Dave:

Assuming your scooter is in good mechanical condition, I really don't think you need to bring anything out of the ordinary with you, because your planned trip length is not excessive (probably less than 1,000 miles total), and you will only be away for a week.

Let's look at that first assumption (the mechanical condition of the scooter) first:

1) Do the tires have at least 1,000 miles left on them? Be aware that treadwear is accelerated at higher speeds and with higher loads carried.

2) Has the scooter had this year's scheduled maintenance service? By this I mean oil change, lubrication, spark plug(s), brake components inspected, whatever the manufacturer calls for?

If either of the two items above need attention, get the work done now, well ahead of your departure. You don't want to have major service done and then depart on a long trip the same day - you want to be able to ride around locally for a couple of days after the major service just in case any consequential events arise (e.g. leaking tire, whatever).

So far as "what to take on the trip", be aware that everything that you take with you will be a burden (you have to carry it), so, be minimalist in this respect.

Here's a short list, perhaps it will help:

1) Cash - take enough to keep you going for a couple of days at least (hotel, food, fuel). You can replenish your cash supply from ATMs in Europe, that will give you the very best exchange rate.

2) Bank ATM card - Bring an ATM card that works with one of the major ATM networks (Cirrus, Maestro), and make advance arrangements with your bank to ensure you can use the card abroad.

3) Credit cards - take two, and make advance arrangements with your credit card issuer to let them know you will be using the cards in Europe.

4) Don't bring a petrol can. That is a safety hazard of the first order, not to mention a logistical headache. Just fill the bike up before you get down to the 1/4 tank level. It only takes a few minutes to do, plus you can combine the fill-up stop with a bathroom break or coffee stop. I would not worry about fuel availability, you are visiting very densely populated areas, if you have a credit card and cash, you will always be able to get fuel.

In a worst-case situation, if you stop at a petrol station at 3AM on February 31st during a full moon and you can't coax any gas out of the pump (can't read the foreign language instructions, can't figure out how to work it, credit card doesn't work, etc.), you just wait for a local to come along to fill their car, and give them a 5 Euro note and ask them to pump 5 Euros of fuel into your tank before they shut off the pump. I've done this a few times, people are always willing to help when they see the out-of-country licence plate.

5) Ensure you have a white oval sticker on the back of your scooter that says 'GB'.

6) Don't bother with a triangle. The scooter is light enough you can push it well off the road if anything goes wrong - it's not an articulated lorry. The high-vis vest is a good idea. I really can't see the point of having breakdown cover - what is your worst-case exposure? Having to ship the scooter back to the UK by truck? Breakdown cover is nothing more than insurance, you are probably better off to self-insure (i.e. just take the risk of having to ship the bike home if anything goes terribly wrong). Plus, I don't think that breakdown cover policies are really tailored for motorcycles (I could be wrong here).

7) I doubt that you will have to alter your 'bulb' if by that you are referring to the LHD / RHD beam pattern of the headlight. It is unlikely you will be doing much riding at night, and it is also unlikely that the scooter has a unique RHD beam pattern. Besides, you can't change the beam pattern easily - you have to change the whole reflector mechanism, or apply a prism to the lens.

Easiest way to investigate the headlight issue it to research it at home: Take the scooter out at night, aim it against the wall of a building from about 10 yards away, and see if the headlight has a significant up-tick to the UK nearside. If so, experiment with putting a bit of black plastic electrical tape on the front of the headlight lens to obscure that uptick.

For what it is worth, I never bother modifying my ST1100 beam pattern when I visit the UK - I just aim the headlight further down than normal, and minimize the amount of night riding I do.

8) Pack one set of outer clothing only, based on the weather forecast a day or two before your departure. Ensure that you can 'layer' the clothing to deal with minor ups and downs (e.g. add a jumper, or remove a jacket inner liner). Be sure to have a rainsuit. You don't need to buy a $300 rainsuit that an Ironbutt rider would use to do 1,000 miles a day in a monsoon - just get a cheapie "rider boils in the bag" two-piece rainsuit. You'll only use it to keep you dry until you can get to shelter and wait out the rainshower.

And - on the topic of rainsuits - don't forget that you always have to put the rainsuit on BEFORE it starts raining. If you wait until the first few drops fall, it's too late.

Michael

on a bike, but that book contains so much useful information on some of the places I hope to visit. It's a good read, too.

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I am a traveller, not a tourist.

Take advantage of the completely different attitude that exists towards bikes on the continent to that in the UK.
For instance, an enduring memory of one of my early trips to France, was finding a very nice village, with pavement cafe, just at the right time for lunch.
Being a French village, the road was very narrow and I wasn't sure where to park. I hovered a bit at the kerb by the inviting pavement tables looking for the nearest place where there was room for the bike.
Straightaway, a waiter saw I was pondering, nipped over, completely removed one table next to where I was stopped and beckoned me onto the pavement to park in the vacated space.......

