riding abroad - not done for a couple of years question

[Fats25]

Heading to France tomorrow - indicator bulb blew on the way home - and it reminded me about the fact they have different rules over there to here!

These are the things I know that I need to do/have:-

Firstly buy new indicator bulb - (and will get a spare whilst I am at it)
Take both parts of driving licence
Take insurance certificate
Take V5 proof of ownership
Take spare headlight bulb (any idea what type I need for a K4 GSXR600?)
Passport!!

Now I have thought about the following that I am not sure about:-

Exhaust Baffle - I always have it out and keep it under seat in case of a pull (but short on space - so if not needed won't bother)
Dark Visor - normally carry a spare but again short on space
Reflective bibs - are these now needed in EC?
Spare fuses

Anything I have forgot?

[rsv gone!]

Beer tokens.

[YamR1V64motion]

i recently drove over there, carry a spare bulb kit for sure but im not sure if you need a hi vis jacket as a biker, you most certainly dont have to wear one while riding though

[hugoagogo]

France?

you need a tiny rear number plate and absolutely no fear when filtering

[biker's nemesis]

European Health Insurance Card.

Tubeless Tyre Repair Kit.

European Breakdown Cover.

I managed ok with a Black Visor last year, not heard anything about having to wear a High Vis Vest.


Have a good time.

[veetwin]

biker's nemesis said:

Tubeless Tyre Repair Kit.

We took a Can'O'Tyreweld each with us to the Pyrenees last year.

No probs with loud pipes (save lives), small plates, no reflectors on lenses or silly traffic antics. Got tugged to check passports leaving Andorra into France and that was it.

Don't forget CHAINLUBE!!!!! You will need to re-lube every 500 miles

[veetwin]

I took the following in a rucksack and the tail unit of an 05 blade:

2006 Trip Packing List

1. Honda standard toolkit
2. Tyre Pressure Gauge
3. Tyre Weld
4. Allen Keys
5. Disposable gloves
6. Visor Cleaner – On Bike – V2 Sponge?
7. Chain Lube
8. Boss Disc Lock
9. Security Cable
10. Torch
11. Phone Charger/Adaptor
12. Earplugs
13. Pair of lightweight trainers
14. Pair of Shorts
15. Pair of Jeans
16. 4 T-shirts
17. 10 Pairs of Socks
18. 4 Boxers
19. Cap
20. Tie down strap(s) for the ferry?
21. Wash kit
a. Toothbrush
b. Toothpaste
c. Deodorant
d. After Shave Testers
e. Shower Gel
f. Contact Lens Fluid/Case
g. Gaviscon
h. Anthisan
i. Paracetamol
j. Alka Seltzer
k. Imodium
l. Spare Glasses
22. Documents
a. Passport
b. Driving Licence
c. E111 card
d. Green Card Bike Insurance
e. Recovery Details
f. Travel Insurance
g. Cash
h. Logbook (copy)
22. Clear Visor

To do before trip:
1. Change tyres to Michelin Pilot Power 2CT
2. Oil and Filter Change
3. Travel Insurance
4. Buy security cable from B&Q
5. Buy torch
6. Helly Henson Lifa Undersuit
7. Cloths
8. Insulation Tape

Edited by veetwin on Thursday 24th May 20:55

Edited by veetwin on Thursday 24th May 20:55

[essex.n!!]

veetwin said:

I took the following in a rucksack and the tail unit of an 05 blade:

2006 Trip Packing List

1. Honda standard toolkit
2. Tyre Pressure Gauge
3. Tyre Weld
4. Allen Keys
5. Disposable gloves
6. Visor Cleaner – On Bike – V2 Sponge?
7. Chain Lube
8. Boss Disc Lock
9. Security Cable
10. Torch
11. Phone Charger/Adaptor
12. Earplugs
13. Pair of lightweight trainers
14. Pair of Shorts
15. Pair of Jeans
16. 4 T-shirts
17. 10 Pairs of Socks
18. 4 Boxers
19. Cap
20. Tie down strap(s) for the ferry?
21. Wash kit
a. Toothbrush
b. Toothpaste
c. Deodorant
d. After Shave Testers
e. Shower Gel
f. Contact Lens Fluid/Case
g. Gaviscon
h. Anthisan
i. Paracetamol
j. Alka Seltzer
k. Imodium
l. Spare Glasses
22. Documents
a. Passport
b. Driving Licence
c. E111 card
d. Green Card Bike Insurance
e. Recovery Details
f. Travel Insurance
g. Cash
h. Logbook (copy)
22. Clear Visor

To do before trip:
1. Change tyres to Michelin Pilot Power 2CT
2. Oil and Filter Change
3. Travel Insurance
4. Buy security cable from B&Q
5. Buy torch
6. Helly Henson Lifa Undersuit
7. Cloths
8. Insulation Tape

Edited by veetwin on Thursday 24th May 20:55

Edited by veetwin on Thursday 24th May 20:55

WHAT? NO KITCHEN SINK?

