Ever nicked for a loud exhaust - abroad?

[NTECUK]

A v twin is not as offensive as a hi reving IL4. so make sure it's got s good baffle and its packing in good nick your be ok.

[embee]

Originally Posted by L3nny

People bemoan Switzerland but ....

...but the reality is that the speeding fines are draconian and they do impose them, I know 2 who have had fines over Eu1000, and they will have your satnav off you if it has a Swiss camera database on it.

Some years ago I met a Brit biker in Geneva who had been checking his tailpack while parked next to the lake and the plod stopped and made him move somewhere else because he was "unsightly". I've also been stopped at a small border crossing and had to unpack the bike to amuse the bored guard.

Don't get me wrong, Switzerland is a great country and roads/scenery are second to none and I'll certainly be back there soon, but be aware that the plod can be awkward if they want to and don't be surprised if you get done for speeding (80kph limit on ordinary roads and note the new "Via Sicuria" rules). This gives a flavour of what they can get you for if they feel like it.

[Dipper]

Thanks chaps, I'm heading to Croatia and the itinerary includes France, Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia.

Thanks for the heads up on Switzerland I'll probably avoid it anyway but also had concerns about Germany/Austria.

Baffle and a wingnut are your friend. Where there are most likely to be VAG controls are at border crossings for Germany/Austria Often on the A61[?] at Koblenz and on the motorway from Munich/Salzburg. They have manned cameras in the gantries which display speed restrictions and will stop you a bit further on,they are also quite keen on disregarding overtaking restrictions. Not all Autobahn is speed restriction free and there is a lack of repeater signs.Austria used to be worse for speeding than Germany

[NTECUK]

Best behave yourself . Don't give the Essex boys a bad name lol.

When traveling through Germany in 2011 I made friends with some local bikers and stayed the night. They thought I was nuts riding with no baffle. Their words: if the coppers stop you with your baffle out they will fine you. If you do not have a baffle on your person available to refit they WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO RIDE AWAY. If you have it you pay the fine, refit your baffle and go on your way.

[Dipper]

Thanks again, this has been really helpful.

Baffle will be inserted for the trip and I won't touch Switzerland with a bargepole

[L3nny]

Just going by personal experience. I had a great time on excellent roads in Switzerland

[embee]

I worked in Austria for a bit a few years ago. You need a "vignette" for the motorways, you get it at the border crossings on autobahns. Unlike Switzerland where they do only an annual vignette, Austria does different "tourist" versions for limited periods. I'm not sure of the periods and costs now, but it's not particularly expensive and they used to do week, month, or annual versions IIRC. It is expensive if you use autobahns and you don't have a vignette!

Check up on the hi-vis regs for Austria.

The police are generally fairly benign, they do have the 2 force system (state and municipal) though it changed in 2005 and I haven't been there since but I doubt it's much different to how I remember. As in France and Germany, you don't really want any dealings with the hard bunch. Bear in mind that the culture is one where the state comes first in most peoples' view, the individual is way down the list. Random roadside checks of documents certainly used to be common. You must have a GB marker (either separate or a Euro plate), my boss was done for not having one.

A useful thing they have is that traffic light green flashes a few times before it turns to amber then red. First time you see it you might wonder what's happening, it's just an early warning system and works very well.

A very nice country.