This article gives a brief introduction to motorcycle travel. If you want to participate, here you will find an overview of the corresponding articles and article requests, along with open construction sites.
Travel preparation
The type and length of the preparation naturally depends on many individual circumstances. This list is intended as a guide. Not everything is required for every trip. When traveling outside the EU, it makes sense to contact the respective embassy or the foreign office inquire about the current regulations.
papers
Regardless of the travel destination, the following papers should not be missing:
- Personal identification documents (ID card and / or passport)
- Driving license
- Vehicle registration
- Insurance card (green insurance card)
- International health insurance (ideally with return transport)
Other useful papers:
- Cover letter from an automobile club or insurer
Additional papers for travel outside the EU:
- International driving licence
- International vehicle registration
- Valid liability insurance
- Carnet de passage
A tip: make two copies of all the documents listed above before you travel. Leave one copy at home and store the other in your luggage in an unusual watertight place if you keep the originals "on the man / woman" or vice versa. In the event of theft or loss, these copies are very helpful.
equipment
Luggage transport
Traveling by motorcycle requires some concessions in terms of luggage transport. The motto here is, less is more, because after all, driving pleasure shouldn't be left by the wayside. This is all the more true when there are two people riding a motorcycle. The situation may be a bit more relaxed with teams, but a team isn't a semi-trailer either.
There are many ways of transporting luggage. Last but not least, this depends on the type of motorcycle, the length of the trip, personal requirements and preferences. However, there are some principles to be observed. The luggage should not change the center of gravity of the motorcycle too much, i.e. heavy items should be down and as close as possible to the center of gravity of the machine. The width of the motorcycle should not increase excessively in order not to get caught. A very important recommendation for beginners is: try it out beforehand! The driving characteristics of the machine can change very significantly with luggage. This suddenly turns the applause curve into a horror curve. Take it easy at the beginning and get used to the new driving experience.
Various modes of transport are listed below, some of which can be combined with one another.
- Tank bag: to be fastened either with straps or magnets. Often also offers a card slot. Because of the high center of gravity, you shouldn't stow too much or too heavy things here. Exception: The load at the rear of the motorcycle shifts the center of gravity too much to the rear (often noticeable by handlebar flutter), then you should pack heavy luggage (e.g. tools) into the tank bag at the bottom.
- Case systems: There are numerous systems here. The materials range from plastic to thick-walled aluminum. Loading can be done as a top loader or from the side. The topcase is always loaded from above. Separate inside pockets make loading and unloading easier and help with an overview. The advantage of these systems is the lockability, the good weather protection and the fixed connection with the corresponding carrier. The disadvantage is that they are sometimes quite wide. In addition, permanent luggage racks usually have to be installed for stable luggage, which sometimes look disastrous when driving without luggage.
- Saddlebags: Here, too, you are spoiled for choice. Leather bags, synthetic fiber bags with aerodynamic design and waterproof roll-up bags are just a few of the options. The packing volume is also variable. Advantage of being narrower than a suitcase, quick to dismantle, more flexible for small bumps. The disadvantage is the lack of water tightness in some cases, the quick dismantling can lead to theft, they are usually not lockable.
- Luggage rolls and bags: For transport on the luggage rack or pillion seat. Luggage rolls and roll bags are usually waterproof. Bags are easier to load, but they are not buoyant.
Safety and breakdown equipment
- First aid kit: DIN 13167 applies here. Should always be included. For motorcycles, for example, it is in Austria compulsory, is checked and severe fines are to be expected in the event of non-compliance.
- Safety vest: Always useful, especially at night. Prescribed in i.a. in Italy, Spain and Belgium as in Austria for motorcycle trailers. DIN EN 471 applies here.
- Warning triangle: A warning triangle can be helpful. There are foldable and rollable versions that take up little space. A tip to save space: a second safety vest that you can put over your helmet in the worst-case scenario and then set it up in place of the warning triangle.
- Tool kit: On many motorcycles, the standard tool kit is only inadequate. A supplement can avoid frustration. A good screwdriver, preferably convertible between a Phillips and a slotted head, combination pliers, a test lamp, a spark plug wrench and an open-end wrench for the important screws (rear wheel axle, front wheel axle, etc.).
