Steppe Out: Travels Around Mongolia, Summer 2014

Your report has been at the top of my 'to read' list for ages and I've finally gotten to it. Fantastic report! Inspiring stuff and fantastic photos. Not all reports take you along for the ride-your did! I think your idea to rent a little China bike there was just brilliant. With expensive and large European bikes dominating the RTW motorbike landscape these days it is so great to see a report that demonstrates so well that these amazing adventures can be had on absolutely ANY bike no matter how humble, no matter the size. Good on you for making it happen and recording it for us to enjoy

I was in Mongolia last August. I started my trip renting a Shineray from Cheke. She's a good person, honest, helpful and easy to deal with. However I was not happy with the Shineray. For 13$/day you get what you pay for. I have a lot of dirt experience, and I also have raced AHRMA Vintage MX for 20 years so I thought I'd be ok with the Chinese bike. After all, I'm used to short travel suspension on my vintage bikes. Wrong. I took a 3 day loop out past the GK statue and gave the bike back. I just wasn't having any fun. No suspension meant very slow speeds off the pavement.
I returned rhe bike to Cheke and contacted Chinzo and Sukhe at Ride Mongolia and rented a XT250 Yamaha. For me that bike was perfect. Enough power and suspension to have fun and keep up a good pace, but small and light enough to drag out of a mud hole by myself.
Mongolia is a fantastic place to ride. You'll have a lot of fun.

Forgot to mention, with a good paper map and a GPS, I had the OSM map, you can navigate just fine. If you get lost just follow the tyre tracks of power lines. Sooner or later you'll turn up at a village.

That is mighty high praise!! I've been following your RR for quite some time. It is true. Adventure lies just outside your door. It is closer than you think. I am constantly humbled by the people I have met, not only on this site, but in life in general. I count myself fortunate to having been able to not only contribute to ADVrider, but to maybe inspire others to go out there and try it for themselves.

Safe travels you two. Please look me up when you come to the Bay Area.

Cheers!!


Jeff

The Shineray is a special bike. It is nothing fancy. It did, however, do everything I asked it to do. From crossing a river up to it's tank to crawling up a muddy mountainside, to descending a mountain of baby heads, it did it all. I agree with FP, the bike has it's shortcomings. But, as I sit here a year after my trip and on the anniversary of my birthday, my thoughts bring me back to Mongolia. I'm not thinking of the bike. I am thinking of what an amazing trip I had. I still keep in touch with people I met in Mongolia. I received birthday wishes from Scott and Sarah (the Aus couple form Lake Khovsgol) today. I have been informed that they are currently living large in Bangkok. Jaco and Jip, The Dutch couple I met, are just finished a trip over the Pamir. Truly an amazing trip. In fact, FlyingPenguin and I are planning a California, Nevada, Idaho, Washington, Oregon trip here in a few weeks. It just goes to show you.... Go have an adventure. Meet people. Be open to the universe and be authentic. Have fun. Ride on.

Night all.


Tahoe

Hi all,

I just wanted to post an update of where to find the Mongolian Road Atlas.

There is a road atlas that you MUST have. I mentioned it on my ride report. I have since bought a copy. It came from Germany. It is the 1:1 000 000 Road Atlas and can be found on www.mongoleishop.de

There is NO better atlas for traveling in Mongolia. I look through it regularly and dream of getting back...

On the plus side, it is now 15 Euro, on sale from 39 Euro. Such a deal!!!

Tahoe

Great RR. Really motivating stuff. Awesome pictures and love your interaction with the locals. It started to get my butt into planning for the next trip.

Unfortunately the road atlas is 'Currently not available at the time'

Since posting about the atlas, several inmates have contacted me saying that they ordered it. I wonder if there was an unexpected run on Mongolian road maps...

Thanks for the update. I’m going to contact them today and see if more will be in. Watch this space.


Tahoe

Started reading your RR by accident this morning. I don't know much about Mongolia, but after spending 3 hours reading your RR now I find myself dreaming of going there. Good job with the pictures and the stories you provided us. So freaking cool man.

I'm glad you enjoyed it Sifox! I enjoyed writing it!!

Tahoe

Just took a moment to look back on this trip. What good times. My how things have changed since...

Still got the Tiger XC?

Heck yes I do! Love that bike! Even better now with front and rear Ohlins.