UK-based motorcycle insurance - Europe-wide, 6 months

[Pat_Russell]

Hi,

Apologies if there is an answer to this- I have searched already but can't find it!

I'm about to embark on my first long trip essentially around the coastline of Europe - Scandinavia, down through Estonia/Lat/Lith/Pol/Bulg/Romania, clockwise round the Black Sea, through Turkey, Greece, Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia and then basically following the coast around until I feel like coming back to the UK. It's around 12000 miles, and I'm setting aside 5-6 months for it - not in any rush ;-)

I'm having a real problem finding motorcycle insurance based here in the UK though. The two key issues seem to be the length of the trip - most will cover for 90 days max - and then some of the countries like Albania, Ukraine & Russia.

Now, this must be possible, since I know there are people here that haven't been home since they were toddlers. If anybody has any recommendations or ideas I would be really grateful to hear them.

Cheers,

Pat.

[fcasado]

Hi Pat,

My g/f and I are about to do the same trip, when are you leaving? We're on the ferry to France on the 19th of June, first night in Belgium and then up to Norway through Denmark, etc etc...Would be great if we met on the road (look on the blog in my sig)

Anyway, back to your question. We're using eBike as they won't put a limit of 90 days as the others do, however they don't cover any country outside EU + Norway, Switzerland and Croacia. I think we'll get insurance at the border as most folks do on these countries.

HTH

Cheers
Fernando

mfnaeuropa@hotmail.com

[Pat_Russell]

Hi Fernando,

Thanks for the reply. I did look at ebike, but then got fixated on trying to get something to cover all countries and was about to get in touch with Alessie in the Netherlands.

But.... I think it's going to be very expensive and I'm probably best doing as you suggest - just not sure how the border insurance thing works and whether it works in all the other countries. Only one way to find out I suppose ;-)

Your route is very similar to mine although I'm starting a little later (early July) and sailing straight to Norway and going the long way round the Black Sea. It would be great to meet up! Maybe we can work it out through email on the way - my schedule is a bit loose.

I'll be on the silver 1150GS...

Thanks,

Pat.

[Mike]

Hi Pat, Fernando

It looks like the coast roads will be busy this summer;-).. I hope to be in Murmansk in 4-6weeks at the start of a ride round the coast...
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...murmansk-21700
...which sounds a lot like Pat's trip, at least until Poland.. I'll be following the coast all the way round rather than cutting down to Bulgaria. Great minds think alike, eh?

As for bike insurance, the Hubb is strangely quiet on the subject, but Paul Gowan at the RAC has kindly suggested
Knopf (http://www.knopftours.com)
or Alessi (http://www.alessie.com/)
both outside the UK and offering greencard (minimum third party) cover.

They're both listed on the HU site proper:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tripplan/paper/

Hope yr preparations are going well

--Mike

[fcasado]

Hey Mike and Pat.

I'm really looking forward to meeting you guys on the road!

The preparation is going well (sort of, lol), loads of things to do yet and we both are still working.

All the best
Fernando

[Pat_Russell]

Wow - Murmansk should be an adventure! Chilly... but tempting...

Sudden indecision about insurance again since I see that ebike specifically don't provide the hallowed green card due to (I'm guessing) a new ruling that it's not required. Not sure I trust that info to have reached some border posts, and I was thinking the green card would have Chris Scott's "library card effect".... might give Knopf a ring tomorrow.

Preparation moving nicely along thanks - yours likewise I hope. Sore arms today from being infected with every disease known to man. I am invincible, and laugh in the face of frothy dogs ;-)

See you on the road...

Pat.