-
Welcome to the new B.I.R.D. Forum. Please be sure to read the "New Member / New Registered ? Please Read" thread in the Coffee Shop. This contains some important information. To become a full member ( £5.90 a year ) simply click on your user name near the top on the right I hope you enjoy the new site ................ Jaws ( John )
Scottoilers and Germany
- Thread starter SILVERONE
- Start date
G
Gerrard
Guest
Scottoilers
Hi Silverone.
Go right to the top and ask Scottoiler themselves, an email will do.I'm sure they must know.....Interesting......
Zippo.
Hi Silverone.
Go right to the top and ask Scottoiler themselves, an email will do.I'm sure they must know.....Interesting......
Zippo.
R
roXXo
Guest
Interesting
I posted the same question a while back. I had read in one of the motorcycling magazines that they were illegal in Germany, but had not had that confirmed by any other organization.
I posted the same question a while back. I had read in one of the motorcycling magazines that they were illegal in Germany, but had not had that confirmed by any other organization.
God I hope not.....
We have been going to germany for the past 3 years, and we have a Scottoiler fitted to our bird....
Never been pulled or even had it hinted at the illegality of it...
The German riders were interested in it when we started going, but never have said anything about it since...
I will email our friends in Germany and ask the question for you...
I will let you know when the results come through..
Cheers,
Rolfy
:beer:
We have been going to germany for the past 3 years, and we have a Scottoiler fitted to our bird....
Never been pulled or even had it hinted at the illegality of it...
The German riders were interested in it when we started going, but never have said anything about it since...
I will email our friends in Germany and ask the question for you...
I will let you know when the results come through..
Cheers,
Rolfy
:beer:
C
cbr11xx
Guest
Spoke to a German biker mate of mine on MSN:
XXander says:
can you confirm sometihng please
XXander says:
http://www.bikersoracle.com/blackbird/forum/showthread.php?t=17641
XXander says:
Scottoilers and Germany
Thomas says:
Yep... illegal. In Germany you need something called a ABE (Allgemeine Betriebserlaubnis) with everything you put on your bike or car otherwise it's illegal. I don't think Scottoiler have this certificate as they would have to supply it with every Scottoiler sold in Germany.
XXander says:
how about zorsts then?
Thomas says:
No e-stamp -> Illegal. And they can impound your bike for that even and won't let you ride it until you change them.
Thomas says:
Also they have to come with this ABE certificate as well.
Thomas says:
Bikes in Germany are even limited to certain makes of tyres!
Thomas says:
However, if you're bike's not registered in Germany you shouldn't have a problem... apart from the loud exhausts that is.
XXander says:
does that mean if i have a uk registered bike in germany there wouldn't be an issure with having a scottoiler fitted?
Thomas says:
Don't think so... although I could be wrong.
Thomas says:
For just a visit to Germany it shouldn't be an issue. If you're involvedin an accident, however, they might look deeper.
XXander says:
can you confirm sometihng please
XXander says:
http://www.bikersoracle.com/blackbird/forum/showthread.php?t=17641
XXander says:
Scottoilers and Germany
Thomas says:
Yep... illegal. In Germany you need something called a ABE (Allgemeine Betriebserlaubnis) with everything you put on your bike or car otherwise it's illegal. I don't think Scottoiler have this certificate as they would have to supply it with every Scottoiler sold in Germany.
XXander says:
how about zorsts then?
Thomas says:
No e-stamp -> Illegal. And they can impound your bike for that even and won't let you ride it until you change them.
Thomas says:
Also they have to come with this ABE certificate as well.
Thomas says:
Bikes in Germany are even limited to certain makes of tyres!
Thomas says:
However, if you're bike's not registered in Germany you shouldn't have a problem... apart from the loud exhausts that is.
XXander says:
does that mean if i have a uk registered bike in germany there wouldn't be an issure with having a scottoiler fitted?
Thomas says:
Don't think so... although I could be wrong.
Thomas says:
For just a visit to Germany it shouldn't be an issue. If you're involvedin an accident, however, they might look deeper.
M
mikew
Guest
OK, two schools of thought on this, and I'll try to get a definitive answer next time I'm out there.
Ist.
