Riding alone
 

Just a question..as i intend to go to Europe this spring on my big Burgman do you think its wise to go alone.
At the moment i am quite happy exploring and touring in and around London where i live and have started wandering further away.
i used to a lot of solo touring back in the 60@s and 70's when younger.......but i am aging rapidly LOL
But is it wise to go on the continent alone..........what advice would you offer.

Mind ze Germans! Hitler may be dead, but who knows what they are up to next?
And don't trust the French!

Hmmm. My thoughts exactly, and don't even think about getting me started on the Welsh.

Alone Across the Alps...
 

I usually ride alone. Haven't been in Europe though. Lots in North America. I prefer it. However....I work in the human services area and so spend most of my days with people....travellling alone provides welcome difference from the usual days...

Here's a few thoughts about going alone...

• Less planning headaches. (Can we stop now? How bout now?)
• More breakdown headaches. (Did I pack my hiking boots?)
• More fun coming home to the one you love (maybe not if you're single)
• Less fun on the road without the one you love (or not).
• Maybe not getting on the road at all without the one who decides.
• More cost for rooms. (less travel to the dollar/euro)
• Less cost for food admission fees etc (If you have to buy two tickets)
• More time to be with yourself on the road.
• Less time to be with yourself at stops (people seem to be more willing to talk with you if you're alone and not riding with a pack).
• More options for connecting up with someone you meet on the road and maybe sharing some riding time.
• Can go to bed as early as you want. (I'm 56 now and have passed my partying Best Before date)
• Can get up as early as you want
• Can get up as late as you want.
• Can't have anyone else get you a beer.
• Campfires aren't as much fun alone. But you can often find folks to share for that purpose. Then can go back to being alone.
• Can spend as much time as you want reading the HUBB while on the road.

For a great take on the travelling with someone who then ends up driving you nuts read Jeremy Kroeker's book - Motorcycle Therapy - tis quite funny!

Mr. Simon also adds interesting notes on travelling with others (Malu??) and the associated sacrifices in his newish book - Dreaming of Jupiter.

William Least Heat Moon's Blue Highways provides interesting perspectives related travelling alone.

Sometimes you have no option but travelling alone as others may not be available.

Some people's personal makeup is that they are more comfortable with others and don't like being alone....others feel differently and like to be alone....I like travelling alone but try to engage with others along the way - I like hearing from others who live elsewhere to learn about their lives etc.

If you always go to places with others it might be a big step to head off on your bike alone. If you are already OK with doing things by yourself, riding alone can simply be an extension of that.

Would like to hear others thoughts on this.

i intended going solo when i went to spain last march. met another biker riding solo in the same direction of the ferry so ended up as a pair.
i cant see solo being a problem as long your ok struggling with communicating. thats my downfall, i get too annoyed with myself for not being about to speak their language.

when there is two of you, you have the advantage that in the event of a breakdown you are still mobile. However you then can only have things your way for 50% of the time

I have done 99% or more of my riding alone.

thanks old bmw..i think you have clarified may of the reasons i prefer to go alone..........im actually quite sociable and make friends easily, so i usally make then at the end or along the way.
I suppose with the advent of modern communication the fears of breaking down are less than when i toured in the 60's.......then you expected to break down occasionally on big British bikes! lol

I eat less, infact very litlle (not enough) when I am alone...

Can have problems with health, accident, etc and it is difficult when you are alone...

Sometimes other person(s) can be headache too... Depends on people...:oops2:

Can't quote the percentages, but I've travelled alone, with a pillion or sidecar passenger, with another rider and in large groups. They are all dfferent and with the exception of large groups (I've no patience for idiots who wait for everyone to fill up and get their gear on, then go order a 12 course meal for themselves :censored:) I can do any. I think STG06 has it right.

Take a book or three and/or a personal stereo for when you want to be alone or for example (the book) don't want to feel too out of place in a restaurant. I don't know how you language skills are, but a quick good morning or nice bike on a campsite can often give you any human contact you do decide you'd like. Failing that, simply budget for a call home from your mobile when it's all going pearshaped or you just feel like a chat.

