onesea Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 OK I passed my test 3 weeks ago my full licence has just arrived.... I am now pondering a little trip to France on the bike before the new year.... I recall the insurance and breakdown is already included for the bike I have full licence so what else do I need?I was thinking Portsmouth Cherbourg? Any recommended places to stay etc etc etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissb6 Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 If you feel confidant enough go for it, personally l would at least wait until the spring. The Cherbourg coast is notorious for Atlantic storms and lack of day light will spoil the trip. The Cherbourg peninsular is stunning. Do a google search and set your stall out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onesea Posted December 24, 2014 Author Share Posted December 24, 2014 If you feel confidant enough go for it, personally l would at least wait until the spring. The Cherbourg coast is notorious for Atlantic storms and lack of day light will spoil the trip. The Cherbourg peninsular is stunning. Do a google search and set your stall out. Its one of those where I have to go over there at some point soon so why not take the bike? As I understand I will need:Spare bulbs, headlight deflector?Do I need reflective bits on my helmet as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 If you feel confidant enough go for it, personally l would at least wait until the spring. The Cherbourg coast is notorious for Atlantic storms and lack of day light will spoil the trip. The Cherbourg peninsular is stunning. Do a google search and set your stall out. Its one of those where I have to go over there at some point soon so why not take the bike? As I understand I will need:Spare bulbs, headlight deflector?Do I need reflective bits on my helmet as well? That last is debatable. The french themselves have pretty widely adopted the stickers on helmets.. particularly in cities. you only need to watch demos. (the french love demos) in Paris for instance to see a lot of helmets with stickers. but not all. Obviously the French are loving their 'painted' helmets just as much as anyone.. and so a fair few flatly refuse to add these stickers. It should be noted that these stickers are mandated by law to be so 'sticky' that attempting to removed them is destructive to the helmets themselves. the glue is STRONG!!Ive never bothered with them.. but then, I tend to avoid the cities... and never travel over to France in the winter - where, just like here the days are short and so the lack of stickers is going to be a lot more obvious.In short... its up to you. the RAC recommends them. the fine is steep. but the chances of being stopped and fined seems so small as to not be a concern.. I'd feel differently though if I was heading for a major city like Paris.You can probably find stickers online that 'up to a point' satisfy the law.. but can be removed when you return.there's very little you 'must' have aside from that. the breathalyser law has been to all intents and purposes cancelled. you must carry them.. but the fine for not having them is ZERO. so.. its become a pointless law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Fro Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 Yet more good reasons not to visit our great friend and ally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joeman Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 Yet more good reasons not to visit our great friend and ally. LOL, i want to break a law with a zero price fine just so i can goto the police station with a cheque for £0 (Euros) and give the desk sergeant a hard time as i insist on taking my punishment and paying my fine as he/she has to do all the pointless paperwork etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Fro Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 LOL, i want to break a law with a zero price fine just so i can goto the police station with a cheque for £0 (Euros) and give the desk sergeant a hard time as i insist on taking my punishment and paying my fine as he/she has to do all the pointless paperwork etc...As they say in France... "Bof" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 Yet more good reasons not to visit our great friend and ally. LOL, i want to break a law with a zero price fine just so i can goto the police station with a cheque for £0 (Euros) and give the desk sergeant a hard time as i insist on taking my punishment and paying my fine as he/she has to do all the pointless paperwork etc... Cash only... but fear not, if you don't have zero cash on you, they'll escort you to the nearest cashpoint so you can withdraw €0. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RantMachine Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 But Joe, Shorty, we have German bikes... surely they will run scared rather than trying to not fine us? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuktuk Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 Im planning on doing a short euro tour next year for 3 weeks maybes a month.Only problem i can think of so far is that i have no european cover on my insurance. Im assuming i can call mce and possibly add this for a cost but if not are there any short term policies available for this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 Im planning on doing a short euro tour next year for 3 weeks maybes a month.Only problem i can think of so far is that i have no european cover on my insurance. Im assuming i can call mce and possibly add this for a cost but if not are there any short term policies available for this? you will automatically have 3rd party eu insurance with any uk insurance policy. mce offer an upgrade to this to bring it inline with your ordinary insurance. it shouldn't cost much. best thing is to ask them first about the cost before looking elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuktuk Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 Im only tpft does that make any difference? Ie is this only the case if your fully comp?My mate had backed out of he trip as he spoke to his insurance about eu cover on his can-am and they were going to charge an extra £800. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 Im only tpft does that make any difference? Ie is this only the case if your fully comp? It makes no difference. you will automatically have third party only. (due to some EU law) you'll probably need to tell them you're travelling though. They might offer you further cover - at a price. its up to you whether you take them up on that. but be reassured. you definitely WILL have TPO and that wont cost you a penny.if you're happy with TPFT here in the Uk. then.. doing nothing and travelling with TPO shouldn't be a concern. Ive never worried about my bike being stolen while abroad.. but, I tend to stay in back of beyond type places. little villages and the like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuktuk Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 Excellent thanks for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onesea Posted December 27, 2014 Author Share Posted December 27, 2014 Spare bulbs, headlight deflector? I guess I should have these and will get/ take them...Reflective bits on my helmet, ah well its going to be a 7 hour crossing so if they have some in the shoip I might take my time and make them look pretty....Really not going far on the French side by comparison. I just hope there is no ice on the roads . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 Spare bulbs, headlight deflector? I guess I should have these and will get/ take them... its far more convenient to have the bulbs you might need on you.. than be forced to go on the hunt for them in a foreign country where you might not speak the language. all you need is 3(?) headlamp, indicator and brake light.don't bother with headlight deflectors. they're not essential.. the french don't care. Just as we don't seem to.. can't say Ive ever seen a car with Polish plates with headlight deflectors fitted. (for instance) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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