First trip to Europe on a bike!

[Surrey Yeoman]

Hi all,

Come mid-May through to early June this year I've managed to wangle a nice long break from work, so I'm looking to have a nice long run out on the bike.

The plan is to ride, at a leisurely pace (old & slow) down to Gibraltar and back.

Ferry from Pompey to Cherbourg and then loosely to follow the east coast down through France, Spain, Portugal and Spain again to Gib’.

Any helpful tips? I’m happy I know what to pack for personal use, clothing, etc, but do I need anything extra for the bike beyond the usual basic tools, spare bulbs, fuses and maybe a litre of oil?

Do I need to carry the whole warning triangle, high vis vest, big first aid kit, that the four-wheelers need to lug around?

Thanks in anticipation!

 

[Surrey Yeoman]

.............That'll be WEST coast, not east............Dohh!

 

[Mr K]

As far as I know, no hi-viz or triangle for bikes.

Enjoy!

 

[Wapping]

Any helpful tips? I’m happy I know what to pack for personal use, clothing, etc, but do I need anything extra for the bike beyond the usual basic tools, spare bulbs, fuses and maybe a litre of oil?

That just about covers it.... add a puncture repair kit.... and Breakdown recovery insurance / Travel insurance and you are done. If you want to do without the insurance be my guest, though you might like to read the Callum's road, Morocco Dash III threads to see if it changes your mind... then read the one about the bod who was killed, with no insurance...... If you do decide to buy it make sure it works.... the bod on Morocco III was (perhaps) lucky the insurer did not smell a very big rat....


There is no point taking tools / puncture repair kit if you either do not know how to use them or have no intention to use them. A punture in the rain as it approaches nightfall, is not the best time to learn, perhaps.

Do I need to carry the whole warning triangle, high vis vest, big first aid kit, that the four-wheelers need to lug around?

No

If in doubt count the number of short and t-shirt wearing locals on FireBlades you see and then count how many are carting any of the things on your list.

The only thing you might think about is a HiViz vest (it takes up no room) to wear if you have a problem on a major road.... if you wear one anyway, then it will make no odds taking it.

 

[cherokee]

Traval insurance

Make sure it covers you on a bike,because alot of them only cover up to 125cc ie if your hiring one on your holiday,a couple of the guys i toured with last summer got caught out.....Have a great safe trip......

 

[Surrey Yeoman]

Cheers, Wapping & Cherokee

I already have the travel insurance, but will check on the bike cover aspect of it. I'll be sorting out international breakdown cover before I go.

I don't usually ride with a high-vis on, but as you say, it makes sense to chuck a vest in for if I have to stop on the side of the road to fix something.

As for knowing how to wield a spanner and a puncture repair kit...............let's just say that I'm of that "certain age" where the ability to do my own maintenance on my early cars and bikes was the expected thing!

Any more hints and tips still gratefully accepted...................

 

[Redboots]

I already have the travel insurance, but will check on the bike cover aspect of it.

If you are not covered on a big bike, try worldnomads

John

 

[Wapping]

I already have the travel insurance, but will check on the bike cover aspect of it. I'll be sorting out international breakdown cover before I go.

Any more hints and tips still gratefully accepted...................

I believe you are a policeman?

If you are using your work Travel insurance, take care. Reading not so far between the lines that is what the bod on Moroc' Dash III was doing

It might get very tricky to explain why Surrey was suddenly close to Lisbon and was linked in some 'work' way, if you get my drift....

Similarly, if you are tapping into some freeby Travel insurance linked to a bank or credit card, read the Terms and Conditions with care. The cover, not surprisingly, is often very watered down.

 

[Roberto]

Sounds like a great trip..

Now this may sound really, really, really silly and obvious..

.. but be very concious every time you set off that you are abroad and are riding on the right. It might sound daft but you can forget yourself, and there'll be times that you stop that it mightn't be too obvious with no road signs or cars about to remind you.

Some folks use gonks and sticky labels on the speedo to remind.

I thought that was a bit of a no-brainer.. until I did do it myself, albeit quickly corrected, but it then really occurred to me how much of a possibility it could be to do it.

Have a great time, it really is a different world of riding over on the continent.. you'll be addicted!

