UK>Spain ... the noob ride!

[P.]

Hey,

Firstly, I will be doing this next year...around the summer-ish period.

So.. I know I need a passport.
I need money.
I need a bike.

I have the bottom 2, going to apply for passport in Feb.

Is there anything specific I need to know? Any specific routes? Can one get to Spain from UK directly or do I really have to ride through France, I hate France... no idea why, but I do not like.

Any advice from things to take, what to avoid.. usual helpful stuff

[.....]

Ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao or Santander - takes 24hrs and you can sit and drink beer rather than slog through thr land of Le Frog.

[P.]

[Joncrete Cungle]

[moppy]

South of France is pretty love for riding around in. And the Pyreenees is fun.

I've only ever gone to Barcelona, but the ride from Perpignon to Barcelona was a lot of fun. Spain had the best roads of the countries I have been to in Europe. Wide, open, windy desert roads, so much fucking fun.

You sure you want to do it on a 125?

[P.]

[Joncrete Cungle]

You can look on https://www.autoroutes.fr/ for a guide to the distance in km, toll costs and estimated fuel costs. Calais to Santander is

[P.]

That is why a 125 is my ideal horse.

I can carry 2 weeks worth of guff on that, it sips fuel, its a fantastic little plod mobile.

[garth]

As much as I like little bikes, if I was doing that trip (Which incidentally I probably am) I'd take a big bike.

It's not like the UK, there's space and decent roads, and decent weather to take advantage of them.

[P.]

[tatters]

Have rode though Spain over 10 times now l really would,nt use a 125 unless your renting one there to just explore around a local City/Provence. Lots of very long open roads and steep twisty mountain roads in Spain far better on a bike with a bit more power and with better tires than a 125.
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[P.]

[garth]

You'll only do about 2k, so a set of tyres on a big bike will last.

The kind of roads in the alps or pyrenees you want more than a 125, trust me!

Yes you'll use more fuel, but both my hornet and 9r proved very frugle on long trips in warmer climates. 55ish mpg.

Plus if you leave it til the last minute you can do the 850 mile trip home in a day on a big bike, tis what I did last year.

[P.]

I've checked the rough routes we want to take ... going through France was 1000 miles.

Then around spain was about 1.5k

I know I won't wreck tyres, but I do have a tightish budget and 2 bikes I'd rather not smash. I could happily abandon the Vara there if it broke down quite severely. The CBR would be very different.

[Spudly]

Nothing wrong with bimbling along taking in the scenery. I imagine if you are on a bigger bike faced with an inviting road you would end up in a zoom and not actually seeing any of the surroundings.

If you see a nice looking road, make a note of it and come back some other time. Zipping up and down has it's appeal, but there is something peaceful about taking it easy.
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The Old Apprentice

[P.]

I do intend to return, I also intend to go through France > Alps > Germany (Nurburg if its still open) and just get out and about.

I've never had a holiday abroad, I intend to go slow and save dollar.

Pretty much confirmed end of July and the Plymouth > Scamtander ferry.

[Ericck]

Rode down to Spain this summer, always thought I would get the ferry and bypass France but so glad I didn't.

Apart from when I got lost on the Toulouse ring road I did not use one toll road, mainly used the little D roads and some N roads.
The back roads in Northern France are very straight (be great on a cruiser) but from a bit North of Clermont Ferrand all the way to Barcelona, the roads and scenery were fantastic. Whilst the UK was under water, most of Western Europe was having a heatwave so I mainly rode without a jacket (safety police hijack another thread) so although on a 600 this kept my speed down to around 50-60 mph (speed limits on D roads is either 90kmh or 70 kmh anyway), so I don't see any problems with going on a 125. I did around 250 to 300 miles a day and it took me 5 days to get to Salou.

The French love to camp and I camped out all the way. There are municipal campsites from as little as 5 euros but the average is more like 10 to 12 euros per night. Around Paris can be a lot more and Northern Spain along the coast is ridiculous, I was quoted 55 euros near Palafrugell and the best I could find around there was about 25 euros, although it was Jul/Aug.

