Across Russia in Winter - BMW R1150GS
| Who | Philippe Geelhand ~ email ~ website |
| Profession | Export Manager |
| Born 1971 | Nationality Belgian |
| Previous travel experience | France, Italy, UK, Spain, Indonesia, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Ukraine, Kazakhstan |
| Previous bike travels | Belgium, France, South-Africa |
| This trip | Moscow - Central Asia - Vladivostok |
| Departure date | October 2004 |
| Number in group | 1 |
| Trip duration | 55 days |
| Distance covered | 18500 km + 12000 km train (vladi-moscow) |
| Cost of trip (not incl. bike) | too much |
| Best day | Navigating in Mongolian mountains, deserts and grassland. Unique experience! |
| Worst/ hardest day | Desert with the heavy motorbike ... and temperatures: -46?C (!!!) in Siberia ... |
| Favourite place | Mongolian highlands |
| Biggest headache | mud in Karakalpakstan (desert between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan), soft sand in Mongolia. |
| Biggest mistake | starting the trip at the start of the winter. |
| Most pleasant surprise | warm welcome of inhabitants along the journey. |
| Any illness | no |
| Other trips planned | transafrica |
| One travel tip | go for it! kindest people met in Russia and CIS countries. |
| Bike Model | BMW R1150GS |
| Age/ mileage on departure | 3000 km |
| Modifications | none (std.options; flat twin protections bars, abs, heated grips) |
| Mods you wish you'd done | how can I lose 100kg from the bike? |
| Type of baggage | bmw alu boxes |
| Tyres used | Metzeler Karoo |
| Number of punctures | 3 |
| Bike's weak point | weight, weight and weight in tough conditions |
| Bike's strong point | most reliable bike on earth (worst gasolin: 67 octane=> no probs) |
| Bike problems | none |
| Number of accidents | 1 result: broken valve cover ... oil leak |
| Same bike again? | yes if NOT alone, otherwise F650 |
| One biking tip | don't take a heavy bike when u travel alone!!! |