Riding in Europe

[Sharribee]

Jay, MoM and myself are going to be taking a little trip from the UK (Portsmouth to Caen) through France and then down into Spain (Andulucia) in August.

Now I have never driven or ridden anywhere other than the UK so could do with some do's, don'ts and rules of the road that kind of stuff


Cheers guys

[YEN_POWELL]

Jay, MoM and myself are going to be taking a little trip from the UK (Portsmouth to Caen) through France and then down into Spain (Andulucia) in August.

Now I have never driven or ridden anywhere other than the UK so could do with some do's, don'ts and rules of the road that kind of stuff


Cheers guys

Driving on the right for the first time isn't as bad as you think, especially on motorways and 2 way roads. It's only when you do seemingly simple things that you have to be extra careful. Pulling out of side roads/petrol stations/carparks, you will look the wrong way for nearside/offside traffic through force of habit. Being with other bikes will make it easier.

Driving in the dark can be better than here, Either the road markings are a different type, or the headlights pointing the wrong way illuminates them better.

Roundabouts are easier abroad, usually only one lane so you can't really get it wrong.

Roads around Caen are lovely.

[Lutin]

Roads around Caen are lovely.

Just what I wanted to hear, as hopefully heading that way in July.

[Snaphappy]

This will keep you occupied for a while

http://www.ideamerge.com/motoeuropa/...ns_and_signals

most signals are European but a few differ, and ignorance of road signs wont stop a fine

make sure you have travel health insurance (best with an independent but cant advise from here)
some offer Jet casivac back to UK and English translation in the case of an emergency incident.

Scan and copy all your docs including bike logbook and carry copies separately just incase you lose the originals it will help the consulate in the case of passport and such

the list is endless and some more will chip in with local info from France and Spains customs like how to shake water off your wet gloves

[Mervinh]

a little friendly advice here i just posted it on a yamclub forum thread where a guy claimed to have been doing 144mph on a french road. another thing i have heard recently not sure if it true but if you are on the autoroute they will stop you and check your time on to the route against your entry ticket and know if you have been going too fast, oh and they hide behind pieces of roadside furniture/under bridges etc with speed cameras that look just like binoculars

ref 144mph
If a gendarrme or police catch you doing that you will have your licence taken away on the spot and the bike confiscated ,
just in case you did not know, 30 mph or 50 kph over the posted limit is an instant ban over there, and if there is no other qualified driver in the vehicle they will confiscate it , no doubt charging you for the pleasure of taking it off and then a release fee /storage etc when yo come too retrieve it , and watch out for dark blue scoobys around Caen andon the motorway,s out they have these they have em and can drive em, also they may only have had bmw,s in the past but now are using some slightly faster bikes, dont try to outrun a french bike cop cos while you are trying to corner with your knee sliders on the floor he will pass you sitting bolt upright, on the outside, this bit was written a a warning too the power ranger doing 144 on an R6
merv

[Sharribee]

a little friendly advice here i just posted it on a yamclub forum thread where a guy claimed to have been doing 144mph on a french road. another thing i have heard recently not sure if it true but if you are on the autoroute they will stop you and check your time on to the route against your entry ticket and know if you have been going too fast, oh and they hide behind pieces of roadside furniture/under bridges etc with speed cameras that look just like binoculars

ref 144mph
If a gendarrme or police catch you doing that you will have your licence taken away on the spot and the bike confiscated ,
just in case you did not know, 30 mph or 50 kph over the posted limit is an instant ban over there, and if there is no other qualified driver in the vehicle they will confiscate it , no doubt charging you for the pleasure of taking it off and then a release fee /storage etc when yo come too retrieve it , and watch out for dark blue scoobys around Caen andon the motorway,s out they have these they have em and can drive em, also they may only have had bmw,s in the past but now are using some slightly faster bikes, dont try to outrun a french bike cop cos while you are trying to corner with your knee sliders on the floor he will pass you sitting bolt upright, on the outside, this bit was written a a warning too the power ranger doing 144 on an R6
merv

Cheers Merv, having said that I'm going on the F650 GS so there's no hope of me even getting to 100 let alone 140

[jasonbc]

Jay, MoM and myself are going to be taking a little trip from the UK (Portsmouth to Caen) through France and then down into Spain (Andulucia) in August.

Now I have never driven or ridden anywhere other than the UK so could do with some do's, don'ts and rules of the road that kind of stuff


Cheers guys

.

Go out of season spain get's really hot and the last thing you want is to be sweating your tits off in the heat, we made the mistake amd did it in August month when it was 42 degrees (never again). We did the same crossing and travelled down through France through the Pyrennees and in to Spain in the mountains expect cross wind (high) from both sides sometimes at the same time as the wind bounces off the mountains. Don't book accomadation in advance it's pointless as you don't know if you'll see something on the way that you fancy spending some time at and you also tied then to get to a destination by a certain time. We rode San Sabastion, Pamplona, Zaragoza, Barcelona and into Valencia and then back to La metla de mar. If you do this route beware as the Stretch from Baracelona to Valencia is the most dangerous road in Europe and you have to carry high viss vests incase you breakdown (it is the law out there). Spain was a very nice country when you get into ols style spain not the commercialised side if the country. Driving on the otherside of the road becomes 2nd nature very quickly, fuel seems to be pretty much the same quality as over here and the price isn't that much different now. Euro breakdown cover is well worth it, igot mine from the AA for about £40 coveres everything you just need to tell them the dates your travelling and in which countries. I also to a 12v Compressor as an emergency measure just to get me out a situation if it happened, fortunatly it didn't.
We did 600 miles in 1 day on the Varadero effortlessly down through France and into spain but realistically 400-500 would have been more relaxing. Speed camera's in France are great as they phot you approaching the camera's so you don't get caught on the bikes, they do however have a lot of Bright Orange Vans patrolling the motorways which are mobile camera units and can catch you. The static camera's are normally situated between the centre reservations on the motorways

If i think of anymore will add it later

[PHILinFRANCE]

Hi Sharribee
When in France on the smaller roads look out for the RED TRIANGLES with a BLACK X the traffic joining has RIGHT of WAY and belive me they they don,t look !!!!! some old yakker on a prewar(1st) tractor nearly cleaned me up, another good tip is any village/town sign with a RED border meens 50kph(unless stated dif.) on leaving the sign has a BLACK border, return to same speed before entering.
Don,t forget the average age of a driver in rural France is a couple of centurys!!!!! But i do love it here , if you try a little French in the smaller places no matter how bad you,ll become one of the family in no time.
If you get offered an EAU DE VIE easy does it!!!!!!! Have a great time and if you get down this far CALL IN !!!!!
Phil

[Mervinh]

these are what you need to watch out for

[Sohoeasy]

I should have been in Caen right now tonight,with Jaqueslemac but I missed the boat Thursday . Still I plan to make up for it tomorrow (keep 'em peeled)