Hi there
This summer I am riding Portsmouth to Faro. I will be riding a Honda NX650, so not the quickest bike. I think I should be able to churn out 250 miles per day, but is that realistic? At that speed I would expect to make Faro in six days, does that sound about right?
I know there are many variables but I am just looking for a guide as to reasonable miles on my first trip to the continent on a bike. Thanks for your support.
Ben

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To judge a man by his lowest ebb or deed is to judge the ocean by just one wave

If you're just doing a Channel crossing I'd expect 2 days riding through France (by the quickest route) and 3 days down through Spain and into Portugal.

Hello Ben:

If this is your first long-distance trip with the bike, you're making a good decision when you state that you have planned to only ride 250 miles per day. Although it is certainly possible to do more than that, the fun goes away once you start to spend more than about 7 or 8 hours a day in the saddle.

It's a long trip - 2,500 km, or 1,500 miles (including the ferry crossing, if you take the short ferry across the English Channel). Unless you plan on staying on the motorways (toll roads) all the way through France, 300 miles per day is about all you could comfortably do. That works out to 5 days at 300 miles per day (or 6 days at your original estimate of 250 miles per day), but you probably want to add another day or two in case it is pouring rain one day and you decide you want to just stay put and wait it out.

If you keep in mind that the main point of motorcycle touring is to enjoy the tour (otherwise, you might as well just fly EasyJet there and have done with it in 3 hours for a lot less money), then you might be better off to allocate 10 days for the trip. That would give you a lot more flexibility and enable you to actually see some sights along the way, rather than just pounding along the pavement all day, every day.

Don't be concerned about your moto not being up to it, a 650 cc bike is more than sufficient for a trip like this. Just be sure to have it fully serviced before you go (make sure there is enough rubber left on the tires to make the trip).

Do you have a GPS? It's not essential, but in practice, it really takes a lot of the stress out of the journey, mostly because it lets you get get off the highway and poke through interesting cities whenever you want, then get back onto the route to your destination with minimal headaches.

Michael

***Another routing alternative would be to take the ferry from Portsmouth to Santander. That would cut the ride down to 1,000 km (630 miles). You could do the 630 mile trip in 3 very easy days. Although the cost of the ferry might appear at first to be high, I can guarantee you that it will be cheaper than the gas, food, hotel, & tire wear costs of taking the channel ferry and riding down through France.

It can be done; kind of depends how much you like your saddle.
I've done 580 miles in one day, Zeebrugge > Jura/Alps on a F650GS, hammering along the autoroutes of France mainly.
And on again every day thereafter around the mountains; as earlier posts it depends what you like doing - nothing wrong with riding if that is your thing.

On other rides southward through France it has always taken me two days to get anywhere in the south in sight of the Pyrenees or the Mediterranean.

The west coast of France is pretty flat and relatively tedious unless you like beaches, but those roads will slow your average times for various reasons.

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Dave

Hi all
Thanks for the replies. It certainly gives me food for thought. I am confident my bike is up to the journey and I have some new rubber waiting to go on for the journey. I am sailing from Portsmouth to Cherbourg, as other ferry crossings don't fit my dates. Santander was an option but the ferry is already booked. I have six days to get to Faro as there is a bike meet there for 4 days, however there is no pressure to turn up on day one, so there is some flexibility in that part of the journey.
I do appreciate the advice about enjoying the journey and not making it a chore. After Faro I have three days to get to northern Spain for a two day off road navigational event and then 9 more days to chillax and get back. I am very excited about the whole thing.
Now I just need to learn to blog, read a map, get a sat nav, learn some French, Spanish and Portugese. Not much then!!!!!!!
Thanks again. Ben

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To judge a man by his lowest ebb or deed is to judge the ocean by just one wave

Hi Ben:

Do be sure to put 50 to 100 miles on the bike in your home town after you get the new tires installed. This will give you the opportunity to confirm that there are no air leaks, that the balance is OK, and that no other problems have arisen as a result of the disassembly required to fit the tires. If possible, get the service completed the week before you plan to leave.

Getting service work done the day before a long trip, then departing on the trip immediately is never a good idea.

Michael

I have been doing that run twice a year for the last six or more year's. You can do it in three day's. With two over night stop's. But that's staying at cheap hotel's, F1. But I'm on a 1000cc sport's tour. So four on your bike, and let's say camping. Your more or less right.


