This post is for my fellow riders, wherever you are. There is o order, just my thoughts about my impressions and observation.

Border passing

It’s easy to pass the border. You have to be a bit brave an pass the whole queue. At the Ukrainian border you need to stop at the first booth to get a small paper with your registration number of the bike. At the other end of the border control you shall give this back again, so hold on to it.

You need two stamps on this paper, one for your bike and one for your self. Different booths so find the shortest line to start. It has never bothered me where to go first. Place this paper at a easy reachable place and drive to the other booth at the end. There some guys, often armed, will take that of you. This can be done in 30 minutes. If you go by car it will take you many hours.

The roads

If you travel between the larger cities you can ride any bike. And that with comfort. In a couple of years it will get even better. They are building modern highways at many places. If you are interested in seeing some places beside the larger roads you probably be all right with most bikes. But you should be prepared of potholes and tarmac in bad condition. When you travel further south you will notice lots of signs; “slippery when wet”. That is probably very true. Around Yalta I noticed, that it’s also slippery when hot. The first time at stopped at red light I nearly fell; my boot didn’t find any grip. The streets are full of oil and other slippery chemicals. And as it hasn’t rained for such a long time – well you do the math.

The traffic

There are three kind of traffic. The non engine one with horses, bikes and pedestrians. The tend to go well a side, but don’t’ be sure about it. Then it’s the pre orange revolution traffic with old trucks, busses and Ladas, moskowitch and so on. The travel in generally at speeds around 20 – 30 km/hour below the tempo, which the third kind of traffic uses. That would be the modern vehicles. So you will have to adept and always be prepared for anything. After over 2 000 km in the country I look out for this:

Rail road crossing.

 Take it really slow, the can ruin your bike. Hard and bumpy the are.

Porsche Cayenne (can also be a Mercedes…) 

It is probably the most popular “sports” car because you can go fast on bad roads. And the will overtake you on both sides. So keep an eye on them, the come up very fast from behind.

Vehicles that are about to overtake in spite there is no free street can be a potential danger. If you have no reason to stay close to the centre of the street stay as far right as you can. Or it can happen that you will be forced out there by some crazy over taker you meet. On the other hand, every one does so. And that you can use for overtaking by your self. Especially at low speeds I find it useful.

Speed limits (it can change, don’t quote me on this)

• 60 km/h within towns
• 90 km/h outside towns
• 110 km/h on dual carriageways
• 130 km/h on motorways

Signs and road marks

Often there is a solid line, which indicates no overtaking. Cars tend to take to the right so that you can overtake without crossing it. I don’t think it’s allowed but I have never been stopped doing this. And I have overtaken police cars a couple of times in this way. Traffic signs are frequently used. But speed limits are only produced when differ from the ordinary.

Police control

I have never been stopped here. So I have no personal experience of that. I’ve heard from other bikers and car drivers, which the police have to explain to you what you did wrong. So if you don’t speak any Ukrainian or Russian it will be hard. Not many policemen speak adequate English for this. So if the want to charge you, you should pay in local currency and demand a receipt. Then they probably will let you go without any tickets.

Safe parking

Has never been a problem for me. For the night I try to park in front of the main entrance or in a yard. Just ask, it will sometimes cost you a small amount. During daytime a practice the same procedure for short time parking. Drive as close as you can to where you are going. Be a bit strategic and find the way that doesn’t really exist. When they see you are from the west, they will understand. I lock everything but the tank bag. And I have never lost a thing. On the contrary, people tend to care for the bike making sure nothing will happen to it.

Petrol

Finding petrol is no problem at all as long you travel along the big roads. I always use 95. On smaller roads when it loner distances between the villages, it can sometime lack petrol stations. But almost every village has a modern petrol station. It’s quite amazing actually.