long travel suspension duramax

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Welcome to Dirt King!

Long Travel Kit

 Description

The Dirt King long travel kit was developed to drastically improve the vehicles off-road handling without compromising its day to day driving characteristics. This suspension system allows for 12” of travel and accepts up to a 37” tire. The kit is compatible with 2WD models and 4WD models along with the purchase of extended axle shafts. We upgraded the ball joints to heavy duty Moog joints for maximum strength and increased articulation . The lower arms have recessed shock mounting allowing 8" coil overs to fit without any modifications. This kit is CAD designed, thoroughly tested, and 100% made in America resulting in a product we’re proud to put our name on!

 Specifications

• Wheel Travel: 12”
• Amount of Lift: 1-3”
• Track Width: 3.5” wider per side
• Maximum Tire Size: 37”
• Maximum Backspacing: 5”
• Minimum Rim Size: 17”
• Coil over Shock Size: 2.5” x 8”
• Bypass Shock Size: 3.0” x 8”
• Bump Stop Size: 2.0” x 2.0”
• Compatible with Sway Bar: Yes (DK-631955) 

Options This suspension system allows for several different options to suit your needs. The 2.5” x 8” coil over can be installed with one of the following options, sway bar, bump stops, or bypass shocks. We offer a sway bar kit that adapts our long travel kit to work with the factory sway bar. This will give the vehicle similar on road driving characteristics to stock with minimal sacrifice to the suspension systems performance. The next option is installing bump stops. They will help dampen hard impacts and are cost effective but on the other hand are often noisy. The last option is most commonly used. Adding bypass shocks will fine tune the damping throughout the suspension cycle. They are also completely adjustable to perfect the ride quality. 

Shocks For the best performance and to achieve the full amount of travel you must purchase our spec built coil over shocks or have them custom built based on our shock spec sheet. In addition, our long travel kit is tabbed to accommodate bypass shocks.  The bypass shocks will allow for superior suspension dampening and tunability. To mount the bypasses we offer a weld on bypass shock hoop kit (DK-631910) that can be purchased separately. The bypass shock hoop kit requires welding and modifications to the frame. You have the option of installing 2.5” diameter by 8” stroke bypass shocks or 3.0” diameter by 8” stroke bypass shocks.

Wheel Travel When shopping long travel kits many consumers tend to focus just on travel numbers. This is the reason many companies claim inaccurate numbers or don’t disclose the amount of work involved to achieve these numbers. Our goal is to build a suspension system with the highest amount of wheel travel without requiring major modifications to the vehicle or compromising its overall drivability.

Tire Info When installing 37” tires with this kit you must modify the wheel wells to avoid contact at full bump. We have solved this problem by developing complete bolt on front wheel wells for proper tire clearance. The firewall pinch weld will also need to be folded over to clear the 37” tires. 

 What's Included

• Boxed plate upper control arms 
• Boxed plate lower control arms
• 9" quad wrapped limit straps
• Weld on adjustable limit strap mounts
• Moog ball joints
• 17-4 stainless steel misalignment spacers
• 17-4 stainless steel tie rod extensions
• DOT approved extended brake lines 
• Grade 8 mounting hardware
• FK bearings
• Delrin steering stops
• Lower Arm Weld Washers
• Bolt on application, minimal modifications required 
• Utilizes American made FK bearings
• Utilizes Moog ball joints
• 4130 chromoly uniball cups
• 4130 chromoly ball joint cups
• Delrin bushings for the UCA’s and LCA’s
• Zinc plated inner bushing sleeves
• Grease fittings for easy servicing             
• 3/16" and 1/8” boxed plate construction
• Internally ribbed with extrusions for weight reduction
• Bump stop plating
• Limit strap tabbing
• Bypass tabbing
• Ability to adapt factory sway bar

  Compatibility

2007-2018 Chevy Silverado 2WD / 4WD 2007-2018 GMC Sierra 2WD / 4WD * Front fiberglass required.

* Please contact us if you plan on installing this kit with lift spindles or a bracket lift.

• Shipping Policy
• Returns & Exchange

Please view our shipping policy, exchange policy, and disclaimer information for details. If you would like more information or have any questions regarding our products,  feel free to contact us for assistance by visiting our contact page. 

