euro trip this summer - tips?

roryntp · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Karma :

hello, myself and my girlfriend are heading over to europe for 3 weeks this summer. our planned stopping off points are luxembourg, the black forest, munich, graz, zagreb, venice, milan, the alps, lyon and paris before heading home. does anyone have any tips/travel advice/places to visit ideas for any of these routes?
also, because this is our first long jaunt abroad where is best to check out european insurance/breakdown? what are the best documents to take with me? what else have i forgotten?
____________________
1996 VFR 750
1989 TZR 125

alone · Traffic Copper Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Karma :

Take:
V5 (logbook)
Insurance (some companies offer European Breakdown cover with their insurance)
Passport
MoT
Euro Medical Card

Tips:
Keep off the motorways, you'll see a lot more of the surrounding area keeping to quiet country roads.
Do you have an intercom? If not, I'd recommend it. Used one when I went over to Ireland with an ex. Was brilliant, and made things a lot easier!
____________________
Bikes; '06 Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (for sale) - '95 BMW R1100GS

Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

Look through some of the other threads on this very page, there are lots covering every subject you ask about already.

c-m · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2006 Karma :

Try ADAC for breakdown cover (these guys should pay me a commission the amount i've recommend them)

I only partly agree with staying off the motorways. Use them when you need to cover massive disantaces quickly. For example I had to get from Monaco to Ancona for a 10pm ferry. Its some 450miles so I blasted along the Autostrada. It would have been impossible to make it in 1 day otherwise.

Get an intercom is you can. I loved being able to chat to my girlfriends (been on trips with two different ones). I bought an old Autocom Esicom V8 on ebay for £50 its great.

Don't plan too much and relax, you'll have a great time.

alone · Traffic Copper Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Karma :

As c-m said, do use motorways if you have to... but with a little planning you shouldn't ever get caught short.
____________________
Bikes; '06 Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (for sale) - '95 BMW R1100GS

Marmalade · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Karma :

Definately an intercom
I use a scala rider teamset intercom.
Bluetooth for your mobile, chat to passenger, conference call if you want to, no wires. Amazing clarity even at decent speeds and it'll last 2 days before needing a charge. comes with 12v charger as well.

Everything else sounds good, like has been said before stay off the motorways if you want to see the sights, especially in France when a lot of them are tolled
____________________
Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

barnhatter · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Karma :

Plan your trip in advance. 200-300 miles max in a day, especially with a passenger. 200 miles will take 5 hours in the saddle plus stops for fuel, food, toilet, pictures etc. Look at places to sleep at the end of the day and then you can plan your route.
Don't spend all the days travelling after 5-6 days you will be desperate for a day off.
Remember its a holiday not a challenge so be flexible and allow for changes etc.
Last thing is the most important ENJOY.

alone · Traffic Copper Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Karma :

I'd disagree slightly with barnhatter. I did a trip around Europe and covered 6,114 miles in three weeks, with no planning what-so-ever.
I only had one day off, and that was the penultimate day. I did a couple of 500+ mile days with no trouble, and only a handful of times did I go on the motorway.

I found I was getting 240miles easily from a 21litre tank on my Sprint. I was also easily able to survive on a decent dinner, and occasionally a small roll during the day. Be aware of keeping your fluid levels up - If you notice your piss is getting brighter, drink more!

I'd usually feel like leaving a camp site around 09:30 - 10:00, and ride straight through until 16:00 - 17:00. Occasional stops to take in the views, or the odd wrong turn driving across farmers fields just add to the adventure.

Nothing anyone says to you can make a difference, really. The best you can do is go with what you and your girlfriend feel comfortable with doing. If you have to plan, plan.
If you want a broader sense of freedom (I think), then wake up, check the map, memorise a couple of road names/numbers, and float along.
____________________
Bikes; '06 Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (for sale) - '95 BMW R1100GS

barnhatter · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Karma :

The only trouble with just travelling free is that you might end up seeing nothing, I tend to plan ahead so find something to aim at either during the day or at the end stop.
You will find that you will average 40mph on normal roads, including stops, lunch will add another hour.
Motorways you can get up a good average speed but smaller roads go through towns which slow you down.
Finding campsites or hotels is easy when you don't want to stop, finding them at the end of a day can cause problems. I travelled for an hour in northan france before eventually finding an awfull campsite.
As I said ENJOY, be fluid with plans and distances especially if you are both getting tired it can be more harder as a pillion than a rider.

roryntp · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Karma :

thanks for all of the advice guys, i'll be sure to take a note of all of it.

unfortunately i'm cursed with being a 'planner' by nature so i've plotted a route with trips differing between 150-300 miles, nearly always leaving a day off after a ride longer than 200+ miles. the only thing i'm having issues with is having to use a fair bit of motorways going down through austria/croatia but i guess, having never been there before, even that is going to be a new experience so it's not all bad.

do you guys take copies of documents or the actual docs themselves? we're going to be camping most nights, do you have any space saving tips for fitting everything on the bike?
____________________
1996 VFR 750
1989 TZR 125

c-m · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2006 Karma :

You won't need the motorway through Austria or Croatia. The A roads are good and you average a decent speed.

Also the distances aren't that great.

If you take the A road from Munich to Graz you'll have a wonderful time. Twisty with gorgeous views.

Similarly Graz to Zagreb is less than 150 miles. No need for the motorway here either, enjoy the Austrian and Croatian countryside its pretty.

