France/Switzerland trip a few quick questions.

[Al]

I've got a couple of weeks to take off at the end of July/beginning of August and I was planning to do a 10 day trip to France on the bike.

I'm sure everything has been covered a million times before but it would be nice to have some up to date answers.

What do I actually need to carry with me in France to stay legal that I might not in the UK? I have a GB sticker on my plate. I've herd talk of carrying spare bulbs? is this all bulbs as headlight bulbs for my bike are nearly £50 a set and the last set had to be imported from Japan by a main dealer so I'd rather just carry a couple of tail lights if thats not going to be a problem

What about hi-viz has some new law come in? also would I need to carry documents?
Will this be the same for Switzerland? Different websites seem to say different things.

I have a sat nav with european mapping and also a french campsite book. Would I just be able to enter a postcode (they seem to be 5 digit numbers) in the same way I would in the UK or do they cover a much larger area.

I've been told that once off the main roads in the South of France that fuel stations can be few and far between. My bike only does about 120 miles to a full tank so would it be worth carrying an extra 5lt can of fuel on my bike. Do the garages have some kind of minimum amount of fuel that you can buy?

Was planning on using the Euro tunnel as it is quickest.

Lastly does 10 days sound about right for a fast blast down to the south of France, a look around, maybe pop into Monaco and then a ride home crossing into Switzerland. I don't mind doing long days riding as I'm going on my own but obviously I'd like to stop and do sight seeing along the way.

Thank you please
____________________
Yamaha FZR400RR 3tj
My Instagram Thingy

[Marmalade]

On a bike not a lot you need to carry. Bulbs advisory as is high vis. The law about hi vis clothing at all times in France is not due to come in until sept.

You need your docs, originals.
V5, mot, log book, both parts of licence and insurance.
Don't forget passport, you'll probably get out the country and into France without being asked for it but can be a major issue trying to get back.

Post codes do cover larger areas than the uk but usually just put in the postcode number and then street name, job done.

They don't like fuel to be carried in cans, certainly not on the tunnel.
Stations can be a bit of a distance apart and you can put in same as the uk, as long as it's over a couple of euros you'll be fine. Try to fill up before it gets dark or choose one of the many pay at pump stations, they seem even more anal about people running off with their fuel than uk stations once the sun is no longer protecting them

Tunnel is the quickest, and booked in advance will likely cost you £44 for a 10 day return.
Usually I get to the terminal and an hour later riding round France, very rare that it takes any longer.

It's a long way but ten days will do you right as you are on your own and nobody else to moan at you about doing 500 miles in a day.

If you've not got breakdown cover I would recommend ADAC

Have fun
____________________
Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[Al]

Cheers
I will probably take the the extra petrol can as it will give me an extra 50 mile range but not fill it until in France and then maybe keep it in a tank bag hidden away.

I have a couple of different debit and a credit card, (visa, mastercard) should these be ok to use in garages and self service pumps?
____________________
Yamaha FZR400RR 3tj
My Instagram Thingy

[Marmalade]

Uk bank cards are fine. Had the odd issue with pay at pump but never when paying at the counter.

Best to inform banks that you'll be travelling europe beforehand in case cards are blocked due to unusual usage.

Barclays you can do it online, santander I send secure message from online account.

Visa credit card is fine as is.

Just to be sure it works when you need it.

I also have a travelcash card which you top up and means the money on the card is in euros.
Means no exchange fees and 50 euros means 50 euros
____________________
Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[Dilyan]

Don't know about others, but using my Halifax credit card does not charge; and normally gives me really good exchange rate, better than Post Office anyway. You wouldn't believe how much that saves
____________________
Current: 2007 VFR800; Ex: 2001 YZF600R Thundercat
Škoda Octavia (yes, a taxi driver)

[doggone]

You won't need the petrol - but top up when you can as France is generally a 'big' place with longer distances between towns than here.
Space in the tank bag is far to important for extra petrol - that should be for you important valuable stuff as you can easily lift it off and keep with you in cafe etc.

[c-m]

As others have said. Just carry what you'd normally have under your seat in the UK anyway. A few spare bulbs. Original tool kit. Your documents, or very good copies. A high viz vest.

