Long on-road trip advice request

[Dave Cr]

In response to Svena's reply, last summer I spent two weeks riding round and crossing borders in Switzerland. I was never required to buy a vignette and, keeping off the motorways, was never troubled by the police or cameras. It's a fantastic place to ride through if you choose your routes sensibly. Enjoy!

 

[bowser]

Not so much of a problem in the "fully civilized parts of the Europe" but in some of the recent converts to democracy, it is not unheard of for officers of the law to want to keep hold of driving documents whilst waiting for payment for "driving offenses etc". To be fair this is really more of a problem in North Africa but the advice still holds true.

Most of them would not have a clue what your documents should look like, and lots that can speak English don't read it. So photo copy all your docs and take several sets, I personally laminate them as well, I keep the originals well and truly safe and produce the laminated copies if asked, if I am specifically asked for the originals then you have them but its not happened to anyone I know thats done it yet.
Worst comes to the worst you can drive off with out having to go back for them.

Mate of mine did a the Plymouth to Timbuktu run and left three or four sets at various locations.

As I say more for Africa but worth doing anywhere, even if just to keep the originals in good nick.

 

[Andrew Lodge]

Not so much of a problem in the "fully civilized parts of the Europe" but in some of the recent converts to democracy, it is not unheard of for officers of the law to want to keep hold of driving documents whilst waiting for payment for "driving offenses etc".

Don't be so sure this is just in the newer European countries.

A friend of mine who may or may not have committed a minor speeding offence in Spain was asked to produce his documents and also his passport. Once these were locked away in the police car he was then told his fine was 300 Euro's to be paid on the spot.
Copy documents are not great help if they have your passport. Maybe they are getting wise to the "give them copies and drive away" trick

 

[araspitfire]

I think his point is well made =)

Al...

 

[virco]

I did a trip last summer round europe and I took nothing with me apart from a GPS and oil and of course a credit card. Nothing went wrong, no punctures no breakdowns nothing. My advice is to have a good service before you go.

Sani, I’m completely confused... what kind of “oil” are you talking about?

 

[D6]

a small,cheap multimeter is a good thing to have, if u can use one

 

[virco]

Not so much of a problem in the "fully civilized parts of the Europe" but in some of the recent converts to democracy, it is not unheard of for officers of the law to want to keep hold of driving documents whilst waiting for payment for "driving offenses etc". To be fair this is really more of a problem in North Africa but the advice still holds true.
Most of them would not have a clue what your documents should look like, and lots that can speak English don't read it. So photo copy all your docs and take several sets, I personally laminate them as well, I keep the originals well and truly safe and produce the laminated copies if asked, if I am specifically asked for the originals then you have them but its not happened to anyone I know thats done it yet.
Worst comes to the worst you can drive off with out having to go back for them.
Mate of mine did a the Plymouth to Timbuktu run and left three or four sets at various locations.

Well, living in a “recently converted to democracy” country myself , I am rather familiar with this kind of practice by road-police as the one you and Andrew are referring to.
On the other hand I had no idea that copies (laminated or not) are an acceptable alternative to original personal ID, driver license and vehicle registration documents. In what the passport is concerned, no citizen of a EU member state need to carry one in order to travel within the boundaries of the Union as the local ID card suffices. The passport is only necessary if one wants to travel (or even just cross) European states that are not members of the EU like Switzerland, former Yugoslavia states, Albania, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Norway and San Marino.
In what running away from the police is concerned, I don't see it as an option even less as a good idea, leaving behind copies of you papers or not.
In the case of Andrew's mate that was squeezed for bribery in Spain, he should have left his passport, taken the names of the officers and the registration number of the police vehicle they were in and left for the first police station in a larger city to report the incident (if he was indeed innocent of the offence he was charged with). Spain might be close to Africa, but is still an "old" EU member, and such crap should not be put up with...

 

[1Rider]

Passport requirement

Well, living in a “recently converted to democracy” country myself , I am rather familiar with this kind of practice by road-police as the one you and Andrew are referring to.
... In what the passport is concerned, no citizen of a EU member state need to carry one in order to travel within the boundaries of the Union as the local ID card suffices. The passport is only necessary if one wants to travel (or even just cross) European states that are not members of the EU like Switzerland, former Yugoslavia states, Albania, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Norway and San Marino....

As for passport requirement I believe Schengen (and not EU) is the key word.

 

[1Rider]

BTW you didn't say exactly where and when, but as a Norwegian I would like to point out the value of a heated jacket like Gerbings'. For extended rides possibly in cold wet wx it does make a huge difference from possible to comfortable...

 

[sani]

Sani, I’m completely confused... what kind of “oil” are you talking about?

Castrol 10-40 long distance BMW drink lot's of oil. 4l in 6000m I prefer 20-50 is the best for a long trip.

 

[sani]

Well, living in a “recently converted to democracy” country myself , I am rather familiar with this kind of practice by road-police as the one you and Andrew are referring to.
On the other hand I had no idea that copies (laminated or not) are an acceptable alternative to original personal ID, driver license and vehicle registration documents. In what the passport is concerned, no citizen of a EU member state need to carry one in order to travel within the boundaries of the Union as the local ID card suffices. The passport is only necessary if one wants to travel (or even just cross) European states that are not members of the EU like Switzerland, former Yugoslavia states, Albania, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, Norway and San Marino.
In what running away from the police is concerned, I don't see it as an option even less as a good idea, leaving behind copies of you papers or not.
In the case of Andrew's mate that was squeezed for bribery in Spain, he should have left his passport, taken the names of the officers and the registration number of the police vehicle they were in and left for the first police station in a larger city to report the incident (if he was indeed innocent of the offence he was charged with). Spain might be close to Africa, but is still an "old" EU member, and such crap should not be put up with...

