Preparations for "Excuse me, which way to Greece?" trip

Me and my friend Markus are going on an 28 day offroad trip. Starting from Tallinn, Estonia and heading south on the smallest roads/paths until we reach Greece and the Mediterranean.
Highways are way too boring for us!

So Estonia -> Latvia -> Lithuania -> Poland -> Ukraine -> Romaina -> Bulgaria (-> Istanbul, Turkey) -> Greece.
Then we go west towards Italy. When time starts to run out then we head back home on asphalt.

Read more at our english blog page: http://trippimas.tumblr.com/en
And follow our frequently updated twitter: http://www.twitter.com/trippimas
Facebook friends can find us here: http://www.facebook.com/Trippimas


This is our first true motorcycle trip. So we are looking for all kinds of advice:
*Must see places
*Fun trails
*Equipment suggestions
*Places to avoid
*Contacts in case of technical emergenices
etc..

Check out the Google Map to get an idea what we are up to! Keep in mind that we won't be using highways!

Ok, now for the equipment. Lets start with mine:

1999 KTM 640 Adv
ODO:49000km

Engine
Complete overhaul @48000KM by our sponsor Kauritmoto
Was in a pretty good shape, changed only 1 bearing, gaskets, piston rings. Pretty pics are coming.
Frame
Custom pannier racks.
Rear subframe strengthened with 8mm rods.
Kauritmoto changed the rear link bearing.
Mods
Acerbis seal savers on the fork and bark guards with spoilers.
De-modded the perforated airbox.
12v cheap charger placed on the front subframe.
Tires
front: Dunlop Trailmax
rear: Dunlop D908 RR
Navigation
Floating compass on the dash.
Luggage
Held Martello velcro tank bag (tailor mod)
Custom handmade flight case panniers (see below for pics)
Spare parts
both levers
both brake pads
spare clutch cable placed along the original
both inner tubes
spare fuel cock
oil filters
air filter
chain


Markus on the otherhand has the following gear:

2006 Husqvarna SM 610
ODO: 20000km

Engine
Was ok, so no work was done
Fork
Seals and oil change
Luggage
Soft luggage, STILL to be finalized
Tires
front: Dunlop Sportmax Mutant
rear: Dunlop Trailmax TR91
Other
Chain and sprockets changed
mirror, horn and blinkers installed
5l spare tank (12l main tank!!)


Other equipment:


Cameras and camcorders
Underwater camera sponsored by Canon: PowerShot D10
Cheap MD 80 mini videocamera like this.
2x Action cameras sponsored by Drift Innovation: HD170
Pentax K20 - This is the main toy for Markus :)

Navigation
Garmin Colorado 300, which shuts off pretty frequently.
Some European road atlas as backup

Communicaiton
Netbook for keeping touch with online friends and for storing video and photo material. HP Mini 210 was kindly sponsored by HP.
Nokia E50 for texting and N80 for backup.
Printed papers with most needed russian phrases
Very basic local language phrases (hello-goodbye)

Misc
Lifesaver 4000 ultrafiltration Bottle provides us with clean drinking water
3w Cree LED flashlight - cheap (€22)
ipod + XMI Mini speaker
First aid kit
many kinds of glue and liquid metal
duct and electircal tape (duh)
electrical wire
fuel line piece




I keep updating this post until we embark on the 31st of August.

Updates:
18th August: Fixed Husqvarna data. Updated Google map with babisadve tips.
19th August: Misc updates.
22nd August: Updated equipment list.
29th August: Uploaded pics, updated equipment list.

North Greece, try to avoid "Egnatia Odos".
Boring high way.
Alternative interesting ways:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=%CE%9C%CE%AC%CE%BD%CE%B4%CF%81%CE%B1,+%CE%9F%CF%81%CF%86%CE%AD%CE%B1%CF%82,+%CE%88%CE%B2%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82,+%CE%95%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%AC%CE%B4%CE%B1&daddr=41.1337441,25.921491+to:%CE%9A%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%BF%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD%CE%AE,+%CE%95%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%AC%CE%B4%CE%B1&hl=el&geocode=FYe_dQIdCMORASnzn6gWqfiyFDEAELriLL0ABQ%3BFbCmcwId04eLASmnsXmfPWyyFDGR2_7ZLL0AEw%3BFZZscwIdWKiDASlblD29MeytFDFogEInhJ5HKw&mra=ls&dirflg=h&doflg=ptk&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=18.53511,56.513672&ie=UTF8&ll=41.122815,25.941467&spn=0.548277,1.766052&z=9&via=1

and

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=%CE%9A%CE%B1%CE%B2%CE%AC%CE%BB%CE%B1,+%CE%95%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%AC%CE%B4%CE%B1&daddr=%CE%98%CE%B5%CF%83%CF%83%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%BA%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%9A%CE%B1%CE%B2%CE%AC%CE%BB%CE%B1%CF%82+to:40.761821,23.928223+to:%CE%9B%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%B4%CE%AC%CF%82,+%CE%95%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%AC%CE%B4%CE%B1&hl=el&geocode=FTOkcAIdhXV0ASn3Y52CW6OuFDFwprniLL0ABA%3BFYpzbgIdJOFxAQ%3B%3BFazKbQIdQPhfASkhFqoPCEyoFDEQpbniLL0ABA&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=9&via=1,2&sll=40.809652,23.711243&sspn=0.550885,1.766052&ie=UTF8&z=9

Also if u have time try to explore Chalkidiki:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=el&geocode=&q=%CE%A7%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BA%CE%B9%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE,+%CE%95%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%AC%CE%B4%CE%B1&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=18.53511,56.513672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=%CE%A7%CE%B5%CF%81%CF%83%CF%8C%CE%BD%CE%B7%CF%83%CE%BF%CF%82+%CE%A7%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BA%CE%B9%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE%CF%82&ll=40.417678,23.450317&spn=1.108232,3.532104&z=8

Have a safe trip

Some images from the recent KTM overhaul:


We all know that the rear sub-frame of the 640 Adventure is weak :/ Luckily this one gets a strengthening job that will be finished tomorrow



One of the generator cover bolt threads has cracked! I wonder who decided to make the wall so thin?



So it was decided to rethread it.


A little low, but hey, it works!



Are Kaurit, 2004 sidecar motocross world championship bronze, helped us a lot with his wisdom and technical skills.



Don't bother to use seal rings that are almost the correct size



Bleeding the oil



And she's done! For time being..



I'd like to add that we are looking for contacts in all of the mentioned countries to help us out in case we run into techincal or logistical problems. People who can help us find shops and repair services. Please PM if you can offer your help!
We are also looking for contacts for our possible route from Greece towards Italy!

From Greece, if you like to taste something different, then go through Albania(nothing to be affraid off, the people are nice), then Monte Negro(visit Durmitor mountain, Rijeka Crnojevica)), and then through Croatian coast(visit Dubrovnik, Ston, Trogir etc),

ride on

Thanks Frgich, added to the google map!


We are now looking for nice offroad or trail routes in bulgaria and romania. Please suggest!


Some pics of the custom pannier rack system:


Got finished a day ago.


Does it look familiar?




If you guessed Touratech rip off then you win

Today I'll get the custom panniers. Markus is still looking for the right package:

KTM got the custom panniers just in time:





Nuke-proof
They are identical in size
Weigh about 6kg each
Are submersible upto the lid
Not lockable (yet)
Cost me €200



Markus finally decided which tires to get:


Dunlop Trailmax TR91 and..


Dunlop Sportmax Mutant


Now there are only minor things left to do! In two days we embark!