Touring

[ledheadlamp]

Anyone considering adventure travel by motorbike? Can we engage in this thread?

[BobT]

Not sure what you are asking. Many people go touring all over the place.

[Nickj]

These days an adventure is anything that uses B or lesser roads!!

I wouldn't want to use a monster for that though Nick Saunders did a round the world on an R1 so I guess there wouldn't be anything to stop you on almost anything.

I guess this is a little more than a 'tour' around the trussocks you're thinking about?

[BobT]

We went around Germany this year. Four weeks and about 2600 miles. Me on a Supersport and her on her Monster 821. The bikes were well matched in terms of performance, tank size and economy.
Last year we did France and Spain on the same bikes.

[slob]

Been all over Europe on mostly A & B roads, often two-up and packing very light, regularly with members of this forum. As soon as I can ride again, I intend to get back to my foolish ways, I’m tantalisingly close to going round the clock on my main Monster. Up to the Arctic Circle in Norway is big on the list.

[slob]

Coincidentally my friend Gianni (centre in first photo) has just sent me these.

http://www.thelasturl.net/gsss/giannialps1.jpg

http://www.thelasturl.net/gsss/giannialps2.jpg

http://www.thelasturl.net/gsss/giannialps3.jpg

http://www.thelasturl.net/gsss/giannialps4.jpg

He’s the chief instructor at http://www.gsss.it

[uksurfer]

Heading to Spain tomorrow for 8 days, weather will be better when we get there!

[ledheadlamp]

We went around Germany this year. Four weeks and about 2600 miles. Me on a Supersport and her on her Monster 821. The bikes were well matched in terms of performance, tank size and economy.
Last year we did France and Spain on the same bikes.

That was a beautiful tour indeed. Hope you enjoyed the entire tour:thumbsup:

[ledheadlamp]

These days an adventure is anything that uses B or lesser roads!!

I wouldn't want to use a monster for that though Nick Saunders did a round the world on an R1 so I guess there wouldn't be anything to stop you on almost anything.

I guess this is a little more than a 'tour' around the trussocks you're thinking about?

:thumbsup:On point, thanks.

[ledheadlamp]

Heading to Spain tomorrow for 8 days, weather will be better when we get there!

Awesome, may your tour be a great success. No injuries, or accidents. Hope the weather be great too when you get there.

[ledheadlamp]

Coincidentally my friend Gianni (centre in first photo) has just sent me these.

http://www.thelasturl.net/gsss/giannialps1.jpg

http://www.thelasturl.net/gsss/giannialps2.jpg

http://www.thelasturl.net/gsss/giannialps3.jpg

http://www.thelasturl.net/gsss/giannialps4.jpg

He’s the chief instructor at http://www.gsss.it

He is doing a great job, nice pictures and a beautiful scene. Where is that place?

[ledheadlamp]

Been all over Europe on mostly A & B roads, often two-up and packing very light, regularly with members of this forum. As soon as I can ride again, I intend to get back to my foolish ways, I’m tantalisingly close to going round the clock on my main Monster. Up to the Arctic Circle in Norway is big on the list.

Quick recovery, you will be able to ride soon again definitely.

[slob]

They’re on one of the highest dirt tracks in the Alps

[stopintime]

Been all over Europe on mostly A & B roads, often two-up and packing very light, regularly with members of this forum. As soon as I can ride again, I intend to get back to my foolish ways, I’m tantalisingly close to going round the clock on my main Monster. Up to the Arctic Circle in Norway is big on the list.

Tell me when ... I'll either get you so drunk you'll cancel before leaving Oslo OR point you in the right direction OR maybe follow you up there. BTW: arctic circle is insignificant - the Nordkapp/North Cape/Capo Nord is where they sell the really cool stickers ;)

[Grumpy]

Anyone considering adventure travel by motorbike? Can we engage in this thread?

Any travel can be an adventure, depends on how you plan and view the trip.
I've been over to Belgium and France this weekend, covering a little under 1000 miles from Friday morning to Monday night.
Belgium was to pop and see a friend who I met through my travels with ukmoc.
The rest of the trip was visiting ww1 battlefields and monuments.
I've been travelling be motorbike, on various holidays, for years.
A couple of years ago the wife and I travelled from Orlando to New York, by motorbike, covering nearly 3k. We visited everything from world famous land marks to historic sites most Americans I've met have never heard of!

