What I Learned From Motorcycle Touring in Europe.
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- čas přidán 22. 06. 2024
- I hope these 20 or so do's and don't are useful for those of you considering a tour or trip on your bike. I've tried to include things that are a little bit over and above a standard packing list you find on many websites. I hope you enjoy and please do comment and add your own tips to share with others...
Gear I use:
Jacket🧥: Alpinestars Andes Touring I / RST Pro Series CPX-C Leather Jacket - Neon Green
Trousers👖: Alpinestars Andes Touring I / RST R-18 CE Leather Jeans
Gloves🧤: RST Thermotech Heated Gloves / RST Blade 2 CE Leather Gloves
Helmet: Arai: RX-7V Gold Rea edition (signed)
Boots🥾: RST Tractech EVO III
Action Camera 🎥: GoPro Hero VII x2
Audio🎵: Olympus LSP4 sound capture device
Mic🎤: Rode SmartLav+
Still images📸: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra - Auta a dopravní prostředky
A great video. I am leaving on June 1st on my first tour, Newcastle in UK to Athens in Greece, 5000+miles, really excited! Spent the past 4 months planning and getting my bike up to scratch, quitting my job to do it and everything!
Thanks so much for the comment and for sharing your adventure plans! I rode to Slovakia last year and this year is Norway, Ive still got to keep the day job so time off is limited 😕. On your route I was say the coast of Croatia and Makarska riveria would be worth riding through and also the Rhodope mountains in Bulgaria. What bike are you going on out of interest?
Did you do this trip Quantum? How did it go??
I toured from the Uk to Cyprus on a Vespa 300.
My advice for a successful tour is any bike is capable as long as it's reliable.
Don't over estimate your daily mileage goals.
Earplugs are a must and basically enjoy and immerse yourself in the experience.
Another must is take your vehicle registration document, i forgot mine and had to rely on a scanned copy on my phone.
I got away with it , but there were moments when I thought I wouldn't and would be turned back to where I had come from.
Good advice Trevor, thanks for sharing I'm sure some will find your tips useful 👍. +1 for the ear plugs
1. wear your earplugs. they are no good in tank bag. 40 years riding experience on a number continents. and I can still hear higher frequencies that many of my peers. 5. If your yomping through France to get to Spain or Italy. Don't!. If it's Spain (or Iberia in general) take the Santander Ferry, if Italy or Croatia etc, go though Germany. If you insist on going through France or are visiting France take the non-motorway routes. Cheaper, much prettier, more interesting, better beer and food. Again of your heading down south of France take the Santander Ferry. 6. I do that in the UK too not just when travelling foreign. 11. again as an older rider. learn some basic yoga. I also do Indian clubs as my ride fit routine. also take some exercise bands. 13. also in the States. also can kick out a leg. I also do this in the UK as i generally ride motorways on cruise control.2?? have the flag and UK on your number plate, then you don't need a sticker. 4?? I have my mirrors set to be wider than my bags as whiskers. if the mirrors get through the gap the bags will. Security... Toe-rags exist in Europe like they do in the UK. don't need chains but be vigilant, soft bags can be broken into or slashed. ride with hard bags especially if you solo ride and you can't have a group member babysit the bikes. Not a fan of bike hire if i can avoid. Not my bike and deposits etc seem to get retained for the smallest thing. Cost it in if you have to. Sometimes its too far to ship like US or India, but if its Europe what's the problem? Always carry a multitool but put in the bottom of the pack. cable ties, duct tape and electrical legoblocks fix most things. Legoblocks can temporary join a snapped brake cable at a pinch. Pack a first aid kit and include gel packs for burns. Pack a mozzy net. Even if your not camping. especially BnB. Will give better nights sleep. Also good for keeping out black scorpions and centipedes when the windows can't. Caffeine is great as long as its in coffee. energy drinks are really, really bad for you. My brother has diabetes and is partially blind now so he cannot ride anymore. Mostly because as a long distance driver he used to chug energy drinks. Don't drink and drive. Do you really have to say that it should be common sense? if your going to have a session make sure your not riding the next day as alcohol stays in the bloodstream for many hours, also dehydrates you for a poor riding experience. Always carry drinking water, and make sure your pee runs clear, if not drink more. I've dealt with dehydration in the desert and it is not pretty.
A lot of great advice in there, thank you for sharing MoreTi.
Why do you specifically avoid France? Is the road tolls expensive? Or slow?
It's not slow at all really as the roads are empty and it's 130kph limit. There is a toll every few kilometers, it's flat and not as exciting compared to northern Spain or Germany. Opinions will differ but I think it's a lot of munching the miles and drains your stamina on a long tour.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist 👍
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Agreed. My Last trip through France to get to Italy was a bind. This year I hope to stop off a bit more, so will be going through France. I have some destination points mid-way and some meet ups. Polishing up my français as haven't used it properly for over a decade.
