touring europe,where to start?!

[chris___]

Next year I want to travel through part of europe by bike, its something I've always wanted to do so im just gonna do it. But Ireally dont have a clue where, or how to start planning Its not goin to be the biggest of trips due to money, time etc. But countries I really want to go to are:
France
Spain
Monaco
Italy, bologna ducati museum
Has any one get any advice as to how to find the best places to visit, how to find the best roads to take (I'm not a big fan of motorways lol)
cheers
chris
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Yamaha rxs100 > Kawasaki ZZR600 > Kawasaki ZX6R > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda Bros 400 > Suzuki SV650S K2
Bikepics page

[chris___]

anyone?
____________________
Yamaha rxs100 > Kawasaki ZZR600 > Kawasaki ZX6R > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda Bros 400 > Suzuki SV650S K2
Bikepics page

[froggy128]

dover?
formule 1 hotels they are very cheap about £15 a room, thats if your not camping. https://www.hotelformule1.com/formule1/index.html

[PsychoHippy]

It really does depend on how much money you have to spend and how long you have to spend on the trip. The logical crossing would be Dover - Calais as it's quick and cheep, but don't rule out a longer one further down in to France or even Spain.
If you only have 2 weeks and a small budget, I would consider only doing one or 2 countries and spend the time exploring rather than trying to rush across 4.
Let us know some more details (also the time of year you want to go) and I'll try and come up with some sort of plan for you. It would also be handy to know what bike you will be riding and if you will be on your own, as you generally ride more slowly when there are others with you. As I rule, I try not to plan more than 300miles a day. That's an easy distance to ride and allows plenty of time to sort yourself out when you get lost.
The most important thing I have found on my trips to europe have been taking a good map for all the areas you intend to go to. Also a phrase book (or a basic grasp of the language) is invaluable, people react much better to you if you try to speak their language.
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I spend all my money on bikes and beer, the rest I simply waste!

[Hooky]

Yep ! done it a few times.
The best trips are the ones that are un-planned.
1 . make sure you have seperate health cover and insurance, breakdown cover
2 take at least two credit cards.
3 Take a copy of every document (v 55, insurance etc) wrap in waterproof bag and tape under saddle (along with spare key)
4 never try to do more than 2oo miles a day .
5 a good map that show the toll roads (avoid)
6 allow at least 12 days.
7 tyre weld, small selection of tools
8 a tent and sleeping bag with built in ground sheet (some have a self inflating matress. (even if planning to stay in f1s etc)
Many warm cosy barns , empty sheds come in handy .

9 draw small amounts of cash , (many petrol stations etc dont take credit cards)

I have ridden down to southern Spain and back with nothing more than cash in my pocket, did it in four days , easy !((( not reccomended !))) but its suprising how helpfull others are when your in the shit.

10 Realise that things in Europe run at a slower pace, respect the locals and talk to them and ask advise from them.

I had a puncture on the Spain trip, it was late at night so I knocked on a farm building to ask if i could leave the bike in his driveway.

This old couple not only gave me a room for the night,(along with a fine breakfast) they also got their grandson to fix the puncture .
Turns out the old fella used to work for Gilera , total bike nut, still send him the occasional post card (he is well into his 90s)

BIGGEST TIP ! dont plan everthing, live for the day, tomorrow will be better.

Edit * all done on a old 250 superdream

[EuropeanNC30R...]

Never more than 200 miles a day? Hell, you'd never get anywhere!

[map]

[EuropeanNC30R...]

And I'm looking at his itinery, which includes both Spain and Italy. If you're doing the traditional Dover-Calais ferry, that's a lot of miles.

There's always the option of taking the ferry down to Spain and riding back, could work out well here as he could ride across Northern Spain, across the Pyrhenees (sp), across the French Riveria through to Monaco then into Italy. From Bologna you could travel North across the Austrian Alps (some spectacular passes there) into Southern Germany. Pop into the beer halls in Munich, stumble out 6 hours later, then head for the Nurburgring. It's on the way home so it'd be rude not to

I would far rather 300-350 miles a day on average and have a good few rest days to check the country / places you stop at out, than ride 200 miles a day every day of the trip.

I'm not talking about 'munching motorways either', 300-350 is very achievable on country roads.

PS there is one motorway you may like, and not far from Bologna. I'm intending to hit it sometime around the start of August, it's meant to be the best motorway in the world... full of knee-down corners

[Wave2k]

200 miles is easy when your having fun on twisty roads take it from me.
its the motorway journeys which are mentally and physicly draining
cough im a 700 miles legend
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[natv4]

You may want to check the other euro thread as well, there seems to be a few people thinking of doing similar stuff.

I haven't really got anything to add, the guys above have said everything I wanted to say.

As a kind of sideline, it would be nice to have something on the site to assist in meeting up with BCFers in other countries. Just a thought.
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Travelling around the world...a bit at a time. Where am I now? / Visit my BLOG
Bike: Blue Honda VFR800fi (*NEW*) Mileage: 22k Countries visited: GB/F/D/CZ/PL/E/I/B/A/HR/H/Rus/E/MA
West Europe...2004, East Europe...2005, Russia/France...2006, Morocco...2007

[Zoffo]

[EuropeanNC30R...]

Didn't think they had receptionists on that late?

When we arrived at midnight at the Gap F1 all we did was stick the credit card we booked on into the machine outside, for it to give us our room number and entry codes

I take you 'idiot English' couldn't speak a word of French either then

[natv4]

Sorry Zoffo I have to agree with Maurice here. We got to our chosen one late, and although the cheeky frenchman had the nerve to not understand a word of English (in France, would you believe it!) we managed to get by and got our room. I wouldn't let a bad experience tarnish what is a very cheap hotel with reasonable comfort.

That said always take your phrase book.
____________________
Travelling around the world...a bit at a time. Where am I now? / Visit my BLOG
Bike: Blue Honda VFR800fi (*NEW*) Mileage: 22k Countries visited: GB/F/D/CZ/PL/E/I/B/A/HR/H/Rus/E/MA
West Europe...2004, East Europe...2005, Russia/France...2006, Morocco...2007

[froggy128]

ive never seen a receptionist on ive just used the card machines and had no problems.

[Jamie_ducati]