Scandinavia on a Royal Enfield
Discussion
Some of you may have been following my 4000km Vietnam scooter tour a few months back. I am on my way back from Asia next week (currently in Hong Kong) and soon to be preparing for my next motorcycle adventure!
I will be in the UK for 2 months before i leave which gives me time to prepare the bike. Thankfully i bought it with a load of touring oriented accessories so basically just need to bolt those back on. May bank holiday i am also planning a shake down trip to the Cotswolds with my lady friend so that will be the first long distance rides i have ever done on it.
The basic plan for the trip is me and my dad will be taking our bikes through Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway at the end of July / beginning of August. No time frames planned yet but im guessing it will be around a month or so. I will keep things updated on here
For those who don't know i have a 2016 Royal Enfield Classic EFI (C5). 25bhp of pure Indian touring muscle
I will be in the UK for 2 months before i leave which gives me time to prepare the bike. Thankfully i bought it with a load of touring oriented accessories so basically just need to bolt those back on. May bank holiday i am also planning a shake down trip to the Cotswolds with my lady friend so that will be the first long distance rides i have ever done on it.
The basic plan for the trip is me and my dad will be taking our bikes through Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway at the end of July / beginning of August. No time frames planned yet but im guessing it will be around a month or so. I will keep things updated on here
For those who don't know i have a 2016 Royal Enfield Classic EFI (C5). 25bhp of pure Indian touring muscle
Edited by AceOfHearts on Friday 27th April 05:37
Mods started today. Some before pics:
The first thing was to remove the rack and mount the new pillion seat i ordered from India.
Next up was to fit the mirrors, screen and leather panniers. I also have the magnetic Royal Enfield branded tank bag which is a really handy piece of kit. All of this stuff came with the bike (except the pillion seat), so it was just a case of bolting it all back on.
Touring conversion complete
Ready for trial trip to the Cotswolds
The first thing was to remove the rack and mount the new pillion seat i ordered from India.
Next up was to fit the mirrors, screen and leather panniers. I also have the magnetic Royal Enfield branded tank bag which is a really handy piece of kit. All of this stuff came with the bike (except the pillion seat), so it was just a case of bolting it all back on.
Touring conversion complete
Ready for trial trip to the Cotswolds
Edited by AceOfHearts on Sunday 6th May 21:47
Thanks I think the basic plan is to go North through Sweden then across and South through Norway.
Trial run to the Cotswolds went smoothly. I have removed the screen as it seemed to make the bike much noisier but no more comfortable.
2 up with luggage I have been getting a 250 mile tank range and 95mpg!
I think the basic plan is to go North through Sweden then across and South through Norway. Trial run to the Cotswolds went smoothly. I have removed the screen as it seemed to make the bike much noisier but no more comfortable.
2 up with luggage I have been getting a 250 mile tank range and 95mpg!
Well first trip update:
Left Harwich on Tuesday night, rode to Bremen, Germany yesterday (270 miles) and today got to Kolding, Denmark (240 miles).
Tomorrow we will be off to Hirtshals and getting the ferry to southern Norway, and then the fun stuff should begin.
So far the bike has faultless, plodding away at 60mph and achieving a new personal record today of 109 mpg! Dads CBF600 has been getting 78mpg just keeping up with me
Weather has been mixed, yesterday was lovely and today it has been tipping it down with strong winds. Just off to find a restaurant and beer!
Left Harwich on Tuesday night, rode to Bremen, Germany yesterday (270 miles) and today got to Kolding, Denmark (240 miles).
Tomorrow we will be off to Hirtshals and getting the ferry to southern Norway, and then the fun stuff should begin.
So far the bike has faultless, plodding away at 60mph and achieving a new personal record today of 109 mpg! Dads CBF600 has been getting 78mpg just keeping up with me
Weather has been mixed, yesterday was lovely and today it has been tipping it down with strong winds. Just off to find a restaurant and beer!
Edited by AceOfHearts on Thursday 21st June 17:57
It will be a 3 or 4 week trip overall. Lack of wifi is hindering updates but we are currently in Bergen, Norway.
The sea cat from Hirtshals to Kristiansand was the roughest crossing i have ever been on. People were being sick, falling over and buffet food was everywhere!
The first campsite in Norway was worth it though, set on the edge of a lake with free fishing and rowing boat usage. We also caught our first Scandinavian trout!
Just over 1100 miles done now, about 3 or 4 days riding left until we get to the arctic circle.
The sea cat from Hirtshals to Kristiansand was the roughest crossing i have ever been on. People were being sick, falling over and buffet food was everywhere!
