Touring around France - The Newbie Guide

[j3ster]

I am planning on touring around France as I have heard it is very biker friendly. I will hopefully be leaving around the beginning of September and back in October. Despite riding for 30 years I have never undertaken a trip like this before and I am looking for some inspiration and ideas.

I need to make a list of essentials to take and plan some must do places to go/see. I wing most of my holidays in terms of accommodation but have heard that camping is particularly good in France, however i do need a bed and bath from time to time so biker friendly b&b's or such like would be good. I also use a site called couchsurfing which may be useful for stop overs. At the moment I am travelling alone but would not mind meeting other bikers and joining them for a couple of days if that sounds likely?

Basically i am looking for some knowledge, resources (for what to see where to stay), cover accident/breakdown and anything else that I need to consider. I am also not opposed to tagging along with a group of riders for a few days already planning a similar trip.

I have never really been part of a biker group or had ride outs and I know its a massive subject but any knowledge/help would be much appreciated.
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[Monkeypony]

I generally use hostels in France. Private en-suite rooms are readily available and cheap. Yes, you've got to make your own bed in most of them, but it's not too much of a task. Campsites are plentiful and cheap.

Where are you actually trying to get to? It really help if you decide on a final destination. Europe is a big place! How long have you got for the trip? How many miles are you happy to ride in a day? A month is a great length of time, but the possibilities are endless!

I find around 200 miles per day is about right for touring (avoiding motorways and dual carriageways wherever possible)

It doesn't sound like much, but by the time you've hopped on and off the bike to see things and take picture, had a lunch stop and added in refuelling, you'd be surprised just how low your daily average speed gets! If I was on my own, I'd probably up it to 250 ish, as you'll always be quicker when you never have to wait for somebody else. Remember, it's a TOUR, not a race!

Get European breakdown cover.

Carry kit to repair punctures and re-inflate tyres.

(edit: If I had a month, I'd head towards the black sea, but that's been on my to do list for ages! )
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Current bike - 2018 H2-SX, 2004 SV1000s, 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF, 2017 Sherco SERF 300, 2003 Suzuki DRZ400 (stolen - AY53 JUU)

[j3ster]

I'm really only thinking of France for this tour mainly as it is so vast and I want to get a good feel for the country. My initial thoughts are to skirt the edges Costal, Spain, Swiss alps and then head back round to the ferry home.

One Idea I have is to stay is Marseille possibly for a week and take a french course before moving on. I intend to travel around 200-300 miles a day. You are totally right about fuel stops and lunch and such which I did not really take into account so maybe even less if I see something I fancy (I often see an interesting town name and head that way)

I love festivals and little town events like the Big Cheese or the Chilli festivals even a beer one would be ok so taking on some of those on route would also appeal to me. I can extend pass a month if I need to I think that may be weather dependent which is also something i need to look into.

Also phoning home? Should I buy another mobile with a France sim or do i have other options which work out cheaper than extending my 02 contract?
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[delsol]

[Monkeypony]

So, sticking (mainly) to France, I'd probably do...

La Rochelle
Bordeaux
San Sebastion (Spain)
Ride the Ride the Spanish Pyrenees , picking up the N260, which is epic!
Round the south coast of France To Marseille (with maybe a detour to cover the Milliau Bridge)
on to Cannes and Nice and up through the Alps
On to northern France, taking the time to stop for some champagne cellar tours south of Reims
Further north and through the Ardennes

Then see how much time you've got left!
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Current bike - 2018 H2-SX, 2004 SV1000s, 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF, 2017 Sherco SERF 300, 2003 Suzuki DRZ400 (stolen - AY53 JUU)

[almostthere]

I worked in the Auvergne, Allier area for two years I'd avoid this area as whenever you go to the shops they are shut whenever you feel like a beer the fucking bars are shut if your hungry and decide to stop for lunch they've either stopped doing food or their fucking shut don't expect to see any form of human life in this area as every house will have their shutters closed 24/7 in fact I'm not sure any fucker lives there .
The scenery is awesome but I'm fucked if I know what the frogs do to entertain themselves because they certainly don't go out and enjoy themselves
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Beer, It's the reason I get up every afternoon
www.mfairco.uk

[gorillaonabik...]