+1

 

[virco]

As for passport requirement I believe Schengen (and not EU) is the key word.

No mate, I'm afraid you're wrong.
No one needs a passport for traveling within the EU. A simple ID card is enough.
Within the Schengen space you are referring to, there are no border controls at all, so one doesn't need any kind of ID because there's no one to ask for it.
Believe me, I know...

 

[Brian ROSEN]

So long as you have a list of all the BMW agents in the areas you will be visiting (just for emrgencies) you should not need anything else; However you may consider the screen from the GSA. It does give better protection and is a straight fit onto the existing supports; There has been a lot written about it . It will cost you about £300.

 

[big-khol]

MOST EU COUNTRIES require you to carry a ...

first aid kit
spare bulbs
hi viz for rider and pillion

but saying that in over 50000 mile of riding in europe i have only been asked once to prove i was carrying said items.

if your not sure ask the AA. They have a list that tells you what is legally required for each country.

a fench friend has told me that the police are stopping people at peage stations and checking if they are carrying HI VIZ. 75 EURO ON THE SPOT FINES.

enjoy your trip ...i off in june 5 countries and as many alpine passes as poss

 

[Brian ROSEN]

"...a Fench friend has told me that the police are stopping people at peage stations and checking if they are carrying HI VIZ. 75 EURO ON THE SPOT FINES...." That is something I have never even heard about - and I have been riding here for a long time; I will enqure tomorrow if any of my fellow 'motards' know of this law.

 

[Wapping]

MOST EU COUNTRIES require you to carry a ...

first aid kit
spare bulbs
hi viz for rider and pillion

but saying that in over 50000 mile of riding in europe i have only been asked once to prove i was carrying said items.

if your not sure ask the AA. They have a list that tells you what is legally required for each country.

a fench friend has told me that the police are stopping people at peage stations and checking if they are carrying HI VIZ. 75 EURO ON THE SPOT FINES.

enjoy your trip ...i off in june 5 countries and as many alpine passes as poss

....and if you look at the AA (and other sites) you will see that much of the above is wrong. Do not:

(a) Confuse motorbikes with other motor vehicles, the regulations differ.

(b) Confuse what nationals of any one State or country may have to do, as opposed to non-resident visitors.

I think it may be a bit like the horry old story of French police checking peage tickets to see if someone has been speeding. In thousands of miles in France I have never seen it happen. Nor oddly have I ever met anyone to whom it has happened. Oddest of all I have never met anyone whose friend of a friend has seen it happen. I have however seen (and experienced) French policemen armed with very accurate radar guns and a neat table of speeding fines.

What is true is that the French police will now remove your licence should you be unfortunate enough to be caught speeding in excess of 'X' Km above the speed limit. A French magistrate will then, at some time ,quite possibly confirm a ban from driving in France for weeks / months thereafter. Fortunately the ban does not extend into other countries....yet.

 

[Wapping]

"...a Fench friend has told me that the police are stopping people at peage stations and checking if they are carrying HI VIZ. 75 EURO ON THE SPOT FINES...." That is something I have never even heard about - and I have been riding here for a long time; I will enqure tomorrow if any of my fellow 'motards' know of this law.

New one on me too....

 

[Bertie]

Did Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Belgium, France in 2006, and France, Italy, Switzerland in 2007, with wife on board (R1200GS) - two weeks both times and 2,250/2,400 miles. We took:-

Wunderlich Tank Bag (wonderfully useful expanding, with clear map pocket on top - was also useful as a chin rest on way back! Wouldn't have managed without it)

BMW Vario Hard Luggage set, with Mane Event inner bags (avoids having to take cases off at the end of each day - nothing leaked, despite four days of torrential rain both years)

Rohan synthetic camping clothing (rolls up really small, can wash in hotel baths and sinks, drys in hours - terrific range)

Spare bulbs, cable ties and enough tools to remove wheels.

Autocom

And that was basically it! Never needed tools, and took exactly right amount of clothing, although wife did also bring hair straighteners and dryer! Yes, really...

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

"...a Fench friend has told me that the police are stopping people at peage stations and checking if they are carrying HI VIZ. 75 EURO ON THE SPOT FINES...." That is something I have never even heard about - and I have been riding here for a long time; I will enqure tomorrow if any of my fellow 'motards' know of this law.

This law does not apply to motorcycles.....except maybe UK ones that is..

 

[Fanum]

Wet Wipes.
Duct Tape.
Cable Ties.
Leatherman.
Credit Card.
€100 and a spare key in ziplock bag taped under saddle.
Insulating tape strips under saddle, some with spare fuses underneath.
4 foot of 17a wire.
4 foot bailing/sign wire
Tube of chemical metal
Tube of superglue
crimp connectors in matchbox


All of the above can be fitted permanently under a GS saddle in the various nooks and crannies- then left and forgotten about until needed.
Cheap Multitools can be found in most DIY shops if you don't want to leave £80 worth of leatherman under there.
Insulating tape will remain useable for years if stuck to plastic, then just peel off and use.
Duct tape is now available in flat rolls IYSWIM, or buy a small round roll and squash it flat in a vice for a day or two.
If You wear glasses, get an emergency repair kit for a couple of quid and stick that under there as well (micro screwdriver and a couple of hinge screws)
I've also got an emergency dental repair kit and some Ibuprofen taped under my saddle.

It's surprising what you can ferret away under there, then just leave it all for when you need it