Questions about travelling through Europe

[Hasujek]

Hi, I am planning on going to Poland on Friday after I pick up a new bike from dealership on Tuesday. I have never travelled independently abroad and have no idea what to expect.
I would like to find out people experiences about travelling through France, Belgium and Germany.
If there is any motorway charges or what to look out for.
Also what to take with me.
It is a 700 mile trip and will be staying in Poland for 3 days therefore I am not taking much.
Will be with a pillion on the back.
Will use 3 different offline satnavs on the phone with back up and trying to sort out usb charger
We both have full biking gear
AA in place
I have already roughly planned the route and expect maximum riding time of about 10 Hours without including brakes with minimum. Speed of 70mph.
The bike will be Yamaha xj6n (yes the wind will be annoying)
Will take any advice from everyone if possible!

[ThatDippyTwat]

I'd be doing a lot of miles on Weds and Thurs - Zero chance I'd be sodding off to Europe on an untested, new-to-me bike.
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[brains_t]

I drive to Germany often, Lille, Luxemburg down to the SW of Germany. If you're heading towards Belgium you should be toll free. France other than being on the other side of the road is similar to here, Belgium if you see an indication they are already moving into your lane. Should be good for 80 mph once you hit Belgium but the motorways can be seriously/dangerously (ruined two car tyres) potholed, Germany is bliss if you find non motorway routes.

Not done Europe on a bike yet so will leave others to advise there but am surprised you've not tested the bike with pillion on long journeys beforehand. I had an XJ6N and added the small Puig screen which made a big difference diverting the head wind and for me (5' 8'') made motorway riding more comfortable. .

[Hasujek]

Not tested the bike but I am a really confident rider with a pillion. Ton of experience with pillion on motorways on a 125 .

[AldridgePrior]

Done 2000 miles last month in Germany. The roads are better as are the services. In towns the road markings are easy to read and well laid out
making navigation (even without GPS) simple.

Enjoy your trip.

[BTTD]

Service stations tend to charge for using the toilets. I've always found the Serways ones to be clean and well laid out. There are plenty of parking stops on the autobahn routes with more basic toilet facilities.

Doing lots of miles on an unfaired bike will be tiring, but everyone has a different tolerance for it, so that's your call.

[Hasujek]

Thanks for the answers guys, will I need some type of a GB sticker on the number plate, always wondered about that 🤔 also how are the EU countries with wearing tinted visors.

[Freddyfruitba...]

[Hasujek]

[Freddyfruitba...]

[waffles]

Take your V5 with you, spare key and paper copies of your insurance documents and carry them with you everywhere. Going through France you need a high vis jacket for both you and your pillion.

How many days are you planning for the ride there and back?
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Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[AldridgePrior]

[Freddyfruitba...]

[Hasujek]

[Copycat73]

the germans dig up the autobahns on sundays and their umleitung signs tend to be missing....
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Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[Copycat73]

[Motorhate]

If you're riding through France, be wary of French petrol stations. They're extortionate and you have to pay before you fill up which is OK in theory. What they don't tell you is that when you put your card in, they charge the maximum amount (150 Euros) out of your account until the payment clears and then they take out only the amount of petrol you've filled up with. Nine of us went on a Spain / France / Belgium tour last week and we all went overdrawn because of this stupid practice. I heard Tesco tried to do the same but lasted a matter of weeks before the uproar forced them to back down. Be aware that French supermarkets are cheaper to fill up than motoryway service stations so do that if you can.

Also, French drivers. They're dangerous. They think tailgating, pulling out without warning and generally driving aggressively is perfectly acceptable. French lorry drivers are even bigger *****. On two occasions I was nearly wiped out by some fucking bellend having no regard for anyone around them and others in the group had similar experiences.
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Current - Harley Davidson FXDB Street Bob | Harley Davidson FLTR Road Glide | Harley Davidson Road King
GONE - Honda CB500 Ratbike | Yamaha FZ750 | Yamaha XVS1100 | Kawasaki VN2000 | Kawasaki ER-6 F | Harley Davidson XL883L Sportster

[MisterPrice10...]

I did Oxfordshire to Barcelona and back last year and a bit of Belgium previously.

In terms of french riding a lot of good advice mentioned already. In terms of the Hi-Viz i would stick one on while youre going down the motorway anyway so no need rto worry about having one or not (your choice tho of course!)

The entire time i was there I saw 2 of the Gendarmarie on bikes and no other police of any form. There is also a speed camera sign about 300m (ish) before every speed camera so you can keep an eye out for them (not that you will be speeding anyway)

I ended up having to ride from barcelona to calais in one day and the toll roads all the way across france saved me abou 5 hours (but cost about 50 euro to do the length of the country) so you can cost the tolls up at around 10 euro for an hour saved depending on your route i guess.

Also in france dont expect every services to have petrol, some are just picnic benches and toilets!

Other than that dont ride like a you-know-what and you will be sweet i imagine!

Enjoy!
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18 bikes later and still no idea what i'm doing.

[terry p]

at junk-shone in France make sour you stop the police sit watching for the unknowing person to carry on and swoop and when there prey is court there fined you on the spot
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terry

[defblade]

Watch out re your sat nav apps etc in France:

https://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/radar-detectors-in-france.html
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Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[Copycat73]