M620

Did mine in June 1969 (and paid in shillings & pennies), on a 1959 175 Bantam I had paid £7 a few weeks before. Rode round the block twice and got lost. Eventually found the test centre again and the examiner who said “well you haven’t had an accident or fallen off so I will pass you after a couple of questions on road signs”. Ironically one was for falling rocks, very useful as the test was in RUISLIP. Still got the little red book licence - expired years ago though. 

Personally I would go for the EU option (or even both if that’s possible). Could save you time avoiding the non EU passport holders queue at boarder controls.

Bonjour & welcome to the forum - a man after my own heart,  we have a very similar collection of bikes. I too have an old 1100 multistrada but tend to use the Suzuki van van for local trips mostly now 

A few years ago I had a Honda VFR 750 and only one of the two headlight bulbs would be illuminated at a time, dip or main beam.
Lots of people changed the wiring so both bulbs lit when you switched to main beam effectively a permanent headlight flash. 
Personally I was not too sure it wouldn’t harm the wiring, even if it did dramatically improve the light output on unlit roads 

Any time in the next 3 weeks “should” be ok - any latter and a lot of restaurants start to close for their annual holiday after the manic July & August and the weather can start to  get wet & windy on the coastal areas. The south can be a tad expensive but I am sure you will have a great time  

Shown as silver on the v5 when I queried it with DVLA, I was told it was right as that is the frame colour attached to VIN when first registered ? My other Ducati is shown as red, but that does have a red frame as well as the main colour - all seems a bit random to me 

Just a thought have a look at the fuel filter on the top of the tap - the one inside the tank. On my 79 R65 the very fine mesh needed a clean when I took the tap out. That could restrict or even block the flow on the reserve position.

If it’s only the photo card that’s expired at 4b, and 11 is still in date he shouldn’t have any problem if stopped on a bike or in a car. If he’s driving an HGV might be a bit different if his medical due.
You can receive a small fine for an out of date photo but I think it’s very rarely imposed in Europe 

Skied that valley a number of times and really enjoyed myself, but never been there without snow - must check it out one day now I am retired 🏍

In reply to your original question

“I'm thinking about overnighting in or around Vierzon in France I would appreciate any advice from folks that have done this sort of trip before” 
First where you will enter France? I ask as Vierzon is quite a distance to travel from the tunnel or Dover crossings in one day on a bike. When I go from my place just north of Le Mans to the south I normally stop in Vierzon at either the Keyrad or Campanile just off the A71. Cheap and “Ok” for just one night, and you can book online. At that stage I have had enough Its quite tiring on an unfaired bike at a sustained 130kph for 5 hours from Caen , if it’s relevant I am 69 by the way riding a Ducati monster

P.S I might be going that way myself towards the end of September - things quieten down after the main French holidays by then 

Nice write up - good to hear you are enjoying yourself

“When on the way to Croatia I usually do 1300 km or 800miles on first day and 700 km/ 400miles on second day. Yes it is all on motorways”

The best I have ever done in a day is Huesca in Spain to Alencon in France (about 950km) not all on motorways though and I was wiped out for two days. 2000 km in two days - your the man

You could try searching  “Biker friendly accommodation in France” it throws up quite a few B&B’s but you would need to know roughly the area where you intend to overnight, some even have camping facilities. 

I would agree with pie man that the Logis hotels are a good option but can be bit on the expensive side, but do have the added advantage that most have a good restaurant on site. 
 

Have a good trip - fantastic scenery over there ⛰ and great riding roads, just be very aware of the Swiss speed limits they are very hot on speed enforcement. 

Did  the June 2019 Garbage Run with Nathan - had a great time

I took a multi tool, gaffer tape, cable ties, a puncture repair can of foam stuff as I had tubed tyres, and a small 12v compressor. Whenever I go on a long tour I always fit new tyres and have never (so far touch wood), suffered a puncture. If it’s any thing more serious your breakdown cover is the get out. As a guide one of the bikes taking part split a radiator

You will find that there is  a very varied section of bikes taking part which makes it interesting, I rode a 1979 French reg BMW R65 from Near Le Mans and met up with Nathan’s group at Lands End for the start. Just remember once you get to John O Groats you have the return journey home

For some reason my bike came with a standard one on the back tyre but a 90 degree one on the front.

My Ducati is the same - just thought someone had changed the front when it got new tyres - maybe not then

Sounds like he went to the same test station and had the same examiner I had at Ruislip in 1969

Bought my very first smartphone and have been getting to grips with it. will be using it as a hotspot and so i have also cancelled my home internet.

Ive been testing it today and my internet seems unaffected.. certainly YT isn't bad at all, no different as far as I can tell.

So, new phone and Im saving £12 a month. or will be once my internet and home phone have gone.

Phone is an iPhone SE and I have a 2 year unlimited everything contract.

 

No cap where they start throttling you? I do the same but my "unlimited everything" starts getting throttled at peak hours once you exceed 35gb of data usage in that month.

 

Unlimited data

No speed limits. No data caps.

And 5G Ready at no extra cost.

When we say Unlimited data we really mean it. None of this “we’re so unlimited, but nu-uh, that’ll cost you more”. Or “jheez we kinda mean it, but at salty slow speeds”.

Nope. Not us. With our Unlimited data you can fill your boots, help yourself, be our guest. All at full pelt in the UK.

I didn’t think the new iPhone SE is 5G compatible when I was looking to change

https://5g.co.uk/news/does-the-new-iphone-se-support-5g/5288/

At the moment the border controls are more interested why you are travelling due to the coronavirus virus lockdowns. If anything you are more likely to be waived through on an Italian reg bike - you are returning to your home country.

Just make sure you have the correct international travel assertation for France and go for it

Although I am addicted to Italian bikes I have always hankered after a Vincent V twin - but they will be forever out of my price range

P.S. still got a 95 Aprilia Pegaso - did a bit of the Trans European Trail in the Pyrenees on it last October

“I pasted the ticket in the scrapbook, £32.50 return for 2 adults and 3 kids

Never see the likes of them again”

Not quite Calais but you could recreate the experience for almost the same price https://www.hovertravel.co.uk/special-offers/30-family-day-return/

In London without secure storage they basically look at what the value of the bike is and add on a bit and that’s the premium. Sometimes they quote ridiculously high figures just because the don’t want the business.

Just over 4K is about what you would get for an almost new / used Royal Enfield interceptor, so have you thought about 3rd party only insurance, the heaviest lock and chain and secure it to a robust piece of street furniture.

As above - I have had it happen twice, once on a Honda VFR & then again on Aprilia Pegaso. Both occasions it boiled the batteries and wrecked them.

The Honda was pushing out over 20 volts into the battery and caused the case to blister

Have a look at this website - might give you some ideas

https://www.bestbikingroads.com/motorcycle-roads/country/france

Swiss Normandy is on my doorstep some interesting roads round there

P.S. Be very aware of you speed around Le Mans that time of year the gendarmerie have a field day with speeders - and show no mercy

Just ignore him then.

Good advice - He or don’t even rule out she, is just a

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll

just a sad

+ 1 for Oxford products customer service

Last year the zip on my old x30 tank bag failed and I noticed that it was marked “lifetime luggage”, more out of amusement than expectations I rang their customer services department. Not expecting too much from them as I didn’t have a receipt and it must have been 10 years old, but they asked me to return it to them and they would have a look at it to see if could be repaired.

About a week later I got a call - “yes we can see you haven abused it, pick a colour and we will post a new one to you”.

 

It's a wonder they make any money !

Sometimes it works playing the “old age pensioners card”.