France/Spain 2 week jaunt

[scottjames1uk]

Well how do I start? Here goes. The basics are I want to travel on a 2 weeks jaunt to either France Spain with my girlfriend. I have been into bikes for about 6 years this time round and had mostly sport/sport tourer bikes but now have a HD 1200 sportster and I am itching to travel now even more than I did before. I have done a trip to Ireland 2 years ago in a RF600. That was a great trip and gives me a taste; I have also backpacked several worldwide countries. So down to the trip. I am planning it for the last 2 weeks in June wit a budget of £1500 ish. I would like to camp most of the time but what restricts me is the pillion taking up space but it’s not an issue about leaving her at home. I have no set plans as such for the journey as its still early days. I have looked at the ferry prices and although France is cheaper by far I think I want to go to Spain. I am looking for any advice from anyone who has travelled to either France Spain or both and a bit about camping, hostels etc. the bike holds quite a bit of kit though when loaded as I have camped in UK quite a bit and done a few rallies...

I have just read a lot of blogs from people that have done some bike treks and they sound great.



Look forward to a response

Scott

[Richard_Schmid]

I`m off on a jolly to Spain and Portugal in May next year. First time properally abroad on a bike for me... any interesting advice?

Thanks rich

[Itchy]

read some other people's adventures

ie maurices

https://motocapers.com/

mine in my sig

The Don's

https://bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=128124

I'd say camping 2 up would be difficult though , I hotelled it across France to the South Coast and Italy, and my luggage capacity was X2 40 litre paniers a tank bag (which I used as a tail pack) at 25 litres space and alot of stuff stashed around in my pockets AND alot of it worn to save space.

But hotels are pretty cheap the hotel F1's 30-40Euro , and are ok, but according to Gman look like prisons,



£1500 is plenty too , camping from what I saw passing camping sites is like 5-12Euro, hotels being 40-50 Euros (better than F1 hotels) , I spent in total £1020 , but as said YMMV as petrol is more expensive now,

and the fact I am incredibly throttle heavy (the £1020 includes a new set of tyres too btw) and went out living it large every night, and have done untold liver damage to myself.
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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.

[TheDonUK]

As Itchy said 2up Camping would be tricky unless you spent alot on a bike specific tent that would take up next to no room.

Personally i loved the F1 Hotels in france just because they were so cheap, you get a double bed and a tv + a shower (not en suite mind you) And yes they do look like prisons but for 20 quid a night lock me up and throw away the key .

If you factored in say at most 30-50 Euros a night for hotels (and thats 3 star ish) and what not you would be fine.

One thing to consider is after a long days riding, do you want to be fucking around putting up a tent, and then packing it away in the mornings... I found it slightly annoying, but then i was a first time camper, you sound like an old hand

I thought about taking my girlfriend along for the ride but my trip was high mileage, can your lady handle long days on the bike?

Your budget sounds about right, French petrol prices are about the same as ours, spanish prices can be as low as 1 euro/litre.

If you do take the boat to Santander head east to Pamplona and keep on going along the N260 towards Andorra just because it is the most amazing road. Also i imagine the roads heading south to madrid are lovely.

If you do need parts in France/Spain its not too hard, i ended up buying a front tyre (check those before you go) and some gloves which im still using.

As for luggage i had soft panniers and everything else bungieed to my pillion seat/ or in a tankbag, You will need less clothes than you think if you are anything like me a dirty bastard...

However you end up packing your stuff put it in binbags first, cheap waterproofing at its best.

Oh and if you do ride through france and happen to use the auto routes, at a toll gate say you lost your ticket and name the next closest town for cheap cheap toll prices But dont take the motorways unless your in a hurry...

[scottjames1uk]

Thanks for the great advice, I think the hotel/hostel will be a better idea. My bike is pretty good for carrying luggage. I have 2 large panniers then a rack on the back. I have changed the seat now so it has a backrest for Tracy. Keeps her happy. If I leave the camping stuff home it will cut down on a lot of shit. I must admit I do enjoy the camping though. If I had the chance though I would travel a lot further. A couple of mates are doing the Paris Dakar next year but it is a budget one where they have to buy a car for no more than £100 and then spend no more than £15 on it. They can do everything they want to it but it must be donations only. I would love to do this and if I get the time off work at some point think I would give it a go. Anyway cheers for the advice and I will let you know how I get on with my plans. I checked out the blogs this morning and they looked really good, cant wait.
Oh and as for the clothes. when i did my first rally i took load of clothes. then every time after it got less. now i take what i am standing in and 1 spare. the best way to be

Thanks



Scott
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Currently riding - Harley Davidson 1200 Custom Sportster
Previous Bikes - Suzuki RF600, Honda VTR 1000

[motoman]

i used a couple of these in france
https://www.premiereclasse.com/en/default.aspx
on the wall outside they have a screen ,you touch the uk flag the info comes up english follow the directions on screen insert credit card ,hey presto out pops a key card for your room.about 35 euro + 4 euro for buffet breakfast.bed ,tv and own shower.

[benvanwell]

This was quite handy for my first trip abroad this Sept:
handy info

F1 hotels work out cheap if there is more than one of you. I stayed at a couple when I had some long days and just wanted to collapse. One good thing about the F1 hotels, you can book them online before hand (if you have a rough idea of route) and they can be cancelled without penalty up to 6pm on the day of your stay IIRC. I booked quite a few before I set off, so I had a backup if all else failed. In the end I stayed at two and cancelled four - once I had found something better or ended up somewhere else.

