France 2024.

[V-Brom]

Just come back from a week touring North and mid France on my V Strom 650. Went with a couple of mates who were on a Honda Transalp and a Triumph Tiger. Last time I did a tour of France (on a ZX9R) I camped but we couldn`t be arsed pitching and then taking a tent down every day so this time we booked digs on booking.com the night before. If you have never toured France before DO IT ! Some fabulous roads and nowhere near as many potholes as in the UK ! Did approx 1500 miles in total. Stayed at some great houses and decent hotels and had a great time with two really good mates. The V Strom was simply superb. France`s speed limits are generally much lower than the UK so it takes a fair amount of more time to cover the distance compared to what you would back in the UK. We mostly kept to speed limits as we didn`t want the on the spot speeding fines ! I found the French to be welcoming and very friendly.
And an impressive 68.9 mpg over the 1491 miles !

[crump]

Agree with everything you've said.
My personal favourite bits of France are, Vosges mountains, the Auvergne and Normandy.
Alps and Pyrenhees obviously.

[Upt North]

Similar thoughts, you can't say how far you'll get and how long it'll take on the "D" roads. Some flow really well and others, meh.
A bit like trying to get through Wilnecote on the old A5. Pffffffftttttt.
We'll probably be going through it at least one way in September/October. It got to a stage where I simply didn't want to ride through France anymore but with a 5 year hiatus it'll be OK I'm sure.
Nice CritAir.
Upt.

[V-Brom]

A bit like trying to get through Wilnecote on the old A5. Pffffffftttttt.

I live in Wilnecote on the old A5 !

you know the area ?


 

[Upt North]

I used to work the area (central and south Staffs)and when you mentioned the French D roads and I saw you were from Tamworth, Wilnecote came to mind.
It was just a lucky guess, small world.
When I say work, I just turned up and rode brightly coloured motorcycles for 8 hours, laughed a lot and then did it again the next day. Happy days.
Enjoy Wilnecote.
Upt.

[Joe Rocket]

V-Brom, it's all true. I live here and tour around a lot. Am I bored.......

Keep coming back! 

[Joe Rocket]

Upt North. Fully see your point. The problem is France is so big. If you take country roads you'll be down to 80/90 kph (not the same limit all over) so it's enjoy riding time BUT those roads go on for ever. On the bike (or in the car) we choose day rides; long distance to get there, even on pay Autoroutes, or take time and a hotel.

The problem you have is to take a day initially to get to 'here', your destination can still be a day's ride ahead and a long, tiring day to get to the South or Spain.

Crit'Air is only cities, you shouldn't be there unless you like Cathedrals or Roman amphitheaters. 

If you want to enjoy France with stops and taking it all in then one week doesn't do it (unless you like a sore bum). 

[Upt North]

Joe.
We normally ride through France to get somewhere else, this has included Spain, Portugal, Italy, Slovenia, Austria etc.
The D roads are so unpredictable it has been necessary on more than one occasion to abandon them and hit the Autoroutes just to make some progress. I would liken it to some areas of Scotland when it takes an extraordinary amount of time to cover relatively small distances. Although in Scotland there's normally no other choice.
A few years back we decided to take the slow roads enroute to the Dolomites and after a few days around the war graves we headed down to Carcassonne before going over the Petit St.Bernard into Italy. We probably took an enjoyable week to cover the ground and it is so much nicer than Autoroutes. But needs must.
I've got my Crit'Air for this Autumn just because we'll have plenty of time to get to Southern Italy from Luxembourg so may end up in a French restricted area.
Upt.

[Upt North]

On the pass into Italy. Can't believe it's 6 (?) years ago.

[V-Brom]

We booked the digs the night before and only had a rough idea of where we were going so we bought Crit'Air`s just in case we wanted to venture into a clean air zone. We didn`t so wasted £4 ish. don't think I`d bother with one again.
Was good to have the freedom to choose where we were going and change our minds at will.
Did a tour years ago where everything was planned from the roads to the campsites and it felt a bit restrictive. Mind you there is no right and wrong way. Whatever you want to do just do it !
Will be back in France as loved the place.         

[V-Brom]

Loved the Tabac`s in the villages. Nice to have a coffee or tea or a cold drink. 

[Flanners]

Just back from 5 days and circa 900miles Somme/Beauvais/Alencon/Honfleur areas....I go to France touring on the bike at least twice a year....everything for me is better in France than the UK especially on a motorbike; bar the cost of petrol. I Tour purely to ride the bike in beautiful unspoilt surroundings, on nigh on perfect deserted roads; usually stick to D routes with circular routes from the Hotel in a given area etc; have done a few trips purely on D, non classified and basic farm tracks/shingle bridleways. On the latest trip I used the Ride Magazine's Suisse Normandie 200mile route.....absolutely fantastic! Used to only camp, then camped and Hotel....more recently just cheap B&B and Hotels can't be arsed pissing about after 200miles odd setting up camp especially so if bad weather like a decent bed and en-suite......I haven't stuck to the at times ridiculous 50mph speed restrictions outside of villages/Towns and 'touch wood' have had no issues.....Gendarme I have met don't seem too concerned either.

Done the usual players over the year's prefer the quieter 'biker' areas, in August I intend to travel through the Ardennes, Morvan and Jura; can't wait.

[StromGeeza]

Love going over to France. For the time being I'm restricted to school hols, and summer ferry fees are a bit too pricey ATM. (I'd go from Poole or Portsmouth). Other there, being on two wheels (powered or pedals) doesn't seem to generate the same animosity with cagers that it does over here.

[MilozFolly]

Hmmm - now I was just going to bybass France and have a tour round Germany at the end of Aug but now.......

[crump]

If you're going to the Black Forest area of Germany it's worthwhile having a look at the Vosges region imo.

[Rixington43]

Seconded, the Route des Crêtes is gorgeous.

[V-Brom]

Well I enjoyed France so much I`m going back a week on Saturday 

This time we are doing France, Belgium, Luxembourg & Germany

Going on the ferry and coming back in the chunnel (never used the chunnel before !) 

 

[Ianmc]

   A little hint about the tunnel,if you are on a bike,don’t join the queue behind all of the cars,go to the end of the the next empty slot,if there is room in the last carriage after the last car is loaded they will let you go and it saves you waiting until the next train.This was told to me by one of the attendants the first time we used the tunnel.