French motorbike trips

Hi,
Can anyone tell me what is required for a successful motorcycle trip to
France.
(Yes, I know I need a motorbike
Do I need special insurance,equipment, whatever?
I'd appreciate any tips anyone can send me.
Thanks.

 

Newboy wrote in

Credit card, toothbrush, big petrol tank [1]

[1] <smug>

 

A basic knowledge of French
European breakdown cover (even with this, the knowledge of French can be
very useful....)
Decent maps
Enough cash to cover on the spot fines

Anything else is just an 'extra'[1]

Dave

[1] That said, I do like my 'extras'. Like clean clothes, somewhere to
stay, money to do stuff when I get where I'm going, that kind of thing...

 

Wot 'e said, only with more paragraphs.

Logis de France have a website and a variety of hotels, many not too
dear. The French love motorcycles - you'll be sure of a welcome
virtually everywhere, especially (as others have said) if you have a
go at some French. Petrol on a Sunday is hard to find except on
motorways - the automatic (credit card) pumps don't take UK cards.

 

Colin Irvine wrote

and attributions, we need attributions.

 

wessie says...

Pah, big petrol tanks are for wimps...

 

I was just calculating the other day, I get better than 35mpg out of the
Trophy. And I don't have to chuck oil in the fuel tank.

 

I've learnt not to be smug about such things when touring in France.

 

It's a thirsty bugger, to be honest. I seem to average about 38mpg.
43mpg is the best ever, trundling at a steady 80 on an autoroute.

But with a tank holding nearly six gallons, it doesn't seem to matter.

 

It's a slight improvement on the R80RT, and I'm cruising it 10-15mph faster.
The mpg figure improves markedly when I have Madam on the back,
interestingly. I'm not sure what's causing that...

The BMW did about 140 to reserve. This thing usually manages 160-170,
unless I've been a very naughty boy. You bloody know about it when you go
onto reserve, mind.

 

The Sprint ST was the best for petrol - on a longish trip I could
pretty much guarantee getting >220 out of a tankful. For much of its
life the petrol warning light and guage were useless[1], but that
would equate to about 200 to reserve, I'd guess. That's about 50mpg.


[1] Was a recall item which took them two years from launch to get
sorted. In the meantime the light came on, and the fuel guage read
empty, after about 30 miles.

 

I dunno. I get plenty of warning: slight loss of power, then three
cylinders or so for an age. It takes a bloody age for it to get back on
full song, as it were, mind you. Switch to reserve and it won't pick up
for what seems like ages.

 

Thanks very much Rocker C, I appreciate your info.
Newboy.

 

Thanks for your helpful info Colin, I appreciate it.
Newboy.

 

Yeah but that's just a girlie sub-litre triple - you'd expect better mpg
from it.

 

You're welcome.

Next time you post, have a look at the FAQ - particularly the part
about posting replies at the bottom, like what I've done here!

 

I get something similar on the Tig.
I find if I give it full choke, it sorts quicker - helps on motorways,
when you have an artic bearing down on you. ;-)

 

I'll try that next time.

 

Yup, exactly.

 

Heh.