The first campsite in Norway was worth it though, set on the edge of a lake with free fishing and rowing boat usage. We also caught our first Scandinavian trout!
Just over 1100 miles done now, about 3 or 4 days riding left until we get to the arctic circle.
Edited by AceOfHearts on Monday 25th June 14:54
We have taken your advice and are now taking 3 days to Trondheim. Yesterday we rode from Bergen to Lom, and today we will be riding to Geiranger and along the Trollstiggen. From there we will assess the weather and maybe go to Alesund and the Atlantic road or cut back inland and go North to follow the E6 along the river Gaula.
At the moment weather on the coast looks a bit ropey so we will probably cut back inland.
Some pics from yesterdays riding:
At the moment weather on the coast looks a bit ropey so we will probably cut back inland.
Some pics from yesterdays riding:
The modern EFI bikes cant really be compared against the old english or first Indian built models. Mine doesn't drip or burn any oil, everything feels very solid and the finish on most parts is great. Even compared to european bikes i feel like it compares very well quality wise. And this model is only £4.5k brand new! My bike is 3 years old now and doesnt have any rust (Honda spokes anyone? ) or flakey engine paint (Ducati?)
The Indians have been building these for decades now and the EFI bikes of the last 8 years or so are very well sorted. Also don't forget that Harley Davidson, BMW and KTM build bikes in India now, so its not really something to turn your nose up at anymore.
Tool wise i have only brought the standard RE tool kit (spanners, screwdriver and tyre levers)
They are lovely and simple machines, easy to service, parts and accessories are dirt cheap, ride great (imo of course), cruise comfortably at 60 and do over 100mpg.
People dismiss them prematurely and are missing out on a lot of fun i think. For rough English roads it really is great. The fact im taking mine to Norway shows the confidence i have in it
The Indians have been building these for decades now and the EFI bikes of the last 8 years or so are very well sorted. Also don't forget that Harley Davidson, BMW and KTM build bikes in India now, so its not really something to turn your nose up at anymore.
Tool wise i have only brought the standard RE tool kit (spanners, screwdriver and tyre levers)
They are lovely and simple machines, easy to service, parts and accessories are dirt cheap, ride great (imo of course), cruise comfortably at 60 and do over 100mpg.
People dismiss them prematurely and are missing out on a lot of fun i think. For rough English roads it really is great. The fact im taking mine to Norway shows the confidence i have in it
Left Trondheim this morning with the sun shining, and since it was a such a nice day we ended up just keeping on riding. Did over 280miles in the end, and are now only 100 miles or so away from Mo I Rana and the Arctic Circle.
We avoided the E6 as best we could and followed road 17 West past Namsos and up to Bronnoysund. The long way round but beautiful scenery. Also was our last fjord ferry
We are now in a little cabin in a village called Tosbotn for the night. Weather forecast for tomorrow is 24 degrees :yippee:
We avoided the E6 as best we could and followed road 17 West past Namsos and up to Bronnoysund. The long way round but beautiful scenery. Also was our last fjord ferry
We are now in a little cabin in a village called Tosbotn for the night. Weather forecast for tomorrow is 24 degrees :yippee:
Edited by AceOfHearts on Saturday 30th June 20:03
Sorry for the lack of updates, not had Wifi for a few days. With regards to camping and places to stay it has been a piece of cake. Campsites have been quite plentiful in the North, we have just been turning up at 7 or 8pm, ask for a cabin and stayed the night. In Norway they have ranged from £40 to £60.
From leaving Tosbotn, we made it to the arctic circle that same day around 5pm. We again took small roads as best we could to avoid the E6, and saw some of the most stunning scenery on the trip so far. I will put together a total route we took when i get back to the UK. On the way to the Arctic circle we also stopped off at the Arctic Circle Raceway and caught the end of a drift weekend they were holding.
That same night we made it across the border into Sweden, and close to Arjeplog where we stayed the night. That cabin was only £26 ish but was plagued with mosquito's
So yesterday we were travelling South through Sweden, missing the main roads to try and find some twisties but there were none to be found. Also due to the flat terrain and bouncy / poorly surfaced roads the last 500 miles have been more of a chore than anything else.
Due to this we have changed plans again, and now will be hopping back into Norway and South to Oslo. From there we will either get the ferry to Copenhagen or ride South to Kristiansand to go home the way we came. We will make that decision in a few days im Oslo though
We are currently staying in Stromsund which is a really nice little town. This has been a saving grace in Sweden for us, rather than ploughing through the North of the country which seems to just be an endless forest.
