Europe tour - advice/input please

[TravisBickle]

Ok I've worked out the timings, places to stop enroute, places to stay, and done a rough itinerary but it looks something roughly like this:

DAY 1:
Home to Amsterdam campsite (via Neeltje Jans for lunch)
5.5 hours riding, 280 miles

DAY 2:
Whole day in Amsterdam and stay in Amsterdam overnight

DAY 3:
Amsterdam to campsite near Nürburgring (via RAF Hospital Wegberg and a couple of tri-border photo opportunities)
6.5 hours riding, 300 miles

Day 4:
Whole day at Nürburgring and exploring the area and stay at nearby campsite overnight

Day 5:
Nürburgring to campsite in the middle of the black forest
4.5 hours riding, 230 miles

Day 6:
Black forest to Basel (stop for lunch) and on to a French campsite halfway between Basel and Luxembourg
5.5 hours riding, 210 miles

Day 7:
French campsite to Belgian campsite (via a couple of tri-border photo opportunities)
4 hours riding, 210 miles

Day 8:
Belgian campsite to home
5 hours riding, 270 miles including the bit in UK

Riding times don't include petrol/lunch/photo stops/ferries etc.

First couple of days will be long ones but I've tried to get the daily mileage down the further into the trip we get as we might be flagging somewhat.

Most days we get to the campsite between 15:00 and 18:00 (accounting for petrol/lunch/photo/exploring stops along the way) which considering the sun doesn't set until 21:00 should be fine if we've got our campsites booked in advance and we know where we're heading???

We've all got bivvy bags so there's no setting up involved. Mine is only two pegs.

Do you guys think this is realistic or am I trying to cram too much in too little time?
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2024 BMW M1000XR
2021 Honda CMX500 Rebel S
2016 Triumph Tiger 1050 Sport

[A100man]

[doggone]

[stinkwheel]

If you arrive and the weather is a shit-show, a lot of euro campsites have pre-errected tents or glamping huts you can hire too.

Did anyone mention Belgians drive like insane, myopic arseholes with lead diving boots on? Especially on motorways where they drive at very high speed, tailgate like a motherfucker and switch lanes with no warning because they fancy a change of scene. Fucking terrifying, even on a big sportsbike. Be aware. Beware.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[MCN]

[TravisBickle]

[Freddyfruitba...]

[doggone]

On a bike you aren't that bothered about weight (compared to hiking) so may as well get a 2 man tent, it wouldn't be much fun sharing that tube thing with soggy boots and luggage you didn't want to leave outside.

[A100man]

[TravisBickle]

[TravisBickle]

[stinkwheel]

I take a popup on my bike. I generally think if the diameter is less than the width of the luggage, I'm good. I just strap it on top of my luggage with bungees.

I only once had issues with sail-type behaviour going over Shap in very high winds, had to add more bungees but in fairness, the entire affair was becoming something of a handful anyway.

To me the slight nuisance of the disc format is outweighed by the speed of errection/striking.

In good weather, you literally don't need to do anything beyond throwing the thing out and putting your stuff in to hold it down. In wind/rain it needs pegging out to varying degrees. They will cope with conditions that your bike would blow over in when properly pegged out.

I use a quechua, I wouldn't see past them for a popup. The one annoying thing is lack of porch (you can jam your boots in the space between the doors) and the rain can get in if you don't have the door zipped up. Plenty space inside for you and gear even in the one man ones. I'm using one of the fresh and black 2-man ones which are great in the summer, lots of scope for ventilation and are genuinely dark inside.

Absolute 100% must-do thing is practice putting it away before you leave. It's easy, the new ones even have a guided packing system where you put some clips together and pull a string. I just fold mine away (then the clips don't need undoing to put it up again), takes about 10 seconds from standing to in the bag but there is a knack, you may need to watch a video the first time.

Actually, I did a video when I got mine, it's excessively long and waffly with poor sound quality. https://youtu.be/zviloiNToac?si=LcZZz7lECKmdIbCY
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[TravisBickle]

[PotatoHead202...]

I've just come back from my first euro tour on the bike.

