Tour Of Europe, 11 countries.

[Kaben]

same mate. I think a weekend trip to Nurburgring or Le mans would be handy . Specially to see how the bikes cope loaded up etc!
____________________
Its Not a Melon, Its Clearly a Lime!!
Yamaha Fazer 600Now dead, MZ 125 SM
My Deviant Art homepage https://robabloke.deviantart.com/

[wildcat]

I'd need more than a year to build up to that one!!!
It may be a good idea to source places to get your bike serviced en route before you go.
Also you mentioned sponsorship, contact tyre companies, they may help out. I'm not sure if there are ane fuel companies that are international but you could find out and approach them too. Also contact MCN, not only for coverage but they might also have some tips on who to ask for help.

Good luck with the planning, but leave yourself an extra month or two in case you get side tracked.

Oh and don't forget to find out about vaccinations and visa requirements for the countries you'll be visiting.
I have planned to go to Daytona for the bike week next March, so it'll be impossable to go anywhere else!


(Does anyone know any bike hire companys in Florida that has sportsbikes???)
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https://www.bebo.com/Z1000-Wildkat

[Dam_buster]

just found an awesome thing !

well if we do get the BMW's rob-(kaben)- we can get a servicing booklet for it, which inside gives a number to call for every country made specifically for touring use, so if ur bike breaks down , u call the number for the country ur in, ask for english and whey hey , u can get ur bike sorted

i found this out when looking at dads bmw haynes manual , he has a bmw touring servicing booklet , that he took with him to ireland.

so thats a plus

JIM
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Yamaha R6 5EB, BMW 328i Touring, BMW 328i Coupe

[Kaben]

BMW also do a full european recovery service, if you purchase from a certified dealer. That counts for used and new bikes
Also as sales have dropped for the F650GS/dakar since the 1150 adventure/1200GS have taken spotlight, we may well be able to get a deal on a pair of them or at least on luggage etc.

As far as i have heard, BMW dealers do not give deals on bikes, even if you are prepared to pay for two,in cash. This is because they know they will sell the bikes eventually anyway for full price.
However Beemers do have a great background for reliability and service. Been reading some articles about similar journeys and it seems just as easy to get a service abroad as it does in the UK!
____________________
Its Not a Melon, Its Clearly a Lime!!
Yamaha Fazer 600Now dead, MZ 125 SM
My Deviant Art homepage https://robabloke.deviantart.com/

[Kaben]

do you need visa's for european countries? didnt think you did?

Good tip on the tire companies/petrol.Will look into that one.
____________________
Its Not a Melon, Its Clearly a Lime!!
Yamaha Fazer 600Now dead, MZ 125 SM
My Deviant Art homepage https://robabloke.deviantart.com/

[tatters]

[wildcat]

I wasn't sure about Greece
Ah well I can't be right all the time
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https://www.bebo.com/Z1000-Wildkat

[Dam_buster]

note: wear goggles whilst filling bike up with fuel!

just watchin the long way round, and the foreign fuel pumps tend to spit it all back at u!

ewans already done it twice LOL
and it can make u go blind

lol

JIM
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Yamaha R6 5EB, BMW 328i Touring, BMW 328i Coupe

[Kaben]

but arent they at pumps in non EU countries?
____________________
Its Not a Melon, Its Clearly a Lime!!
Yamaha Fazer 600Now dead, MZ 125 SM
My Deviant Art homepage https://robabloke.deviantart.com/

[Dam_buster]

ah


my mistake,

JIM
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Yamaha R6 5EB, BMW 328i Touring, BMW 328i Coupe

[THCi]

Germany is nice this time of year, very nice infact. And, from what I remember, very biker friendly.

Been twice, within the past 5 years. Ive got family that live near the Rhyne valey, in a small sleepy leafy town called Leipziq. The twisties there were interesting in a coach, and would be even better on a bike.

From what I remember it cost about 2.5 DM to cross the river on a ferry, thats (or was) about a pound. Would have gone up with the euro, prolly to about £1.50. Which is still reasonable.

Anyway, well interested, if I can raise the fundage for it mate!
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Past: GZ 125 K4 Marauder, VL 125 LC Intruder, FZS 600 Fazer. Present: GSF 600 N K3 Bandit, GSX-R 600 X(soon)
"We're not gonna die. We can't die, Bendis. You know why? Because we are so...very...pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die."

[colin1]

you can get breakdown cover for europe so you would just ring a number and they wd send out a bloke from a local bike shop.

I just wanted uk breakdown cover with my bike insurance but its european cover for the same price. I think it was £20 or £40 for the year on top of my insurance.

