European Tour - transporting bikes
Discussion
Hi all
My group of friends and I have just returned from a wonderful tour of France (a small dabble in Belgium and Luxembourg). We used 5 days and loved every second apart from the sprint back from Reims to the ferry and the snoring with a shared room!!!!!!. Never again! Reims to Calais was a 160mile motorway blast. We all had onward journeys in the UK of ~100-230miles so the last day was a killer.
Clearly, we're now looking to 2026 and we'd really like to do Austria and Germany. We've all been to those countries for pleasure/work but not on the bikes. We typically only have 5/6 days for the tour which does limit destinations too far away. What I'd like to avoid is days spent on the motorways and to also maximise time in territory to enjoy the destination. Given that the Black Forrest is 1000miles from my house that's more than likely going to be 2 days of travel each way leaving just 1-2 days "on tour". Not great.
Therefore, I'd be looking at perhaps getting the 6 bikes shipped in advance. I chucked an email out to a local shipping company and they've quoted £1400+vat return for 1 bike! Clearly that's not going to work. I understand they have to cover costs and make a profit so I'm not knocking the prices although I was a little shocked! This was a 'proper' shipping company. Would it be cheaper to hire a trailer and a van perhaps? Are there alternative shipping options? Am I being a bit soft on the avoiding motorway aspect?
So my question is this; What have you guys done with respect to wanting to tour places further away with shorter amounts of time available.
Thoughts/opinions/experiences welcome
Thanks in advance.
My group of friends and I have just returned from a wonderful tour of France (a small dabble in Belgium and Luxembourg). We used 5 days and loved every second apart from the sprint back from Reims to the ferry and the snoring with a shared room!!!!!!. Never again! Reims to Calais was a 160mile motorway blast. We all had onward journeys in the UK of ~100-230miles so the last day was a killer.
Clearly, we're now looking to 2026 and we'd really like to do Austria and Germany. We've all been to those countries for pleasure/work but not on the bikes. We typically only have 5/6 days for the tour which does limit destinations too far away. What I'd like to avoid is days spent on the motorways and to also maximise time in territory to enjoy the destination. Given that the Black Forrest is 1000miles from my house that's more than likely going to be 2 days of travel each way leaving just 1-2 days "on tour". Not great.
Therefore, I'd be looking at perhaps getting the 6 bikes shipped in advance. I chucked an email out to a local shipping company and they've quoted £1400+vat return for 1 bike! Clearly that's not going to work. I understand they have to cover costs and make a profit so I'm not knocking the prices although I was a little shocked! This was a 'proper' shipping company. Would it be cheaper to hire a trailer and a van perhaps? Are there alternative shipping options? Am I being a bit soft on the avoiding motorway aspect?
So my question is this; What have you guys done with respect to wanting to tour places further away with shorter amounts of time available.
Thoughts/opinions/experiences welcome
Thanks in advance.
This is the challenge that has faced the Old Gits (www.old-gits.org) since our first trip in 1998, and I don't believe there is an "easy answer".
We have long accepted that, with the time limitations imposed by family, work and finances, the ONLY realistic options for riding the great roads of Southern Germany, the Alps, the Dolomites and Southern France is to include a couple of intense "get there/back" days on motorways. You can either do those on your bikes or, if you have access to a trailer and/or a decent sized van, by transporting the bikes yourself. Either way, just getting from the arrival point on the continent to your destination will take an intense day of travel. Even the likes of the Autorail requires riding to and from the stations at either point and those rides are often equal to a significant part of the "just ride there" route.
The likes of the Pyrenees, the Picos and northern Spain can be access via the Santander or Bilbao ferries but they take as long to get there as an intense ride on the motorways.
Sadly, that means the options really come down to:
1. Pay a very large amount to get the bikes shipped there and back;
2. Fly there and rent a bike while there;
3. Man up and just get the motorway miles done;
What I can say is that the roads at the more distant destinations are easily good/special enough to mean the Old Gits will do the boring motorway ride year after year (27 years now!
) to ride those roads. I think if you ride the roads in some of those wonderful destinations, you'll likely feel the same.
ETA - This is this years Old Gits trip:
The first Saturday will be 420 motorway miles, and the final Sunday be 380 motorway miles back to the Tunnel. They will both be very boring days (though intercom banter helps pass the time) but doing those days will allow us a full 7 days of great roads. All this for 5 days off work!
