Mopeds in Sardinia

[JonnyFoxtrot]

Anyone ever done it? Or italy? On the continent?

I've got an idea for a holiday for me and a mate in two weeks time.

Basically fly out to Sardinia (an Italian Island for those of us less geoknowledgeable, i.e me. Also totally made that word up) then when we get into Alghero we rent mopeds/scooters for the week and then ride the entire island within that week, camping at either campsites or B&B's.

The island isnt all that big and with just a couple of hours a day riding and the rest for sightseeing/laying on the beach/drinking profusely I reckon its more than doable to do the entire way round the island in 5 days(ish).

So any ideas? Anyone ever rented mopeds/scooters abroad or on the continent in particular? My mate doesnt have a bike license but does have a full car license, will that be a problem out there for something like a 125cc? Or would a 50cc ped do for the whole week?

Looking at pictures, the terrain looks pretty North-Walesy (is that a word?) in that its mostly hilly/mountainous so I dont envisage us having to sit at anymore than 30-40mph for any length of time.

Is it just a stupid idea to begin with? Is camping going to be hard? Anyone actually done THE trip before or anything similar?

TIA
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'89 Honda NS125F (SOLD) -> '92 Suzuki GS500E (SOLD) -> '03 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H (SOLD) -> '96 VFR 750 RC36 (SOLD) -> '02 Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird

[Tenko]

Done it on 200cc trail bikes on Greek islands in my youth. The bikes were a bit ropey but that added to the charm. You should take your own gloves and boots - they will probably lend you helmets. You will almost certainly fall off larking about so the gloves are essential!!!

Oh, if you take scantily-clad lady holidaymakers on the back, watch those exhausts on their legs. I remember missing a gear on a hairpin, finding 1st and wheelying for 20 yards, burning her uncovered thigh and dumping her on her butt in the middle of the road. How she laughed...

[JonnyFoxtrot]

Ta for the advice Iain! lol
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'89 Honda NS125F (SOLD) -> '92 Suzuki GS500E (SOLD) -> '03 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H (SOLD) -> '96 VFR 750 RC36 (SOLD) -> '02 Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird

[unitynotsocri...]

Same as IanC,
just take a little time to inspect the bike and give it a good test ,any problems take it back straight away.
Hire bikes are mostly neglected and watch out for shite chain/sprokets or very grabby/clunky transmissions on scooters.Because of the mountains you need to vastly overestimate your petrol,remember scooters have small tanks.Be very carefull of shite roads and rockfalls as well as foreigners in cars and stay well clear of divvy tourists who've hired a scoot for the day(you can identify these by the shorts n flip flops and no helmets.
Do at least a daily inspection of the bike and make sure you've got a breakdown number and watch out for nasty big flying insects and never camp too near water cos of mozzys.
Finally watch out for Sardinians,its a bit like Sicily so don't gob off at any locals in the hills.Beautifull place though,Napoleon came from there,Dont drive on the main roads at night.
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nearly a normal tax paying tosser.......with ferrileness suzi100,cg125,cb125scb100n,cb175,cd100,cj250t,kh250,c15,125 bantam,super 6,rickman gs750,xt500,250rs,dt175,lifan125,dolomite1850,metro,Morris220ld,morrisfg,leyland princess,range rover,corsa,vw camper .now struggling with legs. MORE ORDER = MORE CHAOS

[JonnyFoxtrot]

[unitynotsocri...]

The bit about Napoleon was I wind up,he's from Corsica.The med island people are very independant,and loathe foreigners apart from tourists...

There will be free places to camp but the geography is hilly and rocky and your holiday could be ruined by mozzies that give fkkkng big abseces.Take some anti mozzy stuff.Check out the best mozzzy cream before you go.There's plenty of paid campsites.Be carefull if your boozing as dehydration can be deadly.Also get your tent up at least half an hour before sunset and keep it zipped up,a mozzie net will also help.if you camp wild and free then take some good pegs and string as you might have to put the tent up with rocks if the grounds too hard.be carefull of the sun if your riding all day,its so easy to burn your arms and face as riding along in a breeze you don't notice the heat.Have a good time and like other posters said WEAR GLOVES AND LONG TROUSERS.
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nearly a normal tax paying tosser.......with ferrileness suzi100,cg125,cb125scb100n,cb175,cd100,cj250t,kh250,c15,125 bantam,super 6,rickman gs750,xt500,250rs,dt175,lifan125,dolomite1850,metro,Morris220ld,morrisfg,leyland princess,range rover,corsa,vw camper .now struggling with legs. MORE ORDER = MORE CHAOS

[Oldie]

Probably find that most of the above applies to North Wales too

[Paivi]

[unitynotsocri...]

Thats right Paivi,
the lids have generally been mistreated and are usually open faced and un visored.Taking your own fullface may seem a drag and torture in the heat but is obviously much safer,remember the mediteranean insects can be massive and deadly.if you use their helmets and get nits ,just buy a load of vinegar and keep your hair soaked in it for a few hours.

the roads will give you a big learning curve,just remember to ride on the right side when you get back to the UK.
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nearly a normal tax paying tosser.......with ferrileness suzi100,cg125,cb125scb100n,cb175,cd100,cj250t,kh250,c15,125 bantam,super 6,rickman gs750,xt500,250rs,dt175,lifan125,dolomite1850,metro,Morris220ld,morrisfg,leyland princess,range rover,corsa,vw camper .now struggling with legs. MORE ORDER = MORE CHAOS

[ruck bodgers]

u have a zx6 ? i would just add 2 days to the trip and ride there and back u could go via the alps .cash providing . maybe your mate has not got a bike i do not know ? sounds good to me witch ever way u go about it and i think u should go for it 100% europe is our back garden and we should all play in it more
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