Great video, thank you both for taking the time to do it. Really helpful and very much appreciated. Some great pointers for a successful trip 👍
Thank you, honestly that's very kind. I just had a nasty comment 'what a load of BS', you might be able to see it below. So to have your nice comment has restored my faith and come at the right time. People who make videos are human like everyone else. Cheers 🍻 👏
@@MindfulMotorcyclist you took the time to offer pointers, great tips and ones that those of us embarking on similar can consider. My view is that you took time out to help others, if I don’t like it I can carry on and ignore you but I don’t need to post a negative, I just have to appreciate that you wanted to help 👍 Andalusia in June, via Santander, wearing ear plugs and carrying slime and tyre plugs 👍 keep on posting and sharing 😁
@allen-ty2it thank you and all the best for your trip. Book a cabin on the ferry, the seats do not recline all the way back 😀
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Booked, too old to do 24 hours in a seat 👍
Great tips, thank you.
Thank you Martin, glad it was helpful. Sean
Great video thanks for the tips 👍
Hi Chris, thank you for the comment, much appreciated...
Great tips, stunning back drop 👌🏼
Thanks Saddlebags 👍, I'll be keeping an eye out for your touring adventures on the new bike 🏍 🙂
Great advices and tips, will definitely apply some (most) ;-)!
Thank you Canada, appreciate the comment. This is actually quite an old video, very embarrassingly presented and shot but pleased it still has some utility...
REgarding the UK sticker also consider getting new number plates made with the union jack and UK badge. It saves having to put a sticker anywhere and it's not very expensive.
Thank you for the comment, that's sound advice especially as the magnetic stickers don't really work on modern bikes and glue ones are a bit problematic to remove from paint once baked on in the sun. I did read though in Spain you need the number plate AND the UK sticker which has to be a white oval with black lettering UK. Could be true but suspect depends on the individual Guardia Civil....
Must see vedio for everyone..all included information..thanks
Hi Dr Bharat, thanks for the comment, much appreciated.
Very useful information.
Thank you James, glad some of it was of use 👍
great location and information. I might add a few things as an addendum. Stretch at rest stops, fuel stops, whenever. makes a difference. Also while riding learn a muscle contraction technique where you start with your feet, move up you legs to your calf, then thigh, and finally your butt. For arms start at your hands work up your arms in sequence to your shoulders and upper back. I run 500-1,000 mile days and doing this really makes a difference. Many people don't experience this next one, dealing with tires, until they take a long trip. If you do tend to stick to straighter roads than what you're used to expect the center of your tire to wear very quickly in relation to the sides, especially if you have on sport oriented tires because you were going to carve up mountain passes. Here in the US I see that a lot where folks from various countries misjudge the distance and the straightness of the roads. I know there are plenty of straight or mostly straight roads in Europe as well. I'll be looking forward to seeing this trip! Oh, and who was that photo model on the bike for the still shot! Shame for not giving her a shout out!
Hi JW, thanks for the comment and insights. The tyres is indeed an interesting one. I would hope full on touring tyres contain much more rubber in the middle section to account for the fact people generally sit on the middle 30% band of the tyre for 90% of its usable life. Sport bike tyres, well you are really doing them a disservice and wasting your money if you ride straight roads, I expect the softer rubber wears quickly as well. I find during aggressive cornering a sport tyre will begin to bobble on the outer edge so perhaps that area does wear quicker given there is more pressure on a smaller section of tyre even if it is for a fleeting moment mid corner. Definitely more to tyres than meets the eye. Oh and as for that last point this is Suzie my girlfriend who also love bikes and she is on the channel from time to time as well. She was a great co-anchor on the NEWS segment we did a while back 😊
Awesome content 👍 I am hiring a bike in France in August with my partner (she rides as well). you covered some really salient points , some i had thought of BUT a few i hadn't .
a couple of questions; is the vest and triangle mandatory in all europe (did it come with your hired bike)? Were you riding two up with your GF or did she have her own bike? and finally what camera combo did you use during your tour ? Keep up the great content - Simon
Hi Simon, every now and then you get a really lovely comment that make's all this CZcams lark worthwhile, this is one of those so thank you very much. Your plan sounds excellent so I'll try and address some of these questions with half decent answers. I've checked and the yellow vest is mandatory in AT LEAST Spain, France and Portugal but is likely to be true in other countries given the alignment across Europe, the warning triangle I found out after visiting a scrapy to get one is only for car drivers and not required for motorcyclists (I assume it is not practical to keep one on a bike with no luggage, plus they are surprisingly big even folded away). My hire bike in Croatia did not come with anything apart from an insurance and document slip to show to police as required. I was riding two up as my girlfriend does not have the full licence. Regarding cameras, I used a couple of GoPro Hero 7 Blacks, very old now as the 12 is coming out but they record wide angle fully stabilised 4k60, and I am not keen on upgrading due the cost. I might be tempted by the Insta 360 if I was to buy new now but I have other areas of my content that I can work on improving and that are better to focus on. I am transitioning to doing more content off the bike and so I have a Fuji XH2 for this purpose and am relying less and less on 'action cams', that's just the way I see the channel evolving. I hope you have a lovely time and any other questions please ask I will be happy to answer them... Thx, Sean
Triangles are only mandatory on 3-wheel MC here (or if riding with sidecar). =)
Yellow wests not mandatory in Sweden, as far as I know you must have one in France but only available, You don't actually have to wear it. =)
I've toured Ireland, Belgium, Germany, France and Luxembourg. I always had brief rest stops after every 50 miles; it's very tempting to keep riding and riding but that increases the risk of tiredness. Allow some flexibility in your schedule; you're bound to meet a motorcyclist or local who'll recommend a route, or a cafe or a place to visit.