- Spare Parts: It is advisable to take replacement Bowden cables with you on older motorcycles. It is most convenient to lay them next to the active train before the journey, as replacing them often requires dismantling the tank / seat or paneling, which is sometimes not so easy to do on the side of the road. The use of repair kits with screw nipples is often not really durable. Furthermore, it is advisable to take replacement clutch and brake levers with you, as they break easily if you fall over, as often happens with a packed motorcycle. If a replacement is not available, then the trip is over because of a cheap replacement part. If you are a little technically gifted, "improvisation material" such as luster clips, insulating tape, cold metal glue, floral wire and cable ties should not be missing. Motorcycle dealer for others spare Parts can be found with the offline navigation app OsmAnd, the POIs are also available in https://kurviger.de
Toll / vignette obligation
Switzerland
Vignette compulsory
In Switzerland there is an annual vignette for the use of all motorways, which costs 45, - SFR for all privately usable vehicles up to a total weight of 3.5 T (2017), this is available at motorway service stations, at petrol stations, at the automobile clubs in Switzerland and in Available near foreign borders and at border crossings. In the case of motorcycles, the vignette must be attached to a clearly visible, clean, dry and non-replaceable outer part of the motorcycle (e.g. on the fork leg or on the tank).
In Switzerland there are no special toll routes and no route tolls.
Austria
Vignette compulsory
In Austria, a vignette for motorcycles is required to use the motorways and expressways. In 2017, the following prices apply to all single-track vehicles: 10-day vignette: 5.10 euros, 2-month vignette: 13.00 euros, annual vignette: 34.40 euros. The vignette must be attached to a dry, clean and non-replaceable outer part of the motorcycle, such as the fork leg or the tank. The vignette is available at petrol stations, tobacconists (tobacco kiosks), rest stops and from the ARBÖ and ÖAMTC traffic clubs and at petrol stations abroad near the border.
Special toll routes
The following motorways and expressways exist in Austria, which do not require a vignette, but require special tolls:
- A9 / Pyhrn motorway, in the section of the Bosruck tunnel
- A9 / Pyhrn motorway, in the section of the Gleinalm tunnel
- A10 / Tauern Autobahn, in the section of the Tauern and Katschberg tunnels
- A11 / Karawanken motorway, in the section of the Karawanken tunnel
- A13 / Brenner motorway, along the entire route
- S16 / Arlberg expressway, in the section of the Arlberg tunnel
dress
When traveling by motorcycle, clothing is more important than on everyday journeys. Since you often drive several hours a day, it is all the more important that you are not soaked, frozen or sweaty, as all of this leads to a decrease in concentration and thus the risk of falls and accidents. Safety clothing with appropriate protective equipment should be taken for granted become. In addition, it is actually not possible without rain protection, which also includes protection for boots and waterproof gloves. When driving in mountains, both summer and winter clothing should be in your luggage due to the rapid change in climate due to altitude and weather. Depending on the season, route and / or length of the trip, it is advisable to bring warm underwear with you. Multifunctional clothing such as textile clothing with a membrane and removable thermal lining have proven their worth here despite compromising on safety. Basically, the so-called onion tactic has proven itself: Several thin pieces of clothing on top of each other keep you warmer than one thick piece. In addition, clothing can be adapted very flexibly to fluctuating temperatures.
On road
Catering
There is really only one point to consider here: Take enough drinks with you! Experience has shown that riding a motorcycle uses more fluids than you realize. Concentrating while driving often means that you don't notice the feeling of thirst, which can quickly lead to dangerous symptoms of fatigue or poor concentration due to dehydration.
