Touring Planning next years euro trip anyone ?

That IS CHEAP !!! However Steve, it's also bleddy cold !!!!!!!

 

Did Northern Spain and Portugal this time last year. Great empty roads but 24 hours of sea sickness on the ferry to Santander would make me wary of doing the crossing again.
2017 sees us heading back to the French Alps, we are basing ourselves in Bourg St Maurice. Virtually every road out of that town is amazing, loads of full day circular rides possible from there including riding around Mont Blanc, Great St Bernards pass and many others including one of the highest passes in the Alps here filmed by my wife from the back of her Street Triple.

Here is the run down into Italy down the Great St Bernards pass where the Italian Job was filmed

So many great places to head while staying in Bourg and using the town as a base you can enjoy the twisty passes without the bike loaded with luggage.

 

Great videos and love the soundtracks,Matt Monro and Mettallica your'e taste in Music is as varied as mine

 

Hi Richard, just watched those two videos. The first one Col de l'Iséran brought back loads of great memories and then second is such a beautiful blend of smooth bend-swinging and swinging music.

Very nice.

 

Richard, how many miles is it down there and what route did you take? SWMBO has now decided she wants to go to the Alps next year.

 

We used the tunnel to Calaise, then jumped onto the toll motorways and took more or less a direct route. We did one overnight in Dijon then next afternoon we were in Bourg. very roughly 700 miles across France so two quite big days riding getting there.

 

We went French Alps and returning in July staying in Barcelonette. We take a it longer to get there, 1st day UK leg, ferry and down to Challons et Champagne, after that don't touch motorways, second night in Dijon then 3rd day take in the first of the Cols as you get to destination for a few nights (5 for us) and ride the roads, take the same time to get back but vary the route. Just don't like sitting on motorways but I'd pushed for time you have to, just so many picturesque routes to savour as part of the ride there for us.

Teejay

 

Going to cheat next year with the Alps trip, because me and the mrs both have naked bikes (Street Triple and MT10) we are going to transport the bikes in my Transit Custom van.
As I struggle to get more than a week off in the summer we will travel down and get into France, do an overnight near Calaise then between me and the Mrs drive over in one day. Will save loads on fuel and tyre wear.

 

That's not cheating that's being smart! I've been thinking about doing that also, but maybe leaving my van somewhere safe and not too expensive near the ferry port

 

Thanks for that I'll start looking at some options

 

Or use a bike trailer and tow it behind a car ?? It's a fair way to the Alps from anywhere in the UK so anything that make the getting to and from, makes 'playtime' so much more enjoyable.

 

A few years ago I left my car and bike trailor for a week with this fella -

http://www.rollescourt.co.uk/

Superb location close to the ports and perfectly safe (and free of charge). Ian actually sold me the trailor in the first place so it made sense to go back to his when I was off on my Euro bike hol.

 

We've done the South of France a number of different way, on bikes, bike and trailer, van.
We don't our as such, but ride/drive down and stay somewhere for a couple of weeks.

Car and trailer is our favourite.
Easiest and most cost effective option.
One load of fuel, tolls etc outweigh the extra ferry cost and you're a lot more relaxed at the end of the day.
You can also bring a lot more cheap wine etc back (the Jeep's got more than enough space for that ) and it's handy having something where you don't need to hope it'll all fit in the panniers when you do shopping for a couple of weeks food and drink

Plus you can chuck a couple of pedal bikes on the trailer as well for cycling around the campsite etc.

 

MT10! What happened to the Versys?
Motorcycle Sport And Leisure have a good write up on one as a tourer.
You could always get the bikes trucked down.

http://www.bikeshuttle.co.uk/

 

I've still got the Versys, its a great bike. This time last year I rode through Northern Spain and Portugal on it. When the wife said she thought it would be a good idea for me to have a second bike I was gobsmacked! Trouble is I know what she will say when I question absolutely any spending decision SHE makes for the next decade.

Yes you could tour on the MT 10 but its so thirsty (Versys about 190 to fuel light, MT10 90!)

 

I'm planning on dong a week in Ireland again next year if that counts, they use the Euro in the Southern part. ;-)
Loved it this year, roads were fantastic and hardly any traffic. Also planned it around the Ulster GP. Did a mix of wild camps, proppa camp sites and a hotel one night. Ferry crossing was cheap too at around £100.00 return.

 

I'm with you on this - got a few mates who get their bikes shipped to and from the South of France while they fly there and back. I find this completely bizarre - I hate my journey from Aberdeenshire to the nearest European bound ferry but anything's better than flying. I'd never consider going on a motorcycle holiday with any more than 2 wheels I have towed offroad race bikes for years and hate towing nearly as much as I hate all the aggro involved in flying.

 

Have you never been tempted to stick the bike in the back of a van and leave it near the ferry terminal in the uk? the thought of riding all the way down to portsmouth and especially the thought of riding all the way home after the bike trip would be something that would ruin the holiday. i picked up a bike from Bristol once (about a 900 mile round trip) and in the van i only had to stop once to refuel..no coffee stops..no lunch stops ..no fag stops..i did the journey a lot quicker than if I'd been on the bike..your'e about an hour north of me,just out of curiosity how long does it take for you to get down to say Portsmouth? reason i ask is i might be sailing from there next year and i,m really tempted to take my van and leave it somewhere near Portsmouth

 

The Brittany Ferry's site has just put up their 2017 holiday packages.
If you book 3 nights B&B (you can book more) with the crossing then it works out a lot cheaper.
Plenty of hotels in France and Spain,B&B or half board.

 

When are you doing that and who with?