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Andy Brown
Leicestershire,
United Kingdom
Posts: 20
Daytona 955i (99-01)
27 Mar 2008 10:52 |
Thinking of going in May sometime and wondering if its worth it.
Understand the roads are good and the Police are few.
Have you been there, whats interesting, where's the good roads. Know any good B&B's
Can you offer any advice on the potential trip whatever ??
thanks
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StumpyDave
Lincolnshire,
United Kingdom
Posts: 1,206
Premier Member
Daytona 955i (04->)
27 Mar 2008 12:06 |
Have a look at this thread:
http://www.t595.net/messa.....read/59853.aspx
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Barney
South West,
United Kingdom
Posts: 3,509
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
27 Mar 2008 19:17 |
Roads are good and empty and the Police are few but unforgiving especially within 50 miles of Calais British bikers from London have got us a bad name taking a day return on the chunnel and treating northern France like a race track.
Once you get south off Paris things are better.
Go you'll have a great time there are lots of cheap hotels Ibis Mercure and Formula1 if nothing else.
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Fret.
South.,
United Kingdom
Posts: 36,240
Premier Member
Tiger 1050 (07->)
28 Mar 2008 00:06 |
JFDI!!!
I use the logis website for decent motels which have character
http://www.logis-de-france.fr/uk/index.htm
Failing that, what Barney says, or use Viamichelin.co.uk to find hotels at your destination, etap, Premiere Classe, baladins or the B&B chain, www.hotel.bb.com
Don't go silly, you WILL get stopped, you WILL be fined, you MAY get the bike impounded, you MAY get escorted back to the ports, you MAY lose your licennce, which they send back to the UK, you WILL be banned from driving/riding in France if this happens.
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Andy Brown
Leicestershire,
United Kingdom
Posts: 20
Daytona 955i (99-01)
28 Mar 2008 13:00 |
That's put a bit of a damper on things. What about Ireland?
Just want to go somewhere !!!
Any ideas welcome. Got a budget though
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Fret.
South.,
United Kingdom
Posts: 36,240
Premier Member
Tiger 1050 (07->)
28 Mar 2008 13:41 |
Can't see why that's put a damper on things!!!!
If you go silly, you deserve what comes your way.
GO!!!! You'll regret it if you don't.
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Barney
South West,
United Kingdom
Posts: 3,509
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
28 Mar 2008 14:23 |
[edited]:
France is fantatic but it's like this country if you break the law you will get punished.
Go and enjoy but don't be silly stick to the D roads at 80-90mph ease off if you get flashed by a car, police ahead normally or if you see plod, you'll be ok and stick to 50km in towns and villages they are hot on this.
But tear round at over a 100mph and they will take great pleasure in doing you.
10 years ago you could get away with murder but due to the Power Ranges from London all British bikers have been tarred with the same brush.
I've been stopped for speeding by a very nice police lady got lead the riot act in French looked very sheepish, gave her all the paper work you have to carry and apologised like you would in the UK, got sent on my way.
One of the other lads tried to be a clever dick later in the trip cost him 400 euros speeding in a 50 km zone.
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SteveF
Portsmouth,
United Kingdom
Posts: 153
Tiger (01-06)
29 Mar 2008 22:08 |
play the game with the speed limits - enjoy the ride.
The continent is so much more bike aware - we even had a volvo stop on a roundabout to let our group across together.
Channel tunnel is so easy = load on / off - quick and easy
very bike friendly - go to Brugge for beer and food - ride to Ypres for lunch - roads are variable - but enjoy the experience. dont trust the sat-Nav and avoid the wet cobbles. You dont have to go race fast to have a good road trip.
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Andy Brown
Leicestershire,
United Kingdom
Posts: 20
Daytona 955i (99-01)
31 Mar 2008 06:49 |
I seem to have given the wrong impression here guys - I'm not looking to blast down every bit of tarmac i can see HONEST 
So thanks for all the feedback, will see if the plastic will stretch that far as it sounds like something i should be doing before these Eurocrats take our bikes of us completly.
