1st July - France / Germany

[IMORTAL_Indian]

So, new 2016 bike to be delivered in a few weeks time and planning my 1st trip abroad (more that a day trip) - 8 nights....

What are the main things to carry (on the bike) and off that are not clothes, etc?

Thanks.

 

[MacRR]

I did a week in France last October, I'd say as little as you can get away with, check the latest French laws as they're always changing, you won't need those stupid helmet stickers they tried to introduce for example.... you'll need disposable breathalysers (Halfords), spare headlight bulb (rest are LED), roadside recovery phone number(!), basic tools, gaffa tape, sunglasses unless you want to fanny about carrying spare visors, sat nav makes life very easy but not essential, somewhere handy to keep a credit card for the toll booths, couple of bin bags as useful, a bit of bog roll to clean your visor - er think that was it. Take as few clothes as you can, better to wash them than have stuff you don't need

 

[RickS1K]

I always keep an eye on Bike Normandy as they are always up to date with the regs. The new one this year is that you must have a high visibility vest on you, but only for breakdowns (just like cars) - you don't need to wear it on the move. What Mac says is good advice, although you have effectively never needed the breathalyser as they never enacted the fine for it!

http://www.bikenormandy.com/book-a-motorcycle-tour-in-europe/advice/

Oh, and be careful you don't pay the car rate at unmanned Motorway tool booths - don't be scared to press the intercom and say 'je suis un Moto'

 

[soofsayer]

Completely agree with the above, my 2cents is to choose somewhere mid point that will do your laundry, so you only need half the clothes . The BMW warranty breakdown will cover you for Europe so you'll be sorted.

 

[RickS1K]

..should have also added that I am off to the Ring in a few weeks. The lads I am going with have done it many times, and know lots of fun routes. As such the sum total of the French riding we will be doing is east from Calais to Belgium.

A few years ago I was with another set of mates and we were in the middle of nowhere going through a quaint little town. At the far side, the road out of town was straight as far as you could see, and there was only one thing on our minds as we waited at the lights revving... We were spread out in the traffic, so only two of us actually got through. Although we both raced off (literally), we saw the others hadn't made the lights, and we soon slowed down, ready to floor it when the others did.... but the lights didn't change for ages. We got slower and slower, and eventually we just stopped at the side of the road wondering what was happening. As we stopped 5/6 gendarmes jumped out the bushes right beside us, with their speed detectors at their side - they thought we'd seem them, and needed help with something, actually we nearly cr**ed ourselves in surprise. Meanwhile back down the road the others finally roared off from the lights and then nearly took each other out as they emergency stopped when they saw who we were speaking to! They thought we'd seen the cops too Can laugh about it now, but it nearly went quite badly wrong.. especially as I believe you can expect your bike to be taken off you for 50km above the limit - someone might need to confirm that.

..moral of the story is that whilst speeding is neither big nor clever, France is pretty pants for riding through, which is a shame, cos it is lovely and rural roads are often totally empty.

 

[MacRR]

Not like the good old days, I went to Le Mans in '92 on a GPZ1000RX you could go more or less as fast as you liked then, and I did! You're right on the bike confiscation thing although you see very few police as they seem to rely heavily on those grey, zero tolerance speed cameras to nab the locals.

 

[soofsayer]

As we are reminiscing ...

I was in a beaten up old ford escort with a girlfriend heading back to the Calais ferry (this was in the early 90s, I was in my early 20s). My right foot was planted firmly in the carpet getting the max out of the motor in an attempt to catch the last ferry back that day. Came over a hill to find a policeman standing in the road waving at me to pull in, only problem was the car wouldn't stop in time as I was flat out, so I ended up a couple of hundred yards further down the road in a fog of tyre smoke. Anyway, this copper came running over to get me out of the car and then marched me over to a well hidden van and some his mates with a screen showing my car and some ridiculous speed they had clocked me at.

Next they demanded my passport which I handed over. Then one of them explained I had a 120 franc fine to pay on the spot (it was about ?100). I was totally broke, had a British cheque book and card, and a massive, unauthorised overdraft, no cash. I offered them a cheque. Non, cash only, so off I went in their van to the nearest town where we found a cash point (all the while my girlfriend is following us in the car, which was hers). So no guesses, the cashpoint refused to hand over any money but thankfully didn't eat my card (which I was expecting being so financially f?&ked at the time). So not having any of this, the police then took me in their van to a petrol station where they obviously had a nice little arrangement with the attendant. They tried to put through a transaction but my card did not authorise. At this point I was shrugging my shoulders, no idea why it's not working officer...honest.

