Norway Sept 2011

[The Heff]

Hi all
Myself and 3 others (on 3xGS's + 1 Tiger) are at the initial stages of planning a 2 week trip to Norway September 2011. We have a rough route planned but nothing confirmed yet.

I would like to know what we must carry with us whist in Norway to comply with their regulations, e.g must we each have a 1st Aid Kit, Warning Triangle, Hi-Viz jacket etc etc?

Also what about speed limits, fines, using dark visors, non standard exhauts, lighting issues re driving on the other side of the road or anything else that might cause us to to be stopped or get pulled over by the local plod?

Any comments, tips or advice welcome

Thanks


Heff

 

[AdamA]

http://www.visitnorway.com/en/Articles/Theme/Getting-here-and-around/Driving-in-Norway/

Don't get caught speeding. There's not many cops to catch you, so don't speed (or ride like a tit) in/near built up areas and you will be fine. Sitting at around 80mph for the best part of 2500 miles wasn't an issue last year...

Never carried warning triangle or hi viz, or taped up headlights. Lights need to be on at all times tho....

 

[LivNorway]

About non standard exhauts:
If it does not sound as a crazy elephant or is extremly loud, and the rest of your bike&riding is ok, you should have really bad luck to get trouble with that.
Non standard exhauts is legal if it sounds ok, but most non standard exhauts sound not ok.
But some do; look for a special mark on it, I believe it is an E inside a circel (not sure how it look like). If you find that mark, and still got trouble, please contact http://nmcu.org/ and I'm sure they are glad to help you.

Dark visor:
I'm not sure, but I believe it is legal when you need it; in the sun.
But make sure you change to a clear visor when you can not see the sun.

1st Aid Kit, Warning Triangle:
You do as you want to!

Hi-Viz jacket:
Cardrivers must have a reflective vest inside their cars, not wearing it.
I'm not sure if riders must have one in their luggage to, but as far as I know none of my friends have one if they are not wearing one.
I'm almost sure you do not need one in your luggage.

Lights:
On all the time!
But because your light is pointing in the wrong direction they might be a problem for others in tunnels and in the dark. But as far as I know you do not need to adjust or put a tape or something on the lence if you are riding here daytime in the summer.

All in all:
Behave, and all is fine!

Liv.

 

[AdamA]

Behave, and all is fine!

Liv.

Alternatively, don't get caught.
Where's the fun in behaving?

 

[LivNorway]

Alternatively, don't get caught.
Where's the fun in behaving?

-Who told you it is going to be fun?

Liv.

 

[boxer]

As for speeding - within the first 45min of being on Norwegian soil I'd collected my first motoring conviction for 30yrs and this was way out in the countryside.

No idea how they 'clocked' me but that 10kph over the 50kph cost me £200.

Bottom line; don't speed.

 

[AdamA]

As for speeding - within the first 45min of being on Norwegian soil I'd collected my first motoring conviction for 30yrs and this was way out in the countryside.

No idea how they 'clocked' me but that 10kph over the 50kph cost me £200.

Bottom line; don't speed.

Probably had a speedtrap set up to catch tourists unawares...

Conversely I saw just 3 cops in 2500 miles, didn't stick to any limits out of built up areas, and had no worries whatsoever. Pay your money, take your chances.
But if you can't do your time/pay your fine....

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Norway!

I usually carry a first aid kit, spare bulb kit/torch etc(triangle and reflective bib in the Landrover) I met a Pan rider at a ferry terminal near Narvik and both his dipped bulbs had blown and he had a nightmare of a time riding through the many tunnels.

Watch for the tolls etc(not Trolls they're different) I got sent a bill to my home address in Scotlandl in 2008 for what I presumed was going through the 'Autopass' tollbooth by mistake at Trondheim or Stavanger on my HP2 but when I looked at the 'photo' on the back it was my Landrover from 2007 .

The bill was £4.80 and a British company were chasing up the toll charge and I had to pay it. The speeding fines are truly horrific. I met an oil worker who's boss was 'arrested' and had to pay the fines for his employees company car in Stavanger.

