July 2012 UK visit (or from Argiesland to Stonehenge and something more…)
 

Closer to make a dream come true…
Last year we pop up with the dream of a short travel trough UK, give back visits to old friends and maybe attend to the HU-Meeting but things made us put in standby that dream.
Now dream is back and hopefully this time will happen.
As we post that time bike isn’t a problem we have some offers if we can solve the insurance. And of course many offer of places to stay.
This time the post is to know who will be around, tell you that we really would like to see you, and visit that place we hear so many great stories about.
Any advice will be more than welcome, UK bike insurance for a foreigner rider, places must be visited, roads....anything you think we should know.
This time things will be in the opposite, we will be the guest and you the host.
Hasta pronto...


Javier & Sandra

Be good to welcome you in the UK and i am amazed there have been no replies .

If you need help i will be willing to assist in whatever way i can. I live in central England near Coventry.

Have a look here some good information The Best Rides | Welcome to The Best Rides!

Insurance Devitt Insurance | Motorbike Insurance this company just done a good deal for a korean rider in the UK

I shall be out of the UK in June going to the hubb meeting in Germany then who knows where.

Mark

good news
 

Hola Sandra and Javier,

this is very good news. I wont be in the UK to welcome you, but who knows.

I cant help with the bike insurance question, but there has to be a way ...

As you know, I am not British but I have been on this small islands a couple of times ... advise ... the first thing that comes to my mind is that there are more cctv cameras than one can imagine ... so maybe take an argentine number plate for your bike ;-) or adjust your riding style ...

pub lunches are good value, the breakfast is the worst on the planet, drink your tea with milk, supermarkets (I dont like Tescos) offer special discounts just before closing time, take your rain gear even in July, I liked the Lake District, Cornwall and Brighton and Bath (to walk around for half a day). I hope you are not in London for the Olympics - I am sure it is not good to visit at this time ...

ok, this is it for the moment, we will meet before you leave.

Saludos de Samaipata Bolivia
Mika

Good to know all is coming along for you on this. :clap:

Anything further we can do to help, let me know!

Hampshire
 

We are travelling until 2014 but our home town is Andover in Hampshire - 14 miles east of Stone henge. Andover has a nice camp ground with a pub next door. If you need help in the area we cant sort it out for you. Our son works for an insurance company - PM your email address and I will pass it on.

Paul

Welcome to Two Bikes Running

How YOU can help
 

Any dates sorted yet ???

I will probably be in Canada in late June to August...

I will help out wherever I can..

Ted

Hola Javier and Sandra

We'll be home from the second half of July - that is, mid July onwards. If you want to head-on down to the far south-west (Cornwall) after visiting Stonehenge, then we're about 175 miles or 280 km (3½ - 4 hours) down the road from there.

You would, of course, be most welcome to stopover with us for a few days if you like.

Send me a PM or email anytime.

All the best

KEITH [& ELLEN]

.

drew in norwich
 

hi folks, great to know your getting yourselves over... i'll be here in uk in july, HU meet in england is a big one and well worth attending, my bike is still in a million pieces dont know if bmw will fix it under warrenty yet or i have to pay for a new gearbox so dont actually know wot bike i'll have then but work permitting i can take you to and or show you a few places, you already have a million friends in uk but you know you have a place to stay here should you want it...

my email you already have... drewwilson636@hotmail.com and my phone number is (home) 01603 928703 and (mobile) 07974374130 dont hesitate to call for anything

House is currently fuller than your garage, but if needed we can change our lounge into a mini bedroom.

Otherwise just shout when passing Liverpool (St Helens, J23 off the M6)

Hi, I shall be around for most of July, I live in central England on an old 'Narrowboat' so accomadation is small but cosy.......
If you want someone to guide you around I will try to help in any way I can.

Hi, I live close to Accrington, Lancashire about 3 miles off junction 7 off the M65.My wife & I can put you up most weekends or school holidays. We have a small spare room that two can sleep in. I am sure we could make garage room and help with servicing as I have a reasonable tool selection. I will be at the Horizon meeting in Ireland at the end of June and then the meeting at Lumb Farm the following weekend. If you make it to any of them come and say hello as I will be presenting “But I Only Have Two Weeks”

Stephen

Hi Javier and Sandra

Glad you are coming to the UK - July / August I am working on the Olympics - but if you are anywhere near Gatwick in Surrey (South East England) and need any help with anything - give me a shout - you are MOST welcome!

Devitt are good for bike insurance - and yes - rain gear essential (this IS the UK, after all!) - but breakfasts not as bad as mentioned! South West very nice riding, as is Lake District and Scotland and Wales too - loads to choose from!

Good luck with the trip!

Wales is a must
 

Hi guys

happy to help when you are in UK. I have a sofabed and a garage in Chatham, not far from London or Canterbury. Feel free to use

I lived 13 years in North Wales, and I highly recommend Wales for some great riding, scenery and activities off the bike.

