View Full Version : Riding in France... anything to watch out for?
Going to go for a ride infrance next weekend, just wandered what if anything needs to be changed on the bike?
only going for 2 days (tunnel across on sunday and back on monday).
Already aware of them being hot on speeding, anythin else to watch out for?
i was told........ if caught speeding they can ban you for 3 days, and fine you 1000+ euros
ridelikeaturtle
21-08-08, 09:26 PM
40kph+ and you're in a real jackpot.
Otherwise, I think there's some French laws about carrying spare bulbs (including a headlight bulb), and if you wear corrective lens, you must have a pair of glasses w/you.
Might not be a bad idea to carry copies of all important docs, and make sure your insurance is current and that you've got Euro-wide coverage if you are in an accident. And double-check your travel insurance too, and obviously carry phone numbers for all these things.
Enjoy!
Yup - docs and copies of are advisable. A few simple tools to patch things up should you have any little accidents.
I didn't make any changes to the bike other than an EU\GB sticker thingy on the plate.
Their speed cameras are mounted on the floor - but there's really big helpful signs to tell ya they are coming up.
The French drivers are really bike aware and practically put their cars in the hedges for you to get past (well, most of 'em).
Have a nosey in teh Euro tour section, theres a fair bit of info in there. Hope you have a good time - and get lots of piccies.
Patisseries. They're a bit like "Greggs" only nicer ;)
custard
22-08-08, 07:03 AM
side roads have priority in places...
Do i need to cover up part of the headlights to beam adjustment?
Do i need to cover up part of the headlights to beam adjustment?
No.
Between some toll's, they can measure your speed from the time it takes, although a quick stop for fuel can sort this.
Speed cameras, mobiles, they will hide behined bridges and jump out on you, so be weary.
Always thanks people by dropping a foot, they will all move out the way as fast as they can.
You can sit in 3 figures happily, if your good with your observation although we were doing 85-90 when 2 PC plods jumped out. We were worried when we got to the next tolll, but happy when they pulled a UK porsche behined us instead of us lot :D
Be respectfull of village speed limits, the police hate speeding in villages and will have you instantly for it.
Otherwise, FAR FAR FAR bette than riding in the UK, more relaxed.
the_lone_wolf
22-08-08, 11:06 AM
they drive on the wrong side of the road
hth...
Snails are yummy...
Don't forget to go to the post-office and sort our your European medical cover form.
Luckypants
22-08-08, 11:35 AM
Don't forget to go to the post-office and sort our your European medical cover form.
You can apply for an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) online. However you apply, you will have to wait a few days (up to 10 IIRC) for the card to be delivered.
You might find this thread (http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=114593) and this thread (http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=55230) (good although slightly out of date) useful...
photo copy V5, paper part of license, insurance and MOT. tell you insurance company you are going to be in france too. and make sure your breakdown cover does france also.
have fun.
Tim in Belgium
22-08-08, 11:54 AM
When stopped for speeding in France in a Belgian registered car the police asked to see the original registration and insurance documents. And when stopped in Austria on my UK bike again they wanted my registration document and licence.
I believe on the continent as a rule you are required to have the originals, I always take mine.
Dangerous Dave
22-08-08, 11:55 AM
Take all the original vehicle and licence documents with you and keep them on you, take photocopies also which you can keep on the bike or luggage.
Check to see your insurance covers you in Europe, most do automatically but you don't want to find out the hard way do you. Same for Breakdown cover.
Take a little first aid kit with you, a little tool kit, some spare bulbs, and duct tape.
Remeber they drive on the wrong side over there too, although if you ask for directions and they say take the first exit of a roundabout that means the last. They read the sign like we do but obviously go the other way around the roundabout. I lived there for a few years and never fully understood it either...
I think everybody else haa dealt with your question.
Dangerous Dave
22-08-08, 11:55 AM
I believe on the continent as a rule you are required to have the originals, I always take mine.
That is correct, and the same here in the UK, copies are not acceptable.
punyXpress
22-08-08, 12:13 PM
I believe on the continent as a rule you are required to have the originals, I always take mine.[/quote]
Why? you wouldn't be breaking any speed limits, would you?
Limits for towns start at the town's name plate - no signs with numbers on.
muffles
22-08-08, 12:25 PM
That is correct, and the same here in the UK, copies are not acceptable.
Not sure if you are referring to the requirement to have them with you, but just to avoid confusion, I believe that requirement is a European requirement that the UK gets round through the producer system. Although that doesn't help you in Europe, where they don't use producers.
Between some toll's, they can measure your speed from the time it takes
No they can't. The clocks at the gates aren't synchronised so the ticket can't be used.
What they *do* do is have someone sitting on the péage with a radar gun and sweep up the guilty parties at the toll gates, but that's nothing to do with timing people between entry and exit.
Check to see your insurance covers you in Europe, most do automatically but you don't want to find out the hard way do you.
It's a legal requirement for any EU-issued policy to provide the legal minimum cover in any EU country. So if you have a policy in the UK, you have at least third-party cover in any other EU country and most policies will extend that to NO and CH as well.
Fire, theft and comprehensive cover, otoh, may be an additional cost.
photo copy V5, paper part of license, insurance and MOT. tell you insurance company you are going to be in france too. and make sure your breakdown cover does france also.
have fun.
That's about it, really. Breakdown cover is optional, insurers are only an issue if you want tpft/comp cover to be extended abroad. I'd suggest originals rather than photocopies.
