France for beginners.

Originally Posted by Nicky S

is there any age limits to ridding in france ?

21

Edit: I should add AFAIK. I'm not totally sure, but I think there's officially an agreement throughout EU countries. You may find however that your insurance wouldn't cover you anyway.

I was pulled yesterday. Just a standard stop. ok I "might" have been going a bit fast.
No questions on the missing bits from the zorst.
Just make sure you have all the paper work and passport. Copies not allowed.

Dark visors are allowed. well down this way.
The weathers changed and I have moved to full summer gear.

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

It's France! It's the rules! Half a bottle of wine is minimum

[Nicky S]

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

21

Edit: I should add AFAIK. I'm not totally sure, but I think there's officially an agreement throughout EU countries. You may find however that your insurance wouldn't cover you anyway.

kk might just wait till im 21 that way nothing can go wrong

[JamesMio]

Do you 'need' the paper bit of your driving license? I've got the card, but struggling to find the paper bit - might be cutting it a bit fine if I'm away in 3 weeks...

Good website for factual information on speed enforcement in France.

http://english.controleradar.org/speeding-fines.php

You don't need to worry about being flashed by static cameras, and most of them are forward facing anyway.

Police are good at jumping out of bushes with radar guns though, and will sit in the places where the speed limit doesn't really tie in with the road hence the places you are most likely to be speeding unintentionally.

I have got off twice when stopped by a speed trap by "comprend pas francais!" then showing an empy wallet. Even though my French wife is standing right beside me, mouth sealed, pretending to be English, with a purse full of bank notes. Most French civil servants have a limit to how much hassle they will take before giving up, but if they decide to dig heals in, you've had it, be prepared to drive with one of them to a cash machine while the other holds your bike hostage.

Really important point - most petrol stations operate a pay at pump system, and many of them don't take foreign cards. Often there will be a kiosk as well, but many will be closed at night or on Sunday. Be organised with fuel, the autoroute (look on the sign for 24hr) and big towns are the only place you can guarantee 24/7 manned petrol stations.

ok we booked somewhere now http://www.booking.com/hotel/fr/comf...90b2174c954172

we going on fri the 29th may to tues the 2nd june.

n going on the eurostare which cost 55quid both ways. which i thought was a rely good price.

graham

Originally Posted by embee

The Brit Ferr fastcraft is excellent, less than 3hrs crossing, check carefully the times which use the fastcraft and those which are "slow" ferries.

We booked the fast ferry for last year via Brittany Ferries. We tried to get an extra place but were told they were full. Later we discovered they purchase a block of m/c spaces from their sister company, once they are allocated that's it as far as they are concerned. There were extra unused places as it turned out. So if your going for the fast ferry buy direct.

http://www.condorferries.co.uk/home.html

Originally Posted by ging6996

i want to ride to france with a few mates in the summer.

only thing is i havnt got a clue where to start.

i would like some advice on where in france to go what sort of ferrys to use n any hotels. well anything at all will help.

i no its probably been asked 100 times before its just easier than searching and more upto date.

thanks in advance

graham

I went from Portsmouth to either Cherbourg or Le Harvre last year. All Ro-ro ferries will take bikes. I went with Brittany ferries as they were cheapest!

The french are much more respectful of bikers and are imho more polite than english drivers. Riding a fully laden bike thru' rush hour Paris wasn't intimidating - after the initial first 10 minutes of shock! All bikers filter thru jammed traffic at warp speed!

As for hotels, just turn up. find a town, ride there, ask a local for advice or go to the Syndicate d'initiative.

Before you go, double check that your insurance will cover you. You shouldn't need an international driving permit if you've got a photo driving licence.