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Sorry if this is the wrong area (Mods please feel free to move if not).

The most I've ever ridden was 150 miles in a day, but the chance has come up to ride with a work mate to meet some guys in Germany for a few days in May riding around the Eifel,Ardennes & Hunsruck aeas.

So, I'd be most grateful for any advise from those who've biked on the continent, what essential items shoudl I take? do you have to take warning triangles and medi-kits for France if your on a bike? as with cars?.

Cheers
Simon

the sound of envy...;)

These are some things that you dont should forget:

Passport
Bikes registration papers
Bikes insurance papers
European health insurance card, get it here: https://www.ehic.org.uk

Most european countries require you to have a reflective west with you ( in case of stranded on the road)


ASFA ( info about driving in France)

http://www.autoroutes.fr/en/homepage.html



Are you camping or staying at hotels?

Johann's right Simon...don't forget your documents...You don't have to wear a reflective vest, but make sure you have one, and you can get to it quickly (not at the bottom of your panniers). We just stick them under a bungee or cargo net. The French police can be pretty hot on that. And carry a replacement set of bulbs, avoid toll roads, it can work out expensive, Luxembourgh has some of the cheapest petrol in Europe, France and Germany fuel is a bit more expensive than the UK.If your camping we've been turned away from a few in France, so try and plan for biker friendly sites, easily found on the net... We are off to Greece from July 24th to August 7th if your interested. Check Eurorally Thread...Have a good trip..

@ Moe, come with us!

@ Gooseman, thanks for the links will have a read, as for accomodation I think were going to stay in Bed & Breakfast places / small hotels.

@ Steershead, cheers for the tips. I would love to come to Greece, but I'm already booked to go to Florida with the wife and Kids those weeks.

C'mon guys, who is going to be stupid enough to try and go without all their paperwork ... oh yeah ... er

This time I even have the hi viz thingy and glasses, I have spare glasses.
Don't some countries insist on spare contacts / glasses?

Here's a LINK, I used to drive a lot in Europe with the motorhome with the bike on the rear.

Also HERE

You lucky bugger! I fantasize about a leisurely trip through Europe on my bike. Have a great time.

http://www.motorcycle.co.uk/getdoc/8ed428cc-aece-497b-8896-4818f7b455c8/Motorcycle-Touring.aspx

Link to a handy website for touring on the bike. I personally prefer the tunnel than the ferry. If you don't mind clocking the miles it's much quicker.
If you get near nurburgring a little village just up the road (30k), Altenahr, has a friendly hotel called monch with secure bike parking and is only 5-8k from a biker cafe called 'fahrtewind'. Good place to spend a day or 2 riding round the valleys...
Don't forget to photocopy all your docs. Never keep all your cash in your wallet.. Polizei on the spot fines are usually affordable (if you know what I mean). Been into Europe a few times. It's great touring, take your time and observe road signs and etticate. Most euro drivers are actually quite considerate.. most important advice... Enjoy it.
Happy hols...

Fahrtwind's back door (from the beer garden)

Thanks guys, lots to sort it seems. Got my channel tunnel ticket booked, I've never been in th tunnel other than in the eurostar train, so that'll be a novelty. Basically the itinery is Thusday night ride from London to Calais via the tunnel, then Friday drive from Calais to Bitburg-Erdof ( about 270 miles) to meet up with the German crew around 5pm and then spend the evening there the home of Bitburger Pils I think ;-) - then Saturday and Sunday drive around the Eifel and Mosel areas ending in Franfurt Sunday night. Monday is the long ride back from Frankfurt to London. Sounds simple, just hope the Old girl is up to it!.

Between then and now, I think I'd better get some decent motorway experience, and try and weart in the old leather jacket so its a bit more comfortable over long period..

Cheers
Simon

Gentlemen, I have returned largely in one piece and will try and upload some pics hopefully later this evening, but have'nt got that many. The reason I have so few pictures is that the guy who arranged the whole trip kept us on the bikes pretty much from breakfast to bedtime, with the odd stop for coffee, petrol and lunches. I didnt keep an exact record but I covered over 800 miles in the 4 days and I'm aching all over!. I bought a gel pad to put on my seat for the grand sum of £45 off a guy who's travelled to india and back on a 1950's Royal Enfield, and he said hes used one for that trip and trips to the Andes all without a sore rear end. Well, all I can say is his rear end has a) more padding than mine, and b) definately has a lot less weight resting on said rear end!. By the end of the weekend I could bear no more than 45-50 miles without a quick break!.

So how did the bike do? Well I cant really do much other than praise it. It had a service when I bought it a few months ago and so basically all I did was squirt some lube on the chain, pump up the tyres and go. Unfortunatly throught a combination of wet road, blind lorry driver and tiredness ( and lack of skill no doubt) I managed to drop the bike at low speed just outside calais. Luckily not too much damage was done as I partially broke the bikes fall by being pinned between the bike and the road (ouch!). I had to bend the gear lever and so on back into shape to work and carry on, its not pefect but itll do for now. Also there was a good bit of oil on the tarmac which continued to drip whenever I stopped for the next day, but then stopped. I checke the oil window and it was full so will have to get it topped up again of course, but hopefull not too much damage done.

Anyway will post bit more later, but I can certainly recommend the Eifell/Mosul area for bike touring, the roads are twisty, and full of bikes, we genuinely saw more bikes than cars most day on the backroads, and the scenery was georgeous!

It sounds as though you really enjoyed your first long trip Simon, looking forward to the pics.....

Mmmmmm... road trips! Yer back in one piece with a bunch of new stories... nothing better than that!!

Hopefully done this correctly, a link to a gallery of pics..

http://cid-9e81832a5f089012.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=play&resid=9E81832A5F089012!8861

800 miles in 4 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

come for a ride with me to Poland..... 1100 miles 25 hours ( including ferry)