A good first trip?
 

Hello all,

Just registered, I'm glad I found this site since a big bike trip has been on my mind for ages. Can anyone give me pros - cons of this site next to the advrider one? Found that one too but liked the look of this one more!

So far all I've done is ride up and down in the UK stopping with family/friends along the way, but I'm looking to do something bigger. I've long dreamt of riding from London to Vladivostok then ferrying over to Japan etc. etc. etc... as far as I can go. Obviously that's a big trip, can anyone recommend something as a little starter in the world of motorcycle travelling..? :smartass: What distance / number of days is a good starter? I'm here in London so Europe is there for me.

My family are visiting from Australia summer next year, and we're all going hiking around Turkey / Greece. I originally thought riding out to meet them would be a good trip, about a week each way stopping to see sights and stay with friends. What do you all think? Thanks for your time! :clap:

For a first trip outside the uk that seems a good one but for me I would try not to set a target location or time scale to reach anywhere in particular, its usually better to set off and follow the road wherever it takes you and let the journey and people you meet dictate where you end up that way you see more on route and dont feel you must cover so many miles to get to whereever. Take each day at a time and if greece is on your agenda head that way but if you end up diverting through Bulgaria or wherever go the way that seems best each day. If you dont get to greece there is always another time. Enjoy the journey not the distant destination.
Thats just my point of view from my experience of chasing targets - I never do that now it suits me better - your own views and ideas maybe somewhat different.

Yeah, thought this distance would be a good one.. I'd be leaving myself a lot of time, but on this one I actually have to be somewhere to meet others. Thanks!

You could get a ferry from Venice to Greece or Turkey, and 4-6 days getting to Venice would allow a leisurely route (i think the Greece ferry is at least 24-26 hours with the Turkey perhaps double that?).

If you're thinking outside Europe, Morocco would be a great first trip. (It was my first by my own transport, in my beat up Citroen AX). Its got everything, culture shock, fantastic scenery, great off-roading, good food, plenty of mad experiences - all without being TOO challenging! And you have many nice places to stay and eat, get money, email friends etc. I would say its an excellent introduction to adventure touring. Chris Scott's book 'Sahara Overland' has lots of great pistes to ride in Morocco, for a safe intro to getting off the beaten track.

You could get the Santander Ferry and be there in three or four days from London. Three weeks all up, I reckon. Or longer if you have it.

Matt :)