my set-up holiday info for beginners

magpiemale · Traffic Copper Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Karma :

Well I have never been over to france or germany before so I am planning now for Oct 08 so if you want to know what to take or do this is for you (though I am no pro so this is for info only)
My trip to see my family is in Oct like I said but good planning and saving starts months away so I am doing it now first by paying off the credit card week by week for the trip lol so I can take it (along with some euro's)
I have bought so far some panniers from Ebay which look like sprint 2008's used once or twice for £70 that's less on average of £30 than others for new plus postage bought a cargo monster bag (the titanium one though I do not know what the difference is between the ride magazine tested one and this one) for £45 from george white,also booked the ferry from dover to calais £40 cheap or what!! checked out others and they were higher too esp euro tunnel which was £80 that sailing is for 4am in the morning.I figured if I have never been on the right before then 10am is worse to find out than 7am which should be quieter thats my line of reasoning plus I have a 370mile ride to germany to that'll take me to hopefully 4pm (no later) when you consider rests for fueling fazer does 120-130 miles per tank and energy.Next on the shopping list is breakdown cover which since I have my bike with RAC assist then £38 from the internet from them is not bad at all then a tank bag that will kind of does it for the time being of things to buy though first aid box(boots chemist) etc will be added later
My wife was suppose to come with me well she is! just not on the bike for her flying is better as stopping for cramp every 50 mile is no good wont get anywhere fast lol
I have also last and not least bought two cigar sockets to recharge the mobile and maybe a GPS £10 all in from ebay

dodger · Traffic Copper Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Karma :

magpiemale · Traffic Copper Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Karma :

but why would you want to leave midday when most riders would prefer riding off the ferry early in the morning to get a good start and avoid heavy traffic ? or am I wrong.
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Going out Folkestone to Calais | Saturday 04 October 2008

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Coming back Calais to Folkestone | Sunday 12 October 2008

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well I looked at the early morning (cheap enough) £24 but coming back after doing 370 miles allowing enough time to get there the return would cost £47 which would bring the total out at £70 which is £30 more than the ferry plus you get a bit sleep for 3 hours or so.If there is a cheaper way on the tunnel then anyone can say so yes you pay for the quickness but I prefer a snooze or rest after doing 149 miles to the ferry before hitting a strange country
thanks for your input though. Thumbs Up

king kong · Nearly there... Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Karma :

Eurotunnel are fairly relaxed if you miss your time slot. We were late yesterday because my mate was svheduled for a later booking in slot.
You'll also be so pumped up about the journey that won't be tired. We started our journey 1.30am with 3/4hour wait at the tunnel then traveled over France until maybe 9pm, put up our tents, eat & shower, we did'nt turn until gone midnight.

Do you propose to have rest after trip back to the tunnel before heading home?

magpiemale · Traffic Copper Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Karma :

Naa I am going on the ferry cheaper...I only put the fare comparison up as I said the ferry was cheaper and another said not really.

dodger · Traffic Copper Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Karma :

c-m · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2006 Karma :

I looked at the ferry recently £17.50 inc return for two people

Eurotunnel £33 one way for as many will fit on your vehicle.

I chose the tunnel due to the shorter travelling time and more flexible departures.
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Blogging about my bike and trips
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magpiemale · Traffic Copper Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Karma :

my ferry for the 9 days was £40 dodger I am not bothered being on the boat another 60mins as to the tunnel like I said you can rest up on the ferry and get a hot meal on-board and a cuppa.

magpiemale · Traffic Copper Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Karma :

I have added to the list of things to take a tank bag (cargo endurance ) the panniers arrived and bought two maps one from motrax (waterproof) and a phillips one with greater detail as a back up which will be put into the panniers or top-box.The power sockets came to and are well made just have to fit them the only real problem I have had is getting a new licence plate with the euro sign upon it, seems for motorbikes there is tighter rules as to size and things you can have upon it all I wanted was another plate halfords done one for £15 but will have to wait 5 days or so as they have to send them away to get made!
Why bother ? well a GB sticker would of surfice but then where do you put one esp a car one as I couldn't find smaller ones? on the wind shield well no as they have to be on the back so sod it another plate was in order so as to not get a headache over a simple thing.Also my bike has not alot of room on the fazer for stickers

magpiemale · Traffic Copper Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Karma :

