UK to alps, first timer

[Tusky]

A bit anal but this checklist covers most things, just adapt to your bike and personal needs....

1 Passport
2 European Health Insurance Card
3 Driving Licence (both parts if a photo card type)
4 Certificate of Insurance/Green Card
5 V5 (Logbook)
6 European Breakdown Cover Telephone number and policy number
7 Travel Insurance Contact Numbers/Policy number/Paperwork
8 Eurotunnel Booking Reference and the Card You Paid it With
9 Euros and Credit/Debit Card
10 Mobile Phone and Charger
11 Travel Adaptor
12 Sat Nav and Charger
13 First Aid Kit
14 Paracetemol, Antihistamines, Antiseptic cream and Diarrhoea Tablets
15 Sun Cream/Lip Balm
16 Shower/Shaving/Toothbrush Kit
17 Waterproofs
18 Spare Gloves
19 Neck Warmer
20 Sunglasses/Tinted Visor
21 Visor Cleaning stuff
22 Spare Ear Plugs
23 Bike Manual
24 Tool Kit/Wheel Removal Adaptors
25 Puncture repair kit
26 Spare Bulbs
27 Security Chain & Disc Lock
28 Spare set of keys
29 GB sticker (unless EU number plate)
30 Spare Credit/Debit Card
31 Camera & Batteries
32 Socks, Pants, Tops, Trousers & Shoes
33 Leak proof bottle
34 Camelbak
35 Split Link
36 Hi vis vest (required in France and some other EU countries)
37 Warning triangle (car only usually)
37 Road Vignette - Needed in Austria and Switzerland
38 Engine oil (1-2 Litre for BMWs with under 10k on the clock)
39 Chain Lube
40 Swimwear and small towel
41 Paper Maps
42 Laptop / netbook and charger (useful for evenings spent looking at routes or loading TYRE routes to sat nav)
43 Companions mobile numbers and next of kin list/insurance breakdown details for all
44 travel books/language phrase books
45 FRANCE - Disposable breathalyser kit ???
46 Duct Tape & Cable Ties - essentials for emergency repairs!

 

[Blackal]

A bit anal but this checklist covers most things, just adapt to your bike and personal needs....

46 Duct Tape & Cable Ties - essentials for emergency repairs!

I take those - when I go on a date.............

Al

 

[Wapping]

1 Passport
2 European Health Insurance Card

46 Duct Tape & Cable Ties - essentials for emergency repairs!

No mention of TWO tents.....

 

[woodman]

Paper Maps

Why take paper maps?

I used to fill my tank bag with them and still they didn't have enough detail on them.

Sat Nav is the way to go.

 

[Rasher]

Why take paper maps?
Sat Nav is the way to go.

Until it breaks

I have a good Motorcycle Atlas of the Alps, it has Hotels and Bike shop numbers on the back of each page, I just pull out the pages for the areas I will be going through.

Detail is not great, but they are a handy backup if the sat-nav breaks, or even for altering route plans, much easier to see on a map than the smaller sat-nav screen, and you can lay pages from the map side by side etc.

 

[Tusky]

I take those - when I go on a date.............

Al

 

[Riktus]

Paper map cost sod all and take up sod all room so for planning they are real good especially if you have a few ideas of places you want to see.

If you want to ge the best time consumption consider a small laptop (or Macbook) and if you want to cut out the camping inevitable restless nights and extra weight just call off in a Maccy D or a cafe with wifi at mid morning - hook up to laterooms or booking.com and get yourself a cheapo hotel for the evening coming up - saves space and time calling in at 20 hotels only to find them full!

Credit card(s) - papers - mobile - insurance - small amount of basic tools and a sense of adventure.

I personally would always pre book ferry - also consider tunnel, it is a bit more pricey but they are real helpful about bikers turning up early for crossings. Ferries aren't too bad either on the day but dont like you turning up a day early!

Dont plan too much ahead if you really want to see the best of Austria but remember it gets busy so if you are on your own you will stand a chance of a last minute booking - in a group it will be more difficult and you may need to be at least a few days ahead with your plan.

Rik

 

[The Grey One]

Why take paper maps?

I used to fill my tank bag with them and still they didn't have enough detail on them.

Sat Nav is the way to go.

That's just it! It tells you the way to go,maps do so much more. I would not be without my Garrmin and have used one for 10 years now. Great for getting you places but no use at all to tell you what might be down that road to the right, or over the next hill. A good map is a thing of beauty, a mine of information and repays close examination many times over. It enriches your experience and is therefore more than worth it's cost.

We have loads of day routes here which we download to guests, just follow the instructions and you ride some of the best roads anywhere. If you have a good map however you can see what you are in for, plan your own stops or maybe a deviation from the route to take in something of special interest to you. You can do that because a good map tells you where things are. It also helps to put things in context, to give you a sense of place.

So sat nav and maps are not interchangeable, they do different and complementary jobs. To use a sat nav alone means you miss out on some of the experience. Whilst maps alone might work in a car with a decent navigator, (don't tell her I said so but my Mrs is ace at navigating with a map ) on the bike I find the constant need to stop and get the map out a real pain, one I can avoid by using my Garmin.

