Motorcycle trips
As the motorcycle season approaches, we are increasingly thinking about how to spend the summer as productively and brightly as possible, especially weekends. An interesting solution might be to travel to nearby cities and regions, but the question arises of where to go so that it’s close, interesting, and the roads are good, but without busy federal highways.
We have made a selection of interesting weekend routes around Moscow. If this article receives good feedback from readers, then next time we will make a selection of routes around St. Petersburg, and then in other regions of Russia.
Tula-Ryazan, 2-3 days, 1000 km
Motorcycle trip to the southern regions. There are good roads and interesting sights, among which, first of all, are the Tula Weapons Museum, the museum-estate of L.N. Tolstoy in Yasnaya Polyana, Kulikovo Field, the Ryazan Kremlin and the village of Konstantinovo, where Yesenin was born.
On the way to Tula, having passed through Podolsk, it is worth visiting Dubrovitsy - a village in which one of the most beautiful monuments of the Moscow region is located - the Church of the Sign. It is located on the territory of the Golitsyn estate. .
Moving further towards Serpukhov, go left, towards the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve - the roads here are beautiful and there is no traffic, and next to the reserve there is another attraction - a bison and bison nursery.
On the road from Tula to Ryazan, you should definitely stop at Kulikovo Field - a new interactive museum was recently built here, which will tell you about the legendary battle of Alexander Nevsky with the Mongol army.
If you wish, you can add some dirt roads near Tula near the village of Konduki - there is a beautiful system of flooded sand pits.
As you can understand, the places are interesting and there are more than enough attractions in this direction. We will not tell you in detail what to see in Tula, Ryazan, Zaraysk, Kolomna and other cities, we are sure you can do it yourself if you wish.
Suzdal-Yaroslavl, 2-3 days, 600 km
Route through the most popular cities of the Golden Ring. Both cities look great today, they have developed infrastructure, hotels, restaurants, many ancient monuments and beautiful nature.
Be prepared for a large number of tourists and high hotel prices - the downside of popularity.
On the way to Suzdal, we recommend stopping at the Air Force Museum in Monin (about 25 kilometers from the Moscow Ring Road). This is a paradise for aviation lovers, with many airplanes, helicopters and other aircraft gathered in the open air.
Further along the route is Vladimir with its greatest masterpieces of ancient Russian white stone architecture: the Golden Gate, the Assumption Cathedral, the Dmitrov Cathedral, the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl (in Bogolyubovo, which is ten kilometers east of the center of Vladimir).
30 km north of Vladimir is Suzdal, perhaps the most popular city of the Golden Ring. There are a lot of churches and monasteries around, where you can wander around all day. On the first weekend of July, Suzdal Blues-Bike Fest takes place - an international motorcycle festival, which has been organized by the Total Flame company for several years.
Yaroslavl is ready to compete with Suzdal for the title of the most beautiful city of the Golden Ring. The entire historical center of the city is a UNESCO monument. In the second half of July, the second Moto Family Days will be held in Yaroslavl - a new format of a family motorcycle festival. It’s nice that with the development of motorcycle culture in Russia, more and more different events and activities are appearing.
Plyos, 2 days, 750 km
We did not write about Ples in the last tour, since this place deserves special attention. You can stop here on your way from Suzdal to Yaroslavl, but it is much better to come here specifically for a few days. Why do we think this?
Plyos is a small town on the banks of the Volga, 350 km from Moscow. In the evening, when the buses with tourists leave, it is quiet here, as if you find yourself in an ordinary provincial town, far from the hustle and bustle. Considering the frantic pace we live in today, this opportunity is especially valuable.
There are many museums and churches in Plyos, beautiful nature, an elk farm on the other side of the Volga, an authentic local market, many coffee shops and several very cozy hotels where you can spend a quiet weekend in the company of a loved one or with friends, whoever wants more. And of course, smoked and dried Volga fish and delicious draft beer.
It is best to go to Ples through Kirzhach, Yuryev-Polsky and Kolchugino. We advise you to return back through Kostroma along the opposite bank of the Volga from you. In the village of Krasnye Pozhny there is a ferry across the Volga.
After Yaroslavl, go left (depending on where you look from!) and through Uglich, Myshkin, Kalyazin and Sergiev Posad return to Moscow.
