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[wedgiewolves]

Hi everyone around me and 9 buddies are planning a road trip for 2011 ( i know its a bit early but isle of man next year and missus due our new  baby end of June ).

So i have had a quick 20 min scoot on google maps and got a vaige idea but i have not got a clue of mileage per day etc ill tell you what i have got but i would like tips off anyone as i and most of the clan have never done this before.

We have a couple of weeks to tour around

Most bikes going are sports bikes with a couple of tourers thrown in.

1x rsvr factory
3x zx10'rs
1x zx6r
1x lady on a ducati multistrada
1x moto guzzi <----- have not got a clue what it is.
1 x gsxr 1000
me on what ever i have by then hopefully the new 2011 zx10r 

I have got so far

MY HOUSE TO DOVER  (217 MILES)

CALAIS TO MONACO THROUGH SWITZERLAND STOPPING A COUPLE OF TIMES NIGHTS DOWN ETC (908 MILES)

MONACO TO VALENCIA COAST ROADS (672 MILES)

VALENCIA BACK THROUGH SPAIN AND FRANCE TO HOME (1278 MILES)

MILES 3075

Got it to around 220 miles a day . Might get more or less done in a day have a day off riding etc

Any tipos etc would be very grateful. 

I

[joeys60]

Hi did a bid tour on my 2006 10r think that was a few thousand miles just get the right tyer i had to get my changed as it just wore very fast

[Wheeltrax]

Drop in and see me for a couple of days to do the Nurburgring if youre coming back through Germany 

[HoodyZX10r]

Hi mate
           You lucky man, Im jelous already! Anyway been lucky to have done quite a few trips into Europe. Im lucky in that Portsmouth is 20 minutes down the road and we always used the night crossings to Caen, puts you on the door step early morning.
          Have a look at Portsmouth Santander, then across to Pamplona and Barcelona. Spain certainly seemed to have the best combination of roads and weather, in my experience! Then you can take longer to come back, give yourself plenty of time and do the Alps / Pironese. This was my only regret we never seemed to have enough time in the mountains, but then the guy who did the routes was scared of heights!
          The sensible bit needs looking at European health Insurance (Used to be an E1,11 form from the post office) its free and will give you medical cover in EU countries, remember Switzerland isn't in the EU! And of course recovery Back to the UK!
          Top tips (Well mine anyway) dont carry anything on your back, mount it on the bike. One of the group carries a can of tyre weld, this has saved us a couple of times. Water proofs, plastic bags for your feet surgical gloves and ear plugs, theres nothing worse than having to put your feet and hands back into wet cold gloves / boots. If your travelling through France and just looking for over night stays Camponile's normally cheap you can get the bike right outside the door. Any where else secure parking.

Cheers Hoody   

Ps i would take wheeltrax up on his offer theres some good riding around the ring as well, harts mountains ?

[wedgiewolves]

Drop in and see me for a couple of days to do the Nurburgring if youre coming back through Germany 

That is a banging idea ill hold you too that  cheers

[wedgiewolves]

Hi mate
           You lucky man, Im jelous already! Anyway been lucky to have done quite a few trips into Europe. Im lucky in that Portsmouth is 20 minutes down the road and we always used the night crossings to Caen, puts you on the door step early morning.
          Have a look at Portsmouth Santander, then across to Pamplona and Barcelona. Spain certainly seemed to have the best combination of roads and weather, in my experience! Then you can take longer to come back, give yourself plenty of time and do the Alps / Pironese. This was my only regret we never seemed to have enough time in the mountains, but then the guy who did the routes was scared of heights!
          The sensible bit needs looking at European health Insurance (Used to be an E1,11 form from the post office) its free and will give you medical cover in EU countries, remember Switzerland isn't in the EU! And of course recovery Back to the UK!
          Top tips (Well mine anyway) dont carry anything on your back, mount it on the bike. One of the group carries a can of tyre weld, this has saved us a couple of times. Water proofs, plastic bags for your feet surgical gloves and ear plugs, theres nothing worse than having to put your feet and hands back into wet cold gloves / boots. If your travelling through France and just looking for over night stays Camponile's normally cheap you can get the bike right outside the door. Any where else secure parking.

Cheers Hoody   

Ps i would take wheeltrax up on his offer theres some good riding around the ring as well, harts mountains ?

Many thanks for that i have saved your message i do need to get eveything in order like insurance etc your tips are greatly appreciated thanks

Lee

[HoodyZX10r]

Lee your welcome, there is one more tip. In the planning phase (Standing at the bar!) divvy the jobs up, by this i mean one does the route one does the hotels, ferries, recovery and so on. This will get the cost shared out across a few credit cards and you will see who's committed to the trip.   

[wedgiewolves]

Lee your welcome, there is one more tip. In the planning phase (Standing at the bar!) divvy the jobs up, by this i mean one does the route one does the hotels, ferries, recovery and so on. This will get the cost shared out across a few credit cards and you will see who's committed to the trip.   

       Good plan my card is stretched at the minute ha ha

[Markyboyzx6r]

Avoid Switzerland. The Swiss are about as enthusiastic about spirited riding as they are about warfare. Couple of mph over the limit and you're looking at major fines. They really don't find it funny.

Going through the Metz, Alsace, Haute Savoie route down is well worth your while. Lovely roads, scenery and you avoid the dull motorway. Also, coast roads tend to be crap and busy, esp in France. Go further inland in high season and you avoid the pack.

N85 is always a good one to tick off the list if you haven't done it before.

I actually DO take a back pack. I know it's 'not good' in a crash (to say the least) but I find it comfortable and convenient. Kreiga kit - expensive but so worth it. It's a personal choice thing. I personally hate tankbags.

Other than that, credit cards, passport and a carte bleu so you can fill up on Sunday in middle of nowhere France. Saved me a fair few times.

[budda10r]

Take an emergency puncture repair kit!!!!

[wedgiewolves]

cheers everyone for advice and tips as i say we are all new to this so wanna get it half right first time ! cheers again

[Mark GVA]

When you get to Switzerland (they don't like speed, tho when you're on the passes & not in the towns or motorways it's all good). you should check out the following passes...all around the south-western side:

Susten Pass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=812nOk7fex0&feature=fvw
Furka Pass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u02yPau6BaU&feature=PlayList&p=9CC2A548B81A6340&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1
St Gotthard Pass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLYrDQjq5Tw&feature=fvw
Grimsel Pass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kyEh_e9djA&feature=related

& for heading down to Monaco:
La Route Napoleon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Route_Napol%C3%A9on
Takes you down to Cannes....the northern section can be boring, but it picks up & beats the boring motorway.

Watch out for the speed cameras on the swiss motorways.....reason for the large fines is they don't have a points system. If you go way over then they take your license & you have to have a pysch test (for real).....same with your driving test, if you fail 3 times you have to have a pysch test before taking it again!  Anyway, check that lot out, well worth testing them & planning a route that way.