Likewise, a kind of "emergency ration" belongs in the luggage. It can happen that you are exhausted and "hypoglycemic" when driving for a long time. It is not known whether this is actually hypoglukemia. However, the symptoms are similar: chills, tremors, cold limbs, fatigue. Here we recommend a little chocolate with biscuits or trail mix as a short-term "sugar replenishment". You should never underestimate the calorie consumption when riding a motorcycle. In contrast to driving a car, you are more physically active and the brain converts considerable energy into constant concentration. In 2007, the Braunschweig autobahn police carried out an endurance test over 100,000 km in 100 days and were measured in the process. Some drivers burned 8000 kcal in calories! That is as much as a professional cyclist in the Tour de France implements on one stage.
orientation
If you're not one "guided tour" has booked, then there are various possibilities to orientate yourself or to plan the tour daily. Which of the options you prefer depends on personal preferences, budget, preferred streets and travel destination. Last but not least, the costs for the necessary aids play a role.
- MapsFor a quick journey to a "target area" for tours, a map on a scale of 1: 750,000 is usually sufficient. For tour planning on hiking tours on roads and good field and farm roads, maps on a scale of 1: 200,000 (general staff maps) are recommended For enduro riders, topographical maps with smaller scales can also be used.
- Maps with navigation system
- OpenStreetMap maps for Garmin
- Pre-planning with https://kurviger.de, then transfer the tour to a navigation system (simple export).
- Maps with GPS
- Apps for Android / iOS / Ubuntu touch
- e.g. offline with OsmAnd or maps.me, the former also includes Motorcycle POIs.
It is advisable to plan parts of the tour on the map and then to write a "laundry slip" containing important waypoints and directions. Reading a map while driving is very dangerous, but a look at the "laundry slip" is no more dangerous than a look at the speedometer.
Directional orientation
Ordinary magnetic compasses are quite useless because of the amount of iron a motorcycle represents. Most touring riders without GPS use the time of day to orientate themselves on the position of the sun; the direction determination is relatively imprecise, but is usually sufficient to roughly keep a direction.
Speed limits
A table overview is provided below. However, the limits could change. They are therefore only intended as a guide and are not guaranteed.
Europe
| country | Motorcycles as of 01/2009 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Local area | Country road / expressway | Highway | |
| Belgium | 50 | 90 | 120 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 50 | 80 | 120 |
| Bulgaria | 50 | 90 | 100 |
| Denmark | 50 | 80 | 130 |
| Germany | 50 | 100/∞ | ∞ |
| Estonia | 50 | 90 | 90 |
| Finland | 50 | 80/ 100 | 120 |
| France | 50 | 80/ 110 | 110/130 |
| Greece | 40 | 70 | 90 |
| Great Britain | 45 | 96/112 | 112 |
| Ireland | 50 | 80/ 100 | 120 |
| Isle of Man | ∞ | - | |
| Italy* | 50 | 90/ 110 | 130/150 (separately indicated on three-lane AB) |
| Croatia | 50 | 80/ 100 | 130 |
| Latvia | 50 | 90 | 90 |
| Lithuania | 60 | 90 | 110 |
| Luxembourg | 50 | 90/ 110 | 120 |
| Malta | 50 | 80 | |
| Montenegro | 60 | 80 | 120 |
| Netherlands | 50 | 80/ 100 | 120 |
| North Macedonia | 50 | 80 | 120 |
| Norway | 50 | 80 | 90 |
| Austria | 50 | 100 | 130 |
| Poland | 50/60 | 90 | 130 |
| Portugal | 50 | 90/ 100 | 120 |
| Romania | 50 | 90/ 100 | 130 |
| Russia* | 60 | 90 | 100 |
| Sweden | 50 | 70/ 90 | 110 |
| Switzerland | 50 | 80 | 120 |
| Serbia | 60 | 80 | 120 |
| Slovakia* | 60 | 90 | 130 |
| Slovenia | 50 | 90 | 130 |
| Spain | 50 | 90/100 | 120 |
| Czech Republic* | 50 | 90/ 130 | 130 |
| Turkey | 50 | 70 | 80 |
| Hungary | 50 | 90/ 110 | 130 |
| Cyprus | 50 | 80 | 110 |
Hints
- In Russia there is a speed limit of 70 km / h for novice drivers (up to two years of age), in France the same applies to 80 on country roads and 110 on motorways. In Portugal Tempo 90 applies here on country roads and motorways up to 1 year after obtaining a driver's license.
- In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the speed limit is 30 km / h in front of level crossings, in Hungary 30 km / h in front of level crossings in localities and 40 km / h outside of town, whereby the level crossings may only be crossed at a speed of 5 km / h.