Illegal because the system by it's very nature drops oil onto the chain and therefore by default, onto the road if not setup correctly, or when blipping the throttle at lights etc, causes it to over oil and drop on the road. Oil on the road in Germany is a very big "NO NO" and hefty fines do get dished out.
(That said, systems like the Pro-Oiler (see www.Pro-Oiler.com) is sold throughout europe, although it is a slightly different set up.)
2nd.
Legal, provided it is fitted in strict accordance with the manufacturers literature, and has the ABE (Allgemeine Betriebserlaubnis) documentation mentioned earlier.
Indeed, I've just fitted an after market main stand to the Strom, and this came with all the certificates, type approval documents, very precise fitting instructions, otherwise it won't pass the TUV test (should it ever be returned to me after having yet another fookin engine fitted, that's #4 now
) .
I've also just bought a set of LSL high bars for my Thunderace, and again, a whole load of documentation came with it.
However, I have picked up about 10 "after market" accessory catalogues since January, and not one of them list the Scottoiler system, which does kinda ask the question "why".
I would think that any non German registered bike with one fitted, whilst on hoilday etc, would not attract any unwanted attention, unless there was an accompanying oil slick and a trail of wrecked vehicles behind it!
The comments made in CBR's post above are also true regarding exhausts and tyres, and if you are involved in an accident, and you are running non-type approved tyres, then you are in the wrong, regardless of how the accident occured, as you should not have been on the road at the time. Important point is that in Germany, Road Law is just that, LAW, whereas over here in the UK, The Highway Code is "only" an Approved Code of Practice, and as such is open to interpretation in court.
In Germany if you have an accident, then someone has broken a LAW, and the attending Police can and invariably will, decide at the scene, who is at fault, and there are no arguments, no "knock for knock" decisions, no "he pulled out" "yeh but you were going to fast" etc etc type scenarios.
"Accidents" don't happen in Germany on the roads, but crimes do. Worth remembering if you're touring there.
Get back to you soon.
regards
mike
Ist.
Illegal because the system by it's very nature drops oil onto the chain and therefore by default, onto the road if not setup correctly, or when blipping the throttle at lights etc, causes it to over oil and drop on the road. Oil on the road in Germany is a very big "NO NO" and hefty fines do get dished out.
(That said, systems like the Pro-Oiler (see www.Pro-Oiler.com) is sold throughout europe, although it is a slightly different set up.)
2nd.
Legal, provided it is fitted in strict accordance with the manufacturers literature, and has the ABE (Allgemeine Betriebserlaubnis) documentation mentioned earlier.
Indeed, I've just fitted an after market main stand to the Strom, and this came with all the certificates, type approval documents, very precise fitting instructions, otherwise it won't pass the TUV test (should it ever be returned to me after having yet another fookin engine fitted, that's #4 now
) . I've also just bought a set of LSL high bars for my Thunderace, and again, a whole load of documentation came with it.
However, I have picked up about 10 "after market" accessory catalogues since January, and not one of them list the Scottoiler system, which does kinda ask the question "why".
I would think that any non German registered bike with one fitted, whilst on hoilday etc, would not attract any unwanted attention, unless there was an accompanying oil slick and a trail of wrecked vehicles behind it!
The comments made in CBR's post above are also true regarding exhausts and tyres, and if you are involved in an accident, and you are running non-type approved tyres, then you are in the wrong, regardless of how the accident occured, as you should not have been on the road at the time. Important point is that in Germany, Road Law is just that, LAW, whereas over here in the UK, The Highway Code is "only" an Approved Code of Practice, and as such is open to interpretation in court.
In Germany if you have an accident, then someone has broken a LAW, and the attending Police can and invariably will, decide at the scene, who is at fault, and there are no arguments, no "knock for knock" decisions, no "he pulled out" "yeh but you were going to fast" etc etc type scenarios.
"Accidents" don't happen in Germany on the roads, but crimes do. Worth remembering if you're touring there.
Get back to you soon.
regards
mike
Last edited by a moderator:
M
mikew
Guest
As promised, a reply ...........
OK, got this back from a reliable source, i.e. the guy who manufactures the Pro-Oiler in this case, so he SHOULD know if he can sell his product in Germany.
I've edited out the bits that are not relevant to the topic .....