Thanks for the comment Geoff, that's great advice. I think I ended up stopping realistically every 100-150 miles to refill anyway, I didnt wait for tank to be empty.
I wonder how would you do it if you wanted to go hiking in terms of parking the bike and not having off road parking. Meaning you're left with just a random parking and not ways to lock it nowhere.
What would you do in that situation?
I'm thinking of going hiking in the UK and use my honda pcx 125 to get there. But from the looks of it, there is nowhere safe where to park your bike while you hike. My worry is that it will not be there when I get back to it.
Do you think of any ideas around this?
Thank you for all the tips given in the video
Thanks for the comment. I recently went to a business meeting in Paris and left my bike in a business park chained. It was my second time so I was more 'relaxed' about it. I guess you either have to be comfortable leaving your bike open to theft and accept the risk is always there. I will say many bikes are stolen to be broken into parts and so popular expensive bikes are prime targets e.g. BMW 1250 GSA. No one has heard of my bike 😂 Voge 500 DSX and the parts are £25 on average from China. So I assume it wouldn't be stolen for this purpose. When you are in accommodation try and find bike friendly places with a courtyard or garage but as far as opportunistic theft well I would use the bikes steering lock, a brake lever lock or a disc lock, basically you just want to prevent the bike being out into neutral and rolled away or being started without the key. If you are really worried then put a chain ⛓️ ideally 2m around the rear wheel and swing arm. This will then allow you to attach your bike to railings, trees, posts etc. The problem with the chain is that it weighs a lot and takes up a lot of room in your luggage. I have taken a 2m chain in the past but next time I think only to take brake lever lock 🔒. Another thing is your luggage, hard case luggage is ideally for when you stop in services no one can simply open your pannier, when you are camping or stopped over night remove all the boxes or cases so the bike becomes less interesting to a potential thief. I think you will be alright with a small capacity bike. I'm going on another trip so please follow the channel and I'll mention what I'm taking with me 😊 hopefully that will be useful.
Edit I just looked up the Honda PCX and realised it is a scooter. So you have a lot of storage space under the seat you could take a chain. Also you can stay in accommodation where you want to hike and leave the scooter there for the day. Even in a campsite is better than on road parking. So yes I would def do the trip but take the security device for your peace of mind. Also I forgot to mention I have an app called Sizzapp and it's basically a tracker with a phone application, this enables you to see the current location of your vehicle but also if your bike has been moved, your phone will send you an alert. I need to do a video about this as well.
Finally you can also have a mechanic fit a hidden kill switch that disables power a system for the bike, usually the fuel pump so the bike will turn over but not fire. This is very clever way of stopping your bike disappearing in the night.
Thank you. This is very helpful. I want to travel europe on a motorcycle but am terrified
Perhaps start off with a trip to France or perhaps Belgium, there's still a lot to see and it would be quite fun and not top far to ride. Thanks for the comment 👍
Don't be. it's like riding at home but in a different language.
No need to be terrified. Standards of driving and respect for motorcycles is generally way better than the UK where people love sitting in the middle lane on motorways and seemingly find motorcycles invisible
Useful, thank you.
No problem and glad you liked it ☺️
useful information! As a European (Belgian) I can tell you that the two fingers sign (or bikers greeting sign)means, as far as I know it: the fingers stand for your 2 wheels, keep them on the ground and ride safe!
Thanks Steven, appreciate the feedback. I didn't know that about it standing for 2 wheels!
Fantastic tips! I will be doing a euro tour this summer, shipping my bike from the states then riding around Germany, Belgium, the UK, Ireland, Spain, Italy . Curious if you know EU/UK rules on yellow auxiliary lights? Are they legal to be on while you are on the road? cheers,
Thanks for the comment very kind of you to say so. Wow you are shipping your bike? What bike is it? I suppose it makes sense as rental prices are very high. I did a norway trip on this channel which might be of interest and also Croatia is a special place to ride when in Europe. It's all good really. I think yellow lights are permitted, certainly never heard of them being illegal especially as only auxiliary and not the main headlamp. Thanks 👍
@@MindfulMotorcyclist oh I will definitely be watching Norway and more on your channel. I have a 1250GS, last summer I rode it across the U.S. then up to Deadhorse Alaska and back to Key West.
We are in the process of shipping our bikes to Germany. They are on the Atlantic Ocean as we speak. Flying over from San Francisco to Frankfurt. So excited to start our ride in May. My husband and I both have BMW800’s.