I must say i'm sort of used to the travelling alone thing. I'm a salesman and have spent many a night in travelodges in such exciting places as Solihull, Gothenburg or Mannheim. A good book and a couple of beers on the company and I really don't mind. Likewise a nice bit of banter over a football match on the telly (can do that in about six langauges!) can work. I think its just a case of going with the flow when you want to and finding something else when you don't. Travelling alone you really do have the choice.

Enjoy your trip,

Andy

I generally end up on my own, I have planned trips with others but fallen out, gone with others and had a great time as well as a bad time. Bit like being at home really.

Accidents and breakdowns have happened but people have always been helpfull and friendly, roll up at a campsite, hotel people talk when they see the foriegn plate.

Only had one bad experience when I was mugged by a bloke with a gun who took my wallet and spare cash. But keep my wallet almost empty and stash dards/money elsewhere.

Go and enjoy yourself, you can get mugged/hurt in any street in the world including the one you live in.

Maybe you could inform us what your provisos are. Why do you think you would be less safe as compared to riding the UK?

What changed since the 60s and 70s that makes it more dangerous to travel? In those times nobody had a cell phone to call the AA (or the local equivalent) after a breakdown or the medics in case of an accident. Now we have these means.

How reliable were your rides in those days compared to your present ride?

Are people different today? Are they less friendly or helpfull if asked?

Is it more difficult now to find one's way with a navigation device or a GPSr than it was in those days with maps?

Or is it the heart, that does not like to let go of habits and habitats it has grown into over the years. The familiar surrounding of your home turf, the roads and tracks you know, the people you can return to within the shortest of time.

Travelling is about leaving all this behind, even if it is only for a few days and maybe only to find out that you feel at best when you're home. If you're afraid of leaving home and don't go, you won't find out.

You're never alone with a phone.
 

If you're worried about breakdowns - be it the Suzi or yourself, then pack a mobile phone, you can get always get an international SIM card which means you don't pay huge roaming charges, the Burg has a charging socket doesn't it? If you fancy a long chat home then there's still plenty of call boxes in Europe, you can get home to ring you back.

Other things I'd consider:

• If you haven't got one, get a Suzuki dealership list for the countries you're planning on visiting, that way you'll know where to go if there's a problem. You can always pop in for a chat anyway.I reckon if you can get across the idea of what you're up to you're bound to get at least a coffee out of it
• Sign up on the CouchSurfing website, there's people of all ages, and it's not just about scrounging a bed for the night, it can just be a cup of coffee or even having a phone number you don't use in a place you planned to visit but don't.
• If you've got an idea of a route, why not tell us all on here? There's bound to be some people close to where you're considering, and I know I'd be happy to give you a tour/bed/coffee/phone number in case of emergency, and I reckon I can't be the only one.
• Think Paddington, just like the bear why not tie something round your neck with your details on it, emergency telephone numbers, any medical conditions etc, that way in the event of you falling unconscious due to excessive alcohol consumption, they know where to post you home.

And remember it's only Europe, aside from the fact we all drive on the wrong side we're not that different from the Brits (or should I say Americans?) anymore, we have Starbucks, many Europeans speak fantastic English, most European countries have better health services than the UK and we've finally got flush loos here in France. If my experience is anything to go by, car drivers treat bikes and scooters much better over this side of the Channel too.

hey i surrender..dont beat me to death lol
In reality i have returned to motorcycling after many years and bought the burgman because of its step through ability, plus the 400 cc engine.This enables me to cruise happily at 60 mph with bursts up to 80 plus if i need it .I am also happier off main roads as i have indicated elsewhere on this site.
i have mainly travelled alone,but i suppose as i get older i just wonder if its the best way for me..............and yes i have read all the fores and cons that others have suggested and tried.
I have never rode on the continent as when young i explored a lot of the the UK and so am a little nervous.........but if i can shout yipee driving along a road in the pouring rain im sure ill overcome that one.
Traveling id say is easier today...with all the modern gadgets,roads and services but its still the dogged determination to get where I want that counts......i use maps, enjoy planning it,enjoy a challenge and love to achieve.But we do have the joys of GPS when i can afford it and other small luxuries.
i have been spending time getting to know my bike and prove its reliability .unlike the cavalier days of youth when i just got on and rode,and sod the consequences lol.They are only reliable as much as you prepare them......but i think after being used to years of reliable cars..i realise i would be thrown back to my own basic engineering skills if things do go wrong.even with rescue services( which i have to say i never used when i had a bike in youth as i fixed then as more easier to do.shops available in those days).
The journey is still in the stages of planning.....but as i have indicated elsewhere i hope either to do the coasts of France or alternatively head as an original post straight to my desire to explore Austria on the bike.
thanks for that site i will look into it..i do love to meet folk and say hello.
Hopefully ill be on the continent in either spring...or early July , which would be better for say Austria.