[Flip]

There's all kind of adventures to be had out there depending on how long you've got and how much money you want to spend doing it and you don't need an 'Adventure bike' to do most of them- before they were invented people just went on whatever they rode.

Like many here, I too have done quite a lot of miles around Northern Europe on my Monster but this year instead took my Thundercat round Brittany but on either bike the French country roads are just luurrvely.

https://i.postimg.cc/2yrnBxM6/IMG_8957.jpg (https://postimg.cc/ftqVGYwn)

Go old skool, get a map and pen out a route ay home before you go, don't stick too rigidly to it when you're there but avoid the tolls and motorways (unless you really want to cover big distances) and just enjoy the scenery and little towns and villages as you pass through them.

[350TSS]

My first continental trip to Italy over 21 days was to Pisa, Florence. Sienna. Urbino, Orvietto, Venice, Lake Como and back via San Remo, Anency, Verdun and Arras - 2 up on a GS400 - and all via green routes on a Michelin map, virtually no Peage or motorways. best holiday I ever had.

[Flip]

Verdun- now there’s a very poignant place in History.

Sounds like the trip was amazing- I love hearing and reading about other people’s motorcycling travel stories.

[Nickj]

They’re on one of the highest dirt tracks in the Alps

That's a long way down !!

[Flip]

That's a long way down !!

That trip has already been done :D

Having previously done the 'Long Way Round' too they're on the 'Long Way Up' now:

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/long-way-up-tv-/

And I guess by going electric this time it kind of proves that you really can tour on anything if you plan it well.

But no matter where you go or how you get there it's always nice to get on two wheels at some point- this was Rhodes a few years ago when I hired an Aprilia Atlantic and scooted round the Island for a few days.

https://i.postimg.cc/g0kxqjv1/DSC04096.jpg (https://postimg.cc/VJpszYZF)

But so much nicer when you do the whole journey by bike- back on the Monster and back in France:

https://i.postimg.cc/RFhvqncV/France_copy.jpg (https://postimg.cc/7CFFWhsp)

One of my favourite Blogs though is by Ed March who rides literally everywhere on his C90:

https://c90adventures.co.uk/

Although it seems the Germans aren't happy that it might slow sales of GS's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDOOT-T2gKo

[Ron1000]

I’ll definitely do an over-landing trip at some point. Spending months or even a year or two just travelling by bike is my big dream.

Look for a book called “in search of greener grass” cant mind the author Graeme something or other. Probably the best most realistic way to go about it, highlights some of the negatives too to give you a better idea than the ‘let’s do long way round’ nonsense.

Also google mondo enduro and terra circa, they guys are proper hardcore.

[Grumpy]

Verdun- now there’s a very poignant place in History.



Part of my trip over last weekend was around the Verdun area.
Over quite a few years I've been travelling along the western front on my bike.
The Belgium front, followed by the British/ Empire lines. I'm now working my way along the American and French front
On my way to Verdun, I stopped at a small but poignant ww1 cemetery called St Symphorien.
Not only is it one of the few cemeteries with both British and German soldiers are laid to rest together. It's where the first and last British casualties from the conflict are buried. They were killed on the first and last day of the war.
The cemetery has to be one of the most peaceful I have visited.

[Flip]

I’ll definitely do an over-landing trip at some point. Spending months or even a year or two just travelling by bike is my big dream.

Look for a book called “in search of greener grass” cant mind the author Graeme something or other. Probably the best most realistic way to go about it, highlights some of the negatives too to give you a better idea than the ‘let’s do long way round’ nonsense.

Also google mondo enduro and terra circa, they guys are proper hardcore.

I think that's the beauty of any trip- you make it what you want, as easy or as difficult, long or short etc.

Mondo Enduro and Terra Circa bring back great memories for me, they were always on really late (followed by a mad cooking program called 'Get Stuffed) watching them with my Dad when I lived at home.

They were a bunch of school teachers on DR350's who set off for a round the world trip in the days before mobile phones and sat navs filming it all on Super 8- legends!
I've met Austin Vince a few times since over the years- he's a funny bloke and worth seeking out if he's chatting about it all at one of the Motorcycle shows.

My wife bought me Elspeth Beard's book 'Lone Rider' for my Birthday last year- that's worth a read (the photos are good too), she was 23 when she set off on her BMW R60/6 (which she still owns) back in 1982 to be the first British woman to ride around the World solo, again in the days before technology and dedicated 'Adventure Bikes'.

