View Full Version : France.... What an odd place
ok, so I've finally decided to go to the le mans gp race this year on the bike. I was told today by someone at work (who is taking a trip in the car to France) that I will need to take insurance documents and log book for the bike, a high vis vest, a first aid kit and a few other things before they are going to let me into the country!?
Anyone have some experience here that they can share with me? Do I need all this stuff?
fizzwheel
20-01-09, 03:33 PM
Yep you do need it...
Such is the law of sod, if you dont take it you'll need it, if you do take it you wont need it.
JamesMio
20-01-09, 03:57 PM
Anyone have some experience here that they can share with me? Do I need all this stuff?
No, but I'll be keeping an eye on this thread as I'm doing the very same trip!
jamesterror
20-01-09, 04:14 PM
Yeah its French law, it was in one of the Top Gear episodes can't remember which exactly :P
I'd do the just in case factor as I wouldn't want to be stuck in a French prision in fairness!
Dont forget some onions, a stripey jumper and a beret, you may not be able to buy these locally, so take your own.................
Ill get me coat :-D
Nobbylad
20-01-09, 04:57 PM
I think you need spare bulbs as well.
The ferries now have a great little sideline selling all these items to panicking families as they are about to board the ferries in their MPV + topbox + mtb's + trailer/caravan....all at inflated prices.
Pop down to an Aldi or Lidl and get them cheaper.
Well it looks like I've got to do a bit of shopping then. Sigh :(
No, but I'll be keeping an eye on this thread as I'm doing the very same trip!
Excelent! :) my trip is very much in the planning stages at the moment. I should be getting a list of these things you need to get into France, I'll post it ok here as soon as I have it
Dont forget some onions, a stripey jumper and a beret, you may not be able to buy these locally, so take your own.................
I've been doing allot of intensive research into french culture and customs so never fear...... I've spent hours watching re runs of 'allo allo' on ukgold........ Invaluable! :-D
Yeah its French law, it was in one of the Top Gear episodes can't remember which exactly :P
I wouldn't mind seeing this episode, anyone have any idea which one it is?
The ferries now have a great little sideline selling all these items to panicking families as they are about to board the ferries in their MPV + topbox + mtb's + trailer/caravan....all at inflated prices.
Erm..... This would Have been me!.....
Don't panic, it isn't so bad.
You need to carry the original documents which you'd have to produce if required to at home, so V5C, insurance cert, paper part of your licence (as well as the card), plus of course passport. Make sure you have copies at home, and ideally also carry one copy of everything with you. I believe technically you should have the MOT too, but I never have and I doubt it would mean anything to a gendarme, they don't have the equivalent "controle technique" on bikes in France.
I'm not absolutely sure whether the hi-vis requirement applies to bikes but it's a good idea anyway, you only have to wear it if out of or off the vehicle on a road. In a car it must be readily accessible, i.e. not in the boot.
Spare bulbs are a good idea anyway, as is a basic first aid kit (can be had very cheap on t'interweb, in a nice little pouch). Spare glasses if you wear them. I've been stopped at routine checks a few times (quite common in France) but never been asked for anything other than basic papers, passport/licence.
You can be fined on-the-spot. Failing to stop at a stop sign is frowned upon heavily, touch a foot down. The bike can (and will) be taken if you can't pay, so always carry cash. Gendarmes don't have much of a sense of humour and don't have the burden of UK "correctness" to deal with. Behave.
Speed cameras are not that common but are growing, but are clearly signed (and a sign means a camera). They are usually a biggish grey box at eye height. Police speed checks are common, not signed. Be sensible.
Speed limits in towns/villages start at the town name signpost, 50kph is the default and isn't signposted usually. Be sensible.
Use dipped headlights in the day, no need to mask off the dip on bikes.
Generally speaking things are pretty easy going, just be respectful.
Don't forget to have your EHIC card, available on-line. Also check with your insurer if you need to extend your insurance for foreign use.
custard
20-01-09, 08:21 PM
have been to the gp the last 4 years on the trot.
hace once been stopped and all they asked for were ze papers. MOT insurance V5. dint need all the hi vis stuff.
dizzyblonde
20-01-09, 09:07 PM
I think you need spare bulbs as well.
.
Yes these are part of your ememrgency kit that they expect you to carry.
Do not wave at passing bikers. The French rule is you can't take your hands off your bars. You can get stopped for it, stick your leg out instead, that goes for the car drivers that give way or let you ride past them. Car drivers will drive into a grass verge practically to let a bike past. They will also occasionall hover over a white line on a peage too (if only two lanes) to create an imaginary 3rd lane to let you past. Most French are rather courteous to bikers.