**************
There is not a single piece in the regulations that even mentions
chain oilers.
Of course, in Germany like anywhere else, if your vehicle (whatever it is)
is making an oily mess on the road/pavement/parking space then there's
the potential for being served a "get your oily heap repaired" notice
and having to go for a technical control to ensure the problem is
fixed.
In this sense, a chain oiler is just a part of the bike seen as a
whole. If it's badly or dangerously fitted, then the tester can flunk
it on general construction-and-use grounds - but that's as far as it
goes.
In the Pro-Oiler case however, because it's an electronic device
fitted to a motor vehicle, it is required to have CE certification
for compliance with electromagnetic interference norms.
The Scottoiler doesn't need any certification at all.
But that doesn't prevent it being covered by general
construction-and-use regulations.
At some point there seems to been an "issue" with Scottoiler having to
fit a flow-control valve to limit maximum oil-flow. May be an urban
myth - there's nothing about it on the website. For sure, it's
technical nonsense to fit an fcv without temperature compensation,
which the Scottoiler doesn't have.
And there's the usual trick of saying "TUV-approved". I could get
TUV-approval for my cat as a bed-warming device if I was stupid enough
to pay the necessary fees;+))
Hope that's what you needed to know...
***************************
So hopefully that's laid that myth to rest then for all you touring types! :beer:
Regards
Mike
OK, got this back from a reliable source, i.e. the guy who manufactures the Pro-Oiler in this case, so he SHOULD know if he can sell his product in Germany.
I've edited out the bits that are not relevant to the topic .....
**************
There is not a single piece in the regulations that even mentions
chain oilers.
Of course, in Germany like anywhere else, if your vehicle (whatever it is)
is making an oily mess on the road/pavement/parking space then there's
the potential for being served a "get your oily heap repaired" notice
and having to go for a technical control to ensure the problem is
fixed.
In this sense, a chain oiler is just a part of the bike seen as a
whole. If it's badly or dangerously fitted, then the tester can flunk
it on general construction-and-use grounds - but that's as far as it
goes.
In the Pro-Oiler case however, because it's an electronic device
fitted to a motor vehicle, it is required to have CE certification
for compliance with electromagnetic interference norms.
The Scottoiler doesn't need any certification at all.
But that doesn't prevent it being covered by general
construction-and-use regulations.
At some point there seems to been an "issue" with Scottoiler having to
fit a flow-control valve to limit maximum oil-flow. May be an urban
myth - there's nothing about it on the website. For sure, it's
technical nonsense to fit an fcv without temperature compensation,
which the Scottoiler doesn't have.
And there's the usual trick of saying "TUV-approved". I could get
TUV-approval for my cat as a bed-warming device if I was stupid enough
to pay the necessary fees;+))
Hope that's what you needed to know...
***************************
So hopefully that's laid that myth to rest then for all you touring types! :beer:
Regards
Mike
C
CAD
Guest
TUV vs MOT!
As already said anything you fit to a German vehicle has to have an ABE and be allowed to be fitted to your type/make of vehicle. Their version of the V5 actually tells you things like minimum and maximum wheel rim and tyre sizes your particular make of vehicle can have fitted. Their vehicles come under the 2 yearly TUV regs, ours come under our own annual MOT regs. They can't tell us what to fit and we can't tell them! If Scottoilers are illegal in Germany it's 'cos it hasn't got an ABE but they can't stop non-German vehicles from having it fitted. I spent many happy biking years in a German bike club as a Squady. Only guy on a UK plate in the club and I had a Scottoiler fitted!!
As already said anything you fit to a German vehicle has to have an ABE and be allowed to be fitted to your type/make of vehicle. Their version of the V5 actually tells you things like minimum and maximum wheel rim and tyre sizes your particular make of vehicle can have fitted. Their vehicles come under the 2 yearly TUV regs, ours come under our own annual MOT regs. They can't tell us what to fit and we can't tell them! If Scottoilers are illegal in Germany it's 'cos it hasn't got an ABE but they can't stop non-German vehicles from having it fitted. I spent many happy biking years in a German bike club as a Squady. Only guy on a UK plate in the club and I had a Scottoiler fitted!!