I would take the motorway from Venezia to Milano though as Northern italy is one of the most disgusting places I've seen. Think of the Black Country area of the West Midlands but with worse roads, bad driving and horrible smells.

barnhatter · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Karma :

Well if you spend a bit of time planning you can avoid most motorways, Mountain passes can be slow but fun, try not to do too many in a row as they can get hard work. As a figure I estimate on passes 30 mph plus an hour for them.
200-300 miles on a roads is not too bad. 300 miles should take about 7 hours.
In the past I have not bothered cooking but last year I had trouble finding food so am taking a stove this year. I now have a Mini Trangina can cook a can but might be too small for 2 they make larger ones for two. The advantage is that using meths spare fuel does not take up much space and is easy to get hold of. A bottle of wine/beer can be got at most campsites or a shop close to the site.
I always carry a aluminum water bottle.
For sleeping I use a mummy sleeping bag as they take up less room and a Backpacker reed style airbed, £9.99 from millets or Argos. Small and take up very little room. This year I am taking bed socks and sleeping clothes as I got cold last year.
I strap my tent across the back on a rack, I got some rock pegs as the ground can be very hard and the normal ones bend. A small hammer fits in the tent bag along with a small ground sheet for sitting on ourside the tent.
Reduce your clothes to the minimum tee shirts are good as they are easy to put on take up little room and dont need too much looking after. Dark colours dont show marks. Black is great for riding and if they are are rotated and left to air after wearing can last most of the trip.
I use a sat nav and back up with maps, drawing the route on the map with a yellow marking pen and putting in a map case on the tank. A map lasts one trip and is in bad condition when I get home.
I try to find the campsites before I go reducing the difficulty of finding them on the road. Strange fact like food stops loads when you dont need one but difficult to find when you do.
Last year due to holidays I took lots of dollers, mistake, as finding an exchange shope was difficult, so take cards or currency to avoid problems.
If you spend a few hours searching its a few hours less distance.
On the road I get up early, put down the tent, pack up and leave, stopping for a coffee and snak in about a hour. I don't always bother with lunch as I don't get hungry but do stop for water breaks. I like to camp late afternoon turning up with some beer or wine to relax with while pitching the tent, shower then eat.
Hope that this is of help although is a bit rambling.
Just remember its a holiday not a challenge, if you need to change your plans and remember ENJOY.

alone · Traffic Copper Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Karma :

Couple of space/time saving tips: Use clothing as a ground mat; Rock as a hammer for tent pegs; Learn how to take your tent down without totally taking it apart (I was able to set my tent up, disrobe, and have my stove going within 10minutes); Pack camping things towards the top, so when you do stop they're right there. You don't want to be digging around boxes in the freezing rain!

I know you like to plan, but I implore you to at least try spend a day riding by feel. Perhaps just have a blank map in front of you and navigate with it, don't worry about getting lost Smile

Some of the best sights are found this way!

I'm afraid I have to disagree with barnhatter on another point. 300miles can take anywhere from 4hours up.. It depends on how you make progress. Travelling by motorway though, I'd call an average of 50-60mph inc. short stops. Above all else, remember your pillions comfort, they're not always able, or willing, to communicate when something is up.

What bike are you taking, by the way? What are you luggage options?

Will you be doing a write up after your trip?
____________________
Bikes; '06 Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (for sale) - '95 BMW R1100GS

barnhatter · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Karma :

From my experience averaging 50 mph is about the max you can expect, taking fuel stops 15 min, toilet stops 15 min and drink 10 min( gloves and lid off,jacket undone find where to go also traffic lights, rounabouts etc into account. so I feel 7 hours for 300 miles is a reasonable assesment. 300miles in 4 hours is an average of 75mph so if you stop for 30 min for fuel and toilet you will need to average 85mph, True I have done 100miles in an hour to get to the ferry at calais but that was a short distance for a short time and a big risk. I am not saying its impossible just that its a holiday not an indurance test.
If you use A and B roads going through towns and villages will take time. A lot of roads go straight through villages and the Police watch those a bit, so hitting a village at 80 mph is not a good idea.
Yes its worth going free as you want to be loose to any plans/route you have made, I have and will do that sometimes and not stick ridgidly to my plans. I only tend to have a destination campsite in mind as then I know I have somewhere to sleep.
I found a campsite had closed last year and it took
Last year I just put the destination into my tomtom, selected no motorways and it gave me a great route with amazing roads.
I agree that the quicker you can get your campsite sorted out the better, self inlfating matresses are a good idea but take up too much room or are very expensive.
On damp ground clothes get wet or dirty, finding a rock can be difficult in a well tended campsite. A taup and small mallet/hammer will roll up with the tent.
Nothing beats sitting outside your tent in the sun with a nice bottle of wine

willis1337 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 06 May 2009 Karma :

I did France, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and Belgium a couple of years back. The most useful thing i took (aside from the bike) was a european sat nav, I would also take a handful of cable ties and gaffer tape - always useful. Also try not to overpack - you will - but try not to.

Take copies of your docs and keep seperate from the originals also take spare keys for bike and any locks and get another rider / pillon to keep on them at all times. Make sure your mobile is set up to work abroad and you have an emergency credit card.

I would definately get as much breakdown and accident insurance as you can afford. If you dont use it meh. If you do, you will want as much as possible and the best.