M
matty-on-the-back
Guest
This year me and my old man are traveling Europe on the bird. Can anybody give us any pointers, tips, advice e.t.c as we have never done anything like this before.
Cheers
Matty.
Cheers
Matty.
-
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 )
Hi Matty
w;;v
What do you want to know? There?s a fair few folk on here that tour?
R#?
Basics really are to get yourself some good breakdown cover, check what?s legally required of you by looking on the AA website and enjoy yourself.
:yo:
Plan everything to the last mile or just get over and go. Riding a bike in Europe doesn?t qualify you as a second class citizen as much as it does here, cars actually move into the ditch to let you pass!
Being a sponsor on here entitles you to discount on the Eurotunnel. Some folk prefer ferries, me I love the Tunnel, 35 minutes and you?re in France and away.
Motorways are quick, but boring. French ?A? roads are almost as quick, much more scenic and the further south or east you go, much more fun.
Hotels are cheaper than here, b&b?s can be cheaper still and a great way of meeting the locals. Campsites are at least as good as here.
Tolls on the motorways can add up, another reason to stay off them, and petrol can be impossible to find on a Sunday outside large towns and off the motorways. Oh and English credit cards don?t work in the supermarket 24 hour petrol stations.
:bang:
Try not to plan to travel too far at first. It?s easy to cover the miles, but unless you have to be somewhere by a certain time, take your time, enjoy the experience.
How long are you thinking of going for?
Any ideas where you?d like to go?
There?s loads of advice and ideas on here, just trawl through this section or check out visordown, ukgser, even the vfr forum on here. It?ll give you some ideas and you?ll find some good tips.
Word of warning though, it can be addictive. Empty roads, courteous and good (on the whole) drivers, great food, wine, beer, weather, people, scenery, mountains??. Can you tell I?m missing it?
:neenaw:
w;;v
What do you want to know? There?s a fair few folk on here that tour?
R#?
Basics really are to get yourself some good breakdown cover, check what?s legally required of you by looking on the AA website and enjoy yourself.
:yo:
Plan everything to the last mile or just get over and go. Riding a bike in Europe doesn?t qualify you as a second class citizen as much as it does here, cars actually move into the ditch to let you pass!
Being a sponsor on here entitles you to discount on the Eurotunnel. Some folk prefer ferries, me I love the Tunnel, 35 minutes and you?re in France and away.
Motorways are quick, but boring. French ?A? roads are almost as quick, much more scenic and the further south or east you go, much more fun.
Hotels are cheaper than here, b&b?s can be cheaper still and a great way of meeting the locals. Campsites are at least as good as here.
Tolls on the motorways can add up, another reason to stay off them, and petrol can be impossible to find on a Sunday outside large towns and off the motorways. Oh and English credit cards don?t work in the supermarket 24 hour petrol stations.
:bang:
Try not to plan to travel too far at first. It?s easy to cover the miles, but unless you have to be somewhere by a certain time, take your time, enjoy the experience.
How long are you thinking of going for?
Any ideas where you?d like to go?
There?s loads of advice and ideas on here, just trawl through this section or check out visordown, ukgser, even the vfr forum on here. It?ll give you some ideas and you?ll find some good tips.
Word of warning though, it can be addictive. Empty roads, courteous and good (on the whole) drivers, great food, wine, beer, weather, people, scenery, mountains??. Can you tell I?m missing it?
:neenaw:
G
Gerrard
Guest
Hi Matty,
There are lots of places to see in Europe but it depends on how long you are going for and in what direction you want to travel. Do you want to travel all the time or take time out to have a look round? I like to get there (where ever 'there' is!) then take it easy.
For example have a blast down to the south of France then take a day or 2 off, to have a ride round the mountains with just 2 of you on the bike with no luggage is a lot more refreshing than doing it with the bike loaded, but as you read on the forums some guys do it another way.
If you take in Spain you can get to Portugal as well, if you in southern Spain you can even do a day trip to Morocco which is good fun (and of course call in on me and have a cup of tea!)
If you want to go futher and you have a bit more time you can go to Sicily, we went a couple of years ago from here - very nice.
The lakes in northen Italy are worth a visit as is Pisa and you can stay in Viareggio as that has many cheap hotels and a wonderful promenade full of cafes and shops. On the way out or back the Millau bridge is worth a visit and the village under the bridge is very quaint.
Of course with good timing you could also do a European race meeting and watch a Moto GP or WSB!
As the other boys have said Europe is very bike friendly I'm sure you will have a great time and once you have done it once you will want to go back I'm sure.
Zippo
There are lots of places to see in Europe but it depends on how long you are going for and in what direction you want to travel. Do you want to travel all the time or take time out to have a look round? I like to get there (where ever 'there' is!) then take it easy.
For example have a blast down to the south of France then take a day or 2 off, to have a ride round the mountains with just 2 of you on the bike with no luggage is a lot more refreshing than doing it with the bike loaded, but as you read on the forums some guys do it another way.
If you take in Spain you can get to Portugal as well, if you in southern Spain you can even do a day trip to Morocco which is good fun (and of course call in on me and have a cup of tea!)
If you want to go futher and you have a bit more time you can go to Sicily, we went a couple of years ago from here - very nice.
The lakes in northen Italy are worth a visit as is Pisa and you can stay in Viareggio as that has many cheap hotels and a wonderful promenade full of cafes and shops. On the way out or back the Millau bridge is worth a visit and the village under the bridge is very quaint.
Of course with good timing you could also do a European race meeting and watch a Moto GP or WSB!
As the other boys have said Europe is very bike friendly I'm sure you will have a great time and once you have done it once you will want to go back I'm sure.
