First Eurotrip - SV650.org

dyzio · 28-03-08, 12:39 AM

Hi
Over the past year, the SV has taken me on a number of smaller and bigger trips. But this one is a bit bigger...
The plan is to ride to Newcastle, take a ferry to Amsterdam and then...
I'll be stopping after around 600 miles in Gorlitz(Zgorzelec) for the night, then ride the rest to Zywiec. 840 miles, in two days (one way). The return journey will be similar.
The bike is a K2 faired curvy, 19k on the clock (mine since 11k), I had the major service & MOT in January, no problems whatsoever. Works ok every day as I commute on it.
So, I'm opened to all advice that you can give me... what to watch out for, what MUST I take with me, what can be useful etc.
Many thanks

28-03-08, 07:33 AM

I think u're daily mileage is a bit high at 600 a day

dyzio · 28-03-08, 08:21 AM

yes, it's high but in the other hand most of it is through Germany

There's also no problem to make the stop a bit earlier, whilst in Germany.

28-03-08, 01:12 PM

Hi
I'm german and I know the area, you want to drive through quite well. The stretch between Nijmegen and Kassel is one on the most congested bits of 'Autobahn' in the country. It might well be just stop and go there. It's only a rumour, that the 'Autobahn' is a racetrack everywhere.

dyzio · 28-03-08, 01:50 PM

Danke Linda,
I didn't plan to go towards Berlin because I've heard that that route is so BORING!!
I might stop near Dersden or Chemnitz, personally I'd like to ride 2/3 of the way on the first day.

11-04-08, 08:32 AM

Hi, dont be crazy 600 miles is far too much, especially for the first time out and driving on the other side of the road as well?. plan on a maximum of 350- 400 miles (most touring companies plan on 250!!) per day by the time you get to your destination , if you get there, you will be no good for nothing ! You may get to your destination but you will see nothing and not enjoy it at all. Take my advice 600 miles can be done by experienced riders , but at a cost. we had one last year, rode from here to London with only fuel stops,but I am sure he was taking some enhancements if you get my drift.
It aint worth taking the risk!

dyzio · 11-04-08, 08:45 AM

Cheers mate,
As I said, there's no problem in stopping earlier but my goal is to do the riding with 1 stop. As for the see/enjoy part, the idea is to get home to Poland for a a few days and do some touring there.
Think this will also explain why I'm not scared of driving on the other side of the rode

11-04-08, 09:43 AM

If staying on autobahns/dual carriage ways 600 mile days are easily possible on an SV, you may get a little stiff, but it's pretty easy riding compared with riding unknown twisties. 600 miles in a day on alpine passes would be another matter....

As you said it's your end destination that you are interested in.

Edit: When I said easily done I was pehaps over emphasising the "easily," buns of steel may be required, and cycling shorts might be an idea, although personally I've never worn lycra under my leathers.

13-04-08, 09:56 PM

Hi there Dyzio, see you're going through my country too

(the netherlands). Same there as in germany really. If you have to drive in rush hour there are likely going to be kilometers and kilometers of traffic jams (15 or 16 million people in a tiny country most concentrated in 'the west' the area you're going through). Also maximum speed is reduced from 120 km/hr to 100 km/hr in the central/most congested bits of the netherlands. Good luck, don't forget your EHIC card. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/H...lers/index.htm

dyzio · 14-04-08, 07:58 AM

Thanks guys,
I'll see how I feel after the 250 miles to Newcastle than I'll see when to stop the next day.
According to the schedule (and google maps) I should be in Ijmuiden at 9:30, so I'll be around:
- 12 in Nijmegen,
- 1pm in Dortmund,
- 2-3pm in Kassel,
and that should be it for the most congested part of the trip, which on a Saturday should be... well, you tell me

I've got the EHIC card, but thanks anyway.
Another thing that you could tell me is, how is it with speed cameras? Not that I intend to go at ridiculous speeds, but I'm interested if (apart from the on the spot fine if caught) that can be transferred to the UK (penalty points)?

