with all the shagging they do with the things (they seem to love to play with things!). Reserve is 10 liters, at 170km is 17 km per litre (5.8 l per 100km) and 40 mpg is - supprise - 17 km/l. Damn this means I have to trust what a yank says!!!!! I know I have a different carb (or is it ignition) and exhaust (factory suzi though) from TA and Nordie. I dont have the micro switch on the carb and the holes in the exhaust are larger.

Cheers R

[Bartman10]

We sent the bikes off last weekend, and (in theroy at least) they should be on their way to Korea now...

So it's all on...

Just got to try and finalise insurance and buy some flights. Anticipate leaving about the 1st of July.

Saw a cool movie about a couple cycling through Mongolia. Mongolia is starting to apeal more and more... Anyone been there?

Hopefully I'll get a bit of time to do a bit more on the website. www.russiantraverse.co.nz

Thanks again to Skunk and Merv for their help...

My plan is to get a job brewing beer when I get to Europe. Never done much brewing before, but can't let that put me off...

Do Svidanja

Mark