Advice Needed: Best Bike Option for a Short European Tour
Discussion
I’m planning a 4-day trip to Europe and I’m trying to decide which bike to take. I currently own a Royal Enfield Continental GT, but after riding to the Isle of Man this year I realised it isn’t the most comfortable machine for long distances. I’m weighing a few cost-effective options and would appreciate your thoughts:
Rent a bike in the UK and use that for the trip.
Rent a bike in France (Calais) and ride my Enfield down to meet it.
Buy a bike here with panniers, use it for the trip, then sell it when I return.
Other (open to suggestions).
What would you recommend?
Rent a bike in the UK and use that for the trip.
Rent a bike in France (Calais) and ride my Enfield down to meet it.
Buy a bike here with panniers, use it for the trip, then sell it when I return.
Other (open to suggestions).
What would you recommend?
If you really can't ride the Enfield that far I'd tend to just buy a second bike, £3k will get you something that fits the bill such as a Versus, V Strom, VFR etc. won't have lost anything on your return.
Alternatively go super cheap and see what you find. I bought this 1987 K75 for £800 and proved comfortable and reliable for doing over 1000 miles over most of southern England during the winter.
Alternatively go super cheap and see what you find. I bought this 1987 K75 for £800 and proved comfortable and reliable for doing over 1000 miles over most of southern England during the winter.
Edited by Pebbles167 on Monday 6th October 08:53
Depends where you want to go.
I would fly and rent.
The bike will be much softer and a bit boring compared to what you are used to but it will munch the miles and leave you fresh at the end of a day’s ride.
I know a great place who rent from the French side of Geneva and will collect you from the airport. Mainly adv and touring bikes. I think hertz rent from certain locations, as do bmw motorad.
I know where you are coming from as I love my monster and sometimes I reckon I could tour on it, but then when I’m stood on the pegs after 3 hrs I realise I could not.
I would fly and rent.
The bike will be much softer and a bit boring compared to what you are used to but it will munch the miles and leave you fresh at the end of a day’s ride.
I know a great place who rent from the French side of Geneva and will collect you from the airport. Mainly adv and touring bikes. I think hertz rent from certain locations, as do bmw motorad.
I know where you are coming from as I love my monster and sometimes I reckon I could tour on it, but then when I’m stood on the pegs after 3 hrs I realise I could not.
Look for a club or something where they take a van for luggage?
Find places to stay?, not all touring is tents and lots of luggage.
Personally I'm happy with an old Ducati ST, but they are old, many are a bit moody now and they were never everyone's cup of tea.
I'm sure someone could make or modify a rear rack to fit the Enfield or there's always trailers!
And sidecars!!
There are lots of options, you just have to want to do it.
People have 'toured' on anything you can lash a bag and a tent to.
It's mostly a matter of trusting the bike enough, which tends to come for putting a few miles on it?
These days I'd want valid breakdown cover, in the old days a few mates and random bikers would get you through
If you bought a second bike, would you use it for commuting or whatever?
Find places to stay?, not all touring is tents and lots of luggage.
Personally I'm happy with an old Ducati ST, but they are old, many are a bit moody now and they were never everyone's cup of tea.
I'm sure someone could make or modify a rear rack to fit the Enfield or there's always trailers!
And sidecars!!
There are lots of options, you just have to want to do it.
People have 'toured' on anything you can lash a bag and a tent to.
It's mostly a matter of trusting the bike enough, which tends to come for putting a few miles on it?
These days I'd want valid breakdown cover, in the old days a few mates and random bikers would get you through
If you bought a second bike, would you use it for commuting or whatever?
I tore my ACL in April. I can only ride my royal alloy scooter or my RE meteor 350 since then (I had the reconstruction surgery 3 weeks ago).
I still wanted to get to Europe/Alps in the summer, so took the Meteor. I used motorway @60-65mph to Valenciennes, but did the rest on A-road equivalents.
The meteor, other than single cylinder vibes, was fantastic. On the last day I did Strasbourg to home (1000km) no problem.
I'd take what you have particularly if only 4 days - book a massage for when you return...
I still wanted to get to Europe/Alps in the summer, so took the Meteor. I used motorway @60-65mph to Valenciennes, but did the rest on A-road equivalents.
The meteor, other than single cylinder vibes, was fantastic. On the last day I did Strasbourg to home (1000km) no problem.
I'd take what you have particularly if only 4 days - book a massage for when you return...
There are some on here who’ve done a lot more Euro-touring than I have but Switzerland in 4 days is pushing it.
Assuming you live right by the tunnel and you’re heading to the Swiss Alps that’s a 9 hour and a half hour day of riding on motorways (non stop). Even if you only stop for fuel add on another 20 minutes, then an hour for the train. Close to 11 hours. Then a couple of days riding in the alps and then the reverse of the first day.
Doable, but not massively fun. I’d do it in the height of summer for maximum daylight, on a very, very comfortable bike with cruise control and luggage but definitely not in October on an Enfield 650 with a backpack!
Assuming you live right by the tunnel and you’re heading to the Swiss Alps that’s a 9 hour and a half hour day of riding on motorways (non stop). Even if you only stop for fuel add on another 20 minutes, then an hour for the train. Close to 11 hours. Then a couple of days riding in the alps and then the reverse of the first day.
Doable, but not massively fun. I’d do it in the height of summer for maximum daylight, on a very, very comfortable bike with cruise control and luggage but definitely not in October on an Enfield 650 with a backpack!
Btw I've not ridden my Ducati Multistrada 1200s DVT for 3 months. I'm out on it now, it's worth around £6k tops with full luggage. Absolute bargain, 160bhp with a 16inch front wheel
A big comfy Angry f
ker it is....I've had it 4 years now and I doubt I'd sell it tbh.
They're worth a look
A big comfy Angry f
ker it is....I've had it 4 years now and I doubt I'd sell it tbh. They're worth a look
Edited by warnie on Monday 6th October 17:55
roadman said:
here is my bike, only luggage is on my back. I wanted somewhere around the mountains - so was thinking Switzerland
Edited by roadman on Monday 6th October 14:36
https://www.moto-plaisir.com/
Nice people, insurance is covered for France, Switzerland and Italy. Second rental I l’d left my licence at home they said no problem it’s on file so away you go.
Plenty low cost airfares to GVA. IMHO the rental cost is offset by the 2 days of boring riding.
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