big trip

[The Artist]

Ok, about me. im 16. Did college for a bit (a levels), not me.

Quit intending to get a job, still do. I have been thinking for applying for a more vocational course in land based engineering in September. As I now have a year to do anything really, I want to go on a bike trip. I am 17 in January and can get a decent bike.

This is not a half hearted plan, I really want to do this and have always wanted to do something like this and reading about other people trips has just made it more of a dream.

This is a rough plan of a route I would like to go.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&saddr=crewe&daddr=whitchurch,+aylesbury+to:calais+to:le+havre+to:saint-malo+to:santander+to:Porto,+Tomi%C3%B1o,+Pontevedra,+Galicia,+Spain+to:lisboa+to:almeria+to:genova+to:bologna+to:ljubljana+to:salzburg+to:stuttgart+to:lille+to:crewe&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=44.902578,2.988281&sspn=20.504342,39.550781&ie=UTF8&ll=46.012224,3.383789&spn=20.112895,39.550781&z=5

I would purchase a 400-600 in the next couple of months, and I would probably leave July-August when I have raised enough money. Stay in hostels, tent, hotels. Got a gps thingy with europe maps.

I am planning to get a job, even if it is only £5 an hour, I have practically no bills apart from rent from parents.

Costs at a guess

Bike = £1400 max inc luggae holders etc

Test = £500 inc theory etc

gear = got

fuel = ?????

decent tent + stuff for trip = £300

Food = ?????


Not sure how long it would take me.
5000 miles
Im gonna guess about 2-3 weeks. with a few days rest included.

I would love to go with somoene but my mates aren't really into just randomly doing stuff this major.

I am going to guess that many people on here will say, your 16 and the idea will fade and won't seem so good.

Some stories on here are amazing btw. I will deffo take a digital camera with me.

Is there anything else apart from blatantly obvious things anyone could tell me. Any advice?

Anyone willing to come with?


ta[/url]

[m0l0t0v]

You will definately want some road experience... That's for sure.

And that is a mahoooosive trip!

Fuel and food will cost quite a bit.

Put it this way. Me and a few friends( about7) are intending to do South of england to North of Sctoland and back. Visiting the Isle of Man and a few other places. Roughly gonna do 2200 miles or so. Obviously ferry for the IOM.

We are thinking around 800 quid and have "backup money" in case we do need more food.

I doubt the idea will fade. If your heart is set on doing it then you will do it. I've wanted to do a long bike trip since I really got into biking. Went up to Edinburgh, then to Newcastle and then back home (live in SE England close to London) and had a brilliant time. But Now I'm going on a proper tour next year with friends. And we're all dead excited about doing it.

Only difference is we've had quite a bit of experience on the roads...

I can't really say much as I'm not expert but I /personally/ wouldn't feel too comfortable doing a trip that big in my first year of biking. Especially on my own.

Where there is a will there's a way
____________________
'99 Hornet 600 , VFR 400 NC30 '92 , Kasawamasaki GT 550 , '98 Hornet 600
**\Tarmacsurfer/** said: It's that immaculately manly coiffure of yours isn't it. One glimpse of your virile locks and the punters can't wait to buy whatever it is you suggest, as it might let them be just a little bit like the Adonis that is our very own Molly Doovydoo said: Its not my fault I can't get it up properly, I just wasn't blessed

[Skudd]

Petrol will be about £35 a day, food £20. so you are talking about £1k in costs there. Then there is insurance for the bike £1,800?, Passport £110 ?. Breakdown cover, service of bike before trip.


You are probably best doing a small 5-6 day trial trip in this country first, then doing the bigger one when funds and experience will make it more enjoyable.
____________________
Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[The Artist]

I see what you mean about doing a smaller trip just in the UK to begin with.

Insurance will be tpo unless I can afford more so around £500.

If I am going to do a journey around the UK then im sure a mate or 2 will come with me so that sounds like a better idea to start off with.

[Nath]

Change your route to go through more scenic/mountainous areas, the riding will be far more enjoyable. At the moment your route seems to bee-line between cities - Unless you specifically want to stop in those cities for a couple of days to sightsee/get drunk then don't bother. Large traffic-filled cities are a nightmare for touring motorcyclists.

Go through the Belgian Ardenne and head south through the west of Germany where it's all beautiful forests. Unless your heading to Slovenia for a reason skip it and just pick the best route through Austria into Italy. By heading down to Bologna then going west your skipping the best part of the Alps - That northern region of Italy is stunning, the roads totally manic. By skirting round the coast of Spain your going to be riding mostly on main roads and motorways, missing out all the fantastic riding in the mountainous interior of the country. And you definately need to alter your plans to including riding through the Spanish Pyrenees. Don't waste your time in Portugal, there's far better riding in Spain, though nip into Lisbon if you have to.

Up your mileage figure to about 8k miles, maybe more. Do the trip in 5 weeks, maybe more if you want to stop and enjoy some of the places you're going to. Things you might want to do:
Sightseeing
Getting pissed in cities
Spend time relaxing on the beach
Hiking in the mountains
Hire a mountainbike for a day
Hook up with one of those Spanish trail riding companies and go trail-riding for a day
Other outdoor pursuits (I spent a day canyoning back when I did a Spain trip when I was 19)


Go for it, you wont regret it. I've gone touring Europe every summer for the past 4years - Nothing beats the feeling of riding off that ferry and knowing all you've got to worry about for the next weeks/months is where you're heading next.
____________________
Hard livin', hard luck.