I hate to be the one to argue but I am afraid the statement everything you fit on your bike has to be TUV ( or as our deutsches freinds pronounce it, toof ) approved. ( although ALMOST everything has to be certified ! )
Scottoiler have never bothered to apply for certification.. To start with because of the costs, but then there was the fiasco of a certain german motorcycle screen getting a certificate almost by default 'because they are the only screen makers in Germany and they should have one even if the screens are a bit thin and do shatter a bit easy !'
After that a lot of firms decided not to bother and german motorcyclists have missed out on all sorts ever since..
Dave, you are ok having an oiler and all the other bits and bobs fitted because you are on Brit plates..you do not have to carry the great wad of TUV's around with you .. and of course your a handsom devil may care guy who larfs in the face of danger ! :bow:
Mike W is in fact spot on with everything he says :bow:
Scottoiler have never bothered to apply for certification.. To start with because of the costs, but then there was the fiasco of a certain german motorcycle screen getting a certificate almost by default 'because they are the only screen makers in Germany and they should have one even if the screens are a bit thin and do shatter a bit easy !'
After that a lot of firms decided not to bother and german motorcyclists have missed out on all sorts ever since..
Dave, you are ok having an oiler and all the other bits and bobs fitted because you are on Brit plates..you do not have to carry the great wad of TUV's around with you .. and of course your a handsom devil may care guy who larfs in the face of danger ! :bow:
Mike W is in fact spot on with everything he says :bow:
M
mikew
Guest
Jaws said:
gosh, could I quote that on my CV? :}
M
mikew
Guest
Jaws said:
As my Strom IS german registered, I have to carry ALL of my documentation with me ALL of the time, and for example, on this paperwork is a list of all the tyres I can legally fit (which were available at the date of registration, obviously as new tyres come on the market, I can get approval via the local licensing office to add new tyres to the document). Over in the UK, you could more or less fit whatever you want, i.e. there is nothing in UK law preventing a 'Bird rider fitting Avons, Dunlops, Continentals, Metzler, Bridgestones etc etc just by asking for the correct sizes, and even that is not always required.
I cannot fit an aftermarket exhaust unless it has a TUV certificate, which must be presented at the inspection, or the original must be refitted. I have recently bought and fitted a set of LSL raised bars for my Thunderace, and even they came with a TUV certificate, my aftermarket luggage system, even though it is a genuine Suzuki set, still has to have the appropriate certificates. Even my heated grips and mainstand have their own certificates!So you end up carrying a load of small bits of paper with you, generally they are A5 in size.
I have a Pro-Oiler fitted to my Strom (excellent bit of equipment IMHO), and will have to remove it prior to the TUV test, because I don't have a TUV cert for it (cos I bought it in Belguim), unless I can get Pablo to get me a cert.
I have to carry my passport (in leiu of an identity card) and my driving licence when driving/riding out there, cos if you don't have it and you are stopped, you can get fined just for that, and then if there any other infringements, the bill goes on.
mike
S
solorider
Guest
mate of mine went to germany for a holiday,found he needed some spark plugs for his yamaha so off he trots to the only local bike dealer which was a suzuki dealer,he gave them the spark plug type and they said sorry they couldnt sell them the spark plugs because he wasnt riding a suzuki! my mate who has friends living in germany says you cannot even change the spark plugs in your engine with a different make if they are not tuv approved!:t
G
Gerrard
Guest
Solorider
Funny you should say that about the spark plugs I had the same thing with tyres. I needed a rear for the Bird and I went to a Yamaha dealer in Malaga who sells loads of tyres, when I asked the prices he informed me that I could not get one cos I had a Honda not a Yamaha??!! It must be a European thing by the sounds of it, so I resorted to sending for a pack of three tyres (2 rears and 1 front) ?189 plus carriage from a tyre place in London, quite a good deal I thought.
Zippo
Funny you should say that about the spark plugs I had the same thing with tyres. I needed a rear for the Bird and I went to a Yamaha dealer in Malaga who sells loads of tyres, when I asked the prices he informed me that I could not get one cos I had a Honda not a Yamaha??!! It must be a European thing by the sounds of it, so I resorted to sending for a pack of three tyres (2 rears and 1 front) ?189 plus carriage from a tyre place in London, quite a good deal I thought.
