Travelling abroad this summer

[bimmer]

I am taking the mother ship BMW K1200LT back to the homeland this August for a trip around the Harz mountains booked with MCI so far so good, received the booking confirmation and the tour check list but this is where I have a few questions, they suggest I should have the new photographic licence I have the old green type and loathe to pay to get a new licence if I don't need too, also mask of the L/H side of headlamp is this still necessary on a bike? must take your vehicles V5 registration document? they suggest other things which to me seem sensible and a given, but as this is my first foray abroad by bike just want to make sure by relying on you guys experience of similar holidays.
Cheers

[mtbr]

You should take the V5 or V5C and proof of insurance. Your insurance probably includes cover for the rest of Europe, however you may need to tell them when you are going.
Your paper license will do. if you have any doubts you can still get an international driving permit (from the AA?) which is really intended for non EEC countries, but which has your details in a number of other languages.

It's unlikely anyone will look at any of your documents throughout the trip!
Don't worry about the headlamp it won't matter.

[black-k1]

Paper license will be fine. Along with my license I always take V5, MoT, insurance certificate and policy. I’ve done that for many trips over 25 years and I’ve only ever been asked for the documentation once and that was on my first trip to Malta 25 years ago. (And that was getting into Malta.)

I used to mask off my headlights but I haven’t bothered for about the last 10 years. Trips during the summer months rarely involve much riding in the dark. Many vehicles (maybe your K1200LT also) have a facility to switch the headlight deflector for left/right driving. Check the manual to see if your bike can be adjusted.

[Twit]

Take stuff with you but dont worry about it, it won't be checked. Europe has open borders so no worries. If you go east of Germany you may get a check but when I went east the first place I was checked was going into Turkey.

As for lights etc, don't bother, never been stopped etc for that.

Have fun!

[bimmer]

Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated, just looking forward to going now

[fergus]

Twit said:

Take stuff with you but dont worry about it, it won't be checked. Europe has open borders so no worries. If you go east of Germany you may get a check but when I went east the first place I was checked was going into Turkey.

As for lights etc, don't bother, never been stopped etc for that.

Have fun!

It's a legal requirement in most european countries (except the UK) to carry vehicle documents with you. If you get stopped for anything and you don't have them = a fine. In a car, you can also be fined for not having 2 triangles, spare bulbs, etc. At the end of the day you do need to be stopped first though. FOr the sake of packing your documents against the back of your rucksack, it's not worth not taking them IMHO.

[twit]

Yes, certainly take them but don't worry to much...

Guess being on a battered bike with a years worth of stuff on board made anyone who stopped me just laugh, never actually asked for doc's, just wanted to know where I was going!!

[speed8]

Just got back, 1100 miles today, phew!!!

Take your licence (any will do), V5 and insurance docs, some breakdown cover (I used mine surprisingly) and whatever else you think you might need. You'll forget something so just buy it when you get there.

Enjoy it, the weather and roads have been cracking the last couple of weeks