Switzerland / Swiss police

[Mellow Matt]

I'm going on a big tour with a couple of mates soon, and this year we might head into Switzerland. However, we've heard from various people that they're pretty strict over there, and will nick you for the smallest thing and fine you ridiculous amounts.

Bearing in mind our bikes have quite loud exhausts (TLR with Scorpions, Speed Triple with Arrow, Street Triple with Arrow), are we likely to get told off and robbed blind?

Or is it the case that if you ride sensibly you'll be ok?

Ta
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1999 GSX-R 600, 1999 TL1000R

[Gazz]

I have heard that the police are not actually that bad. Top Gear, etc seem to paint a very bleak picture of Switzerland and the Swiss police in general but dont think it should be a problem. As long as your bike is road-worthy I dont think they would look too much for problems that you might have with your bike.

It would also seem very expensive; for you all; to change back to standard exhausts (if you haven't kept your originals) on the off-chance that you came across 1 knob-end Policeman who wanted to take things too far. In saying that, you have probably the same chance of being stopped in other countries if your exhausts were overly loud as you would be in Switzerland.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Heard a fair few stories of people being turned back at the border for having bikes with non legal exhausts.

Long time since we went through Switzerland and not sure if it is still true, but then you had to turn your engine off while waiting at traffic lights.

All the best

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

[Phoenix]

Never had a problem in Switzerland with a race can but then mine isn't a v-twin. They will look your bike over at the border but as long as it looks presentable and doesn't have anything silly on it or missing then it'll likely just be a quick walk around. Some of the Swiss registered cars i've seen driving around are the worst i've seen anywhere in Europe so far. Accident damage including headlights that hasn't been fixed, bumpers actually dangling onto the road while driving etc.

You can only be turned away at the border, they can't fine you as you haven't entered the country. If it happens then you just use another crossing, last year I didn't even have to stop at the border, they just had a look as I road through the gantry and waved me on (non motorway crossing). Croatia gave my bike a more thorough check than Switzerland ever has but they seemed more interested in how secure the luggage was.

[instigator]

Just come back from Switzerland today.

I was on a VFR800 with open pipe and with someone on a GSXR with stubby race can. Had no issues getting through border control although a large line of cruisers were stopped and presumably their vehicles checked. I kept speeding to a minimum on the motorways so never had an issue. Just put baffles in the exhausts until you're well into the country and make sure you buy a road tax thingymajjiger on entry to Switzerland if you want to use their motorway.

Go, enjoy and take in the awesome scenery and cracking roads on the various passes through the Alps. I went on the splugen - chiavenna pass (Splugenpassstrasse) and I thoroughlly recommend it.

[Mellow Matt]

OK, thanks guys, sounds like it's not a no-go area then. We'll probably risk it!
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1999 GSX-R 600, 1999 TL1000R

[G]

I went through at maybe 8pm on the motorway and wasn't stopped at all.
Didn't buy motorway tax thingy and got away with it, though this isn't a risk I would advise (I was only going from the German border to Bern on a swiss motorway and that was it for my whole trip.)