Way to Russia Talk Lounge

Uralrider

Hi everyone, I found this site while trying to find out what I can do in my situation and it looks like there are quite a few knowledgeable people out there when it comes to Russia. I am an Australian guy who has come over to Europe to buy a Russian Ural Motorbike and sidecar unit, ride across Russia, Mongolia, China, SE Asia etc on my way back to Australia. I got a Russian bike as I thought if I had any problems ie breakdowns, parts required, etc, I would have far less problems as these bikes are everywhere in Russia. Also, the bike has the ability to engage the sidecar wheel and turn it into a 2WD bike, which would hopefully get me out of situations on rough or non-existing roads. To get the 2WD version, the sidecar must be on the right side of the bike, as they do not make them for the left. Also, riding mainly across Russia, where they drive on the right side of the road, having the sidecar on the right is the best way to go. It is a limited edition "Pustinja" model, (Only 35 built in the world) I found it on the internet and was able to locate and purchase one. Now, here is my problem. I bought the bike 18th of April in Austria, from the European dealer for the Russian bikes. When you buy a bike, and are not from Austria, they give you a 21 day temporary licence plate, to allow you to ride it to own country to register it and pay the relevant taxes of that country. I couldn't register it in Austria as I am not a resident of Austria. It was suggested I could register it in the dealers name, but I didn't want to do this as I thought it would create more problems being on a bike not in my name when I was trying to cross borders into Russia etc. Besides, it is my bike. So, I then rode over to England where I intended to register the bike, as I have "right to Abode" in my passport, and therefore be able to register a vehicle. However, due to the fact the sidecar is on the right, and not the left, the English authorities would not do it. This is a relatively new law in the UK I believe regarding sidecars. Unless the bike is pre 80's (I think) it won't be registered in the UK. I then travelled to other countries in the EU to try to register the bike. By this time the temporary registration has expiered, and no-one will allow me to register it their country as I am not a resident of that country. I found out you have to buy temporary registration and Insurance when entering Russia (From this website) and thought as I can prove the bike is not stolen and is mine, although the original registration has expired, I would be allowed to buy the necessary registration at the border and proceed. I would also get the extension on the registration when in Moscow (again, useful info from this site) I have been in contact with the Australian Embassy in Moscow re this matter and have been told if i go to the border with expired registration, then they will confiscate the bike and I will be fined and/or gaoled! Not what I had planned for my visit to Russia!
Is there anyone who may know what I can do to rectify this problem? I saw the link in the transportation section about a company called interautocentre who assist in getting foreigners Russian registrations, but as I can't read or speak Russian, I can't find the link to email them with my problem. Can anyone do that on my behalf?At the moment, I am holed up in a hotel in Marijampole in Lithuania, waiting for Monday where I will keep trying to somehow get something done. My visa started on the 1st of July, so I'm losing time in Russia. I know I have waffled on a bit, but it is wierd that you can buy a bike over here but can't register it. So far, all up my costs are close to $30,000, and would hate to think I got so close to realizing my dream, only to be turned away at the gate, so to speak.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and see it for what it is...a guy trying to get to Russia, legally, to continue his journey.
I can be contacted through my email address, and will check this site regularly, or my number is +61438691182. You can text me and I'll call back as I am on roaming and don't want you to incure the cost of calling Australia.
Thank you ,
Kenton

danbrew · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:54 pm Post subject:

Kenton, sounds like a wonderful trip you have planned - I'd love to hear how it goes. danbrew@hotmail.com. Think about visiting www.horizonsunlimited.com and www.advrider.com as good motorcycle and travel forums.

I'm on the cusp myself, btw, of purchasing a Ural - I'm going to buy a Gear Up within the next few weeks here in the US.

I don't know whether this will work, but have you considered taking your title/certificate of ownership and sending to a mate in AU and asking him to register in your name at the local department of motor vehicles? I'm contemplating purchasing a bike from Washington State from a dealer (and I'm in Illinois). Once I pay for the bike, he'll send me the title and I can go and register at my local DMV - the bike doesn't need to be there. They I can fly out to Washington and bring the temporary tag with me and affix it to the bike and off I go.

Good luck with it!!

danbrew

Uralrider

Thanks Danbrew for the advice. I am currently in the process of trying to register the bike in Australia as well as doing something over here. I have to wait to see if they do it for me, but again. like the UK, they drive on the left in Oz, and may not let me do it. If i'm unsuccessful then maybe I should go the other direction and ship the bike over to Canada and the US and go down towards South America. I'll have to do some research and see if I can get registration in the US now? At least the combination of bike and sidecar is set up on the correct side.
I'll check out the sites you suggested. Thanks again

DITTRICH · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 11:22 pm Post subject:

Dan is right.

Horizons Unlimited is THE travel resource for the bike community.

Now I know sod all about bikes but can you not just take the sidecar off and complete the registration in the UK. You can always attach it back later when you want to drive in Europe. Whether this approach is strictly allowable I don't know but it would seem to be the easiest solution to me.