That sounds super, where are you going? Germany has some great places but of course the further you travel the more interesting things get. Also how much is it to ship bikes over the Atlantic? Who are you using for this? Good idea as hiring bikes is furiously expensive these days. I paid €700 for 5 days. Thanks, Sean
shipping is 1500 US dollars each way. makes sense if you do 30 or more days.@@MindfulMotorcyclist
Thanks for sharing this. It was interesting and I learned some useful tips. Most of the comments were informative too, but there’s always going to be some angry dogs bowl who will want to knock things and start off with insults. Those people never want to learn new things, just brag and criticise, usually from the safety of their mother’s basement. Most of us appreciate what you do. So ignore them and keep on doing what you do.👍
Thats very kind, thank you for saying this. It goes a long way. Cheers, Sean
@@MindfulMotorcyclist 👍 They can be hurtful, these morons! We all have to grow a thick skin because they’re always there. Just stick to your guns and do what you believe in. It’s ok to disagree, but it’s immature to be rude about it. On the other hand, constructive criticism although hard to take is how we all learn. I don’t mean to come across as a know it all. I just wanted to give you a bit of support. I know when I get rude comments like that, my feelings get hurt and I want to tell them to go f***k themselves 😀
thank you for this video. Some very helpful tips. I'm the process of planning a European trip in 2023. I'll be travelling from Australia and therefore cost will be a factor. Would be interested to know about your expenses, i.e. cost of food, petrol, accommodation per day. What type of accommodation, hotels, motels, AirBnB etc. Thanks
Hi George, thanks for your comment and question. It's hard to estimate this but my accommodation was £60-120 /night, petrol was around £400 in total, most pumps ranged between €1.88/litre and €2.20/litre (sorry to change currencies but they are not far off equal now). I found I could get down as low as a consumption of 5.6l/100miles travelling slowly at around 55-60mph, at 80mph plus my bike was much more thirsty at around 7.1l/100miles. Fuel was cheapest in Slovakia and France and most expensive in Germany. Food, I probably spent £30/day but I usually do keep breakfast items in a sort of packed lunch to save time looking for lunch. I hope that helps... what route are you looking at? Sean
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Thanks Sean. I'm looking at doing the Balkans, Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia and then into Austria. Motorcycle hire hire is cheaper and so is accommodation between April and June.
@@georgetumino9652 Perfect, I've ridden in Croatia and that area is simply stunning. I hired a Honda Africa Twin from from Rent-A-GS in Split, Croatia and found them to be excellent. They will also advise you on the best roads through Croatia but the 8 coast road is super. It will also not be uncomfortably hot in April whereas in July and Aug its 35*C plus, also not peak season so you won't have all the cars and holidaymakers. You're going to have great fun!
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Thanks.
Nice Guys
Good points how much was it to hire the AT
Stay Safe Cheers
Hi Barry thanks for the comment. It was about 700 euro from memory. Not cheap tbh...
@@MindfulMotorcyclist
Thanks very much
Some good useful information here, but not sure if bikers need to carry a warning triangle though, it’s not something we’ve ever considered or would even bother carting around. Also, never had any issues filtering, again, we take our chances, never stand in traffic on a bike!!!
Thanks Garry for the comment, appreciate the nice feedback. I think I checked again and bikes don't need the triangle, it's only cars. I'm a big fan of filtering whenever possible as well. Perhaps the only time not to is very narrow lanes with big vehicles that leave very little space...
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Some countries are more accepting of motorcyclists than others. I once decided to filter in France and all the cars pulled over to give me space.
What would you recommend in terms of aftermarket luggage? I generally get everything in a rucksack (laptop included) so just need something that’ I can put the rucksack into that’s waterproof and easy to attach/remove
Hi Neil, the hard case lockable luggage is most secure. I ride a modern classic bike now so I'll he using soft luggage (in 1 hr a video about my luggage will go live). If you only use a rucksack then you're doing very well and packing light. Perhaps a top box would be perfect. What bike do you have? Thanks
@@MindfulMotorcyclist I don’t yet. I travel a lot to Europe for work, bored of planes and trains. I’ll probably get a 650cc naked or thereabouts
I thought the same, see my trip to France. I argued that the CO2 emissions on a small capacity motorcycle are less per person than a plane to Paris. Actually got approved to help meet the companies Green target 😆.
This is a really helpful review of the do’s and don’ts of touring abroad. So many things I really hadn’t thought about. When you hire a bike abroad - how much gear do you need to take? Or is that another video? Hope you’re having an amazing trip. Looks glorious.
Hi Nigel, well you were the inspiration for this video so I'm glad it was useful. The question about gear is pertinent as I had a decision to take this time after the previous trip. In Mexico I didnt take any except some walking boots and gloves which felt a little risky at higher speeds. I was given a helmet but in the slightest collision it would have come off so I was very conscious of being vulnerable. This time I packed my own helmet, some gloves and motorcycle jeans even though all this added significant weight and volume to my checked in bag. Upon arriving I discovered, the company 'Rent-a-GS', was great, as well as all the bikes being very new you could hire excellent brand new helmets (which we did for Suzie). Interestingly, or perhaps obviously 85% of the bikes they had were BMW GS, others were Honda and Ducati ADV bikes, they have 1 sportbike as an outlier and one BMW 310GS as a small capacity option. The jackets they had on offer didn't look great so I made do with gloves, helmet, jeans and a non-motorcycle top. It would also of being very hot to wear full jacket in 32*C. Of the riders I saw around, many using their own bikes coming down from Germany or Austria had full gear, while those on Croatian plates often wore none! It was interesting to say the least. Trip is going well thanks we've just arrived in Bulgaria which is much more mountainous and alpine than Croatia, I guess the only bummer is to miss the Meteor shower in July 😟!
@@MindfulMotorcyclist I look forward to plenty of other videos on your grand adventure. How about one from a pillion perspective? Do’s, don’ts etc.
