Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Europe
Europe Topics specific to Western and Eastern Europe, from UK to the Russian border, and south-east to Turkey.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 5 May 2006
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 349
Romania?

Anyone done any offroad exploring in Western Romania, or know anyone who has?

Any experiences of the country also gladly listened to.

Many Thanks,

Dave
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 5 May 2006
Fritz's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 224
See http://www.ridingromania.com/ the guys are members of UKGser, may be able to advise / assist ?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 6 May 2006
davidmc's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA USA
Posts: 373
David, you might also contact the HU Community in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Alex from the Cluj Community owns a KTM 950 Adventure and should be able to give you some advice on riding off-road in Romania and some links to some local clubs.

Romania has some great riding. Good luck.
__________________
Dave McMillan
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/mcmillan/
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 7 May 2006
El Aleman - Jens's Avatar
HU Germany Meeting Organiser
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Worms, Germany
Posts: 487
Thumbs up Best offroad riding!!!

Hi,

just came back last night! Best offroad riding in Europe perhaps!!! I took part in the Enduromania - just great!!! You pay a fee and you get a sticker - then you go nearly everywhere you want - ckeck it out Enduromania.net

Stay in Borlova(Caransebes), in the house of Zacharias, he knows everthing! THe have also a repair shop next door

One of my best trips ever!!!


Jens
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 18 May 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: salisbury
Posts: 10
I went to Romania in a van last summer to watch the Redbull Romaniacs Enduro and wished I had a bike. What a country for off roading! We were based in a very nice old town called Sibiu near the Fagrass Mountains.
The trip was very last minute and lacked a fair bit of planning, but on the hole went withhout any hitches. There were a couple of notable exceptions:
The first was following an interstate road into the mountains. The road maps lie. Main roads vary from full on tarmaced roads to unmade tracks. The road we took was quite passable until we woke to a morning of torential rain, decieded to head back the way we came and rounded a corner to find a river where the road had been. luckily we got out, but i was seriously begining to worry.
The second problem came at the boarder. Trying to leave an official asked to see our documents. We hadn't bought some special road tax when we entered. We understood that we had to, but suddenly nobody spoke english. On exiting we were taken to one side and threatened with a 1000euro fine! The boarder gaurd then said he would accept a bribe of 300E and we eventually settled on about 70E. This left a pretty bitter taste in my mouth. A bit of excitement though and someting I'll remember.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 19 May 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Tg. Mures, MS, Romania
Posts: 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by furberger
The second problem came at the boarder. Trying to leave an official asked to see our documents. We hadn't bought some special road tax when we entered. We understood that we had to, but suddenly nobody spoke english. On exiting we were taken to one side and threatened with a 1000euro fine! The boarder gaurd then said he would accept a bribe of 300E and we eventually settled on about 70E. This left a pretty bitter taste in my mouth. A bit of excitement though and someting I'll remember.
There is no road tax for motorbikes! Just for cars!
Why you didn't ask for bill? There is no any 1.000 euro official fine!!! He was a thief! Oh, you foreigners!! And this is why the boarders has luxury cars!

Szabi

Last edited by santhasz; 19 May 2006 at 08:55.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 19 May 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: salisbury
Posts: 10
I was in a van, not on a bike. To be honest, I wasn't in the mood to argue with the bloke, I was trying to get out of the country. I realised it was a scam as several other foreign cars got stung as well, but as the whole boarder, including the town seemed to be in on it, there didn't seem to be much point arguing.

Don't you "oh you foreigners!!" me. I come from a country where officails can't be bought ( that cheaply! )
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 19 May 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Tg. Mures, MS, Romania
Posts: 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by furberger
Don't you "oh you foreigners!!" me. I come from a country where officails can't be bought ( that cheaply! )
:-) You are right! :-)

If we talk about Red Bull Romaniacs and if anybody is interested of their 2006 program:
http://www.redbullromaniacs.com/en/n...ews=17-05-2006


Sz.