Shipping & Delivery Dirt King ships their products within the United States and Internationally. Most products ship via UPS or USPS. Orders that exceed $500 require a signature confirmation. On bulk orders contact Dirt King for a freight quote. The customer is responsible for import taxes and fees on international shipments.

Damaged or Missing Parts In an instance where you receive a damaged package a claim must be made with Dirt King. The claim can be submitted by sending an email to [email protected] containing photos of the damaged packages and damaged products. The email must also include your order number as well. Do not discard any of the original packaging or try installing the products.

While every precaution is taken there could be a case where you are missing parts. If this happens please send an email to [email protected] with your order number, list of missing parts, photo of the package or packages, and a photo of the quality control tag located on the back of the box.

If the shipping carrier losses your package please contact Dirt King. A claim will be filled with the shipping carrier. Unfortunately, we do not have much control over this situation and must wait for the carrier to process the claim.

Freight Shipping The customer must contact Dirt King to arrange for freight shipping. Dirt King will palletize the order and the customer can deal directly with the freight carrier if preferred. The shipment can be delivered to a home or business. The customer must be present for the delivery to inspect and sign for the package. Before signing confirm that you received all items listed on the packing slip and nothing is damaged. If you receive damaged parts or are missing parts leave a note on the bill of landing and sign it. Make sure the driver is aware of the situation and signs your copy of the bill of landing with the noted damages or missing parts. Once you have taken possession of the package file a claim with Dirt King by sending an email to [email protected]. Please include your order number, copy of your bill of landing, and photos of the damaged items or list of missing parts. Do not discard any of the original packaging or try installing the products. Dirt King will do everything possible to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

• Returns are only accepted within 30 days.
• Product must have been purchased from us and not a dealer.
• A 3% processing fee is deducted from all refunds.
• On shipped orders   a 7% restocking fee and a  3% processing fee is deducted from all refunds.
• Products such as bumpers, hitches, and bed cages that have optional powder coat added are subject to a 7% restocking fee and a 3% processing fee. If the order is canceled before the product is powder coated then the 7% restocking fee can be waived.
• On shipped orders we are not responsible for return shipping or refunding the original shipping amount.
• Parts must be returned in the original package and condition as they were sent.
• No returns on items that have been damaged or installed.
• Refund will be issued once the parts have been received and inspected.
• Custom products are non refundable.
• Crypto orders will be refunded the same coin amount that was paid originally.

All products sold or manufactured by Dirt King are intended for off-road use only. Our products are strictly engineered and tested and are not to be modified from its original design in any way. Customer assumes all liability in assuring that parts are installed correctly and maintained. Dirt King is not responsible or liable for any accidents, injuries or deaths that may occur from the use of any products offered. Suspension modifications may change the dynamics and stability characteristics of the vehicle. Ensuring prompt wheel alignment and ADAS recalibration after suspension modifications is critical and the sole responsibility of the customer.

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Camburg Chevy/GMC 1500 2wd/4wd 07-18 Performance Long Travel Kit

$ 3,695.00 – $ 7,701.99

Description

• What's Included
• Vehicle Applications

Our performance long-travel kit for the 2007-2018 Chevy/GMC 1500’s is finally available. We spent a considerable amount of time dialing this kit in and getting the FOX shocks fine tuned for everyday driving and aggressive off-road use. This kit fits both 2wd and 4wd models and has multiple shock options to fit your budget and needs. The kit is designed around using bolt-in OEM style coilovers so if you already have some, no need to purchase new shocks. Since we’re widening the track trackwidth 2.5″ per side, you will need fiberglass front fenders for the added tire clearance and coverage.

Looking to run bypass shocks with this kit? We have a pre-fabbed weld-on mount that is setup for a 2.5-3.0 bypass shock that is a custom tube layout to maximize performance and fitment.

Note: most factory wheels will not clear the upper arm and will require a wheel spacer. We highly recommend aftermarket wheels with a zero offset with all our Chevy kits for optimum performance and fit.

• Boxed lower arms
• Tubular heim upper arms
• Stainless/Kevlar extended front brake lines (#CAM-230006)
• Stainless CNC machined tie rod extensions (#CAM-960264)
• Stainless heim & uniball spacers
• Grade 8 hardware
• 4wd 4340 heat-treated axle shafts (optional) (#CAM-210050)
• Fox or King coilers (optional)

You must identify your original OEM factory suspension type. Customer is responsible to order correctly, if not delays and added shipping costs will incure.

