Need help planning my trip

[c-m]

I’m in the process of planning my trip away this year. But have hit a number of difficulties. Before I go into detail I’ll just give you a bit of back ground.

I’ve been riding a bike of some sort for about a year and a half, but only gained my full unrestricted license in February. I bought a 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500 (though I really want a CBR600, ZZR or ZXR). The bike is in good mechanical condition with plenty of life in the tyres chain and sprockets.

A friend and I were planning on touring Europe but he has still not passed his test and is reluctant to leave work, so I will be going alone. Although my girlfriend wants to tag along for the first two weeks.

Now here is my problem. I live in the UK and want to ride mainly Eastern Europe but obviously I need to get there first. Crucial stops include Prague, Krakow, Budapest, Brsov, Costanta and Dubrovnik. I plan on leaving on Monday 9th June and returning in July. My budget is £1000 plus fuel costs.
I’m really stuck trying to figure out a route that takes in those places. My effort so far leaves me with some huge distances.

[figures below are from via-michelin]



Amsterdam---------Berlin 415miles 6h20 £49
Berlin----------------Prague 221miles 3h50 £27
Prague--------------Brno 130miles 2h23 £18
Brno--------------Krakow 214miles 4h28 £29
Krakow----Budapest 245miles 6h10 £33
Budapest----Brasov 433miles 8h30 £53
Brasov---Costanta 240miles 4h10 £31
Costanta-----Sofia 372miles 6h31 £46
Sofia---Dubrovnik 430miles 9h40 £57
Dubrovnik---north Croatia 380miles 7h07 £68

As you can see that leaves me in northern Croatia and I still need to get back to the uk. Some of the distances are huge particularly getting from Costanta to Dubrovnik and Budapest to Brasov. I’m not really interested in visiting Amsterdam and Berlin on this trip (been before) but see them as necessary to break-up the route to Prague. The same goes for Sofia (been before).
Any ideas on routes at all fro you seasoned travellers of Europe? The things that cannot change are my budget, the leaving date and Costanta and Dubrovnik stops.
____________________
Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[Itchy]

3080 in 21 days? , tis rather high , I think you should cut that down a bit else all you will remember is being on your bike on the motorway all day, as said I am quite a fast rider and only managed a shade under 3000 in 14 days.

Oh wait you also have to come back

6190 miles in 3 weeks, tis very high, I would recommend you cut down your miles quite a bit,

you may also want to tent it, which will be hard with the GF on the back, since tenting it prevents hotel running which is what I did in France you can get to a camp site pretty late you can't in a hotel.

I'd probably buy a scotoiler too,
____________________
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.

[c-m]

Sorry i'm going for just over 30 days.

Still I need to cut down the mileage.

Is there a train like the Eurostar I can put my bike on to through western europe?

Going to the east coast of Romania really add the miles, but I've wanted to go there for 7 years now.

I'm still not sure the GPZ is up for it - 2up (for 2 weeks) with gear? Though I can have the girlfriend take the train for longer runs.
____________________
Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[EuropeanNC30R...]

[c-m]

[heroes legend]

Mate, i've knocked up two routes using all your stop-off points as noted.

Simply put, you're not going to do the distance in just 1 month.

Your calculations do not include toll roads, which incidentally puts a massive increase in mileage to your routes. The best i've got 4500 miles, spread across approx 3 days of continuous riding.

This is calculated on a bike, using toll roads, ferries, fastest method to route (i.e. motorways) with an average speed of about 75mph.

You're going to be using at least 30 fill ups (assuming your bike can do 150m between fills). Factor in approx €20-25 per fill up, + another €30-50 per day for tolls + min €100 for food/drink/hotellery.

Thats about a lot of moola, let alone time and stress.

Cant you just fly?

[Shay HTFC]

You can have a look at Auto Zug
It's the German car train service and they go from Dusseldorf to Villach.

I made a quick google map to show the distances and what mileage you would save going by train etc.

(map)

Problem is the price and the fact that it would be cheaper to do it by bike if you wanted to, although google maps say it would take 8hrs 20mins just about. (although realistically I think it would be more with stops, wrong directions, traffic etc)
You can get a rough price off that website. I think I got about €383 euros (return - about £150 each way) for a bike to take the train and give you a sleeping berth.