Satnav works the same. Just enter the post code, be it numbers or whatever.

10 days is fine if your on your own.

I have had many a problem with UK bank cards at the pump in France. This is a massive pain if its early in the morning or a sunday as most places only have pay at the pump. Credit card always worked though particularly Mastercard.

There is no point carrying extra fuel as it will just be dead weight. If you have sat nav you'll easily be able to find a fuel station.
____________________
Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[Devans]

Petrol stations become pay at pump only from 7pm, although there's not as many as in the UK there is still a fair amount of petrol stations so unless your on a bike that will do less than 100miles on a full tank, you'll be fine.

I'd 100% stay off tolls, yes they're fast but they are so boring.#
I'd personally head through belgium,Germany then Switzerland and travel the swiss/french alps instead of riding through mainland france. It's all very much the same though the roads are decent enough.

You must head into the alps though even just for a day, the roads are sublime! i had a pillion/full pannier set and the twisties were still super fun!

[c-m]

I found that on a sunday and monday many petrol stations were not open or were pay at the pump only.

I also found that supermarket petrol stations were pay at the pump until about 10am and after 7pm so if you need fuel outside of these times, it can be a problem.

As for the Alpes, yes, try Les Routes Des Grandes Alpes
____________________
Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[chillyman0]

Sorry to but in...

When I go over to the continent next weekend I was planning on taking everything I was planning to need in cash... So is this a bad idea? How do you go about getting one of these travelcash cards?
____________________
preivious : 2007 Skyjet 125 (died), 1991 gsf400 (problems, rotting in garden)
1996 gsf600n (sold)
current : 1996 VFR750 for sale, PM for info! 2000 E1 ZX-9r

[Kris]

I take cash everytime.

That way the bundle *is* your budget and you can track how much you spend.

Try paying for a tiny campsite in the middle of no-where with a Visa card. They will look at you as if you were from Mars.
____________________
NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
www.prisonplanet.com

[chillyman0]

[willis1337]

Have a look at www.fairfx.com to get a card to use. It's not a credit card, it's a prepaid card (Mastercard network) run by Newcastle Building Society.

This means you buy X amount of Euros in one go, then its loaded on the card and you use it until it's gone - no credit. Usual chip and pin process. You can set it up to top up from your bank account (if you run out, but not necessary if you load it with enough).

I used one in France earlier this year and it worked in most petrol pumps (but have a back up credit card to use just in case). There is no extra charge per transaction (unless you draw cash out on it from cash points abroad - then it's €1.50 per withdrawal). The exchange rate when you buy the Euro's is very good and you then know exactly how much in Euros you have to spend.

If you have any left over you can always use it next time you are abroad or when you buy from websites outside of the UK in Euros.

If you apply through Martin Lewis' (money saving expert) site, there is no arrangement fee. (edit: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money#topcards about halfway down the page)

[Kris]

[nighthawk250]

This could be bollocks, but I was told you need a photo driving licence to enter Switzerland or face and pay a fine on entry.
I would like to know if this is a fact or fiction;

[doggone]

Even if it were true you'd be unlucky if they checked.
Most borders even Switzerland you just sail through without even slowing down.
They may be a bit tighter these days but a couple of times I never actually showed a passport or anything else other than tickets going both ways on the ferry.

[Al]

Cheers for the advice guys
The route isn't really planned yet I just looked at a map of Europe and sort of made a route in my mind, but plan on researching some nice roads and places to see and then planning it around that.

Is there much to see in Western France? and then maybe the Pyrenees and a bit of Northern Spain? or would the Eastern side of France and Switzerland be a much better route, this seems to be a more popular area to tour so I will probably head that way.

Still not sure if I'll take a fuel can or not, When I went to the Scottish highland I took one as otherwise every 70-80 miles you need to start looking to fill up, if you don't find a garage once you've got to 90-100 miles you really need to start checking the sat-nav and changing your route to reach one. It all gets a bit annoying doing this 3 or 4 times a day if your doing a long days riding.
____________________
Yamaha FZR400RR 3tj
My Instagram Thingy

[Marmalade]

[Phoenix]

No point taking cash, take a debit card that offers 0% commission and no foreign transaction fees such as Nationwide and then withdraw cash from cashpoints as and when you need it. I also take a credit card for fuel and hotels/B&Bs which also doesn't charge for use abroad. Always best to have some cash on you at all times as campsites may not take cards and some toll booths on mountain passes will not take cards such as the Timmelsjoch Pass in Austria, I had to turn back and do a massive detour to get back into Austria as I was short of a few euros (the fact I found some more money in a pocket the next day annoyed me a little).