• 2007-2016 Cast Steel (black) (magnetic) (rough surface finish) = small upper and lower ball-joint tapers
• 2014-2016 Cast Aluminum (silver) (non-magnetic) (rough surface finish) = large upper and lower ball-joint tapers
• 2016-2018 Stamped Welded Steel (black) (magnetic) (smooth surface finish) = large upper and lower ball-joint taper

This kit requires front fiberglass fenders

• Must remove factory droop stop from frame mount

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• 1999-2006 CHEVROLET/GMC 1500
• 2007-2018 CHEVROLET/GMC 1500
• 2019+ CHEVROLET/GMC 1500
• 2001-2010 CHEVROLET/GMC 2500/3500
• 2011-2019 CHEVROLET/GMC 2500/3500
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CHEVROLET/GMC 2500/3500HD 4WD LONG TRAVEL KIT 2001-2010

Kibbetech 01-10 Silverado/Sierra 2500/3500HD 4WD Long Travel Kit The front 4x4 LT kit includes;

First 2 cad pictures represent the new style kit!  All new design will feature taller spindle with upper a-arm mount ON TOP of the chassis and better geometry like the 11-19 2500 kit.

New style Billet upper control arms New style Billet tie rods Fabricated 4130 lower control arms (updated design) Fabricated 4130 spindles (updated design) Fabricated 4130 weld in shock mount with integrated a arm mounts All rod ends, uniballs, steering clevises and stainless misalignment spacers

Now comes with all  RPI  12pt aircraft hardware +$1750 VALUE Limit straps included Will work on 2wd and some 1500HD models Retains factory hubs and brakes The kit requires and includes custom 300m axles built to spec

• 12'' travel with 8'' stroke shock
• Up to 16'' travel with 10'' stroke shock-This requires moving of EVERYTHING in wheel well area for shock mount room and tire clearance 
• Moves hub center 2'' forward 
• Increases track width to about 92'' 
• Up to 40'' with a lot of work 
• Clears 37'' tire with minimal work 
• Requires fiberglass fenders 

SHOCK SPECS- 

When choosing with shocks you will be ordering a set of KING 3.0''x8'' coilovers with compression adjusters GOLD anodize, Black cerakote body, Clevis shock end with axle pass through, remote Gold resi.  Extra options are available at extra cost.

• NO REFUNDS!
• NO RETURNS!
• THE VENDOR PARTS FOR THIS KIT ARE ALL BUILT TO ORDER!
• SHOCKS ARE 6+ MONTHS OUT SO WE RECOMMEND ORDERING NOW!

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• 702-941-0660 | [email protected] | Long Travel Suspension Specialists

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• 14-17 Silverado/Sierra
• 07-13 Silverado/Sierra
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• 99-06 Silverado/Sierra
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99-06 Chevy Silverado 1500 4WD Long Travel Kit

• 100% CAD Designed and Manufactured in the USA
• 16″ of travel
• Utilizes a 2.5″x8″ coil-over shocks and 2.5″x8″ bypass shocks
• Boxed upper control arms, with 3/4″ heims for the frame pivots
• Custom stainless steel spacers for upper arms
• Fabricated spindle adaptors, utilizing a 1″ uniball for the upper arm pivot
• Boxed & internally braced lower control arms
• Fully fabricated shock mounts
• Aluminum tie rods with 3/4″ heim pivots & stainless steel clevis
• Powder coated finish
• MSRP $4495.00

$ 4,745.00

Add Coil-over Shocks

FOA 2.5″ x 8″ remote-reservoir coil-over shocks with springs (per pair) ( $ 645.00 )

Add Bypass Shocks

FOA 2.5″ x 8″ remote-reservoir bypass shocks (per pair) ( $ 843.00 )

Additional Details

• Made in the USA
• Vehicle Fitment

The True Travel Dynamics long travel kit for 4WD Silverados and Sierras 1500 trucks is built tough to handle all types of off-road terrain. Our kit eliminates the factory torsion bars and utilizes a 2.5″ x 8″ coil-over shock and 2.5″ x 8″ bypass shock giving you more control over dampening and a far better ride. Since our kit is a total of 9″ wider than stock you’ll also need longer axles. Our axle set utilizes custom made CV adaptors to be able to use a 930 CV joint on the inner side to give you more articulation which translates into more wheel travel. If you want 16″ of wheel travel with 4WD, more strength and a better ride then our Silverado/Sierra +4.5″ 4WD kit is exactly what you need.