If you think you would spend more than £150 on petrol, bike wear (invisible cost), overnight hotel etc, then maybe its worth looking into (also means you get a good nights sleep and can just get riding as soon as you get there)
____________________
Full Motorbike License - GS500E '95

[Peirre oBollox]

[c-m]

The times and prices above were form via michelin and included tolls and border crossing and taxes.


I thought around 4000 miles to be norm, but then while i've toured europe before it's never been on a bike.

I have been reading the reports below:

This guy did over 5000miles in four weeks

https://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=303969&highlight=eastern+europe

8000km in 32 days
https://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=263432&highlight=eastern+europe


P.S heroes legend - what did use for that route? I tried Autoroute but its rubbish for eastern europe.
____________________
Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[heroes legend]

First of all, guys who have done long distances (myself included) prepare long and hard. That means they get the bike fully prepared, serviced, 100% mechanical perfection. They also prepare by doing long haul rides. Yes you may be able to ride 1000 miles in a day, but you'll be screwed for the next 3-4, not to mention walking like john wayne.

I've done 1000 mile days, and 3500 mile months and everything in between. Its not as easy as just sitting on a bike and holding the throttle open.

The program I used is Mapsource,a proprietary software program for garmin satnavs.

[c-m]

got it sorted now. here is my post on another forum:


Hi Guys,

I thought I would take the time out to tell you about my trip.

I'm in my mid 20s and fed up with the 9-5. I passed my full unrestricted motorcycle test in the winter (i'd been riding a learner bike <125cc for over a year before that) and decided that I need an escape. so i'm tooling up and hoping across the English Channel to spend over a month touring the Europe.

My weapon of choice (actually it choose me) is a 1996 GPZ500s or EX500 in the States. It was 27,000 miles on the clock and I have recently checked the valve clearances, balanced the carbs and generally checked the bike over. All seems ok bar the need for new rear pads (current ones are over 12k old :o )

https://www.eastcoastlacrosse.co.uk/carl/gpz/Image726.jpg

https://www.eastcoastlacrosse.co.uk/carl/gpz/Image727.jpg

https://www.eastcoastlacrosse.co.uk/carl/gpz/Image729.jpg
I leave in June and will be returning when the money runs out i.e some time in July. My girlfriend could only get 2 weeks off work so she will be coming along for the first part of the ride.

My rough route is outlined below

https://www.eastcoastlacrosse.co.uk/carl/map.jpg


I will be travelling from:

Norwich------London (playing a 3 day lacrosse festival)
London-------Prague (stopping over somewhere on the way)
Prague-------Krakow
Krakow------Budapest (with a day or two at lake balaton)
Budapest----Brasov (again i'll be visiting other places while based here)
Brasov------Costanta (well earned break on the beach)
Costanta---Split (mmm more beach after an epic ride and 2 stopovers)
Split-----Ancona ( Taking the ferry for this one)
Ancona---Norwich (stopping off wherever takes my fancy on the way)

In all its around 4,400miles and will cost about £300-400 in fuel and I have around £1000 to spend on everything else. It will be tight but good fun.

I recently bought a cheap but decent quality tank bag with map pocket which also doubles as a backpack.

I also bought these:

https://www.mandp.co.uk/netalogue/photos/large/558048.jpg
58l semi rigid expanding panniers. Cost £39.99
https://www.mandp.co.uk/productInfo.aspx?catRef=558048#

I still need a rack for all my camping gear though:-

[li]1 2man 3 pole tunnel tent with huge porch
2x self inflating mats
2x self inflating pillows
2x sleeping backs[/li]
[li][/li]

On top of that I have recently installed this:

https://i16.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/a6/6d/f16f_1.JPG

Very easy to install, took all of 5mins and now means I can charge my phone and GPS while on the road. Oh and the girlfriend can use her hair straighteners.

I still need to get all my spares though:

[li]bulbs
fuses
leaver (brake and clutch)
cables (throttle and clutch)
fuel filter[/li]
[li][/li]

Anyway only a few weeks to go and a lot to sort out, so over and out for now.
____________________
Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/