Hi, can you forward details of where you hired the bike for, many thanks keep the videos going 👍
Hi Steven thanks for the message. That's very kind. I'm happy to say it was from 'Rent-a-GS' and they are based in Split. They were very helpful... Cheers
Many thanks 👍
I'm thinking of touring all of Europe in a circle, and I was wondering.
Should I Do that?
Should I do guided tours?
Money not being an issue, and alone I'd stay at hotels etc.
From America originaly, and just really wanna enjoy all of it.
I figured maybe in a month.
Or I'm wondering is this too ambitious, and too much to chew?
Thank you.
I would say yes, I personally don't go for the guided tour but that so because I stop to set up filming so I wouldn't expect others to wait for me. The best time would be spring, picos in Spain, Alps of course and Balkans down through Croatia I think are the best locations. The British publications RIDE often have ideas of routes as the British head to Europe quite often. I bet you can find that online. You can hire bikes and that is likely to be your biggest expense depending on what model you go for. I would also stay in hotels, only didn't in Norway as it is so expensive! Any further questions please ask and I'll do my best to respond... Thanks, Sean
Apple airtag or some tracking device so when the bike gets nicked you can track it ?
Hi Richard, yes great idea. I've heard that the police on the continent actually do care and will help you find your bike if the worst should happen! I'm using the Sizzapp device and have a discount code for it!
Good tips, what about tent camping or hostels?
Hi gotdirt66, I'm actually really having some good luck with Airbnb at the moment. £30-40 a night gets you somewhere quite decent and usually fairly unique! Tent camping I haven't really done but that's not to say it wouldn't be great. Hostels are also nice for the social side, as they have the shared kitchen etc.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist awesome, how much did you pay to rent the bike? What about changing currencies so often?
Unfortunately the bike was ALOT. Around €120 per day and that was with a discount (always ask for one) and I took my own helmet. If I was to do it again I'd hire a small capacity bike as that would be cheaper and easier to ride. With the currencies most countries are Euros with some exceptions like Poland, Croatia, Bulgaria etc. You can either use a pre paid travel card that doesn't charge you non sterling transaction fees or use your own credit card. Usually UK banks have exchange rates very close to the actually rate, always pay in the local currency NEVER pay in your own currency at let the merchant perform the exchange rate for you as they will mark it up heavily. If you take money out of an ATM read carefully the small print as there can potentially be several charges 1) ATM owners withdrawal fee, a set amount like €2.50 2) exchange rate mark up, if you opt to take out €100 for example and you use their exchange rate it will be £100=€102 or something stupid when it should be closer to £100=€115, so they've made an additional €13 from you. The machine will try to pressure you into accepting a 'guaranteed rate/safe rate' which is almost certainly higher than you banks rate. 3) Your bank will charge you a non sterling transaction fee of perhaps 2% or £3 which ever is lower. So in this case it makes sense to take out more at once. Think €200 at a time not €20. The only way to avoid this is to have a specialist travel card that doesn't charge a fee. Hope that helps...
Wild camping in Germany is not allowed. I have seen people marking wild camping spots on different platforms for Germany but these are illegal and the fine is €500. Offroading in Germany as in many EU countries is only allowed on the official TET routes
The toll routes in Europe are practical, but extremely annoying to drive. Fine if you want to get from A to B quickly, but not for the beautiful surroundings. I prefer to drive via nice quiet routes and then take a few days longer on my journey, but then I will at least arrive at my destination relaxed!
I agree, the toll roads are just a quick way to get somewhere you actually want to see...
How do you know which lane to take through the toll booth on your motorcycle
It's a bit of guess work but usually the symbol for card or coins is similar across countries...
A few things I had no clue about. Yellow vests ect. One day maybe.
Here the two fingers is quite polite a friendly gesture,
"Keep the rubber side Down"
Nice t-shirt😊
Haha thank you. This t shirt does get some haters so nice to hear some positive comments 😊👍
Just like travelling through Europe is like a MMA fight .
what bike hire companies would you recommend in italy, swizterland and germany ?
Hi Richard, no idea I haven't hired bikes in those regions. Perhaps check Google reviews...
You need a V5 and printed certificate of motor insurance.
You need a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which is free, and separate travel health insurance, which isn't free, but not expensive. You need roadside repair and recovery insurance, again, not expensive.
Personally I set my handlebar-mounted phone satnav to 'avoid tolls' and 'avoid motorways'. I want to see the countryside and towns, not just blast across the continent to some pre-determined destination, just so I can say 'I did it'. Motorways are boring. If I'm riding and I see somewhere nice or interesting, I want to stop and have a look round or chat to the locals. Chill, as my sons would say.
The journey is the thing for me, it should be an organic experience which doesn't require over-planning. I recently crossed from Harwich to Hoek Van Holland. I booked my first campsite in advance, as I would be arriving in the Netherlands around 5pm and just needed that first, reliable stop-over after a long ride and 7 hour ferry crossing.
After two night camping near the Hoek, I set off for Germany intending to find a campsite there, I had seen a couple of places on the internet. The weather was poor; high winds, which made riding unsafe and rain that made riding unenjoyable. I stopped to don 'water-proof' over-trousers and once again consulted Ms Google. I found a nearby site at Munnickenheide which was delightful and cheap. It also had an on-site micro-brewery. Result!