[The Artist]

Thanks Nath. The route in nowhere near final and dont want to just go to cities and definately want to go through parts of the alps.

I am going to slovenia to see someone yes. I would love to go on a long ride on the coast aswell so thats why I was skirting around the edge if you see what I mean.

I was just getting an idea of mileage and a few places to go.

I would love to go through Switzerland aswell but I will have to see if it fits in with anything else I have planned.

As an experienced tourer, is there anything not obvious that I would have to account for? Any mistakes you made on your first trip etc. Thanks

[dodger]

[MaybeGuy]

get a move on and get it all sorted before april-ish, as we're trying to organise some sort of tour thing for the southwest to europe
____________________
Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

[Faldo]

Fuel costs will be quite high. I did 3000 miles through France/Spain last year and the fuel alone was probably not far off £500. Having said that I was on a 750 with quite a bit of 'twisty wristy' syndrome.

As has been said, gain as much road experience (Not neccesarily touring, just interacting with other traffic) before something like this. Riding in an unfamiliar busy city at rush hour at 30+ degrees looking for a hotel is fugging hard work and frustrating at the time. God only knows how I made it out of Barcelona in one piece. European breakdown cover is a must, especially when on your own. I think mine was £120-£150, but well worth it just for the peace of mind.

Don't let anyone put you off though, it really is as good as the write-ups on here suggest! When you get home and it's all over, there's quite a feeling of achievement, but also anticipation for next years trip!

Get saving £££s! Read as many write-ups as you can so you know what to expect! Ask questions on here, there's plenty of touring gurus lurking. First things first, get that test done! Good luck.
____________________
Current: ZZR1400
Previous: ZXR 400 L9, ZX-7R P5, ZZR 400, ZX-7R P6, Bandit 600, GSXR 750 Slingshot, DRZ400, DR650, ZX10R C1H, ZXR 750 L1, ZXR 750 L3, '99 ZX7R P4, KTM 300 EXC, ZX-9R E1, TDM850

[Phoenix]

Well my 2100 mile trip down into Switzerland/Italy and back in July cost me just over £400, that's all the OTR expenses like ferry crossings, motorway tolls, fuel, food, camping and 3 nights in a hotel.

I haven't read all the posts but agree with what nath's first sentance said, you need to think a bit more about incorporating more interesting roads. The route you've got, and I know you said it's rough, is just following the coast effectively, you're missing out most of the Pyrenees, and the Alps which are the best bit in my opinion. Besides if you're going in summer, Spain and Italy will be hot, so it's nice to have some high altitude riding to cool down.

[TheDonUK]

Go for it, you got big plans, and theres nothing wrong with that, include european breakdown cover into your costs though.

As others have said look at your route, in particular the Spanish Pyrenese roads, roughly between Andorra/Gerona and Pamplona/Zaragoza in the west, The N260 being of special mention, it would be a crime to go so close and not ride these fantastic roads...

My first trip i had plans to go from London down to Gibraltar, up through Portugal and back home somehow through France. I must have taken £200-300 cash and about the same again on cards, relplacing a worn front tyre in southern France I made it as far as Valencia before looking at the map in my tent under torchlight and realising that the rapidly diminishing wallet was pointing me to the Pyrenese rather than the Gibraltar. Bloody good trip though,

In France look out for "F1" hotels, they are yellow and race themed, computer check in with codes on the doors, something like 20 Euros per night for a bed and shower/tv etc, worth it if you dont fancy tenting after a long day.

You will find out how much you can handle a day, maybe start for something like 300 miles a day give or take 100, Less if you are in the twisties. I find at a push, i can do 800-1200 in a day, but thats not touring per se thats riding to get somewhere fast. If you want to see what your riding through i would say 300 ish is a nice figure..

Goodluck and take a camera!
____________________
[Current Bikes - GSXR-750 K5 & C90-97 ] [Previous Bikes: Runner 125, YBR 125, GS500, Bandit 600, Hornet 600, ZX6R-99, C90-99, R1-99, XT600E-04, GSXR-750 K4, CRF250L '16]

[The Artist]

Thanks guys.


As I said before, my route has not been planned properly yet, I was just getting an idea of mileage. I definately want to go to Andorra and then through the alps. Definately the pyrnees in Spain and northern Italy if possible.

I am going to work out some costs today and see what they look like. My main thing is I need to get a nice comfy reliable bike that I like aswell.

Got 1 mate deffo coming and another maybe but doesn't fancy Europe. I may go for a small trip at Easter as a tester round UK for a week.

So far I have learnt these tips from reading other peoples stories and this thread.


European breakdown cover is a definate.
pack light
secure everything to your bike.
don't try and do too many miles in a day unless absolutely necessary.
make sure I have money on cards aswell as cash
be prepared to not want to sleep in a tent for a couple of nights
try and breakdown righ over the road from a bike shop

I mentioned this idea to a couple of people who both rode bike in the past and they said they regret not doing something like this and I should go for it because I probably won't get myself to do it next year when I have things to do. (this year I don't)

thanks

[Nath]