Zippo
S
solorider
Guest
im glad in some ways that i do live in england,our rules and regs seem lax compared to some countries,europe for only selling parts for the one brand you advertise and australia for zero tolerance on speeding,pity we couldnt get their weather here as well then i would be happy
B
bitontheside
Guest
We are going to Germany this year, is their any more things I need to know that differs from France, Spain etc ?????[/QUOTE]
Yeah - the Germans speak German, the French speak French - God knows what the Spanish speak as I don't understand it!
Coat
Hat
Gone.............
Yeah - the Germans speak German, the French speak French - God knows what the Spanish speak as I don't understand it!
Coat
Hat
Gone.............
C
CAD
Guest
They do miss out!!
Appologies!! Not everything!! But the Technische Ueberwachungs Verein (think that's it!) is all things God re vehicles. Our Deutche friends miss out on much fun due to this 'wonderful?' organisation. I do believe that that huge wad of A5 ABE's have to go with you everywhere just in case the ever watchfull Polizei decide to pull you over. Even they have an annual bash that needs to be paid for! And who better than the innocent and unsuspecting motorist. DOH!!! :xm
Appologies!! Not everything!! But the Technische Ueberwachungs Verein (think that's it!) is all things God re vehicles. Our Deutche friends miss out on much fun due to this 'wonderful?' organisation. I do believe that that huge wad of A5 ABE's have to go with you everywhere just in case the ever watchfull Polizei decide to pull you over. Even they have an annual bash that needs to be paid for! And who better than the innocent and unsuspecting motorist. DOH!!! :xm
M
mikew
Guest
actually, they don't miss out ....
... on very much!
Anyone reading this thread might be under the assumption that German riders are missing out on a lot of after market stuff. Not so, in fact far from it.
The Hein Gericke catalogue for example, is over twice the size of the UK one, and most of the extra stuff is of a "technical" nature rather than clothing.
The POLO chain of shops is a bit like our old M&P, except they generally have most stuff in stock (germans don't like to wait for their stuff to be ordered and delivered), and their catalogue is 736 pages long.
Check out the online version at
www.polo-motorrad.de
and if anyone wants something from them, contact me and I can usually bring it back in my hand luggage (unless it is a full akro system for a CBX 6!!).
Also check out
www.louis.de
for a similiar rival chain of outlets, and again, if you see something you want etc etc.
The old urban myth about germans having to return their bikes to standard spec before the TUV test is just that, a myth.
If they have the relevant TUV documentation for any of the accessories fitted to their bikes, then they can be presented to the TUV tester without any problem. Any problems that would arise would normally be down to the actual fitting of the accessories i.e. not actually bolted on correctly.
FAO BOTS:-
"We are going to Germany this year, is their any more things I need to know that differs from France, Spain etc ?????"
You must carry your driving licence and insurance documents at all times.
Ensure that you have access to cash (via the cash itself or a VALID credit card) just in case you do get pulled for something.
Don't argue with the Police, they are armed! However they will allow you to have your say in the event that you get stopped. Act polite and shrug your shoulders generally knocks off ?20 !!!
30mph = 50kph = VILLAGES!
This is where most people fall foul of the speed traps, and there are a few, but not like here thankfully. Speed cameras are around, grey in colour and not obvious where they are, although crossroads and junctions in towns are favourites.
On entering a village you will NOT see a 50 sign, but what you will see is a yellow sign with the village name on it. This is the start of the 50kph zone, and when you leave the village, a white sign with the name and a big line diagonally through indicates the end of the 50kph zone.
Germans, surprisingly, tend to stick to speed limits on most roads, especially if they are touring themselves. It seems that only us crazy brits have to blast everywhere at 99% of full throttle. Probably another reason why the big trailie type bikes, BMW's and Hardley Movings are popular, why buy something that can exceed the speed limits in 1st gear?
Autobahns:
these are not the unrestricted playthings that most blinkered brits seem to belive them to be! Indeed, many of them have posted limits as low as 80kph.
If you see a speed limit sign with the words "bei nasse" underneath, this means that this limit only applies when the road is wet, and is usually rigoriously enforced if the police are around.
The germans are generally well disciplined in lane discipline, i.e. once they have passed someone, they will move over to the right. If you don't move over, expect to have a mirror full of fast moving whatever sitting right on your tail. They don't tend to lane hog.