We also found a cheap shop today and got a bucket and some car shampoo so managed to wash the bikes. I didnt realise quite how filthy it was!
The bike has been absolutely faultless so far (touch wood). I havn't even had to adjust the chain! Current mileage is 2650 miles since we left the UK. It is also still averaging around 110mpg which is nice.
From leaving Tosbotn, we made it to the arctic circle that same day around 5pm. We again took small roads as best we could to avoid the E6, and saw some of the most stunning scenery on the trip so far. I will put together a total route we took when i get back to the UK. On the way to the Arctic circle we also stopped off at the Arctic Circle Raceway and caught the end of a drift weekend they were holding.
That same night we made it across the border into Sweden, and close to Arjeplog where we stayed the night. That cabin was only £26 ish but was plagued with mosquito's
So yesterday we were travelling South through Sweden, missing the main roads to try and find some twisties but there were none to be found. Also due to the flat terrain and bouncy / poorly surfaced roads the last 500 miles have been more of a chore than anything else.
Due to this we have changed plans again, and now will be hopping back into Norway and South to Oslo. From there we will either get the ferry to Copenhagen or ride South to Kristiansand to go home the way we came. We will make that decision in a few days im Oslo though
We are currently staying in Stromsund which is a really nice little town. This has been a saving grace in Sweden for us, rather than ploughing through the North of the country which seems to just be an endless forest.
We also found a cheap shop today and got a bucket and some car shampoo so managed to wash the bikes. I didnt realise quite how filthy it was!
The bike has been absolutely faultless so far (touch wood). I havn't even had to adjust the chain! Current mileage is 2650 miles since we left the UK. It is also still averaging around 110mpg which is nice.
Edited by AceOfHearts on Tuesday 3rd July 18:57
Thanks for the nice comments everyone
We made it to Roros, Norway last night. We took a little backroad detour which ended up being around 20 miles of dirt roads. Saw hundreds of reindeer though! (pics to follow)
Today we are making it down to Lillehammer, again avoiding the bigger roads as much as possible. We have looked everyones suggestions up on the map, but unfortunately Jotinmeim is a bit out of the way for the way home, although we did go around the west side of it when leaving Lom last week on the way up.
We made it to Roros, Norway last night. We took a little backroad detour which ended up being around 20 miles of dirt roads. Saw hundreds of reindeer though! (pics to follow)
Today we are making it down to Lillehammer, again avoiding the bigger roads as much as possible. We have looked everyones suggestions up on the map, but unfortunately Jotinmeim is a bit out of the way for the way home, although we did go around the west side of it when leaving Lom last week on the way up.
So to finish off this thread we are back home in the UK. Total distance over 4000 miles in the end!
We got the ferry from Oslo to Copenhagen, spent a couple of days there then rode back to the Hook of Holland in 2 days. Bike was absolutely faultless in the end, have not even had to top up the tyres or adjust the chain. It is overdue a service now though so i have treated it to some goodies from Hitchcocks.
Oslo
Copenhagen
Before and after
The dog is happy to have dad home
Full service kit, new fork oil. Will replace the brake fluid as well.
Collecting stickers. If i sell the bike or want it back standard a new battery cover is only £15 and i can hang this one on the wall in the garage
We got the ferry from Oslo to Copenhagen, spent a couple of days there then rode back to the Hook of Holland in 2 days. Bike was absolutely faultless in the end, have not even had to top up the tyres or adjust the chain. It is overdue a service now though so i have treated it to some goodies from Hitchcocks.
Oslo
Copenhagen
Before and after
The dog is happy to have dad home
Full service kit, new fork oil. Will replace the brake fluid as well.
Collecting stickers. If i sell the bike or want it back standard a new battery cover is only £15 and i can hang this one on the wall in the garage
Edited by AceOfHearts on Thursday 12th July 13:16
s3fella said:
Interesting you say there are few straight roads. When i was in Denmark last year, it seemed that they were the only type of roads they had, 80km an hour no one on them but police hidden in bushes, and we had been given a rental audit S3! My got it was tiresome, drove us mental mile after mile on deserted straight roads as far as you could see at 50mph! 
Sounds like you had a great trip, well done.
I think dad meant just in Norway, I agree that riding through Denmark was quite tiresome Sounds like you had a great trip, well done.
I tried to sort out a final route to nicely finish the thread off, but unfortunately Google Maps doesn't have the power to run every stop that I needed to put in
Here is a rough route though, although not exact to all of our detours. I will do detailed section maps for my own benefit later on before I forget where we went.
Here is a rough route though, although not exact to all of our detours. I will do detailed section maps for my own benefit later on before I forget where we went.
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