[mickj]

The big problem with the long way up and it's "green" electric bike ride is the support vehicles drink more fuel a day than a couple of proper bikes would have used for the entire trip.

[ledheadlamp]

Any travel can be an adventure, depends on how you plan and view the trip.
I've been over to Belgium and France this weekend, covering a little under 1000 miles from Friday morning to Monday night.
Belgium was to pop and see a friend who I met through my travels with ukmoc.
The rest of the trip was visiting ww1 battlefields and monuments.
I've been travelling be motorbike, on various holidays, for years.
A couple of years ago the wife and I travelled from Orlando to New York, by motorbike, covering nearly 3k. We visited everything from world famous land marks to historic sites most Americans I've met have never heard of!

Ah you know what, most brits go on about touring in Europe but I bet there's tons to do in the US for bikers, and the best bit is they all know the language !!

Good shout that Grumpy

[Moco1961]

......so as we are neighbours we need to get together, yes to a tour or two, north coast of Scotland is a mega tour as a starter for ten but I would be up for Europe for sure , as grumpy says it's any accross the channel !:mad:

[Grumpy]

......so as we are neighbours we need to get together, yes to a tour or two, north coast of Scotland is a mega tour as a starter for ten but I would be up for Europe for sure , as grumpy says it's any accross the channel !:mad:

If you guys fancy something different, the Iron Butt association have a sponsored ride in June, which takes place every year. It's in aid of the Royal British legion.
There are a choice of routes around the UK of either 500 or 1000 miles in 24 hours.
I considering joining in using the Scottish loop of 1000 miles.

Otherwise I'm off into France over Easter travelling more of the WW1 lines around Verdun.

[Wasta]

Been on several bike trips both solo and two up. Down to Florence on mostly B roads, another trip around the Mosel and last year into Germany on the Tuono

[Flip]

Like Grumpy, I am already at the planning stage for next year's trip having already booked the Portsmouth to Cherbourg ferry (Early bird prices) on a five day return at the end of June.

In addition to that I hope to do an overnight visiting Ypres for the Menin Gate service again plus here in the U.K, the usual camp over at a couple of BSB and Classic Racing rounds.

Lets hope it's a looooong hot Summer!

[Grumpy]

Like Grumpy, I am already at the planning stage for next year's trip having already booked the Portsmouth to Cherbourg ferry (Early bird prices) on a five day return at the end of June.

In addition to that I hope to do an overnight visiting Ypres for the Menin Gate service again plus here in the U.K, the usual camp over at a couple of BSB and Classic Racing rounds.

Lets hope it's a looooong hot Summer!

The Menin Gate service is one of the most moving moments linked to WW1 I have experienced. Whilst exploring the Ypres Salient over the past 3years, I have watched the ceremony several times. Each time when the last post is played, you cannot help but be emotional.

[Flip]

The Menin Gate service is one of the most moving moments linked to WW1 I have experienced. Whilst exploring the Ypres Salient over the past 3years, I have watched the ceremony several times. Each time when the last post is played, you cannot help but be emotional.

I agree, it is hard not to be moved by the nightly ceremony at the Gate but also by the fact that on the memorial itself there is hardly a flat surface without a name remembered in stone.

https://i.postimg.cc/mkN6drfH/IMG-4254.jpg (https://postimg.cc/JH0q0Mhr)

I went to Ypres a few years ago on my way back from the Netherlands after visiting my Uncles' grave in Mierlo War Cemetery- If you look closely you'll see on the grass in front of each grave is a single Iris flower laid there by the children of Mierlo in a ceremony a few days before my visit- each of the 665 graves there had a flower to remember them and their sacrifice.

https://i.postimg.cc/yxzgWgmY/IMG-4206.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[jerry]

Im off to Thailand tommorow so the S4 with tankbag and throwover panniers will get some long tours to North of Thailand and the North east over next 3 months ,,

one job i must do is re weld on the Tea tray frame and gubbins because in wet weather or on dusty muddy roads the lack of tea tray is messy

the M750 has taken me around France Germany and many other European destinations with similar bags ,, all are fine tourers ,,,reasonably comfy good for 300mile days but can do 700 mile days if you are stupid or like me mad.. but it hurts ha ha