28-03-08, 12:39 AM	#1
dyzio Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Aberdeen'ski Posts: 2,274	First Eurotrip Hi Over the past year, the SV has taken me on a number of smaller and bigger trips. But this one is a bit bigger... The plan is to ride to Newcastle, take a ferry to Amsterdam and then... I'll be stopping after around 600 miles in Gorlitz(Zgorzelec) for the night, then ride the rest to Zywiec. 840 miles, in two days (one way). The return journey will be similar. The bike is a K2 faired curvy, 19k on the clock (mine since 11k), I had the major service & MOT in January, no problems whatsoever. Works ok every day as I commute on it. So, I'm opened to all advice that you can give me... what to watch out for, what MUST I take with me, what can be useful etc. Many thanks

28-03-08, 07:33 AM	#2
600+ Guest Posts: n/a	Re: First Eurotrip I think u're daily mileage is a bit high at 600 a day

28-03-08, 08:21 AM	#3
dyzio Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Aberdeen'ski Posts: 2,274	Re: First Eurotrip yes, it's high but in the other hand most of it is through Germany There's also no problem to make the stop a bit earlier, whilst in Germany. Last edited by dyzio; 28-03-08 at 09:17 AM.

28-03-08, 01:12 PM	#4
LindaS Guest Posts: n/a	Re: First Eurotrip Hi I'm german and I know the area, you want to drive through quite well. The stretch between Nijmegen and Kassel is one on the most congested bits of 'Autobahn' in the country. It might well be just stop and go there. It's only a rumour, that the 'Autobahn' is a racetrack everywhere.

28-03-08, 01:50 PM	#5
dyzio Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Aberdeen'ski Posts: 2,274	Re: First Eurotrip Danke Linda, I didn't plan to go towards Berlin because I've heard that that route is so BORING!! I might stop near Dersden or Chemnitz, personally I'd like to ride 2/3 of the way on the first day.

11-04-08, 08:32 AM	#6
nigelporter Guest Posts: n/a	Re: First Eurotrip Hi, dont be crazy 600 miles is far too much, especially for the first time out and driving on the other side of the road as well?. plan on a maximum of 350- 400 miles (most touring companies plan on 250!!) per day by the time you get to your destination , if you get there, you will be no good for nothing ! You may get to your destination but you will see nothing and not enjoy it at all. Take my advice 600 miles can be done by experienced riders , but at a cost. we had one last year, rode from here to London with only fuel stops,but I am sure he was taking some enhancements if you get my drift. It aint worth taking the risk!

11-04-08, 08:45 AM	#7
dyzio Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Aberdeen'ski Posts: 2,274	Re: First Eurotrip Cheers mate, As I said, there's no problem in stopping earlier but my goal is to do the riding with 1 stop. As for the see/enjoy part, the idea is to get home to Poland for a a few days and do some touring there. Think this will also explain why I'm not scared of driving on the other side of the rode

11-04-08, 09:43 AM	#8
Tim in Belgium Guest Posts: n/a	Re: First Eurotrip If staying on autobahns/dual carriage ways 600 mile days are easily possible on an SV, you may get a little stiff, but it's pretty easy riding compared with riding unknown twisties. 600 miles in a day on alpine passes would be another matter.... As you said it's your end destination that you are interested in. Edit: When I said easily done I was pehaps over emphasising the "easily," buns of steel may be required, and cycling shorts might be an idea, although personally I've never worn lycra under my leathers. Last edited by Tim in Belgium; 11-04-08 at 07:03 PM.

13-04-08, 09:56 PM	#9
wow Guest Posts: n/a	Re: First Eurotrip Hi there Dyzio, see you're going through my country too (the netherlands). Same there as in germany really. If you have to drive in rush hour there are likely going to be kilometers and kilometers of traffic jams (15 or 16 million people in a tiny country most concentrated in 'the west' the area you're going through). Also maximum speed is reduced from 120 km/hr to 100 km/hr in the central/most congested bits of the netherlands. Good luck, don't forget your EHIC card. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/H...lers/index.htm

14-04-08, 07:58 AM	#10
dyzio Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Aberdeen'ski Posts: 2,274	Re: First Eurotrip Thanks guys, I'll see how I feel after the 250 miles to Newcastle than I'll see when to stop the next day. According to the schedule (and google maps) I should be in Ijmuiden at 9:30, so I'll be around: - 12 in Nijmegen, - 1pm in Dortmund, - 2-3pm in Kassel, and that should be it for the most congested part of the trip, which on a Saturday should be... well, you tell me I've got the EHIC card, but thanks anyway. Another thing that you could tell me is, how is it with speed cameras? Not that I intend to go at ridiculous speeds, but I'm interested if (apart from the on the spot fine if caught) that can be transferred to the UK (penalty points)?