First tour questions/opinions

[definitelyinc...]

Hello,

I have recently passed my A2 license and bagged myself a ER6n '13 plate in red.

Now having upgraded from a 125, I would love to do some touring next year, however I want to plan and budget well.

Will most likely solo tour since I don't have any biker buddies.

Does anyone have any tips from their first tour? Something perhaps that could've improved the experience?

How do you guys plan out your routes to ensure you travel through as many nice places as you can?

How do most of you prefer to spend your nights? I need a very lightweight solution, and one that's cheap (so no hotels etc. unless they're really cheap there). If hotels, do bikes tend to be secure? Anyone had theirs nicked?

Literally have 0 knowledge about touring so any input is appreciated, cheers.

Thanks,

Rapt0r

[chickenstrip]

[Polarbear]

UK or abroard?

Also, do you like things organised or off the cuff?

One thing I wouldn't be without is a satnav just in case. It doesn't have to be anything special so google maps on your phone will get you out of trouble if totally lost. Just make sure petrol stations are on it.

I'm an organised type of person so I plan my routes and distances as well as stopping off points. 300 miles in a day is my comfortable max and really 200 is better allowing stopping off and having a look around.

One of my first trips was up to Scotland. GF & I had 5 days at a cheap farmhouse B&B in the wilds and spent each day going somewhere different. t was nice having a comfy bed to come back to at night!

I've done a few on my own but I prefer to be with someone, be it wife/GF or a mate on another bike.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Mawsley]

Life's a journey - pack your shit and go enjoy.

Take a decent tent, hit the cheapest ferry you can find and head for the sun. France has a municipal camp site in every town. Rock up, pitch, drink cheap wine.

Venture into Spain. Keep hydrated. Find a camp site. Rock up, pitch, drink cheap wine.

Get the ferry to Africa. Some places may have poor wine supplies, in which case take drugs. Use secret stash of money or bottom to bribe police.

Get cheap ferry to another continent. Continue journey and fuck work.

Do not - DO NOT - start a fucking blog or Youtube channel. This is probably my best tip.

[definitelyinc...]

[definitelyinc...]

[definitelyinc...]

[BrownTrousers]

My advice would be to just get on with it. If you overthink the planning and the problems you will never go and you should definitely go!
Unless you are planning to go to seriously 'exotic' places, it doesn't take much planning anyway - just make sure your bike is up to the job (tyres and chain).

In terms of security at hotels, I couldn't carry a huge chain and I found that an alarmed disc lock, and a parking space just outside my room / tent was the best way to put my mind at ease.

Each to his own but after long trips to wales, peak district and lake district using maps, I decided to buy a satnav before my trip to Scotland and I was much happier. Got to see a lot more because I wasn't stopping to check maps / stressing about missing a turn / getting lost.

I found 300miles a sensible maximum for a days riding, allowing just enough time to stop for lunch and a few photos but not much more (depending on the time of year / if you want to ride into the night). It will be less if you go with mates.

I found a good way to plan routes was to research good motorbiking roads (on interwebs, in bike books or magazines) and then try to string them together.
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Ducati Multistrada 950 | Triumph Tiger 800 XR | Honda CBR500R | Yamaha YBR 125 Custom

[pepperami]

Cargo nets mean you can carry all sorts of shapes and sizes on your bike.
Spare cable-ties will solve a multitude of problems.

And the most important one I can pass on take toilet paper with you
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[definitelyinc...]

[definitelyinc...]

[chickenstrip]

The way I got into touring wasn't a bad method I think. did a week exploring Wales on the SV650 I had then. I didn't book anything, just took the camping gear, and when it got to early evening, looked for a campsite. On this first one, I stopped at Erwlon campsite at Llandovery, and did all my exploring just as day rides from that base. This included all the way up to Snowdonia as far as Caernarfon - sore arse!

Second one, I now had a Fazer 1000, much more suitable for the job, and went up the A1 from London to Scotland, via York and various places of interest to me along the way. Third one was a more extensive version of the 2nd, about 3000 miles in 3 weeks, but a different route and destinations largely.