Still being a bit new to 'the continent' I was stunned, but took advantage of it thereafter.
Sadly you're too late for my favourite, being able to ride on the pavement all the way up and down the Champs Elysees in Paris (although the at the tables was the most expensive in the world I think!) They stopped that quite a few years ago , but elsewhere is still OK.
But even then the French attitude persisted - when the Champs Elysees was being re-modelled large signboards were erected on the pavements, saying, roughly, "To the bikers. Sorry. After September you'll no longer be allowed to ride on the pavement. But we'll be stopping cars parking on all the side-streets, you can use those instead." Can you ever imagine that happening in Westminster?? Take advantage of these enlightened attitudes!

For War memorials, the Thiepval memorial is one of the largest and most thought-provoking, maybe on your route back to Calais. From there to Calais there are lots of war grave cemeteries tucked in all sorts of out-of-the way places. The tiny ones outside little hamlets can be just as interesting as the bigger well-known ones. They all have a local history notebook, in English, in a little hatch, that you'll find in a wall near the memorial.
I'm pretty sure you can find maps of France that show where they are. Or just ride around and you'll see signposts to them.

Have a great trip.

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TTR250 - London to Cape Town

Thought I would give all you helpful people an update on my prep, which I have to say i'm thoroughly enjoying.
Got myself a new front tyre as the front was losing air a bit and Ive had it on for good few years. The rear looks like its got about 1000 to 1500 miles left so thats more than enough I'm sure. Worse case I'll get a new one fitted before I go but certainly no need yet and thats a pretty quick fix.

Ive bought myself a stop and go puncture kit, air pressure gauge, little jump leads and a wind up torch. All very small so easy to keep in the scooter and give me a bit of piece of mind.

Good call on the service as I do need one soon and been putting it off due to £££ so I will book one in advance for end of April ready for my trip mid May.

To buy,
A GB sticker as my number plate does not show the Euro flag. I went into Halfords but they only had car ones so I will pop into a George Whites or Hein Gericke on the weekend and pick up one of them as I assume they have them?

I've found a battery extender which I hope means I can use my Sat Nav for quite a few hours so might get this Portable Power Supplies - PortaPow USB Battery

And work out were i'm going & get some maps!

See if I have a suitable bag to use on the bike or buy a cheap one.

Ive told a few people what I'm planning and they all look at me like I'm mad as I'm going on my own. Its like they are saying "thats a shame you must be so lonely" lol As you can imagine they don't ride, I think it will be great.


A question I forgot to ask, for the ferry home do I need to book this in advance or can I just turn up buy a ticket and come home?
Or if I have to maybe the day before? The reason I ask is i could spend up to 10 night but I'm planning 7. However if Its a trip of a lifetime (so far) I wondered if I had flexibility?

Ok thats all for now.

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Vespa GTS250

Dave:

Be aware that tire wear - especially rear tire wear - increases very rapidly with higher vehicle speeds and higher laden vehicle weights. You will probably be doing a fair amount of highway riding (e.g. 50 MPH or more, far faster than usual city riding), and your scooter will likely be as heavily laden as it has ever been. So, if you have the slightest doubt about that rear tire, replace it now. It is a PITA to replace tires while on tour, you have to wait for the shop to procure the new tire, you have to find a shop familiar with your scooter, etc.

Trying to get the last 1,000 or 1,500 miles out of the existing rear tire is just 'not good economics' in this context. FWIW, I replace the tires on my ST 1100 prior to beginning any long tour if I have the slightest doubt that they might not last all the way through the tour. It doesn't matter if the tires have 40% tread wear remaining - if it won't last for the planned tour, they get replaced.

You don't want to be out there trying to enjoy yourself and at the same time being constantly worried about whether a part (tire) will hold up.

Get the service done early enough to permit you to put 100 miles or so on the scooter before you head out on the trip. That will be sufficient use to determine if there are any minor headaches present arising from the service visit (e.g. something that might need a further adjustment).

My experience with UK ferries is that they price their sailings very much like the airlines. If you book well ahead of time for specific sailings, you can get very low prices. If you just show up and buy a ticket, you pay "full list price", which can be outrageous. The ferry companies don't make any distinction between a small scooter and a huge Gold Wing or Harley-Davidson... they are all motorcycles. I suggest you do some research. One alternative might be to book and pay ahead for a 7 day trip, and find out what the change fee and/or price increase is if you decide to prolong your voyage for a few extra days.

Michael