What Roads to use in Europe Roadtrip???

brownops · Derestricted Danger Joined: 14 Nov 2010 Karma :

Hi everyone

Well i just passed my test on 3rd November and picked myself up a Honda CBR 600 FX 1999. I was thinking that this summer i will go on a trip down to Spain through France.

I was wondering if there are any roads that i should use, i want to take a more scenic trip but i still gotta get from UK to Malaga in just 3 days. I havent ever used the motorways in the UK, let alone in Europe. Would appreciate any advice.

Thanks Very Happy

doggone · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 May 2004 Karma :

Buy a Michelin map, the more scenic routes are highlighted in green.
Generally in France a fine (free!) N road follows a similar route to the new Autoroutes.
It's much easier to drop into towns along the way.
Motorways are much the same everywhere, only to be used when you have to.

3 days to Malaga isn't going to allow much sight-seeing.
Unless you are mad it's two long days to the Pyrenees.

shotgun · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 18 Sep 2010 Karma :

Malaga in 3 days really means head down motorway blasting, not what you appear to be looking for. I'd rethink your schedule mate. Smile

You might want to consider sailing to Santander-not cheap but would save you 800 miles each way of fuel, tolls & tyres. That said, I think it's a girl's way out, just think you need longer to do Calais to Malaga.

brownops · Derestricted Danger Joined: 14 Nov 2010 Karma :

Guess i will have to lengthen my journey time Sad

Cheers for the Michelin map idea, they have an awsome website

Have you guys done a trip like this on a Supersports, ive heard bad thing about taking sports bikes like my honda on long journeys Karma

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

3 days to Malaga? Thats very far very very far, you'll be riding crack of dawn to sunset daily spend shed loads on fuel and wear your bike out. I ride the same bike and I ate my tyres just on a loop of spain.

You're not even going to have time to ride for the sake of riding like I do since its just going to be motorway motorway motorway.
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shotgun · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 18 Sep 2010 Karma :

Yep Michelin maps rule-I'm just planning a few days round Catalunya next summer & they're a great help.
Of all the sports bikes you're probably best with a Honda, they seem to pay a bit more attention to comfort than others. And don't forget your breakdown cover! Read the small print too as some policies are cost linked ie if cost of recovery exceeds value of bike, they may write it off where it stands.

doggone · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 May 2004 Karma :

John933 · Crazy Courier Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Karma :

I've done that twice. It will take you four day. I'll see if I can make a map up.
John933

Map.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=112342960003720989592.0004950ae36713cc51195&ll=43.834527,-1.274414&spn=19.73456,30.19043&z=5

John933 · Crazy Courier Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Karma :

motobiker · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 12 Dec 2008 Karma :

Ferry to Spain... then you can have a much more leisurely ride back to the channel ports.

Do the sums.. fuel + tyres + accom etc. against the price of a one way ferry ticket.

when you add it all up.. the cost will be a little higher on the ferry.. I won't deny that. But balance the time saved against it and it's well worth consideration.
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brownops · Derestricted Danger Joined: 14 Nov 2010 Karma :

Cheers guys

John933, ive got a TomTom Rider V2 which cost me an arm and a leg Embarassed

. Thanks for the info about the toll roads, will try and skip as much of the Toll roads as i can.

Is there any way to upload the route from Michelin to the TomTom??

willis1337 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 06 May 2009 Karma :

Maybe consider Germany / Austria, some lovely roads / scenery there (southern parts) and nearer.

Not sure if you can update straight from Michelin to TomTom but I've heard that you can upload routes form google maps to tomtom using "tyre" - google it.

Just read that - actually don't google it, you'll never find it from "tyre" lol DOH! here it is https://www.janboersma.nl/gett/

h00dwink · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 May 2006 Karma :

Me and a mate did a ride down to the spanish boarder from calais a couple of years ago, was brilliant but took about 4 days. It is a harsh ride. You do little but ride as well.
Formula 1 hotels are cheap for a reason, they're shit and normally nowhere near towns. They're all basically the same.

I did look at going again this year and getting the ferry down as it does work out better than ruining tyres/ferry/petrol there and back/time. But the inital outlay for the ticket is very expensive in itself.

Like others have said, i'd recommend riding somewhere closer, there's some amazing places to see and some fantastic roads to ride.
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shotgun · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 18 Sep 2010 Karma :

FWIW, my first tour abroad was to the Vosges in eastern France. About 500 miles from Calais to Colmar, a nice little town just off the A35. The Vosges mountains are very much like the Black Forest, which is itself only just across the border, maybe an hour's ride. Lots of scenic roads to ride, nice little villages to stop at etc. It's close enough to do the B500 Schwarzwaldhochstrasse too. Google it for info. If the weather turns shitty you can always get the train to Strasbourg for the day. Maybe a bit easier than slogging it to Malaga Smile

Devans · Spanner Monkey Joined: 14 May 2008 Karma :

Took me 16 hours straight riding Geneva to Manchester on my VFR, only stopped riding on the euro tunnel, and for fuel and Tea to warm me up, i left at 4pm an was home at 7am the next day. Was cold at night that's for sure in full racing leathers Razz

For your first trip i'd take it easy and allow 4-5 days getting there, no more than 500miles a day is best IMO

Your gunna wanna go over the alps they are amazing!

Lake garda is my destination hopefully in May 2011 Smile

But yeah my main point of advice is don't rush and allow plently of time, if you want to venture of the Motorways/tolls which are exspensive get a decent satnav or be confident with a map!

I used a cheap 3 euro map from a petrol station for my trip, which was fine but i stook to tools tbh. Which from what i worked out cost me nearly 100euro from Calais too Geneva!