Please note this kit does not fit 2500 or 3500 HD trucks

This 4WD long travel suspension kit fits:

• Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4WD 1999-2006
• GMC Sierra 1500 4WD 1999-2006

Parts Needed:

• 2.5″x8″ Coil-over Shocks
• 2.5″x8″ Bypass Shocks
• Engine cage should be fabricated by a professional
• Wheels should not have more than 4.75″ of backspacing

Parts Included:

• Upper Control Arms
• Lower Control Arms
• Spindle Adaptors
• 2 – Aluminum Tie-rods
• 2 – Steering Clevis
• 2 – Boxed Shock Mounts
• 2 – Complete Axle Assemblies
• Limit Straps

True Travel Dynamics is dedicated to fabricating the highest quality suspension kits, made right here in the USA.

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98-11 Ford Ranger 4WD +4.5 Long Travel Kit

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Long Travel Suspension System

“Turn your Hummer H1 or HMMWV into a Long Travel Monster”

Predator Inc. is excited to announce its Long Travel Coilover conversion setup for all model H1 or HMMWV Hummer trucks. With the popularity of Prerunners we wanted to offer a conversion that allows Hummer owners to easily get on the same playing field with a unique Long Travel Coilover conversion setup.

Predators Long Travel Coilover conversion is fully designed directly from manufacture specs to ensure the best fitment and geometry. The geometry of the conversion is one of the most important factors. With the use of complex r&d, Predator Inc is able to achieve the best possible combination of fitment engineering and suspension geometry.

During the engineering and design phase. Predator Inc gathered all the necessary factory diagrams from AM General which included frame, control arms, knuckle assembly, fender wells and any other parts that may need to be considered during the R&D phase for the long travel conversion.

Sheet metal is then water-jet cut, tubing is bent, and billet parts undergoing CNC machining. Predator Inc.’s quality control process is also a high priority. Each component is inspected upon completion to ensure all dimensions engineered in the custom specs are held to precise accuracy.

All the components and upgraded hardware are used to replace the factory parts. Weak ball joints throughout the suspension system are replaced with Trophy Truck grade Uni-Balls. Upper and Lower control arm are both replaced with our fully tubed and plated units to deliver maximum travel and added strength. The process transforms the complex engineering into fully custom bolt on performance.

Dampening duties are handled by custom-built 10″ King 3.0 coilovers which are fully height adjustable as well as compression adjustable. Eibach springs were used on the coilovers utilizing a combination of a 22-inch 800-pound coil.

Kings bypass valve design and superior tube flow capacity provides accurate flow control over the whole range of adjustment. Shock tubes are honed after plating to assure a tight piston seal and all bypass ports are CNC drilled and hand deburred then polished.

They are used as a primary suspension member to carry the weight of the vehicle and to maintain ride height while providing the adjustable valving and high quality ride characteristics King is famous for.

King bump stops provide an additional level of bottoming control and contain a unique piston design that offers superior flow characteristics. They also use the same quality micro polished shafts and advanced seal technology as their race shocks.

Lightweight hard anodized 6063 aluminum alloy reservoirs with high quality fittings are mated to Aeroquip high pressure hoses which resist abrasion and allow a tighter bend radius without kinking. The aluminum alloy reservoirs dissipate heat quickly and will not rust due to gas charging contamination.

As you can see Predator Inc.’s Long Travel Coilover conversion is developed through tons of hours of engineering and R&D that are put into the design portion of the equation. All components combined offer superior ride quality and handling both on and off road.

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In Transit: Notes from the Underground

Jun 06 2018.

Spend some time in one of Moscow’s finest museums.

Subterranean commuting might not be anyone’s idea of a good time, but even in a city packing the war-games treasures and priceless bejeweled eggs of the Kremlin Armoury and the colossal Soviet pavilions of the VDNKh , the Metro holds up as one of Moscow’s finest museums. Just avoid rush hour.