Best of Luck

Les

Uralrider

Thanks Les, but the Ural is a bike that is purposely built with sidecar, and with the driveshaft going to the sidecar wheel, when removed would leave a large hole, making it obvious of what i would be trying to get away with. I had thought of that angle, and had a chat with one of the Ural dealers in the UK, who says he has a letter from the head of Vehicle registration stating the Ural 2WD version, with right sidecar will not be registered in UK. (or words to that effect)
Thanks for the response anyway.
Kenton

danbrew · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 1:28 am Post subject:

Les, not a bad idea. Kenton, granted, when looking at the rear drive of a Ural, sans sidecar, it is pretty obvious something is missing. Do you actually need to have the bike in the UK to register the bike?

It's pretty easy for me to scoff at the motor vehicles guy in the UK, but I wonder if you had a right side car rig registered elsewhere in Europe - would they prevent you from riding in the UK? Probably not.

Here's a pic of Ural sans sidecar - it is in the process of being assembled after shipping to the dealer...

http://Mr-Cob.smugmug.com/photos/306336149_qQmmj-L.jpg

I wonder how easy it is to remove that stub for the shaft drive? Probably not too complex, I'd bet.

Food for thought.

Alas, I am not a native Russian speaker (and you wouldn't want me intervening on your behalf - I'd probably go a great job of getting us both kicked out of Russia...!), but there are plenty of folks here at WTR that are fluent or native speakers and might be willing to help. It would be helpful if you could provide links to the pages that you need help with - I searched for "interautocentre" at Google and the only relevant hit that I received was this thread at WTR!!!

Good luck, Kenton. Can't wait to hear about your journey.

danbrew

Uralrider

Your right, it's was not a problem for me to ride in the UK, just can't register it there! I've had another thought as I was looking at my paperwork. I'll get in contact with the people in Austria, who gave me my plates and original 21 day temporary registration, and see if they might re-issue another one to cover the time to ride back to Australia. Or, at least to another country where I can register it. I think I'll take the "you do this for a living, and must have known I wouldn't have been able to register it anywhere in Europe as I am not a citizen...so please help me get legal" approach. At this point I'm trying all options. I also found a place that does "green card insurance" for travelers wanting to ride their bikes from outside Europe. They may have a way around it, or know what I can do. I found it at the Horizons Unlimited site, so thanks heaps for the advice.
Kenton

DITTRICH · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:18 am Post subject:

Dan,
You and me are thinking too much alike.
Remove the drive shaft...
Les

Uralrider

Hi Guys,
Managed to go to the Lithuanian Vehicle registration office today and get a 60 day temporary registration and Lithuanian plates. this makes me legal and should give me time to enjoy a nice ride to Mongolia, where I can then apply for my second visa to head towards Vladisvostok. I'll have to look into extending the temporary registration when in Russia though. I think I read about doing that in here somewhere.
Thanks for the response guys.

danbrew · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:04 pm Post subject:

Nice, glad to hear it. Are you blogging or posted pics along the way? Would love to follow along.

Smile

Uralrider · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:11 pm Post subject:

Hey danbrew,
I do plan to do something along those lines but have to get in first. I was turned away at the border yesterday. Spent š hours getting to the last point of the crossing, and was told by the lady that I can't enter Russia on "transit plates" which my 60 day temporary plates are. What a bummer. I was then told they would do it in latvia (register the bike). I got there and they are looking for a "part 2" of my registration papers which I never got from the Austrian authorities when I originally purchased the bike. You don't know of anyone who may want to buy a Limited Edition Pustinja Ural Ranger do you? I think I'm going to have to sell it and get the one with the left sidecar (FULLY REGISTERED) from the UK. This will allow me to take it home with no problems too. If you do know of anyone, I could even ride it to them.
I'm still not giving up on the Russian idea, but things are stacking up against me at the moment. I hope it is all worth it.

danbrew · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:30 am Post subject:

Unfortunately, no, sorry, I don't know anybody in that part of the world that would buy. It might be a good idea to post on www.horizonsunlimited.com for sale and for suggestions - folks might have lived this before and can offer ready advice.

Good luck!!!

danbrew

Uralrider

Hey Danbrew,
Just an update. I have been told by the Latvian authorities I will be able to get registration here in Latvia. Great. They just need part 2 of my registration papers....what part 2? I wasn't given part 2, as my registration was just a temporary rego. So now I have to wait til they verify with Austria, which can take "up to 30 days...tops" probably done in 3 to 5 days though. I'm getting closer. My dealer in Austria says he cant get me the paperwork, as he has tried, so its a waiting game....but with a light at the end of the tunnel. I'll head down to the Registration place and put this situation to them and maybe go to the local police to get them to varify the bike is mine....it may help. Problem is I look a bit scary at the moment. I got a bee between my helmut and goggles and it stung big time. My face has puffed up like a balloon! Not my best look.

danbrew · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:50 am Post subject:

doh!

but... that is adventure riding. i could tell 'ya a story about this picture...

dneprider · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:35 am Post subject:

Perhaps it would have been easier to buy or hire a bike to ride inside of Russia and then sell it at the end of your travel. Bike with right hand sidecar is not exactly welcome in Australia and you might find it would not be importable. Customs have a nice way of saying that the bikes must be either exported at once or destroyed if it does not have the correct import documentation. Either way it is a waste of money. google DOTARS for information on bringing a bike into Oz.

New Urals are now available in Australia since last month with factory made left hand sidecar. www.imz-ural.com.au

Hope you can sort something out mate. Safe travels.