My Musings on a Trip...

[bushguy]

I was chatting with my mates this eavening and the idea of a trip round Europe was mentioned (obvious we were watching the long way down much?). So I was hoping that some of you more experienced adventurers could offer me some advice on the whole trip.

We would be hoping to ride round camping our way down Germany to the end of Italy before coming back up through France or Spain. I would be doing it on an SV650, as would my mates (that or a CBR600 and a Thundercat) in the summer of next year.

So what im looking for is advice on how suitable the bikes are, what the costs of such a trip might be, any good places for information what kit is needed, basically anything you can offer me.
I would imagine you get this sort of questions allot so I apologise if im retreading well walked ground.

[TheDonUK]

Firstly you can tour on any bike and with any gear... You dont need a BMW GS1200 with custom made Italian riding gear...

A Sv650 is fine, I cant speak for germany/italy but French Petrol is about the same as we pay here (1.4 euros to the litre), spain is cheaper with most places being around 1 euro a litre. Camping is cheap all over europe, and thats if you even pay for a campsite, French also have Formulae 1 Hotels... 30 Euros a night for a double bed (with a bunk bed above so you both could sleep there without having to cosy up together), Tv and a shower... good way to end a long days ride.

Just take whatever gear you normally ride in, plus a waterproof layer and at LEAST 1 spare pair of gloves... Ideally One pair of summer gloves for nice feel on the twisties and a more bulky waterproof pair for covering cold hard miles... Waterproof boots should be up there on your list... You will also want lots of earplugs, as wind noise will really take it out of you and make you deaf in the long run... Also Thermal base layers and lots of thin layers in general will keep you snug as a bug...

Just be sensible about it think about the likely conditions you will encounter and take the appropriate kit, You will need to take less clothes than you imagine and try and pack light.

Also IMHO dont plan for months and months and try to follow some ridged plan, be flexible get a big map see where you are starting and where you want to end up and write a list of all the places that look like they might be signposted and stick that list in the top of a tankbag (another bit of kit worth getting) for ease of use...

Bollox to the whole months of planning and support vehicles just get out there and do it, if you have no particular place to go you can never be lost

EDIT: where ever you decide to go if you can include the best road i have ever ridden, the N260 that Runs just south of the french/spanish border from andorra to pamplona... Really worth a detour to do...

[mark83]

[mark83]

On a serious note:

Take photocopies of all your docs (license, insurance, breakdown cover......)

And keep credit cards in separate pockets so if you lose one you have the others as backup

(I should know I lost my whole fucking wallet last time)


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Kawasaki ER6n -> Honda CBR600RR -> Honda VTR 1000 -> Moto Guzzi Norge 1200
Buy my Mercedes 350 Sport AMG Evo

[Itchy]

Bikes are suitable just get scotoilers new C&S + tyres before you leave, a map and a sense of adventure , oh and it is worth buying the bigger tank for a scotoiler I reckon.

thats all you need,

Petrol costs about the same here as there ie £11 for 100 miles + 25% just in case, (was £10 for 100 miles) but depends on your riding style, with my heavy throttle abuse and high cruising speeds (ie 110-150mph) I used about that much

camping 5=10 Euro , cheap hotels 30-50 Euro a night (split between up to 3 people) ,

Manchester -> Nice and back via a scenic route cost me about £1000 in all see my sig, (the credit card bill arrived a month later) , but as said I spent heavily I ate nicely went out drinking every night and was as said very heavy on the throttle,
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[phil2alp]

https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ -Have look at this site for some decent info on what to take etc.