We have long accepted that, with the time limitations imposed by family, work and finances, the ONLY realistic options for riding the great roads of Southern Germany, the Alps, the Dolomites and Southern France is to include a couple of intense "get there/back" days on motorways. You can either do those on your bikes or, if you have access to a trailer and/or a decent sized van, by transporting the bikes yourself. Either way, just getting from the arrival point on the continent to your destination will take an intense day of travel. Even the likes of the Autorail requires riding to and from the stations at either point and those rides are often equal to a significant part of the "just ride there" route.
The likes of the Pyrenees, the Picos and northern Spain can be access via the Santander or Bilbao ferries but they take as long to get there as an intense ride on the motorways.
Sadly, that means the options really come down to:
1. Pay a very large amount to get the bikes shipped there and back;
2. Fly there and rent a bike while there;
3. Man up and just get the motorway miles done;
What I can say is that the roads at the more distant destinations are easily good/special enough to mean the Old Gits will do the boring motorway ride year after year (27 years now!
) to ride those roads. I think if you ride the roads in some of those wonderful destinations, you'll likely feel the same.ETA - This is this years Old Gits trip:
The first Saturday will be 420 motorway miles, and the final Sunday be 380 motorway miles back to the Tunnel. They will both be very boring days (though intercom banter helps pass the time) but doing those days will allow us a full 7 days of great roads. All this for 5 days off work!
Edited by black-k1 on Tuesday 8th July 10:46
Used to be a few companies that done this before Brexit.
The ones I used gave up after, too many issues apparently.
We used to get the bikes shipped over to France, just outside Geneva... fly over there for a night and then pick the bikes up in the morning and head straight to the Alps.
Didn't cost that much more than the fuel, ferry, extra nights, wear and tear than riding down.
In saying all that.. I got my bike transported home last year from Eastern Europe after the engine blew up, and they didn't seem to have any issues.. probably less hassle bringing it back in to the UK.
For my own trips, I get off the ferry and hammer it for 2 days to get down to the Alps/Italy... just something you have to do...
The ones I used gave up after, too many issues apparently.
We used to get the bikes shipped over to France, just outside Geneva... fly over there for a night and then pick the bikes up in the morning and head straight to the Alps.
Didn't cost that much more than the fuel, ferry, extra nights, wear and tear than riding down.
In saying all that.. I got my bike transported home last year from Eastern Europe after the engine blew up, and they didn't seem to have any issues.. probably less hassle bringing it back in to the UK.
For my own trips, I get off the ferry and hammer it for 2 days to get down to the Alps/Italy... just something you have to do...
As K1 has already alluded to, its not easy and not cheap.
around 6 years ago we used the OBB nightjet overnight sleeper train to run from Dusseldorf to Innsbruck so was a good alternative to riding motorways to the alps and was easily accessible from the ferry terminals at Ijmuiden or Zeebrugge as it was only around 3 1/2 hours ride.
Unfortunately the Dusseldorf option no longer exists so you have to get the train from Munich which is double the distance from the ferry terminal's, meaning you could already have ridden halfway to the alps at this point. We did this to get to the Dolomites 2 year ago but vowed never to do it again as the hassle wasn't worth the reward anymore.
You can hire bikes in the alps for around £130 day, but its often hard to get the model you may want so that leaves you either transporting your bike there in a van or using the fly / transport service which is expensive.
around 6 years ago we used the OBB nightjet overnight sleeper train to run from Dusseldorf to Innsbruck so was a good alternative to riding motorways to the alps and was easily accessible from the ferry terminals at Ijmuiden or Zeebrugge as it was only around 3 1/2 hours ride.
Unfortunately the Dusseldorf option no longer exists so you have to get the train from Munich which is double the distance from the ferry terminal's, meaning you could already have ridden halfway to the alps at this point. We did this to get to the Dolomites 2 year ago but vowed never to do it again as the hassle wasn't worth the reward anymore.
You can hire bikes in the alps for around £130 day, but its often hard to get the model you may want so that leaves you either transporting your bike there in a van or using the fly / transport service which is expensive.
I'm eager to my first road trip into Europe but put off exactly by this. Also, I'm up in the North East of Scotland so would have most of the UK to travel before I even start!
