Riding in France Pleasant?

[Springbok_Rider]

Hi,

My partner and I are looking at the possibility of moving to the French countryside. Naturally my bike will be coming with me. I wanted to ask what the consensus is when it comes to riding in France. Are drivers more bike aware, is the right rule a good excuse for people to pull out on you, are the police that strict in terms of speeding or is it really just the same as the UK?

Lastly, what are the roads like? We'll probably be getting a place in Aquitaine or the Midi-Pyrenees.

Has anyone ever been done for not having reflective helmet stickers? Really don't want to deface my Shoei!

Thanks,
Antony.
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2005 SV650 ---> 2002 CBR 600 FS ---> 2010 Monster 1100 ---> 2006 Yamaha YZ250F ---> 2008 Street Triple 675

[Dave500]

France is awesome! Seriously you wont look back haha
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Bye bye Z hello Versys

[barrkel]

There are more bikers per head of population in France than UK (actually, any other European country, if https://www.justlanded.com/english/France/Articles/Travel-Leisure/Motorcycles-in-France is to be believed).

Drivers are fairly aware, and will pull in to let you overtake, especially in places where they know you'll have more acceleration, like coming away from roundabouts.

Roads are, on average, better than UK.

Being near the Pyrenees is a major bonus. The roads and weather are better in Spain, fairly instantly noticeable when you cross over.

PS: there is the 100bhp limit thing. Due to be revoked, and apparently it can be worked around if you know how.
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[Rizzix]

France, specifically the south, has some gorgeous riding roads.

In terms of strictness of speeding, just avoid the motorways. The gendarmes like to sit in slip roads or lie in long grass with their speed guns....

But normal countryside roads? Amazing!

All french drivers seem to be acutely aware of bikes too. Very courteous drivers.

[Springbok_Rider]

Awesome, thanks for that. Not happy to hear about the bhp limit - any more information on that? Can always say I'm just riding through with my UK plates unless they get to know me.

Good to hear about the South for riding. I'm actually in Norway at the moment and the UK was an option to move to. I've never been too keen to move back, but a bike ride through Oxford countryside a couple of weekends ago almost made me change my mind.

My folks might be retiring soon in Spain or Portugal, so will be good to take some time off now and then for a ride to visit.
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2005 SV650 ---> 2002 CBR 600 FS ---> 2010 Monster 1100 ---> 2006 Yamaha YZ250F ---> 2008 Street Triple 675

[reddeviljp]

[Springbok_Rider]

[nelmo]

You lucky git - what job do you do that allows you to choose where to live - and have they got any vacancies?

I've been to France every year for the last 3 years on family holidays and on the bike a couple of times in between - it's a great place (as long as you keep clear of Paris and other large cities).

The roads are far quieter than here in the UK. I'm told that far more French people have had bikes as yoofs, so most car drivers are much more aware of you than in the UK.

Keep clear of the toll autoroutes - I believe they can determine your average speed from your times between peages (toll booths) and you can be fined based on that, although that may be an urban myth?
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Bike history: Suzuki GSXF600, BMW F650, Honda Varadero, Suzuki V-Strom, Kawasaki Versys
Current: Honda NC700X

[Springbok_Rider]

[gorillaonabik...]

Used to live in Marseille and the riding down there is awesome although Marseille itself is pretty hairy. Learning French is pretty easy because of the Latin roots and William the Conk so many shared words. Examples:

Weekend = Le weekend
Football = Le football
Marketing = Le marketing

Etc...

So many similarities...
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FZR400 (blown engine), ZXR750 (blown engine), ZX6R (accident), CBR600 which had engine issues after which I learned to change gear..., CBR900, CBR924 (stolen), CB600, CB1300 (everything blew up), BMW K1300GT (written off, hit from rear while stationary), Bandit 1250 for a couple of months, Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (nicked) and somewhere in there, I wrote off a Ducati 748 at Cadwell.

[vanveenocr100...]

Spent a lot of time touring around Brittany, roads to die for some fantastic twists and turns. Car drivers, found them to be considerate towards bikes. They would move over to let you by, rather than block your way. Parking never a problem, except for Paris.
No one gave you black looks because you were on a bike, french bikers found to be a friendly bunch as a whole with a wave of the foot as they passed.
Would love to live out there myself, perhaps in a few years