Generally speaking, autobahns have a "advisory" upper limit of 130kph, about 85mph. Above this, your insurance is generally not valid, so you do speeds at over this at your own risks etc etc.
If you are unlucky enough to be involved in an incident/accident where excessive speed (i.e. over the 130kph) is a factor, then you could be in a lot of trouble. If you are deemed to have caused the accident as a result of your speed, then best you get a good lawyer.
However, some stretches of autobahn have minimum speed limits, so if you are faced with a round blue 80kph (for example) sign above your lane, you must be capable of maintaining that speed. These are generally on long uphill sections in the mountain areas.
Prioirity from the right:
In 99% of cases, it will be obvious to all parties as to who has the priority at any junction. Normally this is indicated by a yellow diamond which faces the driver who has priority, and the non-prioirty driver has a white diamond with black diagonal lines across it.
If there are no such signs, and no "STOP" signs present, then you must assume that prioirty is to your right side, so you must give way, so Hans can (and will) pull out on you. Junctions in and around housing estates are the places to be particularly careful, as these do tend to rely on the "right prioirty" rule. Has the added benefit of naturaly slowing the traffic down.
BUT ..... there is an exception to this (isn't there always!).... and this is ...
Roundabouts:
Germans hate them. With a passion.
Because of the prioirty rules above, they would have to give way to vehicles coming onto a roundabout, and when the germans "discovered" roundabouts, they realised that the "right prioirty" rule couldn't apply. And this goes against everything they have ever been taught about in regards to motoring.
Normally germany had cross roads for junctions, and a lot of them have/had traffic lights controlling them. So therefore there was never any room for ambiguity as to who went where and when.
But these lights were expensive to install and maintain, whereas a tin of paint and a few insurance claims were cheaper (for the government anyway) in the long run.
When roundabouts were first introduced in a big way (and this is fairly recently), there were actual protest riots! HGV's used to park on them!
Even now, most germans won't indicate which exit they are intending to use, this isn't bad driving, more often or not, they simply have no idea which exit they need until they get there!
Road signs:
If you are following a particular place name (through a town mostly) and all of a sudden it disappears from the boards, don't panic. Keep going straight at junctions and more often than not, it will re-appear. Germans tend to only post changes of direction (from the staright ahead).
If you see a mercedes benz (any) with a number plate prefixed "HH", then take avoiding action ! cos they are from Hamburg, and are generally regarded as the worst drivers in germany!
I have seen HGV wagons forced off the road by HH drivers who don't give a flying fook about anything! You have been advised!!!
Lastly:
to quote from a magazine .........
" it is advisable to ride on the right, but not essential..."
soz for the long post, if there is anything else you want to know, drop me a line, and if you know your route/dates/etc and need an english speaking contact if you get in trouble, let me know, and I'll get Andrea to interpret for you if I can't.
best regards
Mike
... on very much!
Anyone reading this thread might be under the assumption that German riders are missing out on a lot of after market stuff. Not so, in fact far from it.
The Hein Gericke catalogue for example, is over twice the size of the UK one, and most of the extra stuff is of a "technical" nature rather than clothing.
The POLO chain of shops is a bit like our old M&P, except they generally have most stuff in stock (germans don't like to wait for their stuff to be ordered and delivered), and their catalogue is 736 pages long.
Check out the online version at
www.polo-motorrad.de
and if anyone wants something from them, contact me and I can usually bring it back in my hand luggage (unless it is a full akro system for a CBX 6!!).
Also check out
www.louis.de
for a similiar rival chain of outlets, and again, if you see something you want etc etc.
The old urban myth about germans having to return their bikes to standard spec before the TUV test is just that, a myth.
If they have the relevant TUV documentation for any of the accessories fitted to their bikes, then they can be presented to the TUV tester without any problem. Any problems that would arise would normally be down to the actual fitting of the accessories i.e. not actually bolted on correctly.
FAO BOTS:-
"We are going to Germany this year, is their any more things I need to know that differs from France, Spain etc ?????"
You must carry your driving licence and insurance documents at all times.
Ensure that you have access to cash (via the cash itself or a VALID credit card) just in case you do get pulled for something.
