Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Europe
Europe Topics specific to Western and Eastern Europe, from UK to the Russian border, and south-east to Turkey.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Like Tree23Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 26 Dec 2012
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,673
Eastern Europe - Two months - Cheap as possible - Advice please folks....

Hey all..

I think I'm going to escape this summer to Eastern Europe on my Tiger 955i or maybe in my Kangoo Diesel Van.

I've got about 8 weeks and I'll be on a £1500 budget. I'd like to see as much of eastern Europe/Black sea region as possible.

Maybe doing some Help Exchange: free volunteer work exchange abroad Australia New Zealand Canada Europe if I can be bothered.

I hate rushing...
I like meeting people, partying, seeing the culture etc.
Wild camping is great.
Company is great.

Throw some ideas at me to brainstorm...

Thanks in advance.

Ted
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 26 Dec 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Wessex, UK
Posts: 2,136
If you have a small bike knocking around in your garage why not take that rather than the Triumph? I have recently bought a Honda XR125, the later one with the CG engine to ride to work on and it does over 100mpg and an now thinking of travelling on it, could this be the solution you are looking for?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 26 Dec 2012
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,673
Well, I sold my fleet of bikes to finance my Summer Yukon Canoe adventure so down to just the Tiger...

It's a great bike and ready to roll... I do rather fancy having some horsepower on a trip as my last big trips were 40bhp singles..
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 26 Dec 2012
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Nieder-Olm, Germany
Posts: 144
Hi Ted, sounds like Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Turkey are your destinations of choice. Only stealing is cheaper. It´s easy to have a good time in Romania and the Ukraine with your planned budget/time. Gas is most certainly the biggest item on your spending list. Haven´t been to Bulgaria yet but it´s no doubt as exciting as the other three are.
Cheers
Chris
__________________
Need to fix your Africa Twin? Check out my step-by-step frame strip pictures at
Google+ album: http://tinyurl.com/6u93yv2
Dropbox with zip-File: http://tinyurl.com/czj8qgw
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 27 Dec 2012
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
Hey all..

I think I'm going to escape this summer to Eastern Europe on my Tiger 955i or maybe in my Kangoo Diesel Van.

I've got about 8 weeks and I'll be on a £1500 budget. I'd like to see as much of eastern Europe/Black sea region as possible.

Maybe doing some Help Exchange: free volunteer work exchange abroad Australia New Zealand Canada Europe if I can be bothered.

I hate rushing...
I like meeting people, partying, seeing the culture etc.
Wild camping is great.
Company is great.

Throw some ideas at me to brainstorm...

Thanks in advance.

Ted
Just a little surprised to see someone on here asking for ideas on where to go. I guess that bike travel is about following your own interests and avoiding sticking to the steps of others. We've seen the tourists following the usual trail. We are all tourists at some time, but less so on a bike.

That's what I and friends do, and incidentally, everyone who wrote about their travels did. Researched, planned, then travelled independently.

I'm not speaking against the OP,who may feel safer by asking and that's OK, just speaking about my view of travel. I could give you special info on Bulgaria and Romania but really I think you'd have more fun if you plan your own trip.

My tip for the OP is to read around the internet, go to the library and look at some books. Find your interests and follow them . You'll feel better for doing your own thing.

Don't follow leaders - watch your parking meters
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 27 Dec 2012
chris's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: GOC
Posts: 3,335
Quote:
Originally Posted by Treffen View Post
Just a little surprised to see someone on here asking for ideas on where to go. I guess that bike travel is about following your own interests and avoiding sticking to the steps of others. We've seen the tourists following the usual trail. We are all tourists at some time, but less so on a bike.

That's what I and friends do, and incidentally, everyone who wrote about their travels did. Researched, planned, then travelled independently.

I'm not speaking against the OP,who may feel safer by asking and that's OK, just speaking about my view of travel. I could give you special info on Bulgaria and Romania but really I think you'd have more fun if you plan your own trip.

My tip for the OP is to read around the internet, go to the library and look at some books. Find your interests and follow them . You'll feel better for doing your own thing.

Don't follow leaders - watch your parking meters
This is a bike travel website! This is what people do here. Telling someone to go and search the internet is a little disingenuous imvho, but each to their own. Why not share some of your (allegedly) special info? It might make you appear credible.

Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
Hey all..

I think I'm going to escape this summer to Eastern Europe on my Tiger 955i or maybe in my Kangoo Diesel Van.

I've got about 8 weeks and I'll be on a £1500 budget. I'd like to see as much of eastern Europe/Black sea region as possible.

Maybe doing some Help Exchange: free volunteer work exchange abroad Australia New Zealand Canada Europe if I can be bothered.

I hate rushing...
I like meeting people, partying, seeing the culture etc.
Wild camping is great.
Company is great.

Throw some ideas at me to brainstorm...

Thanks in advance.