Have a nice trip

Sam

Hiya,

We're based near Cambridge. We've got a spare room available and a reasonably equipped workshop if the bike needs anything done to it. I'm useless at forward planning so if you want to crash here give me a shout nearer the time and we'll make a plan.

Cheers,
Roadcat

Hola Sandra y Javier,
+1 for the waterproofs, you're going to need them ;)
+1 also for the speed cameras. They're a pain in the arse.

Single cylinder engines are dangerously slow on European roads, traffic is fast. Trucks and busses sit at 100km/h and cars around 120km/h. If you're going to be using motorways or dual carriageways, you need to be able to keep up with traffic.

Bike trader will give you an idea of what bikes are available and how much you need to spend. eBay is also a good place to look.
Bike Trader UK - Buy & Sell New & Used Motorbikes, Motorbike Loans Finance, Bike Insurance, News & Reviews at Bike Trader
All you need to buy a bike is a UK address. As far as I know, this is all you need to buy insurance also. Insurance is _much_ cheaper in rural, low crime areas than it is when you have an inner city address. Be warned that any traffic tickets (see speed cameras) will be sent to this address.

If you want to ride off-road, the Trail Riders Fellowship will be able to help you out. These guys know what they are doing. Welcome to the TRF

There is still a good rally scene in Blighty, if you like drinking beer and talking crap about bikes all weekend then a bike rally is a good place to start. The Mayflower MCC have a page of rally dates here: Rally Dates

There are still a few bikers cafes around the country, the Ace Cafe in London and Squires in North Yorkshire are amongst the best known.
http://www.ace-cafe-london.com/ Squires Bikers Cafe, Run By Bikers For Bikers...
Squires will let you camp for free if you're on a bike. Many country pubs will also let you camp.

Rough camping is legal in Scotland but not in the rest of the UK.

Filtering is legal, but only between lanes of traffic. Using the hard shoulder or central reservation is taken very seriously. Same for drink driving, the authorities take a very dim view of that.

Riding in bus lanes is legal in some places but not in others. Watch what the locals are doing and do the same.

Speed cameras are a total pain in the arse but there are several kinds:
Gatsos. These are the most common. They take two pictures of the rear of a vehicle. Look for the markings on the road rather than the cameras.

Average speed cameras are springing up all over the place. These are connected to a computer that reads the number plate and calculates how fast you were moving since the last camera. For the most part, these take pictures of the front of the vehicle so motorcycles are ignored.

There are hundreds of good biking roads all over the UK. This website may help: 7484 Motorcycle Rides and Motorcycle Roads

Anyway, that's all I have for now. Make sure you try a carvery Sunday dinner in a pub and make sure you go for a curry. If I'm back by July _and_ I've found somewhere to live then you'd be welcome to stay with me. I really must get around to sending you that postcard.

All the best to you, Julio and Negrita.

Dunc.

Hola Sandra y Javier, I should be back in UK mid July and would look forward to meeting up again. You are welcome any time in Norwich. I will continue to watch this thread with interest to see your plans.

Graham

Welcome in the south east!
 

Hey,

I live in the south east, Southend on Sea, and though we only have a one bed room flat we would gladly put you up on our couch or in our back yard. I also have a garden office that should be cozy and dry by this summer.

I'll be heading to the Derby meeting too so if you are there it would be great to meet up.

I rode here on an US license for 3 months on 'green card' insurance (really expensive) then a further 6 months on insurance I got through footman james but I think they closed the scheme down.

Loads of cheap bikes about if you are not fussy on type of bike or age but sports type machines are he most plentiful in the UK.

If there is anything I can do please don't hesitate to contact me at:
mike (dot) jansen at gmail (dot) com or PM me on the HUBB!

Mike

Hola Javier and Sandra

Would be more than willing to put you up at my house near Stratford-upon-Avon towards end of July. I am away with Bushman in Germany from June onwards but if we are back in UK will be more than willing to show you Shakespeare's county and surrounding Cotswolds - Oxford etc

PM me if you need to or email me strimstrum [at] hotmail [dot] com

buen viajes !

I live in Bristol (about 40 miles north west of Stonehenge) we have a spare room and a garage if you need a place to stay/ store bikes.

We home most of july or august and heading to ripley at the begining of the month.

Matt

more than welcome
 

Hello

You are more than welcome to drop in. Can put you up or just ride out and show you a bit off Suffolk/Norfolk. Can squeeze in the house or plenty of room in the garden to camp.

July fine weekends would be better door is always open to travelers.

Good Luck and Bike Safe:welcome:

Hi for best Roads look up website called Best Biking Roads.com every country in the world & the best Rds to rid on are there.

You go one way we go the other! We dock in BA mid May, if we had been at home you would of been more than welcome.

Is the shop going to be open in BA as we were hoping to stay a few days before we headed off into SA.

We can help if you need info etc.

Cheers
Pete

Hi you are both welcome to stay, have got large caravan in front garden with electric and running water, all mod cons. Live also southend-on-sea, essex
Just PM me and enjoy your visit Barry

Hi

Most :welcome: here also, have a spare bedroom that is always ready, happy for you to just chill or can ride out with youbier
Located on south coast near Chichester

Buying a bike and insuring it in the UK
 

Buenas dias Javiar y Sandra,

Mi nombre is Ian, soy de Canada.