[c-m]

Lol, you're going to France which has a richer economy than the UK, not some 3rd world country. Just do as you do in the UK. Have some cash in your wallet and a debit card handy if needed. Check the rate your bank provides, if they charge a percentage plus a cash withdrawal fee, then open an account with a bank that doesn't. Easy.


A bike that can only do 100miles to a tank, isn't the best choice for touring, but you'll get by. I wouldn't worry about it.
____________________
Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[Al]

Right tickets booked I'm leaving on the 29th July.
Have changed my route a little to cut across Belgium and then down through luxembourg and a bit of Germany, Switzerland and back across into Southern France and Monaco.

A couple more questions I can't find a definite answer if I need to carry a first aid kit in Switzerland also do I need to get some kind of vignette to ride in Switzerland. If so can I buy that online beforehand or do you just get it at the border?
____________________
Yamaha FZR400RR 3tj
My Instagram Thingy

[Marmalade]

just buy it at the border. it wont cost much

Well, about £30
____________________
Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[doggone]

The Swiss sticker thing is only needed if you go on the motorway I think.
Well I've been through parts of it several times and never bought one.

A basic first aid kit is sensible anyway you do seem to be more prone to silly minor accidents (off bike) when on holiday - as you are outside your normal routines.

[Phoenix]

The vignette is bought at the border and you only need it if you ride on the Swiss motorways, so if you plan to avoid it don't enter Switzerland via a motorway or a road that becomes one. It's not cheap for what it is, which covers the entire year, there is no short term version.

[621andy]

I'd be tempted to cut down the east side of France and head onto French speaking Swissland There's some lovely scenery. Head around Lake Geneva(variously known as Lac Leman, or Genfer See) The south (french) side is very scenic. Then head over to Aigle, Chateau D'Oex, and into German speaking Swissland over the Röstigrenze(ask a German speaking Swiss! ) and through the valley past Gstaad and Saanen. Thun is very nice, situated on the Thunersee. If you've got time, head up to Meiringen, and if you're lucky, the Swiss Air Force will entertain you Near Meiringen are the Reichenbacher Falls, where Sherlock Holmes 'died'...or rather didn't! The Aaresschlucht is also stunning.

Alternatively, head over to Lauterbrunnen, and head up the valley and get the cable car up to Piz Gloria(Made famous in the Bond film OHMSS) Keep your eyes open around Lauterbrunnen for BASE jumpers!

If you head up to the German border, have a look at the Rheinfälle. A huge torrent of water right on the Swiss/German border.
Head back up through Germany through the Eifel area...


As to the Vignette, a lot of roads that don't actually look like Autobahns, are in fact classed as them. They are often sections along normal roads next to lakes, where the road goes through tunnels, so I'd be tempted to just get a vignette anyway, it just makes life easier. The rozzers will screw you over if they catch you without one on a paying section...

Also watch out for speed cameras. Not sure if they've got a reciprocal system with the UK, but the bastards are everywhere. The problem is that the fine doubles with each 5km/h you're over the limit...which soon adds up...ask me how I know... The other thing is that the Swiss are very law abiding and if you are speeding they won't warn you that there is a speed trap, like people would in most other countries!!

Oh, and the comments about fuel in France are valid. Fill up every chance you have.I've posted about this elsewhere so won't bore you with how difficult it can be...


But it does sound like a cracking trip!




If ypu're interested, there's a HUGE balloon meet at Metz/chambley at the end of july. Not sure of dates, but usually the last 2 weeks. An amzing sight, but no free accomodation for kms around!

I forgot to add that
____________________
'93 Africa Twin RD07, C-90,MTX-125,H-100,XL-125, a 125UAG(CG copy!)