My European Tour. HELP!

I have Oxford panniers and tank bag. Up to now I've used the straps that come with it and some bungee cords but I'm thinking of building some sort of support frame in the future. Givi have such frames, you could buy one or if you've got a pal with a welding kit make your own. I mostly take the tools that come with the bike and duct-tape (I had forgotten about this previously sry). If you're travelling with a friend you could bring more tools and share the load but don't over-do this. If you've never thinkered with your bike before you're not going to start now, so don't bring things you never use. Another thing I forgot is chargers; bring all the chargers for your gadgets and check that the country you're going to has the same electricity sockets; if not take an adapter.

last year i had a week off and planed to go spain but i got half way to spain and i fort this is some long motorway lol . so i just pulled over and stayed in a hotel in france was about 32celcuis was very nice .. i wouldnt go that far for ur first time but every ones difrent.. ahhh dw bout luggage nick sanders went round the world with just leathers and a camera ..

although the idea of getting on my bike in my gear and riding through europe with nothing but a camera and my wallet is my idea of some sort of motorcycling heaven, i don't think my girlfriend would share my feelings of freedom. hehe.

if i was going to buy soft panniers does anyone have an idea of the sort of litre size i would need for the trip im planning?

I don't know the litre size of mine but they do extend by unzipping an extension. I'll tell you this. You'll never have enough space with the other half onboard. My advice is to make a mock-up of the things you're going to take with you. see if you can fit them into some existing bags you've got lying around so that you get an idea of the amount of space you need. Remember this, don't go overboard with cloths, if you do get cold you can always stop and buy something. If you take too much with you you won't like to throw things away. You'll be tempted though

yeah, the missus will want to take everything and anything! i will have to be firm with her. ah who am i kidding she is the boss! lol.

can anyone enlighten me as to the requirement to carry certain documents and safety gear e.g. warning triangle, in France? and i have read alot about the police being fairly hard on people, especially on roundabouts.

also i read in a copy of ride magazine once that sachets of sugar, like the ones from Mc Donalds, are great for getting oil and grime off of your hands by the roadside. the article said to carry a small bottle of water for keeping up your liquid intake, and that mixing the sugar with some water in your hands gets the worst off the muck off fairly easily!

Take originals of registration, licence and insurance certificate (and MoT where applicable) in case you are stopped, I have been askied to provide all of the above apart from the MoT during certain infringements with the law when abroad (France and Austria). And of course your passport.

i bought my bags from hein geriek pretty decent got extendable zips aswell the less stuff you take the beta eles u might aswell go in a car

i was gona go wiv my bird on this trip in 2 mounths but i changed my mind and my mate is kumin with me now i dont fink i could deal with the moaning ...lol

Here's an example of my SV650 in travelling mode...

same as mine basiacly ...but its a pointy