Advice for first European trip

[SteveW]

......those motorway speed traps on Spanish motorways are really hard to miss though, great big bloody sign above them! Watch your speed in tunnels I got done in Spain coming from France the cops nabbed me at the toll booths, and I got the discounted fine. They have cameras at the point they reduce the speed for tunnels then if you are foreign they have you at the toll.
If you get to Portugal, just ignore the toll, you are suppost to call at the cash desk and pay if you are foreign. The locals get charged by cameras above the carriageway. Don't bother paying. If you end up in a country that requires a Vignette (road tax) always get one, some countries don't charge bikes.

[AndyB]

"Some things that the french police are getting really hot on are...

Helmets...you must have a reflective sticker on each side of your lid...thats 4 in total..they can be pound coin size but if they stop you they will look for them."

This has been on all the forums since the proposed Hi Viz legislation although the actual law dates back to 2000. I think it's paranoia on the travel forums and not really practically applied in France. Never mind "I heard so and so's mate got done for it" has anyone on this forum actually been done for it?

I got stopped 2 years ago coming out of the Mont Blanc Tunnel, they were not bothered about stickers on our helmets ................ maybe because they were doing me for speeding DOH!!

Another thing they are hot on is keeping the regulation distance between vehicles in tunnels. They have lights on the walls that show green if you're inside the speed limit and far enough back from the vehicle in front so if you see red lights either drop back or cut your speed because it'll be flagged up in the control room and though they never seem worried about it if you get back to green lights you'll be nicked if you ignore them all the way.

I think the fine for failing to keep the correct distance is 130 Euros so it's best not to misbehave.

[Tonibe63]

"Some things that the french police are getting really hot on are...

Helmets...you must have a reflective sticker on each side of your lid...thats 4 in total..they can be pound coin size but if they stop you they will look for them."

This has been on all the forums since the proposed Hi Viz legislation although the actual law dates back to 2000. I think it's paranoia on the travel forums and not really practically applied in France. Never mind "I heard so and so's mate got done for it" has anyone on this forum actually been done for it?

I got stopped 2 years ago coming out of the Mont Blanc Tunnel, they were not bothered about stickers on our helmets ................ maybe because they were doing me for speeding DOH!!

Another thing they are hot on is keeping the regulation distance between vehicles in tunnels. They have lights on the walls that show green if you're inside the speed limit and far enough back from the vehicle in front so if you see red lights either drop back or cut your speed because it'll be flagged up in the control room and though they never seem worried about it if you get back to green lights you'll be nicked if you ignore them all the way.

I think the fine for failing to keep the correct distance is 130 Euros so it's best not to misbehave.

Yes a car tailgating me in the return tunnel was pulled over as we exited the other end

[chico]

heres a guide I did on the Versys forum for beginners ride in EU......some people do none of the legal requirements, some people go over the top, as far as 1st aid kit, hi vis, spare bulbs, and helmet stickers etc. are concerned.. I don't mind spending £25 and 10 mins in Halfords to have all I need....ive never been stopped, but what you need to stay legal is minimal anyway, once its sorted you are 90% done for further trips....I don't see the point of being a rebel over £2.50 for some reflective helmet stickers...try arguing the toss in another language with the police if you fancy, :laugh: ...life's too short

also, don't forget, Europe is part of our homeland now, always feels good to me to lose some of my British insularity.... :whistle:



http://www.versys.co.uk/index.php/topic ... #msg128070

[Fordy]

Tyres, chains and bulbs are expensive over there so make sure you've enough wear to get you back. If something does go wrong someone will be along and tell you how to get to the local bike shop if you look stranded and they're usually very helpful so don't worry if you do get a breakdown.

A preloaded credit card can be useful, like fairfx, keep an eye on the exchange rate and load it up when it favours the pound.

The problem already mentioned about paying by card for fuel is when you prepay, putting in your card to an unmanned pump and it authorises up to say €100. It may take days to process that you only took €30 of fuel and you can't access the balance of €70 until it does. Do that a few times and thats what can lock cards up. Best bet is to avoid prepay pumps which you can most of the week except Sundays, but have one or two cards spare just in case.

[djl50]

All of the above and...

Check your insurance very carefully to ensure you are covered for european travel, and don't forget your E111 card (if you don't have one apply online it entitles you to medical cover in EU countries should you need it)

Most important relax and enjoy.

[jackdaw]

Riding on the other side soon becomes second nature,(once you've mastered roundabouts) but on two different trips I've made the mistake of riding on the wrong side! Once setting off first thing in the morning and another time after a fag break. Both times I wobbled over to the right without hitting anything.
And watch out on your return. Second day back in UK, pulled out of fuel stop onto rural B road with no white line. Blasted away over the crest of a hill and found myself heading towards an oncoming car. WTF! He swerved before I sussed out that it was me on the wrong side. Thank god I'm slow on the uptake. If we'd both swerved it would have been messy.

[picos mestizo]

A small sticker on/ near the speedo to remind you to ride on the right, can be removed after a few days

Good idea.
So easy for a seasoned international rider to have a lapse especially on a quiet road after stopping @ the shops or similar.

[djl50]

All of the above and...

Check your insurance very carefully to ensure you are covered for european travel, and don't forget your E111 card (if you don't have one apply online it entitles you to medical cover in EU countries should you need it)

Most important relax and enjoy.

What a dumb ass its a EHIC card not E111!! Doh....

[johnnyboxer]

Some good tips here

I shall put them into practice in 2014