European Touring

[Guest]

Hi everyone,

im new to TMBF but am hoping that i can draw on some wisdom. I own an SV650S and want to do some touring in Europe, ideally with the girlfriend as pillion. I have been riding for a year and a half now and have done one 'long' journey from Portsmouth to North Yorkshire and back. A round trip of around 600 miles, mostly motorway and dual carridgeway.

I have a couple of fabric jackets, summer gloves, winter gloves, arlen ness race boots and an Arai Helmet. I also have the usual odds and sods such as balaclava and silk inner gloves etc. However, the only kit i have bought for the girlfriend is a HJC helmet, and Frank Thomas gloves and jacket.

Can anyone reccomend kit that we both might need for general touring? And Panniers, intercomm etc etc? I must confess i am on a bit of a budget after just buying my first house.

Also has anyone toured on an SV? Any ideas how i will fair?

I look forward to your replies.

J.

[Guest]

Hiya Jake

pop into newbies and say Hi to introduce yourself mate

Couple of users on here will certainely be able to help more than most. DG most certainly!!

Use the search facility to scan the forums m8, or you could always drop DG a pm ....

Welcome btw

[Guest]

However, the only kit i have bought for the girlfriend is a HJC helmet, and Frank Thomas gloves and jacket.

for starters, she will need the same kit as you, otherwise, she will get cold wet, and fair badly incase of an accident.. all of which will give you a headache and not the best of trips..

 

Can anyone reccomend kit that we both might need for general touring? And Panniers, intercomm etc etc? I must confess i am on a bit of a budget after just buying my first house.

 

have you thought about route, and accommodation..

check out what you need to be legal in which countries you are travelling through.

luggage, DG did a big tour on a KTM and had fixed luggage, with a box for him and a box for the missus,

if you go for soft luggage, then tank bag, panniers and possibly a rucksack, but the missus will need to carry this, if its overloaded/heavy you will get a headache..

you need to think about what you need, rather than what you think you need,

basics would be washkits and underwear/socks, if your staying in accom, towels are provided, so no need to carry what is already there..

what do you plan on doing, will you be spending all the time in bikegear, can you get away without footwear by wearing bikeboots..

make a list, or put stuff your thinking of taking to one side, then go back through it, be quite strict, as otherwise you'll go overloaded, and take stuff that you won't use..

[Guest]

You'll be fine touring on an SV, there are lots of bikes that would do make the journey a lot easier, but the SV is more than capable. Mundo Enduro went round the world on Suzuki DR350's

If your going to do a lot of long distance touring you may be better looking at something more designed for the job, but if you've never experienced them you can't miss them and therefore you'll be perfectly happy with what you've got.

The only caveat on that is I think you'd struggle on an SV with a pillion if you were camping as you don't have enough luggage space for two sleeping bags, two roll mats or air beds, etc.

In terms of kit, depends how much you want to spend, but at least get soft panniers, a decent size tank bag and a Renntec rack would be a good investment as you won't have the pillion seat to strap luggage onto. If spending money a Givi rack and topbox would give you more space too and allow you to leave stuff locked on the bike.

I'd recommend fitting a 12v socket somewhere for phone chargers, sat nav, air-bed pumps, etc.

Earplugs are an essential on long trips, they reduce fatigue significantly.

The SV seat seems comfy, but it can be a killer after 80 miles or so and force you to stop and get off. If you've got money to spend a Corbin seat, other gel seat, or a strap on seat pad will be a good investment. If your on a budget then buy a couple of pairs of padded cycling shorts for both of you and whilst you can still get a sore butt, this will allow you to ride until the tank is empty without it being so bad that you are forced to stop.

What was said about your girlfriends kit was good advice, if only because if she doesn't stay warm and dry, you're going to pay the price listening to the moaning at every stop.

Buy WonderWeb and cut it to shape to go under your tank-bag and over your tail section. This is my bike ready for a trip with just a tank bag and tail pack, didn't need panniers as this was just a weekend away, but it shows the wonderweb stuff I cut to shape and put under the pillion seat and over the tail when the panniers are on, and if you click on the image to open it bigger in a new window, you'll see it under the tank bag too.