Norway is a fantastic country with amazing roads and I love the E6 'Arctic Highway'. It goes all the way from Oslo to Kirkenes at the Russian/ Norweigian border.

As long as you stick to the speedlimits its absolutely no problem riding or driving in Norway but break them at your peril. Scandanavian drivers on the whole are very courtious. There's also a strange rule in towns where you give way to traffic from the right at junctions but maybe Liv can clarify that.

 

[LivNorway]

'Give way from right.'

Two types of roads;
1. - those you need to give way to all drivers/riders who are coming in to your road from right. We call that 'vikeplikt fra høyre'.
2. - and the rest, and those we call 'forkjørsvei'.

I'll try to find the signs for you, so you know how to find out.

Liv.

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Thanks for that Liv,

I did wonder a couple of times in 2003 on my first visit to Norway when I was nearly T-Boned.......!

I found out about this later in Haugesund when fellow UKGSer and ADVrider 'Terje' warned me about these rules and I rode a bit more carefully in towns after that.

Planning a trip to Norway/Sweden again next summer in late may but will have to ride south to Harwich to get the DFDS ferry to Denmark then ride up through Sweden to Finnmark.....!

FP.

 

[LivNorway]

OK, I got some signs for you!

202 = Vikeplikt = you need to give way to traffic.
206 = Forkjørsvei = when you are on this road you do NOT need to give way to traffic from your right.
208 = Slutt på forkjørsvei = you must give way to traffic from your right side.

Look at the situation:
Car A have the sign number 202. Car A must give way to all traffic = to B and C.
Car B have the sign number 206, and one more sign. B know the 'forkjørsvei' he is on continiu a little to his left in the bend, and B know that C have sign number 202 and C are going to stop (if he/she play by the roules...).

-Did this help?

Liv.

 

[The Heff]

More information

Thanks for all the comments and answers to my questions.

We intend to mostly wild camp, so what will the weather/temperature be like in early Sept normally.

Are there any problems in getting a wooden hut or Hytte without pre-booking to cater for the 4 of us, are they in official camp sites and how much per night/person, and are there ample motels or B&Bs on the main routes, again how much?

At the minute our plan is 'There is no plan' as such. We will be getting off the ferry at Esberg and heading north with nothing pre-booked, hence the questions above.

What is the local currency, is the Euro taken, what is a rough exchange rate for sterling, what about 'Toll Roads' and payment. Also what price is fuel and what are there any issues with distance between fuel stations?

Again, thanks in advance for your comments

Heff

 

[AdamA]

We intend to mostly wild camp, so what will the weather/temperature be like in early Sept normally.

Lots of factors affect temperature. The biggest ones in Norway are latitude, altitude and how much sun the spot you choose gets. The further north you go (and you can go a LONG way north in Norway!) the colder it gets, if its at the base of a north facing cliff so in the shadows for most of the day its gonna be quite chilly all day. If it's at the top of a mountain pass it will be quite chilly but should get some decent sun. Down in a sunny valley will be warmest...

As a rough idea tho, southern Norway will be similar temps to Wales, Mid Norway similar temps to Northern Scotland and North Norway colder still.
This will give you an idea:

Are there any problems in getting a wooden hut or Hytte without pre-booking to cater for the 4 of us, are they in official camp sites and how much per night/person, and are there ample motels or B&Bs on the main routes, again how much?

They are dotted around all over the place. Most campsites have them, and many private homes have them to bring in some cash..
Look for a ski area and you will find Hyttes...
They range from £20 upwards, depending on how basic you want. The one picture in my writeup of the trip last year was about £50 IIRC.
There's plenty of accommodation of all types around.

At the minute our plan is 'There is no plan' as such.

The best plan. Just go with the flow. Have an area in mind but don't bust a gut to stick to it.

What is the local currency, is the Euro taken,

No, its the Norwegian Krone.

what is a rough exchange rate for sterling,

Roughly £1=10Kr.

what about 'Toll Roads' and payment.