The Metro is stunning and provides an unrivaled insight into the city’s psyche, past and present, but it also happens to be the best way to get around. Moscow has Uber, and the Russian version called Yandex Taxi , but also some nasty traffic. Metro trains come around every 90 seconds or so, at a more than 99 percent on-time rate. It’s also reasonably priced, with a single ride at 55 cents (and cheaper in bulk). From history to tickets to rules — official and not — here’s what you need to know to get started.

A Brief Introduction Buying Tickets Know Before You Go (Down) Rules An Easy Tour

A Brief Introduction

Moscow’s Metro was a long time coming. Plans for rapid transit to relieve the city’s beleaguered tram system date back to the Imperial era, but a couple of wars and a revolution held up its development. Stalin revived it as part of his grand plan to modernize the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 30s. The first lines and tunnels were constructed with help from engineers from the London Underground, although Stalin’s secret police decided that they had learned too much about Moscow’s layout and had them arrested on espionage charges and deported.

The beauty of its stations (if not its trains) is well-documented, and certainly no accident. In its illustrious first phases and particularly after the Second World War, the greatest architects of Soviet era were recruited to create gleaming temples celebrating the Revolution, the USSR, and the war triumph. No two stations are exactly alike, and each of the classic showpieces has a theme. There are world-famous shrines to Futurist architecture, a celebration of electricity, tributes to individuals and regions of the former Soviet Union. Each marble slab, mosaic tile, or light fixture was placed with intent, all in service to a station’s aesthetic; each element, f rom the smallest brass ear of corn to a large blood-spattered sword on a World War II mural, is an essential part of the whole.

The Metro is a monument to the Soviet propaganda project it was intended to be when it opened in 1935 with the slogan “Building a Palace for the People”. It brought the grand interiors of Imperial Russia to ordinary Muscovites, celebrated the Soviet Union’s past achievements while promising its citizens a bright Soviet future, and of course, it was a show-piece for the world to witness the might and sophistication of life in the Soviet Union.

It may be a museum, but it’s no relic. U p to nine million people use it daily, more than the London Underground and New York Subway combined. (Along with, at one time, about 20 stray dogs that learned to commute on the Metro.)

In its 80+ year history, the Metro has expanded in phases and fits and starts, in step with the fortunes of Moscow and Russia. Now, partly in preparation for the World Cup 2018, it’s also modernizing. New trains allow passengers to walk the entire length of the train without having to change carriages. The system is becoming more visitor-friendly. (There are helpful stickers on the floor marking out the best selfie spots .) But there’s a price to modernity: it’s phasing out one of its beloved institutions, the escalator attendants. Often they are middle-aged or elderly women—“ escalator grandmas ” in news accounts—who have held the post for decades, sitting in their tiny kiosks, scolding commuters for bad escalator etiquette or even bad posture, or telling jokes . They are slated to be replaced, when at all, by members of the escalator maintenance staff.

For all its achievements, the Metro lags behind Moscow’s above-ground growth, as Russia’s capital sprawls ever outwards, generating some of the world’s worst traffic jams . But since 2011, the Metro has been in the middle of an ambitious and long-overdue enlargement; 60 new stations are opening by 2020. If all goes to plan, the 2011-2020 period will have brought 125 miles of new tracks and over 100 new stations — a 40 percent increase — the fastest and largest expansion phase in any period in the Metro’s history.

Facts: 14 lines Opening hours: 5 a.m-1 a.m. Rush hour(s): 8-10 a.m, 4-8 p.m. Single ride: 55₽ (about 85 cents) Wi-Fi network-wide

Buying Tickets

• Ticket machines have a button to switch to English.
• You can buy specific numbers of rides: 1, 2, 5, 11, 20, or 60. Hold up fingers to show how many rides you want to buy.
• There is also a 90-minute ticket , which gets you 1 trip on the metro plus an unlimited number of transfers on other transport (bus, tram, etc) within 90 minutes.
• Or, you can buy day tickets with unlimited rides: one day (218₽/ US$4), three days (415₽/US$7) or seven days (830₽/US$15). Check the rates here to stay up-to-date.
• If you’re going to be using the Metro regularly over a few days, it’s worth getting a Troika card , a contactless, refillable card you can use on all public transport. Using the Metro is cheaper with one of these: a single ride is 36₽, not 55₽. Buy them and refill them in the Metro stations, and they’re valid for 5 years, so you can keep it for next time. Or, if you have a lot of cash left on it when you leave, you can get it refunded at the Metro Service Centers at Ulitsa 1905 Goda, 25 or at Staraya Basmannaya 20, Building 1.
• You can also buy silicone bracelets and keychains with built-in transport chips that you can use as a Troika card. (A Moscow Metro Fitbit!) So far, you can only get these at the Pushkinskaya metro station Live Helpdesk and souvenir shops in the Mayakovskaya and Trubnaya metro stations. The fare is the same as for the Troika card.
• You can also use Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Rules, spoken and unspoken