Ted
Hi Ted
As far as doing things on a budget go, the following might be of use.

Don't go to Turkey. Great people, sights, culture, history, riding etc, but petrol at nearly 2 euros (£1.80) a litre and generally with prices equivalent to W Europe will destroy your limited budget.

Romania: Everybody wild camps. Avoid main roads. Nice people

Bulgaria: Fuel is cheap at about £1/litre. Beer and roadside food cheap too. Nice scenery outside the cities. Make sure you visit Moto Camp Bulgaria | MotoSapiense

Poland v pleasant too. Good value.

All the best,
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 27 Dec 2012
g6snl's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Home in Essex GB
Posts: 564
Quote:
Originally Posted by Treffen View Post
Just a little surprised to see someone on here asking for ideas on where to go. I guess that bike travel is about following your own interests and avoiding sticking to the steps of others. We've seen the tourists following the usual trail. We are all tourists at some time, but less so on a bike.

That's what I and friends do, and incidentally, everyone who wrote about their travels did. Researched, planned, then travelled independently.

I'm not speaking against the OP,who may feel safer by asking and that's OK, just speaking about my view of travel. I could give you special info on Bulgaria and Romania but really I think you'd have more fun if you plan your own trip.

My tip for the OP is to read around the internet, go to the library and look at some books. Find your interests and follow them . You'll feel better for doing your own thing.

Don't follow leaders - watch your parking meters
I think you may be missing the point ? Sites like this are aimed helping others and receiving help when needed, along with many ather things. If I find out I missed something good by 1 mile after a 4K trip it really bugs me.!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 27 Dec 2012
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,673
Quote:
Originally Posted by Treffen View Post
Just a little surprised to see someone on here asking for ideas on where to go. I guess that bike travel is about following your own interests and avoiding sticking to the steps of others. We've seen the tourists following the usual trail. We are all tourists at some time, but less so on a bike.

That's what I and friends do, and incidentally, everyone who wrote about their travels did. Researched, planned, then travelled independently.

I'm not speaking against the OP,who may feel safer by asking and that's OK, just speaking about my view of travel. I could give you special info on Bulgaria and Romania but really I think you'd have more fun if you plan your own trip.

My tip for the OP is to read around the internet, go to the library and look at some books. Find your interests and follow them . You'll feel better for doing your own thing.

Don't follow leaders - watch your parking meters
Hi Treffen.. Thanks for the reply.

I've done quite a lot of travelling. Especially by bike. All over the world. It's not that I need the safety net of following tourist trails. Quite the opposite in fact.

I don't see the difference with researching on the HUBB and your method of researching books down the library. Apart from the fact that information here is FAR more specific, up to date and written by like minded folk.

Surely by reading books you're just following the advice of the authors and taking inspiration from other peoples ideas. I too read books, study maps and just take a gamble on random places.


I'm not (nor does anyone else here really) ask for guided step by step routes.

I'm asking for cool places to visit, hot spots, hidden gems, bike friendly hostels, people to ride with etc. Also things to avoid like bent cops, closed borders etc. The kind of information that only the hubb can provide.

I've only got two months and limited funds. Riding round a boring region or a violent expensive city hoping to find something good to is not the best use of my time.... Or money.

The BEST places I've ever visited are the places that fellow travelers have scribbled on my maps or people here have messaged me. And it works both ways. It's a sharing community.

Sure, there is a lot to be said about just following the breeze or throwing a dart at the map. You can find a lot of cool stuff by accident and I've done a huge amount of that in places you can't even imagine. You can also miss a hell of a lot too. I've been through whole countries and had people asking me at the border " What did you think of those ancient ruins in the hidden waterfall on that abandoned beach" etc.

To what I reply "Oh f**k, I had no idea they were even there"
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 27 Dec 2012
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
Hi Treffen.. Thanks for the reply.

I've done quite a lot of travelling. Especially by bike. All over the world. It's not that I need the safety net of following tourist trails. Quite the opposite in fact.

I don't see the difference with researching on the HUBB and your method of researching books down the library. Apart from the fact that information here is FAR more specific, up to date and written by like minded folk.

And if that's your thing, that's fine. I was really thinking about selfstarting travel, and hoping you would be into that

Surely by reading books you're just following the advice of the authors and taking inspiration from other peoples ideas. I too read books, study maps and just take a gamble on random places.

Depends on the books actually. If you read stories then you're right. I'm talking about factual info.


I'm not (nor does anyone else here really) ask for guided step by step routes.

I'm asking for cool places to visit, hot spots, hidden gems, bike friendly hostels, people to ride with etc. Also things to avoid like bent cops, closed borders etc. The kind of information that only the hubb can provide.

I've only got two months and limited funds. Riding round a boring region or a violent expensive city hoping to find something good to is not the best use of my time.... Or money.

A lack of money (which I know too well) can be a help if you think originally.Gets you out of the rut.

