First Timer Holland to Poland R1 Solo
 

I'm planning to get my bike shipped to Holland. Riding to Poland and back. I have gatherd some information but mayone some of you have done this trip. I'm looking for new usefull tips or what to and not to do. PS my bike is a R1 which I know is not a best choice but then Sjaak R1 is insane.

That's a lot of shipping for a comparatively short journey. How long are you intending to spend in Europe?

If only spending a few weeks, it may be a better bet (financially) to hire a bike? This will also remove any problems in getting insurance & breakdown cover.

If spending more than a month or so in Europe, shipping your bike over may be ther best bet but don't forget to include the cost of Insurance etc, which willcome included in the cost of a hire bike.

The most scenic areas in Poland are IMHO to enter along the coastline, visit Gdansk, carry on through the lake district via Malbork, Elblag, Olsztyn, along the eastern border into the Tatra mts. From there you could zoom through Slovakia, Czec Rep back westwards.

Roads are not too bad. Younger people often speak English. Only risk in my opinion is that those countries aren't used to fast bikes. So take care of oncoming traffic!

See if you can borrow a bike of a freind. I have a couple of old XTs in the garage that wont be being used this summer.

Or rent a bike or even buy on it will be cheaper that shipping. The roads on the route you mention are all very good with only some rougher roads in Poland , but mainly motorways etc.

Charlie

Yes,

i'd recommend hiring the bike too for short period. Try some more powerful travel enduros - R11xxGS, Africa Twin, Varadero, Tiger, CapoNord etc would be my recommendation.

You'll find them much better in Poland's quite crazy traffic than uncomfty R1. And the smaller roads are quite bad often in Poland. And can save time on German autobahns if you need to use them.

Margus

Southern Poland is nice, along the Czech & Slovak borders. I think that central Poland is a bit flat?

As stated earlier, why limit your travels to just Poland, especially if you're shipping you bike over? All of the East European countries are worth a visit especially Budapest, the Croatian coast & Slovenia.

Link to a Ride Report that we did in September '04:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52824

A friend can arrange shipping a bike for about $250 Cdn one way. And I plan to stay for a month. I went for a day in europe on a Africa Twin and it was nice - but for a longer trip. A short trip like that might be fun on a R1.

That sounds like a bargain price. If confirmed after your trip, maybe you put the shipper data on the Shipping section in this page (links on the right side)? All travellers would highly apriciate it!

Have fun in Europe! Margus

Are you sure this price is including the fees you pay at the harbour and things like that ?
It sounds almost to good to be true.

If you would consider renting a bike in Holland, a bikeshop in bergen op Zoom, a city close to where I live, has some rental bikes like a Suzuki V-Strom 650 or a Yamaha XT660X for 56 euro a day including 100km free and 0,14 euro/km for the extra kilometers. Their website is http://www.duinemotors.nl

If that $250 is genuine, then rental is to expensive but I would check for the extra costs if I were you to avoid unplessand surprises.