Any tips for Brittany Ferries Plymouth to Santander?

[clutchspring]

When you leave your bike take a note of what deck your on & what number stairs you go up ( saves you wondering about looking for your bike at the other end)
I usually take a bag with me that fits in my topbox which has a change of clothes/ shoes & toiletries, bag out helmet in saves carrying panniers etc up the stairs.
Don't bother about fuel as there's a garage as you leave the port.
Enjoy your holiday,
Ian.

 

[John Armstrong]

When you leave your bike take a note of what deck your on & what number stairs you go up ( saves you wondering about looking for your bike at the other end)

I take pictures of where my bike is, the deck number etc to help me remember where it is. Helps me not to look too stupid!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I genuinely despair sometimes

Pay £600+ for a ferry and then baulk at buying decent food and make do with Tesco meal deals

Precisely
You’re on holiday
Usually take the buffet breakfast for the reasons stated and more often than not the a la Carte restaurant too, in the evening
Life’s too short and 24 hours on a ferry can go really slow

 

[Arsey]

Don't bother about fuel as there's a garage as you leave the port.
Enjoy your holiday,
Ian.

And join 200 other bikes who also didn’t bother about fuel.
I also make a point of filling up in Plymouth specifically because of the carnage in Santander if you don’t.

 

[Mr Bean]

I paid £217 and I quite like a Tesco sandwich.

That's less than I paid the first time I went, around 15 years ago. From Portsmouth, inside 2 berth cabin.

Like Rick, the last few times have been around £600 - admittedly outside 4 berth cabin, not that the costs are significantly higher.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Yeah but the same idiots pay £22k for a wankpanzer then save £50 by fitting AliExpress brake levers . Genius

Haha
Very funny and quite true
I was in a dealers yesterday, talking to the owner
He had a chap come in last Saturday come into the car park on a 1400 Kawasaki
The front discs were literally smoking
Dealer owner just thought it was some ACF 50 or some such, burning off the engine area
No it was the discs
They tipped the bike up on the side stand and the front wheel wouldn’t move
Rider said the bike wasn’t going very well that morning and hadn’t noticed the front brakes had been virtually stuck on
How long has it been like it, asks the dealer ?
Oh, this morning says the rider
I only fitted some some cheap Chinese levers before I rode over this morning
£30 copy levers on a 200 mph super bike
Turns out the pivot was cast in the wrong place and the rider had to tap them into position with a rubber mallet to get the bolts in
Another one at the weekend too, was a chap with a Superduke with a leaking rear master cylinder that the dealership had recently serviced and the chap was ranting on the phone, that they had done something to cause the leak
Due to the severity of the potential issue they sent a fitter over in the van to recover the bike
On arrival the mechanic saw the rear master cylinder cover wasn’t the one he’d serviced and worked on & wasn’t the oem KTM one
Since the service the errant owner had fitted a cheap Chinese anodised bling cover
On removing it, the fitter showed the owner the problem-no rubber o ring or even a machined recess to even fit one, just a face to face fit
Which under heat and pressure, pissed out brake fluid like good un, on a quick test ride
Refitted the oem cover and no further issues
Dealer said they get far more problems with owners meddling than the actual bikes themselves
We did laugh and a few eyes were rolled

 

[Wapping]

And join 200 other bikes who also didn’t bother about fuel.
I also make a point of filling up in Plymouth specifically because of the carnage in Santander if you don’t.

Cheaper fuel in Spain innit, mate. Sick of being robbed at home for me 20 litres. It’ll change me life the money I’ve saved queuing wiv likeminds off the ferry ‘cos I also brought me own scran ‘n brew, more lager that way ‘n all for the 24 hours on the boat like.

 

[The Other PaulG]

As has been said, 24 hours can feel quite long. If you pack your maps in your carry-on bag you can do some route planning on the boat. Hauling out a map in a lounge can also prompt other bods - who are also bored - to chip in with useful recommendations.

Take a good book too.

Beware of other bikers who don't process the fact that wet steel decks might be slippery.

 

[lmg]

Or is it more practical to fill up before the ferry so once you are on the bike and leaving the port, you don’t have to stop 5 mins later and get off again?