Here's hoping for some sun too 
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 ќіńġ ☺ ќёy
Essex/London,
United Kingdom
Posts: 10,622
Premier Member
Daytona 955i (99-01)
01 Apr 2008 16:38 |
Andy, I had a good tour in France last year, a couple of mechanically probs, but that's another story. I saw 140 on the clock a couple of times (with panniers and top box). In 2,000 miles we only saw 2 or 3 cops.
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~Fruity~
W London,
United Kingdom
Posts: 18,041
Premier Member
Daytona T595 (97-98)
01 Apr 2008 16:54 |
Andy Brown, France is a must. It's easy to get to, brilliant roads even though they are sometimes hard to follow as they just disappear with no forwarding signage to point you in the right direction, so a map or GPS is a must lol. They have a different class of car driver, they can't get out of the way quick enough to let you pass, be polite and thank them with you foot or hand.
Despite 'Bikers from London'  spoiling it for everyone else and making plod hate all bikers  I've had no trouble at all over there. Just becareful on the motorway as they love to hide before the tolls with a laser gun and get you as you pull into the toll.
Be silly and expect to pay the penalty just like over here.
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Barney
South West,
United Kingdom
Posts: 3,509
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
01 Apr 2008 17:52 |
Sorry about the London reference Fruit's not tarring you all with the same brush.
I was only passing on the warning I was given by a French biker I met on the Chunnel.
He was having a right moan.
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ќіńġ ☺ ќёy
Essex/London,
United Kingdom
Posts: 10,622
Premier Member
Daytona 955i (99-01)
01 Apr 2008 18:48 |
I'm glad that's cleared up, I thought she might have meant me.
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~Fruity~
W London,
United Kingdom
Posts: 18,041
Premier Member
Daytona T595 (97-98)
01 Apr 2008 21:11 |
KK you plonker  I was referring to Barneys posts...
Haven't you noticed with foreigners... as soon as they know you're English they automatically think you're from London, hence Londoners always getting the blame for things
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ќіńġ ☺ ќёy
Essex/London,
United Kingdom
Posts: 10,622
Premier Member
Daytona 955i (99-01)
01 Apr 2008 21:54 |
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Andy Brown
Leicestershire,
United Kingdom
Posts: 20
Daytona 955i (99-01)
02 Apr 2008 06:39 |
Ok OK I'm convinced. Its back on providing i get find the money.
So if we land at Calais and aim to stay over for 2 nights where shall we head off to?
Guessing we can cover about 500 miles a day, so thats a round trip in france of 1000 miles roughly.
Welcome your ideas
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Andy Brown
Leicestershire,
United Kingdom
Posts: 20
Daytona 955i (99-01)
02 Apr 2008 06:39 |
Ok OK I'm convinced. Its back on providing i get find the money.
So if we land at Calais and aim to stay over for 2 nights where shall we head off to?
Guessing we can cover about 500 miles a day, so thats a round trip in france of 1000 miles roughly.
Welcome your ideas
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Fret.
South.,
United Kingdom
Posts: 36,240
Premier Member
Tiger 1050 (07->)
02 Apr 2008 07:27 |
500 miles a day!!!!!!  Don't underestimate the country, especially as it's your first time.
Road signeage is slightly different, you follow TOUTES DIRECTIONS or the name of the next town, not the road numbers. Signs for STRaiGHT AHEAD point LEFT, bur on rh opposite side of the junction. Yes, we've all turned left. 
If you want to arrive knackered and just whazz down the autoroutes then that's fime. It will still take about 10-12 hours though as you will stop every 100 miles for fuel, a fag, food, water, chat, whizz. Before you know it an hour has passed. Bear in mind that you may not leave your hotel until 10.00am, so that's half the day gone.
Aim for 2-300 miles on the old roads, remembering that France shuts for lunch between 12.00 and 14.30, sundays ans mondays and you may find it hard to get fuel. Likewise after 5 or 6pm. Luckily most auto pumps take English cards now.
Even in a car I take 2 days to get to the south and it will take 5 1/2 hours non-stop to get to Troyes on the Autoroute. That's just an example of how big the place is.
Aim to find a room around 4-5 o'clock.
I would aim to go to the Ardennes region, brilliant roads, food and people and it can be excellent weather.
Either that or around Troyes, more excellent roads and scenery.