The BEST places I've ever visited are the places that fellow travelers have scribbled on my maps or people here have messaged me. And it works both ways. It's a sharing community.

Thats good, then there's no problem.You are following your travel style here and I'm certain it'll be great.

Sure, there is a lot to be said about just following the breeze or throwing a dart at the map. You can find a lot of cool stuff by accident and I've done a huge amount of that in places you can't even imagine.
Really?

You can also miss a hell of a lot too. I've been through whole countries and had people asking me at the border " What did you think of those ancient ruins in the hidden waterfall on that abandoned beach" etc.

An evening with , maps and a history of the country would sort this. It isn't a hidden waterfall etc if you can find it on the internet!

I don't recommend pot luck/following the breeze which is only good for those with money. I was suggesting you avoid pot luck by doing your own thing. I'm not insisting in the least -I only say you might like travel better if you use your own ideas.

To what I reply "Oh f**k, I had no idea they were even there"
Enjoy Eastern Europe
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 27 Dec 2012
Endurodude's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Middle England, UK
Posts: 457
On the way to far Eastern Europe (if that makes sense?!), the Czech Republic and Poland are both great AND cheap! I found the Czech Republic to be great for biking, especially the south which (to me) seemed less "European" than the north. My first step into the country was Cesky Krumlov, which was interesting after Austria!

Southern Poland might be more interesting in terms do topography. Living in East Anglia northern Poland was, at times, a little too much like the Fens! Also, I found Poland to be more 'European' than the Czech Republic; great for them, perhaps, but I wanted something a little different. Maybe I just didn't look hard enough . . . . . Gdansk was great, though! 3 course meal for £15!!!

Enjoy the wandering . . . .
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 21 Jan 2013
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: wirral
Posts: 94
Hi Ted there is still a link on the bottom of my website with pics from our 2009 eastern block trip ,, its the same as everywhere you've travel mate rough camp, food out of the super market, Lidl seams quite big over there, center of Poland has a nice lake area, if you go south there is a campsite at Auschwitz i have some gps co` for that , Lithuania is beautifully , Ukraine , wild (Crimea is very cool) Romania great scenery Bulgaria hot and dusty has good roads and is great fun

regards zebb
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 21 Jan 2013
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,673
Quote:
Originally Posted by cyber-zebb View Post
Hi Ted there is still a link on the bottom of my website with pics from our 2009 eastern block trip ,, its the same as everywhere you've travel mate rough camp, food out of the super market, Lidl seams quite big over there, center of Poland has a nice lake area, if you go south there is a campsite at Auschwitz i have some gps co` for that , Lithuania is beautifully , Ukraine , wild (Crimea is very cool) Romania great scenery Bulgaria hot and dusty has good roads and is great fun

regards zebb
What's your website fella ?
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 21 Jan 2013
-
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,342
Smile

Ted it's. motoloco.eu
Take the diesel if you can sleep in it.
Way more comfort ! and if you rig a hot shower system it's hard to beat!
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 21 Jan 2013
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,673
Well,,, I do have my 1.5 Kangoo DCI.

I get about 60 mpg and I could sleep in it. Might be fun eh. Another string to the bow perhaps.
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 22 Jan 2013
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,598
Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
Hey all..

I think I'm going to escape this summer to Eastern Europe on my Tiger 955i or maybe in my Kangoo Diesel Van.

I've got about 8 weeks and I'll be on a £1500 budget. I'd like to see as much of eastern Europe/Black sea region as possible.

Maybe doing some Help Exchange: free volunteer work exchange abroad Australia New Zealand Canada Europe if I can be bothered.

I hate rushing...
I like meeting people, partying, seeing the culture etc.
Wild camping is great.
Company is great.

Throw some ideas at me to brainstorm...

Thanks in advance.

Ted

The day I spent at the "Flytrap" in Poland alone made a great impression on me. think I may even visit it again one day.
In Turkey Ephesis is a lovely place to spend a day absorbing the ambiance. Pammukale is also interesting.
A van will have many advantages over a bike. I have done a bit of travelling through europe in my 1989 Fiat Tipo, Use the boot as a kitchen. back seat is storage. Has 400 mile range without even using a spare can ( usually keep these directly on the floor behind front seats).

regards
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Looking for the eastern point of Europe monche Ride Tales 3 9 Nov 2012 23:13
Leaving motorcycle in Eastern Europe saburo Europe 4 3 Oct 2012 18:08
Looking for bike for Europe for 3 months starting Oct 2012 YellowBMW Bike Swap or Rent 7 12 Sep 2012 21:09
Europe Tour - 6 months matloik Europe 6 25 Jul 2012 07:57
April 3(ish) for 2 weeks to Eastern Europe Modman Route Planning 4 10 Feb 2012 17:30

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27 2025
Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
CanWest: July 10-13 2025
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21 2025
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 16:55.