- Joined
- Oct 10, 2004
- Messages
- 3,580
- Reaction score
- 47
909 miles, not quite an iron butt
I've been touring Germany and Poland for the last couple of weeks on my F650GS twin. I stopped for a couple of nights at the Horizons Unlimited German meeting. Germany was as lovely as ever, though expensive with the low pound. Poland was less expensive however ultimately disappointing with boring scenery, truck-filled poorly-maintained roads and junk food.
The weather wasn't too good either, and I was in Torun (south of Gdansk) on Sunday night when I saw the late night weather forecast for the next few days. This was so poor I decided to cut and run for Germany. I did some routes in Mapsource and downloaded them to the Zumo. Monday morning I was up and away at 06:23 (05:23 UK time). I spent an hour visiting the series of Prussian fortresses in Torun, then headed for the motorway. What I hadn't realised was that the motorways in that area were toll roads and the Zumo had 'avoid toll roads' set. Consequently I didn't get to the East German border at Frankfurt am Oder until 13:03. 239 miles in 6 hours 40 mins isn't exactly flying!
But by then I was thinking of heading much further west, and now I was on the German Autobahn system I made making better progress cruising at between 75 and 80 mph. I rapidly transited East Germany and after 221 miles I was near Hannover by 17:17. I realised there was a chance of making all the way home so got a list of ferry times sent to my mobile (I already had a return ticket from Calais).
To ensure I kept alert I started drinking a can of Red Bull at each fuel stop. 190 miles further on and I was entering Netherlands at 20:43, then at 21:30 and another 47 miles I was into Belgium. By now I was aiming for the 00:30 ferry and raised my cruising speed to 85-90 mph, though fuel economy took a hit and was now below 50 mpg. The French border was another 130 miles further on and I entered France at 23:19. Just another 36 miles to Calais where I arrived at 23:46. Total milage to this point was 862 miles.
The 00:30 ferry turned into the 00:55, the 60 minute crossing took 90 minutes and to cap everything P&O couldn't get the bow ramp down on the quay and spent an hour faffing about. I eventually got away from Dover at 02:30 UK time and made it back home at 03:54 (04:54 CET).
A total of 909 miles plus a tortuous ferry crossing in 23 hours 31 minutes.
I couldn't have done this with the standard screen and seat; the high Eagle screen kept much of the wind blast off me even at 90 mph and the AirHawk seat helped my not-so-iron butt.
I'd like to say my Ultimate Ear monitors provided me with non-stop music from the iPod but they failed (for the fourth time) half way through Germany.
Tim
I've been touring Germany and Poland for the last couple of weeks on my F650GS twin. I stopped for a couple of nights at the Horizons Unlimited German meeting. Germany was as lovely as ever, though expensive with the low pound. Poland was less expensive however ultimately disappointing with boring scenery, truck-filled poorly-maintained roads and junk food.
The weather wasn't too good either, and I was in Torun (south of Gdansk) on Sunday night when I saw the late night weather forecast for the next few days. This was so poor I decided to cut and run for Germany. I did some routes in Mapsource and downloaded them to the Zumo. Monday morning I was up and away at 06:23 (05:23 UK time). I spent an hour visiting the series of Prussian fortresses in Torun, then headed for the motorway. What I hadn't realised was that the motorways in that area were toll roads and the Zumo had 'avoid toll roads' set. Consequently I didn't get to the East German border at Frankfurt am Oder until 13:03. 239 miles in 6 hours 40 mins isn't exactly flying!
But by then I was thinking of heading much further west, and now I was on the German Autobahn system I made making better progress cruising at between 75 and 80 mph. I rapidly transited East Germany and after 221 miles I was near Hannover by 17:17. I realised there was a chance of making all the way home so got a list of ferry times sent to my mobile (I already had a return ticket from Calais).
To ensure I kept alert I started drinking a can of Red Bull at each fuel stop. 190 miles further on and I was entering Netherlands at 20:43, then at 21:30 and another 47 miles I was into Belgium. By now I was aiming for the 00:30 ferry and raised my cruising speed to 85-90 mph, though fuel economy took a hit and was now below 50 mpg. The French border was another 130 miles further on and I entered France at 23:19. Just another 36 miles to Calais where I arrived at 23:46. Total milage to this point was 862 miles.
The 00:30 ferry turned into the 00:55, the 60 minute crossing took 90 minutes and to cap everything P&O couldn't get the bow ramp down on the quay and spent an hour faffing about. I eventually got away from Dover at 02:30 UK time and made it back home at 03:54 (04:54 CET).
A total of 909 miles plus a tortuous ferry crossing in 23 hours 31 minutes.
I couldn't have done this with the standard screen and seat; the high Eagle screen kept much of the wind blast off me even at 90 mph and the AirHawk seat helped my not-so-iron butt.