I didn't use a sat nav, just a road atlas that still does me good service today. Otherwise, I was quite happy to get lost now and again - adds to the adventure, and you stumble across some interesting places you wouldn't otherwise have thought of. Having said that, I'd use a sat nav of some description abroad, just to make it easier to find my hotel of a night if nothing else. Get used to this in the UK first, where you'll perhaps have less concerns due to language and customs, and you'll have a bit more confidence to tackle Europe and elsewhere on later trips - not that you shouldn't consider plunging straight into that if you want.

Taking the camping gear will give you the flexibility to not have to worry about where you're going to stop each night, plus no deadline mileages and points you have to be at at the end of each day, but using booking.com to sort B&Bs/hotels as you go works well too.

So far, I've had no problems with secure parking worries, but I haven't stayed at many places where the risk seemed high anyway, as I'm usually more interested in countryside destinations than city ones, but others here have more experience of that than me. General consensus seems to be to check the security of parking by phoning before booking if you do have concerns.

As to where you go, what interests you? I look for spectacular scenery and great biking roads (often the one follows the other), castles and other historical architecture. So start with a region you want to visit, research what fits your tastes and interests, and then get the maps out and find the most scenic routes between them.

If you enjoy your first tour, it won't be your last, so don't feel you have to try to see everything in one trip.

This site is useful when choosing your route:

https://www.bestbikingroads.com
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Do a couple of local camping overnighters and figure out what works for you beforehand. Worse case scenario is you have a crap night's sleep but you're not too far from home. Learn to use your kit in the comfort of your own home too - cook a meal using the stove and pot you intend to take, so you're not trying for the first time when cold, miserable, wet.

Obviously not an issue if you intend to eat take out every day, but I at least need to get a brew on before crawling out of my sleeping bag, and am happy with a big pile of Smash and beans for dinner.

Blog or Youchoob to your heart's content. Just keep it to yourself, family and friends before spamming any forums with it.
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[alan29]

Thats what I did first time - a couple of nights two hours away. Proper camp site with toilets etc. Test all the gear. Felt like Livingstone!
If you don't take to camping YHAs are reasonably cheap.

[devonboy]

Just go for it, as already said wales is a great place for bikes but I am a 1+ for France. Britany or Normandy with a bit of the Loire will give you the bug for more. Also for me camping in France is easy with plenty of choice on campsites and adds to a sense of adventure, but each to their own.
Plenty of trip reports on forums to give you an idea about what you want to get out of your trip. Relax and enjoy.

[pepperami]

[Freddyfruitba...]

I'm in a similar position - want to do some first-time touring next summer.

One thing that worries me a bit (compared with touring in a <cough> car), is the security aspect for all your gear... eg, if you want to park up and make a pitstop for tea at the motorway services, or go and do some on-foot sightseeing, isn't some scrote instantly going to have it away with any kit which isn't locked in a hard pannier or top box?

Just wondered how the more experienced cope with this?
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KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS

[The Shaggy D.A.]

I work on the basis that if I can't afford to lose it, it comes with me. Strap stuff down tight and run a cable lock through handles stops the opportunist from having kit away, but anyone with a knife can soon open bags and help themselves to the contents. You can buy lockable wire nets which will make access awkward but again, it's not going to stop someone who is determined.

Or just get travel insurance, and stop living in fear
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[alan29]

Hard luggage and one of those curly bicycle locks for helmets and jackets - through visors, down sleeves and through a bit of metalwork on the bike.

[pepperami]

[Polarbear]

I know lots of people on here will disagree, but if you really get the bug for touring, buy a bike that is suitable with hard luggage. Even just a cheap Deauville will be great when you don't want to lug stuff around. Or get hard luggage for your ER6, you don't have to keep on on the bike when you aren't using it.

One of the best bikes I toured on on the cheap was an XJ900. Full Givi luggage and shaft drive. Lovely bit of kit for relative pennies.
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[definitelyinc...]

[Mawsley]

People make their luggage choices as they see fit - but if you are planning on serious travel then soft is better than hard imo.

One decent off and brackets break or cases split. Decent tour soft luggage is less secure to leave unattended but so much more forgiving in use.

Not cheap, but the Magadans have been trail proven.

[definitelyinc...]

[Mawsley]

I can recommend the MSR Elixir and porch. Packs down small and light, versatile for weather conditions from hot to wet. Again, not cheap - but then not at the top end either.