Russia-Scandinavia - solo riding for beginners

[whatsgnu]

Great RR and FANTASTIC video !! Always amazed at people that will ride into a country not knowing the language and have a great trip. Looking forwaed to more !!!

[xNOKIAx]

Originally Posted by Koby

Great RR! I have similar plans this summer for a Northcap ride!

i see more people have this idea. i would like do similar trip but i would like go true ukraine, litvenia, latvia as well. but alone... i am not sure :(

[shallowskiff]

great stuff

[hummel]

As has been said,very good report so far and the accompanying video is first class.

It is also good to see an alternative bike being used rather than the usual gs or dual sport.

Thanks for taking the time to put the report together.

[Don Cargo]

Nice report I am in

[*wookie*]

Excellent ride report!

I'm planning a solo trip up to Nordkapp from London in May and I'm debating whether to get the ferry from Estonia to Finland and straight up, or head over into Russia and go via Murmansk. I think you've convinced me to consider the Murmansk route a bit more (has been 'Plan B' for a while).

Your reports so far have answered a bunch of questions I had, but I'm wondering - what sort of fuel range do you think necessary for this sort of trip? My KTM 950SE craps out after about 120 miles and I'm looking into options for carrying more fuel but don't want to overdo it…?

T.

[*wookie*]

Incidentally, I noticed a couple of inmates mentioned similar plans this year - I'd be happy to hook up for stretch (the Russian bit?) if anyone is up for it? Lemme know. T.

[mattt]

THANK YOU FOR SHARING And I agree with everybody... you're video is just awesome !!!!

(and I really enjoyed your ride in the italian-swiss alps !!!!)

[Doubleplay]

Great report with awesome pictures.
Unfortunately spending some time in Norway myself I found it to be one of the most expensive places in the world.

[okoyote]

Outstanding video!! I'm very jealous of your adventure. Well done!

[AlpineGuerrilla]

Originally Posted by Chupas

Awesome RR. I really enjoy reading your comments and thoughts on traveling. And I love your pictures of water.
I hope you change your mind about the route through Denmark on your way back. We would love to host you here in Copenhagen.

Henriette

Alaska to Argentina - N69S54A

Somehow missed your post the last time.
It might be a bit obvious, but I love water and what it does to a landscape (or carve out the whole landscape for that matter). And there are a lot more pictures of water coming up.
Appreciate your offer for staying with you, but I'm already at home, writing up last summers ride. I'm sure we would have had a lot to talk about. Maybe you are around Switzerland sometime?

Originally Posted by dave6253

I love the video. Very well done. A lot of work was put into this. Thanks!

Originally Posted by zandesiro

This is the best video i have ever seen on a ride report......I enjoy every second...!Respect!

Thank you, it has been a lot of fun setting up the camera and reviewing hours of footage and relive the ride when I was home. Non-riding friends wondered why I would bother to put that effort into it.

Originally Posted by wildy

Excellant ride report. Would have loved to stay in one of those huts but the cheapest I was offered was £40 pounds so I wild camped instead. Keep up the report. Buy a Statoil cup which lets you get free coffee for the rest of the year.

40 Pounds are probably average for a hut, only 'relatively' cheap. I too camped most of time, but after days of rain and cold, I'd pay for a bit for the luxury of warmth. But what's a Statoil cup? Google comes up with the handball world cup sponsored by Statoil.

Originally Posted by hummel

It is also good to see an alternative bike being used rather than the usual gs or dual sport.

I didn't think it's that much of an issue what bike to take. I love my SV and feel very comfortable riding it, both in terms of ergonomics and roadworthiness. I didn't know if I really am into motorcycle travel before I went on this trip (how could I doubt that?), so buying a dual sport or the like for one trip seemed a bit over the top.

Originally Posted by *wookie*

Excellent ride report!

I'm planning a solo trip up to Nordkapp from London in May and I'm debating whether to get the ferry from Estonia to Finland and straight up, or head over into Russia and go via Murmansk. I think you've convinced me to consider the Murmansk route a bit more (has been 'Plan B' for a while).

Your reports so far have answered a bunch of questions I had, but I'm wondering - what sort of fuel range do you think necessary for this sort of trip? My KTM 950SE craps out after about 120 miles and I'm looking into options for carrying more fuel but don't want to overdo it…?

T.

Although Norway is way more impressive with all it's mountains and landscape, my major highlight of the trip was definitely the russian leg. I would highly recommend taking this detour. Even more on a dual sport bike - you don't have to take the boring St. Petersburg - Murmansk "Autobahn" as I did. If I would go there again on a proper offroad bike, two things would be on the top of my list: Kuzomen desert on the Kola peninsula,the northernmost desert of the world and a trip to Teriberka at the Barents Sea. I met a few people on adventure bikes talking about a motorcycle meeting that is held in Teriberka in the first week of July.
And of course, learn a few russian phrases, it pays off.

Fuel coverage was my main concern when planning this trip, having no idea what to expect. I found this site listing all gas station, but not only directly along M18. If I remember correctly, the farthest stretch without any gas station (or other facility for that matter) along M18 was around 220km after Medvezhyegorsk (Медвежьегорск). No idea though what is the case away from the M18.

One last suggestion: if you want to eat good and cheap Shashlik in Monchegorsk, here's a good place: http://g.co/maps/s5mfa

There is an amazing ride report on here of some guys riding almost non-existent dirt tracks around Murmansk and Kola peninsula. Can't seem to find it right now, but it's worth a read.

[Tseta]

Originally Posted by AlpineGuerrilla

There is an amazing ride report on here of some guys riding almost non-existent dirt tracks around Murmansk and Kola peninsula. Can't seem to find it right now, but it's worth a read.

You are probably referring to either this excellent report by Donogh or this one by randel. In any case, both are worth a read.

Cheers,

Tseta

[AlpineGuerrilla]

Originally Posted by Tseta

You are probably referring to either this excellent report by Donogh or this one by randel. In any case, both are worth a read.

Cheers,

Tseta

Both these reports are great reads and source for good information. Thanks for finding them.

[achesley]

Thanks very much for a great ride report and pictures. Super great video for sure. The only way I'll probably ever see this country is though rides reports and pictures such as yours.

[wildy]

I was advised the first thing you do when you enter Norway is go to yout first Statoil petrol station. There you buy a statoil cup and lid ( around £20 pounds). This entitles you to free coffee for the rest of the year. In 10 days riding I drank about 50 coffees ( keeps you alert and keeps the cost down).