Preparing for motorcycle tourism
Even when you are going somewhere to go somewhere together or on your own for one or two days, you need to prepare for the trip in advance. Organizing a motorcycle trip can be divided into several main stages:
- route development and planning;
- checking the technical condition of the bike and troubleshooting;
- preparation of equipment, clothing and travel equipment.
For a one-day trek, all you need is a reliable bike, charged gadgets and comfortable clothes. But for full-fledged tourism you already need a tent, a sleeping bag, a burner, dishes and special trunks in which to pack it all. A big mistake for beginners is to stock up on everything you need and not check the serviceability of the motorcycle. This usually ends with calling a tow truck and returning home by train.
Nikola-Lenivets, 2 days, 520 km
Another relatively easy and at the same time bright and interesting weekend route is a trip to the Nikola Lenivets art park. Many people have heard about this place, but not many have been there.
The main purpose of the trip is a landscape art park, where architectural and sculptural art objects of modern art are located on an impressive territory of 600 hectares.
This trip will have some dirt roads in front of and around the park, so the ideal motorcycle for the trip would be a touring bike like the BMW GS, KTM Adventure, Honda Africa-Twin, etc. Although you can get there on any other motorcycle, the journey will just take longer and be less enjoyable.
There are different options for overnight accommodation, from hotels to tents. In the center of the park there are several restaurants serving local beer, infusions and delicious farm food.
You can return to Moscow by a short road through the Simferopol Highway or a longer road through Kaluga and the Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve.
Which motorcycle to choose for motorcycle touring?
Motorcycles, like cars or bicycles, come in different types designed for completely different purposes. The slight difference between models of the same manufacturer is clearly felt at a great distance. And even on the fastest and lightest sports motorcycle you won’t be able to ride comfortably all day - your back will get tired, your arms and legs will become numb. Which technique should you choose?
Road motorcycles are designed for long trips - their geometry is specially designed to ensure the most comfortable fit for the rider. They have numerous mounts for luggage racks and trunks, and the backrest and leg extensions are easy to install. The fuel consumption of such models is relatively low.
Seliger-Valdai, 2-4 days, 1000-1300 km
Seliger is a system of lakes of glacial origin in the Tver and Novgorod regions. Here is one of the main Russian shrines, the Nilova-Stolobenskaya hermitage. There are a lot of berries and mushrooms, fantastic fishing, delicious liqueurs and draft Tver beer. Also on the northwestern side of Seliger is the source of the Volga, the greatest river in Russia.
For some reason that no one understands, despite the proximity to Moscow, the roads in the Seliger area have not been repaired since the Second World War - in some places there is simply no asphalt, in some places there is, but with meter-deep potholes. There are also normal roads, but you need to know them, otherwise there is a risk of going the wrong way. For this trip you definitely need a touring motorcycle, preferably a touring-enduro motorcycle, and not a sport-tourist.
Behind Seliger begins the Valdai National Park - the place is included in the UNESCO list as a world natural and cultural heritage site. The park is located 400 km from Moscow, on its territory there is the Valdai Iversky Monastery, radon springs, abandoned ballistic missile launch silos and many other interesting objects.
In the area of Seliger and Valdai there are a lot of different dirt roads and little traffic. This trip is an excellent option for a small off-road adventure with overnight stays in tents and outdoor recreation. In recent years, the local forestry has built several camping areas within the park where you can stay with a tent. You can go fishing, barbecue, rent a sauna, or just relax in nature. For those who prefer to stay in a hotel, there are also many good options.
ARE THERE SPARE PARTS AVAILABLE OR REPAIR FOR THE MOTORCYCLE?
Think in advance about how you can repair your motorcycle during the trip. Technology is technology, which means breakdowns can happen at any time. I don’t really know what to advise here. Newer technology is more reliable. But it is often more complicated. Cleaning the carburetor “in the field” is possible. What about the injector? In addition, there are more and less long-lived motors. However, all this is relevant when you have at least some repair skills and are trying to determine the boundaries of your knowledge. If you don’t know anything, the simplicity of the design will not help. There will be no conclusion, except perhaps one thing: timely maintenance and good service with a thorough inspection will completely help you identify problems in advance and avoid most of them.
Smolensk region, 3 days, 1100 km
An interesting option for a trip to historical sites of the Napoleonic War, visiting several former noble estates, museums and abandoned roads. But first things first.
