bike route through europe?

[matlow]

myself and a friend really fancy a week or so biking through europe this spring/summer.

now at the moment its at the yes we'll do it stage, (i.e. its easy to say yes over a pint but doing is a different matter), even if he drops out the girlfriend and i still want to go. The possibilities for places to visit/routes to take seem endless.

anyone have any experiences to share? suggested routes or places to avoid would be greatly appreciated.
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Hornet 600, CBR600F, 929 blade, 07 R1, R1200GS, 09 Blade, 750 SRAD, ZZR1200, 954 Blade, KTM 990 Adventure, Ducati 749s

[v4forlife]

well im going down to the nurburgring for a week, you could come that way, france, belgium and finally almost all the way through germany, to the green hell

will
v4
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www.wilcollinsphoto.co.uk

[matlow]

that sounds a good starter. i'm in newcastle, so it would be ferry to either amsterdam/rotterdam/zebrugger. and a fairly simple route through to the ring. Though i dont know if i have the plums to go round!

cheers mate, thats leg one sorted
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Hornet 600, CBR600F, 929 blade, 07 R1, R1200GS, 09 Blade, 750 SRAD, ZZR1200, 954 Blade, KTM 990 Adventure, Ducati 749s

[bath of kylies]

V4forlife - when are you planning on going to the Nurburgring ? I was in the early stages (i.e. I'd discussed it over a pint... ) of sorting out this years trip to the green hell.

Have a couple of mates with cars who are also up for it - Easter had been discussed, but it's a bit early to guarantee the weather...

matlow - just do it - nothing better than dicing with ring-taxis, coaches and hertz-rent-a-cars

[matlow]

i know i will. to be fair it would be rude not to! anyone suggest a good way of getting an idea for the track prior to actually going? i.e. games/dvd etc...

i know theres no substitute for experience but it would be nice to have some kinda idea before i went.
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Hornet 600, CBR600F, 929 blade, 07 R1, R1200GS, 09 Blade, 750 SRAD, ZZR1200, 954 Blade, KTM 990 Adventure, Ducati 749s

[fastyan]

hi mate
well me and a few of my friends will also be heading to the ring this summer - however the last couple of years we have toured the alps and pyrenees - which are well worth it...

last year we caught the ferry to bilbao and then rode through the pyrenees/alps/home (i can well recommend the spain roads...)
the year before that we just did the alps (also did ireland as well)

what sort of trip are you planning and how long you thinking of going for??

you def don't need as many clothes as you think and def need a new set of tyres before you go (depending on how you ride though...)

[matlow]

with the help of autoroute, this is the route so far:

newcastle to rotterdam on the ferry,

rotterdam to the ring,

the ring to brenner pass (the border of Switzerland and Italy, should take me right through the alps),

from there down to Monaco,

monaco to nice and then either over to spain for a ferry or ride back up to rotterdam.

thats probably full of flaws but at least an idea is beginning to emerge!

looks about 1800 miles all in and pretty achieveable in a week and a bit.

although do you think i'm trying to cram too much in?

maybe less is more if you know what i mean (the girlfriend can answer that one )
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Hornet 600, CBR600F, 929 blade, 07 R1, R1200GS, 09 Blade, 750 SRAD, ZZR1200, 954 Blade, KTM 990 Adventure, Ducati 749s

[hugo-a-gogo]

[instigator]

[tintin]

[matlow]

cheers Tintin, i think i knew i was trying to get to much into to short a time. although i would love to get as far as Monaco. I'm torn between the whole go to a place spend a couple of days riding around locally, or, riding from place to place.

how many miles to estimate covering each day for instance? obviously there will be some motorway work involved but mostly A and B roads. 300 seem realistic or maybe more?

i guess flexibility is the key, theres no point in leaving somewhere i'm enjoying imensley just because i've planned the next leg
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Hornet 600, CBR600F, 929 blade, 07 R1, R1200GS, 09 Blade, 750 SRAD, ZZR1200, 954 Blade, KTM 990 Adventure, Ducati 749s

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

I will go with you in the Summer. As long as bike is ok etc.

[matlow]

anyones welcome to come along for all or part of it
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Hornet 600, CBR600F, 929 blade, 07 R1, R1200GS, 09 Blade, 750 SRAD, ZZR1200, 954 Blade, KTM 990 Adventure, Ducati 749s

[awj72]

[matlow]

sunny whitley bay here m8! always good to meet a fellow northern biker.
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Hornet 600, CBR600F, 929 blade, 07 R1, R1200GS, 09 Blade, 750 SRAD, ZZR1200, 954 Blade, KTM 990 Adventure, Ducati 749s

[awj72]

[Robchester]

Theres a few of us down here in Teesside, but i think a few of them may be on restricted licences. What bikes you lads got?

[awj72]

Here's mine, '91 cbr600

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=24726&highlight=





thinking about upgrading though, can sense an R6 coming on, anyone fancy a cbr???
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Woe to you, o earth & sea, for the devil sends the beast with wrath............
(my ebay clearout...... https://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZawj72QQhtZ-1 )

[Robchester]

very nice mate - R6 next? Thats ambitious if not only for insurance! Im looking at a Hornet next purchase but im not sure if im making the right choice (lack of protection)

[matlow]

very nice bike, i'm kinda lucky enough to own 3.

R plate hornet 600 (inherited from father so it'll never be sold)

Y reg cbr600 F1 in yellow (was a CatD write off so i'm going to prep it for track)

and my fav steed is an 03 Gixxer 600 (blue on white of course).

if i can get the girlfriend to take wedding photo's off the memory card i'll take a pic and post.

Again its good to get to know some fellow north east peeps

we should meet for a ride sooner rather than later if any of you fancy?
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Hornet 600, CBR600F, 929 blade, 07 R1, R1200GS, 09 Blade, 750 SRAD, ZZR1200, 954 Blade, KTM 990 Adventure, Ducati 749s

[awj72]

Sounds good mate, need to get work done on the cbr first, so need cash. Got a starter problem, will bump start ok, but nowt off the button. Been off the road all winter, has killed me. It is a 13 year old bike though I suppose, hence the thoughts of getting rid, maybe as track bike, & replacing at some point with something newer.
____________________
Woe to you, o earth & sea, for the devil sends the beast with wrath............
(my ebay clearout...... https://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZawj72QQhtZ-1 )

[Robchester]

Good idea on the ride out however i aint got the winter kit so i might be waiting till it warms up a bit (bit soft) and by then i might have a new machine

[matlow]

COLD! we're roughy toughy northerners! TBH its not much fun when its really cold but anything over about 7 degrees i dont really mind.

good luck on the starter problem, i occasionally get the same thing, even when the bikes been out for an hour. at the moment the digi speedo is showing whatever it feels like (my fault for being over zealous with the jet wash ).

but if anyone does fancy a couple of hours when its a bit milder gimme a shout
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Hornet 600, CBR600F, 929 blade, 07 R1, R1200GS, 09 Blade, 750 SRAD, ZZR1200, 954 Blade, KTM 990 Adventure, Ducati 749s

[Robchester]

double figures is ok with me - tbh i need winter gloves as they are the worst things to get cold. My body doesnt feel it that much however im not keen when its greasy out on the road like it is now. This new salt makes the roads very slippery

[tintin]