Hi Folks, This summer me and a few mates are embarking on our first trip to Europe which will take us from Rotterdam down to Germany's, Black Forrest. Therefore I would welcome information on any tips including driving behaviour which is tolerated. As starter I have put these two items out there. I look forward to the responses and of course those who wish to have a laugh at my expense 1. Do you need any markings on your plate indicating its a british registered bike. 2. Mates have there exhausts de-catted, can be on the loud side. Anything else would be welcomed! Jim
The GB reg stickers are 'meant' to be on the bike mate. As for the exhaust, the only country that will really be pissed is the Swiss. Apart from that they are much the same as here. As in depends on the cop ;
Do they need to be on the plate, i just saw a few videos on tube and they never had any stickers or such on the bike
As said mate they are meant to be on the bike, and yes it is meant to be on the plate on a bike. The majority of peeps don't bother though, but that is they're decision should they be stopped. You can buy a GB sticker for your plate for £1 on ebay. Euro GB Motorbike Motorcycle Number Plate adhesive vinyl sticker Europe legal | eBay
Been going to Europe for the past seven years and never had any issues. Remember you can't filter in France, but I've done it every year in Holland and Belgium with no problems, pretty sure it's legal there, though the local riders seem to put their hazards on when doing it, so I do too. Never had any problems with noisy pipes, some of the Germans down near the B500 were on what sounded like full on race cans and the polizei were ignoring it. I always buy a new plate off eBay when I change bikes, get whatever flag or symbol you want on it for a tenner, this is my current one, Most Europeans I've found will give you a heads up if the law is around anyway, so as long as you don't act like a dick blatantly in front go them you're grand. This lot are good for accommodation if you're not camping www.mobikehotel.com Baden Baden is expensive. Go through Luxembourg on the way down for cheap petrol and booze/fags if that's your thing.
If you do find yourself going that way Jim I can recommend Vianden as a good stopping point, a good days ride from the Rotterdam ferry, about 7 / 8 hours including lunch and brew stops, phenomenal roads once you're south of the industrialised north of Europe. Gets you there for teatime! I've stayed at three places there, the Auberge d'our in the middle of town, 50 euros each in a twin. Hostellerie Nagel a ten minute walk out of town but with bar on site, 30 euros each for twins or triples, and a pub in the centre near the bridge whose name I can't remember but we've stopped there twice, run by a Portuguese family, 25 euros including breakfast for a twin. There's a petrol station and loads of places to eat. All three have secure bike parking as well. The place is full of Dutch and German bikers at weekends, most of whom seem to drink more than they ride, but good crack.
The police aren't bothered by no GB sticker. Filtering in France is fine. Don't try it in Switzerland though....they get quite mad about it.
Toulouse ringroad at 5pm on a Friday is a lesson in how to filter the French way - I just got in the groove with a few local bikes and went along with them You will have a fantastic trip - if you can make it / have time the Swiss passes round Andermatt area are worth a look, but you would really need Swiss Motorway pass to get over to them and back in decent time and stay in the area for a night so it would be 2 days extra on your trip from Southern Germany (but epic)
Al, if you think the Toulouse ring road is bad, first time I went abroad on my bike I found myself on the roundabout at L'arc de Triomphe at 5pm! 8 lanes wide with no road markings! Didn't seem to be rules of any kind on there!!
My dad got us onto that bl#%dy arc de triomphe roundabout in a 1.6 Astra towing a trailer tent in 1983. Learnt quite a bit of rural French and some new English phrases that day. As regards the filtering in France I'm sure we've all done it and not had a problem, I know I have in the past, but the fact seems to be now that in the major cities they are fining bikes for doing it, using the offence of "overtaking on the right". There's plenty of anecdotal stuff on loads on tinterweb of people complaining about it, including the daily telegraphs motorcycle correspondent last year. The French motorcycle federation (ffmc) who are a fairly robust bunch it seems, have complained about police tactics to deliberately entrap bikers on multi lane roads etc. So I think it is happening, but avoid the big cities and I'm sure it's not an issue, and why would you head to a city in France when they have stunning roads all over the countryside anyway.
Autobahns are good in Germany with no speed limit, advisory speed limit 130kph or 80 mph but be warned where speed limits are posted stuck to them, fine are big over there. Remember when going into towns the speed limit is 50kph at the town sign, limits signs are not posted, I know from experience :-( P.S. Be prepared to be overtaken on Autobahns by cars.
I you consider going from Newcastle to Amsterdam, Look closely at the DFDS site, try a number of options. At the moment they have a special deal, 5 night Break.... You don't have to stay 5 nights? but you still get the deal if you book following the link. We have just booked Newcastle, Ijmuiden 4 Men and 4 Bikes 14th April, return 17th £434.00p. about 50 Quid each, each way, I think that's a good deal. You will enjoy Germany, The Germans travel Fast if they have a fiat Panda or an Audi R8 it will be going as fast as it can. Be careful overtaking you can be doing 90Mph but a car is closing from the rear at 90Mph. It can be up your ass really quickly, and we're not used to those speeds here. But I find the skill level of the Germans to be generally high. Germans seem to be quite happy with Filtering. Don't know the law tho. Bavaria is great. You may consider Czech Rep. Great roads, Cheap, nice people. Dutch are as good as gold, seem to be one of the few friends Brit's have in Europe. Enjoy yourselves, Mike.
make sure you have a E mark on your can, stands for a european stamp to say its a road legal can in europe, if you have a baffle, take it!! the black forrest police check a lot and you will get a fine if it's too noisy.... As for a sticker not quite sure on that one
Mike, Cheers, because we are staying 7 Nights we are unable to take advantage of the offer! I will an eye on the site for other offers. Jim
Mike or Others What route do you take down towards Germany, we are heading to Black Forest B500, after disembarking from the ferry in Amsterdam