If you need any other help just ask.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/CIMG3744.jpg

[Guest]

Thanks for all the advice guys!

I am planning to take the girlfriend shopping soon for some new kit. I was planning on going to south of France or somehwere similar for my first journey. unfortunately my budget is limiting me currently. I am torn between customising my beloved SV and buying a more suited bike.

Obviously there are pros and cons to both. A more suitable bike would proved more comfort but cost more, the SV is more than capable but i am unsure of the comfort it would provide riding two up. And i also dont want to ruin it or make it look odd by adding to much kit to it as it is the bike i use to go out on for a more 'sporty' ride.

I was given some panniers by my uncle, but they are not the best bits of kit in the world. Do you guys think i may be better going on a shorter trip somewhere in the uk forst with the kit i have?

Anymore help is much appreciated.

[Hoody]

I would recommend hard luggage if you can stretch to it. Panniers and top box.

Also a tank bag, but not so massive it stops you seeing the clocks.

If you can't stretch to hard stuff then use soft luggage. It will NOT be waterproof - pack any kit in plastic bags before packing!

Pack light. Whatever you take reduce by half then again!

Think about what you pack, seriously, if you are away for 7 days, then 7 of everything is a lot to carry. Pants, socks - yes, pack for every day, t shirts, wear at night then following day. Trousers - one pair of jeans or similar should do it - you will not need a dinner suit!

Pack one pair of light shoes each.

Sat-Nav is a bonus, if not make sure you have good maps and directions for specific hotels etc.

250-300 mile absolute max per day. Under 200 if you have the time.

I recommend southern Germany, Austrian Tyrol or French Alps. Stop over midway and make one place a base wherever you decide to stop.

Use Autobahns or Autoroutes to make up time, but stay off them if you can.

I have masses of experience in touring Europe, if you need specifics give me a PM.

As for the bike, if you are happy with it and your other half is OK then it will do the job. If not there is a lot of choice out there, but most bikes will do it come-what-may!

[Voodoo]

For touring equipment then check out

*link removed by admin*

[DG]

Hi J welcome to the madhouse

When are you thinking of taking the plunge? What time of year are you thinking of? Finally how long are you planning on going for? You've got to take these facts into consideration and it depends on the kind of gear you're going to need and how much.

Pack light, the first time the missus and I went off touring we packed far too many clothes, things we both never wore. Personally I wear one long sleeve T shirt for travelling in, it does humm a bit after a couple of days, especially if the weather's hot, on the plus side you can wash it out and get it dry. Minimal socks and underware as you can wash these out every couple of days too.

Essentials I'd recommend; check you're covered by your insurance company, get your bike serviced before you go, check your brake pads and fluids are in good order, then get some breakdown cover, you've got to prepare for the worst case scenario and if anything did happen to yourselves or the bike at the very least you can get yourselves and the bike re-patriated. Take a couple of copies of your docs (license, insurance, V5, passports) keep them together in a waterproof zip folder and keep your original ones safe, don't forget your E11 medical insurance cards either. Basic first aid kit, even if you take/beg/steal/borrow a satnav make sure you take a good European map with you. Satnavs are great until you hit a busy town and your satnav tells you it's lost signal and it's searching for satelites, V frustating look up campsites/B&Bs on the Internet before you go and jot down the addresses or put them I to the satnav as way points as a back up (we did almost three weeks touring this year and we didn't book any accomodation before we went)

Make a loose plan/route, but don't think you've got to stick to it, when you're on the road things can change and don't always go to plan so be flexible. If you're happy with your bike then it'll do you, maybe do a shakedown get the kit together and have a weekend away just to see how you both cope and test yourselves and the kit out.

Get the Chunnel or ferry booked and then get saving, for me it's the only way to travel and you see so much more and meet so many people, it's fantastic! We did 17 countries in 18 days, we got as far as Croatia and we can't wait to get rolling abroad again on two wheels.

Go for it mate and enjoy, if you need any more info don't hesitate

[Colin the Bear]

First South of France run I did, luggage consisted of a couple of bin bags and a cargo net. Personally I'd get a bigger bike.