Hello,

My wife and I would like to plan a trip to Italy/the Mediterranean coast in general for most of April.

Ideally, I'd like to acquire (renting seems to be the best option) a 650cc or larger motorcycle and then meander our way down the peninsula, maybe take a ferry to Greece, maybe ride towards Spain. Our method of travel is loose, our goals general.

My main question currently is the weather during this time, I'm a year 'round rider in Seattle, WA but my wife is a fair deal more temperature sensitive than I am. What sort of weather can we expect? Would it be feasible to travel around midday to take advantage of warmer temperatures?

Lastly, any suggestions on lodging, sites in the area (we've got a handful of ideas including visiting Montoggio where my family is from), or even the viability of a ferry to Greece vs. riding out of country in the region.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I've spent the last year fighting a Stage 4 Cancer diagnosis (currently in remission) and would love to make motorcycle riding a huge feature of our honeymoon.

Sincerely,

Joey

Hi Joey, here Carlos from Spain (Barcelona). Good plans for you and your wife!! In Spain we have a popular sentence: "En Abril aguas mil" and it means that in April rains a lot. But, as always, you never know. Now we are in December and we have 18 degrees at day 8 at night, a very sunny month and it is unusual. In April you can have more or less the same temperature. Spain is not a cold country in general, and the coast obviously is warmer, if you have a good jacket, you don't have to worry.

If you need more information about Spain, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Regards,
CarlosP_Gs

Hi Joey, first of all Welcome to the Hubb!

that sounds like a beautiful plan, I really wish you all the best.

If I can just make a suggestion, the easiest thing to do regarding riding would be to get a bike in Italy in one of your relative's names. Your USA licence is valid in the EU for up to a year , so you can ride an italian plated bike legally within the EU even if it's not in your own name. however you would not be able to buy one easily unless you established permanent residence. Of course renting is another option but that really depends on your budget. Bikes can be found in travelling condition for cheap, particularly during the winter, and you can probably resell for a tiny profit if you or a relative put the bike back on the market during the summer.

As far as weather goes, I'm way up in the north east of Italy, and April usually means either the first days on the beach, or the last days of skiing, about an hour or so further north, or sometimes even both.
It can rain sometimes, intermittently, possibly for a day or two but it's really nothing to be worried about. Further south it just gets better and better.
you'll find ferries from many towns along the east coast of Italy that will take you to greece fairly cheaply, although it would be a pity to miss the Balkans and the Croatian coast.

Hope this helps, feel free to PM me if there's anything I can help with.

Antonio

PS have a look at some classified ads to get an idea of the market here.

Welcome to the HUBB Joey, wishing a healthy 2017 and loads of riding

For a month ride, buying and reselling will be financially better idea (check inmate here Wheatwacker or Martin as his real name is). Depending of course of your budget, but some kind of small enduro like V-strom 650 can be bought for not a lot of money. A month worth of riding - Italy: Tuscany, maybe if time permits Corsica, or Ferry to Greece (Meteora), and then riding back along the coast visiting Albania (Tirana-Elbasan pass and Teth national park)-Macedonia (lake Ohrid and national parks), and then Montenegro (Lovcen - ride to Durmitor). Then riding along Croatian coast - Dubrovnik-Split-Zadar-Plitvice lakes national park-back to Italy, and then if time permits autobahn to Spain in a speedy way and spend couple of days there or a week if you speed the whole thing up.
If you can get a temporary address at your cousins place maybe you're able to buy the bike in your name (I think it's possible), and then resell it when you get back, loosing little in value, but for sure less comparing that to renting).
What you need is third party liability policy so you can travel around Europe freely (check my website for more info).
If you ditch Spain and Portugal from your plan, then I suggest to spend more time in Macedonian/Albanian/Bosnian mountains, and then hit Croatian islands. Ferry system in the summer is very efficient and island are beautiful

If you have specific questions post them here and I'll reply as soon as possible.

br
Dooby

I'd also suggest you might be able to do a swap with someone from the EU who fancies a trip to the US that matches your dates. Saves both parties a boatload of cash, hiring any decent sized bike here is horrendously expensive.

As some have suggested the ride up through the Balkans from Greece is highly recommended, I did it this year and it's a little more wild out in Albania and its neighbours, just a little, but enough to be fun. If you head to Spain you could always cross to Morocco.

__________________
[ Tim | History - NW Italy/French Rivera, Swiss Alps, Morocco | 2016 - Greece > Albania > Macedonia > Kosovo > Montenegro > Bosnia > Slovenia > Austria ]

Hello Joey

I live in Greece so just ask for any info.
The weather is pretty worm now and it's going to get better and better. Now is 10 'c in the morning and 18 'c midday.

Sent pm for anything more info you need

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