First Eurotrip

[Shreddie]

My girlfriend and I are planning a jaunt around Europe. Niether of us have had a decent holiday for years so we've both decided on doing it this year. I know we're planning well in advance but it's just so that we can be as prepared as possible, besides, we're both going to have to start saving now.

We're looking at three and a half weeks from the second week in September to the beginning of October. As for the route, we only really have the second and third weeks sorted out. The second week will be Italy (Rome and Naples mostly) and the third week will be Switzerland and Paris. For the first week we have yet to decide between The Black Forest and Austria or a run round a number of places which may include Prague, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Ljubljana and Venice... But it won't be all of them. The first stop though will be in Amsterdam, we're planning to leave Shropshire early in the morning, 5-6am, have lunch on the Dover > Calais ferry and be in Amsterdam for teatime. After a day there we'll aim for the Autobahns so that we can blast through Germany in one day to our next destination.

As for accommodation, we'll mostly be camping but will be stopping with friends in a couple of places. Our only hotel stop planned so far will be in Paris.

We're both fairly light travellers and comfortable spending a whole day on the bike if needs be (She's a bloody good pillion too). We're planning on blasting from area to area in day long rides (lots of motorway miles, *yawn*) then spending 3-7 days in each main location/area where we can take in a bit of culture and hopefully a few decent roads.

Language shouldn't be too much of a problem as we both speak French reasonably well (I'm practically fluent), she speaks some German and I speak some Italian and Polish (but Polish probably won't be much use). I can also learn new languages to a reasonable standard very quickly (in a week or two) so I'll learn new ones should I need to.

As for the bike, it's a '97 VFR750 with just under 30k on the clock at present. It's a bit heavy on the fuel but I've allowed for that with the costs. My main concern though is the tyres, fully loaded and especially considering that we'll probably end up doing around 1200 miles on motorways, I'm not 100% sure that a brand new set of Conti road attacks would go the distance (around 4000 miles) so I'm open to advice on some decent rubber that'll do the job without ruining the handling.

As for luggage and gear, I've a decent sized top box and will be getting a tank bag/backpack... My GF has a huge rucksack but we'll probably get something more midsized. Saddle bags would also be an option but they'd probably only be for picking up a few things to bring back. We've a 4 man tent that fits quite snugly between the topbox and my GF's bum, a selection of tools (including the all important spare regulator, tyre gunge, bolts, tape, lube, bulbs, fuses etc.) and sleeping stuff will fit in the topbox. Clothes, waterproofs and valuables (camera, netbook, mp3 player etc) will be split between the backpack and tankbag that we'll keep with us at all times.

The other option is that my brother's full luggage set may fit the VFR in which case I'll borrow that and we'll have a whole load more space for stuff... He ain't used it for years anyway so I doubt he'd mind, the only downside would be the extra width as the panniers are huge.

I'm planning on giving the bike a full service and replacing the chain (it's nearing the end of it's life anyway) about a month before the off, I'll need new tyres around this time too... I'll be using some clear film stuff to protect the paintwork from the tankbag and soft luggage. My insurance includes full European breakdown cover.

I've worked out the pennies and excluding fuel (but including camping/accommodation, food, booze etc) £50 a day seems an acceptable figure for both of us to get by on, although I know it's perhaps a little on the high side, I'm allowing £10 per hundred miles for fuel. We'll have about £2-300 spending money on top. We're planning on one decent meal per day (at cafes and the like) plus sarnies/snacks/cereal etc at other times.

Once we have decided on the exact places we're going, I'll ask about cool roads that avoid the Autoroutes/motorways where possible... But that'll probably be a bit later in the year.

Does this sound about right? Is there anything else I should consider? Any tips that I may not have already read?

[chillyman0]

The details of this trip sound strangely similar to a trip i am planning with my girlfriend in the summer, even down to the bike haha. Sounds like you have done some decent planning already, more than we have done anyway!

Well i have no advice as our trip will be our first europe trip also but do keep us posted on how things pan out and you should get to read a write up from me before you go and i'll be able to tell you how the vfr holds up!
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preivious : 2007 Skyjet 125 (died), 1991 gsf400 (problems, rotting in garden)
1996 gsf600n (sold)
current : 1996 VFR750 for sale, PM for info! 2000 E1 ZX-9r

[Scotsman37]

Maybe having a GPS system (if you're unsure of the area you are going through as it will point out the nearest cafe/fuel stops for you) would help you out of trouble, if need be if you miss a turn or two by keeing you on track!
Also, have you checked for toll roads along the route?

[Shreddie]

[Name_goes_here]

Travel/health insurance? (Just in case)

And check in great detail with the policy wording as not all policys cover things like riding motorcycles etc.

A.
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Current: ZZR600

Previous: TDM850, ZX7R, TRX850,TDM850 (seriously underated bike!),XJ600 (owned for 6 hours), BMW K100, XTZ750, TDM850,GSXR600, FZR400 Streetfighter, XJ600 Streetfighter, ZXR750, FZR600 (Killed in the side of a car) And some little crappy things ridden round fields

[Scotsman37]

Oh yes, health insurance because in some countrys YOU maybe liable for the cost of the ambulance transport and other possible costs in taking care of you if you do NOT have private health coverage, because NHS Insurance card only gives you basic health care cost cover in European mainland.

https://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/Whatiscovered.aspx

[Shreddie]

Aye, I was going to look into that.

Sadly though, it looks as though the trip will have to be cancelled. My GF had an epilleptic siezure the other day, her first fit for over a decade and it was severe. She's been told that she can't ride her own bike for at least a year and has been advised against going on the back with me for at least 3 months. Although it'll be longer than that before we had planned to go, I'm not sure it will be worth the risk over the length of time we'll be away. I don't think I need to spell out what could happen if she was to have a fit on the bike.

Thanks for your help anyway guys.

[chillyman0]

Aaah major boo! Hope she is ok man! There is always next year.

All the best


____________________
preivious : 2007 Skyjet 125 (died), 1991 gsf400 (problems, rotting in garden)
1996 gsf600n (sold)
current : 1996 VFR750 for sale, PM for info! 2000 E1 ZX-9r

[Scotsman37]

Take care!

[Shreddie]

Aye, cheers...

We're now looking into other options. Perhaps a session doing music festivals and bike rallies... Or maybe a small tour round the UK mainland if the doctor gives us the OK. At least then, if something did happen, we'd never be too far from home.

[Gerrard]

Sorry to hear about your gilfriend.. All the best to you both.
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Honda Blackbird the great all rounder.
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