My solution that I'm currently looking into is getting a trailer on the car. I currently have a tent box for the car so would mean I could camp too. My missus doesn't ride and is not keen on being a pillion so she could drive the car when we get on to good roads.
My solution that I'm currently looking into is getting a trailer on the car. I currently have a tent box for the car so would mean I could camp too. My missus doesn't ride and is not keen on being a pillion so she could drive the car when we get on to good roads.
marcella said:
I'm eager to my first road trip into Europe but put off exactly by this. Also, I'm up in the North East of Scotland so would have most of the UK to travel before I even start!
My solution that I'm currently looking into is getting a trailer on the car. I currently have a tent box for the car so would mean I could camp too. My missus doesn't ride and is not keen on being a pillion so she could drive the car when we get on to good roads.
I'm in central Scotland... ride down to Newcastle and get the ferry across... My solution that I'm currently looking into is getting a trailer on the car. I currently have a tent box for the car so would mean I could camp too. My missus doesn't ride and is not keen on being a pillion so she could drive the car when we get on to good roads.
Nice easy ride on the motorways from IJmuiden into Germany and beyond, it's honestly not that bad.
Leave the wife behind...
the cueball said:
marcella said:
I'm eager to my first road trip into Europe but put off exactly by this. Also, I'm up in the North East of Scotland so would have most of the UK to travel before I even start!
My solution that I'm currently looking into is getting a trailer on the car. I currently have a tent box for the car so would mean I could camp too. My missus doesn't ride and is not keen on being a pillion so she could drive the car when we get on to good roads.
I'm in central Scotland... ride down to Newcastle and get the ferry across... My solution that I'm currently looking into is getting a trailer on the car. I currently have a tent box for the car so would mean I could camp too. My missus doesn't ride and is not keen on being a pillion so she could drive the car when we get on to good roads.
Nice easy ride on the motorways from IJmuiden into Germany and beyond, it's honestly not that bad.
Leave the wife behind...
black-k1 said:
ETA - This is this years Old Gits trip:
The first Saturday will be 420 motorway miles, and the final Sunday be 380 motorway miles back to the Tunnel. They will both be very boring days (though intercom banter helps pass the time) but doing those days will allow us a full 7 days of great roads. All this for 5 days off work!
Yea, for the ‘southerners’ The first Saturday will be 420 motorway miles, and the final Sunday be 380 motorway miles back to the Tunnel. They will both be very boring days (though intercom banter helps pass the time) but doing those days will allow us a full 7 days of great roads. All this for 5 days off work!
From Scotland it’s also a jaunt down to Newcastle and then the long haul down from Amsterdam. Age, fitness and the bike you’re on makes a hell of a difference. I couldn’t ride a sports bike more than a few miles before serious wrist and back pain sets in. I could do distance on a naked, but I can’t sustain more than about 60 for other than short periods. But decent wind protection, comfy seat (and stereo
) means riding for as long as the day is long. I have done 700+ miles in a day, but being an old bugger now (nearer 70 than 65) limiting myself to around 500 miles of ‘getting there motorway’ is fine.Not long back from Czech and I think the longest day was about 450 miles, but I was seeing 95 degrees of heat a lot of the time
Me and bike happy enough at the speed limits on limited motorways/autobahns, and 100ish was a decent distance-covering speed on the unlimited bits. But there’s absolutely no way I could do anything like that on a naked, sports bike, adventure bike or whatever. Sure, a big heavyweight tourer isn’t going to be the sharpest tool in the box when you get to the ‘proper’ roads, but it makes getting there and back a fairly relaxed experience. And there actually is quite a reward being at the helm of a behemoth through the twisties.
the cueball said:
marcella said:
I'm eager to my first road trip into Europe but put off exactly by this. Also, I'm up in the North East of Scotland so would have most of the UK to travel before I even start!
My solution that I'm currently looking into is getting a trailer on the car. I currently have a tent box for the car so would mean I could camp too. My missus doesn't ride and is not keen on being a pillion so she could drive the car when we get on to good roads.
I'm in central Scotland... ride down to Newcastle and get the ferry across... My solution that I'm currently looking into is getting a trailer on the car. I currently have a tent box for the car so would mean I could camp too. My missus doesn't ride and is not keen on being a pillion so she could drive the car when we get on to good roads.
Nice easy ride on the motorways from IJmuiden into Germany and beyond, it's honestly not that bad.