Last edited by santhasz; 22 May 2006 at 12:32.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 28 May 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: China, somewhere
Posts: 34
Can anyone comment on the safety situation?
We were planning to ride through in a few weeks, but on some other travellers felt rather unsafe. Fact of feeling?
__________________
you don't stop playing because you get old. You get old because you stop playing
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 30 May 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Tg. Mures, MS, Romania
Posts: 78
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mingh
Can anyone comment on the safety situation?
We were planning to ride through in a few weeks, but on some other travellers felt rather unsafe. Fact of feeling?
... No problem.

If you kept out the pickpokets near Notre Dame (Paris), if you found your bike on the morning where you let at the evening at Budapest (Hungary), if you got easily petrol at Lithuania and didn't pay too much for a thing you bought at Istanbul (Turkey) ... you'll survive in Romania.


Szabi
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 14 Jun 2006
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 2,134
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mingh
Can anyone comment on the safety situation?
There is some good information in this post:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-romania-19084

Michael
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 15 Jun 2006
Matt Cartney's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland
Posts: 1,350
Criminal border gaurds seem to be a problem in Romania. I met some overlanders in a truck who were also asked to pay a 1000 euro fine, they just refused, got back in their truck and waited! After a couple of hours they gave up and let them through!
I had no problems on my bike though.
Matt
__________________
http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 15 Jul 2006
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 2,134
Quote:
Originally Posted by santhasz
There is no road tax for motorbikes! Just for cars!
Szabi:

Can you provide a link to a Romanian Government website that provides proof that no road tax payment is needed for motos? I think it might be useful for me to print the web page (even if I cannot read it myself) and have it with me when I cross the border, in case the border guard asks about a road tax.

I will be entering Romania within the next week - likely entering from Ukraine, and leaving to Hungary.

Many thanks, Michael
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 17 Jul 2006
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Tg. Mures, MS, Romania
Posts: 78
Exclamation RoVinieta

Here you can find informations about the entry formalities:

http://www.romaniatourism.com/entry_formalities.html


And here:
http://www.untrr.ro/index.php?menu=r...ge=ro_vignette

about: a road use charge called the “ro-vignette” which is compulsory throughout the Romanian road network, and the List of fines in case of lack of a valid Ro-vignette.
As you can see there are beautyful fines in case of lack, but a fine above 1.000 euro is applied just for buses and trucks. The motorbikes are not mentioned juts cars!

Remember:
"Foreign drivers entering Romania must purchase a RO-vignette which is valid for at least 7 days. The 1-day vignette can be purchased by foreign drivers travelling in Romania only if the period covered by the 7-day vignette is about to expire, thus extending its validity. The same applies when the driver leaves Romania with a vignette which is no longer valid. A new vignette will be issued to cover the period since the expiry of his vignette (a 1-day or 7-day vignette as the case may be), with no additional penalty. The 1-day vignette is on sale at fuel stations throughout Romania, as well as at fuel stations and offices of the national road authority situated at exit border crossing points. "

Last edited by santhasz; 17 Jul 2006 at 08:45.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 18 Jul 2006
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Posts: 1,362
Meaning that riders of motorcycles do not have to buy a “ro-vignette” ??????

As we are not 'drivers' and a motorcycle is not a car, truck or bus ..?

It does say "all vehicles" but only lists "goods vehicles" on the second link. The first link only gives info for cars..
__________________
---
Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Romania off-on-one Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road 15 20 Feb 2010 22:57
Ukraine, Moldova, Romania motordude Europe 14 27 Jul 2006 18:21
Accommodation in Romania - Bucharest damo33 Sleep and Eat, Europe 0 25 Mar 2005 20:49
Romania, Ukraine, Georgia, Azer Roboyobo Europe 7 31 Dec 2002 18:48
Central Romania (europe), camping heaven mmaarten Sleep and Eat, Europe 0 25 Aug 2002 21:53

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

  • Virginia: April 24-27 2025
  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
  • Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • Switzerland: Date TBC
  • Ecuador: Date TBC
  • Romania: Date TBC
  • Austria: Sept. 11-15
  • California: September 18-21
  • France: September 19-21 2025
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:25.