Look out for a friendly tip off from cars flicking their lights for up coming gendarmes hidden in bushes, they do have their favourite hotspots to eat their donuts in:twisted: its usually because they are doing the rounds with the speed gun
There is also a serious fine/impoundment/guillotine if you are caught with a speed camera detector, even if it's not turned on.
Lidl currently doing bulb kits (car) and first aid kits for a couple of quid.
gettin2dizzy
20-01-09, 09:44 PM
Yes these are part of your ememrgency kit that they expect you to carry.
Do not wave at passing bikers. The French rule is you can't take your hands off your bars. You can get stopped for it, stick your leg out instead, that goes for the car drivers that give way or let you ride past them. Car drivers will drive into a grass verge practically to let a bike past. They will also occasionall hover over a white line on a peage too (if only two lanes) to create an imaginary 3rd lane to let you past. Most French are rather courteous to bikers.
Look out for a friendly tip off from cars flicking their lights for up coming gendarmes hidden in bushes, they do have their favourite hotspots to eat their donuts in:twisted: its usually because they are doing the rounds with the speed gun
They all wave around here, I wouldn't worry about it. I WOULD watch out for the cars coming in from some sidestreets, because you give way to them! Bonkers!
dizzyblonde
20-01-09, 09:46 PM
lol, we had that when we went into Rochefort, bloody madness, and they don;t care either...its like '' I'M FRENCH COMING THROUGH !!!! '' I CAN SEE YOU BUT i DON'T CARE!!!
Wideboy
20-01-09, 09:47 PM
dont you have to stay restricted untill your 25 of something over there, so if i was to go over unrestricted (legal over here) it would be illegal over there?
i didnt take any of that stuff when i went, lucky old me :shock:
dizzyblonde
20-01-09, 09:52 PM
dunno about that widepants, but at 14 my best mates son, is getting his first bike, ok its a moped but legal, plus its in his genes to be a biker :-)
gettin2dizzy
20-01-09, 09:54 PM
dont you have to stay restricted untill your 25 of something over there, so if i was to go over unrestricted (legal over here) it would be illegal over there?
i didnt take any of that stuff when i went, lucky old me :shock:
All bikes are restricted to 100hp (officially...)
But you'd be fine over here.
dizzyblonde
20-01-09, 09:56 PM
I know one thing......fun size plates are perfectly acceptable over there!!!
It only took my best mate four years trying to register her 1977 Z1000, just so she could have one...
There is also a serious fine/impoundment/guillotine if you are caught with a speed camera detector, even if it's not turned on.
...but camera databases in satnavs are OK, like in the UK.
Yeah its French law, it was in one of the Top Gear episodes can't remember which exactly :P
I love it... it was on Top Gear so it must be true ;) :smt040
Luckypants
21-01-09, 12:08 AM
Don't panic, it isn't so bad.
<snip>
I'm not absolutely sure whether the hi-vis requirement applies to bikes but it's a good idea anyway, you only have to wear it if out of or off the vehicle on a road. In a car it must be readily accessible, i.e. not in the boot. You need the hi-viz
<snip>
You can be fined on-the-spot. Failing to stop at a stop sign is frowned upon heavily, touch a foot down. Ohhh useful to know!
<snip>
Don't forget to have your EHIC card, available on-line. Also check with your insurer if you need to extend your insurance for foreign use. I would advise travel insurance on top of EHIC. Make sure that it covers you to ride bikes over 125cc - most don't or need an extension :cool:
OK,
Take your licence (both parts), V5 and insurance docs. MOT means sod all to the frogs so no need for that. That's about all you really need to worry about.
You don't need a hi-viz jacket - bikes are exempt from that particular wacky law. As to other stuff, I've been stopped in France at a roadblock just inside the border for a routine check and all they were interested in was paperwork so if other things are technically required, who cares?
Ignore any rubbish you may hear about speed being timed between péage gates on the autoroutes, it's nonsense. But take it easy, there will be plod with radar guns at the side of the road and they'll radio ahead. Cameras are clearly signposted (big signs with "pour votre sécurité" on them) and mostly (but not all) front facing.
As far as waving to other bikes is concerned, the done thing is to either lift your left wrist or left leg - you'll notice pretty much every bike coming the other way do this first so it's easy to tell what you're meant to do. Nobody nods, it's always the wrist or leg.