I personally join the ferry with a full tank so I can get on with riding.

Regarding the food - I just don’t enjoy sitting in a restaurant on my tod eating - I’d rather than a quick sarnie and crack on with some writing or whatever. Never say never though - I might fancy a cooked breaky in the morning and suggestions in this thread will be remembered

 

[Arsey]

Regarding the food - I just don’t enjoy sitting in a restaurant on my tod eating - I’d rather than a quick sarnie and crack on with some writing or whatever. Never say never …

Is you that Ian Fleming bloke ?

 

[clutchspring]

When I did the crossing three years a go there was a lot of doom & gloom story's about bike's having to queue up for two hours to leave the ship & long ques with all the covid passport stuff posted on hear.
Turned out just the opposite no queuing in fact bike's went first same with the petrol station not that busy.
So just take things as it comes & enjoy the sailing & don't get confused with local time & English time like a few of us did waiting for the evening meal on the return journey.

 

[lmg]

Is you that Ian Fleming bloke ?

More like Bob Fleming (cough)

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Cheaper fuel in Spain innit, mate. Sick of being robbed at home for me 20 litres. It’ll change me life the money I’ve saved queuing wiv likeminds off the ferry ‘cos I also brought me own scran ‘n brew, more lager that way ‘n all for the 24 hours on the boat like.

I don’t think anyone I have traveled with (including you) on BF to Spain, has taken their own food and booze with them, on the boats ?

Strange practice, especially on a bike with limited carrying capacity and all the other clobber you have to carry up to your cabin too

Fuel, usually make sure I have at least 100 miles to clear the port or if only going to Picos, enough to get there in one hit - good not to have 30l of heavy fuel, in your tank on cargo decks, makes the bike even more awkward

 

[Wapping]

I always take my own scran ‘n brew. You can’t trust the water abroad and anyway it’s all in foreign and is probably shite. Same in England, ‘cos everywhere is a rip-off and they is never biker friendly.

 

[Arsey]

I always take my own scran ‘n brew. You can’t trust the water abroad and anyway it’s all in foreign and is probably shite. Same in England, ‘cos everywhere is a rip-off and they is never biker friendly.

If you stop for fuel in Santander and your mates don’t , be sure to use the biker mate phrase ….” I’ll ketchup with you later “.

 

[Wapping]

If you stop for fuel in Santander and your mates don’t , be sure to use the biker mate phrase ….” I’ll ketchup with you later “.

Got a route, mate ‘cos I’m out of coms and donut want to spunk money on a map ‘cos I don’t trust ‘em and anyways they are in foreign to

 

[Hustler]

If it is rough then strap your self in bed using the straps that keep the bedding on the bed.This stops you being thrown out across the floor.
And if it is rough, it can be very rough and you don't need to worry about the restaurants as you will not be able to stand up and walk to get there.
Enjoy.

 

[lmg]

I once crossed the Bay of Biscay and it was so rough, I had to sit in a doorway and brace myself. Good times. And I brought a sandwich from Bilbao to eat on the crossing.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

I don’t think anyone I have traveled with (including you) on BF to Spain, has taken their own food and booze with them, on the boats ?

Strange practice, especially on a bike with limited carrying capacity and all the other clobber you have to carry up to your cabin too

Fuel, usually make sure I have at least 100 miles to clear the port or if only going to Picos, enough to get there in one hit - good not to have 30l of heavy fuel, in your tank on cargo decks, makes the bike even more awkward

if i fill up on the way into plymouth i stil l have to fill up on the way out of santander

 

[Lord Snooty]

If you get travel sick take a couple of Kwells (or whatever) before you get on the boat. As soon as you feel queasy lie down on your berth and stay lay down as much as possible. That’s what works for me - I once spent an entire Santander/Plymouth crossing in my cabin only getting up to pee and even then I was ready to lie down again straight away. If I let travel sickness get a grip I’m a quivering shaking mess for a few hours after I’ve got off the boat. Riding is all but impossible for me.

Or try Stugeron if you get motion sickness.