Well not long now a 6000 miles service for the bike is in sept ready for the off in october I have bought another textile suit from www.getgeared.co.uk a vanucci touring suit I have tried it out and for £380 it fit's loverly like rev-it say a second skin lol (no really it is comfy) I have yet to try it out for water proofing but for feel and comfort well worth it.my RST suit was sent back for inspection by RST for not being water proof
List of things to take....
chain lube
tyre puncture repair (plugs)
torque wrench + spanners for chain adjustment
spare bulb and fuse kit
hi-viz vest (for breakdown some say you need it others say not so just bung it in)
tyre pump 12v (small)
cargo net for pillion bag extra security
bikes tool kit
warning triangle (small)
mobile phone + charger
baby wipes (for visor) + cloth in a bag
first aid kit
spare gloves
license both parts +insurance cert + breakdown cover +ferry tickets and passport +V5 + copies European health card
map
duck tape and cable ties
small bottle of oil
old towel (for ferry tie down)
disc lock
water proofer for gloves
4 set's of ear plugs
visor nik wax
parrot bluetooth head phones ck4000
and last but not least clothes in my top box and pillion monster bag and tank bag (or soft panniers instead of tank bag not decided as yet)
and money
as of yet I have not decided upon which helmet to take the caberg with sun visor built in or the x-lite 601 and sun-glasses the caberg is noisy and visor leaks water but has a sun visor the x-lite is comfy and less noisy but no sun protection.....

superstacker · Traffic Copper Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Karma :

Its good that you are really thinking this holiday through...but for christ sakes man its a trip to Germany, not the moon!

My prep for Germany and Luxembourg trips took me a day at best, throw some clothes in a bag with some tools, wire up the GPS, and give your bike the quick once over..

I find if you spend too long planning, you won't enjoy it as much, but thats me, im very spontaneous (plus a military background gets you prepared for short notice trips). Plus after this post i can see me posting "Stuck on the Autobahn" Wink

A little bit of planning goes a long way.. But you can overplan mate...take from that what you will..

Good luck and feel free to pick my brains if you have any questions...

magpiemale · Traffic Copper Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Karma :

tks I dont offend easily and ideas are all good as long as they are though through hehehe

superstacker · Traffic Copper Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Karma :

I think just some people when they plan these trips go a bit overboard, but its good to get outside the comfort zone i think Wink

casadunc · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Karma :

I have been riding in Europe for a few years and the first time i took soooo much STUFF (just in case). Now i take a lot less.

magpiemale · Traffic Copper Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Karma :

Well the stuff I am taking will be only in my top-box and pillian monster bag and essentials in my tank bag so not the kitchen sink that is seems to be hehehehe
I bought a Ram Aqua box for my mobile gps phone to go onto the handle bars I can put a picture up if needed of the fazer 07 but alas the phone is going for repair the screen looks like the matrix sods law eh something always happens.Also a 151cm long socket to power the phone from the front fairing area instead of streching a cable from the battery to the tank bag (which isnt waterproof )

Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

To be fair, the list looks absurdly long for what is just a short run over to Germany, but it is all fairly sensible really.

Just a few things I think are unneccessary are the warning triangle, you aren't expected to carry one on a motorcycle, it's for cars and trucks.

A small bottle of oil, ok maybe sensible, but unless your bike burns oil or you plan on dropping it there shouldn't really be any need, if there is you can always buy a litre out there.

Torque wrench isn't really necessary, a ratchet and the appropriate socket should do, admittedly easier than using the toolkit spanner and extender. The adjuster spanners should already be in your toolkit.

Like superstacker said, it's Germany you're not planning for the apocalypse, so don't stress over it. And please use paragraphs, some of the posts were hard work reading.

superstacker · Traffic Copper Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Karma :

I did work out with the distances involved, Scotland was further away from home (essex) then the part of Germany i was in!