Tips. The fuel stations in remote areas (and out of hours) are often unmanned so you cannot get fuel without a credit card (probably take debit cards but not 100% as never use my debit card).
If you see a sign saying speed camera (not too many in rural areas) then 99% of the time there will be one not far ahead, also if you go past those radars that show your speed, there are sometimes proper speed cameras not far after.
Learn at least one French phrase, when previously riding in Normandy and just spoke English I got ignored a lot so.
No parlez Francais tres bien (no speak French very well) and Je voudrais camp ici ce soir (I would like to camp here tonight) made all the difference and people suddenly became very helpful, so much so that I was able to camp in the car park when a campsite was full and it was getting dark when near Perpignan.
No problems in Spain as I speak a bit of Spanish.

IMHO travelling through France to Spain will be a much better adventure than the Bilbao ferry and probably cheaper, although petrol isn't really any cheaper in France (diesel is though).
For those who haven't ridden in France the roads are so easy to follow (just look for the green sign showing the next big town) I did 3000 miles with just a tiny Michelin route guide that only shows a small percentage of the roads (could be challenging when lost, which you invariably will get from time to time but who cares if your not in a hurry).

Should be a trip you wont forget.

Picture just outside Barcelona (El Prat is the name of the airport )

https://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a408/ericck/100_07972_zps84dc5dd9.jpg
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Current Bike: 2004 Suzuki Bandit 600S
Previous Bikes: Yamaha FS1E, Mobylette Moped Thingy, Suzuki GS125, Kawasaki Zephyr 550, Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Kawasaki ER500, Suzuki Bandit 600, Honda CBR600F, Triumph Street Triple 675, Suzuki V Strom 650, Suzuki Bandit 1200, Suzuki SV650N, Honda CB500F.

[P.]

Nice,

Thank you, was debating learning basic phrases on my way home today.

I carry light, I live lighter!

The whole petrol station is the main worry for me. Ideally I'd fill up during the day, twice probably as I get a rough 170 miles to a tank.

[Ericck]

[blade023]

Hi Paddy, I haven't been that active on this forum of late, but your post really interested me. I'd really like to do something like what you're thinking of, there's just one thing that might put me off..

Bearing in mind I've not ridden a bike abroad although I have lived in spain for 2 years; if you do decide to go for it just be extra careful out there. Whereas in the UK you might ride as if everyone is trying to kill you, in Spain you should ride as if everyone is a homicidal maniac trying to kill you. The drivers there are almost as bad as Italians. You won't see many cars over there that don't have a dent or a scratch in them.

Having said that I'm sure you're a much more competent and skilled rider than I am (based on my limited 2-3 year 3 bike experience) and a Spanish road trip sounds like a blast. Just make sure you get plenty of pictures!

Going back to having lived in spain, I became fluent enough in Spanish to be mistaken for a Spaniard on a few occasions, so if you want to know any useful phrases or need anything translating let me know! I learnt the Spanish as spoken by the locals (of Madrid and surrounding areas) as opposed to classroom Spanish which you can spot a mile off. If you got in a spot of bother I could even act as an interpreter by phone if needed; I don't get much opportunity to speak spanish any more except with myself. Those conversations are always a bit one sided..

Also I'd probably take a ferry to santander and ride from there. I've nothing against france land, but I've no real interest in it either.
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Current: VFR800 2008 13.7k and rising rapidly!
Sorn: 2003 FZS1000 30k(ish) looking to sell.

[P.]

Thanks for all the help and guidance, definitely something to think about.

I think my riding buddy is going to be a lesbian and bring his 500 So I may take my Bandit if it proves to be a reliable work horse.

[TomGT]

I'd recommend ADAC, we use it for the campervan.

For e79,50 you get full breakdown and recovery for you and your spouse, as well as travel insurance, key cover and more throughout Europe. Meaning if you break down they'll recover you back to the UK.

Scarier still, if you ring them up in the UK they send the AA out

If you give them a call, they send the documents through the post

Summary

Membership Benefits
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1992 ZXR 400

[P.]

Hmm, do they take into account any illnesses regarding the travel insurance.

I find I cannot get medical insurance abroad

[pepperami]

[P.]

I'd love to do it.

Think the issue is, if one goes on the 125 and one on a 500, one will be left behind at points.

Same if I take my 600, the 500 would get left behind should we find an amazing road.

Tempted to get the ZX6R on the road, just battered a bit and use it as a touring workhorse