What time of the year are you going? Is it for the Faro rally?


John933

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To buy petrol in Europe. Pull up at station. Wait. Get out a 20 Euro note, then ask someone to fill up the bike. Give person money. Ride away. Simple.

Hi John.
Yes I am going to the faro Rally. I told a friend that I was looking for a destination and he suggested that the faro meet was a good one. I am also going on a two day navigation exercise in Spain with a group of riders organised by Austin Vince. Other than that I have 9 spare days to fill.

In fact I am about to post another question as I want a really good ride over the Pyrenees on the west coast and am looking for suggested routes if you know any. Remember I'm not on a 1000cc road bike, more a 650cc single at 55 mph haha

Cheers Ben

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To judge a man by his lowest ebb or deed is to judge the ocean by just one wave

I went to Faro with BSH about 15 years ago. The first stop in Spain was at the camp site at Eratzu just over the border and in the mountains on the western Pyrenees.

250 a day should be doable without too much trouble. I find some days I've had enough after less than a couple of hundred miles but other days have found myself toddling along for well over four hundred very easily. That's on a DRZ 400 riding with GPS set to avoid highways and toll roads.

It's a good idea to get some miles under you while you're feeling happy and everything is going great just in case you get a day when you're not, and it isn't.

Try not to set targets, that way you won't get stressed when you don't meet them. Maybe just "I'd like to be somewhere around this town by this day" As others have said, give yourself a spare day at least. It's not like you'll be lost for something to do.

We stayed here.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@43.33.../data=!3m1!1e3




If you are going to stay more than a few day's. Ask for a rate. Or e mail them before you book. Some time's they will give reduced rate's for Friday to Monday. But you may want to stay longer. From there the Pyrenees are on your door steep.
Hope that help's.
John933

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To buy petrol in Europe. Pull up at station. Wait. Get out a 20 Euro note, then ask someone to fill up the bike. Give person money. Ride away. Simple.

Seam's like this has picked up some interest. How I do it is. I don't take camping kit. Too much trouble to pack and un pack. Plus you have to carry it. So I'm riding light. Side pods and a back box. My clock starts when I'm in Calais. Can get off of the ferry round 9.30 to 10.00 in the morning. Then say how long am I going to ride for. Usually pick a time round 6 pm. I know where I'm going, so the sat nav is on and running. And away I go. Stop when you want. That usually is the same time I fill up. Cup of coffee and what ever else. Then on the bike and off again. Just keep doing that. Come six PM, think to your self can I do more. OK the weather is good the day is bright, I'll ride until seven. Then start to look for a cheap hotel. I carry a grip on the back with all my over night kit in it. So it's grab the grip. Walk in to the hotel. Book, wash, eat, drink, bed. Up the next day, Grip packed. Bungee it on to the back, and I'm away. Just keep doing that. I have done this in a day. But it was a good day. And it did not take me the 12 hours the map say's it will. More like ten.


Map down
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/50...m1!2b1!3e0!4e1


Or you can do the same kind of trip and stop off either at, Poitiers.


https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@46.55...7i13312!8i6656


Or. Further. Bordeaux.


https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@44.78...7i13312!8i6656


Or to the end Bayonne.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@43.48...7i13312!8i6656


Any way you get the idea.
John933

__________________
To buy petrol in Europe. Pull up at station. Wait. Get out a 20 Euro note, then ask someone to fill up the bike. Give person money. Ride away. Simple.

WOW

Once again many thanks to all who have contributed. I am fairly new to HUBB and adventure travel. I have done some research and been to a few meets, but again I am truly in awe at the support and kind nature of folks here. Really I thank you all for showing interest in my humble trip and I look forward to using your services more as I move on to bigger and better adventures.

Brilliant, keep up the good support network. I will know I'm an adventure biker when I can offer help to someone else

Ben

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To judge a man by his lowest ebb or deed is to judge the ocean by just one wave

Hello Ben,
If you finally goes to Faro crossing Spain please send me message. I am from Bilbao (Basque Country) and I am happy to show you city, you have garage to do if necessary maintenance to bike and also I can show you cheap hotel nearby.
motorbike-recovery
See you,
Kenedy