Guided euro tours with support vehicle

[cmaguire]

Does anyone know if there are any companies running tours now that have a support vehicle to carry luggage?

I did one in 2003 with MCI to the Pyrennees but they don't do a support vehicle anymore.

[Andybow]

You really don’t need to take much even for 10 days

[bogie]

www.spyderclub.co.uk tours have support vehicles, you can take your own bike or they have bikes waiting for you. Can save a day or two each way slogging it out on motorways and just fly there, if you just want a long weekend riding in nice weather/scenery

[NS400R]

Decide where you are going to stay each night and post your stuff over. You should be able to carry much of what you need with you even on a sportsbike, so maybe posting a parcel to a halfway point would suffice.

[Chipchap]

Don't know what all the fuss is about. In 2013 4 of us on full blown sports bikes did an 8 day tour with 6 days of that in The Pyrenees and Andorra Milau etc.

Me on a monoposto MV F4 312RR

Ade on a monoposto Duke 1098R

Accompanied by a GSXR 1000 K6 and a Tuono.

All of us had 30litre Kriega back packs and to add to it we never stayed in the same place each night. 300 plus mile days every day.

I am now almost 60 and we'll tubby. In almost 40 years of legal bike riding this was the most fun I ever had on a bike. No support vehicle no posting stuff or panniers.

Kriega is a well engineered backpack with a proper harness that you do not feel.

A

Edited by Chipchap on Thursday 26th October 22:54

[Chipchap]

Don't know what all the fuss is about. In 2013 4 of us on full blown sports bikes did an 8 day tour with 6 days of that in The Pyrenees and Andorra Milau etc.

Me on a monoposto MV F4 312RR

Ade on a monoposto Duke 1098R

Accompanied by a GSXR 1000 K6 and a Tuono.

All of us had 30litre Kriega back packs and to add to it we never stayed in the same place each night. 300 plus mile days every day.

I am now almost 60 and we'll tubby. In almost 40 years of legal bike riding this was the most fun I ever had on a bike. No support vehicle no posting stuff or panniers.

Kriega is a well engineered backpack with a proper harness that you do not feel.

A

Edited by Chipchap on Thursday 26th October 22:54

[cmaguire]

Chipchap said:

Don't know what all the fuss is about. In 2013 4 of us on full blown sports bikes did an 8 day tour with 6 days of that in The Pyrenees and Andorra Milau etc.

Me on a monoposto MV F4 312RR

Ade on a monoposto Duke 1098R

Accompanied by a GSXR 1000 K6 and a Tuono.

All of us had 30litre Kriega back packs and to add to it we never stayed in the same place each night. 300 plus mile days every day.

I am now almost 60 and we'll tubby. In almost 40 years of legal bike riding this was the most fun I ever had on a bike. No support vehicle no posting stuff or panniers.

Kriega is a well engineered backpack with a proper harness that you do not feel.

A

Edited by Chipchap on Thursday 26th October 22:54

Is a backpack a rucksack in your world?
If so they're a bloody nuisance. I fell for the BS and took a Kreiga R30 the last time. Absolute nightmare. Couldn't get out of the sportsbike crouch at the lights because it fouled on the pillion perch. Dead arms and backache and did you try doing 140+mph with that piece of st hanging off your back.

Bottom line is I want to ride like I'm on a Sunday ride out, not like I'm some old fart on a GS in convoy with all my pals in matching textile suits and intercoms.

[cmaguire]

I've progressed to looking at Ventura luggage racks and Givi topboxes now, but I'm none too impressed about it.

[jock mcsporran]

I used Kriega tail packs for a 6000 mile trip round Europe on my 899. I also had a Kriega R15 for documents and stuff. No issues with moving about on the bike and no support van.

[Andybow]

What bike you going on? A mate has got a superduke and another has got a s1000r both use 35-40l tail packs that don’t move around and are very neat

[Andybow]

[black-k1]

NS400R said:

Decide where you are going to stay each night and post your stuff over. You should be able to carry much of what you need with you even on a sportsbike, so maybe posting a parcel to a halfway point would suffice.

Says the man who put his bike on the trailer, his luggage in the car, and got delivered to the hotel on the Route Napoleon!

I, and most of the Old Gits, have found the best way to Euro tour is not to tour! Packing the bike up each day, riding to the next stop then unpacking is not, in our opinion, the best fun you can have. Book one or two stops in good locations with lots of good local roads and stop there for a few days. You can leave your luggage where you're based (post ahead if it's a hotel) and explore the local roads without the hassle of luggage.

[3DP]

cmaguire said:

Chipchap said:

Don't know what all the fuss is about. In 2013 4 of us on full blown sports bikes did an 8 day tour with 6 days of that in The Pyrenees and Andorra Milau etc.

Me on a monoposto MV F4 312RR

Ade on a monoposto Duke 1098R

Accompanied by a GSXR 1000 K6 and a Tuono.

All of us had 30litre Kriega back packs and to add to it we never stayed in the same place each night. 300 plus mile days every day.

I am now almost 60 and we'll tubby. In almost 40 years of legal bike riding this was the most fun I ever had on a bike. No support vehicle no posting stuff or panniers.

Kriega is a well engineered backpack with a proper harness that you do not feel.

