So where do i start?

[Banger]

Not been travelling on a bike since the rise of the internet really, before having kids. now they have gone got myself a 1250 and looking to travel again but where do i start?...I want to plan ahead , are there any websites i can use or this any books i can read . i feel like a novice all over again at 65

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Moved from Trip Reports.

Richard

 

[Doc]

This forum is a wealth of information for trips routes accommodation.
Always great help with planning a trip.

 

[DJ123]

Always plan a trip to places you want to go to, and want to explore the area. Don't worry about copying what appears to be popular or what others do on their trips.

Surely there must be a place in your mind you've always wanted to go to on the 'Bike? If there is, you know location to get to - now it's about how you get there & what you do when you get there.

 

[ATT]

This forum is a wealth of information for trips routes accommodation.
Always great help with planning a trip.

As Doc says....Dig in, have a read of some of the trips and become more informed as you do so.
It is all covered here and people are hugely helpful if you have any questions...You may get some sarcasm, but that as you know, is life.

 

[squibb34]

Maybe start with a back to bilking refresher course if you are feeling a tad 'rusty'.

Back to Riding Refresher 1-day Course - BMW Rider Training

£295 A great way to brush off the rusty skills to make sure you are set and ready to get back out on your bike to enjoy a full trouble free summer of motorcycling This oneday course is ideal for anyone returning to riding after a break Inclusive of all protective clothing helmet & boots bike...

www.bmwridertraining.com

Then I would suggest you check out the various bike tour companies for a few ideas, or just follow the travel section on here. This is but one of many: -

Motorcycle Tours & Holidays | Worldwide | Motorrad Tours

Motorrad Tours are an independent tour operator running a comprehensive program of motorcycle tours worldwide. View a selection of our motorbike tours and holidays

motorrad-tours.com

 

[wessie]

Start with a few days away in the UK. Get used to the bike, what it can carry and if your kit is fit for purpose. Ride different types of road and learn what is a comfortable distance to travel in a day. This will help you plan a longer trip as you will have a better idea of how far you can get in the time you have.

 

[Arsey]

Always plan a trip to places you want to go to, and want to explore the area.

This is good advice . Because if you plan a trip to places you really have no desire to go to , the trip might not live up to your expectations.

Some cutting edge stuff on here !!!

 

[TIJ650]

I’d go to a small island - they’re always a breath of fresh air. I was in Oban yesterday and really wanted to jump on the ferry to Mull, but something held me back………..oh yeah, it was wifey texting me insistently!!

 

[Banger]

Great advice so far ...thankyou.

 

[stever1]

1. Don’t be too ambitious first time away. Keep the number of days and mileages manageable.
2. It may be worth doing a trip around parts of the UK first. Use this as a way of getting used to the bike.Then if you’re ready to ‘do’ Europe perhaps pick an area you want to explore within a days riding of the channel. Pick a hotel and stay there for a few nights so your not packing/unpacking every day.
3. Decide on your navigation method early, if you’re going to use an app on your phone get on it and practice…lots.
4. Decide on how you’re going to book hotels. I use various apps including booking. Com, logis de France etc.
again play with them and get to know how they work. You don’t want to be struggling with finding a bed at the end of a long wet tiring day.
5. Packing !!!!!!, you need less than you think. There’s a lot of good kit out there . Ages ago Wessie came up with a cracking suggestion about shirts,(isocool by mountain warehouse) easy to wash out and dries easily. So now I pack half as many tee shirts as days away, and yes, I know other brands are available . Early planning equals good packing.
Oh, I may be a bit odd but often do a bag wash while I’m away. Launderettes in Europe tend to be easier to use than the UK as they even put the washing powder in itself so you don’t need to carry it.
6. Decide on what tools etc you carry. I have 2 types of puncture repair kit and small compressor. I also have a medium size bag with tools, spare visor cleaner, cable ties etc. there’s no point carrying this type of stuff if you’re not mechanically inclined.
The best tool is European recovery cover.
7. Decide wether it’s a different bed every night or a base for several nights. Staying in the same hotel for a while makes life easier.


Don’t forget the basics, travel insurance, reccy insurance, a good choice of payment methods.

To put into perspective a pal and me took 12 touring ‘ virgins’ to the Alsace/ Black Forest recently for a long week away.
10 took to it by the end of the first day, one had a terminal breakdown. Only one didn’t enjoy it, and that was because he wanted to be in charge and an elderly, grumpy, fat lad told him “if you don’t like what I planned, go away ( sort of) .
It’s about 8 weeks since the trip and 10 of them want a trip next year, so they must have enjoyed it.

You haven’t said if you’re going solo or with someone. There’s a lot to be said for going on your first trip with an experienced pal to help you along.

The main thing is ENJOY IT.

