first tour abroad

[robbie top]

hi folks, completely new to this sort of thing, looking to see if anyone wants to join me on a short trip into europe, havn't really got any biking friends to join me as i'm still fairly new to the biking world. it i'll be my first trip abroad on my bike, so just want to make it a short one for now, maybe 4-6 days or so.
hopefully heading off sometime in june. not that fussed where i go, as its all new to me anyway, but as its a short trip, wouldn't mind the black forest region and the nurburg etc. anyone interested??

[Itchy]

Just go, solo tours aren't so bad you can do what you want when you want and where you want. You just need the right mind set for it and it is Europe and thus not particularly risky.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Swim41]

Agreed, just go solo. Get your bike in good order, pack up your stuff and off you go. I've done this twice now and am off on a trip to Spain in six weeks time. The first time I went alone was because I knew that my mates weren't interested in seeing the things that I wanted to see (VW factory at Wolfsburg, Eagles Nest at Berchtesgaden amongst other weird stuff), and that if I didn't go on my bill I'd never get to see them. After that I got the bug. Much like backpacking/hostelling if you're camping you'll likely get chatting to bikers and other like minded types. If you want a bit of inspiration get Ted Simon's 'Jupiter's Travels' and read it before you go. OK, so he was off around the world on his bike, but the spirit of motorcycle adventure is tangible and easily translates to a self-guided trip to the continent. If you're going to the Nurburgring maybe your route could take you through Le Mans - you could visit the museum there and at Nurburg to give your trip a motorsport theme.

Good luck!
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Yamaha XJ600N

[robbie top]

yeh, thanks guys, completely here what your saying, though i was thinking maybe someone might be in a simular situation as myself.
though nervus as hell i definatly would bite the bullett and do one.
bikes ready to roll anytime and is always in good order, just have sort out the time and courage and i'm off.

[Itchy]

[StevenF]

I'm planning on going for a 10 day Europe trip (hopefully) in the middle of May. Going by myself too, a bit nervous about getting lost but should be ok
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My Project - Honda CBR 600 F2/FM

[robbie top]

you've all got mi goin now!
look out mr sanders there's a heafty cb13 on ya tail kid!!!!

[robbie top]

if i go it alone, i'd like to do it a bit at a time, siberia, and a 10 day european tour seems far away for me. my plan is, for at least my first trip, i'm gonna look for decent b&bs on route, is that the best idea, is there plenty of them, or am i barking up the wrong tree????

help!!

[Swim41]

Pretty much the same set up as here really, it's easier to find hotel rooms and B&Bs in cities and picturesque touristy places than duller places which don't get many visitors. Personally I prefer to camp, because it's generally cheaper and also as I mentioned above I tend to get chatting to people more if I'm sitting outside my tent with a beer at the end of the day rather than being shut up in a room. This isn't high on everyone's list of priorities of course!

With it being your first trip, might be worth having a rough idea of where you're going so you can do a little research on the net into the accomodation options nearby. At least for your first night anyway, after that you'll have your confidence and you can wing it. This is what I found anyway! If you're in France camping is really easy, nearly every town and village you come to has a signposted campsite.
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Yamaha XJ600N

[G1_]

A couple of years ago I did France and Belgium (4 day trip), found b&b's / hotels on route. Didn't need to organise before. This was in August. A lot of hotels were closed in the smaller towns but I always managed to find somewhere in the end.

[c-m]

[robbie top]

yeh, thanks for that, really good of you to offer some company, but really just intend on plodding round a bit, and not really sure where i'll end up, and i think looking like the latter end of june anyway now.
thanks a lot.
hey, and have crackin time! and good luck.

[Gazz]

[Ben_m]

Im off to Scotland for 4 days at the end of June if you fancy that? I'll be on my jack jones as well but I reckon it'll be laugh and I'll meet new people along the way
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Yamaha Fazer FZS600 2003 ¦ Peugeot 206 GTI 180BHP 2003 ¦ BMW 323i SE

[barnhatter]

Best off many times alone, you can go where you please, stop when you want and travel at your comfortable speed. You will meet people so wont be lonely.
Just go for it once tried you will look forward and plan your next trip.
My only advice is make some sort plan, however vague or detailed so you wont waste time thinking where to go/what to see.

[dodger]

Just have a read back through this section, lots of people on here including myself do solo tours [see my sig for my 2008 trip].

Have a read of a few write ups and see if it puts you at ease of doing it alone...
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My Bikes: Piaggio NRG| Aprilia RS 125| Suzuki GSX-R 600|Yamaha Fazer Ducati 848
Europe 2008

[c-m]

IF touring alone, I would aim to stay in hostels, its so easy to find a group to party with then.

In many of the campsites i've been to its been older German and Dutch couples with caravans - not my idea of a party.

[StevenF]

[Ben_m]

[sprint-1]

[sprint-1]

Hello Peeps
I will be off to Spain / Portugal via ferry to Santander from plymouth on the 23rd of this month ,and returning on the 3rd of June ,At the momoment i'm solo but if anyone else is about at that time it would cool if could tag along for the company with anyone going there
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Paul