Hi all
Coming over next year for a 6 week tour and am looking for some tips.

First 2 weeks will be spent in the Uk with the 2nd week at the IOM TT, then back to Silverstone for the moto GP before heading across to Sth France, Italy, switzerland, Austria, back to Italy for the moto GP, then back to London and home.
Some questions that you my be able to help with.

Will have gps, but is there a good motocycle atlas/ map pack

My bike is being shipped to Felixstowe and I will arrive at Heathrow. How do I get to Felixstowe?
I would like to buy some gear mainly a new pair of boots when I arrive. Can you recomend somewhere? in the vicinity of Heathrow or Felixstowe
Have paid a deposit on the ferry tor IOM, but all accom is booked out, so will bring some camping gear. Can anyone reccomend a good place to camp. Is there a campground guide available for all of Europe.
My wife will arrive at heathrow and I will meet her at Silverston. How does she get there?
Which ferry across to France. Do ya need to book or just turn up.
Is it possible to completly avoid toll roads in Europe. (its this thing I have)

Have friends we need to see in the sth East of France.... I think its St Maxine, any reccomendation on a nice route to get there.
And finally (for now) I would love to visit the KTM factory in Austria, but cant find any info on the website. Anyone know how to do this?

sorry for so many questions, any and all info appreciated.
I am sure I will have morechug

Saab, as is the way with things I googled heathrow-felixstow and got this thread from the HUBB!

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...lixstowe-41894

this may help...

Travelling to Airports - IBPTS Public Transport & Travel Consultancy

As for boots. If you need your gear before you pick up the bike I'd go to London first, there's plenty of options there. If not then there will be decent bike shops in Ipswich, Colchester and Cambridge on your route.

"From both airports in London, you can take the subway to the London Central Station. From there you can take the Midland train to Northampton where you can switch to the bus (number 66 or 68) to circuit Silverstone"

Copied from this site...

2011 Formula 1 British Grand Prix - Tickets

Megabus.com run buses to the F1 GP maybe they will run them for the MotoGP, you'll have to enquire.

http://uk.megabus.com/default.aspx

For ferry travel, if you're using the Dover/calais route you can just turn up. If you use the Tunnel then it's better to book online at least the day before you travel. Depending where you want to start from. I like the Portsmouth-Le Havre route which is an overnight ferry but it get's you into France at 0800 which gives you a good start to cover some distance south in one day.

As for avoiding tolls, this is easy with a GPS. You can use the autoroutes as a lot of them are toll free. Your GPS will direct you off before the toll sections and get you back on afterwards. However, sometimes it's better to bite the bullet and pay the tolls, they're not too bad for a bike.

South east France has some amazing roads. Head south to Lyon-Grenoble-Gap and Aix en Provence. The N85, Route Napoleon is superb...

France Motorcycle Roads & Routes - Route Napoleon - N85 | OpenRoadJourney.com

I wish I was there now!

Have fun.

Don't assume there will be adequate bike clothing outlets in every large town.
I don't know about Ipswich, but there's only the Kawasaki Centre and a few small shops in Colchester and Cambridge much the same.
Braintree does have a BMW dealer and also Heine Gerick. But niether of these always have all the sizes in stock. If its not on their shelves, they can get it in a few days, but that won't help much if your on the hoof.
Maybe you could check out which Heine Gerick gear you need from their on line catalogue and make sure they get it in for when you arrive.

Hey Guy, I have a Garmin SD card for Europe if you need one. Gimme a ring and I will organise to get it too you. Getting to Felixstowe is easy - I just jumped on a train.


Kenny

__________________
Just Ride!
www.rocktravels.blogspot.com

Accommodation at the TT. This could help.
Forums - The official Isle of Man TT website


As for map's and such like. Don't go rushing in to just any where and get what you think you need. Take your time and have a look for a book shop that is selling discount book's. For example. I brought two good map book's one of all of Europe for £2, cover price £20. And a large scale map of France £1.50, Cover price £7.99. That was from a book shop in Norwich. There are a few of them around it's a case of keeping your eye's open. They don't go by any name. As you will usually find they are all independent shop's.

Heathrow to Felixstowe? Tube in to London. Then it's a main line train to Felixstowe. Or you can hunt round for a coach that will cost you less than half of the train fair. But will take about half as long again to get there.

If I was you I would not buy boot's as soon as you jump of the plane. You will only have to lug them around with you until you get to Felixstowe.Put this in to Google map's, Motorbike dealers Felixstowe and one will pop up not far from the dock's. So you will only have to carry your boot's less than a mile.

Use P&O or Sea France. Book on line. The price is the same for an out ward trip as it is for the return. If you are not sure about the return trip. You can change the ticket when you arive for your return crossing for a small charge. Booking on line a few week before you cross will give you a big saving. If you arive on the day and pay for a crossing you will be looking at about £70. Book before on line and it's about £10 each way.

Toll road's in France. Yes it is possible to not use them. If you go that way add about an hour per hundred mile on your journey time.

Is this the Place you are looking for in France???

St Maximin - Google Maps

KTM???

Try this.

KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG (Headquarter)
Stallhofnerstraße 3, A-5230 Mattighofen
Tel. +43 7742/6000-0, Fax. +43 7742/6000-0

John933

__________________
To buy petrol in Europe. Pull up at station. Wait. Get out a 20 Euro note, then ask someone to fill up the bike. Give person money. Ride away. Simple.

My wife and I are heading over to europe this summer for several months. We will start our trip touring Great Britain. We might cross paths so keep in touch. You have already received some good advice. As you do your research, you will answer more questions than you though to ask. I find reading the many trip reports on Horizons Unlimited as very valuable. Based on your questions, I might add the following: First, I purchased the 2010 Collins Europe road atlas (8 l/2x11). It has been very helpful during my planning stages. Second, A newly published book (2010) by Toby Ballentine called Motorcycle Journeys through Western Europe. His routes have beem intergrated into the natural and historical beauty of europe using the secondary roads, camping sites, supported by easy to follow personal maps and directions. His photos inspire your desire for summer to come early. Both books were purchased at Amazon.com. Third, in addition to Horizons Unlimited, I have been using UKGSers.com website. It has a section on biker friendly accomodations. If you don't camp, a significant amount of money can be spent there. Have you already determined your shipping agent? Since my bike will be in Germany, I will probably be using the tunnel train service from Calais to Dover. However, like one contributor mention, I will be using a ferry service, probably from Portsmouth to the Normandy area, on the return trip to western europe. Good Luck.

awesome kenny
You coming to Imbil this weekend?

Thanks for the info John & Joe . Good stuff.