What I Learned From Motorcycle Touring in Europe.

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

[quantumbox]

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!

[Ontheroadtourism]

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.

[tnetroP]

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.

[amedeo]

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.

[geoffpoole]

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.

[stevenwandels]

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!

[JW-ymyb]

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!

[drbharatsapkal]

Must see vedio for everyone..all included information..thanks

[allen-tyit]

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 👍

[georgetumino]

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

[garrywilliams]

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!!!

[OriginalSlash]

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

[lucelebeau]

Forget about plugging your punctured tire with a rubber bung. AT's do have an inner tube.

[arielban]

Thank you. This is very helpful. I want to travel europe on a motorcycle but am terrified

[magnusb]

Many good advices.
Just a heads up on Hvar, it is not pronounces ha-var, just simply hvar without the a-sound after the H.
cheers

[georgemalkin]

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.

[molonlabe]

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!

[AlexTML]

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

[griptopia]

mouse or stop and go tyre gun. anything else is just a pain in the bottom when i did colorado bdr i got two punctures! (ironic)

[highwayadv]

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,