Obviously, I had a beer or two, but not to the point of insensibilty obviously. I don't drink coffee and certainly not 'energy' drinks. I agree with your observations on these last two substances, but not the first!
I don't give 'advice'. Everyone has a different take on motorcycle touring or so-called ADV motorcycling. That's ADV, short for 'Adventure' (I had to look this up), which is not not much of an abbreviation as both terms have three syllables, but hey-ho! More wasted vowels.
My own take on life in general is the three 'R's'. Reliable, Resourceful and Resiliant.
Reliable, you need to get out of bed to catch that ferry, train, plane or whatever.
Resourceful, you need to think laterally and positively when things inevitably go wrong and you have to change plans to get out of, or avoid a shit-show. Solve problems.
Resiliant, things can and do go wrong. No point in whining about it, there is no point in worrying about things over which you have no control. So sometimes discomfort is a 'learning opportunity' and we just need to cope with it without melodrama.
PS. If you are camping alone with a motorcycle, a head-torch is an essential item!
Ride safe, love and peace.
So you went on your own, what do you think about European motorcycle tours costing over $30,000 per month per person from the US?
Hi IronHorse thanks for the comment. I think on first impressions that is a big number. The bike hire would be a portion of this, I paid 700 euros for 5-6 days and that is only because I hired the Africa Twin which is less desirable. A BMS GS 1250 is 150 euros a day so for 30 days that's 4.5k. You've got to fuel the things, on my last trip to Slovakia I spent 400 euros over ten days on a piddly 471cc Chinese ADV bike, so on a bigger capacity engine and over a month your going to use 1.5k dont forget we are paying $9-10/gallon over here. Accommodation would be around 100-150/night so that's another 4.5k. Flights another 2k and if the food is included then add 50/day for that, another 1.5k. The guide will have to take a month out of his life to tour you round so that needs some compensation and of course you'll need an assistant or two to ride at the back of the group make sure none of you get lost. It all adds up. They probably make $5k-10k per rider perhaps... At least the dollar is strong now so if you're going to do it, now's a good time. You could plan the trip yourself as well that would reduce costs and always ask for discount, they usually will give it (bike hire for example).
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Useful numbers you provided here. The venue is charging $50,000 for 72 Days and 16 countries, it includes: Shipping your bike to Germany and back to the US. Food, Acomodation, Chase Vehicle, and Tour. It will cost about $60,000 with MediVac or LifeFlight. They do all the paperwork and Custom passes and passports. Based on your numbers, these guided tours seem to cost way more and I wonder if this is what you would have paid, say, if you had the excess money to burn. But most of my riding buddies tell me that your method is way more logical. My issue is not knowing local rules and where to stay and see as such destinations can get out of hands very quickly.
@@ironhorsegladiator5034 Hi IronHorse! I have driven all over Europe (including Scotland and England) , in 17 US states and New Zealand. You won't have problems figuring out the rules in Europe. Just remember that speed limits are in km/h and you DON'T EVER MOVE when the light is red. No right turns for red! Also learn the international traffic signals. They are the same all over Europe (No PED XING here, lol. Figure out what you want to see before you go. I always bring my small tent and only use hotels if I want to stay a few days to explore a city. That reduces costs a lot. Mindful Motorcyclist spends money like he prints it himself. I never used that kind of money on my trips from Northern Europe to Southern France, Italy or Normandy. I hope to go to Normandy and Southern France next year if COVID permits. I will get a small Honda CB125F for that. No toll roads but nice curvy roads along rivers most of the way. It will take more time, give more experiences and take less money. Remember gasoline is expensive here. I seldom know where to stay in advance but always bring a book with all camping sites. Two star sites are cheaper and more quiet. I never use earplugs.
You could look at it this way - what's the difference between riding where you live and anywhere else? Answer,, very very little. Yes, sure there are some local differences but there are signs EVERYWHERE these days - and if you have Google maps/Waze everything comes up on screen - 4 months ago I went UK- France Switzerland, Alps, Italy back thru' France and up to Spain in 19 days solo in my 16 year old Skoda - one door doesn't lock and had an immense time. Total cost inc one crappy hotel and one Gourmet hotel, fuel everything £1505 - you don't enjoy things the more you spend (or maybe you do ..). As for MediVac or LifeFlight, I've traveled 18% of the worlds countries - solo. Armenia, Peru, Egypt, India, Iceland, Europe, South Asia - the ONLY place I took out insurance was on my trip up to Mt Shasta....bc we all know how screwed up prices are in the 'states - don't we? Stop worrying, start living
Outrageous, But I'm cheep, Depends what you like and can afford. US tours can be just as expensive.