- In Austria, a speed limit of 110 km / h applies on motorways from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Exceptions are the A1 Salzburg - Vienna and the A2 Vienna - Villach.
- In Italy, the maximum speed limit automatically drops to 110 km / h (motorway) or 90 km / h (expressway) when it rains
Fuel / refueling abroad
In Europe, unleaded gasoline is also available outside of the EU available almost everywhere. More important than this is the available octane number. As a rule, Super or Premium is available with 95 octane. If in doubt, ask at the petrol station.
| country | Fuel designation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91 octane | 95 octane | 98 octane | diesel | ||
| Albania | Gasoline pa plumb | Gasoline pa plumb | diezel / gazoil | ||
| Belgium | Petrol | Super petrol / sans plomb 95 | sans plomb 98 / petrol oncheloode | Diesel / gasol | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Bezolovni / gasoline | Super / Eurosuper 95 | Super Plus / Eurosuper Plus 98 | Dizel / Diesel / Eurodiesel | |
| Bulgaria | Besoloven gasoline² | 95 octane | 98 octane H. | diesel | |
| Denmark | Blyfri 92 | Blyfri 95 | Blyfri 98³ | diesel | |
| Germany | petrol | Super / Super E10 | Super Plus | diesel | |
| Estonia | 95 E. | 98 E Futura | diesel | ||
| Finland | 95 E. | 98 E. | Diesel (Polttoöljyi) | ||
| France | Essence / Benzine sans plomb | sans plomb 95 | sans plomb 98 | Gasoil / Gazole / Diesel | |
| Greece | Amoliwdi Wensina 95 octane | Amoliwdi Wensina 100 octane | diesel | ||
| Great Britain | Unleaded Petrol / Fuel | Premium Unleaded | Super Plus / Super Unleaded | diesel | |
| Ireland | Unleaded petrol | diesel | |||
| Iceland | Blýlaust bensín | Dísil / Dísilolía | |||
| Isle of Man | see United Kingdom | ||||
| Italy* | Benzina senza piombo, benzina verde | benzina senza piombo 98 / benzina verde plus | Gasolio / Diesel / carburante Diesel | ||
| Croatia | Bezolovni / gasoline | Super / Eurosuper 95 | Super Plus / Eurosuper Plus 98 | Dizel / Diesel / Eurodiesel | |
| Latvia | 98 E Futura | diesel | |||
| Lithuania | 98 E Futura | diesel | |||
| Luxembourg | Essence sans plomb / Super lead free | Super plus / 98 octane | diesel | ||
| Malta | Unleaded petrol | Premium Unleaded | Super unleaded | Diesel / Kerosene | |
| Montenegro | |||||
| Netherlands | Petrol loodvrij | Super petrol | oncheloode Super 98 | Diezel | |
| North Macedonia | |||||
| Norway | Blyfri 95 | Blyfri 98 | Diesel / Diesel avgiftsfri | ||
| Austria | normal | Super | Super Plus | diesel | |
| Poland | Benzyna bezolowiowa 95 | Benzyna bezolowiowa 98 | ON / Olej Napedowy | ||
| Portugal | Gasolina | Gasolina sem chumbo 95 | Gasolina sem chumbo 98 / Super com aditivo | Diesel / Gasóleo | |
| Romania | Benzina fare plumb | Petrol super | Benzina Super Plus | Motorina | |
| Russia | 92 | 95 / 95E² | 98 | ДТ | |
| Sweden | Bensin | Bensin 95 / Blyfri 95 | Bensin 98 / Blyfri 98 | diesel | |
| Switzerland | analogous to Germany, Italy and France | ||||
| Serbia | Bezolovni / gasoline | Super / Eurosuper 95 | Super Plus / Eurosuper Plus 98 | Dizel / Diesel / Eurodiesel | |
| Slovakia | Natural 91 | Natural 95 | Natural 98 | NAFTA | |
| Slovenia | Eurosuper 95 | Eurosuper 98 | NAFTA / Diesel | ||
| Spain | Gasolina normal / sin plomo | Gasolina sin plomo 95 | Gasolina sin plomo 98 | Gasóleo / Diésel / Aceite Diésel | |
| Czech Republic | Natural 95 | Natural 98 | NAFTA | ||
| Turkey | Kurşunsuz petrol (unleaded) | Coursesunsuz / Super (95) | Super Plus (98) | Mazot / Dizel / Eurodiesel | |
| Hungary | Normal petrol | Szuper gasoline | Szuper Plusz / 98 octane | Diesel / Dizel | |
| Belarus | regular / рэгуляр | прэміум / premium | super / super | дизельного топлива / dizielnoho topliva | |
| Cyprus | Unleaded petrol | Premium Unleaded | Super unleaded | Diesel (see also Turkey / Greece) | |
- ² lead free
- ³ not everywhere
Outside of Europe, the situation is partly different, although the availability of unleaded fuel continues to increase significantly.