Jumile · Nova Slayer Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Karma :

I'm yet to do a two-wheeled foray into Europe, but I can appreciate the dilemma. I was a well trained boy scout, so believe me when I say I empathise with you. Smile

Reading your kit list reminds me of an episode of Top Gear I watched yesterday, where Clarkson talks about loading up the vehicle he was testing during winter up north. "Healthy & Safety people and the AA tell you that in snow you need to carry these with you..." and proceeded to fill the back of the vehicle with everything from food and blankets to what looked like an EPIRB, and even Andy McNab.

His point, of course, was that if you listen to reasonable advice you're going to need a trailer to carry all the stuff that you might need. But common sense (and the security of knowing it's not me making the journey Wink

) would suggest that a lot less stuff is actually required. Particularly as you're going to be travelling through some of the most highly populated parts of Europe, rather than somewhere like the Skeleton Coast, so won't ever be far from a hotel/B&B and a garage should things go wrong.
____________________
Matt
Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat
The greater the difficulty, the more the glory in surmounting it. --Epicurus

magpiemale · Traffic Copper Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Karma :

well a discussion is that so what would be sensible on a bike to take then, out of my list or rather what would be excluded.

ajacko · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 03 Aug 2008 Karma :

For some the planning of such a journey is as much a part of it as the journey itself. You can effectively 'start' the adventure many weeks before you set off, there's nothing wrong with that. Sure, if you want to wing it with 15 minutes prior preparation as you're walking out the door that's fine too.

Each to their own.

Have fun magpie and take as much as you like Thumbs Up

Spare bike even:

https://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o300/ajacko70/Folder%201/Bikeman.jpg
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Current bike:- Suzuki GS500 '02 plate. Next bike CBR600F or GSX650F. I'll leave the race reps to the kids.
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Georgecarnell · L Plate Warrior Joined: 19 Aug 2008 Karma :

Hi all, newbie on the forum Very Happy

.

Bikerchic1467 and I are currently planning a trip to Scotland late Sept and then a run from N.Ireland down through France tp Perpignan, across to Biarritz and then up the west coast to Cherbourg (eventually) then home in late May/early June next year.

Without going into too much detail I found the BMF touring section very good for accommodation,travel and legal requirements for both trips. Last ime we visited Normandie she didn't have a suitable bike to went pillion with me.

Clothing - 3 of all essentials - 1 for today, 1 for tomorrow and then 1 for washing! Worked well for 15 days! Wink

Link to the BMF website: https://www.bmf.co.uk/pages/bmf_main_pages.php?main_page_id=347

Me ST1100, Bikerchic, new Transalp

Paivi · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Sep 2005 Karma :

You should be able to leave all the bike tools at home, as you're going to Germany where you'll find plenty of garages.

If you take any original paperwork, put it in a waterproof bag (e.g., a freezer bag) in case it rains.
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My other bike's a Monster... Wink

Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

magpiemale · Traffic Copper Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Karma :

Well the bike went in for a service and a replacement for a snapped off chain adjuster bolt.........Bolt was siezed in the swing arm so shop had to drill it out,I have asked for it to be done under warranty since the bolt snapped under not alot of pressure.
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NSR125 1992 (sold) kawasaki Z750S,fazer FZ1 07 now gone present bike 2012 fz1s Fazer,beowulf rad protector,heated grips,sw motech gps holder,power socket.

magpiemale · Traffic Copper Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Karma :

Well I collect the bike from the bike shop after a service and an adjuster bolt replaced and redrilled with a heli-coil.
I had some good news the shop is giving it's labour free I just have to pay for the bolt a result,they said since I have my bike serviced there and bought it from them they would waive the fee.

So then to pack the bike and put the cables on for my GPS I will take a picture fully loaded up then to take it for a spin to check all bags are secure..
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NSR125 1992 (sold) kawasaki Z750S,fazer FZ1 07 now gone present bike 2012 fz1s Fazer,beowulf rad protector,heated grips,sw motech gps holder,power socket.