Always wear earplugs! They are no good in your luggage. Use toll roads? They have their uses but also two significant drawbacks: the costs certainly add up over a long trip: Calais to Chamonix is 45 Euros each way (the Via Michelin Route Planner will calculate Toll and fuel costs as well as the route) and have you tried taking a crumpled ticket out of your jacket/trouser pocket and putting it the ticket machine with wet gloves? followed by your credit card? or taking a ticket. Free parking at hotels? Quite rare, parking is expensive in most European cities; 15 -20 Euros a day is usual. I would never use a public multi-storey carpark, at hotels my wife and I usually book one car space for our two bikes but some hotels insist on charging per-bike. Always take at least a disc lock, bike theft is a big problem in many cities, certainly in France and Italy. Don't take any tools, or even a puncture repair kit if you don't know how to use them. Good point about filtering, it is illegal in most European countries, in Switzerland in particular drivers will often report you to the police. Not sure where you're going to put a magnetic UK sticker on most bikes, we don't all tour on "adventure" bikes with metal luggage! A separate UK sticker is a legal requirement for Spain, the small GB or UK in the corner of your number plate is not acceptable.
All of this is excellent advice, thanks for adding it, I'm sure this will help someone!
what cc and what affordable motorcycle do you suggest if i want to ride around europe ?
Any 650cc p twin adventure bike will be fine. You can tour on a 125cc but for the easiest time a 650 is fine. Perhaps buy one with the metal boxes included in the sale. So options are Kawasaki versys 650, Moto Morini X cape, V Strom 650, or CF Moto 650. All these could be had for under £5k new or nearly new. Get a Voge 500DSX for £3.8k now on auto trader...
@@MindfulMotorcyclist thank you.. how do know the route to take .. any good navigation system you can suggest me to travel from Uk to Europe an any any emergency /break down phone numbers i need to have before i set off ?
also can you suggest any apps in UK to find fellow riders
Hey Smilli6415, I just produced a video on this topic based on your question. I will release it tomorrow. Thanks
As far as Navigation I used my smart phone, it's easier than having separate kit for me and you can charge from USB. Google maps takes some beating IMO
book the ferry or tunnel head south that about all the planing I do, MC traveling for 30 years, these guys over plan
👍
dude said minimum clothes and decided on that t-shirt :D
😂😂😂 - I love these wolf T-shirts... guilty pleasure I'm afraid...
Warning triangle on a bike not required, slime for tubed tyres definitely, emission zone vignettes required for some cities in Europe (France) even if you don’t intend going into them, remember most main dealers are in cities! Stick to speed limits. Have fun.
Does Slime work for tubes? Genuine question as I don't know...
if you rent one bike and then you lost from teef hu will pay???
Sorry Panago I didn't quite understand...
The whole point of going on a motorbike tour is to avoid flying 🤣
A lot of people are flying and renting bikes these days...
@@MindfulMotorcyclist I get it, but I bet the daily rate for such machines are not cheap, rentals are used and abused, there is always the risk being liable for something that's not your fault. Flight prices are through the roof. Each to their own.
Yes rentals are huge money these days. I'm in Norway and I was quoted £2000 for 7 days on a bike that is too heavy for me 😂 (KTM 1290 adventure). End result I rode my own little Chinese 500cc the whole way. Chuffed I did in the end...
Bit of knit picking I know, but the change from GB to UK has nothing to do with leaving the EU, our government chose to do it just after for God knows what reason.
Thanks George for the comment. Every day is a school day, happy to stand corrected 😊
Using Suzie as 'Click Bait' - Genius....
But - Where is she in the video????
Beautiful location, beautiful bike, but despite the fact you are quite handsome, you just didn't complete the trifecta.
Video is great (very informative)
Thanks Gary appreciate the comment. Suzie was on camerawoman duty on this one I'll get her in front of the camera again soon 😀👍. Thanks
Hahah first I was so confused when I rode to the uk why they don’t greet eachother
That could either be a) riders are grumpy or B) they don't want to take hand off the throttle... 😂
@@MindfulMotorcyclist You guys need cruise control😀😃
What give kiddo. Filtering is legal and expected in uk, france, spain, italy, Netherlands. So please please say, be careful but it is legal and encouraged
Fair comment. This year I personally was filtering in and out of traffic in Paris at rush hour with a full set of boxes on the bike - that was ahem interesting 😂. Perhaps this video has dated a little because now I have more confidence and I do tend to do it. Thanks, Sean
What about a passport
That's not specific to motorcycling and most people would remember that without me mentioning it so didn't include it.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist yeah I know that it just reminds me that I have been meaning to get my passport for years 🤣🤣 my sister lives in Portugal so I might see if I can get there on the bike next spring 🤔
luring people to watch the vid by have a woman in the "teaser" lol
Well that's not a random woman, that's my gf and camera woman!
@@MindfulMotorcyclist and my point remains.
You won't get a debate here 😂. I 100% asked Suzie to sit on the bike and take a picture because this would probably increase CTR to non-subscribers especially. Motorcycle audience is >95% male. Everything you watch on CZcams you are lured to click in some way or another. Video title, thumbnail, intro hook 🪝 etc. It's the nature of the beast I'm afraid... When you are using online platforms if you are unable to identify the product then more likely than not, you are it!
A magnetic UK sign will not work on aluminium/plastic /softbags. To remove UK stickers or any other stickers you should use a hot air gun/ hair dryer to soften the adhesive , rest adhesive can be removed with adhesive remover or stealthily raid your girlfreinds/wives make up bag for nail varnish remover 😉🤣🙊🙉🙈.