Just wished to add to the above. I am from Canada and just recently (this month) purchased a motorbike in the UK and had it insured. You also need to get the road tax too, just so you know.

They key, as noted in earlier posts; is to have a UK address to use. Also, with the help of another Hubber, we found out that if you phone the insurance office, they have little boxes on the form in front of them they need to tick off. Swinton was the insurer used.

I will of course have an IDP with me as well.

If you don't fit into those boxes on their form, they don't know what to do , and won't insure you. We went online, and filled out the forms, and everything worked out okay. Seems when you say you are from overseas it throws them for a loop!

I will be over mid May to early July, and have stored the bike at a friends place South East of London until then. The same address I used for the insurance.

Si puedo mas ayudar, escribe mi, y pardon me Espanol. Estoy un estudiante de Espanol, y necisito mucho practicar!

Que tengas un buen dia. Saludos.

Ian

Hi Javier & Sandra, If you like places to visit like StoneHenge, Woodhenge is just along the road from there, & Avebury is good & we have Stanton Drew in Somerset. Don't forget UK is a compact country with lots of traffic and apart from the Motor ways, which we don't like riding on, alot of roads are quite narrow. Yes Wales is a must to visit & the West country is good, we are in Somerset near Wells about one & half hours from Stonehenge. The North coast of Devon & Cornwall are beautifull, but July & August are busy hols time and the campsites over here get quite full.
You can contact us through the Bristol community HU site.
Hope the plans go well this time.
Lyn & Arthur

Hi Javier and Sandra
If you're heading further north in the UK you can stay at mine near Huddersfield in West Yorkshire until 06 July. Then it's the HU UK meet in Ripley, Derbyshire. Between 7th and 13th July I may be around the UK, but am not certain where, if at all. From 14th July onwards I'm away riding in Central Asia.

It'd be great to meet you.

Best Wishes
Chris

PS. I've applied to join the Facebook Group.

Thanks to all the ones we know and the ones we hope meet soon for the advices and welcome.
We didn´t bought the tickets yet but we hope can sort it on the following days. The plan is to be there around June 20th until July 20th but we´ll see for when we can get the tickets.
Basically the idea is attend to the HU Ripley and the time before and after that see as many places and many of you as we can. (We have to start to point all of you in a map and draw a road).
We have a friend in London who will lend us his Africa Twin to ride around UK so we will not buy a bike there.
We still need to sort out the bike insurance for a foreign with an International Driving Licence using an English registered bike.
Also will need to know which free Garmin GPS compatible routable maps are better to use there.
We will follow the advice about buying rain gear and will let you know about breakfast ;).
Still don´t know how manage to fit all in only one month, Argentinean budget and so much people to see, but will do, we really look forward.
Thanks again!!
Sandra & Javier

Hey guys, I live in London and you are welcome to stay a few days if you guys need somewhere to stay.
I will be at the UK meet of HU.

Amanda, I too am working on the Olympic. I will be in the closing ceremony.

Javier & Sandra

I live in portsmouth on the south coast and a spare room you are more than welcome to stay.

Hi all
Unfortunately after trying to get tickets at a fair prices we have to postpone our dream trip to UK, will be moved again for next year :( (2013, hope so). The beginning Olympic Games in July are creating a nightmare on the flight tickets even if we want to be back before. The difference on prices with normal summer seasons is a lot and will means not to enjoy our trip as it deserve.
Thanks everybody to be part of this and we will see you there next year. All the advices will be still welcome.
Thanks a lot!! :mchappy:

Sandra & Javier

That is a real shame...was looking forward to your visit... but I know how these things work... Argentina does the same to us when the Dakar is on!

Next year! Things will be back to normal - no-one wants to visit the U.K. normally...

Glynn

Keep trying.
 

Hi, I'd recommend trying flights to Paris, Madrid, Stuttgart, Munich or really any main airport in Europe. Try www.easyjet to get you into London's Gatwick airport and back out again. Perhaps the combined transatlantic fares and easyjet could be cheaper than the standard transatlantic fares.

Also try Money Saving Expert: Credit Cards, Shopping, Bank Charges, Cheap Flights and more for "screen scapers" that hunt many air companies at once. Maybe Spanish flights will be the most competitive due to the language link with Argentina.

Please don't give up just yet. Lindsay.

If it's any consolation, take a look at the weather forecast in Britain for the next month. Roads closed, rivers overflowing and no sign of the rain letting up until well after the end of the Olympics.
You've just saved a lot of money. A fortnight in a tent during torrential rain is no fun at all.

May/June 2018 UK visit (or from El Obelisco Porteño to the Ace Café and beyond…)
 

YES!!!, this time our very postponed trip to UK is coming true, see new post if you like:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...997#post577358

Hasta pronto...

Javier & Sandra