Touring By Yourself...?

[fortknoq]

I'm becoming obsessed with reading these accounts of touring excursions. They seem fun and made for motorcycling. Will be great when I'm in the position to do so also.

But I have also been surprised with the number of people who go by themselves so....was just wondering on how many people have, would, will, or would not go by themselves.
I think I'm more inclined to go with at least one other (when I do).

[Paivi]

I have when my mate's garage let her down. I had a brilliant time.

The good thing with going on your own is that you can do and go wherever you want, and if you see something interesting by the roadside, you can just turn off. You can also work on your own budget, whatever it is, as opposed to one of you maybe having to stretch the budget or slum it.

The downside is, of course, that should something happen, you'll have to deal with it on your own.
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My other bike's a Monster...

[bob a]

I am just back from Touring Europe with one other, that worked well cos someone else to talk and drink with at night.

When on the bike you are on your own so it makes no difference but it was for the night time.

[dodger]

I suppose there are advantages to go with someone and on your own.

I've just come back from touring on my own and it allowed me to work to my own schedule. I could stop were and when I wanted at stuff that interested me. When I decided to blast home from Gap I didn't have anyone else to take into consideration and I followed the exact route I wanted to.

However, if you go with someone you have the obvious benefit of company so when you finish a great road you can relive it with someone. Your budget can last much longer if you plan on using hotels as you can split the cost, if you hurt yourself or similar you have a person available to raise the alarm and it gives you company of a night time when having a drink.

I've never been on holiday on my own before and wouldn't really want to if it was a beach holiday. But being on a bike, I was busy from when I got up to when I stopped which was normally from 8am to around 4/5pm. And then I most nights I ended up talking to people [without actually looking for people to talk to] as either I was by my bike which tends to draw people over to you or sitting in a bar and people would pass a comment.
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My Bikes: Piaggio NRG| Aprilia RS 125| Suzuki GSX-R 600|Yamaha Fazer Ducati 848
Europe 2008

[Itchy]

I went away last year by myself first time to Nice , the thing is about going by yourself is there are various advantages:

you go where YOU want to go , you stop when you want to stop etc, you don't have to bother about the wants and needs of another person.

This suits me fine namely as I am ok with approaching random people (met 3 people on my last trip , Bill , Daniel and UG though I already knew UG so that doesn't count).

I also don't go out there for the night life specifically even when I did I do have the confidence to go solo.

Also touring Europe on popular and not so popular routes if it is dry there is ALWAYS somebody to ride against, Northern France I saw something blue and white go past me in a blur,

N85 I met bill and we had a furball there (he way out classed me)

Dijoin I met Daniel a random Aprillia Tuno pilot he out classed me too.

N202 the VFR and Z750 , I got involved in a serious furball with them too,

So its horses for courses really if you can find riders who have similar skill , abilties and endurance I suppose its ok, but there were some funny events in the mountains , in that its cold but you drank loads of water so you need to stop to water the plants often , this would get annoying.
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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.

[Faldo]

Recently got back from my first tour, and I did it on my own.

As most others have said it gives you total freedom to go where you want, spend what you want etc etc.

I was mostly riding for 8-9 hours a day, so loneliness isn't an issue there, but when you have stopped for the night it'd be cool to discuss the days ride and get drunk with a mate. As Itchy said, especially in France, there'll always be another biker nearby to have a dingdong with whilst on the road.

To me a biking holiday is just that. It's about riding and finding good roads, so as long as I've got my bike all is gravy! I'd never go on a "normal" holiday on my own, but I thoroughly enjoyed my tour and I'll be going next year definatley.

Long and short of it is, I'd have no problem in going again on my own, but I'm trying to talk a mate of mine to finally buy a bike and come with me next year.
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Current: ZZR1400
Previous: ZXR 400 L9, ZX-7R P5, ZZR 400, ZX-7R P6, Bandit 600, GSXR 750 Slingshot, DRZ400, DR650, ZX10R C1H, ZXR 750 L1, ZXR 750 L3, '99 ZX7R P4, KTM 300 EXC, ZX-9R E1, TDM850

[fortknoq]

Interesting...Seems Billy-No-Mates No Matter

[teampots]

currently planning to go touring to France next month by myself camping mostly as well which will be interesting.

its generally a case of people just going out there and doing it much like itchy's snap tour
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Current - Fazer 600
Prev - Bandit x2 (Killed) CB400 (Superfour) CBR125
Currently Restoring - Kawasaki S1 250 Triple (Slowly but surely)

[map]

FWIW I find riding with others (be it one or many) a bit of a pain. There's concentrating on who'd behind, who's in front, is the gap too big, have I taken the right turn, oh, and I guess I should think about riding the bike as well.

I find it more relaxing to go at own pace and/or route and then arrange to meet up at the end of the day.

Just my thoughts
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[Toukakoukan]

I'm on my way to Aus solo at the moment, and honestly, I wouldn't do it any other way.
The ability to do what you want when you want is complete freedom, I'd go nuts trying to do it with someone else.
SURE it's a bit of a pain when you crush your foot negotiating a hairpin bend in the alps, but.. hopefully they're few and far between!
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RTW Motorcycle Blog

[kitty kat]

I am thinking of a touring holiday next year and if I end up doing it, I will be on my own. as has been said, I will be able to go at my own pace, stop when I want, eat when I want and go where I want without having to consider someone else.
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Enjoy everyday, tell those you love everyday you love them
Life is too short to fall out with people

[yambabe]

I love touring, but I don't think I'd like to do it alone.