Friday - Poperinge, Ypres, Bruges and Sint Niklaas

Saturday- Nijmegen and Arnhem

Sunday - Overloon, Nurburgring and Adenau

Monday - Wiltz, Pommerloch and Bastogne

Tuesday - Dinant and Arras

Wednesday - Home

Air B&Bs and hotels were used. Weather was all over the place, never ridden in such appallingly bad wind before. Too cold to camp.

Have to say I really enjoyed France. EVERYONE was incredibly polite and obliging. Roads were OK albeit the 80k limits drove me insane and I didn't feel comfortable enough speeding much not knowing their camera locations. Pain in the arse having to pre pay for fuel though.

Thoroughly recommend Ypres and the Sanctuary Wood Museum in Belgium. It's about 80 mins from the tunnel and an incredibly interesting experience. Belgian roads are all over the place though and the motorway a deathtrap. Having said that, i did choose to lane split around Ghent in sheet rain at rush hour and they made room for me.

Lots to see around Arnhem in Holland as well.

Germany was utterly ruined for me by the weather and the worst drivers I've ever encountered. They sit right on your and each others arse at every opportunity. Huge amount of signs warning against tailgaiting and I've never seen so many speed cameras - I definitely got flashed at least once so was hardly going slow. Closest I've ever come to dragging someone out of the car and giving them a beating tbh, never been so angry on a bike before.

UK customs were also total cunts. Pulling apart a lot of cars and I got pulled in for a search. Wanted proof of my outbound ticket and hotel stays etc. The French couldn't have been nicer.

I think your mileage might be a bit optimistic if you haven't done that before - especially when camping and if you haven't got cruise control or and a reupholstered seat.
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Suzuki V Strom 1050XT, Honda CBF500 ABS,

[Quayleysan]

When I did my first camping tour in Europe, I was in a similar boat—new to the whole biking and camping combo. One tip I learned: pack light! Focus on essentials like a good tent, sleeping bag, and portable stove for meals.

As for campsites, they vary in price and booking requirements. In France and Germany, I found some great spots that let you just rock up, especially in less touristy areas. It’s smart to check ahead for popular spots though.

And hey, if you're planning on a more comfortable journey to Europe, keep an eye out for cheap travel business class tickets—they can make those long flights a breeze!

[BTTD]

I have a Klimit V inflatable mattress and a cheapo inflatable pillow. The key to both is to inflate them about 3/4 full. Youtube is chock full of cheap camping gear reviews, but a lot of it is subjective. For cooking I have a trangia 25 kit with a gas adapter, but I used to just have a cheap remote canister gas stove that i used for years. Definitely try everything out before you go, even if it's just in the garden.
First time i tried out my sleeping mat I inflated it too much and woke up aching all over in the morning (hence the opening comment).

[DaddyStu]

If focusing on essentials then i'd dispense with cooking gear. Have to stop at so many fuel stations bacon sarnies, baguettes, sausage rolls are never far away. On recent trip I left the bedrolls/pillows home too. It was warm (35 degC at Vias Plage) so slept on top of the sleeping bags.
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Daddystu
Zontes 125-G1 (part-ex'd). Yamaha Tracer 700.

[BTTD]

Re speed cameras, Camsam app on your phone will warn you and use very little data. There are a couple of sneaky cameras between Calais and Belgium, they're all painted grey which doesn't help. Swiss ones are disguised as part of the Armco on some roads, and using any detector or sat nav that highlights them is illegal! I've got some points and fines in Germany, Austria and Slovenia. The points don't count in the UK, but get enough in any one country and they'll ban you in that country.
All the tickets came through a few months after I got home and the fines were like 30 or 40 euros as I wasn't exceeding by much. There are some horror stories out there though.

[DaddyStu]

[doggone]

[BTTD]

[stinkwheel]

[PotatoHead202...]

[struan80]

Go do a tour of Norway. I guarantee you wouldn't regret it. Great quiet roads,limited potholes, if any, and scenery to die for. Get a ferry from Newcastle. Ride North from Stavanger to Bergen, through some amazing tunnels. Head even further North if you have the time.

I sound like i've done the tour but I haven't. I did live in Stavanger for 1 1/2 years. at the time I wan't into motorcycles so have Driven the roads by car. A company car...Nissan Micra

One day I'll do it. Just need to convince my daughter that going pillion is safe. Well as safe as you can possibly get on a bike.

[Freddyfruitba...]