OK gentlemen... A serious set of Questions!

[SonofABiker]

Ok, before the council of morons meet (ie my family) to argue the toss over every idea imaginable about making a trip, i thought id ask for sensible suggestions on here.


The plan is (between march-June) a two week trip into Europe,

for me, (21, riding a Harley),

my Dad (aged 199, nicknamed Gandalf for appropriate reasons, a seasoned tourer, owning a very old BMW),

My older brother (Ninja warrior-24)

and my younger brother (just passed test, 18, owns a zzr 600, wannabe Ninja warrior)

Now, from just a simple discussion its obvious the following will happen.

Leave home. Ninjaboy and sidekick disappear at Mach 5.

Arrive at port, Ninjaboy and sidekick eaten all the burgers.

arrive at Dunkerque. Ninjaboy and sidekick invade France at mach 5.

Harley and BMW takes it slow, 70mph OR LESS.

Now, Ninjaboy and sidekick want to do 300 miles a DAY, to get to destination before hitting the pub. Harley and BMW want to take it much easier, and also dont want to hit the pub.

Is this doomed to failure before it Should we try setting a time to meet up, then just letting everyone go as they feel? What would you suggest?

(By the way i thought id add ages just for reference, i know im 21 and ride a harley, but im still not going to go fast, bearing in mind im much much too happy to bumble along!)

Cheers guys!
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I need a break!

[physbar monkey]

Why not try a smaller (weekend maybe?) trip first to see how you all get on?

And 300 miles a day isn't that much. I've done 350-400 mile days 2up on my CB250, and it's hard to do anything but take it easy on the CB. It's a full days riding, but I'm presuming that's the point of a bike trip?
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Currently Riding: 1994 Honda CB250
Restriction ends: 30/01/2010

[stinkwheel]

You will arrive no more than 10 minutes after the Ninja warriors.

They will pretend they've been there for ages but if you feel the engine, you'll realise they barely had time to get their lid off.

My mate Will rides an Ariel Huntmaster. He never exceeds 55mph on it. He always arrives before me.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Just organise a time and place to meet at the end of the day, and go with whatever speed you find pleasing. With that mix of bikes, you'll be wanting fuel stops at different times anyway, so let the speed freaks blast off, and you and your dad enjoy the scenery.
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[EuropeanNC30R...]

I would arrange to meet at your intended destination, meeting up midday wouldn't work.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Suspect those on sports bikes will need loads more stops to refuel and recover. Which totally destroys the average speed.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[RidersRest]

300 miles a day sounds about right, the sports bikes will be slowed down by fuel stops as said plus they will get lost from time to time I would say plan a sensible route with a halfway stop for tuck and stuff, stay an hour you are bound to join up there if all goes well. Share your mobile numbers (presume as a family you already have) all have the route and then go at your own pace - should ba a good trip.

Have you got a rough route planned Just out of curiosity
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RidersRest Bikers only B&B in the beautiful Central Massif - France
Touring France not sure where to go? Central Massif on a motorcycle...

[superstacker]

At the moment theres nothing really planned, (Im sonofabikers brother by the way) "Ninjawarrior"

But i think the rough plan involves the south coast area. IE Italy, south of France..

Dont want to turn this into a military operation!

[TheDonUK]

To me the glaringly obvious is for each faction of your family to go do their own thing, Ie you and your dad bimble along wherever you want to go, and the other two on sportsbikes blast where they want,

Or is it a case of you all go with your dad or not at all?

This is why i tour solo... Go where i want at what speed and not give a damn about anyone else...
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[Current Bikes - GSXR-750 K5 & C90-97 ] [Previous Bikes: Runner 125, YBR 125, GS500, Bandit 600, Hornet 600, ZX6R-99, C90-99, R1-99, XT600E-04, GSXR-750 K4, CRF250L '16]

[superstacker]

Dad says if we don't behave he'll turn the bikes round and take us home

no but seriously, the notion of us shooting off and meeting up seems ok with him. There are parts where this is not practical, and other parts where its not a problem.

However the route idea seems to be a bit of a daunting prospect, im thinking over two weeks we can get pretty far!

[SonofABiker]

Firstly, apologies ive not been on so much recently, due to work/life commitments, but im really interested and thankfull for the responses thus far.

The weekend idea is definately one to consider (although getting time off together is causing a lot of difficulty, 2 definate thus far, the other 2.... not so easy.

Now, my thoughts are, ive not REALLY done 300 miles on any bike, let alone the harley!

Its more that sort of number, 300 miles sounds a hell of a lot... and especially as ive not done any sort of distance, like that anyway,

I think this is going to take a lot more thinking then previously thought. And not necessarily on the "planning" side, per se, but more on distance/locations.

(and im getting more and more concerned by the lack of difference in the euro/pound... even my rates working FOR the bank its still poor!!)
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I need a break!

[theopj]

300 miles a day isn't that bad, unless your on really slow roads/going through lots of towns.

The weekend trip is a good idea to see if you can do 300 miles two days in a row.

Yea with the exchange rate as it is I think there will be lots more people either camping if going to europe, or going to scotland instead!
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Suzuki Bandit SA 1250 & Honda CB750F2T