I'd like to say my Ultimate Ear monitors provided me with non-stop music from the iPod but they failed (for the fourth time) half way through Germany.
Tim
iron butt
Way to go, Tim!
While you were doing that, I had to content myself with the 50 miles each way to work in London.
See you soon
regards
Simon
Way to go, Tim!
While you were doing that, I had to content myself with the 50 miles each way to work in London.
See you soon
regards
Simon
All that motorway monotony, with no ipod?
Seriously Tim, that's way more hardcore than I could manage, there's only so much of my own singing that I can stand!
Mark
SamD
Registered user
that is certainly pretty hardcode Tim 
Most I've done in a day is just over 250 miles, but I have a little summer tour of Devon and Cornwall that will top that hopefully.
Most I've done in a day is just over 250 miles, but I have a little summer tour of Devon and Cornwall that will top that hopefully.
GUNNER1
Guest
Nice one Tim,
Any pic`s of your bike & screen, I guess its the new Twin F650GS you have.
Any pic`s of your bike & screen, I guess its the new Twin F650GS you have.
done a few of those myself, well done, the 650 twin seems to munch the miles
Markblox
Registered user
Well done tim, I bet you were really alert in the last 300 miles! Lucky you got home.
Adamski
Guest
Tim next time you are in Poland let me know, I'll show you good roads, good food and not boring scenery. If I'm in UK I don't go for a ride in London or around it on M25. Come on without wife though ...I've been touring Germany and Poland for the last couple of weeks on my F650GS twin. I stopped for a couple of nights at the Horizons Unlimited German meeting. Germany was as lovely as ever, though expensive with the low pound. Poland was less expensive however ultimately disappointing with boring scenery, truck-filled poorly-maintained roads and junk food.
The weather wasn't too good either, and I was in Torun (south of Gdansk) on Sunday night when I saw the late night weather forecast for the next few days. This was so poor I decided to cut and run for Germany. I did some routes in Mapsource and downloaded them to the Zumo. Monday morning I was up and away at 06:23 (05:23 UK time). I spent an hour visiting the series of Prussian fortresses in Torun, then headed for the motorway. What I hadn't realised was that the motorways in that area were toll roads and the Zumo had 'avoid toll roads' set. Consequently I didn't get to the East German border at Frankfurt am Oder until 13:03. 239 miles in 6 hours 40 mins isn't exactly flying!
But by then I was thinking of heading much further west, and now I was on the German Autobahn system I made making better progress cruising at between 75 and 80 mph. I rapidly transited East Germany and after 221 miles I was near Hannover by 17:17. I realised there was a chance of making all the way home so got a list of ferry times sent to my mobile (I already had a return ticket from Calais).
To ensure I kept alert I started drinking a can of Red Bull at each fuel stop. 190 miles further on and I was entering Netherlands at 20:43, then at 21:30 and another 47 miles I was into Belgium. By now I was aiming for the 00:30 ferry and raised my cruising speed to 85-90 mph, though fuel economy took a hit and was now below 50 mpg. The French border was another 130 miles further on and I entered France at 23:19. Just another 36 miles to Calais where I arrived at 23:46. Total milage to this point was 862 miles.
The 00:30 ferry turned into the 00:55, the 60 minute crossing took 90 minutes and to cap everything P&O couldn't get the bow ramp down on the quay and spent an hour faffing about. I eventually got away from Dover at 02:30 UK time and made it back home at 03:54 (04:54 CET).
A total of 909 miles plus a tortuous ferry crossing in 23 hours 31 minutes.
I couldn't have done this with the standard screen and seat; the high Eagle screen kept much of the wind blast off me even at 90 mph and the AirHawk seat helped my not-so-iron butt.
I'd like to say my Ultimate Ear monitors provided me with non-stop music from the iPod but they failed (for the fourth time) half way through Germany.
Tim
Ghostrider
Registered user
sore rear
Just done Dover to Ancona in Italy in two and half days about 1100 miles with F800 standard seat and screen---yes my butt did hurt. Currently in Instanbul heading north tomorrow total milage on my return will be about
6500 miles.
Got a blog thing going on the GS travellers threads called round the bloc tour
Just done Dover to Ancona in Italy in two and half days about 1100 miles with F800 standard seat and screen---yes my butt did hurt. Currently in Instanbul heading north tomorrow total milage on my return will be about
6500 miles.
Got a blog thing going on the GS travellers threads called round the bloc tour
Adamski
Guest
What kind of scenery did you have in mind?
Well done Tim!
what kind you want to see?
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2004
- Messages
- 3,580
- Reaction score
- 47
Much of Poland is fairly flat, think Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Fenland. Mind you I was warned of this by my father-in-law who toured Poland in 1940-45.