John

 

[grumpy]

Today I made enquires with the bank travel pack, the medical side seems ok, but the vehicle recovery is for newer bikes, I spoke with RAC (from the bank) and for the 18 year old bike they want £131.98 for 31 days, or yearly membership for £169.00, I probably will take the yearly and cancel bank insurance on my return. Some of the online quotes were really stupid for a one off trip.

 

[rick]

One thing to be aware of regarding recovery from abroad for older bikes is that not all companies will recover the bike if they feel that the cost of recovery is more than the bike's worth.

Rick.

 

[Wapping]

Today I made enquires with the bank travel pack, the medical side seems ok, but the vehicle recovery is for newer bikes.......

What a good job you checked....

Now, are you really sure about the Travel insurance, too?

 

[grumpy]

sorted-now to decide on how many pairs of underpants needed.

 

[Bryn]

sorted-now to decide on how many pairs of underpants needed.

That'll depend on your riding skills

 

[Richietyke]

Why take paper maps?

I used to fill my tank bag with them and still they didn't have enough detail on them.

Sat Nav is the way to go.

Because Sat Navs are rubbish for planning routes. You need a decent map to get the lie of the land. See where the rivers and lakes are, where the sights are and how everything just fits together. I would recommend Michelin at this point. Excellent maps. Then when you've decided which route to take, programme it into your Sat Nav. The golden rule is Sat Navs are stupid, always tell them what you want to do, not the other way round. Where Sat Navs win over maps is when you are riding and either listening to a direction or glancing at a pink line for a brief moment, rather than looking down at a tank bag and taking your eyes off the road ahead. Dangerous.
If you are worried about carrying so much paper around then download the App from ViaMichelin onto your smart phone or iPad thingy and you can view their excellent maps online for free. Assuming your Hotel or Campsite has WiFi ofc. You can plan your routes as you go from the comfort of the Hotel bar or your room without missing that Castle, waterfall, Lake or picturesque river valley en route. Shame to miss stuff because you let a Sat Nav decide which way to go.

 

[Wapping]

Why take paper maps?

I used to fill my tank bag with them and still they didn't have enough detail on them.

Sat Nav is the way to go.

You should buy better quality and better scale maps.... Or learn to read them

 

[Peirre O`Bollox]

Today I made enquires with the bank travel pack, the medical side seems ok, but the vehicle recovery is for newer bikes, I spoke with RAC (from the bank) and for the 18 year old bike they want £131.98 for 31 days, or yearly membership for £169.00, I probably will take the yearly and cancel bank insurance on my return. Some of the online quotes were really stupid for a one off trip.

for European breakdown cover, try thinking outside the box.
Have a look at the German company ADAC who are the equivalent of the UK AA/RAC and their single Plusmembership this will give you cover for annual multi trip in any vehicle up to and inc campervans for €79.50

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Good thread this!

Easy to forget some of this stuff and not find out about it until it's too late..........Even if you're travelling in the UK a breakdown, accident or even an illness can a lot of problems!

FP.

 

[grumpy]

Well I had a day in the alps, Sunday down to dover through the tunnel and stopped at a hotel west outskirts of Paris Sunday night, got there soaked it rained cats and poodles (French) all the way from Calais. Monday weather forecast crap set off for Grenoble in still wet gear, virtually rained all the way except for about maybe 100 kms north of grenoble., another soaking, another hotel just off motorway, pretty place Grenoble. Tuesday woke to blue skies and hot, I'd dried off most of my stuff with a hair drier which kept cutting out overheating, but still worked when I left the hotel, a nice ride down route napoleon to gap, had a little walk about and a burger, too hot to be in textile suit, the a kid on a 50 scooter showed me the road to briancon, he whizzed me down back lanes side street even over a footpath where I had to 'excuse me please' to some people after an exhilarating jaunt across gap how pointed out the briancon sign and a thumbs up and I was away, past briancon and over the top to Alp due Huez, it was deserted all shops shut but I got there a bit of holy grail. On my way toward grenobke again I saw a camping sign so I went and put my tent up, I was on the site about 20 minutes when the mozzies got the best of me I had lumps on my head face and all my back, the mozzies made keilder midges effeminate, I was just going to leave the tent and vanish but l flattened it and stuffed it into many drybag, so I went back to the hotel in grenoble, again assisted to its location by another motor cyclist, I was now dry but lumpy and itchy, and I smelled like dog bed, nice shower. All the high passes were still closed with snow. wednesday morning weather forecast was really crap all of France raining and really heavy in the south area, so I thought bugger it I'm going home, from the word go I had my all in one waterproof on and set off for Paris just after eight, the roads were awash and visibility was bad with vehicle spray, about an hour south of Paris the rain stopped, so kept on for Calais and Eurotunnel my return ticket was for 29 may it was changed and straight onto the train, eventually getting home just after 12 midnight, 16 hours and in one hop, 960 miles,air hawk cover and bike shorts worn. The bike was brilliant it would run at a 100, it cornered well and never missed a beat, it has a 100 mile tank range, so I had to keep an eye on the distance covered each fill up, it used no oil and sounded a bit tappety on the Sp10 95 fuel until I was warned off it

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[johnnyrep]

That's just mad,bin the tent next time.

Why didnt you head for nice and sun,you don't have to ride every day either

 

[doyle]

This must be a wind up.