Leave the wife behind...
As much as i love her, i agree with leaving her behind though.
marcella said:
I'm eager to my first road trip into Europe but put off exactly by this. Also, I'm up in the North East of Scotland so would have most of the UK to travel before I even start!
My solution that I'm currently looking into is getting a trailer on the car. I currently have a tent box for the car so would mean I could camp too. My missus doesn't ride and is not keen on being a pillion so she could drive the car when we get on to good roads.
I know the weather might not be as good, but couldn't you get a ferry over to Norway and do a Norway/Sweden tour?My solution that I'm currently looking into is getting a trailer on the car. I currently have a tent box for the car so would mean I could camp too. My missus doesn't ride and is not keen on being a pillion so she could drive the car when we get on to good roads.
Bob_Defly said:
marcella said:
I'm eager to my first road trip into Europe but put off exactly by this. Also, I'm up in the North East of Scotland so would have most of the UK to travel before I even start!
My solution that I'm currently looking into is getting a trailer on the car. I currently have a tent box for the car so would mean I could camp too. My missus doesn't ride and is not keen on being a pillion so she could drive the car when we get on to good roads.
I know the weather might not be as good, but couldn't you get a ferry over to Norway and do a Norway/Sweden tour?My solution that I'm currently looking into is getting a trailer on the car. I currently have a tent box for the car so would mean I could camp too. My missus doesn't ride and is not keen on being a pillion so she could drive the car when we get on to good roads.
StonedRollin said:
Same location as you, cueball. We've done it loads and the riding time via Newcastle/Ijmuiden or going via the chunnel to say Alps or Dolomites from home isn't much different. The ferry from Newcastle to Ijmuiden is much more across than down so you still have hours of northern Europe industrial land to ride through. Admittedly, if feels different to the A1(M) and on to Folkestone for the chunnel though. I don't sleep great on the boat so would prefer a night in a hotel instead. Swings and roundabouts.
As much as i love her, i agree with leaving her behind though.
I have a stupid mentality that I'm not on tour until I'm on mainland Europe... Can't stand riding down to the Chunnnnel, and need to get out of the UK as soon as possible!As much as i love her, i agree with leaving her behind though.
For me a trip like this starts the evening before, I have time to get 4/5 hours down the road after work which helps with getting to the nice roads quicker, on the calendar at least! I can get from Yorkshire to my friends near Basel by the evening of the first Saturday without taking too much motorway.
If you want to go further afield with a tight time schedule, have you looked at renting bikes locally?
If you want to go further afield with a tight time schedule, have you looked at renting bikes locally?
the cueball said:
I'm in central Scotland... ride down to Newcastle and get the ferry across...
Nice easy ride on the motorways from IJmuiden into Germany and beyond, it's honestly not that bad.
Leave the wife behind...
Agree. You can reach the Dutch border in a relatively short time from Ijmuiden, and then the good roads in Germany are only a short while away. Brim your tank in Newcastle as Dutch fuel is very expensive. Nice easy ride on the motorways from IJmuiden into Germany and beyond, it's honestly not that bad.
Leave the wife behind...
Took me five ish hours to get here from Ijmuiden...and then you're straight out onto superb roads the next day. https://www.hotel-seegarten.com/
STe_rsv4 said:
Bob_Defly said:
marcella said:
I'm eager to my first road trip into Europe but put off exactly by this. Also, I'm up in the North East of Scotland so would have most of the UK to travel before I even start!
My solution that I'm currently looking into is getting a trailer on the car. I currently have a tent box for the car so would mean I could camp too. My missus doesn't ride and is not keen on being a pillion so she could drive the car when we get on to good roads.
I know the weather might not be as good, but couldn't you get a ferry over to Norway and do a Norway/Sweden tour?My solution that I'm currently looking into is getting a trailer on the car. I currently have a tent box for the car so would mean I could camp too. My missus doesn't ride and is not keen on being a pillion so she could drive the car when we get on to good roads.
hiccy18 said:
There's a lot can be done without heading for Switzerland area, in 5 or 6 days from Calais you could wander through the Ardennes, over the Vosges mountains, explore the Black Forest and cross the Bavarian Alps whilst avoiding the motorway except to avoid boring roads.
This! The Voges region of France is pretty epic as is the Black Forest in Germany and if you ride through Belgium it's a really nice journeyGassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff