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For Royal Enfield owners and enthusiasts
- Tue Jun 16, 2015 9:31 pm
#48959
cars need to carryy a red triangle, a yellow flourescent jacket and a until recently, a breathaliser, however, you do not need to have these as a motorcycle rider.
Reflective stickers for helmet, call into french bike shop where they are given away free. Don't put them on your helmet, just carry them with you.
Under French law, motorcycle must ride with headlamps on during the day. Euro and human rights say that you have the right not to ride with your headlamp on. This all depends on whether you use it to be noticed, or whether you have moved over to the current idea that a fluorescent jacket shows up better, whereas your headlamp can be detrimental by making you look further away than you are (Vehicles turning in front of you).
Police in france... there are two types.
Police - these you find in larger towns and cities. they operate like most police forces. They are generally very helpful
Gendames - these are military soldiers charged with police duties. they are by far in the majority and will be found in smaller towns, villages and rural areas. You see the neat black uniform with the typical french hat, but they also train with the army and are issued full sets of central european camouflage clothing for when they are not on police duties. Again, they are very helpful, but they have great power as well. Do ask for help with directions or local knowledge, but don't piss them off by trying to be clever if you were to get pulled over!
Filtering is not allowed in France, however every bike, scooter, and pregna-scoot does it on the paris peripherique (ring road) between inside and next out lanes only.
If A French biker holds his arm out to the side a little in what might look like he is pointing at the line in the middle of the road, this is a biker 'Hi' greeting. It's nice to give one back, or initiate one.
French healthcare should you need it is generally cheap as it is subsidised. I have two trips to the dentist, tooth rebuilt very good job, root canals done, €96 (Just under £70 the lot!)
Have a good time, it's a very large country, and if going to Normandy or Brittany, when walking into a bar, get across the fact that you are english NOT german as quickly as you can. The French hold grudges almost forever, and even now, German people really don't want to be planning a trip into northern france.
er, think that's about all for now.
cars need to carryy a red triangle, a yellow flourescent jacket and a until recently, a breathaliser, however, you do not need to have these as a motorcycle rider.
Reflective stickers for helmet, call into french bike shop where they are given away free. Don't put them on your helmet, just carry them with you.
Under French law, motorcycle must ride with headlamps on during the day. Euro and human rights say that you have the right not to ride with your headlamp on. This all depends on whether you use it to be noticed, or whether you have moved over to the current idea that a fluorescent jacket shows up better, whereas your headlamp can be detrimental by making you look further away than you are (Vehicles turning in front of you).
Police in france... there are two types.
Police - these you find in larger towns and cities. they operate like most police forces. They are generally very helpful
Gendames - these are military soldiers charged with police duties. they are by far in the majority and will be found in smaller towns, villages and rural areas. You see the neat black uniform with the typical french hat, but they also train with the army and are issued full sets of central european camouflage clothing for when they are not on police duties. Again, they are very helpful, but they have great power as well. Do ask for help with directions or local knowledge, but don't piss them off by trying to be clever if you were to get pulled over!
Filtering is not allowed in France, however every bike, scooter, and pregna-scoot does it on the paris peripherique (ring road) between inside and next out lanes only.
If A French biker holds his arm out to the side a little in what might look like he is pointing at the line in the middle of the road, this is a biker 'Hi' greeting. It's nice to give one back, or initiate one.
French healthcare should you need it is generally cheap as it is subsidised. I have two trips to the dentist, tooth rebuilt very good job, root canals done, €96 (Just under £70 the lot!)
Have a good time, it's a very large country, and if going to Normandy or Brittany, when walking into a bar, get across the fact that you are english NOT german as quickly as you can. The French hold grudges almost forever, and even now, German people really don't want to be planning a trip into northern france.
er, think that's about all for now.
REOC 15084
Tabellarius de verbis. Ostensor gaudium
Tabellarius de verbis. Ostensor gaudium
- Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:06 pm
#48960
Isn't there some confusion here? Surely you asked about breakdown insurance; I don't suppose for one moment that you are contemplating a trip without Euro bike insurance cover, which together with travel insurance and EHIC will cover medical aspects. Breakdown insurance is for the bike - mainly shipping it home in event or serious mechanical failure, so your maximum loss is value of bike rather than anything to do with medi-vac?
Notwithstanding, useful suggestions from contributors, and words of wisdom from Scally.
Notwithstanding, useful suggestions from contributors, and words of wisdom from Scally.
- Wed Jun 17, 2015 8:16 am
#48961
Just a few tips if you're travelling France the peages on the autoroute are now unmanned and automatic I'm not sure if they will take UK credit cards but you can pay in cash so take a handfull of euros with you.Also the petrol stations at supermarkets don't take UK cards (the payment system is different for them)so try to find one with a cashier, if you need fuel on a Sunday most places are shut,but if you can find a Total gas station they are usually manned so you can pay cash or card..I would strongly recommend some sort of repatriation cover because it is horrendously expensive without it....goodluck with your trip I hope you enjoy it
Just a few tips if you're travelling France the peages on the autoroute are now unmanned and automatic I'm not sure if they will take UK credit cards but you can pay in cash so take a handfull of euros with you.Also the petrol stations at supermarkets don't take UK cards (the payment system is different for them)so try to find one with a cashier, if you need fuel on a Sunday most places are shut,but if you can find a Total gas station they are usually manned so you can pay cash or card..I would strongly recommend some sort of repatriation cover because it is horrendously expensive without it....goodluck with your trip I hope you enjoy it
- Wed Jun 17, 2015 8:20 am
#48962
p - no confusion on my behalf. I have motorcycle accident insurance. It's only breakdown cover i don't have (will renew with carole nash in november who cover that). I live in kent and I am only going towards the Rhine (Vosges area) so if it did breakdown I could always pick it up the following weekend in my mates transit. I have decided however to go with the AA and get the breakdown cover just in case. Scalyback - I didn't know the breathalizer was not needed on a motorcycle which seems a bit odd but I have bought one now anyway. At some point in the 70's on a bike trip I walked into a bar in normandy in the days when my hair was bleached (punk days). A packed bar went completely quiet. It was only when the realised I was english did people start talking again - I asked the barman what had happened and he confirmed they thought I was a german when I walked in. I no longer bleach my hair of course.
- Wed Jun 17, 2015 9:18 am
#48964
You can get a liber-t tag which will get you motorcycle rates on all French motorways, just drive through the toll lanes marked with a yellow 't'
Liber-t tag review
The Peages were manned two months ago when we went to Paris.?.!??.
Maybe they are getting rid of manned toll booths, but I haven't seen it.
If you drive down a french motoway on your 'moto' (bike), then use a manned (or womaned) toll booth to get your somewhat cheaper motorcycle discount. A couple of years ago that meant paying €19.20 toll Paris to Lyon by bike versus €32.30 by car.
Repatriation breakdown. Hire a van from Europcar. drive van containing bike to calais, drop van off at europcar ferry depot, push bike onto ferry, Ring a mate or hire vehicle once in Dover. Saves £19,500.
You can get a liber-t tag which will get you motorcycle rates on all French motorways, just drive through the toll lanes marked with a yellow 't'
Liber-t tag review
The Peages were manned two months ago when we went to Paris.?.!??.
Maybe they are getting rid of manned toll booths, but I haven't seen it.
If you drive down a french motoway on your 'moto' (bike), then use a manned (or womaned) toll booth to get your somewhat cheaper motorcycle discount. A couple of years ago that meant paying €19.20 toll Paris to Lyon by bike versus €32.30 by car.
Repatriation breakdown. Hire a van from Europcar. drive van containing bike to calais, drop van off at europcar ferry depot, push bike onto ferry, Ring a mate or hire vehicle once in Dover. Saves £19,500.
REOC 15084
Tabellarius de verbis. Ostensor gaudium
Tabellarius de verbis. Ostensor gaudium
- Wed Jun 17, 2015 9:59 am
#48965
Normandy - Brittany survival guide.
firstly "I" in French is hard to explain, but is the sound at the end of the word beige. (je)
am = SWEE (suis)
English = ON GLAZE (anglaise)
not - "not" but without sounding the t (non)
German - allah man ya (allemagne)
Je suis Anglaise non Allemagne.
(end of beige), swee, on-glaze, (not with no t), allah-man-ya.
Listen on the vid below
Normandy - Brittany survival guide.
firstly "I" in French is hard to explain, but is the sound at the end of the word beige. (je)
am = SWEE (suis)
English = ON GLAZE (anglaise)
not - "not" but without sounding the t (non)
German - allah man ya (allemagne)
Je suis Anglaise non Allemagne.
(end of beige), swee, on-glaze, (not with no t), allah-man-ya.
Listen on the vid below
REOC 15084
Tabellarius de verbis. Ostensor gaudium
Tabellarius de verbis. Ostensor gaudium
- Wed Jun 17, 2015 10:01 am
#48966
Scalyback the repatriation that can cost £20000 is NOT for a broken down motorcycle. It is for a broken and battered human who has been injured in an accident whilst riding a motorcycle abroad, and needs MEDICAL repatriation accompanied by a medical team.
- Wed Jun 17, 2015 10:08 am
#48967
oh, OUCH! ok.
I thought you meant motorcycle.
Happy holidays!
oh, OUCH! ok.
I thought you meant motorcycle.
Happy holidays!
REOC 15084
Tabellarius de verbis. Ostensor gaudium
Tabellarius de verbis. Ostensor gaudium
- Wed Jun 17, 2015 11:50 am
#48968
Lots of interesting & informative information.
PLEASE heed papasmurfs comment re. repatriation cover & also check your holiday insurance carefully.
After some time in a Spanish hospital, my close friend had to be returned to U.K. via air ambulance, sadly to no avail. The cost of that alone was £16000.00 which his insurance would not cover & had to be paid by his family.
REgards Mick.
PLEASE heed papasmurfs comment re. repatriation cover & also check your holiday insurance carefully.
After some time in a Spanish hospital, my close friend had to be returned to U.K. via air ambulance, sadly to no avail. The cost of that alone was £16000.00 which his insurance would not cover & had to be paid by his family.
REgards Mick.
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