[veetwin]

Too heavy and the tail unit is not very spacious.

[veetwin]

Just found our old route too!!:

Day 1 - 05.07.06
St. Malo
Rennes
Chateaubriant
Angers
Saumur
Thouars
Parthenay
Poitiers
Bellac
Limoges
Day 2 - 06.07.06
Limoges
Brive la Gaillarde
Figeac
Rodez
Millau
Lodeve
Beziers
Narbonne
Day 3 - 07.07.06
Narbonne
Beziers
Perpignan
La Seu D'Urgell
Andorra
Day 4 - 08.07.06
Andorra
Tarascon sur Ariege
Pamier
Toulouse
Grisolles
Agen
Bergerac
Lalinde
Day 5 - 09.07.06
Lalinde
Bergerac
Limoges
Bellac
Poitiers
Parthenay
Thouars
Saumur
Angers
Chateaubriant
Day 6 - 10.07.06
Chateaubriant
Rennes
St Malo


Sweet!!

[biker's nemesis]

veetwin said:

I took the following in a rucksack and the tail unit of an 05 blade:

2006 Trip Packing List

1. Honda standard toolkit
2. Tyre Pressure Gauge
3. Tyre Weld
4. Allen Keys
5. Disposable gloves
6. Visor Cleaner – On Bike – V2 Sponge?
7. Chain Lube
8. Boss Disc Lock
9. Security Cable
10. Torch
11. Phone Charger/Adaptor
12. Earplugs
13. Pair of lightweight trainers
14. Pair of Shorts
15. Pair of Jeans
16. 4 T-shirts
17. 10 Pairs of Socks
18. 4 Boxers
19. Cap
20. Tie down strap(s) for the ferry?
21. Wash kit
a. Toothbrush
b. Toothpaste
c. Deodorant
d. After Shave Testers
e. Shower Gel
f. Contact Lens Fluid/Case
g. Gaviscon
h. Anthisan
i. Paracetamol
j. Alka Seltzer
k. Imodium
l. Spare Glasses
22. Documents
a. Passport
b. Driving Licence
c. E111 card
d. Green Card Bike Insurance
e. Recovery Details
f. Travel Insurance
g. Cash
h. Logbook (copy)
22. Clear Visor

To do before trip:
1. Change tyres to Michelin Pilot Power 2CT
2. Oil and Filter Change
3. Travel Insurance
4. Buy security cable from B&Q
5. Buy torch
6. Helly Henson Lifa Undersuit
7. Cloths
8. Insulation Tape

Edited by veetwin on Thursday 24th May 20:55

Edited by veetwin on Thursday 24th May 20:55

More or less what I took last year, Tank bag and a Rucksack

[Rawwr]

veetwin said:

17. 10 Pairs of Socks
18. 4 Boxers

Ok James, how the fúck does that work, then?

[essex.n!!]

Rawwr said:

veetwin said:

17. 10 Pairs of Socks
18. 4 Boxers

Ok James, how the fúck does that work, then?

dont wana know where he was putting the socks!!!

Edited by essex.n!! on Thursday 24th May 22:11

[Fats25]

Thanks for the answers - I rode to Gibralatar 2 years ago, and know I had everything that I needed in that time for 1 weeks riding, in a tank bag and a tailbag.

Problem is that the Mrs is on the back this time around, so twice as many clothes, and no tank bag - can't be too heavy as she will have the rucksack on.

Not going to far this time - only heading to Caen to see the 2nd world war beaches, leave tomorrow night and back Monday.

This time around so far:-

Tank Bag

Insurance Details
V5
Driving Licence
Chain Lube
Map
Route
2 x Waterproofs
1 x spare gloves
Cargo net
spare bulbs
Travel Insurance
Bike Breakdown cover
Tyre Pressure Gauge

Rucksack

2 x jeans
2 x pairs of trainers
1 x pair of shorts
6 x T Shirt
6 x sets of undwear
Toilettries
Glasses
medicine stash (plasters, gaviscon, nurofen)

Edited by Fats25 on Thursday 24th May 22:28

[Ewan Oozarmy]

Get a side car!

[veetwin]

Rawwr said:

veetwin said:

17. 10 Pairs of Socks
18. 4 Boxers

Ok James, how the fúck does that work, then?

I wore a Helly Hensen heat wicking undersuit under my leathers and took some washing powder to wash them after each day, the socks were cheap use once then bin, there was no way I was going to carry that much dirty clothing in the rucksack back to the UK.

It was 34°C most days so we were all sweating like russian hookers.

[rsv gone!]

When I go travelling I take wicking and quick drying stuff and factor on washing it at least once. Socks from makers like Smartwool can be rinsed in a sink and dry in a couple of hours. I also have a pegless washing line;



I have been known to use dental floss as a washing line!

Last year I took a Baglux tank bag. It fabulously easy to just pivot up whilst you fuel up. And you will be fuelling up a lot!

On the back I just bungee netted a 30L dry bag.

I like Veetwin's list and I'll be printing that off.