No smoking, no drinking, no filming, no littering. Photography is allowed, although it used to be banned.

Stand to the right on the escalator. Break this rule and you risk the wrath of the legendary escalator attendants. (No shenanigans on the escalators in general.)

Get out of the way. Find an empty corner to hide in when you get off a train and need to stare at your phone. Watch out getting out of the train in general; when your train doors open, people tend to appear from nowhere or from behind ornate marble columns, walking full-speed.

Always offer your seat to elderly ladies (what are you, a monster?).

An Easy Tour

This is no Metro Marathon ( 199 stations in 20 hours ). It’s an easy tour, taking in most—though not all—of the notable stations, the bulk of it going clockwise along the Circle line, with a couple of short detours. These stations are within minutes of one another, and the whole tour should take about 1-2 hours.

Start at Mayakovskaya Metro station , at the corner of Tverskaya and Garden Ring,  Triumfalnaya Square, Moskva, Russia, 125047.

1. Mayakovskaya.  Named for Russian Futurist Movement poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and an attempt to bring to life the future he imagined in his poems. (The Futurist Movement, natch, was all about a rejecting the past and celebrating all things speed, industry, modern machines, youth, modernity.) The result: an Art Deco masterpiece that won the National Grand Prix for architecture at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. It’s all smooth, rounded shine and light, and gentle arches supported by columns of dark pink marble and stainless aircraft steel. Each of its 34 ceiling niches has a mosaic. During World War II, the station was used as an air-raid shelter and, at one point, a bunker for Stalin. He gave a subdued but rousing speech here in Nov. 6, 1941 as the Nazis bombed the city above.

Take the 3/Green line one station to:

2. Belorusskaya. Opened in 1952, named after the connected Belarussky Rail Terminal, which runs trains between Moscow and Belarus. This is a light marble affair with a white, cake-like ceiling, lined with Belorussian patterns and 12 Florentine ceiling mosaics depicting life in Belarussia when it was built.

Transfer onto the 1/Brown line. Then, one stop (clockwise) t o:

3. Novoslobodskaya.  This station was designed around the stained-glass panels, which were made in Latvia, because Alexey Dushkin, the Soviet starchitect who dreamed it up (and also designed Mayakovskaya station) couldn’t find the glass and craft locally. The stained glass is the same used for Riga’s Cathedral, and the panels feature plants, flowers, members of the Soviet intelligentsia (musician, artist, architect) and geometric shapes.

Go two stops east on the 1/Circle line to:

4. Komsomolskaya. Named after the Komsomol, or the Young Communist League, this might just be peak Stalin Metro style. Underneath the hub for three regional railways, it was intended to be a grand gateway to Moscow and is today its busiest station. It has chandeliers; a yellow ceiling with Baroque embellishments; and in the main hall, a colossal red star overlaid on golden, shimmering tiles. Designer Alexey Shchusev designed it as an homage to the speech Stalin gave at Red Square on Nov. 7, 1941, in which he invoked Russia’s illustrious military leaders as a pep talk to Soviet soldiers through the first catastrophic year of the war.   The station’s eight large mosaics are of the leaders referenced in the speech, such as Alexander Nevsky, a 13th-century prince and military commander who bested German and Swedish invading armies.

One more stop clockwise to Kurskaya station,  and change onto the 3/Blue  line, and go one stop to:

5. Baumanskaya.   Opened in 1944. Named for the Bolshevik Revolutionary Nikolai Bauman , whose monument and namesake district are aboveground here. Though he seemed like a nasty piece of work (he apparently once publicly mocked a woman he had impregnated, who later hung herself), he became a Revolutionary martyr when he was killed in 1905 in a skirmish with a monarchist, who hit him on the head with part of a steel pipe. The station is in Art Deco style with atmospherically dim lighting, and a series of bronze sculptures of soldiers and homefront heroes during the War. At one end, there is a large mosaic portrait of Lenin.

