Touring Europe

thepeteh

thepeteh

thepeteh

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North Yorkshire
I've been thinking for a long long time about touring Europe and I'm getting a much better feel for all that's needed paperwork wise and practical stuff

I plan to take my cbr600 this summer... I'd like to sample great food, drink and roads along with architecture and sightseeing, keen to hit some of the alpine passes too having heard great things. Probably heading down July time but this is super flexible, aiming south east at first and back up in a loop around north west back to the UK.

Has anyone done much of Europe on a bike before? I'm planning on using soft luggage and really not taking an awful lot in the way of valuables or anything for that matter :p so will just keep the important stuff on my person at all times.
It would be nice to hear of peoples experiences, maybe someone might be interested in joining me, who knows... :)

edit -
Planning on camping with the odd B&B stop to break it up.
 
Ah, was just about to ask tent etc. :)
I did a dash to Luxembourg after a concert in Holland a couple years ago. Then popped into Germany for a day and then dashed back for my badly-timed ferry booking.

I just had bungees strapping everything on, and stayed in a hotel in Vianden. This year (now I'm back on 2 wheels) I'm aiming to camp, though I think I'm going with a friend to the Mugello MotoGP first, then leave those guys and go to Venice.

Sorry, that's not advice that's just me rambling! My thoughts are: North of France/into Beligum is flat and straight, Luxembourg and Germany around the 'ring is excellent. Roads are all much emptier and nicer. Even the Belgium rush-hour traffic was easier to filter past than UK traffic.

Take a phrase-book, and (I think we forgot this bit last time) get lights adjusted.
 
I do a euro trip with mates every year.

Personally I like to mix a trip with riding and visiting interesting places. Eg we did a trip to visit WW1 stuff in France/Belgium then rode down to Normandy to see Omaha beach etc -the sort of stuff my mrs hates so good to go with other blokes!

Last year we went to Germany - stopped in Cochem and did a trip to ride the D500 / black forest area. Fantastic roads and blasts on the autobahns.

The best roads Ive ridden have been southern Spain - Ronda area in particular. Racetrack quality empty roads and hot sunny weather - just a lot further to get there. If you down south then the tunnel is best, but if you're up north then an overnight ferry makes more sense - basically wake up in Europe refreshed and ready for a full days ride :)

Think we're planning on the Alps this year, although I also really fancy Norway

Basically Europe is awesome on a bike - apart from NW Scotland it's far better than the UK and easy to do. Just take a credit card and breakdown insurance for peace of mind. We stopped in B&Bs and just packed clothes for the evenings.
 
Would love to pop over to Europe and have a tootle around :)

I've only been riding just over a year though, and still have my restriction on until November.

One day though, definately :)
 
Ugh just typed up a post but browser crashed... so in a nutshell

Will be taking credit card for large stuff, petrol.. can you use cc for tolls?
Cash for the small stuff
Noted that Southern Spain is awesome
Can't wait - keep working this summer and it'll be Euroland in no time :)
Will just Bivi with I think, down jacket if needed, B&B to freshen up... I love being a simple Northerner.
 
I would love to do something like that, but i havent got a touring bike. Ive got a honda hornet CB600F which im going to france for 5 days in may with a group of work mates.
 
bakes0310 said:
I would love to do something like that, but i havent got a touring bike. Ive got a honda hornet CB600F which im going to france for 5 days in may with a group of work mates.
Click to expand...

I've got a cbr600f and it'll be my touring bike, cant go off roading is all :)
 
thepeteh said:
I've got a cbr600f and it'll be my touring bike, cant go off roading is all :)
Click to expand...

Have you made a list of what you need, care posting it so others get an idea if there interested in doing something like it:)
Also how much do you think you need money wise if you dont mind me asking?
 
Bike - serviced with good tyres (I'm stating the super obvious here)

Make sure number plate has GB sticker or a GB badge on luggage. Headlight adjusted correctly for RH drive.

For me, very basic tools and chain lube, bulbs... as I'm not all that knowledgeable... my best tool will be the number for breakdown/recovery.
Some cargo straps, ratchets and other tie downs for ferries and the like, lots of 8mm cord for tying any extra luggage to the back, drying clothes etc

DUCK TAPE.

Safety - High-Vis, head torch, Small first aid kit, , European Health Insurance Card, small ammount of spare fuel.

Documents - Passport, drivers licence, insurance documents. *x 2 photo copies of all the important stuff. money, credit card, phrase book/picture book,

Electronics - Camera, Sat-Nav, Mobile phone, 12V wired up to battery possibly...

Bike gear of choice, textiles for me I think but not 100% sure. Some clothes for dossing about in, clean underwear, pants etc. Sleeping bag or a warm jacket depending on how loony you are!

I'm sure I missed loads... :)
 
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I passed my test in Feb 2008 and that June i spent a month and a half doing 5,500 to the black sea and back.

The next year i went to the south of France and Croatia, while in 2010 i went to Hungary and Croatia and back via Grossglockner.

I'm just starting to think about my trip for July 2011. This will be a short one, 16/17 days and 2,000miles. Probably down to Piran in Solvenia, with a few nights in Budapest/Sifok, and a day visiting Venice via boat from Piran, then back through the mountains of western Austria.

I will be mostly camping on route, but will look for a pension or cheap accommodation when in my destination. I'll most likey be on a ZX9R with the girlfriend riding pillion.

Give me a shout if you're doing anything along those lines.

To wet appetites, here's a few pics from last year and before:

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Great pics englishpremier.

I've done some trips to Europe on my CBR954. Been to Italy, Germany, France and Austria. Ironically I thought the CBR was better than the VFR800 I had before for this sort of trip. It was just so much lighter and faster, plus I didn't feel particularly uncomfortable. Read up on some of the road laws of the places you plan to visit. Some countries require you to take your bike documentation with you I seem to remember. I never did and was never asked, but worth checking.

There's nothing better than riding through Europe. I'm going back to Italy this year I think, see some family and I think there is some function on at the Moto Guzzi factory that my granddad wants to go to, so I'll probably go along to that too.
 
hmm i promised i'd never have another road bike.... technically i could add 'not in this country' to that... touring europe has always been something i've wanted to do and was planning on doing it on a mille (outlived the bike thank god... lol) but might settle for an fz or hornet...
 
aztec equina 2 man semi geodesic tent. Packs up very small and is less than 3kg. Has a porch for all your gear and has excellent water proof and windproof properties. Aluminium poles too.

I'd recommend against getting a tunnel tent. Although they offer a lot of space, if you come across hard ground you are screwed as they have no support at all.
 
Pretty good pointers Sagalout

I'm planning on doing some EU trip in 2012, soon as my mate gets his bike in the new year!
 
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