One key thing - if somebody moves over out of your way (and you may find cars swerving into the dirt to let you past if you're off-autoroute, it's great) then raise a leg after you pass to say thanks. It might sound daft but it's just the done thing - drivers there are so bike-aware and bike-friendly (for the most part) it's practically a two-wheeled utopia.
Most importantly, have fun! France is a great place for biking, there are few experiences as spirit-crushing as the A20 out of Dover when you get back, so make the most of it while you're there!
ThEGr33k
21-01-09, 08:27 AM
I wouldn't mind seeing this episode, anyone have any idea which one it is?
Its the one where they race from Europe (bottom of germany?) to blackpool to turn the lights on... I say race but, Its only kinda a race. :rolleyes: Not a bad episode I guess.
You need to grow a bar tash too to go to france right?
redbouy
21-01-09, 11:48 AM
I have been stopped a few times, 140 in a 50, got off because Im from NZ and we just beat the French, Standard checks include papers and the such. ask if I knew my baffle had fallen out. DID It Really. "get it back in some time please".
Never been asked for high Vis, blubs, first aid, or any thing else.
If you can,t pay a fine there and then. get off and walk.and no we will not drive you. So a few 100,s in the wallet will take care of that.
Depends on when you come down, If its summer, when pulling up at lights, look for the shade on the road and get under it. The temp is a little high in bike gear.
Tom toms are good for the speed cams, but who cares ur on a UK plate. Becareful of wheelies away from the tolls, cops sit on the other side.
Let me know if your heading this way
Pete
Personal travel insurance - yes, good point, to be recommended, and good tip to double check that the use of a bike isn't classed as "dangerous activity" and excluded.
I use the Post Office annual cover, no restriction on motorcycling (other than racing.......), you can check the small print of the policy on-line (download), single person Euro annual multi-trip typically around £50 usually, can be a bit less if you hunt round. Your credit card might do a policy cheaper.
I had a suspicion the hi-vis rule didn't apply to bikes, but wasn't sure (I wear it anyway). In several countries you need a jacket for each person in the car (Spain, Austria et al), France I think is only one jacket, but may be wrong on that! Check.
Its the one where they race from Europe (bottom of germany?) to blackpool to turn the lights on... I say race but, Its only kinda a race. :rolleyes: Not a bad episode I guess.
You need to grow a bar tash too to go to france right?
ahh yes I remember now, I've seen that one :)
Handle bar tash?? Im not going to be driving through a 80's porn movie! I have packed my stripy jumper and beret though....
I've only been to France once on the bike so not a huge depth of experience,
but I'll share a tip that I used..
Stick some white tape around your left mirror stalk, then this line must match
with the white line down the middle of the road.
Oh and another thing, French Petrol smells different to ours.
Oh and another thing, French Petrol smells different to ours.
......doesn't smell like garlic does it?
Ok ok I'll stop with the French jokes before the tumble weeds start rolling past. usefull tip with the why tape btw, thankyou
ThEGr33k
21-01-09, 04:16 PM
Handle bar tash?? Im not going to be driving through a 80's porn movie! I have packed my stripy jumper and beret though....
I thought that was Germany? :rolleyes:
dizzyblonde
21-01-09, 04:27 PM
Ignore any rubbish you may hear about speed being timed between péage gates on the autoroutes, it's nonsense. But take it easy, there will be plod with radar guns at the side of the road and they'll radio ahead.
hmmm interesting, as one resident who is a biker and trucker would disagree there....
hmmm interesting, as one resident who is a biker and trucker would disagree there....
Every French resident I know, whether ex-pat or native, tells me the same thing - the clocks at the péage gates aren't synchronised so there's simply no way to tell from the ticket what speed you were doing. Besides, all you have to do is stop at an aire for a coffee and some gogo-juice and you've skewed the numbers straight away.
I understand that what does happen is they sit by the side of the road with a speed gun and radio your reg ahead to cars waiting at péage gates further along. If you've been spotted by one and are unfortunate enough to come off at an exit with a car waiting, you'll be nicked. Nothing to do with the timing. I've seen them sitting there myself, checking plates against a list (luckily we were taking it uncharacteristically easy when we went past the speed trap.)
I think everything has been covered but from my experience, I saw a couple of police on the side with radar guns but found truck drivers would flash their lights warning you even though they are not allowed to do this.
We made a sprint for the ferry and nothing happened to us and er all bikers seem to wave which is nice.
Just be sensible and use your head!
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