Austria on an ER-5

[ThePeoplesRid...]

What's up, everybody? I recently got myself a '99 Kawasaki ER-5 with a screen and crash bars for £700. I'm currently on an A2 license so it's restricted to 47bhp and I've decided to go on a trip next year two-up with my girlfriend to Salzburg, Austria.

Couple of questions for you seasoned riders and tourers:

- Will expandable soft panniers, expandable tank bag + 1 rucksack be sufficient luggage space? We'll be staying in hotels so no need for camping gear.

- Is it worth taking a day or weekend trip to France in order to practice right-side driving or will I pick it up straight away once I'm on the trip?

- Are there any "practice-trip" destinations in the UK that you can recommend?

- Is there a decent aftermarket fairing kit for the ER-5? Might make things more comfy on the main roads. We're going in the summer so weather should be nice.

This will be my first proper trip. I only got my A2 last month! Thanks for reading. Let me know what you think!
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The People's Rider

[G]

I read that as 'Australia' first. Austria less hassle.

You can get there in a day if you try no doubt, so it depends how much stuff you like to have.

I wouldn't bother getting 'practice' personally, it shouldn't be that bad if you pay attention.

You might be surprised how much difference even a little fairing makes - but I'd certainly consider a bigger one.

[Peirre oBollox]

1 pannier for "her" & 1 pannier of you ...... period.
Anything that doesn`t fit easily in the "His & her" pannier stay at home. 1 change of clothes each. The camera, passports & other documents in the tank bag.
Any non essential items such as toiletries can be found locally en-route, (soap, shower gel etc found in the hotel bathroom) used and dumped before moving on the next day.
An Australian couple I met in France who`d shipped their bike over for a 2 month tour of Europe. where using a Krieger US 30 between them
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I accept no responsibility for swearing, drinking, motorcycle riding or your pregnant teenage daughter.

[esullivan]

I would recommend taking some practice trips of increasing duration (1, 2, 3 hours) to make sure you are both comfortable on the ER-5's seat. I did that with my wife before we went on our first big trip and discovered she needed some adjustments (pegs, gel seat). It would suck to find that out half way to Austria.

We also did some riding around town fully loaded, including some parking lot practice (figure eights, etc.). Others will scoff about this here, but you are (like I did, a year ago) embarking on a big trip with little experience. If you can do a U-turn and figure eights with everything and the girlfriend on board, you'll be more confident on the hairpins in the Alps.

As for the packing, you need far, far less than you think you do. The motorcycle will teach you the meaning of "packing light". You only need one pair of jeans. Ever. And you'll be wearing them. You'll want some small and light non-biking gear (t-shirt, shorts, sandals). Austria gets really hot in the summer. My wife and I did a week-long tour of the Peak District/Lake District/Yorkshire with a top box (10kg max) and the fake tank storage thingy my bike has (5kg max).

Good luck and have fun!
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Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[Peirre oBollox]

[Enduro Numpty]

It might be worth going for some longish rides before you go but my main reason for replying is regarding luggage. Take as little as possible and forget about a ruck sack, seriously uncomfortable. PoB's recommendation is spot on, a pannier each is more than enough.

[FrankGill]

The Wife and I have done a few tours on a Kle 500 with camping gear, we used Oxford throw over panniers, top box and a small tank bag from J&S which gave us enough capacity for all we needed.
As you and your partner are using B/B or Hotels one pannier each will be enough, remember you will be in riding kit for most of the time. The only other advice I can give is to mix up your road types as we found long m/way blasts become tedious 2 up on a 500 after that relax and enjoy riding on the right is a breeze.

[Peirre oBollox]

Take her to the coast or lakes here in the UK for the weekend (sat/sun) book a B&B for the night, ride for and hour or so, maybe even stop only for fuel ( around 1hr/100 miles then repeat) stopping en-route to admire the view, take pretty pictures, press flowers, have lunch at a café. Maybe wander lazily off route slightly to explore something in the distance. Then get back on the bike, admire the view as you go, take pretty pictures, press flowers etc.
By then you'll have spent several hours mainly on the bike & figured how far you both can ride before needing to stop for a break. Then once at the digs, shower change into the spare set of clothes you have, then walk around town, take a tour, explore a museum etc, have a romantic meal in a nearby restaurant. Back to the digs, chill out, shag. The next day have breakfast, (eat as much as possible, this will tied you over through the day). Go pack the gear on the bike, better still pack the spare clothes the night before, so that you only have to don the bike gear in the morning, but make sure your disciplined about what time you get back on the bike (8-9 ish is good, any later and it`ll set you back for the rest of the day) and head home, maybe via a slightly different route so that you can explore other places. And that is roughly what happens on a multi day trip, (ride/fuel/eat/piss/stop/photo etc)

When the OP finally heads to the hills of Europe, don`t under estimate how slow your progress will be while riding through the mountains. 25-30 miles in an hour isn`t unheard of. Thinking you`ll cover 200-300+ miles a day will make it a VERY long day indeed if riding through the hills. Which is sometimes why cracking on and riding across la bel France as fast possible, is a necessary evil
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I accept no responsibility for swearing, drinking, motorcycle riding or your pregnant teenage daughter.