Stay on that train direction one more east to:

6. Elektrozavodskaya. As you may have guessed from the name, this station is the Metro’s tribute to all thing electrical, built in 1944 and named after a nearby lightbulb factory. It has marble bas-relief sculptures of important figures in electrical engineering, and others illustrating the Soviet Union’s war-time struggles at home. The ceiling’s recurring rows of circular lamps give the station’s main tunnel a comforting glow, and a pleasing visual effect.

Double back two stops to Kurskaya station , and change back to the 1/Circle line. Sit tight for six stations to:

7. Kiyevskaya. This was the last station on the Circle line to be built, in 1954, completed under Nikita Khrushchev’ s guidance, as a tribute to his homeland, Ukraine. Its three large station halls feature images celebrating Ukraine’s contributions to the Soviet Union and Russo-Ukrainian unity, depicting musicians, textile-working, soldiers, farmers. (One hall has frescoes, one mosaics, and the third murals.) Shortly after it was completed, Khrushchev condemned the architectural excesses and unnecessary luxury of the Stalin era, which ushered in an epoch of more austere Metro stations. According to the legend at least, he timed the policy in part to ensure no Metro station built after could outshine Kiyevskaya.

Change to the 3/Blue line and go one stop west.

8. Park Pobedy. This is the deepest station on the Metro, with one of the world’s longest escalators, at 413 feet. If you stand still, the escalator ride to the surface takes about three minutes .) Opened in 2003 at Victory Park, the station celebrates two of Russia’s great military victories. Each end has a mural by Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli, who also designed the “ Good Defeats Evil ” statue at the UN headquarters in New York. One mural depicts the Russian generals’ victory over the French in 1812 and the other, the German surrender of 1945. The latter is particularly striking; equal parts dramatic, triumphant, and gruesome. To the side, Red Army soldiers trample Nazi flags, and if you look closely there’s some blood spatter among the detail. Still, the biggest impressions here are the marble shine of the chessboard floor pattern and the pleasingly geometric effect if you view from one end to the other.

Keep going one more stop west to:

9. Slavyansky Bulvar.  One of the Metro’s youngest stations, it opened in 2008. With far higher ceilings than many other stations—which tend to have covered central tunnels on the platforms—it has an “open-air” feel (or as close to it as you can get, one hundred feet under). It’s an homage to French architect Hector Guimard, he of the Art Nouveau entrances for the Paris M é tro, and that’s precisely what this looks like: A Moscow homage to the Paris M é tro, with an additional forest theme. A Cyrillic twist on Guimard’s Metro-style lettering over the benches, furnished with t rees and branch motifs, including creeping vines as towering lamp-posts.

Stay on the 3/Blue line and double back four stations to:

10. Arbatskaya. Its first iteration, Arbatskaya-Smolenskaya station, was damaged by German bombs in 1941. It was rebuilt in 1953, and designed to double as a bomb shelter in the event of nuclear war, although unusually for stations built in the post-war phase, this one doesn’t have a war theme. It may also be one of the system’s most elegant: Baroque, but toned down a little, with red marble floors and white ceilings with gilded bronze c handeliers.

Jump back on the 3/Blue line  in the same direction and take it one more stop:

11. Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square). Opened in 1938, and serving Red Square and the Kremlin . Its renowned central hall has marble columns flanked by 76 bronze statues of Soviet heroes: soldiers, students, farmers, athletes, writers, parents. Some of these statues’ appendages have a yellow sheen from decades of Moscow’s commuters rubbing them for good luck. Among the most popular for a superstitious walk-by rub: the snout of a frontier guard’s dog, a soldier’s gun (where the touch of millions of human hands have tapered the gun barrel into a fine, pointy blade), a baby’s foot, and a woman’s knee. (A brass rooster also sports the telltale gold sheen, though I am told that rubbing the rooster is thought to bring bad luck. )

Now take the escalator up, and get some fresh air.

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21 Things to Know Before You Go to Moscow

Featured city guides.

Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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