Ukraine
Ukraine is a huge country with a lot of great sights to see. Fortunately, a lot of them are concentrated in the western part.
There are some disturbances in the Eastern part as well as Crimea, but there are lot of information on that elsewhere, so I’m going to leave it at that. There are no issues on the Western part.
Besides from the Carpathian region, Ukraine is flat. Farmlands for thousands of kilometers. But there is a lot of interesting history to research and sites to visit.
Riding Ukraine is a special experience. And that is meant in a good way. The roads – how bad they may be – is part of this experience.
Absorb the scenery, the every day life, how much is going on – even in remote places. Slow down, soak it all in, and just enjoy. This is what makes riding in Ukraine so awesome.
Passport: Yes
Yes.
Green insurance card: Yes
Make sure it is accurate and valid. Bring the original.
Vehicle Registration Certificate: Yes
Yes, always. The original. This is also sometimes referred to as “moto passport”.
Financial means
You need prove you have the financial means to get by in Ukraine during your visit. This means that you need to prove you have 800 UAH to spend per day in Ukraine. There are several accepted ways to prove that, but the easiest is just having some cash. It can be in Euro. I have not heard of anyone on a motorcycle being asked, but know that they have the right.
Toll: No
There are no toll roads in Ukraine.
Condition: Poor
Generally the backroads are in poor condition. So make sure your suspension have some travel and do expect a lower average speed. If riding in rain, it is difficult to judge the depth of the potholes, which are sometimes rim bending deep if you go too fast. The locals are friendly and often set up makeshift warning signs like branches, boxes, or the like. The larger road are generally OK.
Road Safety: Low
Ukrainian people are very friendly, but they often drives without lights and poorly maintained vehicles. Do not drive in the dark.
You: Medium
Ukrainian people are very friendly, but I do recommend you to stay away from nightclubs.
When using ATM (or Bankomats as the are called), try to use those inside bank buildings to better avoid those with skimmers. I have never had issues, though.
If you can, connect with Ukrainian riders.
Check in with your embassy to let them know you’re in the country.
Make sure your travel insurance covers Ukraine.
Bike: Medium
I would definitely find secure parking. Either garage, backyard, or similar. One time, I had to park it in the middle of a town square over night. Nothing happened, but I didn’t sleep well. It was in the town Volodymyr-Volynsky.
Bringing a bike cover is a good idea. It doesn’t prevent theft, but it is a little less obvious, and people usually fiddle less and do not sit on a covered bike.
Cell
Cell phone coverage is good, except in the mountains. But be vary of the roaming prices, as they are not EU. If you need to use your cell phone, consider buying a local prepaid SIM card. They are often found at larger gas stations.
Wifi
Like the rest of the world. Even small private B&B’s often offer wifi. But the quality is probably not as good as the one you have at home.
Language: Ukrainain and Russian
They speak English for the most part. If you’re in the western part, they understand Russian too, but some can get offended if you assume that Ukrainain and Russian is the same. Do not ask what something is called in Russian, ask what it is in Ukrainian. You donøt offend anyone by saying something is Russian, but just know that it’s not the same. As always, it is a great courtesy to learn a few phrases.
Thanks: Dyakuyu
Goodbye: Do pobachennya
Alphabet: Cyrillic
Learning cyrillic will get you further, but it is not too important. Don’t let it stop you from going.
Currency: Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH)
Pronounced “grivnya”.
Check out Ukraine's great roads to ride:
Great Road: Arabat Spit, Ukraine