The breakdown cover is done by a separate company to my insurer but my insurer sold it to me as an add on.

My insurer is bikesure on 0845 130 7585 they can tell you who they use to offer breakdown cover and then you can contact that company and get some european cover.

Having said that it would pay to know a bit about fixing simple things and carry some spares so you can do your own simple repairs

good luck

[natv4]

I have done pretty much those countries last year.

It is very worthwhile.

Just to help you...

Total cost 1700 pounds (clothes, ferries, tyres, servicing, extra cover, petrol, food, camping/hostels etc all in)

Obviously less if you try and be slightly frugal and don't buy a load of clothes you won't wear (should I take the ski mask and boots?)

I got cover from Carole Nash (not breakdown). It cost 40 quid and provided your basic, I have just crashed and need to get the bike (and myself) home. You don't have to go with the bike (hire another and continue). Its less than half the cost of Euro breakdown cover (if you are going for more than 2 weeks). They will also grab you if you just breakdown.

I would try (depending on how much time you get) to visit Croatia as well. Its a beautiful country and one I would like to see again (for longer).

It was only just over 5000 miles in total (lots of twisties).

You will have pick pockets and no gooders everywhere there are tourists (goto London and pretend you are a tourist - you will see). Don't let it stop you. Just be aware and don't take chances with wallets (wear a money belt in big cities - keep passport, money, keys etc).

You need to tell your insurer which countries you will be visiting. All EU countries will be fine (may cost a small admin fee, but no more). I just listed every single one (didn't know where I wanted to goto.

Take a good lock and try and lock to something.

Your bike (fazer) will be absolutely fine. I took the VFR800, which is probably a little less comfy, and had no problems.

Repairs/parts will be fine in any of the EU countries, they are all pretty good. May have to wait a day or 2 away from major cities for parts, but no real problem. Locals always seem more than happy to help out.

Don't let people put you off, its a hell of a lot of fun and you will remember it forever.

--

I would be interested in meeting up at some point, though I have to go towards the end of Aug beginning Sep because of work. I also want to concentrate more on the bottom end of Italy and Greece, Croatia (eastern europe).

How long are you planning on going for? I only get a month off each year so I didn't really get enough time to enjoy it properly last time around.
____________________
Travelling around the world...a bit at a time. Where am I now? / Visit my BLOG
Bike: Blue Honda VFR800fi (*NEW*) Mileage: 22k Countries visited: GB/F/D/CZ/PL/E/I/B/A/HR/H/Rus/E/MA
West Europe...2004, East Europe...2005, Russia/France...2006, Morocco...2007

[natv4]

Sorry, did you find anywhere to advertise for a riding buddy? As I still would like some company when I go. It was good on my own last time (you do as you want, no compromise) but its good to share.
____________________
Travelling around the world...a bit at a time. Where am I now? / Visit my BLOG
Bike: Blue Honda VFR800fi (*NEW*) Mileage: 22k Countries visited: GB/F/D/CZ/PL/E/I/B/A/HR/H/Rus/E/MA
West Europe...2004, East Europe...2005, Russia/France...2006, Morocco...2007

[Dom]

Excuse my butting in but Nat I'd definitely be interested in that. Like yourself I'm not sure I'd be able to spend a huge amount of time travelling in one lump but would definitely like to see some of Europe next year and having sod all experience I can't say I'm opposed to riding with anyone who has actually done some of it before.

Went through some more northern parts of Italy a few years ago in the car and it felt criminal not to be on 2 wheels, and what I've seen/heard of Croatia looks impressive too. Sounds great.

Let me know if you'd be at all interested.

[Mantzy]

Funny how I'd written a similar-ish topic somewhere else about going to Prague in September. I'd love to go on a European tour. Not sure if i'd be wanting to do it on a ZX6R which can be quite painful over all that distance but then I was planning on getting a VFR or ST next year anyway. Would be a good ride out!

Contact Total and Shell about fuel. They are two of the biggest. Michelin, being europes largest, would be best bet. Take spare cables (throttle, clutch, brake) but don't go overboard. Any big parts can be done in towns. All those cables are resonably easy to change yourself and can be done with the bikes toolkit usually.

