Chunnel to the Alps

[coyotie]

Planning on a trip no idea of a route say via Belgium- Luxembourg as some say France is less interesting ,l,m hoping for someone to show me a route maybe with places not to miss an stay .I,m a first timer for going abroad so l,m brain overload from the web as to how where ,when & what do to, But l do have a zumo550 the more the merrier for input
____________________
The open road to a biker is like a poem to a writer

VFR800i My current Ride

[doggone]

Well there isn't anything especially interesting in Belgium and Luxembourg.
France is actually rather more interesting and you could see some fantastic passes and the highest mountain in Europe without visiting any other country.
Chamonix is a pleasant very Brit-friendly town with breathtaking setting.
The Alps south of there are wonderful to explore with no particular plan, and become steadily warmer and drier as you head south.
a leisurely tour through eastern France to the Med then back north through the stunning river gorges like Tarn and Ardeche would be a good introduction and roads are generally not too busy at least outside August.

Distances are greater than in the UK and in the mountains progress can seem quite slow - beware of trying to fit too much into a limited time.

As per other thread the French are mostly quite ugly though.
https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=262921

[coyotie]

thanks so much it,s nice to know from experienced euro riding bikers is there a website showing such routes l can use from the chunnel
____________________
The open road to a biker is like a poem to a writer

VFR800i My current Ride

[barrkel]

Belgium, except for a few bits in the south-east (Ardennes), is terrible. I have memories of having to choose between bumpy concrete roads or motorway.

There are also some good roads around Luxembourg and a little further into Germany, the Eifel, etc. Germany spends more on its roads than Luxembourg does, and I suspect Luxembourg spends slightly more than Belgium.

I don't know how long you have, what your budget is, what your expectation for accommodation are, or even what time of year you're planning your trip for.

The way I've done it in the past, on trips to Germany (my GF is German), is to plan to stay somewhere near Charleville-Mézières on the first night after going through the eurotunnel, then every evening I'd map out a 300 mile route for the following day taking into account weather, what I've seen, the terrain view in Google Maps, etc., and book the next day's hotel near the end of that route. I don't book anything long in advance. Sites like booking.com make it easy.

I get my breakfast at the hotel so that I can set out earlier, generally make a pitstop in a McDonalds for lunch to minimize wastage of daylight hours (and also because my zumo has them all in the database, and if they're McDrives, you know they have parking) - McDonalds also has free wifi - and have dinner in or near the hotel, then plan the next day, and so on.

Stride around the continent in steps of 300+ mile routes. 300 miles a day is a comfortable pace. On the motorway, 600+ miles is easily done, but boring. Can be useful to extend your stay in a nice area though, until you have to rush back.
____________________
Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[doggone]

It's probably better to spend a few evenings with some proper paper maps and roughly plan your own route.
I do recommend the Michelin guides which show scenic tourist routes highlighted in green.

Most bikers enjoy twisty mountain passes but some just want to get south quickly as possible for more certain sun; others want to photograph castles, wildlife or topless sunbathers on the Riviera.

For a first trip a relaxed approach is best, with a rather vague route in mind. It's all strange and interesting the first time riding over there.

[cimbian]

France can be very interesting if you stay off the autoroutes as they are designed to go A to C bypassing B.
____________________
22PlusY
Current: Moto Guzzi 1100 Breva. Previous: Honda XL650V TransAlp
Bearded, Balding, Born again Buddhist Biker

[coyotie]

you know you guys are great l,ve been getting a bit tense about this trip but the advice is calming me down , l,m thinking of going in sept after the most of the tourists have gone and the tour de france is over
l,am a keen camper & used to biker camping all over the uk but will use b&b to pep me up maybe here an there abroad .I,m no skinflint but
can,t afford tobe uncareful how much l spend doing the trip

Which leads me to one important thing how much do l expect to spend doing a trip like this for 2 weeks l,ve no idea what the average cost of food -fuel B&B & camping or can you wild camp like in scotland
____________________
The open road to a biker is like a poem to a writer

VFR800i My current Ride

[garth]

F1 hotels for staying in France are good.

Northern France is shite.

Clermont Ferrand has good riding roads.

Just blitz northern france and head for the hilly bits. You can do the whole trip in a day, although it is pretty mind numbing if you do it (autoroutes)

[cimbian]

[Peirre oBollox]

buy yourself a copy of toby Ballentine`s "motorcycle journeys through western Europe"
and John Hermann`s "Motorcycle journeys through the Alps and beyond"
Both of these books are excellent reading & a great source of information inc routes
____________________
I accept no responsibility for swearing, drinking, motorcycle riding or your pregnant teenage daughter.

[spnorm]

The Vosges mountains in eastern France are an excellent way of getting to the Alps. Much better than the Black Forest IMHO. The Routes de Cretes was one of the best roads I've ever ridden

[coyotie]

any body know a non rip off card to get for paying my way for food fuel & general spending with no high charges as l don,t want to use my current account card for peace of mind ,was thinking of trying to get a bank of ireland account as they are already euros
____________________
The open road to a biker is like a poem to a writer

VFR800i My current Ride

[willis1337]

[motobiker]

I decided to switch banks - moved from Nat West - who really screw you for using a card abroad - to the nationwide - who don't

I tend to carry cash for most things - use the credit card for occasional fuel and larger bills. in case of emergency. And the debit card if I need to withdraw cash. not very likely.

In many ways i prefer to carry cash as it makes it easier to keep track of spending - for a Week in the Eifel - I'll take about 500 euros. keep some of that in my wallet. some 'under the seat' on the bike and the bulk stashed in a zip pocket inside my jacket. Any euros left over tend to get spent in the 'duty free' at the Chunnel in calais - before crossing back.
____________________
1999 R1100GS + 2006 F800S
(Nottingham)
Sooner or later opinions fade and the name on the tank matters not. I think that happens somewhere between 3rd and 4th gear. Enjoy the ride... everything else takes care of itself.

[Duke46]

You'll spend half of that on fuel so just make sure you have a good backup. It soon adds up when you're enjoying yourself and take a few scenic detours!
____________________
In the garage '05 FZS1000S, '10 KTM990SMT, '13 Tiger 800 ABS
Sold or scrapped '87 CZ125, '88 AR125, '86 GPZ500, '91 FJ1200, '05 XT600, '99&'05 CBR1100XX, '06 Pegaso 660

[Ash-69]

Years ago did the chunnel followed by the overnight car transporter train from Calais to Aix en le Provence, then round the south of France, Nice, Monaco, then into Italy at Ventamiglia and up to the great lakes, down through Bologne to Imola for the 500GP. Back through Valencia, Monaco, Nice, caught train back to Calais and home.

Did it on an old GSX600F with a set of soft oxford panniers hanging on for dear life. Highlights included the stunning scenery around Lake Garda, roaring through the mile long tunnels like street hawk and the relaxed attitude that the Italian cops had to speeding bikers , bet its not like that now.

Still think about that trip..........
____________________
FZ1-S Fazer (licence killer😢) , CRF1000L - Adventure Sport

[Ash-69]

Ha - I meant Genoa not Valencia - Better get my arse in gear for a repeat visit before I forget the route altogether....
____________________
FZ1-S Fazer (licence killer😢) , CRF1000L - Adventure Sport