revtothelimit - motorbike forum

mangocrazy wrote: Mon Sep 22, 2025 11:33 am Sounds like you got hit by the same storm that passed through southern France around midday on Sunday, Visibility was down to about 20 metres at the worst point. Hopefully it had expended some of its energy before you encountered it.

Today is blue skies and a few fluffy clouds...

I guess it had. I just got constant rain. Indeed, fluffy white clouds. Just passed Charmes.

I got home at 6am.

I did the midnight ferry to Newhaven which was a proper giggle. There were six solo bikers, all of which had ridden all day from various parts of France to get there and all had great stories. Picture of the contents of one their top boxes.

It feels strange being back - I've got the ocular visuals that are the pre-curser to a migraine - it may not develop. My poor brain isn't used to sitting around

I had a fantastic time and realised that, given enough money, I could have carried on forever. I really appreciate the support everyone gave me with likes and comments

P.S. 5,250 miles.
France, Belgium, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Austria (and back through Germany and France).

Trinity765 wrote: Tue Sep 23, 2025 5:21 pm P.S. 5,250 miles.
France, Belgium, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Austria (and back through Germany and France).

Bugger! Beat me, I only clocked up 4950 miles.

Trinity765 wrote: Tue Sep 23, 2025 5:16 pm
I had a fantastic time and realised that, given enough money, I could have carried on forever.

I can't think of anyone here who wouldn't do the same! It's the "dream" isn't it?

Compared to the issues you "thought" you would have before you left - what issues did you "actually" have?

Rockburner wrote: Tue Sep 23, 2025 5:52 pm

Trinity765 wrote: Tue Sep 23, 2025 5:16 pm
I had a fantastic time and realised that, given enough money, I could have carried on forever.

I can't think of anyone here who wouldn't do the same! It's the "dream" isn't it?

Compared to the issues you "thought" you would have before you left - what issues did you "actually" have?

I now know that my bike needs some kind of re-mapping. It runs rough when the ambient temperature is above 25c. 10c and it's sweet but once it gets over 20c it starts to run rough and by 30c its horrible. At the end of each day I'd know there was an issue, get up in the morning, set out when it's cool and think "I must have imagined it". Now I know it's not me - it's the bike/mapping. Someone has given me a contact for re-mapping which I will chase up.

Finding toilets was hard - I'm not the bush kind of person. Most petrol stations in eastern Europe had nice, clean toilets. The richer the country, the less likely they are to provide that service.

All the accommodation I booked was good value - sometimes I went cheap and got something that needed updating, sometimes I went posh and got posh. I moaned on here about the Austrian hotel but in fairness, it was very clean and had one of the best views so I regret moaning now.

No issues other than the bike not liking the heat. No punctures, no mechanical failures, no close shaves.

Trinity765 wrote: Tue Sep 23, 2025 6:12 pm Most petrol stations in eastern Europe had nice, clean toilets. The richer the country, the less likely they are to provide that service.

I've noticed the same: richer the country, more emphasis on market profits and less care for the everyday small things that make life liveable for everyone else.

Sounds and looks fantastic - I did my first longish rides this year for the first time in 10 years whilst my partner was away as nearly all my riding is in London- I’ve previously done mini tours with friends and eventually found it annoying riding with other people.

Looks brilliant,thanks for posting, enjoy your rest.

May I ask, were there times you wished you was on a different bike, ? If so what would you have preferred to be on ,or maybe you were perfectly happy on the street triple?

matt wrote: Wed Sep 24, 2025 12:17 pm May I ask, were there times you wished you was on a different bike, ? If so what would you have preferred to be on ,or maybe you were perfectly happy on the street triple?

I was perfectly happy on a Street Triple and a lot of that is because I'm 5'3" and I know, if I had to, I could pick it up - so the bike is a good size for me. I did Romania's passes last year on a hired Svatpilen 401 and kept thinking "This would be great on my Street Triple" which is why I took mine and didn't consider anything else.

I think there are compromises and advantages to whatever you tour on. For example, I would have liked a litre bike for the straight bits or something classic with a nice exhaust for bimbling and looking at the scenery or a car for when it was raining.

