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  #1  
Old 9 May 2008
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Poland
Anybody travelled through Poland by bike?

Is it ok and are there any bike events there this summer?
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  #2  
Old 10 May 2008
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I went through part of Poland a few years ago. No particular problems. Found that filtering could be difficult because the white line area is often heavily rippled and cracked by heavy trucks, but nothing too taxing....
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  #3  
Old 10 May 2008
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Exclamation roads in Poland
Hi
Travelled from England to Latvia via Poland last June and the standard of roads and driving is appalling !, but vehicles in front do pull over as far as possible to let you pass
Also plenty of speed cameras but didnt bother slowing for them, but hardly any police.
Having headlights on is a must, as well as good brakes and suspension !!!
Coming back to UK i rode through on a Sunday and left very early in the morning and it was a pleasure until 10.00...............!!
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  #4  
Old 12 May 2008
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Could you give me some details of the journey/route you took?

I am planning on travelling to vilnius and want to take the quicket route there as i will take my time coming back but want to get to vilnius as easy as poss.

I'm doing it on an R6, not ideal but ok. It has excellent suspension as it has been raced several times at the IoM TT.

Do you think Calais-Vilnius in 18 hours is reasonable?

Cheers
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  #5  
Old 12 May 2008
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Calais - Vilnius
Quote:
Originally Posted by luckyman View Post
Do you think Calais-Vilnius in 18 hours is reasonable?
According to Google maps, Calais to Vilnius is 1,200 miles (1,941 kms) and do-able in 21 and a half hours (I'm guessing that's in a nice comfortable car at legal speeds, avg 55mph, and not allowing for any delays at borders, bad roads, etc).

So if you're feeling superhuman, (avg. speed 66mph), it's do-able.

Just.

Good luck.

Google Maps
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  #6  
Old 12 May 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by luckyman View Post
Do you think Calais-Vilnius in 18 hours is reasonable?
Cheers
NO.
Probably take quite a bit longer.

Last year I was in a hurry on a well laden F650 Dakar - cruising at 70-80 mph. I left Calais about 3pm, overnighted in Essen at 10pm. Rode from 10am to 10pm to Warsaw. Started next day at 9am. Crossed into Lithuania mid morning and reached Narva (Estonia/Russia border) well after midnight. I was riding completely non-stop (except fuel and an ice cream every 180 miles) and without meal or snack stops.

Route? The map shows a fairly straight line passing near Antwerp, Dortmund, Hanover, Berlin, Poznan,Warsaw, Kaunas (you turn right - I carried on near Riga, Tartu). There is a new EU funded Toll motorway in Poland in the Poznan area. Same price as cars - usual rant!!

All roads were very good. The border between Poland into Lithuania took 15-20 minutes.
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  #7  
Old 13 May 2008
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Smile 18 hours !!!!!!!
Hi
18 hours is possible if you're on a mission !!!, I went from the ferry at Hoek van Holland leaving at 9am and stopping just inside Poland around 5pm.
The 2nd day started at 10am and rode ( on what i thought were bad roads and apalling driving ) stopping at 5pm at the last town before Lithuania.
The border control should of been ''opened'' this year so you should be able to ride without stopping.
Also the clocks gain another hour.
The police are very active, watchout for the flashing of drivers, warning you of a speed check.
Its probably no help but i arrived in Riga at midday, on 3rd day, after leaving Poland at 8am, total travelling of 19 hours, but i had 2 good sleeps, food and !!!!!!!!, i'm off to Romania and Ukraine on the 19th May and have bought a gel pad, something i needed on the way to Riga !!!!.
Have fun Dave
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  #8  
Old 3 Jun 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by luckyman View Post
Could you give me some details of the journey/route you took?

I am planning on travelling to vilnius and want to take the quicket route there as i will take my time coming back but want to get to vilnius as easy as poss.

I'm doing it on an R6, not ideal but ok. It has excellent suspension as it has been raced several times at the IoM TT.

Do you think Calais-Vilnius in 18 hours is reasonable?

Cheers

Br careful with speeding i got caught doing 55kph over the limit in Lithuania and they wanted 1000 litas ended up giving them 60 euro in the back pocket, also went for a pee in the forest and had 3 days in hospital when i got home with lymes not very nice but Vilnius is very nice there is a good pub down one of the back streets can't remember the name but they have some good bands on, make sure you visit the KGB museum a real eye opener, Vilnius 18 hours no way it will take you a day from the polish boarder, we went from Amsterdam to just inside Poland in 9 hours 2 up
Last edited by garyfzs1000; 3 Jun 2008 at 23:04.
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  #9  
Old 11 Sep 2008
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Stayed in a very interesting/friendly/unique village in the south of Poland ,near Zakopane a few weeks ago. 'Chocholuw'. Good spot! #37 is a good place to stay.
Cheers, Boot.
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  #10  
Old 26 May 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by luckyman View Post
Anybody travelled through Poland by bike?

Is it ok and are there any bike events there this summer?
Hi there Lucky

The guys have given you good info and I wont add to it as I was going to do, except to say - visit Auschwitz. Horrific as it is, it shouldnt be avoided.

The Polish people I found friendly and so helpful.
Have a great time.
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  #11  
Old 3 Jun 2008
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Thanks for all the info.

One final thing, what sort of paperwork will I have to take with me?

Thanks
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  #12  
Old 8 Jun 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by luckyman View Post
Thanks for all the info.

One final thing, what sort of paperwork will I have to take with me?

Thanks
Probably the same you should have to drive to the next bar...
ID card/passport, driving licence/ papers for bike and insurance. Visa/maestro or smth like this
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  #13  
Old 9 Sep 2008
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I'm planning a very similar route for 2009, so this thread has been v.useful. Thanks.

Slight differences I'm planning are to go from Poland through Kaliningrad and up to Riga. Has any got any info on Kaliningrad? Visa's etc?

From Riga I'll be getting the ferry across to Stockholm, then ride through Sweden, bridge to Denmark, then Ferry back to Harwich. Anyone done this route and suggestions of places to go?

Probably I wouldn't be camping, so suggestions for places to stay would be appreciated.

Thanks again.
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  #14  
Old 9 Sep 2008
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Kalliningrad is Russia.
You need the same Visa, Insurance, Registrations etc as 'mainland' Russia. The only difference is the border personnel seem more friendly, efficient and know a little more English. Probably a result of seeing more Westerners - or the Prussian origins of the region and its people.

Update on Poland from my May post.
I crossed again last month on a similar journey. Main roads are good and some being extensivly upgraded (good old EU taxpayers, you and me). Traffic conjestion often bad, except on motoway. Tolls on the west/east motorway which avoids Poznan are avoidable by coming off at the junction before, and rejoining at the junction after, each of the 3 toll-barriers! The toll barriers are shown on Michelin maps and are only on the western section of the motorway. The cost is 11PLN, about £2.70 (same for cars and bikes) at each barrier.
Speed cameras are plentyful but only in speed limit zones, villages etc and are signed in advance.
As in Ireland, there is extensive use of the hard shoulders to allow overtakers. Even oncoming traffic does it, to help!
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  #15  
Old 9 Sep 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by luckyman View Post
Anybody travelled through Poland by bike?

Is it ok and are there any bike events there this summer?
I traveled through Poland for the last two years ..

It was ok...never felt uneasy or insecure ... friendly people ..

but signing is poor ... you can easly get lost which was also fun. Ended up very nice places ...
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