The buffet breakfast is fairly basic, but don't forget to pocket a couple of packets of butter/jam. This way you can just pick up a baguette wherever and have an impromptu lunch. Then again with a budget of £1500 you could probably do a bit better than that!

Let me know if you want any further info; I'm hardly experienced, but I might be able to point in the right direction....
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Currently Riding: Triumph Sprint ST 1050
Previous: GSF600s, GS500, BMW F45, CG125

[Richard_Schmid]

Thanks for all the info. Mighty useful!

[Peirre oBollox]

[scottjames1uk]

I think the camping is out of the window as we are 2 up. No doubt show will want to bring the kitchen sink so need the room. Thanks for the advice though. Is anyone off to the bike show at the weekend? I am going Sunday.

Scott
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Currently riding - Harley Davidson 1200 Custom Sportster
Previous Bikes - Suzuki RF600, Honda VTR 1000

[gavin]

i fancy doing this one way, down through france, over the pyrnees and into spain. time it right nad i might get to ski in andorra and sit on the beach in southern spain a few days later.

my plan is to get the ferry back from bilbau (sp?) its cheap enough and a 2 day mini cruise
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1988 TZR125 : 1990 RD350YPVS/ RGV250 HYBRID : 1982 RD80LC : 1983 RD80LC : 1994 RGV250 : 1991 TZR125 / CR500R HYBRID : 1976 BENELLI 500 QUATTRO : 2006 TRIUMPH 675

[Peirre oBollox]

another site thats useful for route planning through france inc tolls https://www.autoroutes.fr/
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I accept no responsibility for swearing, drinking, motorcycle riding or your pregnant teenage daughter.

[terrymc]

Hi all, good to read all your comments and suggestions for this kind of trip. I'm planning a similar trip to the south coast of spain with the wife next june. The father in law lives there and is over here for work this winter. He's going back by car and we are going to follow on the bike just incase the wife hates it. We went to the NEC bike show yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed the day but the weather was awfull both ways. I'll ride in all conditions but the wife's not so hardy, so having the car as a backup is a godsend for her. I think the plan is to get the boat to Santander then travel south to Madrid, finally ending up in Orihuela which is about 40 mins south of Alicante on the coast. We haven't any plans as such for the return leg, but would love to take in some mountainous scenery through France. Any suggestions would be most welcome. Tattybye for now. p.s ive just got a 1200 custom sportser scott. GREAT BIKE.

[EuropeanNC30R...]

[barnhatter]

Small hiking tent + small sleeping bags might fit in, France is easy to camp as there are many sites inside towns. I don't cook so nothing else to take. Cheap and easy. Wander into the town centre for my meal and stop in the morning after an hours riding for a coffee and crossant.
If you are going for a couple of weeks I have a couple of days off then return home.
I holiday for 11 days, 6 on the road, 2 days rest then 3 days to get home.
Take 2 black teeshirts and rotate them light colours will show the road dirt and after an hour of wearing them they will smell anyway.
Scottoiler works well no need to normally adjust the chain.
Foggycity is worth its weight in gold too.
As I read in a book many years ago about motorcycling on a chapter on touring the advice is regardless of your machine
"just do it"

[scottjames1uk]

I was thinking about taking the small tent and a couple of sleeping bags anyway. I agree it is easier to eat out and less hassle whilst over there. I have a few different routes in the pipeline but I am edging over to get the ferry into Bilbao then ride down through Spain then come back up through France. I am not taking sat nav as I agree with you all that it takes the fun out of it then. I was at the NEC bike show in Birmingham last Sunday and can’t believe how many ‘long way round’ trips are around now. I know there have always been tours but not like that much, I still prefer to do it alone though and not a guided tour as I can’t see the point I that really it takes the adventure away. I wanted to get a good map while I was there of Spain and France but I could only find one and I didn’t thing it was tough enough. Does anyone know online where I could locate one?


Scott
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Currently riding - Harley Davidson 1200 Custom Sportster
Previous Bikes - Suzuki RF600, Honda VTR 1000

[Itchy]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Europe-Michelin-Tourist-Motoring-Atlases/dp/2067125214/ref=sr_1_1/202-4704795-2741444?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194780525&sr=8-1

this book , the green routes on it are usually great biking roads too, though check out google maps before hand as one or two of them were not that great (but then it was raining and my bike was heavily laden)



https://www.amazon.co.uk/Europe-2007-Michelin-National-Maps/dp/2067123688/ref=sr_1_16/202-4704795-2741444?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194780525&sr=8-16

you may want a provincial one though as its pants for cities , although as said I managed to find most Hotel F1s with it (they are well sign posted anyway) , except for Grenoble South
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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.

[Polarbear]

Premier class hotels are abot 35 euros a night and accomodate 2 or 3 people (3 sharing a double) with a private shower/loo.

https://www.premiereclasse.com/en/default.aspx

I have just used them touring France and Germany. The only problem is that they are usually a bit out of the center so if you want to drink in town it's a bus or taxi.

Have a browse on this site for hotels or hostels.

https://www.eurapart.com/accom.html

We booked he hotels before we left but when we decided to change our route the receptionists booked ahead for us. There was no real need to book ahead though, only once was a hotel full although that will change in summer months.
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[Polarbear]

Oh, I did the Portsmouth Bilbao ferry. I suggest you take a couple of ratchet straps (£9.99 from argos) to tie your bike down with.

They tied my wing down with 1 piece of rope. Fine if the weather is OK but Bicay an be rough and the small print absolves the ferry company of any damages.

They won't let you back down on the car deck after the ship sails so make sure you are well secure before you leave your bike.
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[quik_d]