Will start saving then
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Current Bikes: 2010 Triumph Sprint ST 1050
Previous Bikes: 2002 Sachs XTC, 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R, 2004 GSX-R 600 K4, 2006 Yamaha XT660X

[Kaben]

NatV4, cheers for the info mate
Croatia, may well be bundled in, i still havent finalised the route. Gonna look through some lonely plant style books for locations to vist in each county and then choose the windiest roads that connect them
The trip will prob be starting May/June time with a majority of the trip focusing on Italy. It was originally gonna be a trip round italy and then i thought..........why the hell not extend this a bit?
I think 4 months is the time on the cards so far, but my obtaining a job may shorten that .
Once i have the route sorted properly i will post it on here (with an indiana jones style red line map) to show you what im doing. Would be wicked for people to meet up with us for parts of the trip as we go along when they cant manage a holiday for such an extended period of time.
Also going to report on the trip and get a friend at home to post the updates on a website for the trip for people to read up on our progress etc. Also a place to links to sponsors if i manage to get any
____________________
Its Not a Melon, Its Clearly a Lime!!
Yamaha Fazer 600Now dead, MZ 125 SM
My Deviant Art homepage https://robabloke.deviantart.com/

[natv4]

Kaben
Sounds like you have everything organised. Let us all know the link to the website so we can track your progress.

The 2 books I took which were useful were lonely planet guide to western Europe and the AA camping book of Europe. Both have accomodation info and lonely planet has tons of useful info. Obviously not quite as good as a guide to each country, but still more than enough to do and see.

Are you going this year or next? I presumed this year, but was not sure. I'm up for meeting up at some point, if you've got an email link on the website I'll send you a mail when I'm in the area.
____________________
Travelling around the world...a bit at a time. Where am I now? / Visit my BLOG
Bike: Blue Honda VFR800fi (*NEW*) Mileage: 22k Countries visited: GB/F/D/CZ/PL/E/I/B/A/HR/H/Rus/E/MA
West Europe...2004, East Europe...2005, Russia/France...2006, Morocco...2007

[natv4]

Dom: I have a couple of mates who seem interested for next year (they have already booked holidays this year). So I think I will post a message in January about organising it. Probably called something like Bike Ride Europe 2006.

It really doesn't have to require much planning, not for Eastern Europe. Last time I just kind of got some panniers, a return ferry ticket and went. Though I did have a credit card as backup.

As Kaben said, lonely planet/rough guides will tell you the best things to see in each country, you just have to choose which countries.
____________________
Travelling around the world...a bit at a time. Where am I now? / Visit my BLOG
Bike: Blue Honda VFR800fi (*NEW*) Mileage: 22k Countries visited: GB/F/D/CZ/PL/E/I/B/A/HR/H/Rus/E/MA
West Europe...2004, East Europe...2005, Russia/France...2006, Morocco...2007

[Dom]

Sounds good, I'm almost certainly going to be up for a trip mid-next year, but I really doubt I'd have the money/time for anything like what Kaben's planning.

Kaben if you do decide you want to have a journal on the web then let me know and I could sort out a site for you. Always love reading travel reports.
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Photos and that

[Kaben]

Will keep that in mind dom, cheers

The trip will be taking place in 2006, just to clear any confusion Nat.

Have purchased the "Lonely Planet Guide To Europe On A Shoestring" guide and will have a preliminary route sorted next week. The guide is great and i would highly recommend for anyone who is thinking of sorting a tour of europe. Includes all the obvious places and alot of less touristy spots which is damned useful. Also tells you all the Car and Motorcycle rules for each country which is handy!


Will update this thread as i know/sort out more

Kaben
____________________
Its Not a Melon, Its Clearly a Lime!!
Yamaha Fazer 600Now dead, MZ 125 SM
My Deviant Art homepage https://robabloke.deviantart.com/

[natv4]

Thats the one! Its a great little (big) book. Does anyone know of any similar ones?
____________________
Travelling around the world...a bit at a time. Where am I now? / Visit my BLOG
Bike: Blue Honda VFR800fi (*NEW*) Mileage: 22k Countries visited: GB/F/D/CZ/PL/E/I/B/A/HR/H/Rus/E/MA
West Europe...2004, East Europe...2005, Russia/France...2006, Morocco...2007

[Kaben]

This website is bloody handy, gives maps of each country, plus write ups of most places to go in each county including restaurants and hotels, current politics, laws and customs.

https://www.sitesatlas.com/Maps/Maps/Europe.htm

Click on a country to search the info there. Pretty nifty i think
____________________
Its Not a Melon, Its Clearly a Lime!!
Yamaha Fazer 600Now dead, MZ 125 SM
My Deviant Art homepage https://robabloke.deviantart.com/

[marco]

If you have some problems with Poland. I will help you.
I live in Poznan.
I dont very good speak for English.

[Kaben]

cheers mate, will keep that in mind
____________________
Its Not a Melon, Its Clearly a Lime!!
Yamaha Fazer 600Now dead, MZ 125 SM
My Deviant Art homepage https://robabloke.deviantart.com/