 

[tyke2go]

hi yeoman....roberto,just about to say the same,but i did it in reverse.came off the dover ferry,down the ramp to r/about...on right hand lane.the container lorry drivers face was a picture!...carry least of everything,most you can wash/ get more (clothing) oil is available everywere. are your pads/tyres going to last the distance?.basic stuff.keep euro's in separate areas/pockets. try a pyrenees xsing,and central massif area if you can....as roberto said,differant experiance,and you WILL get the bug!.......have a good un mate....oh...hiviz...i wore it on journey from home to dover (350 mls) don't half get the 4 wheelers out the way in hold ups!!

 

[bisbee]

fwiw i tape two three pieces of red insulting tape on my right mirror arm to remind me to keep on the right

 

[Invicta Moto]

Sounds a great trip and I for one look forward to your ride report and pix.

 

[Surrey Yeoman]

I believe you are a policeman?

If you are using your work Travel insurance, take care. Reading not so far between the lines that is what the bod on Moroc' Dash III was doing

It might get very tricky to explain why Surrey was suddenly close to Lisbon and was linked in some 'work' way, if you get my drift....

Similarly, if you are tapping into some freeby Travel insurance linked to a bank or credit card, read the Terms and Conditions with care. The cover, not surprisingly, is often very watered down.

Yep, Old Bill (but only for another two years with effect from today!).

My Federation's Group Insurance has a very good Holiday and Travel insurance attached to it - the trip doesn't have to be connected with work in any way. Had a good read of the policy document and there's nothing to restrict its use on motorcycles, beyond the usual proviso that if you crash while you're drunk or engaged in a criminal act the cover is void. Shouldn't be a problem!

 

[Wapping]

My Federation's Group Insurance has a very good Holiday and Travel insurance attached to it - the trip doesn't have to be connected with work in any way. Had a good read of the policy document...

That's it! Job done

A couple of half decent maps and you are just about there.

Have fun.

 

[markie_wales]

Make sure you remember you are on holiday. You cannot be lost if you don't care where you are going. If the road is good, then you are on the right road. So what if you don't make it to Gib (unles you have a particular reason)? My mate and I tried to get to the Pyrennes for 3 or 4 years after doing a Cherboug hope, never made it but always had good holidays.

Have fun.

Markie

 

[Surrey Yeoman]

Make sure you remember you are on holiday. You cannot be lost if you don't care where you are going. If the road is good, then you are on the right road. So what if you don't make it to Gib (unles you have a particular reason)? My mate and I tried to get to the Pyrennes for 3 or 4 years after doing a Cherboug hope, never made it but always had good holidays.

Have fun.

Markie

You are a man after my own heart! The joy of the trip is the joy of the ride and what you find along the way!

That's partly why I stay off the motorways and still stick with maps instead of using a GPS - there always comes a time when you have to pull over and stop at the side of the road in the shade (or even in a bus stop to get out of the rain!), and check the map or turn it over. That's when you might well get to speak to a local onyack and find out something you never knew about where your are. Works for me when I'm bimbling around the UK, so it should work in foreign parts!

Got 21 days of riding (excluding ferry days) so I should make it to Gib though!

 

[Giles]

My Federation's Group Insurance has a very good Holiday and Travel insurance attached to it

Is it Fortis?

I crashed in Spa about 5 years ago !! and they were brilliant. Repatriation, bike recovered, luggage bought to get home and refunded, taxi's to and from airport and business class home with BA. It was almost worth crashing for .

As mentioned by the others, puncture repair kit is a must (they're not hard to use - take a few extra compressed air cartridges from any push bike shop..) and above all else .. ENJOY.

I just love it, its a real escape. Heading south into the warmth, and not knowing where you're staying that night. Can't get enough of it .

 

[Surrey Yeoman]

Is it Fortis?

Nope, Stuart Harvey T/A "Forces Financial."

Shouldn't be any problems, but if there are I'll be giving my Fed Rep a beating

 

[Wapping]

Is it Fortis?

Nope, Stuart Harvey T/A "Forces Financial."

Shouldn't be any problems, but if there are I'll be giving my Fed Rep a beating

Small problem to start with, though:

Stuart Harvey (Forces Financial) are the insurance broker, not your insurer.


===


Whilst yours may well be different, the insurer of the Travel policy shown on their website is a Lloyd's syndicate.

.... Of possible greater concern is that the sample policy shows:

Motor cycling (up to 125cc) That is exactly the problem the bod who was killed had.

I stress your policy may well be different to the one shown on the broker's website, so ignore this post if so.

Richard

 

[wessie]

http://www.quotelinedirect.co.uk/breakdown/ has a good value breakdown product - annual European policy for £59, provided by Europ Assistance