Don't argue with the Police, they are armed! However they will allow you to have your say in the event that you get stopped. Act polite and shrug your shoulders generally knocks off ?20 !!!
30mph = 50kph = VILLAGES!
This is where most people fall foul of the speed traps, and there are a few, but not like here thankfully. Speed cameras are around, grey in colour and not obvious where they are, although crossroads and junctions in towns are favourites.
On entering a village you will NOT see a 50 sign, but what you will see is a yellow sign with the village name on it. This is the start of the 50kph zone, and when you leave the village, a white sign with the name and a big line diagonally through indicates the end of the 50kph zone.
Germans, surprisingly, tend to stick to speed limits on most roads, especially if they are touring themselves. It seems that only us crazy brits have to blast everywhere at 99% of full throttle. Probably another reason why the big trailie type bikes, BMW's and Hardley Movings are popular, why buy something that can exceed the speed limits in 1st gear?
Autobahns:
these are not the unrestricted playthings that most blinkered brits seem to belive them to be! Indeed, many of them have posted limits as low as 80kph.
If you see a speed limit sign with the words "bei nasse" underneath, this means that this limit only applies when the road is wet, and is usually rigoriously enforced if the police are around.
The germans are generally well disciplined in lane discipline, i.e. once they have passed someone, they will move over to the right. If you don't move over, expect to have a mirror full of fast moving whatever sitting right on your tail. They don't tend to lane hog.
Generally speaking, autobahns have a "advisory" upper limit of 130kph, about 85mph. Above this, your insurance is generally not valid, so you do speeds at over this at your own risks etc etc.
If you are unlucky enough to be involved in an incident/accident where excessive speed (i.e. over the 130kph) is a factor, then you could be in a lot of trouble. If you are deemed to have caused the accident as a result of your speed, then best you get a good lawyer.
However, some stretches of autobahn have minimum speed limits, so if you are faced with a round blue 80kph (for example) sign above your lane, you must be capable of maintaining that speed. These are generally on long uphill sections in the mountain areas.
Prioirity from the right:
In 99% of cases, it will be obvious to all parties as to who has the priority at any junction. Normally this is indicated by a yellow diamond which faces the driver who has priority, and the non-prioirty driver has a white diamond with black diagonal lines across it.
If there are no such signs, and no "STOP" signs present, then you must assume that prioirty is to your right side, so you must give way, so Hans can (and will) pull out on you. Junctions in and around housing estates are the places to be particularly careful, as these do tend to rely on the "right prioirty" rule. Has the added benefit of naturaly slowing the traffic down.
BUT ..... there is an exception to this (isn't there always!).... and this is ...
Roundabouts:
Germans hate them. With a passion.
Because of the prioirty rules above, they would have to give way to vehicles coming onto a roundabout, and when the germans "discovered" roundabouts, they realised that the "right prioirty" rule couldn't apply. And this goes against everything they have ever been taught about in regards to motoring.
Normally germany had cross roads for junctions, and a lot of them have/had traffic lights controlling them. So therefore there was never any room for ambiguity as to who went where and when.
But these lights were expensive to install and maintain, whereas a tin of paint and a few insurance claims were cheaper (for the government anyway) in the long run.
When roundabouts were first introduced in a big way (and this is fairly recently), there were actual protest riots! HGV's used to park on them!
Even now, most germans won't indicate which exit they are intending to use, this isn't bad driving, more often or not, they simply have no idea which exit they need until they get there!
Road signs:
If you are following a particular place name (through a town mostly) and all of a sudden it disappears from the boards, don't panic. Keep going straight at junctions and more often than not, it will re-appear. Germans tend to only post changes of direction (from the staright ahead).
If you see a mercedes benz (any) with a number plate prefixed "HH", then take avoiding action ! cos they are from Hamburg, and are generally regarded as the worst drivers in germany!
I have seen HGV wagons forced off the road by HH drivers who don't give a flying fook about anything! You have been advised!!!
Lastly:
to quote from a magazine .........
" it is advisable to ride on the right, but not essential..."
soz for the long post, if there is anything else you want to know, drop me a line, and if you know your route/dates/etc and need an english speaking contact if you get in trouble, let me know, and I'll get Andrea to interpret for you if I can't.
best regards
Mike