Abroad suggestions

[willis1337]

I have a couple of weeks off work from 28/08/10 to 12/09/10 and am thinking about getting away on the bike, bearing in mind the following what do BCFers suggest?

- Prefer hotels to camping but must be around £30 or less per night.

- I'm riding a GSXR1000 (so luggage will be minimal).

- No one I know with a bike has funds / time to come along.

- Would like to team up with a group / another BCFer if like minded / poss.

- Been to France loads, so would prefer anywhere else.

- Would like to be outside UK.

- Budget max £100 per day (if away for a week).

- Don't like long boat journeys.

- Would consider an organised tour.

- Happy to cover long distances / ride all day long.

[Phoenix]

I'm yet to go away this year, was supposed to have been already but things just haven't been very organised this year plus I recently sold my bike. Getting a new one very soon and was hoping to go in August for 2 weeks with Croatia as the destination, spend a few days there and in Slovenia again. I just want to go while the weather is still good and the high mountain passes are not likely to get any snow.

Would consider going with someone else but obviously depends on lots of things, riding styles particularly.

[willis1337]

Cheers and ditto re depending on things.

I've never been to Croatia or Slovenia but sound good. Doubtful if I could get away for the whole two weeks (due to mrs and kids, they're understanding - but not that much). I reckon a week, maybe ten days tops. I managed to get to Prague and back in five days on the last excursion (enjoyed the Austrian roads).

Not sure if this will put me in a good or bad light but I am doing my IAM at the moment (after riding on and off for 20 years). I'm happy to go quick but I'm not a complete looney (licence still clean - but I did get a ban for speeding in my early twenties) and would consider myself an average rider now (but yet to learn how to pull a planned wheelie).

What bike are you getting? Maybe meet up for a blast when you get it?

[Phoenix]

Doesn't sound too bad, the thing that mainly puts me off riding with others these days especially on a tour where you need to stay together for days/weeks is that I don't really speed at all, on the motorways it's 80-85mph, 30s are 30 and equivalent NSL zones are whatever I think is right. I'm also not interested in racing up and down mountain passes attemping to get my knee down or scrape my panniers, accidents are bad enough to deal with back home let alone thousands of miles away. I also got banned for speeding years ago and since then calmed down completely plus I need my licence, preferably clean. Rather than blast for a couple of hours at 140mph I tend to stick to the limit and ride all day, the first couple of days are mostly just a slog getting down to and across the channel and through northern France to the interesting bits.

I'll be getting a 954 Fireblade to replace a 918, happy to meet up for a ride. When I go to Europe I only have a very vague plan, I was not planning on booking a return ferry ticket this year and just turn up and get one when I decide to get back (it randomly costs a lot to change your return booking, sometimes free though). Lastyear I was supposed to be 14 days but came back after 11 I think due to bad weather. Still, you don't have to ride together the entire trip, can make your own in certain places if plans differ or return at different times. For some reason the links have gone from my signature so i've put them back in, last 2 year's trips to get an idea.

[willis1337]

Read your links - kudos for Romania, I think I would have bottled out going there. Personally I may go a bit quicker on the motorways (when conditions allow) but not silly speeds. Maybe meet up at some point all being well, let me know. No worries if you prefer to go on your own. I still need to arrange stuff too (and talk the mrs round) so we'll play it by ear