We did 3500km from Denmark to Normandy, on a Yamaha FZ6, 2 up in June.
It took 8 days and we were off the bike a lot.

The biggest thing to remember is that you and I love to ride a bike. We could ride all day every day. BUT how long could you be a passenger for???

I could not have got half way to France if I were a passenger.

Take time to think totally of the passenger. I thought about Jannie months before we left. I added a top box so she could lean against something. Just as well because she nodded off a few times. I put on passenger peg extentions. It extended her legs 4 inches and she said it made a huge difference.

Make sure you have breakdown assistance that will get the bike ALL the way home.

To get B&B we found the best way was either to knock on the B&B door and see if they are in or go to the local Tourist office because they keep a book of all the B&Bs and will ring them and arrange it for you.

Use Hostelworld.com. I have used them all over europe and you can get some fantasic bargains. You could even plan your route by them and book them all now.

My Visa would not work in unmanned petrol stations in France. I now have American Express and Mastercard but have not had the chance to try them.
DON`T ride passed a manned petrol station if you are getting low, especially late in the afternoon. We nearly got stranded by doing that but a French woman helped us out.

We were in Nice in May, sunbathing by the sea in the morning and in 6 feet of snow in the afternoon on the mountains. The roads were dry and clear.

Think of the passenger. Riding day in, day out for 9 days. I could not do it.

Steve