Hi,

Just read this thread, as I was thinking about Italy myself this year, so was interested, but my reply is to do with getting suitable transport.

A lot of overseas visitors to Europe think it will be a fairly simple solution to buy a bike here and then sell it afterwards, well I regret to say it isn't any more. The European regulations are now very strict on visitors buying vehicles, as this seems to be a favourite ploy for the 'seedier and more terroristic' elements of society.

If you buy a vehicle registered anywhere in the European Union now, you must register it in your name within 4 weeks. To do this you need a 'permanent' address in the country where the vehicle is registered. Insurance companies will only issue temporary insurance cover until the vehicle is shown as registered in your name at a permanent address. In the U.k. and in France the insurance companies, registration authorities and the policing services are all interlinked by computer, so it's easy to check. You won't get Insurance to travel outside the country of registration until it is registered in your name.

Don't even think about travelling without insurance! and in Europe it is a legal requirement to carry all the correct documents with you. Anything that doesn't match up or lacking may result in the vehicle being seized and possibly destroyed.

Hiring a bike or borrowing one with permission are solutions, though you may find getting insurance for travel outside the country of registration a bit of a problem if you are not the owner and have an overseas driving licence, otherwise shipping your own is the only other solution.

Whichever way, good luck and enjoy Italy when you have found your solution.

John.

Hi Tim, in relation to getting from the UK to Italy on the train, I am planning on going to Italy late August - early September and have been looking into this option. I have found a deal through Welcome to Railsavers - Leading Motorail Specialists which will take bike and rider from s'hertogenbosch in Holland to Allesandria for £427 return! This is an overnight train arriving at about 1000 on the doorstep of the Alps and Dolomites. We will be camping so if anyone can recommend any good sites/ bars/ eateries (good, basic and with no frills!) please let us know.

Best wishes

Paul

Many thanks to all who contributed to this post. You've all been very helpful.

It's been a long time between posts because I pulled the plug on the trip last year, but it's definitely on for this year!

My plan is to arrive in the UK in mid-August with a bike already purchased, registered and insured using a good friend's address near Bath. I've allowed a week or two to get down to Rome, possibly via the "Route de Grand Alps" (thanks Gunne). From Rome, I'm participating in a two-week tour of South-Eastern Italy (Puglia, Basilicata) with other members of the Dante Alighieri Society in New Zealand. After that tour, which starts and ends in Rome, I plan to zip back up to San Marino for the Sept 16 round of MotoGP (yes!) and then after that I'll have 6 weeks to do whatever I feel like doing. I'll probably start with an exploration of the mountain roads in the lake region of Northern Italy (thanks again Gunne and Graeme and Nick and Pecha), and I'll aim to check out both the MotoRestaurante in Bassano and the Due Ruote bar in Peschiera del Garda. And Nick, if I get anywhere near Mantova, I'll definitely drop you a PM. After that I'll work my way gradually South, aiming for a variety of well-known and not-so-well-known destinations.

Eventually I'll hang my head and trudge back to the UK, leaving the bike with my friend to flog (sell) and head back down under.

Ciao a tutti!

Tim

Brilliant, Tim, I'll be waiting for your news.

Regards
Nick