[c_dug]

Not saying it isn't possible but as the others have said I would try some long days here first, I did my first biking eurotrip earlier this year, even having ridden almost every day for the last 6 years or so didn't prepare me for how tough 7 hours in the seat in a day can be, let alone 5 days on the trot! That's without being two up on what really is a small/mid engined commuter added into the mix!

Don't let me put you off, you'll have an amazing time no doubt, mountains are biking heaven, just understand it isn't going to be a relaxing time away!
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Peirre oBollox]

6/8hrs was a lazy bimble around the roads of roads/hills of Corsica, 1 day this summer. But it was only 120 miles long.
No lunch stop, stopping only for fuel, & moments to take a picture or two. But it was still a long day in the saddle. One of many days in the saddle over the 3 weeks I was on the road in July. with only 3 separate rest days between
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I accept no responsibility for swearing, drinking, motorcycle riding or your pregnant teenage daughter.

[ocatoro]

i don't think you need to piddle around practicing. i did 400 miles in one sitting (bar quick fuel stops and a cup of coffee) on my er5, and it was a silly er5 with renthals and a raised arse. yeah i was a bit achy, but then my riding position was shit, bcf folks helped me sort that out later on.

if you or the mrs gets stiff, just pull in and have a brew somewhere and a pee and a stretch like. if you plan stops every xxx miles, you'll find you'll make pointless stops when you don't need to, and then either need to make extra ones later, or berate the fact that you might have "90 miles til we can stop again"... just relax, ride, and stop when needed is my advice.

i also did 5 hours on a 100cc commuter a few times loaded up with comedic levels of luggage, and it was fine. holdall strapped to seat, tank bag bulging, and a huge rucksack.

rucksack does grate a bit and panniers will do you better.

add tank bag and top box for less strain. your mrs can lean on the top box too, which will make her less whiney on longer runs...
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CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[c_dug]

The whole top box backrest thing is a really good suggestion, my girlfriend hates going on the back without mine fitted now she's tried it, she says it's far comfier with it fitted.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[ThePeoplesRid...]

Thanks for all the tips, guys. Really getting a sense of how to plan this now. I'm confident that my panniers are big enough for each of us and if I get myself a good sized top box in place of a rucksack that should be more than enough luggage space and comfort. I just fitted Oxford heated grips. Was a bit of fun tinkering with it as I'm still learning the ropes when it comes to bike maintenance. I reckon I've got plenty of time to learn what I need to before we head out next year!

Once again, thanks for the tips. Keep posting about your experiences. It makes for great reading :p
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The People's Rider

[Benno]

[Lupo]

The only bit to look for when driving on the right is when you start from a static position and there is no traffic as you naturally tend to go to your usual lane. Stop for a picture is a clear case, where you have to remember what lane you are suppose to go on, when you resume your journey.
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A por ellos, que son pocos y cobardes.

[Peirre oBollox]

[G]

[J biker]

3 things

top box (security benefits)
new/nearly new tyres
waterproofs (tested!)

Also a decent smart phone is useful, got Copilot for my I- phone with all of Europe for about £28.
Done Austria three times now and back for a few days on next years trip. It is a long way and weather is even more variable than here (snow even in summer on high ground a possible)

A practice run with intended kit makes a lot of sense as it gives you the chance to find problems/make improvements. Its not fun to find your waterproof luggage, isn't, plus when it works loose and starts heading towards the back wheel you may not have company to let you know about it..
Fail to plan-plan to fail etc.

Enjoy, its addictive!

[ThePeoplesRid...]

[Peirre oBollox]

A "vignette" in Austria isn`t expensive, at €4.90 for 10 days
https://www.tolltickets.com/country/austria/vignette.aspx?lang=en-GB
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I accept no responsibility for swearing, drinking, motorcycle riding or your pregnant teenage daughter.

[motobiker]

[_Iain_]

Sod taking the other half overseas on the bike - it's bad enough for a 15 minuite hop into town

Best not to fuss about it, definately forget the fairing. Little windscreens fine - especially on an ER-5 that'll barely bust 100mph with one person on it and full power. Cheapy soft panniers, cheapy top box and you're laughing
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[Peirre oBollox]

an update on vignette prices for 2014 via the ADAC newletter