I've only been stopped once in France and they did a full document check but didn't bother checking for spare bulbs or anything like that.
You won't usually see speed limit signs when entering an urban area, but you will see a red-bordered town name sign - that means urban limits are in force. But, frankly, you could stomp around everywhere at 70mph and probably not have any problems. Take it easy on the way out of Calais, it's tempting to go for a top-speed run between the docks and the Péage gates but there are usually a few plod hanging about to catch idiots. If you do go silly, my best is 160 on that bit so give it some welly.
Other than, just have fun - French drivers will do their utmost to get out of your way so you'll make good progress. And if you venture into Belgium, be very very very careful - most drivers there got their licences free in boxes of cornflakes and it really shows.
Biker Biggles
22-08-08, 03:59 PM
Dont mention the war.
Especially if you are going to the South or Vichy areas.:cool:
Be sensitive about other historical events like Crecy,Agincourt,The Peninsula,Waterloo,Trafalgar and any others when we have thrashed their &rses.;)
And dont mention the Olympics.
Dangerous Dave
22-08-08, 05:02 PM
Not sure if you are referring to the requirement to have them with you, but just to avoid confusion, I believe that requirement is a European requirement that the UK gets round through the producer system. Although that doesn't help you in Europe, where they don't use producers.
No meaning that a copy of any document is no valid, like here in the UK. There is no legal requirement for you to carry them with you at all times, handy if you get in a jam though.
Dangerous Dave
22-08-08, 05:04 PM
It's a legal requirement for any EU-issued policy to provide the legal minimum cover in any EU country.
Thought that was only for fully comprehensive? Bennetts don't do the above on there poilicies, my nephews sure doesn't!
muffles
22-08-08, 05:59 PM
No meaning that a copy of any document is no valid, like here in the UK. There is no legal requirement for you to carry them with you at all times, handy if you get in a jam though.
Ah see what you mean, yes originals are needed. I did think there was a legal requirement to carry some documents, if not all of them specified in the producer - similar situation to the US.
Thought that was only for fully comprehensive? Bennetts don't do the above on there poilicies, my nephews sure doesn't!
http://www.insureyourmotor.com/car-insurance-20/laws-21/21.htm
1st EU Motor Insurance Directive. If you have third-party cover in the UK, it's automatically extended to all other EU countries. Cover beyond third-party (ie. fire, theft and comprehensive cover) is a matter for the individual insurer - some will include 90 days as standard, some will make it an optional extra.
For example, the back of my (TPFT) certificate says:
"This Certificate of Motor Insurance take the place of an International Motor Insurance Card (Green Card) and is evidence that the Insurance extends to include the compulsory Motor Insurance requirements of:
A. any member country of the European Union.
B. Croatia, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland."
Dangerous Dave
23-08-08, 10:22 AM
http://www.insureyourmotor.com/car-insurance-20/laws-21/21.htm
Handy to know, ta mate.
Remember that "Road Traffic Act" cover is the absolute bare legal minimum, i.e. injuries to other people only. Any damage to another vehicle or property or posessions and they'll have you by the short and curlies until you cough up the dough personally.
Don't do it, just get your insurance extended to cover you, even if it's only TPFT.
MR UKI (1)
23-08-08, 06:28 PM
The French.
Remember that "Road Traffic Act" cover is the absolute bare legal minimum, i.e. injuries to other people only. Any damage to another vehicle or property or posessions and they'll have you by the short and curlies until you cough up the dough personally.
I'm pretty sure you're wrong on that. Quoting RTA (1988) section 145, the policy "must insure such person, persons or classes of persons as may be specified in the policy in respect of any liability which may be incurred by him or them in respect of the death of or bodily injury to any person or damage to property caused by, or arising out of, the use of the vehicle on a road in Great Britain"
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/ukpga_19880052_en_12#pt6-pb1-l1g145
You're right.
I think caution is required though when looking at the cover you get in the other EU states, since it gives you only the minimum required in that particular state, which is not necessarily the same as in Great Britain.
Right... not read anything else but you will need:
Green Card insurance cover - this is almost always provided these days, but usually only for 4 weeks at a time. Contact your insurance company before leaving, and tell them you're going.
Riding on the continent, you technically need in the vehicle at all times:
Spare bulbs
Registration
Licence
Insurance details
Warning triangle
First Aid kit
Flourescent vest
If riding/driving in Spain, ensure your insurance cover includes a Bail Bond. They have a habit of putting you in prison first, and asking questions later.
If you run out of petrol on a German Autobahn, then you'll be nicked.
And of course, watch out for the French... they're a bit ropey on the road ;)
chakraist
24-08-08, 02:09 PM
Right... not read anything else but you will need:
Green Card insurance cover - this is almost always provided these days, but usually only for 4 weeks at a time. Contact your insurance company before leaving, and tell them you're going.
If riding/driving in Spain, ensure your insurance cover includes a Bail Bond. They have a habit of putting you in prison first, and asking questions later.
Neither of these apply any more, you no longer need spanish bail bonds and you do not need a green card unless you are travelling outside the EU, e.g., Morocco.
Dangerous Dave
24-08-08, 04:18 PM
watch out for the French... they're a bit ropey on the road ;)
They are not as bad as Brits, at least when they see you coming from behind the French drivers move over a little to let you pass.
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