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~Fruity~
W London,
United Kingdom
Posts: 18,041
Premier Member
Daytona T595 (97-98)
02 Apr 2008 08:57 |
Aim for less mileage as Fret says. We did 3 days 1500 miles (only a slight bit done on motorway & that was from London-Dover & home towards Calais) last July with 20 ex racers... it was mad, dangerous, exciting and very very tiring.
In the end a group of us tailed off as it was rude and idiotic roaring though villages at 100+ mph!
Even though I'm not too keen on the French (issues here at home with private French School lol) when I got to France I found they were very polite and helpful.
Our biggest problem was finding fuel especially as we went when it was Bastille Day and there were loads of road closures and no fuel pumps open.
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Barney
South West,
United Kingdom
Posts: 3,509
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
02 Apr 2008 18:44 |
[edited]:
Try this, first time in Europe I'd give the Ardennes a go, get a mid day chunnel head up the coast to the Bikers Loft http://www.grd.be/motorhotel/. don't drink to much the bar stays open as long as you want to drink.
Day 2 head down to Houffalize Battle of the Bulge area via Bruge, Waterloo http://www.trabel.com/waterloo/waterloo.htm.
2nd night http://www.booking.com/ho.....ca8c5c3b31ce2e0
The next day you can head back up the River Meuse http://images.google.co.u.....off%26sa%3DNand on to Calais.
I've done this and stayed at these places very good 4 days but 3 would be ok .http://www.t595.net/album/editalbum.asp?album=4995
There are lots of other places to go to if you want WW1 sites etc.
500 miles a day won't happen off the motorway 200 to 300 is more like it.
That sort of distance including stops petrol food is 8-10 hours and hard work.
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Triple Sec
Surrey,
United Kingdom
Posts: 92
Daytona 955i (99-01)
03 Apr 2008 00:59 |
[edited]:
Fruity, not too keen on the French! "Pot Pourri!" what's that all about? we're not all bad, some of us ride a Trumpet (the right colour!) and live in England ... ok not many though!
Back to our subject. Andy, 300 miles/day should do it nicely. The Ardennes sounds good but I'm not familiar with the area so can't comment. Another option is Portsmouth - Caen/Cherbourg and then head for Brittany (Saint Malo, Le Mont St Michel) and even further if you feel like it. People are friendly and the food is good, especially if you like seafood.
In the past few years, the number of cameras has increased a lot (still less than in the UK!). Fixed ones are recorded on websites like
http://www.radarsfixes.com/
http://www.linternaute.co.....rte-radar.shtml
http://www.radars-auto.com/
Watch out for mobile speed cameras, often between the last exit and the tolls on motorways!
Wherever you decide to go, i hope you enjoy it!
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Barney
South West,
United Kingdom
Posts: 3,509
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
03 Apr 2008 13:07 |
[edited]:
Re petrol it's not a problem anymore the pumps take visa and mastercard and can be set to English, even if the garage is shut and there are loads of petrol stations on the outskirts of most towns.
You don't need a Carte Bleu anymore.
When I tour I start looking at a 100miles and fill at the first one I see.
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Fret.
South.,
United Kingdom
Posts: 36,240
Premier Member
Tiger 1050 (07->)
03 Apr 2008 14:12 |
Or every 5 miles if you own a certain yellow daytona.
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ќіńġ ☺ ќёy
Essex/London,
United Kingdom
Posts: 10,622
Premier Member
Daytona 955i (99-01)
03 Apr 2008 19:31 |
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Fret.
South.,
United Kingdom
Posts: 36,240
Premier Member
Tiger 1050 (07->)
03 Apr 2008 22:38 |
Yours too?
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Andy Brown
Leicestershire,
United Kingdom
Posts: 20
Daytona 955i (99-01)
05 Apr 2008 07:11 |
Im definately going away from this country after reanding in MCN the stunts the Police are going to get speeding bikers, even if its slightly above the limit.
Have you seen the story about the copper hiding in a horse-box with a speed camera? I ask you whats that all about eh 
Its a small minority that speed dangerously not every single biker. Ohhh it makes me mad
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Fret.
South.,
United Kingdom
Posts: 36,240
Premier Member
Tiger 1050 (07->)
05 Apr 2008 14:08 |
If you think our police are sneaky, wait until you get abroad.
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