Pay cash. Less than a tenner for the most part IIRC.
Get yourself to the front of a lane when queuing. They will load you on at the bow so you are first off.

Also what price is fuel and what are there any issues with distance between fuel stations?

We came close to running out once, but that was more down to me day dreaming than a lacking of fuel stations.
But then with a 33+ litre tank we weren't expecting issues...
Just keep it topped up.
Prices are similar to here....


Alcohol is the expensive liquid. Take your own if you plan on drinking.

 

[Flintlock]

I am also goin on this trip-thanks to all who took time to answer our questions and provide very useful information-no doubt we will be on again with more questions. Excellent ride report Adam-Roll on Sept 2011

 

[wknight]

I went in June and had no problems finding camp sites or huts. We used huts north of the arctic circle because it was a bit cold. As for the sites, at the first camp site we picked up this booklet www.nafcamp.no

Enjoy its a great place.

Personally I don't see the point in speeding otherwise you can't take in the amazing scenery.

We met 2 police cars just south of the arctic circle. A german biker didn't see them and started to overtake the long line of traffic. He pulled in of course, but then the police went even slower......

 

[AdamA]

Personally I don't see the point in speeding otherwise you can't take in the amazing scenery.

Of course you can. For starters the scenery is MASSIVE, there's no way you can miss it, and secondly if you dawdle you have less time to stop and take it all in properly. Even at legal speeds your mind should be on the road, not your surroundings....

 

[The Heff]

Toll Roads?

Can anyone tell me how many toll roads/bridges/tunnells we will encounter from Esberg into Malmo and are there any on the E6 heading north?

Ps ... Roughly what is the going rate per bike per toll?

Thanks folks


Heff

 

[ThorH]

No tolls in Sweden, until the Norwegian border (Svinesund). Plenty of toll roads in Norway (probably because it's such a poor country), but bikes go free in most of them. You shouldn't have to pay any until you're on the West coast of Norway. Rates will wary wildly, but I don't think I've ever paid more than £4-5.

There are nice alternatives to E6 going North, just sayin'... At least take the time to stop in one of the coastal towns between Gothenburg and Svinesund.

 

[LivNorway]

Hi all
Myself and 3 others (on 3xGS's + 1 Tiger) are at the initial stages of planning a 2 week trip to Norway September 2011. We have a rough route planned but nothing confirmed yet.

I would like to know what we must carry with us whist in Norway to comply with their regulations, e.g must we each have a 1st Aid Kit, Warning Triangle, Hi-Viz jacket etc etc?

Also what about speed limits, fines, using dark visors, non standard exhauts, lighting issues re driving on the other side of the road or anything else that might cause us to to be stopped or get pulled over by the local plod?

Any comments, tips or advice welcome

Thanks


Heff

Hi!

September? Who know if you get snow up in the mountains?
The tarmac is still warm so it'll melt fast.
But if you want to keepan eye on closed roads, try this: http://www.vegvesen.no/Trafikkinfor...n/Trafikkmeldinger?rapportid=604&type=utvalgt
Or this: http://www.vegvesen.no/Trafikkinfor...n/Trafikkmeldinger?rapportid=601&type=utvalgt
-You better learn some basic Norwegian!

There is some info in English: http://www.vegvesen.no/en/Home

Liv.

 

[LivNorway]

No tolls in Sweden, until the Norwegian border (Svinesund). Plenty of toll roads in Norway (probably because it's such a poor country), but bikes go free in most of them. You shouldn't have to pay any until you're on the West coast of Norway. Rates will wary wildly, but I don't think I've ever paid more than £4-5.

There are nice alternatives to E6 going North, just sayin'... At least take the time to stop in one of the coastal towns between Gothenburg and Svinesund.

Some info here, but almost all toll roads are free for motorbikes.
I have a white tag for my car, not for any of my motorbikes. I have never seen one for motorbike!
http://www.vegvesen.no/en/Roads/Financial/Toll+roads

Liv.