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By Robert Luck. |
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Foreign touring by motorcycle is a wonderful way of seeing the world and enjoying your bike. Talk to anyone who has gone motorcycle touring and most likely they will tell you they are going to do it again. However, like most things in life, the amount of enjoyment will depend on how much thought, planning and preparation you do before you go. Don't be put off by this though, as most of it is common sense along with some simple planning, which is enjoyable in its own right. |
Planning - What sort of 'Bike |
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You can use almost any sort of motorbike for touring. It all depends on how far you want to go in a day, how much you need to carry and what sort of roads do you want to travel on. For example, some people chose to tour 'solo' on the larger scooters such as the Honda Foresight or the Yamaha Majesty, others travel 'two up' on large trail type machines because they plan to tackle some unmade roads during their holiday. Generally speaking, any bike over 125 cc is suitable for 'solo' touring (if carrying a small amount of luggage) whilst touring with a pillion passenger really requires a machine of at least 500 cc. Probably the most import aspect of preparation is getting the motorcycle serviced and this includes checking the condition of the tyres as the mileage soon mounts up and modern motorcycle tyres have a very short life expectancy. For example, a 14 day holiday to the South of France and using the bike every day will rack up something approaching 2,500 miles. |
What do I take ? |
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Even the most capacious motorcycle luggage has its limitations and because you are on two wheels, there are some addition things that you need to carry such as your wet weather gear. In terms of clothes, obviously, you cannot carry all the clothes that two people will need for a fortnight, so be prepared for some washing whilst you are away. You don't need washing powder - ordinary toilet soap or shampoo works reasonably well at a push. If you are going to mountainous areas, be sure to put in some warm clothes, even for the height of summer as some passes such as the Stelvio, the Grimsel and the Furka have snow on the top all year round. If you are camping, then your problems are multiplied, for as well as your clothes, you need to carry a tent, at least one sleeping bag, your cooking gear and some basic supplies such as tea, coffee and biscuits. Essential requirement for some countries, are a first aid kit and a spare pair of spectacles if you wear them for driving. |
Where Do I Put It All ? |
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There are two sorts of luggage, 'hard' and 'soft'. |
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Hard luggage is, as the name suggests, that which is rigid in construction, its carrying frame is securely mounted on the motorcycle and usually takes the form of panniers and a top box. The advantages of hard luggage may be summed up as: |
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The disadvantages are: |
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Soft luggage is just that, luggage made from strong material such as canvas, nylon or some other man-made fabric. Items in this category include throw-over panniers, tank bags and 'stuff bags' which are bungee'd to the luggage rack or on the pillion seat. Their advantages are |
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However, there are significant disadvantages |
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But there is one item of soft luggage which is very useful, and that is the tank bag. A good sturdy tank bag is ideal for carrying the important things you may need in a hurry such as your ferry tickets, maps, passport and money for tolls etc. |
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One final consideration is to keep the heaviest items in your luggage as low down on the bike as possible, this usually means the bottom of the panniers, then check the bike for stability when fully loaded by going for a long ride round before leaving home on your adventure. |
Where Shall I Go |
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Like everything else, this depend upon your resources, not perhaps so much your money (though this is important) but how much time off you get. Most people in the UK can take a fortnights holiday and within this period of time you can get to (and back from) a fair chunk of Europe, or you can fly to somewhere like the USA or South Africa and hire a bike to do your touring. It is good to tour with some sort of objective in mind, such as a race meeting, a particular city or geographic area as this gives a purpose to your trip. But be careful not to tie yourself down too tightly as one of the finest pleasures when touring is the unexpected which might be a view, a village square or whatever and it is very frustrating not to have enough time to stop and stare. Mountain regions are popular with many riders, and understandably so. Stunning views, challenging bends and light traffic are a heady brew. This is where time taken studying a large scale map pays off as the main roads are busy, but within ten miles in another direction there may a little used pass that will see perhaps three vehicles an hour. |
What About Paperwork |
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Your motorcycle needs to be taxed, MOT'd and insured for the whole duration of your trip and you will need to take the registration document, It is also advisable to take out some form of travel insurance cover. |
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Documents to take with you are: |
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What to Watch Out For |
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If you break the traffic laws, don't expect a 'producer'. The police in most European countries have (and use) the power to inflict very heavy fines on the spot. If you haven't got the money to pay they will take you to a bank so that you can get it or they will impound the 'bike. Be aware also that in Spain it is necessary to provide a bail-bond of approx. £1500 should you be involved in a 'traffic incident' (this is often covered in your travel or breakdown insurance/green card cover, but it would be as wise to check). Another thing to be aware of, especially in Southern Europe is the nature of the roads. Sometimes the minor roads can be very potholed and road works are often unmarked. It is not uncommon to be bowling down an 'A' road when suddenly the road surface turns from tarmac to gravel where the road is being renewed, and this gravel can last for miles ! In the alpine regions there are many short unlit tunnels hiding a an un-signposted hairpin and, more often than not, the road surface is wet cobbles in these tunnels. Interesting, to say the least. |
Finding Your Way Around |
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Motorways are great for covering big distances but is that the purpose of your holiday, to ride for 3,000 miles on roads similar the M1 ? Remember that in France that most motorways (or Autoroutes as they are known) are peage or toll roads. A journey down to the South of France on the Autoroute will cost you nearly £100 each way. Unless you need to get a big distance under your belt (such a return trip to the South of Italy in a fortnight), it is much more pleasant to use the main trunk roads and cross-country routes. This is another time when a few hours studying detailed maps will pay great dividends as this is how you will find the twisty roads, picturesque chateaux, charming villages and lush valleys of the tourist brochures. You will also find cheaper food and petrol as, like in Britain, the motorway services practice extortion on their captive market. |
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Documents |
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CREDIT CARD |
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MEDICAL INSURANCE |
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RECORD OF ACCOUNT No.s |
GREEN CARD |
BREAKDOWN / RECOVERY INS. |
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VEHICLE DOCUMENTS |
EHIC |
TOUR ROUTE & A SPARE COPY |
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INSURANCE CERTIFICATE |
PASSPORT |
TRAVEL INSURANCE |
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DRIVING LICENCE |
MAPS |
PHOTO COPIES OF DOC.'s |
Other Items |
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CAMERA & FILM |
NAIL CLIPPER |
CLOTHES WASHING POWDER |
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KNIFE, FORK & SPOON |
MAINS ADAPTOR |
LENS CLEANER |
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BOTTLE OPENER |
FIRST AID KIT |
SUN-GLASSES |
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SHOES |
SWIM WARE |
ELECTRIC SHAVER |
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WASH BAG |
TOWEL. |
WATER PROOF GLOVES |
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SUN BLOCK |
SHOWER GEL |
WATER PROOF BOOTS |
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BATTERIES |
COMPASS |
SPARE GLASSES / LENSES |
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BUNGI-CORDS |
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Bike Spares |
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SPARK PLUGS |
FUSES |
ENGINE OIL |
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PUNCTURE REPAIR KIT |
SPARE BULBS |
LOCK & CHAIN |
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