Perm riders on work and bike costs

On Saturday, 20 September, the latest motorcycle season in Perm came to a loud close. Outside the “Planeta” shopping center, every kind of rider gathered: athletes and bikers, those who have ridden since childhood and those who started just this year, seasoned men and delicate-looking beauties. We asked motorcyclists how much their bikes cost and what they do for work beyond their hobby.

Andrey (in the photo below) works in construction and earns around 200,000 rubles ($2,100). The Perm resident rides a Yamaha Drag Star — a bike that now costs about 400,000 rubles ($4,200); Andrey’s own is a 2006 model.

He has been riding for two years — drawn by the feeling of freedom on the road and by a tight-knit motorcycle community. For now, Andrey rides only within the city.

— «I haven’t ridden across the country yet — maybe someday,» Andrey says. «This motorcycle would have a hard time on long cross-country trips. Given its riding position, it isn’t that comfortable for long distances, so I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ll gladly do it in the future.»

Konstantin says right off the bat that he has already put 1 million rubles ($10,500) into his motorcycle. It’s a Ural-brand bike with a sidecar — in which, he notes, no passenger rides; the mere presence of a sidecar adds its own challenges and quirks to handling. When we approached Konstantin, he was doing something to the bike — wires were sticking out. «We’ll make a quick repair now and get back on the road,» he said.

Konstantin has been into bikes since age 12, and he is now 36. In other words, motorcycles have been an integral part of his life for 24 years.

— «I’ve always ridden, since childhood,» says Konstantin. «I parted ways with two wives because they can’t stand motorcycles. I’ve known motorcycles for a long time; I met my wife comparatively recently. The sidecar is just for fun. There’s a special charm in piloting with a sidecar. Because of that, I’ll always ride with one.»

The beauty with pink wings is named Yuliya. She rides a Ducati SuperSport 150 S, which, she notes mysteriously, costs about as much as a good studio apartment in the Gaiva district (Perm).

— «The little S means it just has a pretty little cowl at the back. That’s it — it means nothing else,» she laughs. «I work in photography and shoot production, and I rent out properties. I have a team that organizes out-of-town photo shoots. We used to do motorcycle-themed shoots, by the way. Now I’ve stayed in real estate.»

Yuliya got into motorcycles in 2020 during the COVID self-isolation period. She simply sat the exam for a Category A license. Yuliya notes that maintaining a motorcycle is cheaper than a car. She rides around Perm and the region, and is planning a future trip to Kazan.

On his giant bike, Eldar travels with his wife — the motorcycle has a dual seat exactly for two. He bought his 2013 Honda Gold Wing for 1.8 million rubles ($18,900), and he opted for an upgraded trim.

He is a director at a company involved in energy and cable network construction. So far, the farthest trip for Eldar and his spouse has been to Minsk.

Yuliya has been interested in motorcycles for 20 years, and Anatoly — since childhood. The couple rides a 2008 Triumph Rocket III. They have three sons — and all of them are bikers too.

Anatoly and Yuliya ride together only around Perm, but for long distances he rides solo — his spouse meets him at the destination. This year they went to Georgia and Turkey. In a month, Anatoly covered 13,000 kilometers.

Aleksandr rides a 2008 Yamaha Stratoliner XV1900. The Perm resident bought it from a dealership in Moscow — the current price for such a motorcycle is 1.2–1.5 million rubles ($12,600–$15,800).

— «I really, really wanted a motorcycle,» Aleksandr shares. «Naturally, before that I got around by bicycle — that’s how it all began. I fell, got back up, kept riding, but I wanted a motorcycle so I wouldn’t have to pedal anymore. Still, I somehow wasn’t ready to take the leap. In the end my wife bought me a training certificate — and she ended up using it herself, because I figured I would ride a motorcycle just fine without any training. That was a complete misconception. And somehow the topic faded.»

Later, when Aleksandr was replacing his driver’s license, he could have added Category A but didn’t — he had lost interest. In January 2020 he received his license without Category A, and in July of that same year he bought his Stratoliner. «For three years I circled around it, drooling; I’d start it up, rev it, shut it off, wipe something down, tinker a bit.» In the end, Aleksandr completed practical training and obtained his motorcycle endorsement — and has now wrapped his second season.

— «Because I’m busy, my rides are short,» the Perm resident says. «As the guys say, we’re not bikers at all — we’re ‘coffee racers’. That is, stand by VKIU to drink coffee, drink coffee by the ‘Coliseum’, have coffee at some other café, try a new fresh coffee at a new café. Between meetings around the city and sunny days, we now check the forecast not to know when our joints will ache, but when we can get a coffee.»

Aleksandr works as an architect–restorer, specializing in the restoration of cultural heritage sites. In Perm he took part in restoring the River Terminal, a labaz (historic warehouse), the small stage of the Theatre for Young Spectators (TYuZ), the brewery, and Dom Chekistov (House of the Chekists).

The Perm resident has been into motorcycles since age 8 and now even competes in amateur events.

— «I’m self-employed; I install fireplaces, chimneys, and ventilation,» Ivan shares. «Income depends on the season; I make about 100,000–150,000 rubles ($1,100–$1,600), sometimes more. I’m riding only around Perm for now — my family won’t let me go farther.»

Denis has been into motorcycles since age three; he now practices moto gymkhana — timed precision maneuvering trials. Denis’s partner Viktoriya rides with him. He rides a Kawasaki ZX-9R with 151 horsepower. Such a bike costs about half a million rubles ($5,300).

Denis works as a mechanic, and Viktoriya is a fitness trainer.

The guy with a goose on his head is named Vikentiy. He originally wanted to wear a red kokoshnik (traditional headdress), but was offered a goose-shaped hat instead. Vikentiy rides a Yamaha TW 225.

— «A unique machine in its own right, with a very wide rear tire,» he says. «The displacement is small, but it’s very comfortable in the city because it’s very nimble and compact. I saw it in a TV series and wanted the same one. It’s also suited to riding over boggy ground.»

Vikentiy has been into motorcycles for more than 14 years. In everyday life he currently works in tea supply.

Dmitry only recently took the handlebars; this was his first season. He rides a Motoland Sprint 200 — a bike that now costs around 190,000 rubles ($2,000).

Dmitry got interested in motorcycles because «there was time». For now he rides only around Perm; he explains that you can’t go far on his bike. He works as a chief designer and makes about 150,000 rubles ($1,600).

Earlier, we found out how expensive the outfits worn by Perm businesswomen were at the 59.RU People’s Award.