 

[Hairnet600]

Not been travelling on a bike since the rise of the internet really, before having kids. now they have gone got myself a 1250 and looking to travel again but where do i start?...I want to plan ahead , are there any websites i can use or this any books i can read . i feel like a novice all over again at 65

start with stuff here

is there anything youve always wanted to see - forth lands end iow famous landmarks etc

go do that break yerself in then do the longer stuff

 

[Wapping]

So where do i start?​

As Julie Andrews sang: Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.

1. When do you plan on going?

2. How long do you plan to be away for?

3. Where do you plan on going?

4. What do you think is a decent (reasonably comfortable) day’s ride in the UK? Give us the number of miles and time duration, please, front door to front door.

Await your words.

PS I used to run ‘Beginners’ / refresher rides’ which were a day or two, out from Folkestone, via the Chunnel, into France. At the risk of sounding very immodest, they were very successful, giving lots of bods the confidence they needed. I’ll run one for you (and a couple of bods) if you like.

Here’s Julie:

 

[Banger]

Guys thanks for some great advice. ,i am in Yorkshire on the edge of the Dales so plenty of sites to see. most of my long travelling was done around 2002 through france and Spain. We just stopped at a chateau when we had had enough and got a bed for the night. but nowadays Spain and france is not long travelling it's a tea break..LOL.

 

[Wapping]

So where do i start?​

are there any websites i can use or this any books i can read……​

The opening of this thread, covers some basics:

Thread 'Simon Weir’s basics of going away on your bike'

Mar 19, 2023

Lifted unashamedly from Weir’s new guide ‘Europe for Bikers’ released this month; get a copy, it’s pretty good.

Lots of people know this stuff but quite a few don’t. With them in mind and maybe to act as a reminder to others, here they are:

• Wapping
• Replies: 43
• Forum: General non regional

• 

 

[Banger]

Well, I am in the yorkshire Dales area and am up for a rideout anywhere with anyone so if you fancy new company Pm me. i will promise to be on best behaviour...Well maybe ?

 

[ThreeDawg]

Don't over think it. Buy a map for planning and a navigation device for when you are moving, chuck some bits and pieces in a bag and head off to somewhere nice for a night or two. It's just bike riding. Then start tailoring your gear and ambitions to what suits your style.

 

[ChasF]

Planning ahead means that you have a schedule to stick to. I tend to book hotels at lunchtime have a good idea how much further I want to go. Then plan the following day’s route with a beer in hand.

 

[EVskiy]

Not been travelling on a bike since the rise of the internet really, before having kids. now they have gone got myself a 1250 and looking to travel again but where do i start?...I want to plan ahead , are there any websites i can use or this any books i can read . i feel like a novice all over again at 65

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Moved from Trip Reports.

Richard

Buy a decent (Michelin) map or the country, region or indeed the (presuming you want to travel in) whole of EU.
Find out what you want to do/see. Pin point these on the map, then join them by roads you wish to ride.

Timeframe and time you have allocated for your trip:

Remember, in places like France, traveling whilst avoiding g motorways and/or Paigé, will mean that your average traveling speed on any given day will be circa 40mph. That means that if you set off at 09:00 and want to be at the bar with a cold one in hand by 16:00, you will loose on average 2-3 hours in breaks, coffee stops, picture taking, getting chatted to by the locals, etc.
So that does leave you with approximately 4-5 hour riding, which will translate to ~160-200 miles per day. Extend it by another hour or so, and that will be translated to ~240 miles and a full range of your 1250GS on a single tank of fuel.

Do not go believing that you will travel 500 miles in back roads and will have a great time. Doable with the right mindset, but you will be broken by the end of first day and more so by the end of the trip. You will need a holiday from holiday.

Accomodation:

If staying in hotels, use Booking.com or Hotels.com. Most will book in advance, others will wing it on the day when tucking into their lunch.
Airbnb.com is great if you want a bit of self catering. This does require advance booking, as best properties tend to be snapped up early.
If you are camping, then in high season it is worth booking as much as possible in advance.

The purpose of the trip:

Only you will know what you want from the trip.
Some guys on here and indeed elsewhere have different ideas.

Some just go away for to ride the roads, drink beer, eat some “foreign muck” and chat some bollocks along the way.

Others go away to have a relaxing ride of circa 100-150 miles a day, whilst stopping to see (their) chosen POI’ (Points of interest) along the way.

As it has been proven many times, by the likes of Wapping, that you do not need to cross continents or indeed countries to have a great time. You can have a pleasant long weekend away in northern or indeed north-western France, barely 100 miles away from the eastern cost of France.

Other info:

This forum is a great resource of information, for where to go, where to ride and what to do. Snoop around, you will be surprised by what to will find.

Good luck!

 

[Doc]

Always the Doc does Cochem for training purposes.

 

[Sly]

Not been travelling on a bike since the rise of the internet really, before having kids. now they have gone got myself a 1250 and looking to travel again but where do i start?...I want to plan ahead , are there any websites i can use or this any books i can read . i feel like a novice all over again at 65

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Moved from Trip Reports.

Richard

You and I both pal - just started getting some camping gear together..