Europe 2011 For sure this year.

[CaperMike]

We had a plan to have a few adventures around Europe in 2010 but couldn't get it done. I think we can start this year. Our trips are:
1. Tour de France route. This is Beverly's wish
2. Turkey and Greece
3. Scandinavia
4. Spain and Morocco
And now maybe Scotland and Wales

Last year we couldn’t manage the bike situation. Shipping our bikes from the US North West was a hassle and very expensive. Wasn’t comfortable buying bikes in Germany although It was suggested on this forum that that was doable. Finally found a US registered V-strom in the UK. That seems to solve a lot of problems. If I can make this bike suitable (Lowered, luggage, etc.) for Beverly, We are off to the races. Next step – find another US registered bike (Anyone know of one?) and start our journey in May.
We will need to plan our routes and find a place to store our bike(s) but generally we just want to roam around. Will repost with our findings and maybe ask for advice. At least we are doing something!

[Rory799]

Why a US reg bike ?
It's very easy to get a UK reg bike and tour Europe with it.
Rory

[judgejoe]

HI: My wife and I are heading to Europe in 2011. Might come across you all. Check www.knopftours.com, they have a number of US registered bikes for sale, at various times.

[CaperMike]

We got our plane tickets last night, so the trip is becoming real. Arrive in the UK on April 14, take the ferry to Santander on the 17th and fly from Frankfert on the 14 th of May. Heading south to the warm weather. Our plans were to go to Spanish school for two weeks but that idea is getting weak and a side trip to Morraco is gaining strength. Plan is to camp half the time and will use this great site to search good places to ride, stay and see.
Still haven't found a second bike. Maybe a two up trip.
ola
Mike

[Mehmet Zeki Avar]

Hope to see you in our club in istanbul and wish all the best.

[attila]

Hey,
Why don't you use rental bikes? Ok, I know these are way much expensive in western Europe. Please check FTH motorcycle rental & tours as we do motorbike rentals and tours, its a pity we only can cover SE Europe, lets say from Budapest to South and East. Mail me if you can figure out something that I can help with.

[PanEuropean]

Originally Posted by CaperMike

...a side trip to Morraco is gaining strength.

Hi Mike:

In light of the recent civil unrest in North Africa (Tunisia, Libya, etc.), you might want to pass on going over to Morocco right now. I am going to guess that the government there might be slightly on edge as a result of all the events taking place in neighboring countries, and immigration formalities might be more onerous than normal due to refugee flows, etc.

If this is your first motorcycle trip in Europe, you will not run out of things to do just on the European continent. For example, you could easily spend a full month just exploring Spain and Portugal (two very different countries), and by then, it would be mid-June, the weather will be warm enough that you could drift north towards France for more riding there.

Michael

[ooranoo]

Originally Posted by PanEuropean

Hi Mike:

In light of the recent civil unrest in North Africa (Tunisia, Libya, etc.), you might want to pass on going over to Morocco right now. I am going to guess that the government there might be slightly on edge as a result of all the events taking place in neighboring countries, and immigration formalities might be more onerous than normal due to refugee flows, etc.

If this is your first motorcycle trip in Europe, you will not run out of things to do just on the European continent. For example, you could easily spend a full month just exploring Spain and Portugal (two very different countries), and by then, it would be mid-June, the weather will be warm enough that you could drift north towards France for more riding there.

Michael

Why would you pass on Morroco?? Tunisia and Libya are different countries altogether and even Tunisia is now calm.
My 22 year old son and his girlfriend are going to Morroco on a package holiday. Morroco is fine....go and have fun.

[PanEuropean]

Originally Posted by ooranoo

Why would you pass on Morocco?

Only because of the considerable number of displaced persons in Morocco (or, attempting to enter Morocco) as a result of the civil unrest that has taken place in neighboring countries in the past few months.

Heck, I would go to Morocco any day - I have been there in the past, and would happily return in the future. But, I just don't think that 'right now' is a good time to go. There are really large numbers of migrants moving around, and this is going to give rise to some problems that are associated with mass migration - increased security from the Moroccan authorities, a greater risk of petty crime due to people (normally good people) being hungry, displaced, and scared, etc.

It's analogous to the same reason why I would not visit Japan (anywhere in Japan) right now - it just ain't the best time to visit, see, and enjoy everything that the country has to offer.

A package holiday, such as what your son is going on, provides a much more controlled, managed, and pre-planned environment, and is really not comparable to a couple of people heading off on a motorcycle touring trip. To continue the analogy to Japan, I would go there if there was a 7 day business conference I had to attend - an event where others are looking after the hotel, the food, the activities, the transfers and the transportation - but I would not go do a self-guided motorcycle tour there right now.

Michael

[twowheels03]

In ref to Pans last post - That's exactly why we have decided to do our RTW trip anti clockwise and start it in Canada instead of riding through the middle east. Just not a good time at the moment, just hope it calms down in two years when we return.

Enjoy Europe - don't miss Barcelona on a sat night.

[kalaharigeorge]

Geesh mate, you've been going to 'do something' (Ireland, Peru, etc, etc) for quite sometime now. Now, it's Europe's turn.

Do the Nike thing .. just do it.

And, post back here when you have. I look forward to it!

Originally Posted by CaperMike

We had a plan to have a few adventures around Europe in 2010 but couldn't get it done. I think we can start this year. Our trips are:
1. Tour de France route. This is Beverly's wish
2. Turkey and Greece
3. Scandinavia
4. Spain and Morocco
And now maybe Scotland and Wales

Last year we couldn’t manage the bike situation. Shipping our bikes from the US North West was a hassle and very expensive. Wasn’t comfortable buying bikes in Germany although It was suggested on this forum that that was doable. Finally found a US registered V-strom in the UK. That seems to solve a lot of problems. If I can make this bike suitable (Lowered, luggage, etc.) for Beverly, We are off to the races. Next step – find another US registered bike (Anyone know of one?) and start our journey in May.
We will need to plan our routes and find a place to store our bike(s) but generally we just want to roam around. Will repost with our findings and maybe ask for advice. At least we are doing something!