Solo ....

As for "in case of a breakdown" .... sometimes your mate can breakdown too and its definetly more difficult to fix him/her, then any mechanical part of your motorcyle and easier to deal with .... :)

as some one once said...when you argue with your self you definitely get an answer you agree with!....and solo you do tend to make decisions..although its nice to 'bounce' an idea of some one else sometime.

i suspect july is better for austria, from what i hear on here the alps take that long too loose the snow & why go when you cant see the best bits?

I've ridden alone and with a mate before in Europe and I'd agree with the points put across by STG06.

Going by yourself can either be lonely or a conversation piece with other people. If you have no other company, you'll get talking to other bikers on campsites, having a beer while looking over maps and discussing where you've been, getting pointers on where to go, etc, etc. I met 2 couples from the Shetlands on returning to the ferry port in Holland this year who then invited me up to the Simmer Dim rally in Shetland for 2009. The 5 of us then got talking to a German rider in his late 70's, on his way for a tour of Scotland on his FJR. Fascinating bloke who used to work as a crytographer in Berlin before the wall came down. Also owns a Suzuki TL1000 and can do a sub-9 min lap of the Nordschleife. Didn't get speaking to anyone much when travelling with my mate.

Austria is great. Did the Grossglocker road in May (travelling alone) and there was some snow but the road was clear. The roads coming down from Lake Constance to Reutte in Austria and on to Innsbruck are great. I partly wish I'd explored Austria more and headed into Hungary instead of Italy.

Plus, you'll definitely have the more interesting holiday stories compared to your mates who went to Majorca... again.

If you're riding between populous areas then why not go alone, you'll always run into someone and help is always another biker away. If you're planning on getting out into the back of beyond (offroad or a remote route) it might be nice to have someone watch your back and share some campfire banter.

just go for it, if you find out its not for you your only a couple of days ride from home.
I was very apprehensive before my first solo trip but once you get rolling any fears fade away. I found myself talking to more people than i would have if i were with others.

have a good trip.

Cheers Dave:thumbup1:

Hi,
I went from UK to Sweden in 2007 with a group of 10 and hated almost every minute of it ! loved the rally in Sweden but hated the stop/start, hurry up, we have to make here by ... etc.

So in 2008 for a Finnish trip I decided that I would go alone. My partner wasnt very happy but I managed to calm her down and told her I would txt or phone her often.
No probs getting to Finland at my pace and my time keeping, no probs with routes or where to stop and eat.
I did team up with another couple after the rally because I was going thur Estonia, Latvia and Lithunia ( I had heard bad things about these countries which later turned out to be untrue).
Anyway, after spending 3 days of biting my lip and counting to 10 in my head I was glad to get away (dont get me wrong, I like their company and there great fun but again it was the riding part). So when they said they were staying for a 2 days in Lithunia and was happily on my way thru Poland.

2009 I plan to go round the whole of the UK coast using minor roads and taking 3 weeks to do it in ON MY OWN !

Im quite happy setting up my tent, getting something on the cooker and having a good read whilst drinking a few beers.
Take along a small MP3 player with a little speaker if you like your music.

Happy travels
Geordie

I generally travel alone.....its my preference now as i find travelling with other people for more than a week a pain in the backside...thats not everyone but most people winge and moan etc.Going alone allows you to meet other bikers,which you inevitably will,believe me,and tag along with them for a few days then when you decide to you just say "thanks and goodluck"....before long you will have met more bikers.Being alone makes you so much more approachable.