Hi Richard, If I had known to be honest I wouldn't have applied the sticker, it was a rushed move when getting ready to leave. A heat gun does living in my shed but the 'damage' is already done - I say damage but it's a little bit of lacquer peel on the aluminium box, I can live with it :). I also think that you can use the number plate to indicate to the European police where you are from. So if your plate says UK on it then you don't need to apply a sticker of any sort. I've not tried that out myself tho! Thanks for the comment...
Sorry to disappoint but you no longer can use the Nr plate GB, hence the change to UK from the 1st Jan this yeay. The Nr plate one was an EU Nr plate reqirement sign hence for the need of new UK stickers which are internationally required in this large size. Anything smaller is just a normal decorative sticker.
There is also clear laquer in spray cans to recoat your case, most car accessory will have them in stock, or search online, job done.
Thanks for the tip about the clear lacquer, I think that might be a good option 👍
@@Wrong-Way-Round It’s nothing to do with leaving the EU it’s simply that the government wanted to make a big deal of showing that they ar3 keen to includ3 NI.
My wife requires an eye mask. I can’t get her to wear ear plugs. She uses hearing aids BECAUSE she refuses ear plugs.
Thanks for sharing that, since some people are laughing at the fact I said ear plugs and eye masks. The former at least is really important. I shared a house with three guys in Uni who all went on to become audiologists...
You might just want to use a tour bike to tour. Just sain.
Adventure bikes these days generally do most things a traditional touring bike can do, hence the sales numbers of BMW GS and like models...
9. Have a sexy camera "man" to make click-bait pictures
Guilty as charged! Was in the early days of my CZcams, I'm much more responsible now 😊
Hey! What happened to the chick in thumbnail…. Just kidding….
She's still here, two years later and she's in some of the videos behind and infront of the camera! Was a bit click baity so sorry 😞
Sorry, you lost me at eye masks…
What if I told you... to have lavender eye masks... are you back in the room 😂
I'm an old biker with 47 years on the bike and 33 years ago I started touring. I hope you look back on this video and laugh as much as I did. First tip..ear protection. Sleeping eye masks??? Stretching work out?? No caffeine or beers... No filtering?? Hire bikes??? One of the biggest rip offs and scams in many countries etc etc.. next you will be telling people to wear a paper face nappy on the bike.
When people open a comment I've got years of experience it would appear than your listing your 'credentials' as if to justify the following remarks when really if your points were sound you wouldn't need to do this. Your second problem is the world has moved on, people do want to protect their hearing and maintain flexibility as they get older so they can keep riding that fireblade etc and they do want to fly to a region and hire a bike (the hire companies are sold out of BMW GS models for example). No problem with having your way of doing things, doesn't mean the younger folk are wrong. Oh gosh, the last comment, 'paper face nappy' you've been watching too much polarising content over the last 3 years.
47 you kids these days, Can't tell you anything😀
These sorts usually throw a hand grenade into the comments insult you and then disappear as quickly as they came. I've often found if you don't reply in kind but with a fair, structured & logical response they are a 1 comment only problem.
What was that odd comment about Europe and toll roads? There is rarely any reason to need to use toll roads in Europe. What strange advice. Almost as strange as putting ear plugs as your first must have. Any rider will know if they need or don’t need ear plugs long before they reach Europe, it’s an individual choice which will differ for every bike, individual and helmet combination. More odd advice. I’m now debating if I have strength to listen to the next 11 minutes.
Hi David, thanks for your feedback. Honestly, people for the most part who comment on here are positive and enthusiastic. If you don't want to watch them please don't, there are plenty of other channels you can follow.
I re read this as was surprised you disagreed with ear plugs as advice. Most motorcycle groups and organisations now recommend this...
They say if you have nothing good to say, say nothing, But..
You are obviously not a motorcyclist, and there was no content here whatsoever. Pre book parking..AAARRRGGGHHHH
Why am I not a motorcyclist? Everyone from a 17 year old riding to college on a 125 to someone who has been riding for 40 years are all motorcyclists. The elitist view that some riders are not bikers for whatever reason is rather outdated now. It's a pastime for all to enjoy whatever your bike or experience.
I’m afraid I have to agree, there was nothing useful or substantial in the video. A shame really.
Actually, I picked up a good tip about having the credit card available on my wrist somehow. The missus says skiiers do something like this for lift passes. I remember what a faff it was at tolls to get to my money/cards even though they were at the top of the tank bag. Gloves off, unzip bag, etc.
I should have known better! Avoid toll roads and motorways whenever possible! Europe is full of excellent, empty motorcycling roads. VPN. Get real.
Again, 'get real' is a bit OTT. If you don't appreciate what someone attempted to put out as helpful advice then please take your views elsewhere.
Bro you’re so sensitive. “Ride on toll roads”, “park your bike off the road” and “don’t lane filter” are actually horrible advices. What’s the point in riding a motorcycle if you’re going to skip the most enjoyable thing about it and not use its advantages? If you want to be practical use a car.
I mean you've slipped up really by picking up on the following, If you've got an option to park your bike expensive adv bike off the road at perhaps a hotel or guest house that caters for motorcyclists with secure parking why wouldnt you. Perhaps show this comment to any GS owner who's had his bike nicked and stripped for parts, see how they would react. You can go back and forth on the toll roads and lane filtering. As said before I have lane filtered in Paris traffic in rush hour, there are pros and cons to it...
What a load of bullshit 🤦
What makes you say that