We entered Poland from the area of Dresden and our immediate impression was long stretches of flat sandy pine forests, hence Norfolk. The traffic in Krakow was so bad we didn't really get to see as much as we had hoped. Because of the weather I skipped going to Zakopane and the Carpathian Mountains as I didn't fancy riding in clouds. The trip north towards the Russian border was mainly flat, hence Lincolnshire.
I really enjoyed the Mazurian Lakes which is an area of gently rolling glacial lakes and mounds. This extended east as far as Malbork. Then it was back to Fenland.
Tim
We entered Poland from the area of Dresden and our immediate impression was long stretches of flat sandy pine forests, hence Norfolk. The traffic in Krakow was so bad we didn't really get to see as much as we had hoped. Because of the weather I skipped going to Zakopane and the Carpathian Mountains as I didn't fancy riding in clouds. The trip north towards the Russian border was mainly flat, hence Lincolnshire.
I really enjoyed the Mazurian Lakes which is an area of gently rolling glacial lakes and mounds. This extended east as far as Malbork. Then it was back to Fenland.
Tim
BM_donator
Registered user
France in a week - done it!
I've just completed a week long trip round France on my 800, Champagne, Chamonix, Carmargue, Andorra, Biarritz, Vendee and Normandy - 2600 miles.
Despite having the hose problem and 5 other recall items fixed 2 days before leaving the bike performed faultlessly - even at 7000 feet in Andorra.
Death defying hairpins and 90mph cruising for 3 hours, it took it all in its stride fully loaded with camping gear.
Numb bum and tingly fingers aside, I'd do it again tomorrow.
Me and my GS are in love again
I've just completed a week long trip round France on my 800, Champagne, Chamonix, Carmargue, Andorra, Biarritz, Vendee and Normandy - 2600 miles.
Despite having the hose problem and 5 other recall items fixed 2 days before leaving the bike performed faultlessly - even at 7000 feet in Andorra.
Death defying hairpins and 90mph cruising for 3 hours, it took it all in its stride fully loaded with camping gear.
Numb bum and tingly fingers aside, I'd do it again tomorrow.
Me and my GS are in love again
Greggers
Registered user
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2008
- Messages
- 1,285
- Reaction score
- 0
Lucky b'stard! We're off on family hols to Avignon week after next, I have to fly home with my foster-son after the first two weeks, but I'm using the bike to get back down there the next day... I'd rather be touring, but a blast down l'Autoroute de Soleil is better than nothing!
Then it's two weeks camping en famille and the bike goes into the trailer for the trip home again ...
Glad you had a great time though...
Greg
ILMV
Registered user
Well played!
I am planning a trip through Belgium, Germany, over the Alps into Italy, Southern France, Paris, Le Mans then back to Plymouth via Roscoff.
How did you get on with the language? Did you stay in any hotels that you might recommend?
The one thing I would want to invest in is a new chair, the stock F800GS seat kills me after about 100 miles.
Also, did you do it alone or did you have a passenger and did you have panniers?
Cheers
Ben
I am planning a trip through Belgium, Germany, over the Alps into Italy, Southern France, Paris, Le Mans then back to Plymouth via Roscoff.
How did you get on with the language? Did you stay in any hotels that you might recommend?
The one thing I would want to invest in is a new chair, the stock F800GS seat kills me after about 100 miles.
Also, did you do it alone or did you have a passenger and did you have panniers?
Cheers
Ben
BM_donator
Registered user
Well played!
I am planning a trip through Belgium, Germany, over the Alps into Italy, Southern France, Paris, Le Mans then back to Plymouth via Roscoff.
How did you get on with the language? Did you stay in any hotels that you might recommend?
The one thing I would want to invest in is a new chair, the stock F800GS seat kills me after about 100 miles.
Also, did you do it alone or did you have a passenger and did you have panniers?
Cheers
Ben
Ben,
I did O-Level French 30 years ago but just the basics will get you through;
Beer = Biere (pronounced the same)
I camped every night apart from Andorra - I just rode to each destination and used an old Michelin Camping guide once I got there to find the nearest campsite to town. I felt booking hotels would not give the freedom I wanted.
In Andorra I just drove into the town and went in the first hotel I saw - 39 euros including breakfast at the Hotel Florida!
I did the trip entirely alone - I do have family and friends, but this was my choice. I decided where I went, what route, when I stopped, where I stayed, when I ate and when I drank. (I did the last one every night) Bliss.
I did meet new people - some of whom became good friends I'll stay in touch with through the miracle of spending two nights on the beer together.
I have the vario panniers and also a Kappa top box. I prefer lockable boxes as you can leave them attached to the bike reasonably securely when fuelling up, eating or taking a leak. Everything of value was in a Famsa tank bag which went with me everywhere.
Enjoy your trip and remember, planning is optional extra
Geoff.
ILMV
Registered user
lol, "Planning in an optional extra", I like that.Thanks for your answers, I hope you enjoy your next adventure.