You could always take a Hamlet along because as you know...you are never alone with a Haml.......

Do it. You will meet people along the way and have a lot more adventures than if you travel with someone else.

I live in Canada, but have spent the last 6 summers riding around Europe - alone. I've done about 150,000 km, and hit just about every country in West, Central, and Eastern Europe.

From a personal safety point of view, I don't have any concerns. I have only been seriously sick once - that was from food poisoning in Barcelona. I checked into a hotel, told them I was feeling very sick, and asked them to periodically check on me. They did - in fact, they looked after me very well. After 3 days, I was feeling better and I got back on the road again.

I have never encountered any problems 'feeling lonely' - my experience is that I am constantly meeting people on the road, in restaurants, etc. If I do want to meet others, I'll stay at a hostel or a gite. If I don't want to meet others, I'll stay at a Hilton.

I have had a couple of mishaps with the motorcycle - it fell into a rather deep ditch once, and I lowsided it on a German highway once. In each case, there was no shortage of total strangers who came to help me. To tell you the truth, those two accidents have done a lot to change the way I look at the world.

I'm in my mid 50s, so, I make sure I have appropriate health insurance when I travel. But, I would probably also do that if I was traveling with someone else.

The motorcycle was new (2001 Honda ST 1100) when I started this touring. I have been very careful about the maintenance, always returning to the same shop in Switzerland to get scheduled maintenance done. I change tires before they hit the wear bars - that I can get done anywhere. So I have not had many concerns about the reliability of the motorcycle. But I am thinking that maybe it's time to get a new one.

In short - if you think you would like to travel on your own, by all means do so. If you are not sure, perhaps try a short trip of a month or so in France or the Benelux region - if you do start to feel blue, it's not a long trip to get back home.

Just a post-script: You mentioned that you are riding a 400cc scooter. That's the perfect motorcycle for riding on the 'departmental' (tertiary) roads of France. Given a choice, I always ride on the departmentals, never on the autoroutes or the primary highways. The smaller roads are far more interesting, they take you through all the little villages, you just pull off to one side of the main street whenever you want a coffee or a mineral water, and you will have no shortage of conversation or hospitality from the locals.

Plus, in the smaller towns and villages, it costs less to eat, and it costs less to sleep. It's also always easy to find a secure place to store the motorcycle overnight or while you might be off touring on foot somewhere, or visiting a local attraction.

Once again folks thanks for all your wonderful encouragement.....i find that real touching.
Now all i have to do is persuade the wife I'm not some old git who should be driving in car rather than the bike,and who wont kill himself driving it.......woman do worry so!:(
but i am so looking forward to it.....if i wasn't so busy in life im sure i would like to be off before Christmas....but somehow i don't think I'm yet equipped for the cold lol
I am settling in to the bike, and so looking forward to further long distance work with it.........and by the spring it wil have all the accessories and bits i feel i need for long distance touring.....the more i travel the more of the bits i discover i need.Its amazing in days of old you grabbed a map, your clothes and the bike and went...now it becomes an expedition!So much do we get attached to new fangled things. ....like mobiles,radios, ipods etc....and of course the right togs........far call from newspaper stuffed down the front of the belstaff jacket for winter riding :mchappy:
Thanks folks

I nearly always ride alone.

I've been riding alone if france for the past 16 years & have done parts of Italy & switzerland as well. no bother. go for it.