accommodation
- Camping: The most classic method of accommodation where you can usually find a place without a reservation. In the past, motorcycles were often banned from camping sites, but that has changed significantly with the discovery of the target group as customers.
- Motorcycle-friendly guesthouses and hotels: Here is often one Drying room and a garage With Workshop available. The innkeepers mostly know the region very well and give Tips or even ready-made tour suggestions. In the Alpine region of Austria, South Tyrol and Italy there are with MoHo - motorcycle friendly hotels[1] an association of corresponding accommodations with a certain standard. Other checked Europe-wide accommodations are the so-called Tour driver partner houses[2] which have been rated and selected by the magazine of the same name. A corresponding catalog is published annually. Numerous tourism associations also offer relevant information such as the Ore Mountains Tourist Association. An alternative is to record in OpenStreetMap.
Co-founded in 1996 by the ADAC, among others European Motorcycle Union short UEM offers on their Homepage under Tourism also provides information on hotels, guest houses and campsites.
Motorcycle transport
This option to reach your destination is particularly interesting if you are far away and have little time. The transport options range from motorail trains and forwarding agents to air and sea freight. Since the prices can vary greatly, early planning and a more precise price comparison make sense.
Transport within Europe
Car trains
Shuttle services
- Shuttle service companies that bring travelers and motorcycles to their destination
International transport
There are quite a few air and sea freight providers, and not only the wallet but also the time. If you want to drive off right away, you can hardly avoid air transport. You can book this with specialized providers such as intimate in Hamburg or gs sports trips in Munich. With more time, sea transport is definitely a good choice. However, you should find out exactly what other fees apply at the destination. Handling and storage fees are often payable, which in extreme cases can amount to a few hundred euros. A specially made box is not absolutely necessary for air transport. In the example above, the machines are lashed directly to a freight pallet and remain almost ready to drive. Here the battery only has to be disconnected and the tank emptied. A separate crate is recommended for sea freight, as it protects the motorcycle from damage and prying eyes. Some people ended up missing some parts during unprotected loading.
Rent a motorcycle
Rental motorcycles are available at numerous vacation spots. This type of motorcycle trip makes sense if the costs of transporting your own machine are out of proportion to the length of the vacation. In particular, short motorcycle holidays overseas are uncomplicated. It is best to contact an appropriate company in advance. The machines should be carefully inspected and test driven on site.
Motorcycling with children
Only permitted as a passenger from the age of 13 on solo machines in Austria. No problem in teams. The earliest age at which you can take children with you varies from person to person. The best thing to do is to test it in peace on smaller tours before planning a big trip and then degenerating into stress. Helmets weigh between 950 to 1500 grams and are therefore relatively heavy for a child's neck. An alternative in a team are bicycle or helmet with glasses. Children should only be used as pillion riders when they can put their feet on the rests and their necks are strong enough to wear the heavy helmet for a longer period of time. For small children, it is advisable to use the afternoon nap. Taking a break doesn’t do any harm, so that the fun doesn’t turn into torture. It should be noted that children have less body mass and therefore clothing that is not temperature-adjusted has a greater effect than adults. It is often reported that children who cannot look over the driver's shoulder find driving boring and then often simply fall asleep. Intercom systems have proven to be very effective as a remedy here.