Your first stop on the road from Moscow will be the Borodino Field Museum-Reserve, the oldest battlefield museum in the world, based on the site of battles of two Patriotic Wars. There are more than 200 historical monuments and memorable places on its territory. In addition, there is a chance to get to some military-historical festival, which is held annually on the Borodino field.
Next, with a stop at the Yu.A. Museum. Gagarin in the city of the same name and the village of Khmelitu, where the Griboedov estate is located, you will get to Smolensk by secondary roads. But don’t rush to go to the hotel right away. First, make a stop at the Katyn memorial complex - Polish officers were shot here in 1940, and many Soviet citizens were killed here earlier. In 1998, a memorial complex was opened at the site of the tragic events, which we strongly advise you to visit. It's worth it.
When returning back to Moscow, be sure to make a stop at the Talashkino-Flyonovo museum-estate, where you can see the magnificent mosaic of Nicholas Roerich “The Savior Not Made by Hands,” made by the artist over the portal of the Church of St. Spirit. In the village you can swim in the font, and then we suggest returning to Moscow along the Starosmolenskaya road. Today it is a single-lane dirt road in places, which can only be driven on a touring motorcycle. There is no car traffic here, as well as gas stations and shops. Cellular reception is spotty in places.
SO, WHAT IS SUITABLE FOR TOURISM?
LUXURY TOURERS
Jokingly called “half a car,” luxury tourers can outperform a whole car in terms of equipment.
Six-cylinder boxer engine, ventilated all-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock braking system, navigation system with voice command support, stereo system, separate four-channel amplifier 80 watts per channel with automatic volume control based on speed, heated leather seats, cruise control, ignition key with a microchip, airbag... Do you think this is a list of options for a luxury sedan? No. All this equipment is installed on the production Honda Gold Wing motorcycle.
Luxury tourers are a small elite class of motorcycles. The models of these “moto-limousines” produced over the past 30 years can be counted on one hand. They differ from their more modest motorcycle brethren in their noble origins. While sports-touring motorcycles (plump sportsbikes) fuss in the fight for despicable minutes on the way from city to city, and huge comfortable cruisers try to stun passers-by with a menacing roar of the exhaust (they are the descendants of the great Harley!), luxury tourers imitate everything ... cars, and not cheap ones at all. It’s not for nothing that they are jokingly called “halves of a car” or autocycles.
We must admit that this market is going through hard times right now. Low competition reduces development. But before, there were other models.
So that the post is of a reasonable size - just the title, a photo and maybe a couple of lines about the device. I don't know much myself =3
Kawasaki Voyager XII (1986-2003)
Suzuki Cavalcade(1985-1989)
Honda Gold Wing (1972 - present)
in various modifications from 1972 to the present, in fact, the first luxury tourer can be considered the modification of 1980
BMW K1200LT (1999-2010)
more recent modifications can more likely be attributed to sports tourists, although this one is not without fault
That's basically all. Hopefully I'm wrong, but I really don't see an alternative to the Gold Wing in the luxury tourer class. Maybe because such devices are no longer needed? I look at the market and see that any class can be “tourist” - even a cruiser, even a sport, even an enduro. There is no need to be tied to a class if you want to travel. So let's continue.
CRUISERS
While Honda is marking time with its Goldwing, the rest of the world has long recognized cruisers as having the right to be touring motorcycles. Heavy, high-torque - that’s basically all you need. Well, you can always buy all sorts of cup holders - like DLC in games.
Here you need to understand that if I start listing ALL cruisers that can be used as tourist ones, only the list will take up the remaining space. Because literally ANY cruiser can be adapted for travel. An example of this is my own Firetank. The previous owner simply put 2 huge side bags, footrests, a gel seat and a large windshield hood on it, and I added a rear bag:
However, there are also models that are ready to go on the autobahn straight from the factory. And the first of all are Harley & Davidson devices - where would we be without them? However, the Americans build a body kit around several basic frames, so there is no point in writing models here - the name depends on the body kit. Models are Road King, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Road Glide and others with combinations of these words:
As you can easily see, they have the same base. And when choosing a touring Harley... you choose a touring Harley. All. Yes, they have different faces and body kits, but by and large these devices behave and are equipped similarly. Not as powerful as Gold Wing, but there are enough goodies for you, for example, there is a music system here too. Just like the on-board computer.