If you want to reassure Wifey, tehn I'm sure a little research on some bike/travel type forums will turn up some members scattered about most of europe (bl**dy english, get everywhere...like a rash) & I expect that you'd find people prepared to help out in the event of a problem.

eg, if you get a problem in france, give me a shout, I can translate, & depending where you are my even be able to find someone nearby who can help physically if need be. Wifey's are often reassured by knowing you've a "contact" in case of trouble (just don't tell 'em how big the country is...lol)

in France there is a great comaderie amonst motorcyclists. To give an example.
Last summer on my way back from Nice, as I went through the small town of Die in a torrential thunderstorm. My bike suddenly died as I got to the town square. There was a burning smell of burnt wire coming from under the tank. By the time I had parked and pulled the bike up on its centre stand a waiter from the local bar came out to ask what was wrong. I had no power at all. This being late Sunday afternoon with every thing shut he then phoned a known good motorcycle mechanic at home and arranged for me and my bike to be collected monday morning, and sent me to a nice small hotel in the town. He made numerous phone calls and helped me during those two days I was stuck there. Sadly he was convinced that my bike had to be a Triumph because I was aBrit and my bike had electrical problems, it went against the grain for him when I explained it was my first electrical problem on a bike since 1961 and this bike was not British like all the rest but a BMW.

Oldsome, I don't know if you recall, but I keep on bumping in to you here and on Burgmanusa (and Hooli on GSX14.org).

I've just come back to Australia after 4.5 months on my Burgman riding alone from Vietnam to Italy (via China/Russia etc.) - 6th major international bike ride in 33 years.

I wouldn't have it any other way - being by yourself is definitely the way to go:
Safer (yep, the wife was pleasantly surprised at how few problems I had)
Less trouble
Go where you want, where you want
Stay where you want, when you want
Cheaper...
Eat what you want, when you want like I did, and lose 12kg :)

... and I'm not much younger than you either!

Garry from Oz.

Likewise, drop me a PM and i'll happily be a wife reassuring contact for France too and I'll dig out the address for the British Bikers in France forum, which should give you loads all over France.

I'm with oldbmw though on the friendliness thing, I was just riding back from town today, only 10 miles or so, I pulled up at traffic lights just as the hugest rain/hailstorm broke over the top of me, wtih drumming off my helmet like ten insane prog rock drummers on speed. Glancing to my right I happened to peek into the front window of the house and caught the eye of the old lady in there. I gave a "what can you do in this foul weather type shrug, and the next thing I know she's at the window saying "come in out of that ridiculous weather". So I pulled the bike onto the pavement, and ran in through her now open front door. She didn't seem to mind me dripping on her tiles, nor the slightly squelchy sound coming out of my boots and sat me down at her table, gave me a delicious hot choclate and we nattered till the rain had passed over.

Lovely ride.

Hey Farqhuar
I'm pleased there are other Burgman tourers out there.
I'm wondering is there anything special i should take other than the usual survival gear.
I do intend to get a full service before i go...but i wasn't sure if i need say a spare belt, or any other bits likely to fail/fall off etc from the bike,.
for example did you go with your bike in original spec, or ad leg shields or larger screen.
thanks to the rest of your posts folks.I'm more determined than ever to go solo come the spring.....but a lot more winter riding to do yet.

I agree about France too. Pulled up at a petrol station, somewhere in the Vosges, as I was having trouble with my GPS. It was chucking down but within a few minutes, this lad jumps out his van and ran over asking if he could help me. Poor lad got soaked through. Can't say they're not helpful and very friendly.

Riding around mainland Europe is much easier then riding around London.
I would avoid the motorways in Germany if you can. In fact I would avoid motorways in any country if possible.

You MUSt have breakdown cover that gets the bike home should the worst come to the worst. Getting yourself home is pretty easy, just make sure you know all the places on your route that Ryanair flies from.

I am English and live in Denmark. I much prefer to ride here than in the UK.

Steve

Why wouldn't it be wise or even safe? Thats a comment that often puzzles me, sort of like Americans being all worried about touring in Europe...alone. :confused1:

Worry less; enjoy more. We're all still on planet earth.

go for it
 

I too prefer travelling alone, i enjoy the company of other bikers but when travelling i like the freedom of being able to branch off the planned route if i want too or stop in a place that interests ME rather than an enforced stop that is of some interest to someone else.

I will be riding to Spain sometime next year, i plan to take the leisurely route down and will plan my route carefully but also have the flexibility that solo riding allows.

You have a modern reliable bike and the mileage that you will cover will be taken in its stride, just make sure that your tyres are good for a couple of thousand miles and off you go.

Please post your trip report on here, as we would all like to hear how you get on.

Go for it.