A

Edited by Chipchap on Thursday 26th October 22:54

Is a backpack a rucksack in your world?
If so they're a bloody nuisance. I fell for the BS and took a Kreiga R30 the last time. Absolute nightmare. Couldn't get out of the sportsbike crouch at the lights because it fouled on the pillion perch. Dead arms and backache and did you try doing 140+mph with that piece of st hanging off your back.

Bottom line is I want to ride like I'm on a Sunday ride out, not like I'm some old fart on a GS in convoy with all my pals in matching textile suits and intercoms.

Not sure why the level of aggression? If R30 is packed and adjusted right you don't feel them - that's the point. I managed sustained 180+ without knowing I had mine on. It also works fine with 150mph+ half mile long wheelies, whilst wearing leathers.

Unfortunately we (Chipchap, me, Spareparts) don't like to ride like a Sunday ride out in UK when we tour on the sports bikes - we like to go much faster for much longer.

If it's really an issue, get a Rentec rack and 60 litre dry bag to be held on by Rok straps and a small tank bag. Then you can ride unencumbered.

Demonstration of rucksack and renntec/drybag on a 10 day tour of Portugal and Spain:

[Dog Star]

cmaguire said:

Is a backpack a rucksack in your world?
If so they're a bloody nuisance. I fell for the BS and took a Kreiga R30 the last time. Absolute nightmare. Couldn't get out of the sportsbike crouch at the lights because it fouled on the pillion perch. Dead arms and backache and did you try doing 140+mph with that piece of st hanging off your back.

Bottom line is I want to ride like I'm on a Sunday ride out, not like I'm some old fart on a GS in convoy with all my pals in matching textile suits and intercoms.

I didn't get back problems with my R30 - it was my arse which I actually thought I'd permanently damaged riding back from Biarritz. It was grim.
Having said that by the end of every day riding down there it was almost as bad and we had a support van with the luggage, so I thing a lot of it was my R1 seat.

[Biker's Nemesis]

Oxford tank and tail packs don't get in the way. I have also found that a bit more weight in the rear tail pack helps wind away motorway miles when you're balanced on the rear wheel.

[cmaguire]

I took a Gsxr750 last time and the other guy had a CBR600RR with tailpack (mine that I'd never used ironically).

This time I'd leave the new bike at home and go on a 675 STR as this is what he has now so we'd both be evenly matched, it would slow things down and they're more comfortable when you're not doing 90+.

MCI have a two week tour to Hungary/Romania with the Tranfarga(whatever) highway and Drac's castle etc next August. It was far more appealing up to the point where they told me I couldn't chuck them an extra £100 to put a suitcase in their car (which they don't have on trips anymore).

[black-k1]

Dog Star said:

cmaguire said:

Is a backpack a rucksack in your world?
If so they're a bloody nuisance. I fell for the BS and took a Kreiga R30 the last time. Absolute nightmare. Couldn't get out of the sportsbike crouch at the lights because it fouled on the pillion perch. Dead arms and backache and did you try doing 140+mph with that piece of st hanging off your back.

Bottom line is I want to ride like I'm on a Sunday ride out, not like I'm some old fart on a GS in convoy with all my pals in matching textile suits and intercoms.

I didn't get back problems with my R30 - it was my arse which I actually thought I'd permanently damaged riding back from Biarritz. It was grim.
Having said that by the end of every day riding down there it was almost as bad and we had a support van with the luggage, so I thing a lot of it was my R1 seat.

I think this shows we're all different! I use a R30 for commuting but it's not comfortable enough to use all day, every day for touring. If I've got long distances to cover over a number of days there's no way I'd want to wear any form of luggage. Tank bags, tail packs, panniers etc. are the only way I'd consider carrying luggage on a tour.

[cmaguire]

black-k1 said:

I think this shows we're all different! I use a R30 for commuting but it's not comfortable enough to use all day, every day for touring. If I've got long distances to cover over a number of days there's no way I'd want to wear any form of luggage. Tank bags, tail packs, panniers etc. are the only way I'd consider carrying luggage on a tour.

After that I just stick to a small rucksack on the sportsbike when I go out as there is no pillion seat, or a small tailpack on the other bike.

I'll never use a rucksack for a trip away again.

[graham22]

Andybow said:

That's not a fair comparison as that BMW tail pack just works so well - I have one & couldn't believe how secure it is despite minimal straps and how much it swallows.

OP - I don't like doing distances with a rucksack, I just use an average tail pack on the Fazer and it works well. On roads I don't know, it's never hindered pushing on (rarely travel in groups).

Old lock through it as security never so much an issue in Europe as it is at home.

Also, a thief won't know what part of your holiday you're on, will they risk everything to search through an blokes used underwear?

Edited by graham22 on Friday 27th October 09:54

Edited by graham22 on Friday 27th October 09:56

[cmaguire]

I've got time to think about options.

I just can't deal with a tankbag, maybe it's an autistic thing but I want my workspace clear of obstructions. If I had one it would have to be a tiny one for wallet and phone, so not useful for this.

Previously I have travelled with throwovers, but a lot of modern bikes (and the STR is definitely one) don't lend themselves to throwovers. And even then they ended up melting on a GPZ900 exhaust.

To me, luggage is what makes bikes totally impractical much of the time, as only hard luggage has any convenience, but that turns your bike into a commuter or something you don't much want to ride the rest of the time.