The plod who spoke English then explained that because I couldn't pay I would be taken before the magistrate and the court would decide how much money I would 'earn' whilst being locked up in cells, a few days would probably cover the fine. Holy crap, I was now getting really worried. The girlfriend shrugged her shoulders and said 'well if that's what's going to happen I'm not waiting here for days'. Great.

They put me back in the van and drove on to a bank. In we went to try another transaction, card refused again. Right, I thought, just remember not to drop the soap.

We came out of the bank and the copper took me to one side, gave me my passport back and said he was going to let me go, just like that. I didn't need telling twice, jumped in the car with the girlfriend and legged it.

When we got to Calais (missing the ferry) I told of the experience to a waitress who explained the coppers were only interested in cash to split between them, sending me to jail was a waste if their time.

 

[stuartb]

Good wee story Soof... bent coppers everywhere...

 

[stuartb]

So, new 2016 bike to be delivered in a few weeks time and planning my 1st trip abroad (more that a day trip) - 8 nights....

What are the main things to carry (on the bike) and off that are not clothes, etc?

Thanks.

Take a pack of baby wipes, handy for a roadside dump... among other things.

 

[soofsayer]

Take a pack of baby wipes, handy for a roadside dump... among other things.

I'll not be shaking your hand anytime soon lol.

 

[IMORTAL_Indian]

Does anyone take plastic piping to be able to siphon fuel?? And / or what else can you carry under your seat ? Or is that another thread?

 

[mike g]

good idea, there is bog all room under the seat though, and you need to unload luggage to get at it. I've got ventura kit and it works really well, still need to bag stuff in case the inevitable rain happens!

 

[alex]

Why would you need to siphon fuel? Are you stealing it from parked cars?
Who runs out of fuel nowadays with a digital, ultra conservative dashboard readout of miles to go?
You have a SatNav/ phone telling you where the nearest petrol is. Worst case is a detour surely?

Forget storing under the seat - some tools at most if you didn't spec the alarm.

 

[IMORTAL_Indian]

Why would you need to siphon fuel? Are you stealing it from parked cars?
Who runs out of fuel nowadays with a digital, ultra conservative dashboard readout of miles to go?
You have a SatNav/ phone telling you where the nearest petrol is. Worst case is a detour surely?

Forget storing under the seat - some tools at most if you didn't spec the alarm.

Sorry, I am used to having loads of space under my 19-year old blade.... ;-)

I have a first aid pack (courtesy from Biker Down) , disc lock, plastic piping (I have used it once) when I ran out and turned the reserve on, only to forget to turn it to normal after filling her up again....and then ran out.... cable ties, electrical tape, spare bulbs....and a few spare sized nuts and bolts, oh and a small multi-tool (swiss army style)

I guess a tail pack / tank bag should be order ASAP before I take delivery in a couple of week ;-)

Any yes, I did spec the alarm.

Anyone have a bagster for a 2016 or any other luggage system for daily use?

 

[stuartb]

Lol Soof...

 

[stuartb]

Haha I recall going in to an outdoor store prior to a RTW trip with my EX Wife.. we told the guy how long we were going for... and we asked for some advice... the wee guy was like... ooer.. well if your going away that long you'll need flares...lol Think he though we were going to the deepest jungle... still makes me laugh to this day.

Don't forget flares Immortal...

 

[davidmccord]

I've just returned from a trip to germany. Packed as much as I could fit into the tail pack and tank bag. Got more than enough in for the 5 days there. Didn't bother with tools etc I just took the breakdown card. I can recommend 2 very decent lodgings. One in the black forest near the B500 (awesome road) called pension Williams. That's in Seebach. One on the nurburgring called haus am ziel (the place after the race) ran by Renate and her husband Majiid. Absolutely brilliant places both of them and not a lot of money for the stay. I believe Renate ran a very popular place on the ring prior to this one but the name escapes me. Ewan McGregor stayed there when he made that road trip film (forgotten that name too!)

 

[IMORTAL_Indian]

I can confirm the we are staying at the plate Pension Williams... We are there for 3 nights and the ride to Colmar and do a bit in France... I will have a tank bag (bagster) and would like to take a BMW tail bag that is mounded to the seat. (Seems a bit small though). However, not sure if all items will fit so will use the idea above of taking 4 days clothes and washing them somewhere en-route... Cannot wait for the bike to come along next week and the trip to follows soon after . . (Cheshire Cat GRIN)