I'm too gregarious by nature. Whilst I don't mind riding by myself I need someone there to talk about the day over dinner, to plan the next days ride, to share the high and low points with.

I'd hate to go away in a big group (that was what we had originally planned for France at easter and I was dreading it) but I love to tour with just my OH or a good mate whose riding I know and trust.

When we went to France we did it a day at a time so one day we would choose a general direction and I would lead at my pace, the next day he would lead at his etc. That worked really well for us, and I have to say that despite the weather it was probably one of the best times we have ever had for us as a couple.

Kudos to those of you who tour on your own. I admire you greatly but it's not something I have any wish to do myself.
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[650rider]

Well, I would certainly go touring again on my own. I went about 4 years ago and did 10000 miles round Europe over three months, the only week I didn't enjoy myself was when a mate rode over and joined me for the stretch down through France to the Dordoigne. I found you then have to accommodate someone else into your routine and you sacrifice doing things, or spending time at places they are not interested in. As it was the first time I had ever toured, let alone toured alone, it was very daunting. But as several other posters have said, you meet like minded souls and also, you are forced to talk to the locals. I absolutely loved it and would go again.

Ian (650Rider)
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Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, "Where have I gone wrong?"/ Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night."

[spnorm]

I've toured on my own, in a small group and on a large tour (organised by myself for a bike club) and prefer a small group of like-minded people.

Last year we had six bikes, all with GPS, so we generally broke down into pairs during the day so we could ride at our own pace and stop off where we wanted as everyone had their Garmin to get them to the hotel. We'd then meet up for the evening meal for a drink and a chat about the days exploits and this seemed to suit everyone

I went to the Dolomites alone in 2005 after working in Germany for a week and found the riding great, but was bored and lonely of an evening, so wouldn't recommend it unless you make friends easily or are happy with your own company.

[Aldbro_Bev]

I haven't been on here in a while Hope you're all OK.
I'm really looking forward to next week as finally getting the opportunity to do something I've wanted for a long time.
I'm sodding off on my own up to Scotland over Applecross Pass and up round the west coast and Oban. I can't wait.
More times than not I'd chose to tour alone as I favour freedom more than companionship, although I do appreciate both
The only thing for me on the down side would be not having the extra pair of hands if something went wrong, especially as seen as I'll be a lone female camping and on bike in the middle of nowhere.

I'm for William Wallace every time...... FREEDOM!!

Scotland, HERE I COME

Bev x


https://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x113/missilebob/applecross_road_fs.jpg
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Warning - MAD WOMAN ON THE LOOSE WITH A BRIGHT ORANGE MOTORBIKE!

[StevenF]

Never ventured into this part of the forum before, but doing so has made me want to do something like this.

The trouble is, I only have a 125 at the moment. I feel I would just get frustrated - speed wise - when having to go on duel carriageways and what not.

I live in Scotland, so it's only right that I go and explore it properly! Maybe one day, when I have a bigger bike.
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My Project - Honda CBR 600 F2/FM

[tatters]

All my touring apart from a Scotland trip 2-3 years ago l do by myself, not easy finding people willing to travel to were l go but l get along ok and it encourage you to interact with the locals.
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[EuropeanNC30R...]

I've never gone touring without at least one mate, I've been pretty lucky in knowing like-minded people, but I wouldn't not go because I couldn't find anyone to come with me.

[N.W.]

i think touring on my own would suit me quite well, only if it was for less than 5 days, more than that and i'd just start talking to myself, or objects....

[Swim41]

Last month I completed a ten day trip to Germany taking in Aachen, Hannover, Berlin, Munich, Berchesgaden and then Stuttgart via the Austrian Tyrol. Did it solo on a wheezey XJ600 and had a brilliant time, camping every night apart from the first and last when I took a cheap hotel. It took me about a day and a half to get into the swing of sightseeing and eating on my own. Met loads of great people to chat to and drink with on the campsites.

If you are pondering solo touring, I would say do it. There is an incredible sense of freedom in being able to go and see the things that you want to that others might not be interested in. And doing it on a bike does bestow a certain legitamacy that you might not get travelling solo in a car.

[N.W.]

i agree with swim on the legitimacy thing

[GT Biker]

[Sparks!]

I'm going away on Saturday, I think Dom is coming with me for the first two days but then I've got 8 days on my own

I am not a particulary confident person and thus I am a bit nervous about the whole trip on my own, but thats another reason I want to do it, hopefully I'll learn some confidence

I like to see and do randomly weird things, if I see something I want to look at I'd like to be able to stop and look at it for as short/long as I want so I do prefer the idea of going on my own (or with a pillion then she would have no choice )

I'm looking forward to it, with trepidation. Pretty sure all worries will be forgot the second I ride off my drive listening to the ipod with the open road in front of me
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[tatters]

Were are you going again Sparks?
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[Sparks!]