Zippo
tonymac
Registered User
we plan to go in juy/aug for 2 weeks ish, belguim, france, spain and potugal. maybe stay in spain for a few days and travel around from there or maybe stay a couple of days on the way down :dunno: Maybe someone could recommend places to stay?
I have heard in some countries that sat navs and helmet speakers are illigal, does anyone know if this is true?
if anyone knows of any other funny laws then this would be most welcome.
Tony
I have heard in some countries that sat navs and helmet speakers are illigal, does anyone know if this is true?
if anyone knows of any other funny laws then this would be most welcome.
Tony
Yes mate, it is.. Spain & France.....tonymac said:
Dont worry about it unduly though, as they dont seem to enforce it very much... We did France last year & no one batted an eye at the sat navs on the bike...
Add to the knowledge by the previous guys.... go ANTICLOCKWISE round the traffic islands (not clockwise like the so called "experienced" continental rider from IXXRAc7u8)
Also, in France, if you see a speedcamera sign with just a car on it, dont worry as its a forward facing one. But, if it has a car & a bike on it, then its a rear facing one & will get you nicked(notification can arrive up to 6 months after the flash) Also the signs tend to be exactly 100 metre before the camera, so keep em peeled (as Shaw Taylor used to say)
Take it easy & have a great time...
Best wishes,
Rolfy & Jan
R
Red Mick
Guest
I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong b0x1 but I believe the 'ban' on sat navs etc. refers to the use of advance warnings of speed cameras, which, in itself is against the country's laws, much as radar devices were once seen to be illegal in the UK (but not now)
G
Gerrard
Guest
Sat navs with radar detecters are useable now ..something to do with radars making money and not there for safety..I think... 
Zippo.
Zippo.
From here: - a good site showing where the cameras are, and the rules.
Speed camera detectors
There are two families of products available:
- Real radar detectors, forbidden by law in France.
- Radar warning systems, using a database of the location of the speed cameras coupled with a GPS. Allowed in France.
Radar and Laser Detectors - forbidden in France
Radar and Laser detectors detect active (in-use) speed cameras. Advances in speed camera technology have superseded these systems and new digital speed cameras are invisible to Radar and Laser detectors. Unlike GPS based systems there is no subscription with Radar and Laser detectors. Such a device is not allowed in France. Getting caught having such a device in your vehicle means a 1500 euros fine, device impounded (with the car if fixed to it).
GPS Speed Camera Detectors - allowed in france
A GPS speed camera detector relies on a database of speed camera locations. GPS speed camera detectors warn drivers of all known fixed and mobile speed cameras - good as long as they are known. It also offers the user many additional features including the exact camera type, range and perhaps most useful - the road speed limit. Some database updates for France can be available for free, but usually a small fee (monthly or annualy) is requested for easy accurate updates.
:beer:
Speed camera detectors
There are two families of products available:
- Real radar detectors, forbidden by law in France.
- Radar warning systems, using a database of the location of the speed cameras coupled with a GPS. Allowed in France.
Radar and Laser Detectors - forbidden in France
Radar and Laser detectors detect active (in-use) speed cameras. Advances in speed camera technology have superseded these systems and new digital speed cameras are invisible to Radar and Laser detectors. Unlike GPS based systems there is no subscription with Radar and Laser detectors. Such a device is not allowed in France. Getting caught having such a device in your vehicle means a 1500 euros fine, device impounded (with the car if fixed to it).
GPS Speed Camera Detectors - allowed in france
A GPS speed camera detector relies on a database of speed camera locations. GPS speed camera detectors warn drivers of all known fixed and mobile speed cameras - good as long as they are known. It also offers the user many additional features including the exact camera type, range and perhaps most useful - the road speed limit. Some database updates for France can be available for free, but usually a small fee (monthly or annualy) is requested for easy accurate updates.
:beer:
O
osprey03
Guest
As it's your 1st trip in Europe, maybe sticking to France would be best.
You don't mention how long you are going for though.
How about travelling to Burgundy, (about 350 miles from Calais), for some wine tasting. I can recommend some good campsites/gites just North of Dijon, or you can "slum" it with us as long as you don't mind 3 children & dog causing havoc !!
If you are going for 2 weeks, continue to the South Of France for a bit of R & R, then up the West coast to the Loire Valley for some more wine tasting.
People in France are very welcoming if you make an attempt to speak the lingo.
You don't mention how long you are going for though.
How about travelling to Burgundy, (about 350 miles from Calais), for some wine tasting. I can recommend some good campsites/gites just North of Dijon, or you can "slum" it with us as long as you don't mind 3 children & dog causing havoc !!
If you are going for 2 weeks, continue to the South Of France for a bit of R & R, then up the West coast to the Loire Valley for some more wine tasting.
People in France are very welcoming if you make an attempt to speak the lingo.
Was thinking along similar lines.osprey03 said:
We did Belgium, Germany (Black Forest, Lake Konstanz), Austria (Grossglockner), Italy (Dolomites, Lake Garda), Monaco then back up through the French Alps in a two week trip and to be honest a lot of it was a blur.
Far better to take your time, enjoy the roads, the country, it's people and it's food and booze. By hurtling through places on motorways, you miss so much.
Last year we came back up through France using the 'A' roads, based mostly on DS's route......whilst it wasn't as quick, it was far more enjoyable.
In fact in a trip that included the Millau Bridge, the Tarn Gorge and the Pyrenees, it was one of the highlights for us both.
Of course, if you're going for a specific event, motorways rule, but otherwise take your time and enjoy!
:yo:
Very true, even the basics will get you so much more....osprey03 said: