We're looking at going to Iceland on touring bikes ( well i'm on a guzzi norge but the GF has a GS650) so we're stuck on tarmac no dirt roads, anyone toured there on road bikes before? any suggested routes or places to visit?

considering doing the symril line crossing from Scrabster but am struggling with timetable, it looks like minimum trip is 2 weeks with 3 nights in the faroes, does anyone know f this is the case?

TIA

For the ferries there is information in this forum already, especially from those who have been there during this summer; that's not to say that the ferry routes and timings cannot change for 2008!.

About that MG Norge: how about posting in the bike tech section ("all other bikes" I guess) about how it is performing - I have only seen one or two on the road up to now and it would be good to get some feedback on how you like it!

Cheers, and to the HUBB.

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Dave

Gismo,
You made me look at the Smyril timetables again; it's like a mental torture.

It looks to me that they have changed the route and sailing times for 2008. Only go to Scrabster late June July and August. I can't see how you get back from Iceland without a 3 night stopover in Faeroes and then back to Scrabster via Norway. If that’s the case see if there is an alternative route back from the Feroes, maybe via the Shetlands. The only other alternative way back with Smyril, Iceland, Faeroes, Denmark, (approx 38 hours) and then catch a ferry back to the UK from there.
There is a sailing every week in to Iceland so your minimum time to stay would be a week

The main roads have sections of dirt, the surface is very good and should not present a problem. If you venture into the interior then things get much harder. You will find some road info here,
Driving in Iceland
and if you do a google you'll find more.

I am a Guzzi fan, so like Walkabout asked, lets as know what you think of the Norge.

Steve

Smyril timetable is a nightmare to wade through but you've correctly sussed there's a three day layover on your return journey. Perhaps it's no coincidence that Smyril is a Faroe based company..... Faroe's is worth a trip, but you'll be going stir crazy by day three!

The way I read it you can still do Iceland for a week, but if you've allowed yourself two weeks for your trip, one week of the two will effectively be spent sat staring out of the window on a ferry!

2007 was the final year for the Smyril Lerwick sailing

As has been suggested, rather than do Scrabster-Iceland-Scrabster, the other option is to stay on the ferry when it makes its first return stop in the Faroes and continue on to Hantsholm in Denmark. From there make your way south to pick up a Zeebrugge-Hull (I'm guessing) overnight crossing.

There's only one tarmac road in Iceland. Route 1 circles the entire island and clings to the coastline. For me, it's one of the worlds greatest drives, but it's a shame you'll be missing out on so much of Iceland by sticking to the ring-road. Traffic is light and the road good, but you'll still need to watch out for those sections of the ring road that aren't surfaced. Roads in the NW Fjords are largely gravel.Fiercely strong winds on the coast will make riding tough too.

How inconsiderate of you to not have a dualie so that you can go offroad! I say give the sat nav to your missus and you can do the cooking ;-)

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