London to Istanbul

butcher90 said:
Hi guys,

Ok currently planning a 2 week trip from London to Istanbul. A mix of on road and light off road where permitted probably about 80/20.

The route will take us through Belgium, Amsterdam, down towards the alps, through northern Italy, Vienna, Budapest, Romania, Istanbul

Then on the way back - Istanbul, Greece, Southern italy along the west coast to the alps, Geneva, Strasbourg, Belgium, London.

Planned date is from 26th December 2013 to 3rd January.

Accommodation is still not decided upon, either a mix of wild camping/camping and cheap hotels. Or Cheap/medium hotels throughout.

Whoever is up for the trip, let me know, and give some input on any ideas you might have.
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is this your first tour? I did basically the same journey this summer except I started and finished in Munich, it took me 10 days in 20+ degree weather riding 4 and 5 hours a day.

I guess you are either intending to use Motorways and A roads and not stop to visit the local attractions.

Not my idea of touring....but good luck on the trip.
 
butcher90 said:
What is the shite bag?

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One of these.....http://tucanourbano.co.uk/gaucho-bike-leg-cover-for-bmw-r1200gs-r120-n/
termoscudo-for-moto-tucano-urbano-gaucho-specific-r120-for-bmw-r1200gs_7895_big.jpg
 
butcher90 said:
On the thermal side i think im sorted , heated body warmer, thermal baselayer, thermal trousers and socks, heated gloves, heated grips, heated sargent seat and new rukka suit :) if there was a heated helmet i would have bought that too :)
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The daytime temperature in Frankfurt next week is forecast to be between 0C and 4C. I would expect it to be colder in January.

You're going to be riding for several hours every day. Despite your gear, I wouldn't bank on you not getting very, very cold. Getting very cold and very tired on a bike is a killer.

To plan a trip at this time of year is, IMHO, totally barking!
 
Greg Masters said:
The daytime temperature in Frankfurt next week is forecast to be between 0C and 4C. I would expect it to be colder in January.

You're going to be riding for several hours every day. Despite your gear, I wouldn't bank on you not getting very cold.

To plan a trip at this time of year is, IMHO, totally barking!
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-15 through Central France in January at motorway speeds on the Callum's Road trip - electric fleece, muffs, shite bag and heated grips = toasty warm. Just DO NOT open your visor - DAMHIK :(

I reckon the trip sounds a hoot, go for it :)
Andres
 
Mate, I've a very similar trip in summer (Berlin - Istanbul, similar route), and I've done trips closer to winter in the area. I think it's a stupid idea. You're bound to run into snow, and you will get cold (and stiff!) if you spend all day riding. Both are dangerous. A bike as heavy as the GS is just impossible to control on public roads on snow (or packed snow or ice).

IMHO, you should get somebody to ship your bikes to south of the Alps. Could be around 300 quid on uship.com, and they might let you sit in the transporter as well. Then take country roads from there and actually enjoy the scenery.
 
maikhoepfel said:
............... I think it's a stupid idea. You're bound to run into snow, and you will get cold (and stiff!) if you spend all day riding. Both are dangerous. A bike as heavy as the GS is just impossible to control on public roads on snow (or packed snow or ice).

..................
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Absolutley ;)










Andres
 
Thanks andres :) at least your being positive about it. If the GS can handle riding over wet mud and snow, im sure it can ride through anything. I have the equipment to keep me warm, and if i get stuck I can always call a recovery team (it is Europe at the end of the day) so what else could go wrong.

I'm not going to be riding non stop, i will stop off when I want to and explore as much as I can. I had a rough plan of it taking about 2 weeks but I have time to extend the trip up to 4 weeks if needs be as nothing will be prebooked .

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Outtomunch said:
-15 through Central France in January at motorway speeds on the Callum's Road trip - electric fleece, muffs, shite bag and heated grips = toasty warm. Just DO NOT open your visor - DAMHIK :(

I reckon the trip sounds a hoot, go for it :)
Andres
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You sound like you know what your doing, I could do with someone experienced coming along for the trip. If your up for it of course.

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butcher90 said:
Thanks andres :) at least your being positive about it.
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It's easy to be positive but, clearly, somewhat more challenging to be realistic.

I've done the trip you're planning. I did it in the month of May with one other guy. It took us 11 days riding long and hard every day. My ride report is here - check out how many pictures have snow in them!

You're planning on doing pretty much the same trip in 9 days in January?

If that's your idea of a decent ride, then prepare well and go for it.

But you ask 'what else could go wrong?'. How long a list do you want?
 
theoneandonly said:
how did you make it through school .....fat and ugly !



so off thread , sorry.
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Dunno how you come to that conclusion as I've got my lid on and am covered by my shite bag?

Anyway, as I always say; don't say nothing on here that you wouldn't say to somebody's face ya wanker.

Andres
 
Greg Masters said:
It's easy to be positive but, clearly, somewhat more challenging to be realistic.

I've done the trip you're planning. I did it in the month of May with one other guy. It took us 11 days riding long and hard every day. My ride report is here - check out how many pictures have snow in them!

You're planning on doing pretty much the same trip in 9 days in January?

If that's your idea of a decent ride, then prepare well and go for it.

But you ask 'what else could go wrong?'. How long a list do you want?
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Appreciate the feedback, but like I said a number of times now i have four weeks to do this trip. At no point did I say I was planning to do it in 9 days, the least was 14 days (2 weeks).

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butcher90 said:
You sound like you know what your doing, I could do with someone experienced coming along for the trip. If your up for it of course.

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Ha, you don't know me well do you!

It's the sort of thing that grabs my imagination and would love to in a perverse sort of way but work/holiday time is limited and it's already eaten up by a trip I'm planning.

FWIW, the photo's above are from the Callum's Road trip and we had serious weather for a big part of it. I was on Heidinau K60 Mud & Snow tyres (my bike's the colour shot) and they defo worked on snow better than the other guy's dual sport tyres. Worth thinking about as you WILL hit some shit weather. Good that you're flexible on time too as I reckon two weeks is pushing things.

Have fun :)

Andres
 
Outtomunch said:
Ha, you don't know me well do you!

It's the sort of thing that grabs my imagination and would love to in a perverse sort of way but work/holiday time is limited and it's already eaten up by a trip I'm planning.

FWIW, the photo's above are from the Callum's Road trip and we had serious weather for a big part of it. I was on Heidinau K60 Mud & Snow tyres (my bike's the colour shot) and they defo worked on snow better than the other guy's dual sport tyres. Worth thinking about as you WILL hit some shit weather. Good that you're flexible on time too as I reckon two weeks is pushing things.

Have fun :)

Andres
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Yeh I have a pair of K60s on the bike already.


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Typical this.
All I see on here is old farts moaning about people with Adventure bikes using them to go to tesco & someone comes along who is planning an adventure & he get's told he's being stupid. :eek

He's planning it, as he quite rightly says he's going through Europe, not darkest Mongolia, he's allowed himself plenty of time to do it* & he's looking for advice before setting off.

Fair play to you - take care, have a great time & be safe. :clap








* If you consider 9 days plenty of time....;)
 
Thank you very much :) i have been looking to do this for a long time, but i get negativity off non bikers. i didn't expect the same from "adventure" bikers, obviously i don't mean everyone!
Like you said, its Europe so if anything goes wrong i have a phone, most people speak english, i have bmw eu recovery and a credit card should be alright :)

And you better not start the 9 day thing again :p lol
 
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