However, you need to understand that Harleys take a slightly different approach to how the engine should behave. And if you are not ready for large vibrations at idle (which, by the way, disappear as soon as you press the gas a little) or do not like the signature Harley sound (which you can imitate with your mouth by repeating “potato-potato”), then this vehicle is not for you . By comparison, the Gold Wind's flat-six doesn't vibrate at all.
And the price, of course. This is Harley... Of course, it’s not only Harley that produces ready-made motorcycles.
Indian Chieftain
To sum it up with touring cruisers: most of the time you don't buy, but rather build a touring motorcycle based on a cruiser, adding exactly what you need to it.
Expressing the brief idea of a tourer, that is, a tourist cruiser: “get there with things and comfort, without losing the features of a cruiser”
BAGGERS
Since I talked about it there, I need to say a few words here too. So, a bagger is a motorcycle concept with large side bags but no central one. Strictly speaking, any motorcycle can become a bugger if it is sealed properly, but there are also factory versions. Such motorcycles are also suitable for travel, but I don’t see much point in singling them out.
Honda CTX1300
SPORTS TOURISTS
When talking about a sport-tourer, always remember: it is a compromise between the speed of a sportbike and the capacity and comfort of a touring motorcycle. A sports tourist looks at comfort differently than a tourer-cruiser, but he also has a different goal:
“get to the point quickly, but with things.”
... and in the first place - quickly, and in the second place are things or comfort. But we’ll start with the motorcycle closest to a luxury tourer:
BMW K 1600 GTL
BMW R 1200 RT
Yamaha FJR1300
moto guzzi norge 1200
Triumph trophy
Honda ST1300 Pan European
Honda VFR800
Strictly speaking, there is not enough tourism left in VyFeRe, but there is more than enough sports.
So, in theory, panniers can be attached to any sports motorcycle. Will this make it a tourist destination? No. A sport-tourist means not only high speed and luggage compartment, but also advanced wind protection, comfortable gadgets and a position that allows you to spend more time in the saddle than required for a circuit race.
And if you want to travel from Moscow to the Black Sea for the weekend... well, maybe this is what you need. Unless, of course, you are ready to break traffic rules, which I do not recommend =3
And we move on.
TURENDURO
“Everyone will ride enduro” © folk wisdom
Any traveler across the expanses of our vast homeland quickly comes to the conclusion that we have good roads mainly on federal highways, in regional centers and capitals. But what to do if the path lies where few tourists step? (deserted beach, resort village.. eh) We need transport that can handle both the road and the bad road. If such a vehicle had 4 wheels, it would be called a “SUV”. Among motorcycles, some representatives of tourenduro fall into this category.
In general, the tourenduro is positioned as an all-terrain motorcycle - not to be confused with an off-road one. Having less cross-country ability than its off-road brothers, the tourenduro develops greater speed on the highway, takes more luggage and provides a greater level of comfort.
As a result, touring enduros are a fusion of road motorcycle, touring motorcycle and off-road motorcycle. Moreover, the proportions of these 3 components may vary significantly among different manufacturers.
BMW r1200gsa
BMW F 800GS
Triumph Tiger Explorer
yamaha super tenere 1200
Yamaha XTZ 660 Tenere
Yamaha TDM 900
Honda Transalp 650
A slight digression is required here. There are both 600th and 700th models. Why 650? 600 cc Transalps are already quite old; it is very difficult to find a live machine in Russia. In turn, the 700 has tighter suspension compared to the 650, a smaller front wheel, etc. In general, the 700th Transalp loves good asphalt more than its 650cc predecessor.
Honda XRV 750 Africa Twin
Easy to operate, phenomenal reliability. Africa seems to have been created for our roads... and was discontinued in 2003 for the sake of a line of transalps. My conscience will not allow me not to mention it.
Honda CRF1000 Africa Twin
Last year we saw a renewed Africa. Whether she will be able to win her hearts is still a question.