Forget Northern France. Bloody boring.

Go to the middle and start touring. My mates and I always used to love going to the middle of France and heading South down through the backroads, just picking little villages to stay in and drinking all night in random villages.

Still go back every year but mostly just passing through on my way to Switzerland or down to see friends.

The other option is the long blast down to Marseille (be careful down there). Then take the coast road heading towards Monte Carlo. Best road I've ever ridden - just magnifique (lived in Marseille for a few years).
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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.

[j3ster]

Excellent many thanks everyone a plan is forming for a route.

I did wonder about the North, no one seems to mention it in any articles I have read so maybe I would either cut back across and through Paris or head up into Belgium a country I enjoyed when I went there without the bike.

I had forgotten the Milliau Bridge too and most definitely wanted to see that as I have a bit of a bridge fettish. And the coast road to Monte Carlo will also now be on my to do list.
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[gorillaonabik...]

[-Matt-]

[smob67]

F1 or Premier Classe Hotels are in most big towns, or usually just outside, excellent value for money to, check their website out for prices and locations.... Regards riding in France avoid the toll roads their is always a much more rewarding free route, I personally found the roads in the south particularly around Grenoble spectacular,
the French car drivers are mostly bike aware and as such are courteous.... Mostly !
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RM125, TS125, X5 200, X7 250, RD 350 LC ------- 25yrs later cbr600f (sold) - cbr1000rr (2014)

[barrkel]

The loop of winding roads with Gorges du Tarn at the left edge is excellent, one of the best I've ridden in France, and not super busy with traffic, in June at least (I did it last Thursday). This loop here:

https://www.google.com/maps/@44.2893852,3.433173,11z

The N106 to the right that runs to Ales is also very nice, long sweeping turns more suited to slightly higher speeds.

I went into Monaco / Monte Carlo and got caught up in traffic for about an hour. I will never go back. Chock full of cars, almost all bike parking spots filled, the few that are unfilled are on steep hills. Would be far easier to ride around on a scooter. It's a seaside resort town for the wealthy. If you like seaside towns, maybe it'll have more attraction. It's one of the worst places I've ever ridden through.

Hotels along the French Mediterranean coast are pretty expensive in summer. Overall I'm not a fan of the whole area. It's a tourist trap filled with people looking for sun and sea.

Grenoble is a fantastic city. My GF and I are seriously considering moving there as a long-term plan when we've had enough of London. It's got Alps on three sides, mountains towering over buildings almost every street you look down. Great location for popping into Switzerland or Italy. Modern and wealthy. Good public transit including trams, excellent food, big enough for decent choice in shopping, small enough to be walkable. Lots of students, possibly the best place in France to study, lots of tech, it's young and and on the rise.

I concur with other people saying that northern France is boring.

I don't mind taking toll motorway in France. Often the alternative is extremely long straight roads with 50kph villages every 3 minutes, especially in the north. Where the geography doesn't permit straight roads, it's more interesting.

There are some good roads along the Alps - not necessarily over, but near. Roads that cross the Alps are often filled with hairpin bends. I find them tedious: long straight, downshift to first and around a tight bend, then long straight, then downshift to first and around a slightly less tight bend, then long straight, then downshift to first and more tight bend again. Repeat, over and over. Downhill is less pleasant than uphill.

Roads that follow the contours of a hill / mountain are usually better than roads that aim to cross to the other side. The Spanish Pyrenees has better riding on average, IMO. Another thing: the fame of a particular road increases the amount of traffic, the number of buses you'll need to overtake, the number of gawping tourists not paying attention, etc. The Alps are very photogenic, so they attract more cars and buses.

The food is excellent in France. Well worth going to restaurants / bistros if you can afford it, and have a half-bottle or glass of the local wine with the local food - they're usually naturally matched.
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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

[doggone]

I think Marseilles would be about the last place I'd want to go.
Don't underestimate the distances and riding when it's 35C+ is tiring.

Alpine France is great and as mentioned the river gorges in the SE e.g. Tarn are astonishing.
The trendy parts of the south coast are very very busy and there's plenty of dangerous congested roads too.
I enjoyed the quieter Pyrennees, and could have easily spent a week in The Dordogne.

[MacZurbi]

[gorillaonabik...]

[barrkel]