Gambia to UK (Gambian licence, Taiwanese bike, British Idiot)
 

Hello All,

My name is Simon and I'm currently living in The Gambia. I'm now planning my journey back to UK by bike. I own a Taiwanese made, Gambian registered Sym xs 150 3a, and am hoping to ride it overland back to the UK. I'm posting to find out if anyone can help me with a few gaps I've got in the planning I've been doing, particularly in the area of paperwork.

So far I'm planning to ride:

Gambia-Senegal-Mauri-WS-Morocco-Spain-France-Roscoff-Plymouth (and back home to Torquay)

Issues:

- I do not have a UK motorbike licence, although I will have a full Gambian motorbike licence along with an International Driving licence if necessary. Will this be acceptable through the countries I'm riding and also in the UK?

- What Insurance do I need when I pass through the EU countries? The problem is that the bike is Taiwanese made and doesn't come up as a known bike on even the specialist insurance company websites, for the purpose of quotes.

- How much is the ferry crossing at tangier to tarifa with 1/2 people and a bike?

- do you need laissez passée for mauri/Morocco/Spain/France? I do not have a carnet, and was hoping that I wouldn't need one...

- What procedure do I need to follow for registering my bike in the UK? Is it likely that the bike will meet the EU criteria, I can't find any specific info on my bike on line although it is similar to the wolf classic (it is called a wolf, but the specific model is different)

- will the bike hold up for the journey? I can usually cruise at about 60km/h. Was thinking that I could change the gear ratio or cogs?

- How much luggage is it possible to carry? Would i need the special bags (pan-somethings) or a back box, or could I just carry a large bag on my back or strap it to the back of the bike?

- What would be the range on such a bike. The manual I have says it is 9.5l although I would tend to think that it is closer to 7.5.... I have never filled it up fully.

Any comments/suggestions/advice/answers would be massively appreciated. Im currently working out if its doable, as I will be leaving in early July.

Many thanks,

Simon

PS. have many other questions