Honda XL 1000V Varadero
KTM 1290 ADVENTURE
KTM 990 adventure
Kawasaki KLR650
A motorcycle that is knee-deep in the sea. The Kawasaki KLR650 touring enduro was originally created for traveling in difficult conditions - on off-road it behaves no worse than on the highway, and it can overcome water obstacles with equal ease, both on a bridge and ford. It can also set records for travel distance, although, to be honest, I don’t really want to go on a trip in the uncomfortable saddle of this bike with a rigid suspension. However, in terms of its parameters (consumption 4.3 liters per 100 km, tank capacity - 23 liters), it is also quite a tourist because without refueling it can travel about 530 kilometers, of course, if you drive on the highway.
In general, you can still type and type, so the last one is enough:
Suzuki DL 650 V-Storm
In general, there are a lot of questions about Suzuki V-Storm. Overall the bike is good, but there are some nuances. In terms of reliability, the Transalp is clearly better than the V-Storm, in terms of speed the TDM is better than the V-Storm, in terms of cross-country ability the KTM Adventure is better than the V-Storm, in terms of comfort the BMW F 800 GS is better than the V-Storm. So it turns out that it is not clear what this touring bike from Suzuki is good at.
Let's try to characterize the V-Storm 650 briefly. V-shaped 650 cc engine. A good engine, but still not a Transalp. Very noisy, compared to the Honda it's just a tractor. There are often stories about how, with short runs, the V-Storm’s gearbox begins to act up and neutral begins to disappear, but here, of course, everything depends on the quality of the oil and how much the motorcycle is “raped.” V-Storm alloy wheels are clearly a minus; tourenduros should have spoked wheels, if according to Feng Shui (if only because a light eight, as a logical consequence of off-road rides in the case of spoked wheels, is much easier to fix than casting).
But they say that the V-Storme has a very comfortable stock saddle and very good wind protection. So it turns out that the B-storm is generally a good enduro, but there is always a better option.
Voronezh Region, 3 days 1100 km
Voronezh and its surroundings are a very good destination for a short trip. Despite the distance from Moscow, in the southern direction there are many good secondary roads that can quickly get to Voronezh.
The city itself is very pleasant, well-groomed and equipped - cafes, restaurants, museums, a beautiful center, which is pleasant to walk around on a warm summer evening. Few people know, but Voronezh is the birthplace of the Russian fleet; more than 200 warships were built here under Peter I, which allowed Russia to win a number of victories in naval battles.
The region is also the capital of the Black Earth Region - there are many rivers, fields and forests, nature reserves and parks. For example, towards Rostov-on-Don, ~100 km from the city, there is the Divnogorye Park. Behind Zadonsk, on the Lipetsk highway, the Galichya Gora Nature Reserve is the very first nature reserve that was created on Russian territory. On the territory there is an unusual architectural complex - the old Taldykin estate with a complex of outbuildings and a pre-revolutionary mill.
Not far from Zadonsk is Skornyakovo-Arkhangelskoye, a restored noble estate, where today there is a museum, a household, a restaurant and a small hotel.
Important - when planning a trip, keep in mind that you can get to the south along secondary roads to the left of the M-4 highway, and it is more interesting to return to Moscow using the same secondary roads to the right of the highway, through Dankov, Lebedyan, Lev Tolstoy, etc.
Chukhloma-Sugorye, 3-4 days, 1500 km
Chukhloma is an ancient Russian city on the shore of the lake of glacial origin of the same name Chukhloma. In the vicinity of Chukhloma there is a very beautiful Astashovo estate. In fact, it’s hard to call it an estate - it’s a real ancient Russian wooden tower, the place is very different from what you’ve seen before, don’t be lazy to get there to see it in person.
After Chukhloma, it’s worth going to Sugorye - a place where the life of the ancient Slavs and Scandinavians is reconstructed; an entire fortress on the river bank has been recreated here. On the way to Moscow, we recommend visiting Rybinsk - another beautiful city with a little-known history, an interesting center and a dam. The roads are unpaved in some places, the asphalt is not good everywhere, it is better to hit the road on an enduro tour.
WHAT DO WE NEED?
To answer this question, we will have to decide on the direction of further searches. To do this, I will give the classification from which this post grew. Here you need to understand that the boundaries of the categories are very arbitrary and blurred, just like with cars and many other criteria. Moreover, motorcycles have such a confusing classification, in my opinion, because the categories have very blurry boundaries and there are no clear definitions. Just look at this horror:
However, there are also options “for the most indecisive”:
Meanwhile we will continue.
