Impromptu Euro Trip

[TheDonUK]

I have a court case pending in october, and the other night i got nabbed again by traffic police, the result of which is certainly a ban.

I have decided that since i will only be legal to ride for the next month i should make full use and enjoy the R1 while i have it.

Decided to head down to Barcelona, do the Pyrenese, and then ideally, funds allowing cut across to monaco -> italy, do some passes in switzerland and the like and then back home, have between 1-2 weeks.

From my experience Northern france is rather bland and on previous trips have gone down the Reims, Dijon, Lyon, Montpellier route, this time i want to enter spain as close to pamplona and the excellent N240/60. Looking on a map Le Mans > Tours > Bordeaux seems the way forward, just wondering if anyone know any roads worth heading for.

Im probably going to blast through france and then take my time in the pyrenese/catalonia, but have no experience of the best routes from say Marseille into italy and switzerland, again a cursory glanse suggests Marseille > Gap > and then head north however the roads take me.

Routes aside im going to try and pick up a Hennessy Hammock and try a bit of wild/stealth camping where possible to reduce cost, probably stay in F1 similar hotels while in france, im hoping to just find an out of the way place to pitch up the hammock, The R1 with Yoshi can is probably not the most subtle bike to use for wild camping, ill just see how it goes, even if i only end up doing the pyrenese and lying on the beach for a few days it will be a much needed break.

Any route or Hammock/Wild camping advice would be cool.

Cheers.
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[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]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Route Napoleon, Grenoble - Cannes down the N85 is meant to be good.
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[TheDonUK]

Cheers Ham, Cannes - Grenoble is now on the to do list.
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[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]

[mrtEE]

You could have a look on this website https://www.bestbikingroads.com/ to plan your route.

I can confirm that the N85 is very good, having done it several times.

[willis1337]

[Kris]

Do the D996 near St Martin des Olmes (or any of the surrounding roads really) from Clermont Ferrand to Saint Etienne. It has a cafe halfway along it which is a frequent biker rest stop.

September is the best time to go too IMO. The smaller roads will be deserted.
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[reddeviljp]

We've done a few routes to and from the south of France but the one I prefer is the 'back' route which avoids the A6 and A7 Dijon-Lyon-Montpellier route.

Pick up the A71 south of Orleans and head south towards Clermont-Ferrand and onto the A75 heading for Montpellier but don't branch West until you cross the bridge at Millau which is the highest bridge I've been on. Amazing.If you want the Pyrenees you can branch west shortly after and head for Toulouse and south and onto Andorra.

This route avoids the constant attention of Les Flics that pop up everywhere on the A6 and A7 looking for instant euro fines from unsuspecting Brits, Dutch and German bikers and car drivers.

When finished in the Pyrenees you can take the A9 to Marseilles and the Cote D'Azur.