Fair play @Trinity765 sounds like it's been a very worthwhile trip.

Wish I had the balls and the confidence to do something like that.

tricol wrote: Wed Sep 24, 2025 5:20 pm Fair play @Trinity765 sounds like it's been a very worthwhile trip.

Wish I had the balls and the confidence to do something like that.

No balls or confidence necessary, just money. Join an organised tour and someone like Trinity765 will lead you, show you all the best bits and help you if you do have a problem. It is what I do.

Good to follow and see your pics and write ups, enjoy a rest and planning your next trip!
I am off on a mini UK tour tomorrow, maybe 500 miles and just UK, no promises but I may post a pic or two, if I can get mobile to work;)

Trinity765 wrote: Tue Sep 23, 2025 6:12 pm

[snip]Finding toilets was hard - I'm not the bush kind of person. Most petrol stations in eastern Europe had nice, clean toilets. The richer the country, the less likely they are to provide that service.

S'funny, but I've often heard people say the poorer the country the more charitable the people...

Taipan wrote: Thu Sep 25, 2025 10:16 am

Trinity765 wrote: Tue Sep 23, 2025 6:12 pm

[snip]Finding toilets was hard - I'm not the bush kind of person. Most petrol stations in eastern Europe had nice, clean toilets. The richer the country, the less likely they are to provide that service.

S'funny, but I've often heard people say the poorer the country the more charitable the people...

That's what I am saying. I found more public toilets, and they were kept clean, in poorer countries. In the UK, for example, public toilets are disappearing and they are not being looked after. Not only women are impacted by this but also people with conditions such as Crohn's disease who are finding travel in the UK more difficult.

Trinity765 wrote: Thu Sep 25, 2025 6:58 pm

Taipan wrote: Thu Sep 25, 2025 10:16 am

Trinity765 wrote: Tue Sep 23, 2025 6:12 pm

[snip]Finding toilets was hard - I'm not the bush kind of person. Most petrol stations in eastern Europe had nice, clean toilets. The richer the country, the less likely they are to provide that service.

S'funny, but I've often heard people say the poorer the country the more charitable the people...

That's what I am saying. I found more public toilets, and they were kept clean, in poorer countries. In the UK, for example, public toilets are disappearing and they are not being looked after. Not only women are impacted by this but also people with conditions such as Crohn's disease who are finding travel in the UK more difficult.

In case you dont know about it, and know someone with crohn's or suchlike, there is the NKS (National Key Scheme) which grants people (who qualify) access to thousands of toilets nationwide. Many high street chains take part in the scheme.

tricol wrote: Wed Sep 24, 2025 5:20 pm Fair play @Trinity765 sounds like it's been a very worthwhile trip.

Wish I had the balls and the confidence to do something like that.

Just do it. No balls needed (no pun intended Trinity), just have a destination of sorts. Language barriers no longer exist with Google Translate. Routes on Sat Nav, ot Google maps, but take a paper map too. My TomTom flicked to the blue screen of death in North Macedonia. Luckily the sun was out and I knew I needed to go west, but still more luvk tgsn judgement...

Plus so many Internet websites offer accommodation booking. I've been riding around Europe on holidays for years, and always found somewhere to stay. No need to pack much clothing either-you can buy underwear and T-shirts cheaply anywhere. JFDI, don't regret not going.

Taipan wrote: Thu Sep 25, 2025 10:16 am
S'funny, but I've often heard people say the poorer the country the more charitable the people...

Found this very true in out of the way places in Serbia, Albania and Russia. No matter how poor the people seemed, they wanted to share what they had with no expectation of anything other than friendship.

Personally hoping the Ukraine/Russia war is over soon, as I want up ride up to and through Belarus up to St Petersburg and Murmansk, and onto Finland.

I fear my bucket list of riding (safely) through Iran and Iraq will never happen. Everyone I know that haas ridden through either on, or both, rave about them.

Age is now my main enemy....just realised I am nearer to 80 than I am to 50.