Suzuki DR 350 a ride to Italy-Russia-Kazhakistan-Kirgyzstan-Uzbekistan

[momi20]

Hellò everybody , my name is Maurizio (aka Momi), i live in Italy and this year i bought a Suzuki DR 350, my first motorcycle. Since I was young I just had driven a scooter, Vespa PX 125 all around West Europe
In 2006 I was for 3 weeks in Alaska in the north on Noatak River by canoe, and 1 week in the south, in the Kenai peninsula, where I rented a little motorbike, a Yamaha 225 XT, driving for 1000 miles.



In 2007, during my trip in South Asia ( Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand) I rented for some days little motorcycles ( 100 cc ) doing some little trips.



So during winter 2008 I began to plan a vacation on motorbike.
Place: i want to arrive to Samarcanda (Uzbekistan), I don’t really know why
How: crossing Russia and formers Soviet Republic

First the motorcycle. I really don’t understand nothing about mechanical problems ( just put petrol, check oil and tyre pressure): so I need of a strong and reliable motorcycle. A little more big than the Yamaha 225 XT, but I went to some shops and I understood that 600 cc or more are to big for my experience.
Simple: in these countries could be difficult find spare parts or assistance for really new kind of motorcycle.
The DR 350 appeared to be good:

• Electronics : just ignition
• Engine: four stroke, single cylinder
• Weight: just 130 kg ( 286 pounds)
• Low fuel consumption: around 28÷30 km/lt ( 17,5÷18,5 miles/0,22 gallon)

On internet I found a good bargain: year 1999, just 8000 km ( around 5000 miles) price 1500 € ( 2000 $).
I bougth on february . A mechanic that work in a Suzuki shop and has the same motorcycle prepared my DR with special tank: 16 liters (3,52 gallons), and so I have a range around 450 km ( 280 miles).
I bought lateral stiff bags and prepared myself a back roof rack.
I started on 19 of july and my plane was to reach Samarcanda in Uzbekistan crossing Russia, Kazahkistan and Kirghigistan .

3 days before the start


my technical equipment



the night before



the route



Go





Cracovia (Poland)



Lithuania



a really particular camping near the border with Latvia









breakfast with the owner






Latvia





it’s the afternoon of the fourth day and I reached the Latvia-Russia border



Russia !!!!!

[dentedvw]

Awesome, it's like watching my bike ride around the world!
Great trip, it looks like.

[GB]

Fantastic!!

That's quite the adventure on your first bike.

[momi20]

Thank's guys and excuse me for the grammar: translate is a relly hard job especially if you've never had study english.
First look at the pictures...read ok second step

[olebiker]

Your English is just fine besides the pics tell the story.

[momi20]

My first hotel along the M9: always during my travel i used motel for truck driver. From my own experience normally they are cheap, somebody always take care of your truck, or motorcycle or car. You can even get good information about directions and road status



this motel has not room, ma little houses with one room





my first russian dinner: soup and fish





the next morning ( my 5^th day of ride) I started to Mosca









finally Mosca (Mockba) and now how reach midtown ? I didn’t have a GPS just maps and some fotocopy of cities from some books. Easy: ask to the people wher’s the Kremlin. It is right in the middle of the city ! Mosca is a big city: 45 minute to reach Kremlin



my hostel was really close to the Kremlin in Arbat street, that was a promenade so I had to push my motorbike along the street, but it was possible put it inside the entrance



my room has 8 sleeping bed, and there was common kitchen





Nadia and Olga the receptionist whith my book guide



The next day a classical tour Kremlin and Red Square









a picture with a Japanese tourist group. When you are traveling and aren’t sure about the best position to take a picture of you and a monument or special place, look at the Japanese: they always choose the best position for the classical souvenir picture




S. Basilio Cathedral: beautiful



the Bolshoi Theatre







in the afternoon i went to a bar near my hotel. The day before I had seen a lot of russian biker and I was searching a mechanic to can check my Suzuki: there was any particular problem but I had did still 3000 km.
They was nice and one of them that could speak english called a mechanic, Igor and fixed an appointment the morning after near a motorshop: Motorland.





the shop and Igor





after two days I started again along east: here this russian tourist want to take a picture with me



in this motel i was in a 9 people dormitori, but i was alone









a stop to dine





the Volga river: very wide, it isn’t ?





not bad this motorway cafè







a typical russian city





Sasha the truck driver by which I sleped in the same room: nice he helped me a lot, ordering the breakfast and giving some indications for the roads



today I was heading for Urali Mountains









around 8 pm it began to rain a little, so I take a break to prepare some rice ( in my bag I have food and a blazer)




on the road again and finally around 9,30 pm a motel, a little bit strange





another day, another motorway cafè









Here I’m in Del Abinsk, near the Kazakhstan border



this isn’t a motel…but a bar



the Russia-Kazakhstan border !

[RaY YreKa]

Keep it coming my friend! Great pics!

[StinkyCheese]

Great pics! Keep the story coming!

[Snuffy]

Great pics!

[Cross Country Ural]

Wow! This is amazing. Keep up the awesome posts!

[SuzukiScottie]

Can't wait to read more of this report! Great work!

[momi20]

Yes, but you can't imaginate how hard is translate ...i'll keep up

[FlyNavy]

What a great adventure! Those Russian gals are really Buff!




BTW, When are you comming to the USA?

[Chanderjeet]

Simplistic yet so fulfilling your adventure seems to be.
Thanks for the pics.

[euskalherria]

Congratulations, for your first big, bike ride. Thats a serious one.

Thanks for posting.